A Room With a View

  Sunsets...

Ocean waves...

 Misty moors...

he he

No.  Not even these breathtaking views can compare to this: 





Not very many things can relax the mind and body like a clean kitchen sink.  Don't you feel so zen just looking at it?

Journaling

Keeping a journal is very important to me.  I'm so grateful for those individuals who've taken the time to jot down what was happening in their lives, even though it might not have seemed important at the time.  I've gained so much strength from the scriptures, ancestor's lives, my parent's writings, other's blogs, magazines, and books- all because someone simply wrote stuff down. 

Now... I'm not saying my life or writing is special or momentous, but maybe something I do or say will help someone, or just make their day a little brighter.  When I write I usually think of my kids reading the post in the future, and hopefully it will help them know how much they're cherished.

Since journaling is important to me I figured I might as well start teaching Hyrum the art.  He has a simple little notebook with a question at the top of the page.  He just answers the question and draws a picture- easy. 

Here's just a few of his entries:

Question:  What do you like to do with Ivy?

Answer:  I like to play Dora. (the Explorer)  With Ivy.

Question:  How many people are in your family?  What do you like about your family?
Answer:  there are 5 people in my family and I Love XXXXXOOOOO them  (look a Delia's cute curls:)

Question:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
Answer:  I want to be Luke (Skywalker) when I grow up.  Cuz he's cool.

Question:  What are you really good at?
Answer:  I am good at the Wii.  Because I know how to do it.  And I win and Mom and Dad and Ivy Lose

I don't know if this will create good habits for life.  I DO know it's adorable and I'll make him do it until he realizes I'm not the boss of the universe.

Baby Slime

Delia has started teething-  a statement that sends chills down the spine!  No sleep, tantrums, and overall fussiness... yep, sounds like a typical day at our house. 

Since constant pressure on her sore gums helps alleviate the pain, she likes to use each of us as her own personal teethers.  Hyrum and Ivy are super patient with her (since the stumps in her mouth aren't sharp yet). But, they don't love the residue she leaves behind, which they've nicknamed "baby slime". 

Here she is, going in for the kill:



I happen to think baby slime is adorable and delightful... unless Delia just ate brocolli, then it's just gross.

She can almost always be found with something in her mouth, preferably hard with a little squish.  Mmmmmm... plastic cookie.



Stages of a Diaper Change

Delia is very strong and very fast, much like a puppy wriggling free from even the most determined arms (we often refer to her as our little puppy).  She also CAN'T STAND lying on her back.  So, as you can imagine, diaper changes can be problematic nowadays...

Here's the stages of a typical diaper change with our dear one year old:

We first begin with the recognition that the dirty diaper cannot be ignored any more- whether because it is sagging enough for crack to show, or because the stench has created a green cloud (or both).

Now comes the preparation step. Take out all the needed supplies, open, and organize- as if preparing for a natural disaster.



Here comes the tantrum stage as we lay the darling baby on a safe, secure surface...  legs flailing dangerously close to the steaming pile in the diaper, clenching booty cheeks like a vice so retrieval is impossible,  just prolonging the screaming and torture.  It's hard work, but with precision and patience cleanliness IS attainable. 





Just as the bum is shiny and clean comes the first escape.

  In a circumstance where the choice is to keep the baby restrained and leave the diaper (and it's contents) unattended for siblings and other loved ones to step, fall on, and/or play with OR allow the prisoner to flee and secure the diaper, ALWAYS choose the latter!!!



Next, comes the second escape as fumbling with those tiny, slippery onesie buttons is inevitable... at least the diaper's on...



ANNNND FINALLY, the goal is reached!  The baby is cleaned and clothed.  Now just breathe easy and know that a great feat was accomplished ... but don't revel in your success for too long cuz the baby's playing in the garbage ...

Lifesavers

Compared to many families I know (including the one I grew up in) 3 kids really isn't that many children. I keep on observing in absolute awe the mothers who can handle more than three. How does everyone get fed, clothed, cleaned, played with, and loved? How is the mom actually smiling and at ease?  How come the children are actually behaving instead of acting like a bunch of monkeys set loose at a candy store?

Three kids has been a huge challenge for me- I'm not complaining, I LOVE having them in my life. It's just hard to find time to accomplish anything besides making meals, eating meals, and cleaning up meals.

It's always crazy and chaotic at our house, but I have found a few things that have made my life a little easier these past months. 

Here's a few:

This is our trusty squeezy spoon.  It's so nice for semi-liquid food that's tricky to successfully make the journey from container to mouth without spilling.  Delia is devouring her green smoothie (half spinach, half frozen fruit blended together with a little liquid) in this picture. 

This is our "monster spray".  Due to the horde of monsters in our house, the kids have a hard time being alone, especially at bedtime.  The best tool to deter these pests is a nice, relaxing fragrance (apparently monsters hate the smell of lavender).

Delia is into EVERYTHING these days.  I remember having the time to follow Hyrum and Ivy around the house at this stage- cleaning after them and making sure they were safe.  That's just not possible nowadays... so it's nice to have safe, not too messy diversions scattered around the house for just a few more minutes of kid-free time.  Delia loves these magnets on the fridge.

