2011 Already?

So much has happened in the past year. Geez, I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it (I'm sure exhaustion also contributes to this!).

The year started SO rough with little Paytie J. being in the hospital and me being a postpartum wreck (yes even at 9 months postpartum), but throughout the year we have blessedly seen his health get better and better, and my mind/body work itself out...the latter so much so that we got pregnant again (yes it was planned) and have now welcomed the sweetest baby, Derek, into our lives.

Life feels, generally, good. Days are can be rough--nights can be rougher--but this is a wonderful time in our lives. I've been finding it easy lately to go down a path of 'woe is me'. I've realized that we're doing what we're suppose to:  loving one another, having kiddos, growing in the Gospel...so I just need to stop thinking "what if" and being selfish. That's my mantra for 2011:  Embrace each day! Time flies way too fast to even waste it for a moment. This next year I want to keep my eyes open more to the little moments-- like today when Derek was just crying and crying while we suctioned his nose; while Derek laid on the couch crying, Payton came over and gently laid his head on Derek's legs, giving him his version of a "hug". Payt didn't even care that Derek's little legs pummeled his own (big) head. He just hugged him till it was over. That was the best part of my day, seeing my little Payt so selflessly love his little brother. If that wasn't an example of the Savior I don't know what is.

So goodbye, 2010; you've sure taught us A LOT. I know 2011 will, too. And, hopefully, we will embrace each day and grow closer to one another, our extended family and friends, and most importantly to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Here are a bunch of random pictures from the past month or two that I want to make sure get included in our 2010 records:

Bring it, 2011! 

Dear Brandon

Because I haven't said it enough lately:  I LOVE YOU and am so proud of you for finishing another semester of law school (your best one yet!). 3 semesters down, 3 to go. It's definitely been challenging, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. We're right where we're suppose to be:  together, with our boys, and in Kansas of all places. Forgive my crazy post-pregnancy hormones that can get themselves in a tizzy sometimes and know that no matter what I am happy because I have you. I have Payt. I have Derek. I have a merciful Savior. Thank you for being my best friend from the first day I met you.

Always,
SareBear

Visitors!

We were so excited that my dad, my stepmom (Rose), and my half siblings (Jess and Jared) came and visited us over their Christmas break. They arrived late Christmas day and left today :(. Who's going to keep Payton occupied now? lol. I think that Jared was Payton's best buddy! I love my family. I don't love divorce, but I do love that it's blessed me with such a large family. It's given me Butch, Rose, Jess, Jared, etc. I am one blessed little lady to have such a loving family.

Anyway, while everyone was in town we did lots of fun things, and until today the weather was superb (I even opened my windows yesterday!). I think one of the highlights was that everyone, except Derek and I--it's too  much of a pain to nurse him in public all day long, went to Union Station in Kansas City. It sounds like an amazing place. We have a family pass now and can take up to seven people for free the whole rest of this year. I can't wait to check out the dinosaurs, science city, etc.

We also spent a day at the park/zoo, time at the mall, and eating at restaurants :); they also babysat while Brandon and I spent a day in Holton running errands and seeing the doctor. Honestly, though, the best part was seeing them love on my little boys. It's so wonderful to have family who can't help but spoil Payton and Derek. So much time was simply spent playing on the floor with Payt and cuddling with Derek. So wonderful.

Thank you, Dad and Rose, for taking the time and money to come and visit us. I'm so grateful that Rose and the kids could meet Derek before he got any older (my dad already met him).

Love you guys!

Proof That I Don't Have Imaginary Friends

Let it be known, Folks, that my beautiful friend Sarah is a real human being :). Brandon I joke that since I have never had a picture of me and her (until tonight) that all my blog readers must think I just make up the Feather family :). We sure do love Sam, Sarah, Eli, and Maggie! 

Grandma Karen

Grandma's are certainly blessings! I would have gone absolutely crazy had Brandon's mama, Karen, not come in for a visit while Brandon took his finals (finishing his first half of law school!). Karen and I get along so well (at least I think so--you agree don't you, Karen? :), and I enjoyed spending my evenings with her while Brandon studied. Grandma Karen was also the best wrestler, playmate, teacher, and go-getter for Payton...and since Derek decided to start being colicky while she was here she kept me sane by holding and bouncing my screaming baby for hours without complaint. And it was nice to have someone to talk to about the important things in life, such as 16 and Pregnant ;). Karen kept my house in tip-top shape and we've definitely missed her! We love you, Mom, and wish we lived closer!

