A name...

We agreed on a name for our new little boy,

Hayden Nicholas Cutler

Hayden is a name that we really like. Nicholas is after my brother Nick and Ken's brother Nick. Ken also has an Uncle Nick and we have a really good friend Nic. Things continue to go well in the pregnancy (other than some back pain and some killer leg cramps in the mornings). We just started the third trimester and we just can't believe how quickly things are going!! We already love him so much and we're so excited for him to be part of our family. Taysum has a little bit of an idea of what is going on and is really excited for "a baby brother like him" (although he thinks there is a baby sister in his tummy). Bailey really doesn't understand, but it is so cute when we ask her to say Hayden; it comes out more like "Haynen."

Oh, the sweetest thing!

I just wanted to write this down before I forget. This is not an isolated incident, but I don't know if I've recorded it very well before. This morning Bailey and I dropped Taysum off at school and began to run some errands. She was a trooper, but 2 hours was a little much for both of us. She had about had it when we went to get Taysum again. She was throwing a HUGE fit by the time we got back into the car. Taysum was worried about her and started singing her favorite song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." She started to calm down and listen and he continued with "I Love to See the Temple," "I Am A Child of God" and "Follow the Prophet." I think "Jingle Bells" might have been in there, too! It really calmed her down. At one point, he stopped singing and she started up with "Twinkle, Twinkle" again and he joined in. By the time we got home she was just fine! He asked her if she was feeling better and she said yes. I had a lot to bring into the house, so I asked Taysum to hold Bailey's hand and help her into the house. He did and then he asked her to go play with toys and spun her around on the "merry-go-round" (computer chair.) He is such a sweet little boy and such a wonderful big brother! He's very mindful of Bailey and usually sees to it that she's well taken care of! I'm also thankful that Bailey loves her big brother so much and realizes he's trying to help her; I'm glad that she responds to him when all else fails. She looks to him for help and is always copying him! I am so blessed to have such beautiful, healthy, happy children!

Thank Heaven for........

LITTLE BOYS!!

We had our ultrasound today and we are so pleased to announce that we are having a little boy! Everything looked great! At first the umbilical cord was in between his legs, so we weren't sure if we'd be able to find out, but he got really wiggly at the end and he made it very clear he was a he! Now we're excited to choose a name!! Thanks for being so excited with us!!

Superman or Clark Kent???

I thought this was kind of cute with his glasses and his Superman PJs. Made me think of Superman wearing Clark's glasses. :)

This is my new haircut...I really like it because it's easy and fun.

This isn't the best shot, but you can see my baby belly anyway. We are so excited because in about three hours we're going to have an ultrasound. I'm really hoping we'll be able to find out what we're having. It's just really important for me to know this time for some reason!!! Pictures to come!!

Chasing Chickens in Your Sleep

The night before last, I heard Taysum crying for his Daddy. I went to see what was wrong. When he realized it was me he said, in a crying voice, "Mommy?" I answered, "What, sweetheart?" He said, "I want to get the chickens." Since he was half asleep and I didn't want to upset him, I just said, "OK." I started to rearrange him and his blankets and while I was doing that, he was making very quiet, nearly unintelligible "bock, bock" sounds. After I got him settled again he said, "There! Got 'em!" It totally made my night!!

We had a very nice Halloween. The Thursday before, Taysum had his school Halloween Party. He was a cowboy for Halloween this year. He was very excited to dress up and go to school. I guess he didn't realize the other kids would be dressed up as well, because he was a little nervous when we first got there and he saw the other kids. Once I got him talking to the other kids about their costumes, he was fine. All the kids were so cute!

That night we went to Aunt Lindsay's house to celebrate Grandma Anderson's birthday. We love you and are so grateful for all you do for us! We love both our October Grandmas!!

