The Best Holiday

I don't really know why Halloween is my favorite holiday.  It might be the cool, crisp air, or the crunchy leaves, or the full moon against the black sky casting creepy tree branch shadows everywhere, or the chance to dress up and whole-heartedly join in the mutual embarrassment, but it's probably the free chocolate. 

We had a great time this year.  As the kids get older our options for fun only expound and grow.  Hyrum is starting to pick his own costumes, so relinquishing control is something I'm trying to learn.  It's not about me, it's about the kids (that's what I keep reminding myself).  Ivy was super shy, but she'd follow Hyrum anywhere so we didn't have too many meltdowns.  And Delia was our sweet little baby doll, happy as long as she's in her little carrier.

First Ivy, Delia, and I ventured to the pumpkin patch with Ivy's preschool.  It was a fun day, but I wish the whole family could have been there.  It's becoming a frequent dilemma in our house:  take Hyrum out of school to avoid the crowds or go on the weekend and fight with hoards of people.  So, poor Hyrum and Daddy went to the grocery store pumpkin patch this year (Hyrum wasn't too happy about it).

Actually capturing a picture of Ivy where she is not only smiling, but holding still, AND looking at the camera is a miracle. Here's a collage of a few more pics that didn't turn out quite as "picturesque".

Next, we decorated sugar cookies.  We are quite the icing artists.

After some Halloween Bingo and Twister we carved our pumpkins!

AND finally... the costumes.

I LOVE Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood.  It doesn't make very much sense because only about 10 people total are actually home and have candy.  But here's my reasoning: NO CROWDS (I know, I must be crowd phobic or something).  Since we are pretty much the only people who bother to Trick-or-Treat in this quiet neighborhood, the people who are at home with a bowl of candy are ecstatic to see us and our ADORABLE munchkins.  We chat and they show us their pets (who of course are in costume), they give our kids a HANDFULL of candy, and we come home feeling like we did a great service to our lonely neighbors.  I honestly couldn't imagine decorating my house (and my cat), buying candy, and waiting at home for little visitors just to be disappointed.  We should be awarded some Halloween badge of honor for our kindness:)

This video is hilarious because it displays one more of Ivy's fears.  We already knew she was scared of monsters, dogs, toilet flushing, vacuums, bathtub drains, bugs, and the dark.  Now we can add one more to the list: knocking on doors.

Paying Homage to Cabbage

WARNING: The proceeding blog post includes such words as "breastfeeding", "engorgement", and "gas". 

For those of you who are prone to blushing, scoffing, or using phrases like "too much information!" you might want to skip this post.

You've been warned...

Just a stinky vegetable that gives me gas? 

NO LONGER! 

The cabbage will go down in the "History of Erin" books as a beautiful, amazing, healing flower of paradise.

I was heartbroken to find out I had to stop breastfeeding Delia last week.  I am ashamed to admit I was feeling resentful towards her because whenever I ate chocolate, dairy, and most fruits and veggies she was irritable and gassy.  So my diet was pretty limited.  I was fantasizing and craving foods like pizza, ice cream, cheese sandwiches, and chocolate chip cookies.  Even though I was excited for the time when I could resume my junk food diet, nothing prepared me for the abrupt halt in nursing my sweet baby.  When I had to stop, I realised how lucky I was that I could breastfeed, how precious that time was, and how satisfied I felt giving my baby the best nutrition possible.  I've been incredibly emotional and clingy towards all my kids ever since- I never realised how important the simple act of breastfeeding was in my life.

Poor Delia was an absolute champ about the whole thing.  She went through a hard day and then drank the formula like she'd been doing it all her life.  She hasn't shown any signs of trauma or anxiety either (I know that sounds silly, but I honestly thought she would be bad-tempered and angry at me for abandoning her).

I on the other hand, suffered not only emotionally, but the engorgement was excruciating.  The pain, the sleepless nights, and the anxiety was so horrible!  I had previously heard about using a cabbage compress, and many friends suggested it, but I didn't believe it would make any difference.  Finally, after enduring a week of pain without relief I was desperate to try anything.  The FIRST night after applying the cabbage I slept like a baby (a baby who sleeps through the night- which no baby does, so I don't know why we say that, but you get the idea).  The relief has only gotten better with each hour and I could dance for joy.  Do I smell like a combination of rotting cabbage and sour milk?  Yes.  Do I really care? Nope!  Thank you whoever decided to put cabbage in your bra!  You were crazy, but I needed you!

A Hairy Situation

I always wished for a baby girl with hair. Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE Delia's hair, it's just getting a little ridiculous.  We'll have to nickname her "Elvis" for the time being.

Family Pictures

We luckily have an awesome friend who took some BEAUTIFUL pictures of the fam over the weekend.  I just had to share them!  THANKS ASHLEY!!!!

Here's a silly video of the kiddos:

Talents Abound

Serious light saber skills, dancing, AND singing:

we just can't suppress our gifts.

