Paige Abigail Nicoll

Our sweet Paige Abigail officially joined our family on April 4, 2013, at 1:38 PM.  She has successfully stolen all of our hearts.  When I can pull myself away from her for more than a few minutes I will write down her birth story, but for now, here are some of our favorite pictures of the past few days.

 

Welcome

Today was my 40 week check up for my baby girl, and I gave her an eviction notice.  I am being started tomorrow morning at 7:30AM!  Ever since I made the decision I haven't stopped smiling.  I can't wait to kiss her tiny little face and welcome her to our family.

Knowing that today was my last day as a mother of two, I wanted to make sure it was a good one.  Our Robinson cousins are in town- which always makes for a good time- and so we have spent the day with them.  We spent lunchtime at McDonald's playing on the play place, and then afterwards we went for a nature walk.  I have to say one thing-

Welcome Spring!

We were walking and exploring for a couple of hours down at the Provo River.  Nothing will lift your spirits like getting out and about in the sunshine!

Tonight we'll finish getting ready for our new arrival.  I can't believe it's here.  I'm looking forward to some really good snuggle and singing time with my Annie Kate, and some stories with Will.  I know once the baby is here that it will be harder to have those moments for awhile.  I'm going to soak it up.

If I Had Been There

We just celebrated a wonderful Easter this past weekend.  Easter has become one of my favorites.  It has nothing to do with Peeps or fluffy bunnies and everything to do with the real reason behind the holiday- the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ.

On Friday a friend of mine posted the following photo on Facebook:

This is Peter and John in a painting by Eugene Burnand.  In the New Testament in John 20:4 it says, "So they ran both together: and the other disciple (being John) did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre."  When they arrived they saw the linens, and the napkin that was covering his head, but no Jesus.  He wasn't there because He was risen.

When I saw the picture I was instantly brought to tears.  I know that if I were there, and I had heard the news that my Savior's body was missing, I would have run there.  I would have done just as Peter and John did.

My heart was tender as I thought so much about Him this weekend.  I thought often of dear friends and family members that have lost loved ones, and what the promise of resurrection and eternal life means to them, and to me.

It means everything.

And our Savior gave it to us.  He gave it to us because He loves us.

This year in primary the kids are learning a new song called Gethsemane.  It is so beautiful.  The words are truly inspired:

Jesus climbed the hill
To the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer
Took Him there
To the place only He could go
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So He went willingly
To Gethsemane
He felt all that was sad, wicked or bad
All the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago
(Chorus)
The hardest thing That ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus.
The fight was won by Jesus.
(Chorus)
Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So he gives His gift to me
From Gethsemane

We are so richly blessed by our Father in Heaven.  I am humbled and thankful as I think about the sacrifice He made for us- the gift of his Son.  I believe in Christ, and I know that He lives.

A hunting we will go!

Our Easter festivities included:

• A "breakfast" (mini cups of juice and donut holes) and "egg hunt" at the local Smith's.  The "egg hunt" turned out to be bags of candy that were opened and thrown on the floor for the kids to pick up.  It took all of 30 seconds and we left with more candy than we got on Halloween.  It was ridiculous.  Plus something about picking candy off the floor of the local grocery store just gives me the willies.
• Coloring Easter Eggs as a family.  This is one of my favorites!  We always write things or draw pictures on the eggs with crayons before we dye them.  Annie wrote "Mom" and "Annie" on one of the eggs and told me it says "I love Mom and Annie!"  So cute.  Will's eggs included really cool sharks- of course.
• A very small Easter Egg hunt at our house.  The Easter Bunny must have known that we didn't need very much candy.  I was grateful.
• Dinner and cousin time at Grandma Kaisermans!  Annie attacked Uncle John (and everyone else) with stickers, Will played his heart out with Spencer and Jacob, Dallas chatted with the old men in the back room, and I got a massage from Shauna in hopes to induce labor... it didn't work, but it felt great!

We had a great weekend!

Psych!

Yesterday at 11:30 AM was my 39 week check up for the baby.  After the doctor checked me I was super crampy and then I started having sporadic contractions.  In an effort to keep things moving, I got to work.  For the rest of the day I:

• Made and baked a batch of cookies.
• Washed all of the windows in the upstairs of my house.
• Cleaned both bathrooms.
• Thoroughly vacuumed the upstairs and the couches.
• Dusted.
• Did 3 loads of laundry.
• Made Dinner.
• Did the dishes.
• Backed up my computer (which took THIRTEEN DVD's!).
• Groomed Scooter.
• Bathed the kids and did Annie's hair.
• Cleaned underneath the kitchen sink.
• Ironed the curtains for the baby's room.
• Walked (because I couldn't run because contractions were coming every 3 minutes) 3 miles.
• Went Easter shopping and prepared Easter baskets and stuffed all of the eggs.

