Adorable Rhyder

I asked Stacie if I could take some photos of Rhyder. As most of you know, I have decided to get into photography and I have an amazing camera to say the least. I don't have photoshop or anything detailing as far as editing goes but I was actually quite happy with the way these turned out.

Here are a just a FEW of my favorite photos of him. I am going to go and do some more on Thursday. I will post those afterwards. I am going to try and get a black background by then so that we can do a lot more with the pictures. When I get photoshop it will be easier to change all of that wonderful stuff. For now, I guess I'm old school but I still love it. I feel that doing it without photoshop makes me have to be more creative and detailed in taking the actual photo. It is easy to make photos look great when you have an adorable baby as your subject.

# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4
# 5

Isn't he adorable! Don't forget to vote on the side. Which one is your favorite?

Grandma to the Rescue

Josh went out of town this last week to Ohio for work and just the day before he left, it all went to pot. On Monday, Chloee was just awful and sick and wouldn't sleep and her cough sounded like it was going into her lungs. We took her in, sick she was alright. She had an awful ear infection, running a fever, RSV and treated her for pneumonia. I wanted to die and of course Josh was going out of town for the rest of the week.

Thanks to my loving mother, I went and spent the time Josh was gone with her. I never could have done it without her. She helped feed, bathe and put Chloee to bed and deal with her NEVER ending fits. I was sick too, so not very much sleep was going on there. She got up one night at 3 am and didn't go back to bed!

The picture above is pretty much what my mom was doing the ENTIRE time we were there. All Chloee wanted was for her "Amama" (which is grandma) to hold her. Poor grandma had to do everything, I couldn't do anything right to that little fatty. Oh well, I was grateful for a break but felt bad for my mom. My mom is so great, she is the only reason I made it through the week to see Josh when he got home. Thanks for everything mom!

Gordon B. Hinckley

I just wanted to post a little something in remembrance of our dear, sweet prophet. He was put in to lead our church in 1995 and did an excellent job. As Josh and I were talking and crying about it last night, we commented on how it feels like we lost a grandpa. Even though neither of us had ever met him, he had such a down to earth, human side to him, which made him easy to relate to.

Now he can be with his wife and with so many other people in Heaven. I am sure that it was a glorious and wonderful day for both him and our dear Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ. If we could all be a little bit more like President Hinckley.

1910-2008

Only One...

As I reflected back on my New Year's resolutions for 2007, I realized that I had only one that I kept, but hey, I actually kept one through out the whole year of '07. I made a resolution to write a thank you note every time someone did something nice for me or my family, anytime a thank you was needed to be said.

For all of you who know me, know that one of my biggest pet peeves is people that are ungrateful. I CANNOT stand when people can't say a simple thank you for a kind deed or thought that someone else did. It makes it hard to want to do anything for that person because you feel like there was such a lack of appreciation when you put thought and love into something for someone else.

Now, before I make myself sound like some saint, I have on many occasions forgot to say thank you and it is inexcusable but we are all human. I am sorry for anyone that I have hurt or offended by not showing you my appreciation and gratitude.

I read once how much more an actual written thank you note means to people rather than just saying it or dropping an email. Granted they are all great and you are showing that you are appreciative. It is the time that someone took out of their day to actually think of you and take the time to write that note. Then to know your address or find it and get a stamp on it and to take it to the post office (my big problem). It really is a hard process but you feel so great when you are done because people know that you truly do appreciate them. Anytime I get a thank you note in the mail, I really think about how much effort that person put into letting me know that they are grateful.

I'm not saying that I'm some wonderful person who did this. I'm sure I missed many occasions that called for one and many were late. I always tried to write it down and post it on a cabinet so that I would see it every day. It made me feel much better and I want to challenge any one else to do the same. You gain a new appreciation for others because as you are writing it, once again, you are reminded of something sweet or noteworthy that someone else did for you.

I have never kept a resolution and I am glad that this one stuck!

The Mommy Survey

My sister, Amy did one of these mommy surveys that are going around on blogs. I thought I'd pass it along but first, you have to check out my sister on her blog. The picture she posted of herself in the hospital with Kai is just something you can't not laugh at. I can say that, she says that about herself. The web address is: www.allefam.blogspot.com

Here I am on my birthday, just 2 days before I had Chloee and only 1 day before I went into labor. I was huge, to say the least!

After the epidural and a million tubes/wires (or whatever) going into me, a lot of which you can't see! I was still very uncomfortable the entire time, she was posterior the entire time and I felt like my tailbone was sitting on a bowling ball.

