To blog or not to blog that is the question

Which is better? blogging or writing in my journal? I've been trying to record my life a little better in my personal journal, but I guess I should blog a little history eh? 

Kid update:

Addison is 8! She got baptized in February. I can't believe I have a kid that has accountability now! She is seriously just a good kid! I don't have to try very hard with her, which is a blessing because my energy can be focused on the other high maintenance children I have. :) Addison has already started the soccer season and loves it. She is a natural athlete (not inherited from me) but is a girl and hates confrontation. I guess we'll see which sport she gravitates to. 

Connor has really blossomed. He is so much fun right now. I figured out the best way to get through to him is to make it a joke out of whatever I need. Then he will pay attention to me.
I guess that helps he not take life too seriously right :) he is really reading well and enjoys school....but enjoys skylanders more! Bordering on obsessed, but we rein it in now and again! The picture is his first
lost tooth! Very exciting stepping stone in life!

Brianna is truly the princess. She wears dresses every day. If we make her where pants, when she gets the chance she's back in a dress as soon as she can! She loves Barbies and dolls and anything girl. She's been in speech school once a week and is speaking much better. She was just a little behind, not by much.i it's a parent and child program so it's been good to spend some one on one with her every week. She loves to be pampered by her mommy and daddy that is for sure.

Spencer is just growing too fast. I just wanna cry that he's already 6 months old. Probably my last baby so I'm trying to enjoy every moment. He is so chubby and cute!! He is a sweet tempered baby and I just love him to pieces! The other kids really love him too. He's been a true blessing for our family.

When I look back on the last 8 years, they have just flown by! It kills me that in 8 more years I'll have teenagers! Crazy thought. I just want to push pause on my life once in a while.

Our family is doing well right now. We FINALLY finished the basement. We love love love it! It took forever and was expensive but worth it!

Jonathan is still a post kidney transplant coordinator. He likes some parts of his job but its soooo busy! He would enjoy a less stressful job someday. I love that man so much! He lives to make our lives easier and lovely. Marriage truly gets better with age.

Well, I'm really going to try and blog more. I found a blogger app that will make it happen!!

Love y'all!!

It's a.......

This post deserves some history.

At my last appointment, I was 15 weeks pregnant. My midwife measured my uterus and found that I was 18 weeks "big." She gave me all sorts of things to stress about (could be two, could be a tumor, could be off on dates...which I knew wasn't possible, could be increased fluid.....etc.). Then she said, "ok, schedule your ultrasould for 5 weeks from today!....see ya later" WHAT?????! So After 4 weeks (moved up my ultrasound date) of much stress and speculation and stress and crying and prayers and speculation and stress, my ultrasound discovered today that I'm having ONE healthy baby boy. He is a little bit bigger (1 week) then he should be, but, he looked good. There there is no explanation for me feeling like a big fat whale already. Other than, "well...it is your 4th pregnancy" (said in a sarcastic, snotty voice).

I on the other hand was a crying wreck today. I got out of there and realized how nervous I am about having a 4th child. Nervous about giving birth again. Nervous about having a newborn with 3 other children to care for. Relief that I don't have a tumor, or two babies (which would be a blessing), or something wrong with him. I normally am rather un-emotional person, but I let it out, right in the lobby of University of Utah Hospital.

I'm having some really weird emotions about this whole thing. I honestly was hoping there was two babies in there to prove everybody wrong that thought there was only one. And to know for sure that I am done having babies, cuz I really want to be done, but I feel really guilty saying that. Why?....I'm really not sure. Four kids is a blessing. Isn't it enough?

I am extra emotional because of those wonderful hormones. But seriously, being a mom is hard. I think I need a vacation.

Pregnancy Emotions

Yes it's true. Five Moss Monkeys is soon to be (EDD October 28th) Six Moss Monkeys. The expressions in this picture are pretty much how my children feel about it. Brianna is sooooo excited to have a baby to dot over. Connor wonders if I'm going to die in childbirth (his little mind was trying to figure out how the baby actually comes out). Addison is excited to be a helper and have a new brother or sister.

I wanted to take a minute and express my feelings about this whole thing. Honestly, I've really struggled. Four kids is a lot! I'm nervous. I'm worried about raising them all right. It's so scary in this evil world to bring little innocent children into the world and try to raise them to be responsible, non-bratty adults. I'm scared. But I trust in the Lord.

Jonathan really wanted another child. He came from a big family and was convinced we have another little boy waiting. I had a feeling too...I just was too stubborn to listen to my heart and believe what it was telling me. So, I guess we'll see if it's a boy in a couple of weeks.

On top of all this, I feel extremely blessed to have a body that makes babies. There are so many of my friends, and loved ones who struggle with getting pregnant. My heart goes out to you. I have no idea why things happen in our lives. I'm so glad that Heavenly Father has an individual plan for all of us. But I trust in the Lord. I have too...or I would go crazy!

I just feel so blessed. I have three beautiful children. I love them so much. They are so different with different strengths and different personality traits. I'm excited to see what the next baby will bring to our crazy family. I feel so blessed to have such a supportive wonderful husband who works so hard for our family. I'm happy and blessed that he supports my roll as a stay at home mom. I love being at home with my kids! I feel like I am fulfilling my roll in life and that feels really good.

