the nani family

Happy Birthday Adam!

2012-01-28T13:39:00.000-08:00

Adam turned one on January 23rd. We had a small get together with the family here in Logan to celebrate. We got him a small little cake and he really enjoyed it. It is the first time he has had both cake and chocolate. He wasn't quite sure what it was but when he got into it he went to town on that cake. He got some great toys and books that will keep him busy the next little while....thank you everyone! He loves hanging out with his cousins. He will just watch them so intensely and he loves to play with them. It was a great day for us all. Happy Birthday Bubba!

Here are some photos to enjoy.

My amazing husband.

2012-01-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have ever really wrote how much I love my husband, David. From the first day I met him I knew that he was a man who was going to make something of himself. One of the most attractive features he has is his ambition and desire to leave this world better than it was before he was in it. I personally think that he has already accomplished this in so many different ways. I feel that anyone who is lucky enough to know him knows how much he cares for all his friends and family. He bends over backwards for anyone that has a need of anything. As his wife, I feel that he has made me a better person. I am a better mom with him as the father to our Adam. I am a better wife because he has taught me what it means to be a partner to someone. His love for the gospel pushes me to learn and grow in my own testimony so that one day I can feel the love for the gospel as he does. I am a more patient person, not because he does things that try my patience, but because he has the patience of such a loving soul for everyone around him and I desire to obtain maybe a fraction of the patience that he has. Our son, Adam, is in awe of his Daddy. David will leave his mark on the world if by nothing else than this amazing little boy who adores everything about his father. I already watch Adam as he does things to make his daddy proud...be it copying a facial expression or trying to walk. When Daddy cheers for Adam, Adam knows no other joy as great. He loves David. Adam is one of the luckiest boys in the world to be able to grow up with David as his father and his example of what a man should be.

David had three interviews at the end of last year. All three places quickly figured out he would be an amazing asset to each of their companies. After long consideration, prayer, fasting and a trip to the temple, David made the choice to take a position in Bremerton, WA at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a nuclear engineer. It wasn't an easy decision and as I watched my love go through the process of pros and cons, I was so touched with how he found his answer. One job stood out from the rest as the job David really wanted to do. It was research and he would get to use all his fancy skills and most likely would never be boring. One job would be interesting to him, but not nearly as exciting. Although this job was in a location David knew our family would prefer and the economic advantages were substantial compared to the other. This man of mine, this man who I love more than anything, he chose the job that would be the best for our family as a whole. Some men would choose the job that they wanted and not consider the family element, but not David. His most important items on the list were us and I just love that he is mine forever. I know to some this isn't a big deal, but to me...the fact that he was able to look past his wants for his family and their needs...it show me that my son will grow up to be just as amazing and I will forever thank the Lord that David is my husband and the father to my children.

There you have it. David graduates in May 2012 with his Masters in Mechanical Engineering and we will head to Washington State to start the next chapter in our life together. I am so proud of him and so excited for this change. I know that as long as David and I are together, we will love where we are. As long as we have each other, we can take on anything. He is my rock. I love you, David Nani.

Graham cracker lovin'

2012-01-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Adam is having a love affair with graham crackers. It is impossible to explain to you how excited he gets when he places a piece in his mouth. Here is the graham cracker love session from today. The many faces of Adam when he is loving on some graham crackers....

More Christmas...

2012-01-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

A few photos I wanted to put on from Christmas. Adam got the dragon puppet from Baby Einstein that he is obsessed with. It is adorable. And of course we can never get enough of Auntie Kai.

From Christmas to the New Year, we stayed busy.

2012-01-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

After Christmas we had a our friends, the Carpenters, come stay with us for a day or two. It was fun having them here. Their two year old, Damon, is a lot of fun and we hope that he and Adam will get the chance to grow up together like their fathers, David and Rob. You can tell that Damon knows who is boss...he had Adam pushing him on the Lion all over the room. Adam didn't mind at all. We were all laughing at the two of them playing together. It was a fun visit, just lots of relaxing and food. Thank you for coming you guys!

Then that weekend was the New Year. Kendal, Kendra and family all came up on Saturday to spend the New Year with us. We went bowling Saturday afternoon and then spent the evening playing games (the Name Game that Rachel taught us) and about died laughing. I think it was a great way to start a New Year...games and laughter and surrounded by family. The next day was Church and then we spent some time at the park swinging. It was such a nice day here...about 50 to 60 degrees. Then just more games (David was excited about that because he is obsessed with games and should they not happen, he turns into Mr. Cranky-Pants) and more laughter. Once again it was a great way to start off the New Year.