After a 30 hour labor, oh the relief!

Ok, I know I can't make too much fun of Amy, look at me. When I was dilated to a 9, I just stopped and they had to put me on the pit, hence all the swelling!


After she finally arrived!

1. Age(s)? Almost 20 months

2. Name(s)? Chloee Renae

3. Birthday(s)? 6/3/06

4. Time(s) of birth? 10:46 am

5. How long did labor last? 30 stinking long hours, my epidural had mostly worn off by the time I actually had her.

6. Who was in the room when baby was born? Josh, my mom, the wonderful, Dr. Horsley and a nurse.

7. How long did you push? 2 1/2 hours and they still had to use the forceps to get her out, she was so big (for me and for a first time baby).

8. Weight? 8 lbs. 4 oz.

9. Length? 20 1/2 inches

10. Any hair? A little bit as you can see from the picture.

11. Who does baby look like? We usually hear that she is a good mix of us both!

12. Be honest...how much weight did you gain while pregnant? 50 pounds and it was (and is) everywhere. My sister-in-law, Stacie, makes me want to barf, she had a big tummy with her 2nd baby but it was all baby, no widening hips, no extra weight ANYWHERE. When I went to her house after the baby was just 2 weeks old, she was wearing her JEANS from before the baby. She's so skinny, it just isn't fair!

13. Was baby early or late? 6 days early and I was so glad, my doctor was going out of town over my due date. He was already gone on his vacation before I left the hospital, hence, I think I had so many problems after. Should have had that transfusion.

14. Who drove you home from the hospital? Josh

15. How many baby showers did you have? 2

16. When did baby start sleeping through the night? At 4 months, literally, the night I stopped breast feeding.

17. Did you breastfeed? Only for 4 months. After 3 breast infections, my doctor made me stop, I was happy, never really liked it. I guess it is just for some people and not for others. It didn't help that I had no energy to feed her considering that my hematocryte was so low when I came home from the hospital. When I stopped breast feeding, I finally felt like I had energy to actually get dressed in the morning.

18. Who takes care of your baby/kids the most? Me!

19. When do you want to have another one? Not any time soon!

20. How did you pick the name(s)? We were really into watching Smallville when I was pregnant and we loved the character Chloe. She was so feisty and opinionated (much like ours) so we went with the name but a different spelling. Chloee with the 2 e's is after me like the Kimberlee spelling and her middle name is after my dear, sweet mother, whom I love very much!

21. How did you know when it was time to go to the hospital? Lost my mucus plug at 5 am and on came the contractions!

22. Anyone spend the night with you the first night home? Josh, obviously and my mom. In fact, my mom stayed with me every night for the first 2 weeks. I was so weak and could hardly even feed her myself and then she stayed during the week (Josh had to commute to work the next day) for probably 2 months. She honestly saved me, she was a saint. She would go home when Josh got home and work her job for 3 hours and come back and stay with me. Don't worry, it wasn't bad for Josh, he adores my mom so it wasn't an inconvenience for him. We had a lot of fun nights together. She helped both Josh and I make a smooth(er) transition into parenting with her help. We both are so grateful for all she did and sacrificed for us! Love you mom!

23. Did you cry the first time you held your baby? No, but Josh did, which was neat. As bad as this sounds, I just didn't care, I was so happy to have her finally be out. I was delirious.

24. Where was the baby born? Logan, UT

25. Did you video tape the birth? No, I didn't even use the mirror, I don't want to see that. I do know lots of people that have and love it though, just personal preference.

My little brother, Jordan, left for his mission just 3 days before she was born. That was sad for me but come June, he will get to see a mischievous 2 year old that he's never seen before.

Feel free all you mommies to fill out the survey if you like, it's really fun to reminisce and realize all you did to bring your little one or ones into the world!

A Fun Visit

Josh's mom and the two little squirts (as Josh calls them) came to visit last week. Ty and Rachael were off track for school and Gary was on a business trip so they came to visit us.

Chandler came with grandma. His mom, Stacie, just had a baby. You can see the little cutie in an older post. We have an old swing set that the previous owners left in the backyard.

Even though these threes relationship are uncle, aunt and nephew, I think they play together as brothers and sister. Ty is 9, Rachael is 7 and Channy will turn 4 in April.

When Josh comes home and goes outside to play is when the REAL fun starts. Tyler taunts Josh, Josh tackles Tyler and Chandler tackles Josh.

