What a Whirlwind!

My life the past week has anything but boring! I don't know about you gals, but I do not do well with my husband leaving out of town. He left early Sunday morning, which meant that I had to take both of the girls to church by myself (not easy) and he got home late Tuesday night. Being sick and pregnant, taking care of 2 little girls, and being exhausted to the point that I am falling asleep on the couch while my girls are running around..... not an easy thing!

James gets home and everything is great....... until I collapse! What the! I was on the phone with my mom, the t.v. was up to loud so I bent over to pick up the remote from the couch and.... crash! My back gave COMPLETELY out! I had absolutely no control over it. I couldn't move and it was EXTREME EXCRUCIATING PAIN shooting from my tail bone, up my back and down my right leg. I am so lucky that James works from home, because I had to scream for him. He was on a phone meeting but ran up to pick me up and help me to the other room so see if we could get it to stop. We couldn't get the pain to stop and couldn't find a comfortable position so we packed up the car and ran to Instacare...... should have known, they couldn't do anything. Insurance wouldn't pay for an emergency room visit so we couldn't do that. We went back home and I climbed in the bath tub and put a rice bag on it all night. I was eventually able to walk on my own.... but then I realized that I hadn't felt sick since the incident happened! I feel nauseas ALL DAY LONG..... I don't throw up, but I feel sick all the time.... so then I started to worry. I woke up in the morning and just didn't feel right.... I had the gut feeling that something was wrong with the baby! I of course started balling... called the Dr. and they wanted me to get in and get checked to see if the back pain was related to the pregnancy. I went to the Dr. and all they could do was give me a urine test (telling me I was pregnant.... really, I didn't know!) and took some blood. They couldn't fit me into the ultrasound schedule that day, so I had to wait and go back the next day (today).

What a relief when I saw that little heartbeat pulsating on the screen! As much as I don't like the idea of how difficult it will be to have 3 kids under the age of 3, I would never want anything to happen to one of my babies. It is so nice to have the peace of mind that this baby is healthy, that there isn't twins in there (since my husband thinks that I look 4 months along when I am only 8 weeks) and that now we know for sure that we are going to have to get a bigger car that can hold 3 car seats.....

Through all of this, I discovered how I am surrounded by so many amazing people! So many people were concerned for me, praying for me, I got a text from my older brother concerned about what was going on with me..... neighbors bringing us dinner. It really is amazing how there are so many good people around you in your everyday life! More than anything, my amazing husband!!!! I can never say enough about my husband. Anyone who knew me before meeting him, knows that I married UP! I don't know how I got him but I am so grateful that I did. If there is one thing in my life that I am MOST Thankful for... it is him. I am who I am because of him. And where I fall short (which is in a lot of places) he is there to forgive me and make me smile when I am sad. A whirlwind of emotions have gone through my mind this week, but I ending on gratitude. Thankful for amazing people and thankful that this baby is healthy and progressing. Thank You Everyone!

Sometimes we just gotta have Faith!

There are many things that have happened in my life that I may never know why they happened when they did. Like when we tried to have a baby for 6 years and when our world as we knew it started crumbling down with our spec homes & I was trying to get mural business going to help pay for the MANY mortgages that we had to cover, I become pregnant.... I thought "You couldn't have picked a WORSE time!" Turns out, that baby got me through that hard time.....

Then we got a call from our renters telling us that they had purchased a different home and were moving out of our house (that they were supposed to buy) the very same day that I found out I was pregnant with baby #2! My baby was only 7 months old..... again.... insane timing.... but I absolutely adore that little girl!

Here we are in the middle of crisis after crisis after crisis after crisis right now in our lives and...... yes! I am finding myself pregnant once again during a housing break down once again! But you know what?..... I am ok with it! With this being my 3rd time of EVERYTHING hitting at once... I am becoming an old pro at it! Or it could be that my husband gave me a blessing so that I could handle everything that is going on in our lives!

