Today while the boys were at school, Emma went to a friends house for a few hours and I was home with Kate. While she napped I tried to throw in a couple loads of laundry, make the beds and write a shopping list, all the while going over the many other things I needed to be doing and get done before Christmas. She woke up and I fed her on the couch in the front room. When she was done she fell into a deep slumber and just nestled right into my chest as I held her. For a minute I thought of laying her down, but then I decided to enjoy the moment instead. It was snowing heavily outside and the house was completely silent (which rarely happens). My eyes filled with tears as I snuggled with my sweet, precious baby, grateful to be in my warm, happy, quiet home and just sit in peace for a few moments. I thought of nothing else for those moments except for me and Kate. It might sound silly, but it was the best part of my day. Sometimes a little peace is priceless. Soon after, the house filled with sounds of the other kids and friends and TV and the piano. The counter filled with papers from school, presents from friends, goodies and pictures. The floor filled with snow pants, hats, coats, boots and gloves. The evening filled with whining, begging for sleep overs, finding something to eat and many attempts to fall asleep. And now it is late and I am tired, the house is mostly in disarray and Kate is crying upstairs. Thank heaven for that precious moment of peace!
Having a new baby and trying to do all the Christmas "stuff" is proving to be a little more stressful than normal. This makes me laugh and is such a true to life illustration of the effort us, as mothers, put into making Christmas happen.
I am a huge lover of Christmas music and can't wait each year to pull out all my Christmas piano music and play my favorites over and over again. However, I was disappointed in all the radio stations beginning their constant Christmas music the first of November. C'mon people! And it seems this year more than others (or maybe I just notice it more) that there is a whole lot of ugly Christmas music out there. Honestly, I heard "Hark! The Heral Angels Sing" today, sung by Niel Diamond, a pipe organ, and what sounded like our ward choir. I really detested it. So here are some that I really just cannot stand to listen to:
Neil Diamond- Specifically for the terrible song I heard today.
Amy Grant- I like her songs but hate her voice.
Gloria Estefan- Her Christmas songs just don't do it for me.
Most other singers that have made a Christmas CD because its the thing to do and they want to make money, but they really are nothing original, meaningful, or special. Its just noise.
On the other hand, there is plenty of Christmas music that makes me so happy to hear and really brings out the Christmas Spirit in me.
The Carpenters- You just can't go wrong with the Carpenters.
Bing Crosby- How can you not love him? Which reminds me, I need to watch "White Christmas" ASAP. It's one of my all time favorite shows.
Frank Sinatra- It's Frank!
Harry Connick Jr.- Love him!
Manheim Steamroller- It reminds me of when I was 12 and first heard them and loved it.
Voice Male- of course!
Any songs from Christmas Classic movies, like The Grinch, Rudolf and Frosty- all OK by me!
I'd love to know what songs and/or singers ya'll really love or really hate!
So Richard was gone this weekend, but the kids and I still had a good time. Well, as good a time as we could have cleaning the house and trying keep busy enough to stay happy and not fight amongst ourselves. We made our favorite Christmas chocolate pretzels, watched the movie "Elf" (I forgot how funny that movie is)made countless picture, sticker, pipe cleaner and play-dough creations. We went to the Hague family Christmas party on Saturday night (of course I forgot my camera). Sunday night we had a progressive dinner, which has become a fun tradition. We celebrated my dads birthday (which is today) and got to see everyones fun Christmas decorations! We started at our house with appetizers consisting of bacon wrapped water chestnuts, Li'l Smokies in BBQ sauce, Denae's yummy dip with sourdough bread, grapes and chocolate pretzels. I love appetizers. Then on to Dave and Michelles for lasagna and salad. We finished off the night at my Mom and Dads for hot fudge pudding cake and vanilla ice cream. Lots of yummy food- I really like that tradition! I have just a few things to say about my darling kids.
LANDON- He is such a big helper! It is sooo nice to have a kid who just does everything he should. I rarely have to ask him to do his jobs and he quickly does anything I ask of him. In the car he always helps the other kids buckle in and puts Kates binky in her mouth. I really appreciate him- he's such a good boy!
DANIEL- (more Danielisms) So he peed his pants at a birthday party the other day and thought it was hilarious. He said he was just sooo excited about the pinata he couldn't stand it and he just peed. He wasn't at all embarrassed. He just thought it was funny. He also has decided to use the word "ain't" in his vocabulary, specifically because we told him it's not really a word. Only he uses it in place of "don't" instead of "isn't". So when asked a question, he'll respond, "I ain't know!" And, my personal favorite, he made a turkey for Thanksgiving at school and drew a mullet for his hair and wrote the turkeys name across the front: Chuck Norris (all because of you, Mike Bearden). He provides us with many laughs.
