Paige's Christmas Program

Oh boy what a little ham! Enjoy the video!

It's been awhile...

Here are some photos from, soccer, Halloween and getting our Christmas Tree. To solve any confusion, Paige is the girl Vampire, her choosing, and Taylor is Sleeping beauty! Enjoy!

We are moving!

Thanksgiving was wonderful and our trip to spend time with my Dad in San Jose was awesome! Good family time with all.

Okay now for the news that brought you to my blog...

I am pleased to announce that Jeremy has accepted a new position as CTO(Chief Technology Officer) for Summit Projects. Jeremy is really excited for this new opportunity and for all the possibilities it will give his career. I am happy for him and know he will do great. This new job means we are MOVING! Yes the Riley's will be leaving little Utah, our home for the last 5 years, to move to a small town of 7000 people, Hood River, OR.

Some interesting facts about Hood River, it is the wind surfing capital of the world and boasts some of the best apples, pears, and cherry's. It is an hour away from Portland and about 1 hour and 15 min from our current house. I guess this quaint little town only has one ward, three schools, and a really fun little down town.

Okay now that I got the positive out of the way let's talk. I am so excited at the possibility of living in a rural area with land for my girls to play on. The only problem, is that we can't find somewhere nice with a reasonable rent. See we will be carrying our current mortgage and a rent out there so we need to find something reasonable yet not a complete dump.

Also my shopping perspectives, uh Walmart (it doesn't have a grocery store and it is really small) and Safeway. Oh I am sorry I forgot about Payless shoes. Now I am not opposed to these stores except Safeway because it is so much more expensive then Fred Meyer and Winco. Also there is no Target or Costco. Gap is about 50 minutes away but at least it's in an outlet mall. Now lets be clear, I am not a big shopper but I like having variety and being able to just walk around a store and look at things.

And now for the biggest heartbreak. I am leaving my family, my brothers currently are only 5 to 10 minutes away, and I am leaving some really good friends behind who I just love to get together with, I mean I really love them. Also my best-friend will be moving back when she gets pregnant and I want to be here to watch help her with her baby. Last night at Enrichment it hit me hard as I looked around at all the faces I have become accustomed to for the last 5 years. There are a lot of people in this current ward that I am really fond of and love.

This will be our first big move as a family. I am excited for this adventure with Jeremy and the girls but will miss home so much. Current plan is to come to Portland at least once a week, we will see how that goes but there will still have to be girls night at least once a month.

Here's to new beginnings!

Daughters

I noticed today that an old friend posted on facebook, "I am grateful for the opportunity to raise a daughter." This struck me very hard. I often joke about the fact that I have 3 girls and that I am not excited about the teenage years with menstrual cycles, prom dresses, clothes, and just the hormones of a teenage girl. All day I have been thinking about what this post means and for me it means a whole lot.

I have three beautiful little girls. Right now I am able to see them for who they are perfectly. It seems that children show us their true individual natures and worth at a very young age. For example, if you know Paige then it is easy to see that she is a very kind, loving, intuitive, stalwart, and gentle person. Taylor is outgoing, tender, generous, determined, and protective. Sarah we can already see that she has a peaceful and calm nature. Why is this important? I think it is important to me as a mother because in today's world, some of these attributes are not celebrated enough. We see girls portrayed in a very different manner then they were 20+ years ago. I am not talking about the idea that women are one dimensional and shouldn't have degrees and goals. I am talking more of the attributes the world celebrates. I believe that women can be successful without being course. I have a friend, Linsy, who I feel demonstrates this to a tee. From what I can tell she has never given up her poise or kindness to move ahead in life and yet from all aspects she is very successful.

So for me as a mother of three little princesses, "Daughters of a Heavenly King", I have the opportunity to raise them true to their divine natures and teach them how to be successful in life using their individual worth. I welcome this challenge and look forward to the day when I see each one of them enter the sealing room to see them sealed for time an all eternity. Come what may, their core will always be the same even though life may offer hardening circumstances. They will always be those same tender spirits Heavenly Father has sent here. My job lies in helping them to be happy with themselves and there in lies their personal confidence.

I love my girls so very much and want only eternal happiness for them. They have brought a joy into my life that I couldn't understand as a child. My mom always would say, "I love you so much, more than you can imagine until you have a little Nicole of your own." I don't have a little Nicole but I have a Paige, Taylor, and Sarah Elizabeth and they bring such a happiness that I could not imagine until I had them.

I am grateful for this opportunity to be their earthly mother.

Baby help!

So to all my dear friends out there, please try to keep your mouths from hitting the floor when I tell you what I am about to tell you.

I am starting to put Sarah in her crib now. I know it's hard to believe as Paige and Taylor were never in the crib. In fact I didn't completely move them out of my bed until last January. Since they were about 1 years old I have started them off in their own bed but when they would wake up in the middle of the night it was SO much easier to get them to stay asleep longer in my bed.

