my obsession.

I've always had a passion for photography. Seth told me a while ago he wanted to get me a nice camera so i could really take pictures. It finally happened. And i'm in love.

{Here's some practice pictures i've taken lately.}

I think she's precious when she cries.

Typical sweet little Nicci. When she gets in trouble she gives this look and it melts.your.heart.

I only have one complaint about my beautiful camera. It can't seem to capture how cute these girls really are.

It just might be... impossible.

Hello.

I'm not a very good blogger i've decided. My apologies.

Many people have been asking for updates on Gracie. Let me just say, she is the definition of perfection. She and Nicci have such an incredible bond that continues to melt my heart. Now we understand why we felt so strongly to have her when we did...these girls need each other. Gracie has been having seizures daily since she was born. The doctor found out that her thyroid is present and functioning, so her Congenital Hypothyroidism could quite possibly be stemming from her brain. (This also may be connected to her seizures.) To be honest, we don't have any comforting or concrete answers yet, but over the duration of the next couple weeks she will have extensive testing and hopefully we will get some answers. In the meantime, we are just loving and enjoying having each other and such a beautiful family. There are a million pictures i need to post, but as usual i don't have the energy or the time to do that right now (Although i promise that i will soon)... But here are just a couple sweet moments captured during our wonderful lives lately...

Gracie Lyn Rasmussen- blessed on March 21, 2010

The girls were getting ready for bed and sweet Aunt Kaity brought over some cute hair accessories, and Nicci insisted on taking a picture with her sister. So tender.

This is a picture of the greatest big sister there ever was.

And SHE has surpassed cute. She's just edible.

Three generations of beautiful.

"I'm going to have to chew on the side of my binky since no one will put it in my mouth the right way..."

I'm a little bias but i think we're the cutest couple around. :)

We are so blessed. There are no words.

On a Happier Note

I get to stare at this beautiful piece of heaven every second of everyday.

Slow Motion

Our world just stopped.

Gracie was diagnosed with Congenital Hypothyroidism. Her thyroid is underdeveloped and fails to produce or release the thyroid hormone. This can cause her brain and body not to develop normally, and is the leading cause of retardation. ... We were told she'll be on medication her whole life, and monitored closely every month through invasive tests for the next 5 years-minimum. We are praying so hard that the medication over time will prevent her from not developing correctly, mentally and physically, but we are afraid they didn't start treatment soon enough. Please keep our sweet Gracie Lyn in your prayers. (and her mommy and daddy.)

...We are in slow motion right now.

Perfection.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven."

-Orson F. Whitney

Three Short Years Ago...

we were at Primary Children's hospital with our sweet little Nicci while she recovered from reconstructive skull surgery. I have already posted about it including pictures (click HERE to see it) but we can't help but remember at this time of year how very blessed we were at that time. It's overwhelming. We thank our Father in Heaven every day for watching over us and our little daughter during that difficult time in our lives. Nicci has a Dr. appointment soon to schedule her next surgery, and we know she will be strong and wonderful just like she was the first time. Three years later...our little girl is more beautiful than ever.

Gracie Lyn

Beautiful Gracie Lyn was born February 1 at 12:03pm. She weighed 6lbs 7oz, and measured 19.5 inches long. The birth was such an amazing experience; i had NO drugs, and NO epidural. It was so intense but simply beautiful. I will post more pictures and tell the incredible story when i have more energy. :) But for now, here is our absolutely perfect Gracie Lyn.

Nicci LOVES being a big sister and Gracie absolutely adores her.

Life is beautiful.

Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam

Today is a big day in the life of our Nicole Debra. She became a Sunbeam. My heart is flooding with emotion as i watch my once so tiny baby girl grow up into such a beautiful and loving little girl. She spent all morning singing Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam and it melted my heart. I'm so grateful for my life. We have been so blessed with such a special little girl with a huge heart of gold.

Our little Sunbeam shining so brightly...

I had to get a "hair shot" and a "back of the dress shot." :)

I was too exhausted and large to get into a dress this morning and go to church, which is absolutely breaking my heart. I wanted to take my little girl to Sunbeams, but good thing she has a wonderful Daddy who would love more than anything to walk his little girl to her first day of Sunbeams. (I married such a wonderful man.) I snapped this picture as they were walking out the door and i think i will frame it and keep it forever. I love these two more than words can explain.

J.O.Y.

Merry Christmas! We had a magical day...nothing but perfection.

I know this picture is blury but i just love my mom, and this picture is adorable. :)

A tiny {absolutely beautiful} little tot with her eyes all a glow!

Prego Update.

Im feeling very large and ready to meet my little girl. I'm 32 weeks. My kidney is feeling like a dull ache these days. Heartburn is out of control. My lungs are squished. Gracie loves to stretch out as much as possible and the majority of the time my stomach is shifting from one side to another. Seth and i love to watch my belly morphe into crazy positions. It's feeling more and more real that Nicci will soon have a sister and she is SO excited. I'm trying to cherish every moment, even the less enjoyable ones. Watching and feeling our family grow is incredible beyond words. There's nothing like it. I'm so grateful for my strong and hard working husband. I'm so glad we have our little family and live the most incredible life together. I used to think that traveling and taking random vacations with my husband would make me so happy, but the truth is, i'd take my heartburn, watching my belly shift, and little girl's laughter, sticky hands, and hugs ANY day over seeing the world. Why would i want to walk out my front door when i have the WHOLE WORLD within the walls of my own home. I'm one lucky girl.

Lately...

Mmm...

We are completely in love with our beautiful daughter. Can you tell? :)

7 Months down...2 To Go!

Thank you all for your input. I've decided i'll just post random here and there. So here's random. :) This is sadly the only real pregnancy pictures i've taken with this pregnancy. (Besides our Halloween pictures that are super cute...COMING SOON...) The first two pictures represent this pregnancy's fun kidney stones and the third is to show my huge belly. Bottom line... only TWO months to go!

I've Been Thinking...

of getting rid of our blog. I feel like i don't have the time or desire to keep it updated and i spend all my time on our family albums (which are insanely cute by the way) and our home videos. Maybe i can put links up to the albums or something...i don't know. Is it really worth it? I have so many cute pictures and so many memories i want to share but it just takes so long to put them on the blog. I'd much rather spend the time with my kids and my sweetheart writing in our journals and recording it all in our albums than on my computer discussing my inner most feelings and latest fun times with the world. On the other hand it's fun to share ridiculously cute pictures of your kids and great times with the family. So im stuck. Ive tried turning my blog into a book but i found another program i like better to do our family albums, so that's not an option. What do you think? Do i throw in the towel, or is there an option i'm missing?

C'mon. I can't post without including a picture of this beautiful girl...

:)

You are my Sunshine
my only Sunshine... You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear how much i love you... Please don't take my Sunshine away!