9 Months

Where has the time gone? 9 months ago today I gave birth to my little angel Xander. It feels like it was just yesterday when I first heard him cry, when I saw his chubby little cheeks and held him for the first time. Xander is such a sweet angel. He loves his family. Mommy is his favorite of course :), he sees me coming and just lights up. He loves his daddy just as much, I am so thankful Tobin gets to spend time with the boys in the mornings while I work. And his big brother Gage is his best friend, he makes him laugh and smile. Gage can't wait for little brother to get bigger so he can play with him and drive mom crazy. We are so thankful for the blessing Xander is to our family. He can make me smile when I want to cry and make me laugh with his funny expressions he makes. I love you my sweet baby, I can't believe you will be the big "1" in just 3 short months.

Him & Her

HIM
1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen? some action Movie
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Mushrooms, Onions & Eggs
4. You go out to a restaurant, what does he get to drink? Water
5. Where did he go to high school? Taylorsville High
6. What is one phrase he says all the time? Geez!
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Car parts! (drives me crazy)
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Toasted Ham from Subway
9. What would this person eat everyday if he could? Pizza
10. What is his favorite cereal?Marshmellow Maties
11. What would he never wear? Wranglers (LOL)
12. What is his favorite sports team? he doesn't watch sports,only Motorcross!
13. Who will he vote for? Republican
14. Who is his best friend? Me of course, Dan, Rob, Derrick & Kirk
15. How many states has he lived in? only Utah
16. Does he have any nervous habits? picks his nails
17. What could he spend hours doing? working in the Garage
18. He is: Caring, Devoted, Sweet, an amazing husband and father :)

HER
1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen? some Reality Show
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does she get on her salad? Ranch
3. What's one food she doesn't like? I love it All!!!!!
4. You go out to a restaurant, what does she get to drink? Water
5. Where did she go to high school? Tulare Union High (Tulare, California)
6. What is one phrase she says all the time? Whatever!
7. If she was to collect anything, what would it be? Pictures & Purses
8. What is her favorite type of sandwich? Chicken Salad from Village Baker
9. What would this person eat everyday if she could? Italian......I love Pasta!
10. What is her favorite cereal? Fruit Loops
11. What would she NEVER wear? Stilettos
12. What does she always wear? super comfy clothes :)
13. Who will she vote for? Republican
14. Who is her best friend? my hubby, Kim, Heather & Jessica
15. How many states has she lived in? 2, California for 21 yrs and Utah for the past 9
16. Does she have any nervous habits? Bites Nails
17. What could she spend hours doing? Cleaning house, doing Laundry and being a Mommy and Wife :)
18. She is: Cheerful, a Mommy, a Wife, a great Daughter and sister.

I have returned

Well it was a wonderful 4 months off work hanging out with my beautiful boys and enjoying the holidays but I had to return to work adventually. I am so blessed to have had an entire 4 months off for Maternity leave, I love the company I work for! On March 2nd I returned to work part-time. I love only working 25 hrs a week. The work day goes by so fast and I get the afternoons with my boys.

Tobin is watching the boys in the morning and we switch cars when I get off and he heads to work and I head home. It is great knowing that our boys get to spend time with us and not at daycare. Tobin loves the time he gets with them and he is doing a great job with them.

Our little Xander will be 4 months tomorrow and Gage will be the big 3 in June! Where has the time gone. My boys are growing to fast. I feel that I have the best of both worlds right now, I have Gage who I can talk to and play with and then there is sweet baby Xander who I get to cuddle and rock. We feel so blessed with our life, we have 2 heathly boys that we adore and we love to see every new thing the are discovering and learning.

I am so thankful for this life that my Heavenly Father has given to me and my family. I was reminded of the blessings and promises we are given when we were sealed in the Temple. Last Friday we got to enjoy the sealing of Tobin's sister Adria to her new husband Russ. The Temple brings me such peace and tranquility and I am so thankful for it.

An update to our crazy life

Ok so it has been 2 months since I posted anything.  I just had a kid for crying out loud, celebrated the holidays and sadly said goodbye to my dear grandmother.  What can I say life for our little family has been rather busy.  

