2011

Happy New Year! The year has come to an end! And what an eventful one it has been! Tyler and I were able to sit down and reflect on all the events of the past year, and thought we would write them all down on here.

January: I went to my first doctors appointment to confirm that my sickness for the past 2 months was indeed a little baby starting to grow! Our year started off drastic right away! Tyler's sister McKinzie also got married so we welcomed our first brother-in-law Michael into the family. My brother Chad also received his mission call. Nervously, he announced that he would be going to serve in the Lansing, Michigan mission!

February: Tyler started back into school. He was taking online classes at Western International University to further his interest in criminal behavior. We also celebrated our first Valentines Day being married. Tyler took me and my pregnant self to Dave and busters for dinner and some fun. We enjoyed doing something different for that special day.

March: In march, Tyler quit his job at the Berge Mazda/ Volkswagon dealership because he got a new offer as an assistant manager at a UPS store. On march 10th we had our 20 week drs appointment where we got to find out what we were having. Our little Hallie was a girl! We had the name picked out already, since it's my grandpa's moms name, and since she was due on mine and my grandpas birthday, we thought it was fitting. A few days later my brother Chad left on his mission! It was a crazy emotional time for our family, but now this much later we know he was sent to Michigan for all the right reasons!

April: we couldn't recall anything special in April. Just a healthy growing belly and baby!

May: I really had no intentions to do this, but we celebrated my first mothers day since I was expecting. I felt like I was cheating the system because I did not feel like a mom yet. But Tyler wouldn't let that happen. The funny man got me a case of mountain dew and a gift card to mcDonalds, the things I had been craving. I led a healthy pregnancy lifestyle ok? We also moved into yet another apartment in May. It was a little bigger, had another bathroom and hallie's room was going to be huge. We were able to combine her room with the guest bedroom and had plenty of extra space. The end of May the school year finished, all my kiddos graduated onto junior high, and I was done working. I had the next two months to get settled and have lots of me time before hallie would be here.

June: The first week of June we were able to go back up to Camp Tatiyee where Tyler got to work as a counselor and I was kind of just present with my big belly. We love camp and everything it has to bring and we were so glad we were able to be back this summer since I wasn't able to be working up there the whole time! After we got home we had our chocolate lab Lacey fixed. I had gotten tired of her being in heat, and I knew I wouldn't be able to do it with baby. She did really well and has been ten times better ever since! We also celebrated Fathers day this year. Tyler just so happened to get a new phone since his broke a couple days before it. I spoil him.

July: this was the first year (I think ever) I did not do anything for the 4th of July. I was now 9 months pregnant, and feeling miserable. So we spent the night in the pool, where gravity could take away the weight of my huge belly. We didn't even watch the fireworks on tv. Lame, I know. The middle of July Tyler left to Colorado for two weeks of Annual Training with the army. I was so nervous the baby would come while he was gone. We also moved into a rental house the day Ty left. Thanks to my dad and bros for helping! To waste the time away, I decided to chance going to San Diego for a week with my dad and brothers (I was 38 weeks along yikes). It was so nice being able to lay on the beach (like a beached whale) and have one last me trip. When I got back, we found out I was already dilating, and with that the army sent Tyler back a week early. So thankful for that. We got to spend that week together for the last time. That next Sunday I went into labor, and then on July 26th we had our beautiful little Hallie at 3:32 am!

August: on the 3rd it was my birthday where I turned the big 22! We also left Hallie for the first time. My mom watched her while we went to dinner.
Tyler and I also received callings this. month for our new ward. He was called to be an 11 year old scout leader, and later an elders quorum teacher. I was called to lead music in relief society.

September: after lots of drama, Tyler quit UPS and started working for an apartment complex where he is now. He loves it and is so thankful for this job. This year marked the 10th anniversary for September 11th. Then on the 25th we celebrated our first anniversary! We went to dinner and I finally, after years, talked Ty into going ice skating. He was a pro.

October: we put on the 13 days of Hallieween. We had lots of outfits and activities geared towards Halloween. For Halloween, Hallie was a grumpy ladybug and Tyler and I were batman and robin.

November: Tyler turned 24 on the 6th! Old man. And Hallie had her first Thanksgiving. She also started eating solids.

December: with hallie's love of all things that light up, we went to temple lights twice, and zoo lights. Tyler and I hadn't been to zoo lights since we were really little. Hallie also had her first Christmas! Luckily she was in a great mood and everything went really well.

