The Kunz Family

January so far...

2012-01-20T11:38:00.001-08:00

January highlights:

Holly turns 32

I celebrated my 32nd birthday on January 10th. I appreciate all the sweet messages, calls, texts and flowers I received. So far my thirty's have been good to me. I hope that continues. Bella made me a gourmet cereal breakfast the morning of my special day and Jared took the day off from work.

Snow storm

Winter paid us a visit this week. Leaving behind tons of snow and lots of cleanup. It went from a couple inches on Sunday....

to THIS...about 9 inches in some spots.

Bella has been out of school all week, Jared has been working from home and I have been trying to stay sane. Thankfully today has brought warmer temps so the snow is beginning to melt...however with this much snow it is going to take awhile.

December 2011

2012-01-20T10:56:00.001-08:00

December highlights:

Being Silly

New hat from Great Grandma McElroy...

play time with dad...

dressing up...poor Braden needs a little brother!!

Bella turns 6

On December 18th Bella turned six. She was sick on her birthday but we made the most of it.

Bella helped make cake pops.

She had her first birthday party with friends. It was a movie theme.

the kids watched "Rio" on the homemade theater screen. The concession stand consisted of popcorn bags fruit snacks and licorice. Each child got to take home a gold "movie star" balloon.

She had a blast and I thinks all her little friends did too.

more party decor...

Christmas in Utah

This year we spent Dec 23-Jan 4th in Utah visiting family. It was a much needed trip for us and we really enjoyed being able to spend so much time with our family.

While we were in Utah we took the kids to the aquarium with their cousins...

Great Grandma Burton with some of her great grand children...

Utah was unusually warm while we were visiting so we went to the park with Grandpa.

December was a fun month that went by way too fast.

November 2011

2012-01-20T10:41:00.001-08:00

November Highlights:

Braden turned One!!

One November 1st our little guy became a big guy turning one year old.

This was my attempt at a dinosaur cake...

...at 12 months Braden was 21 lbs...

He is a busy body but so much fun. He loves to wrestle and get into everything.

He enjoyed opening his presents but his sisters enjoyed opening them even more...

other big news...

We moved!!

After 4.5 years in our two bedroom condo we bought back in 2007 we finally made the decision to rent a larger home. So we moved into a three bedroom 2 bath rambler complete with a swing set and basketball court. We are really enjoying not having neighbors downstairs and the large yard where the kiddos can run and run and run.

We are in the process of looking for renters for our condo, so hopefully we will be able to find someone trustworthy soon!

We are still in the same ward and Bella is still in the same school.

October 2011

2012-01-20T10:11:00.001-08:00

Highlights from October:

Family Photos

by Mackenzie Roberts

Wedding Anniversary

Jared and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary on October 4th.

Halloween

Bella was the only one of our kids that dressed up for Halloween. She really wanted to be a cowgirl...so after a little bit of searching we found the perfect costume complete with a homemade sheriff badge.

Olivia had a Tinkerbell costume but she doesn't like to dress up and refused to put it on. Braden was Spiderman at our ward trunk or treat but on Halloween day he decided didn't want anything to do with it.

Month 11

2011-10-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

Braden turned 11 months old on October 1st....

...and he is just as cute as ever...

...and he's walking!! Which means not a day goes by that this kid doesn't have some kind of bruise on his forehead.

So now I have a climber/walker/trouble maker. Everyone always told me that boys were a handful. I guess I didn't realize just how much a handful they can be.

However, besides keeping me constantly on my toes this little guys just melts my heart. He gives the best slobbery kisses and still likes to cuddle.

I can't believe he is going to be one soon.

First Day of School

2011-09-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well it happened...

She went from being a tiny little baby one minute to this...

...a kindergartner.

Even though this "big" girl is growing up to fast I am so excited for her to be in school.

She is ready...and I am mustering up every bit of faith I have to be content with the fact that she is ready. I have given her the skills she needs...I have taught her, cried for her, prayed for her...

My job as a mother is obviously far from over...it's only just begun...

...but I am trusting that my baby girl...my first born...the child who miraculously made me a mother...will thrive, even with me not always by her side.

First day of school

September 7 2011

Month 10

2011-09-08T13:50:00.001-07:00

Our Braden is now 10 months.

He seems like such a big kid now...and if I wasn't still nursing him I'd swear we have a toddler on our hands.

Braden is a climber. He can scale the girls bunk bed...the dresser, kitchen cupboards, book cases...you name it, he can probably climb it.

Thankfully he hasn't figured how to get out of his crib yet...but I am sure it is only a matter of time.

This little guy has 5 teeth and one more that is hopefully going to poke through soon. Teething has been tough for this boy.

Braden got his first haircut. Thank goodness his daddy is skilled with the clippers and the baby mullet is gone.

Such a C-U-T-E kid!

Happy 1o months Braden.

Month 9

2011-09-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Braden turned 9 months old way back on August 1st.

He weighed in at 19 lbs. 11oz...my smallest baby at this age.

I just love this little guy...even if he has been super needy lately.

My mom described him best when she said he's like a little bulldozer.

He loves to wrestle...and he's really rough...he grabbed an almost two year old at church and brought him to the ground in a matter of seconds.

We are trying to teach him to be soft, but at this age that is a hard thing to teach.

Maybe I am a little biased but I just think this little guy is so adorable...with that blond hair and big blue eyes...aahhhh melts my heart!

Happy Nine Months Braden!

About Bella

2011-08-12T11:56:00.001-07:00

Our Isabella is 5 1/2 years old.

She's a very pretty little girl with quite the temper.

She starts kindergarten in 2 weeks. It is going to be hard to let her go. She is still my Baby Bella and I often wonder how these past 5 years could have gone by so quickly.

Bella lost her first tooth recently. The tooth fairy left 4 quarters under her pillow.

Now she has another tooth that is really loose. At this rate the tooth fairy will soon be broke!

Bella loves to swim. She hasn't been in swim lessons this summer but it's nice to see she hasn't lost the skills she learned this past winter.

Bella loved 4th of July this year...

She got to help her Grandpa light some fireworks.

Bella is very bright. She constantly surprises us with her quick wit and vocabulary.

She loves to dance and sing and be goofy.

Bella has such a tender heart. Whenever anyone is sad she is the first to give comfort.

Bella is very artistic. She loves to draw, paint and sculpt. She can count to 100 and enjoys practicing math.

We are very proud of Bella and love her very much!

Little Olivia

2011-08-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

It has been quite some time since I wrote about our little Olivia.

She is now two years old...and yes those "terrible two's" are in full swing.

