Hermana Hauck {Amy Opens her Mission Call}

My beautiful sister, Amy. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a soul who doesn't just adore her. She's the sibling whose life I remember best. I was 9 when she was born, and she's just been my buddy ever since. I was sad when she moved away to school to BYU, but she's called me faithfully, at least once a week to have a long chat. She soon hinted that she was thinking of serving a mission, and began crossing my fingers that she would stay, for my sake.

Pretty soon I realized how darn selfish I was being, and so when she announced that she was for sure going, I was thrilled...and then proceeded to bawl my eyes out.

So she got her papers in and then waited and waited for the big day. When she sent me this photo, I knew I wouldn't be able to focus for the rest of the day!

 Here are some fun pictures from the shindig my parents had when she opened her call.

Hudson was like, "why are there so many people in my Nana's house??"

 She opened it started to cry at the amazingness of the moment. HERMOSILLO, MEXICO. She is going to report June 24, and I know she'll be such a wonderful missionary! My baby sister!

January 2015 in Pictures

Here is everyday January 2015 in pictures. What a beautiful new year!

This little guy really started to find his smile. His sweet expressions just steal my heart!

This photo is sooo real life. I'm trying to smile like I've got it all together, but I most definitely do not have it all figured out.

 Amy got Hudson this Tigger onesie for Christmas. Absolutely adorable!

 One Sunday, Shaye and Emme were both sick and I got to have a date with my Hudson to church. Shaye snapped this photo that I'm sure I'll cherish forever.

Oh Emmeline! You never cease to entertain us. She is becoming more and more of a little dancer and performer.

When I see him sleeping so sweetly, I sometimes think my heart will burst.

Here is a trip to Grandma's. She began watching Emme on Monday afternoons in January so that I could have some time to write my dissertation. Grandma is amazing with Emme, and Emme just loves her. Here she is covered with Elsa stickers that Grandma got for her. Grandma says Emme is always very good and only acts out once I come to get her, which I hope is true. Having her help is unbelievably helpful! So blessed to have such wonderful family!

I took these photos when Hudson turned two months old. It was amazing seeing the bond they were already making. I mean, I spend most of my time protecting Hudson from Emme, but she adores the little guy. She's always saying "Baby Hudson! He's cute!" in her cartoonish little voice.

Here are some candids of Em. I love how she looks all dressed up, but there's something extra special about the way these photos capture her in her messy-haired dress-up clothes splendor.

A common scene. Emme "loving on" (or man handling) Hudson.

 I finally, finally made this flower arrangement for our table. I was sooo pleased with it once I was done!

 A typical outing with auntie. She lets Emme run around like a lunatic and try on dress up outfits and carry around oversized Minnie Mouse dolls. It's all fun and games until I step in and make her put it all back.

 Emme struck this luxurious pose in the car seat carrier during church. We were so thrilled when it entertained her for 2 minutes. Sundays were still pretty darn tough. Emme is very strong willed and sometimes just insists on running and yelling. Thankfully, about then she decided nursery wasn't so bad.

Here is another trip to TJ Maxx that I documented. (It's really my favorite place to shop or just entertain myself.) Emme was singing "Let It Go" loudly and I was bribing her with candy (as per usual), Hudson was asleep in my baby wrap, and I was relaxed and makeup-less. We had to get out of the house that evening because Shaye was out of town on a video shoot and I was getting stir crazy.

And that's everyday January 2015 in pictures. Boy, and I blessed to get to spend my days with these sweeties!

Our Kind of Party {Festivities and New Year's Eve}

The end of the year was marked with several fun little parties for us. The first picture was one that was many years in the making. We finally got a bunch of Shaye's high school friends together. It was epic, and we probably won't be able to manage it for another decade, but I didn't take any pictures, probably because I was worried about getting everybody fed and trying not to stress about some rowdy kids--my own included. We at pizza and dessert, exchanged White Elephant gifts, and caught up with Shaye's friends who've been all across the country going to med school and pursuing other endeavors. It was a wonderful night.

My Mom's birthday was the 27th. I always feel bad with how her birthday just blends into Christmas, but it sure is fun to celebrate her! What an amazing Nana to my kids!

That same night, I had my friends over. Man oh man, do I love these girls! We've known each other so long that they feel like family. When we get together and talk, it just makes me so happy. There were many others who couldn't make it this night that I feel the same way about. I feel like no matter how long we're apart, when we get together, we can pick right back up. 

