Picture Overload!

It has been a while since I did a post with lots of pictures! Today is your lucky day :)

Ellie & Mommy at the Suns game...dressed in our purple! Go Steve Nash!!
Ellie & Grandpa at the Zoo w/the Giraffes :)

Adam spray painting our kitchen cabinet hinges...they were a nasty old rust color!

Ellie on Valentines Day <3> Just has to throw this one in there....she looks too cute :)

A trip to the park

Ellie & Mom checking the mail at our new condo

All of us on a family hike for Jacob's 9th birthday

Adam ripping out drywall covered in mold! Ewwww! Thanks babe!

Another really cute on of Ellie!

love, Krystle

Time flies when you're BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Whew! Seems like all I'm doing on here lately is long updates....well, here's another one just to keep the cycle going!

Ellie

* Turned 9 months on Feb. 17!

* Only likes pears & sweet potatoes....her favorite "food" is still breastmilk!

* She is crawling, standing up on her own, and is SO close to walking.

* Dada can make her laugh the most....it's sooo precious :) Makes my heart melt!

* Totally a mommy's girl. It's the best. Simply the best.

* She loves to spit.

* She is finally sleeping in her own bed at night...tear :( I miss her, but it's the BEST thing for her....or at least that's what I'm telling myself! Ha!

* She is super independent and loves to crawl around and explore. It's so fun to watch her.

* She is a total night owl! Her bedtime is anywhere between 9:30-11:00....at least she sleeps in to make up for that!

* She is currently asking for a baby brother or sister.....well, that's what she would ask for if she could talk :) I'm sure of it!

Me

* Currently in school taking my last 2 classes to finish up my prerequisites for nursing school.

* Proud to say that I made 100% on my first Anatomy & Physiology test!

* Love Love Love staying home with my baby. Most rewarding job on the planet. Pure bliss on even the hardest of days :)

* Trying to have baby #2! Well I put this under my category, but really, I suppose Adam is involved as well ;)

* I can't wait to move into our new place! Such a work in progress, but Adam is being quite the handyman and getting stuff done...so proud of him!

Adam

* Got a promotion at work about a month ago, and is busier than ever!

* Spends ALL of his free time working at the condo and doing a mighty fine job, I must add!

* Is such a great dad to Ellie. Like I said earlier, it just melts my heart when they play and laugh together. One of the best sounds a mommy can hear :)

* He has also been having to pick up the slack around the house with all that I have going on, and I'm sooo thankful for it!

That's us in a nutshell! Til' next time.....

Love,

Krystle

Winter In Arizona

2010

Happy New Year! Oh, and Merry Christmas :) This is our christmas photo this year. Ellie is now almost 8 months! I can't believe it. The time has truly "flown (spelling?) by"...so I guess what all the random passerbyers say in the grocery stores is true! Ha ha! It's funny how people always feel the need to give you a little piece of "wisdom" when they see you have a baby.

I vow to not make any "New Years Resolutions" this year, since most years they don't seem to matter after the first week, but I will write down some changes this year brings :)

• As my last post states, I will be a part-time student at a local community college. Fun fun! Going back to school for nursing...these are my last 2 courses and I'm totally pumped to go :) I get to apply to the nursing program after this & that will be a dream come true for reals!
• I have been doing this for some time, but will continue into this year as a nanny/babysitter for a little girl named Scarlet (aka-the Scarlinator). Her and Ellie are about 2 1/2 months apart (Scarlet is almost 5 months), and when going out people ALWAYS think I have twins and say "looks like you've got your hands full!" while not offering to open the door for me...Ha! It's so cool though that Ellie and her get to be around eachother all the time. Her mom is a good friend of mine and I think the whole arrangement is totally a God thing :) Ellie mostly likes to eat her feet.
• Adam and I bought a condo in phoenix, and are currently "fixing it up". Sounds pretty harmless until you discover that popcorn ceilings are WAY more work than you expected, find mold behind the bathroom going almost to the laundry area, and realize that in "fixing something up", it seems to look more terrible than when you first got it! Ugh! BUT, we are SO happy and SO blessed to have it. Hopefully I will be posting pictures of our progress along the way :)
• December 2010 will mark our 5 year anniversary! Super exciting. I feel like 5 years is something...don't you? Each year has been VERY different so far, and I'm really looking forward to what this year will bring....hopefully a new addition to our little Porter fam! If only my periods were more regular! TMI?? Ok, I'll stop. :)
• Ellie will turn ONE! My sweet little girl. She is more of a joy than I EVER imagined. I never thought motherhood could be so wonderful...I mean, I had an inkling, but until you meet your own child, you have no idea!
• We will be going into our first year without little Jacob. I realize I haven't written much about that since it happened. Truth is, it's just too hard. I'm not sure when I'll be ready, but he will for sure be greatly missed. I wish I could see him turn 9 this year. But I praise God for the time we had with him, and look forward to seeing him again.

That's about it...it's a lot though! Hope everyone is having a great start to a new year :)

P.S. I cut my hair off! This picture looks NOTHING like it...will post new "do" soon! :)

Love, Krystle

Back to School!

(a picture to brighten your morning!)

Yep. It's back to school for me! I couldn't be happier. I wish that January 19th was already here! I have decided to go back for a few reasons:

1. I am 3 classes away from applying to a nursing program! It seems like if I don't, it would just be wasted time...and that would stink!
2. I am all about natural childbirth. I know that it can be so challenging to do that in the hospital setting, and I'd love to be of assistance to women who want to do that & be supportive...as well as others who don't :) Having a child is so incredible, and I just want to be there for those special moments.
3. Adam already has his degree and I want to have mine too. I really want to set an example for Ellie. I think that would be really encouraging to know that her parents both did what they hope she will do too :)
4. I just want to! I think it would be a huge accomplishment!

So, there you have it. Starting January 19th, I will be a part-time student, part-time babysitter, part-time catering server, & full time momma! Busy life here I come!!!....but I couldn't be more excited!

Love, Krystle

Dinner & a Video Game?

Yep. That's right. I'm making dinner, and my husband is playing a video game with my little brother. We are also listening to Primus per request of the husband. I give in because he has to work with what he calls "Mervyn's Music" (He use to work there).... ya know like Savage Garden, Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion...you get the point. Not my ideal night, but hey, I embrace what I'm given to work with :)

If I could have it my way, it would probably be light Christmas music, candles lit, tree lights on, & a hot cup of tea while I make dinner.....mmmmmm....if only......

For now, I will be happy with Medal of Honor in the background & the sound of happy boys and a happy baby! Not to mention I'm making Creamy Mashed Potatoes I found from this blog and I can't wait to try them! Thanks Vanessa! By the way, if you ever want a good recipe or are stuck on what to make for dinner, hop over to her blog and she will definitely make your mouth water :)

Just wanted to kill some time while my broccoli is steaming....Hope everyone is having a simply spectacular Thursday night!

P.S. I just found out today that my local grocery store Sunflower Market (Love it!) gives out FREE back massages on Thursdays between 10 & 2 pm! That definitely made my Thursday fantastic!

Love, Krystle

My Heart is Pure Mush

For this little girl.

I can't even handle it...
Can you?! :)

Happy 1st day of December to all of you!

Love, Krystle