Our Family

Wow it's been a loooong time

2009-10-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to post until we get the girls pictures back that were taken in the beginning of September. We should have them by Saturday but just in case it takes me awhile to get them on here are some highlights from the past couple months:

Madeline got her stitches out.

Sophie has grown out of her colic...thank goodness!

I had a birthday.

Skipper started the LSAT prep class to take the LSAT in December.

Sophie rolls over, babbles, and is starting to sit up for about 20-30 seconds.

Madeline counts to 30, starting to write some letters of the alphabet, and talks soo much.

Here are some pictures.

Firsts

2009-08-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

Madeline got her first professional haircut on Saturday. I have trimmed her bangs, and the back of her hair but that is it. She has a bad habit of twirling her hair on her left side and it was starting to get a little bit uneven...

Here is the final product. She kept giving me silly faces every time I asked her to smile and then my camera died. But it is super cute and looks so much better!

Another first for Madeline was getting stitches. You would think that with how active Madeline is that I would have some crazy story about how this happened but nope I don't...she just missed stepping on the curb...

I saw it happening but couldn't get there in time to stop her from falling and I knew when I picked her up she would be hurt. We hurried and rushed her to instacare and got there at 7:59, they close at 8. She was so scared getting the stitches but did really well. I however cried for her. It was so sad to see her scared little face and she was holding my hands so tight, it broke my heart. She is doing much better and loves the Dora band aids she gets to wear now!

Mathmatics

2009-08-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

So yesterday Sophie turned 10 weeks old. So it made me think and here is what I figured out.

10 weeks = 70 days
She nurses about 10 times a day.....

That means I have nursed her around 700 TIMES!!

Unbelievable!

Don't worry I won't be posting any pictures of that to go along with this post.

Pictures with Madeline

2009-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Two days before Sophie was born we went to Provo and took some pictures. I hadn't had a chance to look at them until now but they are so cute.

Going private

2009-08-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hey I hate to do this because I like to blog stalk and love it when other peoples blogs are not private but I have decided it is time for my blog to go private. It will happen around the first of September so I need everyones email addresses!!

2 months with 2 girls

2009-08-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy month. For those of you who don't know Sophie has been a hard baby at times. Things seem to be getting better because the fussy times are getting further and further apart and she doesn't cry as much anymore either. She started smiling about 5 1/2 weeks and now smiles a lot more, and coos so much. I don't remember Madeline cooing as much as Sophie does.

Last Friday we had a scary moment with Madeline. My brother Marcus, his wife Haley and their baby Allison had just gotten to our place and we were all sitting around talking and Madeline was running around like normal. Skipper asked me to go check on her which we never really have to do anymore and I found her in our bathroom and she had opened Skippers migraine medicine and there were pills all around her. The pills are really small and there were some wet ones so I knew that she had put some in her mouth. She wouldn't tell me if she had eaten any or not. We called poison control and they said since we didn't know if she had eaten some or not we had to take her to the ER right away. So Skipper and Marcus gave her a blessing and I felt at peace that everything would be okay. They took her to the ER and had to stay there for 4 hours so they could monitor her. Nothing happened so they were sent home. It was a humbling moment because I realized how quickly my little girls life could have been taken. I am so grateful for the promptings of the spirit and the power of the priesthood. I think that I am going to buy a medicine safe now :) because apparently Madeline can get "child proof" lids off.

We have also had a fun time with some of my family in town. Justin, Daphne, Levi and Hazel came from Oregon. Marcus, Haley and Allison came from Idaho. We played at the splash pad a few times which was fun. We had 7 of my grandparents 8 grandchildren here. It was fun to see everyone.

Sophie was blessed on August 2nd. It was a beautiful blessing. One thing that I thought was interesting that was said is for her to be respectful of herself and others and to look for opportunities to serve around her. She was also blessed to gain a testimony at a young age. I love baby blessings. It is so sweet to see all the men holding this little baby and having Skipper receive inspiration about her.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

Here are some more pictures...Enjoy.

2009-07-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

I am a month old!

2009-07-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

I don't have time to write a whole lot about the last month but it has been busy busy BUSY! I was so naive to think that this was going to be easy :)! Here are a few of the things we have been up to:

* Sophie has a heart murmur, which turned out to be okay.
* Sophie got sick and we had to go to the hospital and get tests run on her, which turned out to be okay, just a virus!
* Sophie has gained 2 lbs in the last month! Woohoo! That surprises me because she will only nurse on one side at each feeding for like 10 min.
* Madeline is the cutest big sister, and has been so sweet to Sophie. I swear they have a special bond. Sophie responds differently to Madeline than to anyone else.
* Madeline is sleeping through the night again, she went through a rough patch when we brought Soph home.
* Madeline got to ride on a 4 wheeler. We got to see my older brother Matt and his family. My SIL took Madeline on a 4 wheeler and she LOVED it!
* Skipper took Madeline to the Real Salt Lake game on July 3rd and she got to watch fireworks!
* I am grateful for swaddling blankets, white noise, and cradle swings! Sophie takes awesome naps this way, which is a must!

Thanks for everyone that has helped us get through this first month!

My computer wont let me add pics right now, I will post some soon!

Delivery Day

2009-06-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer : If you are grossed out by the words dilation, effaced, or pushing this post is not for you. Do not continue reading!