Halloween day was SO beautiful!! It was 65 degrees during the day and as sunshiny as could be! Our ward had our Relief Society Super Saturday. I had so much fun being with other ladies and making some fun crafts and treats. I have such a wonderful husband who is not only sweet enough to let me take off for the day, but he gets really excited for me to be able to do things like that! While I was gone, Ken and Taysum raked the leaves in the yard. You know, it's a little frustrating to have a yard full of leaves when you don't even have any trees! :)

This picture just reminds me of Grandpa Ned. He loves to work in his yard and his glasses tend to slip just like this! :)

Our little Wyoming cowpokes!

Howdy!

Yee Haw! (Freckles and all!)

Watch out! She'll lasso your heart!

Later that evening we went to Aunt Lindsay's ward's Trunk-or-Treat. Bailey didn't really get how it worked and she just wanted to hang around the van. Taysum loved it though! He really liked going around saying, "Trick-or-Treating!" He liked staying at the van and passing out candy as well. He was giving it out of his own bag!

We've had some long nights with coughing over the past couple weeks. The scariest night, I almost took Taysum to the ER. He was coughing non-stop and choking most of the time. I tried everything I knew, but it didn't seem to help. Finally he was able to sleep and then Bailey started coughing. I went to help her and, in the sweetest voice you've ever heard, she pointed to the door and said, "That way, Mommy. That way." She didn't even want me! Hearing that at 3:30 in the morning after being up all night trying to make them comfortable just did it for me...I started crying. Ken was sweet and did all he could to let me sleep in before he had to go to work. It was a long week, but they gradually got better and we made it through. This was Taysum the next day catching up on his rest. We were lucky that they didn't have any other symptoms. The cough is just hanging on and on, but it's going away! This has cured Taysum of sleeping in our room (for now anyway). He would come into our room and just start coughing like crazy. He realized that the humidifier by his bed was really helping his cough, so he would tell us he wanted to go back to his "own little bed." Ken mentioned last night that he kind of missed Taysum coming into our room. I told him, "I bet you never thought you'd say that!" It's pretty cute how much Taysum loves his "water fire." He makes sure we turn it on every night!

These next couple pictures are especially for Uncle Nick and Aunt Lindi! At school, they just finished up a unit on fire-fighters. Taysum has just LOVED this unit! He LOVES fire trucks and anything that has to do with fighting fires. They made these little fire trucks at school. He came home and was driving everywhere and saved at least 10 baby kittens that day!

We've had a couple sore fingers at our house, too. This is Taysum after he pinched his finger in a light saber. It didn't break the skin, but he's at a stage where he thinks ANY hurt needs a "bandy." Ken also has a hurt finger. It's VERY infected and swollen and very painful. He was embarrassed, but I finally got him to go to the doctor and he got some an anti-biotic. He also lanced it himself, which I was not in favor of, but it is doing much better!

Something else we've been getting used to at our house is the time change! Ken and I were so excited to have an extra hour the night before 8am church! However, Bailey was up at her usual time (which is now 6am) singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." It was really cute, but it was 6am! She just sang quietly to herself for about 1/2 an hour. Both kids were up about that time all week. They would be really grumpy by the end of the day because "technically" they were staying up an extra hour. That, plus the coughing, made for a pretty grumpy week last week. Yesterday, however, they both slept until 8 and Bailey slept longer than that! It made for a much better day!....or at least a happier mommy! This morning they slept until 7, so I think their internal clocks are readjusting as well!

Baby update! Next Monday, we will be at 20 weeks...half way there! Ask me again at 8 months ;), but so far this pregnancy has gone SO fast! It has also gone really well! I'm starting to feel the baby move more and more which is exciting! We're VERY excited for our ultrasound on the 23rd and we're hoping we'll be able to find out what we're having!

Pumpkin Patch

Last night after Family Home Evening, we carved pumpkins. Taysum was so excited!! Bailey didn't completely understand what was going on, but she liked being involved. Ken and I had to do most of the work, but it was fun. Taysum drew a scary face and Ken cut it out. Their favorite part was taking them outside and lighting the candles.

