The Daniels

I have my Garage back!

2012-03-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

I have my garage back after a week of working on my first painting/creative project yet. It's a table I got off craigs list for $100--STEAL of a DEAL! It's DONE and I LOVE it!!

This was the only "before" I took. The legs of the table were the same wood color and the table top wasn't sanded yet :)

I actually considered leaving the wood this light natural color

THE TABLE

Better picture of my glazing and destressing--yay for little sis's knowledge--GO ALISHA

All of the paint and stain and fabric came out to $50---what a great deal---

$150 for a new kitchen table!!

Hunk of Burnin' Love!

2012-02-16T15:06:00.000-08:00

My baby is almost 8 months! My other baby is 2 and me and hunny have now celebrated 3 1/2 years! Crazy! I love Valentines Day and love all the wonderful people in my life!

Beckam's Blessing--7.31.2011

2011-08-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Beckam with Uncle Keith in the official blessing outfit. It was way too hot to keep it on much longer and everything was too busy (or too sick) to get family shots. So their is our handsome boy!

Mommy and Beckam chillin' on the couch in the fabulous air conditioning.

Ray Conover--where the Ray in Beckam Ray came from. Good Man.

Daddy and Adeline hanging our with our main man!

The day after--happy SIS. (her cheeks are fine they just are almost healed from a blistering sun burn)

Beckam Ray Daniels

2011-07-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

8 lbs. 13 oz. Beckam arrived Friday, June 24 2011 at 3:42 pm, after an interesting visit to the doctor. I had my appointment at 11:50 and had my c-section scheduled for the following Tuesday, where everything seemed to be going as planned. When the doc came in he asked if I had been having any contractions. To my knowledge I hadn't but knew I had dropped (at least for the last couple days).
--SIDE NOTE--With Brinley my water broke 2 1/2 weeks early. I had 0 contractions until I was dialated past a 6. Those contractions were only felt strongly from pitosin. So this pregnancy, after I was 37 1/2 weeks I was kind of freeking out of how things were going to go...and they couldn't have gone better!--
I told the doc I was having twinges, which is what my mom said she had until she was in full blown labor. We had a very long conversation while I was driving to my appointment because I was frieking out of what was going to happen, and I really wanted to work the next day. The doc checked me and said he thought I was dialated to a 5. After checking me there was a little too much blood and asked what my mom said about her "twinges." I told him and he said, "Let me check you again, hold on!" (I think being checked is the worst thing and he knows it so the first time he took it nice and soft, this next wasn't so much) He said, "Oh my, you are more like a 6 and I can feel his head way down, what's the rest of your plans like for today." I told him to go back to Grandma's and get Brinley and to work the next day. He said, "Well, you aren't going to work tomorrow and I think you better call Duke and meet me at the hospital in an hour and a half." That's when my real frieking our happened. I got over it by the time I met Duke back at my in-laws and said bye to Brinley and headed back to the hospital.

The rest went great. Had my c-section and healed fast. I had 0 out-of-it moments and feel great! The hospital food is still worth the 3 days of being there.

A new kind of Mary Adventure!

2011-02-22T19:19:00.001-08:00

Girls just want to have FUN!

Riding the Merry-GO-Round at the mall

There was a bird cage from the floor to ceiling on the kids floor of the Library...so Cool!

Can't forget about the chocolate!

This past weekend I went to see Mary, but not just by myself...with Brinley. She being the angelic thing she usually is, I didn't worry. The plane ride went well, both ways, but once we were there the clinging began. We still had a good time, just with crabby and vocal about it Brinley.

Mary was very thoughtful and came up with great things to do that kept Brinley happy. We went to their local REC Center for Family Night in the pool, went to the Library, and went shopping which always has a "merry-go-round" if needed. Little Reif, Mary's dog, definitely kept us on our toes, Brinley being a dog lover and Reif not being used to kids. We had a great time but are greatful to be back!

Thanks Mary!

It's A....

2011-02-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

BOY!! I think things just happen the way they are supposed to or something...now after a week of letting it soak in, I'm pretty excited! Now just for the changes and decorating starting at my house!

Popping fast!

2011-02-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

It's official...I'm pregnant. I'm only 18 weeks right now and in the other picture I was 20 weeks with Brinley. CRAZY!!

Potty Time!

2011-01-25T15:24:00.001-08:00

Brinley is ready to say "I'm a BIG kid now!" Sporting her cute new undies. We only had to go through 2 other pair to keep these ones dry until we had a great landing in the potty. It's so much fun to watch her grow and hte different things that keep her attention. We just hope we can have her kind of comfortable on the potty before the new baby comes, even if the diapers are still used every once in a while!