So on Friday June 5th I had a Dr appt. My blood sugars and been going up and after a couple tests on Friday my Dr decided that it would be best to just induce me Saturday morning. That night Skipper and I took Madeline on a little outing. We went and saw the movie Up, which is so cute by the way, and just had a fun time. As I put Madeline to bed that night I was so sad that it wasn't going to be just her and I anymore. But I was so excited that she was going to be a big sister. Needless to say I had a lot of mixed emotions!

Around 3:30 that morning I started to have contractions, which had been happening to me off and on for a little while. We got to the hospital around 5:30 and they got me hooked up to the monitors and I was having contractions, but they weren't regular, but they had completely effaced me. The day before I was at 4 cm and 75% effaced, so they were doing something. They started me on the pitocin around 7:30 to get the contractions regular. At 12:30 I was at a 6, and they broke my water, and I decided to get an epidural, which wasnt near as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was worried about spinal headaches, stalled labor, and not being able to push because I was so numb and none of that happened so I am a fan!. At 1:30 I was at an 8 and at 1:45 I started to feel pressure, and the nurse told me she would come check me soon....

At 2:10 finally she came in and said Oh my the baby is ready to come... Then she proceeded to tell me she would have been in sooner but she needed a break. Then I had to wait another 30 minutes for the Dr. So Sophie would've been born about an 30 minutes to an hour earlier had the nurse listened to me.

Skipper asked my Dr if he could help out so he got to get all gowned up and the Dr sat next to him and instructed him on what to do, so he actually delivered Sophie! I only had to push a couple times and she was here! She weighed 7 lbs 2 oz so she was 1 lb 5 oz bigger than Madeline! It was love at first sight! I was so happy when Madeline got to the hospital and our little family was together.

Sophie Nichole

2009-06-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

June 6th

2:48 pm

7 lbs 2 oz

18 inches

Baby Shower/BBQ

2009-06-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

First of all a big thank you to Jessica, Tiana, and Robyn for making this happen!! And thanks to everyone else who came!

On Saturday those girls threw a little party for this new baby that is coming. It was fun because husbands and children were invited and we just had it at the park and splash pad right outside our condo. They had awesome food like BBQ kabobs, the best potato salad, and carrot cake. I ate some of all of it which I shouldn't but oh it was sooo good!

Skipper and I being in love.

Jessica and I

Tiana, Robyn and I

Madeline sun bathing with her two new friends Mia, and Coey!

Conversation with Skipper

2009-05-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

Skipper - Hey Nia when are you going to be 36 weeks pregnant?

Nia - I am 36 weeks pregnant right now, almost 37.

Nia - Why Skipper?

Nia - Skipper?

Nia - Uh Hello Skipper?

I look over at him he looks like he is in a coma and has drool coming out of his mouth and he finally says....

Uh Sorry I think I passed out for a second, what were we talking about?

What a nerd! He keeps freaking out that we are going to have another baby soon.

34 week belly shot!

2009-05-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here ya go!

Quick story about the picture. My brother in law, Dallas, is in Peru and always takes jumping pictures, so at my mother in laws birthday party we decided to take some jumping pictures Dallas. Here is Madeline's because it is so stinking cute! My sister in law said she was going to send this picture to my doctor and label it "Why Nia is going to have this baby early."

I had an appointment yesterday and got to get an ultrasound too! She is definitely still a she so that was good to see again and she is also measuring over a week ahead. Her estimated weight at this point is 6 lbs, which could be off by a pound either way. She was practice breathing and everything looked great. So it looks like this baby will be bigger than Madeline's 5 lbs 13 oz at birth! I still haven't decided if I am going to go natural again, or get an epidural! I better figure out that one soon!

I almost forgot to post this...

2009-04-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

So we had originally planned not to find out what we were having this time...notice how I said originally...

Well I decided to find out at the end of December at a 16 week u/s. It was confirmed again at the 20 week u/s. Skipper didn't want to know so I respected that and didn't tell anyone and I was content just knowing myself. He made it quite awhile without finding out but one day about a month ago he caved too. So we told our families because it was just stupid to keep it a secret at that point. Lets just say that about 90% of them were wrong. Everyone thought it was a boy but we are having another GIRL!

New Niece!

2009-04-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

My brother Marcus and his wife Haley had their first baby, a little girl, last Thursday! She is so cute! Way to go you two! Here is Allison!

What we have been up to lately!

2009-04-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

First of all the main reason I haven't blogged in awhile is because we moved! We bought a place in Saratoga Springs. We were supposed to close by the 14th of March so we sold our contract and moved out of our last place and we didn't close by the 14th... So Jon and MarKey were nice enough to let us stay at their home until we closed, which we thought would only take a couple days... Well it took 2 more weeks!! We moved in the last weekend of March and it took another week to get the internet. I am happy to say that we are almost all the way unpacked!

Here are a couple of pictures from the last month.

Skipper's birthday was in the beginning of March. We had a family day at the Gateway discovery center. Madeline got to play in a helicopter and thought it was pretty cool.

We went to the Sportsmans Expo with cousin Natalee, and Grandma Dean. They had these cute little bear cubs that the girls got to play with.

They also had fun looking at all the boats. They ran all over all of them and just as we were getting ready to leave the boats I noticed a sign that said "Please remove shoes before getting on the boats". Ooops!

When we were staying at Markey's it was time to wake Madeline up from her nap and Bennett decided to help! It was really cute because he kept inching toward her so I turned around to get my camera and by the time I turned around this is what he was doing!

We spent the weekends during our homeless period at Grandma Deans. Natalee was up there one weekend and the girls got to fly kites.

