2 am

This is Oliver at 2 am. He was so awake and being so cute I had to take pictures. I just wanted to take a moment to talk about that sweet time around 2 or 3 am. That is when my babies would wake up to eat. All three of my kids always wake up very happy. You can still wake them up from a dead sleep and they will smile and talk and then go back to bed. Oliver does the same thing. I love those moments in the middle of night when no one else is up, I have had some rest, and the house is still. During those moments I feel like I really get to know my baby. My heart is very full as he smiles and coos. I love the way babies look when they nurse. And although you can't capture that moment on camera, it is a little picture in my head. I just don't think there is anyting sweeter. That image is just a little acorn, to save for later.

Introducing...

...Isabelle, Alexandra and Oliver Karren


I thought I should spend one entry to introduce the kids on my blog, now that I am officially blogging. Plus I needed to show off my new pictures taken by my new favorite photographer in Utah, Jess Bishop (byjess.com).

Isabelle



Isabelle Elaine just turned six the beginning of November. She is such an a amazing little girl. She is so genuine and sweet to everyone she meets. She is a born leader. It is so adorable how quickly she makes friends and she naturally just leads her little friends. She is always so quick to include everyone. Isabelle has always been so talented. She has the most amazing voice with an incredible ability with her pitch and tone. She also has an uncanny ability to memorize anything and everything. She was one of the youngest to be accepted to the piano program at Carnegie Mellon. It is a very good program. The director was so impressed with her musical ability. I'm sure one day she will do something with her talent. But for now I will enjoy the gorgeous voice singing in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Her dancing, singing, conversation, and cuddling just brightens up the house. She really is like a little ray of sunshine. Isabelle is such a strong little spirit. She amazes me everyday and I feel so humble to be her mother.

Alexandra



Alexandra Grace is three years old. She is such a little cuddle bug. I have to admit I will miss when she grows out of holding necks. I have really started to love her affectionate little idiosyncrasies. She sucks her little lip and rubs her hand all around your neck. She loves to cuddle, especially in the morning. She is so funny too. She loves to make jokes and laughs out loud at herself. She loves her sister and her new little brother. Isabelle is her little role model. But Allie is a little more irreverent, and you can't help but love her for it. She loves to get a little messy, but still in her dress-up dress complete with accessories. She reminds me a lot of myself as a little girl. This year has been so fun with her. She misses her sister at school, but we have been able to have a lot of one on one time and I loved it. She is so accommodating and easy going. I told her that I didn't want her to be big, I wanted her to be my little baby. She thought for a second, looked introspective and then sweetly said, "I can be a baby." She is such a sweet little girl.

Oliver



Oliver Benjamin is 1 month old. Already I feel so lucky to have such a pure little spirit in my care. He is such a good little baby. He only cries when he is hungry, but watch out if you don't get it to him right away. That is the only time you see his little temper. He is so mellow compared to the girls. He has been such a little trooper through his difficult entrance into this world. His little spirit is so strong. I love him so much already. It is amazing how quickly they become a part of your heart.

Christmas

Christmas was very low key this year. I actually finished shopping for Christmas by November. I was pretty proud of myself. Good thing too seeing how full our November and beginning of December was. The girls got absolutely everything they could've wanted.

Oliver was so cute in the little hat Uncle Dan gave hime!

I loved having my little family all together for Christmas. Ben actually had 5 days off. It was just a relief to have him there. We had been in survival mode for the last few weeks. We watched "The Nativity" and just hung out and talked with everyone. My mom's tree was amazing. She had an upside down tree dripping wih crystals. With the glow of the tree, the fireplace, the huge windows open to the snow covered mountains, it couldn't have been a more perfect holiday.

Oliver's Blessing

Oliver was blessed on December 23rd in my parent's Alpine ward. The blessing was so touching. We had so many people from our extended family that were able to be there. It really was special to have everyone there. Arlie (Ben's Grandma) held Oliver during the rest of the service which was so wonderful, because we don't get to see her and Chuck very often. My grandma and grandpa were able to be there. And so many more in our family. Thank you all for coming, you make us feel so loved.



Our new and improved family.



Nani & Papa



Nana & Papi



Grandma Arlie



Grandma & Grandpa "Great" Whiting

Daddy Weekends

We left on November 20th and won't be going back to Arizona until the first week in January. Ben has been flying up on the weekends. He has been going all over the country for dental residency programs as well. So, needless to say the girls are so excited when he comes. They have both been having more of a hard time than I anticipated with tears every time he leaves. So, he makes the most of his time with them.


Ben was a great architect and the girls made fabulous designers on the gingerbread house.


From a pint sized snowman to a snow ball fight, the girls had fun in the snow with their daddy.

Little Man

I just thought these were so cute of Oliver. He looks like such a little man!

Baby Oliver Comes Home

The girls simply adore their new brother. They just can't get enough of him.



From his head to his little piggie toes.


Isabelle is so good with him, a little mommy. Alexandra's favorite moment with him so far is when he stretched, his head went back and you oculd see his neck. She gasped and squealed, "He opened his neck!" And her little hand went right on his neck. That's Allie's comfort thing. She holds necks, she likes to rub your neck and suck her bottom lip. We will have to watch that one!

Ben finally got another man in the house. It was getting a little pink! Oliver looks so much like Ben, but with a little Whiting in him too.