6 months old and counting our blessings every single second of every day

Well hello world! I have been neglecting this cute blog that I so eagerly started 8 months ago and now I miss the idea of it so much I just had to come update it! So much has changed in our lives in the last couple of months. We moved back down to the beach and are staying with Grandpa and Mame for a few more months and then we will be out on our own. I recently just picked up a part-time job at a new restaurant down the street called Slaters 50/50 and am helping support our little family. It hasn't been easy leaving baby girl, but I keep reminding myself how lucky I am to get to come home to her everyday. I am blessed to hold her in my arms and lucky to have more time with her than not with her. I am loving every minute of watching her grow and learn how to crawl and sit and watching her teeth pop in one by one. She has 8 now at the young age of 6.5 months! Here are a few pictures of her!

These last few weeks have been trying with me getting a "third job" and I just stumbled upon this new song by Laura Story and I must share it for anyone who might read this at one point. It helps bring back perspective into my life and makes me grateful for all that I have. Here are the lyrics...

Blessings by Laura Story

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• Songwriters: Laura Mixon Story

Send "Blessings" Ringtone to your Cell 

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Pretty powerful huh?

Love, mom

Life with a 4 month old

Life with a 4 month old baby girl....could not be any better. A little update on what we have all been up to.
We welcomed 2 new Aase's to the family, baby Addyson and Krosby. They were born on Good Friday and are cute as a button. After that we celebrated your first Easter. So much fun! I can't wait to teach you the meaning behind Easter. After that, we had you dedicated at church. What a special day that was! God has such special plans for you. Your dad and I hope to help you realize those plans as you journey through this thing called life. We also celebrated mommy's first Mother's Day! I am so lucky to get to be your Mommy! Thank you for blessing me with your laughter and smiles every single day. I love you!

3 Months and going strong!!

What a wonderful world! The last couple of months in pictures for this blog! And to top off this wonderful life, we found out that our girl is going to have 2 more cousins coming this summer... a BOY and another GIRL! Coming to a total count of 2 boys cousins and 3 girl cousins all within 2 years of each other!! HOW FUN!

All dressed up for your 1st Superbowl party at Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Barry's house...The Green Bay Packers won!

Your first Valentine's Day...What a pretty girl!

You and Grandpa hanging out at his house!

I LOVE getting you dressed in all of your cute outfits!

Your first time in the pool at Mame's and Grandpa's!

For 2.5 months you did VERY well at going under!

Your 1st time meeting your Great Grandma Vel

Your 1st time swinging!

Learning to sit in your Bumbo! Juicy girl!

Mini-Fashionista!

you are BEAUTIFUL!!

Mommy is completely 100% in LOVE WITH YOU!!

You and Daddy are looking a lot alike these days!

Your my blue eyed girl! And I love you and can't wait to see what the next couple of months bring for us!

1 Month Old!

Happy 1 Month Kenzie Love!!

Things I have learned in the last month of this thing we call life:

*I've experienced childbirth and still to this day I believe it is what I was put on this earth to do.

*I realized that I have never quite loved another the way I love you more and more each and every day.

*I finally experienced what it means to care for a child 24.7. (and I enjoy every minute of it..even at 2 AM)

*I can say for certain I REALLY would love to stay at home with my baby everyday forever more.

(I'm not one of those mom's that needs a job to get out of the house alone for a couple hours)

*I've learned that there is not anything I wouldn't do for my little love. I will protect you as much as I possibly can.

*I will try and teach you everything I can. How to gurgle..how to cuddle...teach you about fashion..because your a mini fashionista already....teach you right from wrong...teach you that Jesus loves you more than mommy and daddy and how Glorious he is....teach you manners and when to listen to authority and maybe sometimes when to stand up against it..even if the authority is your dad and I...stand up for what you believe in baby girl....I will teach you that my love for you is and never will be conditional..you have my whole heart forever....

*I've learned the importance of family and how gracious their help is always. 

*I've learned that time is precious and I don't think I will ever have enough with you.

*I've learned how to change a diaper in the dark and how to sleep with one ear open.

*I've learned that no matter how many people tell you....you never know just how different life is. My life changed when my sweet baby was placed on my chest around 3:20 AM on Christmas Eve 2010. I will never be the woman I was before. I will forever be better for her and for her daddy. I became a new me. Mommy.

*I've learned that when they say you go through a lot of diapers.....you really do go through A LOT of diapers. 

*I've learned that shopping is not a leisurely activity anymore...it is a necessary thing when your clothes start to get to big or small...and you no longer try on clothes at the store..you eye them and decide if you think they will fit before the baby wakes up and starts crying.

*I've realized that not only did my love for you spring into existence on your birthday, but this whole new love that I have for your daddy came into existence that day also.