Madeline really liked flying kites!

She also went to a birthday party and got her face painted.

She got a new fancy dress.

She loved having tea parties with her dad!

They seriously did this for over an hour. It was cute.

We had a party for Jon and MarKey at the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country. I think that the party was more for the kids than for Jon and MarKey. Here is Madeline riding one of the ponies.

She also got to go on a tractor ride. She has been obsessed with tractors lately. We watched The Secret of Nimh, freaky movie by the way, but she wanted to watch the tractor scene over and over again. Now she loves seeing them in real life.

She loves her pigtails, and asks me to put them in daily.

She loved the tea set at Grandma Deans so much we had to get her one.

Well there you go! Hopefully we will post more pictures soon!

Piss my eye mommy!

2009-03-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

So Madeline says piss instead of kiss and believe me this has led to some pretty hilarious comments out of her mouth...

Like last night when she bumped her eye.

"My poor eye! Piss my eye mommy!"

Skipper and I try not to laugh to hard but come on it is funny! She can say the 'k' 'c' sound with other words but for some reason not with kiss!

The "poor eye" comment is funny too. When we are driving in the car and the sun hits her eyes she doesn't like it. As I am blocking the sun from them I say to her "Oh your poor eyes!" Now she says it the "my poor ...." part with anything that she hurts head, toes, etc...

Another great Madeline moment lately was when I told her to shake something and she started singing,
"Shake your booty, shake your booty, oh yeah!"

I love this little girl!

See you in two years!

2009-02-18T20:12:00.000-08:00

My little brother Neil went into the MTC today! I can't believe that he is old enough to go on a mission! He honestly is such a genuinely good person. Even though he is my younger brother I look up to him a lot. He is such a hard worker and because of that he has accomplished so much in his 19 years! I will miss him a lot!

I think that Madeline knew something was special about Neil today. She kept hugging him and tickling him and she just wanted to be around him. A couple of hours after we said goodbye to him she started asking us "Where did Neil go?" and "Neil where are you?" as she was looking in closets trying to find him. It was really sweet!

Holy Moly I'm showing!

2009-02-02T10:23:00.001-08:00

I can't believe how fast I am showing this pregnancy! This is me at 21 weeks. We had our big ultrasound scan last week and everything looked great, and measuring on time.

Miss Madeline is as sweet as ever. She just got over a horrible stomach bug and is back to her old self. She is saying her own prayers now and says them at random times during the day. It is great. She said one in her sleep the other night! She normally blesses mom, dad, and the baby but we have also heard her talk about ketchup, eggs, Thomas the train, and Emily (her beta fish).

A Once in a Lifetime Oppurtunity

2009-01-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

So as some of you may know, Nia was sweet enough to let me go to the Sugar Bowl in January to watch my beloved Utah play. It was hands down, without question, the happiest moment of my life! There is nothing that I can think of that could compare. Maybe the only ones would be the day I met Nia, or the day Madeline was born. That's my top 3...yeah, I'm confident about that. The 30 hour drive each way was well worth it. And such scenic landscapes too.
Honestly, though, the game was phenomenal. You would think that after Utah was up 21-0 in the 1st quarter I would have been rubbing my elbows together, but I think the score made me more nervous. I kept thinking, this is going to really suck if Alabama kicks it up a notch and Utah blows this lead. But Utah just kept pouring it on. I won't lull you non-sports fans with the stats, but lets just say that Utah treated the Tide like they were Cougs. In fact, 90% of the Alabama fans had cleared out of the stadium with four minutes left.

This is us being happy at the end of the greatest game in the history of everything. That counts the time I scored 260,000 on 'Dwarf Throw'.

We ate our faces off. I ate crawfish with every meal. I have never had such great seafood. I take that back, Artic Circle has a pretty good fish sandwich. They trim it into such a nice perfect square.

This was my father and I getting some directions from the guy that was in "Song of the South". This was right after his encore version of "ZipaDeeDoDa"

We paid our respects to all those who have gone before. Marcus is in the back trying to remember what it was he was just doing. He was walking.

The public facilities in the French Quarters were a joke. Fortunately there was no line at this one. (I have to put a disclaimer on this one, because Nia doesn't want anyone to think that I was actually peeing in the street like everyone else.)

Um what to write...

2009-01-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

It really has been a slow month, which I don't mind. Skipper made it back safely from his little trip to the Sugar Bowl. Madeline has been a blast! She makes me laugh everyday. She loves to sing and dance. I am feeling good and have been for about a month! I go in for the BIG ultrasound next week, but we are not finding out what it is, so that will be fun!

A few days ago Skipper gave me a compliment. He told me that he didn't know I had a particular talent and that he never imagined it would come into use in our marriage. Well we were leaving the house one night and got to the car and realized that neither of us had the car keys...or the house keys... It was freezing outside and we didn't know what we were going to do. We had only locked the bottom lock, not the dead bolt so I asked Skipper for an old credit card and after a couple minutes of working the card in the door it popped open! I have only done this once before and it was with my roommates back in college. We pulled a prank on some of our guy friends while they were at the priesthood session of conference. So we broke in and switched their bedrooms. Bedding, computers, clothing, pictures, posters, every single thing in their room. It was one of our best pranks, wouldn't you agree Carrie :)?!

