Ella Bella

Our little Ella turned three this month! She has quite the personality. In a few words she's enthusiastic, loving, determined, smart, and sweet.

Ella & Addie LOVE to dig in the dirt.
This year they'll each get their own little section to plant and take care of what they wish.

I overheard Ella talking to Ruby in the car recently. This is what I heard in a sing-song voice (background info - she'd just told me she's thirsty), "Are you thirsty too Ruby? Mommy's got some milk in her "things" for you." I don't know why but that was just so funny to me. Addison always called them my "milks."

The birthday girl in her birthday dress with her gumball birthday cake. And YES, the cake is sliding off the board. It was hot in there and the frosting was melting!

Happy Valentines day!

Jami an I had a really nice Valentines day. I guess I should say night. The day was a normal day. Me with school, and Jami getting ran over by children. I came home to a fun and delicious meal prepared by Jami. Home made macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and green beans. We spent a little time with the family, and decided to get them ready for bed. The remainder of the evening went something like this:

Had the girls go potty.

Brushed teeth.

Read scriptures while Jami nursed the baby.

Sent child #2 to bed early for being mean.

Read books.

Said prayers.

Had the girls go potty.

Sang songs with the girls.

Gave kisses good night.

Jami nursed the baby.

We started to watch a show together.

Confiscated a noise-making flash light from girl #1

Jami nursed the baby.

Tried watching the show together again.

Changed the sheets off of girl #2's bed after going potty on them.

Finished watching the show while Jami nursed the baby.

We then crash from exhaustion.

Naturally we didn't get to sleep the whole night through. Jami nursed the baby a few more times, and we clean the sheets from girl #1 going potty on them before the rising of the sun. The dynamics of Valentins day have changed a bit from when Jami and first started sharing them together, but this is the life we built together. Through our love, we started this whole mess. This all really is just a manifestation of our love. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I love you Jami!

What I meant to say . . .

Yesterday was Fast & Testimony meeting in our church. This is a Sunday where those who choose can get up and share their testimony of Christ in front of everyone instead of a scheduled speaker/topic. Addison shared a desire to get up and asked me to help her. James was out in the hall with Ruby so Addie, Ella (with one shoe on and one left behind at our seats) and I trotted on up to wait for our turn.

As we go up I have a flashback to the last time I came up with both girls. I see one lady obviously having a flashback as well as she is slowly shaking her head back and forth. I just know everyone in the front row was holding their breath, waiting to see how my children would behave this time. Last time was a fiasco, with both Addie and Ella trying to climb on the rail during my turn. Why does no one help when you're obviously struggling? Do they think you don't want help, or do they just enjoy watching the show? Just FYI, I would like help if you happen to be in the audience and aren't occupied with your own rambunctious offspring. :)

I help Addison with her own testimony (she asked me to) and Ella tells me she wants to go, but won't say anything so I proceed with my own. I can barely manage to talk, I am so emotional. I attribute the emotions to mainly a lack of sleep, which always brings them close to the surface, but also gratitude and love for my Savior. Which brings me to the point of this post. Since I wasn't able to fully express myself yesterday, I'll do it today. What I meant to say is this:

I have a testimony of my savior, Jesus Christ. I know that he died for me, you, everyone. I am grateful for his example. I fall incredibly short of living up to my potential every day, but I know that I can keep trying because of the Atonement of Christ. I don't have an amazing experience to share, only this knowledge and gratitude for the help I receive on a daily basis through the promptings I feel in my heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

All the rest of this post is really the rantings of an insecure young mother. The important part is the short paragraph above, which although short and simple, is what I meant to say. I'm trying to forget about the embarassment I felt/feel about crying in front of everyone as I walked quickly, holding a bawling Ella (she was having regrets about not taking her turn), back to our seats. The important part is that I tried to share a message of gratitude for my Savior with others and I hope they felt that and looked past all the rest.

Ruby's Blessing Pics

Thanks to all the friends and family who joined us in celebrating the beginning of Ruby's life and blessing. It was especially special to have ALL of my sisters there. That was most likely the only time that'll happen!
Such a beautiful baby.

Happy eyes and the hint of a smile. Love it.

Turkey Treats

I saw this treat in Taste of Home cooking magazine and thought it would be fun for the girls and I to do together. It turned out to be a bit advanced for them, but it was still fun.

If you're interested in making them here's the link:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Tom-Turkeys

A great treat to take to friends you are thankful for!

Little Ruby

Little Ruby came into the world a few weeks ago on her big sister Addison's birthday! (Dr. Jacob, my OB who delivered her has his b-day on the same day!)
I knew it was a possibility that she would be born on Addie's b-day, but never thought it would actually happen!

I started laboring around 5pm the day before and decided it was the real deal a few hours later. My contractions got closer and stronger and around 11:30pm, with the contractions 2 1/2 minutes apart we decided to head to the hospital. At midnight, I was checked in and not too much later I was in a hospital room.

The labor wasn't as fast as I'd hoped - she was born at 7:01am. This time around I decided to go epidural-free, so it probably seemed longer. :) I prepared by taking a hypnobirthing class, which helped, but was still quite the challenge. Around 6:45am the dr arrived and he broke my water (not exactly approved of during the hypnobirthing method, but I was ready to be done!) and 16 minutes later Ruby was born. That's all my body was waiting for!

We are glad she's here!

The first moments after birth.

It's such a good feeling immediately after birth - the relief, the happiness, the feeling of a new baby against your chest immediately relaxing because of the contact - just joyful.

The birthday girl holding her sister!

Ella contemplating all that's happening. She's had the hardest time of anyone, but is gradually adjusting to the reality of not being the baby.

Her happy loving personality shines through in this picture.

James and Ruby - Father of three girls now!

Ruby at 1 1/2 weeks

Ella stealing a drink out my water bottle. :)

Trick-or-Treating Greeting

The much anticipated Halloween day came and went yesterday. It almost didn't happen for Addison because she refused to clean up her room for awhile. She was simply told that she couldn't go anywhere until it was cleaned. It took her about 4 hours to decide to do it versus the few minutes to actually clean it up. She told her Aunt Ali that she made a "really good choice."

Ali came over for a little bit and helped me get some strawberries ready to freeze and make a pumpkin for my belly. It turned out cute - thanks Al!

I made yarn hair for the girls - really the only picture with a glimpse of it is of me and the pumpkin belly - Addie's head is in the shot and that's the top of it. Pretty much the rest of the night I was carrying the hair. Why did I make it again? At home that's all they want is Rapunzel hair.

Ella

Addie snuck into the tree house with her bag of candy and went to town. Look closely at her face and you'll glimpse the sticky, candied mess she was.

We had to visit Gma Great (Harward) too. It was a bit chaotic and I was so exhausted by the end of it all. Since James took the pictures he isn't in any, but he was there!

The weather was perfect yesterday, but today it is snowing outside. I thought the change in weather would bring on the labor - nothing is happening yet though. What I need is a good thunderstorm! The baby is so low now that it has got to be soon. A few weeks ago the baby was +1 and she's even lower now.

This time around I'm not going to be induced for anything other than a medical necessity and I can't say I'm enjoying the anticipation and uncertainty of it all. I keep telling myself it won't be too long - it's hard to wait patiently. The hormones and emotions of pregnancy really don't help much either - or fussy girls who are tired from the day before and probably having sugar withdrawals.

We did have a happy halloween and later on this week we'll have at least one more celebration for Addison's birthday and hopefully another birthday will occur!