'There Once Was an Owl Named Chitters'

The Library brought in some owls from the Bountiful Aviary a couple of weeks ago, and we were needing something to do that wasn't in the hot hot sun...we needed to get out! This event was perfect. It was in a familiar place where Addie knew to be quiet, and it was nice and cool inside.

 The presenter did talk a little too much BUT it was informative and interesting AND he taught us a funny song about the second owl :) Addie hasn't stopped singing it!

'There once was an Owl named Chitter's. Chitter's. Chitter's
There once was an Owl named Chitter's.
'Cause that's all he would do.
And if you meet ol' Chitter's. Chitter's. Chitter's.
And if you meet ol' Chitter's.
Just try to make him....HOO!'

It was a hit! Oh and the highlight of the night for me was this little guy ^^ tell me he doesn't just make you think of 'Pidgwidgeon' Ron's little owl in Harry Potter :) I'm a nerd and I know it.

'[They] melt my heart like a Popsicle on the 4th of July.'

I just love to take pictures of Daddy and his girls. Especially when they are eating popsicles together!

 How cute is Kiera's face right there? ^^

Oh and don't mind the baby shiner...she flipped a bucket up in her face...it's long gone now.

Pretty Pretty Hair

So these pictures are more for Addie than anyone else. When I style her hair she inevitably asks to see what I have done...and seriously how do you teach a 3 year old the two mirror trick...I tried. So I take a couple of pictures of her 'pretty princess hair' (that phrase is my secret weapon to getting her to sit still...that and some fruit snacks), and she giggles and loves them. Well, I am posting them because I figured 'why not?' and although they aren't perfect maybe you might enjoy them too.

'I am a Mother!'

So, I have been reading a plethora ('do you even know what a plethora is?' haha name that movie...) of books recently. Many of which are about parenting or motherhood. I have definitely struggled with the expectations that Mother's must 'do it all', and it is something that has hindered my growth as a Mom. Sometimes all the expectations out there really get to me! How in the world can one regular person do all those things? Thus the birth of my quest for purpose and self identification as a Mommy. I probably haven't prayed enough about what it means to the Lord to be a Mother, and honestly I know if I was more frequent and purposeful in my daily prayers I would definitely be a better Mom to my girls. That is a constant resolution of mine 'to pray more frequently'. I do however have a constant conversation with my Heavenly Father going (think 'Fiddler on the Roof' style), but I know a more formal type of prayer would be more beneficial, (there is a talk on that by Elder Wirthlin I think...) but I digress. I really wanted to talk about this book I read! It is titled I am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. It is a wonderfully written book by a woman relatively well known in the news casting world, and an LDS Mom. She gave up what could have been a very prestigious and successful career as a news anchor to be a Mother. I never really amounted to much academically speaking, but it wasn't what she wrote pertaining to what she 'gave up', but it was what she wrote on giving value to all types of Motherhood. As a Mother I have noticed how much judgement is passed, good and bad, on every choice we make in rearing our children. Whether it is our decision to diaper with disposables, or to enroll our babies in early schooling. What pressure! It has really been wearing me down! Now those who know me could probably tell you I over think pretty much about everything (PJ just the other night mocked me, don't worry it was in a loving way, he said "You hear someone say 'How are you doing?' and you think 'Does she like me, what does she think of me, am I overly friendly, I probably was really embarrassing when I said good and told her that annoying story about the other weekend.'") Oh, why do I punish myself and overthink things all the time?! Becoming a Mother only magnified that trait of mine...it's stressful. This book and the other's I have read are helping me shape my perception on Motherhood and what realistic expectations I should have for myself. So, here's to doing what I am inspired to do that is right for my girls, and maybe giving another Mom on the way a shot of importance, because "To be a mother is a woman's greatest vocation in life. She is a partner with God. No being has a position of such power and influence. She hold in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her comes the responsibility and opportunity of molding the nation's citizens." (Spencer W. Kimball) My new mantra 'I am a Mother.'

They're Soooo Cute!

 Look Mom bribed me with fruit snacks!

Fun With Grandma at Our Favorite Park!

 OK, how cool is that picture?

Ta Da!

Snow Baby

November 2011

She was a wonderful helper for Daddy. He waged a snowball attack on the neighbor kids. Addie 'made' the snowballs.

Daughter of a King

Addie got these sweet princess dresses from an Aunt (which we are very grateful). She has just recently become much more interested in all things princess. She loves to put on her 'pretty' dress and will ask me to put the rest of the dresses on her stuffed animals and Kiera. Then we play music and dance like pretty princesses.

This one kills me. If you can't tell she's puckering her lips.
We recently checked out some princess books from the library. There was one in particular that just touched my heart. The premise of the book was all girls of all ages were all princesses and main character, Katie, was taught by her parents that the King sent her there to learn how to act like a princess in all situations, and someday she could return to live with the King again. Not all the families remembered that they were sent there for that purpose, so they didn't teach their children the same things that Katie was taught. It goes through her life, marriage, children, and then finally when they are an old couple she and her husband go on a journey to find the crystal palace (the kings castle). On their way they meet certain people that help them find the path to the palace. There is one man in particular that tells them of the only trail that will lead them to the castle he says 'The kings son made this path, it is the only way back to the palace.' Paraphrased of course. In the end after their journey came to an end they hesitate at the gate because they are worried they won't be welcomed in their wind worn and dirty state, but the King comes to them and embraces them, and tells them he had been waiting for them to come and live with him.

