Christmas Lights

This is the second year that we've gone with Tiffani & Andrew to look at Christmas lights. We started the night at Andrew's parents' house singing a few Christmas songs & hearing the Nativity story. We then ate dessert, gathered hot chocolate for our walk, & headed out to look at lights. We bundled up in winter gear to stay warm while we walked through the neighborhood - I learned last year that flip flops & a sweatshirt weren't enough to stay warm, so this year I came prepared.

Our little family saying hello to Frosty.

Scott & AndrewTiffani, Carson, & me - I love the look on Carson's face. He looks horrified.

Ugly Sweater Party

The Goulding's Annual Ugly Sweater Party:
Ornament White Elephant Gifts

The Boys: Marc, Aaron, Scott & Will, Carey, Troy, Jim, Jonathan

The Gals: Janice, Emily, Melanie, me, Jillian, Shana, Chelle

Photos of the last few weeks

Gail giving William a bath: Dennis & Gail stayed w/ us for a week after Thanksgiving, so they could help take care of Will (& help w/ the waterfall) after my 2nd round of Mastitis Home from a walk w/ Grandma & Grandpa: William loves spending time outside. Seriously mom? Why am I dressed like a lumberjack?I went to Danville last weekend for a friend's bridal shower. We got to spend time w/ Nana & Papa & Sammie.William & Kathy (Caitlin's mom) finally got to meet - he loved snuggling w/ her.

Finally sleeping after fussy time. He was passed around from me to Nana to Papa & finally to Sammie - she had the magic touch. On Wednesday, Scott, Will, & I went to Danville to meet up w/ my best friend, Caitlin, who was visiting the Bay area for a couple days. Will loved meeting his Aunt/Godmother Caity. Playing w/ his new friend - a butterfly that hardly ever fails to entertain him. Thanks for the early Christmas present Grandma & Grandpa: Will loves his new toy!

If you have 7 minutes . . .

If interested . . . Copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie/commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I stood outside the gate . . . does that count?)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (members of "Reel Big Fish" & "Yellowcard")
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (twice in one soccer game)

I got tagged

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
* Took care of William
* Played "Sorry" & "Yahtzee" w/ Emily & Aaron
* Watched "Deal or No Deal" w/ Scott
* Got frustrated w/ my ridiculous neighbor
* Tried uploading pictures to Costco
* Had the missionaries over
* Ate sandwiches that Scott made me
* Debated over & over whether or not to keep nursing

8 Things I Look Forward to:
* Christmas (Susan & her family are coming out, & I can't wait to meet Leah!)
* Seeing Caitlin tomorrow
* William's baby blessing (Dec. 21)
* Decorating our Christmas tree
* Ugly Sweater party
* Looking at Christmas lights w/ the Morgans
* Going to the temple to look at more Christmas lights
*Watching Christmas movies

8 Restaurants I Like: (just 8?)
* BJ's
* Pei Wei
* Cheesecake Factory
* Fuddrucker's
* Boudin's
* First Awakenings
* Great Impasta
* CPK

8 Things On My Wish List:
* Time to just sit and watch unlimited movies & read the books on my ''to read" list
* Have Caitlin help me decorate my house (& have it in the budget to do so)
* My family & friends to be healthy & happy
* Get back on a schedule, so I can be more productive
* Finish my family photo wall
* Finish my quilts I've been working on (or not) for over a year
* Be able to dance again (why don't they offer dance classes for adults besides ballroom & tap?)
* Have the confidence to sing

8 Favorite TV Shows: (or movies b/c I don't watch much TV)
* Friends
* I Love Lucy
* House
* Pride & Prejudice
* Finding Neverland
* August Rush
* Harry Potter series
* My Fair Lady

The Waterfall's Done!

Well, Scott & Dennis did it again. One more big project completed, & it only took 3 days (minus a little prep work).

Our amazing neighbor, Allen, came over to help with the electrical. Adjusting the flow of the water by moving the rocks.All done! Good job babe - it looks beautiful!

To nurse or not to nurse

I always thought I was going to breastfeed my babies - it's healthy for the baby & the mother, it helps prevent SIDS, it's free, it's a great way to bond with your child - I'm sure the list could go on. After having mastitis the first time, I was terrified to start nursing again. I didn't want to go through that horrible experience again. However, I thought it was important to continue nursing - I was determined to do whatever was best for my baby. When I got mastitis for the second time, I thought, "I'm done. I can't keep doing this." I felt so heartbroken though. Earlier that day, I was thinking of how wonderful it was to be past the painful part of nursing & to be able to enjoy that time with William, but it changed so suddenly.
Today, I had an appointment with my OB/GYN. When I told him I was done nursing, he told me I should keep trying. He said I was so close to being past the worst part & that if I could just nurse 2 weeks more without any complications, I should be fine. - - - My doctor is not one of those "do everything natural" type. When I told him I wanted to try natural childbirth, he said, "Why?" He told me there was nothing shameful about having an epidural, & there was no reason why I should put my body through the pain - there was nothing to prove. Because of this, I was surprised he didn't tell me to forego the possibility of mastitis again & to just give William formula. Rather, he encouraged me to breastfeed & told me how my body was adjusting really well to nursing (besides the infections I was getting from the baby, of course). He also told me he always figured me for the type of woman who would really want to breastfeed her child. When he said this, I was sold. He was absolutely right, and I wanted to keep trying. - - - SO - I've decided to give nursing another go. Hopefully everything goes well - at least I'm praying that it does;).