April kid update

This happy little guy rolls over! He's been so close for so long, but he's finally succeeded :) First time was 2 days ago. Way to go Ivan man.

Ivan's eyes are dark! I love staring into them! I still don't know what color to call them. They are mostly grey, but if his pupils get really small, the inner portion of his irises are actually a brownish grey. I wonder if they will stay this way or change.?. Eric's dad's eyes are grey, so you never know.

I've had he and Reese sleeping in the same room this week. I think it is starting to work out. At first Reese kept waking him up with her hollers for chocolate milk or just to see a friendly face at her door. I think he is getting used to her noises, because heaven knows that Reese hasn't changed her habitual hollering while she is working on falling asleep.

Some interesting facts about Reese:

- she has an extra tooth. See on the left (her right), there are 2 small teeth next to the big front tooth. According to her dentist, one of those is an extra. I love this little quirk about her. Sadly (maybe fortunately for her) there most likely won't be an extra permanent tooth to take that one's place.

Reese has super long eyelashes. And they are really thick. I envy them!

She is beyond curious about everything. Her new thing is to always ask "huh?" after everything you say. Sometimes I think she just says it for fun, but other times she looks at you really curiously, like she wants you to tell you more about whatever it is. Even the most mundane of phrases gets a "huh?" from her. If you repeat your phrase she'll continue to ask "huh?" but if you go onto explain things more in depth she usually is satisfied and doesn't ask again.

The other day she was playing with one of the neighbor girls and kept asking her "huh?". After about the 20th "huh?" I could tell the neighbor was getting annoyed, so I intervened and changed the subject.

I've been watching KSL like a hawk lately to find Reese a fun play gym or slide. Well I FINALLY scored and got a fun gym WITH a slide for a steal. Sadly the weather has been so windy and pretty cold so she doesn't get to play on it as much as she'd like (which is ALL the time). But come warm weather, we're all going to be LOVING it! She can play while Ivan and I catch some rays :)

Frisco

There once was a man, who was getting very good at woodworking. He had an idea. He purchased supplies. He sawed and glued and sanded and waited. 

 He built and welded, researched, learned equations, searched all over the land for parts and assembled. He ran electricity and installed lighting.

 His creation began to come together and his daughter approved of his work.

 The assembly was successful.

 He drew, cut, and sanded many more parts.

 He stained, painted, varnished and buffed.

 He cut pieces of leather, punched holes, created attachments.

 

 His wife and he hoisted the heavy beast up to the living room for his daughter and all the visiting children to enjoy.

And Frisco was born.

luv 'em

I adore these babies of mine! Pure joy, I tell you!

 Ivan had his 4 month checkup today:

- 17 lbs
- 26 inches
He is a large boy!

Poor Reese was sick again, hence the chapped lips...I swear 2 of 3 times she goes to nursery, she contracts something, which is completely unfortunate since she craves nursery! Yesterday I took her running with me, we went past the church and I pointed it out to her. She started crying when she realized I wasn't taking her to nursery.

I also adore Eric. Sadly I only seem to take pictures of us adults when we're on vacation and things. Luckily we are going to Moab this weekend, so I should have some pics of us for the next post. He's a darling, he got a movie just for me at Redbox last night. I thought that was very thoughtful - getting a movie that he knows I will like but he won't. So, I just put the kids down for naps, and I'm going to lounge on the couch and watch my happy-go-lucky chick flick :)

Oh mother.

Sometimes being a mother is a walk in the park, other times it is the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. With Eric having midterms and papers due, the last couple of days have felt like I was a single mother. I don't know how single mothers do it. My neighbor is a single lady who adopted her friend's daughter's baby 3 months ago. I was talking to her today and she said "it's nice that you have your husband so you can take off every once in a while." I rarely take off without at least one of the kids, but at least there is the option.

