tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-767892520866529582024-03-20T04:19:30.686-07:00The Call Familycameron - kristin - nash - granger - tenleyKristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.comBlogger506125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-15218861681648191192015-05-01T10:21:00.001-07:002015-05-01T10:21:00.563-07:00Heard in the homeN: I have to get ready and go to my school. <div>Mom: No way, silly! You are not old enough to go to school! That would make me so sad.</div><div>N: oh don't be so sad mom! You can watch Star Wars and we go to school! </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-6748640777379239132015-04-27T09:33:00.001-07:002015-04-27T09:33:48.601-07:00Heard in the home<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The sun's awake, so we have to get pizza! -N</span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"Nash, did you go to the bathroom?" -Me</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">"No, I died! I very died!" -Nash (hiding from me)</div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-90048459156914555332015-04-19T07:50:00.001-07:002015-04-19T07:50:35.047-07:00Princesses Dance with their PrincesThe boys equate wearing a pretty dress with being a princess. Yesterday, I was going to go do initiatory at the temple before I remembered that my recommend was in the wallet that I lost a few weeks ago. Still, I was all ready to go and had my dress on. Since the boys had seen me ready to go to the temple, they wanted to go to the temple too. Nash was crying, "don't go anywhere! I go with you!" He was thrilled when I didn't leave. But that night when I tucked him into bed, he asked if we could go to the temple. I told him we could go tomorrow after church. And then he said the sweetest things to me! "Mom, you a princess? And daddy spin you?" "Do you like it when daddy dances with me?" "Yes, I like that." I like that too, sweet boy! Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-70999939879471299522015-04-02T16:18:00.001-07:002015-04-02T16:18:31.790-07:00I'm a bird!Last night after bathtime, Granger was wrapped in a towel. I walked into the bathroom where Cameron was helping Nash brush his teeth. I had been downstairs installing a blog design and came up to finish our bedtime routine. As soon as I turned the corner, Granger whipped his towel open, arms spread wide, "I'm a bird, mom!" And he was. A very naked, very enthusiastic little bird. That boy cracks me up. Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-25825103732095266192015-03-11T13:11:00.001-07:002015-03-11T13:11:17.633-07:003 Years Old! (And Tenley because I can't help myself)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3xaNHl06xEFtpsx8SFGFOtG3147RA3MzBFcC1Xy_3hv1_mRmOEefeoVQn7fiqv7lq6L7o85da8u9r46UX0wOFylpqoYEqZ1ba2xYatUEbJH71zgLv98cY3jC5p69JjY5vkwKkiaoxtvA/s1600/DSC_7297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3xaNHl06xEFtpsx8SFGFOtG3147RA3MzBFcC1Xy_3hv1_mRmOEefeoVQn7fiqv7lq6L7o85da8u9r46UX0wOFylpqoYEqZ1ba2xYatUEbJH71zgLv98cY3jC5p69JjY5vkwKkiaoxtvA/s1600/DSC_7297.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N4s8YKVdJtAv9HBAYrkQ5VAxIVnnuPXOH9RT4QBE7Xvd_c-W6MhmmT4XPWW2Ytwcoz4smfCyghP4_xBxSajKKgmZC6EkClltriZgjbV2XzBCduXx4hsS8hIWaUrA9iJCqoS5nJS5QoSU/s1600/DSC_7298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N4s8YKVdJtAv9HBAYrkQ5VAxIVnnuPXOH9RT4QBE7Xvd_c-W6MhmmT4XPWW2Ytwcoz4smfCyghP4_xBxSajKKgmZC6EkClltriZgjbV2XzBCduXx4hsS8hIWaUrA9iJCqoS5nJS5QoSU/s1600/DSC_7298.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcWbLnvhqO-vrCLqK46gCGV1xcRJJck0KMs0EItOSIeoUc_XT0_wSi16YN9M3SZ0Hn_mit-xt53IOeu7dpic-QVng5o7RifI1mBIOKC5kI__2sLJ5z7V-M12O3K66xbRfPSbIyIBhgr_D/s1600/DSC_7319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcWbLnvhqO-vrCLqK46gCGV1xcRJJck0KMs0EItOSIeoUc_XT0_wSi16YN9M3SZ0Hn_mit-xt53IOeu7dpic-QVng5o7RifI1mBIOKC5kI__2sLJ5z7V-M12O3K66xbRfPSbIyIBhgr_D/s1600/DSC_7319.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6imNkuWgRmnyDB8N8BJveYVGeO2SXw04_JmZuooJBWNDSkWDQq_HfK1J6XrNmBXHjS7ZgO8NRzAHTLpufZts1iMftKEBug-wcCl6k7DD4Ge8LL7eZ_Dl37PwQn_WujteVevi_NJu1zVT/s1600/DSC_7330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6imNkuWgRmnyDB8N8BJveYVGeO2SXw04_JmZuooJBWNDSkWDQq_HfK1J6XrNmBXHjS7ZgO8NRzAHTLpufZts1iMftKEBug-wcCl6k7DD4Ge8LL7eZ_Dl37PwQn_WujteVevi_NJu1zVT/s1600/DSC_7330.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiBoP0tfooBL-LJdwpYQFMnjTFL4Bt9HRsBQ1LaPWr1DDq26zCyOO6O_2BYWJ_jXJNGk7f6vam94QBbfW58zMYWecujgBPhIoTKr4I-Mk7S9AXntbZCWHSGxUitECsSCpVqnG4eQHtQ6u/s1600/DSC_7340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiBoP0tfooBL-LJdwpYQFMnjTFL4Bt9HRsBQ1LaPWr1DDq26zCyOO6O_2BYWJ_jXJNGk7f6vam94QBbfW58zMYWecujgBPhIoTKr4I-Mk7S9AXntbZCWHSGxUitECsSCpVqnG4eQHtQ6u/s1600/DSC_7340.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gApKIGFEfqZWKqvAWJrIA30M-8mPg4YXyVYMo61DIAn7JBs_18PtAFMMz0bP_UV6dNhZBYdYr6VHwnzPJiQcZBfMzaoUmr_lrI9-fR_1kXSAzreADUDgvTQNrBcQ_64D_wTWaCKJ6hN/s1600/DSC_7351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_gApKIGFEfqZWKqvAWJrIA30M-8mPg4YXyVYMo61DIAn7JBs_18PtAFMMz0bP_UV6dNhZBYdYr6VHwnzPJiQcZBfMzaoUmr_lrI9-fR_1kXSAzreADUDgvTQNrBcQ_64D_wTWaCKJ6hN/s1600/DSC_7351.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AzvrPBkUYafB1791vpM2iAI73lT_fYc36ShS2v4QUyh6WleJce6X3dLg-ydWNnoR7Wym1y8v8EIjTVzZpO8pe1MXyMgqDAmqP_9lFTPGQrF_SxGA4pZCAlENS2KZ5whFSEU4PJIhwcK_/s1600/DSC_7356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AzvrPBkUYafB1791vpM2iAI73lT_fYc36ShS2v4QUyh6WleJce6X3dLg-ydWNnoR7Wym1y8v8EIjTVzZpO8pe1MXyMgqDAmqP_9lFTPGQrF_SxGA4pZCAlENS2KZ5whFSEU4PJIhwcK_/s1600/DSC_7356.JPG" height="500" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeenwDEGqadPQCjkdYI5bqObnJwWzdE4FJ33vVrlUF4nw7-TcN7WBHhAVO9rLtvBp9wwzKBOTBpBnCpDUpYhJ1XvE-73QW8CqE0XPBDQtg1NUMErvx6lyH1Ilk1KSE0mqq_KWRv470Cwl/s1600/DSC_7360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeenwDEGqadPQCjkdYI5bqObnJwWzdE4FJ33vVrlUF4nw7-TcN7WBHhAVO9rLtvBp9wwzKBOTBpBnCpDUpYhJ1XvE-73QW8CqE0XPBDQtg1NUMErvx6lyH1Ilk1KSE0mqq_KWRv470Cwl/s1600/DSC_7360.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO23Ra5gYQUh8nsKChzGMhyxH4_ZhvYXqiOjaBirdhAyTH_JsBkirPWPq5mno0sUard1YdCOV2ZA-O8k6IRzxtb6xqrMzx1zhAO_TgGBhl8Xd_pAROz1bQ859s6Kl3hufSOM3pRM8NDKBl/s1600/DSC_7370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO23Ra5gYQUh8nsKChzGMhyxH4_ZhvYXqiOjaBirdhAyTH_JsBkirPWPq5mno0sUard1YdCOV2ZA-O8k6IRzxtb6xqrMzx1zhAO_TgGBhl8Xd_pAROz1bQ859s6Kl3hufSOM3pRM8NDKBl/s1600/DSC_7370.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VVhMRhC0LuABgAjH4Z3bRvp6-tOitcU_005-tkui7XuSOTQa5_dNZd2cQtMOQk6SUV2dQ6_nCmjCGRYkBP5ImlCrVib6OPMMT-Wgqn8UuI9cJKaSd2VKSBheub2vjP_4rGWKIfvL03vW/s1600/DSC_7381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VVhMRhC0LuABgAjH4Z3bRvp6-tOitcU_005-tkui7XuSOTQa5_dNZd2cQtMOQk6SUV2dQ6_nCmjCGRYkBP5ImlCrVib6OPMMT-Wgqn8UuI9cJKaSd2VKSBheub2vjP_4rGWKIfvL03vW/s1600/DSC_7381.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHyUOGr7typctWX2Tblz0aJAlX7X6vJcDvwB7p8AxSoOv2mTIuKL1kMGWjwDD_EphyphenhyphenhW2AMoPDVSB-RBVCyPhAAKRcqskh9TYBapAfgIdYn3afbC5J8FYYyUBCoTRhYC6O4MAZMwCsX9p/s1600/DSC_7386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHyUOGr7typctWX2Tblz0aJAlX7X6vJcDvwB7p8AxSoOv2mTIuKL1kMGWjwDD_EphyphenhyphenhW2AMoPDVSB-RBVCyPhAAKRcqskh9TYBapAfgIdYn3afbC5J8FYYyUBCoTRhYC6O4MAZMwCsX9p/s1600/DSC_7386.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc-BhRxHs5CQ0MbdyKp2hJ2sDbCFdD3_VSVSoyZAITLhrfUmz3HDpnji5UtLDHunC4J1WEvR1vf2-Z3sON66M5WTe7JOVycI4JUau7NGms3iitIuh5teZPXRT-5OVtziOAktVQLZujK0x/s1600/DSC_7395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc-BhRxHs5CQ0MbdyKp2hJ2sDbCFdD3_VSVSoyZAITLhrfUmz3HDpnji5UtLDHunC4J1WEvR1vf2-Z3sON66M5WTe7JOVycI4JUau7NGms3iitIuh5teZPXRT-5OVtziOAktVQLZujK0x/s1600/DSC_7395.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio59M4q4NIa4FeF8ZxQyaVOY1mopPP2nQRdzXibyQBtaFc9WiQMfPBPIOMqCUXc3aW9OHiMx-CK0p6xUYG00lvsZrjowQWbu_JYAdSErekRmAqEPvtmBUBONGo9n_NnlzI1qIz67VKXLrP/s1600/DSC_7397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio59M4q4NIa4FeF8ZxQyaVOY1mopPP2nQRdzXibyQBtaFc9WiQMfPBPIOMqCUXc3aW9OHiMx-CK0p6xUYG00lvsZrjowQWbu_JYAdSErekRmAqEPvtmBUBONGo9n_NnlzI1qIz67VKXLrP/s1600/DSC_7397.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gBH4Ddap1IXslom3HUOUCPq9g4WcLBxnvYvD79FwKs4WMZ-0cccGVLSX8kqPMnRm3qn3nX32RlrUxlB2yOY3X1oXuhODPUKmbEkFhFS-07hi7ZCK7TeskMlw18KFk-kRel4LnMtu3NG6/s1600/DSC_7407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gBH4Ddap1IXslom3HUOUCPq9g4WcLBxnvYvD79FwKs4WMZ-0cccGVLSX8kqPMnRm3qn3nX32RlrUxlB2yOY3X1oXuhODPUKmbEkFhFS-07hi7ZCK7TeskMlw18KFk-kRel4LnMtu3NG6/s1600/DSC_7407.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4oPoCZgIrx3HxJSycPrHSZbGPR6mr1lE5G1FmGYv7LLSJf07mN30I7EJTS_3ipaTtBx2bhtJSRKmOqlMwbCGaBN6BLIZIPlFgNMG4GE8D1QfwNGdd5hMqel_p5ljtxK0bTLcGwnaAMGa/s1600/DSC_7413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4oPoCZgIrx3HxJSycPrHSZbGPR6mr1lE5G1FmGYv7LLSJf07mN30I7EJTS_3ipaTtBx2bhtJSRKmOqlMwbCGaBN6BLIZIPlFgNMG4GE8D1QfwNGdd5hMqel_p5ljtxK0bTLcGwnaAMGa/s1600/DSC_7413.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I feel like Nash and Granger flipped a switch a few months ago that has channeled an unending supply of energy into their little bodies. They are <b>always </b>moving. Combine that with the snow and ice and rain we've been experiencing and it makes for a crazy mom and even crazier kiddos! The weather was finally warm enough to be at the park today! Was it warm enough for short sleeves and shorts? No. But when you're three that doesn't matter too much. It was so nice to finally be out of the house! We went to the Duck Park. We've been there a bunch of times, but never fully explored the climbing wall's potential. This time, they were all about it! I can't believe these gorgeous, capable, strong, charming, polite boys are THREE. They are so grown up. And I absolutely love being their mom.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-83517225898779134292015-02-23T15:51:00.001-08:002015-02-23T15:51:14.885-08:00Heard in the home<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">NG: La la. LA LA! LALALALA!!! </span><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Me: that is too loud! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">G: no. I'm saying la la, mom. (Nice and quiet) </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Cam is in the bathroom. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">N+G: where are you, sweetheart? </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">At least I know I'm talking nicely part of the time! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Me: Gray! It's time for bed! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">G: No! I have to go potty! Stop! Go right away! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">(Daniel Tiger sings "if you need to go potty, stop and go right away.") </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">G: Hey! That's Jesus, right there!</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Me: yeah, it is! Is he nice?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">G: yeah. He's nice. He has big hair. I have little hair. It's so cute, mom! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Me: do you love Tenley?</div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">G: yes, I LOVE her! She is my Tenley. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Hi Tenley-belle! She's cute! </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">No one has called her that before. I love it. He adores her. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-46635770461493644522014-10-04T19:48:00.000-07:002014-10-24T19:56:58.981-07:00Swingin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_oV1NP-J_QVEwD76hOiLjMF0Dkf2SG671S3uIlQ5C9jCqPdbo6g9H6BqJeVH72mXBQa1iI_E1mFWFulAlSes8yRXTKK8PoQi0tAt8SPVmlbKQf9O_BMQuHKwmfohfdh6m9rlmqc8z55E/s1600/DSC_6151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_oV1NP-J_QVEwD76hOiLjMF0Dkf2SG671S3uIlQ5C9jCqPdbo6g9H6BqJeVH72mXBQa1iI_E1mFWFulAlSes8yRXTKK8PoQi0tAt8SPVmlbKQf9O_BMQuHKwmfohfdh6m9rlmqc8z55E/s1600/DSC_6151.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij70h2_pPoP-mRk-TpmHfbXNzSmnrHqpTcUrm3wqUu2SI7006ZxnaOwEMNGWiq8gpdwPOCvgGsOvjAomQmozNmtYrlOx6tOKZoIEmAH18VEpaGfiHcRxnqmJK8TVQ-lKHwEMrdTuROglOL/s1600/DSC_6158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij70h2_pPoP-mRk-TpmHfbXNzSmnrHqpTcUrm3wqUu2SI7006ZxnaOwEMNGWiq8gpdwPOCvgGsOvjAomQmozNmtYrlOx6tOKZoIEmAH18VEpaGfiHcRxnqmJK8TVQ-lKHwEMrdTuROglOL/s1600/DSC_6158.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiBjakujuaZesv_SRmiIbKoXRhxx7ErTssnkJAQk8HW6ohRuR7q9QmerYUMNlYAnUZHI4C9KA2_gcq81915-i_ULSBm-3FGl4mXLSMdlWCJcOqGSVdnWqkxUYkYJJU-QTlzKnG1SnNSx2/s1600/DSC_6166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiBjakujuaZesv_SRmiIbKoXRhxx7ErTssnkJAQk8HW6ohRuR7q9QmerYUMNlYAnUZHI4C9KA2_gcq81915-i_ULSBm-3FGl4mXLSMdlWCJcOqGSVdnWqkxUYkYJJU-QTlzKnG1SnNSx2/s1600/DSC_6166.