I can't help it!

What can I say... I'M OBSESSED WITH MY CHILD! I just got done posting and then I remembered that I have two SUPER cute videos to share with everyone! These are just from my phone cuz we're having some technical difficulties with our video camera, so sorry about how bad the picture is. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!
This first one is of her in her bouncer watching a movie, probably Finding Nemo or some other amazing Disney movie. She gets SO excited that she kicks so hard and it comes our of nowhere!! It is one of the funniest things I've ever seen!

This is one of Rachael laughing her head off at me while I play a new version of Hide-and-go-Seek. She loves looking in the mirror and I guess its even better with mommy making a fool of herself. Oh well, I'll do anything to get this little girl to laugh! Don't focus on me, focus on the baby.

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday. It was really weird this year because I usually look forward to my birthday for like a month but this year I only figured out that it was coming up like 3 weeks ago. I guess I just got so busy with being a mom I didn't even notice. It was a really fun night! Nate took me to Winger's (yuuuuuuuum) while his little sister, Celeste, watched Rachael. Our waiter was being slightly on the slow side and Celeste had a basketball game to play in so I ended up leaving to pick up the baby while Nate waited for his all you can eat sticky fingers. Rachael loves to go to new places and see people and things other than the ones in out little trailer. The ONE time I didn't have her headband on, someone asked me if she was a boy or a girl. I thought that was ridiculous because she was wearing purple and little ballerina slipper socks!! rrrrr...

After dinner we met our friends, Cameron and Lexie, and went to the local hangout because on thursday nights they have unlimited pool, bowling, and a movie all for 3 bucks. Can't beat that!! We also took Rachael out to Nate's family's house to have them watch her. It was fun to not have to worry about her too much, but all night I kept saying "I miss the baby!" It was a nice change, but still really weird! This picture of us playing pool was totally set up. I promise I know how to play pool (not very well...) but I just wanted a cute picture. I was very surprised by the cute look on Nate's face cuz he doesn't usually like getting his picture taken. I love him!!

This is Cameron and Lexie. Cameron has been Nate's best friend since high school and he and Lexie started dating a little while ago. She is actually from Taber Alberta which is just a little ways away from where I was born and where my famliy is! And her middle name is Nicole, too! What a co-inky-dink! They are so much fun to hang out with and I hope to hear wedding bells in the very near future :) Cardson temple anyone??

No, I don't feel any older. 22 is one of those anti-climatic years, like 14 or 17. Nate is turning 24 next month and he told me he feels like that is the last of his younger years because it is still technically in the low 20's. Next year he'll be in the mid-20's, and then its all downhill from there. haha just kidding. We're already having so much fun growing old together and I love how we're so silly with eachother. I hope someday we'll be silly old senior citizens together and don't get all boring with age.

I couldn't let a post go by without putting a picture of the baby up. She hasn't been a fan of being on her tummy lately so I've tried to twist things up. I prop her up on my boppy pillow that I use for nursing and then put a mirror in front of her. This only works for about 2 minutes, haha, but its cute for a few shots!!

Here are a few of our family pictures we had taken last saturday. It was so much fun to take them and our photographer is great! She is the same one who took those beautiful pictures of Rachael about a month ago. Her husband is a student at BYU-I and she used to be a photography major at BYU. I'm excited to order some of these and put them around our house!! I love my cute little family!

Dad, thumbs, prayers, and the dinner duo

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of Rachael and her wonderful daddy! Nate is such an amazing father and I love to see these two together! I remember one night I was trying and trying to get Rachael to sleep but she just would not! It was so frustrating that finally I just took her into Nate and basically said "Now you try." He was still in bed when I handed her to him so he laid her on his chest. I kid you not, within 10 seconds she was sleeping. At the time I didn't think too much of that (minus the fact that she was now sleeping) but looking back on it I think it is so cute! She loves here pops so much. I love her pops so much.

Rachael started sucking her thumb last thursday and it has been WONDERFUL!! Nate isn't too much of a fan because he doesnt want his children to be avid thumb suckers. I agree to some point, but not at 4 in the morning when she starts to get restless and then finds her thumb which calms her right down. Whoever invented thumb sucking was a smart, smart gal. (I'm assuming that if someone HAD invented it, it would be a mother)

Yesterday when we went to G&G Russell's house Rachael was taking a nap in Grandma's arms. She looked so sweet with her hands together and her lips puckered. She truly is a little angel!

The other day while I was preparing dinner Rachael was apparently lacking in attention so I decided to strap her in to the good ol' baby holder. She thoroughly enjoyed it and I thoroughly enjoyed having her right by me with her big eyes so interested at everything I was doing. I kept her strapped to me while we were eating and Nate kept laughing at her every second and I was sad I couldn't see her face. So, to fix that problem, I went to the bathroom and got my hand mirror and propped it up so I could enjoy the cuteness too!