And after all this- contractions stopped at 10 PM.

So I watched TV, took a bath, and went to bed listening to a hypnosis session at midnight.

Then at 1:15 AM I woke up to contractions.  Every ten minutes for the next 4+ hours I was having them.

And then they stopped.  Again.  And I haven't had any since.

Paige!  You naughty little girl!  Don't play these tricks on your Mom and just come already, would you?

Author in the house!

Will has written and illustrated his very first bound book!  Dallas was getting  a report bound for school and told Will that if he worked really hard and did a really good job, that he would get his book bound for him.

The author immediately got to work.

I'm still not sure why he chose to work in the space beneath the television rather than the table, but you must never question an artist!

When he was finished he had a factual book on Ocean Animals.  It's incredible!  If you come to our house, you must see it.

The Brown Jeep

A couple of weeks ago we said goodbye to one of our family members- the Brown Jeep.  We're going to miss it!  However, the only reason Dallas got rid of it was because he was selling it to Beau; he was willing to let it go... just not too far away.

We're all going to miss Jeep rides around town and exploring the Wasatch mountains in the Brown Jeep.  Guess we'll just have to visit Logan so we can go for a ride!

Ready

Believe it or not, the due date is a mere 17 days away.  SEVENTEEN DAYS!  I've spent so many days (262 to be exact) imagining what it's going to be like to meet my third child, and now it's so close I can almost taste it.  In Relief Society this week the best quote was shared:

"Each last day or each last week should be the best that we have ever experienced."

-Pres. Lorenzo R. Snow

I'm determined to make this my motto for the remainder of my pregnancy.  I have so much left to enjoy while I only have 2 kids.  Plus, I know when I get to hold my sweet girl in my arms that I will miss feeling her wiggle in my belly.  Isn't life so bitter-sweet as you say hello to a new stage and goodbye to one you've loved so much?

I've been planning my delivery of Paige a little differently than my other two- this time I'm planning on a Hypnobirth.

It's true.  I am now a hippie.

I have so loved being immersed in the program so far!  I don't think it's a coincidence that I've felt better during the last 6 weeks since I started the program than I did earlier in my pregnancy.  I've been more comfortable, I've been sleeping better, and I've been less anxious.  It has been so fun for me to find something that has just "clicked" so well.  I honestly can't wait until delivery day!

Picture taken at 36 weeks pregnant.

The baby nursery is ready! Stocked with diapers and a wardrobe that could probably clothe two newborn baby girls, we're ready to bring our baby girl home as soon as she decides to come.  I'm able to use a lot of the same things that I had with Annie, but I've also bought a few little special things that are just for Paige as well.

We love the nursery- there is the best feeling in that room.  If you can't find either Dallas or myself, you should look there; chances are we've got our feet up in the recliner taking a break.

The saying says, "My finger may be tiny but I can still wrap my Daddy around it."

The pictures of the dancing girls were my Mom's when she was a little girl.

I've been able to continue to run- it has been so good for me mentally.  It has been hard, but I think it has been worth it.  I can say this now because as I write this I am sitting in sweaty clothes following a particularly rewarding 5K.  I turn plenty of heads these days with a bump this size, that's for sure!  I'm now to the point that every time I leave for a run I wonder if it's going to be my last for awhile- not because I'm ready to quit, but because I might actually have my baby.  It's an exciting thought!

The only thing that's not ready is her name.  We are still stuck on what to do with a middle name!  We just haven't found the one we really love yet.  I actually gambled away naming rights to the baby the other night during a game of Klondike Rummy to Grandpa Kaiserman.  We'll see what he comes up with I guess!

I'm excited, Dallas is excited, the kids are excited- we'll just make the most of every day until she decides to join us!

Animal Extravaganza!

Have you ever spent some quality time with a bearded dragon?  Become chums with a black tipped shark?  How about a pixy toad?  We have!

We've had many animal adventures this week!  Our first was at our friend Julian Thomas' birthday party.  They had a special guest come and bring all sorts of cold blooded animals- from pythons to leopard geckos, the kids learned about each one and even got to pet and hold them all if they wanted.

