8 weeks

Kellyn is 8 weeks now, has slept through the night for me for 2 weeks and has a new best friend......the swing. HOLY COW, WHY DIDN'T I SET IT UP BEFORE?!?!? She's a happier and more content baby now and not so stingy with her smiles. I love it. 

This is Kellyn giving me the "WHY are you making those funny faces?!" look as I try to get her to smile.

 She thinks I'm so funny sometimes and can't even hold still because I'm THAT funny. She's a real self-esteem booster, I know.

 pleasant little face.

And THESE next 3 are just because I love doing it. I've had 5 people since Sunday tell me that Kellyn looks like Iris and I didn't believe it. Well, I went searching through some old pictures and she INDEED does. These 3 are of Iris. The only difference is Iris has some bigger eyes and Kellyn has the disappearing-eye-trick when she smiles (I had the EXACT same thing when I was her age......wish my scanner would work so I could prove it.)

Oh, I had these pictures of Iris up on the computer and Brooks walked by and said, "That's a cute picture of Kellyn". hahaha, Iris even fooled DAD!

Smile Winner

If anyone knows me, they would say I am the LEAST competitive person they know. I don't care if I win or lose and if I lose..........well, I don't give it another thought. For example, if I lost some lame smile contest it's not like I would refuse to blog about it for 6 days because I was pouting or anything. I mean really......I'm 31 years old for heaven's sake.

Trying to get the first smile from Kellyn wasn't really that big of a deal to me anyway. There were NO video cameras in my house taping me w/ hours and hours of me trying to get her to smile (only to make my cheeks KILL from pulling the weirdest faces and smiles).......so no one could prove it. Plus, when Kellyn WANTED to smile, I'm sure it would be for me. Besides AREN'T I THE ONE WITH HER (ALMOST) 24/7?!?!?

Last Wednesday, I took Bronson and Camden to scouts for one hour. We drive 25 minutes to our church so it doesn't make sense for me to come back home. I usually sit in the car and write in one of the kids' journals. I actually LOVE that time sitting and writing. I never take the time to do it at home because there's always some place to clean, , etc. We came back home and I resumed my spot on the couch w/ Kellyn to feed her..........YOU KNOW....TO KEEP HER ALIVE?!?!?!? She actually DID show me her gratitude by showing me a smile after I fed her. I looked at Brooks and SCREAMED/YELPED/GLOATED, "SHE SMILED AT ME!!!!!!!!!" (Not like it mattered though, like I said, because I'm not competitive and I don't mind losing.....it was strictly just to inform Brooks, that's all).

Instead of the "Unbelievable", "I can't believe you won", or "GAH!!!" I expected to hear from Brooks, he just looked over at me and calmly said, "Cool. She gave me 2 smiles while you were gone."

GAH!!!!!!

I was LITERALLY gone for a little under 2 hours. CLEARLY Kellyn forgets who keeps her alive.......... single-handedly!!!!!! Not only that, but she's been super stingy with her smiles SINCE then. (Hence the reason there is no picture of her smiling). I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. I told Bronson the news and he just said, "Oh well, maybe I can be the first kid to make her smile." WHAT?!?!? Accepting defeat and the title of "loser" so easily?!?!?!!?

He must get that from me.

Indoor Court

There is only ONE door that will work for Bronson's basketball hoop, and it happens to be our front door. With the wood floors it makes for a great basketball indoor "court". 

And about everyday that's one of the first things the kids ask Dad to do w/ them after he gets home (when it's cold outside or too dark). It's always the same teams:

Brooks and Aleeya     vs.     The Boys

 It makes me laugh watching them.

 (Love Emerson's boxing out. hahaha)

 Aleeya plays some mean defense sometimes

The games always get SUPER close in score and then Daddy wins EVERY. TIME. He's pretty proud that he's undefeated with his kids.

I don't know WHY they even get sad or tear up or throw a fit after.......it's as if they're SURPRISED they lost (AGAIN!!!!). 

But yet they keep asking to play......hahaha.

The whole family will play football a lot in the field across the street so Royce is getting pretty good. He likes to "hike" the ball btw. his legs and he's pretty good at that. Then he runs out for a pass. I got a short video of it below. However he's pretty distracted at the camera and kept staring at me. Its the last part that really makes me laugh. He'll make a great receiver. Enjoy. 

