A Wonderful Christmas

I stayed up late christmas eve and got all the treats, goodies, and gifts set up and it was well WORTH it! I enjoyed celebrating Gemma's first Christmas and can't wait for the many more firsts to come! Merry Christmas!

Like I Said......

Gemma has my hands FULL! Yesterday she knocked over our christmas tree! I have know idea how she did it since she was in her walker but I've been asking this very question a lot lately. She has torn open some of Vance's gifts so "early merry christmas to you hunny."

Things I have learned this past year being a mommy:

-expect the unexpected
-no glass orniments or maybe none at all
-clean up after your kids at the end of the day or you'll be cleaning all day
-put presents under the tree christmas eve night and NO sooner
-dish towels work perfectly as a temporary cabinet lock
-do not adopt a dog until your kids are older or you WILL go crazy
-the evenings are your best friend to get things done and relax
-planning out your day makes you more productive and things run smoothly (sort of)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

I've got a Climber

My dear sweet Gemma has my hands full these days. She's been trying to climb up on the couch and out of her crib and she has finally done just that. Gemma loves to throw her bottle out of the crib for some reason I don't know why. Well, Yesterday, after she woke up from her sunday nap, I here the thud of her bottle hit the floor. A few minutes later, I here a HUGE thud and Gemma crying her heart out. I rushed into her room to find her flat on her back with big ol tears running down her face. I immediatly grabbed her into my arms and held her tight and cried right along with her. I felt soooo horrible! I couldn't believe I let her get hurt like that, it broke my heart. She wasn't hurt to bad just scared and she only cried for a short minute before she got distracted with something. She is one tuff cookie! Then today, as she was playing around on the floor, I looked over to check on her and there she was. Some how she figured out a way to get herself onto the couch ALL BY HERSELF! I couldn't believe it. I was so proud of her! The only thing is, she hasn't perfected the getting down part. She still needs some help with that.

Also, since I'm talking about her, Gemma loves to wave and say hi to people. It's seriously the cutest thing and she wins over a lot of hearts. She is just the cutest and sweetest thing that has ever happened to me and I just LOVE her to pieces!!!

I LOVE YOU GEMMA!!!!

Advice and the Ellen Show

I have stopped giving Gemma formula and in place I give her whole milk. And she only gets her bottle during nap time and bed time which adds up to be only 2 or 3 bottles a day. However, I'm having troubles getting her to eat solid foods such as hot dogs, steamed veggies, fruits, etc. She eats crackers and baby food from a jar just fine but I don't quit understand why she wont eat the big girl foods. I need help! Is this normal? I feel sometimes that I'm starving her but I just don't know how to get her to eat! I even tried drenching her veggies in butter with some salt to give it more flavor but she's being quit the stubbern one. I need some more experienced motherly advice!!

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Vance has been dieing to open up one of his xmas gifts so I finally gave in in exchange he tell me what he's getting me for my birthday. He's been giving me hints and clues and telling me that I'll never guess it. He was right! I never would have guessed this in a million years! He's sending me to the ELLEN SHOW!!!! I watch her nearly everyday she just makes my day she's so funny! It's really the only show that makes me crack up laughing out loud. Vance just looks at me and rolls his eyes. He doesn't quit get why I like her so much. I have always thought that it would be fun to go to one of her shows but never actively tried to go. It was always just a thought. I am abselutely THRILLED with this gift and can't THANK my husband enough!! Especially since he'll have Gemma for at least 3 days while I have some FUN in the great state of CALI!!! WooHoo!!!!!!

What's Wrong with ME!

If being an AIRhead was a diagnoses, I would definitely have it. I believe the symptoms would be as follows:

Thursday: SLIPPING on wood covered in early morning frost just to give your hunny a kiss and broosing your upper right arm.

Friday: Absent mindedly SHUTTING your thumb in your car door and not even knowing it until you start to walk away. Then PANICING because you've just realized what you have done, CURSING out loud because of the PAIN, becoming completely ANGRY at the world (and the car), then break down CRYING because "it really really does HURT."

Saturday: SHUTTING your truck door as you turn away to walk back into the house and your knee decides to get in the way and you get a silver dollar sized broose. (Lets not forget, your hunny just laughs because he can't believe your luck.)

IF any of these or similar like incidences accure contact your BRAIN or try to FIND it.

Trimester #1......

IS OVER!!!! 6 months to go! I still get sick (ARGH) but I'm hoping THAT TO will pass. We get to find out the sex some time in January and I'm crossing my fingers for a boy.


