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Introducing Him Birth Announcement

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Introducing Him Birth Announcement

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Hope I win :)

So Brittany Stucki is a photographer here in St. George and does AWESOME work! She is giving away a session so all my blogger friends that live here... actually ALL of my blogger buddies should sign up to try to win the session she is giving away! It would totally be worth the drive to get some great family pics or some pics of the kiddos! Here's a link to her blog! Wish me luck!
http://myframedphotography.com/Blog

I WON!

So I entered a contest with Bumble Bags to win one of their diaper bags and I won!! The contest was to enter a picture of you this summer sporting your Bumble bag or if you didn't have one, then to be creative and inquire their logo or something into one of your pictures. This is my picture:

It was late one night and I was bored and came across this contest so yes, it may not be funny to too many of you, but I find it pretty hilarious! The bag I won along with its goodies inside are valued at over $200!!! I can't even imagine owning a DIAPER BAG worth that much! So funny but I am super excited to get it. You can find the company on Facebook under The Bumble Collection and they have a link to their website from there.

I've been super lazy on posting so I am sorry! We've been pretty busy here at the Nicol household. Darren is still going to school but should graduate with 2 Associates degrees the end of this semester! YAY!!! I went back to school as well and am thinking about teaching. I still haven't fully decided, but lately, I want to be like mom and be a teacher. Possibly jr. high or upper elementary. I have quite a long ways to go, but I am thrilled to be going back and getting it done! And am super grateful for a husband that knows how important it is to me and is willing to be that much poorer for that much longer so I can get my education too. We are very blessed to live where we do, and even though we would love to be closer to everyone, we know we are supposed to stay here for a while.

The kids are getting so big~ literally- Harley may have some heighth on Pax, but he is passing her up in every way besides! He is a big boy and has such a fun personality. I love watching them chase each other around the house and play with each other- this makes me so grateful for how close they are in age! They will always be little buds!

Well I will try to get some pictures taken and post them soon!

Harley's First Haircut

So we decided to cut off Harley's mullett! It was getting so long, but only in the back. The front is just taking it's sweet time to grow. So we figured it was time to do something about it. Mom and Harley had a girls day and both got our hair cut. She did such a good job, didn't cry and just sat on my lap and chatted her little tail off! Everyone at the salon was so impressed at how well she did and how smart she is (she likes to sing the alphabet and say her numbers). Her hair makes her look so grown up! It still is a bit too short in the front so hopefully that will start growing, but the back looks way cute! She even let me straight-iron it when we got home! The girl that cut our hair did a way good job, and I really like my hair cut as well!

Harley's 2nd Birthday

My big girl Harley Jeanne turned 2 on Friday March 5, 2010. She was so excited and would tell everyone about her "Dora Birday". I don't know who was more excited, me or her! It was really fun. I'm not sure how much she really understood about what was going on, but she loves playing with kids so I knew she would have some fun! We did a Pin the Flower on Dora game, and had a Dora Pinata, had cupcakes and juice and opened presents. She was thrilled! I am so lucky to have such a beautiful, enerjetic, special little girl! She makes me laugh every day and I am so grateful to have her in my life. Happy Birthday Harley Jeanne!

Darren's Nascar Trip

Darren had the opportunity to go to Nascar in Vegas with my dad, Chris, Olivia, Daniel and Jim. He had such a great time! I'm so glad he was able to go, he has been wanting to go for a long time! He kept telling me we were going to go (truthfully, I wasn't super excited about it but would've gone for him!) so when Daniel said we were going to get dad a ticket for Christmas I knew Darren just had to go too! Dad was thrilled and Darren was too. I'm so glad they all had such a good time!

Pics Finally and an Update

So here's a few pics from as of late. I can't believe how big the kids are getting! Paxton is now 8 months old and Harley will be 2 years old on March 5th! She is so excited for her "Dora" birthday party (I'm pretty excited myself!) I got her a Dora pinata (not that she knows what a pinata is yet) but I'm pretty sure she and the neighbor kids are gonna have some fun :) I'll post pics from that after her birthday!



