Adventures in Everyday Life

We have had several adventures the last few days. Nothing exotic, however. Just par for the course around here.

The first involves me cooking. I have made clam chowder maybe once a year since David and I got married. I love clam chowder and feel it is one of those "comfort foods" so I always get all revved up about making the chowder. And it has never turned out. Once it was too runny, once it was too salty, and usually I try to make it low fat and use milk--even skim milk--instead of the half & half--AND once I even was naive enough to buy whole clams, thinking it would make bigger, meatier clam chunks in the soup. Note: don't buy whole clams. They are WHOLE. As in heads, etc. That is one clam chowder that I believe will be in our Lewis Family History from our DINK era. (Dual Income No Kids). I'm pretty sure I only ate a few bites and David had to eat the rest of the pot.

So once I decided it was getting cooler outside and it was time to try the chowder, I was determined this time to make it work. Use the Half & Half, and follow a recipe (wink wink) and everything. I was even real ambitious and decided to make some bread to go with it. Ummmmm yummy. Well? How did it turn out, you ask? Delicious!! The chowder was yummy! The only complaint was that it could use more clams--so on leftover night I added the extra clams--and then it was perfect! Woot woot!!

The Bread? Not so much.
As a teenager--like 13 or so---(maybe even younger I'm not sure exactly) making the bread at home was my job. I liked doing it, I learned to do it, and therefore every time the bread needed to be made I did it. For YEARS. So the fact that I hadn't actually made any for a very long time (can't remember the last time) didn't phase me much, I just went at it like I had made it last week. And we have four loaves of 'glue rocks'. Four because after the first two I was disappointed enough to go straight into making some more. More glue rocks, that is.

Luckily we have discovered the culprit. I guess five years is too long for yeast to survive? I put some in some water to test...and NO bubbles. not one!! WHYYYYYY???? didn't I notice this while trying to make the bread? Or that for the past six months all of our pizza crust has tasted heavy and dry?? That question I just don't have the answer to. But I made David go to the store today for yeast to redeem myself and now we have some nice homemade bread.

Next week is Deer Hunt and I have promised homemade donuts. NO I will NOT use the 14 cups of flour recipe this time!! (BTW MOM, did you always make so many Spudnuts at once?? 14 cups of flour?? I was floored last year!!) My Mom must have made spudnuts in the fall because cool, crisp, clear fall air always makes me hanker for a homemade donut/spudnut. We'll see how it goes...tune in next time;-).

Belle quote of the day "I don't see any fall outside"


Adventure #2
Heading up the canyon to see fall leaves on a spur-of-the-moment get in the car and go. Problem? Just when we get there the low fuel light turned on. SO we turned around, went back to town, gassed up, and tried again. WHEW but we had a great time! Here's the pics.

Pretend

"Mommy, I'm a whale. But not Shamu Whale, a Beluga Whale, the white one".

Why?

"Why is that little boy in a tent?"
He wants to sleep outside in a tent.
"Why?"
He thinks it will be fun
"Why?"
It's something exciting and different instead of his bed.
Oh.
"Why is that owl in the tree next to the tent?"
that's where the owl lives
"Why?"
Owls live in trees.
"Why?"
It's a nice comfortable place for them to sleep.
"Why?"
Because that tree has a nice bug TRUNK and a hole in it big enough for the owl's home.
"Just like Horton!!" (the elephant).

I have

I have a beautiful family, two sweet babies and a thoughtful husband.

I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have (including all in-laws) siblings, parents, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins who bring joy into my life through support, laughter, and adventure.

I have food, clothing, shelter more that adequate for my needs.

I have health.

I have gratitude (Admittedly not always as I should but right now I do!)

I have a wonderful life.

I want

I want to be a good mother. Always have clean and well-behaved, well-rounded children.

I want to be a good wife.

I want to keep a super-clean house.

I want to always have delicious, feel-good meals on the table.(that I cooked)

I want to be crafty and creative.

I want to exercise and be fit.

I want to read intelligent books.

I want more patience, charity, long-suffering, temperance, etc., etc....

I want to be the kind of neighbor and friend that always remembers, and notices when someone needs some extra support.

I want to go to the temple more often.

I want to study the scriptures more regularly.

I want to be gentle with myself, and have realistic expectations.

I want to be confidant in my abilities and strengths while a the same time be aware of my shortcomings. Not letting the shortcomings get me down yet not hide them so as I can work on them a little at a time. Knowing that it takes time to develop these things...not getting overwhelmed...yet not ignoring them.

Latest Belle quotes

I realize it's been awhile since I posted any Belle quotes. David and I are trying to remember the good ones. I just need a recorder to follow her around all day, she's constantly cracking us up.

So, that leads to the first one: "Daddy, you crack me up!"

Belle does not just say "Bye" anymore. It's always "See you later Alligator" and if you don't respond appropriately she will for you. "After while, crocodile".

Lifting one finger, shaking it back and forth and saying "No, Daddy...no, no, no...I'M going to sing a pretty song now". Proceeds to sing a made-up gibberish pretty song.

