Audrey in her new outfit from Grandma Hatch.
I did it!
Now that Audrey is 2 months old, she is due for her first set of immunizations. I have always made Ammon hold Hyrum for his shots. I don't even go into the room. But today I gritted my teeth and took my responsibility as a parent. I took Audrey to the Health Department and held her on my lap as she got three shots in her little legs.
I did close my eyes.
Of course she cried a lot. (Thankfully not as much as Hyrum--he broke several blood vessels in his face because he cried so hard after getting his 2 month shots.)
Sometimes being a parent really isn't fun at all.
Life is good
Today is our 4 year anniversary. We had a wonderful weekend to celebrate.
On Friday, we drove our little family to Logan. We thoroughly enjoyed a very yummy dinner with Melissa and Nate with chocolate cookies for dessert. My only weekend regret was that we weren't able to stay longer. (...and that we lost Alex and Laura's desk on the freeway.)
After dropping our kids off with Alex and Laura (who so kindly offered to watch them through the night) and stopping by Smiths for some evening snacks, we checked into a bed and breakfast. It was nice, and very clean--which is the most important factor in assessing accomodations.
On Saturday, we spent the morning in the Logan temple. Then, we were able to spend some more time with Alex and Laura- who so conveniently live directly across the street from the temple. (In fact, all of our Logan activities were contained in just 2 blocks!) We like Alex and Laura; we had no reservations in leaving our children with them. Ammon and I discussed how we admire their open sincerity, among other admirable traits.
The timing was perfect. We left Logan around 4:00 and made it to my parents house just in time for a big Thanksgiving style dinner and a vacation meeting with all my siblings.
Family togetherness...that's what I'm all about.
Like someone I love says, "weekend trips win."
Life is good.
On Friday, we drove our little family to Logan. We thoroughly enjoyed a very yummy dinner with Melissa and Nate with chocolate cookies for dessert. My only weekend regret was that we weren't able to stay longer. (...and that we lost Alex and Laura's desk on the freeway.)
After dropping our kids off with Alex and Laura (who so kindly offered to watch them through the night) and stopping by Smiths for some evening snacks, we checked into a bed and breakfast. It was nice, and very clean--which is the most important factor in assessing accomodations.
On Saturday, we spent the morning in the Logan temple. Then, we were able to spend some more time with Alex and Laura- who so conveniently live directly across the street from the temple. (In fact, all of our Logan activities were contained in just 2 blocks!) We like Alex and Laura; we had no reservations in leaving our children with them. Ammon and I discussed how we admire their open sincerity, among other admirable traits.
The timing was perfect. We left Logan around 4:00 and made it to my parents house just in time for a big Thanksgiving style dinner and a vacation meeting with all my siblings.
Family togetherness...that's what I'm all about.
Like someone I love says, "weekend trips win."
Life is good.
If only cooking were based on effort
On Wednesdays Ammon has classes until 7:00pm. Yesterday (Wednesday) I forgot to send him with a lunch. I realized this around 1:00pm and decided I would make a yummy dinner for him to make up for it. I planned ahead, found a recipe in which I could use the leftover roast and made sure we had all ingredients. My day was going swimmingly well. I got all the laundry folded and put away...Hyrum and Audrey both got good naps...I cleaned the house...did the dishes...Played Legos with Hyrum. At 4:00pm I was finished with all that I had planned to do in the day so we went to my favorite get-away-place: Big Momma's House. Going to my mom's is always a slippery slope. I get lured in by the gas fireplace, the semi-childcare, adult conversation, and the chocolate. Basically, it's difficult to leave. But I had planned to make dinner for Ammon--so before I left I promised I would leave at 6:00pm.
Big Momma's house was as comforting as ever. After a little American Idol, snacks, and Big Daddy repeatedly throwing Hyrum into the Luv Sac it was 6:00. It took a bit of self control but I did it! I left! (I actually left around 6:30, but I still think that counts.) Ammon would be home in 30 minutes and I had a lot to do. I turned on a movie for Hyrum and got started.