But despite the temper tantrums, Olivia really is a sweetheart. She is always saying please and thank you, and is very concerned when one of her siblings is hurt or crying. She is quick to say "sorry" and "I love you."

Olivia's vocabulary has really taken off and she is speaking in full sentences. She can count to 20 and likes to sing the alphabet. She is working on getting to know her colors...so far pink is the one color she recognizes every time.

Olivia loves to play outside and is always asking if we can go to the park. She also loves to play My Little Ponies and Littlest Pet Shops with her sister.

She and Bella fight quite a bit but when Bella is not home Olivia is always so sad and wonders when "her Bella" will return.

Olivia is still super attached to her binky...something I should have gotten rid of a long time ago...but with three kids to to take care of I am trying to pick my battles carefully.

We just adore our Little Olivia...who sadly isn't so little anymore.

Month 8

2011-08-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

Way back on July 1st Braden turned 8 months old.

He has mastered crawling...and is very fast.

Pretty much everything we have used to baby proof this house has failed...he broke the screen to the fireplace, takes the bumper pads off the brick, and pulls baby gates down.

He likes to wrestle with the pile of clean laundry and thinks unraveling the toilet paper roll is hilarious.

He is all BOY!

...a little boy we just can't get enough of...even if he a bit of a trouble maker:)

Happy 8 Months Braden!

Month 7

2011-06-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Our little B is Seven Months old.

He is a ball of energy and constantly on the move.

I'm not sure if it's for his own safety or just the fact that he wants to be up and playing with the big kids but this little boy is so...so...mobile.

He crawls, pulls himself up to everything and anything, climbs over various obstacles in his way, and is starting to slowly walk around the furniture.

He is on the fast track to walking...something I am definitely not ready for.

This is Braden's signature pose...he is always laying like this.

Braden is adored by his big sister's who smother him in hugs and kisses.

Two little teeth made their way up through his bottom gums just a couple weeks ago, which is added proof that my little man is growing up much too fast.

We are so in love with our little B and can't wait to see what new skills he has mastered in the coming weeks.

Happy 7 months Braden!

A Camping We Will Go...

2011-06-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

Our family ventured out on a true adventure over Memorial Day Weekend.....

Camping...

with THREE young children.

Call us crazy if you will, but we were in dire need of a little get-a-way and our efforts to get everything in order for our little trip proved to be well worth our time and energy.

Our humble abode for three days...a 10 person coleman tent. This baby fit one queen size air matttress, two twin air matresses, a pack-n-play, four suit cases and room to spare.

Jared and my brother spent a fair share of the three days fishing.

A few fish were caught but were too small to keep.

My parents enjoyed spending time with the grandkids...and if it weren't for them being there I don't think I would have agreed to this trip.

One day was warm enough to attempt to go swimming...however the water proved to be much much colder than originally anticipated.

Bella is such a good big sister...making sure Livi's life jacket was strapped correctly.

Despite the freezing temperatures at night an enjoyable time was had by all. We look forward to our next camping trip.

Bella's Dance Recital

2011-05-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Bella has been taking a creative dance class through Everett Parks and Recreation.

This past weekend she had her dance recital. The girls did a dance to the song "Topsy Turvy" from the "Hunchback of Notre Dame."

She did a great job and looked adorable dressed as a gypsy.

Way to go Bella...you danced your little heart out!

Month 6

2011-05-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

On May 1st Braden turned 6 months.

He weighs 17 lbs. 2 oz.

Braden is 1 1/2 pounds smaller than both his sisters were at this age....

He has been army crawling for about a month now...and he is fast.

Our little guy is into everything...cords, bathrooms, he gets stuck under everything and pulls the child proofing off the fireplace.

Braden can pull himself up onto things which leaves me completely baffled. I don't understand how such a little baby can do that at this age.

He continues to be such a happy mellow little man.

Happy six months to you little B, we are so happy to have you in our f-a-m-i-l-y.

Guess who's TWO!!!

2011-05-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

Olivia Paige is now TWO!

Her birthday was April 28th so I am a bit behind on posting this...but that is the story of my life lately.

Here are some facts about Olivia at the age of two...

She is 26lbs....and has been for the past 8 months. This girl used to be C.H.U.N.K.Y. but now she has really thinned out and is barely in the 50% for weight.

Livi is talking like crazy. All of a sudden her language skills have taken off...really taken off...she can speak in 4-5 word sentences.

She has the loudest voice...always has but her scream is ear piercing.

Olivia loves Cats, dolls, coloring, dogs, and anything her sister happens to be playing with.

She and Bella fight over everything...EVERYTHING!

Here are some pics from her big day...

Happy Birthday Livi Lou...oh how we love you!!!

Utah Trip April 2011

2011-05-03T11:37:00.001-07:00

On April 16th we loaded up the van and headed out on our trek to Utah.

The kids did surprising well for being strapped in their car seats for hours on end.

We had a great trip and here are just a few of the highlights...at least the ones we captured on camera.

Two of my favorite people enjoying their favorite snack...

Somewhere in Idaho...where Bella thought the cows were really smelly...

Happy girl

Tired girl

Content baby boy as long as someone would sit next to him.

Playing dress up at Grandma Kunz's house.

Celebrating Olivia's Birthday...

Cousin's

Museum of Ancient History

Easter Egg Hunt

Visiting Grandpa and Grandma Kunz

I was so happy we were able to Visit with Jared's Grandparents. They have almost 80 great-grandchildren so we were excited to have them meet Braden for the first time.

There are so many other fun things we did and didn't get pictures of...like hanging out with all the cousins, Josh's baptism, visiting with Grandma Burton, seeing one of my cousins I haven't seen since I was young, and many other fun memories we made on this trip.

We arrived home on Easter after a long drive but it was so very worth it. We really don't like living so far away from so much of our family and we are looking forward to the next time we can see all of them again.

Seattle Aquarium

2011-05-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

My kids love animals...

...including anything that resides under the sea.

About once a year we take the kids to the Seattle Aquarium...

so we made our annual trip three weeks ago and...

they had a ball!!

Unfortunately we picked a day when it was REALLY crowded.

However, despite the crowds, it was really great to be able to get out and spend time as a family.

Seeing how Bella measures up.

Watching the huge sea lion...

THIS huge sea lion

One of our many attempts at getting a picture with my kiddos...Olivia was not in the mood to cooperate.

So...until next year...maybe by then Olivia will want her picture taken...and we'll have a much better camera!

Month 5

2011-04-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Braden is 5 months old now...and this little guy is all over the place.

He rolls and rolls and rolls...scoots, kicks, pushes...and often gets stuck under a chair, the swing, or backed into a corner.

Braden can get up on his knees and push himself forward...which leaves me wondering if we will have a crawler in the next couple of weeks.

