Update on life

Wow, I am an awesome blogger! So, last time I posted I was still pregnant! Now, my sweet little Lincoln is 5 1/2 months old! I guess time flies when there are babies around!

I thought I'd make a note of some things going on around here, just because everything changes so quickly, I want to remember it all. Here's where we are:

Like I said, Lincoln is 5 1/2 months old. He is so sweet. He is my smiley, happy baby. This is what's going on with him:

• He has only been rolling consistently for a few weeks, but he is already pushing himself up on his knees, scooting all over the place! He wants to move around so badly. I'm pretty sure he'll be crawling in the next few weeks.
• Grabbing everything in sight! It's time for me to start actually making sure that there aren't any small objects laying around anymore, because he likes to get them and put everything in his mouth.
• About 18 pounds (At his 4 month check up he was in the 90th percentile for weight and about average for height, I think it's still pretty close to that)
• Loves his rice cereal! He is such a good eater. I am so excited to get him eating fruits and veggies soon!
• Puts himself to bed now! Well, I lay him down... but he falls asleep all on his own now! And, for those who knew about how well he was sleeping before, now he is doing much better! We sing "I am a Child of God," and I lay him down and sing one more verse, and then he falls asleep. It's wonderful.
• Loves bath time
• Loves his toes
• Loves to listen to people talk
• Loves to watch his brother. He thinks Kimball is pretty funny!
• Sitting up pretty much all by himself. I don't have to sit behind him anymore and prop him up.
• Wakes up around 6:30 am every day, no matter when he goes to bed! But that's usually around 7:30 pm.
• His favorite song is "You are my sunshine." Every time I sing it to him, no matter what he's doing, he gets this huge grin on his face. He even has his own verse because he loves the song so much.
• Loves to grab my face in both hands and give me a big "kiss," which is so slobbery I can't even explain it.
• Has his first two bottom teeth as of last week!

So many things are changing with him right now. I feel like for so long he was just eating and sleeping and growing... but now all of the sudden he's doing so many more things. I love it! This little man is such a joy in my life. He makes everything that is challenging about having kids worth it.

Kimball is also awesome. He cracks me up. Here's where he is right now:

• LOVES soccer! I swear, he is going to be my David Beckham when he grows up. For a two year old, he is incredibly talented with a soccer ball. 
• Food is a weird subject with him. He will hardly ever eat pasta. He never eats rice. He doesn't really like desserts.
• He loves vegetables! Carrots, cucumbers, peppers... he is a fan. He also is pretty good with fruits. But he goes through phases with them. We cycle through bananas, apples, oranges, sometimes grapes. I love that he likes these foods but sometimes I wish he would eat the other things on his plate too. 
•  He will eat things if there is something to dip them in. Or if he can avoid using silverware. It's so much messier, but if he eats, I don't complain. 
• Counts to ten.
• Loves his daddy. Whenever Jacob gets home, he yells, "DADDY!," and runs up and gives him a big hug. He loves to play with daddy.
• Loves his legos. Seriously loves them.
• Loves his cars. He likes to line them up in a row and then smash them into each other.
• Climbs on EVERYTHING!
• Loves to play at the park. It's probably his favorite thing to do. (Thank goodness there are some great parks out here!)
• Is in the process of cutting out naps... I'm not a fan. But we still have quiet time anyway.
• Is a good big brother (when he feels like noticing that he has a little brother). Mostly he still doesn't worry too much about Lincoln, but he doesn't mind that he's around either, so I consider that a win-win. 
• Loves Curious George, Mickey Mouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Tonka Chuck and friends, Backyardigans, and the Leapfrog shows. Thank you, netflix. Also, Cars.

I'm sure there are a ton of other things I could write, but this list is getting long. I just don't want to forget these things, so sorry if this is boring to everyone else. Needless to say, he is amazing. And he is smart. I need to get him some new books because now he just kind of reads them to himself, he's got a lot of them memorized. I love this little man. He definitely shows me that he is a two year old, but most of the time he is the sweetest boy. I am so happy that he is in my life.