Oregon, 4 year Anniversary and Skipper

2008-12-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

We were able to spend Christmas in Oregon with my family this year. That hasn't happened since 2005, so I was pretty excited!! We had great food, went to the coast, and stayed up way too late playing games every night. We drove out on monday the 22nd, and it took 18 hours to get there since we were in a snow storm almost the entire way. The drive home only took 13 hours, and we were so excited about that. Madeline was a trooper on both trips and didn't cry at all!! She loved playing with her cousin Levi, and with her aunts and uncles. We went to the coast one day because Skipper needed fish and chips. It was freezing so stayed on the beach for about 2 minutes. We were also able to see my new little niece's baby blessing.

On monday the 29th we drove back and that day just happened to be our 4th anniversary. It was probably the best one EVER!! Okay so not really, but at least we got to spend the whole day talking, and being with each other. Yesterday Skipper surprised me with 2 dozen roses, and a movie to watch while he abandons me for 5 days. I then had an OB appt and they did an ultrasound so Skipper was able to see the babe for the first time. He loved it. We then went to P.F. Changs which I have been craving ever since I got pregnant.

Back to Skipper abandoning me... When Utah's football team made it to a BCS bowl Skipper's father wanted to take his sons and son in laws to the game in Louisiana, so sadly he left me last night. I am very happy for him to go but I sure do miss him, I am sure the hormones are making it worse. I can't wait to see him again on Sunday night!

So...

2008-12-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

I got an early Christmas present....

a doppler

So I can listen to this little babe that will be coming the first part of June!

Ponytail!!

2008-12-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

Madeline's hair is now long enough to do this...

Look how happy she is about it!!

Welcome to the world Hazel Crook!

2008-12-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

My brother Justin and his wife Daphne just welcomed a new baby girl on Thursday at 1:52 am. She was 7 lbs. 2 ounces. I am so happy for them especially since doctors gave my brother a very low chance of ever having kids again after he had chemo. We are going to Oregon for Christmas and are so excited to meet her!

Temple Square Christmas Lights

2008-12-02T18:16:00.001-08:00

Madeline likes to squint her eyes in pictures now...

Family picture!

Wow, whoever is married to that man, and has that cute girl for a daughter is one lucky lady!

Madeline and her friend Mason who came along. Notice Madeline's squinted eyes again. Silly girl!

Thankful for hand sanitizer!

2008-11-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since this is the week of Thanksgiving I decided I should post something I am thankful for...

HAND SANITIZER!!!

Why you might ask? Well my darling little girl came running out to me in the kitchen carrying her Thomas and Toby trains, and kept saying they were dirty. Then I noticed in one hand she was also carrying a black sharpie. She had colored on her trains faces. I was praying that was it, but of course it wasn't. I then found black sharpie ALL over my computer screen. I was able to google "how to remove sharpie from a computer screen" and looking through the black sharpie I found a post about using hand sanitizer. With a paper towel, sanitizer, and a little elbow grease it came all the way off!!

Madeline's birthday bash!

2008-11-17T08:09:00.000-08:00

We had a great combined birthday party with Madeline and her cousin Bennett yesterday, and it was her Uncle Nathan's actual birthday yesterday so we include him too. Madeline and Bennett's birthdays are 6 days apart so we decided to just have them together. We had a "zoo" theme and it turned out great.

Now Nathan didn't want us to celebrate his birthday, and wanted the party to be for the kids. But MarKey made him his own hippo cake, and I made him his own birthday picture dvd, set to the song "Your the best around" from the movie Karate Kid. He was embarrassed and so we accomplished what we wanted!!

Madeline got a bunch of great presents: pj's, giraffe's, thomas the train, books, a green dinosaur, an AWESOME quite book for church (Skippers mom made it and it is amazing!), and we also got her a POWER WHEEL!! Thanks for the gifts everyone!!

Happy Birthday Madeline!!

2008-11-13T08:04:00.001-08:00

I CAN NOT believe that my little girl is already 2!! It has gone by way to fast. I absolutely love being her mom, and I am so glad that she was sent to our family. We had her 2 year appointment and she was 23 lbs. and 34 1/2 inches. That is about the 10% for weight and the 70% for height. She has always been a tall, skinny thing! When she was born she weighed a whopping 5 lbs. 13 ounces, and was 19 inches!! I am just glad that she continues to grow!!

She has been talking up a storm these last few months. She can count to ten all by herself, and she can count things. She is learning her ABC's and knows a lot of the letters. Yesterday she looked at me and said, "Oh no, what did you do?" I am still not sure what I did but it was really cute. Two days ago I was laying her down for a nap and she started singing I am a Child of God. Her new latest obsessions are horses, and trains. In fact I have been playing horses with her all morning! And she has finally started to get some hair!!! If you can't tell I am one proud momma!

We are having her party this Sunday and we got her a super cool present so stayed tuned for those pictures!!

Madeline I love you!!

Madeline and mom 11-13-2006

Madeline and dad 11-13-2006

Madeline's 1st birthday!!

This is a picture of her this morning!! She asked me to sing the Happy Birthday song 5 times!Happy 2nd birthday!!

Halloween

2008-11-10T07:54:00.001-08:00

Yeah yeah I know these are a bit late but here you go! Madeline was a butterfly for Halloween. I have to say that she was super cute. We went trick or treating with grandma and grandpa Dean. She was scared to go up to strange houses at first but she soon realized she could get suckers out of it she was SO excited. Every house we went to she would run in when they opened the door and look for suckers. Funny girl!!

cousin Natalee, Madeline, and cousin Bennett

Fall Family Pics

2008-10-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we got family pictures taken. My father in law has a fancy pants camera and took them for us!!