EMMA- She is my buddy. She and I paint eachothers nails when we don't have anything else to do. When Kate is awake Emma loves to hold her, rock her, burp her and lately wants to hold her standing up. She thinks she's so grown up. She loves preschool and sings and dances around the house all day. She is a joy.
KATELYN- I just can't kiss that little girl enough! She has started to smile at us and there is just nothing else like the sweet smile of a baby! She is doing well except for a fussy getting to bed routine every night that seems to be getting later and later. She is growing and getting nice and round! I do love squishy babies. She is a sweet, precious girl and she is smothered in love!
Okay Jill, after seeing your awesome family dance number we just had to do one of our own! Thanks for the fun idea!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/gSblmGwhYBq2OJNKE9F2
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did. Landon woke up Daniel and Emma early on Thanksgiving to make special cards for us. They all told us thank you for all we do for them....so sweet. We had dinner at my Mom and Dads house and everyone was there. I brought my sweet potato casserole- so yummy, why don't I make it more than just once a year? The kids loved the Bingo game Grandma did and playing with cousins. We had a great day and truly have so much to be thankful for! Thanksgiving also happened to be Kate's one month old day. She is a sweet baby and has started to give us smiles that are so precious. We love her and she is smothered in love by her siblings as well.
This is our first family picture with all six of us! The kids are modeling their new Christmas Sunday outfits that Grandma and Grandpa gave them- thank you, Mom and Dad!
Kate spent the day sleeping in loving arms!
This is why I should give Kate baths when the kids are at school- too much of a family event. Difficult as it is to bathe a slippery newborn with three other kids trying to "help", it is a cute picture and I really like how Emmas arm is around my back.
Emma came with me to Katelyn's 2 week visit and tested positive for strep. Uuughh! Since the boys have had cold symptoms and the Dr. offered drugs, I took 'em! The pharmacist said, "Oh, it's not fun to be the mom at your house." But we're all OK- Emma had one icky night but is much better now! Love those antibiotics!
I love how Katelyn has her arm around Emmas shoulder- so sweet! Emma takes such good care of her baby sister. I think she would hold her all day if she could. Sometimes I have to force her to stop holding her so she can eat lunch or so I can feed Katelyn. She's a great babysitter!
Landon got a trophy at school for his reflections entry and will be going on to the next level for his 3-D art project. He entered the wolf he wood burned. He was very happy to get his first trophy- he has some medals, but they are not as special as a trophy, apparently.
You might not find this as funny as I do, but Emma took this video while I was in the bathroom. If you can't understand what she says at the beginning, she says "Kate is going to be"laying" and I am going to be singing Puff the Magic Dragon". Obviously, she only knows the beginning and her face as she is singing is so funny to me! I know these two little girls are going to have so much fun together! The ending is a little abrupt, but it just makes me laugh every time I watch it!
We had Katelyns newborn pictures done yesterday. They are nakie pictures, so Richard and I both got peed on a few times. (Thank you honey for being a good sport!) The entire session took about 2 1/2 hours because we had to get her into a nice deep sleep...which was a lot trickier than I thought it would be. You can see some of the pictures at www.eltonfilmandimages.com and then click on the word "blog" and it will take you there. They are titled "Jenny". I'd love to hear comments on favorites because I am ordering tomorrow. Let me know what you think!
Hope everyone had a fun Halloween. Here are our fun pictures. Daniel was three things this year. Better than his five costume changes of last year. I don't know why he does this- he's just Daniel!
He was Ron Weasley (Harry Potters best friend) for the Trunk or Treat. He was a cowboy at school for the day and then Batman to top off the night of Trick or Treating. What a character!
I know many of you ask often how my Mom is doing, so I think its okay to give the latest update here on my blog. She had yet another series of tests performed over the past two weeks and found out on Tuesday that the cancer has indeed spread. However, the problems in her spine and pelvis are doing well enough that they don't need chemo right now. Finally, she gets a break from chemo after a year and a half. This is a good thing because now she must start on radiation and steroids (which cannot be done at the same time as chemo) for the latest development. Five new tumors. On her brain. I don't like hearing the words cancer, tumors and brain in the same sentance. Now, understand that even in the face of seemingly grim news, she is ever optimistic, always looking on the bright side of life. She is a fighter and is ready for this next battle, convinced she will continue to improve and get stronger each day. She truly is amazing. Most of the time we don't even realize she is sick because she has so much energy and is still "Superwoman" in so many ways. Why can't more people have her wonderful, positive attitude? Oh, the things we fret over that don't even matter. She knows what matters. She is my hero. So what can we do in the meantime? Cherish every moment we have to spend with her, adopt her outlook, support, love and pray for her.
