Post-it #93

Flowers from April 24, 2013

I made a foolish blunder when chopping the stems, and so ended up needing to put them in two small vases rather than one larger vase.

He also brought home a box of those Little Debbie's Zebra Cakes, since I have craved those a time or two during pregnancy. :)

Post-it #92

The boys were getting too rowdy, so I do what I do when that happens, and enforced separated play. Morgan opted to play in his bedroom.
I went in there and found him sitting in the semi-truck and reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which he got from the library yesterday. That's my boy!

Sixty-fourth Passage

Announcement!
I'm pregnant.
Hopefully this one lasts. I assume it will, since I made it thirteen weeks. I figured I couldn't keep the announcement much longer, because it is already becoming rather obvious to anyone who sees me that my tummy is popping.

We told the boys on Sunday. It was really fun to see their reactions; they're very excited. I'm looking forward to see how this baby affects the dynamics of the family. I hope it melds us together even more. The baby will belong to everyone; there will be no "step" attached.

I'm now a firm believer in low dose aspirin during pregnancy. When I lived in Utah, I briefly participated in the EAGeR trial, where women who had previously had multiple miscarriages were invited to join in the study. I gave blood, urine samples galore, and they had me keep a diary of some day to day activities, as well as ovulation tracking. They provided the materials for that. They also had me take folic acid and another pill. It was either a placebo, or a low dose aspirin. I will never know. The purpose was to determine if low dose aspirin during pregnancy would enhance the chances for women to get pregnant, and to stay pregnant. The results haven't been published yet.
Anyway, I didn't stay with the study for long, but I did remember the low dose aspirin thing. Here's the run-down. I had Morgan with no problems at all.  My next pregnancy miscarried at 11 1/2 weeks. I got pregnant a year later and miscarried at 6 weeks. I got pregnant awhile later, this time after participating in the trial, and so took a low dose aspirin every day. I had a couple earlyish ultrasounds that showed a subchorionic hematoma.  Basically, a blood clot in my uterus between the placenta and the uterine wall. This could be problematic later in pregnancy if it didn't resolve itself. But it did. Was it because I was taking a not-dangerous dosage of aspirin every day, helping to thin out the blood? I dunno. But I did have Lydia, a healthy baby girl.
A few months ago I miscarried again, around 9 weeks or so.

This time when I got pregnant, I made the decision to take the aspirin. And this time I am still pregnant, my belly is growing, and hopefully we'll get a baby.
So, if you have problems with conceiving or carrying a baby full term, you might try taking a baby aspirin along with your prenatal pill. I'm a proponent.

Sixty-third Passage

Today's lunch was hotdog squids. Morgan told us about this meal he had with his dad awhile back, and wanted to do it again. I thought it sounded fun.

First you cut up hot dogs, and stick spaghetti through them.

This got very creative.

Then you boil them.
Hmm... easier said than done...
Some of their more creative pieces needed some alteration before it could fit in the pot.

The result were squids! Unless one of the boys made it. Then the result was something akin to spaghetti sticking out at odd ends from a hotdog slice. :)

It was actually edible. I wasn't so sure about eating hotdogs with spaghetti and sauce, but I'd do it again. 

Sixty-second Passage

April 20, 2013 was a good, good, day, and one that I'd been looking forward to for a year. David and I were sealed at 8:45 in the morning. We took care of all the necessary permissions and cancellations, and made it happen. It was a special experience, and one I'll forever be happy I had. Because I get to have my David forever! What's not good about that?

The children were at the temple too, so they could be a part of it. They were just in the waiting room, of course, but afterward we all took pictures together. 

These are many of the people who came to see the sealing, but not all.

I don't know if Morgan had to go to the bathroom or what, but there were a couple pictures where he's standing like a flamingo.

Lydia was all over the place, and ran a circle around these tulips while counting, "1,2,3,4,5,6,9,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,2..."

After the temple, we went to my parents' house. We had invited several people over for a party, and so we had lunch, chairs, tables, and decorations to get ready. We didn't have as much time as I'd thought, so started a bit late. Many of our guests weren't able to come anyway. 

