Tadaaaaaa!!

I am finally blogging again! Hooray! Now, I know you are all concerned as to why I have been away for so long and I am here to tell you. We have our desktop computer in Peyton's room. Strange, I know, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. So...the only time I am able to get on the computer for more than 5 minutes at a time is when both my kiddos are sleeping. Not happenening when the computer is in her room. So my DH went and bought a new laptop for the living room. Nothing too fancy cause I want an iPad next year when the 2nd version comes out so we are saving our pennies. But it does allow me to keep better at updating my blog.

On to the updates. Peyton is so much fun. She is just growing into her own little person. She is constantly on the go. In fact, yesterday, Lance and I just sat there and watched as she literally RAN back and forth from the kitchen, to the living room down the hall and back OVER AND OVER AND OVER!! Then, when she got bored of that, she stood in front of us and ran IN CIRCLES (yes like a dog chasing its tail) repeatedly. We were cracking up. I love to have little conversations with her. She is getting so good at talking now that we can carry on a whole conversation for the most part. An example of a conversation between her and I today (I was outside pulling weeds):

me:"whatcha doin' babe?"
P: "I pullin' the weeds mom, what you doin?"
me: "I'm pulling the weeds too"
P: "oh, how nice!"

She just cracks me up with some of the things that come out of her mouth! Another thing she has been doing is some "trick" she makes up (like jumping off the stone lining our flowerbed in the front) and throwing her hands out to the side and yell "tadaaaaa!". Some of her favorite things to do lately are; go to the park (she loves the slide and swing), go to the lake, go to the library (there is a little preschool mom and me read-a-long on Wednesdays), water the plants with daddy, ride her bike, play with Parker, go to lunch with mommy and daddy when daddy is home, help mommy with cooking and taking a bath. Here she is eating some pizza while out on the town with mommy and daddy.



Parker is just growing right before our eyes! He is starting to reach up and grab things (he loves his black and white whale that his Aunt Amber got for him that hangs on his carseat handle) and he loves to stand up and use his little chunky legs! When he is lying down he kicks like a mad-man and is constantly on the go (too bad he can't go far yet!). The other day I walked into his room and his little head was straight up and looking around like a little turtle. He is the happiest baby, constantly smiling and laughing and always "talking" to me. He goes to anyone and is content to just sit in his swing when mommy needs her hands to cook or clean. It is amazing to me how different my two children are and they are only 2 and 3 months! The two of them make Lance and I so happy, it is hard to explain!
Here is our "turtle":



Lance has been blessed to have his schedule changed so that we get to see him more often. He now works 2nd watch (6 am-2 pm) which allows us to have a lot more time with daddy. He is home at night and Peyton loves to spend this time with her dad. She loves that when she wakes up from her nap daddy is there! Sometimes she acts so suprised to see him there! Lance has been working so hard to try and make our lives more comfortable. He has done the maximum amount of overtimes every month for the past couple months allowing us to be very financially blessed. Our yard looks great thanks to his dedication and pride in our home. When he isn't at work, he is home doing some project to better our house.

I love that my husband works hard so that I can stay home and raise my children. I never thought that it would be so rewarding to spend time with a 2 year old and a baby, day after day. It is definately the best thing in the world. I can honestly say there are rough days, but I can't really complain and feel good about myself. I have it so easy compared to a lot of people. My children are both mild tempered and happy, as long as they stay on schedule. I have a wonderful husband who makes me happy and a beautiful home that I am able to make better everyday. I am so blessed with all the things the Lord has given to me in my life right now. Just when I think it can't get any better...it does!

2 (3) month check up

Parker turned 2 months on May 17th, but because of insurance stuff I couldn't get him in for his 2 month check up until this week. So at his almost 3 month check up, he weighed in at 13 lbs 14 oz! Which put him at the 70th percentile for weight. And Height-wise he was 26 inches putting him at the 90th percentile! What a beast of a baby I have. But he sure is fun. He has started to "talk" back to me when I chat with him, and he coos and giggles all the time! He is just the happiest little guy! With such a little personality! His favorite time of day is bath time, and he sleepys soundly through the night until around 7 every morning. Man, did I get lucky! I love you, my little man!

