William-ese

William at his birthday party, quite proud of his self-topped pizza.
Too bad he was being way to silly to eat it.

Regarding Primary
Bishopric member: William, CTR means we choose the right, doesn't it?
William: Yes, but sometimes we should choose the left.

"Can I play a matching game when I am done getting dressed to look like a church boy?"

Regarding the weather
Upon looking out the window one morning --"Oh my gracious! It is snowing!"

"Mommy, it's foggy outside so I think Santa is going to need Rudolph tonight."

Regarding soldiers
Upon investigating a lock Brandon uses at the gym on base:
M: William, please put that back in Daddy's bag. He needs it at work.
W: Why?
M: He locks up his stuff when he is exercising so no one can take it.
W: But soldiers are nice! They keep our country!
M: They do keep our country safe.
W: Yeah, so it doesn't tip. If it tipped our house would fall over and we would go, "woah, woah woaaahhhh!"

Regarding the baby
Just after we told him I'm pregnant:
W: I want the baby girl to grow up to be a brother so I can play with him.

Another discussion:
W: I am going to have a brother.
D: Did you ask Heavenly Father for a brother?
W: Yes.
D: And what did he tell you?
W: He told me that if I get a bunk bed, I can have a brother.

There was a time when we rated restaurants based on how easy it would be to clean up puke. Famous Dave's, for example, is stellar. Wood floors and a roll of paper towels right on the table, genius. Iron Gate Grill (a local restaurant from our college town) has also made it in the top three because their napkins are huge. Shall I go into more detail there?

We've thankfully moved from that to rating the restaurant based on how kid friendly it is. In William's mind, if it has a play place, it is a winner. Knowing that, you can see how limited our options are.

Needless to say, we don't frequent very many restaurants. There are several reasons, but the main one is just that it isn't worth spending money when we aren't going to enjoy ourselves.

restaurant + 4-year-old + 2-year-old = chaos

So, what am I getting at?

A moment worth remembering. A visit to a restaurant in which our kids ate all their food, no one puked, our food was delicious, we actually got a bit of conversation in, and the kids played happily and quietly in their seats while we waited for our food, etc.!

Unbelievable.

I don't really count on that happening again anytime soon so I am savoring this experience.

Delightful.

The Verdict of Yesterday's Adventures

Mission UNsuccessful

My mom put it best this morning when she said, "The decision to potty train has to be based on the parent's tolerance level for frustration."

According to our tolerance level, Marie wasn't ready.She was showing more signs than William ever did, however, when she screamed and cried because she had to go potty and didn't want to wet on the floor (bare bummed in the kitchen), but didn't want to sit on the toilet either, we said enough is enough.

I don't do, set the timer and take the child potty every 20 minutes. All. Day. Long.

I don't do messes in the underwear all day long because, "She'll learn eventually."

I don't do, make her clean up her own messes and it's OK if she screams and cries, that's how she will learn.

At least not yet.

Ask me again when I am closer to my third trimester. Perhaps then I will be a bit more desperate and a bit more tolerant of frustration. Perhaps not. My experience with William was that diapers really aren't more work than a newly potty-trained toddler.

Whatever I decide in the future, my decision for the present is to appease Marie's many requests yesterday as she did the potty dance around the kitchen,

"Mommy! I need a diaper, please!"

Can you guess what I'm doing today?

Marie-esque

It is not uncommon lately, if I am sitting on the floor or couch, for Marie to walk up and stroke my hair or my face and with the most tender loving look on her face and in the sweetest sing-song voice say, "Oh, I love you too, Mommy."

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The other night we were on our way home from somewhere and it was going to be bedtime as soon as we got home. Marie was sitting in her car seat listing off the details of the upcoming event, "Have mi-i-i-ilk, get jammies, brush te-e-e-eth, have my 'da-a-a-t' (aka pacifier)." Repeat.

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Daily -- Upon coming down from her room in the morning or after naptime she excitedly announces, "I'm here!"

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Whether she really is or not, when she is asked about her mood or what's wrong she will always answer, "I'm happy!"

