Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A Little Love



Kate came up with the idea to make these lips all on her own.

Making some decorations.
Sams says he is making a Valentine for me
" I wub you soooo much mommy, I wub you becuuuuz, I wub you becuuuuz, more than Daddy"
Awesome Sauce Sam. I wub you too very much.

our festive results
Because I was taking pictures these two joined in on the action with their cameras as well

Monday, January 30, 2012

Bits of my Babies

Helping Mom in the kitchen cooking.
M has been sleeping almost all day the past two days. What a sweetheart she is. She is sick, with a fever, and cough, and likely ear infections, but she tries to be happy anyways. Until 11pm when she is so tired she just can't stand it and can't sleep because she can't breathe. Then it is up to me and Jake to rock her to sleep. She has slept in our arms a few nights in a row now. Though it is rough to care for a sick baby, it is kind of wonderful to be forced to hold a sleeping baby for hours on end. I usually don't just hold and cuddle and stare at my baby who is growing up way to fast for hours on end like I would like too. She is now over 17lbs. This girl has literally gained almost 3 lbs in a month.
one more with the toes

Kate dresses up like a cow girl. Dress up is every day at our house, but a cow girl is new.

Though just days ago I vowed never to let me children out of the house again for fear of more illness, I have already caved. They were outside today after lunch and loving every minute.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Hard Weeks Have Highlights Too


We had another hard week here.
Everyone but me had a fever. Some up to 104. They was lots of crying.coughing. snot.
From everyone else.
And other than a melt down moment where I was sure our children were going to die from pertussis. (I hadn't slept for more than two hours at a time for 9 days).
I escaped illness. I'm not sure why as I am usually the one with no immune system.
Thankfully though, so I could hold down the fort.
Amist again what has been one of the hardest weeks of my life (I seem to be having a lot of those these days), there are always good things to be found with my wonderful crew.

--Sam finally falls asleep one night embracing his big tiger in his bed. When he is sick he just falls apart. in pieces. with constant tears. Usually that means he needs me every minute. It also results in lots of "mommy I love you"
--My washing machine finally came. And it is a beautiful thing. I've done about 17 loads so far trying to catch up. It is energy efficient and thus makes and "whoo whoo" sound. Sam thinks and owl lives in our house now. Oh how I love modern appliances.
--My new mattress came. I am told it is comfy, and it is big, but I am yet to sleep in it.
--I haven't slept for more than two hours at a time, for no more than 5 hours a night for about 9 days now. I'm not good on no sleep. I am cranky and I get angry at the kids a lot more. But I mostly attribute the 5lb weight loss I had this week to it, so it is not all bad.
--Kate cut her hair off. She was in my bathroom with kids scissors for no more than 20 seconds. She said she was playing Rapunzel. ERRRRR you Rapunzel. She started crying hard when I took the scissors and attempted to fix it, which meant cutting the other side off- and according to her making her look like a boy. It makes me so sad. Jake convinced me not to keep the blonde locks piled in my hand because it would make me creepy. It was sad to throw out. She looks little again. And of course I just scheduled family pictures. But hair does grow eventually, and she's cute no matter what. I actually had an appointment to cut my hair off today- but canceled it. I don't want Kate and I to have matching hair cuts.

--My brother has been fighting bad guys in Utah. Hearing this story, then seeing it on the news, was a highlight for my week.


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Chores for Kids is a Better Day

I have been up since 4:30 am.
That is super rare for me.
Getting things done today. Yesterday was a horrible day.
Horrible.
My kids have ear infections again. and colds.
I feel like our life in California might be fun except for the fact that we have been miserabley unhealthy since we arrived.
I don't know what I expected seeing as how every time we come here for christmas we return home with our worst sickness for the year and a few ear infections.
After going to the doctor and waiting an hour, then being seen for 45 minutes, we had to travel around to three different pharmacies to get their antibiotics.
I thought this was ridiculous.
It certainly was exhausting.
Especially when it takes me 10 minutes just to get through an intersection because I still don't know my way around and it is rush hour, and that actually means something here.
What should have taken an hour or two ended up taking more than four.
Partially because we had to stop for dinner as it was almost seven and we still had not gotten their prescriptions.
I thought moving to the big city was suppose to make it so I could get to places quickly and have access to more stuff.
In Heber it would have taken me less than 45 to be in an out of the doctors and home with meds in hand. and I would have been irritated it took so long then.
Finally we gave up- took everyone home- and I went out to try to retrieve antibiotics alone.
I felt like I was in some kind of epidemic movie where medicine was not available.
But the pharmacies all acted like it was super routine and couldn't believe I didn't call ahead to see if they had it in stock.
It is an antibiotic.... is that not what half the people at the pharmacy are there for?
As I set out alone I realized I was singing the 12 days of Christmas loudly in the car.
And realized that I had actually cracked. gone mad. my brain was fried.
There really could be no other excuse for my choice of song and volume alone in the car.

