Fire Red!

So, I've survived two years with the free, a.k.a. no features, phone...which means that I am eligible for an upgrade. I didn't necessarily care what phone I got, my only request was that it would be red. So...here's my new "fire red" phone that arrived today:

It's the Motorola MOTOKRZR. I feel like I went from "Motel 8" to the "Ritz" in terms of the features I now have with this new phone...that should tell you how basic my previous phone was! When I got the previous phone I just went for whatever was free. And what was big then was the camera phones--which I didn't really care about at the time--I figured I just needed something that would send and receive calls. (When people would send me pictures I would have to get online and log in to our account to even see the pictures...it was a pain). Well, there have been numerous times in the past where having a camera phone would have been useful, and especially now with a little one I can send pictures of him...so...needless to say, it's not like it matters--it is just a phone--but it is fun to have an upgrade like this every once in a while! (And the red makes it even more fun!)

I'm officially...

sick. Yep, I caught the cold. Yuck. I thought I'd be able to beat it and get over it with just a sore throat, but nope, it went from bad to terrible last night. I've almost lost my voice. I can't remember the last time I've felt so sick and of course it always has to come at the worst time...I was supposed to go visiting teaching tonight (Yeah, that was fun to call my companion with no voice...she was so nice after she chuckled at how I sounded, even offered to bring us dinner), we have YW in Excellence tomorrow night (and I'm supposed to decorate, so it's not just a show up kind of deal) and then we're flying out to Colorado on Friday. I guess I should be grateful that I got sick while I'm still able to be home...but then it makes me mad that my last week of maternity leave is going to be spent sick. But in other news, good news, Isaac slept through the night! He slept from 8:30 p.m-6:30 a.m. I'm telling you--prayer works. I was praying last night that he would have a good night so I could get some good sleep to help with my sickness and he slept!! It really was a shocker because he was up every two to three hours during the day so I thought the night was going to continue like that...I'm telling you, start praying.

Christmas Decorations!

Ok, so our decorations have been up for over a week, but finally, here are the pictures.

Here's the before....
And the after....
And the before...
After...
A close-up...this probably turned out to be my favorite...

Sorry, no before on this one...my aunt made those letters for us last year.

And....the tree....sorry, the pictures aren't great--they don't show the detail as much as I'd like...


The theme for the tree was snowflakes with colors red, silver and white. It was really fun decorating it, I learned a lot and already have new ideas for next year. It's pretty funny to think that everyone has grown up with some sort of tree in their house--I discovered that Taylor and I grew up with very different Christmas trees, in terms of how it was decorated. I grew up with actually three different trees--a formal one, a fun snowman one, and then my sister and I had our own tree where we would put all the homemade, fun, school-made ornaments. So, seeing how we really don't have room for three different trees, we're starting out with our classy semi-formal tree, which is something Taylor has graciously gotten used to. :-) The tree is right by Isaac's swing, so when the lights turn on on the tree at night it's fun to watch Isaac stare at the tree and be mesmerized by the different patterns. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." in our home!!

Thanksgiving update

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Taylor's family. This year it was Suzanne (Taylor's mom) and Theran (Taylor's brother) and Kim with their two kids Alexa and Theran II, Clayton (Taylor's brother) and us. Alexa was so cute with Isaac and it was so fun to take pictures of Theran II and Isaac!! It was delicious!

Then on Friday we made the journey over to Heber to see Lindsey Porter and her family!! Lindsey just got home from her mission in Michigan in September so this was the first chance I got to see her and for her to meet Isaac! It was a GREAT visit!!! I love you Linds!!

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Reasons to be Thankful

1. I have an amazing, loving, dedicated, hard-working and supportive husband who loves me.
2. A well-behaved, handsome and cuddly baby!!
3. I have been blessed to have supportive and wonderful parents who have taught me well.
4. A great sister who has always been my example.
5. Incredible in-laws--I seriously couldn't have asked for a better family to be married into.
6. And I definitely have to do a separate shout out to my sister-in-laws because they are truly the best.
7. An education.
8. Good health. Love. Happiness.
9. Good friends whom I love dearly.
10. And finally, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. None of the above mentioned things would be important or matter if it wasn't for the gospel in my life and the truths and principles it teaches; and the Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

(Finally, now my husband will listen to Christmas music!!) :-)

An Isaac Update

I LOVE this picture!
Looks like Isaac is going to have blue eyes like his dad...this picture doesn't really give it justice, but they do look like they'll be blue. Which means...always have "red eye correction" on hand. :-)
Ok, this next picture might only be funny to me. But I was in the kitchen and I hear Taylor say "Look at me ma!" and I turn around and see Isaac's head right above the counter! It really was funny...but you may have had to have been there.

