All Rosie!

Best Article Ever!

2012-01-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

So while commiserating on the phone with a friend today about how hard our jobs as moms are and you never know if your doing it right she made reference to this article and I had her email it to me. It's a good reminder to me and I LOVE it! It's real and I can totally relate. I'm posting it here so that I can read it over and over and and know I'm not the only one that feels this way!

By Glennon Melton

Every time I'm out with my kids -- this seems to happen:

An older woman stops us, puts her hand over her heart and says something like, "Oh, Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so fast."

Everywhere I go, someone is telling me to seize the moment, raise my awareness, be happy, enjoy everysecond, etc, etc, etc.

I know that this message is right and good. But, I have finally allowed myself to admit that it just doesn't work for me. It bugs me. This CARPE DIEM message makes me paranoid and panicky. Especially during this phase of my life - while I'm raising young kids. Being told, in a million different ways to CARPE DIEM makes me worry that if I'm not in a constant state of intense gratitude and ecstasy, I'm doing something wrong.

I think parenting young children (and old ones, I've heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest. Brave, adventurous souls try it because they've heard there's magic in the climb. They try because they believe that finishing, or even attempting the climb are impressive accomplishments. They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it's hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. These moments are so intense and unique that many people who reach the top start planning, almost immediately, to climb again. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up.

And so I think that if there were people stationed, say, every thirty feet along Mount Everest yelling to the climbers -- "ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF!? IF NOT, YOU SHOULD BE! ONE DAY YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU DIDN'T!" TRUST US!! IT'LL BE OVER TOO SOON! CARPE DIEM!" -- those well-meaning, nostalgic cheerleaders might be physically thrown from the mountain.

Now. I'm not suggesting that the sweet old ladies who tell me to ENJOY MYSELF be thrown from a mountain. These are wonderful ladies. Monkees, probably. But last week, a woman approached me in the Target line and said the following: "Sugar, I hope you are enjoying this. I loved every single second of parenting my two girls. Every single moment. These days go by so fast."

At that particular moment, Amma had arranged one of the new bras I was buying on top of her sweater and was sucking a lollipop that she must have found on the ground. She also had three shop-lifted clip-on neon feathers stuck in her hair. She looked exactly like a contestant from Toddlers and Tiaras. I couldn't find Chase anywhere, and Tish was grabbing the pen on the credit card swiper thing WHILE the woman in front of me was trying to use it. And so I just looked at the woman, smiled and said, "Thank you. Yes. Me too. I am enjoying every single moment. Especially this one. Yes. Thank you."

That's not exactly what I wanted to say, though.

There was a famous writer who, when asked if he loved writing, replied, "No. but I love having written." What I wanted to say to this sweet woman was, "Are you sure? Are you sure you don't mean you love having parented?"

I love having written. And I love having parented. My favorite part of each day is when the kids are put to sleep (to bed) and Craig and I sink into the couch to watch some quality TV, like Celebrity Wife Swap, and congratulate each other on a job well done. Or a job done, at least.

Every time I write a post like this, I get emails suggesting that I'm being negative. I have received this particular message four or five times -- G, if you can't handle the three you have, why do you want a fourth?

That one always stings, and I don't think it's quite fair. Parenting is hard. Just like lots of important jobs are hard. Why is it that the second a mother admits that it's hard, people feel the need to suggest that maybe she's not doing it right? Or that she certainly shouldn't add more to her load. Maybe the fact that it's so hard means she IS doing it right...in her own way...and she happens to be honest.

Craig is a software salesman. It's a hard job in this economy. And he comes home each day and talks a little bit about how hard it is. And I don't ever feel the need to suggest that he's not doing it right, or that he's negative for noticing that it's hard, or that maybe he shouldn't even consider taking on more responsibility. And I doubt anybody comes by his office to make sure he's ENJOYING HIMSELF. I doubt his boss peeks in his office and says: "This career stuff...it goes by so fast...ARE YOU ENJOYING EVERY MOMENT IN THERE, CRAIG???? CARPE DIEM, CRAIG!"

My point is this. I used to worry that not only was I failing to do a good enough job at parenting, but that I wasn't enjoying it enough. Double failure. I felt guilty because I wasn't in parental ecstasy every hour of every day and I wasn't MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT like the mamas in the parenting magazines seemed to be doing. I felt guilty because honestly, I was tired and cranky and ready for the day to be over quite often. And because I knew that one day, I'd wake up and the kids would be gone, and I'd be the old lady in the grocery store with my hand over my heart. Would I be able to say I enjoyed every moment? No.

But the fact remains that I will be that nostalgic lady. I just hope to be one with a clear memory. And here's what I hope to say to the younger mama gritting her teeth in line:

"It's helluva hard, isn't it? You're a good mom, I can tell. And I like your kids, especially that one peeing in the corner. She's my favorite. Carry on, warrior. Six hours till bedtime." And hopefully, every once in a while, I'll add -- "Let me pick up that grocery bill for ya, sister. Go put those kids in the van and pull on up -- I'll have them bring your groceries out."

Anyway. Clearly, Carpe Diem doesn't work for me. I can't even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question.

Here's what does work for me:

There are two different types of time. Chronos time is what we live in. It's regular time, it's one minute at a time, it's staring down the clock till bedtime time, it's ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it's four screaming minutes in time out time, it's two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in.

Then there's Kairos time. Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day. And I cherish them.

Like when I actually stop what I'm doing and really look at Tish. I notice how perfectly smooth and brownish her skin is. I notice the perfect curves of her teeny elf mouth and her asianish brown eyes, and I breathe in her soft Tishy smell. In these moments, I see that her mouth is moving but I can't hear her because all I can think is -- This is the first time I've really seen Tish all day, and my God -- she is sobeautiful. Kairos.

Like when I'm stuck in chronos time in the grocery line and I'm haggard and annoyed and angry at the slow check-out clerk. And then I look at my cart and I'm transported out of chronos. And suddenly I notice the piles and piles of healthy food I'll feed my children to grow their bodies and minds and I remember that most of the world's mamas would kill for this opportunity. This chance to stand in a grocery line with enough money to pay. And I just stare at my cart. At the abundance. The bounty. Thank you, God. Kairos.

Or when I curl up in my cozy bed with Theo asleep at my feet and Craig asleep by my side and I listen to them both breathing. And for a moment, I think- how did a girl like me get so lucky? To go to bed each night surrounded by this breath, this love, this peace, this warmth? Kairos.

These kairos moments leave as fast as they come- but I mark them. I say the word kairos in my head each time I leave chronos. And at the end of the day, I don't remember exactly what my kairos moments were, but I remember I had them. And that makes the pain of the daily parenting climb worth it.

If I had a couple Kairos moments during the day, I call it a success.

Carpe a couple of Kairoses a day.

Good enough for me.

Solids!

2012-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

How much do I love this baby? She is so great! Really she is absolutely perfect in every way!

She is almost 7 months and I keep telling people she is 6 months, she is, but I just have such a hard time thinking that this is all moving so fast.

Here we are trying solids on for size. I have tried a little on and off for the past month, but she has not really been interested in it at all. I have not pushed it. Thinking that was a milestone that we could dodge for a while. But I think we are to the point I really need to get her eating solids! Today was the beginning of our new routine! Wow! I wish these moments would slow down a bit.

The Beginning Of A New Year!

2011-12-29T20:58:00.000-08:00

I was listening to the radio the other day and the familiar Christmas song came on repeating those old familiar words...

"So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun"

It got me really thinking back on this past year. Every year there is always something I look back on and wish I would have done more, been better, worked harder, accomplished more and on and on. I so often feel regret and sometimes a bit of disappointment and depression thinking of how little I have progressed.

When I heard those words I started to really reflect taking them to heart

"And what have you done?"

What had I done? I had my 3rd little girl. With that the years memories were not about what I had done or not done for that matter, but the feelings I had had. The past years memories were filled with pure love! I don't think there has ever been a year like this past one. One full of personal and family trial. But I have never felt the Love of God and of our Savior more fully. I felt that They were aware of us, of our situation and of our unborn child. I felt Their love so fully though prayer, fasting, family and friends all of which were there every step of the way. Though much of this year was spent sick and on the couch accomplishing nothing, there have been some of the most amazing feelings of love, peace, and indescribable joy! We feel more than blessed! So in spite of all my sort comings, faults and stumped growth, that is not what I am focusing on this year! I'm grateful for the growth, love and Joy we have felt! Let's bring on the New Year!

Merry Christmas and The Happiest New Year!

Dec Fun!

2011-12-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Dec 2 Write letters to Santa! Yummy desert. Ice cream served in a candy cane cup, topped with whip cream and green sprinkles!

Dec 3, Kris and I painted the girls fingernails and all listened to Christmas music!

We have the best dad and husband!

Dec 4, we missed out!

Dec 5, We decorated Gingerbread houses!

Dec 6, We worked on Christmas cards!

December is Here!

2011-12-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting for this Christmas season for almost 2 years now. Last year I was prego and so sick. I felt horrible and I don't do much if anything to get my family or I in the Christmas spirit. In fact my Christmas tree sat in my living room for weeks half put up. My cute friend B called several times and offered to help me get it up or come and do it for me, I know you might want her number she is the best! Needless to say I have been waiting for another shot at the season. We kicked it off with our new Advent calender!

So yesterday was the first day... It was so much fun to watch the girls figure it all out.

The girls getting the tag off!

Scratching to see what the activity was.

I don't have a picture of them opening the box, but the activity was to decorate the Christmas tree. They were so bummed our tree was already decorated. Kris and I had done it almost a week ago. But when they opened the box it had a 4 tiny pink ornaments and a little note that directed them to the storage room where they found their own little tree for their room. OH MY GOSH! You would have thought they had died and gone to heaven. Molly kept telling me over and over that I was the best mom ever and that I was the best mom she had ever had (funny, I'm the only mom she's ever had) It went on and on and on! Best money ever spend. They got to decorate it all on their own. It was so cute. They were singing songs and loved every second. I loved just watching them. This was the big kick off!

They are looking forward to tonight's activity and so am I!

The A Family

2011-11-23T19:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Molly and Stella LOVE to color. I have a huge jar of crayons on my table and they have spent many hours sitting there coloring. Molly has really become a great little reader and as a by product she has started writing notes all by herself. She recently brought me this one and was so proud of it! She did it all by herself (although some of you might think I may have helped her with the spelling, Ha ha ha!)

A Turkey is

A Turkey is a funny bird

It's head goes wobble wobble

and all it knows is just one word

gobble gobble gobble

Happy Thanksgiving!

Such a Great Helper!

2011-11-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

So this morning I was getting the girls ready for school in the bathroom and one of the girls said something like "What's wrong with our toilet?" I shouldn't even be blogging about this (reflects so poorly on me). Well nothing was wrong it was just dirty. Time to clean the toilet. It has been on my list but for some reason we had a hard week just keeping on top of the picking up. I feel like I have so many irons in the fire right now I just am not getting anything done. Blah blah blah. I could come up with a million excuses, but the bottom line (no pun intended) it just was not done.

So I have been working intensely with Molly on a "Star Student" packet and doll for her next week when she is the star student. So cute... More to come on that. Anyway Stella was in and would. I wasn't really paying attention anyway I was putting Nora down for a nap when I saw this as I walked by the bathroom...

I wondered if I was really seeing what I thought I was... So on closer investigation...

Yes folks! That is our bottle brush! The brush that I use to clean out Nora's bottles. REALLY! I'm so amazed that she knows what she is doing and in all honesty the toilet really did look a little better, which grosses me out even more seeing it on the floor!

Well the bottle brush made it into the garbage and I scrubbed the floor 2x's (and I wonder why I can't get to what I need to. I'm too busy cleaning up the messed the kids leave behind.

Nora's Blessing Part 2

2011-11-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

Here is my sweet baby in her amazing dress. I LOVE it! My mom was not able to participate or be part of the blessing so I asked her if she would make Nora a blanket. Turns out that didn't work out. Such a big project for someone who has no time, and I picked out the most difficult blanket for her to crochet. Anyway she was a great sport and ended up getting Nora this blessing dress in Japan instead. I love the dress, but love also what it represents (Amazing grandparents that love this baby and were busy serving the Lord. I love that the dress was from Japan representing family there that was not able to be with us, not only my mom and dad, but my little sister also serving in another mission in Japan.). I think this dress represented them so well. I love this baby Nor Nor. She is so sweet and adds so much joy and happiness to out home. How would we ever live without her?

Growing Up!

2011-10-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

My baby rolled over all by herself today (back to tummy). I can't believe it! She is 4 months and growing WAY too fast! I wish more than anything I could slow these moments with her down.

Cyd, This Is For You!

2011-10-30T12:34:00.003-07:00

For Therny!

2011-10-30T12:34:00.001-07:00

Nora's Blessing.

2011-10-21T13:49:00.001-07:00

On Sunday Sep 25th we blessed Nora. What a great day it was. I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. We could not be happier to have Nora here. I still look at her and can't beleave she is here. She is such a miracle to us. Through all of the crazyness of my pregnancy I would dream about this day and what I would do to make it stand out and be special.
The day was amazing. Kris did such an amazing job with the blessing.
Some of the things that were said in her blessing:

We are so grateful that she is here and part of our family.
She was told that she was given 2 gifts. A body that she should protect. Do no harm to your body. Don't take any harmful substances. The second gift is Agency. "You'll use it for good."
She will respect, love, and have a close bond with her mother. She is a child of our Heavenly Father. Treat others with respect because they are also children of our Heavenly Father. She is a product of Fasting and Prayers of loved ones. She would have a testimony of Fasting and Prayer and grow close to her Heavenly Father. That when she falls short she can come to her parents for help and rely on her Savior Jesus Christ to repent and in times of grief or sorrow.
You'll be married in the temple for all time and eternity
Your sisters can't wait to show you the ropes.
The blessing was amazing and oveoulsy was the highlight of the day but all of the little details are so much fun as well. Here are the details of the blessing.
Her dress was given to her by Grandma. She got it in Japan and it was so fun to have a little something to represent Grandpa and Grandma who were not able to be there.
Once we got home we changed her into her onesie. This was a tradition that was started with Molly. Cydne's husband Brayden was on his mission when Molly was born and had his sister send a gift for her. It was a onesie with her name on it and a little mini blanket. We put it on Molly the day she was blessed signifiing that she had been given a name. I love the tradition so much we have kept it going. So we put on her Name once when we got home to keep her dress nice and signify what the day was all about.
Now for the party.

For the drink we did pink lemonade and water.

The dessert table was my favorite part. I made some of my favoritis. Raspberry bread pudding, mini chocolate cupcakes and mini pumpkin cupcakes (both favorites of my family) Homemade banana pudding, and a brownie triffle. I threw in some sugar cookies, and whoopie pies.