I'm not very far along at all.... I am only 7 1/2 weeks, but I have decided that I'm not going to keep it a secret this time around from those around us. We have a lot of decisions that need to be made and a lot of things going on that I wanted people to be aware of Why I show up at the park with absolutely no makeup on in the middle of the day or Why my house is in COMPLETE shambles when people show up, or Why I am totally crying for no reason and Why I have this belly after I just posted a comment on FB about how I couldn't figure out why I had lost so much weight (which now totally explains why I lost the weight I did.... pregnant while nursing does that to ya) but I am already showing and I won't be able to hide it with the belts I have been wearing lately...... And to be completely honest, I don't know that I can do EVERYTHING by myself! I may have to cave and ask people to help me out once in a while. If I have to pack up my house with 2 girls while sick, I may need some help from friends and family to help me out where they can. I try to take on too many things at once and this girl can't do it all the time.... I'm not a Super Hero... (although I would like to be :)

I was afraid of the comments that people would make towards us about having them so close to each other, so I want to share this with everyone. I am the first to admit that I don't have perfect faith in my life, but there is one area that I have felt guided and have had faith and that is with my children. I knew with Brooklyn that I was not to do any fertility. I knew that it was a matter of timing and that it would happen when it was supposed to (still didn't make it easier). I knew we were to have Kenidi close to Brooklyn but I was scared to DEATH! Love her to pieces but it hasn't been easy having 2 so young and so close.... This time around, I knew once again that I was not to be on birth control. People think I am crazy but it is something that I felt. It isn't necessarily my ideal to have them all so close to each other, but for one reason or another, God wants these little ones close and I am following what he wants me to do. Doesn't mean that I'm not scared, but I know it will all work out in the end..... ALL OF IT! I can only take it one day at a time and do what I can do! I gotta prepare for my 3 UNDER 3!

Christmas Time Greetings

Can you believe it is that time of year!? Christmas is creeping around the corner and have you thought of your Christmas Cards yet? Christmas Time Greetings has the cutest cards and they are doing a giveaway right now! Check them out at http://christmastimegreetings.com/. (this card is my favorite.... I LOVE IT!)

Wouldn't these be adorable with your family pictures that you had done from http://www.haylielyn.com/?!

Mad Scientist

Halloween this year crept up on us and we weren't prepared. We have been so busy, have had so many things going on, that I simply didn't have the room in my brain to think of Halloween this year. Every year we have started going to the South Towne mall to go Trick-or-Treating.... we were supposed to meet my sister at 3:00 at the mall... here it was 1:30 and we were running to the thrift store to see if we could put a costume together for Brooklyn.

We found a woman's white button shirt that I ran home and cut and sewed up to make into a lab coat for her. We mad a little name badge that said Dr. Ookie on it (ookie is her nickname from Grandma and Grandpa Davis) and we teased her hair like crazy.

She loved it! All we wanted was to find something that she would love and keep on... we found that thing. She loved the jacket and the fact that my nieces, sister, and brother-in-law were laughing hysterically when they saw her get out of the car.
One side flattened since she fell asleep in the car on the way over.
Little Kenidi who did not seemed to care at all about everything going on around her. This is the costume that Brooklyn wore last year and everyone kept calling her a boy..... so this year I sewed a little bow on the top of her head.
Horrible picture, but it is the only we got of Sophie, Maddie and Brooklyn together. The 3 girls went trick-or-treating around their neighborhood and Maddie had to introduce "Dr. Ookie" to every person who opened their door.... Maddie got SUCH a kick over Brooklyn's costume.
She did such a good job and loved every bit of Halloween this year! She is getting to the age where it is fun for holidays and she was so well behaved which makes it all that much better!

Laman & Lemuel

A couple weeks back I decided to finally start reading the scriptures on my own. I did pretty good for a while, but lately I haven't done as well..... anyway, I was reading one morning about Laman & Lemuel and thought in my head "These guys are idiots! They have seen miracle after miracle (even an angel) and they still turn away" Then I laughed because I AM Laman & Lemuel! I know I am probably one of the rare few people out there who would actually admit that, but I seriously am. I can only think of 1 instance where I really feel like I saw a miracle personally and that is when I was almost crushed by a NUMBER of semi trucks. There was a massive pile up down on the freeway in Payson and I miraculously new exactly what to do to get out of the way and didn't get crushed..... I have seen things happen to other people that are miracles, but I really feel like "well yea, it can happen to them, but not to me." I feel right now in my life, like I am invisible for some reason. Like God doesn't know I am there and just like Laman & Lemuel, I want to shake my fists at him.