Richard, Landon and Daniel went down to Mt. Pleasant on Saturday. Originally they had considered hunting, but horse riding seemed much more fun and worthwhile to the boys. However, on the way down they stopped where my Dad and brothers were hunting just at the perfect moment to see the deer Jake and Jon had just shot. Nice timing! Then they headed to Grandma McAllisters and helped her dry apples for a while. After that they went and rode horses for a while. Landon and Daniel were very proud to have ridden all by themselves without any help from Richard. They absolutely love it. Can you blame them? Emma wasn't feeling to great. She had a slight fever and a sore throat so she and I stayed home and relaxed a bit. But the boys made it back in time to head up to my parents to see cousins (Heather was here from St. George) and go miniature golfing. I took the kids while Richard stayed and mowed the lawn, pulled up the garden and got the yard in shape for winter. It was a long day and we packed in about as much as we possibly could! Fun times! BTW- 7 more days! I'm sooooo ready!
I just wanted to give a plug for Voice Males latest album. They just finished it and I believe it will be in stores on Tuesday. It is called Kids Stuff and I think it is superb. I was able to contribute a couple of arrangements to the cause and my kids got to sing on 3 of the tracks. It is all we listen to now and my kids sing at the very top of their lungs to every song on the CD. Its definately a big hit at our house! The guys sound fabulous and I really, really like how it all turned out- it's so much fun. You can listen to samples of the CD on their website at www.voicemalemusic.com - its a fun site, so if you have a minute, check it out!
I realized after looking at my calendar that today was the last Monday I would have to myself before the baby. The kids are out of school next Monday and the following Monday is baby day. Mondays have been great because the boys are at school, Emma in preschool and I don't teach piano like I do on Wednesday mornings while Emma is at school. So I thought I'd better take advantage of these precious 2 hours today. Since I can't reach my feet anymore, I decided a pedicure was a great way to spend my time, and let me tell you, it was! The only other time I've had one was at a beauty school and it paled in comparison to this. I was the only one there because it was 10 am and this cute little old chinese lady did it. It was the most comfortable massage chair I could have ever imagined and the bubble foot bath was the perfect temperature- boiling hot, which I love! She massaged my feet and legs for such a nice, long time and it was just so nice and relaxing. And now I have beautiful feet and toes- all ready for delivery. (I always feel better when my toes are painted)! Then I decided I'd better go get a nice pumpkin spice drink from Starbucks to top off my luxurious hour and a half! Only my cute little styrofoam flip flops broke just as I walked into Starbucks so I had to throw them in the garbage! Ultimate barefoot and pregnant. I walked on my tippy toes back out to my car on the freezing asphalt with a smile on my face, a wonderful drink in my hand and the prettiest toes ever!
That is the question! I've been thinking about being induced vs. letting the baby come on her own and the more I consider the pros and cons the better I feel about being induced. You see, if I wait and have another really fast labor (like when Daniel came out within 15 minutes of arriving at the hospital and I felt completely out of control) or a baby in the middle of the night (like Emma) and have to wake someone up in the wee hours, I might not enjoy the experience as much as if I were induced. I like the idea of having everything planned ahead of time and being in a controlled situation. I've never had a baby early, and unless she decides to come early on her own, I'm thinking October 27th is the day! I had an appointment today and everything is moving along nicely and so I went ahead and signed up for the 27th- also because thats the day the Dr. I really like is delivering babies! So that means less than three weeks until we get to have this sweet baby join our family. I'm so excited!
Here is the video that so obnoxiously did not show up in the previous blog. I don't get it. Anyhow, today was Emmas birthday and I can hardly believe she is already four years old. They really do grow up so fast. She was so happy when she woke up and gave us all many hugs and kisses. She was thrilled to pieces with all her presents because she had told me numerous times what she wanted (she always knows exactly what she wants!) and she was delighted to see that I had taken care of her requests! She was the special birthday girl at preschool and then got to come home and ask me every 10 minutes if it was time for her party yet. I gave her the option of going to Build-A-Bear or having a party. She chose the party and I wish she had chosen the Build-A-Bear option. It was just a little party, and only an hour long, but it was a crazy hour with 6 little kiddies! And this very pregnant body of mine should not be doing the Hokey Pokey! Holy Cow! She is our little princess and we just love her so much. She is such a sweet girl and she brings so much joy to our home! Happy Birthday, Emma Jae!
