Comparison

This is Sarah at 4 months old. She weighed 12 pounds 2 ounces.

This is Luke at 3 weeks. He weighs 11 pounds 6 ounces.

I'm Not Sure How To Handle This...

Here was our Sunday morning struggle.

Obviously she didn't want to wear this dress, but time was of the essence.

Later that day, trying to avoid a similar experience, Richard let her pick out what she wanted to wear.

3 different things were tried on, 3 different fits were thrown, and in the end, a 4th outfit was pulled from the closet because we just wanted to go outside for a Sunday stroll before the sun went down.

Richard and I had no idea she would become such a girl so quickly.

I'm not sure who that makes more nervous--daddy or mommy!!

Okay, So He IS BIG!!!

All of a sudden my new little baby, who was technically never really little, seems so big to me.

I did have a big baby boy, didn't I?!

Big and oh so yummy!!

HE's here...

Yep, it's a BOY.

Luke Edmon Atchley has joined our family.

He's sweet, squishy, and adored beyond belief.

when: Saturday, October 3, 2009 @ 1:58 pm

where: UCLA Ronald Reagan

why: because 41 weeks was long enough :)

how: unfortunately via c-section,

why: because he was a big boy! 

We are a VERY HAPPY family of 4!!

STILL WAITING

my due date has come and gone...

my big pregnant belly has not...

My Saint

Last weekend Aunt Patty ventured up to Santa Monica for the weekend. She arrived late Thursday evening and was a great sport when we told her, that she couldn't "just peek in on Sarah Jane!" We're quite mean over in this neck of the woods. :)

Friday she spent the day with Sarah at the park so I could run some errands. On Saturday while Richard took Sarah for a bike ride to 2 different parks, she and I spent the entire day cleaning the house. You know, all those things you never get to, but that drive you crazy. And when you're very prego, they drive you even more crazy...

Let me just tell you, everytime I turned around she was doing some other chore that had been bugging me. I never even had to tell her where to begin. I had so much energy having someone else around to help out and it was a terrific day! Here's some of the magic she/we worked...

**detailed oven, microwave, stove, refrigerator & freezer

**scrubbed all the trashcans in the house

**cleaned the downstairs windows and screens

**cleaned the blinds in the kitchen

**hosed off the patio (Richard)

**did the dreaded, regular housework

**mopped all the floors (Richard)

**detailed the corners of the kitchen floor

**cleaned front patio and door

**cleaned the skylight and ceiling in the bathroom (Richard)

It looked amazing and thankfully we have been able to keep most of it looking just as spic and span. It's actually served as motivation at the end of each day to straighten the house up. I appreciate so much all that she did to help out. When we finished cleaning out Stitches room a couple weeks ago, I thought I was ready for the baby to come home, but after last Saturday I was really able to let out a HUGE sigh of relief. Now I am ready!!

THANKS AUNT PATTY

Happy 100th Birthday Santa Monica Pier

September 9th we spent the evening in Palisades Park celebrating the 100th year of the Pier.

All my favorites...

***My family

***Perfect summertime evening temperatures

***Fireworks. They haven't let fireworks off of the pier in atleast 20 years so it was quite the celebration.

hot, Hot, HOT!!!

While I'm sure my husband read this and thinks I am talking about him, this time, and only this time, I'm not. :)

Richard and I had the opportunity earlier this month to leave Sarah at the Steele's house for the weekend and we headed to Indio, CA. Why Indio? Because we were able to get a condo for very reasonable and all we wanted to do was hang out anyway. We had a terrific time. While we did take a few pics on Richard's camera, I am not posting any of them...let's just say, I look nothing like the title of this post. Maybe I'll regret this decision later, but for now, I am A-Okay with it! :)

We arrived Friday evening to humid, hot weather. We knew it would be hot there but figured the desert is a dry heat, which is more tolerable, but it was humid while we were there and thus it seemed really hot. We walked around the resort grounds Friday night and planned our weekend.

