Busy Bee

I got to watch my niece Hailey last week. We had a fun day! She is such a busy bee. In the first 10 minutes, "Aunt Emily, can we make cookies", "Aunt Emily can we watch cartoons", "Aunt Emily can we make pancakes for breakfast", "Aunt Emily can I please hold baby Amara?", "Can I take Chloe for a walk?". So needless to say, we had a busy, but very fun day!

Yes, we made pancakes for breakfast. I called the night before and asked Jeanie to send a "baby" for Hailey to watch all day so she could do the same things I did for Amara. I gave her some bottles we got from the hospital and some newborn diapers I had left, along with a mini diaper bag. She loved it. Although I had to tell her I don't feed the baby from a bottle, she still liked feeding, rocking, and changing her baby like me all day.

Hailey and I love sugar cookies! While the dough was chillin in the fridge Hailey got out my finger puppets. She loves putting on a little show with them, so I saved a few of Clayton's socks that got holes in them so I could make her a real puppet....so while we had some time before our dough was ready, we made Ruby. The name fits her perfectly (seen below). Hailey picked out the blue eyes and big red hair. She wanted two pony tails and then a dress with two fabrics. Lets just say it was fun, but I am no professional puppet maker. Anywho--it turned out alright and she loved it!

We got the cookie cutters out and made bunnies and flowers for easter. We decorated them with bright purple frosting. Both of us couldn't keep our fingers out of the yummy dough and delicious frosting! Hailey is a ball of energy but I just love hanging out with this cute girl. My favorite thing of the day was her going up to my makeup drawer (which she knows well) and saying, "Let's do a makeover". Uhm yeah cutes, you are 5; not 15 :).

I just love Amara's funny face in the pic below.

Amara is doing great. I love spending my days with her; nights can be a different story. I don't know what the deal is. I think we have part of the problem solved; I think she was getting too hot at night. She has to be swaddled tight (super tight) or she wakes up. That in itself is a bit annoying--how can you swaddle a baby that THRASHES in her sleep without her coming undone? She got a little heat rash on her stomach and I think it just would bug her at night and she couldn't get comfy. Now we have that mostly under control but she still is waking. It isn't just to cry either, she is hungry. She will eat a whole feeding 2 times in the night. If I don't feed her (which we have tried for a week) she is up every 45 minutes to an hour. So I would rather feed her twice and be able to sleep a little more. I am just hoping something will kick in and she will sleep for LONGER periods. Some nights are bareable, the other night I did not get to sleep until 7 am. That was no fun cause I had to be up at 10:30. But how can you stay mad at this little cutie? Well, I can't. She is just too precious!

She began eating rice cereal and is loving it. She is still "short" but has now doubled her birth weight (she is now close to 14ish pounds). Even though she is 5 months she is now in her 3 month (some 3-6) clothes. She giggles every once in awhile but has the cutest smile! She krinkles up her little nose and I just melt. On Sunday she kept smiling and talking to an older guy in Sunday school. He was loving it but I was a bit distracted with her cuteness.

Chloe has been a little more interested in her. Not a ton but a little more. She is confused by one thing...why she can't sleep ON the baby like she sleeps on us. The other day I had laid Amara down on the couch to sleep. Chloe hopped right up to snuggle, but wanted to lay on her. I had to quickly tell her there was a baby there not just a big blanket and she snuggled right next to her. Of course when I got the camera Amara woke up...but they are still cute little buddies.

And...my Mom is not only back in town, but has moved back to Utah! She was approved for a house about 3 minutes from mine! I am excited to have her close again!!!! Grandma can't get enough of little Amara either :). Now let the real sewing projects with Grandma begin!

