1 year!

One year ago we moved to Ogden!  We'd been in Utah for a month already, but we were just at the start of our crazy journey.  Kurt had just started a new job and we moved into our house!  I was kind of terrified. I didn't know what the next year would bring.  There have been ups and downs, but without a doubt I know that we're meant to be here in Ogden.  We've been tremendously blessed.  I still feel like our journey is just beginning though.  If there's one thing I've learned recently it's that you never know what life is going to bring you.  Even if you think the future is planned.  I also know that through the gospel and relying on Christ you can not only survive those challenges, but come out better and stronger on the other side.   

Bed Time

I never had the heart to let Hattie cry it out.  But recently we've been working on having her fall asleep by herself.  Previously, we had been rocking her to sleep every night, but it started getting ridiculous.  It would take 1.5+ hours of rocking before she fell asleep.  Even when she was exhausted. I came to dread bed time.  It was always a battle and took forever!  I was so fed up one night I just put Hattie in her crib and left, figuring I'd wait 10 minutes and then go back in.  She was so upset she threw up about 5 minutes in.  I felt terrible.  TERRIBLE!  But she fell asleep quickly afterwards.  Despite this rough start, we stuck with it.  Giving her 3 minutes in the crib and then going in to rescue her.  She's slowly gotten better and better.  Last night, we rocked for a bit then I put her in her crib (still awake).  She rolled over and looked at me with eyes wide open, but instead of crying she waved her little hand and said "bye bye Mama".  I laughed in surprise then told her goodnight!  She fell asleep all on her own!  I feel like it's a miracle.  I know it's not, kids do learn to fall asleep by themselves at some point, but it feels like a huge win and it's a wonderful milestone to have passed.  I no longer dread bed time.

Silly Girl

Hattie is such a joy!  You never know what this silly girl will do.

Hang out in her super full crib while I clean the floor

Wear leg warmers on her arms and legs

Climb into a drawer in order to reach a higher drawer

Or take selfies and blind herself with the flash.

She has a great scowl:

Loves to play with her Papa:

And dances with her cousins (no one was harmed in the making of this video):

I love my goofy gal!

Happy Birthday Kurt!

Kurt had a birthday shout 'Hooray!"  We celebrated with a baseball game watching the Ogden Raptors.  It was really fun!  Hattie liked it too.  We were a few rows behind home plate and Hattie kept on clapping at pitches (ball or strike) and enjoyed sitting in her own seat.

Hattie's watching the game in this one!

Her own seat!

I made a German chocolate cake for the occasion and we had the Roths over for cake:

After Kurt blew out the candles Charlotte and Livi wanted to do it to so they each got their own turn.  Then we dug in!  Happy Birthday Kurt!  We love you lots!

Hiking

We went on a beautiful hike...twice!  The first time it started pouring and then hailing, so we turned back early.  The second time we made it to the top (it was exhausting).

Beautiful view!

Second time around:  Here's the valley on one side

And the valley on the other (that's Ogden/North Ogden).

See the parking lot down there?  Bottom left

 Hattie was exhausted on the way down!  I was too, but I didn't get to take a nap!

Oliverson Reunion

In the beginning of August we headed north for the Oliverson Reunion.  I've been attending this reunion all my life, but it was Kurt and Hattie's first time attending.  We stayed in Logan the night before.  We got dessert at the Bluebird- they have the most amazing cream soda ever.

Hattie liked all the stools at the bar.

We swam in the hotel pool that night and the next morning we were off the Preston, ID for the reunion!  Kurt and Hattie went on the tractor ride (along with Joe, Livi, and Char).

The farmhouse!  The house my grandma grew up in burned down in the 60s, but this house was built when I was a little girl.  I vaguely remember it not being there.

They started doing an auction in recent years to help pay for the next reunion.  Here's Grandma doing some modeling!

I'm glad we were able to go!  And that it's only an hour drive away instead of 14+ (like it was for me growing up).  And we got to eat the most delicious dutch oven dinner.  It's seriously amazing, and super nostalgic because they've had the same place cater lunch for the Oliverson reunion at least since I was a child.  And I got to tell Grandma and Grandpa in person that I'm pregnant!  It was a fun weekend.  

Baby Z

Baby Biehl #2 (Baby Z) is on his/her way!  We found out on July 3rd.  I'm due March 12th.  I'm rooting for him/her to be born on the 13th (like Hattie!).  Why Baby Z?  We had a short list of reasons for the name, but the only one I can remember is that Z makes me extremely tired.  I'm doing better now, but all I wanted to do the first trimester was sleep.

I've had two appointments thus far and everything looks good.  Z's growing right on track and heartbeat is strong.  I got an ultrasound at my second appointment and he/she looked way more human.  Even waved an arm at me!  Z did a nice little wiggle during my first ultrasound too.  It was adorable :)  I know- my little blob IS adorable though.

Z's first pictures!

Family of 4!

Our social media announcement.  How cute is Hattie?  Seriously.

I love to see the temple

During the month of August the Ogden Temple had an open house.  I volunteered one afternoon with my Young Women.  We put shoe covers on people's feet before entering the temple.  Everyone who might walk was required to wear them, including little kids.  Here's Hattie modeling the booties!  She was super cute shuffling around.  We went on the tour twice- the first time she loved the baptismal font (she loves water) and the second time she pointed at every picture and said "Jesus"...well, she did until having a meltdown and then we had to carry a crying baby through the temple.  Fun times!  But really, it was.  The temple is beautiful!  The dedication is this Sunday!  

Love these girls!!!

After the second tour we went to this awesome park just a few blocks away.