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She loves to take toys away from William and then run as fast as she can to her kitchen while yelling, "I have to cook it!"She then hurriedly places it in the 'microwave', beep-beep-beeps, takes the toy out and then returns it to William (if I have managed to keep him from attacking her first).

The Belly

I have never taken a belly picture this early in a pregnancy. In fact the earliest belly pic I have is 20 weeks, until this one. That is usually the case because in the past it would just look like I was documenting the fact that I ate a few too many cookies. But this time around is different. Yes, some of this is "chub chub"as my sisters and I lovingly call our inherited tendency to carry our weight in our tummy, but I can't suck this chub chub in. This roundness, my friends, is baby. Already.

Guy's Night Out -- Girl's Night In

The event, as described by William, was a trip to "The Monster Truck Theater (deemed such because they sell popcorn, just like at the movie theater" As described by Marie, "Daddy an' Yiyiam see mon'ser tucks. Mommy and Ree-ree watch Cindewella!" Brandon would describe it as a night out with a bunch of red necks and I would describe it as a quiet night at home suffering through the fatigue and nausea of the first trimester.

Whatever the case, the main purpose for guy's night out/girl's night in was for our monster truck obsessed son. It came about earlier that week when Brandon and I saw a commercial for a Monster Truck Rally at a local sports arena. We had mentioned to each other several times in the past that we thought William would love a something like that.

Brandon bought the tickets the next morning. I had nightmares all week about forgetting to send the camera with him. Instead, I sent the camera with bad batteries. Nice, huh?

The show was long, but William made it through. The most anticipated part was the last 30 minutes, the freestyle stuff. That's when the monster trucks drive over cars and all that crazy business. Brandon says it was actually kind of disappointing. William just says it was loud. But apparently it made somewhat of a lasting impression because just this morning he said to me, "Mommy, at the monster truck theater there were monster trucks that had more than 4 wheels so that the trucks could go vroom, vroom, vroom over the dirt and ....... (this is where he lost me for a second due to Marie almost spilling her milk) ...... so I think you need to get a monster truck like that to drive. OK, Mommy?" Riiiiggghhht .....

Meanwhile at home, Marie and I got into our PJs, curled up onto the couch and watched Cinderella. Marie curled up into me and we spent the first 20 minutes of the movie, at least, following this dialogue:

Marie: What's that?
Mommy: That's a __________ (mouse, bird, flower, whatever was on the screen at the time)
Marie: Oh, I love _______________.

Definitely a night to remember, pictures or not.

A New Year, A New Start

Last year I decided to join in on the trend of making New Year's resolutions. Or perhaps we will just call them goals. Yes, goals.

I liked it.

I achieved some of them, some got started and not quite finished, and one was just a thought in the deep recesses of my mind until I just noticed today that I had even set it as a goal. I guess when they tell you to write down your goals they should follow up with they advice to look at that list every once in a while. Anyway, that's water under the bridge.

So here we are in 2010. The craziness of December has passed and little fleeting moments of energy are my body's way of telling me that the second trimester promises to be better than the first.

I have one main goal this year that is going to translate into a million little goals that will consume my time from now until the baby is born. We all know what will consume my time after the baby is born.

So, the goal.

ORGANIZATION.

I don't want a single junk drawer, closet, corner or shelf in my house. I want to know that everything in my house needs to be here and it has a designated spot to be.

That's not too much to ask is it?

It's All in the Details

In answer to the spoken and unspoken questions that are being asked:

When are you due:

The highly scientific guess given to me is July 30th. I suspect I will deliver earlier than that, especially since I hope to have a scheduled induction in order for my mom (who lives in California) to be able to be at the birth. The problem? The doc might not want to schedule it before 39 weeks (understandably) and I have had my other two babies at 11 days and 15 days early. In other words, before I hit 39 weeks. Whatever the case, this baby will be born in July. Our little firecracker!

Was it planned or a surprise:

Can I just share my shock that people even ask this question to anyone? Let's be honest, nobody has asked me this time around, but I got it with both William and Marie. Seriously, why does it matter? Anyway, for the record, yes, baby #3 was planned. Our timing was vetoed, as we were hoping for a spring baby, but I am over that and quite excited for a July baby.

