Happy Birthday Lexi!

On Saturday we celebrated Lexi's first birthday.  Officially, her birthday is tomorrow, so we'll do a little more celebrating then too.  Cam's family came for the big bash, and we did the usual activities, talking it up while the kids run a muck around the house.  Lexi also opened her presents and enjoyed some chocolate cake.



I actually ended up unwrapping all her presents.  I guess it's only fun to tear paper, when it's in books or Abby's precious drawings.



Cam did most of the picture taking at the party too.  I'm going to have to make it an official Monahan family rule that he never takes pictures, especially on the special, once-in-a-life time events.

I thought we would do a gingerbread man cake.  I started cutting the cake, then remembered that I hadn't taken a picture yet.

Before partaking in the chocolate cake.



After.  She managed to get a little of it in her mouth too.

During Abby's first year of life, I was so uptight and nervous, I completely missed out on all the joy and sweetness that a little baby brings into our home.  So, I'm so glad that this time around, I just relaxed and had fun.  I never thought that I would be able to enjoy the "baby stage" of raising children, but I have loved this last year.  I'm still learning a lot (patience and time management especially), but we all have to grow and learn together how to be the very best family.

What's Lexi up to now?

• She's in a forward facing car seat.  I think she feels pretty cool to be facing in the same direction as everyone else.
• She's crawling and walking along the furniture.
• She absolutely loves going up the stairs.  So a baby gate is now an official accessory to our home decor.
• She looks up to her big sister, and mimics her all the time.
• We've weaned her off formula, but she loves her bottles, and warm milk.  I'm not too excited for the upcoming transition to sippy cups and cold milk. 
• She's a really great cheerleader, clapping for everyone, all day long.
• She loves to get her groove on if a good song is playing.  She even finds that a lot of church hymns have a good beat, and can really tear it up at church.
• She's such a momma's girl.  Which works out pretty good, because Abby is an absolute daddy's girl.  So, we each get to feel pretty special.

Lexi, babe.  I love you with all my heart.  You are a joy.  Happy Birthday!!!

Temple Sqaure

We've kind of made it a tradition to go see the lights at Temple Square every year.  We chose to go a couple of weeks ago, because the temperatures were supposed to be in the 40's all week.  There was only one small problem with our brilliant plan to avoid the frigid temps, it was raining.  Throughout most of the valley, no rain, but in downtown, a steady, falling rain.  We just had to adjust our plan a little.  Instead of slowly meandering our way around the temple, we made lots of stops in the visitor centers and did the abbreviated tour of Temple Square.  I think the girls still had fun.

I only managed a few pictures.

Abby standing in front of the statue of Christ.  You can tell we do it up real classy.  Only the fancy sweat pants for a trip to the temple.  Dressing Abby has become quite a task.  But that's a topic for another post.





I usually do most of picture taking in our house, and when I looked at this picture that Cam took, I remember why I control the camera.  I never knew these auto focus camera's were so tricky.



16 down, 24 to go

Had my 16 week check.  Nothing exciting to report.  The Dr. always says I make his job too easy.  But I've learned that when it comes to anything medical, no news is good news.

I will say, however, that there is a slight presence of a belly now.  I'm not sure, though, how much of it is baby bump, and how much is leftover chub from my last pregnancy.  Either way, my tummy is round.

4 weeks till the ultrasound.  Abby is so sure that we are having a boy.  She is already including a "baby brother" in her drawings of the family.  I'm not sure how she will take it if the ultrasound shows we are having another girl.  Hopefully, she will be easily swayed to enjoy a baby boy OR girl.

"Is today Christmas?"

A month or two ago, Abby started asking if it was Christmas.  At first we told her it wouldn't be Christmas till it started snowing, well, when the snow finally arrived, then she started asking if it was Christmas again.  So we changed our reply to "we have to wait till the Christmas tree is up."  Well once she started seeing other houses with lights and trees up, the same old question came up again.  I guess she's a little anxious for the Christmas.

On friday, we put up the Christmas decorations.  Abby's been saying that daddy needs to put up the Christmas lights for weeks, so we figured it was time to get a move on.

I was nervous that Lexi would either try to climb the tree, or pull every ornament off.  However, she kind of freaked out and it appears she is scared of the tree.  She doesn't even venture very far into the front room.  We might totally luck out and not have to protect the tree from being destroyed.

Giving Thanks

My list of things I'm so very grateful for this year:

• Family!  Of course.
• the Gospel
• Our home
• Our health
• Cam's awesome job
• And so much more!

The girls on Thanksgiving morning

Cam offered to make the pie this year.  It was a yummy apple pie, baked in a brown paper bag.  Weird, I know.  But it turned out great!

Cam's Mom brought stuff for the girls to make turkey hats.  Abby's not really loving having her picture taken.



Some "Hand turkey's" we made with the girls hand prints.  Also a list of things Abby is greatful for. 

 This year we spent Thanksgiving day at our house.  Cam's family came over and we put the finishing touches on the feast that was prepared.  The usual activities were in store, eating, visiting and playing games.  I love this time of the year.  I'm so excited for the holiday season to have officially begun.  Last year, we kind of breezed through the holidays because we were so busy anticipating the birth of Lexi.  This year, I plan to fully absorb every second of the holidays!

Announcing...

baby #3.  Yes, I am pregnant, again.  And I know what your thinking "didn't you just have Lexi?"  And the answer is yes.  Right now, my official due date is May 23, so if you do the math, Lexi will only be about 16 months older than baby #3.  Scary!  It appears that this little baby desperately wants to join our family here on earth, and isn't going to wait any longer.

I went to the doctor last week for my 12 week check and the nurse wasn't able to find the heartbeat with the Doppler , so we got an ultrasound.  Yay!  Hearing the heartbeat is all good, but actually seeing the baby gives me a whole other level of comfort.  I've pretty much gotten over the morning sickness and the overwhelming exhaustion, and thankfully, it wasn't bad at all this time around.
 

I'll be honest, I'm a little freaked out!  Hopefully, Heavenly Father will pour down some blessings of patience, because I have a feeling that our lives will change drastically with this little addition.  But we are going to welcome this baby with open arms and tons of love!

Lexi, on the move

Lexi started crawling about a week ago. The days of setting her down, and knowing that will still be in that same spot when I get back are over. She knows right where to go to get all the toys out, and has already discovered the stairs. It will only be a matter of time till we have to break out the baby gate. I got the camera out the other day to try and get a picture of Lexi crawling, and didn't manage to get any decent shots, she was just not cooperating. Abby, however, was desperate to get some pictures taken of her being cute. So here is a crummy shot from behind of Lexi crawling, and a few of the girls posing.

 

Lexi totally clawed Abby's face the other day, so she has a nice little scratch.