Those Eyes

Guess who has a birthday today????

Cara does!

Happy Birthday, girlfriend!
For those of you who don't know my dearest friend Cara, let me just tell ya........she's pretty much amazing! We first met each other our sophomore year in high school and have been best buds ever since.
Let me tell you what makes Cara so great:
She listened to me talk about my missionary (now my husband) all of the time. Seriously, ALL OF THE TIME.
We both were in dance company together and we would have SO MUCH FUN choreographing dances. If only I had the dance on video that we did to the song "Pure Energy" by Information Society. You'd be incredibly jealous.
She stayed the night at my house the night before my wedding so I would have someone to cry with and laugh with. Good times.
I could tell her pretty much anything....like how I peed my pants on my 18th birthday (long story). She made fun of me for it, but then........well I won't tell you the rest.
She does a great impersonation of Zoolander and Kipp from Napoleon Dynamite.
She's got some gorgeous hair! She'll grow it way long and then cut it all off to give to Locks of Love. How nice is that?! Whoever has her hair, probably looks like Barbie now.
And one more thing.....
we took some amazing pictures together in high school. Just look below.

I don't even want to give a description on this picture.

Here we are at student council camp. Okay, so some of you may be thinking, "I thought Mormons didn't drink????". Unfortunately, we weren't. We're just insane.

I can't believe I convinced myself to post this picture.

Wow, look at those cheerleaders. Isn't that pose totally original? I think so.
Happy Birthday, Cara! We love you!

Hopefully we're still friends!

All "Screwed Up"

For those of you wondering what it is like with two kids, let me tell ya.......it's fun! Some days are completely crazy, but I have to just laugh or else I'd probably shoot myself. For instance, on Sunday, our entire family (all 4 of us) decided to go to church for the first time since Emmalee's been around. I think we woke up at 7 AM to get ready and it pretty much took us til' church started to be done getting ready. Church didn't start til' 1:30 PM. (Yikes). We show up to sacrament meeting and of course, right off the bat, Braddock starts getting really fidgety. He did not want us to hold him and he did not want to be sitting on the bench. He wanted to play. Of course, he wasn't very reverent, so I picked him up and he started throwing a fit. Jim then looked at me and said, "hand me his diaper bag". I hand him the bag and Jim pulls out this massive screwdriver. Braddock's eyes lit up when he saw it. (Look at picture below to better understand why. ) I started busting up laughing because afterall, what kind of parent brings a screwdriver to church for their 18 month old to play with? Apparently, we do. Braddock then began "working" on the bench. Hilariousness.

Okay, now back to church.............................SO, sacrament gets over and it's time for Sunday school. Emmalee needs to eat, so I take her to the mother's lounge to feed her. Within 10 minutes of the feeding, I begin developing this warm sensation on my legs. Yes people, she sharted all over me!!! All over my dress, all over her, and all over her blanket.
I spent the next half hour trying to get the both us cleaned up before Young Womens started, which I had to teach the Beehives. Luckily, I was able to make it in time to give a lesson.
When Jim and I headed home from church that day, he looked at me and said, " I don't ever want to do that again." I'm pretty sure he was joking......well at least partially.
I hear it gets better.............please tell me this is true. LOL

Here's a couple pics for the week.

Our little chunka-munka.

If there's a screw, he's there too!

The Hub

I just have to say that I think my husband is ridiculously good looking, don't you think so? Nevermind, don't answer that.

I just had to post these pictures because he's a cute daddy.
Love ya, babe!

Oh my word.....

.....trying to take a picture of Braddock and Emmalee together has probably been one of the most difficult tasks to take on. Let me show you some pictures to better explain just how difficult it really is.

Example #1: And this is only the beginning.

Example #2: I think Emmalee's face explains it all.
Example #3: Notice Braddock's hand is all blurry??? That's because it's moving at the speed of lightning toward her soft spot.
This is the only somewhat decent picture I was able to take. You can't even see Em's face. Ridiculous, I tell you.
Good thing this kid is cute, or I'd have to beat him!

We're Back!!!

I have to say sorry for not keeping everyone updated like I should about what has happened the last few weeks. Thanks to my sister Jenna for posting the arrival of our sweet baby Em. Life has been a rollercoaster the last couple of weeks for many reasons. One being that we were out of our home for over a month and then had our baby almost 3 weeks early. On February 7, I was scheduled to meet with a perinatologist at the hospital because my doctor discovered that our baby was breech and he wanted to see if we could attempt to turn the baby. I went in hoping and praying that they would be able to, but when they did the ultrasound, they discovered that my water had broke and I had an infection, so they had to do an emergency c-section. I was so extremely nervous, but Jim held on to my hand the entire time. I didn't feel any pain - just lots of tugging and then we heard our sweet baby cry and the tears started coming. Jim and I were both crying so hard. I feel so blessed to have two sweet beautiful children. Heavenly Father has given us so much! The entire 9 months that I was pregnant, I had a lot of concern as to how I would be able to love this baby as much as I love my little boy, Braddock. That sounds awful, I know, but true. Amazingly enough though, there was room enough in my heart to love her as much as I love him. It made me think about the love that Heavenly Father has for each of us - He loves us all the same. I'm so grateful for that. Being a mother is such a blessing. Two kids under two years keeps me on my feet, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! My family is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
Also, I want to give a big shout out to my mother-in-law Marilee and my sisters, Jenna and Alyssa. They helped out so much while I was in the hospital and while I was recovering back at home. I couldn't have done it without you!

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She's Heeeere!

Emmalee Tarayne Epps

Born: 7 February 2008 at 12:25 p.m.

Weight: 6lbs 10oz

Length: 18 inches

Bethany and Emmalee are doing great! Emmalee is a very healthy and beautiful little girl.

More pictures can be seen on Jenna's blog and in Emmalee's web album.