It seems like Faith and Patience have been the topics of RS lessons lately and I know they are for me. I really am seeing that I don't have unwavering faith. I have it for a while, then I become exhausted of it and find myself completely frustrated... which is where the patience comes in. I have none! Why can't things just go smoothly for once in my life!!! We are being tested and tried and for the most part, I have been dealing with it fine. But I have found that when something small doesn't go well or smoothly, that is when I get the most angry. "If God can move mountains, why on earth can he not give me patience for one day"... that is how I feel quite often.

I hate going into situations blind, not knowing what we are doing. I hate that people are finally starting to find out that we are moving and they are asking "where are you going? Why are you moving?" #1) Our entire motivation in moving is to become debt free! James and I have been dealing with the most ridiculous payment on this "thorn in our side" house for way too long, and after a year and a half of trying to refinance or modify and the bank isn't willing to work with us, we have decided to get rid of it and wash our hands of the darn thing! and #2) We have not felt apart of the ward here at all. Now don't get me wrong, there are some AMAZING people here in this ward, but as a whole, I haven't felt APART of the ward. I have felt like someone on the outside looking in... like I am just a visitor. As far as where we are going... well, that is where I am blind and I hate that I don't know that answer. I thought I had the answer! I thought I felt really good about moving up to Idaho where my parents have some farm land with a house on it & renting it for 3 years or so.... but then we were told from my brother-in-law and step-dad that it is pretty much inhabitable and they don't know how the renters are even living in it.... How is it that I felt really good about that but it just won't happen? How is it that James felt really good about investing in this house & it has been nothing but a sore spot for us for 3+ years now?......................

I know I am just completely going off and complaining right now, but I need to vent! I have no close friends that I talk to to get these types of things off of my chest too... so I have resorted to my blog. I just feel sad right now! We are dealing with this house crap, my car (yes that car) broke down & is ripped apart in our garage just sitting there because it is going to take more money than I care to mention to get it working properly. I feel like I am so close to getting my business going, but my girls have been trying me in every way by not taking naps during the day, and if they do, they won't sleep at the same time. Yes, I am feeling picked on today and I am ready for something to go smooth and right in my life....... & then I feel guilty for feeling this way because so many other people out there have it way worse than I do.

Bottom line, I just want to feel that God is there for me and is aware of what we are going through! I want something to go right in my life to give me hope that there is light at the end of this tunnel! I am excited about the path we are moving on with following the prophets counsel and getting 100% out of debt, but I would love some direction in which way to go. At least I have this business that I am way excited about and that I will be able to help in getting our debt paid off... now if that part of my life will go smoothly, I would really appreciate it! So much to do & not enough hands to do it all.

Name Dilemma

I have a name dilemma! It looks like that most people like the Sweet Dreams Design(s). I am planning on listing this business on etsy.com. When I was deciding on names, I typed in the names that I was looking at to see if they were taken or not and they weren't (except Sweet Dreams Boutique). I decided to just type in Sweet Dreams without anything after it and there are 42 other businesses that start with Sweet Dreams! Not exactly what I was going for! I know people are liking that but I don't think I can do a business name that is so generic apparently..... need to pick something else at this point..... not sure what to do!

Official Business Name Vote

Thank You to everyone who voted on your favorite words that describe a baby nursery! After seeing the most popular words and taking into consideration the comments that were made, I came up with the last and official names to vote on.

Please vote for the 1 that you like the very best.

James and I both liked Sweet Dreams Boutique, but that name was already taken so that is why that one is Sweet Dreams Designs instead. The way that this would be for the logo would be e.g.

Sweet Dreams Boutique

Nursery Designs by Lindsi

or

BroKen Baby Boutique

Nursery Designs by Lindsi Inspired by Brooklyn & Kenidi

but it will look MUCH better than what this will allow me to do : ) But that gives you an idea of what I am thinking of doing.

Thanks Everyone! I really do appreciate your help on this!

Business Name

So, I have had some comments about using my name in the business title & I am really weird about using my name. It's not that I don't like my name, but I don't think it has that ring to it for a Business Name.... anyway, but I am not opposed to using parts of my girls names. I came up with a name that James and I both love using their names but I don't think it gives the right impression...... BroKen Designs........ for BROoklyn & KENidi... kind of funny :) If you have some suggestions that use their names, I am TOTALLY open to them! I am not stuck to using what is up there right now with one of those words, just need to get something figured out SOON!