Got to love GREAT DEALS!

2011-01-18T17:11:00.000-08:00

Got the best deal ever at Old NAvy--$2.50--for the vest and head band

Helping Mamma in the kitchen!

2011-01-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

Brinley loves to be with me every where I go...she's just like a shadow! The other day I was doing dishes and she scooted a chair next to me so I helped her up and she "helped" me with dishes and loved the bubbles while we were working hard! She also loves popcorn--I think that's just a Phelps trait!

13 months!

2011-01-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Let's celebrate the past with some Halloween pics, Birthday pics, Christmas pics and just some fun ones with life moving in fast forward!

Halloween-- Our little LOVE BUG!

Just being cute on her little chair from Aunt Audra

Playing dress-ups with Morgan--Thanksgiving at Richelle's

Our Baby is ONE!!

Pretty in her Christmas Dress!

Our trip to WA

2010-10-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

We finally made the trip to a little piece of heaven- Chelan, WA.

So it's only 4 months later!

2010-08-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

Brinley is now 8 months old. She is pretty much crawling and has 3 teeth, going on 4. She is 29 inches long and 21 pounds. She sleeps through the night and loves to eat. She is officially my angel baby--being happy and cute all day long! She only cries when she wants to eat. I really think that my life is perfect!

15 weeks; Bright, Blue Eyed & Beautiful

2010-03-16T21:14:00.001-07:00

Good old B-Ball

2010-03-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Duke has been playing church ball and loving it! We are into tournaments and we won the first game....MOVIN' UP! Duke has been polishing up on his 3's and doing great. We'll keep you posted.

Duke and his biggest fan, Brinley Bumpkin

March--full of Birthdays!

2010-03-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

Keith, Lora and Adeline ready for cake

Starting with March 1 we have family Birthdays to CELEBRATE! Keith's and Bill's birthday in the first week give us lots of reason to get together with family and eat cake. We wish all family could live a half hour a way to celebrate constantly--cake would become a main dish at our house.

We had Keith and his family over for his birthday and had cake and played games. There is never enough time to spend with our growing families.

Keith blowing out his not quite 33 candles!

Adeline and Henry snuggling on the rocker

For Bill's birthday we went bowling. We had a great time with the Jaynes and Grandma and Grandpa.

Funny Grandpa and Colten

Brinley thrilled to be Grandpa's Birthday present

Jade, Brinley and Grandma

Russ and Duke

Wonderful Day

2010-03-07T21:12:00.000-08:00

Duke and his Princess

Today was Brinley's blessing day and we were able to share it with lots of family! She is 3 months old now and us just a hoot! We had Richelle and her family and Mom come and stay with us for the weekend. The weekend was full of festivities, inlcuding the Discovery Center Museum, games and hanging out with family, and the blessing today in church with a great lunch at Duke's parents.

Morgan, Mike, Richelle, Brinley and Garrett after there long journey

Cousins!

Brinley loves kisses from Grandpa! xoxoxo

Brinley is always making us laugh

GramE and her little balleria--playing dress up

Grownug, Growing, GROWING!

2010-01-25T22:31:00.000-08:00

12 weeks

My baby Brinley is 12 1/2 pounds...not a baby anymore! She is so fun and I swear even just through a nap, like 3 hours, she will be a whole new person when she wakes up. She is a wonderful baby and is staying awake more and more, at the good times too.

Now, a month later, she isn't growing as much every moment, but more fun! She loves to talk and sing!

I have an Excuse!

2010-01-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

I promise I would be posting more about Brinley and her ever growing moments, I have pictures to prove it, but our internet hardly works...when it does, I post.

Already 6 weeks!

2010-01-19T23:13:00.000-08:00

So Brinley has passed the 6 week mark and has grown a ton! She has cute cheeks and is healthy as ever!

December 4, 2009

2010-01-04T22:13:00.001-08:00

6:55 am... thought I was peeing my pants... actually my water broke, it only took me 40 min. to figure it out. Duke had an interview for an internship and I was not ready to have a baby on December 4, although it was my prediction. If it weren't for Bill and Debbie, I wouldn't have been out of the house by 10:30.