Put meat in pan, used bouillon cubes for first time, used cornstarch for the first time. Noticed Hyrum with a sauce pan, chocolate chips, and the salt can heading for the living room--helped him pour some salt and chocolate into the pan and even gave him a spoon to stir his creation and removed the salt from his reach (thank goodness I intervened, that could have made a real mess.) Call Ammon back, trying to enjoy the conversation, stirring the gravy, baby starts to cry. Noticed Hyrum get the bar of baking chocolate from the pantry--figured he couldn't make too much of a mess. Stir the gravy. Tell Ammon I'll have to wait to talk until he gets home. Made funeral potatoes for the second time, using leftover baked potatoes-Baby starts to cry-not sure how to measure a pint of sour cream when it didn't come in a pint container.,trying to rock baby in car seat while grating potato..stir the gravy...baby still crying...preheat the oven...don't have time to mix cornflakes with butter. Hyrum comes in gagging and coughing-he has a spoonful of white powder in his mouth. Hesitate for a second and then (remembering what we did last time he ate flour) flushed his mouth with water. Stir the gravy. See the cornstarch spilled all over living room rug and realized I must have missed him snatching that. Stir gravy while watching Hyrum attempt to clean up the mess by rubbing it into the carpet with a handtowel...baby still crying.
At this point, Ammon walks in the door, his usual cheerful self, "Well this looks fun." He takes the baby while I finish the potatoes and put them in the oven. I take the baby and feed her while he makes minute rice and begins to clean up kitchen (which at this point is a glorious mess). Meanwhile, Hyrum pushing at our legs trying to get some attention.
Okay, Deep Breath, baby fed, rice cooked, potatoes beeping. Now we should all sit down to a nice family dinner, right?
Potatoes don't look right.
Hyrum won't eat off his plate but wants to eat off mine or daddy's and insists on sitting on the table instead of his chair. Ammon trying to share his thoughts on the book he's reading. Potatoes don't taste like his mom's (he didn't say that of course, I just know what they are supposed to taste like) maybe the potatoes were over cooked or maybe too much sour cream. Meat has weird little cooked cornstarch balls in it- I really don't have a clue how to cook with cornstarch. Ammon eats it and things calm down for a minute...then Ammon gets up from the table and goes to the kitchen sink as if he is going to throw up (Apparently, he got a really "meaty" piece of meat that triggered the gag reflex). At about this time, Hyrum, who is now playing under the table (after I have asked him repeatedly to stop) falls and hits his head. Hyrum screaming, I pick him up--Ammon thinks I am going to lose my patience and offers to take him. I breathe deep and hold Hyrum close, and then tell him again that we don't play under the table. Hyrum calms down and Ammon takes him downstairs to play.
This is the point. My head is in my hands and I am feeling totally spent and I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. And then, the most amazing thing happened...I started to laugh! Things had gone very wrong, and so what! This was a little out of character for me, usually I would have been upset and probably a little angry (sad but nevertheless, true).
I went downstairs and expressed my sentiment that effort didn't always bring quality results. We laughed together, he sincerely thanked me for my effort. We put the kids to bed, and then cleaned up the kitchen together; the start of a great evening together.
Things could have turned out very differently had I not been blessed with a little sense of humour at that crucial moment. I happily accept this new reaction and hope to make it more characteristic of me.
Big Momma's house was as comforting as ever. After a little American Idol, snacks, and Big Daddy repeatedly throwing Hyrum into the Luv Sac it was 6:00. It took a bit of self control but I did it! I left! (I actually left around 6:30, but I still think that counts.) Ammon would be home in 30 minutes and I had a lot to do. I turned on a movie for Hyrum and got started.