I've been pondering a LOT lately. It humbles me. I'm glad, because I feel that with all the pondering and inner questioning, eventually some positive changes will take place. Motherhood teaches you how little you know and how much you have to rely on a divine source of knowledge. I'm struggling with Reese becoming an older child. I know nothing of disciplining a child with a personality like hers. What discipline works, what is detrimental? I'm slowly learning how to teach her things: right from wrong, colors, games, words. I'm having a hard time getting Ivan on a good nap and nighttime sleep schedule, I've forgotten all the "tricks" :). Thankfully, this is what I'm supposed to be doing. This is my calling, my job, my responsibility - and God knows all. I'm trying to learn from Him how I can be the best I possibly can in all these new challenges in life.

It is a wonderful thing to have angels in your home to humble you. Thank you Reese and Ivan for being those angels. You've taught me what "mother's love" is. And you're allowing me to find my weaknesses so that I can turn to a higher source for strengthening.

rain to shine

In one day we made the decision to go from:
-Trying to entertain ourselves while being cooped up in our house
-Avoiding the cold outside

-Pretending it is Summer and trying on all of our swimsuits

To...Eric driving through the night so we could enjoy:
-Sunshine
-Cousins
-Spending the majority of the day outside
-Racing electric 4 wheelers around the cul-de-sac

-Happiness and smiles galore

It was so nice to get away from the yucky weather! A great break from reality, soaked up some rays, spent time with family, a date night for just Eric and I on the strip, family night on the strip, fantastic food, lots of dirtbiking for the guys, and a much needed vacation! It was wonderful!

It's already March??

It may have something to do with February having fewer days than the rest of the months, but I swear it never happened. Where did the month go?

Reese is TOTALLY ready to be potty trained. She sits on the toilet, un-prompted, by herself multiple times a day, and even goes to the bathroom sometimes. I don't even know how to potty train a kid, but I better figure it out quick since she is so interested. Any pointers?

She is a total goof in front of the camera these days. As soon as a pull it out she puts on a solemn face. Oh well, she is still cute.

She LOVES nursery. She runs from sacrament meeting into nursery and happily says goodbye to Eric when he drops her off. I'm glad she's warmed up to the idea so much!

Ivan is the happiest baby I know, which makes me happy, and which thankfully makes me feel like one day I will want another :) Just not for a while. He is too long for his bassinet now. Time to do the room switcharoo, move Reese downstairs, and him into a crib in Reese's current room because his feet kicking his wicker bassinet at night is enough to make me not sleep soundly. I don't know why but I'm hesitant though because I have a hard time being OK with Reese sleeping so far away from me - dumb I know, but both beds won't fit in the upstairs room :(

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We've got some cool projects coming down the pipeline. Eric is making something cool (I won't give it away until it is complete though, in case he wants it to be a surprise). I'm going to be making part of our basement into a cool play room. I'll do a before and after of that and her room when I'm done. I'm excited.

Colors, Crafts, Sleep and Such.

I've been trying to be better about providing Reese with learning activities and such. Keeps the both of us sane. Right now we're focusing mostly on colors. Sometimes this consistes of mixing cornstarch, water and food coloring to paint with and learn about a color. Sometimes it's holding a handful of mini m&m's and making her say the color of the m&m before she eats it. Today I decided to go to JoAnns and buy some crafts for Reese. They have the BEST $1 section. Tonight she got to paint a plaster magnet. She liked it, but definitely didn't like the taste of the paint. I wasn't watching closely enough and she said "hot", I look over at her and she has her tongue sticking out and blue paint smeared next to her cheek. Gross! Well, at least we got that out of the way, I don't think she'll be eating the paint anymore.

Geez, I love this girl! She is my little best friend!

And this is my little lover boy. I'm so in love with him. He is so happy and smiles so much! And as vain as it may sound, he LOVES his mama. That's simply the truth. Although my back is always sore, I do love that he wants to be in my arms pretty much all the time. And I love the way he snuggles into me when he's trying to fall asleep.

