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!"

Summer Rain

One of the best things about Summer is the Monsoons - ya gotta love warm summer rain storms!! We love playing in it any chance we get!!

(There was a momentary lapse in the rain, hence the hose came out to act as proxy for a moment...)

5 Yrs and Counting...

Happy Anniversary my Love! We made it to 5 years!! There have been great times, hard times, sad times, joyous times, funny times, happy times, rough times...but without a doubt these past five years have been the best years of my life.

We both have grown so much just in these few short years, and I am so impressed by you and how you constantly are bettering yourself for me and our children. I love you more every day and am grateful for all you are and all you do for our family. You are my everything!

Here are 5 of some of my most favorite memories of you in our life together:

1) Looking at you from across the alter in the temple and knowing you were going to be mine...Forever!!

2) Every time we go to the beach - You enjoy it with childlike innocence and it makes me so happy to watch you!

3) Our Honeymoon - 'nuff said! ;)

4) Our frist trip back to New York for Christmas, just after we were married and before we had children. It was so fun seeing you at "home" and watching you with your mom. It was fun and relaxing and I was so sad when it was time to leave.

5) The morning Braxton was born. It was the only time I have ever seen you cry. I will never forget it.

I can't wait to see what our future holds and look forward to continuing on this wonderful journey with you. I sure love ya!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Happy 4th of July!

Bella's 1st Birthday!

My sweetest Bella,

You turned 1 yesterday, and it was such a fun and memorable day. I kept thinking all day long about how only one year ago I was laying in a hospital bed, anticipating your arrival and wondering what you would be like. That was such a sweet day for me, brimming with tender, loving emotions. I felt such peace as I lay there waiting for you. Everything went so smoothly, your arrival almost perfect in every way, so reflective of your character and who you are. You came out tight fisted and crying, angry at being yanked from your comfortable home. I remember seeing your dark curly hair, your pink chubby body and being giddy with happiness. It always surprises me how much love a mother can feel for her child at that first moment of meeting. I cradled you close to my breast and sang to you and just stared at your perfect face probably for hours. How can someone so imperfect create such a perfect miracle? You are mine, and always will be.

I look at you now, a whole year old, and I can't help but smile in adoration. My love grows for you every day. You are my little love bug! You love smooching me, and I mean smoooooching, and I can't get enough of it. Your hugs fill me with warm bubbles of joy. I love it when I pick you up after you wake up from a nap and you lay your head down on my shoulder and pat my back, like "thanks mom. I knew I could count on you. I missed you too." Or when you think you did something funny, you open your mouth wide and crinkle your nose and give the cutest little laugh. You love to sing and dance, to play with your brother, to cuddle and hug, and you love hugging and laying all over Marley and Loui. I don't think they mind too much, either. You are already trying to talk, saying "momma" and "daddy," and even though I can't understand too many other of your words yet, you are excellent at communicating your wants through your body language and facial expressions and your ever famous pointing finger. You are my girly girl, through and through! You love trying on shoes already, playing with momma's brushes as you comb your hair, and its so funny to watch you try and dress yourself! You make us all so happy, and we are truly blessed to have such a beautiful and wonderful daughter and sister in our lives. I look forward to every day with you and can't wait to see what you have in store for us tomorrow.

I love you my Bella Rose! Happy Birthday!

The beautiful Birthday Girl

Some of the Friends and Family

If you can't get the face, ya gotta get the toes!

My

The cake!

The presents!

It was a wonderful day! Thank you to all who made it such!

Camping on the Beach - June 2010

We took our annual trip a couple a weeks ago and went camping on the beach again. It was wonderful! We normally go up above Santa Barbara, but decided to try a place lower this year near San Diego, and I am so glad we did! Not only was it a shorter drive (thank goodness! 6 hours of screaming Bella was just about all we all could handle!) but it was warmer. We loved it and had so much fun. We got there Monday night, set up camp and ate dinner, then went to bed. Tuesday through Thursday we just relaxed and spent most of every day on the beach. Braxton and Bella were both afraid of the waves (might have had something to do with the fact that B-rax was knocked over by a big one Tuesday morn when we went down before breakfast to take a look - fully clothed and all) so they spent most of their time in the sand. It was heaven to them. Bella ate a healthy dose of it as well, but a little sand never hurt anyone, right? Thats what I had to keep telling myself... Here are some pics of the first few days.

Nathan and Becca came with us, along with Landon, our cousin, and Robert, Becca's younger bro. It was so nice having family to spend time with and to enjoy the fun. Above is Nathan and a very buried Robert. It took some time to get him out of that one!

B-rax couldn't be left out, of course. This kid was so fun to watch. He made friends with every child on the beach and would have spent all day every day playing in the sand.

Daddy and son, enjoying the waves.

Little Miss Princess

I love this picture. I think it captures his personality, as well as his spirit. He is throwing sand into the ocean, or trying to. He is such an adventurer and loves playing and exploring and being apart of everything.

His favorite sand tool - his cousin Audin's shovel. Audin was a good sport about it and let him play with it alot.

Wednesday we took a trip down to the pier and walked along it, then played on the swings on the public beach for awhile. The kids loved that! It was so beautiful there.

At the campsite at night. The kids all love aunt Becca!!

Awwwww....kissing cousins!!

I love this picture of Bella!! She is growing up so fast... My little lady.

By the third day we got B-rax to go into the waves, as long as daddy or mommy was holding him or his hand. He loved it after that!

Friday morning we took a stroll to the look out to see our beach one more time and say goodbye. We have some wonderful memories there!

Then, off to Sea World!! We were there from about 11:00 to 5:00, spent most of the time in the children's play land, Sesame Street Bay of Play, then packed up and headed home. It was a long week and a long day, but we had so much fun and made lots of good memories.

Until next year!!

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