While picking her souvenir at SeaWorld David told her she could pick a new toy. Her eyes light up and she exclaimed "For Christmas?" Then after picking her Shamu she immediately turned and said "What can we get for Buggie?".

"I love the zoo"

When she left for the store with David and I stayed home: "I will miss you, Mother! Let me give you a hug and a kiss. See you soon sweetieheart". (accompanied with a hug and a kiss).

Everything needs a mother. The contact solution bottle, lotion bottles, pencils, crayons, crackers, toys...basically everything live or inanimate that she can find a little one and a big one. "She needs her Mother". She literally carried around a contact solution bottle and a sample contact solution bottle for like four days because the little one "needed her Mother". Example #2 of this: Playing dinosaurs with almost 10 yr old boy cousin. Cousin: "Roar Roar Roar Bang Bang Bang Eat this one up.....Roar" Belle: "NO NO NO !!! They aren't fighting, she just wants her MOTHER!!"

"Buggie, No!" (and she removes a foreign object from his MOUTH!) Thanks Belle. Glad you're watching out for the kid.

Like I say, there are more all the time, I'll have to do better about writing them down.

What next?

So, you all know those teenage girls who when you ask what they want to be when they grow up and they say "Go to college, get married, have kids". And...?? It's like life ends after the "have kids" part. I'm not trying to say this isn't important...being a mother is the most important and biggest part of my life. I just want to point out that I was one of those girls, and was surprised when I still had big life decisions to make after I was "grown up".

Once I got married I thought all the big decisions in life were over. We could live happy ever after and not worry about what next. I think this is partly due to the fact that there are a lot of big life decisions made during that time of life. It's stressful. What I didn't know was that there are a lot of big life decisions to be made...throughout life...ALL the time*.

David and I have been so blessed that those decisions have been fairly painless and easy up to this point. We have been guided in what to do and things have worked out fairly smoothly. For example: The ONE online class I found to take at Gavilian Hills College in Gilroy. I couldn't have graduated before Belle was born without it. As it was I had to get special permission to take 20 credit hours in one semester. One more class would have gone over. That is just one example, there have been many blessings like that in our lives.

Now I am waiting for another such little miracle. We need to decide what to do next...where to live and raise our family, and find a house that we can afford. This decision has been very difficult. It's not as though we have to live somewhere for work. We could really live anywhere we want within reasonable distance to an airport. Some friends of ours recently moved their family with three small children to the West coast of Mexico.

After months of prayers and deliberation, we have sort of decided to look for a house in Grantsville. Homes are more affordable here, the drive to the airport is reasonable, and it is close to home where I can get support when David is away. Not that I couldn't find support other places. But those places don't meet the "affordable" criteria. The "sort of" means if we can find somewhere else that meets those criteria we aren't against looking somewhere else.

It is also fairly frustrating to David (and I--but more so for David) that after working hard to get where he is we are still wondering how we will afford a home. There are a lot of variables that if one or two of them tipped our direction we would feel a lot more comfortable about committing to a house. So, maybe we will just wait 6 more months and see if something changes. If it doesn't?
Ahh....life's big decisions. Bring 'em on.


*me being the drama queen that I am, sometimes what car seat to buy becomes a "Big" life decision. But I'm trying to keep things in perspective. Speaking of being a drama queen, I've taken the kids to the Dr so many times when there was nothing wrong with them that the Dr. actually suggested today that I buy my own otoscope to check them at home. awesome.

A dream

I have wanted to go to Sea World for a very long time, probably since Jr High, and we have been talking about going for a long time. It was a lot of fun and awesome to see the animals there. Thanks a ton to Aunt Julie for coming with us!! And since we went in September it wasn't crowded--so basically it was perfect.

Here we are at the Shamu Show


This is exactly what Belle has been playing the last few days--riding on Shamu. There is a part in the show where the crowd chants "Shamu, Shamu" and then the whale splashes into the crowd. Belle has also been playing this.

Just a cool pic

The polar bears were up and about and eating/swimming. It was fun to watch. Obviously Buggie Boo is impressed.

Belle being Belle.

Newport Beach

Well...the pics you have all been waiting for...
Last week we spent a few days in California, staying with David's sister and her family and doing some fun things.
Here's our day at the beach





We had a fun day at the beach. We all ended up with a little sun burn, but enjoyed the day. Well--all except maybe Keith enjoyed the day. He enjoyed the first hour or so when Mom was letting him eat the sand.

Belle loved to run through the wet, soft sand. It took her a little while to warm up to something new, but once she warmed up she had a great time. David swam out past were the waves break and actually swam in the ocean.

PS

This artist had some strange political message with this painting. I am going to pretend that it is really for what I want it to be;-).

El Vendedor de Alcatraces By Diego Rivera

I stumbled across a very inspiring message today. This woman is carrying a heavy load--and it is a beautiful load. And even still, she is not alone. Her burden is being lifted from behind from someone she can't see--but who is there. I think I have been trying to hard to carry my load alone.

