It's a...

I have had so many mixed emotions about this pregnancy, this baby.  We are over the moon excited to add another baby to our family.  But also very anxious and nervous about the emotions involved this time around.  I have written about this before in a previous post, so I won't dwell on those emotions.  However, since I announced that we were expecting again, everyone asks what you think you are having, or what you want to have??  Honestly, I couldn't careless!  Part of me wants to answer ' a baby that we get to keep this time', but I don't think that would go over well :) But that is really how I feel, I just want a healthy baby that we get to keep around for a good long time...boy or girl-does it really matter?

A girl: it would be like a second chance, a 'do-over' for Taytam.  Which is kind of a double edge sword...we would never what to 'replace' Taytam-how could we?  And yet, It would be a chance to experience all the girly things that we are missing with Taytam.  But yet, I also worry that I would always be thinking of Taytam, that this should be Taytam, or Taytam would have done this, or looked like this.  UGH!

A boy: obviously we have A LOT of estrogen in our house & a boy would help to even things out a little.  A boy would be a fresh start, a whole new experience from Taytam, or having another girl.  But we would miss that chance to experience what we are missing with Taytam.  But maybe that's good-something different so there isn't so much comparing to do? again-UGH!

But like I said before...does it really matter?  A healthy baby is all I want...all I can ask for.  Plus, it's already been decided-I can't change anything & worrying about it won't make any difference.  Boy or girl-we will love & spoil this baby more than we probably should.

With all that said-drum roll please.....it's a BOY! We are super excited and can't wait to meet our new little man.  It's funny because everyone has said that I am having a boy so I don't think anyone will be too surprised :)  I think I knew deep down that it was a boy, but we are just so used to having girls around here that it almost didn't seem possible...can we even make boys? he he he-yes we can!!

Saturday is a special day...

After talking to my friend today (thanks Elsha!) I got to thinking it would be a good idea to document the kids chores-it might be pretty interesting to look back in 10 years & see what the kids did for chores & how much they got paid. Saturday is our cleaning day, everyone is usually home so it is the easiest morning for us to get it all done.
So after breakfast the kids do the chores that they are expected to do each week just as part of living here & contributing to our family:
Averee (8.5)- Deep Clean Room, Clean 2 bathrooms (mirrors, sinks, toilets)
Adelyn (6.5)- Deep Clean Room, Wipe down Living Room furniture (couches, coffee table & end table)
Owen (5)- Deep Clean Room, Wipe down all Light Switches & Door Knobs
Next comes the chores they can do to earn money. The amount of these chores they do is up to them, depending on if they want to earn money or not. But sometimes if they have been naughty, or if I just feel like the house really needs it, I make them do all their money chores:
Averee (8.5)
Wipe down 1 wall of Mom's Choice $.75 (can be done multiple times)
Clean Pantry Shelves $.50
Organize Toy Room $1.00
Clean 5 Doors of Mom's Choice (front & back) $1.50 (can be done multiple times)
Clean Inside Fridge $1.00
Wipe Down Dining Room Table & Chairs $.75
Adelyn (6.5)
Wipe down 1 wall of Mom's Choice $.75 (can be done multiple times)
Clean 5 Doors of Mom's Choice (front & back) $1.50 (can be done multiple times)
Clean Front of Fridge, Back Door Window & TV $.75
Clean Entertainment Center $.50
Clean Kid Tub $.50
Clean Mom's Tub $.50
Clean Front of Stove & Dishwasher $.50
Wipe down 1 Door Frame $.50 (can be done multiple times)
Owen (5)
Wipe down 1 wall of Mom's Choice $.75 (can be done multiple times)
Wipe down Hutch & Under Bar $.50
Clean Front of Kitchen Cabinets (lowers only) $.50
Clean Front of Bathroom Cabinets $.50
Clean Front of Mom's Bathroom Cabinets $.50
Clean Baseboards in 1 Room $.25 (can be done multiple times)
Clean up Backyard (put toys away & pick up garbage) $.25
Well, that's about it. Am I a slave driver? Hopefully no one calls CPS after they read this post :0) The kids seems to actually like the opportunity to earn their own money. Plus, it gives us a chance to teach about savings & tithing. They might just thank us later. We can only hope.

Too much help?

How do you know when you are helping TOO much?