Thanksgiving was great, we spent it with the Cardoza family this year. I had my cousins here from Oregon and Arizona who I have not seen since April so that was nice.  Everyone enjoyed seeing our little Xander for the first time and Gage had fun with his cousins.  

After Thanksgiving we were already counting down to an exciting Christmas with Gage and Xander.  Gage finally understands Santa Claus and he was so excited to get presents and make cookies for him.  We spent Christmas Eve with the Gardner's which was very enjoyable and memorable with Xander playing Jesus and Gage playing Joseph.  Gage got a little carried way but like I said it was memorable.  I had family coming in town from California who I only get to see once a year so we were celebrating Christmas with them the Saturday after Christmas.  So things for my side of the family were a little weird this year.  We have always spent Christmas morning with my family and this year it was just our little foursome in our new home.  It was nice but we were also very concerned for my grandmother who was in the hospital ill with complications with her kidneys.

My dear grandmother Betty has had many health issues over the past 10 years but every time she had pulled thru and surprised us all, except this time.  Her poor body so frail and week was not a candidate for dialisys.  So my father and my aunt were left making a difficult decision.  On friday morning the day after Christmas my mother called to tell me they decided to take my grandmother off all her medication.........20 minutes later my mother called back, grandmother had passed away peacefully with 2 of her 3 children by her side.  My uncle and his family were in route to Utah at the time.  Christmas with my family this year was a sad but memorable one.  We made grandma's traditional Christmas dinner, spent time sharing memories and made plans to travel to California where she was being buried.

New years was ok for us.  We spend New Year's Eve traveling to California.  The first big road trip with both boys.  They both did amazing.  We spent 5 days in my hometown of Tulare California visiting with family I hadn't seen in years.  New Years Eve was spent with all my immediate family eating yummy food and watching football.  

The most important thing we learned this last year was about Family.  It is EVERYTHING.  Without Family you have absolutely nothing.  It is why we are here, why we were given life and why we enjoy this life.  Spend as much time with your family because you never know when it may be your last. 

Our little angel arrived!

So I am a little late but I have been very busy with our new little angel.  Xander arrived at 8:02 am on Nov. 19th.  He weighed in at 8 lbs 10 oz!!!  Yes a very big boy.  He looks like a mini Gage just a little chubbier.  I went in a 6:00 am that morning to get prepped for my C-Section.  I wasn't the smoothest ride but he arrived safely.  I have battled low blood platelets during the entire pregnancy and before I went in for surgery I was given a unit of blood platelets just to be safe.  Platelets are what causes your blood to thicken so with mine being low the doctor was worried about me possibly bleeding too much.  Well the delivery went great, it seemed a lot faster than Gage's delivery.  After I was able to get into my room and share Xander with our parents things got really crazy.  Xander was doing great, his grandparents were enjoying passing him around and next thing you know....the nurse comes to check me and I am lying a puddle of blood!  Everyone was quickly rushed out of the room and about 5 nurses came in to assist.  I was given another unit of blood platelets and 2 units of blood.  It was extremely scary for me, Tobin was not even allowed in the room with me.  I ended up loosing about 1600 CC's of blood which is equal to about 50 ounces!  I am doing much better now and Xander was worth it all.  He fits perfectly into out little family.  Gage is still adjusting to the new addition but in time he will understand why this little baby is still at our home.  Here are some pics of our new little prince.  Enjoy!

Our Little Prince comes tomorrow.....

Well tomorrow is the big day!  We get to welcome Xander Dwaine Gardner into our little family.  I am excited and nervous about the whole thing.  I just want a smooth delivery (C-Section) and for him to be healthy and have no complications.  Big Brother Gage is very excited, I still don't know if he really understands that he will no longer be the only center of attention in our home.  He is so used to being the only one we pay attention to and he may have some problems adjusting.....we will just have to wait and see!  I will post pics of the new little prince as soon as I can.  

Halloween 2008

This Halloween was more exciting for Gage.  He picked out his own costume and was able to get his own candy, which he would not share with Mom or Dad.  He kept telling us "no, go away".......ya we have a little spoiled boy who is soon going to learn to share.