It's been an eventful 2011, but we have been blessed beyond belief. Thank you to all our friends and family who have supported and done so much for us this year. We are so thankful for everyone in our lives, and we hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and happy new year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone so quickly. I felt like I had all the time in the world to decorate, bake, and shop. But soon it was a week till Christmas and I was still finding a long to-do list. I am so not looking forward to packing up all my Christmas things. Would it be completely white trash of me to keep it up for a little longer?
We ended up piercing Hallie's ears this month. She looks so stinking cute! She did really well. We luckily caught her on a good day. She fussed a little after the first one, mostly because Tyler had to hold her arms down, but then we gave her juice and she was fine. She started grabbing at everything a few days before Christmas. She went from not reaching for anything, to waking up one day and trying to get everything. I was so excited because Christmas just wouldn't be as much fun with her just sitting there! We also got to go to zoo lights and temple lights this month. Hallie loves all things lights so she was so good on our outings! It was fun taking her. Christmas eve we went to Tyler's aunt and uncles house on his mom's side. We ate dinner and had a gift exchange which was so fun. Then we came home and packed the truck (it looked like we were leaving home for a week. Traveling with a child and two dogs plus presents required us to borrow Grandpa's truck to be able to fit everything). We headed out to my moms and got our Christmas jammies. Hallie got cute reindeer ones, Ty got batman, my brothers got beevis an d butthead and transformers, and I got Harry potter! All 5 of us slept in my moms room like every year. Hallie was the most hyper out of everyone. I don't know why, she had no idea what was goin on, but she was up talking till 11 which is so not like her. We woke up early ( I woke Hallie up since she usually sleeps in till 9, I was just too excited) and opened stockings and presents. Then we got to talk to my brother Chad who is in Michigan on a mission. It as so good talking to him! We were even able to face chat with him for a few hours so we were able to see him and Chad got to meet hallie! She even threw up on the camera for him. After my mom's we dropped the dogs off back at home and headed to Tyler's aunts for his dads side. We spent some time with them, and then headed to my dads for dinner. It was a long long day. All said and done, Hallie got lots of toys, a play mat, a couple pianos, and a stroller. She had so much fun opening everything and being so excited. I loved playing Santa! Tyler got off road lights, money, p90x, clothes, new Oakley lenses, and a few other small things. I got a sewing machine, a cricut, a food processor ( wow I guess I really am a Mormon wife/mom) and a couple other things. We have the best family and are so thankful for everyone's generosity!
I am so sad to say goodbye to this season, it is my absolute favorite. I love all the things Christmas brings. Family, friends, faith, hope, love. And miracles! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Chatter box

Have you ever wished you could get a small glimpse into your future? Well I think in the last few days I have. And it's full of phone calls and notes home from school. Hallie loves to talk. If you're paying any attention to her she'll babble your ear off. She thinks it's the funniest thing. Especially at four in the morning, where she'll cry and cry until Tyler or I go in her room and then she just talks. She loves babbling along with Christmas songs. She'll do it in the car when we're listening to Christmas music. She did it yesterday in Sacrament when the primary got up to sing Picture a Christmas. And she loves talking to the tv when she's watching backyardigans. We have quite the talker. And however cute I think it is right now ( it makes me so stinkin happy) I guarantee it'll get her into some trouble if she keeps it up. But boy is it funny. I love having a happy baby now. I deserve it after the four tough months we had. I absolutely adore the time I spend with her now while she smiles and talks to me. I just love this girl to pieces!

On a side note..Christmas is in 13 days and I have done zero shopping for anyone. That's what a happy baby does to you. Distraction! I feel so behind!

Pros and cons

Wow it's been awhile. Where the heck did November go? Not that I'm complaining, I love December! But that sure went fast. Time goes by so much faster when you have a baby. It's both a great and a bad thing. Here's a list of bad and good things that have been going on in the Peel house.
Pro: I got my new phone!! I've pretty much been waiting since the day I signed the contract for my old one. After getting lost in Phoenix and running out of gas one night, and my phone was choosing not to work, we decided it was time to push the upgrade. I jumped on the iPhone bandwagon, but I love it
Con: Tyler had drill Friday, Saturday, Sunday for November so it was me and Hallie flying solo. I gotta admit it was nice to just have her to focus on though
Pro: Thanksgiving! I love me some food!
Pro: Hallie turned 4 months old on the 26th. She's blooming into quite the funny little lady
Pro: We switched to a new pediatrician who I love! After 5 minutes explaining Hallie's problems he put her on a medicine that has already helped
Con: we had to go to one more appointment with our old pediatrician where she told me if Hallie wasn't so interactive she would think she was developmentally disabled (seriously?) that I was over stimulating her with toys cuz she can't see colors, and that I needed to join a support group because I am boring my curious baby and that's why she screams so much. Psycho much?
Pro: it's December! and my holiday decoration are up! Nothing better than having a house light up from Christmas lights!
Pro: the weather has been fantastic lately. Cold enough to have my favorite bedtime snack (besides cereal). Nothing warms you from head to toes before bed like toast and hot chocolate.
Pro: Picos made tamales allll day long today. And we definitely have a batch in the fridge, and one in the freezer
Con: I'm not looking forward to splitting my time and attention between families for Christmas. I wish I could just combine all my families because it stresses me out
Pro: we got switched to the formula plan from WIC. Which means I definitely got $75 of formula for free tonight and I still get $75 more this month
Con: Tyler had a cold for a week. And even more of a con, now Hallie and I have it
Con: Tyler leaves for drill tomorrow, again, he just had it two weeks ago. But this time, I get a sick baby all to my sick self. Fun?

It's been an eventful month, and I'm sure we're in store for much more coming up. All I know is that through all the pros and cons, I love my little family. They are my whole world and I am so lucky to have them!