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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Legos

I guess I didn't know the power of the Lego! Gator got Legos for Christmas and he has played hours and hours of Legos... They are actually kind of relaxing and fun for this mommy because they are like a 3D puzzle. So fun!!!



Snuggle

Isn't she so sweet while she snoozes? She hopped in bed with me this morning and we snuggled a little late:)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Aaaaannnnnndddd. I am still pregnant

I went to the Doc today... we are dialated to maybe a 1 and 50%. I had a nonstress test and the strep test. Everything is looking good and baby is head down and looking healthy. I could stand to not be pregnant anymore.. I also want a healthy baby and delivery so I will be patient. However, if one more person asks me if there is more than one baby in here or am I measuring big, I may just have a melt down on them. I may also tell them the advice that is still very good.
The three things you can always tell a pregnant gal....
1. You look great!
2. Can I get ya chair?
3. Would you care for a cookie?
 I can garantee that most pregnant gals will like you a lot... Even if you say these three things EVERY time you see them....

On a funny note, Gator had a friend over yesterday and took one look at my giant belly and said.
"Hey, I know you are gonna lay a baby, I can tell cause your belly is roundy like it"

Yesterday we went to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point with Grandma and Grandpa C, Aunt Preslee and Averee, Uncle Marcus and Aunt Lisa, Arlington and Wells.... Then to dinner at JCW's I love their onion rings.... Things like that really set the Christmas mood.

Daddy has been trying really hard to finish up Gators big boy room down stairs... I am still going to post a few pictures when I finally can think about it....

The potty train left the station for a while last week... AAAAAhhhhh! After the car accident situation...(oh I posted that on FB, I will post the story here sometime) anyway, I wasn't in the car to hear that she needed to use the potty and she had a huge accident that resulted in a whole week of accidents.... Then this week she has been a whole bunch better. I found out she watched one of us blow out a match... Who knew... Now before I get nasty comments about how dangerous this can be... I know alright! I took the matches out of the bathroom and I am the only one who strikes them. She gets to blow one out if she goes potty. I am going to parenting (bad place) but..... If it works?????? Now she is back on track... Okay I can do this.
I knew it couldn't be as easy as it started out.... It's been two days accident free.... Love it!

 


Sunday, December 9, 2012

VIP

Ry was the VIP in school. For a week the kids get to display a poster of pictures. Then on Friday the family gets to come and tell the whole second grade how great our kid is... Ry had prepped daddy and I on all the stories she wanted told. She also wanted me to bring the tortoise. Well, we ended up telling a completely different story... Daddy came up with a great one that all the kids loved and laughed at. 
Ry gets to read the back of her poster. This explains all about her.
 
Then I told the story. When Ry was little she couldn't pronounce her SP sounds... So sometimes her words sounded cute and funny. If she saw something scary she would say it looked FOOKY and if she saw something pretty it was so Farkely.... The kids LOVED when I finally told them that our favorite thing to hear her say was Funge-bob Fuare pants....
All the kids laughed and laughed.
 
Dad was the photographer, Grandma also came to support our little VIP and help with Gator and Munch. 
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Lips

Sometimes I forget to record everyday things because I am so used to experiencing them. Then the phase or moment passes and I find I miss these silly little moments. Every morning after the older kids leave for school Munchie and I jump into a shower and work on getting dressed and ready for the day. While I am doing something about my face, Munch puts on her lips. This is a slow and methodical process for her. This is her own tube of bright red lipstick. It has to be bright enough to be visible now. She was once content with chap stick but now we need a pop of color.
 
 She sits on top of the counter close enough to see the details of the process in the mirror. 
She also adjusts her head to make sure that she is getting max coverage. 
Sometimes she gets a little mess. I have to grab her a tissue. At this point I am nearly finished with things myself.
 
Finally checks are in order.
 
A little dab more, just for good measure!
 
And perfection! I usually have to fight off her insistence that she do my lips as well. I prefer more neutral colors and so usually decline her offer.
 
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Friday, December 7, 2012

Christmas shopping with mini Divas!!!!

Remind me to never take Munchie to the mall... She loves all the shops with hats, purses, and anything that sparkles.... It took me ten minutes to release her death grip on a Hello Kitty purse at Claire's. My girls are totally into that kind of stuff. I always wanted girls that tended to be a little more tomboy-ish. Well, they know how to get dirty, they just really love themselves some bling and pink too!







What happens when I let Gator play????

Hey takes about fifty photos of himself. Or just random shots of nothing.





Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Lets create some memories

Every year I have the kids add to the ornaments on the Christmas tree. They each have a little stash of ornaments that they have chosen and collected over the years. It is not Festival of trees standard. It is more Charlie Brown standard. I love it and one day each child will be able to take their ornaments to their homes and families. Some of the ornaments on our tree are home made. When daddy and I were too poor to buy fancy things. A few represent our honey moon spot, the place where daddy served his mission and some that came from various trips together. It is a modge podge of memories. This year we decided to make our ornaments rather than pick one at the store. I didn't know it was going to be such a hit with this crowd.  
Munchie was thrilled to get her hands on the salt dough. Being who she is she tried the nasty stuff. YUCK! 
Gator was very good at getting it thin.
 
This is something right up this creative girls alley!
 
once dry we would be able to paint... It took forever to let them dry. I even baked them for four hours and they still weren't all the way dry.
 
When painting was finally under way, each kids kept saying they loved painting. 
clearly a win for the year!
 
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The potty training diaries

So I decided on Monday that we would begin the potty training of Munchie... Which, like I have said before is all selfish and not wonderful of me at all...I have a really hard time letting 2 be in diapers at the same time. I also believe that it is more potty training of the parents than it is the child. I read lots of books, asked for tons of advice and read all about tips and tricks on Pintrest... I know that my kids are all or nothing kids and so I had to commit to it. Monday started out a little rocky. Munch had 3 accidents, one wasn't really fair because she went outside and I got side tracked preparing dinner. I couldn't see her to ask if she needed to use the restroom. Tuesday she didn't have any accidents... She also wouldn't let herself have a BM.... Wednesday she had one accident and we followed the run back and forth from the accident sight to the toilet all the while saying... Poopy belongs in the potty, poopy belongs in the potty..... Ten times... She giggled as we ran back and forth... Wednesday she has stayed dry all day... Thursday she stayed dry all day.. Friday she even woke up clean and dry. Saturday still no issues and today even at church she did great!!! I love the free potty training app from Signing Time... Rachel actually sings a song and calls. You can add stickers to the chart on the App, it's awesome... I love to see her little booty clad in pannies (panties) as she calls them... She is hilarious after I use the restroom.... "yeah mommy!!! potty mommy!!!" so many of the books say that modeling behaviors is one way little children learn quicker... She has taken her baby to the potty a ton.... I am so proud of her. She is such a smart little girl and I can tell that she loves to please those she loves.... I realize that potty training at 25 months is early, most countries other than the states potty train early... The cost of diapers is outrageous for them. I also realize that there will most likely be some regression when baby girl gets here.... AND that we are technically not potty trained until we are night trained as well. I think staying dry through naps these last couple of days means she can do it... My life may not be glamorous, but it is so fullfilling and many may not feel like potty training ranks right up there with life achievements... Munchie would beg to differ. This is a HUGE deal to her and I couldn't be more proud! I think having children sure does put a new persective on things... Before it was all about me, finding myself, being a better person... Now it is about so much more. Life is so much better when I am not existing for me, it is to love unconditionally these four and a half people in my life, teaching them and trying hard to still be me but to the best of my ability. Someone once said that the more children you have the more room in your heart to love, and the less time for yourself.. So while I carve out a few minutes each day for personal prayer, meditation and self betterment.. I can't wait to fill the rest of my day doing things for these big and little people I love!!

Almost done growing this baby!!! My body is speaking to me loud and clear when it says "this should be good!" I have had 8 pregnancies and 4 will result in live births.. With fertility treatments, this time gestational diabetes, and my need for a thrombectomy which was only a humiliating bandage. I really think we are full!! I hated seeing the 'down there doctor' who wasn't the kind I was used to. I almost cried when they told me that the surgery they perform is usually done while the patient is sleeping. Because of my pregnancy it was too risky. So with a little local and my fanny in the air we did the procedure. I told everyone I would be brave, I did not promise I wouldn't cry. I managed to not cry, but shake all over from the adrenalin and then had some incredible contractions from the pain... I made it home fine and felt great until the local wore off. Then it all hurt so bad I wanted to chew my arm off... I thought they might give me something for the pain but I guess I forgot to ask... So, I tried some things I thought would help. A bath, some Tylenol, and finally iced myself!!! Whew, I have been in pain before..... that was pretty unreal.. It took days to recover and for me to finally be able to walk without difficulty. I try not to complain because my little son has been through quite a bit in his life and still smiles, laughs and plays. I figure I could take a page from his book. Besides, I am pretty sure that I signed up for all of this when I begged and pleaded to be a mother:). The 'down there doctor' turned out to be very nice and he even had a sense of humor. I need that in a doctor. He giggled every time I said "my bootie" and I giggled every time he referred to my "buttock" he also made me laugh that each side was its own buttock therefor I had two very nice buttocks!!! That whole business isn't so completely embarrassing, just slightly.

