Home Alone

Moms with little kids shouldn't be allowed to get sick. It's as simple as that. But if they are unlucky enough to catch something, dad's shouldn't be allowed to be at youth conference for 2 or 3 days when it happens. 

Let me tell you a story. It's really a funny story if you think about it. But at the time- it wasn't that hilarious. This actually happened like 15 mins ago. I'm still trying to decide if I'm laughing or crying, or crying because I'm laughing or vice versa. 

There's this mom of 3 kids I know. She's got a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a new born. She's pretty good at pretending she's a good mom most of the time. But this one time her husband went to youth conference and she was left with the 3 littles for the weekend.  Her babies sometime sleep in til 7:30. Sometimes they don't. This particular Saturday morning they didn't, and She wasn't feeling super awesome so she laid in bed while the 4 year old watched a show on the iPad in his room. The 2 year old wandered about getting into her nightstand and everything else he could find and the newborn snuggled the not so hot feeling mama. When 7:39 rolled around she decided it was time to get her lazy sack of bones out of bed and get going for the day.  

Ok. Let's be honest, this chick I'm talking about is actually me. So I will stop talking like she is my. But that's besides the point. 

 I rolled over, sat up, and put my feet on the floor (think-Home Alone where Marv is coming in the window barefoot and very deliberately smashes his feet down on the glass ornaments) only my feet didn't hit glass. It was enveloped in something cold and slimy. Nope. Not  poop. Thank heavens. However, thinking about it-poop would have been easier to clean up. I looked around and found my entire tub of aquaphor was empty. Since when does my Link know how to unscrew lids?! Doesn't matter- where is LINK?! So I go find him in the bunkbed next to the power ranger watching Gabe. The bedding is all covered in greasy smears. But most importantly, Links head was slathered in no less than a quarter inch (literally no exaggeration there) of the ultra moisturizing goop. I couldn't help but laugh. Then wanted to cry because I was going to have to be the adult, the one to clean everything up. My nausea wasn't being nice to me. But I decided I needed to take a picture or 3 because I would hopefully laugh later, (and so that the dad at youth conference would get a play by play of my morning). 

I quickly googled- "how to get aquaphor out of kids hair". About a million different "helps" showed up. Apparently, I'm not the only one with a child who loves mischief. So I scanned a few over and decided to use the ones that sounded like they made the most sense. Baby oil? No. Baking soda and dawn dish soap. At this point the newborn obviously decides she is going into starvation mode. Wonderful! I put her in her bouncy to try and soothe her(which didn't work very well mind you) while I threw the 2 year old in the tub. Thank heavens for the Costco 500 lb. bag of baking soda, and my dawn dish soap I had on hand. After a good 20 mins- a few washes-a fair amount of wailing, because I was obviously trying to drown him while rinsing everything out,  it's still there. Not quite as thick thankfully. But it'll come out at some point I imagine. I hope.  But for now, his hair looks pretty stylin' and it's not movin'. I think I'm gunna go take a zofran. 

The woman I haven't met

When I was younger I remember the exciting anticipation of summer vacation, our yearly trip to California, the firt day of school, Christmas morning. The night before each of those, I clearly remember not being able to sleep a wink. I would close my eyes tightly and for what seemed like hours, only to look at the clock and see that 7 whole minutes had passed.  I found. Myself in a similar situation just the other night, and a few nights since. In just under two weeks I am going to meet someone fantastic. Someone amazing. Someone incredible. The anticipation is killing me, I've never seen her face or heard her voice but I know I will instantly fall in love with her and we will be best friends. I can feel it. This woman is destined for greatness. Her name even means noble strength. She is named after 3 women of great strength and incredible goodness. She is going to teach me so many important life lessons, and how to be a great mother. She is going to teach me to have a greater capacity to love more wholly, be more patient and how to love life more intensely. Perhaps the sleepless nights are partially due to the discomforts that come naturally towards the end of being pregnant but also due to the fact that I am brimming full of excitement to meet this incredible lady. 

Audrey, we anxiously await your arrival and are so grateful you chose to be a part of our family. We love you more than you can know. 

