Healthy & Happy

Jeff, Madlyn, & I headed down to Temple today to see a specialist for our 18-wk. ultrasound for the babies. We were so happy & relieved to see that both babies' growth is right on track and that they are healthy. I didn't know what they were looking at most of the time but the doctor said that he didn't see anything abnormal or out-of-the-ordinary so we are extremely grateful.

To Madlyn's excitement, we found out that we are having two little girls! We can't believe our family numbers are evening up after so long but we couldn't be more excited for our little "wiggly" girls!

Father's Day

We had a fun day today celebrating our dad - I hope that he felt loved and pampered! Unfortunately, he woke up to a crying wife due to some printer malfunctioning that I had been working on for 2 hours (since 5:45 am) that I really needed to figure out for church. But he saved the day and got his yogurt w/blueberries and homemade granola & toast for breakfast. And no early-morning church meetings meant Jeff got to ride with us to church:) After church, we had a quick lunch and then Jeff was sent to his bed for some R&R. I accidentally fell asleep next to him for a while so our dinner/dessert wasn't done quite as early as I had planned but it was still yummy! We had chicken cordon bleu w/baked potatoes & corn, with Oreo truffle balls for dessert. Yumm-o! Jeff spent the afternoon working on YM stuff and relaxing. We gave him a new book by Mark Levine called "Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto" so he spent a few minutes getting into that. Madlyn & Cole both made him some cards and loved trying to spoil him:) I really hope that he felt the love that we all have for him. Speaking of love, there is no doubt how his youngest son feels about him - he can not get enough of his daddy - it is so adorable! We love Jeff so much and the kids are glad that I picked him to be their daddy!

Jeff & I both have great fathers and we love them! We got to talk to them a little bit tonight and hope they had a great day as well! We are especially excited because we get to see both of them within the next week and can't wait! Just a few of my favorites about my father-in-law and dad!

Dad L:
1) can always make me laugh
2) is so dedicated in his church service and righteous living
3) is a good grandpa
4) is so organized and self-motivated
5) has always made me feel welcome in his family

Dad D:
1) is my namesake and looksake (don't think that's a word)
2) has one of the best hearts of anyone I know
3) is very righteous and service-oriented
4) is a good grandpa
5) has some of the best original sayings
6) and for good measure, he taught me by word & deed how to be honest and fair

We love you, Dads!!!

OK, so I've been getting some requests for some belly shots and a pregnancy update. This first shot is at 14 weeks 1 day, which was just a little over 3 weeks ago. I know it doesn't look like much but it is definitely bigger than this same point in my other pregnancies.

This picture is from tonight, at 17 weeks 4 days. I think it's safe to say I'm growing, don't you?

Funny thing is that we were looking at some old pictures and found some of when I was just a little over 6 months along with Cole. My belly in those pictures is pretty comparable to what it looks like now. Scary:) I have been feeling the babies move quite a bit lately, although every time I put mine or Jeff's hand on my belly, they stop. I think it's funny - it's like 'Uh-oh. Dad's here. We better stop moving!' The movements are still pretty timid and I can't distinguish between Baby A and Baby B but I'm sure that will change soon enough. We have our 18-week ultrasound down in Temple with a specialist on Wednesday so if all legs stay uncrossed:) we should have a gender announcement soon! We are very excited but also very anxious to know how they are developing and hope that they both look good and healthy. We are so appreciative of all of your prayers and expressions of love & concern for us - we have felt them all! And thankfully, I have been feeling much better these days, if only I could avoid the nonstop heartburn:( We love you all & can't wait to see some of our AZ (& UT & VA) folks soon!

Time to get the tacky cut-off graphic off the top of my blog:)

So so it's been a while. I know, the blog just gets neglected sometimes. Not that it isn't important to me but I've got at least 5 other things (people) that come first. And that doesn't include the two that are beginning to take up large amounts of space inside of me:)

I've been wanting to post the latest ultrasound picture of our little babies but sweet Maddie stashed it in her room somewhere and for the life of us, we can't find it. I have another appointment on Friday though, so we will get another shot and I vow not to let her get at it before I can post it:)

With Cole out of school since the 20th of May and Madlyn getting out last Thursday, summer is officially here! We are loving the lack of schedules and rushing to get anywhere. Once I go out and purchase a maternity swimming suit though, we will be hitting up the pool at the Y at least a couple of times a week - we're so excited!