He can sit unassisted for short periods of time...which makes me a little sad.

Don't get me wrong, I am excited for him to reach these new milestones, but I would just like him to stay my baby for as long as possible.

He has other plans...and wants to get up and get moving so he can keep up with his sisters.

Braden's hair seems to just grow right down the middle, making it really easy to style in a Mohawk...it's getting curly too and is blond...so basically I have a darling little man that just gets cuter and cuter.

Happy 5 months Braden!

My Loves...

2011-03-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

These are my cuties....

They often make me crazy...

their whining is hard to deal with at times...

they fight over everything...

and yet...

they have filled every empty part of my heart.

My cup runneth over!

Month 4

2011-03-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

I am really late in posting this but better late than never right??

Braden turned 4 months on March 1st.

He was 14 lbs. 13 ounces.

He is in the 50% for height and weight.

Braden is smaller than both my girls were at this age.

He continues to be such a happy peaceful baby...despite how sick he has been for the past couple of months...but more on that later.

We just adore this little dude!

Happy 4 months to you Braden.

Blessed

2011-02-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

February 6th was a special day for our family.

Jared was able to take his son in his arms and give him a blessing.

Braden's blessing was so sweet. I am so excited to see him learn and grow in the Gospel...to make righteous choices and reach his divine potential. I want so badly for him to be able to receive all those things promised to him by a loving Heavenly Father.

Jared's mom made Braden's Blessing outfit. Sewing is one of her many talents.

We were so grateful we were able to have members of both families celebrate this special occasion with us.

Month three

2011-02-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

Our Little Braden is now 3 months old.

His hair continues to get lighter on the top of his head...which leaves me wondering if we might someday have a little blonde boy running around.

Braden has great big blue eyes and is so alert and interested in what's going on in the world around him.

And he continues to be such a happy baby. He coos, growls, squeals, and loves making all kinds of sounds.

His smile is so precious...and he smiles a lot.

...and compared to his sisters he is a great sleeper...which is a very good thing because three kids can make for one tired mama:)

I am so in love with this little man of mine.

Happy three months Braden!

Month Two

2011-01-07T08:34:00.001-08:00

Braden is 2 months old.

This little guy is now...

12 lbs. 8 oz.

23 inches long

and absolutely adorable.

Braden can roll over from his tummy to his back, and he loves to smile.

Happy two months buddy!

Happy Boy

2011-01-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that when I found out I was pregnant with Braden I was more shocked than excited...more panicked than at peace.

Olivia was only 10 months old when that pregnancy test came up positive...and since it took us 5 years to become pregnant with Livi I really thought it would take me that long to bring another child into this family.

Not so.

It took me a really long time to finally feel anxious and excited to be welcoming a third child into our home.

But thankfully God has a plan for our family, and he allowed this handsome little man to come when he did...despite the chaos that already surrounded me.

My little Braden is pure joy. Braden is content, mellow, and what I always wondered an easy baby would be like. He has made the huge transition from two kids to three much more bearable.

His smile lights up the room, and I am so happy to have him in our family.

Yes it's hard having him and Livi so close in age, but I really can't imagine our family without him.

I just adore my little B.

Snow Day

2011-01-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

We usually don't get a lot of snow here in the Northwest. So when the flakes start piling up, it's best to take advantage of it...because it's usually gone within a few hours.

Bella...sporting her new winter accesories santa brought her.

All bundles up!

Her first attemp at a snow angel.

Bella is a pro at it by now...she'll have to teach Livi a thing or two.

Our little snow man...there wasn't a ton of snow...and it was a little hard to work with, so we didn't make him very big...but he's cute enough.

Oh, and this snow lasted much longer than just a few hours...it stuck around for a few days.

Christmas pics

2011-01-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

I didn't take a ton of pictures on Christmas...so here are just a few.

Grandma Kunz made the kiddos jammies...they turned out darling and the girls want to wear them all...the...time!

Proof that Braden has dimples...so cute!

This little man has a lot in common with my dad...they both can fall asleep just about anywhere.

happy boy!

Such a pretty girl.

Showing off their Christmas outfits...and the last documented photo of Livi and her binky...it has now been banned...except at bedtime...for now.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

From our family to yours.

See you in 2011.

Guess who's five???

2010-12-24T16:20:00.001-08:00

Isabella Mae is now five years old!

I remember so clearly the first time she was placed in my arms...that sweet little babe has blossomed into a beautiful little girl...and I am so thankful that I get to be her mom.

We celebrated her special day by first going to see the Disney movie "Tangled."

Later that night our power went out right as my family arrived to help us celebrate. So we ended up going out for pizza...then coming home to open presents...in the dark. The kids thought the black out was really cool so I guess it helped make her special day even better!

Happy Birthday Bella...we are so excited to see all the new things you accomplish in the coming year!

Little B

2010-12-06T10:00:00.001-08:00

I must confess.....

Another man has stolen my heart.

He's a little on the short side, and seems to be losing most of the hair on the top of his head....

...but I think you'd agree...

he is the cutest lil' guy ever!

Image courtsey of Mackenzie Roberts Photography

Braden is now 5 weeks old.

weighing in at 10 lbs. 6 oz.

21 3/4 inches long.

...and 100% pure joy!

More of Braden

2010-11-12T18:06:00.001-08:00

Braden might possibly be the sweetest little boy ever.

He loves to snuggle...

and is so handsome...

Here we all are as a family of five!

Braden Ira Kunz

2010-11-12T17:47:00.001-08:00

My water broke at 5:30 am on Nov. 1st 2010

Our little Braden Ira Kunz was born at 2:01 pm.

He came 6 days early...weighing in at 7 lbs 8 ounces.

He was 20 3/4 inches long.

We are so excited to finally have our little guy here.

halloween 2010

2010-11-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

Bella and Livi were bumble bees for Halloween this year.

I had fun making their entire costume. It was a lot of work but they turned out really cute...and my girls looked adorable.

We had fun at our wards trunk or treat....then even more fun trick-or-treating at grandma's house...

I guess all that walking around the neighborhood did me good...my water broke the next morning.

8 years

2010-11-12T16:07:00.000-08:00

On October 4th we celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary. I would have blogged about this sooner but our little family has had a lot going on.

I am so grateful for this man. He works really hard, is extremely talented, completely devoted, and quite possibly the worlds wackiest dad.

Eight years has flown by and I am so excited to see what the future has in store for us!

31 years...

2010-09-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

Jared turned 31 last week.

The girls helped decorate the house...we made homemade cheese cake and chocolate cupcakes...and Bella helped blow out the candles.

We tried really hard to make this an extra special day for the coolest dad on the planet.