*I've learned that having surgery and then taking home a newborn to care for is practically impossible without a daddy for baby girl. (Thank you Lord for my wonderful husband)

*I've learned that it is not insane, as I once thought, to get pregnant again when your newborn is only 2 months old.

*She has confirmed the idea that I want lots of babies to birth and raise and love on.

*I've learned that 1 month can change your life..and Kenzie Love you have changed mine.

You have changed everything and I could not thank you enough for letting me be your mommy. I am so thankful the Lord picked me for you. I promise to make next month the best month of your life! Thank you for making my life the best life ever baby girl.

I love you.

Momma

12 Days Old~Kenzie Love Knutsen's Birth Story

Our hearts are overflowing. Our Love has finally arrived and Dad and Mom could not be in a more blissful state of mind. Kenzie Love Knutsen arrived on Dec. 24, 2010 at 3:12 AM. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 in. long. We are in awe of the blessing that God has bestowed upon us and we cannot stop staring at the most BEAUTIFUL girl in the world. Here is the story of your birth my little Love.

It was Dec. 22 the day labor pains began, who would have thought your actual due date! The pains started in the middle of the night so by the time morning came around we got up and got ready to go to the hospital. Dad called into work and we sat and waited for the contractions to get worse. They seemed to be getting closer together so around 8:30 we headed to Hoag Hospital. We got there and got checked into a beautiful room! We were so excited! This was going to be the day we met you! So the nurse hooked me up to the contraction monitor and we sat there for an hour having pretty good contractions, however they weren't getting worse. So the nurse suggested we try and help it along by walking around the halls and bouncing on the exercise ball. So we tried all those things for 2 hours...the contractions stayed the same. :O( The nurse got a hold of Dr. Lee and was told to discharge us since the labor wasn't progressing. Mom and Dad were very bummed to be heading home! 

This leads us to Wed. Dad got up and went to work and Mom was up and waiting for Auntie Brit and Uncle Kelby to get home. They were driving home from Vegas to spend a couple days here for Christmas and they were hoping you would make your arrival while they were here! When they got home I asked them if they would go on a walk with me around the lake. As we were walking the contractions started coming pretty regularly again. Kelby was in shock. I tried to explain that they needed to be way worse for it to be actual labor. So we got home from the walk and Dad was home about 20 minutes later. He had a half day at work. So we laid on our bed trying to just deal with the contractions. Meanwhile, Julie Sherburne had asked us to go to dinner with her and the family at Flemings and of course we said YES! So about 4 o'clock we started getting ready for dinner, the contractions were hurting pretty bad at this point, but I was not going to have another false alarm so we were going to wait until I was screaming in pain to go back to the hospital. So we started driving to the Sherburne's and about 5 minutes down the road I looked at your dad and said, "I think we are going to the hospital and not to Flemings." He was a bit disappointed, but said we should wait until after we got gas to call Julie and cancel. Well, at the gas station the hard contractions hit and that was it, we were having a baby! The drive to the hospital was HARD! I was in so much pain that I was crying. I called both of our moms and told them that this was going to be it. We made our way up to labor and delivery and as the nurses saw us coming in they could tell that I was in labor. They got me set up in a room and our nurse Hillary said she would get us admitted ASAP. She checked me out and said that I was still 3 cm, same as yesterday, however I was now 80% effaced. She could tell that I was in pain so she called the doctor on call and he admitted me! Now we could get an epidural!!! It saved my life baby girl! The epidural was in within 20 minutes and about 10 minutes after that they broke my water. This was truly going to be the day and I was sooooo excited! There were lots of family members in and out of the labor and delivery room visiting with us since it took about 7 hours of being on pitocin for me to reach complete and be ready to push. But, finally the time came and we started pushing with our new night nurse Suzanne. We would push in sets of 3 with an extra credit push if I could muster one up. We pushed for about an hour and every time I would push your little heart rate would drop. The nurse didn't seem to worried, but about an hour in to pushing she decided to call the doctor since you were crowning. The doctor was there within 15 minutes and was ready to see me push. We gave him one set of 3 pushes and he looked up at me and your Dad and said,"Hunny, your going to have to have a C-section. Hasn't anyone told you your birth canal is way to small to deliver a baby?' Needless to say, everyone in the room was in shock and awe. A C-section had never even passed through our head! So we looked at each other and looked at the doctor and said, "Your the doctor do what is best." And then we were headed to the OR and an hour later, you were here! Almost immediately after you were born they brought you over to me and I got to hold you for the first time. I thought I was in heaven. You were perfect babygirl! After they cleaned you up they took you upstairs to the nursery to monitor your heart since you were having a slight murmur, but by the time they got you up the elevator they said it had cleared up. Praise God! They kept you up there though all through night watching your blood sugar and your tempature. Finally, around 11:30 AM on Christmas Eve they brought you to our room. We finally had you for good in our arms forever. And that little girl is the story of your birthday. The best day of my life thus far. You are all of my dreams come true and I promise to love you forever, no matter WHAT! Never forget that! As I type this, you lay sleeping sound like an Angel. By the way, we took you to the doctors the day after you came home for small check-up and asked the pediatrician about a small red mark on the corner of your eyelid. She said it was a birth mark that would only last about 2 years called an Angels Kiss, because an Angel kissed you on the way out. You are so sweet baby and I can't wait for the coming days to watch you grow! 

