Be still my heart

{9 months}

We are absolutely smitten with our sweet Capri and are doing our best to soak in her baby days that are seeming to go by way too fast.

 Slow down my little love.

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Bear Valley {Christmas 2013}

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documenting firsts

Today Capri had her first blowout which ended up turning into a photo shoot. I'm supposed to be resting but I couldn't help documenting such a precious little naked baby girl in a soft ruffled white blanket with the sun shining in. She only had to endure one wardrobe change - a headband. I went easy on her :) She is just a precious little thing to us. I am sure this is just one of many photo shoots...and one of many blowouts! We love you sweet Capri! 

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Capri Isla Officer

3.21.13 - 8:45am - 7 lbs - 19"

It's safe to say that we are all absolutely in love with this little bundle! She's kind of a big deal around here...

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The last of the bump!

FYI - Just wrote a blog post and somehow deleted it so here is the quick version of what I had wrote:

1. I am just over 38 weeks pregnant.

2. I am SO ready to be done being pregnant. I've been struggling with some bad pinched nerves in my lower back and carpel tunnel in my hands. Also, I won't mind having my normal wardrobe back. :)

3. With that said I want to make sure I proclaim my thankfulness for pregnancy. I am grateful God has given us three wonderful children (even though I hardly know the third). I am soaking in all of these last kicks, swirls and hiccups in my belly....as this may be our last.

4. We will meet little miss in 6 days or less.

5. The boys can't wait to meet her (Sterling tells her all sorts of things and even sings a song or two to her).

6. We have installed her car seat and have hospital bags packed 90% of the way.

7. I'm not sure I will be able to sleep the night before my c-section but am hoping I somehow can. 

8. I hope to get pictures of the nursery up this week but may just wait till she is in it :)

9. I had a baby shower this last week and was extremely blessed by so many wonderful woman. Thank you Mary-Hayden, Alissa, Kristy and many more for outdoing yourselves in blessing me and baby girl! I seriously have the sweetest collection of headbands and bows and little girl books! Can't wait to show you all!

10. I had my last prenatal apt last week where they did a growth ultrasound just to make sure she was big enough and she weighed in at 7lbs 2oz. We will see how accurate that is.

10. Our little lady has a name...we think! We are waiting to see her and then will make our final decision out of 4 names ...though we have one that is a favorite.

Here is the last of the baby bump pictures (left - Sterling talking to her and saying "you are so wonderful baby sister" and on the right - a very tired me after we went out to dinner). I don't know why everyone has been telling me I look so small, these pictures prove y'all wrong! I've got a torpedo!

Prayers on Thursday are very appreciated - I am always a little anxious and fearful to go through a c-section again. Thank you!


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back to school...wooohoooo!

...and the wooohooo is from Sterling. I love my littles here at home with me. I would be lying if I didn't give a little wooohooo for the structure and routine school has provided for us (and 3 hrs of alone time) but I never want to send my kids off with the attitude of getting rid of them for the day. We took a parenting class this last year from an amazing family and one of my favorite lines that I took away from it was "I had you to be with you." That is what I want my kids to know and remember. Christmas break was great. We had a lot of good play days in p.j's. and adventures at Charlie Safari, Fantasy Lights and night time drives to look at all the lit up homes. After two weeks off, Sterling was excited to go back to school and I'm happy about that. He loves his teachers, loves his friends and loves doing something out of the ordinary. He was so happy about going back on Monday that he washed his face (even used soap), combed his hair (for a good 10 minutes), named his classmates and put on a button down shirt to look "fancy." It melted my heart. He even wanted his picture taken. He is really growing up. I've loved hearing about his days back to school and having some good conversations that have lead to some great learning moments. I love this boy!

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A Happy New Year to YOU!

The boys were asleep by 9 and we were asleep by 10:30...but have no fear - we woke up at midnight from all the fireworks in our area going off so we rang in the new year with a quick "happy new year to you and goodnight." Party poopers I know. Nothing sounds better than sleep these days (well besides food) to both Justin and I. We are excited for this coming year for some obvious reasons (ahem...one little lady that will make her debut in just 10 weeks) but some simple ones as well. We have faithfully stuck to our cash only system for 9 days now (pat on the back), we plan on paying cash for a 7 seater vehicle and a friend and I are going to go on a Bible reading plan together for the accountability. I'm pretty excited. Hope you all had a great first week of 2013! Cheers to a fresh start!

