The front of the house....finally!

No time for a long post, but here is a picture of the front of our new house. It is getting late here and sleep is at a premium right now. So, ta-da!

Our New House!

Our new house is officially finished! We did the walk through today. It was so fun to watch is come together! Andrew took some pics of the inside that I thought I would post a few. It's probably the cleanest it's ever going to be! We should be able to move in the end of next week and I can't wait. Makenna and Parker are keeping me super busy. Makenna had her 2 week check up today and she now weighs 9lbs. 13 oz. and is 21 inches long. She is healthy and doing well, which is all we can ask for. Parker is excited to move into his new house. He is talking like you wouldn't believe. Everyday he says new words and puts together sentences that I never imagined he could. The other day he was playing in another room, so I popped my head in to check in him. He looked up at me and said in a rather annoyed tone, "I'm just playing mommmy." Apparently my hovering was cramping his style!(: What a cutie! We are looking at the first Sunday in November to bless Makenna, so just a heads up to everyone. I will post a picture of the outside of our house soon. I'm not sure why Andrew didn't take one?

Am I really a mom of 2 kids?!?!

It's official...I have 2 little munchkins! It still weirds Andrew and I out to think that we have more than one. I am recovering well from my c-section and Makenna is doing well too. She has some trouble at night, so Andrew and I spend most of the day in a sort of a haze, but this too will pass. I think she has some of my mother's features, but the same mouth and chin that Parker had. She's not quite the cookie cutter image of Parker that I had imagined her to be, but so beautiful! And, yes she was 9lbs. 9 oz! Obviously, the gestational diabetes that I had with Parker returned this pregnancy even though I passed my glucose tests this time. I wish my mom was here more than ever, but I guess that will never change. I feel a part of her whenever I look at Makenna, knowing she was so close to my mom and Bri just a few days ago. Parker loves her and is always patting her head and giving her kisses. He is such a gentle, sweet little boy and will make a great big brother. We are very blessed!

My tribute to the best cat ever

Yesterday was a sad day for our family. We had to put our kitty cat, Gus, to sleep after the vet found that he had cancer. He hadn't been doing well at all that day and so we were prepared to hear the news, but it was still hard to let him go. He had been a part of our family for 16 years. We got him as a kitten when Jamie was 8 and I was 10. We named him after the chubby rat on Cinderella because the enormous amount of fur he had made him look much bigger than he actually was. Over the years, we gave him more nicknames than I can even remember! He was the best of both worlds, an avid mouse and bird hunter but also very kind and gentle with people. Gus was different from most cats in that he was never aloof. He was always eager to be cuddled and have his ears scratched. He loved kids and even our dogs. His best friend was our dog, Mackensie (who died about 9 years ago). Gus loved to swat at Makensie's tail and he would even curl up next to his doggie friend at night. I think that he must have learned a few things from growing up with Mackensie because he would actually follow us on walks around the neighborhood just like a dog. Gus really was a sweet cat who loved to be loved. I will always have a special place in my heart for that little orange and white puff ball and we will miss him! I'm sure that if there's special place for animals (and how could there not be!), he's there enjoying a nice nap in the sun. Thank you Gus, for being the best cat in the world!

Camping at Utah Lake

Well, sort of. We didn't actually stay the night, but spent most of the day there so I guess that counts. I chickened out in the end and decided that my big pregnant belly would be more comfortable in my nice, soft bed. Parker had a great time playing outside with his cousins. He loves dirt now! Most of his time was spent picking up rocks, sticks, and dirt clads and throwing them as far as he could. He also loved being with his grandma and grandpa Barnes. They are so good to him! Andrew got stuck on a sea-doo when the battery died so he spent quite a while out on the lake. He said it was "peaceful" though. Thanks to the Barnes' family for putting together such a fun day!