I think we succeeded!

Labor Day Camping Trip

2010-09-27T15:31:00.001-07:00

We met up with Holly's family over Labor Day weekend to go camping at Grayland Beach State Park. This was a last minute trip but well worth it. The Girls had so much fun...slept better than they do at home and had more dirt and sand all over their bodies than ever before!

We are already looking forward to going back next year!

Our Summer

2010-09-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

Now that it's officially Fall, I guess I should get around to posting some pictures from our summer.

This summer was very low key. We didn't go on any trips...we really didn't go out of our little town. Since Baby # 3 is coming soon we needed to save all Jared's vacation time for when our little boy arrives.

However, we did find some things to do to keep the kiddos entertained and their mom sane.

When the weather was crummy, and Daddy was working from home, we got creative with cardboard boxes...

Lots and lots of Popsicles were consumed...

Walking to 7-11 to get Slurpee's was an almost daily activity...

Spending the hot summer days in the front yard...with the pool, sprinkler or various plastic containers was where you would find the girls most often...

And then there was Bella's favorite...the Lake or beach...which was hours of entertainment.

Summer went by rather quickly this year. We enjoyed a lot of time together as a family. It's exciting to think that next summer we'll have three little ones to keep entertained...I guess we'd better get a bigger pool!

2010-06-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

So, I figured it was about time I posted something...

It's been almost two months.

We are doing well...the last two months have been busy...really busy.

Isabella

Image courtsey of Mackenzie Roberts Photography

This little beauty finished pre-school for the year at the beginning of June. She also finished her third round of swim lessons. Bella has been playing soccer with her little friends from church two days a week. She has really enjoyed it even though she has many melt downs on the field for various reasons.

Bella has blossomed into quite the little artist. In just the last few months what used to be just scribbles on the page are now people with arms and legs. She loves drawing pictures of our family...she remembers to include a picture of her baby brother which is so sweet.

It's hard to believe that she is going to be 5 in just six short months. This past year she has really grown up a lot. She loves being a big sister, and tells everyone who will listen that we are growing another baby.

Olivia

Is getting so big!

Little Miss Olivia is now 14 months old, and still very attached to mom.

She has started to master her skills at the play ground...thinking the slide to be the greatest invention ever.

She is our little dare devil. Olivia climbs up onto whatever she can...where she then shakes her little booty and claps her hands. This girl loves to dance, and spin in circles until she falls down.

We have tried to find fun thing to do this summer. One of which has involved the catching of tadpoles.

It's been really fun for the girls to watch the tadpoles turn into frogs. So far 6 of our 8 tadpoles have become cute little tree frogs.

We've learned all about big words like metamorphosis, amphibian, and habitat.

Every morning the girls rush into the kitchen to check on their little friends to see what kinds of changes they have made.

Unfortunately we are still waiting for summer to make it's annual appearance here in the northwest. However it has given us a couple of really nice days that we have tried to make the most of.

Hopefully now that it's summer maybe life will slow down a bit and I'll be better at updating this blog...but knowing me I wouldn't count on it:)

Oh Boy!!!

2010-06-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

We found out on June 8th that we are having a little BOY.

Bella is so excited that she gets to have a baby brother...Jared is thrilled that he will no longer be the only male in our house...and I am having so much fun shopping.

My due date is November 7th...so right now I am about 21 weeks along. I'm feeling pretty good. I had some issues with my blood pressure dropping really low which made me super dizzy with heart palpitations and shortness of breath. This has gotten much better over that last couple of weeks, but I did have to go in for some heart tests which all came back normal.

Overall things are going really well with this pregnancy. I can't believe that I am halfway there. In just a few short months we will have three kids. This pregnancy was definitely a surprise so it has taken me a long time to get used to the fact that I am indeed going to be a mother of three...two of which will only be 18 months apart...

So if you don't hear from me for a while after this baby comes you'll understand. My life is about to get really busy!!

Birthday Girl

2010-05-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Our Olivia turned one years old on April 28th.

Grandma Kunz came to visit from Utah to share her special day with us.

Olivia didn't think much of her birthday cake. I didn't even get a picture of it...oh well it wasn't anything too exciting since I am by no means a cake decorator...but Bella had a fun time helping me.

It's hard to believe this little lady is already one.

Happy First Birthday To You...Our Little Livi Lou!

Soon to be a family of five!

2010-04-27T15:11:00.001-07:00

Three...

That is the number of children we will have come early November.

As parents we will now be outnumbered...and we can only imagine the pure chaos that is about to ensue.

But despite the feeling of being totally overwhelmed that we are now going to be responsible for three little beings, we are excited...and feel very blessed.

...Family is really what it's all about...

Baby Kunz #3 is due November 7th!

One year ago...

2010-04-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

Our little Olivia turns one tomorrow.

I've been thinking a lot today.
It was one year ago today that I was at the hospital in Labor. I remember waking up at 3AM on my due date having contractions. Two hours later they were 5 minutes apart.

I immediately knew I was in Labor. My contractions continued to be 5 minutes apart for the next 4 hours, and by 10 AM we found ourselves at the hospital.

My contractions were not that bad but they were consistent...now about 3-4 minutes apart so they sent me walking for one hour.

It was a beautiful spring day. Jared and I walked around the neighborhood near the hospital...looking at houses for sale...even though they were houses we could never afford to buy.

By now my contractions were getting stronger and I would have to stop walking until they passed.

I went back to triage...they checked me...and they sent me walking some more.

By noon I was admitted.

For the next 5 hours my contractions still were totally manageable...painful yes, but I was getting through them on my own.

Then the Dr. broke my water...and my once "not so bad contractions" turned really painful.

I remember Jared asking "so when does she start screaming"...he quickly learned that I am a suffer in silence kind of person.

Many hours later and 25 minutes of pushing, Olivia entered this world kicking and screaming. She missed her due date by 14 minutes.

When seeing her for the first time we were overcome with emotions. Every frustration, every pitfall, every hard day we had ever felt in the last few years of trying to get to this point seemed to fade away in the distance as we sat gazing at this perfect being we had created together.

I finally felt complete...and whole. I had my two girls. I had experienced motherhood in two different yet equally amazing ways, and I had my husband by my side. For those few moments life was perfect.

This past year has been a joy. Olivia has a fiery spirit...just like her sister, and the two of them fight over everything and anything.

This girl can cry louder than any other child I have ever heard and she is totally attached to her mama.

We are excited to watch her continue to learn and grow, and see where the next year takes us as a family.

Easter 2010

2010-04-17T09:01:00.001-07:00

I'm a little late in posting this but we had a fun Easter this year.