Bath time! His Favorite

Playing with Peyton

Watching MMC with Peyton

Swinging at the park

Potty Time

Last Monday I started to potty train P1. She has shown signs for awhile now that she is ready. I got all geared up, pulled out all the little panties that I had for her, and even purchased an online book that was on sale that a friend recommended (thanks Morgan). The first 2 1/2 days were a disaster. I am talking, not even once did she make it to the toilet. Not even once. It was so stressful for me! I just kept wanting to give up! But the book said to keep on truckin' so that's what I did. But honestly, how much easier would it be to just put a diaper back on her. And if I had to say "you tell mommy if you have to go potty!" one more time...
On Wednesday afternoon, she came running to me exclaiming "I go potty mommy! I go potty!" So I ran with her to the bathroom acting excited (trust me - big time acting) and sure enough, she looked up at me proud as can be, and she was going. I don't think I have ever been so excited about pee in my life! But our real problems were only beginning.
Later that evening, she told me she had to go potty, and I knew it wasn't pee. She had not gone #2 for 3 days and I was starting to get nervous. Now everytime I put her on the potty she would cry and ask me to hold her. After about 2 hours of on and off the potty, she started to walk funny. I was at a friends house and she asked if I wanted a supository cause it was obvious she needed to go, she just wasn't doing it. I gave her the supository, and she finally went later that night (after crying for 3 hours). It was so much relief for her that it physically made ME feel better.
The next morning however, was no different. I guess she just didn't get all of it out. She cried and cried and I sent Lance to get some baby laxatives. I also filled her up on the juices. Unfortunately this meant that I needed to put her back in diapers, because who knew how or when that stuff was going to come?! I didn't want a huge mess to clean up. Call me crazy.
It now looks like we are back in the clear. Starting last night, she came and asked if she could go peepee and put on her big girl panties again. I said sure, not thinking it would actually pan out the way I was hoping, but alas...it did. Since last night she has gone in the potty everytime except for one accident last night before bed where she immediately freaked out. I know that more accidents are going to happen, but the past couple of days have given me some hope that my child will not be going to kindergarten with a diaper on!

This picture is from last year, but she was so excited to go on the potty and I love her little face and hands!