 We ran into Marci at the Pizza Pie restaurant. I always LOVE seeing her. Emme kept talking about her after we left.

 Caitlin was home visiting from Virginia Beach, where she now lives and works. When she comes home, I always wonder how I manage without her living here anymore. She's just my favorite. I loved having all my friends meet Hudson. Such a sweet bond with these girls I grew up with.

We celebrated New Years Eve in a most unremarkable way, as usual. It's just a holiday that I don't know what to do with. We got takeout from Bombay Cafe, one of our favorites, and then proceeded to lay in bed most of the night and watch TV. We're party animals, basically. I just adore this photo, (a) because we are in our jammies/ Elsa paraphernalia, (b) because Shaye looks so happy, and (c) because Emme's tight squeeze is making Hudson fear for his life. I love my little family so much. On special days and just humdrum every days. We may not have looked like it, but we were geared up for a fun new year!

A Holly Jolly Christmas {2014}

Christmas Eve seems to have come entirely too fast. I think there is such a different feeling about the holidays as a young mom. Every day is truly magical in its own way that I don't look forward to holidays in the same way that I used to. And then there's the hustle and bustle of getting everything ready. Moms have all the stress, it seems.

We hosted Shaye's family for Christmas Eve at our house this year. It was an absolute blast, but when we had 30 people in our kitchen all wanting to eat, I thought I might go a little nuts. I am trying to get better at hosting. Since that night, we've hosted a few more times, and I'm trying to learn how to juggle all the moving parts.

We had a sweet little program with the kids. Dan brought in a huge box wrapped like a present. When the kids opened it, there was a tiny manger with baby Jesus in it inside. Despite the craziness of the season, I truly did feel of the Savior's love. I think the season was especially meaningful for me because I was feeling so aware of all my many shortcomings, and how He loves me through all of them.

 

The most fun thing about Christmas Eve was having Hudson and Parker together. I have a feeling we'll have a large collection of photos of them throughout their lives. When we took these photos, there must have been a dozen people with iPhones out. I love how Parker looks like he's giving Hudson a little kiss in this shot. He was really just munching on the side of his face. What a blessing for these two to be little buddies and less than 24 hours apart.

Right before Christmas, I got these burlap stockings done. I felt relieved to have completed my first sewing project since baby Hudson. I get this weird claustrophobic feeling when I don't craft for too long.

 Once everyone left, the typical Christmas magic overcame our home. I love these photos I snapped with them by the Christmas tree. Emme was able to grasp the concept of Santa this year, and we kept reminding her that he might come and bring her an Elsa dress. I tucked Emme in, who was exhausted from playing with her older girl cousins, and prepared for Santa to come.

Christmas morning was a bit of a shuffle because Brad was calling us from Brazil a little bit early, before brunch. There's something so fitting about a missionary calling on Christmas. These past two years, the presents have most definitely been secondary to the excitement of being all together as a family. Brad talked to Emme, who was wearing her Elsa dress by then, and told her "You're my princess." This is a phrase she would not soon forget. Brad got to meet Hudson too, which was a priceless moment.

We had brunch with Papa Joe and Irene, and Grandma and Grandpa Porritt and opened presents. Emme was spoiled, of course, as were Shaye and I. It was a wonderful holiday, and I felt like the emphasis was much more on my family than on the commercial nature of the day.

Santa's gift to Emme ended up being quite the hit. In fact, I think that we can divide the last little while into two eras: before the Elsa dress and after. Since she has received this dress, it has been a constant struggle to get her to take it off. She feels so beautiful and magical in these dress-ups, but she has an absolute come apart if anything ever happens to them. She was interested in "Let it Go" before, but since the dress, Frozen has become a downright obsession.

Christmas night Emme dressed up Shaye. He loves to entertain her, often at his own expense. 

Christmas 2014 was truly magical. I can't get over as an adult how fun it is to see the holidays through my kid's eyes. I'm also continually reminded of how very blessed I am. I try to hold onto these blessings and bring happiness into other's lives as so many do for me. 

