Happy Early B-day

We got a new camera one month before my b-day and two months before Brad's b-day. Happy birthday to us.

Being Grateful

Brad got Ruth "Wacky Wednesday" a while back. We've been reading it a lot lately and now she tells me all the time, "That's pretty wacky" about things that are perfectly normal. Also, after she makes a statement she'll say, "sound good?" I am grateful that her vocabulary has expanded so much, I was pretty worried for a while that she wouldn't ever talk!

I'm grateful that this coming week my 2 new pairs of glasses will be arriving and they only cost $74! Hooray for America's Best Eyeglasses and Contacts.

I'm sooo grateful for Brad's job. That it provides a comfortable lifestyle for us, especially including insurance.

Although I often feel like screaming (and unfortunately sometimes do) because both of my children are upset...I am grateful for both of them. I am grateful for their individual personalities. I am glad they are close together in age. I am glad that I get to be their mommy and to help them learn and grow.

I am grateful for my health. (So many people, including Brad's young cousin, have accidents and become paralyzed. Luckily, the first doctor was either wrong about him having a broken neck or our prayers were answered and we were blessed with a miracle because the second doctor said the second x-ray showed no sign of a broken neck.) I am blessed with health and strength, and am becoming healthier and stronger everyday through diet and exercise. (I'm grateful for Biggest Loser to help motivate me.)

I am grateful for my husband and the sacrifices he makes for our family. I am grateful that he is my friend first. I love how close we feel when we take the time to goof and talk.

And I'm grateful for the ability to judge so that I can look for the good and avoid the bad. I am also grateful for the ability to judge so that I can know the good from the bad. I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost to help make those distinctions. And ultimately for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge of God's plan of Salvation for His children.

February

Will has been pulling himself up on everything he can get his hands on:

He's also been getting two teeth, but it hasn't been as painful for anyone as the last two teeth.

We made a surprise trip to Oregon and spent the week hanging out with my parents, Megan, Brynn and Joe. We ate at a couple yummy restaurants and had fun not being at home. I've been working out really hard and am down to 176.

Recent Games

This is Ruth crafting. She loves doing "beads" and "stickers."

Will during crafting time

One of Will's favorite places is still his jumperoo. This is the jump attack (he has his timing down really well so that he can get himself out a lot farther than you'd expect):

This is one of their favorite things to do together; Ruth pulls him back as far as she can go and then pushes him.

And here they are just being cute (Will was half way through a jump attack to get the camera)

Wilma

Ruth usually calls William "Buddy," "Bubba," or "Brother." But recently she's been trying to say his real name...it comes out "Wilma" instead of William. Pretty funny.

January in Review

First and foremost we solved the "accident" problem by re-introducing the training potty and not trying to get her to go on the normal toilet. The kids have been taking baths almost every night and having a BLAST together. And this last week Brad and I went to "Death by Chocololate" where we tasted chocolate in the cookie, dessert, brownie, cake, and candy categories and scored which was the best. We left the kids with Shirlaine for the night and we had so much fun. Then we also went to an Elder's Quorum activity where we played bunco and left the kids in the nursery to be attended by 12 year old girls, also WAY fun. And then we also watched "Inception" which is our new favorite movie. It was warm enough to take the kids on walks this week and to go play at the park. Will was super giggly when I put him in the swing (it was his first time). We also got a lock for the bathroom door (finally, right?) and are in the process of putting pulls on the kitchen cupboards and drawers. Aside from dieting, this was a GREAT week. Here are other highlights from the month:

Brad has been teaching Ruth to play the piano with her fingers...here she is instructing her toys

Getting rid of the Christmas tree

She LOVES her daddy

Learning to play together

Playing with her "bugs" (Cooties from Aunt Tia)

Thought of You

I don't usually go for dance, but i thought this was really nice. the art is really spectacular and I love the music. The whole album is highly recommended.

Down Again

I'm back down to 180 pounds. Although I'm pretty sure this weight loss is due to not breastfeeding much any more. It has become a wrestling match every time we sit down, and he LOVES bottles, so I've pretty much given up nursing him, thus the weight loss.

taking care of myself

in my post about things i learned this year i included that i need to take care of myself. well, i learned that last year, but didn't do the best job of it. some things i've done recently to improve this situation include:

*dying my arm hair (if you've ever seen me you KNOW i have the nastiest, manliest, dark, thick arm hair. but when i dye it you can hardly notice it and it makes me feel so feminine to focus on the dainty freckles on my arms and not the gross hair). i haven't done this since we got married! yuck.

*painting my nails. in the last 4 days i've painted them TWICE

*exercising like a maniac. i've lost 3 pounds, i'm down to 182! today i jogged 2.5 miles straight, no walking allowed!

*insisting on quiet time. ruth doesn't nap anymore (her choice not mine) so i've implemented quiet time. i can't always keep her in one place so at the bare minimum she knows she has to leave me alone for at least an hour. yay! (this usually coincides with Will's nap time so i get to do whatever i want for at least an hour, woot!)

i've been so much happier and feel like such a better and more capable mom because i've been doing these things.

Actual Conversation: Van Envy

So I went out to lunch with friends the other day so our kids could run around in the play place at Arctic Circle (very glamorous I know). This was part of our conversation:

Alisa: So we got rid of that Chevy van that had electrical problems that I told you about.
Me: Oh good.
Shirlaine: So what are you driving now?
Alisa: a Honda Odyssey!
Me and Shirlaine: OH MY GOSH! You're so lucky!