My load is also a beautiful one. I can't imagine being without my beautiful, wonderful, even if exasperating, children. It hurts more than I can say to think of anything bad happening to them. They are beautiful. And even still, I am not alone. I think it means that even the most wonderful things in our lives can be hard. And that it's ok to have hard days--it doesn't mean you are weak, it means you're human. But it makes it so much easier when we realize and remember our burden is not ours to carry alone. Maybe that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to someone reading this, but it took a weight off my shoulders this evening.

D&C 84: 81-84 "Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed. For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these. For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things. Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself."

We survived today.

I always have lots of big plans to get lots of projects done when my kids are sleeping and hardly ever do. This week I decided to do the peaches at night. Why? Because I tried during the day and had one bottle done by three in the afternoon, was frustrated, and had frustrated kids. So I buckled down to make myself do it. And now I know why I don't do projects after the kids are asleep. Because I wore myself out and didn't have any energy left for the day. And it was a rough day that has left me seriously doubting my parenting abilities. It was mostly just all the problems we have been having over the last little while amplified by tired Mom and kids.
Here's the run down:

No naps to speak of for anyone, all of us tired and cranky. Belle had a meltdown and woke Keith up from his nap, Keith had a meltdown and woke Belle up from her nap.
Keith a HUGE bruise on his head from falling off the bed and not onto the floor but--the vacuum. I think the floor would have been better. Don't ask why I put the crawling boy on the bed in the first place. I've been asking myself that question all afternoon.
Belle had an accident on the couch less than 2 minutes after I asked her if she needed to go potty and she said no.

So....no more projects. ever. doesn't matter if the kids are asleep or awake in the end it makes us all completely miserable. Basic house work only. Sorry Mom and Dad, but your yard is suffering severely under these conditions.

After a day like today, I need to vent. If you don't want to read the venting, stop reading now.
Don't kids come with some sort of manual??
Every time I think I have solved Keith's no-napping problem we start to have problems again. It seems like I find something that will work, and then he figures out that "oh, that means a nap" and refuses to do it again. Like at about 3 months when I couldn't get him to nap and finally used the swing for about 4 days. After that he would just cry every time I would put him in the swing. It seems we have been going these rounds constantly because FIVE MONTHS LATER--we have the same story. Last week I had a perfect way for getting him to nap without crying, and it worked for about four days, and now he just cries when I try it. BOY! NAP already!!

And Belle--is it a two year old thing to have to FIGHT for everything you want them to do??? She fights me to get dressed, brush her hair, use the bathroom, take a nap, eat, etc., etc., etc. I try to use Love & Logic and give her some control over these things but when we are both tired L & L goes out the window for both of us and it's a tooth-and-nail power struggle all day long. Is this normal?? I know I have a very stubborn and strong willed girl....but THIS?? And we have gone back about 4 or 5 months on the potty training thing. If I let her wear a pull-up she'll tell me "Mom, I peed in my pull-up". Doesn't that mean she knows better?? She just refuses to go until it is an absolute emergency. She'll hold it and hold it and dance around and tell me 'no' she doesn't need to go until she's telling me "I need to go potty" and then just GOING where ever she is, with no effort to get to the bathroom! WHY???

All of this is probably made worse by the fact that of the last twelve days David has been home less than two. We are all tired, and Belle keeps "watching out the window for my Daddy to come home" several times a day. He'll be home tomorrow at bedtime but has his annual brother's ball game on Saturday which will most likely be an all day event, so that puts it all the way to Sunday before we will get relief. Granted--he has the rest of the month off and we are going on a little vacation--so hopefully it will be worth it--but we are plain worn out. I guess I should stop whining about being tired and go to bed then, eh?

Hey, Mother!

I just finished a putting a box of peaches into 3 1/2 gallons in the freezer. Why am I up blogging? I'm not really sure.

I have several posts swirling around in my brain that I want to get out, all of which would take more energy and time than I have right now. So...just to update a little on what has been going on around here.

Keith started army-crawling last week and is getting really good at it. Today he followed me all the way down the hall to the bedrooms where I was putting away laundry. Then all the way back when I went to put the laundry basket away. His two bottom teeth make his smile super-cute, and he weighs 21 pounds.

Belle when I was putting some toys away:
"Hey! Mother! what are you doing? Don't do that, sweetheart! I'm still playing with those toys!"
Today it was similar "Belle, are you done playing with the Legos? Should we put them away?"
Belle: "yes, but I'm not going to help. You do it Mother. Here's a couple for ya to put away" (handing me legos).


Belle was really sad when Ky and John left. Partly because she will miss them, partly because they took their "Horton" movie with them (Horton hears a Who). This is the first experience with her actually asking for a specific thing. I didn't want to just give it to her because she asked, but thought it would be an OK thing for her to have. So she earned it. She put toys, books and shoes away, and even put peaches in bottles. She was so excited waiting for it she made up a little "Horton dance".

