Growing pains . . .

So, Big D is loving food! He is eating it three times a day now - and loving every bite. He especially loves to handle the food himself, which is proving to be very messy, but Master S and Miss Lilly love to laugh at him as he tries to bring his hand to his mouth and in the process gets it ALL OVER . . . they think its hilarious. I'm trying to come to grips with the fact that I was so anxious to get him to this spot and now I'm going to be dealing with clean up for a very long time. Oh, well - what is motherhood about, if is doesn't involve some kind of beautiful mess to clean up at least several times a day. Someday my house will be clean again . . . and the floor will no longer be sticky, and I'll be very bored and lonely!
Master S planted a sunflower seed in his kindergarten class last spring. He brought it home in the classic Dixie cup and once it started to sprout we decided to put it outside. Right after we planted it, a big rain storm blew through and we thought we'd lost it, when we found it lying flat on the ground, but it perked up and amazingly is twice as big as Master S. Maybe we should be planting more sunflowers in this dry, rocky desert of ours!

All grown up?!?

Saturday morning, I was up feeding Big D his morning cereal and Master S came down to join us. He wanted some breakfast, but I'd told him he would have to wait until I was done feeding Big D. The next thing I knew, he had a bowl, a spoon (take a look -- it is a serving spoon ;), a large amount of cereal and was even pouring the milk (another huge helping - but hey, he did it himself!) and amazingly enough, no spills! I think he even ate all of the cereal. Amazing how you can live with your kids and still not realize they are old enough to do things like that until they do them right before your eyes. He is wearing a watch now too -- and is constantly keeping me updated on the time - especially if it involves time waiting to play the wii!

This is Big D eating breakfast - such a wonderfully happy kid! I love his smiles. We got to go to the Jazz festival in Deer Valley this weekend - it was so beautiful and great music! So nice to get away - I worried so much about the kids and the 16 year old I asked to babysit, but when I got home she said, "They were great -- you know I only babysit for a few families in the ward -- your kids are always good!" Yeah! Hopefully we can keep it that way!

Boings and Three year olds

So, if you ever had any doubts as to the true nature and personality of Miss Lilly, I don't know that it can be defined much better than these two pictures! I was doing her hair the other morning, trying to find a new way to keep it out of her face and she asked,
"Mommy, can you put Boings in my hair?"
"Boings? . . . "
And in an effort to avoid an explanation that I wouldn't understand and would inevitably get wrong when I tried to follow it, I said,
"SURE!"
And this is what we ended up with. It actually is pretty cute on her, and I'm figuring out how to pin them with clips so that they stay in all day. Not only does it keep it out of her face better than anything else we've tried, it also gives her this great curly pieces at the end of the day that really doing go, "Boing" when you pull them.
Miss Lilly is certainly hitting the "throw up your hands and wonder what in the heck you are doing as a parent, three-year old stage"! She knows exactly how to push our buttons and can throw tantrums that put Master S into an emotional state that would make you think we'd left him behind at a gas station and forgotten him. Some days I just don't know what to do with her . . . they are usually the days that I've been at work for the greater portion of awake time, which I'm sure has nothing to do with it (sarcasm heavily implied here!). Consistency is difficult when I'm home, let alone when her Dad is in charge, who by the way - Miss Lilly is very aware of him being tightly woven around her little finger :) She certainly is Daddy's little girl . . . can't wait for 16 to hit. Kind of scary how you can see a 16-year old looking out at you in that second picture!

Giraffes, Dogs and real FOOD!

On Sunday a few weeks ago, the kids were having a 'moment' which is very normal since we have church at 9am and then a whole day for Master S and Miss Lilly to spend together playing - or something similar to it, if you call taunting, poking, and teasing play?! Sunday is strictly a family day at our house - without the wii none the less, which means there are some pretty amazing brother -sister play arrangements that usually end with someone wrestling with someone else, and it isn't Master S and Big D. Miss Lilly can wrestle with the best of them and actually usually pins Master S when it really counts, leaving Master S in an emotional state that you can only imagine. Anyway, it was a usual Sunday and we decided to pull out the markers and paper for a distraction until dinner and this is what they produced. Both are pictures of giraffes - the top is Master S' creation, the bottom Miss Lilly's (I think her picture actually ended up being a picture of herself looking at the giraffes?!?). I thought they were great - loved the hair on the red 'girl' one, as Master S put it :)
Big D and his dog - we initially took the kids before he was born to get an animal for him, since Master S has a dog (Scooter) and Miss Lilly an elephant (Elly), and the kids chose a monkey. Well, it didn't take long to discover that not only was Miss Lilly swiping the monkey to play dolls with, but Big D really wasn't into it. We soon realized that he couldn't get enough of Master S' dog, 'scooter'. So, we found 'Spots' at IHOP and he and Big D are inseparable - not only is the dog is favorite wrestling partner, but he is his sleeping companion and snuggler that seems to make even the most horrible moments better. (We really don't do that much wrestling around here -- but how else do you describe a boy and his dog? or the loving moments of a brother pulling his sister's hair and her in turn dog piling on his back?)
Yes, we are sitting up! Hooray! Although still a little tipsy, but he loves to be up with the kids and feel like he's more a part of life here, crazy as it may be. And we had a break through with the rice cereal and eating - yeah! I found these things called 'mum, mums' at walmart and he loves them. Plus, he must have had a switch flip in the night because he can't get enough of the cereal and fruit. After two LONG months we are finally convinced that maybe the stuff isn't so bad.
This week is the week of decisions - J.D. has a couple of great offers for work! We are excited, but one would require moving out of state . . . and we are anxiously trying to decide if that is where we want to be and need to be!?!? Not that we've ever been tied to our current residence, especially with no close family here - but, I guess it is just the idea of leaving our comfort zone. It's what we've known for 10 years and its hard to imagine leaving it. Oh, the agony of decision making!

