{Long Day..oh wait, its only 10am!}

Alenna has been so so so sick lately!

So sick that all she does is stay in bed. Poor baby girl, (that is so not like her at all), so we know that she really isn't feeling well. Last night she came into our room 3x, The first time, she walked into our room throwing up, the last we didn't know she had snuck back in until we got up this morning and found her passed out on our floor.

Ryan layed her down on the couch where she slept for several hours. Not realizing she didn't have a pull up on, I just let her sleep. Potty training is still a new thing for her and she's not perfect at it yet, especially when she's sick. (Keep in mind, adults have accidents when they're this sick too) So I checked on her, and of course, she had peed everywhere.

All on my couch, grrrrr.

I stayed calm (unbelievable! I know!), washed her off and put her in her bed while Ryan stripped off every piece of fabric on our couch and deep cleaned it all. As I was putting a pull-up on her, she sweetly looks down to the floor, shrugs her shoulders and says, "mommy, I'm sorry I peed on the couch."

How sweet is that?? Ah, she didn't need to say sorry, especially seeing as how sick she is.

Melted my heart.

So, back to my couches, the fabric is micro-fiber (the most pain-in-the-neck fabric to clean EVER) it shows every water ring. We will only buy leather from here on out, but until we can afford that we're stuck with these. So, anyways, Ryan is really good about cleaning and I'm anxious to see if he found the trick to cleaning them because I sure haven't! Its not a huge deal, I needed to deep clean them and steam them anyways. If it worked, I'll be posting pics. If not...well, I just hope it works! Anyone know a good technique for cleaning this fabric???

ps, if anyone cares, Ryan got my couch looking great!

{Improving Body & Mind}

Thanks to morning sickness, I have had alot of time to read. I'm currently finishing up "Blink"

These are the books I've read in the last 2 weeks.

But before "Blink" I read "The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck. It was way good, I read it in 24 hours. And Ryan even read it in a day too, which is saying something! He's not a reader.

But we love Glenn Beck!

For book group, we've been reading the "Shopaholic" series. Two months ago we read the first, last month was the second and this month is the 3rd. They are sooooo good!

I think I mentioned my morning sickness. But because some days I can keep close to nothing down, it has inspired me to jump on the treadmill 3x a week for an hour each time. Because this baby is my 3rd, the battle of the bulge all us lovely mommies get to fight is going to be even harder to get off so might as well start now.

Not to mention, when Ryan goes off to boot camp he's going to come home all toned and sexy and I need to make sure I'm still attractive, pregnant or not.

Wish me luck!

{...And For My 100th Post}

How pretty is my girl?

So, we've been swimming everyday! The kids are getting more confident in the water, which is good, and also a little frightening!

Here's the fam swimmin, swimmin away!

At first, Alenna was really scared of the water! Even with her water wings on.
She wouldn't even let us go.


As you can tell, that feeling quickly passed! Though, every little bug that is floating in the water she is afraid of. Dumb bugs.


So I decided I would chill for a while, taking pictures of the kids. About 2 minutes after I took this, Ryan grabbed me and threw me in the pool! Good thing I had put down our camera!

Alenna is flying!

And, of course, a belly shot! I'm at the point where I am looking like I am possibly pregnant.

People give me pretty weird looks when they see me with two kids on my hips and a "possibly" baby bump!

My boy was getting cold. So was I, so we came in! Look how happy he is! Aw, love him!

{And The Countdown Begins...}

Ryan and I are pleased to announce that on the 15th (of June) we will be finding out if we're breaking out the blues or the pinks!

(it seems so close! And yet so far away...)

Had an appt yesterday and the baby sounds great, still not a definite due date, the baby is growing so sporadically that its hard to know right now.

My OB did make me feel better about this "ooops" baby though.

He said he and his wife had several kids, some of which were unplanned, and than after they thought they were done they adopted two more! Haha, he's great, always making me feel better!