So where is the help I need??? How did you keep your little baby's warm in the crib. Last night I went into Sarah and her little hands were cold. I don't want her cold and that will probably escalated her moving back into my bed sooner. So how did you keep them warm and with the blankets on them. I can lay Sarah down anywhere and if she is tired and not hungry or wet, she will kind of whimper for a minute or two and go to sleep. SHE IS A DREAM!!!!!! So help me with keeping her warm please. I tried to tuck in some blankets on top of her and am hoping that works!

So thanks in advance to your responses!

p.s. I have never had a baby monitor before. I got one because, like many of you have noticed, I cannot hear Sarah cry unless I am in the same room with her. So my point in telling you this. This machine is a dream. If I had had it with Taylor as a toddler, it would have prevented, so many things because I can hear a pin drop with it. If I am upstairs and it is down, I can still hear the slightest thing. For example I heard Taylor in another room from the baby, getting into my bathroom drawers. Catastrophe averted! I only spent 17$ on it too! Oh the simple pleasures in life!

Swine Flu Survival Kit

I just want to thank my dear friend Heidi for showing up with an unexpected treat. She arrived at my door with this great gift and said, "I know you must be going crazy so I put together this Swine Flu Survival kit for you. Tender Mercies are everywhere aren't they? I am really grateful for good friends who are here to love and support us. I miss our friends far away and am grateful for the ones close by! What a wonderful act of friendship. Thank you Heidi!!!!!

Sarah Elizabeth is growing

It seems like in just the last few days Sarah is changing ever so rapidly. Yesterday she began to roll over onto one side and laugh. It was a tiny giggle but oh man was it delicious to the ears! I got the laugh by nibbling on her tummy. I am surprised she felt anything through her mounds and mounds of flesh! Maybe that is why it tickled, she could barely feel it.

Oh how I love babies! I must say I had nightmares about the 3rd but so far AMAZING and I love having three girls. Their bond is so very apparent even now! Don't ask me in 10 years when they are teenagers. I may start saving for boarding school now!

Laundry

Just wasting time putting off the MOUNDS of laundry I need to fold. Anyone else have this problem?

p.s. I want to hire an illegal alien to do my laundry.

Taylor's prayer over the food this morning. p.s. there was nothing to do with prayer in it.

"Dear Heavenly father, thankful that I won't give mama a hug this morning. Thankful I won't miss her at school. Thankful that I will never draw her another picture again. In the name of um Jesus Christ Amen."

P's prayer

Paige's personal prayer tonight, "Please bless that I will stop thinking about the komodo dragon. It really freaks me out!"

Sunday's Lesson

So my lesson this month was on adversity and weathering it well. This quote is from President Eyring's talk. Hope you feel strengthened when you read this, I sure did.

"My purpose is to assure you that our Heavenly Father and the Savior live and that They love all humanity. The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of Their infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life. Then our spirits will be changed. We will become able to want what God wants, to think as He thinks, and thus be prepared for the trust of an endless posterity to teach and to lead through tests to be raised up to qualify to live forever in eternal life.

It is clear that for us to have that gift and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him." (President Eyring)

Sarah Elizabeth

So my little one is growing so fast. It is hard to believe that she was early and weighed only 5lbs and is GINORMOUS now. Here are so fun pics! She is a really calm baby. Everyone comments on how calm she is. I don't know if she will stay that way but for now she is very easy and very calm! I love her so much!

Sunday

Today was possibly the worst Sunday of my life. The entire morning was spent with Taylor throwing ruddy bloody fits which created a tense atmosphere in which Jeremy and I then got irritated with each other. We were an hour late to church, after church we were hungry and just grouchy with each other and not until after we ate did the mood soften up a bit. Paige was the calm in the storm! So thankful for her peaceful little spirit.

I don't ever remember having a Sunday like this in my life ever. I hardly feel uplifted and edified. To make it better, the girls and I sang primary songs for about an hour. That really helped me and reminded me of when I used to stand at the piano and sing while my mom played.

I am keeping my spirits up by thinking, "this too shall pass."

ahhhhhhhhh..... Next Sunday shall be better!

First Day of School

So Paige entered 1st grade this year! Wow what a change and I am not sure she likes it that much either. First grade is sure different then Kindergarten. So far so good. Taylor entered the pre-K program at Paige's school and is in love. She loves walking to class and pretty much has the attitude, "don't let the door hit you on your way out mom." We knew it would be this way! Enjoy the pictures and notice the backpacks. They picked all by themselves. LOL

The first pictures are of Taylor's 1st day. Taylor started on the second day.

Meet the teacher!

So we went to the school last night to meet the teachers for the girls last night. It was overall a good experience. I think I like both of the teachers a lot. The classrooms are well organized and clean which is super important to me.

What I took from the experience is that I need to work with Taylor in the next 5 days on waiting her turn and saying excuse me when she wants to say something. She kept following the teacher around saying, "teacher". So we talked last night and encouraged her to say, "Mrs. Hatch". She is so excited. Paige loved her teacher and felt like she was just like Mrs. Scott, her Kinder teacher last year.

