It's finally warming up!

I love being warm. This long cold season just doesn't always sit well with me. Maybe I just think it's cold but really it's just my native (St. George) upbringing that makes me thinks it's cold. Either way I am so happy to finally get out of the house more. There is only so much you can do inside with your two year old, and doing dishes everyday with her isn't the most exciting thing in the world.

I have been taking advantage of this (hopefully permanent) change. I took the girls to Kori's seminary. We surprised him and Kallie had never been so it was fun and loud. School had just ended and sometimes the youth like to be loud. Which is totally cool, I guess I just forgot I was the exact same way. Kallie enjoyed sitting in several of the blue chairs, playing the piano, and coloring on the white board. It's fun to watch her explore, grow, and get excited about little things.

Kori had a meeting so we said bye and left for the park. We stayed for almost three hours. Kaitlyn was totally cool with it so why not. Kallie was all over the place and asked me to take like 20 videos of her going down the slides. Of course I did. Well not quite 20 but a lot.

She is just so cute!

Her run totally gets me. It's so adorable. Little kids are just so cute.

We also fed the ducks this week. It was a lot of fun and Kallie told me all the colors the ducks were. She also tried to hand them some bread but they ran away from her. Kaitlyn just stared at them for a long time.

We went to the park again because I am desperate to get out of the house. A different park than the first and we had a picnic. There were not quite as many kids playing at this one and some girls from our ward showed up so she had a lot of fun.

 There is a giant chair at this one. Kallie wanted to sit on it, but what kid wouldn't?

Some Thoughts on being a Mom of Two

I haven't posted for a little while. Well actually it has been over a year and a half, oops. I decided that I need to keep a journal better and this is one way to do it. I am at a time in my life where there is so much happening and I don't want to forget about all of it. Plus blogging is something that I can do for myself. Which is probably what this post is going to be about, well and about my beautiful family too.

So I recently became a mother of two. It's kind of surreal.

Two kids is a lot fun and a lot of work. They are about 21 months apart so you can imagine the diapers. (Well, I am in the process of potty training but that is for later). It is amazing to see how much they love each other already. I didn't expect an infant to really pay attention as much as Kaitlyn does. Kaitlyn is so aware of her sister though. She watches her play constantly and I am pretty sure she wishes she could join. She stares at Kallie when she plays her little piano and watches us run around the house playing tag.  She sometimes will cry if she feels too left out.

Kallie is also very fun to watch interact with Kaitlyn. She is always giving her kisses and toys. Most of the time she just sets them next to Kaitlyn on the floor. Kallie also gives her blankets because "Kaitlyn is cold". It's pretty adorable. But I think my favorite thing to witness is when Kaitlyn wakes up in the morning or from a nap. Once Kallie hears her making noises she runs into the room and says "hi" to her like 20 times in her high pitched voice that she learned from Kori and I. (Because you always talk to a baby in a higher voice, of course). Kaitlyn smiles and lights up every time. Needless to say, they love each a lot.

There are also some difficult things about have two kids. The hardest for me; splitting up my attention. I didn't realize how hard it would be to do this. I worry and wonder all the time if I am giving them both the love and attention they need. Kaitlyn especially because she does cry more than Kallie did. (But Kallie hardly ever cried). Kallie is two so I have to make sure she doesn't get into things. Plus disciplining and playing games with her. All the while, Kaitlyn just wants to join us. Sometimes she does join us, because Kallie likes to hold her on her lap.

Two kids is a lot of work. Especially when both are pretty dependent. Kallie is starting to get more independent but I still have to help her with a lot of things. With that being said, I never have needed "me" time more in my life. It gets tiring even exhausting sometimes especially if you don't get a good nights sleep, which is pretty common with infants. I have come to realize just how much it helps to be able to do something for yourself that you enjoy. Don't sell yourself short. Being a mom is a lot of work no matter what stage of life you or your kids are in so if you don't take time to do something you enjoy it might get overwhelming. We all need breaks. I have always enjoyed working out and running but it's still too cold to go running (Growing up in St. George spoils you) so I started going to a free Zumba class. Even though I feel very white (because lets face it, I am very white) it's still fun and helps me to feel like I am doing something for myself. Plus exercise releases endorphins which makes you happier, right? (I think).

Overall, being a mom of these two little girls is the best thing ever and such a blessing. They are smart, strong and beautiful and I get to be their mom!

An update about Kori; he graduates in July! Oh my goodness I literally cannot wait. It can't come soon enough. He is also currently student teaching seminary at Nampa High School. Oh and he is up for hire this Spring! If I think about it too much I get really nervous. But whether or not they decide to hire him full time, at least I know it is what is suppose to happen. Either way, it has been a huge blessing and a wonderful experience to be a part of the seminary and institute program.

P.S. My little sister finishes her mission a week from Wednesday!

The Beginning

My first time blogging so I thought the beginning of motherhood would be an appropriate place to start.

Many of you know that we had a miracle added to our family in January. Of course at first being a new mom is tough. You don't know what to expect. I understood my life was going to change a lot, I just didn't realize how much exactly. The almost sleepless nights, and longs days seem like a blur. Even when I got sleep it seemed liked I was awake; all my dreams were of Kallie crying and me waking up to go feed her or rocking her back to sleep. It was getting so confusing, fortunately that is over with now.

She taught me lots of patience. In the beginning, it would take around an hour and a half to feed her, only to wake up again an hour later and start the whole process over. After that phase, she started having a hard time falling asleep and I would stay with her in her room for hours (usually three or four) until she was finally asleep enough to lay her in her crib.

I also rarely get to do my hair and make up, a shower is usually all I do and that doesn't usually happen at least until noon. Today, I actually did my hair and make up so I decided to take some pictures with my little lady!

Yes, there are many more lifestyle changes that have taken place, but I don't want to focus on how different it is because the reward is far greater. Honestly, I don't even know how to explain how much happiness has been brought into my life since we brought Kallie home.

I am just going to say it bluntly; I am spoiled and here is why. She has taught me patience, BUT she has so much in return. I am amazed by her every single day, and every time I go out and do something. Let me explain. Yesterday I had my teeth cleaned by my wonderful friend. I had to bring Kallie with me because Kori was working. My friend is in dental hygiene school so this cleaning took 2 1/2 hours. (Teachers would have to pass things off, ect.) Kallie was fine the entire time just chillin' in her car seat. Umm, what baby would be okay with that?

She really doesn't cry that much. Not only that, she falls asleep on her own without a pacifer and she is only three months old. She sleeps all the way through the night, and when she wakes up in the morning, she takes her time and when she wants me to come get her she just calls for me; never cries. She is happy all the time! How and why this all happens I have no idea, but she amazes me.

This video is a good idea of how she is  when she wakes up in the morning or from a nap.

Usually she smiles for 10 minutes straight, but she got camera shy when I did this. ;)
Like I said, I am spoiled. I feel like our next baby will be so hard because Kallie is so easy.