Look at these blue eyed babes!! This is Madeline's cousin Bennett. They were so cute sitting on the steps together.

I love this picture of Madeline. She isn't smiling, but I think she looks so pretty! Thank you Marcus for some great pictures!!

The Zoo

2008-10-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

(Madeline looking at the elephants)

The other day Skipper called me up and said that he was leaving work early and taking Madeline and I out to eat for lunch and then we were going to the zoo.

Madeline loved the carousel and the giraffes. It was a great day!!

(If you look closely you can see the gorilla's huge face pressed against the glass)

(She was patting the tiger next to her trying to get some random girl to sit next to her.)

You look like a different person...

2008-09-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

So yesterday my brother sent me a text message telling me that I looked like I had lost weight. This made me excited because I sure have!!! Well later I was talking to him and I told him how happy I was that he and his wife noticed. He responded by saying that I look like a different person... haha I know that he didn't mean it in a bad way but what I wanted to say was did I look that bad before?

But I am excited. Most of you mommas out there know what your body looks like after having a baby. There are some of you though that go back to normal immediately after having a baby. I just had a couple extra pounds hanging on and finally decided to do something about it. So 10 pounds later, and more to follow I hope, I do feel like a different person!!

Skipper wanted me to say that he thinks I look amazing (and a few other things I am not comfortable posting on here...)

Weekend pictures

2008-09-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001

2008-09-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

I remember the morning that this happened. I was in Ohio and I heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into one of the world trade centers, and and this time they didn't suspect terrorist activity. I was listening when the 2nd plane hit the other tower and then a plane hit the pentagon, and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. I called my mom and asked her what was going on and they hadn't heard anything yet, being 2 hours earlier. . The next day was my 21st birthday which it didn't seem right to celebrate it so I didn't. The one thing I did do on my birthday was buy a newspaper which I still have. It was such a scary, and sad day. I had just been in New York City a month before and it seemed surreal.

I have always loved the NYC since I was a little girl. I had never been but I told my mom that I wanted to go. When I was 19 my mom and dad suggested I be a nanny. I interviewed with a few families on the east coast and finally decided on the O'Connor family in New Jersey. They were an amazing family and I was honored to be a part of their life during the last half of 1999-2000. I went into New York City more times than I can even count, and I fell in love with it. I have been back a few times since then too. I have been to ground zero a few times and it is an eerie, humbling, and again surreal experience when you see it. I hope that we can remember those people that lost their lives on that day and how our country came together for a moment.

Foot Massages

2008-09-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Madeline loves foot massages. After a long hard day of running around there is nothing she loves more than to lay on a pillow and get her feet rubbed. She is not spoiled at ALL!

Election

2008-09-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

I am usually not one to get into the political scene but I got this comparison chart sent to me on McCain and Obama. I don't like Obama but reading this, especially the tax part, makes me hope and pray that he doesn't get into the White House. He seems sketchy to me.

Out of curiosity if someone is voting for him tell post a comment saying why.

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS

JOHN McCAIN
BARAK OBAMA
Favors new drilling offshore US
Yes - McCain
No - Obama
Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it
Yes - McCain
No -Obama
Served in the US Armed Forces
Yes -McCain
No -Obama
Amount of time served in the US Senate
22 YEARS- McCain
173 DAYS - Obama
Will institute a socialized national health care plan
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Supports gun ownership rights
Yes - McCain
No - Obama
Supports homosexual marriage
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Voted against making English the official language
No - McCain
Yes - Obama
Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals
No - McCain
Yes - Obama

CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.
OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)

DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN
15% (no change)
OBAMA
39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')

INCOME TAX
MCCAIN
(no changes)
Single making 30K - tax $4,500

Single making 50K - tax $12,500

Single making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 60K- tax $9,000

Married making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400

Single making 50K - tax $14,000

Single making 75K - tax $23,250

Married making 60K - tax $16,800

Married making 75K - tax $21,000

Married making 125K - tax $38,750

Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!

INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN
- 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA
Restore the inheritance tax
Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

You can verify the above at the following web sites:
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html%A0 http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

Busy Weekend

2008-08-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

On Friday night our Stake had a "Family Fun Fair" and we decided to check it out and let Madeline run around for awhile. They had one of those huge blow up slides and we have tried to take her on those 2 times this year and each time she would cling to me and would not let go. But she was really interested in it and as you can see in the pictures she loved it. Not only did she love it but she would do it all by herself. Skipper was so funny and nervous about it.

On Saturday we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and let Madeline play in a stream, went on a hike, and had a picnic. It was a lot of fun and it got Skipper and I wondering why we haven't done this before.

Saturday night Madeline went to her little boyfriends birthday. His name is Keldon and he was turning 2. They had bubbles so Madeline was happy. She doesn't quite get how to blow but she
sure tried hard to figure it out.

Skippers vacation oh I mean business trip

2008-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Skipper left on Monday for a business trip. He went to the Arizona Diamondbacks game last night and is golfing this morning...did I mention he is staying at the Four Seasons in Scottsdale!

We miss him so much and can't wait for him to come home on Friday! This is the longest in our almost 4 years of marriage that we have been apart and I hate it! Madeline keeps asking where he is :( . Next time we get to go to!

Here is a couple of pictures of where he is staying!

Madeline's first picture of herself!

