5 weeks or less...

My quiet books, still in progress, but I've been finishing up a few other things.  I've made flannel quilts for my other kids and really wanted to do another one for this little girl.  I make the ones that fray cause they're easy and they hide my many mistakes, but they are so snuggly warm, both of my kids still sleep with theirs every night.   So here it is:

Front

Back

And I, for the life of me cannot find the canopy/visor for our carseat, so I decided to make one since we'll be traveling right after she'll be born.  I still have to find some cute buttons for the straps but I love how it turned out.

And the beloved belly shots - I'm 34 weeks, but my doctor agreed to induce me at 39 weeks because I'm kind of stressing a little about traveling that soon after delivering,  this way she will be about 2 weeks old before we leave for DC.  Although, part of me is really hoping she'll come a little early like Handsome did - surprising us around 38 weeks.  Well that's about all for now. 

Objects in motion

I haven't posted any video for a while, so I thought I would share a couple moments with you.  I think my kids are hilarious, and just like all kids are constantly moving or at least keeping me moving.  They play pretty well together and now that Miss Peanut is a little older she has loved helping me with things.  Who knew that laundry and cleaning could be so exciting.  I know the day will come when I will hear something like...do I have to? But for now I'll take what I can get.  Miss Peanut loves to help dust, clean windows, do laundry, and anything helping me in the kitchen.  Handsome has also started to pick up on her helpfulness and has started doing a few simple things.  He loves to take his dishes to the sink after dinner, put his laundry away after bath-time, pick up shoes and toys.  I'm amazed at how well he understands and he's starting to talk so much more now as well.  I often hear help-pease, down-pease, up-pease, and keen-up.  Anyway - I'm really grateful for the help as its getting harder for me to do simple things like bend over :) to pick up whatever.  Here's a video of them in action (I do sort the laundry first, and so far we've avoided pink underwear :)

And this is one of my favorite things - the difference between girls and boys is hilarious to me.  Miss Peanut has her moments of all giggles and being a silly girl, as well as her moments of drama. Handsome, though,  has such a need to wrestle, tackle, growl, etc.  Every evening around bath-time he gets his sumo on when I strip him down to his diaper and then once he's dressed in jammies it continues a little something like this.

 

We all just love when Daddy gets to be home in the evening.    

I look forward to Tuesday

For most people, it's Friday or Saturday night, but for us it has been Tuesday.  Officers is still working weekend swings and for the longest time (pretty much since he started swings almost 2 years ago) finding a date night has just been pushed to the back burner a lot.  We've had lunch dates, get to the temple dates, and take all the kids with us dates, but an actual date night hasn't happened FOREVER!  I finally decided this past month or so that at least until baby comes we need that desperately. So I arranged for one of the young women in our ward to come over whatever time she could every Tuesday until this baby comes for a few hours so we could get away.  Its been just a few weeks in a row now and its wonderful!  Its not like we do anything super exciting - I mean really its Tuesday, but still he gets the door for me,  we hold hands without keeping track of two other little sets of hands, and just to converse without distractions and interruptions...it's been so nice.  I love getting to date my husband again.

Nesting...

I'm to that point,  I have this list of things I'd like to get done, cleaned, projects finished, etc before baby comes.  I'm pleased to say that I'm making progress.  One project I've been wanting to tackle for a long time was making quiet books for my kids at church. We had one growing up that was well loved and I have lots of memories of playing with it during church.  My kids have a hard time sitting still - like most I'm sure and with new baby arriving soon I'm somewhat terrified about how church with go. Right now officer is able to come with us, but for the most part of the last 2 1/2 years I've had to tackle the two monkeys on my own - his schedule changes every few months so who knows what it will bring.  I'm hoping that it will keep my kids busy for at least 10-15 minutes - and with 2 books I'm really hoping for more like 20-30 minutes.  I've bought stuff over the last couple - years - sadly it's taking me this long to get much done.  This week Officer has been gone a lot for work/court/scouts etc so in the evening I've been getting quite a few things done on them.  In the last week I setup and cut out everything for the 18 pages of the quiet books (9 pages in each) one for Miss Peanut and one for Handsome.  I found so many super cute ideas and template online so I can't take credit for some of the ideas, but I'm really excited about how they are turning out.  He're a quick look.

1. Apple tree
2. Shapes
3. Car/road
4. Tent w/ bear
5. Rocket
6. Noah's Ark
7. Treasure Chest
8. Tool Box

1. Girl with hair to braid
2. Vase w/ Flowers
3. Barn w animals
4. Crayons
5. Tic Tac Toe
6. Phone
7. Coo-coo Clock
8. Mailbox
9. Butterfly net

 Ultimately I want to finish them completely with covers. etc by Easter, but this week  I'm hoping to get at least 1/2 of the pages assembled.  I'll show you the finished product hopefully soon

Almost finished

I still need to decorate, but I think our project is just about finished.  I really like the look of the new fireplace and tile, we even got to snuggle up with the fire going the other day when it was snowing - yes it is still snowing here.  I like having the TV up where little hands can't reach,  now we just have to build or find somewhere to store all the toys we usually put in the entertainment center. 
BEFORE

AFTER

May is going to be a busy month.

