Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

Wow.

It's almost been two months.

All I can say is school has pretty much sucked my free time dry.

As usual, I had a blog idea while I was falling asleep the other night, and of course I can't remember anything about it, except that I had a cool comparison of something in my life and "The Sound of Music". My days usually don't consist of dancing around on hilltops in clothes made from curtains, so I really have no idea what my comparison was. I guess it could have just been a dream...


Anyways...

Navi is growing like a weed and decided to take her first real steps (7) on Feb. 21, while Nate and I were away from her overnight for the first time. I almost started crying when I heard she did that. The little fart.

She is just over 10 months and those hesitant steps she's taking, will soon turn into walking any day now. I love watching her progression and all the things she can do, but it also blows my mind to think that 10 short months ago, she was a precious little newborn.

Some fun facts about our Navi baby (mostly for my journaling sake):

9 months - January 14, 2010

- 20 lbs. 4 0z. (80%) and 29 3/4 inches tall (95% and above)

- Loves eating any kind of baby food. She also loves rice cereal and baby oatmeal, peaches, pears, bananas, bagels, Gerber puffs, yogurt melts, cheerios, and her favorite - graham crackers.

- Still just has her 2 bottom teeth, but her top 2 are breaking through.

- She crawls all over and walks around the living room by holding on to the furniture.

- When someone says "no no" she shakes her head side to side.

- Claps her hands when she hears "yay" or "patty cake".

- LOVES Dora the Explorer and whenever she hears the first few notes of the opening song, she stops whatever she is doing and sways back and forward, or bounces to the music, smiles lots, and claps her hands.

10 months - February 14th, 2010

- Top middle 2 teeth are fully broken through and the 2 sides are breaking through.

- New foods she likes: cottage cheese, string cheese, olives, mashed potatoes, jello, and she LOVES goldfish crackers and go-gurts yogurt!

- Plays peek-a-b00 (even though she puts her hands on her cheeks instead of eyes) :), still loves patty cake and even "marks it with a N" (pointer finger to palm), and waves bye-bye.

- Walks all over with her lion walker and took her first steps by herself on Feb. 21 while Mom and Dad were gone for their anniversary.

- Says "Mama" and "Dada" and "uh oh" when she drops something.

- Loves carrying around her babies. You wouldn't think she could tell the difference, but she prefers one over the other. When one of her cousins takes the baby she throws a fit.

- Speaking of fits, she inherited the Wallentine "melt down" trait and is a professional pouter.

In other news:

Nate and I celebrated 4 YEARS on February 22.

The weather even broke tradition this year and the sun actually came out. First time since we got married. As part of our celebration, we were gift certificate fiends and used one that Nate's parents gave us for Christmas to stay here:


(Vegas Nights room is awesome) and then we used another gift card (they are VERY awesome gifters) and ate here:


YUM. I had been craving it for months. Oddly enough, it's the only Chinese I like. Weird.

Instead of a lovey-dovey paragraph of gooey-ness, I'll just post quite a few pictures of some of the good times we've had over the last 4 years. I sure do love my husband!










The best part of our 4 years by far!

Reflection

It's a new year and my blog deserves a new post.

However, unlike my new found motivation to workout, eat better, lose weight, etc. etc., blogging more often didn't quite make it's way onto my list. But I'm adding it now!

Before I completely move on to 2010, I feel it's only fair to recap on '09.

To quote one of my Dad's most often used sayings, "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" (although, his way of using this phrase was often followed by a tricky task assignment) Example being:

Dad: "So Laci, do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
Me at 13: "I want the bad news first." Getting the bad news over with first usually seems like a good idea. Right?

Tricky Dad smiling as he replies: "The bad news is, you get to wash the dirty clothes and fold the clean ones in the dryer...but the good news is, I already started the washer for you."

Fast forward 10 years and I'll spare the mind games. My reasoning still stands though. Bad news first.

Bad in '09:

- My first pregnancy went a week over due before I had to be induced.

Word to the wise, don't ever try and make an over due pregnant woman feel better. No matter what you say or how you say it, it won't work.