The girls had a little Egg hunt in the front yard...the whole thing lasted barely 5 minutes...and the wind was blowing so hard poor Livi kept getting blown over...

This was Olivia's very first Easter Egg Hunt and she didn't quite know what to do, but that just meant there were way more eggs for Bella to find.

And this is the best picture I could get of the girls in their matching skirts I made for them.

Month 11

2010-04-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

Olivia is now 11 months old.

In three short weeks this little lady will be turning one year old.

Olivia has gotten really good at walking in just a short time. She follows Bella all over the house, which at times irritates Bella.

I have learned that sibling rivalry has nothing to do with genetics because they fight over every toy, but Olivia loves smothering Bella with hugs.

Livi's favorite things to do include helping unload the dishwasher. As soon as she hears the dishwasher open she comes running as fast as her little legs will carry her.

She also loves to pull the nicely folded clothes out of the laundry baskets and carry them all over the house.

Happy 11 months to you, our little Livi Lou!

Month 10

2010-03-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Olivia Turned 10 months old yesterday...

...and last week she figured out how to walk.

I remember when Bella was a baby. I couldn't wait for her to reach every new milestone. This time around I just wanted this little lady to slow down a bit. I'm not ready for her to grow up...but alas here she is 10 months old and walking...

She has been such a joy to have in our family these past 10 months.

Oh how I love these two!

Happy 10 months to you our little Livi Lou!

Chasing the winter blues away...

2010-02-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

If you have ever lived in the Pacific Northwest,

then you know how depressing the winters can be.

...but while the other side of the country has been buried in a few feet of snow, we have had unusually warm weather. Last week it was almost 60 degrees. So we spent as much time out in the sunshine as possible.

I have always said that there is no place more beautiful than Washington State on a day the sun is shinning. (Except maybe for Maui)

Bella especially loved getting out of the house.

And olivia was content just hanging out in the stroller.

Jared and Bella spent a lot of time down by the water...

Looking for these guys.

and the swings...well they are always a hit.

especially for this one!

Hopefully the sun decides to make an apperance again sometime soon. We sure like having it around.

A little bit of this...and a little bit of that...

2010-02-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

Little Olivia has either found a love for music...or she just likes to bang on the strings...whatever it may be, it sure is cute to watch my girls make up silly songs with their dad.

This is what happens when you send your husband to the grocery store to buy a "few" items. He comes home with a bag of carrots that is larger than your 9 month old baby. Good thing we have a juicer.

And Bella is blossoming into quite the little artist.

Her favorite thing to draw is people.

This happens to be a picture of the night sky, our house and a flower.

It's no secret that Vampires seems to be all the rage right now...well it appears that we have a little one of our own.

If you look closely at this picture you'll see that Livi has gotten her little "fang" teeth before her top two front ones. It's pretty funny to look at. Hmmm I guess that's what happens when you re-read the twilight series while pregnant.

Month 9

2010-02-02T17:27:00.000-08:00

Olivia is now NINE months old.

Currently she weighs 21 lbs 13 oz.

and she is 28 inches tall.

She loves, loves, loves any type of food she can feed herself......especially if she can rub it all over her face and hair.

Olivia has four teeth that have popped through, but she has three more hanging out just under the surface...which has made for a super cranky baby the past two weeks.

This girl will now get into anything and everything. She can walk holding on to something one handed, and quite often we will find her standing in the middle of the room all by herself. I guess this means walking is in her not too distant future...hmmm I'm not sure how I feel about that:)

And our little Livi has been practicing quite proficiently for the American Idol auditions in 2026...no doubt she could totally win it.

Happy nine months to you...our little Livi Lou!

Thoughts on turning 30...

2010-01-10T21:22:00.000-08:00

So here we are...

It happened. Somehow the last 10 years have slipped by in what seems like a blink of an eye and I have entered into a new decade.

Today...I turned 30.

I am excited to see where my thirties takes me...

But I want to remember the significant things I learned in my 20's. Particularliy the lessons I learned this past year.

*I learned that giving birth is absolutely amazing. It's exciting, and scary, and painful, and euphoric all at the same time. And if I ever get the opportunity to experience it again I will remember to get an epidural sooner, so I can rest...because 40 hours of no sleep makes for one mess of a new momma.

* I learned that there is no depth to the love you have for your children...no matter how they become yours. Whether by adoption, or biologically...the love is real, it is equal. After having experienced both of these I can tell you that the same sweet spirit that was felt the first time I held Isabella in my arms was the same sweet spirit I felt the first time I held Olivia. Both are my girls, and were always meant to be.

* I learned more than ever that being a mother is hard. It is not for the faint of heart, and it is okay to feel completely overwhelmed and under qualified. As much as I would like to be one of those mother's who has her home clean and organized, her kids reading by the age of three, something for dinner other than hamburger helper, and the ability to look super cute in her trendy attire...I am simply not that kind of mom. Bummer!

* I have learned that the commandment "Love thy Neighbor as Thyself" is a very difficult commandment for me to follow. Especially since my neighbor's are crazy, drunk driver's who total your brand new van and never apologized kind of neighbor's. Don't worry we are working on forgiveness...it's a slow process.

I am sure this coming year will bring many more experiences and opportunities for growth. The only thing I will miss from my twenties is my size 4 waist and a more fit body...but those have been long gone for quite sometime so it's hard to remember what it was like to have them anyways!

Happy 30th to me.

Month 8

2010-01-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

Guess who is already 8 months old?!

In the past month this little girl has grown up so much.

Olivia really enjoys feeding herself...or just mashing her fingers through it...either way it eventually makes it's way into her mouth.

She prefers to stand...she'll even let go...little dare devil!

This little girl can pull herself up and has started to cruise around the furniture.

Olivia has two teeth...and man are they SHARP!!

Happy 8 months to you...Our little Livi Lou!

Isabella Mae is FOUR Today!

2009-12-18T21:45:00.000-08:00

Our Bella turned four today.

It started off as a great day.

She got to decorate her own cupcakes and open tons of presents from so many people who just adore her.

Yes things were going very nicely.

This may quite possibly have been a birthday to remember...

Until...her mother managed to somehow start a fire in

the oven while cooking home made pizza. Way to go!

Isabella said the prayer at dinnertime. She forgot to bless the food but she did thank Heavenly Father for not letting our house burn down.

So today...Isabella's fourth birthday...I am grateful for many things, but most of all I am grateful that our Bella has survived these past four years having me as her mother:)

Happy Birthday Bella!!

You have brought us so much joy.

We feel so blessed to get to be your parents.

You are our special girl and we love you so much!

Love, Mom and Dad

On The Move...

2009-12-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

We have a crawler.

At 7.5 months Olivia figured it out.