Their Full names Brooklyn Joetta and Kenidi Nichole :)

________ Nursery Designs

I have been working on a fairly small home based business for a couple of months now and I am needing to finalize on some things so I need a name for my business. I won't go into a lot of detail right now, but I will tell you that I am going to be doing Nursery Designs.

Could you please vote over on the top right hand column of the word (or words) that you think would work best for a Nursery Design Business? I wanted the name to be fairly simple so that it is easy to remember, so I put some words together that helped describe the feel that I was going for in my designs, but if you have other ideas than what I have, please share :) I need to move forward with this but can't until I have the name all figured out.

Thanks So Much

7 Small & Simple Steps

Last night was our wards once a month Relief Society meeting. I always want to go to these, but they fall on a Wednesday! Wednesday are by far my worst day of the week.... I have scouts that day and with preparing everything through out the day that needs to get ready, getting my family fed and the house cleaned up before they come is chaos in and of itself. Then when they all leave, I have a screaming baby wanting to eat and go to sleep.

Well, last night, my husband got Kenidi fed and down for the night before the scouts even left my house! It was a good thing I had pumped a bottle a couple of days ago and he was able to get her down.... she was beside herself last night.... (something has to change with my scout schedule... can't keep doing this every week)! Anyway.... Because she was down, I was able to go to the meeting. The topic was 7 Small and Simple Steps. I am sure that almost everyone could list what all of the steps are without even sitting in the class.... basic primary answers.

1. Study the scriptures personally every day

2. Study the scriptures every day as a family

3. Have personal prayer every morning and night

4. Have family prayer every morning and night

5. Attend church every Sunday as a family

6. Hold family home evening every Monday night

7. Attend the temple every month

I don't know about you, but I don't do real great on a lot of these! It was so nice to go and listen to the comments that the other sisters in the ward made. I now know that I am not the only one that feels like a total failure in many areas of my life.

I have never been a real scripture reader. I really struggle with the scriptures and am one that finds them very boring and gory. I know that needs to change. James and I were really good at reading every night, but then Brooklyn has started putting up a fight going to bed and it takes us most of the night just to get her down. By the time she finally goes down, neither of us want to spend that little bit of time before bed reading the scriptures.

I am awful at personal prayers but we do pretty good praying as a family... but there is always room for improvement.

Going to church has always been easy... but I have found my desire dwindling since having 2 kids and 1:00 church! There is nothing more torturous than little kids with 1:00 church!!! I don't think I need to say more on that... if you have little kids, you definitely understand.

FHE is something that I didn't grow up with, so it was something new to me when I got married. We did really good with this for a while, but lately, it simply hasn't been happening.

And the temple. I used to go every week... but since having kiddos, I have maybe made it twice! I really need to go more.

How do you as a busy mom or a busy person fit all of this into your day? Do you get up at 5:30 every morning to make sure you fit it in, or are you like me and still trying to figure out the best way to squeeze it in? One of the funniest comments made yesterday but I might actually implement, was to take your Book of Mormon into the bathroom with you and get some reading in there :) Totally laughed at that but with my life, I think it might just work.... I hate to say it, but their nap time would be a good time but I love that time to get things done around my house or get some projects done.... (and that is only if I can get them to go down at the same time).

I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter and how you do it!

Ties, Ties, and more Ties

Hey, if any of you out there have little boys, check out my friends website. She is making little boys ties and they are SO cute!!!!

http://studefam04.blogspot.com/

Memorial Weekend

I am such a slacker these days when it comes to blogging so I know these are extremely late, but I had to show what a typical day is like with Brooklyn.

We went to Idaho for Memorial Weekend. My sister Steff got some baby miniature goats and Brooklyn had to go out and play with them, but of course, it rained that weekend and there is nothing more fun to Brooklyn than dirt or mud!!!!

Aren't the goats so cute?! She loved playing with them..... just wish she would stay out of the dang mud..... at this moment I have shoes on my porch covered in mud... she always seems to find it no matter where we go!!!

