Mother's Week #2

Katie came down on Monday, took the boys to Target to let me get in a nap and brought me lunch back. Tuesday Jill and Tori took the older boys to Disneyland because Big A told her the week before that is what they were doing. Jill was great by actually taking photos and emailing them to me too. After they got back from Disneyland, we did a quick photoshoot- we thought it was HILARIOUS. The photo of Ryan with Lil i is from Mother's Day.

Lil A was afraid and rode like this in the doombuggy.

Autopia

They were eating suckers, chasing birds and Lil A got stuck here.

Air Show

The boys went to my parents' house the weekend before I had Lil i (does that help some of you) and had a ton of fun. They ran errands with Ga on Thursday and spent Friday and Saturday with Papa. Saturday they went to the Air Show with Uncle Mike and Papa. They are still talking about it 3 weeks later. They got little "pairplanes" (according to Lil A) and Lil A has them talk to each other and wants to take them everywhere. On the way home Papa was thinking he was going to have to have McDonald's but Mike said "No, In-N-Out" and the boys agreed (hi, I have my boys liking the good stuff). Here are a couple photos I stole from Mike's camera over the weekend.

I'm a Princess?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Hair Washing

Baby I loved getting his hair washed. He stayed asleep through the whole thing. He loves the shower. I love getting my hair washed too.

Backyard Fun

The older boys got used to having Dad around since he didn't go to work the week after Baby I's birth. They kept him busy and had a lot of fun. They ran lots of errands, trying to get things together for Mother's Day and planting flowers with Nannie- they LOVE watering all the new plants.
I was feeding Baby I in my room one afternoon, happened to hear the boys in the backyard (my window looks out to the backyard), glanced out the window and saw the cutest thing- they were pushing each other on the bike because the seat was too high for them to pedal themselves. I hollered at Bryan to grab the camera.

I went outside another time, saw them lying on the ground with the golf clubs in the air making gun noises. I think they were shooting birds but I didn't get a straight answer from them.

Sunday, May 4

**The first of many posts**

Sunday (the 4th) Bryan and I headed to the hospital thinking that it was going to be like the other 2 boys- somewhat fast and NO C-Section. I like to plan everything and thought I had this all planned out- go to hospital, have baby within a few hours, stay at hospital for 24 hours, recover quickly (like after Lil A) and be on "normal" routine before the week was over. Boy, was my plan totally wrong. I never thought a C-Section would even be a possibility, but Baby I was trying to come out feet first and since I had toast before leaving for the hospital, I had about 3 hours to worry about having a C-Section. My nurse was great, Bryan said she reminded him of Jamy (maybe that is why I liked her so much). Mom came down and spent a couple of hours with me before I was taken away- it is a much different feeling being the patient, I looked at the instruments very differently.
I did not really enjoy the experience but now I can honestly say, it is much harder to recover from a C-Section and I was not apart of the birth. I couldn't see what was going on, my neck hurt and I couldn't really move my arms because they were stretched out on the arm boards. In my Recovery room, I was really hot and could not have anything to eat or drink (because I would throw-up- I did later in my room after 2 sips of apple juice, my nurse warned me but I am stubborn). And it was almost 24 hours before I was allowed to walk and now that it has been a week and a half, I have noticed the numbness around my incision- YUCK! A few nice things about this delivery, they were really accommodating for the Dads (roll-away bed, meals, and a "pantry" where Bryan could get food/drinks whenever) and our last meal they tried to give us 3 trays of food because they thought we had a visitor, and all of my nurses were really great (the night nurses would take Baby I for 3-4 hours so we could get some sleep- I don't think he would have kept us awake though). Bryan's mom was able to stay with the older boys while we were at the hospital and helped after we came home, which was great because I was really out of it- my sense of time was off when we came home (I thought it was the weekend and it was Tuesday).
But out of all the badness of a C-Section, I have a beautiful baby boy, who is really good and lets me sleep (most nights) for 5-6 hours straight. He gives me the biggest smiles and endures all the love his big brothers give to him. So the C-Section was worth it to have him but if I had a choice I would not have chosen a C-Section.

Disneyland with MaLaan!

The boys had such a great time together! I think we need to live closer to each other (hint, hint).

The two pregos. She has so much more energy than I do.

We had such a great time with our friends. On Tuesday (April 22) we met them at Disneyland and had a great time. *Thank you to Jill (AGAIN, she really is the best- I think everyone needs a sister/aunt like her) for making it so I could go to Disneyland.* Big A got to go on Soarin' for the first time (I don't take them on rides that both boys can't go on) and it was a hit with everyone that rode.
This photo of Lil A wouldn't work in the slideshow but since he didn't get to ride Soarin' I thought he needed his photo on the blog and he had a great time chasing birds.