I feel that im showing A LOT more than I ever did with Gemma but I here that happens with a second pregnancy. There's not much else to report on this matter so until next time......

Once upon a Thanksgiving

"Good morning and happy Thanksgiving!" she said as she woke up her husband to tell him goodbye. Grudgingly, Vance rolled out of bed to farewell his wife for the day. "I wish you didn't have to work but I'll miss you and I love you and I'll see you later tonight." Heather said with a little sadness in her heart. You see, her husbands work schedule often prevents him from enjoying the holidays and fun family excursions. Though she was sad, Heather was excited to hit the road for the 3 1/2 hour drive to families and stuff her face with amazing homemade cooking! Something her and Vance don't enjoy often enough.
Heather had one quick stop to make. Her cellular phone lost power and do to the fact that the cats chewed up one charger and her dear sweet daughter sucked on the other so hard, she had to buy another. "Hey baby girl! Are you ready to go into the store?" she cooed to Gemma as she pulled her out of the car. With Gemma all smiles they headed into Wal-Mart to grap a car charger.
"Have a great day." said the cashier. "Thanks, you too." said Heather as she carried Gemma and her sack out of the store. With Gemma safely secured in her carseat, they hit the road again with no expectations of trouble of any kind.
About an hour and half later while singing along with the radio, Heather saw a Police Officer parked on the side of the highway. "I better slow down a bit." she thought to herself as she approached closer to the parked Officer. The second she passed the Officer something completely unexpected happened. "What was that noise....?! Oooh no, was that my tire?!" Heather rambled out of her mouth. She pulled over a few feet in front of the Police Officer and got out of the car. As she walked to the front right tire, sure enough she had a blow out. "I can't believe this!" she said out loud and grabbed her cell phone to call Vance.
"What's going on?" Vance answered. "I got a flat!". "You're kidding right?". "Nope, I'm not kidding." Heather replied. The Officer pulled right up behind her and offered to help change the tire. Though the situation was an inconvenience, Heather was greatful that it happend in front of the Officer who would be able to help her get on her way. 15 to 20 minutes later the tire was finally changed. The Officer told her she would need to air up the spare before she took off to her final destination. Heather thanked him and stepped into her car where little Gemma was awake and crying. Now that time was running late, Heather took the next exit to hurry and air up the spare. She had never done this. (Airing up a tire.) She put her 3 quarters in the machine, pushed the hose onto the tire and it began to deflate. She didn't know what she was doing wrong. She called her husband in frustration but he couldn't figure out what she could have done wrong. Heather used her remaining quarters and tried again. The same thing happened. Now her spare tire was completely flat. Heather took Gemma and walked back into the gas station to ask for help. "Maybe your machine is broken or maybe I'm just an idiot, but I can't seem to be able to air up my tire. Is their anyone that can come out and help me?". "Sure, lets see what the problem is.". Sure enough, Heather was an idiot. She did not know that she had to hold the lever down that was right underneath her thumb. "Oh my gosh, I am such a girl! I'm so embarassed!" she said to the person helping her. This anonimous person just replied, "Don't worry about it. Now ya know for next time." Heather thanked her and was finally able to get on her way. An hour later, Heather and gemma walked through the front door of her uncle's home to the smell of juicy turkey and a crowed of people all excited to see them.
The food was amazing! Heather enjoyed the company and card games while Gemma enjoyed watching the cousins play Guitar Hero. Sadly the day was coming to an end and it was time for Heather and Gemma to head back home. "Thank you Uncle Mark and Aunt Shelly for the great food and making room for me and my little girl." "It was our pleasure. If you have any more car problems be sure you call me and I'll come get you." said Mark. "Thanks, I will." Heather said and she was on her way back home. She made a call to her parents to see how their Thanksgiving went. "Well, lets hope I don't get another flat. Wouldn't that be a bumber!" Heather jokingly said. No sooner then what was said, did that very thing happen. Her front left tire blew out and their was nothing she could do. Luckily, she hadn't gotten very far. She was only a few streets away so she called up her uncle and he came to the rescue. "I can't believe this is happening!" Heather said to Vance while she waited, trying not to cry. "I'm sorry babe. I wish there was something I could do but it is kind of funny." Vance said in reply and they both laughed.
Now to bring this long story to an end, Heather was a bit sad about not being able to make it home that night but her Aunt Nettie took her in. Her Uncle Mark took both flats into Wal-Mart to have the rims mounted on the new tires he bought for her and then put them back on the car all by himself.
On this Thanksgiving day, Heather did a lot of thanking and had much to be greatful for!