Brown Polka Dot Dress

I had to get pictures of Kenidi in the infamous brown polka dot dress that Brooklyn wore. Here is Brooklyn in the dress..... if you remember....

What fat cheeks she had!!!
Here is Brooklyn again!

And now sweet Kenidi.... LOVE the spiky hair!
And the precious smile that see so regularly!
Isn't she just a precious chunkster!

This past weekend we went to Colorado and I took this dress with us. James' mom told me that she wanted to do family pictures after church on Sunday. I told her that I wished I would have known that so I could have coordinated their outfits better.... she called up her neighbor who had the exact same brown polka dot dress in an 18 month size.... so we borrowed it for church and pictures. I can't wait to get those pictures from Judy and see how cute they look together.

Brookin's Hair

For those of you who aren't around me, Brookin is my lazy way of saying Brooklyn so I guess you could say that it is her nickname from mama.

This morning we got up before Brooklyn did (because her little sister woke us up), daddy went and got Brooklyn out of her crib when she finally woke up and this is what she looked like!!!

LOL!!! We got a good laugh at it. She takes after grandpa Mark!! Those in my family know what I am talking about.
This goes to prove that she is one crazy sleeper and I don't know how I am going to ever change her crib into a toddler bed without her falling out.

Then..... I gave her a bath and decided to paint her toenails for the first time and finally try some piggy tails!
They are so darling on her! I think it will take her a while to get used to having them. She has pulled them out a few times but then she lets me put them back in... she better get used to them because they are so cute on her.
One is higher than the other because I put them in, she pulled one out, then daddy put it back in up higher than mommy had it.
I actually feel like she is a little girl now instead of a little tom-boy. What a cutie.... but what a stinker these days.... I am NOT liking the toddler phase right now!

Random Pictures of Kenidi

It has been a long time since I have posted pictures of Kenidi so I thought I would some up that I have taken the past couple of weeks.

Oddly enough, she is looking up at her Uncle Doug! :) JK Dougy!
I love this little Bear suit! So nice to have in the cold weather.
There is the grin that we get to see lots of!
We blessed her yesterday so I was able to get a few pictures of her in her dress. Grandma Gabler took most of the pictures so I will have to get copies from her. I absolutely love her dress. This is the same dress that Brooklyn wore but it fits Kenidi way better since we waited to bless her and she is much bigger than Brooklyn was when she wore it.
Blurry feet but I love that she was looking up at me!

She is such a good baby. She is sleeping about 9-10 hours every night and is on a good napping cycle through out the day. She smiles and giggles like crazy and we LOVE to hear her.

Prompting?

Have you ever had one of those "promptings" that you can't tell if it is yourself thinking it up or if it is a real prompting from the spirit? I am having one of those...... not sure what to do. I don't want to step where I shouldn't be unless it truly is an inspiration.

What did I do with myself?

Yesterday I was cleaning out some boxes in the basement and I found a box that had my graduation stuff in it, some pictures from school, school dance pictures etc. I was going through the stuff and I felt a sadness.... not because I miss high school ( I actually hated it), but because I look back and realized that I pretty much did nothing! I wasn't a good student, I wasn't involved in the athletics, I wasn't a dancer, I can't play a musical instrument, I didn't do choir, I was unable to really pursue any art at that time.... What in the world did I do with myself!!!! The one and only thing I can think of that I did that I was proud of was I won the top Interior Designer Award for my high school..... but it wasn't like there were a ton of people even in the Interior Design program in high school.....

Here I am, 26 1/2, and I have a strong desire to learn how to play the cello! Call me crazy, but it is something that I would love to do. Will it ever happen? I don't know. It would be difficult with my girls and there is always the money factor of purchasing a cello, then you have to pay for lessons. If I did it, I would have to stick with it..... and I am realizing that their isn't much that I have stuck with in my life.

I was telling James about how I felt after looking at all of this stuff and he told me "You are a good mom and that is way more important than any of those things." It made me feel a little bit better, but I wish I would have done more with my life growing up. I now realize all of things that I missed out on back in my school days.... I know I am still young and there is definitely time to do things that I want to do, but nothing is easy when you have kids.

