Cooking and Play Dates

Well, we have had another great week thanks to the morning sickness phase being over! All the foods that were so nauseating for so many months are now not bad at all. I have had a blast finding new recipes to cook, and I think Blake is grateful for my return to the kitchen. He loves to cook and used to do all the cooking when I was working full-time (I know, I'm super lucky) but now that he works until 7pm in Sandy (meaning he doesn't get home until approximately 7:43pm most nights) we'd both prefer that I prepare dinner so we can eat together when he gets home.

Evenings are pretty much a whirlwind now as I try to have dinner on the table by 7:45, eat (and feed Taylor), do the dishes, do family scripture study at 8:15, get Taylor ready for bed (a LONG process as she has learned to stall..."one more book?") and get her to bed somewhere around her bedtime of 8:30 (usually later as she and daddy like to play for a bit). It's an exhausting process, but well worth it to spend time together as a family.

Also, when the alarm on my phone goes off every night at 8:15, it's cute to hear Taylor say, "Time for scriptures!" (Yeah, I have to set an alarm to remember to read the scriptures...pathetic, maybe, but at least it works!). Taylor has her own animated, lift-the-flap version of the Book of Mormon and it's fun to hear what she says as she looks through it: "Oh, Lehi and the Lee-hona! He's learning to share!" (as he shows the "lee-hona" to Nephi). Or, looking at the picture of Abinadi, "Hey, where's his shirt?" (that one always makes us laugh).

Well, that is our life as of late. Taylor and I don't get out much (except for the short, chilly walks we sometimes take...I hate the winter!) because Blake needs the car for his commute to Sandy every day. I've been wanting to get the kids together for play dates with lots of you (Jen, Danae, Tess, Naomi, etc.) so if you have a car or a way to get here, you are invited over! Taylor's best friend up to this point has been my in-laws dog, Sawyer. Now that I've seen her on all fours trying to drink out of his water bowl, I think it's time for some human best friends. Especially since we're getting into the potty-training phase...and that's one thing I certainly don't want her to learn from a dog :)

"I Wanna Give Him a Hug!"

...is one of the first things Taylor said just 15 minutes after daddy left for work this morning. Talk about cute. So we called him instead (he usually has a few minutes to chat with us during his 35 minute commute to Sandy...that is, if Jimmer's not being interviewed on sports radio). Taylor loves to hold the phone herself and tell daddy about her various toys before ending with, "Love you! Bye bye!" and handing the phone back to me.

Okay, I know this has been mostly the "Taylor Diaries" as of late, but after spending the first 18 months of her life in an office, I feel like I need to play catch up on all the amazing and adorable things she can do since it felt like I only got to hear about them second hand from the grandmas when I was working. So you'll have to forgive me if this feels like Taylor's baby book for a little while...eventually it'll be about everything else in our life as well.

Still Learning...

So, I'm thinking it was a mistake to show Taylor the pictures in my "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" book. She wanted to see what I was reading, so I showed her what her baby sibling looks like right now...then she requested to see every picture in the whole book ("Can I see more pictures of babies?").

The picture of the developing baby on the "Week 30" chapter was cute enough, but when Taylor turned backwards in the book and got to the chapter for "Week 6" it was a little hard to explain why the baby didn't have full arms and legs or a face of any kind. Tay got a confused look on her face and decided she was done looking at the "pictures of babies." Maybe from now on, mommy's books should only be for mommy.

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!