Falling into Fall

Everyday life here is quite amazing. I must say that there is beauty all around. This last week, we celebrated my 23rd birthday. When did I get that old? Man, I still feel like my 19 year old self. Kevin went above and beyond to make the day special for me.

I awoke to muffins and waffles ready on the table for me. My kid was even already fed. After breakfast, Kevin let me run and get ready for the day. He then told me that he was taking the day off work! Liam went for a nap and Kevin told me I wasn't to leave my bedroom until he told me I could. After being blindfolded, Kevin led me downstairs and told me that "Elefun" the elephant brought me some presents but that I had to find them. Kevin made up this fun game where he threw slits of paper down from the landing and I had to catch one to know where to look for a present. I had two minutes to find it, before "elefun" thought I was ungrateful and returned it. Haha. There was way more gifts than I thought, and they were way more impressive than I expected. Kevin seemed to have remembered several things I had mentioned throughout our marriage that I would want someday. I was amazed and very spoiled.

He then took me to a pet shop where I got to pet some kitties. I also got treated to a yummy Italian dinner at a new place. It was really fancy and great. Next time, I vote to go without our kiddo though. He wasn't as big of a fan as we were with the food.

Anywho, it was great. This last weekend, our little clan went out to a pumpkin patch near us. It was super fun. The farm was really cute and I found myself asking permission to shoot family pictures there... answer to come. Fall is by far my favorite time of year. However, Washington is making it hard to enjoy the fall weather with all the rain. Something we will have to get used to. I still make Kevin take me and Liam on walks in the evenings, rain or shine. I've gotten pretty good at holding an umbrella over both Kev and I.

This week holds a lot of fun stuff. I get to do a family shoot. And I get braces!! I know this might sound weird, but I've actually wanted braces since I was in 5th grade (I had a big gap). But because of finances behind having 9 children (quite understandable), my parents were not able to give them to me as a kid. When I went to college, I told myself I would have straight teeth for my wedding day... but then I got married after my freshman year. haha. I made Kevin promise to give me braces someday... he agreed and now it's finally being fulfilled. I'm so excited! Braces, I've been told, are an uncomfortable and not fun experience... but I am soooo grateful that I even get this opportunity to have them that I don't think I'll mind. I have always been and currently am a very weird kid. No pain, no gain.

SO MANY BLESSINGS!!

Other than that, I figured I'd include a little thing about October's Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness going on... Obviously, this month is supposed to be about making sure the public is aware of the losses that occur with miscarriages, stillbirths, and infant losses. October 15th, my birthday, is the day of remembrance.

I always thought it was a weird month awareness. I didn't think too much about it, even after the loss of my Eden. Eden just was a part of my family, and I didn't feel like I needed to do something about it. However, it has become clearer since the first year after having Eden that a lot of people do not think before they speak. Haha. Miscarriage is a real, painful, and emotionally draining event. A stillbirth is a depressing, perplexing, and tear-stained circumstance. And an infant loss... I can only imagine.

As one of the many women that deal with issues and losses, I find that I don't want to be in silence to the blessings and the tears involved with these. I kinda feel like I am forced to be open about it, because all of my losses happen so late (happening after the grand announcement). I don't need pity, I just want to make sure people know that I have two boys, and that, this year, I was supposed to have another child in December. People make it awkward when you talk about it, but death is a fact of life. It happens. It will happen. The only thing the living can do for the dead is to remember them (there are a few other things, but you have to go back to remembering them first).

It's ok to remember hardships, sometimes those hardships are what pushed you to go further, and made you want to be better. To the women who suffer losses such as mine... isn't that sky beautiful? Those birds make the prettiest of tunes. Enjoy this life. It's beautiful. I go back to my thoughts about braces... life, "I've been told, [is] an uncomfortable and not fun experience... but I am soooo grateful that I even get this opportunity to [live] it." No pain, no gain.

Love you all and thank you to all those who remember my little Eden. Thank you for not putting me in awkward moments on purpose, and for understanding that everyday I still am trying to understand the life God gave me.

My biggest blessings!

A New Life...

So I'm back on the blog. It's only been over a year, right? Nothing too long.

Life has finally settled down for my little Hinton clan. This last year was a crazy one. We welcomed our little boy, Liam, into our family in September (of last year). We actually just got to celebrate his first birthday. Time sure flies.

Kevin and I graduated from Brigham Young University! Which was quite the accomplishment, given our last year. It was an amazing feeling to graduate. I can't believe I did it. I had so many doubts and lack of motivation, but I did it! So did Kevin, but I'm the writer so I tend to focus more on me. Haha.

We moved out of Provo, Utah and headed to Washington state. This is where our new chapter will begin! We are renting a cute little house that is perfect for us. Liam already has determined he is comfortable enough to venture anywhere in the house. He goes up and down the stairs effortlessly... nowadays if I turn my head for too long, he will suddenly be upstairs playing in his room by himself. He is so adorable.

This summer came and went extremely fast. I
 think that's what happens with a move. We got up here, looked for a home, found a home, waited to move in, moved in, and then tried to settle in. The summer was just gone the next thing we knew! I was lucky to have relatives come and visit us. Both on my side and Kev's side. It was such a wonderful experience to have people in our home. I never really got to be host in my apartment very often, so I find that it's actually fun. I sometimes feel like I'm actually playing the real "house" game! I have a baby and a house and everything! It's unreal.


I don't want to sugar coat my blog too much, so I'm also going to include our latest hardship as well as these blessings. About two months ago, I had a miscarriage during my 2nd trimester (17 weeks). It was rather devastating and I still find myself not fully over it, both physically and mentally. I won't go into too much detail, because of that fact... BUT I have faith that there will be a post somewhere in the future where I express God's plan in all of it. I am grateful for that knowledge and the comfort that can and will be found. Babies and children are truly a gift, and I am reminded of that, yet again, through this experience. Liam is my miracle on Earth and I will always be so grateful for being able to be his mother.

On happier notes, I find myself in a state of being busy again. After a month of doing nothing but binge watching netflix and little Li, I am now active. I have goals and things I am doing at all times. Even in my patriarchal blessing, it strongly suggests that I need to be actively doing things. I'm back to writing my book (how many years will go into this thing?!), art projects, photo projects, and now I'm looking for a sewing project. Surprisingly, it works wonders with my attitude and my perspective. Yay for to-do lists! (Wow, I've grown into a weird woman.)

My little one year old. When did you get teeth and so much hair?!

Kevin likes his new job. Microsoft is such a neat place to work, and the benefits are amazing. Kevin currently enjoys playing ping pong with his coworkers at lunch and is busying all the time as well. If it's not his own app projects, I have home projects for him too. He has made my backyard beautiful and well managed. He has also helped me paint Liam's room and one of our bathrooms. He also has fixed a toilet, fridge water dispenser, and two ceiling fans. He is becoming quite the handy man in our house.

That's us for now. There's a lot of things coming our way, so another post should be coming up here soon. I don't have a lot of photos as of late. I blame the fact that my phone got too full of pictures, and wouldn't let me take anymore. (Don't worry Kev fixed it... now.)

Grandma, Papa, and Kayla on a ferry! They were my first visitors!!!

Um... yeah. I look like a mess, but my son is the cute one in the picture. 

My little sister with my son. Crazy! They are so cute together

My brother and the hairdo he did on my boy. Nice!

All my brothers play football, but I only got a picture with Jackson this year.
I know what you're thinking, "she has some good genes"
To that I say, "well yes, yes I do" ;)