Happy Baby

This happy baby makes me happy. Like really, really ridiculously happy.

Tommy Jack at 9 months

Thomas Jack

Today is a big day.  It is the day our baby boy, Thomas Jack, was supposed to be born.  Instead he came almost 7 weeks ago.  It has been quite the journey--a miraculous one I'm still figuring out how to put in writing.  But right now we just couldn't be happier to have this little guy in our family and in our home.

To celebrate his would-be birthday today, Tommy crossed the 6 pound mark at his doctor's appointment this morning.  Who knew such small victories could feel so good!?  Happy Due Date, Tommy Jack!

Tommy at 3 weeks 

(you can't tell how little he was at the time, but he was really just a little peanut)

Proud big sister, Ella

(this is the smile she does when we tell her to "say cheese"--

it is pretty much nothing like her actual smile but totally makes me laugh)

Yay for Tommy Jack!

2011 Update

Here is a quick update (a la Christmas card style) on our year since I've been such a blogging slacker as of late.

Ella (2 1/2): Loves to sing, read, run and asks incessantly for her friends and cousins.  The biggest change of the year is that our serious girl has gotten more silly and less grumpy (on most days).    Who knew the terrible two's would turn out to be so great?  Unfortunately, when I went to look for photographic evidence of this change, I realized it hasn't quite translated on to camera yet.  You'll just have to take my word for it. :)

a little wary of Santa


again, you'll just have to take my word for it...

Chris: Working at a PR agency very close to home (who would have thought Los Angeles would provide his shortest commute?),  called into our ward's Bishopric in October, and completed his first Triathlon.  Best dad ever.

Are they tough or what?!

Heather: Almost 27 weeks pregnant with baby Ward #2.  It turns out growing a human is a big endeavor.  Also loves living by family and the beach--but still misses friends all over the country.  

Girls' night out with all my sisters (SO great to live by so much family)

the whole Pabst family (my cute baby sister is pregnant with twins!)

We've had a year filled with lots of ups and downs, but it has just made us more aware of the good all around us and how much we have to be grateful for.  Thanks for sending so many prayers and well wishes our way this year.  Have the happiest of holiday seasons!

Just One More Thing Beyonce and I Have in Common...

Well, truth be told, this is really the only thing Beyonce and I have in common**, but it's a big one:

WE ARE BOTH HAVING BABIES NEXT YEAR!

Baby Ward #2--A BOY--will be joining our family in March.  

Ella's thoughts on baby? 

Direct quote: "NO, NO, NO!"

Good thing we have a few months to work on that.

Chris and I, on the other hand, couldn't be more excited.

*please excuse the blurry pic--the doctor told us this baby never stopped moving (kind of like his sister)

**anyone who has ever seen me dance can verify this statement :)

4th of July

Did you know that we live 10 minutes away from my sister, Adrienne, and her family? Well, we do and it's awesome.  We decided to spend the 4th of July with them in Pacific Palisades.  Their town has a lot of town spirit--kind of like you would imagine a small town or a place like New Orleans that has encountered a lot of rough times.  Only, Pacific Palisades has a lot of celebrities and rich people.  I guess that can bring you together, too?

One of the great parts about living close to Adrienne is that Ella LOVES her whole family.  She talks about them all the time.  "Uncle? Baby?" When we first moved here, I nannied for my sister's 2 kids for a few months (heaven on earth for Ella). When Adrienne would come home from work, Ella would run to her and jump into her arms.  Ella is pretty much the president of her fan club.  And as you'll see below, she also adores her cousins Charlie and Caroline.

Ella and Charlie very excited about the 4th of July

Ella is pretty much a cheerleader for America

(by the way, her curls kill me--I love them more than is healthy)

Ella and her Aunt Adrienne--do you see that happy face?

And check out this funny sequence--Ella chasing Charlie (he's such a good sport!)

Hmmm...maybe pouting will work?

Ella also loves baby Caroline--they are a silly, wild pair.

The fireworks, picnic and bands did not disappoint. 

But mostly, we just continue to soak up living by family. One more happy sigh. :)

The Perfect Weekend

My BFF/Cousin came to town this weekend and it was pure bliss.  I know people throw around words like bliss on blogs and Facebook--but this was the real deal.  Linda Marie and I are first cousins, but we never really spoke until we were seniors in high school and she came to visit our grandma (who had just moved in with my family).  It turned out we had a lot in common and are just two weeks apart in age.  But the real clincher was when my Mom overhead our Grandma Aggie praying that the two of us would be best friends at BYU (where we were both headed in the Fall).  That woman had a lot of personality and a lot of faith.  Her prayer was answered, and here we are almost a decade and a half later.  

Even though Linda lives in Salt Lake City, we manage to see each other a lot.  But this weekend was just perfect timing.  Maybe Grandma Aggie is doing some finagling from the other side?  My little family has had a rough couple of months, and I just didn't know how much I needed my BFC until she walked in the door and we sat on my bed talking for hours.  To be around someone who just knows your whole story and "gets" you is incredibly healing.  Linda is also kind and loyal and non-judgmental and just good to the core.   It also helps that Chris is a big fan of Linda.  We went to the Santa Monica Pier and rode all the rides, went to brunch at a great place at the beach, got pedicures and manicures, watched fireworks and talked and talked.  Truly, a perfect, blissful weekend.

And an oldie but goodie--this is 10 years ago and Linda loved to squeeze

in between us on the couch (we really did think that green couch was pretty hip).

 BFC's forever.  

Caribbean Cruisin'

We recently returned from a week-long cruise to the eastern Caribbean with Chris' family.  It was hands-down one of the most fun weeks of my life.  We missed Ella (terribly, in fact), but other than that, it was non-stop partying--as only good Mormons can do.  In fact, I think the Wards could make a Public Service Announcement for having fun without drinking--and Chris could be the poster child (for supporting evidence, see the end of this post).  Simply put, we had an amazing time.  I love this family.

Our cruise included stops in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos.  We snorkeled, swam, ate (way too much), played with sting rays, karaoke'd (I think I just created a new past tense), played cards, lounged on the beach and by the pool, watched movies and just generally enjoyed each other's company.  Happy times!

life is good

St. Thomas

Beach volleyball in St Thomas--Chris was in heaven

Castillo de San Cristobal--an old Spanish fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico

(I could write a post solely on how much I loved Puerto Rico)

Condado (Puerto Rico)

The Bahamas stingray expedition with some of the Ward crew

We touched these stingrays.  Scary!

Snorkeling in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Horseback riding in the Bahamas 

Even back on the boat, we had a great time.  

We had a table for 12 each night (we missed you Stef and Ronnie!). 

The Wards are all about togetherness and even though we had 6 separate staterooms, 

we often squeezed into one room to be together.

Classic.

the whole group

We even celebrated my birthday on the cruise. 

This was my 4th time turning 29--it just gets better each time :)

a perfect birthday--don't be fooled by the tan (I am still the sunscreen queen and I'm pretty sure that's just bronzer or weird lighting).

with 2 of my beautiful sisters-in-law

Karaoke also turned out to be a huge part of our trip.  So big, in fact, that it deserves a whole separate post.  But I'll provide this little picture as a teaser.  And yes, that is Chris dressed as Elton John--he performed in that lovely costume for about 400 people.  Like I said, PSA for good, clean fun.