Now anything and everything is fair game to rip, chew, bang, get stuck under, and fall off of.

It has begun.

My days of being able to leave this little lady in one place are officially over and I know that with her new found mobility she inevitably will work off most of that baby chub hanging around her mid section. Sad...I love that chub.

And poor, poor Bella is quickly finding out that nothing is safe around her baby sister. Hmm maybe this will motivate her to pick up her toys!!

Way to go baby girl...even if it was a bowl of popcorn left sitting in front of you that got you up on your hands and knees, awkwardly inching your way toward it.

It's okay...Bella's popcorn was tempting me too!

Month 7

2009-11-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

Our little Livi is 7 months old...

This little cherub is such a sweet girl.

Her great big smile can brighten even the darkest of days...and her laugh is so contagious.

Oh how we adore her.

I could go on and on about all the things I love about our little lady, but I'll stick to just a few...

I love these thighs!!!

Seriously...don't you just want to squeeze them?!

I love that she is really into "mom" these days...even though there are times when I just wish I could have a few minutes to myself...it does melt my heart to know that she wants to be near me all...the...Time!

I love that my girls love each other...they really are kindred spirits.

I love the faces Liv's makes when she is upset. This girl can scream and she isn't afraid of letting the whole neighborhood hear it.

I love that she is a perfect mix of Jared and me.

I love her eyes...Oh those eyes!!

I love that she is part of our family...

Forever...

There is so much more to our darling babe...like how I love that she is trying so hard to crawl, how she loves to eat Cheerios's and drink out of a cup...and those slobbery kisses that I just can't get enough of.

See I told you I could go on and on...

Happy 7 months to you, our Little Livi Lou!

My Cute Family

2009-11-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

Our good friend, Mackenzie, takes beautiful photographs...

So it was a no brain-er to ask her to take our family portraits.

She is seriously amazing...and this is why...

We live about 5 minutes from Puget sound...right across from Whidby Island.

I really wanted to get our pictures taken down by the water, because the view is breathtaking.

Well the day we had our pictures taken it was windy...really windy...like Gale Force Winds on Whidby Island windy...but we went for it anyways.

Besides the fact that in some of the pics my hair is blowing around all crazy-like, I am in love with how they turned out.

Mackenzie did such a great job I couldn't pick just a few to share with everyone...

So here they are...

My cute little family of four.

...And here are the one's we took of the girls inside...

I saved my favorite for last...this is so beautiful...

So you should definitely check out Mackenzie's Photography Blog, because she can make beautiful pictures for you too...

...and while your at it check out my other friend Danielle's blog...she can make you a really cute blog to go along with your really cute pictures!!

2009-11-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

November is...

Adoption changed our life...

It's how I became a mother...

It's how this adorable, sweet, precious baby girl became ours...Forever.

And because of Adoption we have had the priveledge of seeing her grow into this...

Photo by Mackenzie Roberts Photography

"I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you."

Author: Unknown

Adoption truly is a Miracle...

and there are people I know who are hoping for their miracle.

They need your help to find their babies.

If you know of a birthmom who is considering placing her baby for adoption, please tell her about my friends...

John and Ashley

Tyler and Jen

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

We had fun....Hope you did too!

Month Six

2009-10-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

I remember the day well...like it happened just yesterday.

My contractions started at 3:00 am, becoming consistent at 5:00am.

I was admitted to the hospital by noon and 12 hours and fourteen minutes later Olivia Paige entered this world......screaming!!

I of course was crying...tears of pure joy

Olivia is now 6 months old.

This time around I was well aware of how fast babies grow. I've tried to savor moments a little longer...but no matter how hard I try...time is still fleeting too quickly.

Livi is now...

18 lbs. 8.5 oz (91.36%)

26.5" (78.62%)

I have come to the conclusion that we just grow big babies in our home...and I like it. It just means more pudge to pinch and hopefully I'll have some amazing upper arm strength by the time she learns how to walk.

Happy six months to you...Our little Livi Lou!

What we've been up to...

2009-10-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

October has been a busy month for us. Between preschool, swim lessons, meetings, church callings, work and what not, time has slipped by rather quickly.

So this post is mainly for the Grandma's...

who I know are itchin' for some new pictures of the girls.

We Love fall here in the Northwest...even if it means that rain is most likely in the forecast for the next several months. Our family has tried to take advantage of the few dry days we have had and spend sometime outdoors.

It's been pretty breezy lately...perfect for kite flying.

Bella went on her first field trip with her preschool class to a pumpkin patch.

She was so proud of the pumpkin she picked.

It was fun to be able to have a special day with my girl...Isabella called it a "Mommy and Bella date."

And lastly...here is Bella in all her goofy glory. She came out of the bathroom with these stuck to her head...kinda like Velcro. There is never a dull moment with this girl.

Year Seven...

2009-10-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

October 4th was our 7 year wedding aniversary...

7 years!

I have been thinking lately about all the things that have happened throughout those seven years...and I can't help but feel so blessed.

I could not have gotten through some of the last seven years without Jared by my side...and I have come to realize many things...one of which is this...

you know you have been married awhile when celebrating your aniversary includes a yummy dinner and browsing through Ikea...

but for me, it was a perfect way to celebrate...

Seriously...I got a whole two hours to have Jared all to myself...I could have cared less what we did.

Happy seven years to us!

Month Five...

2009-09-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Olivia Paige is 5 months old.

So, to celebrate her five month birthday here are five fun facts about our little Livs...

She is our little chubby bubby, tipping the scales at 16 lbs 9 oz.

Livi finally figured out how to roll over about a week and a half ago.

She's been sitting up all by herself for a couple weeks now.

She's our happy little girl...

who enjoys wrestling with her big sister.

Happy 5 months to you...our little Livi Lou!

and just for fun here is a picture of Bella at five months.

ahh...I heart my girls!

Marching to the beat of their own drum...

2009-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

My two Girls definitely have their own agenda.

For example...at 4.5 months this little lady still hasn't figured out how to roll over...but she can sit all by herself...unassisted.

Despite her little health issues she is still such a happy baby...

Then there is this little lady who isn't so little anymore...

Bella started preschool this week. When I dropped her off she was so excited to go into the classroom she took off without even saying goodbye...she did however stop at the door, turn towards me and with her heart melting grin told me she loves me...ahhhh!

Isabella is such a goofball. We are amazed at the things she comes up with that constantly keep us laughing. (This is a Halloween costume for a 6-12 month old baby. She was determined to make it fit)

It is clear to me that my girls march to the beat of their own drum...and they are making beautiful music all along their way.

Reflux Sucks!

2009-09-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

Someday... the words "sucks" will be one of those words my kids will be forbidden to use...