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuGTm7S_MTH6Q2VCpbX0Yn7dF7RKwa5RyqDb5PVhzKXY5xTWONg02pB2FdyeC_MbEb8jc6ITD4SudcZnX9kvUPTddLoAmJaCGSFVaQwBggdReBBJ6JNeGurlpUib7oDetXsqYanehx9fB/s1600/DSC_6175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuGTm7S_MTH6Q2VCpbX0Yn7dF7RKwa5RyqDb5PVhzKXY5xTWONg02pB2FdyeC_MbEb8jc6ITD4SudcZnX9kvUPTddLoAmJaCGSFVaQwBggdReBBJ6JNeGurlpUib7oDetXsqYanehx9fB/s1600/DSC_6175.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvamFTSMI1GZ4XgqkPAJ-1nMsg6V8CHcb1fN5c4143DDJ8r1HqsO7m1g1bahV-8YmNaBkxuzWsM_SJ_IJBSJUVT0SshiTfHRCNcf5v7X5YRmwQgGikFOhVT7uS9ie72qc-VjUyDWrdCSD/s1600/DSC_6180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvamFTSMI1GZ4XgqkPAJ-1nMsg6V8CHcb1fN5c4143DDJ8r1HqsO7m1g1bahV-8YmNaBkxuzWsM_SJ_IJBSJUVT0SshiTfHRCNcf5v7X5YRmwQgGikFOhVT7uS9ie72qc-VjUyDWrdCSD/s1600/DSC_6180.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpILj14imetaHSAn3ogzJ9p527L-b4CVmy9SIuFjeMAnZeqMNh4C3Py9ir5HCjztFIvYZ0-Mh8oBF2uK-NMS-BVeF5xenPwJWQcXoQDDMPWd5KRrjjeXWDCJePA7muUhXMPuC7JKwywrbT/s1600/DSC_6187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpILj14imetaHSAn3ogzJ9p527L-b4CVmy9SIuFjeMAnZeqMNh4C3Py9ir5HCjztFIvYZ0-Mh8oBF2uK-NMS-BVeF5xenPwJWQcXoQDDMPWd5KRrjjeXWDCJePA7muUhXMPuC7JKwywrbT/s1600/DSC_6187.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNJmE6PReraEhtbt1tq6HCGiTAuXfQPHdYq5cNioVxDpZ_n0wNl2EKMw7E1NsSRdboC9NbYoaRHVX_HDtnxAwKmIZc-HbPHaXXWgSD-iEiYmFYzITts5Tzz9uh769CtmwVsVq469P9sLn/s1600/DSC_6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNJmE6PReraEhtbt1tq6HCGiTAuXfQPHdYq5cNioVxDpZ_n0wNl2EKMw7E1NsSRdboC9NbYoaRHVX_HDtnxAwKmIZc-HbPHaXXWgSD-iEiYmFYzITts5Tzz9uh769CtmwVsVq469P9sLn/s1600/DSC_6190.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimX5Ldcca23cvB2jsCkiJ37evP24OHvrKIo6muNssck0DkTmfjS_T5Ac1srhZVgJysIm-r2Kb3utrRzJM_bsA99K_NT9lmbvM3dnztV6e9xgitYQ-WPnPAcqEQHjnfgDKu1FihGNpVbL4/s1600/DSC_6198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimX5Ldcca23cvB2jsCkiJ37evP24OHvrKIo6muNssck0DkTmfjS_T5Ac1srhZVgJysIm-r2Kb3utrRzJM_bsA99K_NT9lmbvM3dnztV6e9xgitYQ-WPnPAcqEQHjnfgDKu1FihGNpVbL4/s1600/DSC_6198.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YAWyGYSrtDAdiYsBHsSkC_tz8LiwLieGw551zKI5I5OKek4kBUwTfb46lBhaldDeqVTuG5G3nsEdXj7FznBegyZ-4xHoP0Y_eV3Z5YGN8cC6HgaQgdZivrd_uwLNk6LJunEBsWbvajpV/s1600/DSC_6207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YAWyGYSrtDAdiYsBHsSkC_tz8LiwLieGw551zKI5I5OKek4kBUwTfb46lBhaldDeqVTuG5G3nsEdXj7FznBegyZ-4xHoP0Y_eV3Z5YGN8cC6HgaQgdZivrd_uwLNk6LJunEBsWbvajpV/s1600/DSC_6207.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
Tenley bug is getting so big, so fast! Before conference started on Sunday, we took the kids to the park to burn off some energy. We had the whole park to ourselves, so we put Tenley in a swing, just to see what she'd do. She absolutely loved it! She grinned and shrieked, waved her arms, kicked her legs, and laughed and laughed. One of my favorite parts of being a parent is watching my kids experience and discover the world around them. And watching their amazing daddy take delight in the same thing. Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-45949150650767162232014-09-16T23:19:00.002-07:002014-09-16T23:19:38.905-07:00Little Things<ul>
<li>Gray is really into hotwheels right now. Truthfully, both boys are, but Granger's slightly more obsessed than Nash. His latest favorite is picking one to try to "drive". He will spend ten minutes or more positioning himself perfectly on top of the car until he is satisfied that he is "in the car" and can drive it. It's hysterical to watch. </li>
<li>Nash carries around Cameron's old cell phone and loves to tell everyone he's taking their picture. He holds it up in your face and will keep it there, no matter what, until you oblige him and say "cheese!" </li>
<li>At bedtime, we've started doing "pillow cuddles" where I lay down on their pillow with them and we talk about the day or sing a song or tickle. I was playing with Tenley in the playroom while the boys played in the playroom closet and I heard them talking about pillow cuddles. I walked in to find them tucking the dollhouse baby into bed with her mom and pretending to put her to bed. "Night night! Love you!" the works. My heart about exploded. </li>
<li>Speaking of mimicking us as parents...the boys have also taken to disciplining each other, Tenley, and their toys. Gray spanked the characters in his book tonight and immediately said sorry, but they had to go to time out because they need to obey. The other day, I heard the Nash tell Gray they needed to have a talk and I watched them both sit in the chairs in our living room and discuss that we don't poke, hit, bite, push, or spank or we have to go to time out. At least they understand! </li>
<li>Tenley is without a doubt the happiest baby I have ever known. I can't decide if it's just because she's one baby instead of two, or if she really just cries less, but my days are full of baby laughter and singing, not crying. She's a dream.</li>
<li>I did "mommy school" with the boys earlier this week. It's going to be a regular thing for sure. It made such a difference! We had a short lesson on A is for Apple, sang songs, counted apple seeds with chocolate chips [which I'm shocked they didn't just eat! They focused so hard!], colored, practiced writing A's with chalk, etc. They loved it! And after school, they played so well together and didn't come looking for me at all! I feel like they felt special and didn't need to whine for my attention. Such a great day. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciA909Mplk5H15p3d2m6S21PXQgj_FJz9KeHGr5ES4CLHJotPqmlTJYjZUvDTNxr6ApdFsHkj1eqt_LAoWBsNlpDITIoRUCIIPIfJ2jzqY15NSh7aetGVM7U4z4U2BdsgATGq9-qGK61b/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciA909Mplk5H15p3d2m6S21PXQgj_FJz9KeHGr5ES4CLHJotPqmlTJYjZUvDTNxr6ApdFsHkj1eqt_LAoWBsNlpDITIoRUCIIPIfJ2jzqY15NSh7aetGVM7U4z4U2BdsgATGq9-qGK61b/s1600/IMG_1466.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN4gI1gO0ncOG9rNZmHhz8yvan_jPBlTHfYq4cenRJlEFohIXfs4ssrmNiC8rZZcephyomQL-STUEtjs2efpcpWZ07bc5pnzbGGt_vTIbYpDq7gTTNWJ54gx7xhY5MgSM_r6J6ivH7tQD/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN4gI1gO0ncOG9rNZmHhz8yvan_jPBlTHfYq4cenRJlEFohIXfs4ssrmNiC8rZZcephyomQL-STUEtjs2efpcpWZ07bc5pnzbGGt_vTIbYpDq7gTTNWJ54gx7xhY5MgSM_r6J6ivH7tQD/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaYKcWlFZKyNdo5c-KmpJTJrQfPg1H-YJ3-A0EIoxP6O5qQ17lX3S2Hj-PQ5rgZ6PQKhx4Tkom3NK-D2-AEsAuCUjg87E0TrbRovUYEIufrTgmkLNPBIVOmW0QRUeGniOzgORRtYfZQwl/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaYKcWlFZKyNdo5c-KmpJTJrQfPg1H-YJ3-A0EIoxP6O5qQ17lX3S2Hj-PQ5rgZ6PQKhx4Tkom3NK-D2-AEsAuCUjg87E0TrbRovUYEIufrTgmkLNPBIVOmW0QRUeGniOzgORRtYfZQwl/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RwtQIOhhFxJix9UWSTLqhiK9YjzKs70ywTiQrQFc5QKNywBxtakEp-uuJC8WIBf8mn36Qxee-7m9Pg9HAu9oDpdNPKgjndDzNNAEeqvyn1zj4jFdpYjWvh4qWn9I5nW8GOSI5BiGQfSN/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RwtQIOhhFxJix9UWSTLqhiK9YjzKs70ywTiQrQFc5QKNywBxtakEp-uuJC8WIBf8mn36Qxee-7m9Pg9HAu9oDpdNPKgjndDzNNAEeqvyn1zj4jFdpYjWvh4qWn9I5nW8GOSI5BiGQfSN/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hlfGJd3L6P3ZgAz_fAZFl9K1_yJ1x1HhJDP-UtZQcrKE1IysKN1rDp9_dEvxryNPGYmZYJLLmt1765Pj9o9L8Ps_uNKDTuWhbwjssFhGIA9II9pHrut-oKKZAEjKN849lyW1N64-kmoo/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hlfGJd3L6P3ZgAz_fAZFl9K1_yJ1x1HhJDP-UtZQcrKE1IysKN1rDp9_dEvxryNPGYmZYJLLmt1765Pj9o9L8Ps_uNKDTuWhbwjssFhGIA9II9pHrut-oKKZAEjKN849lyW1N64-kmoo/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvygt5tEZ6FpdDFeSFHSYrsmECOToaXyr2dbFTgXJh3t_nMiOhnXv-rGNGk-AQaZjTxR_yJAGGP4QmFksK638ePU9juDoxIPokyXjLaTULUwD8LhE-_eScN5SWNAfRJynPJRWlGdPfyfLI/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvygt5tEZ6FpdDFeSFHSYrsmECOToaXyr2dbFTgXJh3t_nMiOhnXv-rGNGk-AQaZjTxR_yJAGGP4QmFksK638ePU9juDoxIPokyXjLaTULUwD8LhE-_eScN5SWNAfRJynPJRWlGdPfyfLI/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-72449505963152892562014-09-16T23:06:00.001-07:002014-09-16T23:20:04.260-07:00One Step at a TimeI was thinking about a lot of things tonight. Cameron scored advance screening tickets for us to The Maze Runner tonight, but we couldn't find a sitter, so I stayed home with the kids so he could have some relaxed time to himself. Truth be told, I didn't try very hard to find a sitter. I don't mind missing a movie here or there and Cam really just loves movies. Heaven knows his brain works overtime during the day, and a little quiet where his wife isn't whispering in his ear is needed sometimes. And I am finding it harder and harder to enjoy watching TV and movies. It's something I'm actually super happy about. Normally, I have four or five shows I'm watching at any given time. Right now, we are watching ONE. One show. Royal Pains on Netflix. And I watch it with Cameron. I used to put the kids down for their afternoon nap, grab my lunch, head upstairs, waste time finding my show to put on, and veg for a few hours in the afternoon, sometimes designing or working on other projects, but for the most part I just watched. And heaven forbid I was out of shows to watch. That was enough to put me in a terrible mood. It dawned on me today that I have been back from Arizona for over a week now, and I haven't watched a single show on my own. I'm so proud of that. And I intend to keep it that way. Does it really matter if I find out who wins the Biggest Loser or who the next Bachelor is? What will I be missing out on? Plus, I am so filled with this desire to create lately, I hate to be distracted when I get a few hours to work. I have dragon hooded towels to make for the boys, a sheep eared beanie to make for Tenley, more blog design ideas than I can count that I really would love to get out of my head and onto the screen, home videos to compile to DVD, an entire home organization workbook to apply, recipes to try, a garage sale to organize, books to read, classes I want to take, skills I want to develop [calligraphy and font making for starters], my 2013 and 2014 family yearbooks to finish [chatbooks didn't work out for me. Not enough space for journaling], a scripture study workbook course I love to focus on, and the three most beautiful kiddos to mother when they're awake. Never before have I honestly felt that there really just isn't enough time in the day to waste on television or movies. It's so exciting to me to be on an upward spiral instead of a downward one. It's addicting. It's empowering.<br />
<br />
After each baby, there is a definite day where I realize the newborn fog has been lifted and I, as a mom, have settled into the new addition to our family. The energy that comes from that realization puts me on such a high and it causes so much positivity in every aspect of my life. The boys were nuts today, but I had patience with them. Nash had a hard time falling asleep and was crying. Instead of getting after him, I brought both Nash and Gray a chocolate chip and we sang a few songs, snuggled, and had a quick tickle fight. By the end of it, Nash called out "night night, mama! Love you!" tear free as I shut their door. Loving, patient mothering is so filling to me. Today wasn't perfect. It wasn't even close. But I am so filled. I love the mother I am today. It is such a hard job some days. It is tiring. It is demanding. But oh, it is rich.<br />
<br />
Being a mother is such an interesting experience to me. It is a job that is motivated by such an intense love that there is no possible way you can feel like you've done everything these beautiful little ones deserve. There is always more to be done. However, today I understand that just because I haven't done everything does not mean I'm doing a poor job. I am a great mom because I am trying. I am trying to teach my children to love each other and themselves and their Heavenly Father and Savior. I am trying to help them understand the world around them. I am trying to feed them healthy food. I am trying to exercise their brains and their bodies. I am trying to help them feel secure in my love. But most of all, I am trying. And I really think that's what counts.<br />
<br />
I'm surprised at how often I think about the spouses my children will have someday. In my mind, there are three other young mothers raising crazy kids right now and just trying to do right by these little ones that they love. I feel so connected to these other women. And I love them so much for trying day in and day out. <br />
<br />
In my kitchen, there's a print I made when we were going through the brunt of infertility. It reads Alma 36:20-21. <br />
<br />
<div class="highlight">
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="20"> </a><span class="verse">20 </span>And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!</div>
<div class="highlight">
<a class="bookmark-anchor dontHighlight" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="21"> </a><span class="verse">21 </span>Yea,
I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so
bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on
the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my
joy.</div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="highlight">
