A year in snippets.

Yes...it has been almost a full YEAR since posting last. Ridiculous, I know.

I wish I could write down everything that has happened of importance, but I know if I have ANY hope of starting to blog again, I can't wait until I have time to do that. So...here's cliff notes version (which will still be long, seeing that it was a year...)

*I did another 5k. (but STILL am not fond of running)

*Stephen was called into the Bishopric as 1st counselor.

*and several months later, I was released as Primary President and was called as the Compassionate Service Leader.

*Went to New Mexico to visit our best friends, the Dials!

*Grace turned 3, and she insisted on a 'fashion show' party. (and I wore myself out on said party)

*Found out that we're expecting number 2! (and finally got some answers as to our experience with infertility)

* Participated in a 'mommy and me' preschool. I taught with a few others on rotation. Grace LOVED it.

*Stephen got a new job much closer to home.

*Transformed into the Flintstones for Halloween (Wilma, Fred, and Pebbles)

*Celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas with both sides of the family.

10-12-13

Last night, I noticed Grace doing a potty dance. The following conversation happened:

Me: Grace, do you need to go to the bathroom?

G: No

Me: Grace, are you sure? You are dancing around like you have to go.

G: No...I'm just dancing.

***I make her try and she pees immediately***

Me: See?? You had to go potty.

G: (as she shrugs her shoulders) Yeah...Mom, you ALWAYS know the truth!!"

Yep...and don't you forget it.

12-3-13

I guess Grace overheard me talking about my dream about zombies earlier b/c as soon as Stephen walked in the door, she said, "DADDY....mommy had a bad dream. Ninja turtles were trying to kill her!" We both burst out in hysterics, to which Grace said quite adamantly, " DON'T LAUGH ABOUT IT!" 

You're right, Grace...Ninja Turtles trying to kill me is NOT a laughing matter.

12-6-13

Didn't plan on having to spend Grace's nap time in the urgent care. A couple x-rays later, we are relieved to know that there is no fracture....just a sprain. But the poor little thing has been limping around all day and asking us to hold her. BUT despite the added 'excitement', there have been so many blessings. Being at a dear friends house when it happened (who happens to have a dad who is a dr, and who knew that a pediatrician was working the office that day and recommended him personally), that same friend offering to go keep us company at the dr, having a sister (who is a nurse) listen to my concerns, and advise me what to do, and having another wonderful friend text me a matter of minutes after it happened just asking if they could bring us dinner. I just sat there and cried. Tender mercies today, and I'm beyond grateful.

12-10-13

Playing dolls with Grace on the floor, I was having my doll whisper in her ear. I was describing Grace by saying things like, " she's smart, she's funny, she has red hair and green eyes, she is pretty...etc" then Grace chimes in and says, "and she's married to Braxton."

Me: "WHAT?"

Grace: "Yeah, I'm married to Braxton for a long time. Then I'm not married to him for a long time. Then I'm married to Reese for a long time.

Me: "Well, let's only plan to marry ONE guy. Mommy loves daddy and I'm gonna be married to only him FOREVER."

Grace: "Well, not me. Mom, you can't change my heart."

Why do I have a feeling that I'm in serious trouble in 10 years?

12-30-13

When I asked Grace to clean up her blocks before taking out her felt boards, she turned around and gave me a face with hands on hips and said, "Are you REALLY serious right now??!!"

It is really hard to convince a 3 yr old that indeed you are really serious when you are uncontrollably laughing.

1-19-14

Me: Grace, what did you learn in primary today?

G: I learned to be obedient and say sorry. I pushed Braxton and then he pushed me.

Me: Grace, I'm disappointed! What on earth would make you want to push your friend?

Grace: *sighs* uuuhhh....MOM, Cara already did this with me...

(well, at least she has an aunt as a teacher who can discipline her in class the way I would? haha)

1-20-14

Tonight for Family Home Evening, we talked about good behavior vs bad behavior. After we explained what we were going to do to encourage good behavior, I tried to compare it to the Savior's life.

I told Grace, "Who else have we talked about being really helpful to his parents?"

G: "Baby Jesus!"

me: That's right! He was very kind, and loving, and obedient to his mother and father.

G: Yeah! When his daddy, Joseph, asked him to help him wash his car, baby Jesus helped him! And when his mother, Mary asked him to do the laundry, baby Jesus DID IT!!