Saturday we attended a presentation about the timeshare program where we were staying. They paid us $75 and we got a yummy breakfast out of it. Totally worth 2 hours of our morning. We then headed into Palm Springs where we had Mexican food for lunch, went thrifting (what a nice, patient husband I have), and then headed up the tram to the top of Mt. San Jacinto where it was atleast 20 degrees cooler. If ever you are in Palm Springs, do this!!! There are miles and miles of hiking trails and in the winter you can even rent cross country skis, snowshoes, or sleds. Too fun! That evening we hung out in the Lazy River at the pool, ordered Dominoes pizza, and sat in our air conditioned condo and watched the movie Arranged.

It was a wonderful getaway before baby #2 arrives. Sarah had a fabulous time with the Steeles and didn't even know we were gone. If just the getaway wasn't enough the reception she gave us when we got back, was magical. I could almost leave more often just so I can see her so happy to see me! My heart melted!

Atchley Arizona Gathering

Each summer my father-in-law rents a house for an Atchley get together and every year we leave relaxed, happy, and glad for the time spent together. This year we all met outside of Flagstaff, AZ. To say I was not looking forward to the heat and desert 8 months pregnant would be an understatement, but let me just say, Flagstaff is perfect; surrounded by pinetrees and 80 degree weather. I loved it!

We always have a terrific time catching up with everyone. Richard has siblings more spread out than I do and so this is always our one opportunity to all (almost) be together. We were missing Ryan and Craig Steele this year. Ryan is on a mission in Mexico and Craig was in his first sememster at BYU and had classes.

We spent Friday in Sedona (which was hot, hot, hot, but beautiful) with the Mark Atchley clan + Kelly Steele. We went to Slide Rock and then sightseeing. We drove through an amazingly beautiful canyon to get to Sedona.

Saturday we headed to the Grand Canyon. Richard and I were there 2 years ago, but the views are just as incredible everytime. We ended up taking Sarah to storytime in Grand Canyon National Park and she loved it.

We wish we could see everyone more often! Sarah thoroughly loves being with her cousins and is constantly entertained. Most the time Richard and I have no idea where she is, but we always know someone's looking out for her.

Thank you Ron for providing us with these fun adventures. Next year's already on the calendar and we'll see you all in Carmel...now won't that be relaxing.

I had a realization this morning.

If I was having another C-Section, instead of trying for a VBAC, I'd most likely have a baby today.

But instead we're just playing the waiting game.

Summer Vacation--Idaho

Still catching up, but almost there...

This summer Sarah and I took a long vacation. Nearly 3 weeks of travel. Boise, Rexburg, Ogden Canyon. Fun, fun, fun!

We started off in Boise where we gathered with all of my extended family (minus 2 cousins) to celebrate my Papa's 80th Birthday. It was a surprise party and boy was he surprised. It was wonderful to be all together and to see so many people come from all over to celebrate the wonderful man that he is. Lis and I made outfits for the grandkiddos and that was fun to do. They looked so darling.

After we stayed and played in Boise for almost a week, we headed to Rexburg to spend the weekend at my sister's house. I love being at Lisa's house. They live in a big, old house on a big corner lot with huge trees that provide ample shade and there's always something to do in that big, green yard. The kiddos had a blast. The real reason we headed to Rexburg was twofold; 1) The Relay For Life Walk, that my sister participated in and 2) for Millhollow yogurt and sandwiches.

A year ago Sirri had a cancerous tumor removed from her chest. Luckily they caught it in time and she is now cancer free. We went to support Lisa in her all night affair of walking to raise money for cancer. It was a wonderful experience. Next time I'd like to be on the team as well, but this wasn't my year for that.

The morning Lisa finished the big walk we packed up the car and drove to Wolfcreek up Ogden Canyon for a week of swimming with the family. Richard met us here and it was a long day as we waited for him to arrive. Sarah was super excited to see him and so was her mommy! SUPER EXCITED!!! We really did spend most our time in the pool. All the kiddos love the water so we had a blast. Richard and I spent Wednesday in Salt Lake. We attended a session at the temple, which was so amazing and then went to dinner at The Roof. It was a nice little date; something we rarely get these days.