 I hope this is my last pregnancy. I mean seriously, lets be honest here. I'll be 35 this year. Getting up there to be having babies.  I hope our family is complete after this, but I'm not saying for sure no more. I don't know the plan Heavenly Father has for me. But, I trust in the Lord.

When I grow up I want to be a.......

For Preschool, Connor was asked to give an oral report (that's right folks, preschool?????) on what he wants to be when he grows up. When asked this question, like the typical 5 year old, it changes weekly. Sometimes it's a fireman (or fire hydrant one time), ninja, police man, doctor...all the normal 5 year old responses. Well, this week Connor wanted to be a Botanist. That's right, a Botanist. So, we dressed him up as a Botanist and he shared a few facts of information about what a Botanist does for his "oral report". This kids mind makes me tired.

Ok...ok....time for an update

I'm a lazy blogger. Sorry to all you followers (8 to be exact).

Things in the Moss household are just fine. The big news is that our basement will be done by summer!! I know...it is a miracle! (as this has been a 2 year wait). But, I am proud to say, we did not go in debt with this huge project. However, I loathe my basement right now. It is a money hungry, cold, eyesore. We will be amazed at how much extra money we have when we aren't spending it on the basement...right? Probably not, our money pit of a house is sucking us dry! But, with those true feelings revealed, I am truly grateful for my home. It is a good house. BUT, I have learned a lot about home ownership in this process.

The kids are doing great! Addison (age 7) is really enjoying school. She is learning Spanish through the Spanish immersion program at her school. I am amazed at how much she knows, and what a great accent she has. She corrects my Spanish now (which is highly limited with a Portuguese accent :) She is a very sensitive person. She is often worried about how others perceive her and how others are feeling. She is also one of the happiest people I know. She could make a party in a pig sty :) She loves to create things. She has started a scrapbook which I'm hoping will fill in the "Mom...I'm bored" times.

Moving along to my greatest challenge in life.....Connor :) (age 5) No really, he's such an interesting child. Connor is not motivated by anything, but joking and games. By the end of the day, I'm so tired of making up games as motivation, I could scream! But, as a positive note, life should be a fun game...right? It is teaching me to chill, which is hard cuz I'm a pretty uptight person. Connor is also very smart. He is already starting to read, and has a natural understanding of science. He is also obsessed with playing computer games....which is a daily battle since he can turn on the computer and get on the internet and find his favorite game sites (lego.com, disney, and pbskids.org). So...it is a battle because he is very determined person. Connor also started preschool, I finally gave into $75 a month for a little bit of sanity. He loves it!

Then comes my cuddler. Brianna (age almost 3) is a very stubborn, caring, affectionate, and strong willed person. And.....she loves her mommy. Granted, she loves her daddy too, but she needs ME. And I thrive on it. It makes me feel needed and special. When anyone in the family is sad, or crying, she will take her little hand and put it on the side of our face, and say, "owwwe, it's ok" She is talking....A LOT. It's funny to hear the little things she says. She also really enjoys playing by herself in her room, surrounded by her little pet shops, she "hoppies and mows" (bunnies and cats), or her latest is to sit in the toy box where all our stuffed animals live, and they talk to each other....for an hour or so.

Jonathan is doing well in his new job (well...been 6 months now). I love that man!

Me....it is babysitting central here at the Moss residence. I'm still adjusting to it and trying to stay positive about it. Breakfast entails feeding 6 children and getting 3 of them off to school. Late morning, I load up Brianna and another toddler, pick up Connor from school, and then another one from Kindergarten (all trying not to get yelled at by the safety patrol.....curse you Mrs. Bell). Come home, feed everyone lunch. Then load the 4 others in the car, pick up the other two after school. Get home, then feed 6 a snack. Needless to say, my grocery bill increased by A LOT, and my stress level on the increase too! I don't know what to do, honestly. But, I am running in the mornings with my dear dear dear running buddy. That is my sanity some days! Oh and the fact that 3 of them go home by 5:00 every day....phew!

I just need my basement done....that is all!

I hate posts without pictures. So here's one of the kids during our annual nativity on Christmas Eve.

And here..........is a hot shepherd. :)

Family Pictures 2011

Which is your favorite?
Thanks melinamoorememories.blogspot.com

1st Snow Fun!

There are many things about my house I would change. (MANY THINGS). But being Thanksgiving time. I really need to not complain and count my blessing so, having a back yard is not one of the things I would change!

We had a great time building a VERY tall snowman. Throwing snow at each other and our dog, making snow angels, and getting cold and snowy so we could justify some hot chocolate!

Jonathan looks mean.....he's not. This is the beginning of the snowman that he wants to smash on Brianna. :)

Connor discovering our back yard "cave"

This is right before I got Jonathan in the face with a snowball! He he he!

My snow eater. I can't stop her. She is too stubborn and strong willed. I hope she is old enough to understand yellow and brown snow. I guess it only takes once right?

No words needed for this sweetie!

Chloe is now almost 2 years old. And...I actually like her! She is turning out to be a great dog. She is sweet, obedient and loyal.....and hairy, and big, and poops a lot! But you take the good with the bad with dogs.