Like father, like son...they were matching...

Isaac is so aware...he looks around and observes his surroundings so much. Lately, he really likes it when you stand him up. He'll kick until you stand him upright and then he just looks around like he can't get enough of it.
This is when Nana and Papa came out for the blessing. Nana gave Isaac his first successful bath!! Yahoo!! We discovered that when we put him in the bath tub bather (thanks for the advice Kellie) he was still cold, so we put a warm washcloth on his stomach and he is much more content, a.k.a. no screaming. But one of the funniest things is when we go to put him in his little bath tub bather thing he sticks his arms out to the side all straight and stiff and his head pushes back as to give a double chin and he gets this look like "what are you doing?!?" He immediately relaxes when we put the washcloth on him--we really need to get a picture of it because it's the cutest thing. (Sorry Papa, we don't have any pictures of you with him or else I'd post them too)
Is it like a first-time parent must-have to buy outfits that say "I love Mommy" or "I love Daddy"?? Because Taylor and I have obviously fallen trap to this....
I LOVE pictures of Isaac sleeping...he is so precious and looks so peaceful. I could just watch him all day.

And then there's this...I don't know if your babies did this, but when Isaac is sleeping he will all of a sudden move and most of the time he sticks his arms out, it's pretty comical. Here he is, asleep, "waving" at the camera...
And then there's both arms...:-) I've read that they move like this as a result of REM sleep, it's so funny.

Another one of Isaac's most recent things is that he discovered his hands. I woke up to him sucking on his hands and periodically throughout the day he'll be sucking on them.

Isaac is so close to sleeping through the night. We just need to adjust when it happens! For example, he fell asleep last night at 6:30 and woke up at 1:30 a.m. We put him down later tonight, so we'll see what happens. We also put Isaac in his own room--we actually put him in his own room around 2 1/2 weeks--for those who don't know, our room is upstairs and his room is directly below us. I think it has helped all of us sleep better and it hasn't been a problem at all since we have some great monitors. I play music for him when we put him down at night, I like to think he knows when he hears the music that it's time for bed...but...I doubt it.

Isaac started to coo a little bit--I love it. He's been smiling a lot this last week too, I really love that. I know we're going to see a lot more growth and development in the coming weeks and I can't wait!

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

We are coming down to Utah this week for Thanksgiving and you know what we are in desperate need of?? ONE ticket to the BYU v. Utah game. I know, everyone wants one. We tried to get some online but they were all sold out. Does anyone have one or know of someone who might? We're willing to pay some money for it (but not much, come on, we just had a baby!) And we only need one ticket. I know a lot of students go home for Thanksgiving break, so perhaps their ticket is going unused. Taylor is dying to go--his good buddy is playing for BYU and it would mean a lot to Taylor if he could go and support him in this big game. PLEASE HELP!!! Even if you know someone who might know someone who knows someone else...etc... :-) If you have any information, we would GREATLY appreciate it. Thanks!

I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged by Barb--yahoo, thanks Barb! So here are six facts/habits you may not know about me...and as I was thinking about this I also came up with six embarrassing moments, so you get bonus stuff. :-)

Six facts/habits:

1. I really want to play the piano--play it well. So I got a keyboard about two years ago and practice "Hymns made easy." Someday I'll graduate to the actual hymn book.

2. When I was younger (the desire has short of tapered off now) I always wanted to be on the Price Is Right. I always said, "I want to be on the show before Bob Barker dies!" (I guess the reason my desire has tapered off is because I am not a big fan of Drew Carey). I even wrote to the show and asked for tickets on the day of my 18th birthday...I honestly think my parents would have taken me, but my birthday was getting closer and closer and I didn't get the tickets, so we made other plans for my birthday...well, it turns out the tickets came a couple weeks before my birthday...too bad.

3. Before I got pregnant I ate Wendy's allllll the time, literally. When Taylor asked where I wanted to eat, I'd say Wendy's...I even told him I would be fine with eating at Wendy's for VALentine's day, and when he didn't even have to ask what I wanted because it was always "the regular." Well, when I got pregnant, Wendy's GROSSED me out, and here is probably the gross part to you, I CRAVED McDonald's like there was no tomorrow. Now when Taylor asked what I wanted, it was for him to stop at McDonald's for me on his way home from work! Haha...I still haven't really gone back to Wendy's, McDonald's still hits the spot for me...hopefully the next pregnancy will revert me back to my old ways.