My little indulgence

While I was in Cosmetology School I learned how to do acrylic nails. I love having my nails done but it is soo expensive! So I decided to put my skill to the ultimate test. A few weeks ago I bought an acrylic nail kit at Peerless Beauty Supply and have now started doing them on myself. I feel so much more beautiful and feminine with them on because I've always had a weird complex about my hands. So far I've had these for about a month with just filing and filling in when needed. It is really fun for me, but it does make the house smell very strong for a few hours. If you want me to give you a set I'd be happy to! I only charge $15 (because the kit was slightly pricey) which is about half of what you would pay in a salon. So far I've given a set to my sister, Lindsey. She seemed to enjoy them. And when summer hits I'm probably going to give myself a french manicure (pedicure?) on my toes! I love being a cosmetologist!

Cute little woman

I love my baby girl! Here are just a few shots of her budding personality. I couln't have asked for a better baby, or a sweeter one.

Ahh!

Put up your dukes!


Contemplation.

Ok, ok, I'll surrender and sleep!

She loves sleeping with her head at awkward angles.

Goofball!

The World Today

So recently with the elections going on I've been perusing my facebook friends to see what they have to say. It makes me so sad to see what some of my very close friends from high school and middle school and even elementary school now believe. A lot of them talk of how Prop. 8 is wrong and who is the government to decide what marriage is? They get very passionate about how anyone who would vote in favor of Prop. 8 is closeminded and brainwashed. Separate church and state, they say. Well I'm all about separation of church and state, but I believe my church has taught me correct principles and regardless of what the government says or does it is my responsibility as a member of that church to uphold those principles. Some of these friends I've talked about I just want to grab by their shoulders and shake them! Weren't they sitting next to me in my Mia-Maid class talking about the importance of temple marriage? I don't recall one young woman's lesson discussing gay marriage, but I recall many about family and its importance. It truly saddens my soul deeply to see these thoughts in my friends. I only pray that by the end of the day the Lord will bless us with good leaders and good programs. Otherwise I pray for the strength to stand up for what I know to be true and good.

School

Nate is in school. A lot. He works so hard and I am so grateful to have an amazing husband with aspirations and dreams, but sometimes I just miss him. Rachael and I are at home every day and she is either sleeping or just kicking around (literally) and I'm usually reading my book (currently Gone with the Wind). As much as I love being a stay at home mom its kinda tough. It is also hard for me because the women in my ward are for the most part all over 30 and have at least 3 kids and are busy busy busy. I get sad some days thinking about how I don't really have any friends around me to keep me company. Don't get me wrong, I'm not depressed by any means, just lonely at times. Rachael isn't much of an english talker so don't be surprised if I forget how to talk someday. We're still waiting to hear about NYC for this January, and even if it doesn't come through I think I would still like to move closer to town with people in my same stage of life around me. Currently we are living about 5 miles south of Rexburg in a little mobile home that I love, but I think it would be good to get back to town.

Here is a little thing I read in Gone with the Wind the other day that should make us all appreciate life a little more, even with the economy as it is.

"With the new fall of currency, prices soared again. Beef, bork and butter cost thirty-five dollars a pound, flour fourteen hundred dollars a barrel, soda one hundred dollars a pound, tea five hundred dollars a pound. warm clothing, when it was obtainable at all, had risen to such prohibitive prices that Atlanta ladies were lining their old dresses with rags and reinforcing them with newspapers to keep out the wind. Shoes cost from two hundred to eight hundred dollars a pair, depending on whether they were made of 'cardboard' or real leather. Ladies now wore gaiters made of their old wool shawls and cut up carpets. The soles were made of wood."

For those of you who don't know this book is set during the Civil War. I read that and thought our situation wasn't so bad. That and we don't have to send every single male aged 15-60 to fight a war. Not seeing my husband except for a few hours at night is better than not seeing him for 3+ years wouldn't you say?

Here is a picture of Rachael after church a few weeks ago. We thought it was so cute how her ankles were crossed! Every little thing she does brings so much joy to our lives!

Comparison

These are the best pictures I could find to compare how teeny Rachael was when she was born to how big she is now. We just had her measured and she is 25.5 inches long and in the 95th percentile!! I never realized how long she is but she is 1/3 the size of Nate. Thaaaaaaats weird. She was 5 lbs. 13 oz. when she was born and now she is a whopping 13 lbs. and in the 75th percentile. She's perfect!!

I love this picture because she looks like a little orphan who doesn't have many clothes. This was a crazy morning where we had to take dad to school at a ridiculous morning hour.

This is one of my favorite of her early pictures. This was when she was 3 days old coming home from the hospital and the first time in the carseat. Not such a fan. She definately fits into it better now!

Halloween!

Rachael was the cutest little black cat for Halloween! I found the little onesie at wal-mart for 3 bucks and then I made the ears out of felt and attached them to clippies to go onto her headband. I also made the tutu which was the easiest thing ever! I love this costume the most because it is unique and no other baby looked like her. The make up was a bit of an issue so we just removed it and waited until she was asleep to do it again. She eventually rubbed it off on my shirt (which was black on purpose) while we were at the movie. We went to see Ghost Town tonight which was about a 6.75 on the funny scale. They dropped the F Bomb twice which was completly ridiculous. Anyways... back to the baby. Isn't she CUTE?!

Mom and dad aren't really getting into the spirit of Halloween. We figured no one would care if we dressed up just cuz the kitty is stealing the show!

This is grandma and grandpa Russell's cat, Surrey. I think this picture is so cute!

Happiest little kitty in the world!