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2012 flashback

I've been looking through my Picasa albums and reminiscing on 2012. A lot can happen in a year. It's amazing how easily I can forget all the events and life changes that took place over a 12 month period. I am truly thankful for pictures to look back at as they remind me of all the blessings the Lord bestowed upon our little family. Here are some of my 2012 favorites. 

Left to Right Row 1:

Spending every other day at the beach with my boys

Monday nights with our Life Group and experiencing true gospel community

Going to Boston/Connecticut/New York with my family

Sterling starting up another year of preschool and making strides in his verbal skills

Left to Right Row 2:

Watching Boone become a toddler but being reminded that he was still my baby sleeping bottoms up

Going to "Uncle" Eli's wedding and seeing him marry his wonderful bride Emily

An Officer family reunion in Seneca

My ten year HS reunion with my man

Left to Right Row 3:

A girls trip to cannon beach with some of my favorite ladies

Letting the boys share a bedroom and giving it a makeover just for them

Announcing Officer baby #3!

Finding out we are welcoming a baby girl into this family in March

What a blessed year we had. And there is so much that happened beyond these pictures. Celebrating my moms birthday and going to the Broadway Wicked, projects completed, family members having new babies, day trips, out of town visitors, other weddings we attended, baby showers galore and the every day life of lounging in jammies all day with my boys playing with toys are just to name a few. I haven't mapped out goals for 2013 and I know deep down we will be experiencing some sleepless nights with a newborn many of the months of this year. Those days often feels like survival mode. So for now my 2013 mission is my current every day battle which is losing my selfish desires so I can love my family the way Christ would. Simply not losing my patience and being grateful for my little crew here is where I'm at. Cheers to a great 2013!

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Christmas {round 2}

Christmas Morning was quite exciting around here. We did the four gifts again this year for the boys.  Something you want, something you need, something you share and something to read. We have found that it simplifies the shopping. Sterling got his first big boy bike. He has already gone on a bike ride with Justin and is quite the daredevil. He has even told me that he thinks he needs knee and elbow pads. Probably a good idea. :) Their sharing present was Jon and Bradley's (my brothers) old remote control car that my mom put away in her attic. They think it's the neatest thing ever. 

Look at this little fuzzy head!

One of Sterling's favorite gifts this year was a shaving kit from my mom. Cousin drew or "uncle Drew" to my
boys shaved with Sterling - totally made his day! Sterling shaves now everyday just like dad. I have even heard him look in the mirror and say "whoa. I've got work to do," and gets his kit out. What a kid!

Christmas dinner with the whole gang. Good food and good company!

Lots of flannel showed up unintentionally. Love it.

Cheers!

 Santa showed up and handed out some gifts! (Thanks Gordy!)

 Lots of super heroes were running around Christmas evening. Be scared.

And there you have it. A glimpse of our Christmas. I'm not sure how it came and went so quickly and now that we are into January the countdown to baby girls arrival begins! Only 2 1/2 more months and we will get to meet our daughter. I'm already liking the way 2013 is looking! A Happy New Year to you all!

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Christmas {round 1}

We had A LOT of family this year for Christmas and it was wonderful. My mom's entire side of the family all traveled here this year. Her siblings, their spouses and their kids plus my siblings, their spouses and kids plus grandparents and my little family made for 26 Muri's, Burns, Kelpman's and Officer's. It was a ton of fun (and plenty loud) having my cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, niece, nephew and grandparents and my family all under one roof. My sister and I made an itinerary for the family that scheduled some events so there was plenty to do with no excuses of boredom. We had ultimate frisbee, a crock pot soup night, a game night, Christmas Eve church service, Christmas dinners and coffee dates. Here is the first 2 nights of fun in picture form:

Crock Pot soup night at our house!

 Heidi and Bradley (my sister in-law and younger brother)

 My niece Makenna and cousin Sam

 My cousin Molly and Joe

 My wonderful siblings! ...youngest to oldest (L to R)

 ...and my sister and I are pregnant together again! :) Babes due in June and March.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more! Pin It