She got it a week ago. I think we had it memorized after a few days. I really have to limit how much Horton she gets to watch a day. This will pass, I know, but she LOVES Horton the Elephant. We have got a lot of leverage out of this movie. She can't watch it until she eats all her dinner, etc.

Now I'm going to stop wasting precious sleep time and take my tired body and mind to bed.

Too bad...

you don't come to church with us. Here is what you could have witnessed today.
Scene: All is quiet as the Sacrament is being passed. Keith on my lap, Belle on David's.
Action:Keith frantically moving, moving, moving trying to get everything he sees to check it out. The boy does not sit still long enough to get his nose wiped. (side note--how does one give a hair cut to such a boy??) He succeeds when Mom is occupied getting a water cup. He gets a couple of water cups of his own. Water splashing all over our laps. Wet spot on the floor where the cups landed. Small chuckles heard coming from behind.
Whew.

Scene #2: Keith & I in the Mother's lounge shortly thereafter. Belle and David quietly sitting in the meeting.
Action: Belle "I need to go potty!!" David, feeling warmth, jumps up to run her out. Too late. Belle, as David is taking her out, VERY loudly exclaims: "The pee is running down my leg!!!!". Wet spot on the bench where....well, never mind. A few sideways grins seen in the congregation.

David, knocking on the door of the Mother's lounge, looking like he had the accident himself. They go home to change. Me awkwardly asking a member of the Bishopric if the cleaning closet is open and if the church happens to keep Resolve in stock.
Whew.

I think we need to move. How embarrassing.

Super de-Duper FAST

When I was a kid there was a TV show that this teenage girl was from a different planet and she could stop time. The plot usually involved her fixing her mistakes by stopping time for everyone else. I could use a similar sort of power. The kids are just growing up way too fast.

Last week I was feeling rushed to get home from a family event and I couldn't get Belle off the trampoline at the house we were visiting. She just stuck her little head out the trampoline net and asked "Mommy, will you get up here and jump with me?"
And the thought came to me about just how much longer is she going to be asking me jump with her? Want to sit on my lap to read a story? Or ask me to watch her go down the slide, run in the backyard, play with her toys...etc, etc....all too soon she won't want me to do those things anymore. We were the last to leave the family event.

Keith is in a similar state. Already he doesn't just stay where you put him, won't sit still long enough to cuddle unless he is going to sleep, and what is that in his adorable sucker-face kiss he gives? Ouch! Teeth!

I would like to just stop them from growing up somehow. But I guess they need to experience all the different stages of life, too. Hopefully, at least, we will have perfect memories someday so we can remember EXACTLY how those sucker-face kisses feel, and all the giggly-silly expressions on their faces when we play.

Here are a few evidences of them growing up:
Belle's first pig tails!!



Keith being big enough to play in the tupperware cupboard in the kitchen.

Everything comes in twos

Why is it that everything good (and sometimes things not so good) comes in two? Or sometimes three or four? For example: You go to the store and find something on sale, and instead of buying just one you end up with multiple of the item whether you needed it or not. You will most always find two fish in a fish bowl, eat two cookies at a time, you always sneeze at least twice, and keep two pens in your purse.

We have two sweet kids here that both have colds, which means we have two runny noses. Sometimes, even though Belle is potty trained, we still have two kids with two poop messes. "Lewis family pooping hour" we call it. Two to make giggle and play silly games with. Two to cry for Mommy at night. Two to give hugs and kisses.

This week Keith had two or three sleepless nights and broke two teeth in three days. The first one appeared Wednesday morning and the second Friday in the night. You can imagine he was pretty uncomfortable, and came down with a cold on top of it. (...two things at once).

I am now going to go eat those two cookies and try to get two hours of sleep in a row. Hopefully Keith will not get another tooth tonight;-).

You know you're outsmarted when.....

Your two year old daughter corrects your grammar. Really.

Our luxurious RIDE

When I started high school, I planned to try out for the volleyball team. That is what my older sister had been doing, and of course at 14 I still wanted to do whatever she was doing. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, we went on a family vacation during the week of volleyball tryouts. So I ran Cross Country instead. Which is what my other sisters had done in high school.

I loved it. I found a place on the team where I belonged, and coincidentally, my sister ran instead of Volleyball, anyway. I don't remember the details as to why. But we had a great time running together. I also made great friends, had good mentors, learned to like running, and had enough success to help me be confidant in myself.

Since then I have always enjoyed running, and whenever I felt stressed or needed some time to think about life or clear my head I would head out for a run. Many of the biggest decisions of my life have been made while pounding the pavement, and many tears shed, and prayers said. Even on my mission some of my toughest days I dragged my companions out of bed early because I NEEDED a run. One of them just recently admitted to me she hated it, but went because I asked her to.

Since having kids it has been difficult to get out. When I say difficult, I mean basically never. Until this spring.
And THIS is what has made it possible:



We have a sweet new ride. It has literally kept my sanity this summer. I feel like I get some time to myself, doing something I enjoy, even with them along. I feel more healthy and have lost some weight so I feel better about myself, and the days we start with a jog I am more patient with the kids, more motivated to get things done, and just all around BETTER.