Red Velvet cake! I added a little banner.

This was taken just before I had gotten all of the bread pudding out, so it's not completely finished. I love decorative pom poms they added some color and height.

For favorites I wanted to do something to say thanks for coming and all of the prayers and support. I settled on a picture frame for each family. I got some frames from Ikea sanded a little to ruff it up and then primed and panted it with chalkboard paint. Then I wrote up a little note that said thanks for coming and then some ways they could use the frame. like for birthdays, holidays, good luck for taking a big test, take a funny pick of yourself and put it in the frame with a little note to cheer someone up the list is endless. Just a fun way to make someone's day special.

For lunch we did pork burritos, homemade salsa and chips. I borrowed my moms chaffing dishes (I want some!) and then put the GOOD tortillas (meaning the ones you have to cook, so good if you haven't tried them you should), rice in another and then the pork in the last one. I filled both of those white bowls with salsa one more spice and the other more mild and then then lined the bags of chips on both sides. I wanted to have the chips in some kind of container that there weren't a million hands going in and out of. I got these little brown bags and then added a label to mark them as "Chips" so that everyone would know what they were. This was taken before the food was out and all set up. I put the plates in front and then I found the most awesome cutlery at Zurchers (totally look like real silver ware) It gave it a polished look with less dishes to wash.

Thanks B for helping me hang these at 11:00 the night before you left town! You rock. I really appreciated the help, but also I had a blast.

OK! This had to be my all time FAVORITE thing! I love the cupcake toppers. I loved the idea of making this more personal. Bringing the attention to Nora and making her the Star of the day. They weren't super hard to make and I loved the impact they had. I will be doing this for almost every party from here on out.

kisses with Nora's Name on the bottom.

Favors for family and friends.

Last Powell Trip Of The Summer! Sept 2011

2011-09-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

This is our Last Lake Powell Trip of the Season! There has been a lot of rain and even more craziness but It's been great! We love these little girls and feel so blessed that we have all three. How did we get so lucky to have such amazingly talented, smart, fun, crazy, and beautiful girls! I look at them all and am truly amazed at each of them. Nora is an amazing addition. She is so mellow and really just roils with the punches! We could not be more amazed that she is here with us and we LOVE it! We got a really nice afternoon a mid all of the rain and spent going for a boat ride in the canyon and then found a great little beach the girls loved playing on. Molly making her "treasures" of rolled balls of wet sand. Stella played in the water (trying to drink it, I know barf!) Nora kicked in the shade! Really I love these times! The uninterrupted family time! It's nice not having to run run run and have Kris Not at work!

Another New Begining!

2011-09-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Stella is so sweet. She's wild and fun and she loves life. I have been so nervous because when it comes to crazy Stella has no fear. When it comes to people other kids or anyone she kind of stays close to home and family and she isn't super social. For example Kris and I had taken the girls to McDonald's. Molly and Stella were playing and Stella came up to me and asked if we could go home. I asked why and here reply was "there's too many kids here!" I have really wondered how she would do. Molly on the other hand has asked if she could go home with total strangers in the grocery store since she could talk! I wondered if Stella would like school or if it would be a fight everyday she had school. She could not have been more excited about school! She has loved talking about it, thinking about it and she has only had one full day and she has been talking about her cute little friends Sophie and Ruby for the last week. Even when she said her prayers tonight she gave thanks for Sophie and Ruby! She is so cute. She runs right in and is happy as a lark. We are thrilled with her teachers. They were Molly and Stella's teachers as well. They are amazing! I'm so glad that she is loving school. I can't believe that she is growing up so fast! I love this little one! She is so cute and crazy and fun and adds so much to our family. She is the crazy that we need to keep us fun and going! We love you Stell Bell!

Lake Powell Aug 2011

2011-09-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

This trip to LP was way better than the last trip to LP. It was really windy and hard to get out on the boat! Here are just a few highlights of this trip. We did quite a bit of swimming. The water was so warm! It was Nora's first time and she did great! She loved the boat and being around her sisters!

Like I said Nora loved the boat! This is a shot of her when she and I were on the boat watching the girls and Kris on the beach. She wasn't really smiling at this point she was 8 weeks, but here is a shot of one of those sweet little smiles!

Here are the girls after swimming behind the houseboat! They are all wrapped up in the towels that they made (well colored) It was one of our crafts that we did. We did something each day to keep them busy while we couldn't get out off the house boat. We made shirts with fabric. They cut out shapes and then they ironed on! We also tried doing s'mores. Kris is the best! We (all us girls really wanted to do them, but the wind made it really hard to find a beach and keep the fire going!)

T-Rex's first visit to LP!

Here are the girls ready for bed the last night of our trip! We all love this place and always look forward to going back the next time!

Molly's First Primary Talk!

2011-09-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Molly gave her second talk in Primary last week and when she was done one of the counselors asked if I had a copy of the first talk she gave the 2nd week in April. (They are working on the Primary program and wanted the talks the kids have given though the year. Love that Idea by the way.) I told her I did have a copy feeling confident that I could find it quickly on the blog. When I went looking I couldn't find it and was so sad. I spent about 30 on my computer looking for it. It was so sweet and I couldn't have love the experience more. She was 100% invested in this talk. She wrote it with a little help and guidance from me, but really I just asked the questions and she did the rest! Molly amazes me. She is constantly asking questions about the gospel and about our Savior and Heavenly Father. I can tell she really does think about and ponder spiritual things. I think of the scripture that talks about to be spiritually minded is life eternal. "SMILE" scripture! She is spiritually mature beyond her years! This was the first talk she ever gave in primary:

One of my favorite song we have learned in primary is “I know that my savor loves me”

It says…

A long time ago in a beautiful place,

Children were gathered round Jesus.

He blessed and taught as they felt of his love

Each saw the tears on his face.

The Love that He felt for his little ones

I know he feels for me.

I did not touch him or sit on his knee,

Yet, Jesus is real to me.

When my mom asked me what I know about Jesus this is what I said:

*He lives in Heaven

*He cares about us

*He loves us.

*He wants us to be back in heaven again.

*We celebrate his birthday at Christmas time

*He taught by example.

*He was baptized.

*He preformed many miracles.

*He suffered and died for us,

*He was resurrected and lives again.

I know He did this for you and for me because he loves each of us…

Jesus is real to me.

Here is the 2nd talk she gave last week. She was so cute and did such a great job. Kris helped her with this one. What a great daddy he is to be so involved with his kids and help me out!

Temples are houses of our Heavenly Father. They are holy places where we make promises with our Heavenly Father. Throughout time, Heavenly Father has commanded His people to build temples. When the prophet Moses was leading his people in the wilderness they had a portable temple that looked like a tent. When heavenly father was in the temple there was a cloud over it. King Solomon in the bible built a temple. In the Book of Mormon we learn that Nephi built a temple when he reached the promised land. Joseph Smith was commanded to build temples. The Church is working to build temples all over the world to make temple blessings more available for more of Heavenly Father's children.

Temples are places learn. In the temple we learn the things we need to do to return to our heavenly father. Everything in the Church—the meetings and activities, the missionary work, the lessons taught and the hymns—all lead to the work done in holy temples. In the temple we learn about Jesus Christ. We learn about his role in Heavenly Father’s plan. We promise to follow him and obey his commandments.

In the temple worthy members can be sealed and married for time and all eternity. This means that if we live righteously we can live together as families with Heavenly Father after our time here on earth.

I am looking forward to going to the temple when I am older. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. I am thankful for his gospel and that he has provided us with temples.

What's New!

2011-09-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

New Year, New School, New Friends, New Teacher, New Rules,

New Adventures!

For Molly the most important part is New Shoes!

The first day of school for Molly was great. It seemed a little crazy for me. I didn't really know what I should be doing and where she needed to be and what was going on so that made it hard for her to know... we're learning together.

It was off to the races and I felt bad all day that I hadn't made it more spacial. All the other kids had both parents with cameras, younger siblings all planning to walk them in. (It looked like most of them were planning on camping out for the day). I on the other hand had left my kids in the car and only walked her in when I realized that she would have been lost in the sea of people. My cute friend snapped a shot of Molly on the rug and the I raced out to my waiting children. I also felt bad that I didn't feel bad (most moms have a really hard time leaving their children the first day of school and even more so with your first child) I felt so distracted with everything I had to do that day I didn't have time to think about it! It only hit me Tues when I was talking Stella to dance for the first time and I past Molly's school as saw her outside playing for recess! That's when I got teary eyed! I can't believe my oldest baby is in Kindergarten! She loves it!

When I picked her up and asked her to tell me all about it and the only response I got was...

"it was long!"

She did give me more details throughout the day but she loves it and was excited to go back! My little Molly is growing up! And she couldn't be more thrilled about it, I on the other hand, well...

Baby Nor Nor!

2011-08-25T07:21:00.001-07:00

It's been way too long since my last post and I have a ton to catch up on, but there have been a few milestones that Nora has hit that I wanted to mark before I forget.
Last week at about 9 weeks she started to smile at us. She smiles a lot during her sleep and I have never had a baby do this but she will full on laugh during her sleep. Her little giggles are so sweet. But now she is smiling at us when she is awake and her sweet little dimple and wide gummy smile just melt my heart.
On the 23th if aug she started to intentionally make cooing sounds an other cute little sounds.
She is such a happy baby. Now that we have the food thing figured out and her thrush taken care of and if we keep her reflex meds in her she could not be a better baby.
Last night she went 9 hours. She has slept though the night before a few times but for the most part she is a once a nighter.
She is so fun to have around and the girls couldn't love her more. She is everything I felt she would be before she got here!
We love you Nor Nor!

New Baby Nora!

2011-08-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a while since the last post and I have a lot to catch up on. 1st and for most we need to start with Nora and her arrival! We Feel incredibly blessed that she is here and healthy and happy. What a roller coaster ride this has been from the beginning to the end. I have talked about our experience with the pregnancy and now here is her birth story.

To back up a few weeks, my mom had been having some health problems that were most likely going to bring her back to the states for some surgery. In talking with her about when she was planning on coming it was 3 weeks before Nora was due. I kept begging her to wait 3 more weeks, but due to other commitments and her and my dad's busy schedule she could not postpone the time any longer. I was fine, a little bummed but fine. I knew she wasn't going to be here from the beginning, but it was just the thought that she could have been here.

At 35ish weeks we decided to make one last trip to Lake Powell before we had our third child. Oh it was miserable. I felt horrible the whole time. The drive about did me in and on top of that my ribs were hurting so much I couldn't sleep and those beds were not made for people that are 35 weeks along. I spent most of my time on the couch and that was not that much more comfy than the bed. So I propped myself up on all of the pillows I could to just get maybe 20 min here and there. The boat was horrible because with the choppy water I felt like Nora would fall out every boat ride. We never went too far do to how choppy things were and just in case baby decided to come early. Stella came at 37 weeks. Anyway it was a bad trip and on top of it I started to itch so bad. It had started just before we had left and I had tried lotion and baths and all of that, but the itching and the side issues were making MISeRABLE! By the time we got home I was ready. (I think it was a first, Me really wanting to go home). Just a few days after coming home, still really itch and really miserable I was not sleeping still! KILL ME! Then I think it was the Sunday we had gotten home... I was sitting on the bed and sneezed. My whole side buckled and I could NOT move! I was dying. I don't know that I have ever been in so much pain. I tried to wake up Kris and he turned over for a sec and then turned back over and went back to sleep. So now being about 12:30ish I called the one person I knew would be up. My mom in Japan. I sat and cried. I was in soooo much pain. She told me I should call the Dr. I am the one who never would want to put anyone out or bug anyone. So I called labor and delivery thinking that the nurses might know what I should do and I knew they would be up. The cute nurse I talked was really nice. She told me that it could be a few things and that my Dr may want me to come in and check things out. She told me to call the Dr on call for my Dr. I told her I felt so bad I didn't want to bug her. The nurse assured me that she was up and that she had just seen her so she knew that she was for sure. I called the after hours number and the Dr called me right back. She was so nice and wanted me to come in, but to go to the ER and once I got there to tell them to call labor and delivery so that a nurse could come and monitor the baby. I had woken up Kris to tell him I was headed to the ER. He wasn't too worried and I think he was a little relieved that he got to say home with the kids. Like who was I going to call in the middle of the night. So I spent the whole night in the ER hooked up to monitors for the baby and even though I they had given me heavy drugs to help the pain nothing was working and there was NO, I repeat NO sleeping. I was so tired. I had gone weeks without sleep and just really kept thinking I'm going to die and just let me do it now... I'm just so tired. So after a whole night in the ER I was diagnosed with Bronchitis... No cough no congestion... WHATEVER! I was now stuck at the hospital! They wanted me out of the room so they could have the room for another patient...ps there was no one in the waiting room?????? But they wouldn't let me go home because I had driven myself there and they had given me heavy drugs! DUMB! I had to get home NOW! Kris had to get to work. So finally I just took off and headed for home. Beat physically, mentally broken, and emotionally ready to give up I came home to deal with my 2 darling daughters almost 5 and almost 3 years old. Kris's mom called not long after Kris had left and said she had heard I was in the ER and she was coming to get the girls. I spent the next 3 days in bed... REALLY! No lie. I got up a few times to help the girls and Kris's mom came to get the girls and Kris would pick them up on his way home. I couldn't move! I couldn't lay on my one side and once down it was almost impossible to get up. Finally the day come for me to go to my Dr appt. When she came in she had seen that I was in the ER and we were talking and before I could even finish she was shaking her head. She said that she thought I had dislocated a rib! WOW! totally makes sense. Her nurse got me into the Physical therapist that day. Once there I was told I had 5 yes folks 5 dislocated ribs. The PT was literally pushing on my ribs with ALL of her body weight. Oh my gosh! I was ready to crawl off the table, but the second they popped back in I felt the relief. There were 2 that kept popping out, but that I could deal with. I went back about 2 times.