I always thought the pains and the joy occurred at two very separate times. For example, I was filled with deep pain when battling infertility, and it made the sweetness of our children's births completely joyous, marvelous, and exquisite. However, today I have been thinking about how Motherhood operates on the two extremes often at exactly the same time. I can honestly say my heart breaks on a daily basis. But it also swells to the point of bursting in the same day. My heart breaks over my own inadequacy as a mother. It breaks for the world my children are growing up in. It breaks because my children are growing at all, but in the very same moment it swells because they are growing, too! Being a mother is the richest experience of my life. I am so grateful I get to experience this. So blessed. </div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="highlight">
Another step forward I made today is when Cam was gone, I didn't make him feel guilty about it when he came home. All too often, I throw a [super mature] fit when Cam is out late at night at a class/seminar/studying/rare guy's night. Like he somehow owes me something now. Grow up, Kristin. Come on, now! Tonight, I encouraged him to go to the show without me. He came home to a happy wife in a messy house. But I was happy. And I think he'd rather have a happy, exhausted wife than a clean house anyhow. In fact, I know he would, which is why I didn't clean it. He operates at such a high level, I sometimes forget he's human. Our life is pretty stressful. We are both pulled a million different directions each and every day. Sometimes I forget that I'm not the only one who deals with a ton of stress. Selfish as it may be, that's the honest truth. Today, I was aware of him. I'm grateful my eyes were opened to that. And I am so grateful he got the chance to relax. </div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="highlight">
I'm getting the hang of this wife and mom thing. At least I feel that way today. Which probably means tomorrow will be a humbling day. But if i just focus on the baby steps forward, we'll be just fine. </div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="highlight">
I wouldn't trade this life for the world. You can't buy the feeling that fills our home tonight. Everyone is tucked in tight and the peace is tangible because I'm honestly in love with every imperfect bit. </div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zXai0zy10tJd8SnLeALHfIdWF2pdf0X_PVLtuoaSk_bF1mZfByykgeuGqM5O7v0daSuKNnHxz8rXOIm8ai1r6oWsmtumM2LhMxtjVRMgKR6SLqYuGT2ABLTe9kRnGjbtPR0RWuXH7hSF/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zXai0zy10tJd8SnLeALHfIdWF2pdf0X_PVLtuoaSk_bF1mZfByykgeuGqM5O7v0daSuKNnHxz8rXOIm8ai1r6oWsmtumM2LhMxtjVRMgKR6SLqYuGT2ABLTe9kRnGjbtPR0RWuXH7hSF/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="highlight">
<br /></div>
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-1218348134972528782014-09-14T23:17:00.000-07:002014-09-14T23:17:02.151-07:00Sunday at the Park Every Sunday we come home from church and the kiddos go straight down for naps. And they sleep. Sunday naps are the best naps of the week by far. Almost every time, we have to wake the boys up for dinner. Which means after dinner, they have serious energy to burn. So we go to the park down the street and let them run free until we come back home for dessert. Tonight's dessert was a total let down. [Homemade Nilla Wafers that tasted like potato chips, what?! And banana pudding that never set up and tasted...wrong. Whomp whomp.] Luckily, the sunshine, cool air, and grinning little sister made for a beautiful evening nonetheless. [Seriously can't handle the scrunchy-nose grins she's handing out lately.]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsteaud_Wb3ssEbFU8NOpguAm_Z174OnlZFtk5LOL8tvuaNW1ledT_GoE1e1ExnpvxzGZP0GG5SrgXKuIowgOD6J5NuksSaE5wuUqBLkiZwKQOwX_6JOsL-S5A2fDbwikjDkocKnKKabr6/s1600/DSC_5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsteaud_Wb3ssEbFU8NOpguAm_Z174OnlZFtk5LOL8tvuaNW1ledT_GoE1e1ExnpvxzGZP0GG5SrgXKuIowgOD6J5NuksSaE5wuUqBLkiZwKQOwX_6JOsL-S5A2fDbwikjDkocKnKKabr6/s1600/DSC_5774.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR3e_552qupa5rKgVAtjAm96B1zdel0uKhAvzOOrE9cpiNmxQin-6xsRde3y54bGI6xvF_ZBQdUdATUFovvfAoYdh2Rqu0Dz-gEIyxEtB8PW4Oah8Tzb0ZOvDLKi0b_Sypx242yF5I1Tf/s1600/DSC_5781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR3e_552qupa5rKgVAtjAm96B1zdel0uKhAvzOOrE9cpiNmxQin-6xsRde3y54bGI6xvF_ZBQdUdATUFovvfAoYdh2Rqu0Dz-gEIyxEtB8PW4Oah8Tzb0ZOvDLKi0b_Sypx242yF5I1Tf/s1600/DSC_5781.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKX7CHAvn5nK8B3xBOi67x6ipH2NK0nj1mHuGTbcCotkyKrtPiKCLsxBtO3uoBWFMgDE6leSIZYMHovt026N_aEmFlWu1YzPH8vOmeyiMqP-0DksyzR0yEqDz_zZ_VFgbUbH1g1I0ChaW/s1600/DSC_5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKX7CHAvn5nK8B3xBOi67x6ipH2NK0nj1mHuGTbcCotkyKrtPiKCLsxBtO3uoBWFMgDE6leSIZYMHovt026N_aEmFlWu1YzPH8vOmeyiMqP-0DksyzR0yEqDz_zZ_VFgbUbH1g1I0ChaW/s1600/DSC_5786.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MgX4jJCmeErA6ZBcfgVOxoe-rE-hou7atsJI0-7TbtTYrkyHONjRWsCC_Ih8FZekSm6jnaU6Khh25E6lp6xLC_48dW4a9YnGVGf9z0yPMPJscfk5w30WrjU5TF9PD2HRW2p-uvdOhU1A/s1600/DSC_5789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MgX4jJCmeErA6ZBcfgVOxoe-rE-hou7atsJI0-7TbtTYrkyHONjRWsCC_Ih8FZekSm6jnaU6Khh25E6lp6xLC_48dW4a9YnGVGf9z0yPMPJscfk5w30WrjU5TF9PD2HRW2p-uvdOhU1A/s1600/DSC_5789.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp3kK_-4LULfwzSaKJTprfsVqlxCoEKYhJMuEM83hEKlPwihLxUhwmTNNEtUVQvGURwjtudNrsGhf1plgrHNLkvSPQ0se6lk4FyLQ5ortWyj9OgkB5OWAL0ur1y3LE65c0gAZ6IasYkli/s1600/DSC_5796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZp3kK_-4LULfwzSaKJTprfsVqlxCoEKYhJMuEM83hEKlPwihLxUhwmTNNEtUVQvGURwjtudNrsGhf1plgrHNLkvSPQ0se6lk4FyLQ5ortWyj9OgkB5OWAL0ur1y3LE65c0gAZ6IasYkli/s1600/DSC_5796.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpqjjp4rJshlMVKdwjj6tlaolkrUIYabzGnhJiegLHUP10Rzc_pl3AP4kgbN0q8jIq5QwG_rtJ43ZxxEQ_DIWAQ8BY2pC0d4oJkH4T4M9M4ohBDlrkcgGwYeklllpJ3PYlXlrsg-eTr1O/s1600/DSC_5801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpqjjp4rJshlMVKdwjj6tlaolkrUIYabzGnhJiegLHUP10Rzc_pl3AP4kgbN0q8jIq5QwG_rtJ43ZxxEQ_DIWAQ8BY2pC0d4oJkH4T4M9M4ohBDlrkcgGwYeklllpJ3PYlXlrsg-eTr1O/s1600/DSC_5801.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ZViLYYEB2RF6diFUKhMXBfLROpGO-j_jfbrFtciLwDjYEvQGXFnVQIi6A0bvAZSYvpmOIBUwQvl-UcUiak97n6U6RmlSN9uIBEGoZxX_CiWlCUG9py5Q8d_fXnRQeHY5KEyh8gAz3SB/s1600/DSC_5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7ZViLYYEB2RF6diFUKhMXBfLROpGO-j_jfbrFtciLwDjYEvQGXFnVQIi6A0bvAZSYvpmOIBUwQvl-UcUiak97n6U6RmlSN9uIBEGoZxX_CiWlCUG9py5Q8d_fXnRQeHY5KEyh8gAz3SB/s1600/DSC_5803.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-48882277611514231502014-09-14T23:09:00.000-07:002014-09-14T23:09:34.641-07:00Photo-Motivation<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nash and Gray broke the lens to my camera just over a year ago. At the time, we had just got our very first smart phones. And I never fixed the lens because those smart phones could do it all! And I got sucked in to Instagram instead of blogging because it is so convenient. And it is. But convenience sacrifices quality sometimes. And I've also been spewing all my random thoughts at Cameron instead of writing them out and then I expect him to react a certain way or have the brain power to talk things through with me whenever I feel like it. And that's just flat out not fair. Number one, he is not a woman (thank heavens.). Number two, I have a seriously huge amount of random (though quite good) thoughts. Number three, I tend to think each particular thought is SO important at the very moment it pops into my brain. Poor guy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This past weekend, Cameron found a replacement lens for me on craigslist for $50. Prior to that he mentioned that someone had messaged him on Facebook asking why I don't blog any more. And that got my wheels turning. I love blogging. I love writing. I miss writing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm back.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I've been playing with my real camera again. With a new model. She's a total babe. [I knew having a girl would be fun, but I had no way of knowing just how fun it would be!]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So let's start over. Hi. I'm Kristin. I design blogs and websites. I eat whole foods. I tend to attract crazy. I post way too many pictures. I love being a wife and mother. I'm a faithful mormon. And once again, I am a good-enough-for-me writer and photographer. Hey-o!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN0lfSCfxfK23TptDCrFTF9Rr9qfq31acZa_b7jJ8q_Ijo7a2C4KNpXQ8ceG4ds3XUtAXYyLUYjbbDx5eyIpTRiy4nhmxvbnWlSrNRR51WXek7J0mjJLUCB3atR5BqlHp1PdroboPS7kS/s1600/DSC_5697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN0lfSCfxfK23TptDCrFTF9Rr9qfq31acZa_b7jJ8q_Ijo7a2C4KNpXQ8ceG4ds3XUtAXYyLUYjbbDx5eyIpTRiy4nhmxvbnWlSrNRR51WXek7J0mjJLUCB3atR5BqlHp1PdroboPS7kS/s1600/DSC_5697.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcz-sVpAdxiOnp0cLfTExI1g4Ufmz3BCw0dNwXztFvp1nBrFhyphenhyphenKNtQKm5tIUnIKrHbVv8VQUj5VKzTB8t0MrKygUMreqJm_4xsqISE4JtV6PkBISJxMvK0f-SqgohUZNiXUzGMfL-whUJ/s1600/DSC_5708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcz-sVpAdxiOnp0cLfTExI1g4Ufmz3BCw0dNwXztFvp1nBrFhyphenhyphenKNtQKm5tIUnIKrHbVv8VQUj5VKzTB8t0MrKygUMreqJm_4xsqISE4JtV6PkBISJxMvK0f-SqgohUZNiXUzGMfL-whUJ/s1600/DSC_5708.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuda3fxmR0BuLblsnHEMUW91roeKYwwmhaFhxioQVq-5EC53iQ1helG4Ncr2XlT_JfQkJ7iCSe0bX-sbNkA2fdt3YydhGrNUGNAXUgpd-jO-ug0AAo0gZ2ntLaZ0_sq-r_DKcebvETMKX/s1600/DSC_5712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuda3fxmR0BuLblsnHEMUW91roeKYwwmhaFhxioQVq-5EC53iQ1helG4Ncr2XlT_JfQkJ7iCSe0bX-sbNkA2fdt3YydhGrNUGNAXUgpd-jO-ug0AAo0gZ2ntLaZ0_sq-r_DKcebvETMKX/s1600/DSC_5712.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyG7EnVjIND4LdTTRx4rb0sLAfFKqwayXls1nFsSxmdk6mJ9PXaDWVbYWzPOl3qIRVIR6Lb1O9qCHfMkZavyAxj-yI_TkEC-TpHC5AYShBbWOY-OhcW8-iiZStXxEm_p1xVgX_9LfbGV-/s1600/DSC_5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyG7EnVjIND4LdTTRx4rb0sLAfFKqwayXls1nFsSxmdk6mJ9PXaDWVbYWzPOl3qIRVIR6Lb1O9qCHfMkZavyAxj-yI_TkEC-TpHC5AYShBbWOY-OhcW8-iiZStXxEm_p1xVgX_9LfbGV-/s1600/DSC_5713.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9vf2cSkNrLgwfdXWlPHcTIQUs-w-av4IFH7BaTJpuSAHQZhBGzkC4mHWhIOqNmsyUAVuoNYrXGn1BnE31X__b8nzCxGTXvkB7RZ-1XylHnHnLCKzJXO_nDwmoulzA1SZsqD04w1dREJJ/s1600/DSC_5715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9vf2cSkNrLgwfdXWlPHcTIQUs-w-av4IFH7BaTJpuSAHQZhBGzkC4mHWhIOqNmsyUAVuoNYrXGn1BnE31X__b8nzCxGTXvkB7RZ-1XylHnHnLCKzJXO_nDwmoulzA1SZsqD04w1dREJJ/s1600/DSC_5715.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JepcNX8PreHGjNhR1i3p3LtuGbWPQpmiPfIf8XQdHQqOlRhXuo4bqQQbSoKIvgqsOZa_d0S-6tnmqVhRZhkdFyOnP93ZchIV5TmTGBHWq3RzqDZzZrrQK4mD4cEwEa9fOYHfgXV31f4F/s1600/DSC_5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JepcNX8PreHGjNhR1i3p3LtuGbWPQpmiPfIf8XQdHQqOlRhXuo4bqQQbSoKIvgqsOZa_d0S-6tnmqVhRZhkdFyOnP93ZchIV5TmTGBHWq3RzqDZzZrrQK4mD4cEwEa9fOYHfgXV31f4F/s1600/DSC_5717.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOqRlL36CdmkIfxXp-9uLQS0Ura4-4dGA3qrANmu9ewL5A-SrIiL83drzEKC_ld-FOEJldBWyCm_d93esOQyIaE8CVIY-7574r_kjjayi594TzkIx6S6GQz84k8hHvOS8kvA9Q4zHGftF/s1600/DSC_5719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOqRlL36CdmkIfxXp-9uLQS0Ura4-4dGA3qrANmu9ewL5A-SrIiL83drzEKC_ld-FOEJldBWyCm_d93esOQyIaE8CVIY-7574r_kjjayi594TzkIx6S6GQz84k8hHvOS8kvA9Q4zHGftF/s1600/DSC_5719.JPG" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISWgH-lVQO09SwmhyuczX8UvUwCMdT9IRQ7lFbMfc7tzu-qIi9lPszwQdaNlVCcCDXrEAFFNY585_zvjcbPvw7Dv3frY_llPNoTueut5pxxYGfJZZNAlskCk2iKkK6NCHu4YQVbQGfi1n/s1600/DSC_5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISWgH-lVQO09SwmhyuczX8UvUwCMdT9IRQ7lFbMfc7tzu-qIi9lPszwQdaNlVCcCDXrEAFFNY585_zvjcbPvw7Dv3frY_llPNoTueut5pxxYGfJZZNAlskCk2iKkK6NCHu4YQVbQGfi1n/s1600/DSC_5729.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpGuauvIG3QwXzCIs8cynlo7b-YHELsswMLag_UVao_EOeuFCaD5LlQGO6ac5ife9Y0H0LLlCEbjOo5mQGd9zqt3Thomh2rmT3bBkLNj6f2KCzbp_tVM5M6LPmicq3ub9CmXTxq7c7JsJ/s1600/DSC_5735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpGuauvIG3QwXzCIs8cynlo7b-YHELsswMLag_UVao_EOeuFCaD5LlQGO6ac5ife9Y0H0LLlCEbjOo5mQGd9zqt3Thomh2rmT3bBkLNj6f2KCzbp_tVM5M6LPmicq3ub9CmXTxq7c7JsJ/s1600/DSC_5735.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFOQfLAYzoKz0X7sIxoFnOM_aydkR9a_oOrSUCuFRL5aCgfAwtjIz5CdlQztboKSXtEMjp4_z-hnAZ_qleNd2q8DoaMb5aAECFSPUDhLzUkwVH-ssKCWnZLVqfcXblDzGYdQDgerV48vK/s1600/DSC_5743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFOQfLAYzoKz0X7sIxoFnOM_aydkR9a_oOrSUCuFRL5aCgfAwtjIz5CdlQztboKSXtEMjp4_z-hnAZ_qleNd2q8DoaMb5aAECFSPUDhLzUkwVH-ssKCWnZLVqfcXblDzGYdQDgerV48vK/s1600/DSC_5743.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And this is my Tenley. She's new here.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-19943288216558358742014-05-16T19:35:00.002-07:002014-05-16T19:35:31.720-07:00Birth StoryFrom before she was even conceived, drama has surrounded this little girl. Her frozen cycle was all sorts of stressful with incorrect syringes, forgotten medications, postponed appointments, etc. Then at 10 weeks, she hid from three different midwives just trying to find her heartbeat which took almost an hour to track down because she was ping ponging around in there. Considering her track record, her labor and delivery were par for the course.<br />