So, we're going for the tie breaker...girl or boy...

I can't wait!

{Can I Just Say...}

I love having a pool in the backyard!

And for those of you non Arizonians, yes its is hot enough!

We have been living in the pool! Everyday we swim!

Its great, get some exercise, get some sun, and tire the kids out!

Bring em in, slope em dinner, bath them and its lights out!

This, particular night, we had just got done swimming. We put Brady in his high chair while we ate, and every time I looked up he's further and further down the high chair!

Even though he's slipping he's still happy! Haha, he's such a great kid!
(and yes, thats Hannity in the background.)

Yeah, so this is where I get up and re-adjust him. Haha, not without taking a pic first though.

He was cracking up, he thought it was funny too!

So the latest Alenna-isms:

She randomly comes up to me, throws her arms around my neck and say, "Do you know what I call mommy? My friend."

I have a large wicker basket on my coffee table I keep magazines in. She and Brady empty the basket, throwing my magazines everywhere. Alenna turns the basket upside down and puts it on Bradys back. She says, "Haha! Brady is a turtle!"

Brady is sleeping and Alenna asks, "Chek-ahem?" She wants to 'check on him'

She's such a little mommy!

On another note, we find out what our baby is in 4 weeks! I can't believe its so soon!

We're dying to know!

(Though I do have to say, for our 3rd time in 3 years, this is the fastest pregnancy I've had. I have to keep checking my due date to recalculate how far I am)

And lastly, Ryan finished his A & P class with an A. He's all done with nursing pre-reqs.

He'll be applying in Aug, that's the next application date or he would do it sooner. The nursing school counselor actually even told him he was a shoe in and could probably plan on starting in Jan! Yeah Ry! He's been working so hard for this, and if I do say so myself, he's kicking butt and taking names! (I knew he'd do well!)

{The TRUE Cost Of An Education...}

This is a little long and totally wonderful. It was written by a friend of mine (thanks Hayley!) and was published on KTAR.

The Cost of "Education"by Hayley Payne/Special to KTAR.com (May 12th, 2009 @ 9:09pm)This is a guest column contributed to KTAR.com from a @ktar923 Twitter follower. Your voice can be heard too. Send your opinion piece on any topic to webmaster@ktar.com.

"I started at Arizona State University in the fall of 2005. I was anxious to receive my "higher" education, and eager to become a member of the college society. I became an Education major, and was looking forward to the wisdom I would undoubtedly gain from my professors.I was ready to make a difference in the world, and dreamed of how all of my late-nighters and early-morning cram sessions would be worth it once my degree led me into a sure-fire career field. After all, there is always a need for good teachers!Now $33,000 in debt and 120 credits later, I begin student teaching in the fall asking myself what my time and money has truly earned me. When graduates spend four hours in the scorching Arizona heat at Sun Devil Stadium, drenched in sweat and peeling their cap and gown off their bodies for relief, only to hear a brief speech and step out into a job market void of any hope or consolation, I sincerely wonder if they will feel like the past four years were worth it. I know I don't.

It is only fitting that President Obama make the commencement speech this year at Arizona State. If you spend any time on campus at all, you cannot avoid hearing from countless students about how wonderful the stimulus package is and how finally America has the right idea about universal healthcare. Young Democrats stroll deep in conversation about how they approve increased spending as long as it's in the name of going ‘green.' But how many of those students, bombarded by the MTV-appeal of Obama and his big government, have stopped to wonder what their education has cost them?

When Obama steps on that stage, I can guarantee there are certain remarks he will omit. He will not tell the graduates that their determination and industry is no longer valued in this country. He will not tell them that under his administration their debt will only continue to increase. And you can bet he will not tell them that no matter how dedicated they are in their career, their wealth will be spread to those whom the government deems fit for the reward.He will fulfill his role as the celebrity, Captain America, the blind leading the blind. I can only pray that so many of my "rock the vote" peers realize they got exactly what they voted for, but more than they bargained for. I hope they see that if our government continues down its current path, there is no way they could ever repay what we have lost as students.So why did I bother earning a degree? Why not just sit back, relax, and wait for my own personal handout? Because I still believe the true hope of our country lies in the hard work of people just like me.

