Christmas Starts here :)

Day after Thanksgiving brings one of my fav traditions, getting the tree!  So off we set today, all bundled up in thick coats, gloves and boots to get a Christmas tree...well...it was raining...and we weren't feeling all that adventurous...so we ended up adventuring all the way to Home Depot!  

There in the midst of the non-muddy terrain and non-cold abundance of trees, we picked ourselves out a GORGEOUS 7 foot, pre-lit, berry-wood pine tree, normally $130 but on sale for $49 because of Black Friday! 

So home we came, warm and not soaking or muddy to decorate our tree! I have to say, I know i'm a traitor for getting my very first artificial tree and my parents will most-likly be VERY disappointed in me (hehe), I LOVE IT!!! 

Here are a few pics of decorating & stuff :)

 Katey "Helping" to fan the tree branches

Then she insisted on sitting in Daddy's lap to help him :)

Our beautiful tree!!!

I have to take you in a little closer though to show you some of my fav things about decorating the tree...

Remembering Joe & I's first Christmas together,

And our second, just beginning to be the KNAPP family (and not expecting Katey until after new years),

and Katey's first Christmas with us...only 6 days old.

Last Christmas, Katey was just 1 and LOVED the lights...

And Charissa was with us, and we danced to techno while we decorated the tree :)

And then I step back again and see the candle my husband got me cause he knows I love the flickering lights, the poinsettia he picked up because he knew I was low, and the Christmas tree he lovingly chose with me and agreed to do all the work setting it up and I just can't help but be all warm and fuzzy inside...this is why I love Christmas and my life!

Recent goings on...

I just wanted to put a little update on here for concerned and caring friends and family about the recent goings on in the Knapp household.  Little Anna, it seems, has some thoughts about making an early arrival.  I am admittedly not very good at slowing down and have had a VERY busy last few weeks trying to wrap up holiday shoots, go on vacation, and well...just chase around an almost two year old. It seems that Anna has decided I need to slow down.

Early last weekend I noticed a change in how Anna was sitting (she dropped) as well as an increase in the number and intensity of the "Braxton Hicks" contractions.  It didn't necessarily "concern" me but it did make me take notice, and after a VERY busy weekend, I called my Dr on Monday morning.  After hearing my description she said she'd like to see me so in I went Monday afternoon (since it was the only day that week she had office hours).   

Well, without making a huge story too long she didn't like the results of the exam nor the print out of the time I spent hooked up to the monitor (watching the contractions) and sent me directly over to the hospital for more monitoring and a shot to stop the contractions.  Good news is the shot worked to stop the contractions almost immediately, the not so great but not horrible news is that the pills she sent me home with to keep them stopped...haven't totally worked.  I mean, they keep the contractions mostly gone...if i stay on my butt.  So that was the Dr's orders...double the dosage and stay on your butt.  I am able to do some things but as soon as I start contracting I have to get off my feet and relax until they go away...sometimes this takes a hot bath too.

So Tuesday and Wednesday I pretty much just sat around with Joe doing EVERYTHING and on Thanksgiving morning my amazing Midwife met us at the hospital to do another test that would, in essence, determine the risk of us actually delivering in the next 10-14 days, and the awesome news was that the test came back negative!!!  This is a relief to Joe and I, and although I still have to obey and take the contraction-stopping pills as well as get off my feet when I contract, which still is about every time I stand up, I am not TECHNICALLY on bed rest :). 

Another small note I have to put in here is how amazing my husband has been. He not only took off work to take care of us but has since done ALL the cleaning, cooking and shopping as well as spoiled me rotten!  He made homemade clam chowder and rolls Wednesday night, oh and my favorite cookies. Then he proceeded to get me a new mattress topper a poinsettia AND put on Christmas music BEFORE thanksgiving, just because he knew it was hard for me not to be with all the family during the holidays. He has gone above and beyond everything necessary and truly sought just to make me happy.  I seriously feel like the luckies girl in the world...oh not to mention he is taking amazing care of Katey too...haha!  

Thank you all for your prayers, I know they have been many and I have felt them.  I know this could be a hard time but truly with the support of my amazing husband, daughter, friends and most of all my Lord, this has truly been a GREAT week and I'm truly thankful!

Love you ALL

Happy Thanksgiving!

Em

Piggy Tails!

So, many  of you know Katey's hair has not been the quickest at growing (just like her mommy's), but I am proud to announce that this week, for the first time in her life (drum roll please), we managed PIGGY TAILS!!!

For some reason having her hair up just makes her look so much older to me and its so much easier to see her as a little girl instead of a little baby.  I LOVE THEM, they are very fitting for a big sister don't you think?!

Its hard to catch an almost two year old, you can easily get the back of her head when you don't want to, but when you do...good luck! haha

Eagle Crest, 4 year Anniversary & 31 weeks prego!

We have such awesome friends! This last week our friends the Pietzold's invited us to go for a week with them to their time share in Redmond, OR (right outside of Bend)!  It was such an awesome week, I wouldn't necessarily say it was "relaxing" as we had three very energetic toddlers under the same roof, but it was so much fun to let them play together and enjoy just being kids! 

All bundled up for a brisk, November walk along the river!

Jeremy & Lisa!

Ty & Katey walking all on their own, no strollers for this walk! And honestly, they ran most of the way!Oh to have the energy of a toddler!

"Smiling" for the camera!

Our scenery!