A lady in my ward volunteered to make me a cake, and she did a beautiful job! And she wouldn't accept payment, either. I had expected a one layered cake, but she went above and beyond. I love it! Isn't it pretty?

After we ate, David and I sang a song we wrote together. I'm not an excellent singer, and I don't know how to sing loud, so sorry if you can't hear the words. David wrote the music, and we both wrote the lyrics. 

Lyrics:
Tilt your head forward, 
look at me over
The top of those glasses 
tell me you love me so.

When your eyes meet mine, 
and you smile at me,
My heart starts to swell 
so I tell you I love you so.

Search my heart with those pretty blue eyes 
I want you to know that I'm yours for all time.

I See forever when you speak my name, 
so say it again, 
and erase all my pain. 

Beautiful, wonderful, 
lovely too
patient and kind
I'm in love with you.

Thoughtful and strong, 
handsome too,
you own my heart 
and I trust it with you.

So sacred I'm serene, 
this one moment that we share.
So precious in God's sight, 
Angels will be there.

In heaven I would be 
lonely, if I weren't with you.
My heart explodes with Joy knowing, I'll be yours there too. 

Kneeling across from you 
your right hand in mine 
you are looking so beautiful 
all clothed in white

Inside the mirrors, 
together we stand 
our image of love 
Can forever extend. 

It was a lovely day outside, which was very fortunate, because all the days surrounding it were much colder, rainier, and windier.
I love David so much, and I'm so happy to finally be sealed to him.

Post-it #90

My Lydia is a loud child. She mostly yells or screams. But she has started singing lately, and it's always in a sweet, quiet voice, and I just love it. I got this cute video of her singing for me the other day. I love her arm motions.

Post-it #91

These kiddo's are lucky to have such a wonderful daddy. And I'm lucky to have such a wonderful husband! 

Post-it #89

For Christmas we got Lydia a little pack of princess fingernail polish. It's the child kind, so it washes off easily. Anyway, it's probably Lydia's favorite Christmas gift. She loves having her nails painted.
But lately, having them painted, just didn't satisfy her. She wanted to do the painting herself. I let her.

Isn't it lovely?

Post-it #88

It's dandelion season! We have many of them. The other day the boys started picking some, and I told them that I would give them a penny for each dandilion they pulled. They religiously pulled dandelions for a few days, (there are still soooo many!) and I doled out probably about $8.00 between them all.

Sixty-first Passage

Easter Sunday, after church and some home time in the afternoon, we went to David's parents' house.The kids got to have another Easter egg hunt. I didn't really get many pictures of it.

In these pictures they are checking out their spoils.
We had another lovely dinner, and did a lot of playing outside again. We even roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores.
Before leaving, the boys all piled onto Nana's lap, so I tried to get a nice picture. None of them had everyone looking or smiling, but what do you do?

Sixtieth Passage

Ready for some Easter posts? First we'll start with Saturday. No. We'll start with Friday. Friday night after the kids were in bed, David and I played the Easter Bunny part. Growing up, I always got my Easter basket the day before Easter. We did the fun egg, bunny, candy, traditions on Saturday so that actually Easter Sunday could be reserved for focusing on the real meaning of Easter. I like the tradition, so decided to continue it.
We left this on the bench in the kitchen before going to bed.

And upstairs we left a note on a baby gate in front of the stairs, instructing the boys to wake up Mommy and Daddy before going downstairs.
They did. Too early, too...
Everyone got a basket of treats and toys, and basically the same things. But the boys got a couple wii remotes to share, (now four people can play at the same time, rather than just two) and Lydia got a dress.
Later that day we headed to my parents' house. All the cousins were there. We did a big Easter egg hunt for all the kids. Here are some pictures.

 We made it fair for everyone. We numbered the eggs, and each child was assigned a number.  So, Owen only could put the eggs with number 4 in his basket. They all got the same amount and the same candy and prizes. But there was one competitive aspect.  There was a super carrot hidden, and whoever found it, got it. In it was the game pick up sticks. Matthias found it.

It was a fun day for everyone, I think. It was lovely outside, so we spent much time out there. Board games, boche ball, dinner, etc.