Easter Weekend

This past weekend was full of different emotions. We celebrated Easter and all that our Savior has done for us and we also celebrated my mom's one year anniversary.

I think about the last year and how is has been the hardest year of my life. Many tears, long talks with my sweet understanding husband, sharing stories with friends about mom and really letting it sink in that she isn't here anymore. It may sound weird but sometimes I feel like she's not gone. I remember her so well, her voice, her laugh, everything about who she was and it is almost impossible for me to convince myself that she isn't here. I miss her more than I can explain. I wish she was here to see my sweet kids and baby Olivia. I wish I could talk to her and get her mothering advise about raising kids, all my cooking and sewing questions.... I just wish she was here. I relied on her more than I knew and I am still adjusting to being without her. I still think about her everyday, wishing I could call her and ask if she wants to run to the store with me or go on a walk with me and the girls. My feel my heart swell and my eyes fill with water when I look at my sweet baby and think how she was just with mom. I wish I could ask Olivia about her. Mom loves babies. I ask myself, how am I supposed to live the rest of my life without mom ...... I am so thankful for my friends who have taken good care of me, my sister for always being there, and most of all my husband. I wouldn't have survived the last year without Rex. He is my rock and the reason that I am happy. He listened to me talk about the same fears and frustrations over and over and wiped away millions of tears. He always knows how to cheer me up and hasn't left my side through the last year. Thank you Rex, I love you so much.

I love you mom. I miss you more as the time passes, but I promise to make you proud and to help your memory live on. Always.


We started off the weekend just the right way. One of my best friends and a friend of mom's, Amy, organized a memorial walk in honor of mom. It was sunny and beautiful and we walked along the river. We had a good turn out from Cal Young staff, family and church friends. Thank you Amy, you are amazing and I love you!

Me and Olivia spending quality time together, while she is awake :)

The girls and I dipped peeps into chocolate and decorated with sprinkles to give to friends and neighbors. They loved it! Macey concentrating on the sprinkles.

Annie making a huge mess....oh well, it was really fun!

Hopefully my girls will love cooking and baking as much as me.... they sure like to eat all the treats!

Aren't they cute?

Sweet baby sleeping cozy and warm. I couldn't resist taking her picture :)

My good friend Shauna was awesome enough to put a little Easter egg hunt together in her huge back yard, the kids loved it and had a great time! Thanks Shauna!

Macey looking for eggs, she found like 7 :)

Awww sweet.... I made Annie hug her :)

We spent a could of hours at the cemetery with mom as a family. My sister and her family, dad and us were all there. The sun was shining and we just relaxed talking about good times. The kids were great and just explored all over.

Heather got the girls all matching Easter dresses which were soooo cute!!! I was so excited and they looked great Sunday morning. Thanks Heather!!

Our family picture on Easter Sunday.

My SWEET girls

We have been hiding out inside sense Olivia was born and my poor kids are getting cabin fever!! It also doesn't help that the weather here is horrible and rainy AND cold so when the sun came out for a few hours the other day.... we took off the the park. So here are a few pictures of them playing AND of course some more pictures of sweet baby Olivia, we just can't get enough of her!!

This is how we start every morning.... everyone gets a turn holding Olivia, nice hair huh?

Macey at the sand park. They loved the sand, it made me feel like I was back in Rexburg with the sand in my hair, teeth, eyes.... good times
Miss Annie enjoying the time outside

This is what cute babies do at the park.... sleep

Olivia's first bath! She loves the warm water and getting her hair washed.

This picture might be a bit dark, but look at that face! Too cute and her eyes are open so I snapped a picture!

Sweet baby Olivia

Well, we are going on 10 days old!! Our sweet baby is doing great even though last week was a bit rough and emotional. When Olivia went in for her 3 day check up the dr. noticed that she looked a bit jaundiced. They did a blood test and her jaundice levels were higher than they should be and she was re-admitted to the hospital. My sweet girl had to lay under a billi-blanket (a blanket that gives off UV rays to help her jaundice levels go down) for almost 3 days. It was hard to see her just laying there. We couldn't hold her, only if I was feeding her, and then back into the bed. She did great. She laid there and soaked up all those UV's like a champ. The nurses and doctors at our hospital are AMAZING and continually checked on us. Rex and I are fortunate enough to have amazing friends and family to watch the girls so we could both be there with her. I am grateful that Rex was there with me because it was an emotional couple of days waiting for her to get better and it was hard to not hold my new baby. I am so grateful that she is doing great now. Her levels are back down and she is a really good baby. I am thankful for all the prayers and support that we received :)


Here she is under her warm billi-blanket.

She would sleep and eat and that is about it. I am so happy she did so well under the lights because it really helped her heal quickly.
Laying with dad in the sun during a quick break from the bed.
At home with the girls. They really missed her and I really missed them. I was so happy to be home with our family.
I love this picture! Ahhhh, relaxing in front of the glass door.....being a baby is great.

Baby Olivia!!

She is HERE!!! I am on cloud 9, happy as can be, and smiling ear to ear! My sweet baby Olivia has arrived. Olivia Sharen Basting was born on April 1, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. I know on April fools, but think about the great parties this little girl is going to have :) ok, a quick story: Went to the dr. at 10:00 am yesterday and she stripped my membranes (sorry if that is grossing anyone out). Ok, by 1:00 pm Rex was keeping track of my contractions, about every 5 minutes apart for an hour. We headed to the hospital at 2:30 and my contractions were getting stronger and faster. They got me all hooked up and at 4:00 pm, after about 3 pushes, Olivia was here!!! A 7 lb. 9 oz, baby is ok by me!

As the dr. laid her on my chest, my eyes filled with tears as I looked at my perfect sweet baby that I had prayed for every single day. I looked up at Rex and thanked my Father in Heaven for my sweet baby and the life that I have been given. Being a mother is the greatest calling and I feel privileged enough to be able to have a husband who works hard so I am able to stay at home with my sweet girls. What a great day!! I can't stop smiling and I am in love with this baby! I feel like I know her, I felt her every day and we all talked to her. The girls are beyond happy and want to help in anyway. Annie loves holding her and they were both so excited when I told them we get to keep her forever :) Anyway, here are pictures from our great day!
me and my sweet baby!
7 lbs. 9 oz. 20 inches
Daddy and his 3rd girl! Rex is the best coach, I couldn't have done it without him.
All the girls, I can't believe I have 3!
Macey kissing baby. She calls her Livia because she doesn't pronounce the "O" :)
Big sister Annie
Our whole family!! I love this picture!
Look at that face! I love the cheeks! She loves to nurse, so hopefully she will love to sleep too!!
At home with Annie...... I know Annie is going to be a huge helper, I am one lucky mama!!