Taylor Growing Up

Lately, on the days when it has been over 30 degrees outside, Taylor and I have been going for walks in our neighborhood. She has a new obsession with shadows and loves to chase her own shadow. It's pretty funny to watch. She also loves to jump on my shadow and tell me, "I'm jumpin' on mama's shadow!"

Another new hobby of hers, taking every single diaper out of the package and laying them in a row on the floor. Her favorite diapers have a picture of mickey mouse and pluto on them, so she loves to sort through all the diapers and find the pluto ones. She's a little character.

Taylor is a little talker, especially when we are in the car. She tells us about everything that she sees and screams out, "FLAG!!!" every time we pass an American flag (and we've discovered that there are hundreds in Provo!).

Taylor loves when daddy gets home from work so that they can "play buddies" together. This consists of daddy laying on the floor on one of Taylor's blankies and throwing a variety of her favorite stuffed animals (buddies, as she calls them) into the air over and over again while Taylor dances around him laughing. They can play like this for nearly an hour! Who knew "playing buddies" could be so entertaining?

Taylor turns 2 in just a few weeks, so I figured I better document some of her funny little habits before my baby girl officially becomes a toddler. She has been such a pleasant, happy little girl, it was easy for us to want another just like her...at least, we're hoping the next is just as sweet :)

Family Update

Well, it's been awhile, but we are doing pretty well in the Hagen household. I know I haven't posted anything worthwhile since October, so here's what Tay was up to that month:

Making smoothies with mommy and daddy...

Searching for a pumpkin on a rainy Saturday...

Being a goat at Hee Haw Farms...

Sitting on our neighbors porches to check out their pumpkins...

And just being cute in general :)

For those who have not heard, we are expecting our second child in July! That is part of why I have taken such a long hiatus from the blogosphere...morning sickness has had me down and out for a while, but I'm officially returning to real life now :) Blake and I just went in for our 16 week appointment today and the baby has a nice strong heartbeat. I don't feel sick all day every day anymore, so hopefully we're at the end of the morning sickness phase. December and January were basically a blur of gross smells, food cravings, trying not to throw up, and a lot of lame daytime TV while lying on the couch, so I'm hoping that part is over.

Anyway, we are very excited to welcome this little person into our family and I feel very grateful that the baby is healthy. I also feel very grateful that I am not working...it has been so nice being able to lay down when I feel sick. Thankfully, Taylor is a very pleasant and low maintenance toddler, so I have been able to take care of her and myself without difficulty. I am also grateful for a supportive husband and having family nearby...both sets of grandparents have babysat Taylor and provided dinner for us countless times...I don't know what we'd do without them!

Well, I know we are behind, but I'll get some Halloween and Christmas pictures up here soon...or at least before Easter :)

Sunday

Just felt like blogging...nothing particularly important. We had an interesting Sunday as usual...Blake and I teach the CTR 6 class in Primary and it is fun but draining. We were warned that ours was the most challenging class and we have found that to be true. Who knew 3 little boys and a girl could have so much energy! Needless to say, we are learning a lot.

We are currently preparing for the Primary Program which is on Halloween (not sure who thought that was a good idea...a bunch of tired kids hopped up on sugar in charge of the entire sacrament meeting hour...yikes!). Well, hopefully it will go alright.

Every week after primary, Blake and I go to pick up Taylor from nursery and she never wants to leave. She smiles at us and runs off to play so we won't take her away. It is so cute and funny! She always takes a great nap when we get home, which means I get a great nap on Sundays, too. It's a nice routine we've got...love the lazy Sunday with my family.

Best. Summer. EVER!!!

Well, this really has been the best summer ever...ever since I quit my job that is! I have been a stay at home mom with Taylor for about 2 months now and I love it more than anything. It is a joy to watch Taylor grow and learn new things every day.

We have spent a lot of time walking to the park, going on swings, going grocery shopping (T loves those carts that have a mini car on the front...she loves to drive), reading books, watching Curious George, learning the alphabet on starfall.com, coloring, and cooking and cleaning together.

At first, I think it was weird to Taylor that I was around all the time. She got extra clingy every time we would visit one of the Grandma's homes. But now, she realizes I'm not leaving her anywhere, so she has relaxed again.