I was surprised at how Annie seemed to like to pet the snakes, but her favorite to hold was the leopard Gecko.

Will was in seventh heaven!  This kid reads nothing but animal and science books, and has been begging for a pet lizard for months (sorry, no creepy crawly scaly animals allowed in our house).  He backed out of holding the 9 foot, 40 lb, burmese python at the last minute, but couldn't keep his hands off of everything else.  I asked him what his favorite was and his reply- "All of them!"

It was, hands down, the party of the year.

Annie holding the leopard gecko

Julian- the birthday boy!- getting cozy with the python

Bearded Dragon- this guy was my favorite.  He was a chill lizard.

Leopard Gecko up close- this is what Will wants as a pet.

Will and the rosy boa

Audra and Julian- notice the snake in his hands and the frog on his shirt.

The whole clan!  The birthday boy was a bit distracted with a python tail between his legs...  wouldn't you be?

The next adventure was at The Living Planet Aquarium.  While Dallas and I felt it was a bit overpriced for an Albertson's-turned-aquarium, the kids didn't notice at all.  Will- yet again- loved it.  We did some fun things for Dallas' spring break this week, and this was his favorite.  Heck!  He even said that's where he wants to go for our family vacation this year!

The best part by far was the touch pool, although I thought the penguins were pretty darn cute!

PS- Annie, when asked what animal she hoped to see at the aquarium, responded with an enthusiastic "Kitty!"

Will, Annie and Dallas petting the giant starfish.

Oh no!  Eaten by a Megaladon!!!

Sometimes Dallas humors me.  He's a good husband.

The Big 3-0

I'm married to an old man!!!!

Not really, but he did hit a life milestone by turning 30.  He says he feels old (could it also be because a third kid is on the way???), but I've felt 30 for a few years now.  Most of our friends are older than us, so I just feel like we're all the same age.

Plus- who wants to be 20 again?  NOT. ME.

I was a good wife and obeyed by not planning any surprise parties or big birthday bashes.  His birthday was on a Saturday though- which means we got to celebrate all weekend long!

Friday night was the party with the kids.  At his request, I made a Cream Cheese Braid instead of a birthday cake.  He wanted a movie night, so the kids and I dug through the $5 movie bin at Walmart (where there are some real gems!) where I found Gremlins and couldn't resist.  Then we each got to pick a treat.  We also had air popped popcorn, and sprite.  The kids even insisted on turning off all the lights to make it dark just like the theater.  It was the best night at home!  We're so lucky to have such a fun family.

**Highlight of the night:  Will's giggle when one of the Gremlins exploded in the microwave on the movie!

Saturday night- the day of his actual birthday- we dropped the kids off at Grandma K's with Happy Meals and went to Baja Cantina with some friends.  We used to go to Baja all the time, but it has really been years since we've been.  Our friends Katie and Mitch Nelson (in the back), and TJ and Audra Thomas (the couple on the right) went with us.  The food was sooooooooo gooooooooood.  I ate my fair share- as you can see from the picture ;).

**Highlight of the night-  Laughing over cake and ice cream with TJ and Audra.

 Sunday Dallas had to speak in church <----  Not his favorite birthday weekend activity.  He did such a great job!  I was reminded how blessed I am to be married to such an honest man.  That day we de-stressed by snuggling, and then my Mom made it up for his favorite dinner- homemade lasagna.

**Highlight of the day- Being done with the talk!

Dallas is such an incredible man.  I'm thankful every day that I get to be his wife.  For his big birthday, I wanted to write down 30 of my favorite Dallas memories...