Still having all of the itching and instead of getting better it kept getting worse. I had now moved from my NST and Dr appt every 2 weeks to every week. My mom was scheduled to come in on June 15th. I had an NST that morning followed by my Dr appt. The itching was so bad I couldn't even sit still for the NST. When my nurse, Nancy came in to fix the monitors, AGAIN, and It told her I was so sorry I kept moving I just itched so badly. She told me that I should bring that up with my Dr when I went in right after my NST. So once we got what we needed from the monitors I headed over across the hall to my Dr office. Once there we discussed my ribs again and then went right into the itching. I was kind of hesitating telling her about the itching, because what is she going to do. I have itched horribly for weeks now and I'm sure she just thinks I complaining all the time (OK so i do when I'm pregnant). Anyway she said she wanted to do a blood draw anyway checking something else that we had been watching for a few weeks. I went to get my blood drawn and then I had to hurry and get Molly to tutoring and then we were meeting up with my mom and sisters for lunch! Hooray! We met everyone at Cafe Rio... soo good! As we were walking out I pulled out my phone and saw I had several missed calls. My Dr had left 2 messages. She had said that I needed to call her ASAP. Then there was a message from someone else at the hospital. She said "this is so and so and I was calling about getting you registered for your hospital stay tonight". or something like that. I looked at my sisters and mom and said... "I think I'm having a baby." I called the Dr back thinking I would only be talking to her nurse and she said that she had wanted to talk to me. She said that normal liver levels were in the 20 and 30 and my were at 250 and 300's. She said that I needed to get to the hospital as soon as I could and they were going to induce me. What it was is Help Syndrome and Cholistasis. Basically my body was having an allergic reaction to the placenta. The only cure... deliver the placenta. I was only 36 and 1/2 weeks. The Dr. assured me that she would be fine and that we did need to get her here. I was totally taken back. I still had 2 kids to figure out what to do with the girls. My mom had dr appointments and all of her health stuff and couldn't stay. I called Kris to let him know that we were going to be have a baby soon. And he needed to meet me at the hospital. He wasn't answering his phone so I called the office and asked to talk to Kris. When he came to the phone I told him we were going to be have and that I was supposed to be going to the hospital. He told me that he could be there after he was done with work at about 5. So I was on my own. I called my sister in law and she was nice enough to take my kids that night and then my cute friends all pitched in to help out while I was in the hospital. Thanks Brooke, Mel, and Amanda! once I had somewhere for my kids to go I came home and needed to pack for everyone. I was assuming that my kids would be spending the night (that turned out to be a correct assumptions). Honesty I just felt like I wandered aimlessly around my house trying to figure out what the kids would need, and what would I need. My mom and sisters had come to help me pack and get ready, but I was kind of in a hurry and I don't really know what I was doing.

(this was just before I dropped off my kids)

I finally got packed and my family took off. I dropped off my girls and headed to the hospital.. ALONE! As I was carrying in my bags my cute nurse Nancy, that had actually told me to check with my Dr about the itching, was on her way out of the hospital. She was happy to see that we had figured things out and was so cute. I got myself checked in and then everyone got things started. Kris was able to come later that evening when he had finished up at work.

(this was me working though one of my contractions shortly after Kris got there.)

Really from there on things went smoothly, other than Kris spilling my sugar water all over the floor--impossible to clean up and everyone who came in the room stuck to the floor. They had to wait for a bit to give me the epidural and with the pitosin that made it kind of miserable, but I didn't care. I would not be itching anymore and I would have a baby to hold and I would even be able to sleep when I lied down. They did have to put me on a magnesium iv drip thought the whole delivery and then I had to stay on it for the next 24 hours. The itching did take a few days to go away completely. Nora arrived early the next morning June 16 at 2:26 am.

(Nora's First Picture)

She was amazing. We heard her first cry. They handed her to me and she went quiet. Her eyes were open and she just kept looking around the room. She was wide awake and did that for the next hour. She was amazing. I remember right after she was born looking at my Dr and just crying and telling her thank you. Here we were 36 1/2 weeks. All of the drama, all of the anxiety, the fear. My Dr was amazing though it all. She had made it easier. She walked us though everything. Here was the little girl I had been begging God for for the past several months. She was here. She was more than perfect, she was healthy, she was a miracle! I was holding my very own miracle! I was very emotional, grateful, and exhausted. We couldn't have been happier to have OUR little Nora here. She was jaundiced and she wasn't getting a ton better so they put her on the lights the 2nd day and were really worried that she wasn't getting bigger. She was born at 5 lb 10 oz and was dropping and not going back up. The Dr told me I had to start supplementing her or she wouldn't be going home. Well turns out the day we were supposed to go home the Dr wouldn't release her. She was still really jaundiced and wasn't gaining weight. So they released me and kept her. The nurses were great and helped me out with letting me stay in the room and the Dr had agreed that we leave her on the lights all day in the nursery and then supplement her and then at 5 the nurse could call and give the Dr the stats and if they were looking better she would release Nora. So I walked around all day and then hung out in the hospital. The nurses in the nursery were awesome and would let me come in there and just hang out to be by Nora.

(Nora in the hospital nursery under the billie lights)

That afternoon they had decided to clear the floor I was on. They were moving all of the PT to the floor below to reduce cost, being as there weren't a ton of pts. and not enough nurses to cover both floors. They had decided to leave Nora in that nursery She was the only baby in there with the one nurse and then I was the only other person on the floor. It was kind of weird. It was like a ghost town. REALLY! It was Nora, the nurse and myself! I kind of liked it. Finally late that night the Dr decided to release Nora. So I drove myself home with Nora in the same car I drove myself to the hospital... I promise I have a husband.

(Nora coming home)

We got home about 8:30 that night and we were so happy to be home, with a lot to do because I was so not planning on having a baby that early. It was so nice that My mom was here for this. We still didn't get to spend a ton of time with her due to all of her medical stuff... we are glad that she got everything taken care of and that everything worked out great for her! We are glad that this baby is here! It's been a crazy ride from the beginning to the end. I felt like a million bucks after she was born and jumped right back into life. It's all worked out and we feel so blessed that we have been watched over and taken care of.

2011-06-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our little Nora has been such a blessing. We are so happy she is here! It's so hard for me to take my eyes off of her. I just feel so protective of her. I cry every time I think of what a miracle she is. We are so blessed. Thank you everyone that prayed, and fasted for us. For the outpouring of love for us and our little Nora. We could not be more grateful to all of you!

Our Newest Member (Sweet Miracle)

2011-06-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Nora Rebecca

6/16/2011 2:26 am

5 lb 12 oz 21 in long

Our Miracle Baby!

2011-06-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

I have started this post so many times and the words just don’t seem to come, or I can’t put my feelings in a way that would even begin to express what I have felt though this whole experience. It also could be that it just seems so personal to me and kind of hard to share, especially when I can’t express what I want to say in an eloquent way. Maybe it is just so personal it’s hard to share. One thing I do know is that whether I bury this in a mass of blog posts or post it to share this is something that needs to be shared with my little family… this baby and my two other girls and those that will follow. Partly because this has been so much of the last year and partly because this whole experience has truly strengthened my testimony of this gospel, and of a loving Father in heaven that hears and answers prayers. That our Savior and Father in Heaven are so aware of us and that the Holy Ghost truly has a comforting power that can’t be found anywhere else or though anything else.

I will worn you if you are pregnant than this is not a post you want to read right now.

This pregnancy has been a rough ride. I knew the minute I was pregnant. I was sick and felt that “pregnancy feeling” I don’t know really how to describe it. You feel like you are going to throw up and that it will happen at anytime anywhere and there is nothing that you can do to stop it. You’re afraid that if you move you will barf all over the floor. You plant yourself strategically closest to the restroom anywhere you go, just in case. If you don’t eat anything it makes it worse, but you don’t feel like eating anything… you get the point. Honestly I don’t know that I was really feeling ready to do this again and was fine with the way things were. I was feeling like my parents were so far away and though I’m a VERY independent person it was hard to think of my parents not being around and not seeing this baby until it was 2. I don’t know just so many feelings that I was feeling and not elated. Maybe it’s because I knew what the next few months would bring… or so I thought! Brooke and Margaret were so amazing! They would bring dinner, honestly to many times to count. They would offer to take my kids and Brooke almost showed up to help me put up my Christmas Tree… Finally it got up a week or 2 before Christmas! Really I didn’t do much. I would get my kids up and would sleep on the couch all day! That was kind of what I was expecting, in fact it hasn’t been as bad as my last pregnancy so I was just grateful.

I had gone in for a routine test that I have done with my other two girls that consist of a sonogram and blood draw. They just check the baby for any abnormalities. I have always told Kris that the out come of these test would never change what I would do with the pregnancy, I just would like to be prepared when my babies come. Here I was going in for a routine test and taking my 2 kids with me like I always do! They started the sonogram and everything was going great… Then the tech said that she saw some extra fluid on the back of the baby’s neck. By the time she had finished telling me that there was another girl in the room. She introduced herself to me her name was Kati Dunn. Honestly the tech never left the room and she never called anyone so either they were watching the sonogram in the other room or they have the rooms miked up. She told me that she was a genetic counselor. She said that because of the abnormalities in the sonogram they would not be drawing blood that day, because they already knew that something was wrong.

Mind you at this point Molly is now telling me over and over that she needs to go potty and Stella is climbing out of her stroller (5 point harness my foot!) I’m trying to focus only on what Katie is telling me. So I heard lots of works like Cystic Hygroma, 50% chance that something is wrong, amniocenteses, CVS, genetic disorder, heart defect. I’m hearing all of these words in between my kids yelling and climbing all over the place. Katie couldn’t have been nicer. She kept asking me if I had any questions. What was I supposed to have questions about? I didn’t know what the heck she was saying. Honestly I left that day knowing a few things…

* That there was a 50% chance that something was wrong with my baby

* I had 2 options to find out what was wrong CVS or Amniocenteses (I was given literature on both so that Kris and I could sit down and talk about it)

* My kids could have been better that day and have been! What the heck!

* That my chance for miscarriage or still birth was really high!

Katie was so cute and answered what questions I did have and gave me her number and told her I could call anytime. I was 13 weeks and if I wanted to do the CVS I had to act fast. It had to be done by the end of the week. It’s very much like an amnio, but it is more invasive and can only be done in the earlier stages of pregnancy… that’s the perk, you will know sooner. They put the needle though your belly just like the amnio, but they actually go into your placenta and take a “biopsy” if you will from your placenta as opposed to the amnio that just takes some of the amniotic fluid. But again it had to be done by the end of the week or we would have to wait till I was 20 weeks to do the amnio.

As I gathered up my things and my children to leave the room I wish I could explain the feeling I had. I was pregnancy sick, my kids were out of control and I was just trying to keep it together till I got into the car… then yes I cried all the way home… well that is where we were headed, but not feeling like I could go home and just sit there with my kids running wild and not really knowing how I felt about what I had just heard, we drove around and knowing that Kris would be done with work soon I went to his office and we sat in the parking lot till he was done. I had tried to call my mom several times, but with her traveling the mission doing interviews which I had no clue at the time.

We didn’t wait at Kris’s office long before they were all done. It was a Wed. and Kris’s sisters were working and both stopped over to say hi. His youngest sister asked if everything was ok. She said “I saw your car pull in and thought, Oh I hope everything is ok.” I told her it was fine and they were on their way. Kris came out and came over and started to talk. I just looked at him and said “Something might be wrong with the baby!” I asked if he wanted to go get dinner and go for a drive, still not wanting to go home and face making dinner, cleaning up and the fight of bed time that I new the night would bring all too soon. So he climb in and we were off on our drive when I recounted everything that had gone on at the Dr appointment. Really I can barely remember the Dr coming in and talking to me as well. She was awesome and was so nice to answer any other questions that I had and she and Katie talked with me for a while. I read aloud the pamphlets on both of our options of the CVS and the amnio. I cried, Kris cried and I’m sure the girls did their fair share of crying on the drive as well I just don’t remember that part.

The next morning early I got a call from another genetic counselor that worked with Katie and said he was calling for her that she was sick and had no voice but wanted to know if we had made a decision on the testing because we needed to get it scheduled. One of the first things he said to me was “I’m so sorry to hear about your test results. Are you doing ok? Are there any questions I can answer for you?” honestly I kept thinking this guy is offering his condolences already. Is there something more to this 50% thing than I realize? So I started to ask more questions. How common this was … the answer, not very common at all. Then as we kept talking it started to hit me… No! There IS something wrong with the baby, now it’s just a matter of how serious it is. I had started to remember more of my conversation with the Dr and Katie and talking with this guy I started to ask more questions. He must have though I had not listened at all the day before, but I can’t really explain what happened. I was trying to grasp everything so hard I just kept missing the whole thing. It was like when you focus so hard on one thing you don’t get really anything. I don’t know. But I realized that the word I kept hearing the Dr and Katie and this guy using “Cystic Hygroma” was what our baby had. Most of the time this Cystic Hygroma was an indication that there were other problems… 50% of the time it’s a genetic problem. Other times it a heart defect, and in rare cases it’s just a mass of tissue and fluid that hopefully can be surgically removed when the baby is born. Some are huge and some are small so they would be keeping tabs on this baby to check. But for now we needed to start to rule out things one by one and the genetics was the first one. I felt like I had more information when I got of the phone with him than I had earlier…more overwhelmed and scared than before, but more in the loop.

Kris only had to work part day and was home early. We sat on the couch and talked again about my phone call and our options. Again I cried and he cried and I started to go to panic mode. I had tried and tried to no avail to get a hold of my mom, but again traveling the mission in Japan she was unavailable. I wasn’t sure what to do or if I even needed to do anything. I didn’t want to bother my OB so even though the thought had crossed my mind I never made the call. After our talk Kris was watching a little tv and I had fallen asleep on the couch when my phone rang. I answered and got “Lindsay, It’s Lisa Gravelle” My OB. She went on to tell me she had seem my test results and told me she was so sorry, that she had been thinking about me all day long. She also said that she was happy to answer any questions I had. We talked and I asked her all kind of questions. How common was this? She told me that she got maybe 1 a year… this form the lady that has 20+ deliveries a month. One of the other questions I had asked her was if this was her what would she do. She told me she would go with the CVS. She told me that the risk of miscarrying was not as high as people really thought it was, but that with this kind of thing (being the cystic hygroma) most of the time the miscarriage is because of the CH as opposed to the actual CVS. She also told me that I should take it easy if I did do the CVS for the next day. She was amazing but after all of these phone calls I think I started to realize how serious this was getting. Again more panic and Kris told me he thought I should call my siblings. Not wanting to talk to anyone about it, not able to talk to anyone about it, I opted for a mass text! I know how lame is that, but for someone who couldn’t talk and didn’t want to but needed all the prayers I could get at the time texting was manna from heaven! The mass text said something like…

“We just found out that the baby has what is called a Cystic Hygroma and that there is a 50% chance that there is a genetic defect such as trisomy 18, turners , downs, spineobifita, other genetic disorders or a heart defect. We really could use your prayers.”

With in 5 min of sending the mass text I had almost everyone ether call or text back. I couldn’t talk to anyone, but was so thankful for their well wishes and saying that they would keep us in their prayers. Still not able to get a hold of my parents I finally just emailed and called the mission office and asked them to pass on a message to check their email. Kris had called his parents and I know that was a hard and emotional call for him to have to make.