So just an update on the fam :) Paxton is now crawling all over the place and getting into EVERYTHING!! He is pulling himself up on all the furniture, getting high centered on the kitchen chairs, hitting his big noggin on the ground and anything that gets in its way! But he is definitely a smiley (when he wants to be), loud, squeally big-little boy! He loves following Harley around and making his way back to her room where all the "fun" toys are. Harley is talking up a storm and making me laugh every day with the things I finally come to understand that she is and has been saying! It is so fun to see her get big (and frustrating too- sometimes too independant! Don't know where she gets that from!!! jk). She loves to sing along with Dora and run wild outside with the "tids" (kids). She asks to "eat" all day every day (wonder where she gets that one from!) and has recently started with the facination of undressing herself- diaper and all. Funny sometimes, yes... at 1:30 in the morning with a poopy diaper everywhere, not so funny! We have had to start putting her pajamas on backwards to hopefully keep that one from happening again! Guess it might be time to start potty training! The other thing she has decided to do is open the doors and get into EVERYTHING. So we ordered door knob covers thinking we had the problem solved. She is way too smart for my own good! Leave it to her to be able to open the doors despite the knob covers! We got two different kinds of covers and one of them seems to hold her off better than the other, but she has successfully opened those a few times as well. My busy little bee!!!
Darren is just plugging away with school not being able to wait for it to be done!! He is doing so great and I am so lucky to have such a hard worker for a husband. As for me, I'm just busy keeping up with my two hoodlums and can hardly wait for it to get warmer and stay warmer so we can play outside more!

Update

So it's been a while since I've posted and I can't believe how fast the last 6 months have gone by! Pax is already 6 months old... almost 7 months! He is rolling around like crazy and is such a smiley boy now which has made it so much fun! His little personality is really starting to show and he is so stinkin cute! Harley still doesn't have much interest in him, but hopefully by the time he's mobile (which could be very soon) she'll find she has a new friend to play with... we shall see :) Harley is getting so big too. She is talking up a storm, and I can decode most of it, but she is such a little smarty pants. I love watching her learn new things every day, she never ceases to amaze me! I know all kids go through this learning process, I just never realized how much fun it is to see your kids learn new things and watch her get excited when she realizes she's done something new too! I truly have gained a greater appreciation for being a parent and know I have been so blessed to have such beautiful children.
Darren is doing great too, and I think he is seeing a light at the end of the tunnel... well the first school tunnel at least. He will be done with his endeavor here at Dixie State by the end of the summer. Still months away, but I know it will be here before we know it. He will be done with his Associates Degree and the plan for now is to continue his education for a Bachelors Degree at UVU in Diesel Mechanics. I am so proud of him and all of his hard work. Thanks honey for sticking through it even through the rough spots :)
As for me, I think I am starting to get used to having two kids... I think :) It's been a bumpy road, but I am so grateful for my family and friends that have been my great supporters and know how lucky I am to have their love and insight to help me along the way. It has helped me to be a better person and parent. My love and grattitude goes out to all my loved ones. Pictures soon to follow.

Awesome Weekend

So this weekend has been a great weekend! Friday my wonderful neighbor Jana watched my kids so I could clean my house! I know this doesn't sound very exciting, but I didn't get to go through my nesting stage while I was pregnant so I guess its hitting me now! I've been going crazy! My house has been driving me nuts so I told Darren that when his school money came in, we were getting our carpets cleaned for sure! So the carpets were to be cleaned Friday night, and I really wanted the house super clean beforehand. Its truly amazing what you can get accomplished when you're not chasing your kids around! So my house was super clean and then Darren treated me to a day at the spa! I got my hair cut, a massage, and a pedicure! Totally needed and completely fantastic! I feel like a new woman ;) I have such a wonderful husband! We woke up today and I really wasn't feeling like going to church, I told Darren I wanted to sleep all day! But we went and I am so glad we did. We were late as usual, but President Eyring was sitting on the stand next to our Bishop. He spoke after our scheduled speakers, which were wonderful as well. He spoke about how we need to lose ourselves in service. That if we are constantly serving those around us, the things we are going through won't feel so bad, and we will be blessed emmensly. It was definitely something I needed to hear. I feel like I've been so wrapped up in my own crazy life that I sometimes feel overwhelmed and get down on myself. I'm pretty sure if I worked more to help those in need around me, I'd feel better about myself... I know I would. Selfishly I feel he was there just for me, to tell me to be a better person, and I'm glad I got up and went to church to hear him. Off my soapbox now, I had a great weekend. I am so very lucky!

