All ready to go!

 This morning Brandon took Izzy's PJ's off to change her diaper.  While he was cleaning up, she got "all ready to go."  Where she was going, I am not sure.  In the finished product, she actually had her coat all zipped up and grabbed her little pink purse.  She walked around this way for quite awhile and wouldn't change.  Then she had me help her take her baby and stroller up the stairs and pushed it around the hallway.

This is Brandon's new best friend.  He kept talking to it this morning out the window.  It looks like it's snowing.  If only... that's just how dirty our window is.  Maybe since Brandon owns a window washing company he will wash our windows this summer.  Anyway, Mr. Buckster set up camp on our lawn awhile today.  And just when Brandon went to snap a picture, Buckster came closer and looked directly at him.  Whatever their connection is, I am not sure, but it seems pretty strong.  I wonder how I am supposed to get Brandon to respond and communicate that well with me.  (haha, jk)

Isabela adventures...

 Last night Isabela was up late because we had to run into the office before Brandon left on his trip today.  She was pretty tired and did NOT want to put on her shoes.  Maybe a little bi-polar, but her mood did a 180 when we decided to put her shoes on Lambie instead.

 She was so proud, she had to keep showing us.

 After playing in the bathroom cupboards... I had to laugh.

 As the days have gotten slightly warmer (notice there is still snow on the ground), Isabela and I have gone for some walks in her stroller.  But now she insists on taking her baby for walks.  She pushes the stroller over to the stairs inside our house and cries until I help her take it upstairs and outside.  You can see the happy result.

 She was more than content to leave me and continue on her way.  I am way excited to have Xander this summer.  I can push him and she can walk along side pushing her baby.

 Isabela's new Bolivian hat.  A sister we used to attend church with in our Spanish Branch made this for Isabela when she went back to visit Bolivia for awhile.  So it was made by a Bolivian woman in Bolivia.  Isabela LOVES it!  She never takes it off when we put it on, and is fascinated by the tassels on the sides.

Kyle and Erin's wedding was beautiful and fun, albeit cold at the temple!  We sat inside the temple waiting room where it was warm and ran outside just long enough to take pictures.  But I thought this picture was absolutely adorable!

Basketball, Broken window, and Indiana

You are looking at Lil' Blue's number one fan.  At my city league game last week Steph took this awesome video of Izzy cheering, as you can see during the video she gets a little upset and yells no at Steph, then it looks like she gets down and might come to Stephanie, at least that is what we thought.  Nope she had other ideas, I'm not a 100%, but I think she had enough and walked out onto the floor, they stopped play because we had to many players on the court.  It was funny, I said, loud enough for others to here, "Who's kid is that, come on!" It was pretty funny and we really love the video and she had a blast.I think I have a sports fan on my hands, who would have thought?  

On Tuesday I went to visit my friend Brad, I parked outside his apartment in Salt Lake, and without even thinking about it, did not take the face off of our after market stereo in the car.  When I walked out the next morning I found our Nissan with the driver's window busted out.  Whoever it was went after the stereo but they must have been spooked or just couldn't get the stereo out.   There was busted glass and plastic pieces all over the place.  Thankfully right next to Brad's apartment there was a Jiffy Lube, so I was able to get them to use their  vacuum to clean it up.  But this meant that I had to drive all the way from Salt Lake to Logan with no window, I did attempt to put up some plastic, but unfortunately at 70 mph on the interstate it tried to blow off on me.  I did catch it and drove the rest of the way with no window and no plastic, I got some really weird looks.  So now we are having a new one installed by Logan Glass, professionally done and not for much money, we are happy. 

Finally I am off to Indiana this weekend for a meeting for Down Under Sports, it will be intimidating but so far it looks like things are going to go really well.  We are a blessed family and are anxiously awaiting the arrival our son Alexander in March, we thank all our family and friends.

I got bamboozled!

Brandon and I had decided that we would go to both our regular ward and the Spanish branch in our stake to see where we felt we needed to be.  The family ward starts at 9:00am and the branch at 11:00am.  I think before we went, both of us were leaning toward attending the Spanish branch.  We are so used to speaking Spanish at church and the "closeness" of the people in the Hispanic culture. 

As expected, as sacrament started, I began to translate everything into Spanish.  Sometimes it was difficult to remember what they said because I was so busy translating.  But I can't even describe the overwhelming feeling I had.  Twenty minutes into the meeting, I had the strongest feeling of affirmation that this was where we need to be.  I didn't say anything to Brandon.  I had told him I would give both wards a fair chance.  I also wanted to make sure he felt it, too, before I said anything.