Last week, Averee had a big assignment due & I had major guilt about helping her TOO much. The project was to pick a MagicTree House book, read it a few times, research the subject matter & create a tri-fold display board to showcase the book & what you learned about the subject matter. She is in 1st grade! I loved the idea of the assignment-but realistically how much of this can a 1st grader do on their own. I know her teacher expected some parent help-but how much help is TOO much help? So, of course I let Averee pick whichever book she wanted-she picked 'Monday with a Mad Genius' which is about Leonardo di Vinci. Awesome-he is fasciniating! We read the book together a few times. Then I let her pick which pictures she wanted on her board & she cut them out. She picked 'Mona Lisa' since that was in the book & she had learned about it & painted her own in her Art class. Then she also picked 'The Last Supper' because she thought it was a neat painting of Jesus. Then we searched through pictures of all his drawings & inventions & picked the best ones we could find. Since she loves to draw just like Leonardo-she drew a picture of a scene from the book-so cute! Then I gathered the basic facts about him & his life to put on the board also. I let her pick what scrapbook paper & stickers she wanted & then we went to work. I did most of the cutting-more for safety reason than anything else, but she did all the gluing & decided where everything should go. Then expertly embellished the whole thing with stickers. All our scrapbook time was paying off-I was so proud! :0) I typed up (word for word) her review of the book & we put that on the board too. Anyway, it turned out great-she was really excited about it:

But then I started to get really nervous-did all the parents help as much as I did? Well, the assignment due date came & Averee was stoked to show her teacher her project. That afternoon they had a project fair & all the projects were on display in the gym. Averee really wanted to go & see all the other 1st graders projects-I was curious to see how ours compared to the rest. Well, I was happy to see that we were about the middle of the road when it came to parents involvment. Some projects were so cute & obviously done with VERY little parent help-good for them! But other projects should have just had the parents name on them-it was a little ridiculous! I am glad I didn't go that far! But it was funny cuz one project even said "by Anne Tanner and her mother", which I thought was cute. It was kinda cool cuz Averee was the only child to pick that book so there weren't 10 projects just like hers. She is one of kind! ;0)
Anyway- it was a good learning experience for us both. I think next time I will try to help her even less, but encourage her to think out side the box & be even more creative. You get an A+ from me Ave! Love ya~
P.S. it was funny cuz all us moms kept teasing each other & asking if we got OUR book report done yet...we felt like we were back in school ourselves!

Mess after mess after mess after mess...

yup, it was one of THOSE days...you know the kind: you feel like all you do is clean up mess after mess after mess! UGH!
Owen has RE-discovered his love of water; playing in it, spilling & splashing it, experimenting with it. He has also started leaving little bowls of water all over the house for his kitty, doggie, or whatever the imaginary pet-of-the-day might be. Of course these little bowls spill, get kicked, etc. But it is just water right? To add to the excitement of the day he decided it was cool to watch the glass bowl full of mac-n-cheese spin around on the counter. Fascinating! But of course all good things must come to an end & it ended up spinning right off onto the floor & shattering EVERYWHERE! There was glass & noodles from one end of the kitchen to the other! And it was my favorite glass Pampered Chef batter bowl-the one with the handle. Used it all the time. Bummer! I surprised myself & just calmly put him in his room till I had the mess all cleaned up. Never mind that Adee was supposed to be at preschool 2 minutes ago & Reese is screaming for me to come get her out of bed. Oh the joys of motherhood, right? When I got all the glass cleaned up & it was safe for Owen to come out we had a good talk about not touching things on the counter. I was pretty calm & collected (sadly-not always the norm) I kept in mind what my BF Rachel once said "What is more important-the bowl or the child?" I love you Rachel & your constant example...
Well, the messes continued. There are always the messes to clean up after each meal and such. But the girls have really been into painting lately-which is great. I am all for letting their creativity flourish. However, paint comes with it's share of messes as well. Speaking of paint-I have been trying to get the girls room painted since Friday! What a mess! (Pictures of that project coming soon) So, to top it off-I am walking out of the girls room after applying the last (I hope) coat of paint when I notice the door to the garage is open. I investigate & what do my wondering eyes behold? A 3 year old boy showering the garage floor with his arching stream of pee! SERIOUSLY!? I yell "What are you DOING?"...he turns in surprise. Of course he can't stop mid-stream (what is that all about anyway?). I yell again "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP!" He still seems surprised & bewildered. I start to realize that this was a case of mistaken room identity, & to his defense the bathroom & the door to the garage are close together & he didn't turn on the light. Danny thinks it is hilarious-but then again HE is the one who showed Owen how COOL it is to pee outside. UGH. Anyway-I get that mess cleaned up & we move on to the rest of our night without anymore major catastrophes. Dinner, showers, homework, piano, FHE, & Good Night-Thank goodness!
Despite the messes of the day, recent events have caused me to look at my day & life a little differently. I am actually struck by a sense of gratitude. I am thankful that I even have the blessing of children to clean up after. I get to be their mom & they have & will continue to teach me so much (especially patience). I am thankful that I am still here on this earth to be their mother. To not only clean up after them but to teach them, discover the world with them, nourish & nurture them, hold & love them, read to them, play with them, sing to them, tuck them in at night, comfort their fears, & show them how to do a cartwheel (that is a whole other story). I am also SO thankful Danny is still here on this earth to do it all with me. To help me be better & want to do better. To laugh with me & cry with me. To be my everything...what would we do without our families?
Recent event have also caused me to ponder my life & ask myself some questions. Do you ever feel so blessed & so lucky that it makes you feel a little guilty? I mean seriously...my life is so blessed & easy it is a little ridiculous sometimes. It may sound cliche but I truly mean it. Why do I have it so good while so many others are struggling so badly? Is it because I am weak & the Lord knows I can't handle much else? Are my trials coming later? Will I be able to handle them or will they be so hard that they break me? Will I handle them as well as the people suffering around me have? Am I doing everything that the Lord would have me do? What can I do better? How can I be better? Who can I help and serve? Am I sufficiently preparing myself & my family for what lies ahead? What does the future hold for me, my friends, my family?
It is interesting to me how the death of someone else (even someone we don't know that well) can make us take stock of our lives. To see things with more of an eternal perspective. The recent deaths around me have made me a better person & made me want to be a better person, mother, friend, sister, daughter, a better child of our Heavenly Father. So, to Ryan MacPherson, Sara Baker, & Kathy Graf-thank you for your examples & the opportunity to remember what matters most & to never take it for granted. You will be missed...