I am excited for my girls but every time I think about dropping them both off on their first day, I cry. I tear up mainly about Paige because it is a reality that she will be out of my grasp for 7 hours in a day. I won't be able to be there when her feelings get hurt, she gets frustrated with her work(probably a good thing. I'm not the most patient when it comes to teaching.) , she just needs reassurance, or heaven forbid someone physically hurts her. These are all a reality of life but I am not ready to let them happen without my control of the situation in some way. I guess at this point it doesn't matter if I am ready for them or not, She is!

Buying Snacks for the school

So I had the girls school supplies bought by middle of August. The only thing I didn't have was something I find kind of ridiculous. I have to buy, specifically, "Two COSTCO sized snacks" to share with the whole class.

I don't know, I think it is a bit ridiculous when we supply breakfast and lunch to the kids all through the summer but now I have to buy snacks for the whole class. I don't understand the need for it and well quite frankly I think it is a little bit presumptuous. I think that the school should be supplying that. I have to supply everything else in the dang classroom.

What does everyone else think?

p.s. If that man in Georgia would have hit my kid... (well I probably only would have slapped him back but mind you I would have instictively slapped him back.) MOTHER OF THE YEAR! lol

Sarah Elizabeth

So to start thing off I am going to blog about Sarah Elizabeth and the things that have happened in her short little life.

On July 26th we blessed her. It was the most beautiful blessing I have ever heard and not because it was for my daughter but because of the things that Jeremy blessed her with. He blessed her with love, compassion, and kindness. Also to be forgiving and to put healthy thing in her body. He blessed her with a knowledge of love and with a knowledge of the impact she will have on the people around her. During the blessing he kept calling her Sarah so that is what we will call her. Jeremy calls her Sarah Elizabeth and I do sometimes as well but mainly the girls and I call her Sarah. She truly is a little princess in our family.

So our little Sarah was born on June 24th weighing in at 5 lbs even and 17 3/4 inches long. Well our petite beauty has turned into quite a robust beauty. At a 6 week check she weighed 9 lbs. 8 ounces and was already 22 1/2 inches long. She is quite the eater. She is a very good baby. For those of you who talked to me a lot during pregnancy you knew that my biggest fear was having a hard baby. Sarah Elizabeth is anything but that. She has a very sweet spirit and I am so grateful that she came to us. She has the daintiest cry I have ever heard and it really is quite pathetic. She sounds like a little lamb but a very quite little lamb. When she gets really upset then she gives it the good old cry but that isn't to often! The girls adore her and are fantastic big sisters. Speaking of sisters I met my little sister for the first time the weekend we blessed Sarah. I will make a separate post about that.

We are now getting ready for school to start and I am anxious to see if I can do a regular routine. I will start next week preparing for school and think that it may be a bit tricky but Sarah is in a bit of a good routine now that if I just get up early enough, like right after her morning feeding, I should be able to have the girls out the door on time with happy little hearts and full bellies. I am anxious for the girls to actually be learning again. The summer has made them a little slower especially since the baby came so early I didn't have a lot of time to do the reading logs, and math stuff I wanted. I have let a lot go this summer but am okay with it. In the big scheme of things the girls won't remember and more importantly I have been able to be okay with it which is a big deal. When school starts the real work will begin but at least my baby won't be so brand new!

All in all the Riley's are good and happy! We hope you are too!

Things are looking up!

A lot of people have been asking how I am doing in light of my last post. Good news, things are looking up. See I think there is a common misconception that I have this need to have my house clean for others. The reality is that i need it clean for me. I cannot function or feel productive in a messy house. It's just part of my genetic make up.

I am noticing my older girls are really starting to act out. I didn't think this would be a problem but I realized that when you add a newborn to any situation it is tough on everyone. My only concern now is making time for my older girls. It is something that I am finding hard to do. Will they survive yes but I want them to survive and succeed. Well and also I don't want to put a lot of money into a savings account just for counseling which i am pretty sure they are going to need.

I love my little family and feel so blessed to have them in my life. A newborn does make life more difficult but it also really brings a sweet spirit into a home and family. Straight from heaven they come and into our arms! I love my little girls so much and my husband, what a keeper! He has really stepped up to the plate in so many ways!

No telling how tomorrow will go since we are both still up, him painting me blogging. lol Tomorrow I meet my little sister for the first time! I am so excited!!

Back to work

So today was Jay's first day back to work. Oy vey!!! I think we had breakfast at 10, bath's by 12:30, lunch at 1 dinner at 5:30, tv dinners, and a movie for FHE. Girls fell asleep to me reading stories at 9:30. no baths just faces washed, hair brushed along with teeth, and prayer and scripture while they were sleeping.

I think I will chart my successes and overall today was a bit of a success.

Tomorrow I need to clean the house but maybe I will call a maid's service. No seriously I am thinking about doing it only with the promise that I won't clean before they come which I personally think is a high possibility.

A Tad Dramatic?

So today I told the girls to clean up their room. Usually this is a once a day project and we complete it fairly regularly. Well with the baby this has become a little harder to patrol so today I told the girls to clean up their room. They asked for help and I said, "get started and I will come check in 5 minutes. If you have made progress then I will help. If you are sitting there arguing or just reading books then I will vacuum up what I can and throw away the rest." After a warning and then finding pictures of my sealing folded up and made into 'scriptures', I grabbed a garbage bag and told the girls they better hope they can move quicker then I can. They just sat there with big looks on their faces and I tossed half a garbage bag of barbies, my little pony, and other miscellaneous toys away.

