temple date

Adjusting to life after a baby can be rough but we were so grateful to finally make it back to the Temple! Danny's mom watched all three of the kids & even though Danny forgot to tell her where the bottle was, everyone survived! We are so grateful for Temples & are love living closer to so many. God is good!

stockton's blessing

We're so glad that we live close enough to family to come up for special events (soon it will be even closer!!) Stockton, who is 3 weeks younger than Graham, was blessed and afterwards we had a delicious luncheon! We were even able to meet up with our good friends, Emily & Elliot, who were in town visiting. 

// It was also Missy's birthday!! //

Thank goodness both Missy & Stockton are in our family! I have a feeling Graham and Stockton are going to be best buds. 

graham's blessing

Our sweet little guy, Graham Collins McKinley, was given a name and a blessing on May 4, 2014. Words can't describe how much we love him. He is such a good baby & we are so glad that he's here! Danny gave him a wonderful blessing, and after sacrament meeting, we had some of our family members join us for a waffle bar. It was delicious!! I got the special Belgian waffle recipe from my friend Kim & even ordered the pearl sugar on Amazon. We had toppings galore & it definitely hit the spot.

// My favorite picture of the day!! Is he not the cutest?!? //

// Max is way into Ninja Turtles lately. Luckily, Grandpa is too ;) //

// The men were exhausted after such a big day. //

// Graham's latest trick: holding his binky while he sleeps. Can't let it go too far! //

 Thanks again to everyone who came. We love you all!

the miracle of motherhood

It is kind of blowing my mind that we are going to have another BABY any day. My "official" due date is March 13th and although I'm totally fine to wait until then (or even after! How fun would it be to have a St. Patty's Day baby?!) I'm trying to prep myself for it to happen at any moment. Avery came eight days early, and Max was three...so we shall see.

I can't really think about anything besides this baby (and a non-medicated birth!!) so here is a little walk down memory lane of the last nine months:

// august 12, 2013 //

(Hello blonde hair!!!)

We were relieved when I finally threw up for the first time! Since I never threw up with my previous pregnancy (when I miscarried) we were really worried that another miscarriage was going to take place.  Never have I been so happy about throwing up :)

// september 9, 2013 //

// september 11, 2013 //

// september 12, 2013 //

Whew! Three "selfies" in a row! I went through a short (three day) kick where I took pictures almost daily for the app CineMama. I had good intentions of taking them all throughout my pregnancy...that didn't last long!

// october 16, 2013 //

The little babe seemed to pop over night! Being pregnant is the best! :)

// october 31, 2013 //

// december 6, 2013 //

// december 12, 2013 //

// january 3, 2014 //

// january 30, 2014 //

// february 24, 2014 //

Almost there!!!

// march 2, 2014 //

My sister-in-law, Missy & I are two weeks apart exactly! (She is due March 27th!) They are having a little boy so everyone is very anxious to find out what we are going to be blessed with.

I am continually amazed at the miracle of motherhood and am so, so excited to welcome this baby into our family. Life has been a little crazy lately (Max is extreeeeemely clingy and Avery has discovered how to throw a legit tantrum!) but I have a feeling this little babe will help us all reset and re-evaluate our priorities (let's hope so anyways!)

In the meantime, send positive thoughts my way!!! I'm really, really hoping to deliver this baby without an epidural and though I've read & prepared a bunch...I'm still feeling slightly nervous :)

Stay tuned!!!

rootstech // where families connect

Family history has fascinated me ever since I was a little girl but recently I have really gotten into it! My mom & I were able to attend RootsTech (the largest family history conference in the world!) and we had such a blast. Debbie so graciously watched Max & Avery for me and it was great to have some one-on-one time with my mama! Yay for the Spirit of Elijah and learning more about our ancestors!

The kids and I rode up front runner all by ourselves (it was quite the feat!) and then the next day my mom rode on public transportation for the first time in her life!! ;) She's such a trooper!

I took my mom to Blue Lemon for the first time (she was in for a lot of first's!) and it was oh so delicious (as always!)