I never thought I would be envious of someone's van, that day has come. And while I feel slightly lame that I think a van is rockin', seriously have you seen the Odyssey? It is totally awesome. But for now we don't need the extra space and one car is enough of an expense. But we are very grateful to have an operating vehicle, thank you Asa.

In other news, Ruth is way past 3 word sentences. It's so crazy that from one day to the next her language skills get so much better. This morning while she was eating breakfast she told Brad, "Sit here (she pulled the chair next to hers) and read a book." Well okay!

Will's 4th tooth is bulging and so close to coming in. He eats like a beast! I've started giving him an entire 6 ounce cup of yogurt, ontop of the several ounces of applesauce and oatmeal he gets in the morning and several ounces of veggies and ground meats for lunch and dinner. We've also started work on a sippy cup. He's sleeping better, I usually just get up at 2am to feed him now, blessed boy, he gets so fussy by around 6:30 that he's always in bed before 7pm, and sleeps until about 8am. WOOT!

Funny Ruth story: Brad was in the bathroom and Ruth said she had to go too (this usually happens, the bathroom will be occupied so Ruth will think she has to go too, usually she doesn't). Brad told her to wait. I was in the office, and Ruth comes in without her pants on. (When she walks around without pants it's usually because she had an accident). "Ruth did you have an accident?" "Yes," she says. We go to her room and her pants are dry...but there is a HUGE poop on the carpet. She really did have to poo, but because we are constantly telling her not to have an accident in her pants, she took them OFF to have an accident! Haha, funny kid.

The kids are learning to play together better. Ruth loves it when I fly Will around and pretend like he's going to attack her. She also loves to give him hugs while I hold him so he's standing up. It's been fun having him get so mobile because he can just follow us all around the house as we move from one room to another. He's a cutie, and now that he's sleeping better he isn't screaming so much!

Pictures

This is Will's new face, he sniffs air in and out of his nose really fast while making this face, it's so funny!

My toothy boy

Ruth was so excited it was finally snowing again!

I love that you can see her feet prints go all the way down the deck through the yard.

Look at those gray-green eyes!

My Weight

Well starting in November with the massive influx of cookies and birthday cake and culminating this last week with sparkling cider and more cookies along the way (not to mention the cheesy potatoes, fried foods, eating out more than normal, etc.) that we did in the last two months, I managed to gain 5 pounds. I'm back to 185. And while at first I was really annoyed that I was so unrestrained in my holiday eating, I have to accept that what is done, is done.

Now that I've gotten over a cold I'm ready to get my butt back in gear. Our holiday splurge this year was a new elliptical machine, which has been so nice to have down in the basement. Now I can watch "What Not to Wear" and dream about the shopping spree I get to go on once I'm back down to my desired weight, just 25 more pounds! I'm ready to start saying "no" to treats again and "yes" to working out. So I'm excited, and hoping that once again posting my progress online will help keep me motivated.

Things I Learned This Year (not in any order)

*it's fun to own a house, but expensive too

*i LOVE having babies, going to the hospital, etc. it's so exciting

*twice the children = 1/2 the sleep

*losing weight is hard work but so worth it

*kids really do say the darndest things

*bruised gums are some of the nastiest and saddest things ever

*it's all a choice: have a life full of drama or being peaceful; being stressed out or relaxed. The key to helping in choosing peace and happiness is in the fundamentals of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

*it's not easy to change habits or to create good habits

*i like air popped popcorn

*every baby experiences the same developmental processes in different ways

*it's good to find joy in little things and to be easily entertained

*taking care of myself is really important, i can and should care for myself...which includes spending money on myself and doing things i like to do

*a mother's job is never finished

*a mother's job is summed up as caretaker

*vacationing is not really relaxing when you have little children with you (especially if you're nursing)

*i really like the Beatles, but not their early stuff

*forgiveness doesn't mean keeping your eyes closed, in fact you must have your eyes open so that you can forgive

*part of loving is forgiving as quickly as possible, like children do

*i like fried pickles

*eating with your hands is really fun

*i CAN bake

We have had a wonderful year. We have been immensely blessed and we see God's hand in our daily lives.

Cowboy

Christmas Time

I spent my Christmas money on new curtains, a rug, pillows and some vases to liven up the living room. Couldn't have done it without Asa and Tia's help!

Made pesto-sundried tomato bread in my new bread maker!

Brad dragged the kids around in their new wagon, Will laughed the whole time.

Brad worked on the garage, the mechanical opener part is broken.

This is Will during the present opening.

This is Ruth during present opening.

Merry Christmas Ruth!

Ruth slept in bed with us a lot the last week. (The hairy leg is Brad's not mine!)

Will and Declan (and my old curtains)

yams, carrots and red potatoes so yummy!

We had SOOOO much fun while Brian, Tia and the kids were here. We wished we lived closer to them. We also made delicious caramel corn with Brad's new popcorn popper. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings twice. We had tons of fun with the cookie cutters making several batches of cookies and biscuits. The adults went on a date to Shari's for free pie night...and then also went to DQ for a blizzard! Tia and I went shopping late one night to purchase my living room accessories. And the adults stayed up WAY too late their last night here laughing.

In other news I used a frozen spoon to break Will's bruised gums and help a tooth come through. Will has become a crawling champion in the last few weeks. Ruth's vocab exploded with all of the exposure to her cousins, my favorite thing she says now is, "yeah." Sadly, Makutsi the kitten ran away or got nibbled by the crazy dogs at the end of the street, we don't know. And strangely, our microwave was totally fritzing out for a day or two (it looked like lightning whenever you turned it on), but is once again working properly.