1-  The first time we held hands.  It was following blowing up pumpkins with dry ice bombs at SUU.
2-  Going camping in mid-November at Three Peaks with Whitney and Will when we first started dating.  The boys slept on the rocks while the girls got the cushy back of the truck.
3-  Our first kiss on the steps of my apartment.
4-  Our first date- watching the movie Chicago and dinner at Wendy's.  I'm a cheap date.
5-  Bonfires at Three Peaks where our firewood was an entire tree.
6-  Finding a dead rabbit on my porch one day- a love gift from him?  Gross and somewhat horrifying, but it still makes me laugh.
7-  The day I knew I was going to marry him.  He had come to visit during spring break at my parents house.  We were hanging out in my room and my Mom called, "Amy, Dallas, dinner is ready!"  Standing there with him, hearing my mother say our names together, it just felt like home.  From that day on I knew that as long as I was with him, I was home.
8- When he proposed to me.  Our heads were pressed together outside of my Aunt Elaine's house.  He asked me as we were standing there- not on one knee, not holding the ring- but as equals.
9-  During our receiving line at our wedding open house in Heber when I found out- and met- his former parole officer.  Hilarious.
10-  When we lived in Cedar City there was this crazy lightning storm.  It was snowing outside, and each flash lit up the entire world.  We got in the car and drove around to get a better look.  We still haven't seen anything like that since.
11-  When he bought me Scooter!  I was coming back from a long day in Evanston working for Movie Gallery, and our cars parallelled as we hit US 40.  He held up this tiny little brown and white fur ball in the window and I couldn't stop smiling.  Best gift ever.
12- Going to California together and seeing Sea World, Disneyland, and the ocean, and how he didn't divorce me when I accidentally erased all of our pictures from the camera as we were headed to the airport.
13- Signing the papers as we bought our first house.  Woah Nelly.  We had no idea what we were getting into. We celebrated with lunch at Taco Maker.
14-  As hard as it was, working on our home together is one of my favorite memories.  Scraping primer off the walls, crying over leaky roofs, sanding, and spackling, more sanding and painting.  Our blood sweat and tears were poured into that house.
15-  Telling him that we were expecting our first baby.  He couldn't decide if he was scared or excited.
16-  Finishing the Book of Mormon together in the final minutes before the new year began so that we could complete Pres. Hinckley's challenge.
17-  The night we were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple- we worked so hard to get there and we went when we were both ready.  It was the perfect day, so full of peace and love.
18-  Our first trip to Moab!  We got to discover Delicate Arch, Hell's Revenge, and all of the other many things we love about Moab together for the first time.
19-   Will's birth.  He could barely stay in the room because he kept getting woozy.  He would walk into the hallway, and then his Mom would send him back in.  Before I had him Dallas had said, "I probably won't really hold the baby."  Wrong!  Becoming parents for the first time, you can't even explain how the love hits you so instantaneously.  He was such a proud Dad.
20-  I found out what we were naming our son by Dallas' friend Ben Hansen's parents.  Dallas never wanted to talk names!  The night he was born, he still wouldn't say.  That morning Dallas had left to let the dogs out and ran into the Hansen's at the hospital.  He told them where I was and they came to see the baby.  Craig said, "William Bentley Nicoll- what a great name!"  It was the first time I had heard my own son's name!
21-  The way he held me as I cried when I knew my Grandma Lola was going to pass away.  (She ended up passing the next day.  Coincidentally it was very similar when my Grandma Jewel passed several years later).
22-  Our anniversary that we spent at the Hilton in Salt Lake.  We had dinner at the Garden in the Joseph Smith Building, and then we watched them demolish Key Bank from our hotel window the next morning.  Ha!  It was our first night away since we had kids and it was so fun to remember how much we love just being together.
23-  Annie's birth.  I wasn't exactly expecting to have a natural (drug free) delivery.  When things got intense, he held me and let me hold him as tightly as I needed.  He was all I needed to get through and welcome our sweet girl.
24-  The next day after we had Annie, I woke up to see him holding our sweet baby girl.  He was so much more tender with her.  It was just.... different.  He could be a rough and tumble Dad, and a sweet and snuggly Dad as well.
25-  Our Anniversary trip to the Tetons.  Of course we missed the kids like crazy, but we had the best time hiking, canoeing, eating out, and exploring together.  It is, to date, our best anniversary ever!
26-  When I ran my first Ragnar Relay, he surprised me during the last mile and a half of my last leg.  He had drug the kids out of bed so early, just to cheer and support me.
27-  Our kiss after I ran my first marathon, the Top of Utah Marathon.  I could hardly walk over to my family because my calves were cramping so bad.  I've never felt like he was so proud of me as he was in that moment.
28-  When our friends lost their daughter Quincy this year, I got to see Dallas work through his own grief by serving his friend.  He never asked for thanks.  He never even had to be asked to serve.
29-  Finding out we were expecting baby #3.  I took the pregnancy test and left it under the bathroom counter.  I told him to go look under the counter.  He came back out and said, "So what does that mean???"
30-  Dallas likes it when I buy him big things.  I like it when he smiles his big smile.  Most of the time this happens when I gift him things like range finders and guns- which is what he got for his birthday this year.

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY, DALLAS!!!  I love you.  I'm so looking forward to the next 30 years (and beyond).

Why today was an awesome day...