In an effort to keep things positive around here we have our little behavior charts.  It's nice because it helps us focus on good behavior instead of just punishment.  When Bryan or I notice the kids being extra good, they get to move one space (the figures are attached with Velcro).  When they reach the end they can pick a prize from our prize bucket.  It's so exciting for the kids and really helps them understand the kind of behavior that's expected in our home.

When I ABSOLUTELY have to get something done and can't have a little screaming baby at my feet, I use the play pen.  Delia complains at first, but usually ends up content for a few minutes.  Hyrum and Ivy like to join the pacn'play party too.

We use this floatie so everyone can play with mommy in the pool... and mommy's back can relax for a little while.



In a post about lifesavers, how could I NOT include this dude?  He's such an amazing support and friend.  His patience with the kids (and me) is amazing.  I'm so grateful for my darling husband!

I also need to include both parents, my mother-in-law and all my siblings (including in-laws), my friends in throughout the US, my ward members and fellow bloggers.  So many times I've gained strength from these wonderful people, just like angels here on Earth.

AND, last but not least- my Savior and Father in Heaven.  Their comfort and strength are never ending and generous. 

Nails

Our dear boy Hyrum is a really great kid.  He's obedient and helpful, kind and sensitive with others, and entertaining and super fun.  He's just delightful in so many ways, but he's also got a pesky habit that drives us CRAZY...

He's got such a strong impulse to bite, he even bites his TOE NAILS and has the nerve to try and bite family member's nails. 

We frequently explain to him that the purpose of our nails is to trap germs from entering our body.  So, if we put them in our body, all those yucky germs make us sick.  Even after a nasty bout of the stomach flu (which we of course blamed on the silly habit) he still risks the exposure.

I guess he can't be perfect... just watch out next time you're at our house- you might find a little boy nipping at your fingers.

The Lost Pictures

I SWORE we took pictures of Delia's birthday, but couldn't find them when I posted.  They just turned up magically the other day.  Here they are!

Thanks so much to those who gave her cute clothes, toys, books, and money!  We are so very grateful!

It's Hot Outside

Yep.  Texas is hot.  Very, very hot.  And humid.

Even though it's sweltering outside, there's still fun to be had (I'm trying to be positive here).  If we can get out before 9am it's relatively cool ("cool" around here is high 80s- but don't forget the humidity which makes it feel like high 90s) so we try to make it to the park or ride bikes.  You can usually find us across the street in our neighbor's pool in the afternoon.  By the time we get home, bathe, and eat, we've all exhausted our energy for the day and just relax until bedtime.

My heart condition is much more serious in this weather (I'm not really sure why). I have to battle through constant headaches and super low energy. But, as long as I drink lots, and lots, and lots of fluids and keep up on my medication it's more bearable.



We spent the 4th of July at a friend's beautiful house and pool.  Their daughter captured this sweet picture of Ivy and her freckles.

The kiddos are becoming expert swimmers.  Ivy has even learned to swim without her floaties.



Ivy sneezed the other day and proclaimed "Mom!  I just bless you'd!"



Bryan takes the kids fishing on Saturdays.  I love the peace and quiet, and they love daddy time!

Ivy was too frightened to reel the fish in all the way.  Here's the video:

 



DeeDee is 1!

The best word I can use to describe our little baby girl is DELICIOUS.  I know, that's kind of weird, but it's just what it is. She's so beautiful, and cute, and funny, and cheerful, and sweet, and lovely- such a perfect little gift.


She giggles when we play, sing, read books, when we feed her, when her diaper change is FINALLY over, when we come in to get her after a nap, and when she thinks something is funny and wants everyone else to laugh. The rest of the time, she's usually screaming, which, crazily enough makes her even more lovable. We love our feisty girls in this house.

I had to include a crazy hair collage.

This is Bryan when he was a baby (a little older than one, but he looks so much like Delia in this one, I had to post it.)  Ivy was looking at this picture with Bryan and she asked, "Who is that?"  Bryan replied, "It's me when I was a baby."  Ivy inquired back, "When you were a girl?"

This is me on my first birthday.  (I love the retro high chair)

Here's Hyrum at his first b-day

And Ivy too!

  
Our darling Delia adds such a sweet spirit to our home, we're such a lucky family to have her!

She's such a tiny little thing- she's still in 6 and 9 month clothes and wears SIZE 2 diapers!

Here's another little video... 
I had a super hard time filming Delia singing- I could hardly hold the camera up from laughing so hard.  The weird thing about her singing talent is she'll only bust it out for Daddy- NO ONE else.

Mom's Okay

Last week my poor dad had to rush my mama to the hospital because of unbearable abdominal pain.  At the hospital they found a "mass" in her small intestine and had to life-flight her to a better hospital. 

After many hours of not knowing what in the world was in her body, we finally found out part of her small intestine had died.  Apparently when she had her appendix out at 9 years old some scar tissue from the operation developed a hole for the intestine to sneak into and get stuck.

After surgery to remove the dead tissue and a few days recuperating in the hospital, she's now home and doing well (with 8 less inches of intestine).

There were some super scary moments when we didn't know what the problem was and I allowed myself to think of the very worst.  I can tell you that a life without my mom would be a much lonelier, less loved, and much less joyful world.  I'm so grateful we get to keep her.  I'm so grateful for my dad, brother, and sisters for taking care of her so well.