4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE pizza, I could eat it for lunch and dinner everyday. And the funny thing is...I only eat cheese or pepperoni and I only really like it from Domino's and Pizza Hut. I know...call me plain but I like to call it "sticking to the classics." :-)

5. I am the world's biggest worry-wart. For example, if Taylor doesn't answer his phone or isn't home when he usually is, I tend to think, "What if he got in an accident??" etc. I really freak myself out from worrying--I hate it...but I am getting better, a little. :-)

6. I LOVE cooking, I love math, I love decorating, I LOVE being with my husband and little boy, I love making crafts but I HATE HATE HATE scrapbooking. It just doesn't come to me and does not appeal to me...sorry sis. :)

Ok, now here are six embarrassing moments, just for you....

1. When I was in middle school I went through a period of only doing ballet. I was hard core ballet--three hours a day for six days a week. Well, a show, or recital if you may, came up where we were going to do Hans Christian Andersen stories. So, I was picked to be the lead in Ugly Duckling. It was really quite fun...when I was the ugly duckling I got to do everything that I was taught in dance wrong. I got to flex my feet, look incredibly ungraceful, and look totally uncoordinated. So, basically, if I messed up it looked normal. Well, when I "transformed" into the Swan it was the opposite--now I was supposed to be graceful. It came to the finale and everything was going great, we were doing the last segment, and I was right in the front and I had to do an arabesque (for those who don't know what that is, it's where you stand on one leg and the other leg is at a 90 degree angle behind you...make sense?) Well, we were on pointe shoes and since I had to have two pointe shoes (one for the ugly duckling, one for when I was the Swan) my "Swan pointe shoes" were new and not as broken in, so when I went to do my arabesque I knew I had to push harder to get on top of the shoe...well I definitely pushed, I pushed so hard that I went over my shoe and did an automatic FACE PLANT on the floor. Need I remind you that I was in the front and supposed to be graceful...it wasn't really funny at the time, but we have it all on tape and Taylor and I watch it occasionally and just laugh. It's really funny...especially if you watch it in slow motion. If you come over, I would be happy to show you, it's hilarious! But it was rather embarrassing at the time....

2. One night I got a ride home from a church dance from two boys, it was during the Winter, and had just snowed. Well, at our old house our driveway was kind of steep...well I get out of the car and figured if I just went quickly I would be ok...well I was in the process of closing the door and one of the guys asked me something so I had to grab the door again...well at the same time my shoes did NOT have traction, AT ALL. As this guy started to talk to me I just couldn't stand there and all of a sudden I start sliding down the driveway, on all fours. Literally the guy was like "Where'd she go?!" It was so embarrassing.

3. This one is pretty recent, which really makes me look dumb. Taylor and I were watching "Are you smarter than a fifth grader" one night and one of the questions was "What U.S. State has the smallest land mass?" Well obviously the answer was Rhode Island. Then there's a pop up giving a fact..."Rhode Island's land mass is approximately 1,348 sq miles." (Or a number close to it...) Well, not thinking, I say, out loud, "Our house is almost the size of Rhode Island!" Taylor just looks at me like "are you serious?" and my thought process goes as I look around our place "Wait a minute, you couldn't even fit a parking lot in our place..." and I look at Taylor and go "Oops...Rhode Island is square MILES, we're square FEET." BIG difference....

4. Ok, so this one was really embarrassing. Taylor and I went on a big group date last year to Thriller with a lot of his buddies. We were at some one's house afterwards just mingling and eating--well, Taylor and I sit at a table with some people I hadn't met before, so in efforts to be social and nice I start asking a girl about herself. (I should have resorted to being shy and quiet after this next moment). I ask her where she is from and what I thought she said was "Well you're Melinda right?" and I reply with, "No, I'm Valerie." And she just looks at me and starts laughing, what she really said was "Yorba Linda." Supposedly there is a place in California called Yorba Linda...I didn't know this, apparently. Then this girl decides since she is laughing so hard she should tell everyone else what just happened...embarrassing.

5. So, for my ENTIRE life, I thought the phrase was "playing it by year." Nope, it's "playing it by EAR." I still think that is so weird. And Taylor thinks it's weird that I think that is weird, but when you go through your whole life thinking it's "playing it by year" it's hard to make the transition. How this all came out is my mother-in-law would write me emails and say more than once "we'll play it by ear" and I always thought she just forgot to put the "y" on it. So I told Taylor this and he just laughed at me. Oops.

