These days...

Love them!!

 Horsey Daddy

 Daddy and Juliet

 Baby kisses are the best :)

 I just love my handsome guy!!

 Mommy and Cece

 First Haircut

Before:

 After!!

 Beautiful Juliet :)

 Happy James!

 Love that chub!

 I love this carrier! James on my front, and Cece always wants me to carry her on my back. It's so convenient! 

 I love my kids!!

 He REALLY wanted that sweet potato

 James and Daddy

I can't believe how big my kids are getting! James will be 6 months next week. How has that happened so fast? The girls love holding him and making him laugh, and they can make him laugh more than anyone else. I hope they always feel this way about each other. If I can only get James to wake up once a night instead of twice, then he'd be perfect ;) Lately I've been trying to introduce him into food, mostly just whatever I have on hand. He's not really into bananas, but he looooves sweet potatoes, and likes avocados. James loves to roll over and get on his tummy and I think he'll be crawling soon, but we'll see! I'm not advocating it! Haha. He is just such a happy baby and I think he's been the easiest so far. Maybe it's because I have other kids to deal with he's just learned patience on his own? I don't know, but he sure is the easiest one to deal with these days!

Cece is my sweet, silly girl, but she's also a handful haha. She is dyyyying to potty train and I am so not ready for that. Taking her to the bathroom every 5-10 min is not so easy when you are trying to feed, rock, or change a baby. Or do anything for that matter. Right now I've talked her out of it for the moment, but she still insists on wearing a pull up to bed and peeing in the potty right before bed and after she wakes up. I can handle that. I love watching Cece when she's just playing and dancing and being herself. She cracks me up! She's always saying random things and making hilarious faces.

Juliet is also so sweet, especially to James, but man sometimes I think I have a tween on my hands! She can have a little attitude, but then change it and ask me or Cece if we're ok if we seem sad or something. She's very observant and knows when she needs to share more or help me out more. She's had quite the imagination lately, and while it's usually just something she copies from a TV show or movie, she still plays with a lot of animation in her story lines. It's the best thing to have a quiet house and find the girls playing nicely together and not getting into mischief :) It's happening more and more and I love it!

James' Birth Story

Well since James is 5 months old today I should probably post his birth story! A little back story: at my 32 week appointment I was measuring small so I had to go in and do an ultrasound at 34 weeks. They said his abdomen was measuring small so I needed to go in again in 3 weeks and get another ultrasound. They said I might have to be induced early if it seemed that the placenta wasn't giving the baby the nutrients he needed to grow. I was not a fan of that idea, but when I had that last ultrasound they didn't say anything about being induced early, so I tried not to worry about it too much. My due date came and no baby. Well then I knew my doctor was going to want to induce me. Sure enough, he wanted to induce me on Thursday, November 14. I asked him if we could postpone it until the next Monday but he said no. I was kind of annoyed at him because he didn't seem to care much about what I wanted and I had heard that he was a little C section happy so I was really nervous to go into being induced (since your chances of C section increases with induction). PLUS, I really wanted a natural childbirth and I've heard that pitocin HURTS. BAD. I did everything I could think of to start labor. I even did castor oil, I was THAT desperate to start myself into labor. But nothing :( So Thursday morning I went into the hospital, but I swear I was having light contractions in the shower before we left. Since I was dilated to a 4 my doctor came in and said that we could try to just break my water at first. I said yes, let's try that and see what happens and he was going to come back and check me in an hour. I had some essential oils going in a diffuser that was supposed to help labor get going and I watched TV with Tim and my mom. We just hung out for about an hour while I was having contractions. They were regular at about 4 min apart. After my hour was up he came back and I was STILL at a 4! He said he was going to give me some "Vitamin P" (his jokes really annoyed me) and I said, um, not yet. I could feel my contractions getting stronger so he said he'd give me one more hour and then if I hadn't progressed he would start up the pitocin. Good thing I know my body better than my doctor because 45 min later I was yelling at Tim to get the nurse. And sure enough I was ready to push. Now this is where I really hated my doctor. He was getting the bed dropped down and ready for the baby to come out and he pulls up these stirrups. I literally had my legs up in these straps and it was sooooo uncomfortable! With Juliet and Cecelia Tim and a nurse always held my legs up and I could kind of move around to where I was comfortable. Not this time. I kept saying, I don't want this, I want to get down and squat, anything but this. But he either didn't hear me or he just wanted to get James out because he kept telling me to push. Cece's birth was NOTHING like this. Pushing was easy and she just slid out and it felt good and it was such a great experience. This was hard and painful and it was just like a TV show because I SCREAMED. Like at the top of my lungs. My poor mom probably thought I was dying because I saw her crying as she watched me. I just couldn't get James out because it hurt so bad, so my wonderful (note the sarcasm) doctor got in my face and told me to push as hard as I could. So I screamed and screamed while I pushed. And then James came out :) I almost hate writing this because I want it to sound like I was so happy when it was all over and I just wanted to hold my baby, but I will tell the truth so I can remember what to tell my daughters to possibly expect about childbirth. They handed him to me and I really thought I was going to drop him. I was exhausted and shaky and HOT. I told Tim to take James like 2 seconds after they gave him to me because I felt like I was in shock. Especially since they are telling you to push the placenta out after that and then he had to stitch me up. It took me a good 45 min to an hour before I felt like I could hold him. Tim held him mostly and I made him sit super close to me, but I just couldn't hold him yet. But he was the sweetest, most beautiful baby boy I had ever seen and oh my gosh his hair! I loved his baby hair and he still has fun hair :) We love James and are so happy he is a part of our family. I'm grateful I was able to do a natural childbirth with him because I before I forget, I do have to say my recovery with James was the best by far. I thought recovery after Cece was good, but it was even better this time and I definitely think that has to do with having them drug free. I barely even took Tylenol after I got home from the hospital I felt that good. We love our baby James!!