Bailey wanted to take a picture of the pumpkins, but she didn't hold the camera very still; this is how it turned out

Ken thought it was pretty cool, so he gave it a try. He pushed the button and then moved the camera around as much as he could while it was taking the picture.

Then Taysum

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Just sick, but...

Not the way you would think though! My morning (more like all day) sickness has been gone for a while now; and other than a bout with the Croup a couple weeks ago (T) and a cold (Ken), we, VERY thankfully, have been pretty healthy.

No, I'm just sick, like disgusted with myself sick, because of something that happened last night...or rather early this morning. Lately, Taysum has been soaked at night and needs a complete change. I kind of think it was because of the medicine he was on because that's when it started and it's not happening as often since he's been off of it. So, he came into our room and said my name. I just kind of grunted a "Huh?" because I was still mostly asleep. By the second, "Mom?" I was awake, but not excited to change him again, so I just made another, "Huh?" sound. I was hoping Ken would wake up and take a turn because I was really tired. After the third, "Mom and Huh?" (I know...I'm getting more and more disgusted with myself the more I think about this!!) my conniving worked and Ken woke up. He asked T what he needed and he said, "I want to talk to Mom." Ken said, "Mommy is sleeping." T still sleeps in our room sometimes and we have a pillow and blanket on the floor for him, so Ken got him settled. Again, "I want to talk to Mom!" I was still thinking he was wet, so I didn't say any thing.

After the third, "I want to talk to Mom!" and not hearing Ken or T saying anything about being wet...it hit me that he wasn't wet and he wanted to talk to me! Ken had gotten him settled and I said, "What?" Very kindly (thinking I had really been asleep) Ken said, "Nothing...it's OK." I felt SO bad and it was killing me wanting to know what Taysum wanted to say. He started coughing a bit, so I asked him if he was OK and if he wanted some water, trying to strike up a conversation. He said (kind of sadly) he was OK and that was the end of it!

It just breaks my heart thinking of it now! It took me awhile to even fall asleep again because I felt bad and was so curious as to what he was going to say! So, I guess Ken is out of getting up with the kids for awhile!!

Blog-A-Thon 14 ~ I Love to See the Temple

Hooray! I'm finally caught up!! I made 14 posts and listened to all 4 sessions of General Conference and the Relief Society session in two days!

Last weekend we went to the temple. Our kids were SO excited to see the temple! Our wonderful Young Women babysat for those who wanted to attend a session. It's pretty rare for Ken and I to attend a session together and it was wonderful! T & B really enjoyed "the girls." They both ran up and hugged one of the YW that babysit them every once in a while. They really love Makenzie!

After that, we went and got some lunch at A&W. Then we took the kids to see the temple. We dropped Ken off for the Youth Baptisms. We went to Wal Mart and the bread store. Then we went to pick up Ken.

I wish I could remember who, but one of the leaders of the Church encouraged us to take our children to the temple grounds and let them touch the temple. T really loved that idea.

That night when we got home, Ken took the kids outside to play for a bit. It was such a beautiful day! T struck this pose and said, "I'm a temple!!" Something I remember from his baby blessing was that he would love the temple and he sure does! He can always recognize a picture of a temple and he know what it is even though some of them look so differnt from others. Bailey follows his example in everything and she gets just as excited! I hope they always keep this love and excitement for the temple. He doesn't quite understand Moroni on top of the temple. He always askes about it. This time he said, "What's that man?" I tried to explain, but I don't think I did it to his satisfaction; we'll have to keep working on that one.

This is another "temple" he built. Whenever he has blocks or anything he can stack, he always builds a "temple."

Blog-A-Thon 13 ~ Oh! I See! & VIP

Now we are caught up to last week! On the 13th, Taysum had an eye appointment. Our latest, biggest news is that Taysum is getting glasses!! I think he looks pretty handsome, but it's going to take some getting used to! I'm just curious to see if he will wear them or not! It turns out he is VERY far-sighted and has some astigmatism in both eyes. His right eye is worse than his left. The doctor said that one of his eyes would have turned in, but it's in both eyes, so it balances out. I am also far-sighted, but I only have an astigmatism in my right eye.