Christmas Day with the Nani's

2011-12-25T21:02:00.000-08:00

We woke up early this morning to a little man who had one full diaper. We figured that would be a good time to open our presents since we could get that done, get ready and go to Chruch at 9am. Adam seemed to be more interested in the tree because for a month he hadn't had a chance to touch it since we put it up. He would grab all the ornaments and pull them off and then try to eat them. It was fun trying to get him interested in the wrapped gifts for him under the tree. Finally, we got all the presents unwrapped. We kept it pretty simple and most everything we got came for our loving family. Thank you all so much! There were a few things from us for Adam...puzzles and books and Megablocks. He made out like a bandit but not so much that we feel we'll need to hide some of the things so they can be used at another time. Adam has A TON of toys already. Clothes, too. I am sure that had no one got him one thing he would never know a difference. But how can we do that to our amazing little man? So presents it was. Anything that has wheels he will flock to. I love how he is just fascinated with the way they move. Christmas was incredible and I can't wait for next year and Adam being able to comprehend what exactly this whole Christmas thing is about. I love it and I love my family.

Christmas photos of our family.

2011-12-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

We took a bunch of photos at Thanksgiving to be used for our family Christmas card. Here are some of our favorite shots. Hope you like them as much as we do. We pretty much think all photos of our little man are worth showing off to the world. We are bias like that.

Jessica is one year away from 16!

2011-12-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Jessica! I was able to get myself out of be to go over and do Jessisca's hair. It looked really cute and she was able to put the new headband that Grandma Jessie gave on. Great job, Grandma Jessie! She loved it. Then we went to breakfast at Kneader's with Grandma Janet. Later that evening, we all got together to celebrate. It was so much fun and I love to see how much love everyone has for our Jessica. She is one-of-a-kind and such an amazing girl. We love you, Jess!

Christmas lights and Santa hat.

2011-12-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

I saw this idea on Pinterest and wanted to try it out. I like how they turned out, but I think I want to try doing it again. He is such a trooper. After I was done I started to think letting him put the lights in him mouth may not be such a great idea. Mom of the Year award goes to me after I electrocute my child trying to take a photo.

Reading

2011-11-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

David and I both want Adam to grow up loving to read. We take every chance we can to sit down and read with him. He really loves to listen to you and he knows how to turn the page when it is time to do so. He actually likes to look at the books more than wanting to stick it in his mouth...which is what he wants to with most everything else (see the bottom two photos for his attack on Eeyore). I hope he continues to develop a love for books.

O, Christmas tree...

2011-11-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yes, we set up the Christmas tree yesterday and Thanksgiving hasn't even come yet. Here is my justification (although I would probably still have set it up without an excuse)...we are spending a week in California before Christmas and I don't want to miss any of the opportunities to wake up to a Christmas tree or staying up late listening to Christmas music, sipping hot chocolate and watching the sparkle of the Christmas tree lights. Plus, we were so excited to set it up with Adam. He wasn't too much of a helper, but it was really fun watching him trying to eat the decorations.

Test of time.

2011-11-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

My sister sent us all the old clothes for Adam to use. In them I found a pair of pajamas that fits Adam right now. I think it is really cute that I have a photo of John wearing them and of Adam wearing them. What two super cute boys they are. John was about 1 year to a year and a half old in his photo and Adam is only 9 months old.

Hanging out with Hippo.

2011-11-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Adam likes to ride, pick up, push around, turn over and slobber all over our Hippo walker. He really hasn't caught on that he is supposed to actually walk with Hippo. Until he figures it out, it is fun to watch him play with Hippo. I have even caught him giving the Hippo raspberry noises. Nice.

Crossing legs.

2011-11-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

One of things that Adam does that is David's favorite is crossing his legs. In his carseat, sitting on our lap, just playing with his toys or reading his books...his legs are usually crossed at his ankles. I don't know where he picked it up, but he has been doing it almost since he was born. David is always pointing it out and he gets the biggest grin on his face. I'll admit, it is pretty darn adorable.

Figuring things out.

2011-11-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

It is a lot of fun to watch Adam figure out how to do things. Lately he is learning how to climb up on things. I will catch him trying to climb up on the TV stand, but his legs aren't long enough. I swear he learns a million new things each day. Today I watched him as he figured out how to get on his hippo scoot. I was lucky enough to already have my camera in my hands as he did it for the first time. Catching him in the act doesn't happen all too often.

Bathtub

2011-11-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

Adam sure does love being in the tub. The more water, the better for him. He loves to splash and crawl around. I think he would stay in the tub for hours if I let him. And, of course, photos of him in the bath are some of my most favorite. I just love this little guy.

First time in snow...

2011-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

We have snow! Adam stared at it for about 15 minutes and I figured I would let him see how he liked being in it. I think he liked looking much more than touching. Maybe?

Spin-spin

2011-11-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Adam is finally big enough to get on the bouncy-spiny zebra that Heather gave us. He loves it and it just reminds me of how big he is getting. Today we had his 9 month appointment. He is officially 31.25 inches long and 23.4 pounds. I will admit that I get cramps in my arm if I hold him too long. Shouldn't he be able to walk already?