On the 4th of July we spent the day, my birthday--33, doing all kinds of things. Richard, Lisa, and Kendon ran a 5K that morning that had obsticles and such. They said it was really fun and again, I wish I could have participated. Then we went to a small town, fourth of July celebration and then spent the rest of the day, after lunch at Hires Hamburgers in downtown Salt Lake (my parents ate there 33 years ago--the night before I was born), at the This is the Place Monument. They have an entire pioneer city with activities for the kiddos. It was a blast and we could have spent longer there, but my little family had to get on the road and head in the direction of home. We didn't get out of the Salt Lake area until around 5:30 and we weren't sure how far we'd make it, but we knew we didn't want to spend all of Sunday in the car. Our main goal was to avoid as much Vegas to LA traffic as possible. My amazing husband ended up with lots of energy and my amazing daughter was an angel in the car, so we ended up making it home at 3:30 am. Sarah even let us sleep until 9 and so we felt pretty good on Sunday.

It was a fabulous vacation and just what summertime is all about. Family---we miss you all and are glad for the memories!!

What's In The Recipe Box?

In my struggle to update this blog with all of our backlogged pictures and adventures I stumbled upon this video we took in June.

Wow, how Sarah has grown up since then.

This video was turned the wrong way but my friend Tauna showed me how to turn it the right way. Thank goodness, since I have others I took with the camera accidentally facing the wrong direction.

Not only will the recipe box make me teary-eyed one day, so too will this video. Priceless!!!

My grandma puts together recipe boxes when we get married and then attaches that little picture of herself, and says "Hi honey!" It is one of my most treasured things! So glad it makes Sarah happy too.

Thanks Grandma!!!

Extreme Party Favor

This fun pony balloon she got to take home from Ella's pony party seems too much to resist!

I was making blueberry pancakes for breakfast when Richard hollered at me, "She's riding the pony!"

What I've Been Sewing

I have some simple projects in the works right now. Now all I need is time and energy to complete them. Just one more thing to tack onto the long list of things to get done before Stitch arrives.

Here's what I made over the past few months. When I look at all of these things, I guess I haven't been as lazy as I thought. :)

DOUBLE BABY SHOWER

for sweet little Brinley Brown...

the habitual sundress.  So cute

and since her family is way into Disneyland, I thought this would be appropriate

For Baby Boy Wilkinson, who's parents love the beach, a freezer paper stenciled onesie.

SERVICE

There's a blog called Craft Hope and I made these beanies and a receiving blanket that were being sent to India. It's a wonderful program and you still have time to finish Project 4 if you want to join in on the fun; sock monkeys. I can't fit this project in right now, but look forward to helping them in the future.

PERFECT PRESENT TOPPERS

A fun new tutorial I found that looks darling attached to the top of a package. It uses scraps of fabric, any kind of packaging that makes a crinkley sound, and small bits of ribbon. Plus they're not too time consuming.

PAPA'S 80th BIRTHDAY

My papa's birthday was in June. Lisa and I did a long distance collaboration that turned out too cute. I made these cupcake celebration skirts for all 4 of Papa's great-granddaughters and she made "I heart Papa" shirts for the girls and "My Papa rocks" shirts for the boys. We had a blast doing this long distance project together. Lis, we need to come up with another. What should it be?

FOURTH OF JULY

3 dresses in red, white, and blue. The blue swirly dot fabric reminded me so much of fireworks. Lisa and I then made curly -q bows to go with them. The 3 cousins were the cutest in Ogden Canyon for sure!!! (Meggers was tired of having her mug taken, thus she's missing.)

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL

Lisa, the more outgoing, entertaining, silly one of us girls and her daughter were in a production of Seussical the Musical this summer in Sugar City, ID. I was in charge of costuming the little Who. First Lis just had me make a simple little skirt out of the bright flower fabric, but once she saw the other costumes she decided it wasn't Whoish enough. We used Dana for some inspiration (of course; when don't I?). The rows of fabric are not straight, but I sure know how to make strips of ruffled fabric now. Now I need to work on pinning and sewing them on in straight lines instead of crooked ones. I didn't think it was very cute when I sent it to her, but it does look cuter on and looks perfect for the part she played.

BABY BROCK, WHO'S TOO FAR AWAY

A stenciled onesie of Idaho since that's where Mama Brock and I met a million years ago. A little of my heart will always be there. And since Beck is a flight attendant and the only time I get to see her is when she's on an LA overnighter, I thought the plane was perfect. I love freezer paper stenciling.