- Nate is still job hunting after graduating in May '09. Stupid economy. Stupid terrorists. I'm placing the blame on them for now.

- Our car got broken into while we lived in Texas. Stupid teenage boys who stole Nate's ipod and our ipod car converter.

- We had to sell our Equinox to save money. Again, stupid economy. Stupid no jobs in America.

- I "backed" into a guy while he was parked behind me in a parking lot. Stupid STUPID man for parking behind me when I couldn't see your piece-of-crap car, or it's tail lights when I "hit" you. The " quotations " are helping to express my anger when I didn't in fact "back" into him at all. I merely bumped his car while I was shifting into drive. Stupid man again for claiming you wouldn't file a report to our insurance without checking with us first. Stupid-er man for doing it anyway. I could go on if you can't already tell. So for my sanity's sake I'll stop now.

On to the GOOD:

- DUH!! Navi Sandra was born April 14th of '09 and those miserable 7 days of over due-ness were totally justified when I got to hold our sweet baby girl for the first time.

- Nate graduated!! What an accomplishment! And even though he hasn't found the perfect "grown up job" he still works so hard for our family at a job he doesn't love, so we can pay the bills. He's had a lot of interviews and hopefully a few more promising ones scheduled soon. It's hard to watch him get so far in the interview process, when in the end, the guys who have been laid off of other jobs with years of experience beat him out. (one last time - stupid economy!!)

- Simplifying our lives has taught me so many things and I consider this a very good thing. With situations like selling our car, staying in my in-law's basement, and cutting back on luxuries - A LOT, I've been forced to learn from them.
I've been reminded and refreshed on simple concepts like-

humility - admitting you can't is hard enough, but asking for help and also accepting it is also very hard.

patience - I've had many experiences with this one. Job searching and interviewing is obviously the biggest contributor.

gratitude - the most important by far. Firstly I'm so grateful for all of our parents. Nate's mom and dad have helped us IMMENSELY. Opening up their basement to us is just the beginning. My dad has also helped us and continues to help us daily. It is such a comfort knowing I can ask him for any kind of help and he won't even pause to think about it. He is such a great example. And I can't forget my mom. Even though I can't talk to her face to face, I feel like I ask her for advice when I'm thinking, "what would my mom do if she were here?"

And how can I go without mentioning my Heavenly Father. Even when I feel like things are bad and I'm telling myself, "it can only go up from here" I am quickly reminded of how blessed I am. Owning 1 car instead of 2 is a silly thing to feel picked on about. I have countless blessings to remind me how much I am loved.

Just a few include:
- my husband. period.
-my precious Navi baby. I don't know if I deserve such a happy perfect girl.
- as mentioned above, our families!
- a healthy body and I can achieve so many things because of it
- the opportunity of living in the greatest country, and state for the matter, in the world
- wonderful friends. As wonderful as my family is, some days are made by talking with a friend.

Thanks for the memories 2009!

Here's to 2010.

Some things to look forward to this year:
- My brother will be home from in mission in August! Wahoo!
- Nate decided to go back to school for his MBA. Since the job market is so slow, why not add to those student loans, eh? Or something like that.
- I decided to jump on the band wagon and go back to school as well. I have 2 years until I can graduate in Elementary Ed and after lots and lots of contemplation I decided I want to finish. Key word being WANT. Up until recently, I've felt like I have been going to school just to be "going to school". I had absolutely no direction and little desire. It's not going to be the easiest to graduate with Navi, but thanks to lots of helpful family members, I'm going to be able to finish!
-And cross your fingers for some success in the job department for Nate.

Christmas 2009 and New Years 2010

This post is a marathon but we had a very eventful holiday season and I want to include it all!

A few days before Christmas my cousin, Dayna, got married. My dad and I were able to attend the ceremony and Allie was an awesome babysitter for Navi in the waiting room. Nate unfortunately had to work that day and I don't really remember where my sister Bekka was. Haha Bekka. :)


The newlyweds Jake and Dayna. So pretty!

Christmas Eve
Navi with Great-Grandma Judy at Christmas Eve dinner with my Mom's family. A tradition that goes back as long as I can remember.