She wanted to be pulled and pulled and pulled in the sled. Of course, she threw a fit when she had to come in. It is really hard to distract her from ANYTHING that she has her mind set to doing.

Grandma's babies, well, I guess now there is Rhyder, so this picture isn't complete. Notice their rosey cheeks from being outside when it was FREEZING!!

Grandma and her girls. Granted one is her actual daughter and one her grand-daughter but it's all the same right? Rachael got hurt outside and cut her lip open.

We took a bunch of fun pictures of the little girls together. Rachael picked out Chloee's clothes so that they could look a like.

"Here Rach, eat this snow that I found for you and you will like it." That doesn't sound like the Chlo does it now?

Now they eat the snow together. I think they sat out there for a good, at least, half an hour just eating snow. I was sick with the flu while they were here and Kathy took care of Chloee, fed, bathed, put her down for naps, EVERYTHING for me. She saved me, I never could have done it without her. Ty and Rachael also helped lots by playing and loving Chloee. We had a fun few days but then they went home and Chloee cried for her grandma. It was very cute!

Snow Day

On December 30th, we all slept over at my mom's house to celebrate the new year. I know we did it a day early because Annie and Marcus were going back to California on the 31st. We played outside in the snow, it was Chloee's first time with "Noooow" as she calls it. That is snow for anyone who didn't understand that.

She loved to lay in the sled on her tummy!

Do you like how she is using Kai as her own personal cushion? Kai and Chloee had fun being pulled in the sled together.

She looks so comfortable laying down and giving Kai absolutely NO room for himself.

Cute... what else to say?

Kai and Kennet together. Their mom was taking them down a hill and as you can see, Kai, did not want to go. He was screaming, "Noooo, STOP!!" Notice Kennet isn't even phased.

I loved this picture of Kennet. It is one of those glimpses into his sweet side that he doesn't want you to even know he has.

Chloee actually fell asleep in the sled. Her head was down and she was positively ASLEEP. When the sled would stop moving she would mumble in sleep-talking voice, "More", it was all faint and adorable. Yeah, needless to say, she had a cow when we took her in, screaming the entire time until she zonked out on the bed.

These last two of my sister are so cute. Amy and Kennet cheesing it in the above picture. Here Amy is with her husband, whom we all terribly miss. Micheal joined the Army and left for basic training a week ago tomorrow. This goes out to my sister who is going to be a single mom for the next 4 months. You are amazing, you have shown strength, love, dedication and compassion in the choice you made to support Micheal in his decision to join the Army. I love you to pieces and I will be here for you all the time. You are such a great example of selflessness. Love You!

The New Testament

Today, January 14, 2008 we finished the New Testament. First, we finished the one that we read to Chloee at night before she goes to bed. The one on the right is hers, you know the watered down version with lots of pictures in it. We have now finished the Doctrine and Covenants and now the New Testament with her.

Josh and I have been reading the New Testament for Latter-Day Saint Families for 1 year now and we finally finished it. It is a big book. The book is the exact same as the scriptures it just has better explanations and extras that give you more insight to what you are reading. It may have taken us a year but we finally did it! We tried to read a chapter a day, sometimes it only ended up being 5 versus but we finally completed it and I must say, it feels good.

As we were reading through the last book of the New Testament, Revelation, I realized how incredibly close the 2nd coming is and how unprepared I am. It was actually quite scary and intimidating thinking about all of the things I need to do do get where I want to be. I felt like I really had a new understanding of Revelation as we read the book with further insight of added documentation mentioned by so many prophets and apostles.

We are now going to start on the Book of Mormon. We are definitely going to keep with the books for the latter-day saint families. That was one of our 2007 New Year goals. We were a little late, but better late than never.

A New Cousin

Rhyder Timothy Peterson was born on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 1:12 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 21 inches long. Isn't he so adorable!!

Stacie (Josh's sister), Tim and new baby, Rhyder. Josh and I both commented on the fact that Stacie was probably the first person we have ever seen right after they had their baby that didn't look and act like they were completely wasted. When we went and saw her, she was upbeat, peppy and didn't mind having visitors. Not pictured here is Chandler, the other part of the family but he's below.

Big brother, Chandler, takes a turn holding his new baby brother.

I just loved this picture, I had to put it in. They are just so fresh and new for such a short while. Why not cherish that time?

Moms know best! It was so fun to see Stacie love the new addition to her family as well as Tim. They both make great parents. Congrats Stacie, Tim and Chandler. How fun this is to start a new chapter in your lives with yet another fun spirit to warm your home. We hope the very best for you!