Just a Mom...

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is,' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a......?''
"Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman, 'I'm a Mom.''
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, but 'Housewife' covers it,"said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the Field of Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply:
"I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'
Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make...

Grandmothers 'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations'?
Great Grandmothers 'Executive Senior Research Associates'?
Aunts 'Associate Research Assistants'?
To all the 'Research Associates in the Field of Child Development & Human Relations'-I LOVE you & keep up the good work! :0)

I will NEVER...

I have this amazing friend-her name is Stacy. She is one of the smartest & nicest people I know. I haven't known her for very long-we met through our husbands. Her husband aka "Hot Sauce" (as he likes to be called) & Danny were best friends & next door neighbors growing up in Salt Lake. Mike & Stacy have moved down here & we have gotten to hangout with them several times & I just love them. Not to mentionn that Mike is literally one of the funniest people I have ever known. I have learned a lot from her & she is such a good listener-I feel like I could tell her anything & she wouldn't judge me. She is also the mother of 2 (almost 3) adorable kids. She is a great example to me & I so glad to have her in my life. Love ya Stace! Anyway-on her blog she did a hilarious & honest post about all the things she thought she would NEVER do as a mother. I loved it so much I just had to copy her. So here ya go-these are just a few of the things I thought I would NEVER do as a mother:
1-While changing a diaper, I think, "It needs to be wetter than that" and I put it back on
2-Put my kids to bed dirty
3-Put my kids to bed in their clothes
4-Feel good about taking a shower at 3:00pm because at least I got one in today
5-At 7:05 I might say to my child, "It's almost 8:00, it's time to get ready for bed." Thank goodness they can't tell time yet!
6-Turn several pages at the same time of a really long book-although Averee is catching on to that one!
7- Change a diaper in the trunk of my car
8-Sleep on the floor of my childs room until they fall asleep
9-Feed my kids cookies or cake for breakfast
10-Go grocery shopping at midnight
11-Feed cold cereal for breakfast, lunch & dinner
12-Be reading a book to one child while nursing the other
13-Be pregnant when the youngest child can't walk, speak or eat by herself
14-Love snuggling with my kids so much
15-Clean up so many messes of so many different kinds-sometimes I don't even know what it is!
16- Let my kids run around naked in the sprinklers in the backyard
17-Be so upset at someone so small
18- Wipe my kids nose with my hand & then wipe that on my jeans-YUCK-I know!
19- Ignore my child while they throw a traffic stopping tantrum in the store
20- Bribe my child with candy NOT to throw a traffic stopping tantrum in the store
21- Forget details about my children such as current weight, height or year of their birth!
22- Love getting slobbery sticky kisses
23- Worry so much about three little people
24- Learn to love pink
25- Enjoy staying in pjs till lunch time-& beyond!
26- Enjoy cartoons & Disney movies
27- Take less & less pictures of each consecutive child
28- Think of the park as the cool place to hang out
29- Consider the Wendy's Drive thru a lifesaver
30- Love so completely & so fiercely
Well, that is enough embarrassment for one day. :0) Hope you enjoy my list & I would love to see one from you...