Belle knows where ALL the animals are on our route, and we routinely have to stop for goats, cows, horses, and a "little tiny pony". I can't tell what Keith thinks about it, but he doesn't complain. I am actually getting to the point where when we get home I feel like I could go longer*.We are quite the wide load running down the road. Runner's World magazine says that you can burn 20% more calories pushing a jogging stroller depending on the weight of your child. What about CHILDREN? 20+ pound Keith, 26+ pound Belle, plus the stroller. Yup, I'm getting tough.



*any given North-South street in Grantsville goes uphill towards Deseret Peak. (South). When you are in a car, you would never notice. When you are 17 an in shape you only notice if you have already run 10 miles and are getting tired. When you are 28, out of shape, and pushing 50+ pounds of stroller & kid, you notice. A lot. It's a killer. So...I haven't changed my route because I can't figure out the best way to do it without adding more north-south streets.

Twins??

Twice I have had people ask if Belle and Keith are twins. I'm not talking about joking because they look so much alike, I mean SERIOUSLY asking. Once was in the jogging stroller and I had a blanket over the top as an extra sun shade as we were headed east in the morning, and all you could see were their little feet sticking out. The other was the 17 yr old working the counter at the photo shop, which I'm not really sure what her excuse was...but...oh well.

At any rate, last night we had an impromptu photo shoot because they, the almost 7 mo old and the 26 mo old, were wearing the same size of pajamas. Same brand, same size. Ok, so...on Keith they were a TAD long and on Belle a TAD short, but they wore to bed the same size PJs. Maybe I have twins after all;-)








And I must include every week some of Belle's famous lines. Her baby calendars ran out at the end of June, and I intend to buy her a journal to replace them...but haven't gotten around to it yet. So part of this is simply recording this for future's sake.

David's favorite was she declared she was going on a trip for work and proceed to pack some of his work socks, go to the store to "get food for my trip", and proceeded to describe that she needed to "stay at the crash pad".

She asked for popcorn and while it was popping says "Ohhhh, I LOVE popcorn!"
Pancakes for dinner "Ohhh, I LOVE pancakes!"

Papa has a "Hay snack" that the horses and cattle will eat when there is snow on the ground and can't eat the grass.

"I just need a couple more things"

And she is starting to make up random songs.

Mommy's little helper

Belle got the picture out of the cupboard and told me the plants needed watering. So she watered them. (Mom, if your plants are alive when you get home, you can thank Belle. She does this all the time).

After sweeping the floor today I took Keith into the bedroom to change his diaper. A few moments later Belle comes RUNNING down the hall to exclaim "Mommy! The floor is STILL dirty!!".
We mopped.

After nap time, she came out of the room and informed that Keith was "still crying". He was awake, too, and I hadn't heard him yet.

I play a game with the kids where I say "I ....love...you,you,you,you,you" and tickle them. I've been playing this since Belle was super little, like Keith's size. Today while playing with Keith, Belle helped me by telling me I was doing it wrong. "I" is for "Isabelle" to play with Keith I should say "K....love...you,you,you,you,you", because "K" is for Keith.

She also helped take the paper away from Keith while I fished it out of his mouth, and put the clean clothes that WERE folded back into the basket. Only problem here is, she gave Keith the paper in the first place, and I'll bet you can guess who UNFOLDED the clothes.

And, in case you are wondering, Here is the short list of the random names I am called lately:

"sweetie" (example: "you want some dinner, sweetie? Daddy will get it for you")
"sweetie, sweetie" (example: "are you OK, sweetie, sweetie?"
"sweetheart"
"Honey"
"Mom, hun" (example: what are you doing, Mom, hun?)
"Mother" (example: "I WANT MY MOTHER!" Can you tell what book we got from the library a few weeks ago?)
and the obligatory, "Mommy".

Summer fun and...STUFF

So I have several ideas of things to post about, all of them about three sentences long. So, shorten your attention spans a little (or I guess lengthen if need be) and get ready for the post-of-all-posts.

First: Keith's six month check-up. He is in the 99% in height. He's come down a little from last time's "off the charts". But the poor starving child is ONLY in the 90% in weight. So the doctor says, and I quote, "Since he is quite a bit taller than he is heavy you might have people give you a hard time about him being skinny. Maybe your Mother-in-law will say something. But don't worry, he's fine."
I gasp in surprise. Has he LOOKED at the child?? Does THIS:


look skinny to YOU???
He is now wearing a white onesie that Belle stopped wearing four months ago, only because she was potting training and onesies became a thing of the past for her.

He has also discovered the joy of tearing up paper and chewing on leaves. But has made the funniest sour-face I have ever seen at the taste of baby food bananas and peaches.

By the way, he is sleeping much better. He goes to bed at night without a sound. He is even starting to get better at daytime sleep. Today he cried for about five minutes then slept for two and a half hours. I'm still not getting much done around here, so I'm not sure what my excuse is now, but slowly oh so slowly we are developing a routine. Hooray!