On the way to the hospital, Debbie came along. We named her our "Shadow" which she gratefully accepted. We passed McDonalds, and I knew I wouldn't be getting any more food, so I wanted to stop for an ice-cream cone. After we pulled into the drive-thru and ordered my vanilla cone, we were informed the ice-cream machine could be broken. Shadow said, "God is watching over you Nicole, you don't want to be puking that up." Two seconds later, we were informed that I would be getting my $1 value vanilla cone, and I exclaimed "God is watching out for me!"

Then I asked "does the Shadow want anything?" as Duke drove off. She replied "I guess not." and I said "I guess the Lord is watching out for you too." it was so funny!

Now for the seriousness...

After checking in, and getting situated in the room, I was dialated to a 3, and was still enjoying myself. Then came the patossin... slowly and surely those contractions came. When I was at a 7.5 I went to the bathroom and decided it was time to get an epidural, so I could relax and enjoy a game of rummy. It was a good thing I did, because I was dialated to a 10 an hour later. It was 5:00 and time to push. As it turns out, I'm not made to have babies the right way, and after 2 hours of pushing, was wheeled to the operating room.

Back to the pushing, after 45 minutes, Duke looked at me and said "she hasn't moved for a while" I was determined that she was coming out. The doctor was also determined and so we tried a few different things, one of which was the vacuum. He told me we'd try it through 6 contractions. After 4, my mother-in-law (Shadow) said "nothing is happening", and in came a bunch of nurses, and I was shipped off to the OR. It was kind of emotional, especially because I could feel the contractions that I couldn't push through, and the anethsesiologist was taking his dang time (15 minutes to be exact) and it hurt. Duke thought both me and the Brinley were both going to die, thinking it was an emergency C-section. So he was emotional which then made his mother emotional. The rest was a breeze, even the recovery (especially since its been a month).

Now it's Duke's turn to the rest of the story since I was a wee bit loopy...

Thanksgiving 2009

2010-01-04T21:54:00.001-08:00

This Thanksgiving was spent in the mountains. Duke, myself, and my in-laws went to their cabin for a few days. It was a very relaxing Thanksgiving, which was very much needed.

Wednesday night, Duke and I signed on our house. On the way back home to pack , Duke started to have chest pains. We were about 10 minutes from home and his arm went numb. It kinda freaked us out, so the next hospital we passed, we pulled into the ER. The good news is, it was a quick clinic and they were able to get us in right away. He had an EKG and all turned out fine. The doctor just laughed and said "the top two reasons for stress/anxiety are buying a house and having a baby", and they were both our first.

My in-laws weren't expecting that night at the cabin, especially because it was so late. We scared them to death. They thought we were fellow woodsback men with guns ready to blow thier heads off. haha

Baby Preparation!

2009-12-21T16:52:00.001-08:00

Our Pregnant Bellies

Alright, time to catch up on the missed blogs. This last month has brought a lot of craziness, from moving into our new house, having a baby and finishing up the semester.

Before the baby, Duke and I went to a series of birthing classes (missing the last one), which turned out to be fun and educational. The best night was learning all the different comfy positions and learning how to breathe. This night Duke decided to put on the empathy belly, which didn't last long. He definitely had empathy. There is a harness which is strapped on tight around your lungs, making it feel like there is a baby in your lung and then tight down on your bladder. Then they add weights and more items under the harness that makes it even more uncomfortable. Duke really acted pregnant and once he sat down needed to go to the bathroom. It was pretty funny and he looked pretty miserable.

We also were able to move in slowly the week that Brinley came, putting up the crib and getting the kitchen mostly moved in. On Saturday Duke was able to move in the big stuff while I was in the hospital.

33 1/2 Weeks!

2009-11-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Wow, time has flown! I'm getting down to the last month and a half. The rest of this month will consist of school, work, and moving! The next month will be finals and baby...hopefully it falls in that order. At the beginning of December, Duke will have his last interview with Cooper and Norman, an accounting firm, and hopefully get the internship he's wanted for next spring. Life never stops hoppin'!

General Conference

2009-10-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

For conference we went down to Mom's and stayed with her one night and at Angie's the other. Alisha and Karissa also came down, so we were all able to have a fun family weekend. We did the normal, watched conference, ate and played games. There are always new games to add to Phelps stash, which are always getting better. We had a blast.

Kinbree and Mason helping with dishes

Duke went fishing with his dad and siblings on Saturday. Using his newly developed talents he caught the most, 5 big ones!

We always love hanging out with family. Thanks for all our wonderful host's!

This was just kind of cool...Duke noticed it on the way down andwe had to take a picture of this memorable moment-always depreciating