An Indian?!

Me- "Hey guess what I found in the cupboard?"
Tim- "What?! An Indian???"
Hahahahahahaha! I about died when he said that, but really what I found was a pack of Starburst. Score!

4 years!

Happy Anniversary to me and Tim! 4 years and counting! I guess I should stop counting eventually though because eternity is a long time :) I don't want to go into how lovey dovey we are going to be today and be all gross but I did think I should share this blog post from about 2 years ago. Sad to say, not much has changed. New Year's Resolution anyone? 

http://timundamy.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-happened.html

A Glow Worm's Never Glum

I just said to Juliet, "I wish I were a glow worm, a glow worm's never glum. Cause how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out your bum?!"

Juliet thought I was hilarious and was cracking up! Then she said, "Mommy! There's no sun in my bum! There's no sun in bums!" hahaha!

Juliet Funnies

Juliet was so funny this morning I have to write down what she said before I forget!

(while looking at a gospel art book) "One day, Jesus was a soccer player. One day, Jesus went to sleep.  One day, Jesus went outside. One day, Jesus was born."

Me: Juliet, Christmas is Jesus's birthday, so on Christmas we need to think about Jesus.
Juliet: I will go get His birthday cake and bring it to play park.
Me: Um, we probably won't have a cake.
Juliet: Oh no! I lost His cake at play park!

(while pretending to talk to Tim on a play phone) "Hiiiii Daddy! Want to come home and take me on a ride? Want to play with us Daddy? Uh oh, I don't have any energy. Byyyyyyeeee!!!"

(laying in front of the TV) "Cece I'm so sleepy, leave me alone."

She cracks me up! She's also been singing a lot of Christmas songs and I'm amazed at how well she knows the words. It is really funny though when she says something like this, "jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the waaaay. oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open SNAKE." hahahaha. I love my girl!

Juliet

My beautiful Juliet :)

 Juliet and Calvin in the bath

 Juliet and Justin 4th of July

 Juliet and one of her best friends, Eli

 Wearing Grandma's socks!

Wearing Daddy's shoes!

Cecelia

Cecelia makes some pretty funny faces! Here are some of the highlights:

 At the splash park in Rexburg, ID

 1st Birthday!

 1st pigtails

 I love this one of her glasses!

 Kisses!

Such a happy girl!

Naughty List

I've been trying to use Santa Claus to my advantage, but it's not really working out.  Yesterday I kept telling Juliet she needed to be nice and a good listener because Santa was watching and if she wasn't nice she wouldn't get the presents she asked for. Well at some point while we were out and about last night, one of us told her that she was being naughty and that Santa saw what she was doing.  The whole way home from the grocery store she did this continuous whine/moan.  I tried talking to her about the lights we'd seen that night and other stuff but finally she just said, "I need to be sad a little longer." I let her be said until we got home and then Tim told her she didn't have to be sad anymore.  She said she did and when I kept asking why she was sad she'd say, "because I'm not." I said, "you're not what??" She just kept repeating herself until I realized she was saying, "because I'm naughty!" I felt kinda bad because after I asked her if that's what she meant she kept going on about how Santa wasn't going to bring her the Rapunzel doll she wanted. So talk of Santa and especially the naughty and nice list is coming to and end for now.  Maybe next year I can use it to my advantage, but this year I'll have to just parent without Santa's help :)

Teething Tim

I have a history of sleepwalking. A few nights ago I woke up hovering over Tim because he was telling me to stop what I was doing.  Apparently I was dreaming about checking Cece's teeth because I had climbed on top of Tim and stuck my finger in his mouth! Hahahaha good thing he's used to my crazy antics during my sleep!

100th post!

This is my 100th post and I've finally got something blog worthy!