The Piano Guys Christmas Concert {12.20.14}

We took another major outing with Hudson when he turned exactly one month old. The Piano Guys Concert at the Energy Solutions Arena is always a treat. We went last year and were amazed at the spectacle of seeing about 12,000 fans together celebrating this wonderful team that Shaye is a part of, and this year was the same way, but my family was there to see it too.

Shaye and I came up a little early and hung out back stage and listened to the mic check. They ran through "Angels we Have Heard on High" and rolled the footage of Hudson in the nativity scene. I was overwhelmed with it just in the mic check. We caught up a bit with Jon and Steve and Al, and ate dinner with Al and his family. The guys were excited to meet Hudson. It is touching to me that they care to catch up with us when they are clearly under a lot of stress and about to perform for their biggest audience of the year.

It was fun to have the guys snuggling on Hudson. Al held Hudson while I ate dinner, and Steve always shows a real tenderness to our kids. David, the Sony manager was also really taken with him. "May I give him a little kiss?" he inquired in his proper British accent. When I agreed, he asked, "How do you not just kiss him all day?"

 Just before the concert began, we took my parents back stage to meet the guys. I was so nervous about it because it was right before curtain, but the guys were super chill and the audience was on Utah Standard time and there were many lines at the ticket stands, so they were pretty relaxed back stage.

Besides my parents, Amy and Jeff and Cam were also with us. It was so much fun to share the event with them. I've seen the guys perform many times, but it was a treat seeing their music and their comedy routines through my family's eyes. And, as always, seeing Shaye's footage up on the jumbrotron is a humbling experience. He works so hard and really puts his heart into his work. It's such a blessing that many get to enjoy it. My favorite moments were seeing his beautiful videos from China and Brazil. I bawled when "Story of my Life" came on, which featured Skyler and Jamie's family, who were also there. The nativity video and footage of Hudson were so powerful I kind of couldn't process my baby on the screen in front of all those people.

Through Shaye's career we've learned so much about the performance industry. So very much happens behind the scenes to make an operation work. Though Shaye remains behind the scenes and does not usually get a lot of artistic recognition for his film work, the group has taken wonderful care of us and are like family. We are beyond grateful to be a part of The Piano Guys team. Like every job, it has its frustrations, but it has really caused Shaye to blossom into the artist that he is. Shaye has also left an indelible mark on The Piano Guy's efforts through his beautiful videography and his strong entrepreneurial skills. I am a very proud wife. 

Hudson Grows...and Grows

As I knew would happen, Hudson grew like crazy the first few weeks. This kid LOVES to eat. He ate just about every 2 hours early on, so it's a good thing that I produce a lot of milk. 

I took these photos the day he turned 2 weeks old. I remember feeling shocked at how much he had already changed and how he was already starting to make some little facial expressions. I was truly in heaven photographing my sweet little boy. People sometimes say things like, "he's too pretty to be a boy." He is pretty darn handsome.

Though I feel like I have no problem bonding with my babies, I marvel that how as time goes on, I bond more and more. Within two weeks or so, I felt like we had a rhythm. Sure, I was still super stressed out with everything else, but I felt like Hudson and I knew our way around each other. 

I was starting to realize that I was having some post-partum about now. Oddly enough, it wasn't the new baby that seemed to trigger my emotions, but it was coping with Emme's busyness and destructiveness and trying to manage everything else. I was feeling like such a short fuse and really struggling with feeling angry about dumb little things. Looking back, as sweet as those first few weeks were, I also felt pretty unlike myself. Thank goodness for a forgiving little Emme and Shaye who didn't hold it against me too much.

 There were countless moments that I just wanted to capture his every expression. The sweet way his eyes fluttered with new light, the beautiful pucker of his lips, the softness of his fuzzy head, that absolutely ambrosial smell of a newborn, the softness of his tiny body all curled up in my arms, and the treasure of a little smile after being nursed.

I took this photo the day he turned 3 weeks old. It's insane to me how much can change in a week. He was getting so much more chunky, and we started to see the first signs of what now seem to be his trademark smoulder.

Emme continued to adjust to Hudson better and better. I captured some sweet moments when she climbed in his crib to snuggle. She always wants to see what "Baby Huh-sen" is doing and she always wants to know how he's feeling. Most of the time, she is a very sweet sister.

As Hudson grew, I continued to just hold onto every day (and still do!). There is always such a sweetness of being in the moment, and I try not to think about how short of a time I'll have these little ones. Such an incredible time of life!