(Mom, you can't watch the video via email post, you actually have to click through and go to my blog and then click play)

I love it how there's always SOMETHING being played around here.

Sleeping....

Sleep........it's a beautiful thing.

The last 3 nights I've fed Kellyn a tad later then usual for the last feeding around 9:30-10:00. (the one where I wake her up and she sleepily eats and falls back asleep regardless of how many wipes I wipe on her to wake up). After those feedings she has woken up until 6 a.m. Holy shnickies!!!

You NEVER realize how good a full night's rest is you get one and you realize what you were missing for all that time. ;) Come on moms, you know the feeling!

Anyway, as I woke up this morning I was reminded of my "Parenting and Family" class I took in college 11 years ago.

This was RIGHT after I was married and my sister and I were taking this online course from USU together. It was fun, but I'll never forget one of the assignments. It was something to the effect of asking any mom about how they would teach their babies to sleep. I looked at my sister-in-law (who was living with my parents for the summer w/ her soon-to-be-4 kids) and asked her what she did. The advice has ALWAYS stuck with me and I've done it for all 7 kids.

I tend to NEVER pass on "advice" since passing on parenting advice gets SUPER old to weary moms, but I don't really consider it advice. They're more like tips.

Some of my kids liked sleep a LOT more then others, trust me, so it's not a miracle worker but it really helps especially right at the beginning w/ newborns.

She told me when waking up to feed the baby at night, she ALWAYS kept the room dark and didn't play/talk/etc with the baby during night time.

Meaning, I go into the room (I'm one of those weird moms that has never had the baby in the same room as me, even from day 1), leave the lights off, feed the baby, burp and put right back to sleep. The point being to not let the baby think that it is playtime ("PARTY WITH MOM AT 3 A.M. EVERYNIGHT!!) and to get their body to reset their  backward schedule and understand that THIS is night time. Make sense?

It was such a small tip. But I really think it has helped. I try to keep diaper changing to a minimum too, oddly enough. Depending on the diaper brand you might be able to let a wet diaper go through another feeding if the baby doesn't have sensitive skin. Or not use a wipe for wet diapers during the night. (Seriously, wouldn't a wet/cold wipe on YOUR hiney wake you up?!?!? ). If the baby is poopy I just change the baby in the middle of the feeding, so the last part of the feeding relaxes them again.  

It's tricky when they're little doing it all in the dark but there's usually some lamp post on the street outside or moonlight enough to help out.

Anyway, it's funny how her one tip really helped me out w/ my new babies and how I've kept that tip this whole time. I started thinking, I wonder if someone else could use the tip. Granted every baby is different (DON'T I KNOW IT!!!!), so there's no blanket formula for sleep, but maybe this will help someone like it did me 11 years ago.

6 weeks

This week, the little lady will be 6 weeks.........which means it. is. crunch. time. 

Most likely this week she will SMILE and will no longer look at us like this whenever we make the silly sounds or noises!

 Brooks has gotten the first smile from the first 5 children. I got Royce's first smile (I know you're not surprised!). But  with Kellyn,  Brooks, myself AND Bronson are vowing that we will get the first smile.

AND IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING PEOPLE!!!!

 However, I think we're pretty safe in saying that Royce will NOT get the first smile from Kellyn

 The little lady does NOT like being on her back. Turn her over and she's good to go. See?

Maybe because it must reminds her of moments like these...... when Dad comes home super late from work and lays on his couch, snuggling his newest princess. 

 But she IS super close to smiling. Really. And I'm determined to get the first one. 

 It would be a WHOLE lot easier if I didn't have the magic-sleeping-juice. It doesn't help my cause AT ALL.

However, I'm pretty sure I would take this snuggling over smiling right now anyway.

The "Smile Winner" will be named soon though...........mark my words.

GAME. ON.

That time of year again

Last Monday night for Family Home Evening we got our Gratitude Tree put up!!!!

(Truth be told, I like it more then my Christmas tree. It makes me happier and just in awe thinking about every leaf. I smile every time I walk past it).

After a lesson on the 10 Lepers from the Bible each family member got 5 leaves to write something they are thankful for........and if you do the math, that is 45 leaves on the tree! 

I had the kids help me think of what Royce and Kellyn WOULD be grateful for.

Here are a few:

This one was Aleeya's. I just love it.












