Dear Daxton,

Dear Daxton,
I just want to take a moment to tell you how much I love and adore you. The last couple of months I have been having a hard time handling your tantrums. I want to apologize to you. Mostly for the fact that in return I have been acting like a child and less like your Mom. I have apologized to you personally but you are only 2 and a half years old, so I am not sure if you understand what I mean.
Lately I have been thinking about the first time I felt you kick, and the first time that I saw you. How amazing you seemed to me. Dax, you still amaze me everyday. You are the SMARTEST two year old I think I have ever met. The things your remember, and know, and say blow my mind away.
In the next few months little boy, our lives are going to be flipped around there may be loss of attention from my part but I want you to know, you will always be my #1. My first born, and because of the lack of attention you may feel a sense of loneliness. Just so you know. I will love you forever, always, and NO MATTER WHAT!
Buddy, I was the youngest so I really don't know what it is like to have a "new" person in the family. But I hope that you know you can come to me for anything. You will always fit in here. Your home is somewhere you can always turn to for peace, and comfort, and safety.
I am so excited for you Daxton. I am so excited to see what you become, and what you do with your life. You can do anything that you put your mind too. I can already tell you are going to be a genius, and by your stubbornness, I can't see you letting anyone take you for granted.
Thank you Dax for choosing me for your Mommy. It has been a great road. Sometimes it has been tough, but I wouldn't have any other way.

I love you to the Moon and back!!
Love,
Your Mommy

Oh Baby!

We are thrilled that Dax is going to be a big brother. We found out right before Christmas, and it was so very hard not to explode with excitement. But with what happened before we had Dax and felt it was best to wait a little while. We had our first Ultrasound 2/3/2012 and saw the little swimmer. Literally, he OR she was swimming and waving his OR her arms all around. It was soo fun to see. We never had a 12 week ultrasound with Dax. We had one at 8 weeks and then at 20 weeks. The difference between 8 and 12 weeks is amazing!

Dax is taking the news rather well, and I hope his excitement for his new brother or sister will remain the same. He loves to kiss and hug my belly and his words.. "Hi baby sister, I love you." Yes, hopefully this is a baby sister, or hopefully he will adjust well if it is a baby brother. Either way, Ray and I don't care. I love my little man and would love another little man. But then again, I love my little man, and having a little lady to love would be just as fun.

The beloved Baby bump at 12 weeks.. Ugh! This pregnancy is killing me!! I'm nauseous, bloated, swollen, tired, cranky, and trying to take care of a 2.5 yr old! When I was pregnant with Dax I lost 15-20 pounds before I started gaining anything (and I ate, and ate, and ate) and this one I swear I eat a carrot and gain 5 pounds!! Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end!! All in all we are overly excited.

Twas the day AFTER Christmas..

Ray ended up having Monday the 26th off of work too! We said our goodbyes to my in-laws, and just lounged around the house all day. Ray is having way too much fun playing his xBox I forced him to get off so we could take Dax sledding for the first "real" time.
Seriously, how cute is this kid?..





He wasn't a big fan of going down where the snow would fly into his face. But he LOVED watching Dad go down with Molly.

Christmas

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. It was such a great weekend. We were so excited to be able to have Ken and Julie come and spend Christmas weekend with us.
The in-laws got here about 3:30 on Christmas Eve, just in time to go to dinner at the Carlsons' where we feasted upon Prime Rib and Crab Legs (minus Carolyn & I) and lots and lots of other yummy stuff. We exchanged gifts between families then ventured home so Santa could come. Dax got to open one present on Christmas Eve, which is always PJ's! I love getting Christmas PJ's. Even when I was young, I loved getting to open a present and knowing it was PJ's.
Poor Dax; I bought his PJ's in October this year when 2T actually was a little baggy on him. They now are almost outgrown and we have bumped up to 3T. So, his Christmas JamJams are a little tight and snug. Oh well, good thing they are just PJ's.


A super special Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Phillips all to himself. He was in heaven!
I haven't been able to sleep much lately, so I wake up about 5:30 or 6:00. Of course I woke up that early on Christmas. Maybe I was just so excited for Christmas. I haven't changed much. So, I woke up Dax myself.. I knew I was in trouble, but I couldn't resist.
Santa brought Dax a Cars Bike and a Helmint (as Dax says)which he asked for and was soo excited for it. I think it will be even better once he can petal himself.
He was pretty spoiled. In his stocking he received: An iPod Touch, pillow pet, some tractors, helicopter. He also got from his grandparents, a apron and a train pull along puzzle, an easel with markers, crayons, and paint, and a leapfrog storybook pad. He received from his Mom and Dad a Little Wheelies car port thing, a couple transformers, a Tag Jr reading story book, a few Tag Jr books, The Lion King DVD, and Winnie the Pooh DVD, Elefun Game, A pair of K-Swiss shoes, and a couple outfits. He was one spoiled little boy. It seems to me that we need to get crackin on a sib so that the budget can get spread around a bit. ;D
As for Ray, he received a xBox 360 with a Mortal Kombat game from Dax and I, some K-Swiss shoes (matching Dax's) and some clothes from his parents he got an apron and from my mom he got a xbox 360 controller and a basketball game. I received a new camera and case from Ray and Dax, and a Shark steam-mop, and a couple books. From my mom I got canning stuff, and from the Phillips' I got a apron.
We are especially grateful for the people we got to spend this Christmas with, and our health. I cannot wait for this next week and to ring in the New Year. I can't wait to see the adventures that 2012 have in store for us.

November 24th

This is my last post, for Thankfulness. I am thankful for Holidays and the way they help change your train of thought. I am thankful my husband's job and the fact that he gets off work to spend time with his family for this joyous holiday.

Reading over my posts for the last month, I realize I have so much to be thankful for. We are all healthy, we have a roof over our heads, and we are happy. What more could we ask for. This is the time of year where greed can play a big role in peoples lives. If just once everyone could take a step back from their "wants" and focus on what is really important, they would discover that they have much more than they could ever need.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!

November 23rd

I keep getting behind, which I think makes it harder on my part.. I am so thankful for running water. We never realize how much we rely on little things like running water and lights until they are taken away from us. While fixing our bathroom we had to turn the water off multiple times for sometimes hours upon end. I would forget that the water was off and go to use the sink to rinse a dish or wash my hands and the water would be off. I can't imagine what it was like way back when they had to go to a river or lake and fetch a pail of water. We have so many conveniences at our fingertips, it's so wonderful!

November 22nd

I am thankful for the priesthood, and the blessings it brings to our family. I am thankful that I have a worthy priesthood holder in our home at all times. It's so comforting to know that in a few short words we will hear a blessing from Heavenly Father for comfort or for healing or whatever we may need. I am so glad that my Husband chooses to be worthy to be able to be of this type of service for our family.