Thursday, MaLaan and family came over, played and then we went to lunch. It was sad when they left for San Diego. Big A kept asking me if we were going with them. And when the answer was "no," his response was "But they are my friends." Hopefully we will be able to see them soon (well soon for the adults).

**Oh, still no baby. The boys are with my parents for an extended weekend and we are wondering what we did before we had kids. I have heard that they are having a great time but have not actually talked to either one of my boys. Hopefully I will have the baby before the weekend is over but since it is perfect timing, I doubt that it will happen. I am going to go get pineapple (I read online that spicy food and pineapple induce labor- I had Pei Wei's DanDan Noodles last night and it didn't work, so I am going to try the pineapple). Wish me luck.**

Chalkboard Drawings

Bryan was a little surprised when he saw Big A's drawings when he came home from work one day. Big A was so proud of them- so of course we had to take photos.

Lil A had to get in on the photo shoot. His drawing is to his right, he likes "searcles and searcles."

Big A drew these a couple days after the first set. I know he told me one of them was Daddy and I think the rest of them are Lil A, Big A and me.

Visitors

Bryan's mom came down on Wednesday to spend a few days with us. Thursday we went to lunch with Bryan and a "quick" trip to Target. Friday we went to the Discovery Science Center, where Bryan, his Dad and Beebe & Con met us. Saturday we went shopping and to lunch- it was really nice to go shopping and to have Papa Brown entertain the boys and to have Bryan's mom help encourage Bryan just to get the mirror. It was also great to have help with putting up a mirror and putting together a bunk bed (because if Nanny & Papa Brown weren't here, I would have been helping) and being able to go to run a fast errand and coming home to the boys being bathed and in jammies all ready for bed (that was probably my favorite thing).

It was good to have them here for a few days before I have the baby because I could translate for the boys and when I have the baby, it won't be so hard to understand what the boys want/need.

Growing Up

Lil A has been growing up so much in the last little while.
He sat on the potty! He refuses to do it again but he did it! A month ago, he would have screamed and arched his back if he even thought he was going near it for himself. Big A keeps telling him "I will help you. I will hold you." He is such a great older brother.
Lil A is also eating different foods (different from bread and cheese). He LOVES meat and has started eating vegetables and fruit besides bananas, apples and grapes. Baby carrots are a favorite but he will eat green beans, peas, and corn if he knows there is dessert after.

I know as soon as I have the baby he will seem even more grown up and Big A will be even older (I am having a hard time realizing that I am going to have THREE kids and one of them is four years old!).

Really?

You Are a Red Crayon

Your world is colored with bright, vivid, wild colors. You have a deep, complex personality - and you are always expressing something about yourself. Bold and dominant, you are a natural leader. You have an energy that is intense... and sometimes overwhelming. Your reaction to everything tends to be strong. You are the master of love-hate relationships. Your color wheel opposite is green. Green people are way too mellow to understand what drives your energy.

What Color Crayon Are You?

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Photos by Big A

Big A took these photos around his birthday (yes a month ago) and I thought they needed to be remembered (well the ones with Lil A, the ones with me can be erased just because I am pregnant).
They are both growing up so much. And I know they are only going to seem more grown up as soon as I have the baby. *I will let everyone know when that happens but I have to go to Disneyland tomorrow and it would be nice to go to one more Enrichment on Thursday- I know, I know I cannot decide when I have the baby but I like to think that I can.

Conference Breakfast

It is a tradition with my family to have Crepes for Sunday Conference Breakfast. As kids, we LOVED it because it was dessert for breakfast. Matt still insists that is what we have and the rest of us don't complain at all. Lil A is not a fan even though his had marshmallows, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup (and then whipped cream). Big A loved it- the chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, marshmallows and strawberries. This was Ryan's first experience so it was fun to see what he chose, his first one had the little sausages inside but once he saw what the rest of us were doing he decided to eat the sausages separately. Lil A in the background of one of the photos is getting more "poons." They are really into getting their own forks and spoons and sometimes several times during a meal (or even just a snack) they need a different one- very frustrating as the parent and we remind every time now that if it is dirty it needs to go into the sink, NOT back in the drawer.
Later that night (after our yummy dinner of smoked Tri-tip and fresh rolls), Brian brought over Rock Band and Dad & Bryan, Mom, Jill & I played Pinochele and my boys rocked out with a microphone and speaker (set up by Uncle Mike- so the older kids could play Rock Band without help), singing "I Am A Child of God" and "Popcorn Popping." Overall it was a fabulous weekend, I wish more weekends were like that.