Who needs 'em?

2011-11-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

I went in to get little man out of his crib and I found him dropping all his sleeping friends on the ground. He just looked up and smiled.

Anita Mae

2011-11-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Last week my grandmother on my mother's side passed away. A week before she had suffered a TIA, but recovered really well and was able to go home after a few days to watch her. I was also able to call her at the hospital to just tell her that we love her and that she is always in our prayers. Then last week she suffered a major stroke on Wednesday. This time my mom jumped into her car, came to Salt Lake to get two of her sisters and they drove all night to get to the hospital to see her. When they got there, Grandma Anita was doing pretty good considering the stroke. She couldn't open her eyes or talk much, but she was able to communicate other ways to let my mom and her siblings know that she knew they were all there with her. My mom said it was just beautiful to spend those last moments with her and her husband was also there holding her hand. They took her to go get another brain scan and by the time she came back from that she was pretty much gone. The scan showed hemorrhages all over and then it was just time to wait for the inevitable. She passed quietly and completely surrounded by people who love her. I can't imagine a better way to pass on.

The services were on October 31 and it was just a joy to hear from everyone who she had touched. It was a happy occasion knowing that she may be gone from our sight right now, we will be with her again. We love you Grandma Nita.

I wasn't able to get any photos from the funeral because I had Adam on my lap the whole time. I hope to get some from my cousins that took a lot. For now, in my files I have found a few photos from activities with Grandma. Camping in Yellowstone and Alexis Erwin's Blessing.

Bathtime fun.

2011-11-04T14:28:00.000-07:00

Adam and I went to Arizona for my Grandma Anita's funeral on October 31 (I will soon do a post about how amazing the services were). Our friends, Brad and Jessica, we so very kind to let me and Adam crash their house at the very last minute. They have an amazing home and I am very sure that anyone who goes in it feels the love that their home has in it. I wish I had got more photos of the trip, but when you are constantly holding a 9 months wiggly little guy, you don't get the chance to pull out the camera. I did enjoy watching Brad and Jessica's little guy, Brayden. He could not be any cuter...dark skin, BIG brown eyes, beautiful lips. And he is walking!! A 10 month walker. I don't know if they see it as a blessing or not! Just kidding. I really think Adam might be getting ready to walk on his own, too. He gets braver everyday with letting things go and trying to walk without things. He'll usually just stand there and eventually fall. So cute. I need to get a video of it. Here are the two adorable boys taking a bath. They didn't beat on each other too much.

Family photo

2011-10-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

Here we are. Adam was almost 9 months old.

October fun.

2011-10-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

This month has just flown by it seems. We have been loving the cooler weather and watching the all the trees change colors. Fall is our favorite season but it just goes by so fast. It will be snowing soon and we are doing our best to get as much time outdoors as possible. David has been working so hard with school. It is his second to last semester. He is so busy I sometimes feel like I am a single mom. I swear single moms are super heroes. I only have one baby, who is a really good baby as far as babies go, and I get so tired. I can't imagine the moms out there that work and raise kids all on their own. Incredible. I cannot wait for David to be able to spend more time at home with us. Whenever Adam sees his daddy, he lights up. Once daddy is home, I am pretty much chop liver to him. It's okay though, I love watching those two play together. Here are some photos of the past month or so.

Adam will tell us he is done eating by putting his hands behind his head and leaning back. No idea how he picked this up but it is sure cute.

Our make-shift playpen for Adam. He is a mover now and keeping him out of things is hard work. He is a smart one though. He's figured out a few ways to get out when we're not looking. Stinker.

Adam is always rolling his toys under things and then tries his best to get them. It is hilarious to see him. He'll just lay there with his bum in the air until he gets what he wants.

I love this talk.

2011-10-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how General Conference can really speak to my heart. The question that has been on my mind for the past few weeks can be summed up by Elder Hales, "Why is it that the Son of God and His holy prophets and all the faithful saints have trials and tribulations even when they are trying to do Heavenly Father's will? Why is it so hard, especially for them?" I am sure this talk spoke to all of those who struggle with the trials they are given and I know that, for me, this helps to keep a smile on my face knowing that no matter what, me and my family are never forgotten by our Heavenly Father.

Heartbreak and miracles...

2011-09-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that we have been undergoing the frozen embryo transfer (FET) the past three months. It took a few months full of medications, injections and lots of craziness from those medications and injections (David has a crazy for a wife during these times, but he is a trooper and loves me anyway). The first major hurdle was making sure all the medications helped to produce a 'warm cushy womb' (as Abby calls it). On September 5 I had my ultrasound and all looked perfect. Then another weeks wait and the next hurdle was the thawing out of our beautiful little chillins'. The plan was to arrive at the clinic at 10am and they would start the thaw about 3 hours before. I can't even convey the anxiety of this...will they make it? will they be too degraded to use? We arrived early and were sent back to the procedure room where I undressed and got in the super cute hospital gown at 9:30am. Then we sat there....and sat there. The doctor finally came in and told us both of our embryos survived and we would be able to transfer them. Done and done in about 20 minutes. Then I laid there (a little more calm thanks to the Valium they give all the patients...I guess they've come to realize we are all crazy women by the time of transfer). Then I laid flat in the back of the car until we got back to Logan. Then about 3 days bedrest...with amazing family helping out with Adam since I couldn't lift the little guy (torture for me). I have always been very much against taking a home pregnancy test when doing IVF so I wasn't going to. Then one night I found two unused tests in my bathroom basket. I figured what the heck. On Monday, September 19 I looked at it in amazement! Two lines! I pretty much felt that it was our new miracle and called and told everyone, although I knew there was a chance that anything could happen since it was so early in the pregnancy. Two days later, another test, two days later, another test. Then on Friday I had a blood test and my hcg was 70 (anything over 5 is positive for pregnancy), the next Monday my hcg was 157 and even though it was good, they had hoped to see higher. Wednesday the call came and it was 105. A drop like that usually only means a miscarriage. And today it dropped to 35. We lost our beautiful snowbabies. So much joy to so much sadness in such a short amount of time. I think I cried from the time I got the call until I went in this morning for my blood draw. It was good though. I have a close friend whose hcg levels would go up but not much to doing great and back to not good for 4 weeks. It was a roller-coaster of emotions that no one deserves to have to ride. I am very grateful that our pregnancy did not result in that sort of emotional strain. I do not feel I am strong enough to handle it. I can barely face the fact I just spent 3 months preparing for pregnancy just to get pregnant and lose it. My hear goes out to every woman who has lost a child. Even though I had to do so much to my body and spend so much money to even get the slight chance of getting pregnant, I know that every woman who has lost a baby feels like a part of themselves have died, too. My saving grace through all of this is my husband and my little Adam. I am so lucky for such an amazing man in my life. I will say it again and again...he is my rock and with him I am never alone. After my call, I clung to Adam (he wanted to play so he wasn't all about it :)) and just felt like I have a miracle in my arms and I need to remember that. I still burst into tears here and there, just as any woman would. I stress out thinking about trying to get the money to try again, but I need to push that aside for now and focus on loving the family that I already have here on earth. And all of you know, it is a pretty amazing family that I get to be part of. This loss is beyond devastating, but I know it'll pass and when we are finally able to have a baby, we will know all this pain was worth it in the end. I just miss the idea of being mom to those two little embryos. We are heartbroken now, but every minute with our Adam helps us to heal. We'll get the money. We'll go through the months and months of preparation time. I will take each shot like a champ. David will let me be crazy and one day. ONE day. We'll have another miracle. We know it. We just know it. Until then I get to watch these two-I'd say that is a miracle I get to have each and every minute of my life. I love them. How can I stay so sad when this is what awaits me?

Lastly, thank you for all the love and support that has been given to us through all of our hardships in this crazy infertility place. It means so much to us to know we are not alone in our sadness when things go bad and in our immense joy when our miracles occur. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here are our two little angels who will forever be in our hearts (even if they were only blobs of cells at the time).

Kaira and Lilly's Day-O-Celebration!

2011-09-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Kaira and Lilly. We had a small party for the two birthday girls that included incredibly delicious chicken salad and yummy cake. Just a few moments that made the day uber-special (including Sox, the sock monkey).

Hot Air Balloon Fun

2011-09-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to Elko for the Hot Air Balloon Festival they hold every year. My mom is friends with a hot air balloon pilot and she helps with him set up and also is part of the chase crew. David was really excited to help set up and was like a little kid in a candy store. We got up at 5am and it was really really cold that morning. Poor little Adam was snuggling in his stroller all morning...but as you can see he was a real trooper! It was a lot of fun.

Thank you Grandma Jessie!

2011-09-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Adam's great-grandma Jessie is always making the most adorable things for him. Yesterday we got this adorable hat in the mail and Adam loves wearing it. Thank you Grandma Jessie!

Crawling around in towels.

2011-09-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

I love this photo, but I didn't get it as in-focus as I would have liked. So what do you do when you have a cute photo out of focus, just play with the editing to make it look like you did it on purpose. Here is my sad attempt...I suggest just admiring the cute little man and his adorable face.

Getting so big.

2011-09-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Everyday I am amazed at the new things Adam is learning to do. Last week he figured out crawling, this week he started to pull himself up on furniture and now is a pro at it. He has figured out how to use some of his toys and I am just in awe at how smart he is. I'm sure every mother is as proud of their baby as I am of Adam. He's brilliant. I went to get him from his nap today and there he was, standing up waiting for me. Soon he'll be climbing out of the crib. I really need to get on baby-proofing the apartment.