We have had lots of fun this week going up the canyon for a picnic yesterday and to the county fair today. Did I even take the camera either place? No.

Belle quotes:
I guess these are always piling up, every day there is something.

I try to use "love and logic" parenting principles, and one of those is to use I-statements rather than threats. So I'm always saying something like "Mommy gives treats to girls who eat their dinner first"
Then Belle said this at the dinner table: "Mommy gives cookies to girls who eat their dinners first. I am eating my dinner so I can have a cookie."
She catches on quick.

I am also always explaining to her what we are going to do today by saying something like "So, the plan is to go to the store first, then the post office, then we can go home....etc"
She has started saying "SO, The plan is...a bun." I have no idea what this means. I'll let you know when I find out. If that happens.

Belle, about the doll: "This girl is sad. She needs a cookie. I'll get her one."
a few minutes later, with a cookie in hand "She is happy now. I will eat the cookie."

Me, about jumping on the couch: "I don't think Grandma wants you to jump on her couch, put the cushions back, please."
The next day, while removing a cushion Belle says "I think Grandma wants me to jump on her couch."

Yeah, we are having a good time around here.

Six months old

Keith is six months old today. Time seems to be flying, it has gone much faster than Belle's first six months did. I'm not sure where it is all going. Sometimes I feel like I must be missing things because it is going by so fast. It's late, and I'm tired, so this will be short...but in six short months our boy has completely captured our hearts. He is sweet and social and smiles and everyone...random people in the grocery store, etc., he also wants to be involved in everything and does not like to be left out, loves cuddles, chewing on things, and Mommy. We are excited to continue to get to know you and love you!

PS I must give credit where credit is due...my brother-on-law's girlfriend took the super-sweet picture. Doesn't it just melt your heart and make you want to kiss those chubby cheeks?? Too bad he's asleep...

Families are Forever

We had a super-fun 2-day reunion with David's family last weekend. Only downside? No David.

Fortunately, I have awesome in-laws who are willing to help with the kids and make two crazy days work with two little kids, and reassure me that it's ok when I start to feel like a burden to the group.

I think for me the highlight would have to have been going to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open-house. It is beautiful and it was special to be in the temple with my little kids. The night before, while lying in bed going to sleep, I was explaining to Belle what would happen the next day. I told her she would get a special feeling in the temple because it is a special place where Heavenly Father and Jesus are. She replied, with no prompting for me, "Right here" while patting here chest, in reference to the special feeling. She KNEW what that special feeling would feel like, where she would feel it.

So the next day at the temple her Uncle Matthew was carrying her through the temple as I was carrying Keith, and she told him about the special feeling "right here" (in between exclamations of "What a pretty room!".
What a special girl, who recognizes feelings from the spirit at such a young age. It is overwhelming to me to think I am supposed to teach her things. I think she could teach me a thing or two.

Here is a picture of another highlight. Papa telling stories and Belle sitting next to him, crossing her legs just like he was, and declaring she was going to tell a story, too.



And I know for sure I will get in trouble for this one, but I couldn't resist. Here is my sweet mother-in-law, who was a good sport to get on the trampoline with the kids. It takes a special lady to be the mother of such a special family.





Thanks to all the Lewis' for a fun time, and for making the thought of eternity together a beautiful one.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Keith has been rolling both ways for awhile now. However, yesterday he figured out that he could use this skill as a mode of transportation, and today he took it to a new level.

This morning he started out in the middle of the living room floor, rolled over to where I was folding laundry and knocked over a laundry basket and chewed on a few items of clothing. Then he moved on to the edge of the room where he rolled onto the edge of Belle's rocking horse (that hurt), the little desk (we were frantically picking up the crayons out of his reach that were under the desk), beyond the end table, and ended up here:



Right in the toy closet, pulling toys out of this toy bucket. Super cute.

And so it has begun. Now every time I turn around he is in a different spot, reaching for something. We will have to be super vigilant to not leave anything not Keith-approved about.

This entertained him for nearly an hour. Usually when I fold the laundry I put in "Baby Mozart" and fold frantically for half an hour. Today I saved my "Baby Mozart" half hour for cleaning the bathroom =-).

Independence Day!

I'm not so great and taking the right pictures to capture the moments, but here are a few that I did get. We last-minute decided to run the 5K here in Grantsville and stay here for the rest of the festivities. I decided that small town holiday celebrations are the best. Less crowd, close to home. We could walk in the stroller most of the events. And I learned that the kids & I can have holiday parties even if David isn't home. We also went to the parade, pony rides, and made it through half the fireworks before Belle decided she was tired and was ready to go. We just went to the Jr High for the fireworks--no crowd, not as LOUD, and great view, a block away from home. Perfect.

I realized as I was just looking through the pictures that I don't have ANY of Keith! His first Fourth and no pictures! Arrghhh!! He mostly just endured the day of running him around, but was a trooper through it all. Even when he messed his diaper right at the start line of the 5K and I had left all the diapers in the car! Poor kid had to wait through the whole thing to get cleaned up! I think I was holding him every time I took a picture.