6. So we went to Disney World with my entire extended family on my mom's side a long time ago...I was probably 7. Well, we were in the huge Disney store at Downtown Disney for anyone who knows and I really had to go to the bathroom. Of course this is the stage where if you're at the bathroom and someone asks if you have to go you say no but then ten minutes later you do and they ask why you didn't go and you respond, "I didn't have to go then." Well, this was one of those times, and when I had to go, I had to go! So I told my dad I needed to go to the bathroom so he told me to go find my sister and have her take me. Well, for those who know, this store is HUGE! So trying to find her took some time! Then when I found her I had to convince her to take me and then once she said yes we had to find the bathroom. So I was dying, but we found the bathroom and I started running towards it. I was doing so well!! Well I open the door and there is a LINE! Go figure. Well, I'm standing there in line and totally peed my pants. I had done so well, I had even made it to the bathroom! Oops.

Well there you have it, six facts and six embarrassing moments. Now the game of tagging continues as I have to tag six people. So I tag: Kellie Black, Elizabeth Cramer, Heather Hill, Kara Noyes, Erin Richardson and Ali Stewart.

Here are the rules:
1. The player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves - try to find 6 you haven't already posted about! (And you can add the six embarrassing moments if you'd like!) :-)

2. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, and then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog for the rules.

Oh how life changes

We had a good Sunday today. Isaac enjoyed his first Sunday in Priesthood with dad since I had to teach. (Another pro to bottle feeding...he can go with dad anytime). :-) And then this afternoon I went to BYD, or Bishop's Youth Discussion. I don't really remember going to these when I was a youth, but I've been thinking a lot today about what it takes to be a youth in our day and age and just the temptations and trials they are being faced with. I reflected back to my days as a youth and now sitting there as a leader reminded me of the influence I can make in the youth's lives. It's just crazy to think that I am a leader--I remember my leaders and how I looked up to them and now that's me, hence the title of the post, oh how life changes. But, Isaac looked so cute today, so I thought I'd share some pictures!

This is him saying, "Seriously, Mom, do we have to take another picture?"

Oh, look at that smile!
Cute little profile...
Mom and son smiling for dad! ( I still can't get over the fact that I am a mom...it's just so fun!! I love it)

This may come as a shock...

So, this post may come as a shock to some--probably as much as how I love to cook (some people can't believe that)--but I love crafts. LOVE crafts. (clarification: I love useful crafts, i.e. things I like and/or can use...that means that scrapbooking is not in my list of useful crafts). I believe my semester in Nauvoo transformed me into a craft lover. But today we had "Super Saturday" in our ward, and I loved it. (I love Super Saturdays!) For those not familiar with what Super Saturday is, it is pretty much a day of crafts. You sign up if you want to go and there are several crafts and classes offered that you can choose and pick what you want to do. So I chose one of the crafts and did four of them because they make great Christmas gifts. I'd post a picture, but some of them are going to people who read this blog!! It was just a great morning; the craft was fun and made me feel creative and productive and the women in our ward are so awesome...so all in all, it was just great. I came home so happy and excited about my completed craft I think I scared Taylor. :-)

Another "crafty" piece of information...well, I don't know if you can consider decorating as a craft, but humor me and go along with this. We bought our first Christmas tree yesterday!!! I was so excited about it that I laid in bed Thursday night thinking about decorating it! (A little absurd, maybe, but I told you this post may come as a shock to some). And all I can do now is think about how it's going to look, I am so excited!! I grew up with artificial Christmas trees, so we went and purchased our own and our first. I was also able to purchase all of our decorations for the tree...I am getting very excited to put it up. My family is coming out to Idaho this year and we are going to do Christmas morning at our house, so that also excites me and puts the pressure on that it has to look good. :-)

I know some people have mixed opinions regarding when you can start decorating for Christmas and when you can put your tree up...some think you have to wait until after Thanksgiving, some think the first of December...well mine are all going up next week!! Three reasons why: first, I am so excited about it that I want them up, second, the month of December goes by so fast that I want to try and avoid the "I just put this all up and now I have to take it down??" (I am big on taking them down once Christmas is over...come the first of the year, they are down) and third, we are going to Utah for Thanksgiving, so I would like to have it all up and cleaned before we leave so we can come home to a warm, decorated and festive home. Which leads to another thought...I can't believe Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks, where has all the time gone?