We're hoping his glasses will help him with some fine-motor skills he has been struggling with and maybe he won't sit so close to the TV all the time!

He was such a trooper during his appointment! We were there for a very long time, but he was so good through the whole thing! He even had to get his eyes dilated. It was uncomfortable, but he was so good! This is what we did while we were waiting for his eyes to dilate. Taysum took these pictures himself!

T's long day wasn't over with that! That night was his open house at his Preschool, VIP. We brought Grandpa and Grandma Anderson with us and had a great time! His teachers were so kind, complementary and encouraging! They genuinely love and enjoy him and it makes me so happy! They have been learning about Fire Safety and Taysum loves to play at the Fireman Center.

Even Grandma joined in the fun!

My camera is not very forgiving of a wiggly 2 year old on the move!

This is some of T's work that was on display. This is his Jack-O-Lantern wind sock.

This is his candy corn. So far, candy corn and pumpkins seem to be Taysum's and Bailey's favorite parts about Halloween!

This is his pretty fall leaf. We were trying to find it on the board and he remembered that it was a green leaf!

Daddy missed the open house, but they had a lot of fun when we got home that night!!

I am so impressed and thankful that Taysum is so well taken care of at VIP. His teachers are all so wonderful and really interested in his progress. When we first got there, T was so excited to introduce everyone. He put his hand out and said, "Ms. Carol, this is Grandma!" He switched hands and said, "Grandma, this is Ms. Carol!" It was pretty cute! He is learning to write his name and to make choices and decisions, make a plan and follow through with his plan. This is working towards story plans and sequencing. They also teach him that mistakes are OK. It's just a wonderful program! He LOVES to go to school and can't wait until he can go again. He always tells his teachers, "Thanks for school!"

Blog-A-Thon 12 ~ Memorable Moments

These are just some happy moments from early October.

I just loved this and had to get a picture of it! The picture below is of me at about the same age! It is my earliest memory. I remember sitting there and my dad putting the headphones on me. I remember being surprised and my eyes widening (even though they are closed in this picture) wondering where the music was coming from. I also remember I really liked it! When I put them on Bailey, she said, "Music!" She was listening to a You Tube clip of five little girls singing The National Anthem.

Taysum has become such a wonderful little helper! He especially gets excited to help in the kitchen. Here he is helping me make bread sticks. I was really tempted to "fix" the ones he was making, but I was really glad I left them the way he made them. This is a typical Taysum and Bailey moment. Taysum invited Bailey to come sit with him and then he made sure she was covered up, too. They are so sweet to each other! (Bailey really is smiling and not crying! :) )

Blog-A-Thon 11 ~ General Conference

We had a GREAT Conference weekend! Saturday morning we went to the store and stocked up on our food storage during the case lot sale....that's always a comforting feeling! I have a loooong way to go on our food storage, but I'm thankful we've been able to start moving forward with it a little better!

This conference was just extra special. I had such a wonderful, overwhelming feeling of love and appreciation for my family...especially my kids. They had so much fun together and it was so wonderful to hear them laugh and play together. I'm so blessed that they love each other so much! Even our new little one made him/herself known for the first time on Sunday. It was during a particularly joyful moment when I was feeling such love and joy and I felt the first movements of life. It was a perfect moment!!

There was one grumpy moment...well, couple hours on Saturday. Taysum had had school pictures earlier that week, and the lady who did them was taking pictures of siblings and families that weekend. We signed up at a great time...we'd have time for lunch and pictures and get back in time for the second session. Well, they were an hour behind and Bailey was already crabby for lack of a nap. We decided to stay and wait, because they were having so much fun at Taysum's school. I'm excited to see how they turned out, but I felt bad that B was so upset and we missed so much conference.