We decided to do the CVS that Friday. I had to go in alone because Kris had to work. One of my dear friends kept saying that she would get a sitter for her kids and come with me (how cute is she) and Kris’s mom offered to come or send Kris’s sister, but when it came down to it… I was scared to death! This was so traumatic, Again I wish I could express what I was feeling and thinking and I was just trying to hold it together. If I would have taken anyone but Kris I was afraid that it would be even more traumatic doing this all alone. So I just told myself I was going to treat it like a regular Dr. appointment and go in and it would be fine. It was fine. I was a little nervous about the needle and the Dr. kept saying when I stick this in you have to hold perfectly still, then I’m going to keep moving it up and down and around to get a good sample so we don’t have to stick you again. Then I’ll take it out into the lab and see if we have enough, if not we will try again. Katie (the genetic counselor) was there as well as a darling sonogram tech (who I have become well accounted with and has keep my kids occupied at many sonograms since) and a resident that was there that day. The CVS went smooth. They got what they needed the first time and we didn’t have to go in for a second time. Now was the waiting game! Again my friend brought dinner for us that night, a gift sent form heaven. It would be a few days before they had the test results for the genetics. This all started on wed the 5^th of Jan and we wouldn’t see the results until my birthday Jan 18^th. That would be a long wait.

Kris’s family decided to have a family fast that Sunday after we found out. I being so sick couldn’t fast of course, but I so badly wanted to participate so I decided I would offer my fast by forgoing all kinds of sweets and treats. I remember when I knelt down to start my fast that sat night I poured out my heart to my Father in Heaven. I told him that I knew he knew be better than anyone and he knew what I could handle and to just help me to align my will with his. That if this baby was going to have special needs I knew that it would make us stronger and that nothing would make my children more compassionate and kind and loving than having a sibling with special needs. I recalled all of my friends that had siblings with special needs or families that had children with special needs, they were amazing families I was just worried I wouldn’t measure up. I prayed that I would feel comfort and peace that I would know that I would be able to handle whatever he had in store for this little baby and for us as a family. There was a lot more than that but that was a big part of it. I prayed for each of our girls and for Kris and myself and I sobbed the whole time.

That Sunday was a good Sunday. I remember that the closing song was I know that My Redeemer Lives. I cried thought the whole song I couldn’t even sing. We ended our fast that night at the Rosander family dinner and the prayer was touching. I was touched that this room full of people would fast on our behalf so lovingly and unselfishly.

I have never had a fast like that before. I know It wasn’t really a fast for me, I was still eating, but I have never felt such instant peace. I felt calm and at ease. I felt that everything was going to be fine… not that the tests would come back perfect, but that it was all going to be ok no matter what! I have continually felt that! My biggest fear was honestly Trisomy 18 I kept thinking of this story. I was so scared I wouldn’t have a baby at the end of all of this the feeling like crap my poor kids getting the shaft. Kris having to do his job all day and my job all night. I got lots of great pone calls from cute friends text messages saying they were thinking of us. One of my cute friends brought one of our favorite desserts of my moms with a cute note saying that she new that my mom was wishing she could be here with us for all of this and that she was making the desert on her behalf…my mom cried when she heard that. My amazing aunt called to check up on us and see how we were doing. Offering anything that they could also on behalf of my mother. I remember talking to my aunt just after the CVS and telling her what scared me most about having a special needs child is that you just want to protect your children and shelter them form the world and people and kids can be so mean. In fact this was another thing I had prayed about my fears of not being able to protect my child from those that would belittle them or make them feel like less of a person, those that would mock or make fun of them or make my child the center of their jokes. My aunt said you know there will always be humanity in the world. As I thought back to high school I thought of my love of the kids that I worked with in per tutoring and the love that everyone had for them. That was the answer to my unsettled question of how to protect my child. My aunt had given me the answer I had needed. We felt of everyone’s love though this whole thing and truly felt others prayers for us.

My mom had called and we had talked several times after not being able to get a hold of her and asked if she could call on our family to do a fast as well. Thinking that she was just going to call or email siblings I told her that was fine and that only if they wanted to, I didn’t want anyone to feel obligated. But told her we would take any help we could get. So the date for the Baird fast was set. My mom sent me emails from friends of the family saying they had just finished their fast for us and cousins and aunts and uncles… I was totally mortified! Really this was not something that I wanted to share with everyone and certainly not want anyone to feel like they had to fast for us. As I thought about it, I was humbled that these amazing family members and friends would involve themselves in a fast on our behalf. We have truly been blessed for it! Thank you to all for your prayers and fasting and your love that you have shown to us!

We got the genetic tests back on my birthday like I said, Jan 18^th. Katie had called and told me everything looked good. No genetic issues and that we would be having a girl! I was thrilled for another girl. I was feeling like I was ready to have something to look forward to. My chances remained really high for miscarriage and still birth and that was not going to change with this news, and we still had to rule out any of the heart issues that could be a problem, and if we made it passed that then we still had the Cystic Hygroma to worry about. How big was it? Would it be hard to remove? And on and on. Being as I was in need of something to look forward to and help motivate me to get moving and keep my spirits high being as I was still on 2 drugs for nausea and trying to make it day by day I was ready for a party! That’s right I was ready for a party! So I decided to have a gender revealing party! I have always thought this sounded like a fun idea and was all ready for it! It was a blast and I love that almost everyone thought we were having a boy! It made the surprise of it all more fun!

So being as I was a high risk pregnancy they have done sonograms every 4 weeks and that has kind of been fun to see this baby so many times. With my other girls I think we did a total of 3 sonograms per pregnancy. There have been a lot with this baby. They have been watching the Cystic Hygroma and also the growth of the baby. With every week we make it, our chances get better and better of making it the whole pregnancy with her. It’s nice to know they have been keeping such close tabs on this little girl.

Time came when they sent me up to Primary children’s hospital to have a fetal eco and check the heart. The girls LOVE the hospital! Holy cow can you say kid friendly? I was shocked at how thorough they were. They only were looking at her heart and we were with the tech about an hour. Then she had a Cardiologist come in and take a look and talk with me and then she went and got one of her colleagues to come in and also look and he also talked to me. Between 1 tech and 2 cardiologist I felt confident that they were taking a good look. Things looked good and they said that she looked great as far as her heart development should look at this point. We felt that that was also a good. One less thing to worry about. Now this silly Cystic Hygroma. I went in for my routine 4 week sonogram appointment and when I asked the tech (the cute one, they are all cute and we love them all, but Susie was the one that was in my CVS with me.) if she could see how big the CH was. She told me she couldn’t even see it. She said “Gosh all that worry for nothing!” Then she said, but wait and see what the Dr says. When the Dr came in he took a long look and was so much longer than normal. Then he said “This is a miracle!” he went on to tell me that it was totally gone or so small that he couldn’t see it. He just kept saying “This is a miracle!” When I got out of the appointment I called Kris right away and told him that the Dr said “this is a miracle!” Kris asked if he used those exact words. I told him “yes those exact words, several times” When I called my mom she cried, I cried and when I told Kris that he cried. I am still a little gun shy. I don’t discount that this has all been a miracle and when I got a letter from my sister serving her mission in Japan This was the letter I sent back expressing how I felt about this whole thing.

"Well sounds like mom passed on the news about the baby. I’m so grateful for that tremendous blessing, but I am still kind of playing it cautious. They will still be monitoring her and checking her progress though sonograms. The Dr was pleased enough with the last sonogram and felt that it was fine to go ahead and wait 8 weeks until the next sonogram instead of the 4 weeks we have been doing. We also did the fetal echo (a sonogram of her heart) and things looked really good. You know I think I’m still kind of hesitant to come to the conclusion that the cystic hygroma is no longer an issue because I don’t think that I have ever felt though this whole experience that everything will turn out perfect. After the first fast the Rosander family did I felt nothing but peace and comfort. I knew that everything would be fine, not saying or feeling that that would mean the baby would we perfect, but that our Father in Heaven and Savior had a plan for us and for this baby and that no matter what happened or what tests showed that this baby would be perfect and has a special spot in this family. I have felt that she would teach us more about love and acceptance and kindness. (See I cry even just writing this) She has already taught this little family of mine so much. She has taught me so much. We have learned more about prayer, asking and seeking, aligning our wills with our Father in Heaven sometimes this is much harder, but I truly feel that that has come easy with this particular situation. I think that has come form the power of the fast another way in which I have learned and grown from this baby. To me it’s not the miracle of our baby being perfect or that the cystic hygroma being gone or incredibly small, it’s the way in which our Father in Heaven has sent us his comforter to wrap us in his love and comfort, to feel of his peace, to know of his great power and love for each of us and his knowledge and awareness of us here on this massive earth with billions and billions of people. That to me is the miracle that I have felt and seen though this whole experience. I think that so much has come from prayer and fasting and also the service that mom and dad are performing in Japan. I know that the promises that were given them in their setting apart that we (their children) would be watched over and given blessings because of their service. See crying again."

I still don’t know how this will all turn out… things are looking really good. The sonograms are looking awesome and we are now doing weekly non stress test and we start weekly visits with my OBGYN next week all of which are looking positive. I recognize this amazing blessing we have been given each day. Really I know others with the cystic hygroma thing that have not been as fortunate to have a baby to hold at night. I told Kris I feel horrible because I complain everyday about being pregnant, and yet we pray every day that we keep this baby and make it to the end with her. I still hold my breath getting closer to the end that we make it! If we do we are the 20% that is not high at all. No matter how this turns out we have learned a lot, all of us. Molly was asking about the Holy Ghost and we talked about how when mommy learned that something was wrong with the baby it was the Holy Ghost that helped mommy feel that it was all going to be ok. We continue to learn Kris and I have spent nights in bed and sobbed and prayed together. We have grown as a couple. I have grown as a person and I hope my kids will also look back at this story and find strength and power though prayer, fasting, the Holy Ghost and just the gospel in general. I feel blessed to know that as much as my arms ache for this little girl right now we will have her forever. How amazing is this gospel. I have truly felt of the love our God and Savior have for me and my little family! I really have felt this whole experience has been a miracle. I don't know why it has turned out this way (I guess we are still not done) but that is not what I consider the biggest miracle of all it was the feeling of peace and comfort and on those sleepless nights the knowledge that someone was aware of us and our situation.

I think that Alma 26 describes it best when Ammon has been called out by his brothers for bragging and Ammon responds...

26:16 Therefore, let us glory yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

26:37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

May 31st 2011, 34.5 weeks along

*There were still a lot of tears while writing this. There are just so many emotions that come with this whole thing. I know that one day I will be able to do talk about it with out crying... maybe, Maybe not.*

This information is provided by Emory University (medical school)

Department of Human Genetics Division of Medical Genetics www.genetics.emory.edu

Cystic hygromas are fluid-filled sacs that result from a blockage in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that maintains fluids in the blood, as well as transports fats and immune system cells. Cystic hygromas are single or multiple cysts found mostly in the neck region. A cystic hygroma can be present as a birth defect (congenital) or develop at any time during a person’s life. A cystic hygroma in a developing baby can progress to hydrops (an excess amount of fluid in the body) and eventually fetal death. Some cases of congenital cystic hygromas resolve leading to webbed neck, edema (swelling), and a lymphangioma (a benign yellowish-tan tumor on the skin composed of swollen lymph vessels). In other instances the hygroma can progress in size to become larger than the fetus.

Cystic hygromas occur in approximately 1% of fetuses between weeks 9 and 16 of pregnancy.

Causes:

Cystic hygromas can occur as an isolated finding or in association with other birth defect as part of a syndrome. They result from environmental factors, genetic factors, or unknown factors. Environmental causes for cystic hygroma include:

• Maternal viral infections, such as Parvovirus of Fifth’s disease

• Maternal substance abuse, such as abuse of alcohol Genetic syndromes with cystic hygroma as a clinical feature:

• The majority of prenatally diagnosed cystic hygromas are associated with Turner syndrome a chromosome abnormality in which a female has only one X chromosome instead of two.

• Chromosome abnormalities such as trisomies 13, 18, and 21

• Noonan syndrome

The pattern of inheritance for these syndromes varies depending upon the specific syndrome. Isolated cystic hygroma can be inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder for which parents are “silent” carriers. Finally, a cystic hygroma can occur from an unknown cause.

Testing:

Because the risk for a chromosome abnormality approaches 50% when a cystic hygroma is found prenatally, amniocentesis or CVS (chorionic villus sampling) can be performed to diagnose these conditions. If a genetic syndrome is suspected, test availability depends on the specific disorder. Maternal viral studies may also be considered if hydrops is present or maternal exposure can be documented.

Work up for a prenatally diagnosed cystic hygroma includes:

• A detailed ultrasound, including fetal echocardiogram, to look for other anomalies that may indicate the cause for the hygroma

•A complete family history to determine if testing is indicated for hereditary syndromes.

•Amniocentesis or CVS to look for chromosome abnormalities or a specific genetic syndrome. Viral studies on amniotic fluid can be performed if indicated by the presence of hydrops. (Maternal serum screening does not help in determining the prognosis for fetus with a cystic hygroma.)

•Periodic ultrasound evaluations are necessary to look for development of other anomalies or fetal hydrops.

Prognosis:

In some situations, a cystic hygroma can be present in a healthy baby. If a chromosome abnormality is not found in the fetus, the outcome is generally better than for those who do have a chromosome abnormality. In cases in which an isolated cystic hygroma does not resolve by 20 weeks gestation, 2-9% have a good outcome. Overall, there is generally a poor prognosis associated with the prenatal finding of cystic hygroma. Oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid) or polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid) predicts a poor outcome. Hydrops occurs 22-76% of the time with a cystic hygroma and is almost always associated with miscarriage or fetal death.

Treatment:

A baby with a prenatally diagnosed cystic hygroma should be delivered in a major medical center equipped to deal with neonatal complications. An obstetrician usually decides the method of delivery. If the cystic hygroma is large, a cesarean section may be performed. After birth, infants with persistent cystic hygroma must be monitored for airway obstruction. A thin needle may be used to reduce the volume of the cystic hygroma to prevent facial deformities and airway obstruction. Close observation of the baby by a neonatalogist after birth is recommended. If resolution of the cystic hygroma does not occur before birth, a pediatric surgeon should be consulted.

Cystic hygromas that develop in the third trimester (after thirty weeks gestation) or in the postnatal period are usually not associated with chromosome abnormalities. There is a chance of recurrence after surgical removal of the cystic hygroma. The chance of recurrence depends on the extent of the cystic hygroma and whether the wall of the cyst was able to be completely removed.

Last Day Of School Blues!

2011-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

You know I'm kind of excited about having Molly done with school. She is really a great little helper and Stella loves her so much so having her around is always a good thing. I also have to admit that although we do have some summer activities that will get us up and going some days I'm really looking forward to those lazy days that we can just get up and kind of chill and get some of the thing I would like to get done, like cleaning up rooms and making beds just the everyday stuff, I'm just looking forward to the more relaxed mornings as opposed to the craziness of up and run, run, run.

