The Rubberband Story

Okay, a lot of you already have heard this story, but I couldn't leave anybody in the dark about our eventful Christmas Eve this year. So we went to Utah this Christmas to visit James' family. We put Natalie in the same room as us in a port-a-crib. So on Christmas Eve, she kept waking up, like every hour, and kind of crying/whimpering. At first, I thought she may have been cold, so we made sure to bundle her up and put lots of blankets on her. But then she would wake up again and cry. I couldn't get her to tell us what was wrong, so I assumed she just wanted our attention or something. Well, finally at 5 am James got up with her and took her to get some water. As soon as she got out of the room, she was totally herself again and said, "Daddy, it's kinda dark in here" and "Wanna play hide and seek?". So eventually James brought her back and put her in bed with me. She fell asleep for about half an hour and then woke up again crying like she was in pain. I could not figure out what was wrong! I said, "Do you feel like you need to throw up?", she shook her head. Then she started grabbing her foot, "Does your foot hurt?", she nods her head yes. So I start thinking she is having foot cramps and there is some deficiency in her diet or something. I start massaging her legs, eventually she calms down. We finally get up at 7am and go upstairs. We watch a couple shows, I put her in her high chair for breakfast... When I get her out of her high chair she starts walking really strange, like she has a dirty diaper. So I go get her a new diaper. I take off her pajama pants and am changing her diaper (which was not dirty, by the way) when I look down and notice that Natalie has taken the rubberbands from her braids and put them around her ankles! They were black and blue when I took them off! I could not believe it, I felt so bad! But how could you ever guess that? Silly girl!



It's been a week since then, and Natalie's ankles are still red where she put the rubberbands. By the way, this is not the worst story I have about Natalie over the break. More to come...

Disneyland in December

James and I took Natalie and Annette up to Disneyland last week on Thursday night. We had so much fun! Natalie was so excited to see Minnie Mouse, her idol. It is just so exciting to see Disneyland through a two year old's eyes.

Who is who?

Any guesses which is Annie and which is Natalie?






Answer: Annette is the 1st and 3rd. Natalie is the 2nd and 4th.

A Mother's Perspective

Happy Christmas!

Well, we're not sending out Christmas cards this year...I know, sad! But I just finished Annette's announcements and wasn't ready to do another undertaking like that. So here are some family pics, and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Pictures with Santa

One of my friends had Santa come to her house and read the kiddies a couple of stories. Then everyone got a chance to sit on his lap. As you can see, Natalie's excitement could hardly be contained.



This was the best picture we could get with Natalie, kinda sad!



At least one of my kids was happy!



I can't believe I'm posting this hideous picture of myself, but this is the closest we could get to Natalie smiling.

Wah!

Natalie and I were sick all weekend. Not fun! And when you're sick it's not fun to wake up three times at night, nope. And it's not fun to get your two year old out of bed and discover she has been sleeping in a big puddle of poop. And it's really not fun to get your two year old out of bed in the middle of the night (the same day of the poop incident, mind you) because she threw up raspberries. Sorry for the graphic details, but there's really no nice way to sugar coat that! It's a good thing they're so cute!

I'm getting this for Christmas

Yea! Gotta love new clothes.

Thanks Mom

My mom just had a houseful of 19 people for Thanksgiving, 19 people who never wanted to leave. Thanks Mom, thanks for a yummy dinner (actually several yummy meals), for not complaining when your beautiful kitchen and family room looked like a nuclear bomb hit it, for taking out 18 bags of trash...a day, for playing with our grandchildren even when they were being pills, for providing a place where the family can get some quality time together, and for being cheerful through it all. We love you and REALLY appreciate you, why do you think we want to be around you so much?

Sisters

Annie and Natalie in the crib together. So precious.

Things you may or may not want to know...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope, my mom just liked the name, it was between Melissa Anne and Amy Elizabeth.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I almost cried last night when Annette didn't go to sleep until 1:30.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Usually, but it's not as pretty as my Mom's.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
I doubt you really care, but probably roast beef.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Two girls. Wow, how did that happen?

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I guess that depends on what kind of person I would become!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Not as much as I used to, that's something I inherited from my brothers.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No, doesn't appeal at all to me. But my brother Corey has done it! That always surprises me.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Right now I'm really enjoying Honey Bunches of Oats...but I hate the commercials.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Since all that fits me these days are flip-flops, I'll have to say no!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically, not really. Emotionally, yes, I think our church teaches us to be that way from a very young age.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Depends on my mood, but I really enjoy vanilla over a chocolate chip cookie.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Probably just their overall appearance. I was always amazed that my roommate Brittany noticed peoples eyebrows, I would never notice something like that unless it was painfully obvious.

15. RED OR PINK?
I'm going to go with pink, but red's great too!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Indecisiveness.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Corey, Sara and Brady, they're the only ones from our family not in California. I miss being with my college roommates, they are people I can truly be myself around, Beth is kind of like the sister I never had. I miss our friends Dave and Holly, we used to do stuff every weekend in our college days, that was really fun.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Only if they want to.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Plaid pink pajama pants, green shirt...sexy!