We're having a baby, (April 28th or sooner )by the way, so that will keep us just a little busy, but you can catch up on other things here and here.  Today we were informed that in addition to these great accomplishments Officer will be a recipient of NAPO's TOP COP award.  This means that we will be going to Washington DC in May and he will meet the President and...it's just incredible and I'm so proud.  We knew that he had been nominated, but we never expected anything to come of it because across the nation there are so many exceptional officers and only a small number are chosen for this award (I believe that they choose 10 incidents and award the officers involved in those incidents).  Some officers never receive a recognition like this in their entire career and in such a short time as an Officer he has shown such exceptional service, character, dedication to his department and our community.  I'm so grateful that he has this opportunity to be recognized for his service.

Sweet things

I have a baby shower to go to this weekend for a friend and I made these to go with a little outfit I bought for her.  I think they are so sweet and it makes me excited to have another little girl.  Miss Peanut had that helmet when she was little, so we were limited in ways to accessorize.  Ooh, and 10 weeks or less - that's right!  With Officer being such a big deal and having a BIG ceremony the first part of May, my doctor agreed to induce me (if I still want to) the last week of April.

Valentimes

That's how Miss Peanut says it.  I can't say that we don't usually celebrate in a big way cause we don't always, but some valentimes we've been on trips to the Caribbean and last year we went to see Wicked in San Fransisco.  Officer worked this year, so we celebrated with our kids and had a heart pancake breakfast.
 

Officer also surprised me by picking up a dozen of these on his way home early Valentimes morning.  Luckily we were able to sneak away for a few hours the next day for dinner and a movie.

Barefoot and Pregnant

I miss barefoot and pregnant.  Every morning for most of my last two pregnancies I have had the morning ritual of getting out of bed and putting compression hose to help with my ever-increasing yucky varicose veins.  They are bad enough that I have to get a prescription hose for enough compression.  I recently had to get stronger compression in them and they seriously take 10 minutes to put on in the morning.  They are miraculous things, really, they help a lot, but my poor toes have spent the better part of 7+ months stuffed in stockings and I miss being barefoot and pregnant.

He's kind of a Big Deal

I shared a little bit about Officer's accomplishments not long ago.  I'll be honest, often I try not to share somethings about us that are a little more personal,  but I'm really so proud of him and you all need to hear about it.  This morning Officer was informed that he and two other officers involved with the incident last summer, in addition to receiving the Silver Star and a Life Saving award, were nominated and unanimously chosen by our Attorney General Medal of Honor Commission to be awarded the Medal of Honor.  It is the State's highest honor, and it's kind of a big deal.  Kind of is an understatement; this really is a BIG deal!  In May there will be an award ceremony and we'll tell you all about it.  It was wonderful to be able to share this news with his family today; they are so proud of him!  It's kind of surreal, and he's been kind of modest about it because he has read about some previous years' recipients.  They are all exceptional in their service, and he is no different, whether he'll admit it or not.  I am privileged to spend my life with him and I know that this is not the only honor he will be given - he will continue to do exceptional things throughout his life.  I love you, Congratulations! 

Project

You may remember when our fireplace exploded.  It has been taped off and unused most of the winter while we were dealing with insurances etc.  Long story short, we're finally getting a new fireplace to replace it and decided that we might as well do a little remodel in the process.  Grandpa has been here to help lots and Handsome has wanted to be right in the middle of it except for some of the really noisy tools.  Here's our progress, hopefully tomorrow we'll have a new fireplace and next week sheetrock and tile.  We're excited to be able to move our TV above the fireplace and replace our old entertainment center with a book shelf or something of the sort. 

My little big boy

Handsome is getting to be such a big boy, it's good because there are only 11-ish weeks until a new little one gets here.  He's wanting to do everything like big sister does - all by themselves.  It is kind of sad at the same time,  he has just been such a great baby.  This past week I thought I would just try letting him nap in a big boy bed.  It didn't go well at nap time, but tonight I decided it was as good as any to try it out at bedtime.  He didn't protest, he got out of bed once, and within 20 minutes this is what I found.  It just made me realize that he really is getting to be so grown up. 