After months of being a horrible, no-good mother/wife/housekeeper, I am starting to feel better and get back into my groove. Today was wonderful! We had planned to go to the park for the library's summer reading kick-off but it poured rain for most of the day. We opted to stay inside instead. We did chores, read books, worked on schoolwork, played Scripture Charades, worked on being more consistent with discipline, watched some shows, washed/folded/put away about 8 loads of laundry, played a little Super Mario Bros. (the original - awesome), some of us got to take naps, and I even got to sneak in some phone time with my SIL. I am so happy. Thankfully for me, when my dear husband came home starving from work and I was still on the phone with his sister and there was no sign of dinner, he didn't complain but just grabbed something quick and easy to go. He really is the coooolest.

Life is good. Jeff is busy at work, with his calling (speaking of - will he EVER get home from mutual?) and being the best dad & husband in the world! I am getting bigger every day and have finally overcome my aversion to the best chocolate chip cookies in the world (my own). Madlyn keeps busy helping me, playing with her brothers, and basically being the best big sister in the world. Cole is learning to read (he surprised me today with how well he did) and is learning to be more responsible & do chores, and is about the best little Wii player in the world! Cade likes to pretend to be Pablo, Tyrone, or Austin from "The Backyardigans", is learning to do chores, and is about the best little ball player in the world! Lane is learning how to talk a ton, keeps getting ear infections (poor guy), and in spite of it all, is about the cutest and happiest little boy in the world!

That's about it - Happy June y'all!!

Happy Mothers' Day!!!

How grateful I am for the wonderful mothers in my life. There are many women who have influenced me for good, and I love you all! In particular, here's some of my favorites things about the mother of my husband, and my very own mother:

Top 5 about Mom L.:

1. she is always supportive of me as a wife and mother; she is never critical
2. she helps me make things pretty
3. she is a good grandma and loves my children
4. she is a good example of righteous living
5. she raised a wonderful man just for me:)

Top 5 about Mom D.:

1. she taught me how to be a homemaker
2. she taught me how to serve and love without judgment
3. she is the most unselfish wife and mother
4. she is a good grandma and loves my children
5. she taught me that the Gospel and family are the most important things in life

Jeff & I are so grateful for our mothers - we love you! Also, I am very humbled and grateful to be a mother. I was spoiled today and loved it! Jeff got me a corsage to wear to church and then he stayed home with Lane who was sick (which made things a little easier to handle at church). I got to sleep for a couple of hours this afternoon and woke up for a delicious dinner of lasagna and corn on the cob and a yummy cookies 'n' cream pie for dessert. I hardly lifted a finger all day and I really appreciate his sacrifice. I was thinking that for me to get spoiled on Mother's Day, Jeff has to take over all of my usual roles in the home, such as preparing meals, cleaning, taking care of children, etc. For me to spoil him, I just have to do my jobs just a little better:) I think he makes a bigger sacrifice and I love him for it!

On a final note, I wanted to post something that Maddie did at school:

The Top 10 things I Love About My Mom by Madlyn

1. You cook the best pie.
2. You make me happy.
3. You let me help cook.
4. You read to me.
5. You are the first mom I ever saw.
6. You make sure I'm loved.
7. You are good at reading.
8. You are good at teatching.
9. You help me clean my room.
10. Mom I love you so much.

Hope y'all had a great Mothers' Day!!

All about Maddie

Oh, my dear sweet Maddie, who is so like her mother in many ways but so different at the same time. I'm chuckling inside as I write this because I have so many flashblacks of my early childhood as I am raising Mads. For instance, every time I brush Madlyn's hair (it's better now that it's short), I can't help but think back to my own wails as my mother brushed my hair. And every time I ask Maddie to use the bathroom, or remind her that the house isn't a jungle gym, I hear my mom's words echoing in my ears. Madlyn is a bouncer. She doesn't walk from place to place, she jumps. It doesn't help that she recently learned to jump rope and even if she doesn't have her rope handy, she practices the jumping almost constantly. I'm reminded of a time a few years ago when I was serving in the Young Women organization and we were doing a "get-to-know-you" activity. We asked all the girls' mothers to give us one word to describe their daughter and we as leaders were to ask our own moms or think of one ourselves. I called my mom and she chuckled a bit as she told me that the one word she immediately thought of to describe me was, "Tigger". Oh, how that describes my Mads. And I tell you what, I have definitely mellowed out as I have grown up. Too much, I think.