Labor Day-o-fun.

2011-09-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun this past weekend. Spent lots of time with family and loved every minute of it. For some reason I didn't get that many photos, but here are the few I did manage to take. What was I thinking? I obviously wasn't. Or I was just having way too much fun. That is it.

More swinging.

2011-09-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Adam is really loving the swing and I am loving watching him. He can make the best faces.

This is going way too fast for me.

2011-09-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Adam is getting stronger by the day. Last week he finally figured out the crawling thing, but before he did that he figured out how to get up on his knees. He is growing up way too fast for me. That same day he was making the most adorable faces to the camera. I know they aren't in focus...they are just so darn cute.

Namaste.

2011-08-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Every time that Adam wants to move around he will end up in a downward dog position. It is hilarious. Check out his workout routine...stretch, plank, stretch and downward dog.

Happy 7 months to Adam!

2011-08-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Adam's 7 month birthday. He is 21.5 pounds and 30 inches with 4 teeth...the top two came out that morning! I can't believe how fast time has flown by.

Nerdy gifts.

2011-08-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

David went to Texas to visit Rachel and brought back a gift for Adam...a Star Wars shirt.

He also told me about the super-duper-absolutely amazing-radical Lego store. He called me right after he spent some time in the store (probably about the same amount of time as I like to spend in a shoe store). He brought these home. A penguin for me (I have this crazy love for penguins), a wizard for himself (I think he secretly wishes he had wizardly powers...well, maybe that isn't such a secret) and Darth Vader for Adam (I'm not sure what he is trying to imply with that so I'll just not think too hard on it). They now hang from our rear-view mirror in our car. I love my nerd.

Toys and music.

2011-08-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Heather brought a TON of toys to give to Adam when they came from Kentucky last week. It was like Christmas for him. I am so excited about all the fun Adam is going to have once he is old enough to use them all. Right now all he sees are more things that he can try to fit into his mouth.

Then while we were at the Truscott's, Adam really was loving pounding on the piano with his Daddy. I really hope that Adam develops the same passion for music that David and I have. David's family is full of very gifted piano players and it would be so much fun to see Adam develop musical talents. I love watching these two play. Our little man sure does love his Daddy.

What is a Daddy good for?

2011-08-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

Help on.

A little push.

And, of course, help off.

What is a little sister good for?

2011-08-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hard labor.

Ah, the love of a cousin.

2011-08-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Adam's cousin, Blaine, came over to our house the other day and it was such a joy to watch Blaine play with our little man. I love how much Adam's cousins love him. Whenever Blaine sees him, he puts on his 'big brother' attitude and will do anything and everything to entertain him. I love that I was able to catch it on film (well, digital film that is). The love they have for each other is pretty obvious.

Daniel Todd Adams

2011-08-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

David's Uncle Danny passed away on August 3. He was an amazing man, which we believe is why our Heavenly Father wanted him back with him so soon. The funeral service was one of the most beautiful services I have ever been to. You could feel the love and every single person in attendance had for Danny and every word spoken was a testimony of how much Danny meant to everyone that was fortunate enough to know him. Ever since I met David he would tell me about his Uncle Danny and that he was the man he aspired to be like in all aspects of his life. I know that Danny will continue to inspire and care for his family from above just as he did here on earth. We will miss him.

Heather lives WAY too far away.

2011-08-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

I love my sister, Heather, with all my heart. Being as she is my only sibling, I can't imagine life without her and her family. They live way too far away...Kentucky...and I get to see them maybe once a year. They came to Utah for a wedding on the Erwin side and we were lucky to be able to go spend about a week in Salt Lake to spend time with them while they were here. It was the first time Heather and her family were able to meet Adam and he sure did take to all of them right away. I am sure he felt the love they all have for him immediately. Alexis was like a little mommy to him whenever she was around...making sure he was happy, playing with him, always wanting to hold him and giving him kisses and kisses and kisses. It is always bittersweet to see them. I am in heaven when they are around and when I have to say goodbye I pretty much break down in tears. I love them all so very much. I miss you guys.

What comes after sweet potatoes?

2011-08-04T14:12:00.001-07:00

A thumb, of course.

Rubber duck sacrifice.

2011-08-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

Adam is starting to realize that bath time can be fun. We only have one bath toy right now and Adam grabbed it and shoved it right into his mouth. Who needs hands when you can carry things in your mouth?

Because I can.

2011-08-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

I really don't have too much to say about these photos except that I think they are really adorable. I love how Adam sticks out his cute bum and he is always just hanging out with one leg in the air. No reason, just because he likes it.

Daddy's boy.

2011-08-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Adam is a major Daddy's boy. Whenever David walks through the door, Adam gets the biggest grin on his face and starts to shake with excitement. Sometimes even a super high-pitched squeal comes out...right in my ear. I love it. These boys have the best time playing together. Can you see how Adam adores his Daddy?

