Merry Christmas

So, I know it's a little late, but I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas. We were able to spend the day with Dan's family in Orem. I was exhausted, having just been discharged from the hospital the morning of Christmas Eve, but it was so good to be around family. Our biggest blessing of the holiday, of course, is having Miles with us. We are so grateful he is healthy and doing well.

Here are some pictures of Miles and of our Christmas:

Another Little Miracle

Baby Meservy,

Welcome to the world, my new child! We are so happy that you chose to come to the earth and follow our Heavenly Father’s plan for you. Today has been rainy outside, but we are sunshine all over on the inside. You mom went in to labor at about 9:30 this morning, and you were born at 12:54 pm, weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and 18.5” long.

Baby, we’re so glad you’re with us. When the nurse was preparing the changing station, I teared up looking at that changing station, knowing you’d soon be with us. I’ve felt peace and calm about you. I know that God is watching over you.

You’ve been a calm baby all day… probably very tired. Even when the nurse poked your foot to get a blood sugar level reading, you didn’t flinch. Grandma and Grandpa Knapp came down from Idaho just to see you and will be going up north again tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa Meservy came up from Orem, with your Uncle Joe. Uncle Dave & Aunt Stacey, Uncle Nathan & Aunt Charlene, and Aunt Amy all came to see you too. Best of all, your big brother, Hyrum, came to see you. He immediately put his hand on your face then reached for your hat. He wanted it badly. I know that the two of you will be best of friends. We look forward to your adventures and shared love and brotherhood.

You and your mom and both happy and well… and your dad’s happy that everything turned out so wonderfully.

Above all else, Baby, I wanted to take a second and remind you that you are fresh from our Heavenly Father. He loves you so much and wants you to return to be with him. Your mother and I will do all we can to teach you to walk in His ways. We so look forward to teaching you and learning from you. I anticipate learning all about you and becoming your help and confidant.

I love you, Baby. We love you. Welcome!

Daddy

Nativities

Our family has been able to enjoy three nativities already this year. I have always loved nativities. Maybe it's because my mom collects them, so I was always surrounded by nativities at Christmas time. Whatever the reason, I love nativities at Christmas time. The first nativity we went to was a live one in South Jordan that my sister-in-law's stake puts on. It was, as always, incredible.

Our second experience with nativities was the "World Nativity Project." (http://www.worldnativity.com) We went to this guy's home and saw about 100 nativities from 3rd world and developing countries. They were so unique. They were made out of everything from soda cans and magazines to intricately carved wood. This year's theme was "angels" and the guy talked to us about the significance of angels in the story of Christ's birth. It was a really neat experience.

The third nativity was the nativity that the grandkids on my husband's side of the family put on every year. Last year Hyrum was baby Jesus. This year he made his big debut as a sheep.

He loved crawling around with his cousins, and smiled the entire time. He also started dancing every time we turned on music and sang a Christmas song. It was so cute! I love nativities and the Christmas season.

In other news, the pregnancy is still going well. I can hardly believe that we have 3 weeks left at most! It's strange to think that soon we'll have two kids, and that Hyrum will be a big brother. He's still my baby--how can he be having a little brother?!

Our Two Trees

Tree #1 -- November was a great month for our family. We really tried to focus on gratitude and all the blessings we've received. To help us out, Dan and I put up a "Gratitude Tree" for the first FHE in November. Each day we wrote something we were grateful for on a leaf and taped it to the tree. It looked pretty silly the first few days, but the leaves accumulated quickly.

I loved being able to look at the tree all month long and be reminded of all the blessings I've been given. It helped me realize how much I truly do have. Here's what Dan and I are most grateful for (in no particular order):

• America
• Priesthood Power
• Scriptures
• A Warm House
• Huggies
• Modern Medicine
• The Holy Ghost
• Ice Cream
• Our Family
• Good Credit
• Good Health
• Sealing Power
• Temples
• Being a Stay-at-Home-Mom
• Good-Smelling Candles
• Youth of the Church
• Good People
• Pajama Pants
• Living Prophets
• Enough money to have all we need & much of what we want
• Sunshine
• Technology
• No Lack of Food
• The Sunrise
• Love
• My Wonderful Wife
• Quick & Easy Recipes
• Our Education
• Snow
• My Hubba-Hubby
• Dan's Short "Commute"
• Good Friends
• Prayer
• Music
• Good Literature
• Tithing
• Fall Weather
• Nina
• Dishwashers
• Chocolate
• Voting Rights
• Good Movies
• The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Seasons
• A Great Job
• A Strong Mind
• Hyrum

Tree #2 -- The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Dan and I put up our first Christmas tree. It's our first tree after 3 Christmases together, but better late than never! It's nice to finally have a place big enough to put one up.

There's something so nice about snuggling up on the couch with a good cup of hot chocolate and watching the lights on a tree.

In a way, I'm sad to see November go. It was a great month for our family. December will bring a lot of changes with the addition of baby #2, and I just hope we're up for it!