Doctor Drama

Yesterday in the middle of the night, I woke up with the fun big D. Fun all night long. Josh and Chloee must have had the same virus just 5 days prior. It hit both of them with just the BU (butt urine) as my mother-in-law put it. I had that and the upset stomach that brings the throw up. Luckily Kathy (Josh's mom) and Ty and Rach were here visiting so I had someone here to help me. I know, no fun for them but an ENORMOUS blessing for me.

After not being able to eat anything all day, it just got worse the dry heaving increased and I had to change my clothes a couple of times. I was headed to a doctor appointment that I had previously made for something else. In the event that I wasn't feeling so well, I asked Josh to come with me.

When we got to the doctor's office he wanted to do a blood test, yadde yah.... I do great having my blood drawn, after being pregnant it just doesn't bother me. Josh is a different story. So he was drawing my blood and he only took 3 tubes when all of a sudden I didn't feel so well. My hearing started fading and eyes started shutting and before I knew it, I guess I was out. I came to after being out for probably 30 seconds Josh said and I didn't know where I was and I suddenly had to puke. They lifted me up on the examining table rolled me over and I hurled all over, it was even in my hair, they caught most of it though. I had to lay there and they put cold paper towels on my head. What? I have had 7 tubes taken at one time and walked out of there fine and drove myself home. No biggie! I attribute it to already being super weak from the virus and not eating that it just pushed me over the edge. It was not fun. I actually don't think I have ever passed out before.

Well, there you have it, my doctor drama. It was just one thing after the other. You know locking myself out of the house, being sick, among other things and then to try and drive home from the hospital after that. NIGHTMARE. I am just glad that Kathy was here, I didn't have to take Chloee with me and she played with her and took care of her, fed her, bathed her, put her down for naps and got up with her in the morning. She was a total lifesaver. Oh, and so were Ty and Rachael, who played with her the entire time. I never would have got through it without them.

Screaming for Sanity

Ok, not been the best hour, day, week, month, whatever you want to call it for me! I will skip the boring part and give a brief rundown. I am not doing so well with this move. Chloee definitely is not doing well, she NEVER sleeps and is ornery 24-7, thus, so am I. It has been very hard.

It all started when Chloee woke up from her nap at 11 am. I took a nap at the same time because I was so exhausted and I have not felt good lately. I went in her room to find that she had diarrhea. Oh joyous! I was still in my pj's and no bra (I know it was 11 am but cut me some slack here). Anyway so I was taking the dirty diaper out and before I did, I opened the window in the bay so that Chloee could watch me. I run around to the garbage can and I came back to open the door AND IT WAS LOCKED. Anyone who knows me knows that at my house EVERY door is locked all the time. The stupid new locks on the house let you turn the knob even if it is locked so you tend to think that it is unlocked.

In a total panic and at absolute breaking point, I just stood outside SCREAMED and cried in total failure of not knowing what to do. Do I call a locksmith? Oh crap, I don't even have my cell phone! Bawling hysterically at the window, I realized that I couldn't hold my little girl and that I was completely helpless. She started to cry when I was crying so I knew I needed to be strong.

I ran over to my neighbors (whom I don't even know) and in the midst of the crying asked to use their phone. I called Josh at work and told him what was going on and was on his way. I came running back out and she was nowhere to be found. I knocked on the window and she came running. My neighbor brought me a coat and stood outside with me. We tried to keep her at the window until Josh got home but she soon got bored. Oh what a shocker?

She climbed up on the kitchen table's chairs and then to the table and was dancing around on top of the table. I wanted to die. It was absolute horror, she went right to the edge of each corner, all the while staring at me through the window laughing at how I couldn't touch her. Oh, the horror, I almost threw up then and there. You see she can get up on the table but she can't get down. It was so hard, I was in actual hell for the longest 20+ minutes of my life.

Josh showed up and we got in before she decided to nose dive off the table. My stomach was still upset HOURS afterwards and it just wouldn't calm down. That is something I never want to relive.

Paris Hilton's Little Sister...

In one of the previous posts of my sister, Amy, she told a "stupid" moment story of herself, thus calling herself, Paris Hilton. Well then, since I am Amy's little sister, you can now call me Paris Hilton's little sister. Now in my defense, I was so tired from moving for 3 days and I was running on pretty much NO sleep.

This is a nice picture of the fridge at our new house. I was so excited because it had a lock on it. Yeah, now Chloee can't push the water and ice button all day. I kept trying to lock it but no matter how many times I locked it, the water and ice still came out. I was so mad, "you've got to be kidding me, I have a stupid faulty fridge that doesn't do what it says it will", I believe were my words.