Although I'm excited Molly dose not share that same enthusiastic welcome of summer. Don't get me wrong... she is thrilled to be going to Lake Powell and swimming at Nan and Pa's, and the excitement of welcoming a new baby into our family, but she is so sad that school is over for the summer. Last year she totally didn't get it until about a week into summer when we still hadn't gone back and she was still begging to go back. This year.... totally got it! Her last day was Thursday and when we were out and about on Wednesday there were about 3 times she would burst into tears for no reason at all (it appeared). When I would ask her what was wrong she would just sob and say that she didn't want tomorrow to be her last day of school. I chalked it up to being tired and a good nights sleep would make it all better. So I go to pick her up from school and her teacher saw me and gave me this really sad look and said...."We are just having a hard time." I asked if she was crying because it was the last day of school... and this was confirmed to me by the teacher. Oh my gosh!!!!! When she came out she was hysterical! It was kind of funny, cute, and really sad all at the same time. She just kept saying "I don't want this to be my last day of preschool." I told her we had her friends numbers and we could call and play with them this summer and this didn't help. We took some pictures of her with her friends and this still wasn't helping... She was inconsolable. Honestly I love that she loves school so much. She did get smiling when her teacher made her a new dog balloon. But all day yesterday she would have her little spats of sadness.

Earlier that day we had gone to her last preschool program.... REalLy! Is my oldest done with preschool already? Where has the time gone? I am in total shock! We have loved our preschool and are so excited for Stella to go there next year and for Molly to go to kindergarten. I'm really amazed at how fast time has gone!

My Little Swimmers!

2011-05-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Molly and Stella have been talking swimming lessons for quite a while. It is so fun to see them gain more confidence in their own abilities as swimmers and how they continue to improve. It seemed that we were at a standstill for a while, but they are looking really great! Love this picture of them together in the pool.

Maskers and Brains!

2011-05-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today I was doing Molly's hair and and put a braid in the front to keep the hair out of her face and she was so funny! When I got done she looked at me and with a huge smile on her face she said...

"Mommy, thank you for putting the brain in my hair."

She just kept talking about how much she liked brains (braids) and on and on. No matter how many times I told her what a braid was and what a brain was she just kept calling her braid a brain.

She was also talking about how she was going to get balloon animals today at school for the last day and how she was going to get a kittie, but the teacher couldn't put "maskers" on it. I loved this line...

"but maybe I will ask my teacher if she can put maskers on it, but I don't think that she can."

Just in case you were wondering it's whiskers.

Lovin This Boy!

2011-05-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

He is the most amazing husband and father and I just feel lucky to call him my best friend. Sat he woke up and got on the treadmill and then got the girls to work in helping clean up the house. He told them that we could go have a picnic after the house was all cleaned up. The girls were good to help and then it was off to a new park for a picnic and play. After we came home and he was out the door with the girls to the church parking lot to help the girls fly their kites despite the really dark clouds and sprinkle. When it started to rain he was still out there helping them out... When the lightning started I took Stella who is scared to death of thunder and we headed home. Molly and Kris came later. Then we all went to dinner at Iceberg. The girls just thought that that was the greatest thing ever. What a fun dad! He makes everything so much fun and we are all glad when daddy comes home, or has a day off! We can't get enough of him! I'm glad I have him forever. I hear lots of women who are worried about when their husband retire... For me that day can't come soon enough! Love you Babe!

Stella Post!

2011-05-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

I realize in all of this catching up there are a lot of funny little Molly stories and things she has said, but I don't want to miss out on what is going on with little Stell Bell.

She is my crazy child she is gone in a flash and has no fear which equals total nut case for mom! I'm always holding her hand or wrist so tight because if she takes off I know with my back I stand no chance in catching her. There have been countless times she has escaped and ended up in the street. She is the life of the party, and if there is no party, well she creates it! We have recently put the girls in the same room and that has just about killed me. She has never been a sleeper and now that she has the freedom of a bed she can get in and out of, well lets just say she is out of it more than she is in it! I have gone in on several occasions and Molly will be totally out of it drooling all over her pillow and Stella has the shutters open and will be sitting on Molly's bed playing with barbies or polly's or just looking at books. She is so funny! It has gotten a little bit better lately lets hope we stay on this path.

Stella is one of the most modest people ever! There is Molly who wonders why I hold a towel up at the pool when she is getting out of her swim suit and into her clothes. Then there is stella who refused to have her diaper changed (expecially in front of boys) with others around, or even change her clothes. She will hide in her closet to put her pj's on at night so "nobody see me naked". As modest as she is she is in LOVE with her swim suits. she will put them on everyday (it's between that or a fancy dress, sunday is the only day of the week I don't have to fight her to get ready). She Loves to swim and is obsessed with it. She is always ready and asking when her next swim lesson is the sec she gets out of the pool.

She is Birthday obsessed! I will be in a store any store at all it could be the grocery store and she will say "Oh I really really really want that for my birthday! Can I have that for my birthday, really I want that! Please!" all of this before I can even respond. My response always... "We'll have to see!" she is always talking about what she will do for her birthday, what she will eat, the kind of cake she wants and on and on. I know that this probably comes from Molly. Molly is the same way and I think that come form preschool. I'm glad that I have 2 little girls who love their birthdays! I can't believe that my baby will be 3 in a few months.

Along with the crazy she is my sweet and sensitive one. She is always the first one to say thank you for dinner or anything for that matter. She is always excited about the little things I try to do for them. And when I carry her in form the car she pulls her little legs up and wraps her arms so tight around my neck I feel like I'm holding a little monkey! I love it! Really one of my favorite moments! But don't try to push any affection on her or from her.... it is on her terms and her terms only. She can be a turkey when she tells me "you are the worst mommy ever!" or Kris that "you are the worst daddy ever!" but she can also be the sweetest when she will say "I have the best daddy ever ever ever!" She wants to be just like her older sister and keep up with what she is doing. If fact the other day I was working on articles of faith with molly and Stella was in the kitchen with Kris saying one. Kris said "i think she could get this one" so with about 5 extra min of work with Stella she had the 10th article of faith memorized! That is not an easy one either! Just now she was going with Kris to pick Molly up form school and said "If you need us call us!" I just can't believe that my baby is growing up so fast! I love this little girl! I'm glad that she is ours! I'm a lucky mom!

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Easter 2011!

2011-05-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

This was a crazy Easter I think that Stella and I had a little bug and weren't feeling super great. but the girls were lucky to have such a great dad! So while I had a girls day out he took the girls to an egg hunt and then they decorated eggs and he got them all ready for bed! Really I have the most amazing and supportive husband ever! I was so glad that he got to spend some time with them doing those fun things, and the girls are always thrilled with extra time they get with just dad!

Easter Morning the girls were thrilled with what the Easter Bunny had brought. The hit.... Hello Kitty suitcases! they got some clothing and swim suits and some candy and all of that fun stuff.

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Stella seemed to be feeling a little better but I was still feeling crappy so I got the girls ready and sent them off with Kris,

both of us knowing that He couldn't take Stella to nursery so planned to take Stella to classes with him. I was planning on meeting up with them for sacrament, but 2 hours into it I was still feeling horrible. You know it's hard for me to decipher what is baby and what is a bug anymore I always feel sick. So Kris brought Stella home and she took and nap and so did I! That night we had my side of the family coming up for dinner and so we started to get dinner ready! Kris manned the grill and the stake was amazing. Everyone pitched in and brought something and it was all amazing. Cyd made my moms rolls and it brought a little of home. Kat made a great salad and Sierra went over the top with desert and made baked alaska... not only did it taste amazing but looked beautiful! We finished the night off with an episode of amazing race. Thanks everyone for making it an amazing holiday!

Girls Day!

2011-05-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have started to get a little home sick... I know that really doesn't make sense at all. I am just missing a place that I can go and hang out. A change in pace and different from our house. With day after day of bad weather we are missing the 45 min drive to grandmas house to go play with her fun toys or go run errands with her. Somewhere that my kids can be loved and I can be loved and just lay on the couch and talk with my mom or watch "Naplock" my sisters coming in and out or stopping in for lunch and acting as a jungle gym for my kids. Going to lunch with my mom and sisters, just having someone to hangout with. I don't know if it's the weather or just feeling like life is about to change even more or that this has been a hard pregnancy or just plain old missing my parents and siblings. It's just different. With sisters that are crazy busy one on a mission and brother and sister in law also crazy busy, I'm just feeling a little lonely. Maybe it's just these stupid hormones. Anyway we decided to do a girls day. My sister in law and sisters come up and I made breakfast. I did stuffed french toast, bran muffins, and fruit, we also had oj, and choclolet milk. Kris had taken the girls to an Easter egg hung for one of the places he works and then over to his parents and we girls just talked. It was so fun. After we ate we had planned to do a project, but it didn't quite work out that way so we just watched Fletch and then after hanging out and talking more we went to a late lunch early dinner Paradise bakery. To finish off we stopped at world market for a little look and shop. All in all it was such a great day spent with sisters (Seirra is considered to be a sister in stead of sister in law). We laughed and cried and talked and just had a great day of R & R. We decided that next month we should maybe include the spouses and go to dinner or something! Thanks for coming girls! We didn't get any pics of all of us together boo!

Visit from Ryoko!

2011-05-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Ryoko come and stay with us in early March. She is such a darling girl that my parents and sisters met shortly after getting to Japan. My sisters and parents were introduced to her and her mother by one of their teachers from the MTC. She was in Japan visiting her family in my parents mission and brought Ryoko and her mom to the mission home to meet my family. Well one thing let to another and rather than going to dinner like they had all planned my dad had the AP's come and teach them the first lesson. Ryoko's mother is a member of the church but has not been active for years. Ryoko fell in love with the gospel and they continued to come over and be taught by the missionaries. My sisters felt such a part of this whole thing and fell in love with Ryoko and her mother. When I went to Japan I got to meet Ryoko and her mother and they took such great care of us! They took us to this water park and we got to spend time doing all kinds of fun things with them, including sitting in on a discussion. Ryoko we baptized this last winter and come to visit friends in the states before she started her new job. So we got to have her come and spend a few days with us. We did a lot of shopping, went to Tangled with the girls, and got to have a party, and going to Jump on it, then to Taco Bell (my kids are still talking about when we got to go to Taco Bell with everyone) with her and other family members! Here are some pics from Jump on it!

We had so much fun with her! She was such a delight to have in our house! Our girls fell in love with her and infact she never sat up front with me because the grils would freak out that she wasn't sitting by them! They followed her around and even found her make up (K I was totally enbaraced that they got into her stuff). She make Curry rice for us one night.... so good by the way! LoVe Curry! She left us all with little gifts! Thanks for comming to stay with us and taking such good care of us!

Sisterly Love!

2011-05-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

I had gotten the girls some water and told them they could watch a movie while I got some stuff done. When I waked by the couch this is what I found.

Molly had Stella's blankie on her lap and Stella was laying there so content watching the tv. I love these moments. Really I kind of smile when the older ladies always say "oh enjoy every moment because it goes too fast" Honestly I think they must have forgotten 80% of raising children. I don't know that I will ever miss the throw down knock out brawls in the middle of target with them punching each other, and much of the refereeing and all of the not so fun stuff.... but these, these are the moments that I live for. These are the moments I want to hang on to every second. These are the moments I will miss. I could have just sat there and watched them. So here are to those memories that I will miss and do go by to fast and I try to cling to to help me get thought the others that make me want to cry! I love these girls and do feel that the are growing up way too fast! How lucky am I to be their mom! (Feb 2010)

Rosander Christmas Party!

2011-05-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

This year we had a fun family Christmas party with the Rosanders. Santa came and brought gifts for each of the children and I was so shocked that Molly was so brave... honestly I think it's because Beckham and Mason were so happy about the whole thing and were excited and of course Molly has to try to keep up with her cousins she she was thrilled. She was laughing so funny which tells me deep down she was really nervous, but she put on a happy face and was thrilled with her little princess Polly Pocket that Santa had brought. Stella was totally freaked out and didn't want to sit on Santa's lap at all, but she all so got a darling princess Polly Pocket. It was so funny because After I sat down with here in the quietest vice Stella said "Thank you Santa" no prodding no prompting just pure gratitude. She is always so sweet that way! But the poor thing was so scared of Santa her whole body was just shaking the whole time and had to be held, but even thought she was scared to death she was so grateful and said thank you. No body but me could probably hear it, but she did say it louder so that he could hear later. Anyway fun night!

Poor Stella was shaking so bad and refused to be put down. When we came in the room she clung to Jody and then she moved to our lap and really wouldn't leave our side until Santa left.

Molly just soaking up every second of Santa and watching all of the other kids sit on his lap and get their gifts!

Stella working to get her gift for as far away as she could get!

Molly a little nervous, but acting brave!

Rosander fam!

Jazz Time!

2011-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

We got the opportunity to go to the Energy Solutions Arena and get some floor time! Molly and Stella obviously didn't get how cool this could be... ok let me rephrase that... Molly didn't get how cool it could be! Stella was loving this huge floor all to herself. The people were so funny. They were telling us we had about 30 sec left and Molly was still in melt down, and Stella took off, running all over the floor at Stella high speed! Here I am feeling like I'm totally going to barf at any sec and one kid in melt down and the other running around like a crazy woman zig zagging so that we can't get her. There was no way I could run after her, so Kris got Stella, but she had a great time with the large open space! I'm sure everyone got a huge laugh out of us!

Stella making her escape. I just love that you can see her happy in these photos and then she comes up with this plan and she is off.

One Wedding, One Farewell, and One visitor!

2011-05-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

One major benefit to having a sister get married while my parents are serving in Japan for 3 years is that my mom got to come home. My dad obviously couldn't come but was put on a large screen so that family and friends could talk to him on skype during the reception. It was nice to have my mom here for a bit. The time went way to fast and she had a ton to get done while she was here but we will take the time that we can get. Also We got to have Whitney's farewell while she was here. After all of the fun craziness of Kathryn's wedding and Whitney's farewell my mom left and took Whit with her. Whit came back just a week before she went into the MTC. We all piled into one car and dropped her off at the MTC. I don't know that anyone had ever seen a car with people that just kept piling out but it was nice and hard to be able to say goodbye at the MTC. Cute Side note and funny story about Stella.

So when I go to the hospital for my Dr. appointments there is this big apartment complex right by it that we pass every time. And it's kind of that orange yellowish color brick, it looks just like the brick they have used at the MTC. So we pass it all the time and then one day out of the blue Stella said "Look mommy, there is Whitney's mission." It was so cute! It took me a sec to try to figure out what she was saying, but she totally remembers taking Whit to the MTC and the fact that she would link those two things together and the appartment compelx could totally look like the MTC. I love that my kids have those memories and that they do remember them.

Molly's Christmas Program!