Are you finding out the gender:

Nope, unless the doctor spills the beans, which we are hoping won't happen. Apparently finding out at the birth is "like Christmas day" and who wouldn't want Christmas in July (minus the snow!)?

How have you been feeling:

On most days, like crap. On other days, like crap that has been run over by a monster truck a few times. Other days I have the energy to brush my teeth and get dressed. I consider that an accomplishment.

Have you told William and Marie:

Yep. William was quite adamant at first that I did not have a baby in my tummy. I am sure that is because I didn't have a "big tummy" yet. He has since come to grips with the idea and is set on having a brother. Marie has picked up on the idea a lot more than I thought she would. She often mentions the baby in my tummy and just the other day she started petting my tummy and then kissed it, and I don't even look very pregnant yet. What a cutie.

Dear William,

You turned 4 this year and although the years have flown quickly, Mommy can hardly remember what life was like without your exuberant spirit in our home.

Your love and zest for life have become increasingly apparent this year.

You have bundles of curiosity and your questions reflect that. I can't help but laugh at the frequent conversations that usually go something like, "What's that?" "A potato peeler." "A potato peeler? What does it do?" Of course, the questions get a little more tricky for me sometimes, your current favorite being, "How did the baby get in your tummy?"

It has been wonderful for you to be in preschool, and you love finding out what letter words start with. You have just recently started to discover that there are more than just one letter in each word and love to ask Mommy to spell them for you. With that and your love for books, I won't be surprised it you are reading by your 5th birthday, what a smart boy!

The wheels in your head are constantly turning and you love to find new places to drive your cars and trucks. I love coming around a corner in the house and finding a set-up of train tracks complete with cars driving on it. The ultimate proof that "William was here." Another William trade mark? A line-up of matchbox cars with a Monster truck perched on top.

A quality that as left Daddy and I completely amazed is your memory. I can give Daddy a verbal list of items to buy at the grocery store and when he repeats it back, you will usually notice if he forgot to mention one. You have also been able to memorize several scriptures and memorized your first primary talk this year.

Your birthday festivities were especially enjoyable this year as you fully caught on to the excitement of the events. You got to celebrate three different times and you loved that!

Grandma provided the birthday cake you have been requesting for almost 6 months ... one with construction trucks on it. (We did this on the 27th of December while we were still at Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas.)

Your request on the day of your birthday was chocolate waffles. Delicious! Although you didn't quite understand why you couldn't have ice cream on your chocolate waffles the next day for breakfast.
And your third and final celebration was your much anticipated friend party. An outerspace/robot theme complete with musical planets, moon pizza, toss the rocket ball, and a robot cake!
I love to the moon and back, William! Thank your for helping me to enjoy life to the fullest and making my life full with your big heart and your adoring smile.

Love,

Mommy

December Recap

We welcomed December in with some Christmas decorating. Yay! My parents have given us a Christmas ornament each year for many, many years and I love looking through each one. They have continued the tradition with us and with our kids. Love, love, love it! Graduation, baby's first Christmas, parents-to-be, first home, picture ornaments. Decorating the tree is like opening up a scrapbook. It is so wonderfully nostalgic to open up the box of Christmas decorations and sift through the memories that each ornament holds.Marie was absolutely taken with this little bear. Totally and completely in love with it.

William thought the balls would look best all clustered together in one spot. To each his own.

The rest of December was as low key as December can be. I struggled through some pretty bad morning sickness and spent most mornings on the couch while the kids watched way too much TV. We managed to make it through all the major events, but beyond that not much happened.

Preschool Birthday Treats

William got to take cupcakes to preschool in celebration of his birthday. He requested green cupcakes with sprinkles. I obeyed.

Brandon's 28th Birthday

Brandon's birthday! Presents in the morning. Lunch at Olive Garden without the kids. Ice cream cake as a family that night.