<br />
It started Wednesday morning at 2:30am. Granger woke up with a nightmare about a train. He was sobbing at the top of the stairs. I went to tuck him back into bed and Nash was awake as well. I had a foreboding feeling to really soak them up a little before I went downstairs, so I kissed and cuddled and tucked them back in. Gray started crying again about 10 minutes later and Cam went up to comfort him. I laid in bed and couldn't fall back asleep. I was getting really annoyed at not getting the rest I needed and it took me a while to figure out I was so uncomfortable because I was having contractions. They woke me up constantly over the next two hours so I decided I should probably time them and just see what was going on. 7 minutes apart. 1 minute long. It was so exciting to be able to predict them and watch my body regulate the tightening! I could literally count down to when the next one would start. That had never happened before. I texted my mom and analyzed things for a bit with her. I really cherish that one on one time I had with her that morning. I was so grateful she was up and willing to talk things through with me.<br />
<br />
Cameron woke up for school around 5 and I told him I was having contractions, but that they weren't deep and painful, just regular for the first time, so he left and told me to keep him posted. Earlier in the week, I had contractions all night long but as soon as the boys woke up they went away, so I decided to wait until the boys woke up to see what happened. I went to get them out of their room and I could hear Gray waking up Nash. "Hiii!" "NO." "Hi Nash!" "NO." "Nash! HI!" "NO." It was so funny. Nash takes after me. He loves his sleep. Gray is my early riser. I had another contraction outside their door. That was encouraging to me. My body knew I was about to enter mom-mode for the day and it was still contracting. I went in their room and they were so cheerful! I gave them a few kisses, breathed through a contraction or two and got them dressed. Changing their diapers was really hard. And then I had two solid contractions 5 minutes apart. And then I had one 2 minutes after that.<br />
<br />
I told my mom. And she told me to get Cam home. If they were coming this quick, rush hour could be a problem. They still weren't terribly difficult to get through, but they were regular and consistent. I called Cam. And I texted two of my best friends to see if they could take Nash and Gray. And I texted my midwife. Her advice was to get out of mom-mode as fast as possible so my body didn't shut off the contractions. Within 30 minutes, Cam was home to take the boys to a friends' house and contractions were coming every 6 minutes consistently with a double peak after every 5 or so. My midwife sent us on a walk to try and deepen them and help things progress. During the walk I could feel Tenley get lower and lower. It was exciting to me. Contractions kept coming! I remember the trees and birds and sky looking so vibrant. I loved holding Cam's hand and breathing deep and just enjoying the sunshine with him. It was just what I needed.<br />
<br />
After about an hour and a half I needed water and my legs were really tired. We went home and I laid down for a minute. And contractions all but disappeared. I was so discouraged! I texted my midwife to let her know and she suggested nipple stimulation. 30 minutes. Horrible (at least I thought they were at the time...), hard, contractions coming every 2-3 minutes by the end of it. After the thirty minutes, they kept coming on strong and my midwife said to come in to the birth center. This was about 2:30 in the afternoon, so we're talking 12 hours of early labor at this point. As soon as we got in the car, I didn't have a single contraction for 20 minutes! It confused me completely. Didn't I know my own body? Cameron had me say "She's coming and she'll be here soon." over and over again to try and conquer the mental block I seemed to be having. The very first time those words came out of my mouth, I had the biggest contraction yet. My midwife still wanted me to come in to see if these contractions I was feeling were helping me progress at all. And they were! I was a 3 and 60% effaced. That helped. I liked knowing SOMETHING was happening.<br />
<br />
We were sent home to take another walk (which didn't help near as much as the first one) and take a nap. I had wimpy little contractions every so often. I didn't time them. And they didn't seem regular anyway. My midwife, though, had said "You are definitely in labor. It's just early in the game and we have a lot of work to do." She mentioned that Tenley would most likely be born in the next 48 hours. I didn't understand though. Does that mean that I just have to sit and wait for my body to fake me out again? I was pretty discouraged. And I was panicking about my boys overstaying their welcome with friends [they weren't. My friends are AMAZING, but rational thoughts were not my strength at this point.] I had decided we would go pick up the boys, put them to bed at home and see what happened the next morning. Before that, though, Cameron arranged for my chiropractor, Sarah, to come to our house and adjust me and do some acupuncture to get labor going again.<br />
<br />
She arrived at 7:30 with another friend. She adjusted my back first. It helped relax me and get rid of a lot of the anxiety I had been experiencing that day. And then she adjusted my hips. My right hip was really hard to get. As soon as she did it, I sat up on the table and said "I'm going to vomit." and left the room. I didn't vomit, but I could definitely sense that something major had changed. Contractions started again, much harder than the first time, every 7 minutes. I sat on the couch and she put needles in my hands, feet, and head to relax me, help with pain relief, and keep the contractions coming strong. They stayed and chatted for an hour and a half, and contractions came consistently every 7 minutes through their entire visit. I had come to the peace that no matter what I did, contractions were out of my control. They would either keep coming or they would die out and that just doesn't matter. So I got up and we went to take a change of clothes to our friends for the boys the next day. Since contractions were back and it was so late [after 10 at this point] we would let the boys sleep over at their friends'.<br />
<br />
At their house, we stayed and chatted for about 45 minutes. I was having consistent, tense contractions still which made me excited. I had been sitting, standing, riding in a car, walking up and down stairs, etc. and they hadn't changed at all. I let myself think maybe this was real. We went to get a drink at the QT and headed home. It was nice to be just me and Cam for the night. My midwife told me to take a tylenol PM, get in the tub, and then go to bed so I could hopefully get some rest before things got real. Things got real much faster than either of us anticipated. I took the Tylenol PM, got in the tub, got out at around 11:30 and tried to go to bed. At midnight I ran another bath. These contractions really hurt. I stayed in the water as long as I could, but I was breathing and moaning through each surge. Cameron stayed in bed, but I know he wasn't sleeping. When the water got cold and I could psyche myself up enough to move, I managed to get out and wrap a towel around myself. I figured I should probably time a few contractions just to see where we were at. My sense of time had been a little screwy since the night before. They were coming at 3 minutes apart and I was really working through them. This was at 1:30 in the morning. I got Cam up. He is very cautious and didn't want to call the midwife unless things were really happening. He wanted to time a few more. As nicely as I could, I told him to call her. He asked if I could talk to her. I'm really proud that I didn't swear at him. She answered right away and he explained what was going on. I got on the phone for about a minute between contractions. All I could say was "I'm really....having....a hard....time." And I tossed the phone back at Cam when the next one came. Robin, my midwife, said it was definitely time to come in.<br />
<br />
I was nervous to get in the car for two very different reasons. 1. I didn't want the contractions to die down again like they had that afternoon. 2. I was worried about being able to cope with the contractions because I had really been moving my hips to work through them at home. We had to labor at home for another half hour because Robin lives farther away from the Birth Center than we do, so Cam helped me get dressed and ready to get in the car. We grabbed food from the freezer, my phone charger and our bag and he helped me out the door. It was a 20 minute drive to the birth center. I had 3 contractions on the way and 1 in the parking lot. If I could bounce my hips back and forth before they came on, I was fine. I missed the boat on one of them... I didn't miss it again. <br />
<br />
We got to the Birth Center at 2:30am, Robin had already drawn a bath for me. The tub there could easily fit three people in it. She checked me and I was at a 5! Then she helped me get in and got Cam a chair so he could stay right by me. I needed his hand somewhere on me so I could close my eyes, but still know that he was right by me. Robin taught me how to let my limbs float in the water and release as much tension in my body as I possibly could through each contraction. If I managed to reach that high level of relaxation, I could visualize using the energy and sinking into each surge instead of feeling like the contractions were happening to me. It gave me a lot of confidence. I had read about women being able to use the energy instead of working against it. It was incredible to know that I could do that, too. I would let Cameron know every time a contraction came and he would talk me through it and just rub my shoulder or arm. Just him touching me was such a strength to me. The water cooled down after about an hour and a half and it wasn't helping me as much as before. The contractions had also slowed quite a bit, so I got out. The break was nice, but it wasn't going to get my baby here! <br />
<br />
I went to the bed and Robin checked me. I was at a 7.5-8! I couldn't believe it. It had only been an hour and a half and I had dilated almost 3 centimeters! I could do this! My bag of water was getting in the way of her head and not putting
enough pressure on my cervix either, so Robin broke my water and I
expected things to really pick up. Oddly enough, they did the exact
opposite. Contractions were coming hard and I was so, so tired, but we needed to walk in order to get the contractions closer together. Contractions were super strong when they came, but they weren't close enough together to push through those last few centimeters. I walked laps around the Birth Center. Cameron followed closely behind everywhere I went. Just when I needed him, there he was. I would turn around and put my arms around his neck whenever a contraction came. I hung on him and swayed my hips side to side and took deep breaths. Robin would come behind me and put counter pressure on my hips and help me move. When I started having a hard time coping with the pain, she suggested talking to little Tenley. I was blown away by how much that helped. I could do anything when I felt that the two of us were on the same team, working together. "Come on, baby girl. You're doing great. You are strong, because you are mine. And I am strong." Whenever I forgot to talk to her and started to panic as the peak of each contraction neared, someone else would say something to Tenley and I could breathe again. "You beautiful angel girl, your mama can't wait to hold you." "Tenley, come help mama. Mama's hurting. She wants you to come." Talking to her got me through the next two hours.<br />
<br />