A much over due post

Like I said before, I love my new life as a stay at home Mommy. It is a total change of pace from rolling out of bed 25 minutes before I have to leave for work, to eat breakfast at my desk, take a nap in my car for lunch and then come home to cook dinner, walk the dogs and hang out with my favorite friend/husband. Now it is a restless night, I get outta bed when Amara wakes, and the days fly by--from tummy time, to bath time, maybe a nap and walk with Chloe, to laundry and cooking dinner and trying to make sure I am showered before Clayton gets home. Although some days I don't feel like I get much accomplished; I love it.

Amara will be 5 months on Tuesday. At her 4 month appointment she weighed 12 lbs 9 oz. Almost double her birth weight. The doc said she is petite (of course she gets my short genes) but she can hold her weight on her legs very well. I know, everyone says "they grow so fast". Well, I am here to tell ya that they do. Every day there is something new. From giggles, to sucking on a new toy or trying to roll over. Amara has the cutest personality (what we can see so far). She is full of smiles and a pretty content baby. She has recently discovered Chloe. She will follow her with her eyes and when Chloe's tags jingle from her walking into the room or shaking, she will look for her. They are getting close to the same size :).

I don't know how nicknames come about...but I kind of have one for her. I don't think she will like it when she is older but for right now it works. She is so "stinkin" cute I call her Stinky. I don't mean it like she stinks, PEE YOO; I mean she is just so cute!! I can't get enough of her looking at me and smiling or falling asleep on my chest, being able to soothe her or make her giggle. I LOVE HER TO PIECES!

She still loves her Daddy. When he gets home she kicks like crazy and smiles just waiting for him to come give her loves.

I know I love pics on blog posts, so I thought you might too. Here is my little Stinky:

Tummy TimeTrying on the matching dresses from Grandma (cousin Tamblyn and Amara):Getting ready to walk ChloeAmara LOVES to "stand up"Cutest face EVER! Sorry everyone else with kids....but it doesn't get any cuter :) LOLFresh out of a bathHappy GirlBumbo Time

She is definitely a thumb sucker (when she can find it) Nap time on Mom's chest...

All in all, I just love her!

The Good & The Sad

Amara is 3 months now! She smiles all of the time and giggled for the first time on Saturday! I wish I could make her giggle again, but we have only heard it once. We just can't get enough of her. We have discovered a few things--she loves watching TV, LOVES her baths and is a little short on patience (uhm, unfortunately like her Mama). It is quite funny to watch her in the tub; she kicks so much and just goes crazy. In the last week or so she has found her tounge. She licks everything and is for sure going to be a thumb sucker. She tries to put her hands in her mouth before the binkie and feeding her can be a little difficult for the same reason. That's when the impatience comes in....she wants her hand but at the same time she is hungry. It doesn't work that way sis.

Clayton is a sucker for her and she falls asleep on his shoulder almost every time he holds her. It is super cute! He is a great Dad and the best helper I could have. He never complains or groans when I ask for help and he just loves making Amara smile. When he talks to her she looks around until she finds him and smiles. If he walks away, her eyes follow him and she waits for him to come back and talk to her. She loves him just as much.

My favorite thing right now is her fake coughs. Every time I change her diaper I cough at her and she fake coughs back with a big smile. It is so cute! And the biggest news....I decided to quit my job to stay home with this little sweet nugget. Financially we aren't sure how it will turn out, but even if I can stay home 6 months until our savings runs out, that is worth it to us! It is certainly a change of pace for me--instead of getting up every morning to go to work, I get up with the baby, do laundry, and do all of those stay at home things :). I love it!!

Besides the typical daily baby stuff, we have been busy conducting interviews to find a new home for Izzy. We finally found her a terrific home--after a few crazy interviews and phone calls! I am heartbroken but it is easier knowing she is happy and found someone to spoil her. She went to a man named Scott who lives in Hurricane. He is retired, engaged and LOVES little dogs. His passenger seat has a dog pillow on it because he will never leave her home alone. Izzy snuggles him all day and they both are happy as clams. I took a picture of her with her toy on the last day we had her (below). I love this pic because this is a perfect representation of her. But boy do I miss her! She was my little shaddow...following me whenever I left the room, snuggling right next to me each time I was feeding the baby, giving me kisses whenever I was sad and even snuck a few kisses on Amara. She was a great companion for me, but....we couldn't keep her with the baby. I just cried my eyes out and then cried some more when we had to say goodbye.