2008-08-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

July in a nutshell

2008-08-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Marcus, Haley, and Madeline

My Mom, little sister Haylie, and me

Madeline in her England jersey

Skipper, Madeline and I

Haylie and Madeline at This is the Place

Grandma, Haylie, and Madeline

I lost my camera so I only have pictures from the first part of the month. I have been hoping that my camera was going to show up but it has been 3 weeks and I am tired of waiting. I am going to go buy a new fancy camera this week! My mom, little sister Haylie, my brother Marcus and his wife Haley all came out and stayed with us the first part of July. It was so much fun to see them and for them to see Madeline. We went to the Real Salt Lake game and got to watch fireworks. Skipper bought a little England soccer Jersey when we was in England a few years ago and it is Madeline size now. So I put her in it to surprise Skipper, and boy was he. She was so cute at the game. Afterwards Skipper was carrying Madeline and a man tapped him on the shoulder and said that he was watching her during the game and wished that he had a camera. He was from England and he wanted to take a picture of her in her little England soccer jersey.

My mom, Haylie, Madeline and I went to the this is the place park. It was fun for them to see what they have done there. It is a little pioneer village and it is fun to walk through. My mom couldn't believe that Madeline ran the entire 3 hours we were there. We have gone swimming a bunch this month and Madeline is finally loving it. We also got to go to Lagoon with Skipper's family but no camera so no pictures. It has been a fun and busy month!!

1-866-867-5568

2008-07-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

So this is wells fargo's online fraud number which I had to dial this last week. I was checking and balancing our account one day and I noticed a purchase for an airline ticket on LAN Airlines. So after making sure that Skipper was ditching out on us we found out that someone had gotten our information and was taking a vacation on us. Everything turned out okay. Wells Fargo has a great fraud dept and gave us our money back. I do hope they find out who did it though because I have a few choice words for them...

I have a new niece!!

2008-06-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

My older brother Matt and his wife Ashlee had their first baby, a little girl, on Saturday at 4:30 am. She was 10 days late poor girl!! The baby girl came in at 9lbs 4ounces and 21 inches long. She hasn't been named yet but I am so excited that she is here!!

Madeline's new song

2008-06-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

Yes No E I E I O.

She has started to sing to me all the time. It is so cute. Two days ago she started singing me "yes no e i e i o". We sing her the old mcdonald song so I know where she got the "e i e i o" from, but to put it together with the "yes no" part I have no idea, and it rhymes.

I think I have a little poet on my hands!! Every time I try to record it she won't do it....of course!

Moab, 18 months, Moving, and Etc...

2008-06-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

So we went to Moab for Skipper's family reunion and it was fun. I have to say that my favorite part was playing games with the adults after the kids had gone to bed. Skipper and I haven't been able to do that in so long with his work, and school schedule. I think that Sunny, and Shilo will have to agree that Mafia was the best part.The only bad part is that the day we got home Madeline got sick with a stomach virus and wouldn't eat anything for 4 days and then hardly ate anything for about another 4 days. I had her 18 month appointment during this time and she always has been a small girl but she was less than the 5% for her age in her weight. Her Dr. reassured me that with stomach virus's babies can drop 1-2 pounds easily. Here are her stats:

Height: 32 inches 50%-75%
Weight: 19 lbs. 12 ounces
I can't remember her head circum. but she was in the 50%

Her appetite is back and her pants are fitting better so I think we are on our way.

I am happy to say that Skipper is graduated and he got another 4.0 his last semester. Who knew that he had it in him? He has been interviewing with a company in SLC for about a month and he got the call in Moab that he got the job. So we got home from Moab, and between the sick baby and packing (we had to move in a week!!) we weren't able to say goodbye everyone. We aren't very far away so hopefully we will get to see all our friends soon!!

The disk that has my pictures on it is packed somewhere so I will post those soon!!

Finger Painting

2008-05-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

....or body painting. I bought some finger paints for Madeline and I's craft time. She had a blast painting herself. Quite the little Van Gogh.

If you are wondering about the picture of Skipper's toe, I took it off. He was mad that I didn't wait until the end of the poll but it was disgusting.

Nia says to always add a picture

2008-05-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

According to our blog name this is both Nia and I's state of the art blog page, but I'm sure people were wondering if she really had a husband, since I was never on here. Well I do exist and I am amazing. Anyway, so I just finished school and am finally a real man. Ok, technically I don't finish until we have some sort of private open screening of my documentary at the school, and then I'll be finished. Then no one will be able to tell me I'm no man, because I will have proof. It will be a piece of paper that says "Bachelor's of Communications", and I can just hand it to them and walk off, but not before I get the paper back because that thing costed me like 14 grand (14 G's as Nia would say)
So I'm officially on the market now, so there are any random employers out there looking on this site feel free to make me an offer. It's funny, though, when Nia and I decided to move back here and finish school, I thought that the combination of school full time, working nights, and seeing Nia and Madeline for about 35 minutes a day would be harder to do than find a job after I graduated, but I was wrong. I can't get so much as an interview. Apparently they require more than a 4 year degree to be a surgeon. I don't know why I even bothered now.

Oh yeah. Nia always adds a picture to her posts, so here is a picture of my toe after they permanently removed my toenail.

Corn Starch

2008-05-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when Madeline has a stubborn diaper rash I use corn starch. I have found that it works better then desitin. She has had a diaper rash the last couple days so I decided to use it on her yesterday morning. I was in a hurry and I left it out where she could get to it and while I was getting ready she dumped it all over the living room. The carpet in our apartment is dark green and there were little white footprints all over, and hand prints all over the couches. She was so proud of herself. I came out in the living room because she sound really excited and she started jumping in the pile of corn starch and smiling at me. It was so funny!!

