Afternoon walk

Memorial Day and Petsmart

So, yesterday morning we had a ward Memorial Day breakfast at the park, and Erin had a lot of fun.Patrick passed out. I didn't even realize he was asleep until someone pointed it out.
On the way home we saw a fox! In the middle of the city! I hope that he gets back to his home in some park or something safely.

So then this morning it was wet and gross because it rained last night, but Erin kept asking to go outside. So we went to Petsmart to look at the animals. On the way there, Erin and Patrick were making each other laugh. It was SO cute!


Happy boy!FishBirdsErin running over to see the dogs.The dogs at the Pets Hotel having playtime

The kitties for adoptionThis one broke my heart. He wanted to be petted SO bad. He's a polydactyl (has extra toes). So sweet.

Captain Gigglepants

So the other night I was laying on the couch with Patrick sitting on my belly, and he started giggling his pants off for no reason whatsoever. So I made Matt take a video. Of course, he stopped really doing it once the video started recording, but here it is anyway. Still cute!

SUCH a girl!

So this morning I changed Patrick's diaper and as I was feeding him, noticed Erin playing. She had her bunny. She was telling him "lay down," and then playing with his belly talking about diapers (her word is daiboopoo). So, I gave her one of Patrick's diapers and taught her to put it on.

Projects for Erin

So, lately my creative bent has turned into making things to play with Erin with. It all started one night while I was scrapbooking. I was looking at my Cricut cartridges. I realized that I had bought the Paper Dolls cartridge, but I really hadn't used it since then. (I'd cut a bunch of stuff when I rented it and got all excited so I bought it, but then didn't really use it after)

I decided that I should make some paper dolls for Erin. There are more outfits I'd like to make, but got bored after a bit =Þ

So then, again looking at my cartridges, I realized that since I had a font that had as part of it an animal to go with each letter, I should make her some flashcards. She loves them. (Hey Adrienne, you want a set?)

And from there I was trying to decide how to do numbers. I think numbers are a harder concept to illustrate. Matt suggested making some "counting" blocks. So that's my current project. I got a crate for the blocks, and we'll be doing 1 black, 2 brown, 3 pink, etc up to 10. I'll need 55 blocks, but they only had 24, so this will be an ongoing project. Erin's already pretty interested, and I'm really excited. I'm having so much fun making things to help teach her. (and these blocks will be great for simple arithmetic too)

Update and random pictures

So Erin's rash is better this morning. It gets worse with heat, so she's in a skirt to keep the skin cool. But it was much better this morning than it was when she went to bed last night. So I didn't call her doctor, since it seems to be under control. Still no clue as to the cause.

Pictures!!

The babies watching a movie while I made lunchErin putting her toys into her little backpack her percussion noisemakers came inWhat the babies are doing right now.

Erin's got a rash.

Yeah, a rash. I have NO CLUE where it came from. It goes from her belly button all the way down to her toes. I gave her some Benedryl before her nap today and it was better when she woke up, but by the time bedtime rolled around she was getting bad again. Ugh. If it's still bad tomorrow morning I'm totally calling her doctor.


I hate rashes.

It feels so strange...

...to NOT be pregnant. I calculated it out today, of the last 46 months (since Aug. '05 when I became pregnant with Cora), I have spent 27 of them pregnant. I have spent a little over half my marriage pregnant. It's weird that pregnant me has become my "normal." Sometimes I see pregnant ladies at the store, and I have to remind myself that I'm NOT pregnant. Not that I really thought that I was, but just that I "forgot" I'm not.

So strange.

So maybe by the time we're ready for another (in a couple years or so...I'd like to try for an 11/11/11 baby) NOT pregnant will be normal to me again...

Happy Happy Happy

I love how white the whites of his eyes are!!

Mother's Day

So, Mother's Day has changed in meaning to me over the years. Obviously for most of my life it's been a celebration of my own mother. She's such and amazing person, and I really admire her. I miss her a lot too. I'm SO excited for her visit in June!

I guess my most poignant Mother's Day memories though, are from 2006. That was my due date with Cora (May 14...but I always told people I was due on Mother's Day). That day was so very hard.

Mother's Day 2007 was hard too, in a different way. I was a month away from delivering Erin, and starting to get very paranoid. And I couldn't figure out how the day applied to me. I had delivered one baby that I couldn't hold in my arms, and I had another one that hadn't yet been born. I was a mother twice over, but I wasn't really a mommy yet.

Last year, Matt was in Oklahoma, so I was a single mother. It didn't really feel like anything but a normal day.

So today....today was my first "real" Mother's Day. Today my sweet little girl cuddled on the couch with me and smothered me with sloppy kisses, and then fell asleep on my lap. Today, I am enjoying every second of those babies I have here with me.

So while I didn't get to see a little girl standing up front singing today, it's okay. I'll get to hear her sing someday.

And Erin sings to me all the time anyway. =p


Oh, and Happy Mother's Day to all my friends and family. Especially my Angel Mom friends, to whom this day hurts. (hugs) to all of you

Wii Fit

Okay, so this past weekend, I decided that I need to seize control of my weight. I gained 25lbs nursing Erin, and so far I've gained another 6lbs nursing Patrick (I walked out of the hospital after delivering him at my prepregnancy weight). A couple months ago, before Patrick was born (or just after?) we got the Wii Fit with the intention of working out with it. Well, I couldn't find the time. The only time I had was during Erin's nap, and during that time I wanted to take a nap! Well, now that Patrick is only waking up once a night, I feel like I can get up in the morning before Erin wakes up. I have worked out every morning this week (except Monday, when Erin woke up at 6:30).

I really like working out on the Wii Fit. Why? Well, because they give you so much positive reinforcement. For instance, when you're "jogging" they have you going down a path with someone pacing you, and they have all your other Miis along the pathway cheering you on. So this morning, who was right at the gate as I started out? Jesus. Yes, we have a Jesus Mii, and I never thought it would affect me the way it did. He was also working out next to mii when I was doing aerobics. Is it weird that I felt like He was really right there, supporting me?

So anyway, I guess what's different this time is my determination. I actually feel like I can change things.

I've also been tracking my calories. I'm frustrated at myself for already wanting to lie about what I eat when I've eaten something I feel like I "shouldn't." I've done mostly well, however. I decided that I would eat a snack between every meal, and one in the evening (8amish breakfast, 10am snack, 12noon lunch, 2:30ish snack, 5ish dinner, 8pmish snack if I need it) because I'm hungry ALL THE TIME. Looking at my caloric intake is crazy (thus the weight gain). But I don't want to feel like I'm starving... It's really helped me stick to serving sizes and stuff, and be aware of what I'm eating. So I'll pull out 15 crackers (which happens to be 3 servings) and 2 slices of cheese, instead of bringing both packages out and just eating subconsciously.

I'm feeling really positive about it! And more energetic already too.

Anyway, I'll leave you with some pictures...Yesterday we went and colored on the sidewalk and then took a walk

A walk and a bath...

Yesterday evening we all went for a walk down to the mailbox to get the mail.

Well, Erin went for a run. She spent most of the time running.


You can see the bunnies better now that the grass is green. That brown lump next to the tree is a bunny.

It ran off...and Erin followed. Faster than we expected, and in the road, so Matt took off after her.


I was wearing Patrick. He really enjoyed facing forward.


Then tonight I took some pictures while giving baths. I was trying to get Patrick to smile, but he didn't want to at first.

But I eventually got him to.
And then Erin got jealous and wanted me to take a pic of her.