At the end of the meeting, Brandon asked, "How do you feel?"  I said, "I feel really good," and left it at that.  He concurred.  As members said hello, he started by saying, "We are just visiting today to see where we need to be..."  then the more people he talked to, "We are visiting today, but I think we are going to stay permanently..."  Mind you, I hadn't said how strongly I felt.  We also make all of these decisions together.  But I knew then that he really knew we should be in the ward as well.  The feeling was so strong of family, unity, support, love.

Then on the way home, Brandon said, "Really, I just bamboozled you!  Little do you know, I tricked you to go to the earlier ward so I could watch all of the Bronco's games every Sunday."  I said, "Yeah, you just convinced me to speak English at church.  I don't think I could have convinced you that's where we should be if you didn't feel the Spirit."  He makes me laugh, anyway.  I think if anything, I could say I bamboozled him.   Little does Brandon know, I am excited for him to sit by me in Sacrament and help with Izzy (and Xander).  Then I am going to come home from church and take a nap while he makes dinner... hahahaha!  I am also really excited to know my neighbors that live next door to me, and have young women who can come help babysit.

A Pregnant Day

I have deemed today to be "having a pregnant day."  Isabela didn't sleep a wink last night, or so it seems.  Brandon gave her to me about 12:30, she was fully awake by 2am, and proceeded to roll around in my bed, talking, until 4:15, when I took her out to Brandon (who had conveniently gone to sleep out on the bed in the front room).  Needless to say, by 4am, I couldn't take it anymore.  Brandon kept her til 7 when I got her again. I figure I got a maximum of 4 hours of sleep if I was lucky.  That's how the day started - I was completely exhausted, sore, frustrated, and just plain hormonal.

Then I change Isabela... huge rash all over her stomach.  Looks like chicken pox, but I don't think it is.  But to be safe, I didn't want her at church to spread whatever she had.  (Long story short, we took her anyway.)

I ironed my skirt, so excited to wear something besides my black skirt I wear every week, (almost late for church), put it on, and it won't zip up - I'm too fat.  Brandon, in the other room, just heard a big groan.  I was so frustrated and didn't know what to wear (reverted back to my black skirt, but it was lost, so that didn't help either).  We are good, just tired.  Thank heavens for dedicating a day to Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow! 

On another note, Brandon got released from the Branch Presidency today.  When they called him a couple of years ago, we were moving that week, outside of the boundaries.  They asked us to stay so he could serve in the presidency.  However, now that he is released, we feel that we need to attend the branch or ward that we live in.  Our branch is small. The new one is at least 3 times the size.  We plan on visiting both and seeing how we feel, where the Spirit tells us we are needed.

Isabela is getting more and more stubborn.  I had to trick her to get her into the car the other day.  I don't carry her anymore for two reasons.  One, I am too fat and it just hurts.  Two, she is big enough to walk herself.  But she hates getting into her seat.  We walked out and she just wanted to play under the carport.  So I got in the car, started it, and asked if she was coming with me.  She started yelling at me.  She wasn't about to come, but she didn't want me to leave.  But I was sitting in the front seat with the door open.  She got all excited, ran over to the car, and tried to drive up front with me.  When I put my foot out of the car, she saw I was going to put her in her carseat, she ran away.  I caught her, kicking and screaming, and put her in anyway, but at least I didn't have to carry her all over the yard to get to the car.

She is talking up a storm, can tell you where most of her body parts are, sings and dances all of the time, has a new little couch that she is obsessed with, and finally doesn't look like Alfalfa when we put her hair in a ponytail anymore :)

Also, I am back in school, taking two classes.  Family Finance, and the study of Latin America.  Both have been really interesting so far.  Family finance is mostly common sense, but there have been a few things about taxes, etc. that will be really helpful.  In my Lats class, we watched a movie about Bolivia.  Randomly, we received a little knitted hat for Isabela from a lady from Bolivia who used to be in our Branch.  She just made it when she went home to visit.  It's brightly colored, and really long, but looked just like all of the hats in the movie I watched in class.  One day I will post pictures...  So we are keeping busy, but are really good.  Xander will be here end of March.  I just can't believe how fast time has gone.

Christmas morning with the Forster's

Merry Christmas!!

 I'm ready to open gifts...

 Yep, still waiting... but this water sure is good.

Do you like my pigtails?

 Yes, finally!

 Yeah!  A baby! 

 and it's MY baby!

 What's this dad?  What, your big king size quilt fit inside this tiny little box?  Mom sure did a good job vacuum packing it.