At 6 in the morning, she checked me again and I was still at a 7.5-8. Nothing had changed and I had been working SO hard. I thought for sure we were getting close. The contractions were so strong, but they were not coming close enough to move me forward. I was so defeated. I was so tired. I hadn't slept in well over 24 hours and there was no end in sight. I was just having horrible pains that would not go away unless the baby came, but she was not coming. Robin and Krista [the other midwife] worked together to figure out that Tenley was caught on my right hip. She wasn't descending into the birth canal, so there was no pressure to move things forward. They had me work through a contraction with my left leg up on the bed and my right leg on the floor. It felt amazing. I could move so well and breathe so deep. And then they informed me I had to do one with my right leg up and my left leg down. And I thought I was going to die the first time I even just tried to lift my leg up. It definitely put pressure on that right hip. I worked through two more contractions while the midwives explained to me that I had to do a contraction like that in order to move forward. Somewhere in there, a prayer was said that I would not suffer needlessly in order to bring Tenley here. Somewhere in there my wonderful husband called Sarah, my chiropractor, to get to the center as fast as possible. Somewhere in there I started talking to my sweet Tenley and giving myself the biggest pep talk I could muster. And somewhere in there, I gained the heart of a warrior. I felt so strong. I felt invincible. I felt like I could do a hundred more contractions if it meant my Tenley was coming.<br />
<br />
I remember Cameron saying, "Kristin, you HAVE to do this." So I did. I put my leg up on the chair and worked through the toughest contraction yet and I grinned and about burst into tears when I felt her move! She moved down! I felt her move! I enjoyed two extremely productive contractions. I got to push a little with each one. And then I felt her move back. All I kept saying was "something just isn't right. It's not right. It's not right!" We decided to try something else. So I sat backwards on the toilet resting my arms on the tank. Cameron sat in a chair behind me and pushed on my hips as each contraction came. Once again, they slowed. Then Sarah walked in. And she took command of the situation immediately. She had me move to the bed and lay on my side and cranked my right hip so hard it was alarming, but PERFECT. Baby loved it. She moved right where she needed to be and didn't move back again. Sarah adjusted my other hip after the next contraction. Cameron was right by me, rubbing my shoulders. Talking me through everything. I relied on him completely. I was still a 7-8. And I screamed. I was so completely angry. The contractions were coming so hard. Nothing was changing. I felt so defeated, again. I remember whispering to Cameron, "I can't do this anymore." He squeezed my hands and said "Yes, yes you can! You CAN do this. You were made to do this." He always knew just what I needed. <br />
<br />
A few minutes later the head midwife, Joyce, arrived and was told the situation. Up until this point, Robin and Krista had been so encouraging to me. Everyone kept telling me I was strong, that I could do this, that I was doing it right that second, that she was coming. The contractions were so hard that I started panicking. When I panicked, they were horrendous. I remember banging my head into Cam's chest, the bed, pillows, struggling to grab anything I possibly could get my hands on, kicking my legs. Everything felt miserable. Then Joyce came in with the tough love. "Kristin. Get on top of this RIGHT NOW." She meant mentally. And after I heard that, it reminded me of my dad coaching me in softball. I don't know why, but it tapped into the side of my brain that managed to shut the pity party off. Her command both gave me direction and convinced me that I had the capacity to finish this and at that moment I was <b>choosing</b> to give up. I repeated "I will NOT panic again." over and over in my brain. I am not sure if I said it out loud or not. I do know, though, that whenever I felt the fear of panic coming, I repeated that phrase and could breathe deep and long instead of panicking. "I am strong. You are strong because you are mine. You are mine."<br />
<br />
I believe it was about 7 am when Joyce made the decision to check me. I was still at a 7-8, but she kept her fingers in me through the next contraction. I was flat on my back and thought I was going to die. [I use that phrase far too often and far too flippantly. For the first time in my life, I actually, truthfully thought my life was going to end.] Up until that point, I had been able to move through the pain. That movement was what I believed allowed me to use the energy and work with it instead of letting it consume me. I could not move with her fingers in me, flat on the bed. I looked at Cameron and said "I can't do this. Please let it end. Please don't make me do this. I need to be done. I need a break." But through that contraction, Cameron instinctively leaned down and kissed me so gently and sweetly and stared straight into my eyes. I love him so much for that. No one told him to do that. He saved me. I focused on his big, beautiful green eyes through the next contraction and Joyce called out, "You're complete!" I was at a ten. And I could have just exploded from joy. I didn't think I was going to hear those words. They moved me onto all fours and told me to push hard. The contractions were right on top of each other, which was fine because I could finally use that energy again. And I felt my baby girl coming. I had no idea how close we were. I thought I could be pushing for hours because of how the earlier stages of labor had gone. I was losing my oomph when one midwife said "she's crowning!" and Joyce responded "well hey! There's a baby!"<br />
<br />
There were some difficulties still with her descending and Joyce had to keep her fingers in me all the way up till Tenley was born. But I got over it. She was coming. They talked me through every single second of pushing. "Slow down. Let her stretch. Slow. Breathe." I tried as hard as I could, but my body took over. I tried so hard to slow down, but I felt like I was constantly pushing anyway. My midwives kept telling me I was doing beautifully, so I don't think it was a conscious ability. My body just did what needed to be done. And I felt her head come out! I visualized her body coming smoothly afterward, but that's not what happened. They soon realized why the labor had been taking so long. Tenley's umbilical cord was wrapped around her shoulder preventing her from descending properly. I had to bring my right leg up into a sprinters stance for a couple pushes so they could get Tenley's shoulders out and unwrap the cord. Then they had me move onto my back and I pushed twice and then she came. The cord was also wrapped around both of her ankles. They put her up on my chest immediately. I couldn't believe it. I have never known such a sense of relief and love and power and gratitude. It was completely tangible. Cameron, still on his knees at the edge of the bed by my face, gave me a huge kiss and tearfully said "You did it! Oh Kristin she is beautiful. You did it!" The emotion and spirit in the room felt so real and perfect. She was born at 7:42. 8 lbs 4 oz. 21.5 inches long. <br />
<br />
Tenley was blue and beautiful. I remember rubbing her back and begging her to cry. She let out the most beautiful cry I have ever heard. She had so much hair! She pinked up as she got the rest of the cord blood in her little body. It was so fascinating to watch. After about a minute, Cameron was able to cut the cord. She had the most beautiful hands. Long, long fingers and gorgeous nails. I've never liked my fingernails. Hers are so elegant and long. I felt so incredible laying there holding her. Meanwhile I was still losing some blood and delivering the placenta. But I didn't care. All I could focus on was her and Cameron. We did it. I kept thinking to myself "We are strong, little girl. We worked together."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGAabRszpZ0d_j-Gt52vFxWKD4tVTLBugjBUpUYNVIlfCdAWCU1ORgDIG9nqSo4XjUV6AvYVJFIt3FtP4DO-xfegNZfneV5gFvjnLDFaev0n6Eums4qWlQ9w_xIrGMaBnK_qMrQ8mWUQY/s1600/image(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGAabRszpZ0d_j-Gt52vFxWKD4tVTLBugjBUpUYNVIlfCdAWCU1ORgDIG9nqSo4XjUV6AvYVJFIt3FtP4DO-xfegNZfneV5gFvjnLDFaev0n6Eums4qWlQ9w_xIrGMaBnK_qMrQ8mWUQY/s1600/image(2).jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was told later that without Sarah, we were headed to the hospital for an emergency c-section. She came just in time. I am so grateful she could be there to be a part of Tenley's birth. Without her, I know things would have been completely different. The midwives were so well trained and knew just what to do. They handled the situation so well and were so empowering to me.<br />
<br />
Around 9:30, our friend Scarlet brought the boys to the birth center to meet Tenley. I was so excited to see them. They walked into the room and both boys yelled "Mom! Hi!" "Hi dad!" Cameron was sitting next to me on the bed and Gray came over to his side and said "Baby?" Cam lifted him up and told him it was his new sister Tenley. He came right up to her and softly patted her head and gave her a kiss. Nash on the other hand was not so excited. He hasn't quite figured out what happened. Whenever we tried to tell him he had a baby sister he would just say "No baby! No sister!" Oh well. He will get it eventually. The boys have been staying with friends this entire weekend. It has been so so so helpful. Gratitude doesn't do it justice. Our house is so quiet and peaceful. But we are excited for them to come home tomorrow. <br />
<br />
For the past several weeks I had been having these anxiety dreams. Cameron was so stressed, busy, and gone for school and national boards. I was afraid I was alone in this entire process. I was so scared going into this. I was shocked and surprised at his instincts. Everything I was afraid of was completely forgotten. He knew exactly what I needed and when I needed it. Whether by his words, his touch, etc. he knew just what to do and say. I could not have asked for a better partner in this. It was completely amazing. I will never forget it. <br />
<br />
We got home at 11 AM and spent the remainder of the day sleeping and cuddling and skyping family. We have been so blessed and taken care of. My mom comes out on Sunday. My dad is driving out later next week for Memorial Day weekend. And then Cameron's mom is coming after that. We are so glad Tenley is finally here. She is a complete miracle; a dream come true. <br />
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-75982536042177706432014-03-06T11:08:00.001-08:002014-03-06T11:08:10.412-08:00LullabyesNaptime and bedtime are a little more fun (or infuriating) now that the boys can communicate their wants and needs as far as what lullabye they would like to hear. For about a week, I tried singing every song I could think of when Nash requested "butter", "bihdeen", and "pihdeen." He would let me get about a line in and then freak out that it wasn't the right song. Imagine my triumph when I discovered he was asking for the "spinning" song, which is in fact "do as I'm doing." <div><br></div><div>The favorite right now is "once there was a snowman" followed by "the baby song" which is "if I ain't got you" by Alisha Keys. If I sing both of those, the boys go straight down, no fussing. </div><div><br></div><div>Someday we'll get back to more spiritual primary songs, but for now I kind of dig their taste. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-27970454973766245462014-02-26T08:07:00.001-08:002014-02-26T08:07:23.846-08:00Pancakes + PorkEveryone should have to cook pancakes and pork roast at least once in their lifetime in order to learn that hottest and fastest is not always the best. <div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-41001464977353225472014-01-26T06:48:00.001-08:002014-01-26T06:48:24.608-08:00His other halfLast night, I babysat for a friend. Originally, I was going to go over at 3:30 and Cam would bring the boys over to play when they woke up from their nap, but Nash decided not to take a nap so he came with me instead. We had been playing for about an hour when their 3-year-old Ben asked me, "hey, where's the other half of him?" pointing at Nash. <div><br></div><div>I loved that. His other half. My boys are as different as they come. They have different likes and dislikes, different personalities, different looks, different mannerisms, different fears, different ways to show affection, different ways to learn, but it just feels right when they are together. They're best friends. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-73314794104069813492014-01-24T07:11:00.001-08:002014-01-24T07:11:02.287-08:00GrayGranger has taught me a thing or two. There are the big, character changes, like learning more patience, more unconditional love, deeper feelings in general. Both boys have done that over and over again. Lately, though, Gray has taught me some surprising things. <div><br></div><div>The kid has a sixth sense for vehicles. The first few times he said 'plane!' And I couldn't see one I would say 'nope, no plane right now. We'll have to look some more.' And every single time, just a few seconds later, a plane would appear. </div><div><br></div><div>Also, there is a freight train in the fireworks castle scene in the "Walt Disney Pictures" opening sequence of any Disney movie. Did you know? Gray knows. I was shocked. He would get so excited and shout "train! Choo choo! Train!" It took me way too long to see what he saw. </div><div>Granger was the easiest baby ever, and as many moms attest, easy babies make tough toddlers. He is no exception. Lately, we are working on not biting, stealing toys, throwing tantrums, and the like. He is mischief incarnate, constantly getting into, destroying, climbing on, throwing, kicking things. Still, it makes it all the sweeter when he brings me his blankie and lays his head down on my shoulder for a quick cuddle. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-48810382104694362512014-01-17T06:20:00.001-08:002014-01-17T07:22:25.537-08:00SongbirdsThe boys are expanding their animal vocabulary greatly. Everything from a cockroach to a squirrel to a bird used to be a puppy. And now they can point out dogs, horses, cows, birds, ducks, cats, bears, tigger, and lions. I credit the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear for most of that. It is a serious favorite. And the highlight is the white dog, because it looks like our Molly. Granger declares "Mowwy!" with gusto every time. <div><br></div><div>They are also starting to string words together. It is the cutest thing. My favorites are "where is?" from Nash because he puts his palms up and shrugs with this confused look on his face and "mowwy at?" from Granger because he emphasizes the t in at and it is so clear and defined compared to the rest of their speech. We are also big into greetings and goodbyes. We say goodbye to everything. Planes in the sky, diggers we see on our drives, each other, the house, sandwiches, the baby, etc. They also use hi or hello to get each other's attention (or mine or Cam's!) and also to express affection to any particular toy they happen to be really enjoying. </div><div><br></div><div>We are working on our morning routine and chores. The boys learn so quickly when they know what to expect every day! Right now they know how to make their beds, put their dirty clothes in the hamper, put the cars in the basket, throw their diapers downstairs to be tossed outside, set the table and put their dishes in the sink after they eat. This morning, Gray spilled a few drops of milk and said "uh oh! Mess!" And I said, "what do we do when we make a mess? Would you like a rag?" he said "yeah!" And I gave him a rag and he mopped it up and then tossed his rag in the sink! Such a smart boy. </div><div><br></div><div>The boys, especially Nash, love to sing. Anytime he hears music Nash either shakes his bum or starts singing. I completely adore it. The hymns at church are my favorite. I can hardly make it through them. They get so excited about singing as soon as the organ starts playing and belt their little hearts out. By the time the congregation is supposed to start, they've lost most of their gusto. So they get a nice little solo at the beginning of each hymn. So funny. I hope they always love to sing. I love hearing it! A child who sings is a happy child. </div><div><br></div><div>Also, it is very hard to want to get out of bed when miss T is kicking like crazy. Saying hello to her first thing is my favorite part of waking up. </div><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-51971775851727707782014-01-15T05:17:00.001-08:002014-01-15T05:17:04.159-08:00LatelyThe boys have said "no!" for a while now, but they just started answering affirmatively in the past month or so. It never gets old. So cute, every time. Granger says "yeah" and Nash is a little more proper with "yes." I also love hearing it because it means the guessing game of what they want is over. <div><br></div><div>I have started singing a few songs to the boys at bedtime. The deal is they have to stay in bed if I am going to sing. I stop as soon as their little feet touch the floor. Nash asks me for a "'ong" quite often. It gives me so much joy that they love hearing me sing. </div><div><br></div><div>Nash is pretty interested in baby girl. He says hi to her all the time and "bye, baby!" when he puts my shirt back down. He loves to give her kisses. Granger likes to jump on her. But he also loves to talk about her with me. We all show love in our own ways. 😉</div><div><br></div><div>I looked out the back door to check on the boys yesterday afternoon and they were laying down flat on their backs talking and pointing up at the sky. It is a dream come true for me to see their friendship with each other! </div><div><br></div><div>They are learning to carry their dishes to the sink after every meal. It's a pretty tough job but it always gets a celebratory jump or high five or "ha!" with a victory fist when it happens. They impress me every day with how quickly they learn. </div><div><br></div><div>I feel like the boys have at least 3 head injuries a week. Hopefully this is just a phase, but I KNOW we are headed to the ER at least twice in the next year. Gray especially is a daredevil. He loves jumping off things and climbing anything he can see. Gives me a heart attack. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-86136305703652663182013-12-17T08:55:00.001-08:002013-12-17T08:55:46.515-08:00Gotta be quick!Last night, Cameron got home around 10. He left at 5:30 that morning and studied all day long. He's been keeping that schedule for 13 weeks straight now. His brain is fried. When he got home he have me a kiss and then said, "did you cut your hair?" <div><br></div><div>"...no..."</div><div>"Oh! You <b>curled</b> it!" </div><div>"...yesterday." </div><div><br></div><div>We're all pretty excited for Cam's mind to get a break come Friday. Haha. </div>Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-31142740063020090672013-11-18T20:19:00.000-08:002013-11-18T20:22:22.402-08:00Playtime<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79Mts9wTfVDPHObAFS-sT6c4OJZw-BseDSHutSkz8M0i3ywI3SNcktr_T7QXZNneT-Rx2lkjzC6AM0Yq_8T8pE1fwVoTG5zWXABod8gVQJ93PQJwm9-WJjp99uKwI_BnPc9uvT2TdFU1c/s320/image-1.jpeg" width="240" /></div>
<br />
Things just get better and better with Nash and Granger. They really are sweet. We have our tough times and struggles with learning new things, but there are so many fun new developments that seem to happen every day.<br />
<br />
Today was rough. I really overdid it this weekend. I am at the stage where I can forget I'm pregnant. I'm not really sick anymore, I'm not very big. I'm feeling great! We went to the city lights downtown on Saturday. There was so much to see and we walked a ton. It was a blast. And just the family time we needed. Sunday, we got up and went to church early. Afterward, Cam and I made some yummy mexican food and he knocked out for a nap. I was reading a fantastic book and should have taken a nap but I didn't. Cam never takes a nap so when the boys started to stir, I went upstairs as fast as I could to try to let him sleep a little longer. It lasted for a good 45 more minutes! I was so grateful he got the sleep that he needed. After that, though, we had a quick dinner and I headed off to Stake Choir practice. Which lasted 3 hours. Ouch. I was so light-headed and sore afterward! Not to mention exhausted. We went right to bed after I got home, but I still didn't get enough rest.<br />
<br />
Cam left for school at 5:15 like he always does, kissed me on the forehead on his way out the door. And 7:15 came far too quickly. I heard the boys. And I couldn't move. I could. not. open. my. eyes. Somehow I managed to get up and crack their door a bit so they could get out and hopefully play in the playroom. I snuck back into bed before they got their door open. It didn't last. I heard them make their way downstairs and I just prayed they didn't destroy the entire house. They came knocking on my door around 8 and I let them in, hoping they'd want to snuggle in bed for a while. Not a chance. They were both super poopy. I rallied and got them in the tub. I laid down where I could hear them well enough to not worry. It lasted 30 minutes due to a few squirts of dad's body wash to make some bubbles. They always smell pretty dreamy after a manly bubble bath.<br />
<br />
I got up and got them dressed and managed to get them breakfast. Luckily, we had breakfast for dinner a night or two ago and had some leftover sweet potato/bacon hash. Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough getting something in my own mouth and I puked up every last molecule that happened to be in my stomach. Ouch. They downed their milk and I made myself a quick protein shake. Anything for some energy! [Shortly after this, Nash gagged himself trying to be funny and actually threw up on the floor. Awesome.]<br />
<br />
I let them play in the backyard afterward. 30 minutes again. We tried to play in the playroom. And by played, I mean I laid face-down on Cam's adjusting table and tried to convince the boys to adjust me. Which they actually love, but weren't very interested in today. 30 minutes again. We watched Handy Manny. Another 30 minutes. By now, it was only 11, and I was completely out of ideas and energy.<br />
<br />
I finally got the mommy guilt off my back and decided today was a survival mode day. The quickest way to keep my bored boys from whining is to feed them. I popped a bowl of popcorn, put on the Veggie Tales Christmas special and sat between them on the couch. 45 sweet minutes of quiet and cuddling and kissing their soft heads. Even when I'm exhausted, I love being near them. Though I was grateful to the point of tears that they were finally sitting still.<br />
<br />
The rest gave me enough oomph to get them some peanut butter sandwiches and cheese sticks for lunch and change their diapers for naptime. And then I crashed on the couch. It only took 30 minutes of deep, drooling sleep to feel human again. I woke up to creaking floorboards upstairs. They were awake again. It had only been a little over an hour since I put them down! Augh! Not today! I decided to give them 10 minutes because they weren't upset. And they went back to sleep. What a tender mercy.<br />
<br />
90 minutes later, everyone was much happier. I went upstairs, got them out, and this time we really played in the playroom. Nash surprised me by pulling out this track we normally keep under the chair and grabbing his truck to drive on it. I found a dinosaur and another truck for Gray. This was the first time they put together that people drive the trucks and they <b>had</b> to have their little person in the driver's seat. One was the ever popular Hawaiian girl on her cell phone. The other was a construction worker. I played the part of the dinosaur. The boys would try to drive around the track without getting caught by the dinosaur. I would roar at them and chomp their car with the dinosaur and they would squeal and grab their car and run away. But they always came back for more.<br />
<br />
Playing pretend is the best.<br />
<br />
Oh, you boys. I've got a crush on you.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-90679297176599831752013-11-07T11:03:00.000-08:002013-11-07T11:03:01.056-08:00You're mocking me, aren't you?One of my favorite things is watching the boys responding to the changes pregnancy brings. And I really am grateful they are able to find humor in all this, especially since for about 4 weeks, I was face down on the couch trying to keep it together and praying they didn't completely destroy everything.<br />
<br />
They are pretty perceptive, though! Around 8 weeks, they noticed that the kitchen made me sick. Every time I went in the kitchen I gagged. I would take a few deep breaths, go in, get milk or breakfast or whatever for the boys as quick as I could, gag a few times, and get out. One morning, I was psyching up to get them milk and breakfast and I caught them running into the kitchen, making gagging noises, running out and just laughing their little heads off. Like throw your head back laughing.<br />
<br />
Gray is also very interested in the baby in mom's belly. Every night, Nash says "bye guys!" as Cam and I tuck them in and shut the door. Gray says "bye baby!" He also likes pulling up my shirt to poke the baby. Which I also think he thinks is my belly button. Same same.<br />
<br />
We love seeing pictures of other babies on Instagram. Any kid younger than them or smaller than them is considered a baby. Our favorites are cousin Charly and cousin Kenzee. [Em, I'm not sure how Kenzee got looped into the "smaller than them" category, but "Baby Ehnee!" is a fave.] <br />
<br />
They are learning how to give loves right now. We don't really have a lot of stuffed animals and we have absolutely zero baby dolls, but we have an Ernie from sesame street, a puppy from some chiropractic school friends, and the monkey leashes. I love watching them cuddle and squeeze them. They always lay their heads down on top of whatever they are loving. Sweet boys.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-44324343812515491512013-11-04T18:46:00.002-08:002013-11-04T18:46:35.181-08:00The DetailsA couple days ago, we posted this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZJF0fdhZbxP76n8ZE6_VOlgKC5FmMwPsIUuuNYpSXXRGR1EbFJxaaNtyEDG59LECDFuKueYffpFByXnsMxp28x5RfF-KY7MPMUC_GQ8vCZ7BsA9uaCphWeARZRwsKFpSqUrND0u6_UiA/s1600/pregnancyannc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZJF0fdhZbxP76n8ZE6_VOlgKC5FmMwPsIUuuNYpSXXRGR1EbFJxaaNtyEDG59LECDFuKueYffpFByXnsMxp28x5RfF-KY7MPMUC_GQ8vCZ7BsA9uaCphWeARZRwsKFpSqUrND0u6_UiA/s640/pregnancyannc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And we are overwhelmed by the support and well-wishes of so many of our friends. First off, let's talk about those darling boys. My heavens they are handsome. And a major thank you to Jill Witt Photography for capturing this precious day for us.<br />