They handled it pretty well. I on the other hand feel horrible since some of the stuff was Paige's new stuff she got for her birthday. I don't think they will have such a hard time cleaning up next time.

Feeling better/different....

So the baby blues seem to be fleeting. I now have feelings of guilt as I find my patience for my children basically null and void. I think I can chalk that up to sleep deprivation though. I must say lately I have been really wishing that i had had the kids all 2 years a part. I waited after Taylor because two seemed so difficult. Three has yet to prove to be this momentous task BUT I feel as if I am not giving my girls all the attention they need and deserve both emotionally and academically. I think there have been days these last two weeks in which the girls have watched maybe 4 hours of TV. I guess i just feel bad because I had these schedules for them for the summer all ready to go and then the baby came a week after we started them and now the schedules are shot to hell. The one thing that keeps me sane is knowing that in about a month and certainly by the time school starts we will be somewhat on a normal schedule and this short period of time will HOPEFULLY have done little to damage them.

I must say the girls are everything I hoped they would be with the baby. I knew that Taylor would poke and prod her to see how she works and Paige would just tenderly love and hold her. I under estimated how difficult managing their enthusiasm would be. The baby has been kicked in the head, almost dropped, and smothered all by two little girls who just love her more then life itself. While not wanting to damage this new love in their life, I still find myself telling the girls more then I had planned to, "be careful, settle down, Taylor stop singing so loud" the best yet is, "stop touching her."

Elle is such a little lover. So far she has proved to be a really good baby and is growing rapidly. At her two week appointment she was already 6lbs. We love her and feel so complete with her in our lives.

Motherhood as always is a daunting task and experience but I really wouldn't change it for the world. I would just change myself.

Okay really must go the milk is letting down and it hurts like heck!

Baby blues--Help!!!!

Okay so I am reaching out to all of you for a little help. Since I came home from the hospital, I have been feeling really sad, happy, irritated, and an assortment of different emotions. I begin to cry for no reason and then I find a reason to be crying. (It kind of makes me feel better if I pick a reason to cry, lol.) So obviously this sounds like the baby blues but I have never had this problem after birth before. Another thing that is happening is that when I nurse the baby or pump, I get REALLY sad almost instantaneously at latching.

So here is my question, has anyone else ever gone through this and how long did it last. I am particularly interested in the sadness when latching portion. So enlighten me, help me understand how it affected you, if it affected you!

Thanks to you all!

Sarah Elizabeth Riley

Here are just a couple pics of Elizabeth. Hopefully we will put more on soon!

Our New baby

Our newest little edition was born today at 1:41 p.m today June 24th. She came in weighing a wopping 5 lbs even and 17 3/4 inches long. What a little blessing she is to us. We have named her Sarah Elizabeth. Jeremy has already nicknamed her, Ellie. We are so excited and will post pictures soon!

Taylor's prayer

It was Taylor's turn to say family prayer tonight. In the middle of the prayer we got to daddy and this is what she prayed for. "Please bless that daddy will have lots of fun at work tomorrow. Please bless that he won't punch his friends in the eye. Please bless that daddy he won't punch his friends in the face."

Needless to say we just about lost all reverence at that point.

36 weeks

So 36 weeks and finally hit the 20lb weight gain and my stomach grew 3 inches to catch up to right about where I should be. I found out at the dr. today that I gained 4 lbs and 3 inches in my stomach in just about 2 weeks. After weeping I actually was kind glad that she was getting a little bigger though my shirts don't fit and now I know why. I thought I had shrunk them in the dryer.

I am getting very excited to hold our little one and so our my girls. It's getting exciting and nerve racking. I am up right now resisting the urge to start cleaning because of the time, 3:48 a.m. I know that tomorrow morning will be filled with lots of cleaning tasks because I just have the itch at this point and feel that I want to be ready for whatever lies ahead. Everything is washed, my bag is packed, the baby's bag is packed but the girls bags aren't yet. I will put that on my list of to do's for tomorrow and then I will wait patiently for 4 weeks for my little one to arrive. I wonder what pet name she will have. Paige is sunshine, Taylor little one, baby.... I don't know yet.

Taylor starts ballet tomorrow so I will post pictures of her. We also started a summer learning program with the girls. They pick a subject each week that they want to learn about and then we check out books at the library to read about it and we will do some activities to go along. This week it is killer whales. LOL I think this will be relatively easy to do until the baby comes and then after whoever is here to help can help the girls get books at the library for their other subjects because mom won't be going out much with baby. I don't know maybe this time will have to be different. Ah the anticipation of the new arrival! Maybe I can try and lay down again. Hopefully sleep will come easily at this point. LOL

Holy Ghost

So today we were driving and we were talking about death a little because a family in our ward recently lost their teenage son. 

