Monday, January 27, 2014

DRUM ROLL . . .

      Everything came unexpectedly today...

At the hospital, they didn't make me undress (usually I get to wear the attractive hospital gown)...
They didn't make me drink tons and tons (in the past I had to have a full bladder)...
The goo was warm (not freezing cold)...

     And... Dun, dun dun, DUN!!!! ......

It seems a little improper to be posting such private photos.
 We are having a BOY!!!

I am thrilled! I think it is great that he will have some close cousins (who are all boys!), and I like the pattern thing (boy, girl, boy...). I would have been happy either way.  It is so fun to know though! My baby is no longer an 'it'. He is a healthy, 1 lb., baby boy!
       (The technician said he looks exactly like his daddy! I think he looks a bit alien like still, but give him 18 more weeks to develop and I'm sure he'll come out a handsome little guy. :))

I guess Devin and I were wrong in our predictions. The last couple weeks I've really been flip flopping on what I thought the gender was. I could never decide (all three pregnancies have been so different), but I did start thinking of more boy names.

I asked Bridger what he thought we should name him. He said, "Megamind!"

Happy Birthday to Myra

"Happy Birthday... Oh OH! Happy Birthday! It's YOU're birthday, so have a lot of fun!..."  --Heather's Birthday Song (College favorite)

Myra you cute thing... You are 2! So much has happened, and you have grown so much (in height and personality) in the last two years! You are becoming the ruler of the house... How did that happen? You have a lot of spunk and you've definitely developed a lot of opinions! You are determined as well so you tend to get what you want.

Though you are developing a strong personality, you can be so sweet as well! You are mom's cuddle bunny... you love to lay your head on my shoulder, but first your rule is that all my hair must be out of the way! You like when mom hold's you like a baby (do you know your time of being my baby will be over soon?). And you really care about everyone around you. When someone is sad, you try to make that person happy. You are really good at sharing your treats. And you seem to have a preference to women... usually someone mother-like, and you get attached.

Some of your favorites...
1. Favorite color... Pink (although I think you just like saying the word pink... because you use it for yellow and blue too)
2. Favorite TV Show... Daniel Tigers Neighborhood
3. Favorite fruit... Frozen Mangos, Applesauce squeezers makes a close second, but it must be in the squeezer package or you won't even consider it (no fresh fruit... what??).
4. Favorite Snack... Popcorn, treats, and fruit snacks (you always say "I want something!!"... I've tried not to say "treat" because you have such a strong reaction... but now "something" has become your word for "treat")
5. Favorite Food... maybe oatmeal or chicken.
6. Favorite Drink... Juice! (any kind)
7. Favorite Clothing Item... your boots! Especially your red boots.
8. Favorite person/friend... (other than family) Nicolina and baby Lucy for sure
9. Favorite Game... Blowing Bubbles, or Hiding under blankets
10. Favorite Toy... Probably our little Schleich animals, you are a pretty good make-believe player
11. Favorite Animal... probably pretend dogs or horses (which you call "neigh neighs"), real animals make you nervous unless mom is holding you at a safe distance.
12. Favorite Song... "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "The Wise Man", or "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
13. Favorite Book... "Goodnight Gorilla" or "Llama, Llama Red Pajama", (I usually keep "Are You My Mother Hidden", but that might be her favorite of all favorites).
14. Favorite thing to do outside... Go on walks and down the slide at the park.
15. Favorite thing to take to bed with you at night... Your pink, cuddly blanket. And your two fingers ;)

Weight: 23 lbs 11 oz (12%)
Height: 33 in (25%)
Waffles for breakfast!
        I love birthdays! Especially for my kids... it is their special day! The one day that I hope they feel like the most special person in the world! Today wasn't Bridger's birthday, but he came down the stairs and he was so excited when he saw all the decorum. He said "Wow! Mom, this is so cool!" I love how he gets excited for everyone else on their special day. His own will come soon enough.
      Myra was fully into each individual gift. She would (with Bridger's help) tear away the wrapping paper, and be so excited about that gift, that we would spend five minutes on each one. For example, I wrapped up some bubbles, (she loves bubbles!) so as soon as she had unwrapped them, we were down blowing bubbles and stomping them out. Aunt Katey gave her a cute little purse, and inside there was a fruit snack package; so before we could go on to the next gift she had to eat the fruit snacks all gone!

Can you believe these giraffes? They poked through the wrapping! Bridger and Myra thought it was so funny!


Pause for: Bubbles, Applesauce, and Fruit snacks!


      I know I got Myra way to many gifts, but I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to get her a baby doll... after seeing how much she loved the baby dolls at my mom's house, I wanted her to have one.  That was the big gift I had in mind. But there were so many other cute things I found, which I was completely sure she would love! I know, I know, at her age she doesn't really care that much about the gifts. She could get two presents and they could both be from the dollar store and she would be perfectly thrilled. But when I was shopping something would catch my eye, and I knew she'd love it, so I had to get it! I didn't go too crazy, most things were under $3.  Some things had practical uses, and I would have bought them anyway, like underwear and a stool (we are going to start potty training! I think she's ready. Not sure if I am. I hope its not a mistake!!).  But the result was a lot of presents to unwrap, and with Myra's five minute per gift rate, it took a while. I'm still happy about everything I got her though, I'd do it again. Devin on the other hand... ;)
The best gift, in my opinion came from Devin. He made Myra a cradle for her doll to go in. It is so perfect. He asked my opinion of what he could make, he whipped it out on Saturday, and can I just tell everyone how impressive he is! He's got some mad skills. Anyway, it is perfect! Myra loves it for her baby doll.  I know there will be lots of imaginary play, sweetness, and love where that cradle is.
I was going for something different from normal cake since we have so many birthdays together.
Happy birthday to my now TWO Year old Myra. She has so many opinions that it is only fitting she is two. Although if you ask her how old she is, she will tell you she is five! It's amazing to think back on when she was just a baby; she has grown into such a fun, imaginative fire ball. We love her to pieces!!

