We finally took some time to do pictures of our family...It's sad that we have no pictures together! So it was good to finally do that! Words can't express how much I love my boys!

The holidays are here, and it's been crazy and fun. We were able to spend a lot of time with family this Thanksgiving and make even more fun memories and of course eat tons of delicious food! I've got to admit the desserts are my favorite! With the holiday we decided Tate might want a little something new, a little something better as far as his food goes! We tried giving Tate cereal, he would not eat it, he just let it slide out of his mouth and down his face...but I'm not a stranger to his messiness! He spits up constantly, I hear it's a Merkley baby thing! That's ok at least he's a cutie, and it helps when they're your own! Hopefully once we get him eating more cereal the constant spitting up will subside:)

We also decided we would try the Black Friday thing, which is great and all..but when you can't wait in line a little earlier it's a bit pointless. I drove to Toy's R Us and got there about 10:30, only a half hour after opening and there was probably at least 300-400 people waiting outside..and no that is no exaggeration! You can bet I wasn't waiting in that line for the few things I wanted.

We went to babies r us the next morning and we were happy to walk away with a few packages of diapers and some clothes for our lil man! Later we picked up some DVDs for Tate and a few Christmas gifts...We didn't have to wait in line for three days so it was worth it! :)

A couple nights later we tried the cereal again...and it was a success! Surprisingly, he seemed to like it even though he did make funny faces throughout his dinner! As far as the hope that he would sleep longer at night with his tummy so full: FAIL. He still wakes me up every couple hours!It's a Good thing he's cute:) and that I've adjusted to the idea of no sleep!

Lorin, WE MISS YOU

I can't believe it's been two years already that Lorin left us for the better things he's accomplishing up in heaven.! It is so hard to think about sometimes but I could not have asked for anyone better to have taken care of my baby until he came to us, and it is definitely a comfort for the Merkley/Overson family now knowing that someone in Heaven was waiting for Uncle Rick and Aunt Pattie..It helps everyone knowing they are in good hands....All the way around! WE miss you so much Lo! Keep up the good work, and we will see you again someday!

Yesterday we were able to stop by the cemetery and visit for a little while, it's always great learning more about your life and being reminded of the amazing person you are. I hope that now you are able to see the impact that you left on all of us..
and that you are still leaving, especially with the little ones. Landon and Van remember you and I know they look forward to seeing you again. You had a sweet entry in your journal about Landon. He talked about that all night at dinner! You were always thinking of others, and that takes someone special!

Till We See You Again...<3
WE LOVE YOU!

November!

I have had a great week and so much has been going on...
I love being busy, especially when there's exciting things going on!
& It makes nights at home more enjoyable when I get to sit down and relax with my favorite boys! Tate is growing up so fast, I can't stand it! But at the same time I just love him and his changing personality more everyday! He is so much more than I ever could have asked for.

My Tate,

I just want you to know that you are perfect and you make me the happiest mom in the whole world. I love being able to watch you grow. You are laughing a little now and smiling more everyday. You are now 3 months old and it has all gone by so fast! I wish I could pause time but I know that each new chapter will be just as exciting as the last! Thanks for being my little cuddle bug, and keeping me warm now that it's starting to get cold. I am looking forward to our first Christmas together! And to all those to come! P.S. you are my favorite.

Love,
Mommy

Tate just got a new toy..it keeps him very entertained, he loves it! It was soo worth the $8 it cost us, we'll do anything to make this cute lil man happy!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON! WE LOVEEEEE YOU! <3



Also we've had a couple birthdays to celebrate! First Brandons on the 3rd, then my sisters on the 11th and Jason's on the 13th. This is a busy month for our little family but it's been so fun! Tate loved watching the candles being lit on all the cakes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE JUSTYNE!




We also had Beze's wedding! It was so crazy to think back on all of the memories and to watch her with her new hubby. I told her now she just has to have a baby so our kids can grow up together like we were able to! Wouldn't that be so much fun?! I guess we'll see! I'm just happy to now have a married friend! That was Tate's first wedding! Congrats Alli & Brian!


I am bummed that we missed the ground breaking of the temple but I look forward to watching the progress as I drive to school, that should start the morning off right!..

Next...THANKSGIVING! I absolutely love this time of year, I guess it has a lot to do with how much I LOVE my family! I really am blessed..

Can't wait to spend the day with all of you!

LOVE

i LOVE the weather this time of year, and looking forward to all of the holiday fun with friends and family! One of my best friends growing up will be getting married today, soo crazy and exciting (Now I'll actually have a married friend!) and my best friend ASHLEY will be down to visit in December! I haven't seen her since my baby shower so it has been way too long! I miss her and all of the fun we always had so I'm definitely looking forward to her visit around Christmas!



We have already had such a fun start to the fall season!

Tate had his first Halloween!!!
We were able to go to MeMe & Bompa's Trunk or Treat and to Uncle Jared and Aunt Sarah's block party..Tate had so much fun, I think he liked the attention!