I forgot to mention that the washing machine broke.
A victim of the move I think. It is unfixable. Dead. and spewed water all over the laundry room floor.
We ordered a new one. It was suppose to have two day shipping.
But of course it wasn't in stock either.
Why is nothing in stock around here.
So what I thought was going to be two days without a washer, has turned into 6 days without a washer plus sick kids.
It is kind of my own personal hell. Me and all my germ-a-phob ways.
Attempting to purge the house of germs without a washer has been mostly unsuccessful.
Thankfully it should be here by Thursday.
And if you see my kids wearing pj's that are too small for them at the store mid afternoon, it is because it is seriously all that is left.
Good thing I would never see anyone I know at the store though.
Remember how I use to go to the store and know every single person there?
Listen to me whine. I am getting pretty good at it.


Back to today. I was up with cranky kids at 4:30 am. When I got them to bed I couldn't sleep, so I started on chores.
Turns out you can clean almost the whole house super speedy when everyone is asleep. Then I instant messaged with Amy (who is in Switzerland now), showered, made breakfast and ordered myself a new king size bed.
The fact that I couldn't have fit in my bed if I wanted to go back to sleep because it was too full of a husband and two children pushed me to finally order it. Also I went ahead and ordered Amazon Mom style- diapers and wipes and pullups for the next month.

Determined for today to be better I then read the Ensign online.

About now children were waking up.
I fed them.
Administered those stupid antibiotics that cost me my entire day (and completely ruined the budged for the month as if the broken washer hadn't already- hence the no guilt purchase of a bed).
Then told them we had some chores to do.

Whining happened.
You better believe it. (where do they get this stuff)

Once they saw it was cleaning the play room they were a little less resistant.
Once they saw I had an new organizer the needed to pick toys to go in-they were a little less resistant.
Once they saw it was -dump all the toys in a tub of bleach and water- they got into it.
And helped me sanitize all the toys.

I told them there were more chores to do.
More whining happened.
Perhaps they are getting their whiny ways from me.

Then I told them it was to watch some of our Disney movies and find the broken ones so we could do this replacment program.
Then they were happy to help.
It is kind of the worst chore any parent could ask their kid to do.
Watch all the Disney movies and find the broken ones. Sarcasm.

I think today is going to be a better day. For everyone.

Though I just heard from the couch.
" DO we REALLy have to WATCH ALL of these MoVies!!!**" in a whining sound of way.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Rolly Polly








She rolls around the floor like it is nothing now. Back to front, front to back, in circles.
She is darn cute doing it too.
And pleased with herself.

Stay Little My Buddy


Sam has been a little sick this weekend. It looks like we are going to go through every illness California has in sequential order until we can be healthy and happy.
He has mostly been sleeping in my bed, calling "mommy" all night long.
This is him asleep in his bed.
Two pacifiers, his red blankie, his bear, his pillow, his big tiger, and his little tiger (which he usually calls lions)
He is such a cuddly guy- notice his arm around the bear.
I can't say having him asleep in my bed with me has been all cuddly and fun, as it has mostly been no sleep and crying and getting my pillow stolen.
But I do enjoy the little-ness of it.
My little guy.
Don't turn three ever please.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Grandpa Day

Grandpa Anderson came to visit for the day. He was driving through and spent the night (on thefuton in the play room). We enjoyed visiting with him until late at night. And a full morning withGrandpa spoiling kids. It included pancakes, present, and a trip to the park.




What fun it was to have our 1st visitor.
We loved every minute.

Coloring

The kids colored a lot in Heber. But since we moved they have not colored as much. They have alternatives like riding bikes outside. But this week the temperatures have dipped a bit- down into the 50's. ( I know right) So we have spent some time indoors again getting creative.
Kate draws Mom in a gated garden with flowers and a bird and a rainbow.
Kate puts stickers on a page then draws them a tree in a cage at the zoo.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

A Little Lunch for M



Little M ate some food today.
Rice cereal, that lucky girl.

