Ladies, Be Jealous...

I had the most amazing Mother's Day ever and I have to brag, and brag some more.  I have to start with telling you that I really thought this was going to be a pretty crummy Mother's Day.  I hadn't been asked if I wanted anything, the boys told me that we would have pancakes on Sunday because it is their favorite (definitely not mine) and James was going to be taking the boys on a camp out on Friday and Saturday leaving me alone with Josephine and housework.  Well, I was in for a HUGE surprise...

First, the camp out didn't happen for my boys because the weather was horrible.  So, I have to admit, that kinda made me feel a little better.  On Friday evening James came home and handed me a letter...

Well, now I am down right giddy and curious about what would be in store for our weekend.  So, here is the run down of my amazing Mother's Day!

I woke up Saturday morning to muffins and fruit prepared by James.  Then we got dressed and I was dropped off at Massage Envy for a 90 minute deep tissue massage.  Then we went to CiCi's Pizza (I had a hankerin' for it) and enjoyed lunch.  The boys then surprised me with a sweet card they picked out and the movie Tangled!  I love Disney movies and had been wanting Tangled, but I wouldn't buy it for myself, so the boys went and bought it for me.  Then I was taken to a nice hair salon and James had set up for their top stylist to style and cut my hair (this was desperately needed, yet I kept finding reasons to not spend the money on myself, the boys needed haircuts first).  I felt like a princess as my hair was styled to my lifestyle and face shape.  I love it!  I lost about 6 inches, but my hair is healthy and happy and it can still be pulled in to a ponytail (I think the stylist cringed a bit when I said that I wear my hair in a ponytail most of the time, but hey, I am a mom!).  After my hair appointment we went to the mall where James took me to buy a dress!  I love it!  Then we went to the Lego store for the boys, they had been so good all day.  Oh, I forgot, after my hair appointment the boys surprised me with the apron they decorated all by themselves!

My Apron

Alex drew me!

Alex and Eric's Hand print and Josephine's Footprint

After the mall we went to Texas Roadhouse for some yummy food and there we found out the Josephine can get us a table quick, just by her cuteness!  We planned on going home and watching Tangled, but by the time we got home we were pooped, so we all headed to bed.  On Sunday morning James made a yummy recipe I found on Pinterest (not pancakes) and we went to church.  The best part of church was that I was able to take the sacrament!  I hadn't been able to since Easter because either I was home with new baby girl or feeding her during the sacrament.  It really helped me feel better.  My Primary kids sang beautifully in sacrament meeting.  Teaching Primary went great and we actually got somewhere on our music.  Then after church we all got into our comfy clothes and popped popcorn and watched Tangled as a family.  It really was an amazing Mother's Day.  I feel so blessed to have a husband that cares so much about me and teaches the boys to love their Mommy and also encourages them to do things for other people.  He is such an example to them and to me.

Oh, there were also these little labels all over the house (I am still finding them).  James loves making QR codes.  As I scanned them, they have little messages to me.  They are everywhere...on my hairbrush, my wallet, the mirror, the remote...everywhere!  I feel so loved!

Welcome Baby Josephine

Well, it has been a while since I wrote anything on here but in my own defense, I have not been intentionally neglecting my blog, I have just been SUPER busy!

Well, as the title says, Josephine is finally here!  I was induced on Thursday, April 12th and Josephine made her arrival at 4:15 pm that day! She weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces and is 21 1/2 inches long! It was definitely the most difficult labor I have ever had, but seeing our beautiful baby girl made up for it in the end.  She is gorgeous!  I may be a bit biased, but really, she is a very pretty baby.  She has bluish gray eyes (we will see if they stay that way, like her mommy or if they will change colors like her brother's eyes), she has a little bit of reddish brown hair, sweet fluffy cheeks, super alert and definitely looks a lot like Eric! I am completely and totally in love with her.  She has a sweet temperament so far and is pretty laid back.  She LOVES her brothers already.  She will just sit and listen to them as they talk to her and sing to her.  Alex likes to read to her and Eric makes up songs for her...it is really sweet!  She is definitely the princess!  The boys argue over who gets to pick out her clothes, who gets to hold her first, and who will go get whatever item I need at that moment.  The boys are amazing and it warms my heart to see them so loving and nurturing.  James is completely smitten by her.  I find him getting home a bit earlier from work and jumping at any opportunity to help with her and to hug and squeeze her.  I have to admit that I find myself neglecting chores to be able to just sit and snuggle her.  A friend of mine that has grown children told me about when her first daughter was born after having two boys that "You love your boys, but you feel a whole different level and kind of love for your girl."  I didn't realize what she meant until Josephine arrived, and now I completely understand.  I am so grateful that the Lord blessed us with such a little miracle, she was well worth the wait.

Only 30 minutes old!

Alex and Eric meet Josephine

Resting in the Boppy at the hospital

Hospital Portrait

Another hospital portrait

Sweet kisses from Eric

4 days old!

12 days old

Baby Girl

Well, even though she hasn't made her arrival into the world, she has definitely made an impact.  Josephine is the name we picked for baby girl.  We are all very excited and anxious for her arrival.  We finally finished her room. We all helped out in one way or another.  I am looking forward to her growing up in that room.

We prayed for her for a very long time and felt that maybe we would never be blessed with another child, but the Lord had other plans, and it included a baby girl.  Maybe because this is my third, or she is a girl, or just because, but this pregnancy hasn't been easy.  Between all day sickness that just won't completely go away, raging hormones, and extreme tiredness this pregnancy has not been easy, but I know it will be worth it.