Madlyn is a little pack-rat. As a person who likes to streamline everything and hates clutter, it drives me crazy. It is difficult for me to go into her room and see all her piles of stuff everywhere, even though they are neatly organized. I can't even begin to describe the things she collects but it would make you laugh. Every once in a while, I have to have an intervention and I "help" her clean her room and throw things out. I often tell her that if it doesn't fit on a bookshelf, in a drawer, or in a cubby, she doesn't need it:) Last night, Jeff sat down to watch his lecture for his class. Exasperated when he couldn't find his headphones (again), he made his way to his daughter's room where he said she quickly pulled them out of a little stash of junk she had stowed away and handed them to him. We've learned that if we can't find something, we often just need to ask Madlyn and she will have it stashed away somewhere, either being used in one of her homemade contraptions, or by itself just in case she needs it sometime. And about the headphones, this is about the 5th time in the past week that Madlyn has taken off with them. She did come in a few minutes later and promise that next time she would ask before she takes them;)

Madlyn is quite the fashionista. She is always putting different outfits together, sometimes using items from my own closet to supplement her own clothes. The other night for bed, she came out dressed in some leggings with a cute sleeveless top covered by a button-up shirt. That's what she wore to bed, folks. The next morning as we left to take her to school, I noticed she was wearing the exact same outfit.While it was too late for her to change, I did tell her I didn't want her wearing the same thing to school that she wore to bed the night before, hehe. She reluctantly agreed. Hey, but maybe there is something to it. Get all ready the night before and then there isn't much to do in the mornings:)

In so many ways Madlyn is already light-years ahead of me. She is so thoughtful and giving, always helping me and taking care of her brothers. She is a natural-born nurturer. She is very wise and mature and I learn so much from her perspective on life. I am so lucky to get to be her mom and I love her.

I'm in the mood to talk...

I'm just wondering why it is so difficult to go use the bathroom if you feel the urge? I thought we might have lucked out this time but nope, we have 3 children who refuse to take the 30 seconds to use the bathroom. Instead of this difficult chore, they choose to dance, run, jump, anything that will keep them moving. When I remind them to go, they deny the urge altogether. The other night, Madlyn was moving and grooving and I told her to use the bathroom. "But I don't neeeeeed to!" Literally 5 seconds later, she beelines it to the bathroom, calling behind her, "Now I need to go!"

Lane is so funny. He has started to make these funny faces and he is hilarious. His most-used expression is one where he raises his eyebrows and puts his mouth into an "o" shape, almost like he's surprised or something. But he does it all the time:) And he has started running away from me when it is time to change his diaper. If I ask him to go get the diaper (he used to quickly oblige), he vigorously shakes his head no! He still doesn't say much that you can understand but his vocabulary is slowly growing. He says "thank you", "dad", "pizza", "mama", and that's about it. When I go to get him out of his carseat, he turns his head to the side and pretends he's sleeping...so funny! Oh, and when he goes to bed or down for a nap, he likes me to turn music on. He listens to the music from my old music class that I used to teach or my favorite, "Beethoven's Wig" - a collection of classical music that has had lyrics added to each song.

I pretty much have the best husband ever. The past few weeks have been a little rough for me and Jeff has really taken over many of the mundane household tasks and I am so appreciative. I do feel just a little bit guilty every time he makes a meal, or picks up the family room, or washes the dishes, or sorts the laundry, but I am thankful that he is so helpful. I especially like it when he cooks because his meals almost always include red meat (what? did I just say that?)! On top of being Mr. Mom these days, he is still the best dad to our kids and the best husband for me. Man, I love him.

When we told Cade that I have "two babies in my tummy" he got a real worried look on his face and tearfully said, "I don't want to get babies in my tummy." Don't worry honey, you won't:) Maddie & Cole have been very excited and say almost daily, "I can't wait for the babies to be born." Maddie refers to me as "you three" and when she is home will hardly let me do anything without her help. It's too bad she isn't here all day:) Maddie & Cole have been pretending to be twins lately, naming themselves "Twin Max" and "Twin Ruby" after Cole's favorite TV show "Max & Ruby" (which, by the way, is the most annoying show EVER!).

I love the weather here. I love the rain, I love the light breezes, I love the sunshine, I even love the smell of moisture in the air (didn't think I'd ever say that). And the green - I love it!

I made chocolate chip cookies the other day (for the first time in a couple of months) and I still have not eaten one. I have leftover dough in the fridge and have no desires to bake it up. It's weird. They must have been good though because Jeff had a few young men over the other night for a planning meeting and they ate 4 dozen of them!! 4 dozen!! It made me feel good though:)

I guess that's it for now. Life is good and we are happy....

So I think I devised a way to get more company out our way:

HAVE A BABY!

Yep - we are expecting! I am about 9 weeks along and due November 24th.

Are you a bit skeptical that I'll get many visitors with that news? Well, I've got a foolproof plan that will be hard to resist:








HAVE TWO BABIES!

That's right, folks - we are expecting not only #5, but #6 as well:) Here's the proof:

A little shocked? That's all right - so was Jeff, hehe.

Stay tuned for more of my thoughts and rundowns of all my symptoms!



*I'm just kidding, I really won't give you a rundown of all my symptoms:)