2011-05-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Molly had her first school program around Christmas time. It was so cute! They sang all kinds of songs and they were sweet. It's always funny for me to see Molly with her class. She seems to always be right up there doing the things the other kids are doing at the same time or sometimes ahead of them. She was writing her name for a long time be fore a lot of the kids in her class, even though she is one of the youngest in the class. I don't ever feel that she is struggling or that she is having a hard time keeping up with the other kids in her class, but when they are all together she is definitely one of the shortest. She and a few others that are also the younger in the class. I always get such a kick out of it. It makes me feel that she is still my little Molly and I have a little extra time before she is growing up. I'm sure that wont happen with Stella. Even though she is also going to be one of the youngest in her class she had more of the Baird gene and is kind of tall. It's funny because everywhere I go people will ask me if they are twins and even though they are 2 years apart people still ask. I think that is partly Molly is shorter for her age and Stella is taller for her age, anyway here are a few pic from Molly's Christmas program.

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Molly's Apartment!

2011-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

So Molly has this little spot in our house that she calls her "apartment" It's this tiny corner between the wall and the entertainment center. She will sit in there and open one of the doors on the entertainment center so that is her door and she feels closed off from the rest of us. Really it's about 16 in by about 16 in deep. She sits on the soft toys and will color or read books or sometimes just hide, but she always refers to it as "my apartment". One day after she had spent a long time in her apartment (I had not really been paying attention, I mean how much trouble can you get in in a tiny space?) Well this is what I found....

She had decorated her appartment with all kinds of pictures that she had drawn some out of coloring books. She had put them all up using post it notes to keep them up! Well she has her own ideas for decortating. So funny! I sure love her creative brain! This was in Nov 2010

Molly's Art Projects From School.

2011-05-18T19:13:00.001-07:00

Molly learned about how to set the table and they did this art project.

Molly's haunted house that she did around Halloween.

Molly's 5 little pumpkins sitting on the gate.

Stella with her Birthday Bike.

2011-05-18T19:06:00.001-07:00

Stella got this bike for her birthday. She loves it! This picture was taken 7/16/2010 I just love that she had figured out a way to drink her cold water to stay cool and ride her bike all at the same time! She just looks so little to me.

PJ's from Japan.

2011-05-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken when we were on our way out the door. We had the girls in their PJ's and ready to get to bed, but I wanted to snap this picture because these are pj's that grandma got for them in Japan and sent to the girls. The rain boots (Which are Stella's favorties) also came form Japan.

Cleaning up... Or we should be!

2011-05-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

I was busy doing something and when I turned around this is what I found. I grabed my phone and a few shots so they aren't great, but it was really funny! They had pulled out all of this stuff from the closet and were playing dress up with it all. Look how little they are. Crazy. These were taken in July of 2010!

Molly's Art Work

2011-05-18T18:52:00.001-07:00

Molly writing her own letters Early Oct.

Zebra

Zoo in a box

Photos

2011-05-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

One of the really fun things that I got to do this fall was put my photo classes to the test. I know I have a LONG way to go and I am always learning, but I was so grateful for amazing family and friends that put their trust in me and asked me to take photos! Theses were some fun and random photos from the fall. I can't wait to get out and start shooting and taking more classes. Had I felt better I would have been way more gung ho, but I look forward to having a new little subject. Like I said I know I have a lot more to learn so I'm looking forward to more classes.

Halloween 2010!

2011-05-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

We had quite a fun year this year. My girls were both sugar plum fairies. These costumes have been passed down for years. My mom got them for my 2 littlest sisters who are now married and serving a mission! Ya it's been a while. My nieces have used them and so have some of my cousins and I don't know who else.

Molly had a fun Halloween carnival at school and we went all out! We put her hair in darling curls and found some fake eyelashes... Really not that she needs anymore length, but last time I did makeup it was a nightmare to get off so this was an easy way to glam up. Also she fell in love with these fake nails for kids so we added that... Oh she was in heaven. When I dropped her off at school she looked so cute, but I couldn't get her to smile because she was totally freaked out by the witch costume her teacher was wearing.

We also went to the ward party which was totally fun! The best part of the party this year was that Kris actual came with me and the two kids. The last 2 years Kris has stayed home sick! It was really fun and I didn't get any pictures of it because trying to manage 2 children in a crowd is always a little crazy, not to mention all of the fun chatting I got to do with ward members. It was a great party as always!

The actual night of Halloween was pouring rain! The Rosander clan had planned to meet up. It was raining so hard that everyone just went to one house on our street and then we went to training table to get some food. We met up with everyone else later at Kris's parents house (his parents were out of town enjoying the sun in Hawaii) all of the rest of us with the loss of Mark, Chels, and their boys due to all of the rain and how little they were not to mention how late it was getting. So we all headed out and the rain had stopped for us to hit a few streets around the neighborhood. Molly LOVED trick or treating this year! She totally got the hang of it and would run from house to house with her 2 cousins Beckham and Mason. Stella was trying to keep up but got tired and missed a few houses. All in all it was a perfect night.

Here are a few photos we got of the girls in their costumes on a day with better weather.

Major Catching Up!

2011-05-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

On mothers day my brother in law made some comment about our trip last year and something that had happened that had triggered a memory of Molly saying something funny, but I just couldn't grasp it for some reason. I thought I would NEVER forget it becuase at the time it was so funny! Well after that nagging at me for a few days the thought came to me to check the blog, and sure enough there it was. I was so happy and then the whole thing came flooding back and it was as funny now as it was then. Had I not blogged about it I would not have it. This being my only journal I realized I have missed out on so much the last few months due to not feeling well and just falling behind and then realizing that catching up is overwhelming so I thought I would just make quick notes of what has been happening over the past few months. So here come a lot of blog posts!

Molly's School Pics!

2011-05-13T11:16:00.001-07:00

Conference Lovin!

2011-04-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh! I LOVE conference! It's really amazing and I always feel inspired and wanting to do better! I love the words that are spoken, but also the sound of the voices is amazing, and the choir is always so great! I really do love everything about it! Having kids I'll be honest I don't get half as much out of it as I would like, and i'm sure I'm missing Way more than even half. In an efort to help my kids be a little better during confrence I'm always on the look out for great ideas to keep the kids busy and occupied so I can enjoy conference. Sat I will be honest I was so not ready for. and it kind of caught me off guard. I had so much planned and I just was to tired to do anything friday night.

I was so bugged and frustrated with my kids. They were so naughty and loud and were honestly driving me crazy. So many of my thoughts were focused on "I'm missing so much because of these two." "Can we just shut our mouths for just a second so I can hear a complete thought from someone, anyone!" these are just a sample of what I was thinking and feeling! The humbling moment came when I was in the bathroom doing my hair and my makeup when the choir started singing "I Feel My Saviors Love". Kris and the girls were in my room watching and Molly started to sing with the choir. As I heard these words I was truly humbled. I started to bawl which was not so good for my makeup application.

"A long time a go in a beautiful place, Children were gathered 'round Jesus. He blessed an taught as they felt of His love. Each saw the tears on his face. The love that He felt for His little ones I know he feels for me. I did not touch Him or sit on His knee, Yet, Jesus is real to me.

I know He llives! I will follow faithfuly. My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me.

Now I am here in a beautiful place, Larning the teachings of Jesus. Parents and teachers will help guide the way, Lighting my path every day. Wrapped in the arems of my Savior's love, I feel His gentle touch. Living each day, I will follow his way, Home to my Father above."

As I sat listening to my little 4 year old sing this my heart felt sad. How was I so ornery and impatient and just mean. I was grateful for those amazing primary teachers that she and Stella have both had and song leaders that would teach her these truths though song, prayer, word and deed. My reslove was that I had two of our Heavanly Fathers choice spirits in my care, I felt strongly that they both had sat at their Saviors feet. I have not been the perfect mother since (and my children are far from perfect as well). I know I will fall short many more times in my life, and on a daily bases, but what I got out of that song and hearing Molly sing along was the most important message I needed at that moment and for that session.

That night when Kris had gone to priesthood session I was kind of feeling bummed that I wasn't doing something fun with my sisters for girls night, but thought I should turn my energies to doing something to prepare for tomorrows sessions. I realized that my lack of preparation had let to me feeling frustrated and all the other feelings I was having. Had I prepared better for the girls to have things to keep them busy things would have gone a little better. So I went to work.

1) I put up the tent. Friday night we had been on our way home and Molly and I had this conversation....

"Oh my gosh! Do you know what tomorrow is?"

Molly: "What?"

Me: "conference!"

Molly: "Yeah! We get to put up the tent!"

We have been doing the tent thing for a few conferences. This is the inspiration for the tent. We have been doing it a while this is what we do with it. Long story short we read (In the childrens BOM the story of King Benjeman and how the people gathered to hear him give instruction and testify of Christ, then we talk about how conference is just like that and what we can learn form it.

2) Insted of putting up the bed in the tent I put a table nicely set for breakfast. Also would provide a place were they could color and do their projects.

3) Our darling Primary president (Really there is no one quite like her. LOVE HER!) send us all an email I think last confrence with a link to sugardoodle with conference packets for all ages, Nursery, Jr primary, Sr primary, Youth, and adults. I printed off the packets and then put them in folders with the girls names on them.

Sunday morning I got up and went to work on breakfast. My cute brother and sister in law had invited us to their house for breakfast, but my kids really are not quite enought to watch confrence with anyone and Stella wasn't really feeling up to pare so we stayed home, but the stuffed french toast sounded amazing so I found a recepe and that's what we did, It would have been way more fun and I'm sure better with Cameron and Siarra, but we were going to make the best of it. So I got up and went to work on the french toast. It turned out ok, but I have made a few tweeks that make it so much better!

the girls enjoyed breakfast and then went to coloring.

Again my kids weren't perfect on Sunday, but they were much better. I loved so many talks on sunday and was so uplifted and yet felt so guilty and felt the resolve to DO and BE better! Loved that talk. I also loved the child rasing 101 and 505. There were so many that I loved Sunday and was really uplifted and edifyed. I was so tuched when so many talked about Japan, hearing stories and reading others journals of all that has happed. All in all I loved conference again and can't wait for the may editon of the Ensign!

My Mom, Dad, and Japan!

2011-03-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

The last, what week and a half have been CRAZY! Two Fridays ago I was woken up by an early morning text from a good friend asking if my family in Japan was ok? Not sure why she was asking I pulled up the news on my phone. When the lead story was all about the earth quake in Japan I sat straight up and startled Kris. He was unsure what was going on and was asking me what was wrong. When I replied that there was an earthquake in Japan he non chalantly told me “that happens all the time in Japan”. (Kris served a mission in Sendai) As he rolled over and went back to sleep. Knowing that there was something more to it I called my dad right away. He answered after a few rings and after getting all of the details of the quake and making sure they were all right and their missionaries were all fine I was comforted and felt they were fine. Meanwhile I had one of the cute girls from their ward staying with me so we went about our day running from place to place to place. When we got back that night that was the first time either Ryoko or I had sat down and watched the news. That is when we were shocked and horrified by what we saw.
My parents have said that they have not experienced much destruction from the quake. Most of the missionaries were in the church in a missionary training meeting with my dad. My mom was in the mission home kitchen cleaning up after feeding all of those missionaries. She was feeling like she was going to faint and sat on the floor till the swaying stopped. The missionaries stayed in the church until it stopped. My mom said the quake lasted for several minutes. I know both of my parents have wanted to help in the relief effort, but for now they have a different calling.
With the nuclear stuff happening and the evacuation of other missions my parents were called and told that the missionaries that were scheduled to leave in the next 2 transfers were already scheduled to be on flights home. They had called with the same news for the Kobe mission. Both missions were sending home missionaries early to make room for the Tokyo missionaries. The Tokyo mission was being evacuated and my parents were getting half of the missionaries and Kobe was getting the other half. 43 missionaries sent to each mission. My parents and the AP’s worked very hard at getting ready for this massive “transfer” if you will. There were about 70ish people that my mom was trying to figure out how to feed. (and with the stores being bare even in Nagoya, that was not an easy task) I know she was so grateful for all of the help she received from the ward members. These pictures were taken by one of their AP's this was all of the luggage that just went on and on and then the church cultural hall full of futons that just were everywhere. They didn't have enough room to keep all of the missionaries in the mission home but all the sisters stayed there and then I know there were several missionaries bunking with the office elders as well, one thing is for sure... they were packed to the hilt!

For now my parents are doing well. They do get the aftershocks here and there, some bigger than others, but they are in a safe area and are thrilled with their new missionaries, I know they were sad to see their other missionaries leave and I know that their missionaries were sad to leave. You can see more of the story from 3 of their missionaries here. There is also another story from one of their missionaries from Australia that you can read here.
I know that all of my siblings and I have felt your love and prayers. Thank you to all of you for the sweet thoughts we have received though phone calls, text, facebook, and email. We have felt the comforting power of the spirit while my parents are far away and not being with them and being able to help where they have needed the help. Thanks for your prayers. We feel blessed everyday to have them serving were they are. We hear amazing stories of the faithful missionaries and members in Japan. The last conference call my parents had with Tokyo they said that though all of the missionaries have been accounted for and are safe, there are still many members of the church that are still missing or missing family members and to keep them in their prayers. We will keep all of those in our prayers. Thank you again for all of your support. It is so appreciated and we are grateful for such awesome family and friends.

Church Bag Addition!

2011-03-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

I know it's been forever since my last post. I really need to get back in the groove. But now that I'm feeling a little better I feel a huge push to get my house organized, dejunked, and cleaned out before this baby comes. My basement is almost totally done, just a few little things to get done in the workout room and then I can move on to the upstairs. Molly's room is done and ready for her new roommate to move in as soon as the beds arrive, the frames were back ordered and will be coming in April. What does that mean.... I honestly don't know! (start of April or end of April!) Well I decided to take a break and do a project that I have had in my mind for months and have just now got the energy and time to put into action! I'm so happy how it turned out. I have plenty of ideas, most of which are a total busts, but I'm excited about this one and I'm sure the novelty will wear off after the fist week of church, but hey what do you do?

My girls really do love puzzles. I found a bunch when I was in Japan. There were like 6 in a package for $1! Japan's dollar stores are so much better than ours. Well they have been in the church bag and my girls LOVE them. The only problem is they fall all over and we lose pieces and I hate when they are almost done and then they move the puzzle and it all comes tumbling down. This is where the idea started to form. I thought I would get a can and then make magnetic puzzles so here is what I did and how I put it together.

So I went to Office Depot and found some Magnet sheets. They are the same size as paper! Then I printed some of my favorite photos of the girls and some other random ones off my computer right onto the magnet sheets.
My mom has a Cuddle bug cutter and they make a puzzle die cut that I found online and it fit a 4x6 photo perfectly! So I cut them into photos.