Beau. Seth. Sierra. Laughing until you cry. Sleeping through the night. Run. Slurpees. Scooters. Guns. Freezer jam. Freezer meals. Massage. Golden Oreos. Sun. Open doors. Relax.

April Showers Bring Pink Flowers

Last night was our February meeting of The Finer Things Club that have I have with my three best friends. As usual, we were filled with good food and good conversation! We had to get a photo of all of us because it's doubtful that this will ever happen again- not the meetings of course- but the fact that three of us are pregnant and all due within 12 days of each other!  Even crazier- we are all expecting little baby girls!  Three members of the Future Finer Things Club?  I think so.  As Kalie says, "April showers bring pink flowers."

Pictured below:  Kalie- 33 weeks, Me- 35 weeks, Erin- 34 weeks

Boy Genius

I know I'm his mother and I'm a little biased, but my son is brilliant.  Will has far surpassed his grade level in reading this year and picks up on new concepts so quickly.  He has been showing some interest in math lately, so Dallas has sat down with him a few times to do some math problems.  The other night Dallas wrote down a bunch of random problems, and Will was able to solve them himself- including carrying over!  I was so impressed.

And the drawing skills!

My little boy has continued to amaze me for nearly six and a half years now.  Go. Will.

Things Are Changing

I just moved my baby into the basement to make room for my new baby.

I don't like it.  Not one bit.

Annie is much older than Will was when we moved him downstairs, but for some reason she seems so much smaller.  I know I baby her- WE baby her (Dallas is guilty of this, too).  We can't help it!  She's so super sweet and sensitive; she is just so much different than Will was at this age.

The kids are excited.  Tonight they told knock-knock jokes to each other until we told them it was time to close their eyes.  They feel like they just get to have a sleepover every night.

We'll see how it goes.  I have a feeling that I'm going to be up in the middle of the night checking on her down there.

My baby is really growing up.

Of Late

I find it funny how it feels like nothing and everything is going on at the same time.  It's already the 17th of February?!  How did that happen?  We've been busy with the day-to-day and I'm grateful that time is passing quickly.  (For now anyway; in about 7 weeks from now I will want it to move very slowly so I can soak up every minute of a fresh newborn).

Will had Hat Day at school to celebrate the letter "Hh".  He has been really into Mario lately and spends hours drawing and designing new levels on paper- which we all get to play.  His favorite character is Yoshi, so that was the center of his crown.  He really loved it and loved wearing it to school.  He even wore it around the house for a day or two after.

Annie wouldn't be left out on Hat Day either.  She had been begging me to see my wedding dress, so I pulled it out and let her wear the veil.  We played "Married" and she was the bride and I was the groom.  I love that my little girl still wants to marry me.

Valentines day was so much fun!  I love making it special for my kids.  I set their valentines out on the table for them to see when they first got up.  We had a special muffin breakfast, and then we had a movie morning and watched "The Princess and the Frog" together.  It was well worth putting off all of my chores to spend an extra couple of hours making memories with the kids.

 
My favorite part of the day was my Valentine from Dallas.  He let Will pick out the card and we're still laughing about it~ this is one fish story that will never get old!

Annie and Will both gave me Valentines as well.  I was so proud of Annie for writing on hers all by herself!  She still has a hard time writing so I know it took a lot of effort for her.  She told me, "Mom, I put three hearts on yours because I love you so, so, so, so much."

Health advice... from a 3 year old.

Dallas hates vegetables.  After 9 1/2 years of marriage I've somehow brainwashed him that broccoli and peas are okay, but that's about as far as it goes.  Tonight with dinner we had fresh carrot sticks and cucumber slices, and he (of course) never dished himself any.

Annie noticed.

Instead of getting an earful from me, he got it from our 3 year old.  "Dad, if you don't eat your vegetables then you aren't going to live forever."

The little darling continued for a good fifteen minutes about the importance of healthy eating.  I wish I could have recorded the entire conversation, complete with eyebrow raises and "Hu, Mom's".  It was priceless.

Her tirade included the following:

• It's important to eat oranges because of the vitamin C, and they are so tiny that you can't even see them with your eyes.
• If you eat a hot dog every day for lunch you will die.
• Do you know what Ranch is?  It's all just fat.
• You can have cookies and treat sometimes but not, like, all the time.  Maybe only once a day.
• You shouldn't eat your hair.

And my personal favorite, the grand finale...

• And you shouldn't pop your eyeballs out and cut them in half and eat them.

What is with this girl and eyeballs?!  She did me proud.  It's good to know someone is listening to my healthy food lectures.