Move over Berbatov.

2011-08-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Just kidding, we want Bebatov to play for many years to come. We are big fans of Manchester United. Soccer is the one sport we really really hope that Adam likes. The baby soccer ball I got him may just help to start the love early. He loves this ball. He'll be playing with it while on his back and when it rolls down his belly he can catch it with his feet. He tries to coordinate getting it back into his hands, but he just hasn't got it down yet. My boy has skills. Man U can use another Nani, right?

Just keep swimming...

2011-08-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well, Adam wasn't really swimming but it was his first time in a pool. Janet set up her little blow up pool and we let Adam give it a try. He seemed to like it, but for the most part he wasn't exactly sure what to do. He splashed around a bit...then he was tired of it. He much preferred being in the towel all cuddled up in Grandma's arms. Can you blame him?

I love this face.

2011-07-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Six months old and still going strong...

2011-07-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

Adam turned 6 months old 23 July 2011. I have a lot of photos that I have never posted so here is a little bit of a photo timeline of our little tank. Happy half year Birthday!

February 2011

March 2011

April 2011

May 2011

June 2011

July 2011

Fun day outside and more crib photos.

2011-07-21T22:24:00.000-07:00

It was such a beautiful day today. We spent some time outside and Adam was doing his best to learn to sit up by himself and to get in the crawling position. He'd stay sitting up without help for about ten seconds and then topple over to his side. I love the position he gets in when he does it, like a little baby model with his arm on his hip. When getting in the crawling position, he would get on all fours and from there not really know what to do so he'd just drop his head down.

And how can I resist any chance I have to get some photos of Adam and his proud daddy? One of Adam's favorite things it to grab our face and try to put it in his mouth. I call them 'baby Adam kisses' and I can't get enough of them. David was getting lots of kisses today. Baby Adam eye kisses.

Oh, and more crib photos. I just really like how they look. This time he was sleeping with his arms around the bumper as though he was cuddling with it. My little cuddle-bug.

Snow babies.

2011-07-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, David and I went to Salt Lake to talk to our infertility doctor, Dr. Hammoud, about doing what is called a frozen embryo transfer (FET). After our IVF cycle last year we had two little embryos that were not used at that time and we chose to have them frozen for future use. In the infertility world these little babes are called 'snow babies'. Our plan is to use these in hopes for a little brother or sister for Adam. The quality of the embryos was not the best when frozen, but we know that it is worth a shot- even if our chances are low. The photo above is of the two embryos we transferred for Adam. No way to know which of them turned out to be our little miracle, but how many people have a photo of their baby at day 5 of existence? One of the perks of infertility, right? We'll be doing the FET before the end of the year! I am really excited to start the process. If the FET gives us another miracle, technically Adam and the baby will be the same age since they all were conceived the same day. I think we'll have to have a special celebration for them if it happens. That'd be really fun.

Stink bug sleeping.

2011-07-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

Adam has been sleeping with his knees tucked under him and his bum straight up in the air like a stink bug. I have tried so many times to get a photo, but that requires turning on the lights and he wakes up right away. Today when I went to get him up to dress him for church he stayed fast asleep. I finally got the money shot I've wanted for awhile. He quickly woke up and was really happy to see I was already in his room to get him out of bed. Oh, I just can't get enough of this little boy.

To feel the grass in our toes...

2011-07-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Playing outside is one of our favorite things to do. Adam is so fascinated with the grass. Half the time he wants to be in it and the other half he seems to really dislike the feel of it. I love his little feet. Even though for some strange reason they stink all the time, I still find them to be one of cutest things on earth. He thinks it is hilarious when I smell his feet and then say, 'ew....stinky feet!'

Check out this face he was making at me. I swear he is thinking, 'hey mom, get that thing out of my face.' I keep hoping he'll just learn to go with it and pose for me. He's old enough to do that, isn't he?

Grandpa Jack meets Adam.

2011-07-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

My dad came to spend a week with us. He was able to meet our Adam for the first time. We had so much fun. We went to the Willow Park Zoo and made a trip to Bear Lake to see the view. Mainly we just hung out, ate real yummy food and just had a great time. It is always a treat when we get to show off our Adam to family and friends.

Slowly but surely...

2011-07-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

Adam is doing his best to learn how to become mobile. He gets the knees and arms up and then isn't sure what to do. After a few times he'll just decide to roll to wherever he is trying to go. Look at that smile!

Oh, and yes, that outfit's size is 18-24 months. It fits my 5 1/2 month old.

Swinging.

2011-07-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I have always loved to swing. Adam is finally big and strong enough to swing. Don't let the crusty look fool you into thinking he doesn't like it, he was smiling so big right before I took the photo.

Hey, mom, get me out of here.