I will often sit and think "If money weren't an issue, what would I do with my life?" Now I'm not talking about run off and travel and buy a plane or helicopter, but what would I do with my everyday life. For example, I would love to take some classes. I want to learn more about energy work and how to improve myself more. I want to take some cooking classes, specifically pastry or dessert type cooking classes. I want to take the course Dressing Your Truth and go on a shopping spree afterwards and feel great about myself once again. I want to find a workout class that I enjoy and take it..... There is so much that I want to do and I feel stuck like I can't do any of it because of money and because I am nursing a child. And the thing is, I am only going to continue having kids and nursing so the timing isn't going to get any better for me. I love being a mom and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I want to find ways to better me as a person and to find my own identity outside of just being a mom.

Easter and the Easter Bunny

With Easter creeping around the corner and just a week away, I have been thinking a lot about Easter and the Easter Bunny. I have a serious issue with the whole concept of LYING to my kids that a big furry bunny comes and brings them gifts. And YES.... I feel the same way about Christmas and Santa Clause.

These holidays are supposed to be centered on Christ and I want my kids to know that from the start. I feel that when you bring the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause in the mix, it totally takes the focus off of Christ and the meaning of the holidays are lost.

I have really had this dilemma going on in my head for a long time now. Now that Brooklyn is getting a little older, I feel like I need to figure out and come to a conclusion on how I am going to treat these holidays. Do I tell them that Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny aren't real and be truthful with them from the start and hope that they don't ruin it for other kids and their parents, or do I lie to them and feel bad that the holiday focus isn't where it should be. I feel really strongly about Easter and what the holiday is about and I really don't think I can do the Easter Bunny charade. My fear with this choice is am I taking the fun away from my kids? Will these holidays not be exciting for them since they don't have the thought that someone is coming in the night to bring them fun stuff?

I really feel stumped on what to do. I feel like that with either choice I am doing something wrong.... Lie to my kids or take the excitement out of the holidays.

What are your feelings on this? What do you do?

Our Sunday

Yesterday was seriously one of the best Sundays I could have asked for. We have had such a difficult time with Sundays lately. Our church starts at 1:00. Brooklyn's nap time is at 1:00. After we had Kenidi, one of us would stay home and the other one would go to church. Well, we decided that since one was staying home, Brooklyn could stay home and take her nap during church. Last week we all went to sacrament for the first time together and had a very rough time with Brooklyn. She did NOT want to be quiet or sit still so I stood out in the breezeway between the doors and held her. I refused to let her down and walk around because I don't want her to think that she can act up and go out in the hall and play. Then we took her home to have her nap since she was so tired.

This week, I was going to be prepared.... We got her down on a nap around 11:00 (woke her up earlier), I made some copies out of a coloring book, brought my old colored pencils, brought some books and few toys and it was the first time that we didn't have to go out into the hall once! She LOVED the coloring pencils!... not to color with, just to hold and carry. Not only did she make it through sacrament, but she got to go to Nursery for the 1st time! We were so excited for her and she loved it. Then to top the day off.... Kenidi went down for bed right when I wanted her to and she slept for 10 HOURS!!!!! We had the perfect schedule going yesterday and I REALLY hope that we can do it every Sunday.

It was very nice to all get to go to church together and to be able to go to all of it. It was still a little crazy with taking Kenidi and juggling Brooklyn but that is definitely expected with little ones. It takes me a while, but I have been able to kind of figure out the best way to do things with Brooklyn and she has been acting so much better.... definitely still has her moments, but they are few and far between compared to how she used to be. I might actually be able to survive Sundays now.

Moms are SUPER HEROS!

James has been gone for over a week (with the short stop home between 2 locations), which means that I have been home by myself with my 2 little girlies. I was very nervous for him to go... I wasn't sure how I could handle doing EVERYTHING by myself.... Wake up and nurse Kenidi, get Brooklyn up and fed (and myself in there) and get all 3 of us bathed, clean the house and cook dinner, find some ways to get out of the house so that we weren't all couped up inside the whole time he was gone, go to scouts (with the 2 girls), get Brooklyn down for the night, pick up her messes, do the dishes, take care of a fussy baby and wake up in the night if needs be (and adding in 8 nursings in the midst of all of it)..... BREATHE

You know what? It hasn't been as bad as I thought it was going to be. Women do it all the time with even more kids and so I am definitely convinced that woman are SUPER HEROS!