So both girls told me that they wished that their gramie was still alive.  I agreed with them and then Paige says, "well gramie is still alive.  Her spirit is still alive but her body is dead."  I thought, "yah me!!!" I must have done a good job explaining what happens to our bodys when we die and what it means to be ressurected.  So I told Paige she was right and then she says and this is a killer, "when our spirit dies we become a Holy Ghost."  Need I say more?  LOL

Maybe we will talk about the Holy Ghost for FHE on Monday. 

Dr.s appt.

So today I took Taylor in for her 4 year check up knowing that she would get shots. I decided to prepare her and be totally upfront. I had little concern knowing that when she got her ears pierced she didn't cry. WELL Taylor was excited for her shots. She was so excited that when she walked in she asked the nurse if she was going to give her shots and all through the exam kept telling the dr. she was ready for her shots! So she keeps saying to me, "Mom tell the dr. I want my shots." I had to keep reminding her it would be at the end.

So then they bring in the shots. The first one she starts crying and throughout the rest she keeps crying. Well in our home shot day is treat day so I reminded her how brave she was being and that we would get a treat. As she left, she stops in the door, looks up at me with one hand on her hip with a look of utter shock and disgust and says, " Mom, I told you to tell the dr. no shots!" LOL I just about died.

So another part to this dr.'s experience was Paige. Paige was so excited for Taylor to get her shots as well. It was in a, "you will cry and I can't wait to see it because you said you won't" kind of way. So then the lady walks over to Taylor and I. Paige is sitting next to me and Taylor. As the lady goes to pull out the first shot Paige's face goes white, she hops off her chair covering her ears and lands in a fetal position on the floor. She stayed that way until all the shots had been administered. That was almost the funniest part to me. I had a hard time not laughing while taylor was getting her shots. LOL

Oh the dr.'s office, I wonder why my kids are usually so excited to go???? LOL

6 weeks!

I cannot believe that I am just about 6 weeks away! The dr. says the baby is small, not abnormally just small! At this point I am loving washing the baby clothes washing everything down, and just the overall small of a new baby!

This weekend I am going to go buy a diaper bag, pacifier, and baby wash! I hope this baby isn't allergic to smell like Taylor. At least with Taylor I could use the Aveeno baby wash that has such a delicate light smell and it didn't make her breakout. I had to use the aveeno baby lotion with no scents though all over her body.

This is when it begins to get really exciting and really annoying. Right now I just can't wait. Today I will pack my bag for the hospital. Shouldn't need much since my baby's come so fast but a few items we will need!

I am just so excited! No names yet so if you want to send an idea or two feel free!

Dad

So today I met my "dad" for the first time in my life ever. It was pretty awesome. The only problem, I seemed to be a little tongue tied. LOL Yup me tongue tied! LOL

BBQ

So for dinner tonight we decided to do BBQ. Looks like we are going to be having 3 days of BBQ. YUM...

On our way home from the park, the girls were alrealdy whinning for food. Taylor began crying for salad with lots of vegtables in it. LOL How often do we hear that? The best part is when Taylor asks, "mom what is steakon made from?" You know bacon but steakon??? It was hilarious....

Apostasy

Ever considered it?  Not complete apostasy but just not going to your ward anymore?  I have always been strong in the gospel but recent events have led me to reconsider my thoughts on attending all of church.  I would never stop going to church just Relief Society.  It's becoming more and more tempting especially when it's not really a sisterhood anymore.  Man do I ever wish for my old calling... oh and friends that actually treat you like a real friend.   At least I have a few that are always there....

Oh and fyi... it's not a pity party so i don't need a lot of reassuring comments.

Just a little bragging!

Today when I picked Paige up froms chool she had had a subsitute teacher for the day. It is the same sub they have had all year. Paige walked up to me with the sub, Mrs. Curry, and I thought uh oh. Well I was pleasantly surprised when Mrs. Curry said, "I just want to tell you what a pleasure and joy it has been for me to work with Paige this year. Every time I come their class, she is helpful, listens, and is always so kind." I told her thank you and that Paige is indeed a blessing in our family and that her tender heart is one of her best qualities. Mrs Curry told me, " she is going to do outstanding in 1st grade. She read to me today and it was just amazing."

I am really grateful for Paige's example. She truely has one of the most tender hearts of anyone I know and what a little card she is! I am grateful that her first year at school has gone so well.

I am also excited to hear the rave reviews of Taylor as she enters pre-school. No doubt her teacher is going to be smitten with her too! She is just so charismatic!

Happy Happy Birthday Paige Dear

So on May 9th we celebrated Paige's 6th birthday.  We were down in Grants Pass for the occassion so I couldn't post on that day but I didn't want her to go un-remembered so here it goes.

Paige is such a blessing to our family.  She encompasses all that is tender and gentle in this world.  Paige's nature is very sensitive, kind, and she is naturally very intuitive.  If Paige doesn't like someone you can basically gaurantee that there is something wrong with them.  I also enjoy the calming influence Paige is in our home.  I often yell at the girls and Paige can't stand it and she reminds me every day.  I am grateful for that because she reminds me of the Savior in her demenor.  She is also very sensitive to other's needs and feelings.  I watch her and though she isn't outwardly protective of Taylor, she is protective in a different way.  she reaches to comfort her rather than to run to her defense.