2011-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

I'll peek in on Adam all the time and occasionally he will be silently waiting for me. This is what he looks like.

The best I could do.

2011-07-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

Adam's first tooth popped out a week or two ago. The second one has been trying to pop the past few days. It finally did and Adam is a much happier little guy. I tried the best I could to get photos of his new assets. Look really close when he is smiling and you can see the tiny white specks that are his teeth.

The Mickey by him gets the most chew time. I don't know how long he'll last once Adam gets more teeth. Stay strong, Mickey!

4th of July fun.

2011-07-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here in Logan they do the fireworks on the Friday before the 4th of July. David and I decided that we would just stay in since Adam goes to bed at 7pm and the fireworks wouldn't start until about 10pm-ish. Adam wouldn't remember missing them anyway. I thought the fireworks would wake him up. The stadium is right next to our building and the bangs made our windows shake. He slept right through them! On the actual 4th of July we had family over for a picnic type dinner. We put up our tent (to air it out and make sure it was still in good shape) and lit some sparklers for the kiddos (well, kiddos AND the two grown men that were here).

Yes, Zander is using a bouncy ball as his hammer.

Proud boys.

Lilly being as adorable as she is.

Rachel's visit.

2011-07-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

David's sister, Rachel, and her family live in Texas and we only get to see them maybe once or twice a year. We were really lucky to get to spend a few weeks with them in June. They brought the Just Dance 2 game with them and I had the best time. I won't lie...there were a few days I pulled it out to get my workout on when I was all by myself. Well, Adam was there but thank goodness he won't remember any of my moves. Mainly we just hung out at one home or another playing, eating yummy food and laughing. It was a great time. I think they need to move closer.

The kids were playing with this truck. It is supposed to be one of those that runs on a battery, but the battery was dead so they all took turns pushing each other around on it. They then decided they needed to 'work' on it. They found some cinder blocks to drag over and placed the truck on top of them. So funny they knew what to do. Then as Blaine was under the truck, they were putting sand in the seat 'pretending' it was the gas they needed. Well, as you can see, it went straight through into Blaine's face. He was so great about it...he didn't get mad, just politely asked them to wait until he said they could put more gas in. I love it.

Rachel's girls, Sydney, Madison and Kate. I love taking their photos. To tell the truth, all the Nani's photograph great. I love being able to take their pictures.

Nani siblings, all 5 of them. All the kids...hopefully more to come. They are the best kids.

Swinging. There was a lot of that going on.

Kristin hurt her foot the night before and everyone was pushing her around in the stroller. It was pretty comical. I've never seen anyone play on the playground in a stroller. As you can see, she was enjoying it!

Disney Family Hits Sing It. All the classic songs for the Wii. It was awesome.

I can't help but show me and my little (giant) man. He loves his thumb, no question about that.

Zander strutting his stuff. Could he be any cuter?

First rant about C.S. Lewis...probably won't be the last.

2011-07-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks I have had a certain passage from Mere Christianity in my head. My book is full of marks because there is something about the way C.S. Lewis writes that makes me think of things in a different perspective. Maybe that is the wrong way to say what I am trying to say. I guess when I read his Christian writings I have already been aware of the message he is giving, he just explains it in a way that is so simple. Funny, I say he puts it simple even though the first time I read Mere Christianity I had to re-read most of it a few times to really understand. Anyway, back to what I have been thinking about lately.

'I have heard some people complain that if Jesus was God as well as man, then his sufferings and death lose all value in their eyes, 'because it must have been so easy for Him'. Others may (very rightly) rebuke the ingratitude and ungraciousness of this objection; what staggers me is the misunderstanding it betrays. In one sense, of course, those who make it are right. They have even understated their own case. The perfect submission, the perfect suffering, the perfect death were not only easier to Jesus because He was God, but were possible only because He was God. But surely that is a very odd reason for not accepting them? The teacher is able to form the letters for the child because the teacher is grown-up and knows how to write. That, of course, makes it easier for the teacher; and only because it is easier for him can he help the child. If it rejected him because 'it's easy for grown-ups' and waited to learn writing from another child who could not write itself (and so had no 'unfair' advantage), it would not get on very quickly. If I am drowning in a rapid river, a man who still has one foot on the bank may give me a hand which saves my life. Ought I to shout back (between my gasps) 'No, it's not fair! You have an advantage! You're keeping one foot on the bank'? That advantage- call it unfair- is the only reason why he can be of any use to me. To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?'

'To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?' I love that. Lots of things race through my head when I hear that phrase. When I can't open a jar of jelly (I admit that happens a lot...it just gets so sticky!), I get David to do it. When I wake up at 3am sick as a dog, I call my mom to comfort me (happens a lot and will happen more now that Adam is around). If my computer crashes, I call my dad to save the day. I know, this sounds like a church talk, doesn't it? I won't be offended for those that prefer to stop reading. But here is my point. For those days when it seems harder than others, the moments when I wonder what this is really all about...faith, love, charity, hope...I often forget to look to the one thing that can make sense of it all, my Savior. I thank C.S. Lewis for the reminder and for the Gospel that gives me chance after chance to remember.

