Older siblings…

Fun thing about having older siblings is when they share their McDonald’s toys! Fun surprise that made Mom chuckle when pulling back the car seat canopy.

Border line obsessed….and a whole lot of love

I should have known 1 1/2 years ago when I made this flour sac doll for trek that the reason Mason carried it around and loved on it……

Was to prepare him for loving this little guy!

All my kids love their new little brother. But Mason is border line obsessed! I thought after a couple of months the novelty of having a new little brother would wear off….. nope! Mason asks to hold him ALL DAY LONG! The first thing he does when seeing him is sighs and says “Awwwwww….Bennett you’re so cute!” Then he plasters him with 100’s of kisses each day. I’m not exaggerating. I see Mason’s lips pressed up on this baby more than I see them off. I had to make a rule real quick after he was born that kisses could only be given on top of his head (to prevent sickness).

The best was……..the other day he said to me while holding him “MOM, BENNETT IS JUST SO CUTE! I JUST WANT TO KISS HIM ON THE LIPS!”

He dreams of the day he get’s to share a room with him….. and talks about it all the time. He often shares with me his thoughts about how he wonders what Bennett will look like in the future, or thinks about what he will want to be when he grows up. Such a deep thinker for a 7 year old! I pray these two will stay close their whole life, and that their love will only deepen with time!

Daddy time….

At the annual Monster Motorcycle event with Dad and Dad’s cousin Nick (and his two kids.)

It’s funny how these kids only see each other once a year…. yet still act like best friends when together!

Slowly….. but surely!

7 weeks post surgery….. I fit into NON-MATERNITY jeans! Holla!!!!

These are FAR from my skinny jeans…. I don’t like to call them my fat jeans (for the sake of being positive), but in attempt at being as honest as possible….YES THESE ARE MY FAT JEANS! Talking about weight (I think) is a lot like walking on unsteady ground. I never want to come off as ungrateful for what my body has gone through, and for what is has allowed me to become …..A MOTHER! I think no matter what size you are, you have to be aware that Satan will try to convince you that you will only be truly happy if (fill in the blank with something you currently are not). For me in the past it’s always been if I was a few pounds less. When I was sick with this pregnancy and laying in bed, I had a lot of quiet time to do some soul searching. I decided after Bennett was born that I wanted to get back to my healthy weight not by guilty myself into it, but by finding so much happiness in my family that taking care of myself would be a by-product of such happiness (Does that make sense? It does in my head). I don’t want my focus to be on losing weight. I want to be so focused on my family that I don’t find myself bored standing at the pantry door. I want to be so focused on my kids that I go out and get active WITH THEM! Which by the way has been so fun (except for when I nearly ripped open my incision throwing a ball while playing dodgeball). I still have many setbacks. I find myself walking past a mirror and instantly thinking negative thoughts about still needing to lose 20 lbs…… or I lose patience (a lot) with my kids and think about how snacking will take my mind off of my frustrations. I’ve lost 30 lbs already (yes I gained 50 lbs in this pregnancy) and have 20 more to lose…..This is a work in progress. But for the first time in my life I’ve been able to look in the mirror, with 20 extra pounds on me, and think to myself “I’m still a beautiful Mom”. I know from what source that positive thinking comes from, and for that I’m thankful to my Heavenly Father. And I’m thankful for my body (though it tried to fool me into thinking it was dying through 4 difficult pregnancies) it instead produced 4 little miracles. Four miracles that call me MOM!

Life these days…

Life these days usually consists of a sink full of dishes, laundry sitting on the couch waiting to be folded, unmade beds, sticky messy floors, and a fussy baby who LOVES TO BE HELD all day long. Bennett cries a lot throughout the day, and the only thing I have found that makes him happy is to but him in my Moby Wrap and walk…walk…walk! This slows down my production with him always hanging off the front of me. I found myself getting really frustrated with this whole situation and the mess that continued to grow. While trying to clean, I walked past the mirror and looked up to this….

Just seeing him so peacefully sleeping against me drove every bit of frustration away and I was reminded of how blessed I am to have such a beautiful baby boy. I know from experience how quickly they grow, and before I know it, he will be too big to carry,…… going off to school,……. and spending the majority of his day with his school teacher instead of his Mom.  I know someday I will have all the time in the world to keep my house spotless. I’m sure it will be then that I long for THIS DAY!!!!!! THIS DAY…..WHERE I WAS ABLE TO CARRY HIM AROUND ALL DAY LONG AND HEAR HIS LITTLE BABY MOANS AND GRUNTS FROM UNDER THE WRAP. I love being a MOM! (Most days)…..More than I love being a maid, a chauffer, a hairstylist, CEO of the household, the bed wetting patrol squad, the family therapist, our finance manager, a personal shopper, nurse fix-it all, a nutritionist and chef. The best form of payment for all those jobs is the cuddles I get from my kids. I quickly discovered the one thing I complained about (carrying him all day) is actually the one thing in my day that I love! Those other things are just to-do’s that will eventually get done with time! Love you Baby Bennett. Please stay little for awhile longer.

Sleeping on the job

I had to run a 15 minute errand…. not an all day errand….15 MINUTES!!! Rich was home from work early so I asked if I could leave the Kendyl and Bennett home for that short time. I busted up laughing when I came home to this….

Not only does he looked completely wiped out ( like he’s been busy watching the kids all day ) but I love that things are such a jumbled mess like something crazy happened in the 15 minutes I was gone. (Notice the one sock, and one shoe on the ground and one on the couch). And what I don’t get was Bennett fussed ALL MORNING (That’s normal he’s a fussy baby). So all morning I was tending to his every need. And then I come home to Rich fast asleep and Bennett completely awake and CONTENT just laying next to Dad. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous that he got to escape into dreamland when I feel like I so badly need to go there myself! A hard working Daddy is a very tired Daddy!

Sure love our Doc!

Best C-section I’ve ever had was performed by this lovely lady! Thanks for bringing my little guy into the world!

Happy….

Happy that Aunt Roxie flew in for a visit!

Happy that she brought some Utah snow with her…..

SNOW IN A CAN (that is)

Add a little bit of water….. and it’s almost like the real thing! It was a hit with the kids!

HAPPY WE COULD BLESS OUR BABY BOY!

NOT SO HAPPY WHEN THIS LITTLE GIRLY THREW UP IN SACRAMENT MEETING MINUTES BEFORE THE BLESSING……

SO HAPPY MY SIS CAME ALL THE WAY FROM UTAH FOR THE SPECIAL DAY….. BUT WISH SHE COULD HAVE STAYED LONGER!

 

SO HAPPY FAMILY CAME TO SUPPORT US…….

Also so thankful my Dad and step-mom drove out (unfortunately when I went to take their picture while holding Bennett the camera battery died…… so sad).

WHAT AN ALL AROUND HAPPY WEEKEND!  FEELING SO BLESSED!