ICE CASTLES & OUR LAST NIGHT AS A FAMILY OF 3

I can't believe that just over 2 weeks ago, we were having our last outing as a family of 3, with no idea that baby girl would join us in the next 24 hours. It makes me sad to think that this was our last outing/ family time with our full attention on Kai. I wish we could have spoiled him so much more. I had been trying to plan some family outings that I knew Kai would like the 2 weeks before baby girl was due, such as these ice castles, a BYU basketball game, a sledding day...I'm hoping we can still do these things soon. Now that baby girl is here, this family outing seems like years ago. My heart already aches for all of those special times we spent with Kai, riding trains in Japan, hiking through the Utah mountains all summer, exploring the beautiful lakes and mountains of Banff,  Canada, simple nights spent inside just oogling over our beautiful little boy...I miss his babyhood, and I miss our family of 3 so much it hurts, yet I can't imagine life without our perfect little Presley. It's a crazy spectrum of emotions right now, and I'm still trying to sort it all out. I do know that I am truly and undeniably happy.

Anyways, the ice castles were pretty amazing. It really felt like a scene from Frozen, or superman's fortress of solitude (ah our good ole Smallville-watching days). It was absolutely stunning, and I want to go back. Kai loved it too and loved running around in the snow. It was so magical, and we were all mesmerized. Kai looked oh so adorable all bundled up, as always. I think it was hard for him to trudge through the snow in his snowsuit, but he loved it nonetheless. He also loved seeing the snowman from Frozen they had. We only lasted about 45 minutes since right as the sun went down it became deathly cold. We admired all the lights on the ice, and then hurried home to get warm where Kolby made us creamy chicken noodle soup.

 Gosh I just wish I would have known baby girl was coming the next day! I would have done so much preparing that night. I would have had Kai sleep in our bed. I would have spent every second possible that I could with him. I would have kissed his sweet cheeks more and snuggled him to death. 

Here's some pics, the very last ones as a family of 3! 

(sorry they're so blurry, some are from my iPhone and some are just me still trying to figure out my Canon)

37 WEEKS PREGNANT & 1 CM DILATED

3 weeks or less until we get to meet sweet baby girl...I just can't fathom it. We will be a family of four. I will have two babies. How can that be? Kolby and I have gotten so comfortable and used to just us 3. A few weeks after Kai was born, I couldn't ever imagine or remember our lives without Kai, and I know I will feel the same about baby girl. Sometimes I feel like it's all too good to be true...the most adorable little boy and now I get a little girl too?!

I can't believe how much she moves! It's pretty intense compared to last time around. So fun to feel that perfect little life in my belly. Today the doctor said I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced...I'll take it! Her heartbeat sounded so strong and it made my day.

 I've been feeling less sleepy, which is great, but tons more physically tired. It's so hard to get off the couch some (ok most) days, and I think my body is giving every last ounce of energy to baby girl. Kai has also been wearing me out with his screaming and I-spit-everything-out-that-isn't-spaghetti-or-goldfish phase, but he's been oh so sweet and runs up to me saying "MAMA!" with the biggest smile on his face randomly during the day. It's the first week he's been calling me mama, and I love it more than anything in the world. 

I keep getting flashes of what our life will be like in a few weeks...and it's mostly a whirlwind of chaos and pure joy. Toys littering the floor with no time to clean them up, dishes piling up in the sink,  endless diaper changes, shouts of "no don't put that in baby sister's mouth!", tired eyes and unbrushed hair, empty cereal and macaroni boxes piling up since it's all we have time to make and eat, but the sweetest little girl snuggled in my arms or sleeping in her swing while I find a quick minute to read Kai a book or feed him some spaghetti (the only thing he eats these days). I'm scared and over the moon excited all at the same time. 

Moms of two +, what helped you handle going from 1 to 2? Everyone I have talked to has said that was the hardest transition for them, and that two to three and three to four is a piece of cake.

I might fail miserably, but at least these two will be loved more than they'll ever know. And fed (for the most part) I think... :)

I also feel this anxious urgency to hurry and spend extra quality time with Kai these next few weeks. I wish so badly we could go outside (his favorite thing in the world), but gosh dang Utah winters! Anyone know of any fun inside activities to do with a 17 month old? He's still kinda too young for playdough and those kind of activities which makes it hard for me to think of things to do. I just want to give him all of the love and attention I possibly can. He deserves the world. He really is the sweetest boy, and I feel like the luckiest mama in the world. I hope he feels somewhat lucky too.

We CANNOT wait to meet this sweet little sister!!