And no, I did NOT prompt this one. The kids made up their's completely by themselves.

(I love that Emerson's "frend" is just singular....as if he only has one.) ;)

These  next 2 from Emerson and Camden crack me up for 2 reasons:
1) the boys do NOT always like church....trust me
 2) NEITHER of them know how to spell it. ;)

Bronson is my little science wiz. And yes, he REALLY feels strongly about how grateful he is that the sun doesn't nuke us here on earth everyday.

I'll give you ONE guess who's this one belongs to...... ;)

This one is mine. I TRULY am grateful my parents on in Brazil serving a mission for 2 years. There have been times that I have felt some MAJOR extra help and received extra blessings because of their service. Before they left they were promised this would happen, and there are many in my family that can testify that it has come true.

Kellyn doesn't need much except some major snuggling and her "leche" (milk).

Yes, Bronson DOES have a huge talent in sports, and I'm glad he is grateful for it.





I just have loved seeing what they came up with!!! It's a constant reminder of how truly blessed I am.....even if I haven't been given kids that can spell. ;)

FINALLY....a PARTY!!!

Poor Aleeya turned 5 on October 17th...........and she JUST had her party today.

But in her MOTHER'S defense, she had pink eye for 2 weeks!!!!! And then it was Halloween, Daddy's work schedule was crazy, etc. 

(Truth be told, I have never been more grateful for pink eye before! I don't know if I had it in me to make a pinata and throw a party before!!!! Also, having a birthday party w/ a pinata AFTER Halloween w/ all the 50% off candy IS THE WAY TO GO!!!)

Speaking of pinata............here are a few in-the-process-of-making pictures of her mermaid pinata.

Aleeya helped paint her pinata.

 She asked me, "Why are her arms like this?" (and then she would make the pose w/ arms on hips). I told her mermaids LIKE to stand like that, because telling her that toilet paper rolls for arms are a LOT easier then making arms and 5 fingers at the end!

Granted, the mermaid is QUITE immodest, but aren't they all?!?! She absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED the pinata. More then I even expected. 

 (Brooks suggested throwing a wig on the pinata for hair...hahaha) Her face has MUCH to be desired in my opinion, but I really can't draw/paint. I just had to keep reminding myself how excited Aleeya was and how much she liked it. You can tell by the picture though!

The mermaid was about the same size as Royce and he kept kissing her on the lips.

 I really need to teach him to go for the more modest and less balding type, don't I? Then again, he DOES have a few webbed toes, so he likes that type I guess. :)

The girls and Royce (.......seriously, the STORY OF HIS LIFE) getting ready for cake.

 It took her 14 blows to get 2 candles blown out (these are NOT trick candles)!!! She just couldn't stop smiling enough to blow them out. Finally one of her friends just blew out the last 3 out of pure frustration, I'm sure. Aleeya was just too happy w/ her whole party.

By-the-way, "Nerds" from kids' Halloween bags make REALLY good white topping sprinkles for cakes. Also, if you have to make pink frosting and you do not have red coloring (yikes!!), the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries works really well.

I love my little 5 year old. Can't believe she's so big, but then again, I feel like she's always been a part of our family. 

I'm a superhero

Halloween is over and many put away their costumes of superheroes, etc. 

Let me just say............I still get to keep mine on.

Perspective

Preparation is important to me.

This was my 7th child and postpartum experience so I knew EXACTLY what to prepare for before.

I had the right supplies. Knew what timetable to expect my body to find it's energy and feel "normal" again. I knew at 2 weeks the baby would get thrush like my previous 6 (which I avoided this time thanks to a miracle cream I had called in before.........see? Preparation.) I knew that when Brooks was home the first week it would CRUCIAL that I rest up mucho so I would feel normal by the time he went back to work the next week. I kept telling myself DO NOT overdo it, or I would be in trouble (like I was after I had Bronson trying to do too much then laid out for longer) because Brooks told me he was starting a "doozy" of a rotation so I needed my A-game on. My body healed nicely. I felt my energy back. Kellyn was only waking up once at night So we were on track to normal w/ all the things I was used to........except............

I had these horrible headaches.

I had NEVER EVER had headaches before in my life. Not really even one. I now feel REALLY sorry for those who get them. They just kept coming on. Even when my body felt fine and normal my head/neck area was going crazy. I realized instead of an A-game coming on, I was more closer to a F-game. 

