SISTERS BY CHANCE, FRIENDS BY CHOICE

I love watching the way Sierra loves her baby sister. I think this picture says a lot.

MY ANGELS

Joy Turner, one of my friends, came by the other night and watched Madison staring off like this and she said she was watching her angels. This morning as I was preparing breakfast and caught this far away look in Madison's eye I wanted to capture it on film.

BREAST FEEDING

Sierra has been a little amazed at the methodology of feeding an infant. She exclaimed over dinner the other night, "Dad, Mom has milk in her breasts." We all burst out laughing. She thought we didn't believe her so she said, "Guys, I know. I saw it." Then as we were packing up the diaper bag to take grandma to the airport Sierra said, "Mom, don't forget the milk for your breasts because Madison is going to be hungry." I am sure the nursery will get an ear full on Sunday.

MADISON 1 WEEK OLD

Madison has been such a joy. I can't explain how much happiness and peace she brought with her when she entered our home and our lives. She loves her big sister and endures Sierra's constant need to be in her face and have Madison in her arms. We are working on improving Sierra's holding of Madison from a tight noose to a gentle hug... I guess it will take time. Madison has been on a great feeding schedule. She only woke up twice last night, once at midnight and once at three. I am getting more sleep and am feeling like I can handle being a mother of two. Nate has been impressed with Madison's temperment. I don't think he has even heard her cry yet. Her fussing rarely excaltes past what you see on the video. We are blessed to have her in our lives.

GOOD BYE GRANDMA

Well, my mother has been in town for the last week taking care of me, Nate, Sierra and Madison. We feel so blessed she was able to come and be with us during this special time. We don't know what we would have done without her. She has been our saving grace. Madison came so quickly that we wouldn't have time to run Sierra anywhere. If we had of tried, Nate would have delivered Madison. Grandma's timing couldn't have been more perfect. We wish her stay could have included enjoying the city but maybe next time. She spent all her time caring for us. How blessed we are.

LOVE YOU MOM.

OUR LITTLE MIRACLE

If you want to hear all the gore details of labor and delivery, I would love to tell the story. I love to tell a good story and it is a good story. (So, just call.) (Short Version) My water broke at home. I had her less than two hours later. I didn't think we were going to make it to the hospital. We had her twenty minutes after reaching the labor and delivery room. No time for anesthesia. I told Nate I want a t-shirt made with the words, "I survived natural child birth" written on the front. He said, "I need a t-shirt too." A few mintues earlier and Nate would have had to deliver her. Can you imagine? I feel blessed that we made it.

Since before Madison was concieved, we knew she was going to be a little mircle in our family. The whole processes of conception, pregnancy, and labor and delivery has let us believe she was ment to come and ment to be a miracle. We feel so blessed and filled with the Savior's Love to have her in our home and in our arms.

SIERRA AND MADISON

A lot of people have asked, "Does Madison look like Sierra?" I will let you be the judge. Sierra is wearing purple. The other picture is of Madison, both were taken when they were two days old.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD MADISON JENNIFER

CHUCK-E-CHEESE FOR ADELEE'S B-DAY

Sierra was invited to her friend Adelee's birthday party yesterday at Chuck-e-Cheese. I wanted to go but didn't know if we should commit because of the obvious. I woke up yesterday and thought I can either clean my home and then wait or go and do something to distract my mind. Need-less-to-say everyone was shocked to see me at te birthday party. (But here I am on day three and still pregnant, so I am glad we went.) Sierra had a blast. Adelee's parents gave each of the kids 20 tokens. Sierra just wanted to ride the carosel. She rode on the horse that you could reach the token slot and held her cup of tokens. When the ride would stop she would put another token in. She had fun on the indoor playground and in the balls. I don't think she has had that much fun in a while. The best part was playing with all her friends. I was really proud of her because I took her to the store before and had her pick out a present for her friend. She found something she really thought she would like and then she was so excited about giving it to her. She even helped her open it but immediately handed it to her. It was something Sierra would have really loved to have kept for herself but she never said anything. She just said, "Adelee is going to love this.

SICK LITTLE GIRL

My little girl was up all night throwing up. I don't know if she ate something that disagreed with her tummy or she has the stomach flu. She said as she was drifting off to sleep, "Mom, I ate too much rice. My tummy hurts. Will you rub it?" I should of taken this for a sign. Sierra doesn't complain unless there is somthing significant going on but I was too tired to deal with it. I said, "Go to sleep and then it will feel better." I went to bed and got a short nap in when I woke to a beautiful present all over her bed. I rinsed her bedding and Nate took it down to the laundry room to wash it. We hung her blanket over the playpen and the couch to dry. Here she is, first thing in the morning, playing peek-a-boo out from under her drying blanket. She is such a morning person and despite the fact that she was up all night she still was ready to go at 7:30am. I put her in front of Little Einstien and went back to bed. It is now 9:37am and it looks like we will miss stake conference today. (I was mainly looking forward to going to help the day go by faster. There is nothing worse than waiting for your baby to come.) It is probably best we miss because as you can see Sierra is still very pale.

ZOOBOO

Today was ZooBoo in Pittsburgh. The Zoo holds the event a couple times near Halloween. Venders come out and give away candy, chips, and drinks. Sierra loves it! They don't hand out more treats than she can handle. She just eats one treat and by the time she reaches another vender she is ready for her next treat. This year we were lucky enough to go with friends. Shelly and Hailey came with us. Hailey is is the Lion. They have been some of our dearest friends since coming to Pittsburgh and we are greatful for all times we get to spend with them. Sierra was a princesses fairy for the occasion. She was always flying ten feet in front of me. I think I yelled at her to slow down more than I should have but wow... it is hard keeping up with a three year old when your nine months pregnant. Today, is Madison's due date any bets on how much long she will stay put?

Nathan is 31!! Happy 31st Babe!

Nate's 31st Birthday was today. Sierra made him a crown. She knows her father too well. She said we had to decorate the cake with green frosting and make him a green hat. I said, "How about pink?" She said, "No, Dad don't like pink. Dad likes green." After her father blew out the candles on his cake she helped remove and clean them. Nate has been busy for the last two weeks. He should have spent his birthday fishing but he was too tired to do that. Well, Madison still hasn't arrived but I have a feeling her arrival is eminent.

SIERRA's VIEW

This is the Fall view of Pittsburgh from Sierra's window. No wonder she hung on her blind upset that it was blocking her view. Amazing. Hopefully mom will be here soon enough to see Pittsburgh in all its glory. (I feel bad the camera can't capture the scenes exquisite splendor because the glass pane is in the way.)

SUNDAY DRESS

Sierra singing 'I am a child of God.' She was watching the computer as she was singing because the computer was playing the tune. I was trying to record her face, so I was recording sideways. Let us just say the cinematography is bad at best but she is cute. Enjoy!

SIERRA's BFF

Sierra, Jennifer and Brooklynn went to the park together on Monday. They had a lot of fun playing together. They didn't want to go back into the apartment so they hide under the bench. Jennifer and Sierra are tighter than butter and bread and often poor Brooklynn gets left out. We feel so blessed to live close to such good friends. Shandra, there mother, is one of the kindest persons I have ever met. Jennifer and Brooklynn are both helping Sierra learn how to share. When they left our home today shortly after Sierra threw a fit over a baby doll. Her dad told her if she doesn't learn to share she won't have anymore friends. Sierra wanted to say family prayer tonight and as she neared the end Nate prompted her, "And help me to be nicer to my friends." Sierra repeated, "Thank you I could be so nice to my friends." Nate reemphasised "HELP me, amen."