Put meat in pan, used bouillon cubes for first time, used cornstarch for the first time. Noticed Hyrum with a sauce pan, chocolate chips, and the salt can heading for the living room--helped him pour some salt and chocolate into the pan and even gave him a spoon to stir his creation and removed the salt from his reach (thank goodness I intervened, that could have made a real mess.) Call Ammon back, trying to enjoy the conversation, stirring the gravy, baby starts to cry. Noticed Hyrum get the bar of baking chocolate from the pantry--figured he couldn't make too much of a mess. Stir the gravy. Tell Ammon I'll have to wait to talk until he gets home. Made funeral potatoes for the second time, using leftover baked potatoes-Baby starts to cry-not sure how to measure a pint of sour cream when it didn't come in a pint container.,trying to rock baby in car seat while grating potato..stir the gravy...baby still crying...preheat the oven...don't have time to mix cornflakes with butter. Hyrum comes in gagging and coughing-he has a spoonful of white powder in his mouth. Hesitate for a second and then (remembering what we did last time he ate flour) flushed his mouth with water. Stir the gravy. See the cornstarch spilled all over living room rug and realized I must have missed him snatching that. Stir gravy while watching Hyrum attempt to clean up the mess by rubbing it into the carpet with a handtowel...baby still crying.
At this point, Ammon walks in the door, his usual cheerful self, "Well this looks fun." He takes the baby while I finish the potatoes and put them in the oven. I take the baby and feed her while he makes minute rice and begins to clean up kitchen (which at this point is a glorious mess). Meanwhile, Hyrum pushing at our legs trying to get some attention.
Okay, Deep Breath, baby fed, rice cooked, potatoes beeping. Now we should all sit down to a nice family dinner, right?
Potatoes don't look right.
Hyrum won't eat off his plate but wants to eat off mine or daddy's and insists on sitting on the table instead of his chair. Ammon trying to share his thoughts on the book he's reading. Potatoes don't taste like his mom's (he didn't say that of course, I just know what they are supposed to taste like) maybe the potatoes were over cooked or maybe too much sour cream. Meat has weird little cooked cornstarch balls in it- I really don't have a clue how to cook with cornstarch. Ammon eats it and things calm down for a minute...then Ammon gets up from the table and goes to the kitchen sink as if he is going to throw up (Apparently, he got a really "meaty" piece of meat that triggered the gag reflex). At about this time, Hyrum, who is now playing under the table (after I have asked him repeatedly to stop) falls and hits his head. Hyrum screaming, I pick him up--Ammon thinks I am going to lose my patience and offers to take him. I breathe deep and hold Hyrum close, and then tell him again that we don't play under the table. Hyrum calms down and Ammon takes him downstairs to play.
This is the point. My head is in my hands and I am feeling totally spent and I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. And then, the most amazing thing happened...I started to laugh! Things had gone very wrong, and so what! This was a little out of character for me, usually I would have been upset and probably a little angry (sad but nevertheless, true).
I went downstairs and expressed my sentiment that effort didn't always bring quality results. We laughed together, he sincerely thanked me for my effort. We put the kids to bed, and then cleaned up the kitchen together; the start of a great evening together.
Things could have turned out very differently had I not been blessed with a little sense of humour at that crucial moment. I happily accept this new reaction and hope to make it more characteristic of me.
Blessing Day
We blessed Audrey on January 6th, 2008. Her dad blessed her, and she received a beautiful blessing. She was blessed with the ability to recognize evil and to avoid it. She was also blessed with great social strengths which would allow her to be a strong example to her friends.
She did not enjoy getting ready. She cried all morning. I wasn't able to get a good picture of her in her dress. Thankfully, she fell asleep on the way to church, and slept through her blessing.
Hyrum in his new suit. What a stud!
It was a wonderful day; thanks to all who came to support us.
Christmas Morning
Hyrum's favorite toy. After he opened his "Miderman mowercycle" he wasn't interested in opening any more presents. Notice the keys in the ignition.
Harris Family Ugly Christmas Sweater Party 
Audrey's first Sunday. I may have gone a little overboard with the outfit.
Fun with some of our Hatch cousins. We had a lot of family come for the holidays and for Alex and Laura's wedding. Hyrum loved having so many friends and is sad to see them leave.
