Happy Holidays!

Oh boy, oh boy Christmas was the best yet! Not only did I receive the best gift a mother could receive a 2 months ago, but my dad built me beautiful shelf/coat rack and my sweetheart got me two of my favorite books "How to hug a porcupine" and "The Road Less Traveled"(I can't wait to start delving into them)! Plus, we got to have 4 Christmas's with all of the wonderful family we have so close by. I love Christmas!



We had a lovely New Years with Bryce, Beth, Smith and their friend/ home teacher Enoch. We had homemade pizzas and played 21. I never thought that I would really enjoy Poker, but with the dealer we had (Beth) we all had a blast! Oh, and we had to snap a picture of the cousins because they just happened to be matching in their little orange outfits. The one Dresden is wearing was handpicked by his Grandpa Ger (Thanks Dad!).

Decorating, Facebook & Lost Izzy

(Dresden loved decorating for Chistmas!)

So, not much occured this week other than we decorated for Christmas, I joined FACEBOOK and today...that darn Izzy ran off chasing who knows what, and ended up staring up a tree about a block away trying to coax a cat down so that she could annoy it (not even the nice neighbor that found her could lure her away with a piece of bologne)! I had been driving around looking for her when I had given up and was trying one last place I came accross this man who looked nice but I didn't know. He had a baby in his hands and that baby had Dresden's blanket. He walked up to me and said I believe this baby is yours...? I looked and sure enough it was Dresden. Fortunately it wasn't too cold outside (38 degrees)...even though I'm still paranoid that him being outside for the 5 minutes he was will get him sick and finding him in a strangers arms was a little concerning as well. Our neighbor had called Scott and since I wasn't there and didn't have my phone with me (as usual) if we wanted Izzy back, going and getting her right then was Scott's only option. I just wish I had brought my phone(someday I'll learn).

We had so much fun getting our tree!It didn't take long for me to find the perfect one! We only needed a small one for our small little family and this one was full and magnificent. I wanted the $10 Grinch tree's off Geneva road, but trading the man accross the street for flowers was a much better idea! Now our Just Because can dazzle a table for the Holidays! I personally love the huge bow that I put on the top! It's my fill in for the star that I don't yet have!

(Above is what Dresden likes to do while I FACEBOOK.)I didn't think that I'd get sucked into the facebook wave, but sad to say all it took was signing up and as Scott says, I'm already a facbook addict. Although my addiction probably won't last as long as he thinks it has been a ton of fun reconnecting with old friends and finding fun way to stay connected with close friends.

Me and My Cuz

I have to note about how much I have loved living in Provo. On Saturday we drove out to Eagle Mountain to buy a Christmas tree for our flower shop and it just so happened to be from a lady that lived in our old complex. I told Scott that there were things that I missed about Eagle Mountain like but mostly I think it's just because it was OUR first house together and how so many memories came from our short but sweet little drive that night. We both agreed that we love how the town home feels more like a house with it's tiny backyard and the fact that we have a front AND a back door and that it's not all on one level. But I think the part that I've loved about living in PROVO the most is the fact that I'm so much closer (or so it seems) to my family. Plus, Dresden has loved seeing his GRANDMA and GRANDPAS more frequently. But the fact that I live a mere 7 minutes from my sister-in-law Beth has been something that I have just loved! I think it's because the both of us are stay-at-home moms with babies not TOO far apart in age and we both share a lot of common interests (cooking, running, interior decorating and recently sewing). Let's just say that I've loved having a close friend so nearby. I thought that the transition to motherhood would be hard having worked and gone to school staying really busy...but, with the help of Beth I am settling in quite nicely to my new role as a mother. THANKS BETHY! Also, I know that Dresden has loved seeing his cute little cousin Smith too so THANKS SMITHY!


AS FOR THE PAST WEEK... I got to go to my beautiful friend Kara's bridal shower where I got to see a lot of old friends that I have struggled to keep in touch with and it was so fun to see how they are all doing well. I can't tell you how happy I am that Kara has found someone that she loves and is going to take care of her. She has been a wonderful friend. Besides that all I can say is I love being a mom! I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful little boy who brings me so much joy. This week he's started to smile more and be awake a lot more adIt truly is amazing how you can just fall in love with something so instantly! Plus, the fact that I have Scott-what more could I ask for? He does such a good job in taking care of our little family. Oh and one more thing... unfortunately I wasn't able to start on sewing my pillows this week, but we'll have to see what next week holds! Until then... toodles!


