Brotherly Love

There's nothing that makes me happier than hearing my kiddos get along whether they're laughing with each other or giving hugs/kisses without mauling one another.  It's funny, when thinking about being a mom someday I always focused on my relationship with them-the love, the deep connection, how invested I'd be etc.  I never thought about my kids' relationships with each other.  Ironically, it's seeing THEM love EACH OTHER, helping each other that makes me just as, if not even more, happy than my own love for them individually.  It really shines a light on an often quoted scripture in the Book of Mormon, "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."  (Mosiah 2:17).  I now feel that I can understand, on a tiny scale, how God must feel when he sees us loving and being kind to one another.

Yesterday we were driving home from Rubios and Andy started fussing out of nowhere and Jake, without missing a beat said, "I know Andy, I know."(something I always say to Andy when he's fussy while we're driving)- We all busted out laughing.

I remember the first time Andy really fussed/started crying in the car on the way home one day and Jake at first was getting annoyed at him-telling him to be quiet (an understandable response when you don't know that babies don't listen/understand).  But we started talking about why he might be sad and what we could do to try and help him/make him feel better, rather than focusing on how it bugs us.  I asked if we should say a prayer for Andy so he would feel better and Jake instantly agreed (I love this age-they're always eager to pray with 0 doubts about whether it will help or not).  We said a prayer (me thinking it would be a good way for Jake to learn a practical way to use prayer-not even thinking of whether it would work), and Andy stopped fussing and I know it was because of Jake's simple faith-not mine, and I learned something.  We sang songs the rest of the way to keep Andy happy.  Not to say we don't still have to have daily talks about how we don't poke Andy in the eyes, or cover his face with a blanket/burp cloth, or how we don't growl/roar/basically make a loud noise in his face and make him cry, cause we do.  I just have double the opportunities to turn to and use the gospel in my daily life as we all are learning how to serve, love, and encourage Jake and Andy to be loving brothers and it's really worth it when you're able to capture sweet moments like this:

 Both of them beaming the entire time:

love this one:

Also just for kicks and giggles, Look how cute!

sigh, my lil side-sleeper/thumb-sucker

I could seriously stare at sleeping babies ALL day-nothing is more sweet, not even puppies.

J & A

These two have really loved being together and Jake has discovered that's even funner to make Andy laugh than cry.  That's probably my favorite thing to hear-these two cracking each other up and giggling a storm  all on their own with no help from me.

They have their own version of facetime- the closer, the better :)

Jake has been more open to singing along with us lately.  He's known the words forever but would be too shy to sing, but now if you ask he'll actually sing along.

We went to the duckpond south of campus and were very excited to find an egg that hadn't hatched yet:

Andy has started solids lately and is sitting up in Jake's highchair pretty good so we're gonna get Jake a bumper seat and he can finally sit in a real chair at the table.

These boys are growing up so fast!

29

I had a great 29th birthday.  We went on a hike to Stuart Falls the night before but only made it half way since it was starting to get dark/started sprinkling, but the boys loved it.  Jake was very excited on his discovery of pinecones.

The next day I was showered with love from family and friends.  That night we got Liz to babysit the boys then we went to our favorite sushi place-so good!  Then it was back to open presents and have cake.  I got tons of books that I'm dying to read!  I hate when eating/sleeping/life take up so much of my reading time :) 

 I got some awesome musical toms and some new luggage items for our trip this fall: a new purse, a toiletry bag/makeup bag etc.

I actually like getting older i think.  You get more respect the older you get right?  I'm actually looking forward to 30 (I like the ages in increments of 5).  It's been a great year and it's been so fun to see Andy grow and Jake grow as a big brother-they really crack each other up most days.  Thanks everyone for a great day!

Mothers' Day

I know that mothers day is a LOADED day, and I mean LOADED.  I personally feel really bad for moms who can't enjoy mothers day. (I totally get why women who struggle with infertility or mom's who have lost kids struggle).
But, Sometimes I wonder if maybe there's something wrong with me cause I look around at so many women who are just beating themselves up with little to no mercy over this day, and I wonder do I care enough/hold myself to a high enough standard?  I'm definitely not perfect.  I loose my temper with the kiddos-I'll be the first one to admit that I am a selfish creature.  But isn't that the point of all of this?  to be brought face to face with our weaknesses and shortcomings so we know what to work on?  I don't keep the house clean enough, etc etc, but...I don't feel THAT bad about it.  I mean, I do in a: I'm going to try harder tomorrow/ I need to work on that kind of way, but not in a I loathe myself kind of way.  Quite honestly I don't feel that that's Heavenly Father's purpose in giving us motherhood.  And, I feel that any rational person would have days where my kids would drive them crazy too, so I kinda feel justified. shrug.
Maybe this is a too simplistic way to look at it, but, if you are racked with guilt and feel like you're a terrible mom, well, you've proven you're not.  It's the terrible moms who are oblivious to the fact that they need to change/improve.  You're proving that you care a lot and really care about your kids/being the best for them-that's just proof that you are a great mom.

I love Mothers Day cause it helps me to focus on the GOOD parts of being a mom.  Are there days filled with tantrums, messes, and me wanting nothing more than to lock myself in my closet and binge on chocolate?  of course, but on mothers day I think back to those days when each of my kiddos were born, look at pics from back when they were itty bitty and realize how FAST time is racing by and how far they and I have come.  I remind myself to cherish this cause it's gonna be gone really soon and I'll soon be flying out to help them when THEIR kids are born.  It gives me a chance to bask in the messes, the emotional roller coaster, and giggles.  I'll get back to my OCD ways tomorrow, but for today I'm just going to be happy and content.  And I, for one, am grateful for this lil annual reminder.

Jake was induced and took awhile to show up in July of 2012:

He's almost 3, loves nursery and his lil pre-preschool group.  He knows his ABCs and the sounds they make (we're working on potty training *cough cough*). He loves cars, trucks, animals, dinosaurs and ROARING or making any kind of loud sounds, and he's never too shy to ask for hugs from his mommy.  Some of his favorite places to go are: the dinosaur museum, animal museum (any kind of museum really), and the farm country attraction where he can ride the ponies.  We love our energetic toddler that reminds me that the world is full of wonder!

Andy came a week early and we barely got to the hospital in time :)

Andy is 6 months old, and can roll from front to back and back again.  He can almost sit up on his own and is usually either fascinated or terrified of his big brother.  He's quick to smile and laugh-you can often trick him into switching from crying to laughing.  He has 2 naps a day and sleeps through the night and actually has some fat rolls (Jake was always too scrawny for that).  He really responds to the emotions around him and will cry if he hears Jake crying or will laugh if others are laughing-he's just happy to be a part of the group.  

I love my boys!