SIRRI'S BACK TO SCHOOL WISH, IS MY COMMAND

After I made the 4th of July dresses, Sirri asked if I could make her a blue and pink dress for school. There was no way I could resist this adorable 1st grader's (she was just a tiny tot--UGH) smile.

Sarah's friend Ella had a pony party for her 2nd birthday and she adores carousels. Sarah by the way, doesn't! I thought this was the perfect stencil to celebrate her big day.

I have really come to LOVE sewing & crafting and wish I could squeeze it in everyday.

I never thought I'd be saying that!

Daddies Girl to the Max

This girl...

Obviously loves this guy...

Grand Canyon 2009!

Who needs canyon views when you can snap photos of these tender moments instead.

VISITORS...VISITORS...VISITORS...

It's been the summer of visitors and we've loved having everyone of them.

Who: The Huffs (minus David)
What: Craig Steele's Highschool Graduation
When: June 11-15

Sarah loves her cousins Logan, Lauren, and Easton. She really had a great time playing with them this visit. They built houses and even built a small one for her, but she prefered to be in the big one with the other kiddos. Logan is really good at entertaining Sarah and she thinks he's great!!! They stayed without us for a few days while we were in San Diego, with us for a few days, and at the Steele's house for the remainder of their visit.


Who: Grandpa Atchley
What: first, short stop on a 3 week driving vacation from one place to another to another
When: July 18-19

Sarah has a blast when Grandpa Atchley visits. It makes me happy that even though he's far, far away in Nashville, she knows who he is and is always excited to see him. We were at our ward pioneer day picnic when Richard picked him up at the airport. Ron was in this ward for many, many, many years and everyone is always glad to see him. When he and Richard arrived at the park, lots of people were excited to see him, but not as excited as Sarah. She kept yelling "Ga-Ga, Ga-Ga" in his direction as he was greeted by others until he finally heard her and came in her direction. Everyday he was here Ga-Ga was the first word out of her mouth in the morning, whereas normally it's banana. Love that! Come again Ron!!!

Who: Cindy & Lara
What: Sunny, summer getaway
When: July 22-26

I must admit that this was one visit I was looking very forward to. I miss Cin immensely and her friend Lara is a hoot. Cindy has never been here in the summertime and whenever she has been here it's always been for a particular reason, never just for a little R & R. This time she got her fill of Santa Monica and I think she'll be back sooner rather than later. If it were up to me she could just stay in our guest room f-o-r-e-v-e-r!! She and Lara rode our beach cruisers to the beach most days, ate glorious food, joined us for a pier concert, and went home very tan.


Who: Grandpa & Grandma Atchley
What: To play with Sarah and Ron had a dental appointment :)
When: August 2-7

This was a great visit as Grandma Liz was able to join Ron for this trip "home". We were glad to have her here and once again, Sarah loved having Grandparents in the house. I even had the opportunity to run a few errands without Sarah and let me tell you, while I love her company, it's sure nice to be able to browse every now and then without her.

Who: Sarah Z & MOH joined us for a couple of the days
What: Missing LA trip I believe
When: August 5-9


I miss these 2 ladies a lot. Sarah is a popular gal and always has many people she likes to visit when she's in town and so it makes me happy she stays with us so I can see her. We went to Mormon night at Dodger Stadium. Sarah and MOH took Sarah Jane to the beach on Friday so Richard and I could both attend a funeral. Friday night I had a girls night out with them and a couple other of the coolest girls around. We went to California Chicken Cafe, to the movie Julie & Julia, and then for coconut flavored Pinkberry. Best night!

BTW--I have not been in photo taking mode lately so I only have photos if our visitors took them.

Fraidy-Cat, She's Not...

P.S.---the elephant noise is for you Cindy. Hope it makes your day!!!!

What Have I (we) Been Up To?!

I'm growing a baby and constantly chasing a bigger one around the house. And boy, am I tired!!!

Actually we've been up to A LOT! I promise to catch up (yikes...i haven't posted since may?!) in the next couple of days but maybe these cute, albeit old pictures, will tide you over until then (Grandma W)...