I have to admit, my house has probably been the messiest it has ever been this past week, Brooklyn has thrown quite a few tantrums & pushed my buttons a few times, and I haven't gotten as much sleep as I would like...... but I still feel ok with being by myself and I'm not ready to rip my hair out like I thought I would be by the end of it all.

Isn't it amazing how a child can make a mess in every room, throw their food around, scream and throw tantrums when they don't get their way (even in public and embarrass you) and still completely own your heart after all of it! I have had some very difficult moments with Brooklyn this past week, and when all is said and done, I look into that girls eyes and I absolutely love and adore everything about her. She really can be the funnest and sweetest thing alive. I really hope that in those difficult moments, I can have the patience to react in a pleasing manner instead of snapping in frustration as I have done a few times before. I am so afraid of doing something that will make her feel like she can't be herself and ruining who she truly is. I hope I can learn how to parent her best in those situations when her energy is hard to control (e.g. church, being in someone else's home, public store or restaurant.... anytime she needs to sit still for a period of time).

James comes home late tomorrow night (one day earlier than we thought) and I am pleased to say that I have made it through the past week and don't feel like I need to dump the kids on James and run away for a while..... (that is what I kept telling him before he left) I miss him though and am ready to have him home for a while.

Professional Pictures

Is this not the most precious picture you have ever seen!?!?!?! My friend and neighbor, Haylie Lyn, did some pictures of Kenidi 2 weeks ago and I just got to see a small sampling of them on her blog. Check out the rest of them on there.

http://haylielynphoto.blogspot.com/

When Dad gets a hold of you!

Last night after we gave Kenidi a bath, I left her in the loving care of her dad...... this is what I came back to....

He thought it would be fun to spike her hair!!! We totally had a good laugh over it.

Here is a random picture of Brooklyn playing with Kenidi during tummy time.

Visitors

Some people have asked when they can come and visit. We are honestly up for visitors whenever. I have been feeling really quite well, I am up and about without any problems at all and because James works from home, it hasn't been as difficult with two as I was anticipating. later afternoon into evenings would be best so that James can do the work that he needs to during the day, but if that is the best time for some people, we can make it work. All we ask is that if you are sick or a family member is sick, please don't come. Just let us know, we are both home pretty much all day these days.

Kenidi's Birth

Here are the pictures of Kenidi's birth! I honestly don't think I could have asked for a better baby, she is so sweet and good. We got home yesterday morning and so far we are doing well. James' parent's are here from Colorado helping us out and it is great having them here. Big sis, seems to be doing pretty well also. Her cousins came over last night and she had a blast running around with them and I am sure that it made her day to have them come play with her. Who'd a thunk that after so many years of trying to have baby that we would have 2 now! I have fallen in love for the 3rd time!!!!

She's Here!!!

On Tuesday night my body decided that it was ready to go into labor & decided that it was going to do it fairly quickly. I had contractions start at 9:30, we packed and got Brooklyn to my parent's house and got to the hospital at 2:00 am. After taking a rest with the epidural and 5 whole pushes, Kenidi Nichole was born at 8:29 am weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and was 19.5" long.

I would post pictures but James computer isn't connected to our camera so we have to wait until we are home on our other computer. But she is such a beautiful baby with TONS of super dark hair and her big sister was able to come and meet her and she kept giving her kisses..... I am sure it will be a bit of a different story when she sees the baby home and realizes it isn't going away. I think she was a bit confused when she was saying goodbye to mom and dad instead of grandma and grandpa. She will have her moments but hopefully she will fall in love with her baby sister and love being around her.

From what we can see already, she is such a good baby! She sleeps great and eats great... I think we were blessed with a calm, content baby! YAY for mommy and daddy, we can use a calm baby right now with such an active little one with Brooklyn!

I will post pictures in the next few days so everyone can see!

D Day

Today is my Due Date and I am still hanging on to this little one... she doesn't seem to want to come out! We have been busy getting ready for her and today was the first time that I just stood there and got butterflies in my tummy at the thought of bringing home another little one. I am so excited to see her and meet her, I just hope that Brooklyn will transition easily and not make it too hard for me. We will let everyone know when she decides that she finally wants to come out!