Ry and Gator had parent teacher and both are doing well in school. Gator needs a little more assistance but we are determined to work really hard with him. He also loves to please, always wanting to know if it is the right thing. He will get it! He is really great with numbers and problem solving. Ry continues to excel. She is doing great in French and reading. She loves art and really loves math.. That is so different from me!
Daddy is so busy at work. When owening your business that is a good thing.. He does it all for us!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Ry and the dentist

Don't ya just love when your face is still numb?

Thanksgiving FHE

Last night for FHE, Ry was in charge. She had made the body of this cute turkey and as a family we came up with what we were thankful for to write on the feathers!!! Gator chose family, Munchie said candy, mommy said health and nice house, Ry is thankful for cars to take us fun places, Daddy said helpfulness of others, and G and G H said jobs and provisions. Well, those things were said maybe not by those exact people but we get the idea! Then our E family brought us these yummy turkey treats!!! Ry also had her piano lesson while daddy and papa made dust working on Gators big boy room in the basement!! I am getting so excited for this baby to get here and for Gators new room and all the goodness we have!!! Just LOVE!!



Monday, November 19, 2012

The power of suggestion

It went like this...
Munchie come get in your seat and get your buckles on...
M-No, I don't want to mommy!!!
G-yeah!!!! you have to otherwise the
police will come get mommy and take her to jail.
Me-yeah and I would miss you guys and I wouldn't be able to be your mommy.
G-you don't get nothin in there, except you could sneak in your phone and call Beehive Bail Bonds and they could get you out!!!
Me- true, I could do that Gator! Hahahaha

Sunday, November 18, 2012

potty training diaries

Week two is down and Munchie is certainly getting this potty training business down. She loves getting to choose which panties she wants to wear. She also loves that she can sit on her Elmo potty seat. She did have two accidents this week. All due to mommy's lack of asking... She also sustained her first potty ouchie... Notice the fine goose egg on her head... We can blame Auntie Preslee.... Just kidding Pres!!!!!  
She has been waking up dry almost every day... She is starting to show signs of night time readiness.... This has been by far the easiest kid to train. Poor Ry, she was right at the end of training when Gator was born and her world turned upside down. Gator had lots of issues trying to regulate himself and with meds that made him go, it was tricky to make it! Each of our kids has trained before 3 years old. If baby girl can train like Munch has then I only have two more years of diapers.... Sigh! Wouldn't that be wonderful? I still love that when we go to public places, Munch cheers loud enough for everyone to hear.... I get a kick out of the gals in the other stalls that giggle at MY potty accomplishments, made known to them by my little cheerleader....


 
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First snow of Nov 2012

He begged me to take him sledding. He wanted me to go down the big hill. He asked almost every hour for four hours if it was time to go outside yet. So we found his gear.... 
And of course Munchie wanted in on that action. So we got her in her things too. 
They made snow balls and did some sledding on the hill in our yard. Not the big hill.... They are gonna need daddy for that one. I bet that would be pretty awesome to see an eight month pregnant lady going sledding... SWEET!
 
They played for about 4 1/2 hours while I checked on them... It is hard for me to be outside that long. I think two years ago it would have been hard for Gator to regulate his body temp... We still have to dress him warm and make sure that he takes warm up breaks... But he is doing so amazing. 
Munchie loves it too.
 
He was so excited that he could smash the snow. Just like he was sooooo strong! 
This is Munchies version of a snow angel. She would just lay there for a few minutes... I tried to explain how it is to be done. She didn't really understand.
 
Gator got the snow angel making. There were four or five Gator sized snow angels right in our yard. 
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Miss Munchie and the camera

She loves to be infront of the camera as long as she can "I See" afterwards. She carries around a baby about 75% of her day. She loves her babies... I am so excited for Christmas because she is getting some accesories for her babies that I think she is going to love. She got a little umbrella stroller last year and has nearly driven it into the ground. So it will be fun for her to have little blankets and diapers and other little things that will help her take care of her babies while I take care of our baby.  
"See mom, ton (tounge)"
 
Then she gets really really close and says "pitt ur mom, I see?" 
So I take a couple and show her how awesome she is! 
She is our sweet little girlie! 
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