Kaylee Anna–Her Name

Just the same as my boys, Michael and I decided on the name “Kaylee” for no other reason other than we agreed on it. We have somewhat of a tradition of making the kids’ middle names meaningful so Hayden’s middle name is “Michael” after his dad, Dallin’s middle name is James, after a very influential man in my life growing up (read the story HERE), so we couldn’t let Kaylee’s middle name be anything short of spectacular.

Around Christmastime last year, I was sitting in Relief Society and we were reading the 2nd chapter in the gospel of Luke, when we came across verses 36-38:

“36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

(Painting by Giotto di Bondone)

This woman, widowed after only four years, had served the Lord all her life in the temple and was among the first to presented the Christ-child. She only has three verses about her in the entire Bible, but what sweet verses they are and a wonderful woman to be named after.

Fathers & Sons Campout

The Father/Son campout was this weekend and I’m not quite sure who enjoyed it more…Mike with both boys or me at home in front of Downton Abbey with a bag of Brach’s Maple Nut Goodies and my favorite girl…

Mother’s Day

The boys are getting old enough to do simple things “on their own” so Mike took the opportunity this year to begin teaching them how to treat their mom on Mother’s Day. He had them “make breakfast” by putting my favorite donuts on a plate and allowing Hayden to cut the strawberries with a small paring knife (heavily supervised!) and arranging them on a plate.

The card they got me? MOST.ANNOYING.THING.EVER. It was one one of those sound cards with whiney kid voices saying:

Mooooom! I’m car sick!
I lost my gum!
Moooooom! Who farted?
You started it!
Did not!
Did too!
Did not!
Did too!
My hamster got loose!
It’s on my side again!
I think I’m gonna throw up…Yep. I’m definitely gonna throw up!
Moooooooom!
Dang! I dropped my milkshake!
Mooooooom! I gotta pee real bad! Uh oh…too late!
Moooooom!
Mooooooom!

6 Weeks {Picture Overload}

It’s a shame I don’t have a fancy pants camera to capture how cute Miss Kaylee Anna really is! She really isn’t as red in real life!

She’s quite the little piggie as you can tell!

Getting Bigger…

This little baby love of mine keeps getting bigger!! Dallin still loves to hold her and it makes me giggle every time…he just looks so awkward! There’s no denying this little girl is loved!

My Little Mischief Maker

I swear this kid is always into something…I can barely take care of business without hearing chairs scooting across the kitchen, water being turned on or snacks being gotten into. Don’t even get me started on the dirt. Oh the dirt…

Anyway – I turned around two nights ago to this little sight. I’m so glad I had my camera sitting next to me!

I swear like a week ago the child couldn’t even open the fridge.

Making Messes and Memories

We decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies yesterday afternoon. I’m ashamed to admit that this was Dallin’s first time helping bake cookies! He had a blast!

This little adventure was not without a mess, though! Dallin spilled an entire almost brand new bottle of vanilla and dumped flour on his head…they’ll appreciate the memories, right?

Band-aid

Dallin and his Grandma were at my house while I was recovering in the hospital just two days after having Kaylee. I'm not 100% sure what happened and how, but somehow he fell and hit his head on my brick fireplace, busting his head open and requiring stitches...he just couldn't let it all be about his little sister, I suppose!

(These were the second set of stitches in his head already this year. He sure is a handful!)

Kaylee Anna

I was scheduled for a repeat c/s for April 9th...I guess this little princess had other ideas!

My water broke about 4:15pm Monday...Michael was at work accross town so I had to wait for about 30 minutes for him to get home, but we got to the hospital a little after 5pm. She was born via C/S at 7:15pm. 6lbs, 15oz and 19.5in long. Surgery took FOREVER because I had to much scar tissue.

Funny: In the middle of the c/s I had a cyst burse and it squirted out of me like a geiser...sprayed the OB/GYN on the face and GOT IN MY MOUTH! Gross! lol

Anyway...my dr made it quite clear that my uterus would likely not handle another pregnancy and c-section, that it was paper thin and I had a lot of scar tissue. I didn't get a tubal because I feel like this is something I need confirmation on, but I am surprisingly content with the thought of being done, where before it made me very uneasy.

Her tongue is also very very tied, so much so that if they were to clip it back her tongue would be split. She has been a pro at nursing since the second I offered her the breast, so it's not effecting (affecting?) her ability to eat and doesn't hurt me...we'll probably get it clipped back and then have the tongue repaired a little later. We also discovered her bottom gums are split as well, hoping the geneticist can answer questions about that as well.

I love this picture, you can tell Mike is just beaming even behind his mask!

Say "cheese"! Doesn't it look like she's smiling?

Hayden holding Kaylee for the first time.
So proud!

Oh how I love my Dallin!

All three of my children. Precious.

Baby Shower!

We found out last August(ish) that we were expecting our third child! We were so excited when we found out we would be welcoming a little girl into this house full of testosterone!

After numerous tests it was discovered that our little girl had two defects in her brain and a hole in her heart. What a roller coaster of emotions. It seemed like every day was something different, either things seemed to be perfectly normal, or she may not even survive until birth.

Mike and I endured many many doctor visits, tests and procedures (mostly I endured, but Mike's hand took quite a beating haha) and we finally came to accept whatever the Lord had in store for us. None of the tests revealed anything they could diagnose her with so we pretty much came to terms that something may be wrong with our baby, and something might not.

I have some incredible friends who threw me the most amazing baby shower I've ever seen in real life...the pictures just don't do it justice!