On Christmas Eve night we stayed at my family's house and Santa found Navi there. I like to be there on Christmas morning to watch my sisters open their presents since I help my Dad buy their gifts.

Christmas Day

In our family, Santa wraps his gifts in special BROWN paper. He also spreads the presents out all over the living room. Obviously I'm biased but I think it is much more exciting to see all the gifts spread across the living room (under the light of the Christmas tree) instead of sitting them out unwrapped on the couch. Boring! :) This is one tradition Nate knows I won't budge on.


Navi in the middle of the loot.





One of Allie's highly anticipated gifts - the Twillight series! Girl screams! AHH!


Navi was very spoiled on her first Christmas and she really enjoyed ripping open her presents. Of course she was more interested with eating the paper instead of what was in inside it, but there's hope for next year.

Bekka and one of her favorite presents - a PBR (professional bull riders) playstation game. I like to tease her that if someone would have just seen her pile of gifts without knowing who's they were, they could have mistaken her for a 13 year old boy. Ha, but that's why we love you Booie.




Christmas day afternoon we all go to talk to my brother the Elder. He sounded great and had some fun mission stories to tell us. We are so proud of him and can't wait for him to get home.

After we talked to Cade, we went back to the Buttars' for Christmas dinner. It is always fun to get together with all Nate's siblings and their kids, but we missed his sister Tif and her family who live in California! Navi especially loves to watch all her cousins. Before everyone arrived for dinner we got to open the presents that his parents gave us and Navi.


As you can see, she got spoiled once again. We did too for that matter! His parents go into A LOT of work to make it a great holiday and we really appreciate them.


Since Navi couldn't make a Christmas list this year, I requested a cabbage patch doll for her. I got one my first Christmas and she, "Noni", was my favorite doll for many years. Don't you love cabbage patch babies' names? Navi's was "Concha Corrinne". I'm thinking she'll go by Corrinne...



Her favorite toy is her Lion. She can ride on it to start and it transitions into a walker later on.






On Christmas night Nate's sister, Ashley, brought her new Wii game to share with the family. Needless to say, "Just Dance" was a HUGE hit. I'm not one to get up in front of people to play a game, but I couldn't help myself with this one. Turns out I'm pretty good too! Haha, but really, if you get a chance PLAY IT!!


Here are some of the cousins.


Ashely, Darrell, Marianne and Brex showing off their moves.


Nate, his brother and two brothers-in-law. The sisters and sisters-in-laws totally beat them score wise. Better luck next time boys.



We are very lucky to be able to share our Christmas with both our families. It was a great one!



NEW YEARS 2010

We celebrated New Years with my Wallentine family at a party at my Dad's. As Nate says, when you're with Wallentines be prepared for lots of LOUD stories and LOUD laughs. But I love it!


The next night, January 1, we had a party with our friends. Andy and Mallory Hutchison are excellent hosts and we had lots of good fun and lots of fun.


Here are some of the girls that were at the party. Traci, Alisha, me and Mallory. (I stole some of your pics Alisha! Hope you don't mind)


The cute kids at the party. Navi; Alli and Baby Jane, Andy and Mallory's girls; Cache, John and Anna's little boy; and Tag, Rem and Traci's newest boy. I love that most of Nate's friends are now dads!


And of course the night wouldn't be complete without more dancing! Here are some of the guys getting their groove on to "Womanizer". Ha.


And here Mallory is kicking all their butts.

Happy 2010 all!

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2010!

Christmas Dress

Family Photos

I wanted some pictures to send out on Christmas cards. My sister-in-law just had hers taken and I loved them! The photographer who took them did such an awesome job and it was very hard to choose just one pic for the card....
So of course I have to share the rest! Because there are so many I will try and keep the wording to a minimum.
And sorry to my facebook friends for the repeat. Oh well!

Check out Nicole's website/blog at: http://nicoleleavittphotography.com/



My necklace disappears magically in some of them because it was oh-so-tempting and distracting for Navi. Shoot.


Attitude? Can't wait for the teenage years...






This is one of my all time favorites. I think she is saying, "See this finger? They are both wrapped around it."






Can't wait for Christmas!