Having a girl has already taken some getting used to.  I now know where the girl's section is at the store, I am obsessed with hair bows and cute shoes, this kid has more clothes than me!  I am amazed at how different things are, and she isn't even here yet.  We feel very blessed to be able to have her in our lives and know that she will make her arrival soon!

I would love to post some ultrasound pictures or something, but none of them have been very clear, well, except her foot!  We do know that she has long legs and is a modest little thing.  We keep dreaming of what she will look like.  I guess we will find out soon.

Eric

Now time for Eric.  Eric has gotten so big!  He finally grew, and when he did, he really did.  Eric has grown two inches in the last 3 months!  He is loving preschool and he absolutely adores his teachers.  Eric loves to sing and to play make-believe.  Eric loves to play with anything Alex does and wants to do everything Alex does.  Eric is still in tumbling classes and excelling!  He loves the beam and the rings the most.  He is very strong and when he flexes his tummy he has some serious ab muscles.  Eric loves to play outside and his new found love is riding his bicycle.  Eric is still my cuddler and he loves being a Mommy's boy.  Eric is very excited about his soon-to-arrive baby sister and frequently wants to go and buy her new clothes and goodies.  Eric is my diva.  Well, whatever a boy version of diva is.  He loves his clothes and wardrobe and if I would let him he would change clothes three times a day at least.  He loves to assemble outfits and to wear either his shark shoes or his bright green lizard shoes.  He is constantly cracking me up with his stories and ideas.  Eric tells me that when he grows up he wants to be a missionary with Daddy and to go to South America and then to Utah so he can play in the snow.  Eric is finally adjusting to being a Sunbeam and enjoys going to class with his friends.  Eric is definitely one of a kind and I am constantly amazed by him.

Eric playing in the snow for the first time

Playing a video game with Clifford (Eric's class pet)

Eric showing off a strawberry he picked

Alex

I don't know where to start with Alex!  He is becoming such a big kid!  He celebrated his 6th birthday in March and has become quite an amazing young man!  Alex's new love is Legos.  He received some for his birthday and plays with them on a daily basis.  He is very creative and loves to just sit and play with them for hours. Alex is excelling in reading!  He amazes me with how much he grasps language and how much he enjoys reading.  I am so grateful, as I know this will carry him to amazing opportunities and knowledge.

Alex lost his frist tooth this week, and it was truly bittersweet for me.  I can't believe how much he has grown and matured.  He is very responsible and tries very hard to do his best in everything.  Alex is playing baseball again this season and he seems to really enjoy it.  He is on the same team as one of his best friends and that has been really fun for him.  Alex may not be the fastest, or the most focused, but he puts his heart into the game and tries to better himself each time he plays.  Alex is very sweet and wears his heart on his sleeve.  At times he gets his feelings hurt or gets a bit over emotional about things, but he is quick to be a friend and show love to those around him.  He is so much like James!  At times I can see how James must have been as a child when I watch Alex interact with people and how he plays and thinks.  I can't say enough about my big boy, he is truly amazing!

Alex after he went tubing down the mountain!

Alex on Opening Day 2012

6th Birthday!

Alex caught a fish with Daddy

Very proud of his lost tooth

We Will Start with the Adults

Well, I guess we will move from oldest to youngest on our family update.

James is still working hard at Conroe Machine.  He is constantly trying to improve is skills and increase his knowledge.  He is an amazingly hard worker and has been told that he is an asset to the company.  At church he is flourishing as the Gospel Principles teacher.  He is completely in his element and has spent a lot of time studying and praying on each topic he is assigned to teach.  James loves spending time with the boys and teaching them new things.  He celebrated his 28th birthday in February and enjoys his birthday present very much.  He finally got a riding lawn mower, and has used it a lot already.  James has been busy helping me get the baby's room ready and anxiously anticipating baby girl's arrival.

I have been working at the preschool still and really enjoy it.  In fact, today is my first day not working and I am missing my kids terribly!  I am still the Primary Chorister, and as I have said in the past, there is really no better calling in the church!  The boys keep me busy with activities and being their room mom, and everything else being a Mommy entails (which is pretty much everything, right?).  I am 38 weeks pregnant and anxiously waiting for baby girl to arrive.  I spent a good chunk of time nesting.  I even mopped a clean floor!  Those who know me and my housekeeping skills know that will probably never happen again.  I feel tremendously blessed with wonderful friends that love me and are watching out for me.  Oh, I don't know if I mentioned it before, but I am now a mini-van mom.  We bought our van in late November and I don't know why people are so against them!  I love my van and can't imagine driving anything else!

Well, that is all I can think of for "the adults" in the house and what is going on with us.  Maybe there is more, but right this minute it doesn't seem too important.  Now to move on the update about the best parts of our family.

Again, It Got Away From Me

Well, it happened again.  My blog got away from me!  This time I can say that I think it is because I have been crazy busy and life moves faster than I do these days.  I was trying to decide how to update everything, but I really can't go back and summarize everything from December until now, so I guess I will post about each of us and you can fill in the blanks.  Hopefully things will start to calm down and I will be able to post more.  Life is changing for us as a family, but then again, it feels like at times it is the same story, just a different day.  Oh well, life is a learning experience and some lessons are learned easier than others.  Well, now to update about everyone...