I love you with all my heart,

Momma

PAST DUE

Well, here I sit lying in bed at 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant. I must say I intended to write a blog post yesterday on Kenzie's due date, but it was a LOOONNGGG day to say the least. The day started out at 4:45 AM with heavy contractions. I waited it out until 6 and then woke up Dad-to-be. We both sat in bed timing the contractions and they were 5 minutes apart and we officially got our hopes up and our butts up around 7 to get ready for the hospital. It was very exciting and as we got ready the contractions seemed to spread out a little so after we were done getting ready I bounced on the exercise ball for about an hour and they were back to every 5 minutes and painful! We were officially headed to the hospital, we both KNEW that this was going to be the day we got to meet our baby girl. So we showed up and checked in and they began to monitor my contractions. The nurse had said they were booming, but there was no sign of anything happen down in the "girly area." So she had us bounce on the exercise ball and walk around for about two hours hoping that would help. No such luck...no dilation..still at 3 cm. So she made a call to our doctor who said she wanted to send us home, but first we had an ultrasound that showed that all the fluids were perfectly normal and enough. We were headed home by 4 PM with no baby and contractions that were painful. This whole birthing thing wasn't turning out quite as I had expected. We went and ate some SPICY chipotle and visited with the Knutsen clan and gave Holly her birthday gift. Went on a small walk hoping to break my water...no luck. By 7 me and dad were ready for bed! So we headed home to Yorba Linda, and lounged around hoping the night would bring lots of gushing water! And here I sit on Dec. 23, contractions still coming making it very hard to sleep, but not worse than yesterday and no water broken. I am one ready mama. Kenzie if you don't mind giving the water bag a little karate chop that would be fantastic. Mom could really use your help baby. I was so jealous yesterday being on the labor and delivery floor we got to hear the screams of a newborn and it brought tears to me eyes because I CAN'T WAIT. My heart yearns for you little girl. As do many others out here....come on out and join us for Christmas you will love it! So now I find myself begging my blog to help get her here. I guess anything might help...

On another note, I found out yesterday that I am having a neice and a nephew and Kenzie will be getting three more cousins in 2011. Very exciting news, babies are everywhere and I absolutely LOVE it! So here's to babies cooking and babies being born....may the Lord bless us today with the presence of an angel.

Waiting with hope,
Mom

Giving Thanks Today

So today is Thanksgiving sweet Kenzie Girl! You are going to enjoy some great food! We are having the family over to "our house." Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate everything that we have been blessed with and so this Thanksgiving I want you to know the things I am Thankful for:

~The amazing love of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice to die for all of our sins so that we would be able to live with Him for eternity. This earth is our temporary home and I have to remind myself of that everyday. Someday we will all be together forever in Heaven.

~Your dad. Words will never be able to describe the love that I have for him. He is more. More than I ever imagined, more of a man that I ever thought existed, more everything than this world teaches you to expect from a husband. I hope you find someone who loves you and wants to spend forever with you that is just like your daddy, because they don't get any better. We are so blessed to get to call him ours.

~I am thankful for the fact that is is 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving and I am wide awake, because that means that I have a little girl inside of me that I love more than life itself waking me up with leg kicks to the ribs. I am so thankful for those kicks, because it means you are healthy and happy in there. I can't stop thanking God for giving me you, you truly are my dream come true Kenzie Love Knutsen. I have wanted you since I could comprehend what having a baby meant. I am Thankful for your sweet smile that I watched on TV last night. I am thankful for all the people in this world that love you and have blessed you with all you could need in your first few months. We are ready for you lovey!

~I am thankful that there is a roof over my head and that is because your grandparents are the best! Living with them has been a blessing and we are so lucky to have been welcomed home with open arms and open hearts. The Lord has a plan and we will continue to follow Him and someday have our own roof, but until then I am beyond grateful to have this roof.

~I am thankful for all the doctors who have helped keep you healthy and safe while you have been growing inside me. They are wonderful!