I must admit...he's the cutest lil cop I'e ever seen!
It was kind of last minute that we decided on a costume..but one look at those lil aviator glasses and this just had to be it! And he was adorable..it was too funny!
Thanks Build-A-Bear!!!!!

And ya, I was supposed to be the "criminal"...I know, real creative!haha

One of the best things about being a mom= watching my baby learn and grow, and experience all of his firsts! First Thanksgiving..First Christmas, here we come! You won't understand it this year but you will learn and you will Love it!

Tate+Car Rides=Happy Baby:)

Most Days Tate LOVES car rides..
and he always starts out with a HUGE smile, which I must say I ABSOLUTELY adore!

Somewhere along the way it always turns into a staring contest which cracks me up every time!
That usually happens just before he falls asleep
I just LOVE that it starts, and ends with a very happy little man:)

Oh and for all those wondering...

Here are the STATS:{2 months old}



60%Length
8%Weight
=Gonna be Tall & Skinny!

This poor kid must think the world is a horrible place, i would.
But I'm Happy to say he is one of the HAPPIEST babies I have ever seen, and that's just one more thing I absolutely adore about him.
Shots and his tongue being chopped all in one week, and look at that smile!!
oh...& he has his
mommy wrapped around his tiny lil finger



I'm in Love.

A Trip to the ER....a clipping of my poor baby's tongue..and a goodbye to his daddy for a few days all helped to make this last week interesting, But somehow we all survived! :) Actually we now are even more grateful for the days when we are feeling good and healthy!


Poor Tate had to go to the ENT with his MeMe and Grandma while I was home fighting off a pretty bad fever due to a kidney infection..I was glad that I didn't have to watch my baby put through that pain but felt so bad that I couldn't be there to wrap him in my arms! He was such a good boy though and showed us just how strong he is! And I didn't hesitate to give him tons of kisses or squeeze him tight as soon as I had him back!

Then Brandon left with his dad and brothers to go hunt elk in Flagstaff for the weekend..He had an eventful couple days leading up to that and I'm sure he was very glad to get away! It left me with my little guy, and I've been able to take in a lot of my little sweetheart's adorable personality. I really don't know how I was so blessed with such perfection in my life. The Mommy Life is just amazing. & I'm learning something new every single day.

And we're slowly figuring out what makes our baby boy happy......

Little Mr Perfect

This past month has flown by since I became a mommy.
I always imagined how it would feel to actually cuddle, and kiss, and just LOVE & ADORE a baby of my own but to my surprise being a mom is so much more than I expected, so much better! From the second they handed the little guy to me in the hospital I felt so close to him, it's a bond that is unlike any other! I kissed his head at that moment and I honestly don't think I've ever been so relieved over anything. I was so glad to finally hold him in my arms...and see the baby I had been thinking about and imagining for what seemed like so long. Those were the things I had been most excited about my entire pregnancy. Cuddling my baby, and seeing what he looked like. And I fell in love with him instantly. He grabbed my finger the second I wrapped him in my arms and that just made my heart melt, I think my finger would have turned purple if it hadnt yet already..He had the strongest little grip and did not want to let go. I'll never forget those first moments.

The ten months...(9 months and 3 weeks to be exact) of waiting could not have been more worth the beautiful baby boy that I have now. I look at him and his adorable little face and I really have never seen a cuter baby in my life. I am in love with his blonde hair...his blue eyes that might someday change...and the little smile that shows the one dimple he has. It really does get me everytime. He is absolutely perfect and I am completely in love, More than I ever thought possible.It's an amazing feeling to look at your baby and be able to see little bits of yourself.

I have already teared up a few times at the thought of how fast the time has gone with my lil Tate, and as much as I hate to think of him growing up and wish
I could keep him my little baby forever...I look forward to all that is to come.

To the birthdays, and the personality changes..The laughs and first steps..Pretty much EVERYTHING.

Being a mom is the best feeling there is. Nothing in the world can compare.

Less than a month now and Brandon and I will bee married for a year, time has flown by and with our new little addition we are happier than ever and looking forward to the fun future we have ahead of us and the new chapter that has now begun!

Ready When you Are!

I realized the other day how bummed I'm going to be that I'm not keeping up on my journal for Tate, I have always had good intentions with it but my feelings have always been the same..I've just been happy from day one of finding out that there was a little baby going to come into our lives.

Now...We are down to exactly a month before he is scheduled to get here, but let me be the first to say that when he's ready I'm ready..

Brandon even finished up the room, he put wainscoating up and re painted all by himself and I was really proud of him and the amazing job that he did! It looks better than I even expected and I hope he's happy with it too:)

We're looking forward to putting up the finishing touches but the main things are finished..So Tate, you can just be here as soon as you wanna be here! We cannot wait to meet you.

I had my shower a week ago, and I was so surprised with the turn out! It was great to see everyone and to see all of the cute stuff everyone picked out for our baby!
We are pretty much set on clothing and we have so many extra little things that I cannot wait to use once Tate is here. I am having so much fun just thinking about it and getting everything ready!