Tanks and comb-overs.

2011-07-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

Our little man is, for lack of a better word, a tank. On 23 June, he turned 5 months old. That day he had a small, sort of hacking cough and we were having our friends, the Truscott's (who have a 3 month old premie), coming to stay with us for the night. I did not want to risk the slightest chance of Adam being sick and possibly getting baby Bennett sick, so I took him to get checked out. Doc cleared him as healthy and we went our merry way. While we were there he was weighed. My 5 month old is 19.5 pounds. At home we measured him. He is 28.5 inches long. I am one proud mommy...I just wish he'd chub it up a little bit. He may weigh as much a year old kid, but the rolls of fat just aren't hanging around. And his head is huge. I blame David for that one, all my friends say my head is abnormally small. David's head is gigantic- Adam gets it from him. And, the kid is glued to Baby Einstein. Notice the intensity of his gaze at the television (I will attribute that to David, too)...'leading experts say, Mozart makes babies smarter.'

One day before his first tooth popped up. I also cut the hair. I have wanted to do it for awhile, but whenever I would mention that I wanted to, I would gets comments about how I shouldn't worry about it. It was getting pretty bad, though. I may not have the skills to make it look amazing, but after I cut it he looked so much better. Don't you think? Oh, what a cute boy.

Adam David Nani

2011-07-02T00:34:00.000-07:00

Our life revolves around this beautiful little man that came into our world on 23 January 2011 at 3:15 in the afternoon. He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 21.5 inches long. I remember when I saw him for the first time. It was like I never really knew how much I could love...I am sure that most parents out there know what I mean by that. Lots of tears and heartache brought David and I to that exact moment. Let me explain.

About a year and a half after we were married we found out that we were one of those couples that were deemed 'infertile'. So much so that all the experts we went to told us we had less than a 1 percent chance to get pregnant on our own and that the best chance for us would be in-vitro fertilization. The news was pretty devastating for us. We spent a long time trying in hope that they were wrong. Every month we were sure that we were pregnant and every month we'd end up staring in disbelief at the negative home pregnancy test. Being married for over a year (and of course being part of the LDS community), we would always get asked the ever-so-popular question, 'when are you guys going to start popping out the kiddos?' and David would answer, 'as soon as the Lord will give them to us'. He was the strong one, he has always been the strong one. Me? Oh, anyone that knows me knows I am not one who takes emotional things lightly. I break down, I cry, I let my mind go to the worst scenario possible.

At the beginning of 2010, we decided to move forward with IVF. Our chances of conception were about 60 percent (and of course all I thought about was the 40 percent chance of failure). The process took about 3 months. I cannot tell you how many times we had to stab needles into one part of my body or another. On 30 April 2010 we had the egg retrieval, five days later we transferred two of the 4 surviving embryos and froze the other two (for future use). Twelve agonizing days after that we got the call. Actually, I had them call David because I knew I would not be able to handle it. He called me and told me he was outside my office. I walked up to him and he told me the one thing I have wanted to hear my entire life- we were pregnant. Can you believe it? I'll be honest and say that I had this overwhelming fear I would never be a mother. The one thing I have always wanted to be seemed out of reach for such a long time. But here we were- pregnant.

Our pregnancy was really great. I loved feeling this little being growing inside me (even when my back was killing me). At twenty weeks we found out we were having a little boy. I was so excited about that. I really did not care if it was a boy or a girl, but knowing that I would get to have a little man to grow up to be like his dad was an incredible thought. The journey of getting our miracle here ended with tears as he was placed in our arms that afternoon in January. Now we are blessed to have the journey of watching him grow. I know it is cheesy to say, but his presence makes our life more complete.

This image was something I wanted to see since the day I knew David would be my husband- and the father of our babies. Every needle, every tear, every second of sadness and heartache, even every dollar spent- worth it.

So it begins.

2011-07-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

It only took me about three and a half years to get a blog up and going. I guess I never really thought that anything was all too interesting when it came to a new couple. We had no kids (we welcomed our first miracle, Adam, this past January), we were in school (we still are) and I talked on the phone to pretty much anyone I thought would be interested in our life. I will admit, I also really did not like the way most blogs out there looked. We like things simple...everything out there seemed focused around crafty-craft types. I am not in the least bit crafty. I use my glue gun to glue frames to my cinder block walls and for nothing else. My mom gave me a sewing machine and to be honest, it is still in it's box in storage (sorry, Mom). Then I came across my friend's blog and it looked so fresh and so clean (clean). She gave me the information on how to make a blog not so crafty-crafty and here I am. Welcome to our world.