Our society is starving for some perseverance. The government is not the answer.

I am the answer."

{Ouch!}

I thought little Brady was only cutting the one tooth until Ryan informed me tonight that he is, in fact, cutting 4!

Ouch! Poor baby!

I thought it was a little strange that he was always warm with lots of runny noses, but I just thought it was because of the one tooth. Which brings me to my next point, all you first time mommies need to buy your babies teething tablets!

They're all natural and you can give your baby like 4 at a time, like 4 times a day and they work miracles!

Thank you teething tablets for bringing peace into my home!

{Milestones In The Life Of A Baby...}

(I'm sad because I tried on Brady's Halloween outfit for this year and it fit perfectly. Which, of course means, in 6 months it will be too small, great...)

(This is Alenna at 11 months in the same outfit. Haha, she looks so cute!)

Brady is scooting!

And he will get up on his elbows and knees and rock! Not long now...

This week Brady also cut his first tooth! He's ready for grown up food now! Well, maybe not quite yet...despite what he thinks! :)

PS I should probably mention, also, that Ryan and I received callings in our new ward!

We're team teachers for the 10 year olds! Its really fun, and the kids are so cute!

{In Honor Of Mother's Day...}

"It was all because of my mother"
In 20 years...
I hope the floors I worried about being spotless will only be remembered as the place we spent hours building Lego City together.
The Couch I could never quite get clean enough will be rememebered as the place we spent all night building a fort out of and telling stories in.
The countertops that always seemed cluttered will be remembered as the place we watched popcorn dance across and favorite snacks were shared.
The beds I tirelessly made day after day will be remembered as a place of pillow fights and laughing.
That the hands that wiped away tears and found lost treasures will always be remembered as open.
The eyes that carefully watched as her own chipped and unpolished finger nails polished and perfected those of a 3 year old's..
A mother that sacrificed everything for her children, always putting herself last even when her needs, in reality, were first.
Because in 20 years, it will not matter that my house sparkled from floors to ceiling. Or that my house was always perfectly in order.
It will only matter that my children will call me just to talk.
It will only matter that my friendships with those now grown children started when they were just little.
It will only matter that I gave them everything I had.
I hope the work I have done goes un-noticed,
I hope that I have done such a good job that all is ingrained into them to take with them.
And when they are adults they will look back at what they have become and, in astonishment, say,
"It was all because of my mother."
Mothers day 2009

{A Theif In The Night}

Alenna has developed a horrible habit of coming into bed with us at night. Some times several times a night, even after we bring her back to bed time after time. Its just one of those 'grin-and- bear-it-endure-to-the-end' type of feats we must accomplish every night.

Any ideas on how to stop this, since I brought it up???

Anyways, last night was no different. Ryan was having a nightmare at the exact time Alenna crawled into bed with us. So when she climbed over him, he thought someone was attacking him, so he literally shoved her off him, and off the bed as hard as he could! She fell off our bed (which is taller than the average bed) and hits her head on the wall. Poor baby! She is screaming and confused. We both wake up and console her and bring her back to her bed.

This morning when she woke up, she kept saying "Alenna fell off bed!! Alenna fell off bed!!!" Ryan looks all sad and says, "Actually, I pushed you, sorry."

I thought this was hysterical, and the perfect lesson to teach her not to come to bed with us anymore! Hopefully it works...

{Honey, Lay The Papers Out}

This week was the week!

Alenna is potty trained!!!

On Monday, we decided to jump both feet into potty training. We went to the store, Alenna picked out princess underwear, "special snacks (as she calls them), lots of juice, and of course stickers!

She originally had "Good and Plenty" for her "special snack", but after so much success, we ran out and started using marshmallows. Not that she minded.