A little Chrismas kindness
We splurged and got a LIVE Christmas tree this year. It was beautiful....until it died. We thought it might still last until Christmas, but we noticed it was turning brown on Sunday.
Thankfully, Ammon was humble enough to go tell the tree man we killed our tree, and ask if he would give us a discount on a second tree.
The tree man said, "I'll tell you what, bring back your tree and read these directions on caring for a tree, and I will give you a new one for free."
So today we are enjoying a fresh (not quite as beautiful as the first, but still good) Christmas tree.
Aren't we lucky, this year we get to trim the tree twice!
And a little advertisement for the kind tree man: J and T trees; State Street in American Fork
Thankfully, Ammon was humble enough to go tell the tree man we killed our tree, and ask if he would give us a discount on a second tree.
The tree man said, "I'll tell you what, bring back your tree and read these directions on caring for a tree, and I will give you a new one for free."
So today we are enjoying a fresh (not quite as beautiful as the first, but still good) Christmas tree.
Aren't we lucky, this year we get to trim the tree twice!
And a little advertisement for the kind tree man: J and T trees; State Street in American Fork
Hyrum got all dressed up to go help daddy shovel the drive way. He was playing with the mini snow shovel at Auto Zone the other day and a random lady bought it for him. She said she couldn't resist. Thank you to her. He has a great ti
me using it.
Audrey
Audrey Elise Hatch was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd. (Yes, we did end up giving her a middle name.) She was 8lbs 13 oz, and 18 inches long. She has lots of dark hair and a beautiful olive skin color. When the pediatrician examined her at the hospital he discovered she has a broken collar bone. Of course, I cried for a day when I found out. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to bother her too much. She has kept me busy with her usual newborn duties: sleeping, eating, and filling her diaper. I easily change 10-15 diapers a day!
Today she is 18 days old. It doesn't seem like I have already survived 17 sleepless nights....only..however many... more to go! I don't necessarily see an end, but I know there will be. She can't wake up every two hours for forever. Now it sounds like I am complaining--so I'll be clear: I love being Audrey's mom. I love that I get to spend all day with her. I cherish this infant stage, because I know I will look back on it as a sweet time in my life.
Hyrum is excited to be a big brother. He likes to touch baby's hair and point out her eyes and nose and ears (with exceptional tenderness I might add). Currently Hyrum is enjoying his chocolate advent calender from Big Daddy and Big Momma. I think this is the first year I haven't had one for myself.
You have to grow up sometime.
Hyrum's words
I wrote in my journal last Sunday. I tried to write down all the words Hyrum says. Of course since then, I have realized that I left off several words! Like every time he hears a dog bark, he says, "Cheif, NO!" I think I even left off his adorable, "Please," and "Thank you"s.
My most recent favorite thing about my son is this: He is serious about his privacy. Often times when he is playing (especially when he is playing with something he knows he shouldn't) he will not allow me in the room. He pushes on my legs while saying, "No," "Go." and then he'll wave and in the sweetest voice say, "Bye Bye." Sometimes he'll even push me toward the couch, have me sit down, and tell me to, "Otch a show."
We often have him sit down and watch a show when we want to distract him. He's a smart kid.
5 am
It's 5 am and I have been awake for a while. Seeing as I can't sleep, I decided to create a family blog. I am currently in my 33rd week of pregnancy, which means getting up to use the bathroom at least twice in the night...and sadly, the most comfortable way to sleep is sitting up. I have 6-8 more weeks of this. I try to remind myself that when this baby is born I won't get any sleep and should enjoy all the sleep I can get.
We have finally decided on a name for our baby girl. Her name will be Audrey. No middle name, just Audrey Hatch. I must admit it is slightly Audrey Hepburn inspired.
Hyrum recognizes babies and points them out to me. I hope he will enjoy his baby sister.
We have finally decided on a name for our baby girl. Her name will be Audrey. No middle name, just Audrey Hatch. I must admit it is slightly Audrey Hepburn inspired.
Hyrum recognizes babies and points them out to me. I hope he will enjoy his baby sister.
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