I am in love with how this turned out! Thank you babe for working so hard on it, even when you were completely exhausted!






He is one spoiled child already! I think it might be safe to say he has a larger, and not to mention better wardrobe than his mommy!



By the looks of this Watermelon in my tummy I would say your about ready lil boy!!

Baby Baby Baby!

I knew it had been a long time since I last wrote on here...or wrote anything that didn't have something to do with Anatomy! But I think it took Brandon realizing that I've been slacking to finally convince me to change that..

I'm almost done with my Anatomy Class that will be a huge relief and honestly anytime after 10:30 (July 22) I am ready for my baby to be here! I really can't wait..But before then, We have a nursery to finish...The walls went from baby blue to beige [we like to make things hard on ourselves], I guess I should say Brandon has a nursery to finish! He's putting up wainscoating! and we finally got the bedding! I havent been much help with the room but that is proably a good thing, Things will look much better that way!! Other than that..I have my baby shower this Thursday! I'm anxious to see all of the cute things everyone picked out for Tate and I know it will get me even more excited to be a mom!

And possibly the fact that the picture in the post below might leave a few of you in shock when you next see me, I no longer have that tiny belly, it really does grow bigger by the day! But I guess I should have known that before now! Not only is my tummy bigger but I seem to have hmmm....blown up this last week! Literally my feet and ankles and legs look like balloons, probably the most unattractive thing I've ever seen in my life but I've managed to just laugh it off most days! And Brandon gets some good laughs in every now and then too! If you see me..and my ankles are exposed, please remind me to wear jeans:) Sometimes I forget with this 115 degree weather and can't help it! I even had my nephew run up to me at dinner the other night asking if my feet were still fat, That's when you know it's gone a little too far at least he wasn't telling me something I didn't already know. Just a little over a month more of this..

Honestly typing that last sentence made me a little sad..I love the idea of meeting my baby boy but theres already days I don't feel him wiggling around in my stomach for a few hours and I already miss him at that point, I might just miss these side aches, sleepless night and karate kicks to my ribs pretty soon here. I know men have no idea what it's like to be pregnant and some may say that they are lucky but to me every little bit of it has been so worth it and even exciting. I think a smile comes to my face everytime I feel his little arm or foot against my stomach, Ya....I will miss it..There's nothing like this, absolutely no comparison. [28 weeks]
[7 Months/ 28 weeks]




[34 weeks]

"& no one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. after all, you are the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside"

Doneee.

I cannot say how happy I will be that last day of school! Particularly the last day of ANATOMY, that class has been the hardest ever.. but I actually have kind of enjoyed it and learned a lot. So I'm signed up to do anatomy & physiology II this summer..Wondering if it's worth the risk! But hey it would sure make time go faster till this baby gets here since I know I'd have too much homework and studying to focus on anything else! Maybe thats a good thing?! I would be out of class July 22! Just one month before Tate should be here!Life is crazy, but I'm loving it.

we are finally getting his room started, but everything we had planned is now being thought over again....Great! Just when you think you have everything figured out!

Oh well...it will be a fun process:)

Thoughts

I tried to change my song, but realized I forgot my playlist.com password,
then I got to thinking and realized it's true..Life doesn't always seem beautiful but it sure does right now! I have so much to look forward to!

I went to the doctor the other day and once again everything was perfect, every appt leaves me with such relief knowing that my baby boy is doing so good...and each time we're a month closer to seeing that cute lil boy! I am so excited! I just can't wait....


Patience.........Patience.

16 more weeks ( or less )...i hope:)

Our Baby Boy! ♥

I am already so in love with this baby in my belly...even if he does make me fatter everyday, especially lately:) look at my ultrasound pictures and can't help but imagine how cute he is gonna be! I guess pregnancy just leaves you full of wonder...I have no idea what to expect with anything so it's like having nine full months of surprises!



We are naming him after his uncle of course..and even though we'll call him Tate I have a feeling he'll look a lot like uncle Lorin..it's only fitting, which also means he'll most likely look like Brandon rather than me! I wouldn't be too disappointed if he got something from me though! I think that's cute..to be able to see yourself in your little kids, I guess we'll see in a few months. The excitement is growing. I know Tate is just up there enjoying every last second he has with Lo, and I hope he learns well from him!

We say he is spoiled already! Because I feel as if anytime I see anyone, they are talking about what they'll be making baby Tate or handing us more things to fill his closet! I just can't wait to dress him in all the cute little outfits from everybody!




Other than that, we are starting to get excited about putting together his room, my dad is even making him a crib which will be very special to us! I am looking forward to seeing the finished result and watching his room come together it will make me want him here even more.. but I just keep telling myself patience, patience! I guess we should take advantage of the sleep time too! But the idea of waking up to my baby every few hours doesn't bother me yet.! I am looking forward to pretty much everything and I can't believe we will be parents before we know it! It will be, and is such a blessing and makes us so happy already.


We love our Baby Tate! XOXO