(Oh and don't you worry, I will definitely post a picture of the decorations and the tree once they are all up) :-)

Family Pictures

This past weekend, while Taylor's entire family came up for Isaac's blessing, we planned to have family pictures taken. They went really well and the weather and lighting was perfect. It's been about three years since the Housley's had a family picture taken, and there have been a lot of additions to the family since then, so it was really good to be all together for these. The pictures are a few of the ones we took with our camera...I'm sure most of you will see more when we send out our Christmas cards...:-).

One Month Old!

I can't believe it, Isaac is already a month old! He's growing right before our eyes. We got some great advice--to take a picture of Isaac in the same spot, with the same teddy bear on the 6th of every month to see how much he grows...so here is a picture of him on the day he was born, Oct. 6: (Note how SMALL he is...)

And here he is today, November 6, one month old:

(Nice profile shot...haha, he wouldn't look at us, he was too fascinated with the light) :)

I can't believe the difference in one month!!

Isaac spent most of the day with Papa. I went up to Rigby with my mom and since it was something that really didn't interest my dad too much, he volunteered to babysit. (I guess I should mention that my parents came out for the blessing and are staying for this week because my dad has some time off of work). So, again, I had some more withdrawal issues...but I lasted a little bit longer this time than the time before. It's just amazing how you have this urge to hold your baby so much after such a short amount of time. Isaac is just my new little buddy that I love being with and holding and cuddling, and it feels so weird to be out without him and without toting all of his things around, i.e. car seat, diaper bag, etc.

Another milestone for Isaac: we took him to his first movie in a movie theater last night! We went and saw the Bee Movie with my little cousins. It was pretty cute--and Isaac did really well through it. I wanted to take a picture, but I forgot the camera at home. :-(

Other (sad) news: I believe I am getting sick. YUCK. I guess the inevitable happened...all the planning, stress, and preparations of the weekend caught up to me combined with little sleep and a lot of germs. My throat is killing me, so I'm constantly sucking on cough drops in hopes it will get better. I just hope Isaac doesn't get sick!! That would just make me so sad to see him sick!

Change in Major

Taylor has decided to change his major and we are both thrilled. Previously, he declared a finance major and was then planning to get his MBA in finance as well. (Talk about a lot of finance!) Taylor got to thinking about this and thought it would benefit him more in the long run if he got his undergrad in something other than finance to diversify himself when he applied to MBA schools.

So, at this point Taylor was thinking about mass communications as his undergrad--I was rooting for this so we could both have the same degrees! Haha...but, another path came into his sight and he has decided to take it. Combined with some other factors that have come up, Taylor has changed and declared his major to be Human Resources with an emphasis in corporate training--the degree is in the college of technology. This degree, for those who aren't familiar with it, prepares the student to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate training in business and industry...a.k.a. TAYLOR! We both really feel this major change is an answer to prayer and is perfect for Taylor. From my understanding, Taylor would go into businesses and help in the human resources with mergers, benefit packages, training, etc. This major is just a very hands-on, people person major which is definitely something Taylor is capable of doing, and I know he will do well in it.

But the REALLY exciting part of this news is Taylor is further along in his schooling than we thought. We're waiting to see if a few of Taylor's classes will go through, and if they do, Taylor will have a full-load year, but it's possible!!

Isaac's Baby Blessing

Today has been a wonderful day! Isaac was blessed today and it was great. We were surrounded by our friends and family--I think we doubled the size of the ward today! We have some amazingly supportive loved ones...Taylor's entire family came up, my entire family was there, friends who drove up from Las Vegas and Provo...it was just great. Taylor gave Isaac a very special blessing in which we both got a little choked up. Following sacrament we headed to First American where we ate a yummy yummy lunch. Look how cute his blessing outfit is.



Girls I grew up with that came out for the blessing...Jessica (drove down from Rexburg), Kellie (drove up from Vegas), me and Afton (drove up from Provo). They are some supportive friends!

Afton and I at our place after the luncheon.
And how Isaac ended the eventful day. :-)
It was a great day!

Soooo Cute!!

Yes, I played dress up again. But seriously, look how cute the hat is!? Haha, I was thinking today that Isaac is going to look at these pictures when he's older and say, "Mom, you played dress up with me!" Ahh, he looks so cute!
I almost caught his smile! The camera was just a touch too slow...or the operator of the camera was. :-)

And then he fell asleep ever so reverently...look at how he's holding his hands, ahh, I was really having fun taking pictures.
Same pose, different angle. :-)
I sure love being a mom to this sweet boy.

Oh...I have a question for you fellow bloggers. How do you do a slideshow of pictures? Ali F, I know you do this a lot, and I thought I knew where to go to post one, but apparently not. Could you or someone please help me out with this?? Thanks!