jack helping

the top photo is of jack and daddy helping me on a shoot i did for artist, melissa peck. it was cold, but he had fun watching what mommy does. the next sunday he helped grandpa and daddy put up the christmas train. he is not very good around xmas trees and we are not getting one this year. he likes the snow....we have yet to build a snowman.

34 weeks

i took these photos on my laptop a couple of weeks ago. i have less than 3 weeks left! i am being induced on december 29th and i am ready!!! on days i overexert myself i have a lot of contractions that night. i am officially done shooting for 2 months. blake and i go and see the dr. on thursday. my biggest craving this time around has been slushy fruity treats. i have resorted to making my own by freezing jello. yes, even when the low is 10 degrees outside.

jack & cousins

i had blake setup my little portable studio so we could take pictures of the cousins. by the time the last cousin got there jack was done sitting still. i didn't quite get the photo of jack that i wanted for our christmas cards, so we are going to try again today. jack will be 15 months this weekend. 5 more weeks until i am induced. we decided on mckay dee hospital and karen mcbride is our midwife. i have been fighting a sinus infection of some sort and have been a little low on energy. lucas is an active boy and moves in a way that makes it hard for me to walk at times. we are really excited for luke's arrival. jack's grandparents bought jack a little boy doll to get him ready for his brother.

today as we gather with our family and stuff our faces i think of all of the things i am so grateful for. i keep a daily gratitude journal where i list 5 things everyday i am grateful for. some may seem cliche, but i am truly grateful for my family, especially my boys....i am thankful for my health and the blessings i get with my talents. i am thankful for my freedom and our home. i am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that it has been restored to the earth. i am thankful for good friends and neighbors. i am most thankful for eternal families. happy thanksgiving!

6 more weeks!!

so i have 6 more weeks before lucas gets here! i am being induced at 39 weeks on december 29th. blake and i go in for an ultra sound on thursday this week. we are excited to meet lucas and for jack to have a little brother!

our baby's development

In these last few weeks before delivery, the billions of developed neurons in your baby's brain are helping him or her to learn about the in-utero environment — your baby can listen, feel, and even see somewhat. Your baby’s eyes can detect light and the pupils can constrict and dilate in response to light. Like a newborn, your baby sleeps much of the time and even experiences the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the sleep stage during which our most vivid dreams occur!

Your baby's lungs are almost completely matured. Fat will continue to be deposited on your baby's body for protection and warmth. Babies gain a good deal of their weight in the final few weeks before birth

jack the pumpkin king!

jack was mickey mouse for halloween and his cousin alora was minnie and alexis was little red riding hood. the second photo down is my grandma with the kids. the houses we went to were inbetween where my granparents live and my in-laws live. there were a lot of creative front porches. two of our favorite were the geese dressed up and the pumpkin getting hacked. by the end of the night alora and jack were tired and done. the last photo is my in-laws with the kids. there was not one of jack and alora not crying. oh well!

a friend's bday party!

jack went to his friend's 2nd bday party the morning of halloween. it was a construction theme and he had a lot of fun! he did not understand the games yet, but he loved the cars and chocolate!

RIP Copper 09.2002-10.21.09

yesterday morning - it is hard to see how skinny she was when she was lying down.
Copper & Jack in September of this year. She was still healthy then.

Copper & Jack in November of 2008.
Copper in 2005


A month ago Copper's health started to rapidly decline and about 3 weeks ago she stopped eating. We took her in for tests. They found nothing and said she could have cancer somewhere that they were unable to detect. She lost weight at a rapid pace (even with appetite stimulant pills) and was just so sad. In the end she weighed 42 lbs, when she should weigh 60 lbs. We decided to put her out of her misery. Yesterday, we took my baby girl to be put to sleep. We decided on the Animal Emergency Room in Sunset on Main Street. I am glad we went there. There was no one around as we left crying and they were very compassionate. We wanted to be there as she went to sleep since we were not there for Harley or Bear. We said a prayer together as a family, with Copper, asking that Bear be there to greet her as she crossed over. I believe families are eternal and I also believe that God knows how important animals are in our lives and we will be reunited with them when our time in this world is over. On the way home I felt a peace that help comfort me, though I could not stop crying until I got home and again felt a peace wash over me. I know she is ok now and not suffering. I cannot imagine starving to death can feel good. We are not going to get another dog until Jack and Luke are a little older in another year or so. We are going to donate most of her things to the shelter we adopted her from.