~I am thankful for all of our family. No matter what happens, we have some pretty darn good family! You are going to love them all!

~There is so much more that I could write but it would take hours! Just know that everything that has happened has happened for a reason and I am thankful that it has! God has a plan, and for that I am thankful!

See you soon Kenzie,
Love Mom

2 Months Till the Official Due Date!

The clock is ticking and my belly keeps getting bigger and bigger with each new day. I am sitting here writing this blog with ice on my feet because yes, my feet are swollen. Typical pregnancy symptoms are starting to kick in. I guess I should feel lucky because they have only started to appear and I have had it pretty darn easy these last couple months. However, the days are getting more uncomfortable and HOT! Bending over and getting up off the couch or floor is slowly turning into a HUGE task! I officially FEEL pregnant. Luckily, I only have approximately two months left of these uncomfortable times.

Besides the comfort issue, I have been hard at work preparing for a baby girl. Kenzie's nursery is coming along quite nicely! We are picking up her crib this week and then waiting on some bedding my mom ordered and it will be ready for her. Of course, she will be in our room for awhile, but there is something about finishing the nursery that makes it feel so close! I also made her a baby blanket last night. IT IS ADORABLE! Daddy helped me with the sewing and we put together a pretty cute blanket for her. I hope she saves it forever. It may not be the best, but it is made with love and care by the two people who love her most in the world.

This weekend we have another shower. A couple's shower! We are VERY excited to spend time with all of our close friends! It will be at Julie S. house and I am sure it will be tons of fun! Just wish Kenzie was here so we could introduce her to all of our friends.....soon enough! I also bought Kenzie's coming home outfit this last week and I must say it is GORGEOUS! I am sure she will look like a little angel in it! Well thats all for now, just a quick little update!

XOXO,
Kallie

A Blessed Shower for Miss Kenzie

Today was a Really fun day! Aunt Holly and Aunt Nicole threw Miss Kenzie a Beautiful Baby Shower! It was amazing the amount of love that was circulating at the Grey and Pink themed shower. My wonderful sister-in-laws are so creative and pay attention to every little detail making all events that much more special! From the grey and pink table linens to the grey and pink cupcakes it was ALL color cordinated! Adorable. And the gifts....wow what a huge blessing! Kenzie is already stockpiling a pretty great closet! And some cute shoes too! It is so exciting to know that with each shower we are getting closer and closer to the day when Kenzie will actually be here to receive all this love in person! I know you are going to be overwhelmed with love little one. 

Kenzie:

One of my favorite gifts today was your baby memory book that Elaine Toth gave to me. I have already started filling it out and as I was I came across a pretty cool detail. See originally we had been told there was a high chance that you were going to be a boy so we went ahead and picked out a boys name...Your dad and I had decided to name that little boys middle name after your grandpa Donald. We were so excited to tell him and he was very excited to hear that we had chosen that name for him. Well, turned out God wanted us to have a PRECIOUS baby GIRL! So the boy named after grandpa went right out the door, and in came Kenzie. I had never put much thought into what the name meant, we just knew that we liked Kenzie best. Today as I was filling out your baby book it asked for the meaning of your name, this is where the story gets cool. Turns out that Kenzie is scottish and means Handsome. Handsome is ironically the nickname I have called your grandpa since before I can remember. So it turns out his first grandchild will still be named after him. Pretty cool huh? I love him so much and am so happy to have such a huge part of him in your name. 

Can't wait to meet you baby girl,

love mom

Preparing to celebrate Aunt Brittany's Wedding Shower

Wow, it sure is crazy how time flies. I can't believe that it is almost September! Tomorrow we are gathering the family to celebrate Auntie Brit's Wedding Shower! I am so excited that I got to help plan it. We are having it here at Grandma Judy's house. It will be such a fun time! And then we have the wedding in just over a month! Finally these two are going to make it official! They will have been together for almost 5 years! I know you are going to adore your auntie brit and uncle kelby baby girl. They may be far in distance, but I'm not worried about that. You will definitely know who they are and you are going to fall in love with them! All the boys and your dad are at the river for the bachelor party. I hear they are having fun.....tsk, tsk, tsk~ 

I can't believe how much you are growing! It feels so surreal when you kick me and I only can imagine that you are flipping around like crazy in there. Today I went through a bunch of old baby clothes that Grandma Judy had saved from when I was a baby. Some of the clothes still had tags on them!!!! We are going to dress you in some of them! You will look adorable, ALL the time! You will be a mini fashionista! I can't wait for you to be here! God is keeping His eye on you and me and what a blessing that is! You are such a miracle little girl! I will tell you that everyday! You are a gift from God! 

I love you,

Mom