They wore and wore on me, until finally I called my doctor's office to be seen. (which the LAST time I went in the doctor's voluntarily for anything other then a check-up it was 11 years ago when I was balding.....yea, I know, serious huh.) The nurse kind of treated it lightly so I scheduled an appt and hung up feeling rather discouraged. Yes, headaches aren't a big deal, I realize, but I KNEW my body and I KNEW what was normal in postpartum for ME and frankly my expectations weren't being met.

So you can understand why I broke down in tears that very day when I opened up the mailbox and found the most THOUGHTFUL gift from my sis, Nikki.

The necklace had all of my kids' names on it. I'm actually tearing up now as I type this thinking on how much that meant to me at the time. I realized I would go through ANY kink in my plans/preparations for these 7 sweet names. I would do it again even, just to have my sweet Kellyn join our family.

If I had to deal w/ headaches for the rest of my life, it would be a sacrifice worth making for my favorite people here on my necklace. 

Thankfully, I won't have to though. After seeing the doctor I was sent over to the hospital for high blood pressure issues (which I've NEVER EVER had) and thankfully sent home later that day. Brooks took my bp all week and realized it wasn't getting better, nor my headaches. I saw the doctor again and I'm on some bp lowering medicine + diuretic (who seriously GAINS weight after coming home from having a baby?!?!?) and my headaches have disappeared and blood pressure down to 115.  I feel back to normal and I'm loving it, I really have taken my good health for granted. I'm so grateful. I'm also hopeful that in a few weeks we can start lowering the dosage so I can wean myself off the meds. Fingers crossed. But either way, there is medicine that can help me and I'm grateful. I'm also grateful because I know postpartums that are 10 gazillion times worse for other people, yes, I realize that. It was just frustrating to go through something 6 times and have a curve ball thrown at me out of the blue. Seriously, things could've been worse, I know...but to be honest, it was perfect timing as well. Looking back I see Heavenly Father's hand in everything and helping me in such an obvious way.

It was a good reminder though that there ARE sacrifices that are worth making.

and I have seven little names on a necklace to prove it!

‎"Five good children (in my case, 7) are an immense luxury, and to deny one's self other luxuries in order to raise them is not self-denial at all, but merely an intelligent choice of investment."

--Edward Sandford Martin, The Luxury of Children (1904)

"Haloween"

Oh yes, I know how to spell Halloween, but apparently Brooks doesn't because he was SHOCKED when I corrected him after he told Emerson to spell it

H-A-L-O-W-E-E-N. 

(So now he can take back the teasings when I thought 'hello' in Spanish was "Ola")

We went over to our close friends the Cannadays for Halloween

They are same family that watched the kids while I was in the hospital, made dinner twice afterward and just babysat while Brooks and I went on a lunch date this week and they secretly cleaned my house........yep, I love them.

My boys are: the Zombie in the middle, White-masked-Grim-reaper-Darth-Vader guy (?), and who KNOWS what Emerson is in front (it's some skeleton/pirate guy I think under his sweatshirt ) but he does NOT have a bloody nose. He wanted me to put on blood to cover his blue Koolaid moustache,,,,,however I think it looks like a beard and I love it.

Since you can't see the Zombie costume (he designed and marked himself) in the above picture, here Bronson is at the church Trunk or Treat. 

They had a guess-how-many jar of candy at one car and GUESS WHO WON IT?!?!?

ALL 1270 PIECES OF CANDY!!! He was pretty happy. 

Brooks ended up working that night, so we all ate dinner together w/ the Cannadays, Brooks left and "Mr. Troy" took this bunch out Trick or Treating all by himself. The girls' mermaids costumes were dirty from....well....wearing them for 5 days straight, so they wore whichever dress-ups they wanted.

 Their daughter (the bee)  helped out too, but Mr. Troy was the man walking at Royce's pace and dealing w/ all of Iris' chattering.

I love LOVE this picture of Royce w/ his Trick-or-Treating companion. Royce's smile melts my heart.........

 it ALMOST makes me forget moments like these when there are 700 q-tips involved.

Anyway, back to Halloween.....By the end Troy was holding these two AND wearing Royce's costume.

I was at their house w/ Kellyn visiting w/ my friend Jamie. Seriously, do I have the best friends or what?!?!