 "Diego!" said Isabela. "Go, Diego, Go!"

Our stockings, all hung in a row.

Kim printed and framed this picture for everyone.  I love it! Izzy can name everybody in it.

We are only missing Uncle Bill.

Chantland Christmas Party

The cry baby who was scared of Santa, and wanted absolutely nothing to do with Mrs. Claus.

 Oh, wow!  For me?

 Squishy bathtub toys that squirt water!  Yeah!

Nope, I still don't want to see them... 

I lost the battle...

 Over Thanksgiving, Isabela got really sick.  We came home that weekend and I put her into the tub.  Lambie was sitting on the floor and she insisted on having it.  She was bawling and screaming, and looked absolutely awful.  She had a high fever, cough, and ear infection.  I just couldn't say no...

 Looks like the bath worked wonders.  Both Isabela and Lambie look to be in better health.

A couple of days later, Isabela and I got home from running errands.  I sat her on the couch and asked if she was hungry.  She straightened really tall, her eyes popped open, and she said, "Yeah!"

In that same instant, she plopped over dead asleep.  I've never seen a kid with excited energy fall over out could like that.  I had to take a picture.  I tried to wake her up for a minute to get her to bed, but she never even opened an eye.

Natural Birth

I have a question for moms out there...  I have decided that I am going to have a natural birth with my second baby.  I realize that a lot of people think that I am crazy.  However, let me tell you essentially how everything went with the delivery of Isabela.  My doctor started me about 8am.  I was fine, walking around, until about noon.  Then I decided to get into bed, when it really hurt. I couldn't talk or concentrate on anything during contractions, but the pain was definitely still bearable. 


Just before 1pm the doctor asked if I wanted an epidural.  It was a Saturday and the anesthesiologist was on call, so it would be about 45min before he could arrive and give me one.  I was in a lot of pain by that time, but it was definitely still bearable.  (Even considering people always tell me that with pitocin, the pain is SO much worse.)  So I said yes.  Just so happens, the anesthesiologist had already been called in by somebody else, so I got my epidural within about 15min.  I still don't think I was quite ready for it - I wanted to see how much my body could handle.  That probably just before 1:30pm when he actually got the epidural in.  Isabela was born just under two hours later.  My delivery was painless and perfect, but I always have wondered how that last little bit would have been had I not had the epidural.

So, now my question...  any advice on natural births?  which techniques/methods did you use?  what was the most/least beneficial?  I am researching a little, just evaluating my options.  What should I know or be able to tell my doctor/nurses when I am delivering?  My doctor told me to at least look into hypnobirthing.  So far, I think it looks interesting and beneficial (I just don't know if I can come up with the extra money at this point to take classes for this one).  Whether or not I completely go that route or not, I have definitely benefited from it already.  The Bradley Method is also another option, which my sister used, but I haven't had quite as much information on that yet.  It mostly deals with how to cope with pain and having your husband/partner help you through it, as far as I can tell so far.  This is essential, since I believe Brandon should have just as big a role/responsibility during this time as I do. : D

So, any good advice?

A mixalota

 I asked Isabela where the baby was the other day... she pointed to my tummy.  Then I put her doll under my shirt.  She laughed and laughed.  Then, of course, she had to have the baby in her tummy...  Her expression is about how I feel sometimes :D

 The little Mona (Monkey).  Good thing she still didn't care to go out and get candy.  The little bit we did get made me sick.

 The monkey with Grandma.

Go BRONCOS! Too bad we're having such a crappy year.  Good thing this little fan stays loyal!

...you are fat!

So yesterday at work, we crossed paths with the of the ladies I used to work with. She is an older Japanese woman. She glanced inside of the truck where I was sitting, then looked at me kind of funny. She hesitated..., "Are you...?" Then before I could answer, she said, "Well, I guess if you're not, I'm telling you that you are fat." Completely monotone. Completely serious. No joke whatsoever. I started laughing so hard! I said, "Yes, I am pregnant." But she was just so matter-of-fact. I guess if you're not pregnant, you are fat. I am not that big. We joked about it all night and everyone kept calling me fat no matter what I did. Good thing I am pregnant! :D













Oh, yeah, and it's a BOY!!!!

Cooking Potatoes!

I am really excited for Isabela to get a lot older.
So get this... every time I put anything on the stove, get out a knife, or do anything that involves food, Isabela wants to be there helping. (Of course, I am sure this is some stage that all children go through.)