Waiting for the parade to start (with her baby & baby's car seat that have gone with us everywhere (literally) the last two weeks)







I can't express just how much Belle enjoyed her pony rides. She went four times, chatted the whole time, charmed all the people at the equestrian park, loved the little ponies and thanked them for the ride, and has been talking about it and asking to go again ever since. I wanted to see if they had pony rides somewhere because I knew she would love it, but I never would have known where to go if I hadn't been handed a flier at the parade. There is a full-service equestrian park in Grantsville with an indoor arena, lessons, dressage competitions and everything. They gave the rides right at their facility. I am now on their mailing list for future events, and have satisfied Belle by telling her "next time they get the ponies out to give rides, we'll go again". We'll see how long that lasts.

Bugaboo

David prompting Belle to say the prayer "Bless Keith"
Belle (repeating) "Bless Bugaboo"

It is impossible to hold Bugaboo while trying to get a drink. He LOVES the water glass.




Bugaboo has also learn to RaZZZZ and click his tongue.


Since I'm still here, even though it's late, I'll add a few notable Belle quotes of the week:
She was tired at a family dinner function and let us know she was ready to go home. "I'm going to catch a flight home."

"Mommy, you're more beautiful than Iris" Iris was a girl David dated in college. He has said that to her maybe once, months ago.

Scene: Belle's stool pushed up to the counter near cookie jar. Said jar's lid left open. "Mommy, I got a cookie. You want one? I'll get you one". At least she shared =-).

"I need to make a put. Daddy, don't use my putter. Where's your putter, Daddy?"


There were more I had in mind to share but now I've forgotten. The child is continually cracking us up.

Wet, Wet, Wet

As you all know, we have had more rain in the last month than usual. A LOT more rain. It rains more days than it doesn't. This has resulted in a few things around here.

1--It is July and we have only watered the lawn/garden a handful of times this year. Like twice in the last month. The lawn is also super long all the time because every time we go to mow it, it rains!! Too bad the rain waters the weeds, too.

2--Cherries. I'm not sure how the rain is related to the fact that the birds didn't like the cherries this year, but the whole neighborhood has so many cherries everyone with a tree is begging people to come get them. I figure it must be the rain. Why else? Maybe there is lots of extra bugs to eat and the birds don't want the cherries? Who knows, but my aunt sent all 5 of her teenagers out with a 5 gallon bucket and told them not to come home until their buckets were all full of cherries. She has made A TON of cherry jelly.

3--mosquitoes--I do not EVER remember having so many of the nasty little blood-suckers here at home. Belle came in two days ago with THIRTEEN bites. Teen's kids couldn't stand them today and had to play inside while they were here.

4--A two year old who looks outside and exclaims in despair "Oh! No! MORE rain clouds!!"

5--A Two year old who gets tired of having "inside" days and talks Dad into this:

The saga continues

Keith has now gone 4 strait days without napping...AT ALL.
He is tired and cranky, I am tired and cranky, David is tired of hearing me tell him I don't know what to do and he should hire a nanny to take care of his kids because I'm obviously failing, and Belle is enduring it all.

Things will get better. Hopefully I have enough patience to not have a breakdown before that happens.

It's still hard to tell if his tummy hurts or if he just refuses to sleep unless held. Urgh.

Oh a brighter note, we picked cherries today, and briefly played in the sprinkler. All while our poor insomniac boy was completely miserable and exhausted.

I know, I know

So last night after I wrote that long dramatic story I was lying in bed feeling very ungrateful. If the hardest thing that I have to do is let my baby cry himself to sleep then I think I've got it made. I know lots of Moms who have a lot more difficult struggles and thinking of them makes me feel small and selfish for getting so worked up over this sleep thing.

So, in the meantime, Keith is growing out of his 12 mo size clothes, LOVES a stuffed bumblebee he has, rode in Belle's swing for a few minutes today, and is getting better at baby cereal all the time. Since we didn't quite get all the baby gear changed over from pink to blue when he was born, he has had to put up with some pink. He sleeps on pink sheets and every now and then lays on a pink blanket on the floor. It's not that I haven't tried to buy blue crib bedding, it's just I'm having a hard time finding one I like at a good price. I guess I will make it a goal to have him sleeping on BLUE by six months. I keep asking David if it bothers him that he uses some pink. He says no, it doesn't. But he drew the line at a pink bib that says "Flower Princess". Lying on pink is one thing. Wearing it is another. So we bought blue bibs at Wal-Mart today =).

Belle has to feed her baby doll cereal, and push her around in her stroller all over the yard, and says that she "is already happy" whenever you mention that Jesus Christ wants you to make good choices so you can be happy. Apparently she's already happy. I guess I'll have to explain that to STAY happy...
She also quotes books after only a few readings, and goes around singing random songs at all hours. This week she has been "doing tricks with my light" (Sam and Gus) and "looking for old tap shoes" under ALL the beds (Pig a Pancake). On the way to the store today she starting singing in the car "I love Daddy, Yes-siree, I love Mommy Yes-siree, I love Keith boy Yes-siree, we are a happy family". What a riot.