The things Paige enjoys are;

Sounding things out

making up words with new sounds

reading

of course pretend

karate

soccer

rock singing

primary

prayer

flowers

cooking

picking up kids younger then her

and she is extremely excited for the new baby.  

I am so excited for this baby to come mainly because i am excited to see how Paige interacts with the baby.  I know that she is going to help so much and will love to hold her baby.  Paige is a ray of light in our home and we wouldn't be the same family without her.  We need her and love her!  We are so thankful that she was sent to us!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Almost 30 weeks

So I am never sure how to tell what week I am in but I am pretty sure that I am approaching 30 weeks and that scares me to death.  I just realized that I have just a little over 2 months left and I still don't have my hospital bag packed, diapers bought, clothes washed and set up, the crib set up, and everything wiped down yet.  Heck I don't even have half the stuff out of storage. 

Panic mode set in today so I think I will make myself wait until after Jay and Paige's birthdays and then I will begin to plug away.  The whole idea makes me a little nervous though.  I don't like feeling unprepared and right now that's how I feel.  

On a positive note, I cannot wait to hold my baby girl!  A friend said today that baby's bring such a peace into a home and I couldn't agree more.  My girls are really excited and today is the first time they have really gotten to see and feel the baby move.  They both had different reactions to it.  Paige just lit up and watched it more and kept her hand on my belly.  Taylor immediately hopped up and started singing louder because she was sure the baby was dancing.  I am grateful to know that the only problem I am really going to have with my girls and this baby is the sharing her and fighting over her.  I would take that any day over jealousy!  She is going to be such a blessing in our home and I am so excited to hold and kiss her all over!

Baby Belly's

Okay so we all know how I don't pass my baby's around. This should come as no shock to anyone right? Well here's a new pet peeve I just thought of. People thinking that they have a right to touch my stomach just because I have a baby growing in it. Why the fascination? When I don't have a baby belly I don't see people coming up to me to feel my stomach so why then does the fact that I have a baby growing in my belly give some people the notion that it is okay to touch my stomach? My baby isn't public property and my body sure as hell isn't....

It's really one of the most annoying things about being pregnant. I don't mind my family, husband and kids, touching it but outside of that, oh and aunts and grandma's/mom; keep your hands off.

It's very aggravating for me.... I mean I don't mean my close friends but just people that have no claim, know what I mean????????

Mom's

I've been thinking a lot about motherhood lately.  It is such a hard job but seriously so rewarding.  I love my children so much.  I remember my mom saying to me all throughout my life, "I love you so much, more then you will ever know until you have a little Nicole of your own."  Well I know what she means now and well, it makes me miss her and makes me miss the way I felt when I was around her.  

I hope my children feel that same safety and peace.

Spring Weather

So the first picture will be of the girls in their Easter dresses on Sunday. I was super sick on Easter Sunday so we didn't go to church that day. Easter overall for the girls was a bit of a bummer. They loved their Easter baskets but mom was just to sick to really enjoy the day. Hopefully it won't be the Easter they remember for the rest of their lives. LOL

The weather here has been beautiful Saturday through today. Yesterday the girls and I went to the park for several hours and began our summer "glow". Paige doesn't tan she is just to white and Taylor could probably get darker but we use SPF 500. LOL Today after Paige got home from school we had a picnic lunch outside and then I turned on the sprinklers for the girls. I'm not sure where my girls get their desire to pose but boy, they sure know how to do it! My favorite is of the girls together. Taylor is singing and Paige is posing! I love sunny weather and I love that the girls are water babies. It's nice that paige can swim on her own and that Taylor can as well. Enjoy! I know some of you haven't seen the girls for awhile!

Hood to Coast

I've decided I am running the Hood to Coast next year with some girlfriends.  That's all I have to say about that right now, no applause necessary.  I still can't believe I am going to run for an extended period of time.  I make myself wanna throw up! Who runs for no purpose other than to run?  Apparently I am going to start after the baby is 6 weeks old.  LOL  The whole idea is just funny isn't it! LOL

p.s. The Taylors are forbidden from commenting on this post due to my last comment on theirs!  

God's Character

So Paige got home from school today and is being a little bit stinky. She and Taylor are fighting a lot so I just told them to go to their room and have quiet time on their beds with books. Paige looks at me and says in a semi loud, panicky voice, "Please no, give us another chance like God would."

Just 4 years old today!

Happy Birthday to our dear little Taylor. I remember so vividly the day Taylor was born. One of the things that sticks out the most in my mind was when the nurse handed her back to me. Taylor opened her eyes and looked right at me. When she did I could see her smiling in them. She was a happy baby and is such a happy kid!

That is one of the best ways to describe Taylor. She is charismatic, loveable, funny, and just a tad devious.(I may be understating this a little because it's her birthday.)

The things Taylor loves to do are:

Sing!!!!! At church we have few problems controlling Taylor. The only thing we have to remind her is to stop singing. She sings all the time! In the car, shower, just playing. I think its the first thing that pops into her mind

She loves to do puzzles

Read books

Play in the dirt!