This morning she kept bringing us clothes that she wanted to wear. Here is the final product!

Long time!

2008-04-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

I wish that I was a better blogger but I have been so busy lately that it has been hard for me to get on here and write. Skipper is just finishing up his last class and then he will be graduated!! I am so excited! He has been around alot more these last few days and I feel so giddy and excited to see him. We are looking for a job so if anyone knows of any let me know!

The other day we took Madeline to the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point because she loves Wowers "flowers" . It is so cute because she actually bends down to smell them and licks the flower and says Mmmm!! Anyway we bought Coppertones waterbabies sunscreen last year

and we noticed that she would break out in a rash on her face. Well at Thanksgiving Point we put the sunscreen on her and she broke out in this horrible rash and then the sunscreen ran into her eyes! On the drive home she was blinking and shaking her head and squinting. Her eyes were so red and blood shot. We called the doctor who said we needed to give her eyes a water bath. She hated it but it help. So I researched sunscreens and apparently this happens a lot with that brand because it is oil based and if any water gets on it it can run. So then I found this natural, chemical free sunscreen for babies that was highly recommended and hopefully will work...and it better at $30 a bottle...

Skipper and I in love at Thanksgiving Point. Madeline wouldn't take a picture with us because there was a water fountain that was way cooler than her parents...

Here is a current picture of Madeline. She is growing so fast and getting cuter everyday. I sure do love her!

My sisters blog

2008-03-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have been bugging Jessica forever to start a blog so I. She finally did so for those of you who know her why don't you check it out...

http://wearethebonhams.blogspot.com/

Our Oregon trip

2008-03-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

I've been tagged

2008-03-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

The rules: Tell 10 interesting/weird things about you. When you are done assign 3 others the same task.

1. I have lived in 8 states so far. I say so far because I really hope that I get to live in many more places. I love meeting new people and getting to see the new scenery. Luckily I am married to someone who is adventurous too!

2. When I was a nanny in NJ a big group of us decided to drive to Virginia Beach. We drove through the night and we all felt pretty gross from traveling so far. We had our swim suits on and right when we got to the beach they were shutting it down temporarily because of a severe rain storm. Well we decided to take this opportunity and shower in the rain. If you haven't done it before it should be on your list of things to do before you die. It was the best shower ever!

3. My biggest pet peeve is when people don't put shopping carts away and just leave them wherever they want in the parking lot. Come on people are we that lazy we can't take 30 seconds and walk to the cart drop off? I always feel so bad for the little old men walking out in the freezing weather to pick up the carts. If you are one of them you should feel very bad!

4. I am terrified of heights...and one time I bungee jumped...never again...

5. One Sunday a couple friends of mine were flying down to Mexico on a private jet the next day. A spot opened up and I happened to be in the right place and the right time. It was so much fun! The inside of that jet was amazing!

6. I was almost struck by lightening once upon a time. I had a friend who was a photographer and needed help during a lightening storm to get a picture. We were outside and it hit a tree probably 15 feet away. You could feel the electricity in the air and there was this strange burning smell in the air from where it hit the tree. It was pretty scary.

7. I am almost 28 and I have a 10 year old sister at home. It's weird that she is only 9 years older than Madeline. She is such a sweet little aunt though!

9. I have gotten to wear 4 Superbowl rings. My institute teacher in NJ was Bart Oates wife and her and I became friends. He was the center for the 49ers and the Giants when they won the Superbowl's back in the 90's.

10. So I didn't get an epidural when I had Madeline, and it was by choice. I had a moment where I thought I couldn't handle it and they checked me and I was at an 8, and five minutes later I was at a 10. It was probably the coolest thing that I have done. It is just amazing that you can go through that just to bring a child into this world, and survive it. I will definetly do this again.

I am picking more than the 3 because I am. I think that I will tag Carrie, Jessica, Michelle, Mardi, Daphne and Brittany R. Enjoy!

Valentines Day

2008-02-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

So last Valentines Day we decided to start a little tradition with Madeline and we take her to Build A Bear. Last year we just picked it out for her but this year we decided to let her pick. She kept wanting the same 4 a polar bear, a black bear, a bunny, and a purple hippo. So we got those 4 animals and held them in front of her so she could pick one but she just strechted her arms as wide as she could and hugged all of them. She finally picked the bunny and kept calling it "dewey" so that is what we named it. Can't wait for next year!!

She finally did it!

2008-01-25T07:54:00.000-08:00

Madeline slept through the night for the first time in about 2 months! With teething and then being sick for so long she was waking up all night long! Hopefully this trend continues because I sure liked the sleep!

This morning after I changed her diaper I got up and threw it away and I turned around and Madeline had gotten a wipe and was wiping on of her teddy bears and then wanted to put a diaper on it. It was so funny and cute!!

New fabrics!!

2008-01-18T22:51:00.000-08:00

I have gotten some new fabrics and am making burp cloths to go with the nursing covers. This is such a great gift! Check them out at maddilou.blogspot.com !

Somersaults

2008-01-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

So Madeline has always been fast at her motor skills I guess you would say. The last couple days we have showed her how to do somersaults and today she started doing them on her own. She is so funny! We have to get this girl in tumbling...just like her father!