LITTLE KAI MOMENTS

I don't ever want to forget the funny little things about Kai, so I've got to document them because before I know it, he will be walking into his first day of kindergarden and I'll be bawling my eyes out thinking where did my baby go?

Let me tell you about this hilarious kid.

1. He will eat spaghetti any time of day. He would eat it every meal if he had things his way. Lately I've been adding zucchini and yellow squash to make it healthier, and he still loves it!
2. He is so independent and doesn't mind hanging out by himself. The other day I fell asleep on the floor in his room while he was playing with toys (hoping he would eventually fall asleep next to me). When I woke up, he was gone and the house was silent. I was really nervous to see what I would find when I walked in the living room, but he had made his way onto the couch (which he rarely does) and was just sitting there hanging out sipping his milk without a care in the world. He cracks me up!
3. Anytime he thinks something tastes good, he says mmmMMMmm! as soon as he tastes it. His favorite thing ever is toothpaste. It's in our top bathroom drawer and somehow he always finds it and sucks on the lid saying mmmMMMmmm! over and over again.
4. He loves grapes. It's the only snack he won't throw on the floor and waste. He will eat every last one, no matter how many I give him.
5. He points to the door over and over everyday, wanting to go outside :( Man I wish it wasn't so deathly cold or I would happily take him!
6. He is obsessed with anything BYU. There can be the tiniest logo of it on someone's shirt at walamrt, and he will see it and start shouting "DA-DA-DA" (BYU) in a really low voice.
7. He loves to play "Where is the...?" I'll ask him "Where's the oven?" or "Where's the clock?" and he points to it. So far he can point out anything I teach him; he is such a fast learner! His favorite thing to point out is the picture we have in our kitchen of the Tokyo temple. So cute! He also knows clock, microwave, oven, dishwasher, toaster, flowers, high chair, table, fridge, couch, etc.
8. He loves to run out of doors (at church, doctors appointments, stores etc). When we were driving home from Texas we stopped for a break and I let him run around the dollar store to get his energy out, and he just ran as far away from me as he could for 15 minutes, and kept making his way back to the front doors no matter how many times I picked him up and took him to a different part of the store, even though they were actually hard to find. He's so smart and never forgets where the door is, of any place we go.
9. He makes the cutest sounds when I tell him to "talk." Check out the video below:

Well if that wasn't the cutest thing you've ever seen...

10. He freely gives kisses to all of his boy cousins. Which is saying a LOT because he doesn't kiss often. He loves them! I cannot wait to see him kiss his baby sister.
11. He loves to watch home videos of himself. Sometimes I'll just pull him up next to me on the couch and snuggle and watch all of the videos on my phone of him since he was a baby. He just lays there watching, so intrigued. 

Also, he's still quite the milk boy. Nuby sent us this no-spill insulated stainless steel cup that we take with us on the go so his milk stays cold and fresh for all of our outings. It was especially useful during the warm summer months, but we've still used it this winter since milk gets warm quick, which is yuck.

It keeps milk cold for up to 10 hours, and it has a lid that covers the straw and flips shut to keep it protected from bacteria and viruses on the floors of Target, Ikea, or wherever we're going... :) It's also BPA-free. Kai has loved it and it's so easy for him to use. I love a sippy cup that can keep his milk cold for so long! You can buy it here

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CHRISTMAS 2015

This year we decided to head to Texas to spend Christmas with my family since we were with Kolby's family last year, and Japan the year before that. And next year we'll have 2 babies to travel with which will make it harder.

I can't believe how warm it was in Texas! I had to turn the AC on at night because I got so hot...it was so weird to step outside and feel warmth. We're used to the 20 degree temps in Utah! Anyways, Kai had a slightly hard time being away from home but he loved all of his time spent with grandma. She basically took care of him the whole time while Kolby and I got to rest a lot :) He became quite the grandma's boy and preferred her to me most days while we were there.

Christmas Eve my family has traditions where we sit around the fireplace, play games, watch A Christmas Story, hot tub, eat fun appetizers, and write stocking mail (my all time favorite tradition, where we each sit down and write meaningful notes to each member of the family, which they get to read when they open their stocking Christmas morning). Along with all the fun snacks we had, Kolby and I decided to try making fruit sushi from a video which I had seen on facebook. It took lots of time but was pretty dang tasty. I'll post the recipe in a separate post :) We also took time to read and talk about the story of Jesus's birth, which is the most important part of Christmas for me. I'm so glad we got to go to a live nativity earlier this month, because it brought tears to my eyes and really set me in the Christmas spirit. I'm excited to start traditions with our children that help them focus on the Savior during Christmas.

