Santa Clause Is Coming To Town..

 But I've been a little bit naughty lately...

 Somehow though.. I fake my parents and they are still going to spoil me because they think I'm just SO SWEET.

I can't wait for Katelyn's first Christmas! We are leaving to Utah on Monday. These next 3 weeks are going to be a lot of fun and we are really looking forward to spending time with family and celebrate Christmas, Katelyn's 1st birthday, and New Years. :)

ARTIST

(Katelyn's Art at 11 months)

For awhile I have been trying to teach Katelyn how to draw. We had our good moments- when she would let me take her hand and help her draw or just sit quietly and watch me draw something. And we had our bad moments- when she would get frustrated because she would see me do it and then want to do it by herself, but just couldn't. She would grab the paper away from me try to crumple it or run away with it. Or take her crayon away crying. It was sad. I wanted her to be able to do something fun all by herself and I knew she wanted to do it too. 

Then, finally, the other day she learned how to do it with out my help! We were sitting together in our guest bedroom and I was making a card for Nick. I got out the markers and got a piece of paper for her to draw on. I just took off the lid, put the marker in her hand, and she took off! She was going all over the place. She loved it. I could tell she was happy and she did it so well and drew a very beautiful picture! I am so proud of her. She can finally keep the marker/crayons up right to draw. 

We ventured to the library the other day and she loved it, she also drew a very cute picture there too. She loved just following random kids around. Reading a few books. And using their colorful paper and crayons to draw pictures at the tables. I'll have to take her back to the library more often, she certainly DID NOT want to leave.

(Looking at the Birds)

Another random little thing. Katelyn loves birds. There are usually a few sitting on our fence out back every morning and day she'll just look out our window smiling and waving at them. I think she really wants to go out and chase them, but that early in the morning it's just too cold for me to go out there. :(

Every time I see some birds fly by I'll yell "Birdies, birdies!" and she runs over and squeals or waves at them, it's so adorable.

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I can't wait to see my sister this Christmas break and her little baby to be! She is expecting and I am so happy for her and her husband. She isn't due until June, but I'm still going to rub her little belly and talk to the baby when I see her, what an awesome thing to be pregnant, to actually be bringing a sweet little child of God into this world. When someone so close to me gets blessed with something I just feel so happy for them, almost as if it's my own blessing. I love my sister so much and I can't wait for her and her husband to experience the joys of parenthood. She has always been an example to me and I know she is going to be a great Mom! I love you baby Walser! And your momma and dadda :)

Tonight is our ward Christmas party. I'm excited. Nick said that Santa would be there and I'm really hoping so! No, not for me ;) I want to get a picture of Katelyn with him! This will be her first Christmas. She has NO idea who Santa is of course. I want to see her reaction, if she'll cry at first sight, or laugh and try to grab his beard. Either way I'm going to hopefully capture the moment. 

I love Christmas time. I love the music. I love the lights. I love the smelly candles. I love the stockings hanging up. I love the decorated trees. I love spending time with family. I love being reminded of my Savior. I love it ALL. I don't know how the Christmas Spirit can't be felt in some way by every one. I hope you all enjoy this merry holiday! 2 weeks until Christmas break!! Well, for us at least ;).

11 Months Old!!

Tomorrow Katelyn turns 11 months old! You know what that means.. one more month and she'll be one! We are so excited to celebrate her birthday. One year ago today I didn't think this year would go by so fast, but it has. I was reading a blog and they were blogging about what was going on this time A YEAR AGO. Here I am one year ago:

I'm pretty sure this is the closest picture I have to this day last year. I was probably 34 weeks along. I was anxious to see our baby girl. I wanted to do so much for her before she got here. She has blessed our lives in so many ways and we couldn't be more grateful for her.

It makes me sad that she is growing up so fast and will already be a year old. I DO want her to still be my tiny little baby. I don't like it when people say she's not a baby anymore. She IS my baby and she will always be my sweet, innocent, little baby. No matter how much she grows up.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm so glad she has grown up and experienced new things and lived a whole (almost whole) year of her life. I am so excited for her to keep growing. To start playing with barbies and baby dolls and asking mom if she can put lipstick on (no).  :)

At 11 months Katelyn is just learning new things every day. She understands a lot. When we tell her to get a certain stuffed animal she'll know which one by name. She knows what certain foods are called. She runs (it's SO cute). She is always so happy.

I have enjoyed having her in my life so much and am so proud to be her mommy!

 Katelyn 11 months

YES!

It's been a few days, but I'm still SO glad this is over with. BOARDS. Nick took his test the day before Thanksgiving and I have been so happy to have him around more! Some of his classes are done too so I will be seeing him a lot more and he gets to come home early some days. It really is just a blessing to have more time with him.