Between huffs and puffs, I searched for the manual, only to find out I was screaming about not being able to understand it and that was because it was in SPANISH. Ok, so I am about to lose it when my mom points out something very OBVIOUS (when you are running on all cylinders and actually thinking clearly). Well, you can see from the picture that I was not looking at the little symbols, I was reading the words, left to dispense and right to lock. It looked like the words were telling me. Clearly, it says "dispenser lock" but with no sleep the words made sense until my mom said, "Look at the pictures you have it backwards." Oh my, we laughed about that for some time. Not really funny unless you were there! Just thought I'd share my Paris Hilton story!

Best Gift

I received the best gift for Christmas. I have been wanting to get into photography for some time now and I finally have my dream camera to do it.

Josh and I were talking about how I needed something for me to distinguish myself from Chloee's full time slave/mother from Kimberlee. This is something I have always wanted to do and I am so excited to start this new and fun adventure.

I am so thankful for an extremely supportive husband in every new idea I have. I guess I'll keep him! :)

Farewell :(

We said good-bye to our sweet home in Providence on Saturday, December 15, 2007. It was as my sister put it, "bittersweet". It was bitter to leave having so many memories in that home of 3 1/2 years, it almost felt impossible to leave. We built the home so we were its only owners. In July of 2004, after only being married for less than one year we embarked on our new adventure of owning a home. With Josh still in school and 2 more years to go and I working for a homebuilder, let's just say that we were in the right place at the right time and were VERY blessed.

It has been quite an adjustment moving into a home older than our other one and having previous owners, it just doesn't feel quite like "home" to me. Ok, enough of my sob fest. Here are some great pics of us starting our new journey in the homeland of "West Point".

Here we are waving "bye" to our home. I think I literally wore that outfit (if you could even call it that) for 3 days straight as we boxed, cleaned and (I) had emotional breakdowns.

The mountains were literally in our backyard. Oh, we loved that house!

How on Earth can 2 1/2 people fill up a 26' moving truck? Scary. What is going to happen when we have kids that are teenagers and they have a lot of stuff? I guess that is what you get when you have a husband who is a pack-rat. Now, in his defense, he did throw out a lot of stuff!

My mom cleaned and helped me box all week. She was a cleaning machine, I swear you could have came in with a white glove and not found a spot of dust or dirt anywhere. This was on Friday, my dad, Josh and Micheal moved everything out to the truck. Here the kids are having a pizza break using grandma as furniture.

During the week while we were boxing up stuff, she found these glasses and this police badge and went around moving boxes like mommy and daddy. It was really cute seeing her think she was helping.

In the sweetest, kindest words possible, let's just say, "Chloee did not adjust well, at all". She didn't want to sleep at the new house, she got up at 5:30 am every morning then she got sick and after only being here for 2 days, I had to find a doctor. It ended up being an ear infection. I was sick myself and depressed from all the boxes and missing the old house that I just packed us up and we spent a few days with my mom to save my sanity.

Overall, this has been a big adjustment for me. Especially where I have never lived outside of Cache Valley, I get lost a lot and I just feel alone. I am not one who deals well with change but I'm trying to change my attitude.

The most definite "sweet" part of the bittersweet is that Josh doesn't have to travel 2+ hours a day anymore. No matter how hard this move may be for me or our little family, I know it is right and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I am looking forward to being able to spend more time with Josh and not have to worry about if the weather is bad or if the canyon is a white-out. I am so excited to have him close for all those close encounters that felt like he was states away when I needed him. Also, we are BOTH excited about the huge slash in our gas bill.

THANK YOU to everyone who helped us move, offered to help us move and did so much for us. My dear friend Maren brought in dinner on Friday night, she watched Chloee for hours on end and Lance & her changed their Saturday plans around and Lance drove down with Josh in the truck and also helped unload with Micheal and Josh. Oh where would we be without our great family and friends? Love all of you and thanks again!!!

HELPFUL FORGETTING: While we were up this week visiting my family for New Years, we drove past our old home. The woman has a dog in our house (which makes me want to puke), it's a poodle. She has chicken wiring or something around the patio and cut a gaping, huge hole in the side of the house for her precious little dog to have a doggy door. Josh almost started to cry. We kept such good care of it and cleaned it to the hilt, it just goes to show you that people will change it and it no longer feels like yours anyway and that helps with the healing process!