I'm happy we got to spend some time with my brother Cooper and meet his girlfriend Kayela. The only person missing was Parker, who's living it up in Japan right now.

Christmas Eve morning we went with Cooper, Kayela, and Syd to see Star Wars. I ended up liking it a lot, much to my surprise. I got quite busy wrapping presents that night and before I knew it it was already 10:30 pm. I was excited to see Kai and Kolby open their presents from me in the morning, but as it turned out Kai was not in a good mood, wanted nothing to do with presents, and we ended up putting him back to sleep just an hour after he woke up. We tried later to help him open presents but once again he got grumpy. I guess he just doesn't like presents...? Funny boy that one.

It was fun sitting around the tree with my family and seeing everyone open their gifts. We go pretty slow and have each family member take turns opening one at a time. I love it this way because then Christmas morning usually drags out until 11 or 12.

I'm so grateful I got to spend time with my family. That was the best present of all, especially since Kolby sacrificed a lot and drove the entire 19 hours to get there. I'm also grateful for my mom for making it such a fun experience for us, as always. We lounged around watching movies together, played games, went shopping, ate the yummiest food and lots of puppy chow/reindeer droppings (if you don't know what that is then please contact me immediately), ate the best ramen I've had since Japan (great restaurant right by our house), and had fun just watching Kai. He's so animated and crazy and does the funniest things. My mom also made the most delicious chicken cordon bleu for Christmas dinner. What a fun 10 days we got to spend with them!

We got Kai a basketball hoop, BYU sweatshirt, Mickey mouse stuff, puzzle, books, and fake food. My mom got him some adorable clothes, a puppy that sings and talks, and stacking cups. His favorite things are the puppy and stacking cups! My mom always seems to guess right with him.

Trying to be  Ralphie from A Christmas Story

 Father and son :)

Always giving grandma the biggest kisses

Grandpa time

He played with these stacking cups from grandma all morning!

A WEEKEND IN VEGAS

Last month while on the phone with my mom we talked about how fun it would be if BYU was in the Las Vegas bowl and we all met up there (since Kolby and I can drive there in 5 hours). Well, our dreams came true. Not only did BYU get chosen for the Vegas bowl, but also the University of Utah, their arch rivals (and my favorite football game to watch every year). My dad hurried and got tickets before ticket prices skyrocketed, and we actually considered re-selling them and just going shopping since we could make $200 a ticket, but we decided to keep them :)t

The first 2 quarters of the game made me want to leave, since we had 6 turnovers in a row. It was painfully embarrassing...but BYU showed up and started to play, and it ended up being such a fun game to watch, especially with my #1 little BYU fan. He is OBSESSED with everything BYU and points out a Y any chance he gets. He also sings the fight song, and it's the cutest thing ever. He also looked adorable decked out in BYU swag. BYU ended up losing, but only by one touchdown, which is pretty amazing considering it was 35-0 at half time!

It was so fun to have weekend with my family, especially since Kai just adores them. He is the biggest grandma's boy ever, and cries anytime she leaves the room. He's also insanely spoiled by them since he's the first/only grandchild. 

Kai got to meet Mickey and Minnie for the first time, and he LOVED them. I smell a Disneyland trip for this kid in the near future! The second he spotted them he was reaching for them! Unfortunately they were slightly evil/creepy Mickeys, asking for more money over and over after we gave them some. 

We had fun walking the strip and stopping to watch the Bellagio fountain show. While walking, we noticed 15 ambulances and a huge area of the main street blocked off. We later saw on the news that a crazy lady intentionally ran over a bunch of pedestrians, killing 1 and injuring 30 others. We were so close when it happened (but didn't see it happen) and it easily could have been us. If that isn't the scariest thing ever...

 I'll definitely be hugging my loved ones much tighter tonight. Seriously, sometimes I never want to leave my house. Can I just keep my babies in a bubble?

Kai couldn't get enough of these polar bears we saw in one of the hotels. 

I told him to give it a kiss and this is what he did... 

We also went to a buffet and pigged out, and Kai lovvveddd the ice cream. If you notice me looking hefty the next month, I blame this buffet entirely. 

Early Monday morning we said goodbye to Kai and left him to fly home with my family while Kolby and I  started the 19 hour drive to Texas. We did it straight through without stopping at a hotel which was rough, but we made it safely, and Kolby was a saint by driving the entire way! So grateful for him and that he drove me so far to spend Christmas with my family :)