Her favorite thing to do is watch things cook on the stove. Maybe I am a bad parent, but I let her. So far she hasn't gotten burned. I usually hold her, but sometimes she stands on a chair next to me. I put her hand close one time so she could feel the heat, and she has never tried to touch it again. Thank heavens for at least one child not having to learn from experience.... for now.

However, she does see me take the lids off of pans and thinks she can do it, too. The other day I was frying potatoes. I just put them on so the stove wasn't hot yet. Isabela took the lid of the pan, set it on the burner next to it, waved and smiled at the potatoes, then lifted the lid and covered the potatoes again. She then proceeded to clap and shout, "Yeah! Yeah!" She repeated the process, removing, waving, replacing, clapping/shouting multiple times before I set her down. She cried. Poor girl. But it was so funny. I have never seen a little kid cheer like that before because she could wave at the food. Bonding with her food... what's next? Imaginary friends?

What's it going to be?

We're taking bets: boy or girl? (ultrasound Nov 5)
and date of birth? (Due Mar 27)
Person who is closest gets $5.

Must have bets placed by Nov 5.

Izzy Tricks

Becoming Healthy

Brandon and I have discussed our food intake a lot lately. We have always tried to eat healthy, but we are starting again new. We really want to live a healthier lifestyle. It is crazy what is fed to kids in school and all over. It is hard sometimes. Every time we go somewhere, somebody is giving Isabela candy. During sacrament I play the piano and Brandon is on the stand. Almost every Sunday when I come down to sit with her, she has a sucker in her mouth. She also is baby-sat by various people outside of our home, in which I cannot control her intake of food all the time. I am determined to make sure she has healthy snacks with her at all times. I am noticing that she really likes salty foods. We are even going to buy meat from some friends we know that go hunting frequently. This will reduce the amount of chemicals and hormones that are given to animals and added to our meat.

Thanks to everyone who is helping us with our goal! and the great support of others who are also working on living healthier lifestyles.

Along with eating healthy, I was greatly impressed during conference. During the first session, I felt there were three main things we as a family need to focus on:

Family Prayer
Family Scripture Study
Family Home Evening

I think it is NEVER too early to start reading scriptures to our children. Even if they don't understand everything, they DO feel the Spirit. They will also quickly pick up the basic principles. Izzy has a picture of Jesus by her bed and she points to him frequently. When I ask, "Where is Jesus?" she will walk over and find the picture. She also points him out in all of the paintings at church.

I feel our stake president is very inspired. One thing he has stressed in our stake is the importance of family dinner. Statistics show our children are less likely to be involved in drugs, promiscuity, and much more likely to serve missions and marry in the temple. Our relationships are strengthened. This also serves our goal of healthier eating. If we can slowly improve, I believe our lives as well as our children's lives will be greatly blessed.

Real Salt Lake Game

Last week Brandon and I went to the Real Salt Lake game (and for Renee, that means soccer haha). We were all rooting for RSL, but then we were playing the Colorado Rapids. Brandon was torn. He prayed for a tie. What luck! Within the last minutes of the game, the game was tied.
Brandon came home as happy has a hedgehog.

Steph & Brandon

"Coach" & Jared

Michael & Janae (& Ari Christensen

Corn on the Cob!

Mmmm! Mmm! Mm! Don't touch my corn now. I take it where I want, when I want, and there is nothin' you can do about it.

Isabela loves to cook with me. She loves to shuck the corn, put it in the pan, and then pulls me into the kitchen multiple times to check on it until it's done. She loves watching what is cooking on the stove. If it weren't so dangerous, I would put her on a chair and let her entertain herself.

Matilda

Just call me Matilda.

I'll have this memorized in no time!

What the...?

A couple of weeks ago, I was still laying in bed when Izzy came walking in to see me. Brandon had gotten up early with her and given her a bottle. She was walking really funny and tripping over things. I couldn't figure out what was going on. Then, I realized. I was laughing hysterically. I yelled for Brandon. and showed him Izzy's fat leg. He said, "What is that?" I gave him one guess. (He didn't get it.) Izzy's diaper had come all the way off inside of her zipped up jammies, and slid right down to the bottom of her leg. Poor girl. At least it was just a wet one...

Centrifugal Force

Grandma Becky is pulling me in the wagon!! Notice how I am facing her? Did you ever wonder about centrifugal force? when not all of the weight is centered at the fulcrum point? Yep, we got goin, and I tipped right over backwards.... whoops! Didn't stop me.

I just got up and turned around. Notice how I am faced away now? Keep your arms, hands, and legs inside the ride at all times...

Ciao!