Hooray!!!

Chloe slept last night until 7:15 this morning!!!! And when we put her to bed, she didn't even cry! She just fell right asleep!

I woke up like 3 times...Waiting to hear her cry...But nothing! It was amazing!

Then I had multiple dreams about her not getting enough to eat... And then one that she was only 3 months old, but was walking and talking and wanted to eat people food. I told her she had to have a bottle, but she just had a soda instead. And she fed herself. She didn't need me anymore. It was very, very sad.

But in real life, where she slept all night, I was very, very happy!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday so I wanted to do a little birthday shout-out!

Happy Birthday, Mom!! I hope you've had a great day and loved every second of it. I'm so glad that we could all go to the temple to celebrate your birthday - what a perfect birthday activity!

I just want you to know how much I love you and how wonderful of a mom you are. I hope I can take all the things I've learned from you and teach them to my kids. I have so many great memories of you and I LOVE being with you and talking to you. I could talk to you all day!
Some of my favorite memories with you:

-Your silent laugh
-When we gossip together...probably not the best mother/daughter activity..But I love it
-When you stabbed Noah
-Every birthday and Christmas. Especially with Fruit Compost. :) You always made them so special.
-When I was 5 and I went to spend the night at Alyssa's but I hadn't cleaned the kitchen..You came and picked me up and I was so sad. But I remember you were so sad for me and I was bawling my eyes out and you held me..Even though I was 5 and big by then. I really knew then how much you cared about me!
-All the times you were tough and went to yell at other kids and their parents for being mean to me or anyone in our family
-Aruba. Everything about Aruba.
-Wonton Thingys
-Coming and helping me with Chloe
-Teaching me how to whistle. I remember laying in bed in Iowa and you teaching me and Dan to whistle.
-French Silk Pie
-Watching all our shows together. Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol, etc
-The Sheryl Crow Concert
-Coming to Utah for my 18th birthday
-The Cheesecake Factory before the pageant
-When you came to Chicago with me on my 8th grade trip
-Trying to find the lady's house that did my hair for my wedding..Ok, more of a super stressful memory...But it ended well :)
-You always are so complimentary and so nice to all of us. It always makes me feel so so good!

I love you SO much! I can't tell you enough how great of a mom you are and how happy I am that you aren't just my mom but my friend, too. Happy Birthday!

Chloe's 3 Month Fun Facts

Chloe will be THREE MONTHS OLD on Saturday!!! I can't believe it. Here are some of the fun things she's doing now!

-11 lb. 3 oz. and 23 inches long

-Loves Mr. Giraffe on her bouncer and is starting to love Mr. Elephant (Giraffe is on the right side...So we think she'll be right handed)

-Is so great at holding up her head and tries to sit up all the time

-LOVES to stand up, especially on your tummy when you lay down

-Smiles constantly at mommy and daddy

-Cries for about 10-20 minutes when you put her down for a nap, unless she's really tired

-Eats 5 oz every time we feed her -- which is every 3 hours

-Loves to be held and played with; if she's left "alone" (she cant see you) she will start whining because she's not with you

-Likes to look at the TV and computer

-Loves to suck on her fists-sometimes the whole thing gets in her mouth and she'll open her fingers and gag herself

-Always holds her hands together and interlocks her fingers

-When you put her pacifer in or go to touch her face she'll wrap her hands and arms around your hand so you have to keep touching her

-Loves to blow bubbles and spit and is drooling more and more

-Loves to talk and squeal

-Falls asleep almost instantly when you put her in her carseat

-Stops crying as soon as you pick her up, even if you don't put her binky in...Which makes me feel like she really loves me!

I love her! She's such a great baby and I can't believe we've been so blessed to have her in our lives!

She got something from me....

Ya think?

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Happy 26th Birthday. I know it was last Saturday (January 10), but mom got sick and couldn't help me write you this letter. Today is the first time she's been up to doing anything, so I suggested we do it now.

I'm sorry I missed doing it on your actual birthday, because you are so so special to me and I wanted to give you a birthday surprise. I'm glad I can do this in time for your birthday re-do tomorrow! I'm so excited for you to get another special day and I hope you have a good time.

Daddy, I love you SO much. You are the only guy in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love when you play with me and help me roll over. I know sometimes I get scared when you growl at me, but I really do love it. I promise.

I love when you feed me and especially when you change my diaper!! I wish you would do it ALL the time because I like it more than when mommy does it.

I'm so glad that you stay home now at night. I didn't like it when you went to work all the time. Having you go to school all the time now is bad enough! When you aren't home to play with me it makes me a little sad.
Sometimes a lot sad. I like to play with mommy, but daddy is always more fun. So when you come home or when mommy takes me to come visit you at school, it's the highlight of my day!!! Sorry I sleep through it sometimes. I think you love to come home and see me, too. I see how excited you get to come and say hi to me! It makes me even more excited to smile back at you.

You are my favorite. You are the best Daddy in the whole wide world!!

I love you!
Love, Your Baby-Cakes,
Chloe

My Little Girl

I stole this from Lindsay and Amy Jo

My First Baby
All you moms out there are welcome to participate and do this on your blog! Consider yourself tagged if you so desire.

1. Were you married at the time? Yes, Chloe was born after Cody and I had been married almost 2 1/2 years

2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? I was SO excited!!! I woke up really early to take the test and wanted to surprise Cody, so I had to wait like 4 hours until he woke up! So I looked up a bunch of stuff online about babies and pregnancy.

3. How old were you? 21-both when I was pregnant and when I had her

4. How did you find out you were pregnant? pregnancy test

5. Who did you tell first? Cody of course-I had wrapped up a little baby outfit and gave it to him-it was like a month after his birthday and I told him I forgot to give him a present -- which I had done before-- so he didn't expect it. He was so excited!

