Lizzie at 18 months

Lizzie has a big personality and it's been so fun to watch her grow and learn new things. At 18 months old she is still a great eater, sleeping 12 hours at night, napping once in the day, and is very active. She's been saying some words really well. She says "Mama", "Dada", "Nana", "Papa", "hi",  "bye", "what", and "why". She's just starting to learn the word "baby" but it sounds more like "baybay".  Lizzie is stubborn which makes life difficult sometimes, especially when her stubbornness results in a tantrum. However, she is really sweet. One of my favorite things about her is how cuddly she is. She'll very often hug and snuggle with us and it is just the best! She loves the attention, so we're a little worried about how she'll take the change from only child to having a sibling. It'll be good for her though, I know she'll be a such a good big sister.

Some of Lizzie's likes:

• Most foods - favorites are bread, cheese, and fruit
• Cuddling 
• Stuffed animals 
• Winnie the Pooh
• Swim lessons
• Selfies
• Nursery
• "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift
• Climbing, climbing, climbing
• Pushing her toy stroller and shopping cart around the house

Some of Lizzie's dislikes:

• Stroller - she would rather walk
• Snow
• Diaper changes
• Long car rides 
• Sharing
• Meat
• Sacrament meeting - or any place where she has to keep still

Even with all the hard moments, Lizzie has been such joy to us this past year and a half and we love her more and more every day!

DIY Baby Valentines Day Photos

I took Lizzie's first Valentines Day photos when I was just starting to take an interest in photography. I was a total newbie with a camera and I didn't have editing software! These were taken purely with natural light inside my house with my Nikon D3300. Anyone can take decent photos as long as there is good light, cute props, backdrop, and a cooperating model. My little tips are:

1. If taking pictures inside the house like me, find an area that has a blank wall and a big window.

2. Plan to take the pictures at a time when the sunlight fills that room the best

3. Make or buy a backdrop and/or prop, it doesn't have to be fancy. I just cut out paper hearts, taped them to some string and hung them on the wall. I almost made a heart banner instead, so that works too! 

4. If you have ugly carpet like I did, throw a blanket down for your model to sit on. 

5. Make sure the adorable model is fed, rested, and happy before snapping the pictures

6. If possible, have someone else there making her smile and laugh because it's hard to be both the entertainer and the photographer.

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is not your average chocolate chip cookie recipe. These cookies are so deliciously buttery and chocolaty, you can't just have one. This is my go-to recipe when given the dessert assignment. I got the recipe from my mom who got it from her friend who got it from another friend. People always ask me for this recipe so it's about time I post it for all to see. My friends named it "Amazing Cookies". Enjoy!

1/2 C butter

3/4 C sugar

3/4 C brown sugar

1/2 C shortening (Crisco is the best)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ C flour 

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 bag chocolate chips (I usually don't use the entire bag, but it's up to you!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter, sugars, and shortening. Add eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until mixed all together - do not overmix! Stir in chocolate chips with a spoon. Roll dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 min.  Yields 24 cookies.

Oh Boy!

It looks likes we're having a baby boy! Everyone guessed it and we are beyond thrilled. Honestly, I wasn't so sure it was a boy because this pregnancy has been much like my pregnancy with Lizzie (thank goodness). Now it's time to go shopping for boy stuff. The due date the ultrasound got me at is May 27 which is exactly 22 months apart from Lizzie. My original due date was May 29 so they're actually keeping that one. But hey it would be cool if this baby comes on the 27th! Oh, and to you mother's of 2+ children, feel free to give me advice on how to even do this.

I have been slacking big time on baby bump pictures with this pregnancy. So, here is my first bump picture for baby boy at 20 weeks. Happy halfway to us!

Korean Time

I've been getting in touch with my Korean side the past couple weeks. My sweet grandparents came all the way from South Korea to visit us and be here for Christiaan's wedding. My aunt and cousin came for little while too. My Korean speaking is seriously lacking but I'm surprised at how much I still understand. As long as I'm asked "yes or no" questions, I'm good! I've loved spending time with them again after such a long time apart. My grandparents are such sweet and generous people. Also, my grandmother makes the BEST Korean food which I've been craving for months; baby is very happy now. Maybe eating all this spicy food isn't good for my pregnant self...but it's just so delicious!

 


My grandparents are into the whole Chinese Zodiac thing and, as it turns out, my grandma, my mom, my sister Naomi, Lizzie, and I were all born in years of the horse. What are the odds? So of course we had to get a picture with all 5 horses. And just for fun, here is a link to look up your Chinese Zodiac.

I'm glad that Lizzie got to meet her great grandparents on my mom's side. She even has a great great grandmother in South Korea who's still alive, so we really need to take a trip over there soon! It's been a memorable experience having everyone together for the wedding and the Holidays. I'm sad that my grandparents are going back home today, but hopefully it won't be long before I get to see them again!

Hello, 2016!

Happy New Year, everyone! 2015 has flown by, and though it was difficult, it was a great year overall. Tyler switched careers, we took a trip to LA, Lizzie turned one, we moved to Mesa, then we moved to Utah, my brother got married, I picked up photography and blogging as a hobby, and we found out we're having another baby!

I love that we get a chance for a fresh start at the beginning of each year. Like many of you, I like to make some New Year resolutions. Tyler and I like to make goals as a couple as well. I want to share some of my goals here. Maybe if I share them, I will be more likely to keep them up!

• Exercise regularly (as long as my pregnant body will let me!)
• Choose healthier snacks 
• Be a more patient mother
• Go on weekly dates with Tyler
• Personal scripture study daily
• Live in the moment and enjoy the journey 

The last goal is especially important to me, I know it will greatly improve my life if I can remember to enjoy the stage of life I'm in. I hope you all have a great year and that you can meet your goals!

Some memories from 2015