Blake posted most of the pictures of what we've been up to on our family blog (see blakeandemily.wordpress.com), so all I have to leave you with are the pictures of a rainy day in Provo and what Taylor likes to do on such a day:

First, you construct a simple couch cushion fort...

Then you play in it!

At Home

Well, I have definitely been MIA these last few months, but I have a really good excuse.

My good excuse:

For those who have not yet heard, I recently quit my job! Blake and I had been talking about it for months and the time just seemed right, so as of August 4th, I became a full-time mommy to my sweet little Taylor Emma. We have had so much fun doing a number of activities (more pictures to come) but that's all I wanted to say for now.

Flowers, Sushi, and Another Sick Day

So, it's a good thing my company has given me 5 extra paid days off this year, cuz I am currently using another one. Fever, headache, and runny nose...exactly the symptoms I had 2 weeks ago minus the sore throat. Just hoping Taylor doesn't get it this time.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I have a wonderful husband. He surprised me after work yesterday with a bouquet of flowers and some sushi for dinner (one of my favorite things). The flowers were so pretty and smelled so good, even Taylor kept reaching for them. She was nice and gentle and didn't rip off a single petal.

After dinner, my fever got worse, so Blake made me some apple cinnamon muffins (gotta have some comfort foods when you're not feeling well). There wasn't as much mix in the box as Blake thought (my bad for not warning him) and the muffins ended up looking like the blob. Luckily, they still tasted great and ended up giving me a good laugh (actually I was laughing hysterically, though that might've been the effects of all the drugs I was taking to subdue my fever).

We went to bed around 11:30, only to be awakened every half hour by Taylor screaming out in pain (looks like she's growing more teeth). Needless to say, nobody got much sleep until 3am (and that was only after I was wrapped in blankets and wearing sweats...gotta love fevers).

Now I am enjoying mindless infomercials while Blake drops off Taylor at her Grandma's so she doesn't get sick. I hate using up my days off only to be away from my baby even more, but such is life, right? Anyway, despite being sick, I feel happy. I have a wonderful husband who is taking good care of me...and currently picking up some more comfort foods for me in the form of Carls Junior French Toast Sticks. Life is good.

Grieving for my Friend

I have a beautiful friend named Ellen Carlson Goldsborough. In my last post, I talked about a friend who had lost her 5 month old baby boy in a tragic accident. Ellen is this friend.

Ellen and I grew up together in Woodinville, Washington. I can't even remember how long we have been friends (since we were 7 or 8 I think) but we were inseparable since we met. As children, we used to act up in Primary together. We giggled over the boys we had crushes on. In junior high, we had a notebook we passed back and forth where we wrote notes to eachother. We went to stake dances together, where I was too shy and embarassed to dance with the boys and Ellen bravely danced with all of them. I used to help her feed the chickens in her backyard. She used to jump on the trampoline in my backyard.

We were best friends.

When I was 15, my family moved to Tualatin, Oregon. Ellen and I talked on the phone and saw each other a couple times, but this was before the days of email and cell phones, so it was difficult to stay in touch.

We both went to BYU, but life was busy, and we rarely saw each other. Then, Ellen fell in love with Geoff, and I was maid of honor at her wedding. She moved to Washington D.C. and I stayed in Utah. We lost contact, but Ellen has always been one of my dearest friends. In many ways, she is like another sister to me (though both of us already have 5 sisters!).

For this reason, even though 3 months have elapsed, I feel I need to share just how much my heart still aches for Ellen and Geoff for their loss. Garrett was a beautiful baby and brought so much joy into their lives. It is a great tragedy that his time on this earth was so short.

When it comes to her conviction, Ellen is one of the most steadfast and immovable souls I have ever met. No one deserves this kind of pain less than her. And so, I mourn with her and for her. My prayers are with her and Geoff.

Ellen, thanks for being my best friend for so many years. Sometimes I wish we could go back to those simpler days of playing in the backyard without a care in the world. Now, I just wish I could take away the burden that has been placed on you.

For my dear friend, Ellen. My heart is still with you.