I obviously don't do it justice, but it gave me a broader perspective on how my parenting will lead my children to find the right paths in life. It also brought a tear to my eye when I thought of the couple all worn and dirty from their journey, and how they were joyously welcomed because of the love the King had for them! It didn't matter to him that they were dirty. He loved them just the same and was glad they had made the journey to live with him again. I am sure that is just how we will be embraced by Heavenly Father when our journey has come to an end; if we follow the path his son paved for us.

I am glad I know I am a princess, and that I can teach my girls they are just the same.

Pretty Princess Hair

The stuggle is over. I have achieved the impossible. I can now do Addie's hair anytime, and anywhere I want. All I need is a bag of fruit snacks. Success.

Instead of smiling she ate her corn dog. Yum.

I obviously need practice, but it's worth it.

The Birth Story

I know this is late, but every time I go to write down Kiera's birth story, I just can't seem to do it justice. So at this point I am just getting it out there so I don't forget too many details.

The day before Kiera was born I went to see Dr. Judd for hopefully my final exam, and to plead with him to get that sweet little angel out of my tummy. I gave him my two cents and he said if I was dilated enough he would think about it. He proceeded to give a very painful examination, and while he was doing this terrible thing he said, word for word mind you, 'Don't worry it will be worth it.' haha oh man funny guy, lets see him suffer through one of those sometime. I left the office sore but happy (he granted me an induction date for that Thursday, Hallelujah there was an end in sight!).

That night I got all snuggled into bed ready for a great nights sleep (not true I had terrible insomnia) and had just fallen asleep (3 am) when I started to feel these terrible pinches and cramps in my tummy. I thought ' These are some really intense Braxton Hicks.' It didn't cross my mind at the time that they might actually be contractions. They weren't too bad yet so I would fall asleep for about 10 min only to wake up to another one. This went on until 5 in the morning when I finally just got out of bed and walked around. I woke PJ up because he needed to be awake for some reason...I really don't know why I just woke him up...I wasn't in labor. HA. We waited it out, let me rephrase that, I waited it out while PJ slept on the couch, but they weren't getting any closer than 7 min apart so I sent him begrudgingly off to school, with an 'I will call if you need to come home'.

I called him 45 min later. I was pretty sure at that point I was in labor. They were intense little buggers. They still were only 7 min apart so I was hesitant to get going so 'soon' but they hurt and I was tired. I called my Mom so she could come down, and called Alicia, my wonderful friend who lives in Lehi, to watch Addie for a couple of hours until my Mom could come take her off of her hands. I cannot thank her enough for that. By the way driving 45 min in the car while you're in labor sucks. Anyways, I got there, got signed in and the contractions stopped, and I panicked. But this lovely nurse, that I will love always,checked me and I was dilated to a 6 and fully effaced. Awesome. Chest bump, I felt like a 'Sturdy Mountain Woman' haha ask Alicia about that one.

So I got dressed in a lovely little blue number and got all settled into the hospital room. They asked me if I was going to want the epidural and I said 'Hook Me Up'. Another moment of awesome. OK. So here's where it starts to get good. My water still hasn't broken mind you. I was sticking at a 6-7 so they pumped me with devil juice (pitocin, seriously have a love hate relationship with that stuff) and progress to a 10 in no time at all. So they called my Dr. to get there ASAP because this baby was a comin'. They took me off the pitocin because I was progressing too quickly for the Dr. to get there in time. But he made it. My Mom was there, that lovely woman, and she and PJ were settling in Addie with a movie and some snacks when the most hillarious event happens. The Dr. got all settled in and told me he was going to break my water. He did. And well lets just say anyone who was at the south end got a good dose of what it would be like to ride a water park ride, in an intertube, in the rain. Oh my goodness. My water EXPLODED! What would you do? Really? I laughed so hard (that didn't help the situation either). Oh, and just so you know PJ is still not in the room. Anyways I laughed so hard that the baby almost slide right out of me. Thankfully the Dr. was there to keep her from falling out or bad things would have happened. The shell shocked nurses hurried PJ into the room, and bada bing bada boom (AKA two pushes) and Kiera was born. That beautiful sweet angel of a baby. Oh, there is no other emotion to compare to the birth of a child. It is just pure sweet bliss coupled with relief. She was nearly the same height and weight as her sister, and she was perfect. There you go. I hope it lived up to expectations. Because it sure did for me.

'My name's Mater, like Tomater, without the tuh'

Addie loves Play dough. She also loves Cars. So what better way to combine her favorites into one activity than to make a play dough Mater!

Close enough.
Unfortunately we always need to put it away sooner than later; she likes the taste of the play dough way to much. Ew.