Officer

I just have to take a minute to tell you about My Officer.  He has had some pretty rough experiences in the few short years he's been with the department;  of course that is a given in his profession.  I'm glad that I don't always hear all the details, but although I don't hear every detail I know there are things that have truly changed him, good and bad.  One such experience was last summer and although it was difficult, it was amazing and truly touched his heart.  Through his training and his faith and with the help of several other officers, they were able to save the life of a young mother.  He was later nominated along with these other officers for a life saving award.  He found out today that in a few months they will be recognized for their service and he personally will receive a Silver Star and a Life Saving Award.  A silver star is in my understanding one of the highest honors that you can receive as an officer.  I just want to take this minute to thank him for being such a remarkable man, leader, husband, father, as well as Officer.  I know that he has received many positive commendations over the last few years for his abilities in his profession as well as his ability to sincerely help people whether it be as simple as changing a tire for someone, or talking someone through very critical moments and decisions they are facing.  I am grateful for his service to our community and for all that he does for our little family.  Thank you!

Some days I need another set of arms

I turned my back just long enough to help Miss Peanut on the potty before getting in the bath.  Apparently it was too long; I turned around to get this little guy undressed and he'd already found his way in.  Have I said that I have my hands full with this one!  Love him to pieces, anyway!

Kid Comedy

(Kid comedy is inspired by my Sister-in-law.  Kids seriously say the darnedest things.)

Dinner Tonight:

Me: Handsome, you are not eating anything today and its driving me nuts.

Miss Peanut:  He's not driving you nuts.  We mash nuts in the backyard.  (recalling one of her favorite past times of "smashing" walnuts with a hammer.)
Me:  You're right.

To Do list...Fold Laundry.

It was so fun to hear the giggles from my kids playing so nicely together this morning, until I came around the corner to find this...

They had emptied all their drawers onto the floor and were playing in a "puddle."  At least they're creative right?  Guess I'll be folding way more laundry than I had planned for today.  They really are so cute and hilarious.

What's for dinner?

For some reason my children decided that sleeping was way overrated last night.  After getting up 3 times with miss peanut, and 3 diaper changes from handsome (he's had some serious diarrhea for almost 2 weeks - poor guy)  I crawled into bed around 2 am.  Officer came home around 3 and Church was at 9:00am...I'm tired today.  How tired you ask?  I just checked on my dinner that has been cooking in the oven for the last hour....and I forgot to turn the oven on.  Guess it'll be a little later than usual.  Miss peanut did give her first talk in Primary today,  I can't believe how all grown up she is.  I'm counting down the hours til bedtime...but not holding my breath for a good night sleep.

and a Happy New Year!

It's already the new year and we're just getting back home from our California Christmas; it's taking us a few days to get things together.  We really had a great trip and and a wonderful Christmas, despite the fact that all of us had a head cold and all of us caught a really awful stomach bug.  I intend to write more about the whole trip, but if I don't get there...bear with me.  Here are a few of the highlights.

• I ran into an old high school friend at a McDonald's in Nevada, totally random, but so fun to catch up for a quick minute
• The Sierra's were just beautiful to drive through!
• Officer got to meet his baby nephew for the first time.
• Miss Peanut and Handsome loved hanging out with all the cousins.
• Handsome couldn't get enough of Grandpa and his tractor.
• In &Out Burger
• Christmas eve... Christmas story with the grandkids, videography thanks to Jed - hillarious!
• Snuggling up by a cozy woodstove with Officer
• Christmas morning we didn't get up until almost 9 - mostly cause we were up with barfing kids all night, but still sleeping in until 9.
• It was the first year Miss Peanut really got the idea about Santa,  so fun.
• Handsome learned how to say "Cheese" for the camera.
• Officer surprised me with an overnight  trip to Monterey, CA - where we went on our honeymoon. Officer really spoiled me this year and it was a really great to get away for a day.   
• Officer's parents bought all the Daughters/Daughter-in-laws a really real pearl necklace. They're beautiful.
• Finding out Christmas day that we are having a BABY GIRL.
• Putting together a puzzle with Officer and his Mom.
• Listening to constant rain on the rooftop one day while it rained all day.
• CA thrift store shopping.
• Officer got to play basketball with the "A" team.
• Officer getting pulled over in Oregon.

Boy, it really was a packed trip, I'm sure I've left out things too, but here are just a few pictures to get you started.

Trouble...with a capital T.

College Bound

Tonight as I was getting dinner ready Miss Peanut and Handsome we playing so well together.  She came out of the room for a minute to tell me that she was packing.  She had an over-niter with with Grandma, so I figured she was playing that she was going to visit Grandma again.  After dinner as I was collecting pajamas for bath time I walked into Handsome's room to find this...

The crib was completely FULL of every portable toy she could muscle over the edge into the crib.  And this was her explanation.

She was sick with a stomach bug one day this week and just rested on the couch most of the day.  Obviously, she has watched Toy Story 3 a little too much this week.