I also found the perfect size lunch box looking can for each girl that the magnet puzzle would fit perfectly on, then I could also store the puzzles inside them. I added some vinyl letters on the front so there is no fighting about who's is who (I'm sure my kids are the only ones that would fight about something that silly but I have to cover my bases). So then I put all of the puzzles in sandwich bags and shoved them in the box. Here was the problem with that... I couldn't tell what puzzle was what and the girls like to choose their own puzzles and it took up sooooo much room. So I printed off little thumbnail print of the same photos I used and went and had them laminated and found some awesome library card envelopes that would work perfect for what I wanted. I got home and there was adhesive on the back of each of the envelopes so I stuck them back to back and put the pictures of each puzzle on the front and then bound them together like a book! That way they can just flip though and find what they wanted. The books fit nicely in each can and keep it from the major digging and mess making with all of the baggies.

Each little envelope holds a different puzzle. I love that they stick to the can so we don't have them falling all over and they are pictures of themselves so they will love to put them together.

Really all in all I'm really happy with how it all turned out and hope it will keep them quiet for a few extra minutes during sacrament meeting!

Party Time!

2011-02-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

I have not posted forever! I need to get back in the swing of things. I have missed so much and have so much catch up to do that I thought I would start with something a little more recent, and I wanted to post some photos for my mom & dad. So to start off....

We are expecting! That's right! Another baby for the Rosander house hold! I'm just a couple days shy of 18 weeks along. This has been an eventful pregnancy to say the least. That is another post one that will probably take more though and feeling, and way more emotion. Due to certain circumstances (another post) We now know the sex of the baby! We decided that being as this will most likely be our last baby we would change things up and do something a little more fun than just the it's a boy or it's a girl kind of thing. So we (ok, I. We all know where Kris stands on the party thing) decided to though a "Gender Revealing Party" for the family. So although we knew on Tues the 18th (my b-day) we made everyone wait until that Sunday. This was pure torture for some, but pure delight for me!:) I know totally evil! Here are all of the photos and details for my mom! Disclaimer: the photos are crap, I know! Don't judge! I was lucky to get the few shots I did get, I didn't get a shower and I looked HAMMERED, but I got shot for you mom! So here was the party. We did kind of a circus theme being as

"3 will be a circus"

We had a set up as you came in the front door with pink girl pins and blue boy pins with a big sign that said "Pin on your pick"! I also put a boy and girl vinyl sticker on the windows of the study. So once everyone pinned on their pick they headed down stairs were we had dinner all set up.

We made the dinner super easy with just a bunch of frozen pizza (my all time fav is Frecheta) then did a big chines chicken salad and big pasta salad! Lot's of drinks.

All of the pizza was not done yet, so there are a few empty plates. Kids plates were on the table.

Grown up plates.

Not all of the drinks had been put out.

The kids table was set up in the kitchen with a chalk board tablecloth on it with a bowl of chalk and a rag to wipe of what they wanted to !

For the treats we kept it really simple as well. I didn't want to have to make a lot or have people have to bring stuff, So we did kind of a candy bar. We had suckers, skitels, big sweetish fish, mike and ikes and then I made cupcakes. We had bags on both ends of table that the gusts could fill up and enjoy during the night or take home with them.

The last touch was the photo booth. I hug a big curtain from the ceiling and then got a hug box and covered it with a table cloth and put all kinds of photo props on there mustaches, boas, necklaces, crowns, helmet and shield, and cowboy hat. Then I put my point and shoot camera on the box with the props and let people take pics all night long.

Here are just a few of the fun snap shots from the night!

Then came time for the big reveal... We took team pics.

Team Blue

I think we missed a few, or they got cut out. Sorry!

Team Pink

Once it was time for the big reveal I took all of the props off the box uncovered the box and here it is! DON'T JUDGE ON THE CLOTHES, SIZE, HAIR OR LACK OF MAKEUP. I didn't have time to get ready! Really scary I know! Just love me for me! xoxo

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For B!

2010-12-03T13:07:00.001-08:00

Just a few of my favs! xoxo

I love this thoughtful look on little G's face!

Check out this awesome give away!

2010-11-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/11/another-silhouette-craft-cutter.html

Funny Molly Stories

2010-11-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

So this morning when we sat down to breakfast we had a lot to be thankful for and a lot that was on my mind so when we sat down I said that I would say the prayer and Molly was not happy about that at all. So I said the prayer Molly said....

"Wow! Mommy, that was a really long prayer! Is your mouth tired, because you talked a long time."

Later today when I picked Molly up form school she came out and got in the car and after all of the chit chat of what went on at school. She said...

"Mom, I LOVE Jude and he loves me.

I want to marry Jude, mommy.

I want all of my friends to come to my wedding,

like....(insert the names of everyone, she went on and on forever)

I hope Jude comes, because I want to marry him."

Then there was a pause followed by....

"I hope he can drive."

Oh she cracks me up!

She Has Done It Again!

2010-11-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love Kate! I love, love, love these! When we started thinking about family photos I really wanted it to reflect who we are as a family and what we love to do together! I'm so happy with how these turned out! She really got who we are! Thanks Kate!

Love This!

2010-10-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

When I saw this commercial I about died! K these are snow monkeys and this place is totally in Japan! It's totally in my parents mission. Granted it wasn't snowing when I was there, but this is totally the place. There is a link that you can see live photos minute by minute at this monkey park! Oh I love it!

Here is the link to get the photos of what it looks like now and what the monkeys are doing!
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/frameset.html

Here are just two of a million pics I'm sure we took at this park. My camera died so I had to grab photos from everyone else. I think I'm still missing some. Bummer!

Happy Birthday J!

2010-10-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Cute L!

2010-10-18T09:44:00.001-07:00

Lake Powell... Rain, Rain, Rain!

2010-10-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

So yeah! For the last 4 years we have made one last Lake Powell trip for the season the first or second week in Oct. This has been about 50 50 all the way across the board. Some years have been soooo nice warm and just amazing and others, like last year every time we went out we were in sleeping bags. This year.... Oh this year! Remember this....

Tornado reported in Lake Powell area

(Yep we were Just outside of Page!)

So YES! tons of rain, tons of wind, tons of lightning and thunder or "Bunder" as Stella called it! We didn't have a whole lot of sun. We got sun the very fist day we were there and then the last few hours of our last night. As we pulled the boat out of the water the sky was blue and it was warm... the perfect day!

Despite all of the rain and wet everything! We did have a good time. We spent Sat and Sunday listening to conference, (which by the way was amazing! I love conference, and this time of year), eating treats and all of that good stuff. Did some boating on Sat and then early into the next we went in to page to bum around and get a change of scenery. We had exhausted all of our forms of entertainment and were all going a bit stir crazy. The last of the week we were able to get out for a few hours early evening and Molly got to play on the Super Ski and then we got in the water and did some swimming.... so cold I might add. I think Molly and I spent all of 5 min in the lake. Molly only wanted to get off the super ski when she was so cold she wanted to get warm. That was a great night and despite all of my thoughts of coming home early that was a great day and our last for the season, so I'm glad we stayed. We did have fun and it was nice to spend time as a family, but it was nice to come home and dry out... oh with out my dryer everything still smells mildewy, but I'm hoping by Wednesday... keep your fingers crossed for me! Oh we love Lake Powell and hate saying goodbye for the winter!

One of the funny little Molly stories was when we finally got back out on the lake I was just thinking we were going to go for a short ride being as MORE dark clouds were rolling in. We started to head back to the marina and Molly asked where we were going. I told her we were headed back, because it looked like it was going to rain. Man did she melt down. She kept saying "It's just not THERE!" "It's just not THERE!" "It just keeps raining and raining, and just won't stop." "I just really want to go on the super ski!" Finally I figured out she was wanting to say "It's just not FAIR!" I asked her if that was what she was trying to say and she agreed. It's so funny because we haven't started in on this phrase yet! Here we go! We did get a little more time and Molly did get to do the Super ski that trip. I thought it was so cute that she just wanted to be in the boat, water or on the beach! My girls are Lake Powell Girls!

The first day or two we spent with Nan and Pa! The Girls Loved building a sand castle with Nan.

My hottie husband! Oh Love this guy! He is the best!

Stella and Molly chill'n in the boat... Really! It was kind of cool, but this was just before it started to get bad!

After all the rain there was a double rainbow... I waited too long to get both and only caught the last of this one! Yeah! We were so happy to see the clouds start to clear. Even if it was just for a few hours!

Here she is all ready to go! Man she is cute!

I was trying to get a good shot of her REALLY skiing, but I was ether driving the boat or holding her rope, you have to hold the rope for this little super ski! She did so great though!

How Sweet Are These Kids?

2010-10-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks M and B for letting me play with your kids! I'm so glad I have friends that let me use their kids for my homework, when mine are DONE! Thanks guys. xoxo

Just a Regular Day!

2010-09-14T11:35:00.001-07:00

This one has a tendency of making massive messes in just seconds.

So while I was helping Molly go potty This is what was going on....

Stella managed to get the chips from the top shelf in the pantry, I honestly don't want to know how!

She emptied a whole package of graham crackers on the floor, walking over them to insure the most breakage also leading to the most crumbage (I know I think I just made up a new word, yea for me!) though out the whole house!

She also snaked one of my experimental Red Velvet cupcakes, apparently it wasn't a hit! So what do you find after helping your kids wipe and pull up there pants?

Molly's First Of School!

2010-09-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

Molly's first day of school wasn't quite what you would expect! She didn't go! Monday night we were on our way home when she threw up all over the car. The poor kid was sick! Honestly I don't really know if she was sick or if it was just the nasty rotten milk I gave her on Sunday night... I didn't really look at the expiration date... uuuuu the 28th. No one else had even gotten an upset stomach, but poor Molly was shaking, barfing and the poor thing felt horrible. She was in the bathroom after she had thrown up and I was brushing her teeth when she said to me with the saddest face ever "I don't think I should go to school tomorrow." She started to cry. Oh I felt so bad. I just hugged her and I wanted to cry. She has been looking forward to this since the last day of school last year. She has been begging me to go back. In fact I had to make a count down calender for her so that she would know how many days left she had until school started.

So she got up and she seemed fine! I didn't send her... Just in case. She seemed fine all day long. So I took her when I knew that her class would be getting out and we went to meet her teachers and give them their little back to school gifts. I wanted Molly to get to meet her teachers and felt like she knew where she was going, being as everyone had a day up on her! Her teachers could not have been cuter! They took Molly by the hand and showed her the room, walking her all around and telling her what to do when she comes back tomorrow, really they are darling!

Molly gave them their little teacher gift. I tried to do something different this year. Molly's class didn't have a meet your teacher day so she was going in cold turkey. I though that It would be fun to do a little something that showed a little bit about who Molly is and what she likes and a little of her personality! So I came up with this...

I came up with new words to to the tune of "My Favorite Things" song form "The Sound Of Music" Then I printed them off with this picture and put it on a cute lunch box look a like and put in some crayons that we had melted down into letterers, some chap stick for make up and some chocolate covered in glob like wrappers for treats. Molly wrote a cute little note and I think her teachers really like it! The song went like this...

Bright golden arches, warm fries and cold sprite
Lake Powell in summer, with water just right
Dresses, and bowas, high hills, big fake rings
These are a few of my favorite things

Choirs:
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Soft fleece green blankie, right thumb in my mouth
Movies and treats for those long trips down south
Helping sweet Stella with hair-stylings
These are a few of my favorite things

Choirs

Playing with dollies and putting on make up
Having tea parties with milk in my cup
Crayons and markers to add to drawings
These are a few of my favorite things

Choirs

After we went to visit her teachers we came home had some lunch and then put the kids down for a nap, Molly needed it after a sleepless night. Then when Kris got home we all went over and took some picture of Molly at her school on her first day! She was so cute! Love this girl! I can't believe that she has grown up so fast! Really where has the time gone. I dropped her off and really was so sad. I got in the car and Stella just looked at me and started to cry... "Where's Molly? Where's Molly? I want daddy!" I wanted to cry as well. Not only has my baby gone to school my other baby is freaked out she has to be all alone with me! But we made it, and Molly loved it! Stella realized it wasn't so bad. We had a fun day. We went to the park, daddy's office and the fabric store. All in all it's been a good week minus the few little hick ups here and there. We didn't get to have our Back to school FHE dinner due to sick kids... but it will be coming! Here are some back to school photos of My (not baby, boo!) big girl!

The Actual Birthday Party!

2010-07-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

Oh Molly had been looking forward to this day FOREVER! She has been asking me for more than 6 months... really no kidding! She could not wait for her birthday and especially her birthday party! She had been planning who she was going to invite and who she was not going to invite... let me explain... we had talked about who would be coming and started talking about who was in her primary class. Really there are not that many kids her age in the ward. While talking about it we decided that maybe boys wouldn't like the tea party idea as much as the girls would. So we talked about the girls in her class and really there are 2 other girls her age, the rest boys! She spends a lot of time with London who is a good friend and then she also invited another friend Elizabeth. She kept saying things like... I'll tell Graden (a boy her class) that he's not invited. She wasn't trying to be mean, but she was just so matter of fact... I can't tell you how many times we talked about not talking about stuff like that with anyone other than mommy, because it makes people feel bad. She did get the threatening form school I know. Because she would come home and say stuff like "________ is going to invite me to his party isn't that nice?" or "____________ Said I can't come to their birthday party anymore." again long conversations about hurting peoples feelings. I did catch her telling Stella or her invisible friend that she would not invite them to her party if she they would not _________" I don't know! Anyway still have a lot of work to do in teaching social skills, thats for sure!

her party started at 12 and then when her friends got there we started with lunch the actual tea party! All kinds of food to choose from, In the tea pots they could choose strawberry lemonade, strawberry Milk, or chocolate milk, then there were all kind of treats to snack on though out the party, animal cookies, lemon heads, pink marshmallows, cookies sticks and mini oreos. For lunch there was PB& honey sandwiches (Molly's Choice), Grandmas rolls, strawberries, grapes, chocolate rice crispy treats, donut balls, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, cupcakes and jars with water, totally good thing too, it was so hot! The girls were so cute getting their food and sitting in their chairs... they were so cute! Fun to watch them talk and Stella was just glad to be part of the party! Bless her heart, I think she kind of got only part of the experience. She really wanted to be part of everything and just wasn't quite able to! Once they were kind of done eating we put candles in Molly's cupcake and sang and blew out candles!

After we were done eating, singing and blowing out candles, We directed the girls to the craft table where they could choose flowers and ribbon that we glued on their purses and then they headed to the dress up table. They could choose out of the boxes necklaces, bracelets, gloves, rings, hair clips etc. Oh they were so cute! They all had a hard time putting those silly gloves on... I can't tell you how many times I put those things on during the party! They filled up their bags with fun dress ups and then it was time to get pampered...