Livelys Lately

So... I don't know how all of you moms of 2+ kids find the time to sit down and blog...I must admit that I completely and utterly admire you and the time that you miraculously seem to find! And I also want to thank you for making my life so much more enjoyable when I sit down at the computer and get to read your blogs! Here I am, 3 weeks from the last time I blogged, sitting here trying to find the time to do it. We will see how many times I have to stop and save and come back to this one post!
Well, the babies and I go home to Susanville on Thursday. I don't think I have been this excited to go home ever. I miss my husband desperately, and I can't wait to see him and be with him on a daily basis. And sorry if this is TMI (don't read on if it is), but it has also been 6 weeks since I had a baby...and we all know what that means folks! Yes! I can hardly wait! Maybe it is because this baby that I had was a boy, and we all know that boys (most anyway) are very sexual, but I just feel so much more ready this time than after P1. I still do not feel sexy by any means, but I have been trying desperately to feel better about what I look like as opposed to what the world TELLs me what I am SUPPOSED to look like. I am making small progress and I know that I will just continue to feel better about myself after I keep excercising.
I also miss all my friends at home. I thought it would be great and relaxing to be away this long, but I miss all the times we get together and spend time having dinner and playing games as families. Thank you to all my great friends up there who make us feel like we are loved!
P1 is slowly becoming accustomed to having P2 around. She has random meltdowns, but I can pretty much time them and attribute them to her being tired. (not all the time, please don't think I am delusional and think my child is just tired all the time. I know that she is 2 and having temper tantrums). MOST of the time I can settle her down by putting her down for her nap (which she takes everyday for 3-4 hours...be jealous) or at night, down for bed. There are times however when she wants me all to herself. You can see the bits of jealousy coming out when I am holding P2 and playing with him, or heaven forbid, feeding him! I hold her and play with her, and talk her through it and she usually calms down quickly. She is at such a fun age and I love to have actual conversations with her knowing that she understands and will respond to me with her words as well. I love to watch her grow and learnd new things on a daily basis. Her new favorite thing is Play Dough. She always wants me to play with her, which I hate. I have never liked the feel of it and it takes a lot for me to pick it up and touch it! But I do it for her, cause it makes her happy! And what am I on this earth for but to make her happy!
P2 is growing faster than I ever thought possible! He was 10 lbs 6 oz and 23 inches long at his last checkup at 4 weeks!! That is the same size that P1 was at 4 months! It is so weird to have such a big baby when I had such a small one the first time! He sleeps so well during the night! I put him down around 9:30 or 10 and he sleeps until between 4:45 and 6! Then He will wake up, eat, and USUALLY go right back to sleep until around 11 or so. Pretty sweet! But then there are those nights...Yeah.
He loves to smile at you and LOVES movement. He would be happy with someone walking around rocking him all day long! And he is such a cuddle-bug! I love to just sit and hold him and smell his baby head and kiss his baby face. I love the way that he still curls his long body into the fetal position to sleep and curls up next to me. He is so much fun and I just love every minute with him!
This is all that has been happening in my life recently. New baby, new life. I love it. And for all of your enjoyment...here are some recent picures. (It only took 3 times to stop and start writing this whole thing!

Easter Pictures

I know it is a little late, but we finally went and had their Easter Pictures take professionally. Peyton, who is usally a nightmare while taking pictures (she cried until she made herself throwup the last time) was an absolute angel this time...which can only mean one thing. Parker was not. Isn't that how it always works? Either way, we got some pretty good shots. And I promise, Peyton's hair was cute before we left the house!

Easter Morning

The Easter Bunny even found us at Nana and Papa's house! Peyton woke up a little crabby this morning because she couldn't go according to her usual schedule, so I took her downstairs to show her that the Easter Bunny came to visit. It took her some convincing to actually LOOK for the eggs, but once she got going, she was so excited! I never knew it would bring me such joy to watch my child be so happy. One of the talks during conference this morning said something about how our Heavenly Father and Jesus love our children even more than we do. I find such comfort in knowing this, and wonder how it is possible, but do not doubt its truth.
I am grateful this Easter Morning for the knowledge I have, that our Savior lives and loves me and my family more than I could ever imagine. I am so grateful for Him and the atonement to allow me to live forever with my family, to repent of any wrong I have done, or will do, and be with those whom I love forever. It is this that is the true meaning of Easter, but I am also grateful for the happiness I get to share with my children in the fun little things such as the Easter Bunny. She may be young, but I know she knows who Jesus is when we walk through church and she points to His pictures. And when she drops to her knees at night so we can say prayers. It is these little things in life that comfort me in thinking that I am doing some things right as a parent.

Easter Eggs!

Today we got into the big soaker tub and colored some Easter eggs! She had a couple of hesitations when she had to stick her dainty little hands into the weird colored water, and would keep asking "mommy do it" but she liked the overall outcome! She took her little dyed fingers and would make a claw hand and say "rahhh!" like a monster. I love spending time with my little P1 and being able to watch and see her grow. After she goes to bed tonight I get to fill her easter basket from the Easter Bunny and watch her in the morning as she hunts around the house for all her easter eggs! It is making me remember my mom, Tammy, as she would always color eggs with us and hide our baskets for us to find in the morning. It is little things like this that make me so happy to be a mommy!