These next couple of weeks til Christmas break are going to FLY by and I can't wait! I love when we are both not stressed and we have something fun to look forward to. I love the holidays. Thanksgiving was already great, and I can't wait to get out and go to Utah and Colorado! It will be much needed.

18 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS BREAK BABY!

We have a tooth!!

This morning after sacrament meeting I was looking at Katelyn while Nick was holding her. I rubbed my finger along her gums (like I usually do) to see if there was something there. We've been waiting for her first tooth to make it's appearance for awhile now. And to my surprise I felt something! I couldn't believe it and I may have screamed out in the foyer. I said, "NICHOLAS! She has a tooth!!!" He reached in and felt too and sure enough, yup there was a tooth. We have caught little glimpses of it, but I've been no where near close enough to get a picture of it. She fights it. (so pictures may come later)

I've heard so many teething stories where babies have the hardest time and keep their parents up all night (I really feel sympathy for those poor babies.. and parents!), but luckily Katelyn's didn't seem to bother her (hopefully they all are like that). Usually if she wakes up at night I have to rock her or give her a bottle and she'll fall back asleep. So last night she woke up, drank a bottle, and fell back asleep. So in my mind I had no idea a tooth was coming, the only reason we have been suspecting it is because SHE'LL BE 11 MONTHS OLD NEXT WEEK! So it's about time they popped up :)

It's little milestones like these that make being a mom SO wonderful. Something so small, makes me so happy, so excited, and makes me love my role as a mother and to be able to experience these things. I love being her mom. I love seeing her grow. I can't believe she is growing up so quickly. Before we know it we'll be celebrating her ONE year birthday.. which will probably make me cry a little, but I'll be so happy to have had her for a full year in our lives. I can't wait to celebrate the day she was born!

If your husband is planning to go to dental school.. you have a lot to look forward to :)

Well, I have a computer today. Nick is studying for Boards and he has a bunch of cards he studies from; so to make his studying more effective he thought he'd leave the computer for me so it wouldn't distract him. :)

Finally I have a computer, but I just don't know what to blog about. The only thing I can think of happening lately is BOARDS. Ugh. I dread them. I'm sure Nick dreads them more, (since he is the one taking them) but oh man the days have been long and lonely with out him. He wakes up early and comes home after I'm asleep. The other girls and I joke that we are basically single moms.  It's tough work. And I know Katelyn misses her daddy.


He will be done and over with it in FOUR days! Yay! I should have a countdown ticker for that instead of Christmas break. I am counting down the days and so excited for him to be done. :) I know he'll read this sometime, so GOOD LUCK NICHOLAS! You'll do great! :)

Be Thankful

There are so many things I am thankful for. Small little things and bigger things that truly bless my life. I have been wanting to write a thankful post this month and I have seen many of you blogging about what you are thankful for so I thought I'd share some things I am thankful for.

My car- I was driving today and thought, "What would I do with out a car? Or even more, what would I do if we only had ONE car?" just a little thing like having a second car is something I am so grateful for.

Our home- we are really so blessed to have a home. Not just any home, but a home where we are comfortable. We have enough space for all of our storage. It is not dark and crammed. Its new and it's beautiful. It keeps me and my babies (Nick and Katelyn) warm. It makes me feel safe. I am so grateful for a beautiful home to live in.

My family- my husband works so hard for our family. Lately he's been studying a lot and gone late until 9 sometimes later at night. It's really made me realize how much I need and enjoy his company. He makes me happy. My beautiful baby Katelyn is absolutely perfect. When I look at her while she's sleeping, playing, eating, I see peace and happiness, something I wish I could see in all things. I am so grateful for her. I'm grateful for the blessing that I was able to get pregnant with her and that the Lord gave us this blessing, something that is sometimes taken for granted. (BTW- Katelyn is going to be ONE year old next month.. Dec. 30th, I can't believe how fast time has flown by!) Nicholas and Katelyn make me so happy. I'm thankful for the rest of my family too. I love being able to talk to them and always feel their love. And for Nicks family who is so generous and loving.

My Heavenly Father- I am so grateful I have someone to talk to whenever I need it no matter where I am. We have our trials. There are things I have to go through no matter how much I don't want to, but because of Him I have faith and can carry on. Because of Him I am so blessed and I can have a positive outlook on life.

The Orphanage Babies- There may be some of you who don't know I volunteered in an orphanage. It has been over three years, but these little babies still have influence in my life and I strongly hope that one day I'll be the one who helps one of them and gives them the life they deserve. If you could see what I saw, or have seen similar, you'll understand really how much these children need to be adopted.


There are so many things I 'm thankful. These are just a few. Maybe closer to Thanksgiving I will post more (like how THANKFUL I will be when Nick's boards are done and I'll have my husband back!) :) I hope you all take the time this month to recognize what you are thankful for.