So Lucky!

I feel like I'm the luckiest mom in the world :) I have two of the cutest kids ever! Harley is getting so big and shows me how big she is getting every day! It cracks me up the things she picks up on and does and the words she says. Grandma Marge insisted that she needed a doll stroller and after watching her fight with the neigbor girl Olivia over hers, Darren went and got her one and she is hilarious! She puts her doll or bear in it, grabs her purse and keys and walks to the door and says 'buh bye' and waves. I ask her where she is going and she waves again and says 'buh-bye'. She thinks she needs to ride in the front seat of the car now when we go anywhere and is definitely strongwilled about everything! I know, I know, wonder where she gets it huh! And Paxton is so very cute! He is getting to be quite the chunky monkey! He loves to eat and thinks if he's awake that's what he should be doing. He has become pretty fussy, but hopefully it's just a stage :) I love watching Harley run to put his binkey in his mouth when he's fussing or when he's in his swing she almost lays on him and gives him kisses- it's very sweet! Can't complain- they are my pride and joy!

Fabulous Family Time!

So my fabulous sister Ricci knew I needed some family time longer than a quick weekend and helped me and the kids get up north for the 24th of July. We were able to stay and bless Paxton on August 1st and see Taelor get blessed on the 2nd. It was a much needed get away! We were able to hang out with all my siblings and their kids and do some fun activities! I was so very happy to be able to go to Sally's annual 24th of July bbq- I was so sad when Darren and I talked about it and decided we wouldn't be able to make it up there for it since we were planning Paxton's baby blessing on the 1st, so that was such a treat! It has been so blasted hot in St. George that I have felt so bad for Harley who gets so bored of our house, but I'm too big of a wuss to take her and the baby outside in the heat! So I really wanted to make this trip a good one for Harley and I think we succeeded! She loved playing with the kids and in the ice pool that the drinks were in at the 24th bbq. I was thrilled to be outside and not feel like it was too hot for my kids! We spent the weekend hanging out with everyone and holding eachother's babies! I finally got to meet my new nieces Taelor Jeanne Stewart and Madison Whyte and see my neice Peyton Maxine Hale that I haven't seen since she was born in March! I loved it! So many babies and so many more to come!
Our first outing was to the Treehouse in Ogden with Steph and the kids. This place was amazing! So much fun for the kids and I'm pretty sure Harley was in heaven with everything she could play with! She loved the tea party room and the baby dolls the best but was so busy going from room to room! It was so fun to watch her be able to be busy and do whatever she wanted!
We then went to Chucky Cheese with Shelby and the kids and they had a blast! Harley was dillusionally tired but was so enthralled with all the fun things that she was able to play with! And the pizza wasn't half bad either :)
We also were able to go to the Hogle Zoo! I have been telling Darren for months that I wanted to take Harley to the Zoo and we were finally able to go! Grandma Sandy was wonderful and watched Paxton so I could spend some one on one time with Harley and it was awesome! I loved watching her eyes get big when she would see the animals! She loved the monkeys and the Penguins the best I think! I knew she was going to love it and I don't think I have been to the Hogle Zoo since I was little! We were so lucky to be able to go with Amy, Taelor, Steph, Noah and Cameron. So much fun!
Darren came up with his brother on the 31st and blessed Paxton Dar Nicol on the 1st of August. It was such a wonderful blessing. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband! Thank you honey for being so strong and a wonderful husband and father! I want to thank everyone for coming and supporting us and helping us out! We are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends and I don't know what I would do without them! I'm just glad we don't live further away than we already do I think I'd go a bit crazy! And then we had Taelors blessing on the 2nd and it was wonderful too! So great to be able to do it together! Thanks Amy and Phil for sharing the wonderful weekend with us!
Sorry about the long post! Just so much to share!