Isn't it amazing!

Holding Daddy's hand!

Lisa & Zac in their matching hats :)

Three friends!

Ty in his cuteness!

Daddy's treat!

We spent a lot of time together as families going for a walk along the river (above pics), going to Sisters & playing at the park...

 (pics taken with my phone so excuse the quality :) )

...making homemade pizza and lasagna and just hanging out at the "house",

 but we also decided to let each other take some time off...and play without the kids!

  One day Jer & Joe got to go do an incredible geo cache extravaganza that included, I think, 25 caches all laid out in the shape of a smiley face...thats their idea of fun :) haha.  Then the next day, they graciously took the kids and Lisa and I got to go...well do whatever we wanted! It felt so extravagant and fun! The biggest blessing was being able to actually shop without having to have one eye tracking your toddler and half of your brain focused on what they could be getting in to and how to entertain them! And then we even went to lunch... and got to sit AND TALK!!! haha the things you appriciate as a mother, it was a great day! 

Then the next afternoon Jeremy and Lisa kept Katey and Joe and I got to go out for our first date in...well a while. And it just happened to be our 4 year anniversary!

Quick preggy belly shot (31 weeks)

And a 4 year anniversary shot! Oh I love that guy!

Our evening was so memorable and I'd have to say the highlight of my week! First of all, its been a while since we've gotten out together... just to be together! We just meandered around the Old Mill District in Bend, going in fun shops and just enjoying each other! Then we grabbed some quick coffee before going to see an amazing movie (Inception--highly recommended).  Then we sat down next to the river in a GREAT Italian restaurant and had calamari, seafood alfredo and I even got an Italian soda! Oh but my fav part of the dinner was that we sat on the same side of the both and cuddled! haha yeah I know i'm mushy!  Oh and then we went out to ice cream to cap it all off! I love being married to this man and although I think that thought often, I thought it a lot that night and it was a good way to celebrate 4 years!

We had an amazing time that week, and made lots of great memories!

Grandma & Grandpa's visit (10/31/10)

So, the Rhodes came the weekend of my birthday, left the 24th, my parents came that night and stayed through the next Sat morning, then my wonderful in-laws paid us a visit and were able to stay Sat afternoon through Monday!  Lots of company but oh how we loved it!

Grandpa picked out some new overalls for her and we had to go show them off! He has such good taste!

And Grammy enjoyed some loves in the mean time :)

Again, only a few pics were taken, but that doesn't' mean our time wasn't captivating!

Joe grew up with a relaxing family day tradition of going to the mall, walking around, people watching and just enjoying the time together...so thats what we did! Katey was getting to be a pro at running up and down the mall and even talked Nana into going on the Carousel with her! 

Haha, she just thought she was the queen!

They also picked out some new books together and "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" has been a favorite in the house ever since! 

Oh and at least one of Grandpa's hand puppets (lion, giraffe , hippo, and monkey) goes with us almost every where we go, and sometimes two of them. One for her and one for what ever friend we are going to see!  

Its so great to be able to connect with family on multiple levels, not just enjoying the wonderful little people running around, but also really enjoying each other. I know a lot of people aren't as blessed in their in-laws but we truly are among the most blessed.  This visit was just another one of many and I am very thankful for the love and wisdom they give so freely! 

Nana & Pappy Visit! (10/29/10)

Yay! My parents (AKA Nana & Pappy) came to visit!  I always love it when people come to visit, but when your parents live a ways away, its such a precious and amazing time to have them come, stay at your home, sit and talk on the couch, and, of course...show off their grand daughter!

She loved their truck and still talks about "Pappy's red 'big tuk'!"

Kisses all around!

Love her pucker!

(Pouty face..they had to leave :( )

 But I have to admit that I've been slacking when it comes to getting the camera out for non-work related things, and therefore only have a few pics of our visit. But as I still want to remember all the amazing things we did and the great time we had, I'm just going to tell you about it! 

If any of you have been around me for very long you would know that vacations are something that are VERY hard for me to wait for! It always seems that Joe & I set a destination time and proceed to leave at least a few hours...if not a day or so before it! But in my defense, this was taught to me! My parents, true to tradition, showed up not on Monday morning as they had said, but Sunday night, the night of my birthday, to surprise us!  Well...I am my parents daughter...and expected them but was so thrilled to have them even for a few hours longer!  They were able to stay almost a whole week and we had such a blast going to Powells book store, taking Katey to the mall to run on rainy days and watching her ride on the Carousel (a big one that she actually loved!), eating all of the meals that only my mommy can make, taking walks, picking out material for projects in Katey's room (yes I had a "daddy-do" list :) ) and just sitting around watching Katey play and enjoying each others company.  

Katey took no time at all to re-attach to Nana & Pappy and even chose to wake up about an hour before her normal rise time every morning to play with Pappy...something he didn't mind in the least!  When ever they visit I get to hand over the baby monitor and if Katey needs anything in the night, or when she's ready to get up...Nana & Pappy get to "have fun" :).  I love it & they love it, how is this a bad plan!

Katey was very ready to share her love of singing with them and was very willing to teach them "river" (I"ve got a river of life) , Jesus loves me, Deep and Wide and many more as well as sharing her ENTIRE book collection (even though we mostly just read the first page).  

Its so fun to share your life with people who you love and love you! Thanks for the visit Mom & Dad, can't wait to see you again in Jan!