My Bella, My Bella

I remember quite vividly sitting on my parent's bed and watching my Dad remove his tie after work. And he was singing to me. "Oh Lizzy, Oh Lizzy, Oh Lizzy Oh you make my sad heart sing with joy from above...". I wondered why his heart was sad but happy that I could make it feel better.






The reason I bring this up in a post dedicated to my Bella is because that is what she is. Pure Joy. Her bouncing and usually messy curls, the twinkle in her eye when she giggles or teases, and the innocence of her sweet hugs, kisses, and peacefully sleeping face all bring joy to my heart.

I don't think she has willfully sat still for more than 15 seconds at a time since she was 3 months old. When she accomplishes this feet during a prayer she will proudly exclaim the second the 'Amen' is said "Mommy, I was reverent!!".
Always moving, moving, moving and SEEING, SEEING SEEING. She never misses anything in a room or any sort of noise. She notices when someone is wearing the same kind of shoes that she is, and she knows where everything goes in a room and notices if anything changes. She hears dogs barking and roosters crowing three blocks away and asks every day "what's that?" when the school buses pass our house or a wall creeks. She is always aware when she is being talked about and can get shy when she meets new places and new people. But once she is comfortable--good luck getting her to be quiet! This is her "Belle" side.

Isabelle is always amazing us with her memory. She remembers everything and wants to memorize everything; and randomly quotes books, songs, and movies whether we just read it yesterday or three weeks ago. When she hears something new she will ask you to read/sing it again, again, again and again until she has it memorized. I catch her trying mouth the words as she asks for songs again, again, and again. This is her "Isabelle" side.

She is also very much her Daddy's girl in the fact that she is terribly stubborn. If she wants to do it, she will do it--no getting in her way. And the same goes if she DOESN'T want to do it. I think this trait will come in handy someday, as long as we can help her channel that will to do positive things. She is a girl who knows what she wants, and how to get it. This is her "Isabelle Marilyn Lewis" side.



Miss Belle is a great big sister and very proud of "little boo", little you you you", or "Buggie" whenever he learns something new. All of those names given to him by her, by the way. Her Daddy blessed her in her baby blessing that she would be an example to her younger siblings and I can already see that coming true. She is always concerned for the feelings of others and worries when people are sad. Miss Belle also loves to dance in her pretty dresses. She is learning to use her imagination and it is so fun to see. All week I have been answering to Cinderelly and if I answer "Yes?" instead of "Yes, Gus Gus?" she will remind me that she is Gus. Or a whale. or Pooh Bear. or the Prince. Or whatever she is pretending to be. This is our "Missy".


Favorite things list: Outside, animals, music, treats, outside, anything buttery(or just plain butter--"I don't want you to spread it around" she tells me), her baby doll Santa brought her last year and her Daisy (rocking horse), stories, strawberries, movies, and outside.

But whatever name she might be called, she is most of all My Bella. And she is amazing. Love you, girl.

The kiddos

A few weeks ago my sister-in-law posted a post about each of her kids on her blog. It was very cute and sweet, and David suggested I do it here. I said I would only if she gave permission for me to steal her idea.
So--with her permission--and with no expectations of my writing being nearly as good as hers (she's a fabulous writer)--I'm going to give it a try. Stay tuned.

Happy 9 months old!

I can't believe Keith is 9 months old today! The time has flown!
I celebrated by finishing his quilt top. Here's a few pics, for Mom...
Now just to get it quilted. Because of the appliques I think it is beyond my machine quilting abilites. I don't really want to put it up on frames, either. I'm taking it to the fabric store in Tooele where they will use their quilting machine and charge me $35. Worth it.






Belle's latest:
As David was leaving early one morning last weekend to go hunting he stopped to say buy and gave me a kiss. Belle rolls over in bed and says "Don't worry, I will wipe that kiss off for her", rolls back over, and goes back to sleep. It was hilarious.

Also last weekend she found a story at Nana's and Papa's that we read several times. It was one I remember reading as a kid. I want you to guess which story from this:The next day she told David--"Where's your manners Daddy! Say Howdy!"

"I like Prophet Monson. He's a good guy"

Helping David at the store put the groceries on the belt at the checkout she notices the Cheesecake flavored yogurt: (very excitedly) "Daddy is there pie in this yorgrit?! Why is there pie in this yorgrit?"

Private Lewis

Winner of all army-crawling races. I'm not convinced he will ever up on all fours crawl, because he seems so content to get around this way, can get everything he wants, and is pulling himself up on things. He does get up and rock back and forth a lot though so maybe he will.

It's about time...

Keith got a hair cut. It was getting bad enough that Grandma Oliver offered to do it when we visited her last week. I told her I was nervous to do it, and she laughed it off and said it's no big deal, just trim around the ears and he'd be fine. She had four sons, so I figured she knew what she was talking about. I, however, still did not know how to do it. I held Keith to try and get him to hold still and David trimmed around his ears.
Before:



Couldn't get a good pic of during because of the fact that the only way to get him to hold still enough was to nurse him.



After:

Nice job Daddy! So Maybe we need a little practice...

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.