Off to the manicure table. We started off with a little makeup... Not much, but just enough. I put on some eye shadow the color of their choice and then they got to choose a ring filled with chap stick. We dabbed a little of that on their lips, then got to check themselves out with their little mirrors, then it was time for nails. They got to soak their hand until it was their turn to get their nails filed and then got to choose the color of finger nail polish to paint their nails. I painted each girls nails and then the time came that Molly had been waiting for...

Presents! Molly opened Elizabeth's present first. She got a Elizabeth gave her two Polly's. One that was a safari Polly and then a boat Polly that boogie boards. One of the coolest things about that was Molly had just been water ski just the day before... More to come on that. So cute and Molly loved it!

London gave her a hair set... pretend blow dryer, straightener, brush lipstick, curling iron, curlers, and more... Oh you would have thought that she had died and gone to heaven! Sara (London's mom has been such an awesome friend! Love her and had helped me out when Molly has cut Stella's hair and most recently her hair.

After gifts the girls went back to the craft table and colored sugar cookies... yes colored. They were frosted and then had just outlining of Hello Kidie and they came with markers that you could color on them with. That was kind of the last little thing before we all sang happy birthday and then released the balloons, so everyone would know it was Molly's Birthday... A new family tradition that I plan on keeping! Molly keeps talking about how Grandpa and Grandma and Kat and Whit will see them all the way in Japan. Love it!

At the end of the party we sent home each of the girls with a tiny tea set and her own glass tea cup with her initials that I had etched on and then 3 little packets that we made so they can enjoy their own little tea party at home. The little packets were filled with stuff for chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and pink lemonade. They also took their purses, jewels and treat bags with goodies.

What a fun party! The funest part was just watching these little girls do there thing. They were so dang cute and Molly LOVED having them come! I can't beleave that Molly is 4! Really! Wow!

4th Of July Weekend.

2010-07-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

Wow! It was nice to have a long weekend. Kris had Friday off. He was so nice to stay home with the girls while I went to Sophie's funeral. Then Sat we hung out together all day. We took the girls to see Toy Story 3, so cute by the way. Molly loved it. She was so funny! Then we went to provo to hang out with Cyd and Braden and the rest of the Evans family to watch fire works and hang out. We roasted marshmollows and made smores. What a fun night! It would not have been the 4th had we not gone down to watch fireworks at my mom and dad's, but with them gone the renters upstairs were awesome to let us use the yard. It was a late night.

My favotite part of the 4th! The Jets! LOVE IT! What is the 4th without the Jets! REalLy!

Molly was in LOVE with Cyd and Braden's other niece and Nephews. She told me after that we should take home his niece and then they could have all boys! She cracks me up! Thanks for letting us tag along!

Molly doing sparklers for the first time! She loved it! She was really good too, until she got burned and then she was a little more chicken , but was still wanting to do it! Good girl!

I was bummed we only got the Cy of Cydne's name, I should have slowed down my shutter speed even more and I might have gotten it all. Sweet shot though, hu?

Cyd, and Stell

Sunday was also a great day. Molly's Birthday! Being as it was fast Sunday (Baird Sunday) We hosted sunday dinner. Molly was so cute. I was asking her all week what she wanted for dinner and she kept telling me she wanted a tea party! She is so funny... In LOVE with tea parties! So that's what I had planned for dinner. I tried to make it so that there was enough food and for the guys. They were awesome about coming to a tea party!

Here is the tea table. There were 3 different teas aka (chocolate milk, Strawberry lemonade and yellow lemonade. Also there were lots of treat so that people could snack until we got eating. Pink marshmallows, straw cookies, animal cookies, mini Oreos, and lemon heads.

This was dinner! Sandwiches, PB&J's PB&H's and ham and Swiss toasted rolls... so good! Pasta salad, Grandma Baird Yummy rolls (mini) Cupcakes mini fruit pizzas, watermelon, and chocolat pudding.

Molly with her favorite gift. This baby cries! That is what she asked for "a baby that cries!" not one that laughs or make sounds... "cries!" She also got a baby kit crib, car seat, bouncy seat, high chair, and strap on carrier. She is is little girl heaven!

Molly's cake! I did a mini cake just for her and them passed out mini cupcakes! She loved her tea party candles!

Molly getting her baby ready to head out!

We wanted to snap a shot with everyone at her party! Here is Tanya! So cute and we claim her as part of the family! We were so glad that she would come!

Sierraa, Molly & Cameron

Pa, Molly & Nana

Cydne, Moll, & Brayden

Molly with mom and dad (And Stella in the back)

Here is the ballon launch! This is my favorite thing! A new tradition. We all have our own ballon, then we hold it and all sing happy birthday and then after we are done singing we all let go of ourballoonss, so everyone can see and know that we are having a birthday. Molly was so excited and kept telling everyone that it was so grandma and grandpa in Japan could see them! This was awesome and really will stay a family tradition!

Yes! this is how much cake waseatenn! REALLY? Glad it wasn't a huge cake!

I had given Molly the choice between a family party and a friend party this year and she was wanting a friend party, so being as we weren't having a family party and Kris's parents were alone for dinner that night we thought we would invite them along. What good sports they were about hanging out with the Bairds.

We had just figured out how to skype with my parents the day before and so they were so cute to want to talk with Molly on her birthday and We were thriled to talking with them again. I told them if they called back later than everyone would be there. So I had them call just before everyone came. So when they rang the door bell (p.s. speaking of good timing, everyone showed up at the same time.) I told them to be quiet and we would see how long it would take for anybody to notice that they were there. Once they did it was fun for everyone to say hello and we loved to talk with them and let Molly see them on her special day. They also got to see her open the gift my mom got for her before she left.

Grandpa, grandma, Kat and Whit, singing, and talking to Molly and also watching Molly open her birthday gift they got here!

What a great birthday Molly had. She was so funny. Stitting at her little table with Stella and eating all kinds off good food and treats, Stella kept getting a cupcake and licking the frosting off and then get another one, she was all about the chocolate. She had it all over her face... so funny.

Monday Was another good day... The sad thing is that I'm not quite sure what we did all day long, but I know I loved the long weekend. That night we all met up with Kris's family for Nan and Pa's block party! It was fun! The food was great and then they had this guy doing a magic show... He was so funny! Molly was totally in love and just laughing so hard her face was totally red. She was his last volunteer for the night and she was so funny! She really did steal the show. I wish I had my camera not even just for pictures, but to video... Really she was so hillarious! I loved it! We had to bail early for my web chat with my teacher for my online class.

Tusday was back to normal... I was so bummed. I love having Kris and the girls home and all of us just hanging out together. Kris is my all time favorite person in the world and the girls are a close second! What a great weekend we had and I look forward to the next long weekend that we get to spend together.

Gone!

2010-07-06T15:29:00.001-07:00

Well last monday was the day. My mom and dad flew out! It was hard to see them go and I knew that I would see them soon, but knowing that this would be the last time my little girls would be held, hugged and feel my parents was one of the hardest things form me. I know that we will talk to them and skype with them, but to know that they will miss that touch and so much of what happens in the next 3 years, was heart wrenching. I still miss them and my sisters like crazy, but know that they will have such a wonderful impact and great work for them in Japan. I still will miss them like crazy. I have kind of felt lost lately. I know that is only something that I can fix, but I know it will be fine. But even with the passing of Sophie I just wanted to talk to my mom and call her and tell her and cry to her and tell her how I was holding my girls closer and I just wanted her to tell me that things are ok. I'm grateful for such an amazing husband and friends that have let me talk their ears off and cry with and to them. It was nice to come home that night and find a little package from my mother in law. That was so nice of her to think of me. And to all of those that have helped me with all kinds of "mom" projects (i.e. projects I need my moms help with) you know who you are... thank you so much. I'm sure there will be many more to come.
I am grateful for the missionary program. Really! I keep telling my girls "when you go on your mission..." I know that this is an inspired call and that my dad and mom have been prepared for.

Sophie Rose Barton

2010-07-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

What a week that it has been. Last Monday while hiking at girls camp Sophie started to not feel well. She was taken to the hospital thinking that it was minor heat stroke or dehydration. After arriving at the hospital things took a very different turn when she coded and didn't make it. The news traveled fast though our ward and community and the girls at girls camp were bussed home. It has been a very emotional week for all of us. What a sweet and amazing girls she IS. One of the things that stood out most to me that was said at her funeral was that she hadn't left anything unsaid or undone. I have so many memories floating around my head over and over. The most recent one was last sunday sitting in the YW lesson talking about fasting. She made a comment about fasting on the 4th of July, then later on in sacrament meeting she sat with her little brother right across from us. Making cute faces at our girls and being so cute with her brother, putting her arm around him and looking down at what I assumed was a game or note, you could just feel her love for him. Another is when I had the Laurels over at my house teaching them how to decorate cupcakes she dumped a cupcake upside down on my kitchen floor and the look on her face was priceless. She was so worried and concerned... There are many more time that I keep thinking about. This has really hit home for me. I loved when our bishop talked and said "we know Sophie is in a better place, it's us that are left behind that struggle with it." I'm so sorry to her family. This is a horrible thing and we will miss her so much. I still have a hard time understanding this, but remind myself that we are not suposed to understand all things right now, why would we need faith. How grateful I am for that gentle reminder that life is short, and that this is not where life ends, but that it's a time to prepare for more. At a fireside given the night after the girls came home from camp the Stake Prs. stood and reminded us that this life is a time to prepare to me God. I'm grateful for that reminder and to feel of that sweet spirt of the comforter. Pray for the Barton family. I'm so sorry to them. My heart breaks for them. I will miss Sophie. I'm glad that I knew her. The song played at the fireside with a slide show was from Wicked. Changed for good. I have been changed for good because I knew Sophie.
This is Sophie and her sister Tessa.
the storm

Sophie and Tessa Barton | MySpace Music Videos

Kind Of Bummed.

2010-06-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today is Kris and my anniversary. Last night I got up twice, which was better than the night before. Molly needed a drink and then she woke up throwing up again. I strpiped the sheets blankets and towels that were on her bed to protect it, It just went right though everything. Then I got up this moring to Stella crying, I went in and her bed was soaking, not from throw up but she had taken off her pajama bottoms and diaper and so I stripped the sheets, blankets, matress cover and started more laundry. We were supposed to go to my parents to celebrate my little sisters birthday, I don't think we will be going. I get to miss yet another Baird party. Molly is feeling better, but I know no one wants to be exposed to whatever it is that Molly has. So I will stay home tonight Happy Brithday Kat, and Happy Aniversary and do laundry, clean my house! I know it's not the end of the world, but still... bummed.

Dad's Setting Apart

2010-06-09T13:00:00.004-07:00

Early this morning Kris and i were off to down town SLC where my dad and mom were set apart as mission presidents. We came early #1 so that we wouldn't be late, I mean really who would want to walk in late to Pres. Packers office, but #2 with hopes that we would maybe run into other amazing men and women. I guess I should start at the beginning.
My dad got a call last tues from Pres Packers secretary telling my dad that Pres. Packer has assigned himself to set you apart. I don't now the exact wording she used, but something to that effect.
We were to come early and park in the underground parking under the temple, where all of the general authorities and church officers park. We had to stop and get our special parking pass.

We came early and all were waiting in the lobby again with hopes of bumping shoulders with amazing men and women. The security gaurd found us quite entertaining. A car would pull up and someone would whisper "who is that?" one time he was like "oh you will want to get this guys autograph." so we were all really looking and paying attention and when he walk in no one really knew who he was, but then the security guard said something to him and then introduced us, totally another security gaurd. So funny. They kept bringing all of this lugage down. So when another security guy showed up with more luggage I asked where they were going. He told us that there were several that were fiying out today to go to the temple dedication. He was so nice and was hilarious!
The phone rang and we were told to go up to Pres. Packers office. We headed up and my dad was the first one in the office. He was greeted with a japanese greeting and told to come in. His blessing was amazing and some of the things that really stood out to me were...
*his language would return and that he would speak with ease and persuasion in the language.
*his business, family and other material things would be watched over and blessed.
*he was blessed FROM failure.

My mom was set apart by Elder Pearson and her blessing was just as amazing.
*Blessed with Peace.
*She would know the hearts and have a love for the people, and the culture.
*the gift of discernment with the missionaries to know what they need and when.
*That this would be a setpping stone for her spirituality
*That she would have the gift of discernment for her children and offer them words of comfort and encouragement even while she is far away.
*That she would be blessed physically and be protected while she was away.
*that her children and children's children would be looked after and blessed while she was away.
*that her material things would be looked after while she was away.

It was amazing to hear the blessings and promises made to both my mom and dad for there sevice. We headed down and while we were on our way out we saw a few members of the 70 and Sister Beck and Sister Dallton, and all of which stopped and talked to us or shook our hands. We ended up back in the labby talking over where we should go for brunch and then a car pulled up and when the man got out of the back he waved and then headed into the office another way... totally Pres Monson! For real! We finished our day eating lunch at the garden restaurant on the top floor of the Joseph Smith momrial bulding. It was so nice to be there and to feel of the amazing blessings and promises. We really are thrilled for both my mom and dad, even though every time I talk about it I cry. I can't imagine not having them here for 3 years! I will miss them so much.

1st Trip to Lake Powell For the Year

2010-05-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Kris and I were able to take a much needed vactation and head to one of our favorite spots Lake Powell. My family really pitched in and helped out with the kids and made the trip so nice. I told Kris when we got married that we needed to take a trip each year with just the two of us. This was our trip for the year. We loved spending time with each other and the weather was amazing and the water was so calm. It was awesome to just be there the two of us. We got to do all kinds of reading and talking, we went to one of our new favortie places to eat the Dam Bar and Grill (we went with Kris's parents last year and it will definitely become one of the once per trip kind of places. I also saw a coyote for the first time ever and was kind of taken back by it. At first I thought it was just an abandoned dog and pointed out to Kris how I really don't like dogs but that is just cruel to dump a dog off. There wasn't a sole around and the dog was so skiny and the closer we got to it the Kris realized that it was a coyote. We were in the boat and kind of far away. I know none of these pictures are great, they were all taken with my phone so oh well. I think I was REALLY relaxed because I didn't pull out eather of my cameras once. It was just so fun to be with such an amazing man with NO distractions. Man I love that guy and am so glad that he picked me!

Kris and I were able to take a much needed vactation and head to one of our favorite spot Lake Powell. My family really piched in and helped out with the kids and made the trip so nice. I told Kris when we got marreied that we needed to take a trip each year with just the two of us. This was our trip for the year. We loved spending time with eachother and the weather was amazing and the water was so calm. It was awesome to just be there the two of us. We got to do all kinds of reading and talking and it was just so fun to be with such an amazing man with NO distrations. Man I love that guy and am so glad that he picked me!

Family Pictures!

2010-05-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks Lauren!