Tender Mercies

So good news! I had an ultrasound to find out just how far along I am, and it turns out I am actually 4 weeks further along than I thought! I am officially 14 weeks today. That means I only have about another month of being sick, rather than two. Wahoo! That was a HUGE blessing. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Thank goodness for the Lord's tender mercies.

Here are some picture updates of the chillins. Braxton and Bella love to just turn on their kids sing-along music and dance around the livingroom or Braxton's room.

Bella loves making little crawl spaces for herself and sitting in little holes just big enough for her. It makes me laugh. She is so sweet.

MY PRETTY GIRL!!

Here is what happens when Braxton "helps" me make bread. At least the mess is worth the time that it keeps him occupied!

I have such a blessed life. Last night at the relief society broadcast, Sis. Allred told a story of a couple who took their two small children on a 27 hr ride to the temple to be sealed together as a family. On the way back, both children caught cold and died, and the parents returned home empty handed, but with hope and gratitude in their hearts for making it to the temple to be sealed as an eternal family. That story has been replaying in my head over and over since I heard it yesterday. I just don't understand why some people are given so much and blessed beyond what they deserve, while other wonderful, amazing, strong individuals are given such hard trials and live with so little. I will never understand it until perhaps the next life, but I don't take what I have for granted. I thank my Father every day for the life I live, my husband, my home, my parents and siblings, and most of all my two beautiful children. They are my greatest blessings, the sweetest "tender mercies" the Lord has given me, and I live every day for them. I hope and pray I can be the mother they deserve.

It's Been Awhile...

Hello Blog.

It's been awhile.

I feel horrible its been so long since I have updated you on our lives, but to tell you the truth, I do have a pretty good excuse. For the past six weeks I have been puking and eating nonstop even though no food ever sounds or tastes good and all I want to do is sleep all day. My poor children have watched way too much t.v. and gotten into way too much trouble while I lay helpless and pathetic on the couch most of each day. I do take them out every now and then, on good days, when I'm feeling ok and not throwing up so much. I remember it being this bad with Braxton, but Bella was a little easier on my body I think. I guess there was another little spirit in heaven who just couldn't wait any longer. So whether we are ready or not (I was definitely leaning towards the NOT for the first many weeks after I found out), here they come! It was a surprise and took awhile for me to adjust and accept the fact that we will have three young chillins under the age of 4, but the Lord has had his hand in this and has let me know more than once that this is His will and this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life right now. I just can't wait for these first four months to be over. Eight weeks down, about nine more to go....*grrrooooaaaaann*. Pray for me.

Braxton is turning three in a couple months, and every time I remember that it surprises me. I think he should be turning 4, or 10. He is such a big boy and amazes me every day with how smart he is and how much he is learning about the world. Don't get me wrong, he is definitely still a little boy and acts like it plenty of the time, but its so hard to believe he has only been in my life for less than three years. He loves playing the role of "big brother" with Bella, for better or worse sometimes. He can be so sweet and loving to her one second, then such a tease and pest to her the next. I feel like a broken record sometimes. "Braxton, be soft to your sister. Braxton, be soft. That wasn't soft. Be ssssooooofftt. Braxton!! BE SOFT!" :) Thankfully she is tough and takes it all in good stride and still loves him to death no matter what. He is a wonderful helper to me with running little errands I need done around the house, and loves being a part of anything and everything I am doing. I love how when he likes something, he will say "Ya! I love that! Its my favorite!" :) Its so cute. I just want to eat him every time he says it. Unfortunately, I think he is pretty much done taking naps. At 2 1/2!! I feel jipped. :( I know he is still tired and needs a nap, but he is just so stinkin' stubborn, and it just turns into a two hour fight with him and its not worth it. At least he goes to bed earlier and easier at nights now! Wahoo! With every gray cloud there is a silver lining... :)

Bella is my little love bug. She is so sweet and kisses and hugs and loves on me all day long. I can't get enough of it. I know some day I am going to look back and these days and long for them again, when my children actually ENJOY cuddling and kissing me. They won't last forever, so I am taking all I can and loving every second. She gives kisses to anyone and everyone, asked for or not. She will do anything I ask with a smile on her face and then is so proud of herself when she is done. I can't believe how much she is talking already, too! I can understand a large majority of what she says, and her words are getting more pronounced and her vocabulary larger every day. She is a pure joy to me and Justin. My trial with her right now is getting her to sleep through the night. The "cry it out" thing and I just don't get along too well, so I am tryin to find some other way. Any suggestions?

Justin has been a wonderful help to me these last many weeks while I have been sick. He surprised me when I told him we were going to have another baby, saying "well, at least we'll get them all here quicker!" This is a huge relief and blessing, seeing as how he thought we would be done with one! He works so hard for us every day, then comes home to a messy house and on bad days not even a dinner, and takes it all in stride and does his best to help. He loves our children more than anything in this world and works so hard to give them the life he wishes for them. I am grateful for him and all he does for our family. He is sweet man and I love him.

Well, I am about to keel over and start snoring right here on this keyboard, so I think its off to bed with me.

Until next time. "Oravwa!"