This blanket he's wrapped in is the best thing that ever happened. My friend Lindsay gave it to me on Sunday and I'm in awe! It is light weight, large enough to burrito wrap a large child in, and made of material that contours the babies body so preciously! I'm in love!...and so glad I can use it in the Summer time too! I've always hated how unfriendly blankets are in warm weather, but this one will be perfect!

After we were done painting, we made Reese a car out of a cardboard box. She thought that was pretty awesome. I cut out the bottom and added straps later so she could stand up and "drive" around, since she had to keep getting out of it to push it around the house.

Reese changed Ivan's diaper today. Sweet eh? It was purely accidental. I changed him and asked if Reese would throw away Ivan's dirty diaper while I went into the other room to do something. I came back and she said "ew gross!" She was holding a wipe in her hand and Ivan was lying on the floor de-diapered. She had misunderstood me and thought I'd asked her to change his dirty diaper. She took off his pants, undid the bottons on his onesie, took off the diaper, threw it away, and wiped his bum. What a good big sis. I know who I'm going to have change the diapers from now on ;)

Can I just say, motherhood (and really just life in general) is so much more enjoyable when you have a little sleep in ya. On Sunday I made myself a bedtime of 10pm Monday - Thursday (unless we're out doing something). I've only followed it 2 nights so far, but am feeling loads better. Pretty sure I should've done such a thing earlier, because no matter how much I need my sleep, the babies still wake up at the same time every morning, which means I do to :)

Wood Work

Here's Reese's bed! Eric just decided one day that he wanted to make her a bed. He hasn't done this kind of wood work before (carving and such) but he did an amazing job. Reese loves to run her fingers over the design and she talks about the moon, stars, and sun while she is trying to settle down at night. I love the shape of the bed and love that she now has her own keepsake that her dad made and she can have for her kids and such.

With all the wood projects I've put on Eric's to do list, we decided he best build himself a wood working bench :) It turned out pretty sweet too!

Home

We got home last night from our 3 weeks of babysitting. It feels nice to be home. I'm no longer living out of duffle bags, I have a larger selection of clothes, shoes and makeup.

I had to do a LOT of putting away today. Still not done. I also had to do a big grocery shopping trip. Everything was expired in our fridge. I forgot to buy bread - DOH!

This morning I asked Reese to throw Ivan's diaper in the garbage. It took her a minute to remember where that was. She was excited to see all her toys, books, and her favorite bed - which I am going to post a picture of soon. Eric made her the COOLEST bed for her birthday! It really is amazing!

I have a lot of mail to sort through, laundry to be done, and tidying to complete. Then I might find some time to catch up on my blog.

BB SITTING

So we're babysitting for a total of 20 days! We're on day 7. Two different families (each for 10 days), parents going on vacations to warm destinations, while we drop kids off at the bus stop in -16 degree weather = BURR!

Right now we're back in good old Heber, hanging out with the kids of one of our favorite families from our old ward. I miss our home. I can see it from the living room window. I talked to our tenants at church on Sunday, slightly jealous that they were cozying up to our fireplace this winter, and enjoying the bright stars from the hot tub on a freezing cold night. Slightly may be an understatement.

Whenever I stare out the window at it I can't help but reminisce in memories of Eric and I: young, engaged, going to see the house, buying it, then coming home early from our honeymoon simply because we couldn't wait to live together in our very own house. Driving up the dirt roads to our cozy home after a long day at work and school. The smells. Shoveling the crazy amounts of snow on our very long driveway to try to send myself into labor. Then learning how to sanely spend numerous hours inside that sweet little house once we brought our new baby girl home in the dead of winter and I got the blessing of staying home with her. Making the house ours. Spending our evenings together building a porch and swing then building a greenhouse. Hosting numerous dinners, sleepovers, and parties. Oh the memories.

I miss our ward. Going there last Sunday so felt like home. We were back in our comfort zone. It was great seeing so many people we love, that have known us from our existence as Mr. and Mrs. Ellis.

Maybe someday we'll be back :)