So this afternoon the girls have doctors appointments. And since I am a little disorganized and we have to leave so quickly after Tim gets off of work, I was going to get the shot records and insurance cards and such all ready.  This is their first appointment since moving to Virginia so I had kinda just thrown that stuff in the top drawer of my nightstand. But it was all there I swear! Well, I couldn't find Cece's insurance card. I found Juliet's pretty quickly but I just as quickly realized Cece's was no where to be found. I was panicking and I decided that I needed help so I prayed that I would be able to find it. I tore that drawer apart looking for it.  It wasn't stuck between papers or slipped into envelopes, I COULD NOT FIND IT. I looked on Tim's nightstand, in my purse (even though I knew it wouldn't be there), and it wasn't anywhere. I started to look in the drawer under the one I thought the card was in. Like maybe it had slipped out or something. Nope. Turns out there is a piece of plywood or something so it couldn't have fallen in. Are you panicking with me? Well right after searching I was trying to shut that top drawer and I couldn't. I couldn't see anything so I just jammed it shut and then I thought that was pretty stupid, I should at least stick my hand in there. So I wiggled my hand back over the drawer and tried to feel under it as much as I could, and I felt the card! I got it out and I said a prayer of thanks right away. I was sooooo relieved! I NEVER would have found it if I wasn't inspired to look there.  It's the 2nd time in two days that I've gotten little prayers answered but they are just such testimony building experiences. I love prayer!

Pet Peeve

You know what I hate? When people talk about a TV show on facebook. I mean, seriously?! Some people can't watch it right away, or don't have TV and have to wait for it to come on Hulu. REALLY drives me nuts and I don't like finding out who won or died on a show from facebook. I'm done now :)

I WON!

You see that giveaway right under this post? 12 free dresses!! Yup, I actually won!!! I'm super excited because I love giveaways and I finally won!!!

[Shabby] Apple a day: Why? Because we Love You!

[Shabby] Apple a day: Why? Because we Love You!

Here's another giveaway. I can't help it. It's so easy to enter and someday, I might just win one :)

Giveaway!

I get an extra entry if I blog about this giveaway and you all should enter too!

http://www.thevintagepearl.com/blog/2012/10/big-fun-fall-giveaway/

Chocolate Breath

The other day I was trying to get Juliet to take a nap unsuccessfully. Cece was also being particularly difficult. While I was taking a break from going between rooms, I ate a piece (or 3) of chocolate. Juliet was at her door again and I was pretty peeved. So I went in and I was telling her to get back into bed, but usually if I sound too mad she starts to cry. To prevent this, I was kissing her on the cheek to let her know I wasn't mad but she needed to go to bed. She still had her sad face until she looked at me and said, "Mommy ate chocolate!" I just could not keep back from laughing! So then she started laughing and I told her that if she took a nap she could have some afterward. Moral of the story is: bribe your kids to take a nap. Totally worth it.

Juliet's First Prayer

We've helped Juliet say her prayers before but tonight she said it all by herself.  It was so pure and sweet that she made my eyes tear up. Here's a summary of what was said:

Heavenly Father, thankful for the day. Bless Grandma to be healthy (my mom's been having some health concerns). Bless Mommy, Daddy, Juliet, Grandmas, Grandpa's, Cousins, Uncles, Cooper, Nora, Chase, Abby. Thankful for colors. Thankful for crayons. Bless us good night. Jesus AMEN!

She likes to say amen! hahaha. We asked her if she wanted to say the prayer tonight and her answer was, "I will talk!" Then I asked her if she wanted mommy to help her or daddy to help her and she chose daddy.  But then she just started talking! We were so impressed that she wasn't shy or super quiet and even though she forgot a few things like cece and her aunts, she did such a good job! We love her so much and tonight was something I don't want to forget.

Kid Snippets

This is my new obsession lately. Well, maybe obsession is too strong of a word but me and Juliet watch these every day. This one is her favorite and a big thanks to Aunt Amber for putting it on Brandon's wall! They're all funny, I think Juliet likes this one because it has a ball :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhK5lY1Phm8

Enjoy!

The Phone Call

Do any of my siblings remember that old short movie?  Tim found it on The Mormon Channel on the ROKU and started watching it, probably not realizing how awesome it was going to be.

This morning Juliet was playing with an old phone and I told her to call Daddy at work. She happily said, "Hi DADDY!" and then simply told me, "Daddy's not there."  I guess she really wasn't up to using her imagination this morning.

We made it to Virginia! We're staying with Tim's parents while we house/apartment hunt. It's great that Tim got a job so quickly because now we can save up some money. The weather has been pretty miserable, super hot and humid, but this week it's changed! It's finally starting to feel like fall and it's been cool and beautiful. Fall is the reason I moved to Virginia. Soooo gorgeous! Pictures to come!

Mommy's Intense

The other day we went to the duck park with the girls and apparently i was doing something that made tim tell juliet that mommy was intense. so juliet starts repeating, "mommy's intense! mommy's intense!" so then i asked her, "well what's daddy?" she didn't have to think long before saying, "daddy's a QUEEN!" hahahahaha! i busted up laughing and figured that's what he got for teaching juliet that i'm intense :)