Ummm.....sure Grace. Wrong century, but right idea?

1-24-14

So Grace asked me to show her a picture of me in my wedding dress (since I've been editing wedding pictures). We come to this one, and she shouts, "Mom! You look ECSTATIC!!!" Why, yes, Grace...I was. And it turns out, I still am!

(and a special thanks to 'word girl' for teaching her good words! haha)

Story of our life in a picture:

3-6-14

As Grace finishes up her dinner, she looks at her shirt and then up at me and says, "Mom! I'm like you! I dropped my food all over me." Yeah, Grace....turns out, it is genetic....haha

3-11-14

I forgot to share this last week...but we FINALLY put Grace in a 'big girl bed'. We were all expecting it to be a long drawn out process of having to bring her back to her room a billion times after we put her down...but to our surprise, she has transitioned seamlessly. In fact, the morning after her first night in the bed, I wake up to her calling me on the monitor saying, "mom? Can I get out?" haha She is so proud of herself, and tells everyone about her new bed!

3-19-14

Aunt Heather is pretty much awesome! She just whipped up these 'Elsa' and 'Anna' capes for grace. I think it's safe to say that she absolutely LOVES them! In fact...she hasn't taken the anna one off since we left! And you should have seen her face when we told her the fabric came Auntie Anne..she was beyond thrilled!!

3-27-14

With it being Stephen Jennings's birthday and all....It only seemed appropriate to announce the baby gender with one of his FAVORITE things: a Hershey's Bar. Grace was right all along. ; ) We are ALL excited! 

For those of you who have not had the honor of seeing 

G's terrific bed head in the mornings. You're welcome.

Loves her BFF's (aka, cousins)

4-18-14

Grace runs up to me, excitedly, and exclaims, "MOM, Can today be the day that I remind you to make popsicles? And I'll get nude, and you'll get nude, and we'll eat our popsicles Nudie?"

I have a feeling she is reminiscing about the good 'ole days with her BFF, Peyton. I had to explain to her, that her idea was definitely not going to happen as she described. Well, at least not the nude me part...

4-20-14

Some days you realize the depth of your children's love a little more than others. Today, grace found her Easter basket and excitedly went through everything. Then she turned to me and said very seriously, "mom, you can have this (Reeses egg) because you are my best friend. " yep. .. Nothing says true love like sharing a reeses egg! I love that girl!

Celebrated my last mother's day of being a mother to only 1 child, and last one being under 30! Wow...That snuck up fast.

May 2014

Graduated from 'mommy's preschool'.

I continued to work my side business, and loved it.

I left my props out, and came to find this later:

I think she has potential! ; )

6-1-14

Stephen just 'boing-ed' grace to bed. (He jumped her really high from the kitchen to her bed) She cackled all the way there. I said, "man that looks like fun. ..I wish I could go to bed like that! " G shot me a serious look and said, "mom, dad can't handle that. .." ummm... true, but ouch! Haha

6-7-14

Grace had a blast at the Run Ella, Run Memorial 5k today! She may have hitched a ride with Uncle RyRy for part of the kids run, but she finished strong! haha She is so proud of her medal, and has refused to take it off all day. She has informed me that she will be sleeping with it tonight. : )

6-17-14

When I tried to explain to grace that we were going to a 'super sibling' class tonight, she got really excited and exclaimed, "ooh ooh! I've gotta wear my cape!" And then runs out of the room to go retrieve her 'elsa' cape. G has this super thing down already. ; )

6-28-14

We took advantage of the tiny window of time we had with this girl on her short trip. We wanted to take a picture and asked grace to join in. She refused, saying, " No. ..I want to PHOTOBOMB!" Well done, little grasshopper.

7-28-2014

Grace and I were playing the "guess who" game this morning. I was trying to give her a little hint that she should ask if my person had a mustache. I put my pointer finger above my lip and wiggled it to get her attention. She nodded, and then asked, "Does YOUR person have a little worm on his face?"

I'm obviously not very good at giving hints. Sorry, Grace.

My dear friend, Rebecca was willing to take some pictures of us before this baby pops out. Here are some of my favorites.

 

And funny thing is: I was 37 weeks here....and these were taken on the same day as my baby shower. With Grace, I had my sister take some pictures of me after my baby shower....also at 37 weeks. Funny how that happened.

And for comparison, here is a shot at 37weeks with Grace.