More photos from a little while ago that I wanted to post.

Could LIFE be any more WONDERFUL?

(Dresden laughs at how silly his Daddy is)

While I excitedly update my blog, I pause and take a moment to realize what a sweet little family I have been given. My amazing husband is resting on our tiny little love seat with my beautiful son who's peacefully sleeping on his chest. Oh, and I can't forget my silly Izzy who's got her head resting on the laptop probably wondering why I'm inside and not out watching her chase birds. To answer the question above...LIFE could not be ANY more WONDERFUL!
Since Thanksgiving was just this past week I'd like to mention a few reasons why I am so thankful for my LIFE...

• I have been blessed with a hard working, handsome husband who I love with all my heart and who I know will always do his best to take care of our little family and make sure that I'm happy.
• I have been given my a beautiful, healthy little boy who I fell in love with instantly and continue to fall in love with each and everyday I get to serve him.
• I have an amazing family who love me and who have taught me a lot about what it means to love unconditionally.
• I married into another phenomenal family who instantly took me in as one of their own and loved me with all their hearts.
• I have a goofy dog that has escaped death four times and will continue to keep me at least busy if not young .
  
• I live in a country where I have freedom and rights to spread my wings and fly.
• I'm healthy and have the capability to do almost anything my heart desires (ie. gazing at gorgeous sunsets, going for long runs, smelling fragrent flowers, and tasteing delicious food!).
• Lastly, but most importantly, I have a father in heaven who knows me, watches out for me and loves me unconditionally (so much so that he has given me all of the above and more).

These are just a few of the many wonderful blessings I have been given in my life. I love Thanksgiving because it gives an opportunity to ponder on all the wonderful things we have been blessed with- at least that is what I like to think about even if it is more about when the Pilgrims came to America. Well we enjoyed not one, but two Thanksgivings with our wonderful families this year. Wednesday was Grandma Taylor's birthday so we had a combined Thangsgiving/Birthday celebration with the Taylors on that day and we went to my Aunt's house the day of and celebrated with the Hlawatschek side. We had some pretty delicious food. My favorites were the homemade stuffing from my Oma Hlawatschek (and usually don't like stuffing) and the Blackbottom Banana Cream Pie I experimented with, YumYum . Dresden was very popular those days, his daddy and I didn't hold him much he was busy hanging out in families arms instead. Scott was thrilled to enjoy his traditional Halo night with his siblings and Dunk ball the next day. Overall, I'd have to say that this may have been one of the best Thanksgivings yet!

(Dresden loves his Uli/Great Grandma)

As for other highlights this week, I went running Saturday for the first time in about 8 months (which I am sore from today thank you very much! I guess it's to be expected). I went with Beautiful Beth and her wonderful sister Megan. I love going running with Beth she always is so talkative that it passes the time away quickly and makes the run so much more enjoyable. That same night we had Bryce, Beth and Smith along with Klint and Mary over for dinner. We were so excited that Klint and Mary could meet our little boy. Dresden loved Mary! Beth and I also went to Ikea on Black Friday and bought some fabric to make throw pillows next week! I'm so excited. If all goes well I'll be posting what I've accomplished next blog. Till then! I love all my wonderful friends and family and hope you had a fabulous week! I have a delicious meal awaiting me that my amazing husband made me- got to run!

(I had to snap this picture quick because
this is the part of bath time that Dresden doesn't like)

The First Week

Well, it's been over a week and I am just eating this whole mom thing up. Probably because I had the pleasure and blessing of having my beautiful mother there with me for the first week. She really was a life saver. Especially with making sure my home stayed clean, laundry was done, that I had all I needed and that I could get caught up on sleep a little. In addition to my mother I have had some of the best meals for the past two weeks. My adorable, sweet, thoughtful and kind sister (yes, sister not just sister-in-law!) Beth has came over basically every night and made us these delicious gourmet meals. (I know that any new mom would just die to have this blessing. How am I so fortunate?). So, I would like to thank Beth(and Bryce, and Smith) and my mom for making motherhood such a smooth and pleasant transition. Besides the whole nursing thing I don't have much to complain about (it's a lot harder than I thought). Instead I have just loved being able to wake up to my little man and watching his adorable facial expressions while sleeping. Since my last post we've been to the doctor and Dresden is back up to his birth weight and everything seems to be good.

