The big announcement and a Merry Christmas!

So, as I mentioned before, December this year was a bit different for me. I was a little "under the weather" and the "weather" that I'm referring to happens to be a SWEET little life growing in my belly! Yep, that's right, we are expecting our fourth little one in August and we are absolutely over the moon about it! And it's a GIRL!! Still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that we will be a family of FOUR girls! So crazy and soooo exciting and fun! I'm so happy. It feels just the exact way it's supposed to be! I'll have to take some time and write some of the personal feelings and experiences associated with this latest miracle in our family, but that will come later. I took a test on December 4th. I remember because our advent calendar activity for the day was to go to Kneaders and get cookies and hot chocolate. We were getting the kids ready to go and I snuck upstairs to hurry and take the test. I had been feeling a little different, nothing drastic, but I just kinda "knew".  So, I took the test and sure enough, there was the proof. I had to get a hold of myself, wipe all the tears away, take a few huge breaths and try to act like everything was normal, because I knew that my family was all downstairs, totally unaware that our lives were changing right that second! I hurried and came up with a way to tell Chris, since of course, I wanted him to know first! So, I cleared out Chris' sock drawer (knowing that's a drawer that he reaches into every day), and filled it full of diapers and bibs and little baby socks. Off we went to get our cookies and again, the entire time, ALL I could think about was that little baby inside of me, concentrating so hard on acting so normal to not give away the surprise! It was an interesting night for sure! When we got home and got the kids in bed, Chris and I were in our room chatting and I asked him to get me some of his wool socks because my feet were so cold. He opened up the drawer and this biggest look of confusion came over his face! I wished I had a camera! He started pulling everything out and then the lights came on and there was pure joy and excitement that washed over his face! All he kept saying was, "are you serious?! is this for real?!" It was awesome! I have loved every moment of sharing this news together each time it has happened to us! It is such a bonding, special, precious moment that I feel is just for us. The two of us. Together. This man that I love with everything that I am, who shares in the miracles and joys of creating our family. Each time it has happened and we have shared that joy together, is engraved in my heart and I treasure those memories with my husband! Aughhh, it makes me smile just thinking about it! 

So, anyway, I was so, so sick for about 3.5 months. This pregnancy was for sure the worst in terms of how I felt. It was really hard, I'm not going to lie. And I was pretty discouraged during December because I felt like I was missing out on all the fun and special things that our family had planned to do together. Some of it, I was able to drag out and participate in, though it was not all that enjoyable because I just wanted to lay down and curl up in a ball! Some of it, I had to miss out on because I just couldn't get out. Through it all, my husband was the SAINT that he always is. Never once did I hear a complaint or word of frustration, although it would have been totally warranted because he had to pick up so much slack and do so much on his own! I will forever love him for how kind and supportive and thoughtful and caring he is. He has the gift of charity and I am definitely the recipient of so much of his goodness. What a stud! Now that I am past the sick part, it is hard to believe how awful it was, but I definitely do not have fond memories! So glad it's over! 

We waited to tell the kids because we wanted it to be a Christmas surprise for them. So, they were totally confused as to why mom was so sick the entire month! Poor girls! On Christmas Eve, we had my parents over and decided we could tell everyone together. So, we put a pacifier in a little box with a note attached to it and had them all open it together. I love that Chris caught my parents reaction -- it was classic! They were soooo excited and so surprised! The girls were a little confused and it took a little longer for them to catch on, but when they did, they were thrilled!! It was so sweet! 

Our Christmas Eve was so fun again this year. We usually get to have my parents with us and they are so fun to be with! We went to dinner and then came home to open some presents, including the traditional PJ opening! We made our cookies for Santa, we played Christmas carols with my mom's bells (no doubt that she was a kindergarten teacher for all those years -- she has the BEST supply of the coolest things!),  and we talked about the Christmas story, using my mom's cute flanel board characters. It was such a fun, fun night! After mom and dad went home, we snuggled into our new jammies, watched a Christmas movie with popcorn and hot chocolate, did our love stockings, and sprinkled our reindeer food in the yard so Santa could find our house. We put out our cookies and milk for Santa and took some time sitting under the lights of the tree. Then it was off to bed!

Christmas morning was lovely and quite peaceful and lazy! I loved it! We opened presents, had a delicious breakfast of monkey bread, played with our new goods, and just laid around and did a lot of relaxing! It was so nice! Then it was off to my parents house for a delicious dinner and more relaxing! Pretty perfect holiday season! 

 

Even though this was a unique year that sort-of blurred by for me with feeling so sick, it was also so special because we received the BEST and most precious and sweet gift ever, to learn that we were going to get to be parents one more time. It brought a different kind of reverence and peace to my heart this year, a different perspective that coincided perfectly with the celebration of the sweet birth of the Savior. I really loved it. Although I would surely love to skip the sickness part of it, I am so grateful that it all happened when it did -- it's just right! Still can't believe that next year, there will be another baby G girl joining this family that I love! We can't wait!

A different December!

Ok, moving into December...I'm not sure just how much I can remember or how much of December I was actually a part of (for a big reason that I will get to later), so I'm going to do my best to update things from that month! 

We kicked off the month with a snow-ball party thrown by the one and only Frozie Rosie, our Elf! This has become one of my favorite traditions. It's a lot of work for mom and dad, but the girls absolutely go nuts over her and they LOVE having her around! It makes me so happy! So, Frozie brought us hot chocolate with cute whipped cream Christmas shapes and marshmallows to put in it, along with white snow ball donuts. We had ourselves a fun little party and read our Elf book and the girls couldn't take their eyes off of Frozie! They could NOT believe that she was back! And she was quite tricky this year, always hiding in new places every morning for the girls to have to find her, always watching out to see if they were being naughty or nice! Love that elf!

We also did our advent calendar again this year. This has become another of my favorite traditions. Each year, we talk about all the things we want to do for the month and our advent calendar becomes more about DOING things together as a family. I love it! We also mix in some fun little gifts and treats so that each day there is always something to look forward to! This year, we were sure to include some service activities that we were able to do together as a family and those are the best days! The one thing I wasn't very good about this year, was documenting all of it, but trust me, I had a good excuse! Some of our usual traditional outings that we did again this year: Temple Square, of course, the live Nativity in Logan, the Christmas Village in Ogden, complete with train rides, several trips to Kneaders for our favorite cookies and hot chocolate, Hale Center Theater to see A Christmas Carol, and This is the Place in Salt Lake. Some new things we tried this year: a carriage ride around Temple Square (so. much. fun!), a slumber party with our good friends, the Shupe's, and sledding. It was a really fun month and went by so quickly! 

 

There were parties all over the place, from ward parties to school programs and parties! It was so much fun to go and be a part of those with my girls! Loved it!

We were also able to meet up with Jessika and Dalton and their family for dinner and to see the lights. It is always soooo great to get together with these people that we love so much and I'm always so very thankful for the special relationships we have been able to keep over the course of Kaiya's life so far! They are so good to our whole family and we are blessed, not only by the circumstances of Kaiya's adoption that brought us together, but also by just knowing such good people!