Christmas Cookies!

So tomorrow is Katey's 2 year birthday and for her party we decided to frost Christmas cookies with all her little friends.  So of course for preparation we had to make the cookies...and eat LOTS of cookie dough!

Oh and she had to open some very strategic presents from Nana & Pappy.

Cookie cutters I grew up with! She just wanted to play with them....until she saw another package :)

New apron made by Nana!

That matches Daddy's from last Christmas!

Now on to the cookies!

She very quickly discovered it was more fun to EAT the dough then actually help with the cookies :) Such a smart girl!

Caught red handed!

Looks like she's helping right?...

Nope, just gleaning some extra from the edges :)

"Oh you caught me!"

"Ok then why the pretense! Lets just dive in!"

Such a happy almost two year old!

And a few pics of the VERY pregnant mommy...

36 1/2 weeks, can't wait to see our other little girl!

Short video of our girl...believe me though, she talks A LOT more than this, not exactly an accurate representation but still cute!

34 weeks

Its been a very eventful last few weeks but I was aloud to get up to stand in front of the tree for these pics...dont worry I sat right back down after :)

I have such a little bitty belly huh! :) 

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!