She had tried at Christmas, since she had opened some for Christmas as a gift.
But couldn't do it. swallow I mean.

Today was different.
An entire bowlful

Both mom and baby were pleased with these results.

We were back at the doctors for shots today.
Height 25 in 70 %
Weight 16.25 lbs 80 %
Head 16.5 60 %

Is that flat head effecting her head size? because my kids have never had a head below 80%.
A note- that means she has gained 1. 1/2 lbs in about 18 days.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Cupcakes and Woodward Park

Saturday afternoon we had big plans.
Our 1st Saturday in our new home town to do whatever we wanted.
So I planned a trip to a fancy cupcake place and a trip to the biggest park in the valley.

Since I am a sucker for treats, I couldn't resist a Groupon last week that got me 5 large and 2 mini cupcakes for free. After we stopped and each picked out a few of our favorites we had them boxed and went to the Woodwark Park.
Yes this little guy is cuter than the last time you saw him. No, I didn't realize that was possible either. I am realizing that he may be the only little boy I ever have, and it makes me sad to think he is already almost 3.
Kate wants to be a bigger kid so bad.
Should one of my new years resolutions be to finally learn how to do little girls hair.?
M gets dragged everywhere and she'd just rather be at home. What can I say- we are a "out and about" type of family.

Kate shows off her new shoes. All she really had was church shoes and boots. Nobody is wearing boots around here- it is 60 degrees. So we went and picked these out. I mean she did. Purple sparkles aren't really my style. But she saw them then claimed all the other shoes didn't fit. I let her try these on and before her foot was in the shoe she exclaimed in joy "they fit" hmmm. I think she had an agenda no?
The park was a little big for my little ones.
Kate made a cute friend though. Jake asked sadly whey there are never any little boys anywhere. It is true, poor Sam. And is it weird to say that my kids stuck out with their pale skin and white hair even more than usual? People even kept saying things about how blonde they are.
We headed to the duck pond.
Giving me another look. Stop breaking my heart with your cuteness.
yes you should totally surf on that rock Kate.

I hope Saturdays are full of more fun adventures and less chores from now on.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Mom is Crazy but it Makes for Fun

I'm a little nerotic when it comes to my kids. Especially their health.
Have you seen me whip out my full size can of Lysol at the resturant and spray down the table, or at the grocery store and spray down the entire cart.
Well that is me.
A few weeks ago our new pediatrican mentioned M's head was getting a little flat.
She has had some Torticollis since birth, and flat out refuses to turn her head to the right.
I'm sure those heavy cheeks don't make it any easier to lift that head.

I've tried to sleep her on a special pillow I got a few weeks ago, but she just screams and screams for an hour, and then I move it and she falls asleep sucking on her left thumb in less than 30 seconds.
We do stretches, and force her head to the right. When we remember- and hey we've been a bit busy ya know. And now that we are paying attention more, it seems like the toricollis is worse than I realized. And every minute I'm not holding her I feel like her head is getting flatter and flatter.
And it will make me so sad if her beautiful dark haired head gets stuck in a helmet.

So last night I ran out and bought a Jumperoo.
I had the idea one might help her at 7:00 pm. Looked on Amazon for ten minutes then decided I couldn't wait for two day shipping so I went to the store.
I hate Jumperoo things. They are expensive. They take up half the living room. And I feel like they make me a lazier mother. I have successfully avoided the purchase of one for my 1st two children. But I folded.
Partly out of guilt that the move distracted me so much the past two months that I didn't even notice her flat head. And that despite the pediatrician's instruction since her 2 week old appointment that we needed to stretch her neck, we have only done it a dozen or so times amist the chaos.
But mostly because it is a great idea. It was my own idea for therapy thank you.

I think the Jumperoo is going to work very well.
She can stay in it much longer than she can sit in her bumbo chair because it supports her better, and anything that gets her head off the ground is a plus...and the seat spins so hopefully something to her right will interest her and she will stretch those muscles a bit on her own.



The older kids love it. They asked if they could wake M up this morning so they could watch her play with it. They make the buttons go off and are always asking about when she can play in it.
Perhaps they are envious it didn't show up for them in their own infancy.
Sometimes I'm a little nerotic, but this time at least it ended up in some fun.