One of the hardest things I have ever done

Ok, so, maybe I am being a little over the top dramatic with the title, but...then again, maybe not.

Here's what life has been like around here for the last, say, 2+ months.

Wake up, do morning routine, try to get the baby to take a nap. Give up on the nap and do something else. Try to give the baby a nap. Give up on the nap and do something else. Try to give the baby a nap. Give up.....you get the picture. All day, every day. Sometimes it's 6 or 7 hours straight of this. Poor baby is exhausted. He has gone all day without a single nap many days, others it's 4 or 5 pm before he gets any rest...and finally collapses into exhaustion for a fitful and restless nights sleep. Ugh.

I guess I should clarify that there have been SOME days where he naps, but they are by far fewer in number than the other.

Here are some of the reasons he can't sleep:
* Tummy troubles. He has always had a lot of gas, and at about 2 1/2 months it turned into a TON of gas that made him completely uncomfortable. We have changed/added several things to his routine and I think this problem is finally getting under control.

* Big sister. Without fail, at least once a day, she has a potty emergency RIGHT when I am getting him to fall asleep. She is getting better at getting to the potty alone, so the other day I tried to talk her into using her stool to get up so I wouldn't have to put him down right away. She did great. She got all the way to standing on her stool and her pants down before she had the accident. So then Keith woke up AND she had an accident BOTH. Yeah, that worked out.

She also has learned she has to be "super quiet" while I am putting him in bed. However, she is only 2, and barely 2 at that, and self control is a very difficult thing. She tries SO HARD to be quiet...the sweetie...but she will see something that she gets excited about and wants to play with and expresses that, or accidentally knocks something over...or, the list goes on and on. Keith sometimes will sleep through these distractions but this is only after complete exhaustion is approaching.

* I forget to make him burp before I put him down (or he WON'T burp bc he's already asleep then he has to wake up to burp and WON'T go back to sleep).

* Various reasons for which I do not understand.

I'm sure you can imagine how this has been difficult for all of us. Keith is a super happy fun baby if he's had enough sleep. Super fussy grump if not. Hey--I would be too if I was so sleep deprived!! (wait--I AM!) Belle hardly gets any one-on-one during the marathon 6 hour try-to-get-the-baby-to-sleep days. And my patience gets a super test, my stamina a work out, and nerves a blow. With a lot of days no Daddy to come home and rescue us. On the days he is home it is considerably better for both Belle & I, as just being in the house keeps us calm--not to mention all the time he spends with Belle, and breaks I get. But it makes no difference for Keith. Still sleepless.

SO I determined long ago the best way to solve this problem is to teach Keith to fall asleep on his own. Then he can do it without me rocking him, and free from distractions. First, we had to get his tummy troubles under control. Then, we had to decide if he was old enough. I talked to a lot of you for advice (Thanks!), read up on the experts, stewed and stewed over it, and finally decided it was time.

Even after ALL that, and how difficult the last few months have been, it did not make it any easier to leave him in bed smiling up at me with those so trusting eyes and angel face. It broke my heart. Then to leave him there while he cried for an hour broke it again several times. He finally went to sleep. Today we are on day 4 of putting him to bed awake. It isn't any easier to leave him there smiling up at me, but he cried for 10 minutes and went to sleep.

Some of you will say he is fine, it won't hurt him. Others will disagree and say you should never let your babies cry it out. I'm still not sure about the whole thing, but I honestly didn't know what else to do. Here's to hoping that after he learns to fall asleep at night we can easily transition him to napping on his own. Here's to praying that, actually. And son, if someday you turn out to have abandonment issues or a low self esteem, I really am sorry. I love you.

There's me being dramatic again.

 

Random Sampler

Here's some random pics of us lately. I tried to get a video of Keith laughing to include but Belle wasn't so hot at working the camera;). She usually does a great job at making him laugh but wasn't in the mood this time. So I'll have to try again for that one. And would someone PLEASE tell me how to get the header picture centered on the blog?? I'm stumped.



We must have prunned the roses right...because they are oh so beautiful.

TWO YEARS OLD!!

Time has FLOWN the last two years. I can't believe Belle is 2!!
She had a whole week of parties; first on Sunday at Christine's house, then on her birthday we went to the park to play and have cupcakes, then David got home Sunday and Monday night we had a party for her here and David's family came. After the day at the park she prayed "Bless Bella have another birthday".
So here are some pics from Monday. I didn't take pictures the other two times. I think she had a fun time!! Thanks to all those who helped make her day special.

This is the look of pure, innocent, complete JOY of a two year old who knows she is loved when a room full of people she loves are all singing to her. At this moment she was looking right at Daddy.



This is the adventurous Two-year old trying out her new Tricycle, which she calls a bicycle, but who cares, right? I'll have to get a closer picture sometime of it. It's awesome.




And here is the cake, which I decorated. Someday I will learn how to make it look like someone older than 13 did the decorating.