Dance

Swim

Pretend she can read

And ride her bike

Color on walls and on her body and the latest!

cut her own hair!

I was thinking of all the funny "Taylorisims" to share with everyone but I really couldn't narrow any of them down. She is just so funny and comes up with some of the funniest things.

We love Taylor and appreciate all she brings into our family. She is the funnest little 4 year old I know!

Love

So last night the girls were brushing their teeth so I decided to do it with them. Well we got this new toothpaste and it was so grouse. It was so grouse that it created a tickle in the back of my throat and I couldn't wash it away and it caused me to throw up. This is a first for me.

The story isn't about the throw up. The story is about what my girls did. When I started throwing up, they both ran over to me and Taylor started rubbing my back while Paige decided to hold my hair. They both sat there with me the entire time except when I could finally tell Paige that I needed a drink of water. She ran down stairs got a glass brought it back and then got a wash cloth to wash my face.

I was so touched that I had little girls right then and could picture myself older and them taking care of me. They were both so loving and tender.

Paige is furious... LOL

So a quick note, seems like I have been posting a lot lately so anyway here's a quick story.

This morning I was taking Paige to school and we were a little earlier then normal. So when I drove in the parking lot I noticed Paige seemed a little melancholy. So I asked her what was up. She said nothing and I said something and she looked at me with this gloom look on her face and said, "Oh nothing I'm just furious that my birthday is coming up soon." Um...... Are we all on the same page? So I kind of laughed a little thinking she was just using the word wrong and then asked her why she was furious to see if she really knew what the word meant. She then tells me, "because I just don't know what you and daddy are going to get me for my birthday."

LOL

Baby Belly

So I have been complaining an awful lot about my tummy and a lot of people don't understand why. This picture won't make it very clear either but please note that usually my stomach is pretty flat, I don't weigh much and my boobs after breastfeeding two babies have shrunk so the mere size of my "buddadas", as Taylor calls them, are GINORMOUS and they probably get in my way, way more then my stomach but it's all one big mess. Seriously ladies I am like a 34 DD right now which I was used to be before kids but now.... it's just uncomfortable..... So I am what 24 weeks right now??? This is what I look like.

Bedtime Stories

So tonight we were putting the girls to bed and Paige was crying and crying. She kept saying she wanted to tell me something over and over again. Finally we got to the point, I am still not exactly sure what I said, but her feelings were hurt that I had apparently taken her daddy's side. Then she says to me, "How could you take Daddy's side? He didn't go to church when he was a little boy."

Kid's say the darndest things.

Husbands

I am very thankful for my husband. We have been married 6 years now and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without him in it.

When we were first married I struggled with the idea that his job was and is as hard as mine but as I have been contemplating it lately I realized that it is. See I have had limited tunnel vision thinking that he works 8-5 comes home and that is it but then I realized his job is 24/7 like mine. He works his physical monetary job but then while he is doing that somewhere in his subconscious he thinks about not only providing financially for his family but spiritually, and emotionally too. Though his jobs may not be as labor intensive as mine they are as mentally intense as mine are.

When I thought about this when he got up so early this morning, (which if you know Jay you know that 6 is unimaginable for him; Give him 8:30 and we might be in business.) I realized that men sometimes don't get the recognition they deserve. With that said, I am not changing my feminist, independent views. I am simply realizing that indeed as the proclamation to the family states, each man and woman has individual roles that are ESSENTIAL, to the family. This was a testimony builder for me and I am grateful for the revelation.

I love Jeremy with all my heart and I truly appreciate all of his hard work. He is a needed part of our family. Without him we wouldn't be the same family. I love you babe!

Girl Fight

So Taylor is the one who usually instigates every fight that her and paige get into. Well right now Paige was sitting on the couch coloring quietly and Taylor went over and put her head on her shoulder and was watching her. Then Taylor asked Paige if she could color and Paige quietly said no and then Taylor with her head on Paige's shoulder starts pushing paige's head with her head asking her again. Paige again said no and then Taylor turns around and starts kicking Paige. Paige not missing a beat pinches Taylor really hard. Then they begin to run around the house trying to hit each other and they run right into me in the kitchen. I told them it was enough and to go quietly read books while i finished cleaning up the kitchen from lunch. They are sitting on the couch and Taylor begins to kick at Paige again and then Paiges gets the bright idea, and I must admit it is a good one, to sit on Taylor to stop her. So the next thing I hear is Taylor screaming at the top of her lungs, "Paige is sitting on me, I can't breathe". Paige wouldn't get off until Taylor promised to stop bugging her. LOL Taylor OF COURSE wouldn't say it so I finally interjected but it really made me laugh. This doesn't usually make me laugh but Paige's ingenious thought to just sit on Taylor to stop her 1st made me proud and 2nd made me laugh. Thought I would share with you all just a moment of my day. LOL Can we believe there are going to be three?

And the baby is.....