Gabe-isms

I figured it was about time i sit down and document some of the things that Gabe is up to these days. Because for real, the kid is a crack up. Not only does he listen to everything I say- but he repeats all the things I dont want him to say. So needless to say, I have had to tone down and think very carefully before I say anything. often times i will quickly type things he says into my phone so i dont forget, so here are a few of the things that come out of the little knuckle head's mouth.
some are from wuite a while ago. when he was still learning to talk, when he would want your attention and you werent giving it to him fast enough, he would say, "pocus mom, pocus!" Translation: focus!
If he wanted mom or dad to know that he was being a good boy he would say-"good aaaatude mom. good aaaatude."
Translation- Im being good mom, look Im having a good attitude!
Any time anyone something isnt quite right he will say, "oh dear"
Gabe looks up to his dad so much and wants to be just like him. At least a day I hear him say, "I'm big like dad" or " I have big muscles like dad" or " Im big and strong like dad, I can fix it." Any time he gets hurt or is having a hard time, he wants to call dad and talk to him at work, and just be reassured that dad loves him and that everything will be ok. It is so wonderful to see the relationship that those two have together. Gabe idolizes dad, and loves being thrown on the lovesac doing super man from behind the couch, doing helicopter, flips and airplanes from across the room onto the big cushion landing.
On the way home from church the other day, he took off his seatbelt, put his arm around me and gave me a side hug and said, "mom, youre gorgeous!" Another day I was making him lunch and he looks at me and says, "hows your day honey?" it made me giggle and just made my heart swell. This kid is so full of love and sweetness.
Before we moved Lincoln into a big boy bed in Gabes room, he would go in every morning to greet Link and say in the sweetest highest sing song voice he could utter,"good morning sweetheart! how did you sleep?" 
Dont be fooled tho, however sweet and kind this boy is, hes got some fire and spice.
On several occasions I have had to get after gabe for being naughty and he will reply with,"mom!, dont talk a me like that!"  ha ha ha apparently he has heard that a few times..... he knows he is not supposed to raise his voice to mom or dad, so naturally we shouldnt talk to him like that either eh? yeah he likes to think that he is the boss too..." mom- im the boss right?"  "no , gabey you are the kid and i am the boss" "oh. you the boss and im the kid"
Lately he has been loving "secrets" so he will come whisper in my ear, "i suggest..... its a beautiful day. or i like peanuts, or i suggest we ride 4 wheelers. or i suggest dad is at work. etc." he really cracks me up and it is so fun to watch how his little mind works.
He is a wonderful big brother and loves to play with lincoln. sometimes he doesnt realize his strength and gets a bit rough. but soon enough link will be able to hold his own. he is helpful, is great at reciting stories, singing primary songs, and has very good manners. He is always saying please, thank you, giving kisses, hugs and I love yous. Sometimes I wish I could stop this stage and keep him little forever, but I feel that way at every stage, it just keeps getting better. He loves to play outside on the tramp, ride his 4 wheeler, scooter, dig in the dirt and just be a boy. He is so excited to meet his little sister in a couple weeks, and thinks that he has a boy baby in his tummy and mom has a girl baby in hers. He likes to feel baby A move and tells me to put my hand on his tummy and feel his baby move. It will be so fun to see how he treats his little lady sister.

Lincoln

Lincoln is at such a fun stage right now, he is 21 months old and is runnin around like he owns the place. His favorite word is "NO"  and his favorite past time is sneaking into the bathroom to go fishing. (not his mothers favorite thing to find him doing) He is so full of fun, spunk and personality and is just the sweetest little snuggler. About 2 months ago we moved him out of his crib and into Gabes bunk bed and ever since, he has decided he wants to be a full blown big boy. Any by that I mean- he refuses to sit in his high chair and wants to be at the table or on a stool with everyone else. He sleeps in a big boy bed and has done really really well. He still however loves his binky and blanky- which will be very hard to give up i am sure. But its ok. He loves to climb and hang out on the table or counter tops. He LOVES to jump and is probably the best little under two year old jumper you will ever see. He loves to ride the 4 wheeler all by himself and with his brother and he loves to run EVERYWHERE. HE is so snuggly and is always willing to give me hugs and kisses and rest his head on my shoulder. it. is. heaven. this little boy has stolen my heart, and i think may have a little bit of a hard time adjusting to a new little baby in the house, he is used to being the baby and i think he rather enjoys that status. So, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts. Whenever he sees other babies, he likes to be sweet and soft, unless they are just barely smaller than him- then he likes to show his dominace by pushing them over, stealing their sippys or poking their eyes. so he has a little bit of a stink streak in him- so we will see how it goes.
About a month ago we got a little chicks and Linky is obsessed with them. They are his favorite thing to go see in the mornings and he is just fascinated by them. He loves to play in the dirt, jump on the tramp and snuggle during nap and bed time. I love that, for as much as he wants to grow up fast, he still is little and lets me snuggle the crap out of him. Last week he stayed in nursery for the first time all by himself and boy was his momma overjoyed, after 3 months of church- in the nursery- she was overjoyed that he decided he could stay without her. Lets hope he can keep it going, because baby sister is coming in 3 weeks! And he needs to be able to hang out with people other than his mom. Heres to hoping :) He loves to make messes, throw tantrums, read books, and play with his big brother.  I love having this little nugget in my life and am so grateful for the joy he brings to me.
Here are some pictures of this sweet little lincoln log. 

September

Um hello fall! Summer was a total blur and an absolute blast. We went to Star Valley, Wyoming in the beginning of june and just hit the ground running from there. We spent tons of time playing in the back yard, going to 7 peaks, camping and boating and going on little weekend family vacations. I spent a lot of time training and running races and had a ball, but now that summer is over-  I am one tired chica. Im gunna slow down on the ol pavement and not be such a stress case about running like a maniac. Lincoln started walking finally!(14 months old) and Gabe potty trained (finally)! Life is good. here is an update of our crazy summer life.