Lazy Day

So this morning we ran a few errands in town today, but came back home and just chilled before Darren went to work. He took a nap with Paxton while Harley took a nap and I just relaxed.

Then Harley woke up from her nap and Darren had to go to work. After dad left, Harley and I heard the Ice Cream Man and decided to go see what he had for a dollar and we shared a Orange Dreamsicle :) It totally reminded me of when I was little running out to see the ice cream man every time he drove through our neighborhood. I think Harley enjoyed our little lazy day ice cream break as well! We had some great girl time!!

Paxton Dar Nicol

Well he is finally here!!! Paxton Dar Nicol was born on June 20, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. He was 7 lbs 3 oz and 19 inches long. He is doing really well! He has jaundice and is on a bili-light bed for a few days but other than that is wonderful! He is a really calm baby so far which is so wierd for Darren and me because Harley was born high maintenance! Sandy was wonderful and came down to help us with Harley for a few days so thanks so much Grandma Sandy!! Harley absolutely adores Grandma Sandy! (It can't be that she spoils her at all can it ;) We've also had so much help from our friends, neighbors and ward members so thank you all for all your help, love and prayers! We couldn't have done it without any of you!

Boredom

So no pics of cute little miss Harley Jeanne this time- I've been a bit preoccupied... on bedrest for the last 3 weeks. I've done relatively well as far as boredom and such, but today it really got to me- not really the boredom part, its the part where my daughter hates me.No really, she screams when I try to comfort her or if I try to hold her (even when I know I'm not supposed to). She's turned into quite the daddy's girl which is way cute, but frustrating too because she really wants nothing to do with me. I can't really blame her considering I can't give her the attention she wants and deserves and that there's no way of her understanding why mom is laying on the couch or in bed and is there, but not really there for her. Today it really broke my heart, and I know that pregnancy hormones doesn't help, but I thought I was being strong about it and really understanding about why she's acting the way she is, but I can't help but feel hurt and angry today that there is absolutely nothing I can do to help her in any way. I really hope she comes to forgive me when this is all said and done, although the adjustment of a new baby brother isn't going to help much either. Only five more weeks to go unless Paxton decides he's had enough (I know I have ;)) and comes sometime soon. Don't mean to have an annoying post, just needed to vent :) I'll let you all know how everything goes!

Photo Shoot with Harley and Baylee

So we decided to take mothers day pictures and they turned out way cute! Nikki made them look very professional by using piknik (I think that's how you spell it!) and even the lady at Walmart asked who the photographer was to make sure we weren't stealing rights to pictures!! It was great! Enjoy!~

New Play Place

So Harley has found a new play place :) She's been pulling the tupperware out of our corner cupboard in our kitchen for a while now, but she has decided she wants to be able to get to the stuff she hasn't been able to reach. The cupboard itself isn't the easiest to get stuff in and out of in the first place, but somehow she wriggles herself right inside! She's such an adamant little thing!

Bath Time with Baylee!

Harley and Baylee are so very fun! They play so well together and get so excited every time they see eachother! Every now and then, they get to have bath time together and they love it! The splashing gets bigger and better each time too! I love watching these two play together! I love them both so much! Its so much fun and we are so lucky to have such good friends across the street! And yeah I know, my poor pasty white daughter compared to Baylee! I'm afraid she was blessed beyond belief with her mommas whitey white skin! Oh well! She doesn't seem to mind quite yet!

Day At The Park With Dad

She wasn't so sure about touching the playground!

She loves the slide, even though you can't tell by the look on her face! But she loves just climbing around and walking around the playground.

Sometimes it scares me because she's kinda fearless! I once had her try to push off my lap to go down the slide because apparently I was taking too long! I think I'm in trouble!

Who can resist this beautiful little face! And yes, I'm talking about Harleys;) Even though Darren is pretty hot himself!

We love having dad home! We wish spring break happened every week! Oh yeah, and for all you up north, it was 70+ degrees today and was beautiful!