Tis the Season

2008-01-13T22:19:00.000-08:00

For Sicknesses!!!! Maddie never got sick during the first year of her life, and that sadly has come to an end. We spent a few hours on Christmas in the hospital with a stomach virus. She was so sick and I had given her tylenol to help with her 100 degree temp and then 2 hours later it was 103.5 so at 1 in the morning we were in the ER. She was a bit dehydrated and they kept her there until she would keep down fluids and her temp dropped. She was sick for about 5 days. The hardest part is she was doing so good at eating solids (finally!) before this and I was getting her weaned to about 4 times a day... When she was sick all she wanted to do was nurse and she wouldn't drink anything else so I felt like she was a newborn again. So we just started getting better at eating when she decided to get sick again. My sister in law brought her a stuffed animal today and she carried it all around with her it was cute. I think it helped. We also got her a new denim dress she was going to wear to church today but she didn't get to since she was sick but she saw it in her room and brought it to me and wanted to wear it. She is so funny, and I even got a smile!

$20 Nursing Covers

2008-01-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I started making nursing covers/Bebe Au Lait/Hooter Hiders for $20. I bought a Bebe Au Lait one for $40 and I followed the pattern except mine are bigger. I am going to be making more baby things soon. Check out maddilou.blogspot.com for more info and pictures!!

The last month

2007-12-17T21:41:00.001-08:00

Busy!!

2007-12-17T21:18:00.001-08:00

I keep getting comments that I need to post another blog on here so here it goes. We have been so busy this last month with Thanksgiving, finals, and all three of us getting sick at different times...yes it has been fun. Madeline is still cute as ever. She is starting to talk more and it is so fun! She had her one year appointment and weighed 19 lbs, so pretty much the same as Carrie's 4 month old!! It's a miracle that she weighs that much with how active she is. I hope that everyone has a great Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Madeline!

2007-11-18T13:45:00.000-08:00

Madeline turned one on November 13th. I can't believe that it has already been a year! It has gone by so fast and she has changed so much in a year. We had a party for her on the 13th. It was fun. When we gave Maddie her first piece of cake I thought that she would mash it all over but she just stuck her finger in it and sucked on it. She is such a lady! She even shared with me. It was so cute! I am very grateful for this wonderful little girl!

I am having trouble uploading pictures but they will come soon!

2007-11-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

This last week has been a long one! She has been getting in her top teeth and she has sure let us know about it! We didn't even know she was teething with her 2 bottom teeth so we were hoping that was how it was going to be with all of them! She has been waking up 6-7 times a night and fussing all day long. One tooth is through so we have one left! For Halloween she was a Care Bear! So cute!

Who does Madeline look like?

2007-10-29T21:43:00.001-07:00

Fall Days

2007-10-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

A couple days ago Skipper and I took Madeline to this grass field by our house because Skipper thought it was time to teach her to play soccer. As you an see in pictures she just stood there with the ball or wanted to eat dandelions. I was excited to take her because we got her this new hat and it was finally cold enough to wear it!! If you haven't noticed my baby doesn't have a lot of hair, so she needs something to keep her warm!! Plus she looks so cute in it! Madeline loved being outside so we will have to go there more and get her soccer skills up!!

Baby Lincoln is here!!

2007-10-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

Yeah!! My sister had her baby last Wednesday! She was 8 days late and was scheduled to be induced on the morning of the 17th but she decided it would be best to go into labor in the middle of the night on the 16th because she doesn't like sleeping :) !!

Jessica and baby Lincoln. He weighed 8 lbs. 14 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long!!

Braydon and baby Lincoln. So cute. I wish I could see him!!

Brothers - Bentley and Lincoln. I love this picture of Bentley becuase he seems confused as to why his dad is making him hold this baby. I guess that Bentley is really cute with Lincoln and whenever the baby is crying Bentley runs over to him to make sure he is okay. He will be such a great big brother!

Congrats!!

Skippers Film Debut!

2007-10-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

When Skipper told me he was doing this for his editing class I was
a bit wary... but I think that he did a superb job!! When Maddie
was watching this and saw Skipper she said dada!! It was so cute!

Enjoy!!

Oregon Trip - Marcus and Haley's wedding

2007-10-02T11:31:00.001-07:00

Just a little slide show of our Oregon trip!!

My little brother Marcus's wedding

2007-10-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

On September 22, 2007 Marcus married his high school sweetheart Haley. They got married in the Portland Oregon Temple and it was beautiful! All of my brothers and sisters were able to make the trip to Oregon. Our family is getting bigger and bigger so it's getting harder to get everyone together. It was a great day! I am so excited to have Haley in our family!

look at this fancy pants blog page

2007-10-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

I want to know how much it costed to have this amazing blog page made. Psych!!!! It didn't cost us a thing. Nia did all of it herself. I tell you, that girl is some kind of woman. Who ever is married to her has got it made. It's me that's married to her, in case any men out there are getting any ideas. So I just wanted to let all you guys know how great this was, in case you don't know much about blog pages, like me for instance. Feel free to keep on reading as more valuable information will be posted forth with.

Skipper

Our Family

2007-09-30T21:52:00.000-07:00

So Skipper and I have been married for almost 3 years. We currently are living in Provo Utah while Skipper is finishing school. He will graduate in April of 2008. The best thing that ever has happened to us was born November 13, 2006. Her name is Madeline. She is such a great baby and is so much fun! I am lucky enough to get to stay home with her! Skipper is working nights so he can do his homework and is taking 21 credits this semester and he still finds time to sleep and spend time with us. He is the best husband!