The Walkers

I took the kids to get pictures taken today. I should have booked the whole family to remedy our last fiasco, but I'm not that smart. It turns out my children can turn out a decent picture or two. I guess they're forgiven. Some of these could use some more editing, which I'll get to eventually, but I had to share them anyway. And no - we couldn't get a single shot of the two of them together.

Family photos sure were a whole lot easier before we had kids. Why is it that in the pictures where Brad looks freakin' hot and my hair looks amazing (let's be honest - it totally does), our kids can't perform? I don't mind Kaiya's non-smile so much, but Benjamin looks kind of like a Troll. But really, how hilarious would it be to actually mail this Christmas card? "Ya, we had a baby. Too bad we like to torture him regularly while showcasing our own vanities. Merry Christmas!"

It's a little unnerving to feel so busy and so tired and yet so unaccomplished. How is it possible that I've done everything and nothing in the last month? Needless to say, life has been crazy around here... finishing end of term grades... receiving much-needed help from family and friends... running on pure adrenaline for weeks... I feel like I'm just starting to get a hang of this mom-of-two-kids thing. Anyhoo, I should probably fill you in on what we've been up to. Kaiya dressed up as a peacock for her first trick-or-treating experience. She was pretty stinkin' adorable. She's been a good helper with Ben and it's been funny watching her use her new found skills during playtime. For example, I caught her nursing and then burping her dolly. She also spent an excessive amount of time swaddling a squash (Yep. I said squash.)and rocking it to sleep. Little Ben is doing really well. He's already gained a couple pounds and grown an inch. He's a pretty ...

Alicia is awesome for posting some pictures of Ben for me. It has been a crazy week and I'm finally getting around to looking at them myself. So here's the story: I was adamant about not going into labor early... I actually had made a to-do list on Thursday, the length of which brought me to tears. What can I say? I've always been a procrastinator. Unfortunately, it looks like Ben has the Walkers' if-you're-not-early-you're-late mentality because he decided to come two weeks early just to teach me my lesson. At about one in the morning last Friday, I woke up to contractions. I didn't want to believe that's what they were and actually tried to go back to sleep. For five minute intervals. Anyway - after deliberating, waking up my hibernating husband (who, for the record, didn't believe me), and taking a very sleepy and confused Kaiya to Amy's, we made it to the hospital at 3:15. Ben was born at 4:01. (Yes, I barely had time for an epidural.) He is ...

Hey, it's Michelle's sister, Alicia. Click here to see baby Ben.

Brad sold his Acura RL last night (within an hour of listing it on KSL!)and has been moping ever since. I don't blame him; this car is amazing and so so pretty! We just need something bigger for our family. It looks like we'll be sharing the Accord and borrowing dead people vans from the mortuary for a couple weeks until we find something new. Poor Brad... he's lost his motorcyle, his car, and a large portion of his former self this month. Be nice to him.

Laurel and Jason were babysitting Kaiya today and managed to capture this moment on video. That's my girl.