Hess-to-date

Well, I decided that I should blog for the first time this year, but hopefully this year I remember to do it more often! Only time will tell :)

2010 was a busy year for our Family. We had lots of hard times, but ten times as many good times. Brandon got a new job in November, a few days later we welcomed Ashton into our family, we got to go visit our families in Texas twice over the summer, we celebrated our 5th anniversary, and we were able to see the Walker family (Amanda's sister and her family) for the first time in almost 4 years!

Taryn turns 4 in March and is very excited. Even though it is still ov

er 2 m

onths away, she can't stop talking about the cake she wants, the presents she knows she sh

ould get, and the people who should come to her party. She loves doing school with mommy and is a very smart little girl. She is starting to read small words and loves to spell out the words she see's. She knows all of her letters and the sounds they make and she will tell you the instant she see's them! She is currently working on her articles of faith and has 3 memorized and is almost done with the fourth! She loves getting candy from the Bishop and putting a sticker on the primary chart. She is now a sunbeam an

d is constantly reminding us. She feels like such a big girl! She enjoys watching movies and bossing everyone around. She is mommy's big helper and is very helpful with Ashton and cleaning around the house. She is getting too big, too fast!

Kaden turned 2 last month and is talking better and better everyday. He is cu

te and he knows it. He will stick out his bottom lip to get the things that he wants. If anyone has ever had a sweet tooth, it's Kaden. He will do just about anything for a treat with sugar, no matter what it is! He is currently potty training and is doing relatively well. We have an accident a day, but each day gets a little better. It's been two weeks now and he loves being our "big guy!" And he certainly is our big buy! At his 2 year appointment, he weighed in at just under 31 pounds and talked to pediatricians ear off! (His head is finally starting to go down in percentiles on the growth chart... we couldn't be more proud haha) Kaden loves to sing, dance, and watch movies, and lets not forget his favorite activity, teasing Taryn, which proves he is his father's child (just ask his brothers and sisters).

Ashton Thomas graced us with his presence at 3pm on November 4, weighing in at 7 pounds 2 oz. Even though he was a small baby for being born in the 40 week of gestation, he is the complete opposite now! He is now 12 lb 13 oz, most of that weight being in his cheeks :) We decided not to tell anyone that we were being induced since they weren't sure I would get in that day(then I would have had to wait until the 8th), and when that happened with Kaden, I cried for days. So, to reduce the emotional stress of having to call everyone and explain what happened (like the last time), we decided to wait and let it be a surprise for everyone. The induction went well at first, but then things started moving fast and we had a few complications, but in the end, we found out we were adding another boy into our family(we never found out the gender), who came out healthy. He did end up going to the NICU for a few hours, but didn't have to go back after that. Now, he is a very happy baby and loves his mommy. He is sleep very well, about 7pm-5am, which gets a touch better every night. Last night, he slept until 6:15am; let's hope that happens again tonight. He is awake more and more every day and is constantly cooing and smiling. He loves it when we sing to him! He rolls from tummy to back very well and almost got to his tummy from his back yesterday, but I had to pick him up before he could finish trying. He is very strong and can hold his head up for a long time as well as push himself up with straight arms and hold it for a few minutes at a time.

Brandon started a new job a few days before Ashton was born and he really likes it. He was disappointed to switch to part time work of financial planning, but he doesn't regret it. He loved watching college football again and especially loved seeing BYU win their bowl game. He found out that he really enjoy's golfing so he now has a new hobby. He is always looking for friends to play COD (those of you who play it know what it is) and ping-pong.

I just finished at UVU with my associates in communications and I am glad to be done for a little while. School with 2 kids was hard, but school with 3 was nearly impossible! I figure that when the kids are all in school, I will go back and finish my bachelors. I had my gall bladder removed about 3 weeks after I had Ashton, which was quickly followed by finals, then Christmas. I am trying to learn more talents every day, the current one being sewing. The only problem is I don't have a sewing machine, but that will quickly be solved thanks to my amazing sister, Ammie :) I am hoping to go out to Ammie's house at the end of February for the birth of her 5th child and/or to help where needed. My goals this year is to get back down to my prepregnancy weight and then lose 7-10 more pounds or more. I should be cleared to start exercising next week after my final post op appointment, unless they think I should wait longer. I am very excited to get back to exercising and have my body and energy back!

All in all, we are all doing very well and we are very happy! We love to go out as a family and doing things that the kids enjoy. We have an awesome neighbor that babysits for us, giving me the much needed breaks that I need. If anyone in our area needs a good babysitter, I will give you her number :)