The Difference between Boys & Girls...according to me:

Do you ever feel like all you do all day is clean up one mess after another?! Owen is into EVERYTHING! I feel like I am going crazy! He learned how to open our doors recently, so now everything is in lock down mode! :0) And boy does he get mad when he finds the doors locked! he he he! Having a boy is so much different than girls! Everyone warns you of that, but you don't appreciate the difference till you can experience it yourself. He is so much more physical than the girls are. He loves to wrestle & body slam everyone-including our dog Sammy. Owen likes to throw anything he gets his hands on & what is the fascination with carrying around rocks? He has been climbing our stairs & up onto the kitchen bar since he was 1! The pictures above are from the first (but not last!) time I caught him climbing our fountain in the backyard-it was last August when he was only 13 months old! My girls never did stuff like that-especially that young. He is such a cutie though-how can you get mad at that grin?! Plus, he is such a ham & thinks he is being so big, that it makes it hard to get upset at him. I just love him to pieces-& he is such a momma's boy sometimes-I love it! It's weird cuz before I had kids I pictured myself with all boys. I really look forward to soccer, T-Ball, flag football-you name it! Bring it on!

Girls on the other hand-OH MY DRAMA! Sometimes I wonder if they have PMS?! Seriously! They can be so emotional & dramatic-it get's a little crazy sometimes. Averee can cry & throw a fit at the drop of a hat! But they can also be so sweet, & you can't beat the dress-ups, dolls & love for dance! But my two girls are so different from each other! Averee is all girl. She loves ballet, dress-ups, & of course anything princess. She gets her feelings hurt really easy, but half the time we don't even realize what happened, then she says 'you hurt my feelings mom'. ...Cringe...It is usually some little thing that wasn't even meant to be mean that happened 3 hours ago! She is just super sensitive sometimes, so we have had to get used to that. Averee is getting so smart & learning new stuff all the time. She usually surprises me with how much she understands & remembers. Adelyn loves the all the princess stuff too, but is much more of a tomboy. She loves making people laugh & being funny. She is such a ham & loves to shake her booty to get a laugh. Should we be worried? :0) Lately she is having a hard time listening & obeying-(mostly she ignores me till I start counting to 3) which tells me we are entering the "Terrible 3's"! AAAHHHH! Whoever said it was the "Terrible 2's" must not have made it to 3! :0)

Like all you moms out there-I just love my kids to death. They make everything else worth it, ya know? Is there anything better than your kid saying 'Mom, I love you. Now come read my book'. Which I am lucky enough to get to do all day if we want! Hooray for Motherhood!

That was close, a little too close!

Last nite we almost had a Christmas catastrophe! But let me start at the beginning...It was our ward temple nite & we were excited to go & get to know our ward better. I was in the bathroom getting ready with Averee watching & keeping me company while I primped. Then she asks if she can go pick out my dress & I say sure why not, she actually has really good taste. Danny usually lets her pick out his tie on sunday. However, I momentarily forgot that her & Adee's Christmas presents were hidden behind some clothes on a shelf right next to where my dresses hang. Next thing I know Averee says "what is that pink box under there?" Well, I panicked, rushed her outta there & said "it is private mommy & daddy stuff". Without missing a beat she says "Why is there a picture of a baby on it?" I really panicked now & all I could come up with is "It's, um, private mommy & daddy stuff that, um, we use....to make babies!" Keep in mind that Danny has been in the closet getting dressed this whole time & thinks it is hilarious! I couldn't even keep a straight face while I said that, so then Averee asks "Why are you guys laughing?". "Just cuz we're embarrassed....now go watch the Grinch with Adee & Owen." That was close, a little too close! We laughed about it all nite. Santa will definitely have to take the gifts out of the box this year! Averee is just getting too smart for her own good! And don't worry-right after we got home from the temple I put the presents in a much better hiding place! My mom even tried to worn me a couple weeks ago that I should find a better spot. Just another example of 'shoulda listened to my mom'. Now I am just waiting for the plethora of 'making babies' questions that Averee is sure to start asking. Poor kid probably thinks babies come out of a box now! Oh well, live & learn!