(Thank you to Grandmas and aunt Katey and aunt Aileen for the birthday gifts! Myra loved them!!)

Happy Birthday Devin!

       Happy Birthday to my hunny! He doesn't love birthday celebrations so much, but my kids do, so we still hang some decorations, sing the "Happy Birthday" song, and blow out candles on the cake! By the way, I made a layered chocolate cheesecake... Oreo crust, and all the goodness... It was so good! Super rich, chocolatey, and yummy. I liked it, whether or not anyone else did, it was worth it for me ;).
       The kids helped blow out the candles and open all the presents! Birthdays are fun for everyone!
Happy Birthday Devin! You are one great dad and a heck of a husband! We love you!!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Our Family is Growing!

      If you haven't heard yet, I am pregnant! I am officially 21 weeks today, and I am due June 7.  I realized only a couple weeks ago that this baby's due date is Devin and my wedding anniversary... six years in June... and three kids! Wowzers!
     So that is the big news. But tomorrow is the big day, because we find out if our sweet baby in my belly is a boy or a girl! Bridger keeps asking me about the baby in my tummy, and he really wants to know if he is getting a brother or a sister!
       Tomorrow I will go in for my sonogram appointment and come out knowing!
       At the beginning of my pregnancy I was pretty darn sure that this baby is definitely a girl! Devin agreed, actually he was even more sure than me... (he's specially in tune).  I was so convinced even, that I thought when I went in for the ultrasound and if they told me it was a boy, I'd probably have them check again.  But I'm not so sure now.
      See my reasons for thinking this baby is a girl is this: I was sick. That's all.
      With Myra I was sick. With Bridger I wasn't sick a bit. But now I'm second guessing wondering if sickness is really gender related... or maybe I just get more sick with each pregnancy?
      I still don't have anything real to complain about with my pregnancy, except that I am pregnant. I did get sick, but most women get more sick and stay sick longer than me, so I am grateful that my sick duration was brief. I get tired and, I'll admit, a bit ornery some days, but that is just part of being pregnant. Actually, for the most part, I'm feeling great.
      We thought about waiting, letting this baby come our a surprise, but I really can't do that. I have to know! I think its my personality. I have to be prepared, have the correct gender clothes washed and ready, and start picking names.
      Tomorrow... 10 AM! I will let you know!  In the mean time... Anyone want to venture a guess??

Wrapping up our Trip

 We had a great time in Utah! We love being with our family!!
Popcorn Olympics!
Eating all grandpa's berries out of his Captain Crunch.
Family shots with Grandma Sorensen and Walt!

 Playing the Candy Bar game! Grandma was the very best! She rolled 7, 11, or Doubles every time she got the dice! It was so fun!
     With Christmas and New Year parties, complete with family fun, four weeks went by really fast! Devin was able to spend almost three weeks with us too! It was so great!
      Bridger DID NOT want to go home! He was actually really upset when it was time to leave everyone.
      We all got spoiled rotten! I could tell because Bridger and Myra rejected our breakfast staple: oatmeal for breakfast the first couple times after we got home. We have been trying to adjust back in to real life. Bridger told me that he is just visiting us but he really lives with grandma. I told him that I would miss him and he assured me that 'it was okay, he'd only be gone for six minutes'. I wish we could hop over to grandma's house in six minutes and be back! Some day... :)

Welcome to the Cabin!

      Well, Bridger was very sad to be leaving his cousins behind. As we left Lynndi's house, he repeatedly asked if McKenzie could come with us! They had so much fun together. But not to worry, we had more fun to be had in Bear Lake for New Years!
       Bridger and Myra love all their aunts, uncles and of course grandma's and grandpa's! They are the fun ones! Mom and Dad lose the spotlight for a while.
Myra and I hopped on the 4-wheeler for a bit. She liked sitting on it, and she didn't mind going under 5 mph, but as soon as I accelerated she started screaming "Too fast! Too fast!" Though she never loved it, by the end of the trip she could tolerate 4-wheeler rides.
Bridger on the other hand, loved going fast and being crazy!
Kids are so cute when they sleep!
Practicing toasts!
We love this crew! New Years toasting!
We did our family member gift exchange at the cabin. Myra loved these cute accessories from Courtney!
Devin was thrilled with his "One-Wipe Charlies" from Nicholas.
So adorable and all poofy in snow clothes!
      We had a great time sledding! There wasn't much snow for this Bear Lake trip.  Snowmobiling was pretty much out, so we had so much fun sledding... down the road! We tried to keep someone on the corner to watch for cars, and we'd get about a mile ride down! Everything become a competition, so what is better than sled races??!
Myra and I hung out together, she preferred the slow ride. ;)
After sledding down the hill, we'd catch a ride back up on (or sledding behind) the 4-Wheeler.
Myra tired out early, so she and I went back for lunch and a nap that didn't happen.  She was thrilled when she found the candy bowl and had it all to herself! This girl has never had so much candy in her life! ... Probably the reason why she didn't nap...
Such a fun trip, and what a happy start to our 2014!

Here are a few pictures of Myra mothering grandma's baby dolls. I didn't even know she liked dolls until we got to grandma's house. I laughed as she ran up stairs yelling for my help to get a diaper and a wipe, and then she tried to change the babies diaper...

Feed the baby...
Put the baby down for a nap with her blanket, and of course, give the baby lots of loves!