6. Did you want to find out the sex? Of course! We were so excited it was a little girl, even though I was 100% it would be a boy...Since then I've realized I ALWAYS get baby sex's wrong!

7. Due date? It was always Oct 26.

8. Did you deliver early or late? 2 days early. I went to the hospital 3 days early and they induced me the next day, so she was born on Oct. 24! One month after Catheryn's birthday!

9. Were you sick? Yes!! It was awful. Luckily the dr gave me medicine that made it go away...but it lasted 5+ months

10. What did you crave? I didn't really crave things...I didn't ever crave something that was like-I have to have that NOW. Things just sounded good to me...But the two things that sounded good ALL the time were potato salad and pie

11. Who irritated you the most? I honestly don't think I was too bad. I didn't really get irritated -- Cody might think differently...but I think I was basically the same as always!

12. What was your first child's sex? girl!!!

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? like 40. I lost 35 right away..but I'm still trying to lose 25!

14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? None except being sick...just the normal things-morning sickness, headaches, heartburn, etc. I was super lucky and blessed to have such an easy pregnancy

15. Where did you give birth? Idaho Falls...also won't do that again

16. How many hours were you in labor? 23 1/2! It was a really long time. I ended up getting an epidural after 17 hours

17. Who drove you to the hospital? Cody. We almost got into a rumble with another car on the way...Long story.

19. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? eventually I got an epidural...and thank goodness for whoever created that amazing thing. (Ditto that, Amy)

20. How much did your child weigh? 6 lbs 10 oz and 19 1/2 inches long

21. Did your child have any complications? not at all, she was perfect!

22. What did you name him/her? Chloe Catheryn

23. How old is your first born today? 2 1/2 months

24. Who does your child look like? I can't tell! I think she just looks like herself. People have said she looks like both of us, though... We'll see someday!

Dear Jon and Alicia,

I just want to let you know that last night I fell asleep on the couch at 10 pm.

Not cool, guys. Not cool.

Anytime you want to move back to Rexburg would be great.

Stacey

Christmas!

This Christmas was so fun. Cody, Chloe and I got to go to California to spend it with Cody's family. We left on the 20th around 6 am because we decided to drive! What fun that was. It really wasn't too bad, Chloe was SUCH a good girl and slept most of the time. I fed her in her carseat while Cody drove and then we'd stop to take her out to burp her. By the end of the trip, though, she hated getting back into her seat. She would stretch out her body to try to stop us from putting her in! We got to Cali that night around 9. We made such good time! Only 15 hours (with the time change)!

We had so so so much fun there. It was so great to see some of Cody's family and let Chloe have fun with her aunt, uncles, and grandparents! Cody's parents loved holding her and feeding her-I always feel bad having someone else feed Chloe or change her or things like that-I feel like they're just being nice and dont' really want to do it-but they kept telling me that they only got to be with her for a week and they really wanted to! It was so nice. They even watched her while Cody and I went on (numerous) dates!! It was great to get to be together again! He took me to see Twilight and we both liked it!!! I think I liked it more than Cody...But he said it wasn't bad!

For the longest time Chloe has been out and about in just a blanket over her carseat-we didn't have any kind of coat or anything. I bought one awhile ago, but it was WAY too big, so I didn't know what to do! Luckily, Dirk and Tami gave her an early Christmas present! Her "Squirrel Suit!" (When you unzip it the middle piece hangs down and it looks like a squirrel with a long tail.)

On Christmas Eve, Tami asked Cory to mow the lawn, but when I heard about mowing, I told them I would do it! I LOVE to mow and I haven't been able to since I was probably 16 or 17! When I moved to Utah my grandparents had "people" that did that, and now we're in an apartment so it's been a long time! I was so excited and I definitely haven't ever mowed on Christmas Eve before!! I've never had a warm Christmas in my life! I even ran into an orange from the orange tree while I was mowing...Also a first!

Our Christmas was so fun. In our family we get our stockings first, then my mom sits by the tree and gives out presents one at a time to open. After presents we eat breakfast...Which usually consists of our stocking candy! In Cody's family we get stockings, then have breakfast which is always crepes. Yum! Then after breakfast everyone gets a pile of their presents and opens them, one at a time. It was different for me to have all my presents stacked infront of me at once, but so fun! Chloe loved it too!!

Chloe got a Santa hat from her Aunt Amy, and everyone loved taking pictures of her in it. Everyone agreed she looked more like the Pope than Santa...But she's still so cute!!



While we were there we took Chloe to the beach for her very first time! I wanted to put her feet in the water, but she was in her squirrel suit and sleeping...So I decided that wasn't a good idea. We walked down the beach and Cody was taking pictures of everything. It was so fun! The whole time we were there I kept forgetting it was Christmas-time because it was so warm and nice outside. I definitely welcomed it though!

After a week of gorgeousness we came home and there was like 2 feet of snow! Cody had to park behind some cars so he could dig out a spot for our car. (I called and complained and a few hours later there was someone with a plow.
Too bad Cody had already done it...) This is Cody's car...Completely covered! Chloe and I hung out in the car for like 30 minutes because we couldn't even make it to our door!

It was a fabulous Christmas and I can't wait for next year! Having Chloe made this year even more even more special. I was always thinking about Mary and Joseph and their journey to have the baby Jesus. I felt like I had so much more of a connection to Mary and it made the Christmas season really come alive to me. I have never thought about the true meaning of Christmas as much as I did this year and it made it so wonderful. I am so grateful that we celebrate the birth of our Savior and we can have a extra special time to remember Him and His earthly parents. I am so glad that Chloe could help me remember Him!