These pictures are going to just keep on coming.

A very cool cookie basket came today from Aunt Vicki and Uncle Joe, thanks guys! We love you, too!


Just can't get over all that hair. We'll have to take lost of pictures before it all gets rubbed off.

Look at that HAIR!

We're used to baldies!!

Exclusive Photos

Hey there, Glenn here. Just a quick note - both Mom and Baby are doing GREAT. Alison was born at 12:16 and weighs 8 lbs and 5 oz. We had great nurses and the delivery went as well as anyone could hope. We're very happy that shes here.

Hopefully Kristen will come back in here and fill in the gaps. She's a great writer.







You can't see it too well here, but she has a lot of hair! More pictures to come soon.

Bella Bambina Shower

This is Karalea

Oh, this post is so overdue! Two weeks ago, a good friend from our ward threw the most beautiful baby shower for Little Ali and me. She is a woman of immense talent and capacity, but even I was overwhelmed by the results of her work.

Karalea interviews those she is throwing a party for in advance, so as to cater it directly to their liking! It is incredible. After our hour of chatting, she put all the puzzle pieces together to create an Italian Modern baby shower. Check out these photos. It was beyond Martha Stewart. As a matter of fact, I am quite sure we could get Karalea a consultation position for her show.

All the food was AMAZING and immensely home-made/hand-crafted: minnestrone soup, three kinds of homemade bread, amazing pasta dishes, Italian sodas, fancy cheese and spreads for crackers, grapes, and salads. Dessert consisted of home-made Italian pear gelato (my favorite!), chocolate dipped phylo cookies, and Tiramisu. It was incredible and I pigged out (why not, eh? It's not like you can tell the difference on this stomach?!) like there was no tomorrow.

The decorations were just as incredible. Karalea hand-cut all the pieces for that gorgeous banner and sweet Mandy strung it together. She picked all the colors according to my favorites... can you believe this?! The ribbons and flowers were amazing. This really felt from beginning to end like a true celebration of this feminine soul coming into the world and the momma carrying her. We even played games- 'match the celebrity to their birth name' and 'guess the number of diapers' (Thank you Mandy!). I was completely set up with outfits, frozen dinners, books, stuffed animals, supplies, diapers, and yes- even a video baby monitor for this little one! We were thoroughly spoiled. I hope to pass this generosity on to other young moms as time goes by. Thank you everyone!

To top off this perfect occasion- my Young Women were there. This was such a treat, as my YW make my heart SO happy! You cannot help but feel joy in the presence of these girls. I am so lucky to get to serve with the Mia Maids and can never get over how I love all of the YW. They really are a special generation. Again, this meant Karalea pulled off the incredible by feeding a large group- and never a word of complaint! She just kept encouraging me to invite anyone, everyone I wanted. What a gem.

Baby Shower Thank You Card

Today...

This may be a post I am embarrassed about later, but let me tell you about today. In truth, it is pretty typical for me, and I know for many of you too (you have whoppers to sure beat mine, I know). So, forgive me for having some innate need to record this for me to remember later when I feel the "golden years" have passed all too quickly.

Last night, the boys got up at 12:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00 am. Hence, I didn't notice my own insomnia. I am trying to forsake my beloved chocolate as it gives me almost instant, intense, LONG LASTING heartburn (acidic pain right below my lungs). This (forsaking chocolate) makes the morning a little harder, I'll be honest.

When I finally climbed out of bed, it was to get the kids ready for Max to go to pre-school. Jonas grabbed my darkest lipstick and took off with it. I found him minutes later covered in red and the bathroom floor bearing the evidence of his activities. I am truly indebted to the generous angels that kept it off my carpet and walls. We were a few minutes (okay 12) late to pre-school, and then headed out to my Dr.'s office in search of my lost cell phone- and were met with success! Again, thank you angels.

For the remainder of Max's time at pre-school, I took Jonas to a big sale at our local Kohl's. I thought it would be easy to find a couple items and be on my way. Ha. After 35 minutes in line, it would have taken another 45 to get up to a counter, at which point Max would have been sold by the pre-school to traveling gypsies with the assumption that his mother had completely abandoned him. So, an hour and a half wasted and fruitless, I went to be on time for the pick-up.

Max had a great day at school, which always warms a mother's heart. I got the boys home (yes, Jonas was hitting and flinging himself around at this point in my arms), fed them lunch, and put them to bed. Post-nap revealed both had pooped. One had a diaper, one did not. Oh joy. Bath. Laundry.

The boys are now in the playroom together with their love-hate relationship going on. Max totally annoyed at the annihilation of his carefully planned train worlds by Jonas, and Jonas thrilled for an activity that seems to be breeding such high response rates.

I have spent the afternoon on the phone with insurance companies, pediatric dentist offices, and Glenn. I am planning another venture out into public where I literally cannot pass a soul without a LOT of staring (it is a crazy scene here in CA to have a 4-yr.-old, 20-mo.-old, and about to pop with yet ANOTHER child). I hear comments all around me. I like to pretend this is what it must feel like to be a pop star in public. This is probably the closest I'll ever get.

Trying to be patient with stuttering, a watermelon on my bladder, screaming, heartburn (can a few chocolate chips really do this?!), wasted food, and not getting my husband home until 9:30. Absolutely loving hearing Jonas try to pray, Max memorizing scriptures, seeing my boys soaking wet in the bathtub playing together happily, baby girl shoes from Melissa, Max showing me his Lego creations with such pride, and my boys' beautiful hearts. Loving the renewed feeling that "this is a price to be paid for blessings and the Lord accepts my sacrifice" as Glenn told me in a blessing last night.

I guess these are golden days after all and I will miss them. I think the biggest trick for me is to truly enjoy them today before missing them tomorrow.