That night, during Priesthood session, Mom and Lindsay and her kids came over. We've started a tradition of dipping chocolates during the Priesthood Session. This is our third year doing it and it went really smoothly this time; we had a great time dipping, eating and talking!

Sunday was a wonderful day! We really enjoyed the last two sessions of Conference. I find myself getting SO excited for Conference when ever it gets close. I just find such comfort, peace and inspiration and determination to try better. I'm so thankful for the Gospel and a living prophet of God on the earth!

These are some quotes that really stuck out to me:

Ken and I were really touched by Elder David A. Bednar's talk. It gave us...hope!!

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes--none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.
Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. 'Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great' (Doctrine & Covenants 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely."

Elder Neil L. Andersen
"Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. As if we were climbing a tree-covered mountain, at times we don't see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don't be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting." "Repentance always means that there is greater happiness ahead."

President Henry B. Eyring
"...for all, the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live."

Elder Russell M. Nelson
"'Real intent' means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given."

Blog-A-Thon 10 ~ Just the Kids

These pictures are some fun pics of the kids in September.

Here they are reading some books. I pulled out Bailey's Tinkerbell costume from Halloween last year and she's been having fun playing dressup! I LOVE the way she says "Tinkerbell"...she just has such a sweet little girl voice! Taysum just loves his train table and plays with it all the time! We've found out it's not just for trains either!!
Our sweet little bundle of Grace and joy!!

I was lucky enough that Ken could watch the kids during my first OB appointment. He just kept them outside and let them climb a tree! I thought these pics turned out really great...I just wish T's eyes were open...but he has a great smile!!

Her first climb in a tree!

Blog-A-Thon 9 ~ Lots of fun in the Mountains

Now, we're filling in the gaps of August. We made it up to the mountains quite a few times this summer!

Ken and the Scouts go camping every month of the year without fail! When it's nice, he takes Taysum with him. The scouts are so good to Taysum. They get really excited when they find out T is going, too. One of the scouts chatted me on Facebook one time before a camp out and said, "Are Brother Cutler and Taysum coming?" When I told him they were he was very excited. They always give him high fives in the hall at church, too. It makes me so happy and so thankful for such good youth in our ward!

Taysum fishing with Ethan Fishers of Men
Good old mountain mud!

During one camp out, there were tons of frogs around and T caught this one all on his own! Dylan was pretty impressed!

T showed a little too much love to this frog, so some of the scouts held a funeral for the unfortunate amphibian. Here is the lovely casket they created. They decided cremation was the way to go; however, once they threw the frog in, he hopped right out...so he must have just been "playing dead."

This was a spontaneous trip to Five Springs. We were so happy everyone was able to go! I was a little worried because it was really overcast in town...we got up the mountain though and it was sunny and perfect!! We roasted hot dogs and some people hiked to the falls. It was a great evening!

Grandpa Anderson and baby Celeste

Towards the end of August, we went on the Ward Camp Out. Here's B all decked out and ready to go!

I was able to sneak in some pony tails and I thought they were so cute!! I really wish she'd let me put things in her hair!

S'more time!!!

Jackie, Jessie and James were SO good to Taysum! They would play with him and he just loved them! He kept saying, "I want to see the kids!!" They were so patient and kind with him! We had so much fun with their family! Bro. Ewart let us take his 4-wheeler for a ride. Ken drove and I was on with Bailey, Taysum and all three of these kids, too...we had a great time!

Night time was a little different! Bailey didn't go to sleep until around 3am! I started down the mountain with her once, but I was nervous to drive down the mountain at night...when the week before we nearly burnt out our breaks going down the same mountain!! So we headed back and we ended up sleeping in the van. We missed breakfast, but at least we got some rest...kind of... :S Over all we had a fun time.

In September, Ken and T went on the annual Anderson Labor Day hike to Bucking Mule Falls. They had a lot of fun and it was a beautiful day for a hike!!