Christmas Sunday

After these glorious pictures we took off to church and I conducted the sacrament meeting Christmas program. I was called as ward choir director about 4 weeks beforehand and told, "Oh yeah, and we need you to do the Christmas program." Right. Miraculously, we got it all together. I just have to give a shout out to all the ward members that participated. I have received countless compliments and have to pass them right on to the people that did the real work, the members of the choir!

Graham Cracker Village

A tradition carried on from my family. The kids look like they are very interested in decorating their houses. Really, they were very interested in eating the candy and ... silly me ... we did this before dinner. By the time we were done helping the kids with their houses and failing at our attempts to keep them from eating their weight in sweets, Brandon and I didn't even have the energy to make ourselves houses. So, our humble little village of two houses was the final product. We didn't even get around to putting sugar cone trees on. Sorry, Mom! I'll do better next year, promise!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve included a delicious pot roast dinner made my mother-in-law and a celebration of Great-Grandma H.'s 82nd birthday. No pictures of that. I guess the food was too good to bother taking pictures.

Christmas Eve PJs, yet another timeless tradition. Ah, look at my cute family!

Christmas Morning

We have countless pictures of Christmas morning, but these two capture the excitement in my kid's eyes perfectly.

Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's House

The three S. Grandkids. Our sister-in-law is having a little girl in March and poor William is going to be thoroughly outnumbered. We are kind of hoping for a boy for this reason!

William Turns 4!

William's birthday is going to get a post of its own. But in the meantime, let's just document that it happened and I'm pretty sure he liked it. :)

Baby #3!

This is two ultrasounds combined into one. The first 30 seconds were at about 6.5/7 weeks and the last minute was at 10.5/11 weeks gestation. According to my due date I was 6.5 and 10.5 weeks at each ultrasound. According to the baby's measurements I was just a couple of days farther along. Not that the exact date really matters.

During the second ultrasound the baby was pretty wiggly and didn't want us to listen to its heartbeat, but after the third try we heard it loud, strong, and clear. There isn't a sound in the world much more beautiful than that.

November Recap

With my decision to take a short break from blogging, I knew I wouldn't be able to just skip all that happened during that break. So it is time to do some catch up. And since I was already behind, brace yourselves for two crazy busy months of recap, starting with November.

PLAYING IN THE SNOW

William learned the art of the snow angel from a master.

Don't be fooled by the apparent smile on his face, he's actually really mad at me for forcing him into the snow. When he got back up he stomped all over his beautiful angel. That's my boy.

Marie played a bit, but was much more content to sit and watch.

MODELING

Here is my girly girl in her more natural environment, learning the art of posing with Aunt Sara.

EATING

William treated us to some good eats, but was a little schocked by the bill.
We were grateful for his generosity. (Sorry, hun, for the picture of you, in the other one I look drunk to. We can't have that.)
Dad and Sara came along. They were also grateful for William's generosity.

THE R.V.
The absolute highlight of Thanksgiving weekend, for William, was hanging out in the RV any chance he got (with his second cousin, Kaydin). My parents rented it and parked it outside my grandma's house so we would have enough beds. To say William loved "the house on wheels" would be a huge understatement.

A DAY AT THE PARK

Nothing like a couple of 2-year-olds and 4-year-olds to make all the adults around feel young at heart again, right?

HORSEBACK RIDING
A neighbor saddled his horse for us to ride one day. It was William, Marie, and Brandon's first time on a horse. The horses were a little bit cranky about being put to work in the winter and it was a bit cold outside, so our rides were just short walks down the lane. Many, many hours of my childhood were spent up on a horse and it was great to share a small part of my childhood memories with my family!

SOME MORE EATING -- TURKEY DAY!Marie just loves to be a part of it all. I love the way she squeezed in between my mom and aunt (mom's sister). What a little social butterfly.
This was before the above picture, but whatever. Here Marie is again, getting in on all the excitement and activity. They are making grandma's famous monkey bread. Delicious!

And last but not least (and actually first, if I was putting this in chronological order), November brought us news we were incredibly thrilled to receive ...

BABY #3 IS ON ITS WAY