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Scrambled eggs.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Little Einsteins in the background. If I were listening to music, it would have to be Ben Folds.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Tiffany Box Blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS ?
Newborn babies, the pavement when it first starts raining, cold fresh air, when you go outside and can smell a restaurant's cooking.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Mom, of course, the third time that day!

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
She's my best friend...love you Mom.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Something on TIVO so it can be fast forwarded, sports are way too long. I do like tennis though.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Blonde, thank you Debbie!

28. EYE COLOR?
green/hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Yes, but would love to get LASIK

30. FAVORITE FOOD ?
Italian.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS ?
Happy endings, has anyone ever seen/read Ethan Frome, man that was depressing.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
"Not One Less", a Chinese film about a teacher in a remote village with a lot of determination.

33. WHAT COLOR SOCKS ARE YOU WEARING?
none!

34. SUMMER OR WINTER ?
Every season is wonderful and I'm ready for it at the end of the previous one.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends on who is doing the hugging or kissing.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Dessert. In general.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND
Hmmm...whoever I say will then be the most likely to respond, I'll just say, who knows?

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW ?
I just finished "Twilight". My book club is now going to read "The Good Earth".

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
It's a pad of paper, so people's names who I need an address update from for my bay announcements.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT?
BYU game, not my choice, but I'm glad they won.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Natalie's laughing and singing. Someone with a beautiful singing voice. Rain on the roof.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
No brainer...Beatles!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Switzerland, it's gorgeous.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I'll copy what my mom wrote: Jack of all trades, master of none. Although, I am good at teaching Math to kids.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Mission Viejo, CA

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Whoever wants to respond.

Pumpkin Carving

This was the first year Natalie joined in with carving a pumpkin. I must say, she didn't seem too into it, James did most of the work. Being her girly self, she wouldn't dig in and get the pumpkin guts, but she did take the spoon and scoop out the seeds a couple of times.



This is a new thing, we tell Natalie to smile for pictures and this is the cheesy grin we get.



Here it is again. And our work of art, real original, I know. Natalie wanted a "scary" pumpkin, this is the best I could come up with.



And lastly, the lone pumpkin on our porch. Hey! We're pretty proud of it. Although it's no Dave pumpkin, we tried our best.

Trunk or Treat

Our ward Trunk or Treat was this Saturday, so we decided to take Nat and Annette. James and I have good intentions every year to try and dress up, but so far have not succeeded. I guess we have a pretty good excuse this year though.

Sweet Annie

Things are going well here. Annette is a very sweet baby and gives mommy and daddy some good stretches at night, so we're keeping our sanity. She is still in that sleepy newborn phase, I just know one of these days she's going to wake up! Thanks to all of you who have helped with meals and with Natalie, we're so lucky to have such good friends/family!

Welcome Baby Girl!

We'd like you to meet Annette Honey White. She was born Saturday morning at 6:56 A.M. and weighed in at 9 pounds, 14 ounces. That is correct, 9 pounds, 14 ounces. Mother and baby are doing well. We're so excited for our new addition.

38 Weeks

I went to my midwife today. The latest: 2 cm dilated, 70% effaced. I know it doesn't guarantee anything, but it sure made me hopeful! As far as I'm concerned, this baby can come any time now, it's a-o-k with me.

Craft Central

I'm so excited for my new craft desk, thanks again Ikea! The greatest thing is I can store all my stuff right next to it so it's easy to get in and out. I've already been finishing projects, it's so much nicer to have everything right where I need it. Yea!

Baby Shower #2

My good friend Shannon threw me a beautiful shower a couple of weeks ago, I had so much fun! She did fondue, which was so yummy.

Here's all the helpers, thanks girls!!



Chocolate fountain, does it get any better?



I got so many fun little outfits, every baby deserves some new things, right? And this cute papasan chair so I'll have a place to put the baby down every once in awhile.

One Large Tum Tum

And it's not getting any smaller! I went to my midwife yesterday, she estimated the baby already weighs between 7 1/2 and 8 pounds. And I still have more than three weeks till my due date! This is going to be one healthy baby.

New Baby Girl

Ha ha! I wish! This is my little niece Lizzy when she was born. Did I trick ya? Probably not, I look way too cute in this picture to just have had a baby. =)

My House is Clean

My mom sent over her housekeeper yesterday, and now my house is spotless. This is one of the best gifts someone can give to you, in my opinion. It is nearly impossible for me to get certain cleaning done these days, so I was very, very, very glad for someone else to do it for me. Thanks, mom!

My number one thing I hate to clean: the shower and tub. Yes, I'd rather scrub toilets.

Curtains

I was getting really bored with my all white bathroom, so I decided to buy some fun fabric and make some curtains. They only took me two hours from start to finish! Now my plan is to put some pictures on the wall and hang a shelf up I got from Home Goods. I know it's just a bathroom, but when you're in there as much as I am, it's nice to have a little color in there!

Love, September

My good friend Beth just opened her Etsy shop: Love, September Go take a look!

Here are a couple of the adorable things she is selling.

Toddler Tutu



Diaper purse

Daddy Daughter

I thought these were cute, taken by James.