Aside from that, Jacob just celebrated his birthday! Every year I let him make the menu, and it's always fun. The first year, it was something like pot roast, carrots, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, lime kool-aid, and a pumpkin pie. Then it was chicken enchiladas and green bean casserole with cream soda and a lemon meringue pie (I just bought a frozen one). This year he wanted all appetizers, which was really easy. We had wings, quesadillas, chips and salsa, mozzarella sticks, homemade butterbeer, and I MADE a lemon meringue pie. Yes, I made it. It is the most complicated thing I think I've done to date, and it was delicious!  I am still really proud of myself.

Is this really happening... again?

Sometimes I forget that I'm pregnant, sometimes, it's all I think about. Lately, as I get closer to the end of the month, I keep thinking about it. A few days or so ago I started realizing that I REALLY am having another baby. He's for real coming. And I am so glad. I forgot about the last few weeks of pregnancy. The multiple pee trips all day and night, sore ribs, backaches when you've hardly done anything to feel you deserve them, and your oldest kid either jumping, kicking, or leaning on your protruding self. And did I mention nothing fits and however nice people may say you look you just don't feel it? I am ready for this to be over with. I really am.

But that's enough complaining, I just needed to get that out. There's so much I forgot about being pregnant. It really is a blessing. I'm so grateful to be able to carry this little man and meet him soon! It's weird to think about how everything is about to change. I love my routine with Kimball, and there are so many things that will be different after the baby comes. Sometimes I worry about Kimball, not so much that he won't like the baby or anything, but that he'll still feel loved and that I'll still have time to have the relationship I want to have with him. I'm actually really glad his birthday is right after the baby comes, because it will be a time for us to make sure he knows we love him.

And I'm sure everything will work itself out. After all, tons of people have had multiple kids and they turn out just fine. So I try not to worry too much. It's just weird to be here again. I can't help but think, "Am I really doing this again? Starting the whole process over? That's crazy" But yeah, I really am. And I really am excited. Not just for the pregnancy to end, but I can't wait to see this little man, especially since I already have Kimball. I wonder how they're going to be different, or the same, or how they'll react to each other, if they'll like each other... all that. At my last doctor's appointment, he told me that I was measuring small, and all the sudden it hit me... this kid is not going to be like Kimball! It was the first time I actually thought that and meant it. He's not going to be the same baby as I had two years ago. He's going to be his own baby, and grow up into his own person.

I love being a mom. I still don't think I've fully wrapped my mind around having two kids. Two boys! How cool, huh?

Precious moments

Sometimes, since I've become a mother, I've had some moments in my life that I just want to bottle up and put them in my pocket so I can always have them with me. I don't know if it's just me being crazy pregnancy hormonal or what but really, children are so precious. They make everything that's hard or frustrating or anything seem worth it. I love my sweet Kimball. Today I had to lay him down for a nap in my bed and decided to lay down with him for a minute and he just fell right asleep lying curled up next to me, one arm slung over my stomach, mouth open, and all of the sweetness that comes with watching your child sleep. Sometimes I can't help but marvel at how much I love my baby. I am so grateful that I get to be a mother, and that in 20 more weeks I won't just have my sweet Kimball but my little Lincoln as well.  Man, being a mom seriously rocks.

I just wanted to put up this picture because it's adorable, and I miss Koen! Also, I didn't realize it until we bought them matching shirts but I cannot wait to buy my boys matching outfits! I don't care how cheesy of a mom I am, it's adorable.

I am Thankful

I just want to start by saying, I LOVE this time of year!!! I've been listening to Christmas music since the beginning of November, and I have no shame! I think it's funny when people "confess" on facebook about that, because I think a lot of people do and like it, they just are silly. So anyway, I'm finding this time of year to be refreshing. There's just something about the weather changing that makes everything seem wonderful.

I really wanted to get on here though, because I've been thinking about how we need to be grateful always, and this time of year is here to remind us of that. So I just thought I would let out all of those feelings of gratitude I've been feeling lately.

I am grateful for my new, little, and still growing family. All of it. I don't think Jacob gets enough credit sometimes for how wonderful he is. Not only is he hardworking, loving, and funny, but he is sweet, determinded, and the best person I could ask to be with. I am so thankful to be able to have him by my side forever. I love having a partner, companion, and best friend. Words don't really express my love and gratitude for him. I also am so thankful for my sweet Kimball. I am so grateful for the gift of motherhood. There is nothing like watching your little man grow and change and learn. He is so funny, so smart, and so perfect. Of course it's challenging, but nothing in my life thus far has been as rewarding as being a wife and mother.