<br />
We took these family photos the morning of the frozen embryo transfer. I was anxious, nervous, distracted. I couldn't stop thinking about that little embryo. I was terrified it wouldn't survive the thaw. These pictures. That morning. It re-focused me on the reason we do every shot, take every pill, pay every cent. Our sweet family. And I lost track of time during that photo shoot. Time finally stopped mattering to me so much. I had been counting the days, hours, minutes. And it stopped. I'm so grateful that the last few hours we were a family of four are captured in such a beautiful way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mdA3utmU44IKPodQXhhyA3jVHELOop3_frHGgX1rvnkC5A91lJq9IcI1Utuhwi9QhvbhmH114fKeCLa3af0slRJFK_DQ9T0GaVXj7hjlKqLAo0EDrntemk_0XugFfVcrh8HVnE2-u68d/s1600/call1bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mdA3utmU44IKPodQXhhyA3jVHELOop3_frHGgX1rvnkC5A91lJq9IcI1Utuhwi9QhvbhmH114fKeCLa3af0slRJFK_DQ9T0GaVXj7hjlKqLAo0EDrntemk_0XugFfVcrh8HVnE2-u68d/s640/call1bw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWlh5K8nNRr1hOsTHVl0gzVXy0e3l2AlAqViSb7EbZde2Pj7OWvKQR0Mifz0G672udPFU-cpB5d_mXxERwzEd1FXMRyXcZ3jFH-5LeVn3Uc0eG_xzRoI64IAKvhERA2nHUaszq6GLAliy/s1600/call2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWlh5K8nNRr1hOsTHVl0gzVXy0e3l2AlAqViSb7EbZde2Pj7OWvKQR0Mifz0G672udPFU-cpB5d_mXxERwzEd1FXMRyXcZ3jFH-5LeVn3Uc0eG_xzRoI64IAKvhERA2nHUaszq6GLAliy/s640/call2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-LrFs9Q-7Zb3dClQ3a-uSaPqNZ2442jciPMKc_1mSwUL3cemAW63FXgBbepAyB1BSliCzwuef3E6WxcEiPugRoZY5sqsW0H7svywjg6W92nvXC7jNnkwIU7HTmDy4NIJTFHTgKUq9BkP/s1600/call7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-LrFs9Q-7Zb3dClQ3a-uSaPqNZ2442jciPMKc_1mSwUL3cemAW63FXgBbepAyB1BSliCzwuef3E6WxcEiPugRoZY5sqsW0H7svywjg6W92nvXC7jNnkwIU7HTmDy4NIJTFHTgKUq9BkP/s640/call7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aMWP98AqoWC5UvzvySuheA_BsjLmBKWbllKVFOEBaC9zESoIb955GQl3-1dpySU_nlcA4Hl7LXtGpRe0XHpP-lCRsTrW-VzYo-vqLfMtny2HgQlCwu3BAncytljVjM7kjmrrnYW9cXTU/s1600/call13bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aMWP98AqoWC5UvzvySuheA_BsjLmBKWbllKVFOEBaC9zESoIb955GQl3-1dpySU_nlcA4Hl7LXtGpRe0XHpP-lCRsTrW-VzYo-vqLfMtny2HgQlCwu3BAncytljVjM7kjmrrnYW9cXTU/s640/call13bw.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlvWSdmTjZbP8qzK0TA0LXvbfTz9DwruL7hOtY9d7hiKrGQXO4WDlEx69OdGPni2wT4bpex1NK19rYCOFZClUmV6-HXIoqxZTlfzB_8flMbJ1EHPDCSzf0LEensU5cF3ktEaSILjNZLMh/s1600/call9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlvWSdmTjZbP8qzK0TA0LXvbfTz9DwruL7hOtY9d7hiKrGQXO4WDlEx69OdGPni2wT4bpex1NK19rYCOFZClUmV6-HXIoqxZTlfzB_8flMbJ1EHPDCSzf0LEensU5cF3ktEaSILjNZLMh/s640/call9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then there's this guy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2-vXVW3aJU1FCG-Y2bOIjlAyZDdQgLQr_rvQUEriSoU_EiSCiEyv7oRoZw1z2ZkWQu_RBHzEWxfnAgKpBZr9r67ZMgko2azW5w2X7e9-q8RU-N_fIBbJLlyRTXu3gy2IEjhpv34XB0kg/s1600/call27bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2-vXVW3aJU1FCG-Y2bOIjlAyZDdQgLQr_rvQUEriSoU_EiSCiEyv7oRoZw1z2ZkWQu_RBHzEWxfnAgKpBZr9r67ZMgko2azW5w2X7e9-q8RU-N_fIBbJLlyRTXu3gy2IEjhpv34XB0kg/s640/call27bw.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
If I knew how to communicate just how much confidence he gives me, I would write out every word. But this picture seems to do that. It makes me cry every time. I am so grateful for him. And to be able to see our relationship on such an important day, this picture is such a gift.<br />
<br />
Just under 3 years ago when we did IVF to get pregnant with the boys, we had one little precious embryo left. That embryo was frozen at 5 days old. And that embryo was on my mind ever since. I know the boys are young. And oh, I cherish them. I have had fears that I won't be able to devote the time and attention they need and deserve as we bring this new little one into our family. But, this baby is also my baby. Our baby. And I cannot imagine how difficult it probably was to hear "not yet" when his/her mortal body had already started its creation. As this baby is my child, patience is not a strong point. And one day I just knew it was time. It was time for that baby to know (s)he had not been forgotten. Could never be forgotten. Not for a moment.<br />
<br />
After that day, we moved forward with a frozen cycle. Again, pieces fell into place. A minivan showed up on craigslist the next week with low miles that we could pay cash for. We sold our truck for the <b>exact</b> amount of the frozen transfer. A friend had a great recommendation for a clinic here in Dallas that could do our blood work and ultrasound monitoring.<br />
<br />
And that's when the adversary decided to pick up his game. Every. Single. Step. Forward. got messed up somehow. The pharmacy sent the wrong size syringes, so my first shot had to be postponed after we almost injected over 10x the prescribed amount of Estradiol. The clinic here in Dallas didn't get my results to the clinic in Utah correctly. We started our big progesterone shots a day late. I left my suppositories in Dallas after we flew to Utah for the transfer. Even just getting on the flight to Utah was a circus. We had to postpone the transfer a day due to medication mix-ups.<br />
<br />
Every one of those medications is vital to keeping our little one alive and growing. And something went wrong with every single one of them. To say my faith was tried is an understatement.<br />
<br />
So after all those beautiful family pictures, when reality sunk back in...this is what I looked like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAKCDIWky5gUEgg2s2MBUpoPBWMYmEcFE_ksA9Psrqj1lWascruZFBTSQTDs4jzdzoO8_qzURrD-fFisbg3iptCOizSAIvozpMpx6EHuvZ9Q5lAm-fUH-TXMTuPCd-9e5115mr_AyEkKe/s1600/IMG_3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAKCDIWky5gUEgg2s2MBUpoPBWMYmEcFE_ksA9Psrqj1lWascruZFBTSQTDs4jzdzoO8_qzURrD-fFisbg3iptCOizSAIvozpMpx6EHuvZ9Q5lAm-fUH-TXMTuPCd-9e5115mr_AyEkKe/s640/IMG_3600.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I accidentally left my "eventually" bracelet at home. I wear it religiously to anything family related as a symbol of optimistic faith. And I forgot it. Add that to the list of things that went wrong. [Sidenote: while unpacking our suitcase, I found out it did actually make the trip to Utah and I just forgot where I put it...] In a panic that morning, I scrawled eventually on my wrist anyway. I needed that strength and that symbol of faith with me, no matter how meager.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-rcNGdsZC-iwy7PeQ2eGA87jf4JB-UBnGisa8Nq1texKo-600g-VAxseknjtEoaw5HZD5g_JZu9P5dRkNuZw4gWQePNYb8JjGr75GLahOyiTblnJRa1l5xEJLBVmjVJOiBqkpHJj0K3F/s1600/IMG_3603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-rcNGdsZC-iwy7PeQ2eGA87jf4JB-UBnGisa8Nq1texKo-600g-VAxseknjtEoaw5HZD5g_JZu9P5dRkNuZw4gWQePNYb8JjGr75GLahOyiTblnJRa1l5xEJLBVmjVJOiBqkpHJj0K3F/s640/IMG_3603.JPG" width="434" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then the nurse brought me a valium. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHeSIC6TS5ziRor8Cwm3y8r3CeyagoEJX0F4ogMW7hwRD3-sX6ccLAtPq5jtOb3O1J3f5PZyufs3mI4rNPoN-Y5B1HzIY67F5Rr9mDtka047uCWvA_MwX3RyDlKA7JmHOT3PbeVwbehL7/s1600/IMG_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHeSIC6TS5ziRor8Cwm3y8r3CeyagoEJX0F4ogMW7hwRD3-sX6ccLAtPq5jtOb3O1J3f5PZyufs3mI4rNPoN-Y5B1HzIY67F5Rr9mDtka047uCWvA_MwX3RyDlKA7JmHOT3PbeVwbehL7/s640/IMG_3610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1puDSpVWFsqNR15aUn04kRENWlhSCjouTlUdIJ5bbiK4z88Z4rPcnixoMsxdb7YG2qSWaiX0LjPnp9cpn8QUkdJx1WVNINCUZXQMPJ1zcQe0klt2Oy0Cb40fsIrjxqfGh9OvFobsbirXx/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1puDSpVWFsqNR15aUn04kRENWlhSCjouTlUdIJ5bbiK4z88Z4rPcnixoMsxdb7YG2qSWaiX0LjPnp9cpn8QUkdJx1WVNINCUZXQMPJ1zcQe0klt2Oy0Cb40fsIrjxqfGh9OvFobsbirXx/s640/IMG_3581.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFDpCQmXKegxHj1Mb2g7KbfPzLQqm4_JEyEBxgiSHaiJ-w9TMZZSrUXT3TXimLe8de1wE6Koe8bFwy2_22RgI0jorWYANBCCjkGKO4BXtbALpPwrFta2Ke-BOEq7e6wZ2XLzwcUQL3fKx/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFDpCQmXKegxHj1Mb2g7KbfPzLQqm4_JEyEBxgiSHaiJ-w9TMZZSrUXT3TXimLe8de1wE6Koe8bFwy2_22RgI0jorWYANBCCjkGKO4BXtbALpPwrFta2Ke-BOEq7e6wZ2XLzwcUQL3fKx/s640/IMG_3598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The transfer took about 5 minutes. Cameron gave me a blessing. We enjoyed the quiet room for a half hour, just talking about everything and soaking up the possibility of this new little one. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then we went home to bed rest. Not being able to pick up the boys was by far the hardest part. I am so grateful my parents were there and that we were staying at Jessica's house. I don't know what I would've done without 4 adults to keep me from getting up and to help keep the boys from jumping on me! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJU_tIBq6snAVPklNvBonfI8md7XYF76QNll0Tt2grC0Sa-e4pGyB4ZwCAC9cTTD14FLix6A5c5pAcv3HbFdFtE8_eDKFC8k51b2QHDTKyhA80HCi7biO5sieFXc-EbuPv0feo3FkHUU/s640/blogger-image--822797067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJU_tIBq6snAVPklNvBonfI8md7XYF76QNll0Tt2grC0Sa-e4pGyB4ZwCAC9cTTD14FLix6A5c5pAcv3HbFdFtE8_eDKFC8k51b2QHDTKyhA80HCi7biO5sieFXc-EbuPv0feo3FkHUU/s640/blogger-image--822797067.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
I sure loved getting to snuggle with them though. I missed them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We spent a week with Emilee and Adam and then flew back to Texas where Cam's parents were waiting for us. I was really grateful for the distraction. They spoiled the boys completely and it did my heart good to see them so happy and to see Cameron so happy. When the people I love are happy, I need nothing else. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Monday, September 9th was Cameron's first day of school. His parents were still here. I sent him off to school and tried to go back to bed, but at 9am, I would be at the clinic getting my blood drawn and then anxiously awaiting the phone call that would tell us whether or not a new little one would be coming to our family. I couldn't go back to sleep. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cam's parents watched the boys. I went to the clinic. Armed this time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBF3kZg1QnJep6cXgCbpE7QUTHV-z1-RFz-zQ18086UzCBW0D-CoFyeumvq8sN-SkkAB_Enb7lxAJGhQFxmV1VVccsI1B-wJye3sk3sM8gqiy9ALbkaSo0c8Vrh5ps3S4hKlTpvWO3KA/s640/blogger-image--1555175412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBF3kZg1QnJep6cXgCbpE7QUTHV-z1-RFz-zQ18086UzCBW0D-CoFyeumvq8sN-SkkAB_Enb7lxAJGhQFxmV1VVccsI1B-wJye3sk3sM8gqiy9ALbkaSo0c8Vrh5ps3S4hKlTpvWO3KA/s640/blogger-image--1555175412.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rest of the day was a blur of trying to keep myself busy and my mind off of things. I browsed Old Navy for a while trying to convince myself I could buy a baby sleeper to celebrate. I text message shopped with my Jill for about an hour. And then decided I couldn't jinx it. I left the sleeper at the store. I was a nervous wreck. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I came home, went out again to buy the sleeper, turned around again after talking with my mom and tried to take a nap while the boys and Cam's parents slept. I slept for about an hour. And then my phone rang. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was the Dallas clinic. I didn't answer. They weren't supposed to give me the results. I didn't want to hear it from them. Ten minutes later, the Utah clinic called. I didn't answer. We had arranged for them to leave the result in a voicemail so I could listen to it with Cameron. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I kept that voicemail on my phone for 3 solid hours without checking it. In the meantime, Jill texted me Friends quotes and Lindsay talked to me about who knows what for at least an hour. And I didn't check that voicemail. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We met Cameron down at the school at 4:30. He didn't know I didn't know yet. He didn't know we would find out together. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We found a quiet hallway. He held my hand and wrapped me up in his arms. I pressed play. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi9G6NbfhhmkNj6G5pEmltTIpJRUCSF29bc2if6A1xlyT9U2s-n4nkiXwkG4t9EsqgI0A6cPPtMU0jfFj-v-1fIiyHoD1L02XY7EkcLTgnZCcoGRZ974jp1SysNLowoUEbdmFkWLxjGA/s640/image(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi9G6NbfhhmkNj6G5pEmltTIpJRUCSF29bc2if6A1xlyT9U2s-n4nkiXwkG4t9EsqgI0A6cPPtMU0jfFj-v-1fIiyHoD1L02XY7EkcLTgnZCcoGRZ974jp1SysNLowoUEbdmFkWLxjGA/s640/image(1).jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Hello, little one. We can't wait to meet you!<br />