In addition to the few emotional spouts I've had we had a big scare the sunday after Dresden was born when my puppy got ran over. Yes, I have to tell about my dog (some may think I'm silly for doing so, but I consider her another one of my babies). Scott called me sunday and told me that there was an accident with Izzy. My initial thought was "that little stinker ran out into the street again" but it wasn't that. Because of the quietness of my in-laws hybrid car the goofy dog didn't hear it and got ran over. As if I wasn't emotional enough this caused me to be hysterical. I don't think I have cried so hard in my life (well, maybe not). I was so lucky that she was in good hands with Jon and the doctor because Monday morning I woke up to Scott saying "Izzy, go get mommy!" She somehow managed to not have a single bone broken, only some bruising on her lungs and heart. She now is back to her old self and I am so greatful for prayers. She is definitely a miracle dog.

Introducing Dresden Andreas Taylor

Never before in my life did I think that I could experience something so wonderful as delivering my son into this world (besides of course marrying his amazing daddy). It was so wonderful it's hard to put it into words, but I will do my best to help express the love that I felt going through the amazing and rather long labor. It all started at 3:10 am on Tuesday, October 27. I woke up to what I thought were contractions, but I was rather confused with the fact that nothing else had happened other that I was feeling these strong cramps. (I thought for sure my water would break or some other sign would come telling me that I was for sure in labor). All Scott remembers that night was the random hand squeezes I would give him during contractions. Morning came and it wasn't progressing enough for me to want to go to BellaNatal (the birthing center), so me, my sweetheart and Izzy set out on a long walk hoping to help move things along. My wonderful mother-in-law advised me to walk through the contractions and I loved doing that mostly  just because I could squeeze my sweetheart tight and I could feel the comfort of his arms. 

I would say that after that walk I knew that this was going to be an experience that was going to draw me and my sweetheart closer. I was worried that I was going to be the mean pregnant wife that pushes and screams at my husband, but I never wanted to be closer to him than during this time. Back to the story, things kind of picked up a little, but by 11 pm I still wasn't far enough along to leave so that is when my doula (Laura) came over and we tried some different moves to try and help things really get moving along. After doing squats down the stairs and abdominal lifts, by 3 am we were ready to leave. They were all ready for us and I was so happy with the birth center I chose. I felt so comfortable laboring there and they took such good care of us. As for our stay at Bella I'll make a long story short and leave out some unnecessary details. After our 7 hours being there my little boy was not ready to come yet and my body was starting to really get worn out. My midwife advised us to transfer to the hospital because the last time she checked me I was dialated to a 7 when I was an 8 before. I remember being a little worried, but having Scott by my side really reasurred me that everything would end up okay. Once we got to the hospital I said what I didn't think I would ever want to say, " Please give me the epidural", but it really was a life saver. Once that came along with the pitocin it wasn't too long after that I was ready to push. Hayley, our nurse was so fabulous at trying her best to accomodate me and my desire for the more natural way doing things. It was a mystery to all of us why he hadn't come after this long, but less than 28 minutes of pushing and my little miracle entered this world. Dr. Glenn, who we later found out would be our bishop, did a great job, especially since the cord was about half as long as it should have been. Although we don't know if this was the sole cause of labor taking so long, I have a strong feeling that my body knew that it just couldn't deliver him without some help and his cord just needed time to stretch long enough. The moment I saw him it was love at first sight. It didn't matter that my body was exhausted or that I ended up in the hospital, I would do it all over again just to be able to see him for the first time and know that he was a miracle that we created together. Dresden weighed 7' 12" and was 19 inches long and was born October 28, 2009 at 5:20 pm. For being a week early I was very happy to see him so healthy and so perfect. I now look forward to all the many experiences that motherhood brings. Tune in more to hear about how I handled the first week.

Anniversary Trip to the Oregon Coast

All I knew the Saturday before our anniversary was that Mr. Taylor was taking me on an adventure and it was going to be a very long drive (14 hrs long). Little did I know that he would be taking me to such a beautiful place. Although foggy a lot of the time the Oregon Coast was a sight I had never seen and I was so happy he chose this as our destination. We had a perfect campsite-it was right next to the ocean. My favorite part was when we sat and watched the sun go down and eat our Kentucky Fried Chicken. Izzy loved the beach she ran and ran and ran chasing after the seagulls. I love the picture of our three footprints. I can't wait until our little boys footprints will be included in the picture! Oh, and I have tell about our amazing drive through the redwoods and our pit stop at a campground at Lake Tahoe. We spent the day on the Granite beaches with my adorable cousins Kerensa, Remi, Ben and my Aunt and Uncle before we drove all the way home.