But for now it seems totally fitting for this post.

Reflux is not fun...and I am not just talking about the kind that makes our little Olivia spit up everything that goes in her mouth.

Last week, Olivia went into Children's Hospital In Seattle to have a renal Ultrasound and a VCUG. It was at this time that she was diagnosed with

Grade I Vesicoureteral Reflux.

We just went into the doctor again yesterday and Olivia has yet another bladder infection. Her second in 3.5 weeks.

Our little lady now has to be on antibiotics for 5-6 months.

However, despite her not feeling well, she still manages to make my heart melt with all her cuteness.

We are hopeful this is something that she will out grow soon. Thank goodness for modern medicine and amazing health benefits!

Month 4

2009-08-29T22:44:00.000-07:00

This time last year I found out I was pregnant. It was a saturday, and I was at the urgent care clinic where I worked one day a week.

My co-workers had all hurried off to do various things and I was left at my desk alone...trying to ingore the feeling I had inside me that kept making me think...what if.

I found out that day...that marvelous day...a little baby was growing inside of ME.

That little baby is now a happy, healthy, lively, rolley polley 4 month old.

What a joy it has been to see her little personality come to life.

Happy 4 months baby girl!

2009-08-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to everyone who gave some suggestions to help out with my dilemma.

As you can see...today we had a much better hair day:)

Sending out an S.O.S.

2009-08-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

I need help!

There is something growing in our house...and it has gotten really out of hand.

Despite my attempts to rectify the problem...things have gotten worse.

There have been tears...there have been fits of rage.

Somebody... anybody...

help me...

Tame....

Her....

Mane!!!

I am completely clueless. And I am losing all patience. She doesn't want it combed because it's so tangled...she doesn't want it up because according to her that's too fancy...oh heaven forbid!

I really don't know what else to do...besides chop it all off...which I won't because I don't want my daughter to hate me forever.

Thankfully, this one is bald...

and probably will be for quite a while.

Accident Prone

2009-08-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago we decided our 2005 Toyota Camry was getting to be a pretty tight squeeze with two little ones now...not to mention all the baby gear that inevitably gets hauled all around town.

So We decided to take the plunge. We traded in the car I loved...the car that both my babies came home from the hospital in...and bought a 2007 Toyota Sienna.

At first the thought of purchasing a mini-van was somewhat repulsive...totally logical but repulsive none the less. When I was a teenager I swore up and down that I would never own a mini-van...then as I grew older the idea of a van kinda grew on me but I would never own one before I was thirty. But there I was 4 months shy of turning 30 and the proud new owner of a van. I say proud because it really was love at first sight for me. As soon as I sat down in the driver's seat...the deal was sealed...I began dreaming of all the many adventures our little family could go on, now that we had the space to do it.

We enjoyed that van for 5 weeks. Then my infatuation ended abruptly when my new mode of transportation was hit by a drunk driver. The van was parked right outside our house, and the drunk driver is our next door neighbor. He was going about 50mph down the street when he crashed into our car. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

It is an absolute miracle he somehow missed hitting the children playing across the street who witnessed the entire accident, not to mention the fact that I had just gotten home minutes before he slammed into our van.

So the passed couple of weeks have been beyond stressful for us...trying to sort through insurance stuff, a rental car and all that other crap.

Recently we found out that the van was a total loss, thankfully the insurance company gave us a check for what we paid for the vehicle, and I have been reminded of some pretty important things...

Our little family is being watched over.. a car is replaceable...a life is not.

And even though this is our third...yes THIRD total loss accident in 5 years (none of which have been our fault) there is a lesson we will learn, and receive blessings from.

To be honest though...you know that commandment "Love thy neighbor as thyself "...yea...we're really struggling with that one right now:)

My Girls...

2009-08-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

Time...

It's something that I wish would slow down...especially during this phase of my life when my little ones are so young. They are growing up way too fast.

So before I completely forget what they were like at this age, here is a little bit about them...

ISABELLA MAE

Bella is 3.5 years old. She is a little spit fire with quite the temper. BUT this little girl has the most beautiful eyes that literally make your heart melt.

She is really bright...has mastered the alphabet, colors, shapes, and is working on what sounds letters make.

Isabella loves playing computer games on pbskids.org and doing Wii Fit with her daddy.

Bella started swim lessons three weeks ago. She is a natural in the water just as long as she doesn't get her face wet. She's not as daring as the boys in her class...which is a good thing!!

My little girl starts preschool next month and she couldn't be more thrilled.

Olivia Paige

Olivia is now 3.5 months old...and is getting chubbier by the minute!

She has discovered her hands and loves to put them in her mouth. She is quite the talker, and every morning around 5:30 am we are awoken by her squeals of delight.

Olivia has reflux and takes yucky medicine twice a day.

This girl absolutely hates being on her tummy so most likely she won't be rolling over anytime soon.

She is a sweet little lady who know what she wants...she has the loudest cry of any baby I have ever heard!!

But most of all I think Olivia's shirt says it best "Girls Rock."

...Yes they do...especially mine!

Road Trippin'

2009-07-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

Our little family just got back from a super fun road trip to Utah where we spent a week with Jared's entire family.

Yes...we drove all 800+ miles with two little ones in the back seat. The girls did pretty good considering how long they were strapped in their car seats.

So...what do you get when you take Mama kunz, Papa Kunz...their 5 kids plus spouses and 13 grand kids...???

You get a week full of...

The children's museum, Planetarium, Temple square, Aquarium, Snowbird, Oquirrah Mountain Temple open house, wave runners, staying up at the cabin, 4-wheelers, Olivia's baby blessing, visiting great grand parents, hot tub, sprinklers, temps in the high 90's to low 100's, games...games...and more games, a very long drive home to Washington where it was even hotter than Utah, and a sad...sad Bella who misses her Grandma Kunz and all her cute cousins!!

It was quite the trip...and we have about a bazillion pictures to prove it!!

Three months

2009-07-28T18:00:00.001-07:00

Little miss Olivia Paige is three months old today!

I didn't think it was possible but this sweet girl keeps getting cuter.

She is our little burrito baby...

with the prettiest blue eyes...

and porcelain skin, Yes she is a beauty!!

Happy three months to you...our little Livi Lu!

Fourth Of July

2009-07-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

We spent the 4th of July at my parent's house. Their neighborhood puts on a big block party every year.

The festivities included a parade...

..an enormous slip-n-slide...

...four-wheelin...

...A pie eating contest...

...the throwing of many tantrums...

...Holly's dad getting soaked in the huge water fight and sporting a very hip hair style...

...A flag ceremony...

...And Bella with her sparklers...

Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday!

