Two posts in one day. GASP!

It must mean that my children are in bed....before 9 pm. Somebody sound the trumpets!


Lil' sis turned 9 months yesterday. Her feisty personality is becoming much more apparent the older she gets. If big sister Diva screams at her she screams right back. Take something away from her and she screeches until you return it. Great. However she is still the happiest and "smileyest" baby you will ever meet. Strangers are constantly commenting on her sweet smiles which she flashes so generously. I could eat that toothless grin for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Wait a second, why am I not in the tub with my sister! Hey mom, put down the camera and help a girl out will ya!"

She adores her older sister. In the mornings when we wait for Diva to rise and shine, she plays right by her door and squeals and giggles until she succeeds in waking her up.


On a totally different note:



THANK YOU to Nee Nee and Papa for a wonderful Christmas week full of love, attention, whales, dolphins and seals. Oh yeah and this:


Still creeps me out but don't worry...she LOVES IT!

Non-Christmas post

and



Glitter paint makes GREAT lip gloss.

Merry Christmas

Tomorrow we are leaving for San Diego and won't be back 'til after Christmas so I'm sharing my message early!

I love Christmas. It is my favorite holiday. I love being with family, baking goodies, listening to music and creating life-long memories. It is a time to celebrate and a time to give thanks. Most importantly though it is a time to remember the birth of our Savior. None of us would be here if it were not for Him. He created the Earth and then volunteered to come and be the Savior of us all. His love for us is pure and unconditional. He was the ultimate example of faith, integrity, charity, mercy and obedience. He wants each of us to remember why we are here upon on this Earth so that we can repent and return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. The world has become increasingly selfish and wicked; scriptures and prophets have long foretold of calamities and consequences if we are not righteous. Thankfully and graciously we were not sent to the Earth to suffer through trials alone. We were given family and friends. We were given prophets and scriptures and tools such as prayer and fasting to communicate with our Heavenly Father. But none of those things would matter if we did not have our Savior. Christmas is a time to remember why He was born into the world and to remember to always strive to become more like Him.

I have been immensely blessed my entire life and I owe everything to my Heavenly Father. I hope this Christmas season finds all of you happy, healthy and loved.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So long, farewell

*She's cute now but come 5 pm she turns into the Demon Diva.*


This last week, one of the most glorious things a mother could ask for left the building. When my Diva was a baby I dreaded the day these "gifts" would end. I tried to force it; I tried to grasp onto it as long as I could but alas I had to let go. My friends, my eldest daughter has quit taking naps. How do I know she's done with naps? Well because if she does get one during the day then she will not fall asleep before 11 pm. Ever. Most nights she's probably still awake at midnight, reading in her bed or talking to herself. Bed time routines have become a major hassle, she will stall and scream and stall for hours.

Yes I can hear your gasps and I almost feel your hugs of sympathy. What? Two and half is too young to quit naps? I thought so too hence my grasping. The 2-3 hours in the afternoon of blessed silence has ceased. I am now at the mercy of a hyper child at the exact time when my blood sugar and energy levels are at their lowest. Save me.

I will fondly remember the days of thinking, "Just a couple more hours and then I can put her to bed and do what I need to do." Those "need to do's" included many things:

starting dinner early
cleaning
napping
cleaning
napping
blogging
bill paying
napping
drinking up the beautiful silence

No more. Should I feel like a terrible mother since I looked oh so forward to her nap times? Absolutely not. Mothers, especially ones that stay home with young children need a couple hours in the midday to regroup or to accomplish tasks that simply cannot be done when their kids are awake or around.

So, since I have these extra couple hours with her all to myself (little sweet baby sister thankfully still naps during this time) I have decided to review her letters and numbers and pretend like I'm a good mother who teaches her child. And yes I will admit that Chicken Little, Tinkerbell, Cars and Elmo are well known and beloved figures in our home. Sue me.


P.S. It might seem that my recent posts have become biased. as if I love my baby more than my toddler. Well I do. No I'm kidding. I love, love, love my Diva but toddlers test you and try your patience at every opportunity and they can devitalize even the most energetic people. So it's rejuvenating to pick up a sweet baby and know they are unable to scream at you or order you around or ask you the same question 56 times in a row.....yet. Even though my Diva's attitude makes me want to punch a hole in the wall, it's that same spunk and moxie that makes her so adorable and unique. I wouldn't it change it for the world!

Dear Sweet Baby Girl

Dear Sweet Baby Girl,

I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have you in my life. Your constant smiles and cheerful disposition light up my every day. You are not selfish with your happiness; you share your joy with everyone around you. The snort in your laugh makes me want to squeeze you tight and never let go. Your sweet baby smell invokes such strong, warm and happy feelings in my memory and I wish it would never disappear. Your eagerness to stand up and walk breaks my heart just a little bit; please don't grow up too fast. Last night when you awoke for the third time in less then as many hours I wanted to be angry but I couldn't bring myself to feel it. Instead I brought you into bed, nursed you again and snuggled with you for a good 10 minutes. The fact that I can console your crying just by picking you and cuddling with you makes me feel like superwoman. I held you and created yet another memory that will last me a thousand lifetimes.

Whether I have been gone for 10 minutes or 2 hours, the smile you greet me with when I walk in the door melts my heart. I can never entertain a negative or depressing thought when I am near you.

I love you baby girl, thank you for coming to our family. You have changed it forever and for the better.

Life under tyranny...

Some days I wish I had a camera constantly recording to document what I go through on a daily basis with this girl.

Typical car ride:

Diva: "I see a doggy!! I see two doggies!! Wook! Der day are!"
Me:"Oh yeah? Wow!"
Diva: (she is now screaming in her demonic, exorcist-worthy voice) "NOOOO.....SAY IT!! SAY, 'I SEE A DOGGY!' SAY IT MOMMY!"

*cowering with fright*

I repeat. She seems satisfied.

But no, it is not over.

Diva: "We're going to da park today! We're going to swing and pway in da sand!"
Me: "That's right we are going to play in the park!"
Exorcist: "NOOOOO, NO! SAY, 'WE ARE GOING TO DA PARK TODAY AND GOING TO SWING AND PWAY IN DA SAND!"

If I so much as alter the inflection in my voice or change one word I am consequently screamed at the rest of the way home. No joke.

This scene reoccurs over and over throughout the day. You would think that I would just learn to repeat everything before she starts screaming but it doesn't work that way. Sometimes I have to repeat, other times I must listen and then reply with her wording. Not mine.

I hope year 3 will have a better outlook for me.










Somebody help me. please. I need a safe haven. A shelter perhaps.

Family Fun and Being Grateful

This picture was taken the day of my last post. No wonder she was tired. BUT would you believe she has made a complete turnaround? Seriously the past 4 nights she has slept 6-7 hours consecutively. It has been amazing. I have no clue why it's happening but I sure hope it lasts! Any mother knows the pure gloriousness of more than 3 hours of consecutive sleep.

During T-day we did a lot of this (well those that weren't cooking at least)


My Diva joined in. I think she could stand to get a little closer to the microphone.


Wouldn't be the same without my sisters!


I am grateful to this man for all his hard work. Thanksgiving was only possible because of him! Thanks Dad/Grandpa!

And I am grateful for:

My Savior
The Gospel
My Family
A place to live
My hubby's job.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding me. Holidays wouldn't be the same without them!