A Big Boy and His Bed

I figure I can finally "announce" this since Little Man has successfully been in a "big boy" bed for a week now. Originally we had planned to convert Payt's crib when he turned 2, but a week and a half ago I started getting a nagging feeling that we needed to do it now. I thought it was a ludicrous thought and ignored it, but (long story short) it would not go away...so we converted his crib. I felt crazy doing it, but I also felt a lot of peace.

The first two nights he did amazing! He stayed in bed until we came to get him; he would climb out of bed on his own once we told him to. The third day was killer. No nap for Payton! We wouldn't stop running around and screaming. That night was a repeat performance, but after shutting his bedroom door (initially there was just a gate in front of it) he calmed right down and fell asleep in his bed. Since then he has done totally fine. He will play a little bit when he wakes up, but hasn't (yet) caused too much mischief. One day we did forget to shut his door and put the gate up. I happened to go upstairs after a few hours into his nap and found him in the hallway playing with the vacuum. Hmm, wonder how long he was there?! haha.

I still don't know why it felt right to move Paytie J. to a big boy bed, but I'm glad we did, and I'm glad it hasn't been too stressful. Love you, Little Big Man!

Christmas Time

The things I want to remember most about this Christmas...

--Derek's Smile. He smiled for the first time last night

--Payton's Joy. He is SO excited to have new toys, but he also loved the process of unwrapping just as much as playing with the toys

 --Sleepy Head. Derek snoozing through the whole gift opening process

 --Trying To Be Like Mom. Payton wanting to wear my new rain boots

--Carolers. Sometimes Kansas can feel a little lonely so when some wonderfully talented ward members showed up at our door last night to sing us beautiful hymns it truly made me feel special. I don't know how many other houses they went to or what made them pick us, but I needed the gentle reminder that we are loved even when family is not around.  

--Fear. Payton being terrified of his rocking horse, haha. It was the first thing he saw when he came down stairs this morning and he did not like it, especially when it made noise. He kept a wide berth around it while playing with the toys in his stocking. Eventually he started petting it and now he won't stop turning it on and climbing on it

 

--Payt's Patience. He took his time between toys to play with each one. So far (we still have gifts to open with family tomorrow) his favorites seem to be Mr. Potato Head, his rocking horse, and his Legos.

--My New Boots. Yeah, I may be vain, but my husband has great taste!

--This Blog Post. Brandon's cousin, Kristen, wrote it a few days ago, and it really touched my Spirit. I have continually thought about it the past few days and tried to implant its teachings in my heart. Thank you, Kristen.

 --A Full Night's Rest. Derek slept 7.5 hours last night. Let's keep this up, Little Man! He is still kind of a fussy baby so I took dairy out of my diet but found that it did not make a difference...Merry Christmas to me! (I love dairy...although I do wonder what could make him so fussy and gassy.)

--Starting Traditions. The Church produced a video a few years ago depicting the Nativity. I love it! We watched it last Sunday and it is so heart warming!

--Home. This is our first Christmas being in our own home

--Surprise! Finally getting Brandon and a gift that he could not guess; this has never happened before! I got him a SF Giants jacket

 --Derek's Joy (really I'm not exaggerating) when we laid him under his new playyard-type-toy (not sure what it's really called). He cooed and smiled...until Payt joined in and then he kept getting hit, haha. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Overby!

--Loud Mouths. Trying to talk with Nick (my brother who's serving a mission) and Payt talking so much that we could hardly hear him

--Christmas Eve Lunch with the Feathers. My how we love these friends! How terrible that we have been friends a year and I do not have any pictures with them; I will blame this on the fact that we are together so often that it just seems "normal" and I don't normally have my camera for just "normal" things :). Soon enough I will get pictures of Sarah and myself, Sam and Brandon, and Payton with their kids Eli and Maggie.

--No Snow. It did not snow, and I am grateful. I hate going out in the snow...especially with two little ones. I hope we don't get any this winter!

--Apple Pie (albeit of the frozen variety). I have never really enjoyed pie, especially with ice cream. Well, this year it is all I want...even over chocolate (gasp!).

--Christmas Break. The very best part of law school is Christmas Break between semesters; it lasts a whole month! Brandon has no homework and we get to spend so much time together. Truly the most wonderful time of the year :)

Merry Christmas, Family and Friends!

How grateful we are that a loving Savior came to this earth as a little baby, and in turn we have been so blessed.