<br />
_______________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<b>Specifics:</b><br />
- I am just over 12 weeks.<br />
- I was SUPER sick. Way sicker than I was with the boys. My midwife [and everyone else I mention that to] is pretty near convinced it's a girl. We will be thrilled with either. But my mama intuition is leaning toward girl as well. Talk about jinxing it. :)<br />
- The sickness ended after Halloween night. Hallelujah. I had been losing weight [still not really gaining it back yet.] and my midwife said if I lost another pound I would be headed toward an IV. Hopefully, we're headed the other direction soon!<br />
- I'm due May 19th.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-47555075533411101902013-09-17T11:16:00.003-07:002013-09-17T11:21:47.005-07:00Daily DetailsLately Gray's happy place is the bathroom sink. He climbs up there any time the bathroom door is open. A lot of the time, this is right after baths. He has absolutely no interest in a towel. He climbs up on the toilet, nudey-booty, up onto the counter and then sits in the sink and jokes with himself in the mirror, and pulls the sink plug rod up and down, or clean out of the sink [it doesn't really work.] He will stay in their upwards of 20 minutes if I let him! Happy as a clam.<br />
<br />
The boys have also been obsessed with shoes, the past couple weeks. Most mornings, I get them out of their cribs and change their bums right away. I get them a clean shirt, but I let them go pantsless unless we're going somewhere. If we're just staying home I have no desire to pull their pants off and put them back on at every diaper change. Call it lazy, call it efficient. It's not changing any time soon. haha. However, the boys have a little shoe basket in their room, and without fail, the very next thing they do is run over to it pick out a "thoo" and run over to me to put it on their foot. This happens until all 4 feet are covered, and then some. How do you reason with an 18-month-old who already has tennis shoes on his feet that is shoving a flip-flop in your face and demanding "thoo! thoo!" But taking off one of the tennis shoes is absolutely not an option. How dare you think that! haha. They crack me up. [Gray was the one sad about not having a third foot, just for the record.]<br />
<br />
Something has recently gotten into Nash and he refuses to get out of bed unless I am ready to wrap him in his blanket and snuggle him in the rocking chair for a minute or two. I truly don't mind it one bit. I love that he is a snuggle bug. And all too soon, his little head pops off my shoulder and he slides off my lap to go find the shoe basket. But some mornings he asks for "Harry" and we read Harry, the dirty dog cover to cover at least twice. <br />
<br />
The other day, we were up in the playroom and I was trying to convince Nash that there were other books to read besides Harry. He walked over, picked up a book of Row, Row, Row your boat, pointed to a duck on one of the pages and started "cack! cack! cack!" ing. I have never asked him what sound a duck makes. As far as I know, neither has Cameron. Someone taught him that, but it definitely wasn't me. Here's looking at you, grandparents! Or maybe one of the cousins we visited a couple weeks ago? Either way, it made my day. Smart cookie.Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-91507597439882943482013-09-13T21:22:00.002-07:002013-09-13T21:22:32.617-07:00Bedtime Prayers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprIaJcS92_rjZUWbu8rKnhy1ffG_4u6o2hTuC4OwNpGOXUTLcNo860DunnGNJoXPoF7ZUg1g1c6BZGikSAK-yFb-nWuaZi8wrCWzvIfAFTT6YvHSrYC4vT__Ga2HxPD0f_20TFsku2siz/s1600/d30172e4182211e3b4ea22000a1fbdb0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprIaJcS92_rjZUWbu8rKnhy1ffG_4u6o2hTuC4OwNpGOXUTLcNo860DunnGNJoXPoF7ZUg1g1c6BZGikSAK-yFb-nWuaZi8wrCWzvIfAFTT6YvHSrYC4vT__Ga2HxPD0f_20TFsku2siz/s640/d30172e4182211e3b4ea22000a1fbdb0_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We've been working a lot lately on folding our arms and being reverent for prayers. It normally lasts less than 5 seconds and the rest of the prayer is spent running in circles around me. But sometimes, things just click. Those moments are pure gold as a parent.<br />
<br />
Tonight, Cameron was out at a seminar late. I let the boys play outside after dinner. I talked to my sister Lindsay on the phone. She still hasn't had her baby. But she is loopy! She always makes me laugh so hard. I opened the back door and said, "Let's go get in the tub!" They both ran right inside, up the stairs, and I found Gray trying to open the bathroom door by the time I got up there. Smart cookie.<br />
<br />
After bathtime, we did jammies and a story. And then I knelt on their bedroom floor just like I always do, for prayers. I asked Nash to fold his arms. He sat down right next to me and folded his arms. I asked Gray to fold his arms and he gave me a sneaky grin and ran around a little bit to see what I would do. I started the prayer anyway, hoping to reward Nash's behavior before the opportunity passed. I can't help but sneak peaks at the boys whenever they fold their arms or hands for the prayer, so I had my eyes open a tiny crack. Just enough to watch as Granger knelt in the space near me and Nash. Making our family prayer a circle for the very first time. They both folded their arms until I said "amen." And then jumped up as proud as they could be. And I smothered them in kisses, and we cheered with our hands in the air touchdown style.<br />
<br />
Being a mom is the best.<br />
<br />
<i>note- this picture was taken a few nights earlier. we have slowly but surely been working on this habit, so there have been a few fleeting opportunities to snap moments like this!</i><br />
<br />Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76789252086652958.post-24183059428714329382013-08-27T21:02:00.000-07:002013-09-13T21:02:39.184-07:00Plane Drama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YhpxsjPWlZDe6CNt4y4wnxsG64SR6waaPk3PnmxNEH1pG6nGH0KCE3Fhc6F5n3recietzRDhVJYKlTshLyj_Y_uDorF33CSHFtQqHgHkADK-Q4rjPpRCMaU03DuMtcZQ1KDiatTueiw6/s1600/1bdb924c0f4511e3a34e22000ae91355_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YhpxsjPWlZDe6CNt4y4wnxsG64SR6waaPk3PnmxNEH1pG6nGH0KCE3Fhc6F5n3recietzRDhVJYKlTshLyj_Y_uDorF33CSHFtQqHgHkADK-Q4rjPpRCMaU03DuMtcZQ1KDiatTueiw6/s640/1bdb924c0f4511e3a34e22000ae91355_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
For the past 3 weeks, Cameron has been stressed to the max with school. When Cameron gets stressed, he tends to go a little farther over to the side of "control freak." And so, it was every day for 21 consecutive days that he asked me what time our flight left to go to Utah. And every time, I answered 10:55 in the morning. By the third week, I asked him to write it down so he could stop asking me. I was really annoyed!<br />
<br />
The morning of the flight, we left the house spotless at 9am. We picked up our friend Wade. He was going to drive us and our van to the airport. I sat in the back so Wade and Cam could talk and flipped blankly through my phone. I checked my e-mail and noticed a message from the airline. There had been a flight change. I scrolled through the message skimming as I went and noticed it said our flight left at 10:05! I told Cameron. To his credit he didn't freak out. He drove a little faster, and focused a little more. And we started crunching numbers. It was 9:20. We were stuck in traffic 10 minutes away from the airport. Yuck.<br />
<br />
As I read the e-mail a little further, I realized that the flight <b>time</b> never changed. It was always at 10:05. The flight change was "flight 720" is now "flight 659" or something totally useless like that. I fessed up to my mistake. Or rather the 21 mistakes I had made in the days leading up to this. And Cameron again responded with patience. I didn't expect that. But I was really grateful. I felt pretty dumb already.<br />
<br />
There wasn't much time for sulking though, so I put my problem solving hat on and plugged the airport into the navigation on my phone so I could check traffic and help us get to the airport as quickly as possible. And that was when I started screaming at Cameron to take the upcoming exit. While he and his friend in the front seat knew very well not to take that exit. I was pretty convincing though, because he took it. And I watched another ten minutes roll onto our estimated arrival time. Oy. I have always thought my dad was full of it when his preferred teammate on the Amazing Race was my brother J.T.. I always thought I had fabulous navigation skills. In this exact moment, I was yanked out of that denial so fast. I am a terrible navigator.<br />
<br />
And to his credit, Cameron didn't get upset at me, again. His patience is saintly. And that is not one bit exaggerated.<br />
<br />
We rolled up to the airport at 9:40. I told Cameron to grab as many bags as he could carry and run to check us in. I would figure out how to unload everything and get it up there. We were in high gear. And we had a ton of stuff. 2 carry-ons, 2 backpacks, 2 diaper bags, 2 car seats, 2 babies, and a stroller. That all needed to be transported by us up to our gate. I loaded the diaper bags in the stroller along with the boys and took the elevator up to where Cameron was, dropped that load off and went back down for our rolling suitcase and the carseats. By the time I got up to the check-in, Cameron let me know we had missed the check-in window and we couldn't print boarding passes.<br />
<br />
I asked the employee behind the counter if we could run for it. We had 25 minutes! We had to try! And the next flight wasn't for another 9 hours. Yuck. So we took off running to gate C20. 15 gates away. Cameron took the stroller and everything we could load on it. I grabbed everything else. He ran. I hobbled. A very kind employee took everything from me and ran to Cameron. And then Cam looked at me in horror and said "I left the duffel bag!" And so, I kicked off my shoes and ran 15 gates back to where we had tried to check in initially. Deep down I was grateful he had made an error of any size. And as I sprinted, I caught sight of myself in one of the floor to ceiling windows. And I looked good. "I've trained for this!" I thought. I had just finished insanity. 15 gates? no problem! And then I picked up the bag, and tried to run back. And I about died. It was <b>heavy</b>! I went as fast as I possibly could and asked the people in the line at security if we could go in front of them. We looked like a circus. And they happily obliged.<br />
<br />
Disassembling <b>everything</b> to get through security was insane. We were moving so fast! Bag after bag went through the scanner. The stroller was folded down. Boys on our hips, we repacked everything. Put shoes on, stuffed everything in any open bag. Gray wouldn't sit down in the stroller,s o he didn't get buckled. Cam said "We have to run!" I had the super heavy duffel bag and the two car seats. I physically could. not. run. And I said "GO! STOP THE PLANE!" And the love of my life took off running through the airport, 15 gates back, to gate C35. One hand steering a double stroller loaded down with two boys, and every bag imaginable and pulling the rolling suitcase behind him with the other. He was sprinting. I have never been so attracted to him in my life.<br />
<br />
He was wearing yellow. I was moving as fast as I could. Which was not fast at all. I saw Cam make it to the gate and come back into the hallway looking for me. He started gesturing with his arm, "Come on! Come on!" I turned to the very next person I saw walking toward me, which happened to be a man holding nothing but a briefcase. I asked him if he was in a hurry. "No." "Well, I am! Will you take this bag and run with me to that gate?" And we did.<br />
<br />
Down the ramp we had the biggest smiles on our faces, ever. We sat in our seats at 10:04. They closed the door and away we went. Sweaty, but on time. We opened those little AC vents as far as they would go and put our faces right up to them. <br />
<br />
And we were pumped! We felt invincible.<br />
<br />
Pshh. Flying with twins. No big.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKTx_ZKfeTz9YPENMVmqEhP_M1g1US9euh7JxaDVfCltknODDxxAZmUeZPxMpHv2Zs76x82L0p8Bap4Qm-8wrgSxPLnqJmEzdzRJZ8Rs_hcM2emUAKcPN__NWWwzBWAtZWd5FBmPJ3dq5/s1600/5e5f90640f5411e385a622000a1f9e5b_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKTx_ZKfeTz9YPENMVmqEhP_M1g1US9euh7JxaDVfCltknODDxxAZmUeZPxMpHv2Zs76x82L0p8Bap4Qm-8wrgSxPLnqJmEzdzRJZ8Rs_hcM2emUAKcPN__NWWwzBWAtZWd5FBmPJ3dq5/s640/5e5f90640f5411e385a622000a1f9e5b_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06449332722049058967noreply@blogger.com4