I am grateful to be pregnant. Maybe that's silly but I enjoy being pregnant. It's hard in the beginning, and unpleasant in the end, but it is such a sweet process. Knowing that I am growing another little member of my family inside me, and what comes at the end of it all, and getting to feel those sweet kicks and tumbles... it's just amazing.

I am thankful for the Sunbeams we teach on Sundays in church. We have about five of them most times, and they are not only sweet, but so funny! Every Sunday is a new learning experience for us, and we always leave church with a smile because of them.

I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the gospel. The scriptures truly teach of Christ. I know that life isn't meant to be perfect or easy, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to have faith and remember him always, and we will ALWAYS be okay. I believe that we need to experience hardships, because we truly become who we can be through them. And so, for all of our challenges and trials over the last few months, I am very grateful. It has taught us quite a bit.

I am thankful for my family. So many have helped us in so many ways. We have been so blessed to have family around us to support us where we are and where we are trying to go. I love my family. I am so grateful to have been raised by such wonderful parents, and for siblings who I love so much. I am also grateful for my new extended family. I'm thankful that I don't have to feel awkward or uncomfortable around them, and that they are people I love to spend time with.

I am thankful for so many things. For this holiday season, for a roof over our heads, that we have enough to take care of our needs, laughter, good friends, and all things that we have been so very blessed with. I love my life. It's interesting because I've been watching the news more now than I ever have in my life (mostly because Jacob likes it so much), but I've really become intrigued with how people value things. That we have to have so much money and that success is valued by how much stuff you can have. To me, I am rich. I have all of the things I need to have joy in my life, even if everything around me isn't perfect.

I think I just get worse at blogging the longer I have this thing... Either way, I decided to update.

So first of all, I just want to say it's almost 10 pm, and I am exhausted! Is that what parenthood does to you? Knowing that I am going to be awake by AT LEAST 7:30 am, which isn't the worst time I've had to be awake, but who wants to be awake then? That probably sounds really pathetic to most people. So sorry for all of you productive people, who are, obviously, more productive than I seem to be, yes, I am lame.

I think that those of you who read this have the general "down low" (or whatever), on my life, so I won't share it all. We're happy and at least trying hard to be where we should be, if we're not in our "ideal" situation. Last night Jacob and I had actually discussed where we are in life, and I totally realized that I am not the best person that I could be. So I am going to try to be better. I remembered reading this artice from General Conference, and I'm spacing on who actually gave the talk, but he quoted President Monson saying (essentially),

                                "Fear not, for your future is as bright as your faith."

When I first read that it really touched me, made me feel like Jacob and I really could do whatever it was we decided, so long as we were doing all that we were in faith and with the guidance of the Spirit. And then we got to Utah, and things didn't work out how I thought they would, or how Jacob thought they would, and I quickly and easily let that thought slip through my fingers. And last night is when I finally realized that. After that, and a wonderful conversation with my amazing mother, who shared her words of wisdom with me, I realize that everything will be fine. That I need to deal with my problems with faith, not fear. The only thing that will accomplish for me is making me stressed out, and who needs that... So as of now, I am resolved to be of better faith, a stronger support for my husband, and a more tender and loving mother of my precious baby boy.

One year

So I know I'm a few days behind but I still wanted to get this up here before things change and I forget. My little man is one year old... Where did that year go? Oh yeah, it went to my Kimball. I cannot believe how much things can change in such a short amount of time. This time last year, I was just trying to stay afloat figuring out how to be a mom and still get to eat and shower myself as well. Now Kimball and I (and Jacob of course) have our own little schedule down for most days of the week, and we eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and our snacks sitting together at the kitchen table. I love it.

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the concept of a year. How did I get from this:

To this:

Kimball is now running everywhere we go, saying, "bye bye," shutting himself into rooms and then knocking so I will come and get him, trying to hang out with the "big kids," and throwing away his own diapers (with lots of encouragement from mom and dad). He is the smartest kid I know. I am so proud of all he does.

We got him some blocks for his birthday, and he loves to knock them down and mess them up.

I really enjoy this kid. I can't imagine life without this little family that I have. So, happy birthday Kimball! I love you more than I can say!

And we're walking!

And there you have it - my baby is a walker!