Low Tide

2009-06-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning I packed up the kids, our buckets and shovels and headed down to the beach. This is one of Bella's favorite places, and it's only a five minute drive from our house.

But this day was extra special...

...it was the lowest tide of the year...

...And this is what we found...

...There were starfish, sea urchins, snails, and crabs everywhere...

It was the perfect little adventure...

Bella had so much fun...

Olivia snoozed the whole time...

and Mom enjoyed every minute spent with her two girls...even if we came back a bit wet, covered in sand, and smelling a little like dead crabs and sea weed...Good times!!

The Refiner's Fire

2009-06-12T22:44:00.000-07:00

Olivia Paige is 6 weeks old. She lights up our world in ways I never thought would be possible. When I had my final OB visit this past week I couldn't help but ponder the events of the past 5 years in our struggle to have children.

It has been a rough 5 years.

But staring into the eyes of my adorable family has helped heal those parts of my broken heart, and I have become grateful for those rough 5 years. I have learned a lot about myself, my strength, and my faith.

I have truly been blessed and every prayer I have offered up has been answered. I have witnessed the power of the priesthood heal me, increase my strength and comfort my worried soul.

These past five years were my refiners fire, and hopefully I have been molded into something more beautiful than before...

President Faust has said:

"Here, then, is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiners fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whispering of the divine shepherd.

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful.

The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiners fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process."

Random pictures

2009-06-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

We had some unusually hot weather last week. So to cool things off we set up Bella's pool and let her have at it with the hose.

Olivia developed a heat rash so she spent three days straight in nothing but her diaper.

And we found this little guy right outside our back porch just hanging out.

These next pictures are just because there so darn cute...

Check out those big blue eyes!!

And because my life is full of much randomness these days this is what it looks like most of the time...laundry piled high, Bella vegging out in front of the t.v. with her snack scattered all over the floor, and baby Olivia placed anywhere that will keep her happy. Such is the life of a stay at home mom:)

Water Baby

2009-06-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

Okay so technically she's not a baby...but this little girl LOVES the water.

Grandma Kunz came to visit over Memorial Day weekend. The weather was beautiful so we took full advantage of the pool at her hotel.

Bella convinced Grandma that she needed goggles to wear in the water...so after quick trip to target she was sporting these pink barbie ones...Very fashionable!

Isabella pretty much has no fear when it comes to swimming, so I guess it's a good thing we're starting swim lessons next month:)

Growing up...

2009-05-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

Little Olivia Paige is now almost 5 weeks old. I still can't get over the fact that she is actually here...and that I gave birth to this little one. What an incredible experience that was. Words really can't describe how it felt to be able to bring this child into the world and how blessed I feel to be the mother of not one but two children who were such miracles in their own unique ways.

Olivia is such a joy. She is adored by her big sister and doesn't seem to mind the constant smothering.

She makes the silliest faces...a trait that was no doubt inherited from her goofy daddy.

This girl likes her baths and being naked...a trait inherited from her sister.

...And she loves to sleep...

...and sleep...

...and sleep...she got this trait from her mom!

Obviously she fits in perfectly with this family.

And then there is this little spit fire...

...who constantly amazes us with her new words and phrases...you'd think she was 3 going on 13.

when did this little baby...

...turn into this little beauty??

They just grow up way too fast!!

A Daddy and his Daughters...

2009-05-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

He may have been holding out for a boy...but I think it's pretty obvious that this dad adores his little girls!!

...and it's plain to see that they think he's pretty special too:)

High Flyin' Adventure...

2009-05-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

A friend of ours took Jared and Bella out in his plane this past weekend. The weather was beautiful and Bella was beyond excited.

Ever since we moved up here she has been crazy about airplanes. This is probably because we live just minutes from the Boeing Plant and Paine field. We drive past it everyday and get to see all the planes close up...even land right above our car.

So you can imagine how happy she was when we told her she gets to go in an airplane.

Jared said Bella was a little nervous at first but her little friend was there to keep her company in the back seat.

The Pilot: Wade

Co-Pilot (in training): Jared

The view from above...

Just Too Cute...

2009-05-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Best part about having two girls...

Matching Outfits

How cute is that!!!

Little Olivia...1 Week

2009-05-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that our little Olivia is a week and a half old already. We have loved every minute with this little sweetie. I find myself holding her a little longer, completely ignoring the ever growing piles of laundry and dishes, just to stare at this little wonder...because this time around I know first hand how fast they grow.

Olivia is such a good baby. She is growing like a weed...already topping the scales at 8 lbs...I guess that breast milk is good stuff. We are adjusting well. My recovery has been slow going due to some unexpected "issues" I'm having and my total recovery time has been pushed out to 8 weeks...it's hard but I'm loving having both my girls. Our family feels complete...at least for now.

Here are some more pictures of our little miss...

And here's us at 1 week postpartum...it feels so good to be able to wear my regular clothes again:)

Viva La Vida Olivia!

2009-05-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

What you lookin' at?

I'm trying to blend in with my surroundings...not happening.

Ole!

Receiving transmission with right hand...scratching chest with left. Doing yoga with the feet.

More pics of Olivia and family

2009-05-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

Soul Sisters - Olivia meets Bella

2009-04-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Olivia Paige Kunz

2009-04-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hello world,
My name is Olivia Paige Kunz. I was born at 12:14am on Tuesday, April 28th, 2009. When I was born, I weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and I measured 19.5 inches. My mommy went into labor with me around noon on Monday, 4/27. I am a happy and healthy baby girl and here are some pictures to prove it.

I will share more with you later when I'm not so darn tired. My Mommy is feeling well, albeit a bit exhausted. Daddy, well he is just as goofy as ever, but I'm kind of starting to like him. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes on my behalf! Hope you enjoy these fun pictures cause I was not having much fun when they were taken! See you soon....er or later! Love ya!

Quick update

2009-04-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

So here we are...no baby yet...and 2 days away from our due date.

I'm really sore, completely exhausted, and I just want our baby girl to come...Right Now!

But unfortunately no amount of complaining is going to get her here any faster.

As far as baby goes..she is doing great. As of Wednesday I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. If I go past my due date I have 2 tests scheduled at the hospital just to make sure she is still doing well. My Dr. said he'll induce me on May 3rd if she is still a no show.

So to make myself forget about all my woes of pregnancy I went home from that appointment and started installing new kitchen flooring...no I am not kidding...and let me tell you, the visual of a nine month pregnant woman on her hands and knees installing vinyl flooring is quite hilarious if I do say so myself.

I guess you can say I've taken this whole nesting thing a bit too far...I won't even go into all the other crazy things I have done around the house...

...but dang my kitchen looks good!!