Fishing and a Camp Out

Bryan and my dad took the boys fishing for their first time on Conference Saturday. They had a great time. They didn't catch any fish but whenever they would cast out, they would think they "had a fish" and would reel it back in only to find no fish. They had snacks and McDonald's on the way home (so how could it have been a bad trip). They both have asked several times since then "are we fishing tomorrow?" I think they would enjoy anything that involved Dad and Papa, snacks and McDonald's.

Camp Out
Last night, Bryan had a camp out for his calling. He decided he would take Big A and then I wouldn't have both boys all night by myself. I was still a little nervous about it because I have NEVER stayed the night by myself with the kids (I have also had a sibling or parent- it has never been just me and a child/children). Lil A was okay when we were talking about it but as they were loading their things in the car, he started to take his pillow and blanket out to the car too- so Bryan had him put them on our bed for "the slumber party with Mom." He was okay with that and even with the kisses good-bye but as soon as they headed to the car, the tears started. As a parent, I did not one child to miss out on something fun but also knew that it was a big deal for Bryan to even take one kid (who is only 4 years old). So Lil A and I did some laundry (I am serious about them LOVING to help with it) and then headed to Target (where we met our friends). After a somewhat quick trip to Target, we went to In-N-Out for dinner. Then Lil A and I went to Wal-Mart to return something for Bryan and he got to look and touch every toy he wanted. Then we came home to watch 2 shows while laying in Mom's bed. Having one kid was really easy but I normally don't think that- Lil A LOVES his brother and was concerned about him missing out on the fun things he was doing.
I had a pretty rough time sleeping (but honestly, I am almost 37 weeks what do we expect) but then at around 3 am my cell phone rang. It was Big A crying. He wanted to come home and sleep in his bed. I tried to calm him down but that is hard to do when we are in the same place and he is half asleep (he really is my child). He woke up because he had to go to the bathroom but then kept telling Bryan that his ears hurt, he wanted to go to the doctor (so they would leave and he could sleep in his own bed). After that, I really had a hard time falling back asleep. I was woken up by a telemarketer and decided to call to see how the campers were doing (around 9am). They were having a great time but I found out when they came home that Big A woke up again about 5am- so a nap was necessary this afternoon.
I would definitely do that again but I don't know if Bryan would.

brownies!

What is interesting about these photos is that Bryan did the batter on the eyebrow and on his lower left cheek. "trying to wipe some off his face (with a spoon) and he looked down". I think they like the batter more than actual brownies. The boys love to help with the baking and cooking- just ask Ga, Big A can get the little ladder out at her house all by himself.

**I think we are going to make brownies again tonight (especially if Bryan takes Big A on his camp out).

Big Helper

I realize this photo is a little risque but it is the only photo that I had to document that Big A changed Lil A's diaper while I made bagels. He wanted to change a poopy diaper later that day but I had him unload the dryer instead. Just for documentation purposes, both boys are interested in helping with the laundry. I start the washer , put the soap in and they load the dirty clothes in. But I think their favorite part of laundry is putting the wet clothes into the dryer. What am I going to do when they are not interested in helping?
Here is another day when Big A changed another diaper. He really likes doing it. He wants to help with the poopy diapers but I think we will have to wait until he is 5. I commented to my mom that he is what I imagine Beebe being like- she changed my CLOTH diapers when she was 5 years old.

Big A's Birthday AGAIN

Some presents for Big A were left at Ga's house, so he got to open them this past weekend when we were there. So I think we celebrated his birthday for a week and a half- I hope we don't have to do this for Lil A too. He LOVES the gifts he got from Conrad (Aunt Beebe & Uncle Tyler) and from Papa Cy & Grandma Nielson . And we all loved the drawings on the present from Con (we decided Aunt Beebe had a good time drawing too). Thanks to everyone for making Big A's day (week & a half) fabulous.

I LOVE Brown

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Brown

You're brown, a credible, stable color that's reminiscent of fine wood, rich leather, and wistful melancholy. Most likely, you're a logical, practical person ruled more by your head than your heart. With your inquisitive mind and insatiable curiosity, you're probably a great problem solver. And you always gather all of the facts before coming to a timely, informed decision. Easily intrigued, you're constantly finding new ways to challenge your mind, whether it's by reading the newspaper, playing a trivia game, or composing a piece of music. Brown is an impartial, neutral color, which means you tend to see the difference between fact and opinion easily and are open to many points of view. Trustworthy and steady, you really are a brown at heart.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652