His Feminine Side

When I got home from church, this is what I walked in on.
Vance wearing one of Gemma's sparkely head bands. Now I'm pretty sure Gemma doesn't know how to slide it on someones head so I'm pretty confident that Vance put it on himself. I thought it was so cute and it's amazing the things Dad's will do for their little girls!

Big News

Vance and I have quit the news to share to those who may not know. We have found out that we are expecting another bundle of joy! It was a big shocker for us that's for sure. I thought I was just having a random case of really bad car sickness but that turned into not having an appitite and feeling sick all the time. I still didn't believe that I could be pregnant until I talked to my mom and told her that I was feeling under the weather. She recommended I take a test so I had Vance pick one up the next day. I took the test in complete confidence that it would be negative. Boy was I wrong! All Vance and I could do is laugh. Now that we are used to the idea, we are very excited but also a little overwhelmed. My due date is June 5th but due to the fact that I'll most likely be another c-section, I'll be scheduled a week before.

Now to catch up just a bit. We had a fun family outing at the October Fest in Sierra Vista where Gemma loved the lights and cotton candy! It was a fun night filled with really great live music and food.

On Vance's days off he likes to take us up into the mountains for the day. Gemma and I love it! It gets us out of the house and into some beautiful scenery. The wildlife is pretty fun to run into.

Though we didn't do much for Halloween, Gemma still got dressed up as a stink'n cute giraff!

A Wedding, A reception, and Everything In Between

This past week I've been up in Blanding, Ut for my younger brother, Rick's, wedding. I can't believe it! It's so strange having him being a husband and doing all the things a husband does. But, congratulations to him and his new wifey Ashlie!
They were married in the beautiful Monticello temple on Wednesday morning and later that evening, had a wonderful wedding dinner hosted by my parents. It was at the park and it was great food! My parents sure can cook. Unfortunately, that gene was not passed down to me. Vance suffers some times.
They didn't have there reception until Saturday, but all the between stuff was a lot of fun. Family that I don't see very often that couldn't make it to the wedding were showing up for the reception. My brother Thomas who plays varsity football his senior year had a game. My sister Mykin and I went since I've never seen him play before. It was a total blast! It reminded me of my high school days and I sooooooo miss it! I kind of felt a little old which is something I never want to feel. "Go #76!"


Gemma of course had a ton of fun with her Uncle Thomas jammin out with my guitar. They created nick names for each other. Or should I say Thomas did. And they are, Uncle T and Lil' G. But lets not forget about Gpa Winsor and the horsies! Gemma loves animals. (Well, she loves anything that moves.) But the horses got her attention pretty quickly. Cup is the kindest horse you'll ever find and he enjoyed the attention quit a bit. But when you're having too much fun it will ware you out.
Finally it was reception time! My mom and Grandma slaved over the brides maids skirts which turned out so stink'n cute! Gemma's dress was darling which was also put together by them as well. So talented!
All in all, it was a pretty great week filled with friends and family. Now that it's over, it's time to head home and back to the old mundane life.

"I Caught One!"

Vance was able to take a minute and meet up with Gemma and I while we had a little lunch at the park. It's always fun to see Vance while he's working! I like me a man in uniform!

Lemons Yum Yum!

The first time we gave Gemma a lemon, we were hoping for a really great reaction. We didn't get it. It didn't really faze her one bit. So, every time we go out to eat, she gets our lemons from our waters and goes to town on them. She'll get that shiver reaction but not all that often.

A Drive to the Lake

We love taking a drive to the lake that's around where we live. It's a beautiful drive that takes us about an hour.
Along the way, there are some amazing views and beautiful wild flowers scattered through out.
The destination is well worth the drive. There's the beautiful cool water and our dog Grizzy who makes us laugh at her excitement of water. We enjoy the scenery as we go on little walks around the lake. It's very relaxing and a great way to spend time together when your trying to save the "green".

Tennis

On Vance's days off, he usually does something active whether its mountain biking with his buddy Allred or playing tennis with Martinez. (I only know last names because that's what they go by at work) On this day I decided to go watch Vance play so Gemma could get out of the house. We really are cooped up most of the time sadly. It was a perfect morning to be outside! Not to mention watching 2 goofy guys play tennis.