So we found out we are having a girl.  That makes three now so I know everyone is so happy for us because baby's are such blessing but please bear with me for a moment as I knock everyone into a little reality.  That means, 4 menstrual cycles running around the same time and the big kicker, 3 weddings possibly 3 missions as well.  So that is the only negative I see at the moment.  

When we were in the ultra sound room and the lady told us it was a girl, Paige began to cry.  Poor little Paige wanted a little brother so bad!  I think Paige will begin to adjust to the idea especially as I teach her more about her Gramie.  I am hoping though that this little  one comes out with blonde hair like Paige.  Paige already kind of wonders why everyone else in her famiy has dark hair and she doesn't so I don't really want her to feel like the lone ranger.  

We found out on my birthday, my 30th, and what a birthday it was.  Jeremy had planned along with my brothers for a surprise party on Saturday.  I had no idea but boy was it fun.

I am thankful for good friends and especially for a wonderful family!  The next birthday in our family is.....  Tayolor's!  Arpril 13th!

Modesty

As many people know I have had a dilema lately. My oldest friend is getting married on Saturday and her bridesmaids dresses are sleeveless. I have had a hard time with my previous decision just to wear the dress the way it was for the short period of time of pictures and the wedding.

One of my biggest concerns was the girls and their impressions of it. After I had a heart to heart with Paige explaining why I was going to wear the dress the way it was she seemed to understand.

When I was preparing my lesson for January it was on the talk by Elaine Dalton, " A Return to Virture." In this talk the quote by President Monson hit me like a ton of bricks and I realized that never in my life had I ever compromised my standards for anyone, not once. In that I realized that I couldn't wear the dress the way it was, that I had made a covenant with my Heavenly Father to always wear my garments and I would not break that covenant for anything in this world.

I communicated that to my girlfriend and asked a lady in the ward who had helped alter the dress to make a bolero for it. She was so willing and we went to the fabric store and got the material. Yesterday when I went over to try it on I came up stairs and Paige saw me and she said, "mom you look so pretty." I said thank you and she then said, "Are you wearing your garments?" See my girls have rarely ever seen me not wear my garments except maybe during the summer when we are at the pool all day. When I told her I was she was elated and she said, "Oh good, I am so happy." She had the biggest smile and look of relief on her face, it was amazing.

In that moment I was so thankful that my Heavenly Father had tested me and and that I had proved myself worthy of this particular blessing; it was so worth it. To see that my first decision had caused her a little turmoil and misunderstanding, to see that she was so excited to see that I had made the right decision was the only earthly approval I needed.

I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father saw my indecision, blessed me with a lesson to provide personal revelation, and then guided me to make what at the time was a difficult decision.

Pregnancy

Okay I can't post any pictures of my tummy yet because I am not showing apparently. At least that is the word at playgroup but naked I sure have one but sorry can't post those.

I am fairly sure this is going to be a boy. I had this sweet dream that put all my apprehensions aside with having a boy the other night. I dreamed I was looking at my baby naked scared to wipe his bumb because well I just don't know how I'm supposed to do it really and then I was looking at him and he just smiled and beamed at me so big. I immediately picked him up all naked because let's be honest nothing is better then a naked little baby butt, I love naked baby's, and hugged and kissed him all over. This is when I pretty much knew for sure it was a boy and now I can hardly stay out of stores. ( I hope it is a boy because I dislike being wrong)

I told Jeremy last night that he better start padding the budget because all I can think of are the things I don't have for a boy, hats, onsies, clothes, blankets... blah blah blah and I don't know if I can hold out much longer. I think for this little one I will attempt to make a blanket. I was at the fabric store today and couldn't stop looking at blanket material. I don't sew, never sewn anyting in my life but I have great friends here that will help me and I always have my Gramie.

That is about the only good I can say at this point because I HATE BEING PREGNANT. I sincerely from the bottom of my heart hate it. I don't like crying when I can't figure out what to make for dinner. And worst of all my r.s. lessons are way to emotional for even me to handle.


I did have a scare a couple of weeks ago. I watched several kids one day and afterwards I went up stairs to get the girls ready for bed and went to the bathroom. When I pulled my pants down there was blood everywhere. I had felt like I had maybe a discharge earlier but I really hate to go pee and will hold it FOREVER, so I hadn't checked in several hours. (p.s. doesn't everyone hate to pull their pants down and sit on a cold seat?????) Anyway Jeremy gave me a blessing and when I woke up the next morning still blood, lots of it and so I had to go to the dr. They aren't really sure what is causing it but everything looks good. Jeremy's blessing was extremely comforting and probably the best one he has ever given me. What a blessing to have the priesthood in my home.

Lost tooth

It's been forever since I have written. Christmas was good we had a nice quiet one. The snow storm was overwhelming after day 1 million and back to school is good.

I have a quick story to share. Taylor punched her cousin Erin in the face on Saturday night knocking out her tooth. We asked Taylor why she did and she said, "Because Erin was hurting my sister."

I knew I would have to worry about Taylor defending Paige at some point just was a little surprised it was family and this early. I am a bit proud that Taylor is so protective of Paige we just have to help redirect the way she defends her. LOL