Chloe lets me snuggle her a little, but nothing like Izzy. I just hope Chloe isn't too bored without her. She gets to sleep back on our bed and gets to ride with us more places because 1 dog in the car is easier than 2 (especially since I drive a stick). Chloe finally gets to be top dog and it is actually (even though I hate to admit it) easier with just Chloe. I love Izzy but she would make me nervous when company came over, start fights with Chloe and was just a very dominate personality. So now we are down to just my little fluffer face Chloe. And as hard as it was, we know we made the right decision about Izzy.

Kitty with a Watermelon Addiction

Just watch the first 20 seconds or so ;)
If I had a kitten or cat, this would be the kind I would want. Little smashed face cuties!

Or look at this little guy. I just want to squeeze him. But alas, not really a cat fan.

Need I say more?

Here are a few photos from our session with
Denise Gibb w/ Lilac Photography.

Everythings Changed

Everyone says a baby will change everything. Well, they are right :). And I love it. I wouldn't mind a little more scheduled sleep but besides that, I can't get enough of our little baby!

It now takes 3 times as long to get ready. For anything actually; leaving the house, going to bed, getting ready for the day, etc. It is hard for me to want to leave the house with all of Amara's feedings, but it is nice to get out. I wish it weren't such an ordeal to get her in her stroller and take the dogs on a walk, but I can't do it alone in the snow, so Chloe, Izzy and I have cabin fever. They aren't shy to let me know either with their pouting at the front door, bringing their toys to my feet as I am trying to feed the baby and then waking me up to play right as I doze off. And even making dinner is more of a process now. Sheish, it shouldn't be that hard right ;).

I never thought I would get sick of my Judge shows (like Judge Judy), but they are beginning to get old. Thank goodness for HGTV & TLC home shows. However, they make me want to do something and alas, I don't feel like I can. Bummer. I just don't have the energy or time...but I am home all day! How is that possible? It is driving me a little crazy. I have to be able to check things off a list and it just isn't happening! My days are flying by but I don't feel like I am doing anything besides getting spit up on, changing diapers, changing clothes, catching cat naps, and maybe throwing in a chore or two here or there. Heck, half the time I don't know what day it is.

BUT...I just love our beautiful girl and am so lucky to be at home with her for a bit! I still look at her and think, "Wow, she is ours"; no one is going to come pick her up to take her home, as if we were babysitting. She is all OURS. I love her little noises, even some of the crying is still cute. Her faces are precious and I love the accidental smiles. I would like to think she means to, but I know they are just gas :). I love her breath on my cheeks when I rock her and I love snuggling her which puts me right to sleep. I can't wait for play time when I can make her laugh or see her play with her toys! But for now, I will take the cute squeeks and cuddles.

We got her pics taken last week and I can't wait to get them back! She is such a little sweetie. Here are a few random pics of our little angel.

Our little family...

Thanksgiving 2010

Introducing Amara Scothern

The day has finally come...Amara decided to join our little family.

Amara Mae Scothern


6 lbs 9 oz 19 inches

The quick story--water broke; went to the hospital; got IV and epidural (which I was petrified for and it was less painful than the dentist); got on some meds--they had to watch my blood pressure really close; got on oxygen and was told to start pushing....4 contractions later our baby girl was born.

It is still surreal that this was in my belly. It is amazing that in one day our lives now are twisted around this little baby's finger. We love everything about her! We can't stop kissing her cheeks; staring at her face or saying "Honey, hurry come look at her". Clayton is officially smitten with his little princess.

Many more pics to come...but here are the first few from the hospital. She changes a little each day...well except for those darling locks of dark hair!