CHRISTMAS AND REAGAN'S BIRTHDAY

 

Okay so these pictures are a little late but oh well...Christmas was crazy but fun and it went by super quick.  The following week we had my parents and niece and nephew here for Reagan's birthday.  My sister was SUPER prego so they weren't able to come out here to CO so we both had the brilliant idea to send the kids with my parents.  They all had so much fun together.  The week was filled with staying up late (which was EXHAUSTING) and getting up early.  We had a Snow Princess party for about six of Reagan's little friends.  My friend Connie came to do face painting for the girls and they loved it (Reagan's favorite part of the party).  It was two hours of chaos, but Reagan had so much fun with all of her little friends and cousin.  Also on the agenda.. seing Princess and the Frog, super cute and surprisingly everyone enjoyed it.  And Kevin took the kids sledding the last day they were here.  We all had a ton of fun and so glad my parents could come out to CO and the kids could come with them.

2009

This has been quite the whirlwind year.  This time last year we had just found out we were pregnant, and not long after that I started to feel pretty cruddy!  I'm not sure if most of you know but I had a pretty big scare with my pregnancy with Taylor (beside the having her six weeks early).  At about 10-11 weeks along I began bleeding heavily, we were sure that we were going to miscarry, but thankfully it was nothing.  Though after that we still had our fair share of ups and downs.  At my 20 week appointment they were concerned that my protein and blood sugar levels were high, so I had to do some more fabulous tests to rule out gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, again everything came back normal, all just a little stressful.  And then there was pretty smooth sailing after that, I was feeling a lot more normal just excited to see our little Tay.  Then 33 weeks role around and well you know the rest.  I can't say enough how grateful we are to our loving Heavenly Father!  This entire experience with Taylor made us truly realize the importance of the gospel in our lives.  Just a quick share about Taylor's blessing that I didn't mention in that post...Kevin shared his testimony about the power of the Priesthood, and I have to second it!  My own testimony of the priesthood was strengthened during this time, I know because of the priesthood that our little Taylor is doing so well!  There are times now that we just look at her and are humbled by the blessing that she is!  If you can't tell she's a keeper, we all kind of like her!!  

As I reminisce about last year I also think back on all the wonderful support we received during this crazy time and also the craziness that was my pregnancy.  Reagan was so understanding, the poor kid watched movie after movie some days when I was in the worst of it!  She has been such a amazing big sister, constantly helping with whatever I ask her to do.  Her favorite thing lately is being the first one in her room after her naps or just waking up in the morning.  Sometimes they'll even have a little time just to themselves and play and giggle at one another, it's so sweet!  We're so proud of our little Reagan, I'm kind of in shock right now, she just turned five, and I still can't believe it!!  She is just growing up too fast for me, sadly at one point in her short little life I wanted her to grow up super quick and start school and just be grown up but now I realize that I need to cherish this time in her life more.  She will start school in late August and I know I'll be the Mom sobbing my little eyes out as she walks into school for the first time.  So needless to say I'm trying to enjoy her more. 

So to sum up this extremely long rant...I am so grateful for the year of 2009!  It was filled with so many new and different experiences but we wouldn't trade them.  Our family has been strengthened through these experiences and we are so grateful for another year together to learn and grow.  We wish everyone a successful and happy 2010!