Brothers and a Sister

Master S and Big D are really hitting it off lately. Big D loves to see Master S - and hear his voice and Master S loves to make Big D smile and laugh. They are already enjoying a little bit of wrestling on the floor together! I think we are noticing how much they like each other because Master S is now in school all day -- and it is a long day without him!!! Miss Lilly is happier doing her own thing most of the time, but I am amazed at how much I miss him just being around the house. I feel so out of control of his world these days - its a very odd feeling, something I'm going to have to get used to. I think Big D is missing him too. His squeal when Master S walks in the door after school is one of my favorite sounds. I love the pictures of them in the kitchen, looking at each other, Big D mimicking Master S already! I keep telling Master S that he's got to be a good example, because he's got a brother and sister watching. I finally had some success with Big D eating solids tonight. I'd cut up a peach for myself and Big D was begging for it, so I let him suck on it for a minute and then when he liked it I ground it up for him and he actually ate it! So, his first official food is peaches - I know that goes against all doctor recommended 1st foods, but he hates everything else, so I thought, why not!?! If it gets him to eat more solid food, great. We are on formula now, so I need everything I can get to stretch the formula out . . . stress got the better of me with the milk thing. Oh, well -- 6 months is the best yet :) I'm counting it as a huge success! Here is a picture of Master S' first day of school.

Working Mom . . . exhausted Dad!

So, I'm picking up lots of extra time at work and switched over so I can get benefits until J.D. has a new gig going (that is a job!). Which means that we are switching rolls for awhile. I am always very busy at work and exhausted when I get home. IMC had 600 babies born in July and even more are expected in August, so the maternity unit, where I usually end up is always hopping! It is great because I get to take care of new moms, and babies - ooh and aah over how darling they are and help moms to feel good about themselves, learn the tricks to breastfeeding and embrace the new challenge in their lives with excitement. It is great! Although I still love to be in the Newborn ICU - that is my favorite place. I enjoy what I do, but when I work maternity I'm always a little more nervous because I still feel so new at it and I don't want to miss anything important - you know, like a hemorrhage or a medication (the doses are so much bigger for moms compared to babies)! I had to prepare some training for ward council at church and I told J. D. I was more nervous for work than giving the training . . . which is saying something for me! And because I'm working a lot of 8 hour shifts (NBICU does mostly 12 hour shifts) I'm in maternity more often and as a result a little more on edge with stress. I'm feeling very grateful that I have that ability to do this though -- it will make a big difference as J.D. is looking and interviewing and will help us keep benefits and stay afloat. I am so grateful for sticking with this nurse thing and having the ability to help us through the rough spots. I'm finding that juggling all the mom stuff and working more is proving to be an incredible task. I honestly don't know how the single moms I know do it! It is a tiresome job with no break in sight and I have an understanding for that, that I never would have had before this. Somethings are just not important anymore and I'm quickly realizing what should be the priorities. It makes me reflect on other times in my life where I felt sorry for myself because I didn't get the time to do frivolous things that I thought I deserved, and realize how different my perspective is now. There are lots of things that are fun and enjoyable, but only the most important things in life will bring us real and lasting joy -- like talking to your 1st grader about his first day at school and watching his eyes light up when he talks about three recesses! Or, playing with a 3-year old making play-dough pizza and painting beautiful princesses with our fingers. And especially rocking a baby to sleep and feeling the weight of his little body and easy breathing, watching his peaceful face and realizing how dependant his is on you and how much he loves you, just because you are you! J.D. on the other hand is learning the crazy, non-stop, insane, child -managing ropes of being at home with three kids! I think he's decided that he would definitely prefer to be working - that is at a job outside of the home, because motherhood is work! :)I caught this pic of him and Miss Lilly yesterday, after I got home from work. It pretty much defines how he feels after a day with the kids (and Miss Lilly too)! I think he is very grateful to have Master S in school all day - one less crazy to keep track of. He has a lot of potential job ops this week -- interview tomorrow and some more recruiters to call back. Looking forward to the end of this roller-coaster, one day at a time ride!