Another Girlie One

Here's a little movie for the Grandmas and Aunts: 

(I promise Hyrum has not been forgotten- he'll make his way into a post one day!)

Bows and Braids

Ivy's hair is FINALLY long and thick enough to give her mommy lots of fun styling options.  I absolutely love the time we spend every morning talking and trying out different styles.  Her hair is a beautiful strawberry blond color with yellow and red highlights.  I have no idea who's genes she inherited, but whoever it was: THANK YOU!

And here's sweet Delia with her little ponies.  She has CRAZY thick hair that I have to wash every single day, but I love it anyway. She wasn't very happy with the style, so we'll hold off on the hair pulling torture a little longer.

I know there's many people who think spending time on little outfits and hairstyles is an absolute waste.  It's true, it's very frivolous.  On the other hand- the life of a stay at home mother is, at times, exhausting, tedious, overwhelming, and stressful.  We often go many days without recognition of our tireless efforts to keep the family and house in perfect order.  I dress my little girls in silly clothes and take time to style their hair in elaborate bows and braids because I very simply love to.  It's not essential to their health or happiness, it's not going to create world peace or stop world hunger, but it makes me feel like my life isn't just changing diapers and cleaning dishes- so BACK OFF people...

The Beach Makes Me Hungry

We enjoyed a perfect day at beautiful Virginia Beach last weekend.  The weather was amazing and the kids were lucky to soak up some much needed Daddy time.

Hyrum wasn't satisfied unless he was in the ocean with Bry.  He had an absolute blast running away from the waves and jumping them (which gave Mommy a heart attack).

Ivy loved playing in the sand and making friends with the strangers who surrounded us.

Thanks to the AWESOME tent thingy we rented, (best $20 bucks we ever wasted) Delia slept most of the time.  Here's our little baby burrito:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that baby stretches are dang cute.

Baby smiles are cuter though. 

Delia's post nap routine is very rigorous- strrrretch, then... SMILE.

And last but not least, I ate.  Apple chips, granola bars, trail mix, pizza (cheese-free of course), tacos, and orange soda.  Nothing was safe that was in my reach.  Now it's no secret why I'm having a hard time losing the baby weight (thus no pictures of me in my swimsuit).

Game Over

 Here's an update on our little brood: 

Hyrum is a Kindergartner!  Sad, but true, I can't keep my little baby from growing up.  His favorite Kindergarten activity is eating in the "Cabitorium".

He LOVES girls and frequently points out the beautiful ones everywhere we go.  He also has a new "girlfriend" every other week.  This is how he explained marriage to Ivy recently, "Sometimes big girls are princesses and big boys are princes.  When they grow up they get married and get presents... I love presents."

He's discovered the magic of Star Wars, so we have in depth conversations about the fate of  "Dark" Vader, "Dorth" Mall, and Hans "Soli".  He uses his trusty light "saver" to protect the family from scary monsters and aliens- good thing too, our neighborhood's infested.  THANK YOU George Lucas for many, many hours of 5 year old boy entertainment!

Ivy is two going on thirteen.  Her favorite phrases are: "I'm not talking anymore."  "Don't look at me." and "I'm out of batteries." 

She started preschool and when I pick her up in the afternoon I'm pretty sure her teacher lies through her teeth as she proclaims how well behaved Ivy is. 

When she's not acting like a teenager she's quite fun. She loves to dance, manipulate play dough, and read the exact same book over and over and over and over....

Delia is my shinning beacon of peace and tranquility.  I totally look forward to my one on one time with her- it's the only time in my day where there's no whining, complaining, tattle-tailing, and fighting.

She's a great little baby with the patience of an angel (as long as I don't eat dairy or chocolate).

Bryan has major Senioritis and can't wait to graduate and move onto the next phase.  He's been an amazing support to me.  I can't believe how much energy and love that guy has.

Erin is struggling with the juggling act of raising three kids.  She often wonders how in the world anyone else manages this.  She has to remind herself that it took 9 months to gain the baby weight, so that's how long it might take to lose it.  She spends too much time yelling and losing her temper at her kids, and not enough time showing them how much she loves them.  She cherishes her family, friends, and life, but feels like she is constantly falling short on all her responsibilities and goals.  She has a deep and unchanging knowledge that no matter how many stupid mistakes she makes, her Heavenly Father loves her.  She is learning more and more every day to rely on her Savior, who brings peace and hope if she'll only open the door.


BTW- many of the pictures in this post were taken by a fabulous girl named Andrea.  Thanks girl!

First Smiles

I know, I know- I've completely skipped months and months of our lives, including an entire pregnancy, Delia's birth, Hyrum's preschool graduation, a super fun Utah trip, and many other sweet memories in between.  I dearly hope to record these milestones for posterity one day.  But today is not that day. 

Today is for the best milestone of all, the first moment when you know your new baby knows you and loves you. After 6 weeks of no sleep and recovering from childbirth the best reward finally arrives in the form of a toothless grin...

Everyone has differing opinions regarding who Delia looks like the most.
I'll let you be the judge: