Happy Thanksgiving

Friendly Hero: Thanksgiving is my Favorite Holiday!
Math Hero: Why is Thanksgiving your favorite holiday?
Friendly Hero: Because I get to eat an ANIMAL!!!

We loved the holiday and we love our Turkey Shirts. It's a big hit every year!

Adorable

This little one needed a hat for winter.

And since she didn't have very much hair, I thought it would be adorable to make her a cabbage patch hat/wig.

And I was right. She's adorable!

It is Finished

I will never do one again on black cloth. Hold me accountable to this.

The Bed Movie

Every morning while I study my scriptures, the Peaceful Hero watches Jesus movies on our iPad. Friendly Hero joins in on Fridays. Their favorite movie right now is "The Bed Movie." As you see here.

They love this movie because of the bed. And I told them that I love this story. I have always loved this story because it's a story about friends who don't give up and get creative, a man of faith, and Jesus showing that he is awesome to the Pharisees and Sadducee. (Jesus 1, Pharisees 0).

The other day I come to find them playing the story. They carry the bed around and take the man to Jesus. The best part? They have to keep going back to Jesus because the man keeps getting sick. And isn't that what we do? Have to keep going back to Jesus.

Just so you know--the game always degenerates to dropping the chair every where and belly laughing. And then it ends for reals, when the chair lands on themselves. So our games do end in tears. Because they're typical little boys.

Love

Not many things better than sharing hobbies. Hopeful Hero spent most of the time talking to me about the book. She get's excited when we read to her.

The boys were playing with trains or LEGOs. It was a good Saturday.

Learners

The Visiting Teaching message this month is all about learning and teaching. And the new youth curriculum, that I am loving is all about learning and teaching, and learning by teaching. This month I have pondered a lot about teaching.

I went visiting teaching last night, and it was going to be a world wind blast, four appointments and we were going blitz right through it all and get it done. Well, two of the appointments fell through, and one I went to by myself.  I've thought a lot about learning and teaching and visiting teaching.

It took me back to the summer that I turned 18, my first experience with visiting teaching. A wise Relief Society President, wanting to include the high school graduates, assigned us visiting teaching companions. We were assigned to companions who went and taught the messages. They were to be our mentors, show us how to do it, and make sure that we did it.

And I see that mentors and mentees is how the gospel is lived and taught. Parents mentor their children, children mentor peers, we bring our friends to church, we have people show us about youth programs, youth teach each other, the honor bee and visiting teaching. It's all one big opportunity to teach and to learn together.

We don't make it to heaven on our own. It's very comforting. I have opportunities all around me to help lift, and some I can tell when I'm lifting and sometimes I can't. And others lift me up. And I'm excited to get to help those learn and have them teach me.

Here's me mentoring and teaching the next generation. We are going to be a great team!

Happy Birthday!

 I had an awesome birthday yesterday. You could even say it was a Golden Birthday. I made a list of 28 things to do since I was turning 28 on the 28th. It was fun! Sadly, all 28 things didn't occur. The one I was saddest about missing? A 28 minute nap. Yeah, some days, nap schedule's don't align to give Mom a break. But we had a lot of fun playing at the playground and getting 28 tickles out of Hopeful Hero. And saying hello to 28 friends and getting 28 Happy Birthdays. It was great!

Hopeful Hero playing with my neighbor. Isn't she getting BIG?

And she's sleeping really well. Not crying at night.--She is the easiest to sleep train, 

probably because we've learned how to teach it and encourage sleep.

I LOVE my Happy Happy, baby!

Digging with the black "X-cabe-ater"

Digging with all his friends. Rocking cool shades. 

We've got style at the Hero House.

Sleep Training

We've decided to start sleep training the Hopeful Hero. We've been talking a lot about what we want to do and when we want to start it. And we make the decision at night, when we have rocked our child for an hour after two or three bad nights in a row. Both of us look at each other and say, "They are old enough now at 3.5 months to learn this important self soothing skill." Then we leave the child, in their bed and walk away. It's how we decided the day for the Peaceful Hero, Friendly Hero, and now the Hopeful Hero. I've turned off the monitor and I'm going to do something fun for then next hour and pray for the strength to let her cry.

Wish us luck for the next few days!

Big Kids

 Friendly Hero is one of the last boys his age to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels at our complex. He is also one of the youngest---so it makes sense that he is one of the last ones. He LOVES to ride his bike! He is proud of his skills! Peaceful Hero is so happy to have the balance bike. Sometimes it is a balance bike and sometimes it is a motorcycle. (pronouced modor-yi-cle).

I took a picture of my three little angles angels. (does anyone else always type angles and think it's the correct spelling of angels?) The three of them love playing together and laughing. Hopeful Hero loves to smile and laugh at her brothers. They love her. It's awesome!

Hopeful Hero

She is our talker. She LOVES to talk! I can't decide if I'm excited to hear what she's saying when she can actually talk, or if I'm scared of how much talking she's going to do. A little bit of both.

Farewell, Old Steed

We sold our car, Sir Lancealittle the Secretive Elephant. He has served us well, but we outgrew him. We just couldn't put three car seats in the back row of Lance. Yesterday, when our friends came to purchase him from us, Peaceful Hero started crying when I handed over the keys and they drove away in our old car. "Why they take Lance. Lance not live with them. Lance live with us. I miss Lance." Then I pointed out that he has not ridden in Lance since we got Vic (Victory the Adventurous Nine-banded armadillo). He was satisfied, "Oh yes. They not take Bic. I love Bic. Bic live with us. Bic my car."

Ready

"I ready for Nursery." Peaceful Hero is dressed and ready. Nursery requires safety goggles.

Temporary

In our family, there are temporary things, and there are lasting things.

Temporary: Honey's and Grandma's visits. 

Lasting: Their love.

Temporary: Papa's beard.

Lasting: A love of Costumes and dressing up.
Peaceful Hero: Darth Vader says "Kohl Pah, WHAT?!"

Temporary: Sleep Depredation

Lasting: Family love.

Temporary: Late night feedings and no sleep. It's been really hard the past week and a half. Hopeful Hero decides it's time to be awake and interacting with Mom from 5 pm, until 11-2am ish. We try all our methods to get her to sleep and it doesn't take. (Last night was A LOT better. She actually slept during that time.) It's nice to know that this will take care of itself within a few months, and that as long as we keep trying, she will get it together as she gets older.

Lasting: Hopeful Hero's smiles. She gives them frequently and they light up our world.

Screen Free

Since Tuesday night--so really, since Wednesday, I've been screen free as long as the boys are up. It's been hard, but after a few days, I really like it. I think we are going to do a lot less screen time, once it's ok to turn on the computer with them around.

Why are we screen free? It was not by my choice. No. Tuesday night---I'm feeding Hopeful Hero upstairs and five minutes later Bug Hero comes home. He gets upset. The tone of his voice is holding-on-to-my-temper-by-the-skin-of-my-teeth. So whatever happened in those five minutes was bad. Very Bad.

Turns out that Peaceful Hero was holding a "smoking gun." He had the white out dispenser  that his Brother, Friendly Hero had given him. Right after FH put white out tape all over the computer monitor. Yeah. We had white out on our computer screen. Sounds like a bad joke.

We got it off, but the boys haven't gotten to watch movies, watch Cello Wars, or Misty Mountains or anything else on the computer. There are still two days left in their sentence.

As a side note, both Peaceful Hero and Friendly Hero have learned the words to Misty Mountains. That song rocks, and is even cooler with a two year old singing it. If we can get them to sing it for the camera, I'll totally share. Because it's precious. 

Then on Wednesday, the two culprits decided to play with Mom's spices while she was nursing downstairs this time. (I don't leave them alone now.) They dumped out four bottles and played with them on the table. They got in trouble for that too.

The one question I have. How do you keep two active, curious little boys out of trouble while you feed a little, hungry sister? 

Hopeful Hero!

Important Update: We are stapleless! It was easy, Peaceful Hero was awesome about it! And now we are back to playing outside at the playground.  And yesterday, when we weighed Hopeful hero--she had gained 7 ounces! Just as she should, and following the family pattern!

And now, on to how adorable my baby is! Because my vanity is in my ability to make adorable babies! These pictures were all taken by my talented friend over at http://www.heidijensenphotography.com/ 

Hopeful Hero loves to smile, usually they are sleepy smiles that follow a great burp, but occasionally they line up when I tell her that I love her.

 A finger sucker! Both of these pictures are in her blessing dress, that her grandmother made for her. We are so lucky to have talented relatives.

The family of supers! I really love Peaceful Hero's face in this one. He just cracks me up!

 We weren't sure if she was crying or yawning.

 And here is one with her hands right by her checks. She loves to put them there--I think she realizes how cute it makes her!

We are grateful she is here and she is healthy and growing. She is littler than her brothers, but I have a feeling she will still be able to keep up with them!

An Update on Heros

 First off: We absolutely loved General Conference this weekend! It was a spiritual feast and a great way to end the week! At this point I don't have a favorite talk, but I loved the spirit and the focus on family and parenting. I also loved hearing the Prophets speak to us. This is one of my favorite weekends of the year.

And the boys are doing better about paying attention. At various moments in the conference, Friendly Hero would pipe up, "He's talking about the resurrection! I hear him talking about Jesus!" And then Peaceful Hero would pipe up, "Who Dat? Dat President Monson?" And when we told him no, "Why?"

We still had toys and snacks and lots of fun. We're not expecting perfection, but it's fun to see them learn and grow in their testimonies. By the way, their Easter outfits are adorable! Thank you Honey!

So speaking of Easter, we dyed eggs, and had a small egg hunt on Saturday. The boys loved it! 

Peaceful Hero keeps asking for more Easter! He then clarifies and asks for another Egg!  Friendly Hero can tell you the story of Easter, but I'm not sure he understands it all. Ever since we started telling him the story, he gets worried that he's going to die and go to Heaven, without us. If we all go together, then he's okay. But in his prayers, he has started asking Heavenly Father to bless Jesus as he is dead so he comes back to life on Easter. I love his testimony and he loves to tell everyone that Jesus comes back!

This week was kind of stressful. And by kind of, I mean medically stuff filled and emotionally draining. First off, we went to the doctor's for a weight check for Hopeful Hero, on Monday. I knew she was still small on Easter. She had just cleared up her jaundice, which for both of the boys, they didn't get back to their birth weight or start thriving until it was cleared up. Friendly Hero's was a lot more severe, and more stressful. But the doctor's here didn't see him. Peaceful Hero didn't cause worry, because he was eight pounds. Hopeful Hero, the nurses started freaking out that she was still 6 lbs 4 ozs. Her birth weight was 6 lbs 14 oz. They started talking about needing a lactation consultation, and other interventions. One nurse even asked in disbelief if my milk was in, or if she was having the correct number of poopy and wet diapers. (Hello! It is!) I was getting the vibe that she didn't trust me when I told her that she was following the pattern of my other children. The doctor wasn't as worried as the nurses, but he was concerned. So we went to a lactation consultation, and everything is fine. I decided that I would squeeze in an extra feeding every day, and wake her up frequently during the day--I refuse to wake her up at night. So instead of feeding her 8 times a day, I've been feeding her 9 times a day. And by Tuesday, she was starting to feel heavier. (Right when I knew she would.) We go back for another weight check tomorrow, but Bug Hero and I both feel that she's close to 7 lbs, if not over it. This week would have seemed busy if that was the only thing, because I'm spending close to 6 or 7 hours during the day feeding a baby.

But she's totally worth it. This is my favorite gown of hers right now. I love the puffed sleeves and the gathering on them. So much fun to have ruffles and puffed sleeves!

Tuesday, we were out at the playground and enjoying the warmer weather and the sun. I am getting the boys ready to go back inside, when the Peaceful Hero starts screaming and all the other parents at the playground start running towards me. The Peaceful Hero, who is also the climbing or adventurous hero, had climbed up the tall slide at the playground, and fell backwards off of it three quarters of the way from the ground. He fell backwards and landed on his back from about 10 feet high. His head was bleeding profusely  For a horrible accident to happen, it really was great timing--because someone took care of Friendly Hero, someone else took my monitor to listen for Hopeful Hero, one dad was home to give Peaceful Hero a blessing, two other people got first aid kits. Once we got down to the scalp, we realized he would need stitches. So another mom came with me to hold pressure on his head. Four hours later, he is the proud owner of three staples in his booboo. He's fine, no lasting harm. He's most upset that I'm not letting him play in the sandbox until it's healed--I don't want to be cleaning sand out of it.

The last person that needs an update: The Bug Hero. He sported facial hair this week, because he had eye surgery last week. He got a pinguicula removed. That's a fancy word for a callus on his eye that caused irritation and redness. So he no longer has a red eye!

Math Hero: I'm keeping up with everyone. I look forward to a less medically busy week next week. We are still having fun and enjoying everyone's company. The next update I will do will have pictures of the Hopeful Hero's newborn photo shoot. I love sharing them with people, and knowing that I make adorable babies.

Hopeful Hero

 We have decided on her name for the blog. She is our Hopeful Hero. Her name comes from Grandpa C. We did not decide on her name right away when she was born, because we had two awesome names, and it was 12:31 am and I had been up since 5:31 am. When you are that tired, you just send out a text message to everyone letting them know she is here, and that a name will be decided later that day.

Grandpa C. got the message, as he was waiting in another hospital. Our extended family is having some trials  of health right now, and he heard she was born--and he started calling her Hope, and the Hope of the Family. When he told me that he was calling her Hope, I knew that it should be her name on the blog. She is our Hope from Heaven.

She sleeps really well, as long as she is swaddled in two layers. She is our coldest baby! I'm not that surprised, since I was freezing cold the whole pregnancy.

But she smiles a lot and is peaceful and calm as long as she is warm and snuggling with someone. We love her to pieces here! The boys love to give her kisses, hugs, and toys. Peaceful Hero keeps trying to give her trains, and hit her in the head with his toys. Which for a two-year old, is pretty accurate of his love.

Baby Girl!

Baby Sister came on Saturday Morning at 12:31am, after flipping into breech twice, and flipping out of it once in the past week. We had a version, which my doctor manually pushed her around and got her head down on Friday at 1. By 2 we started pitocen---we needed to get her out before she decided to flip again. (Right now I'm thinking Gymnast Hero for our blog....but we'll see) She came slowly, and we think she was determined to tell us that she was in charge and we didn't get to decide that her birthday was going to be 3/8/13, she wanted 3/9/13.

She came without much difficulty. She went slowly and we are so happy she is here! She is my best nurser so far---which is impressive because the boys were awesome nursers! We have loved having Aunt My-a (read MyDashA) here. She has been so good with the boys.

Friendly Hero loves holding his sister. He is very pleased that she came out looking like he said she would. He was right about her name!

Peaceful Hero has some really funny faces when asked to smile.

And when he's just holding her. He loves his sister. He loves her even more, because she brought him a basketball hoop, (bak-et-ball hoot) home from the hospital for him.

We came home on Sunday and I feel so good. I am slowly recovering, but it's a miracle how fast I seem to feel better.

Baby Sister

Hasn't arrived. Unfortunately. But I thought I would give a quick update. She can't drop any further without someone catching her. I like to think this is good--but it makes for really painful walking.....sitting.....standing.....lying down.....being alive. I'm not complaining really loudly. Yet. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow, and I've been ready to have her for a week now. I have constant heartburn or nausea. If she doesn't come out with hair, I am going to feel really jipped. But she will be cute when she gets here, because she'll be here!

Two days ago, The Friendly Hero started telling my belly, "Baby Sister! I want to hold you! It's time to come out!" Just about the sweetest thing you can hear. Sunday night, he lifted up my shirt, (to look at my secret fit belly skirt) and told me: "I can't see her eyes." I told him that she's looking at my back. He turned me around (not as easy as it sounds) "I still can't see them!" I told him she had to come out before he could see them. I asked him what color he thought they would be. "Brown, just like Daddy. And she'll look like a Gwendolyn. Not a Alice." These are our two names, that we can't decide between. Friendly Hero has decided. When someone tells him she might look like an Alice, he smiles and says, "But she won't. She's going to come out and look like a Gwendolyn. So I can call her Gwendolyn." P.S. His little voice saying that name--cutest thing next to the Peaceful Hero saying it.

Both boys love to come and give my belly a kiss and tell her she will be loved when she comes out. Peaceful Hero says, "Come out! Mom carry Patree, not you" (How he says his name.) Which could be the reason why she's staying in. They each love to sit on one of my legs and tell me that I'm holding all three kids.

I'm really excited to have her--not just so I'm in a lot more comfort. But to see these boys love their sister so much! Especially since they are finally excited to have a sister. Not another brother. They gave me nightmares that she comes out with a brother (surprise twins............nightmare) and that she's really a he....not so much a nightmare, because we have all the stuff, but we had no names and I would definitely grieve the loss of a daughter for a few days, before I fell totally in love with another son.

I see my doctor tomorrow and I'm really hoping and praying that he takes pity on me and I have a baby this week.

Big Beds

 We got some beds from a friend. The little Hero's LOVE being in big beds. I also love that we are finally using the quilts that I made a year ago. Peaceful Hero only needed a few days of training to stay in bed.

We also got this awesome wardrobe for our toy storage. I love being able to close the door on the stacks of toys.

Someone had a birthday

So, a couple of Sundays ago--nearly three weeks ago, we had a birthday. The Friendly Hero wanted a Woody Cake, and then changed his mind--he wanted a Thomas Cake, that was orange, and had a 4, because he's 4 now.

I did my best. I'm really proud of this cake.

He also loved going to church and telling EVERYONE that it was his Happy Birthday. When they wished him a happy birthday he smiled really big and said, "Thank You." He would then see another friend and race off to tell them that it was his happy birthday.

When you ask him about his birthday he tells me that he had a Thomas Cake and he says, "Well, I opened presents."

His favorite present: A Thomas movie. He loves that he got this movie and as I have gotten closer to March, he gets to watch it every day. Yesterday, he told me that I was a "really useful girl." I feel pretty special.

A Thought and some Stories

I have noticed something about myself: I do a lot of 'writing' in my head. I spend time thinking and coming up with things to say and then once I have thought through what I want to say, I never get it down. Which means that I think that I blog every few days, but then I'm always so surprised that it's been a few weeks. I first noticed that I did this with emails. I found out the other day that I can let an email sit in my inbox for a few weeks, even though I have "responded" two or three times. It is just getting worse the closer I get to having this little baby. My memory is getting worse, and I forget things that I write down, and if I don't write it down, then there is no hope at all. So sorry if it's sporadic  I promise, I have several posts "written down and posted" in my head.

A story about the Friendly Hero:
We were at our favorite Grocery store, where we are loved by nearly all the employees and have friends in every department. It's bad enough that if we don't know someone's name, Friendly Hero hollers out: "Hey! I don't know you! What's your name?" But this is a digression. To the story:
We were talking with our friends in the bank, when one of the Front End Managers, K, comes up and helps himself to some of the free coffee that the bank provides as a service.
FH: What is that?
K: It's coffee. Do you drink coffee?
FH: No.
K: Why not? Everyone likes coffee!
FH: (stumbles over because) Because, God asked us not to drink coffee.
K: (Laughs). God asks us not too. I can't argue with that! (He turns to me and says), Really? God asks you not to drink coffee?
MH: Yes. We believe it is a commandment from God to not drink coffee, tea or alcohol.
K: That is amazing. Is it to avoid caffeine?
MH: We think so, but it's to avoid harmful and addictive substances.
K: Soda pop okay?
MH: That is left to the discretion of the members of our church.
K: That's cool. Way to go FH! (With that he walks away--laughing.)
Our friends at the bank were so impressed with Friendly Hero. I have been so proud of him too! He is my little missionary!

Peaceful Hero has been having problems with potty training again. He has been purposefully pooping in his underwear. Every time that I am about to get really frustrated with him, he starts to sing his two favorite primary songs: "Nephi's Courage" and "Mommy, I love you." You can hear him singing loudly from the bathroom or wherever he is playing, "I will Go! I will Do!" or "Mommy, I love you, I DOO!" It melts my heart.

Family Pictures

We got Family Pictures taken back in November. They turned out really great, and now I've got the energy and desire to share them. Sometimes, being pregnant is hard. Wonderful, but hard. I add in a new full time job/joy, on top of everything else, and things fall to the wayside. But enjoy a few of our favorites of our family.

The Friendly Hero showcased his "smiles". These faces all appear with a request for a smile. The Peaceful Hero was solemn, through out the whole shoot. The only time we came close to a smile, when we were bribing them with fruit snacks. He gave one real smile when we let him run up and down a hill. I am at the awkward stage where my maternity shirts drown me, and the regular shirts don't button up--but I still look good. The Bug Hero is just good looking. We had fun, and we love our talented photographer: http://photobyheidi.blogspot.com/