Alenna has done so amazingly well this week.

We're 3 days in and she's had 3 accidents, which were all the first day.

Afterwards she had 3 smaller accidents, but stopped and finished on the potty.

Go Alenna!



This is her "potty-chart."

She's had so much success, we're were running out of room by the end of each night!

We're so proud of you Alenna!

(And she's proud too!)

Of Course, no blog entry is complete without a cute picture of Brady.

I think he's happy to not be sharing his diapers with Alenna anymore.

Can you believe they were wearing the same size??

Madness!!

Alenna is skinny and Brady is fat, haha, that's how it should be though!

{Miss Binky Bandit}

When Alenna was 18 months old, we took her binky from her, off recommendations from my OB and our Ped. The idea was to take it from her before Brady arrived or weaning her would be impossible. So we did. Stupid, we should have just listened to our own instinct...

We thought she was over it, seeing as how we took it away like 10 months ago. But, than all of Brady's binkys started mysteriously, one by one, going M.I.A.

And than, we found them. In Alenna's bed. In Alenna's mouth...in her room, all her hot spots.

Hmmm....

We always punished her for it, but the more we fought it, the more appealing the binky seemed to her. So we decided we are fighting a losing battle (gotta know when you're beat), and are just letting her have it for now. In a couple weeks, she will decided she wants to be a big girl and drop it, I'm sure. I hope. I pray.

Odd to see a binky in the mouth of such a big kid...

Oh yeah, did I mention it's driving me crazy???

I think its so obnoxious to see big kids with binkys, especially when they have to take it out of their mouths to talk.

Its so hideous.

Hopefully this, too, will pass!!! (and soon!)

{8 Months Today...}

Ah I miss him little!

Brady weighed in at 8lbs 4 ounces. Today, chunk weighs in at 20lbs!

My baby is 8 months old today, where does the time go???

My most handsome on his blessing day.

Brady was, (and still is), such a beautiful baby!

Brady, today, is 8 months old.

My baby says, "mama" and "baba"

He loves Alenna the most! (but really I know he secretly loves me more, haha jk)

I just love our little boy!!!!

Thank you Brady for coming to our family!

{Squeezing Water From A Stone}

In going through everything I have gone through as of late in regards to Ryan's employment, I have decided that I, too, must follow suit and go back to school. Yes, I have my cosmetology license and there is good money in hair...once you've been doing it awhile and have a loyal following. In the meantime, you're making ten bucks an hour (plus tips-sweet sweet tips) at Great Clips.

*Which brings me to today's adventures. I've really been in a panic(!!!!!). And after talking to my mom I think I am just reverting to when my dad was unemployed for so long (18 months).

I think that's whats been my problem, not to mention I am growing a peanut in my belly that turns me into a nutty basket of hormones.

So, I scheduled a job interview at Great Clips for today (hey, one of us has to make the moneys, right??). The interview went great, I interview really well. Every job I've ever interviewed for I've gotten. I left and ate lunch at Pete's, don't judge, hey I earned it!!! And I went across the street to the Temple and took a session and bawled like a baby all through it.

Check back to see if I end up accepting this job or not...

*I've began looking into LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) programs and found that EVIT (the cosmetology school I went to) also offers a LPN program.

Beautiful. I need a degree. Period.

And it's always bothered me that I never finished. And the University of Phoenix has a LPN to BSN program. So in 3 years I will have my bachelor's in nursing. Perfect.

*I really like being at home with my babies. Alot. That's why I've wrestled so much with whether to go back to work or not, even though we so need the money right now.

I would only have this glorious degree to have it. And maybe pick up an extra shift or two a week when the babies are all in school. And, Ryan and I would have such a huge thing in common, OUR PROFESSION.

I've always known I would do a 'Doctors' Without Borders' program once the kids are gone, and this TOTALLY opens the door for that. With RyRy.

So that's it for my epiphanies for today.

My brain hurts...