Visitors!

Mom and Annie are coming on a road trip this week (Nate is buying Mom's Volvo and she is very excited to drive it to Vermont for him--always an adventure with Adelee) and I'm so excited for them to come.   I haven't seen anyone in my family for almost three months, which is the longest span of time since being on my mission.  I know that may not seem that long to most, but I've been very fortunate to see my family often.  I'm so grateful for my parents, brothers, sisters, in-laws, and niece and nephew.  I love that my brothers and sisters are among my best friends.  I love that they "get" me without explanation.  So, I'm excited--more excited than I thought I'd be-- that Mom and Annie will visit, even if it is for only a couple days.  

Grant

I know Grant is so young but I can already tell that he has such a sweet side to him. Yesterday I put him down for a nap in my bed and hurried to clean the house while there weren't any distractions. Then I realized how tired I was so I layed down on the couch for a power nap, which ended up being no more than seven minutes. I woke up to the sound of Grant's cooing in my bedroom. I went in to make sure he was ok and put my face right next to his, still half-asleep. I was just enjoying his cute sounds. Then I felt his soft pudgy hands reach up and pat my cheeks and nose. This went on for at least five minutes. I just wanted to stay there forever. He is such a sweet baby--so happy and full of light. I feel so blessed to have him in our family.

Sunday

I am so grateful for Sundays.  Today especially was a restoring day.  The kids were great and well-behaved at church, which meant I was able to listen to most of the talks/lessons, which also meant I was able to feel the Spirit more than I normally do.  Sometimes Sundays aren't my "day of rest"....with missed naps, trying to keep kids quiet and entertained at church, making dinner, meetings, etc.  But today I feel like I am better able to face the upcoming week.  I truly feel restored and I'm so grateful for that.  

Cute kids!

My friend and talented photographer, Jessica Gowdy, took some pictures of Sarah and Grant a few days ago. Check out our cute kids at:
http://jmgphotography.blogspot.com/2008/04/little-s-g.html

Time Out

Sarah is starting to realize her opinion and isn't afraid to voice it. Unfortunately this also means that she spends a lot of time on the step in time out. The rule is that once she calms down she spends between one and two minutes on the step. Then we talk about the disobedient behavior and move on. Tonight Sarah wanted a cookie that she wasn't allowed to have and so she threw a tantrum, which landed her on the step. After many minutes of crying and banging on the step it looked like Sarah was going to stop. Steve then asked her if she was ready to stop crying, to which she answered a very obstinate "NO!" Steve and I had the hardest time keeping from laughing in front of her...it just hit us so funny that she knew she wasn't done crying. So she sat there for another five minutes. Once she was off she was back to her happy old self. I guess this is part of the Terrible Twos.

What A Guy!

I don't know what got into Steve (well actually, maybe I do--a near breakdown at church on my part), but as soon as we got home from church Steve sent me to have a nap. When I woke up I found two fed and now sleeping kids, a clean kitchen, and a clean living room. I'm so grateful that he knows when I've had enough and that he's willing to step in and take care of everything. What a guy!

Not to toot my own horn...

But I received the very best compliment of my life tonight. At dinner Sarah said under her breath, "This is not a yucky dinner." I have arrived! A two year old thinks my cooking isn't yucky!  And then she asked for a second helping of spaghetti.

A few "Sarah Stories"

I was on the phone the other night with Annie and she asked for any recent "Sarah Stories." Well, I was talking for a long time so I thought I'd post a few of her cute things she's done lately.

• Sassy: About two months ago we were in church and the sacrament prayer was about to be said. I reminded Sarah that we were about to say a prayer and that she needed to fold her arms and stop talking. She folded her arms, but kept on talking quietly. I reminded her again, but she kept it up. By this time the prayer had started so I "shhhushed" her. Then she looked up at me with squinted eyes (and a little fire in them, too) and said in a loud whisper, "Don't you shush me!" It caught me so off guard I let a big smile out. I didn't know if I should laugh or punish her. But I did realize that my sweet little Sarah is beginning to get her own opinion and she's not afraid to let it out.
• Dr. Sayah: Sarah LOVES her pediatrician, Dr. Ionas. I don't know if love is even a strong enough word for how Sarah feels about her doctor. She talks about "Dr. Onas" all the time. She gets so excited when it's time for an appointment. She even asked me if she could get a shot just so she could go to the doctor. I must admit, Dr. Ionas is the best doctor we've had. She truly cares about our children and will take time to make sure they are healthy and happy. (She even called personally with test results--and just 3 hours after the test was taken--for Grant and reassured me that everything was fine.) Sarah found some of Steve's leftover surgical gloves from anatomy class and she puts them on daily to play doctor. She puts the gloves on, feels my neck and tummy, listens to my heart with an old stethoscope and then tells me that it all "sounds really good." She likes to call herself Dr. Sayah and me Dr. Mama.
  
• The cat and monkey: Sarah went through this stage of being afraid of a cat and a monkey at bedtime. Neither Steve nor I can figure out why she's afraid of these two animals, and it was beginning to be a problem. So one night we had a prayer and asked that Sarah wouldn't be afraid of the cat and monkey. The next morning I asked Sarah how her night was and she again mentioned the cat and monkey, but then followed up with "Jesus helps Sayah feel better." It hit me so hard that at just over two years she could comprehend such spiritual things. It's so amazing how she understands prayer and that she was comforted by the Spirit to not be afraid. Now whenever she acts afraid of anything she quickly reminds herself that Jesus helps her to feel better. I'm so grateful to have this little girl in my life to remind me of the simple truths of the gospel.
  
• Root Beer: we were out to eat with a big group of people and the waitress was taking orders for drinks. Steve and I both asked for water and then Sarah looked right at the waitress, raised her pointer finger and said, "I'll have a root beer please." I cracked up and quickly told the waitress that she'd just have water. She is not even 2 1/2 and she thinks she's running the show! Hey, at least she knows what she wants!
  

Teething

So tonight Steve and I finally figured out why Grant is having such a hard time...we thought it was the switch to the big crib, or maybe being in the same room with Sarah, or maybe that he just wanted to be a major pain at 3 a.m.  But actually, Grant is teething! He has two little nubs on the bottom.  I can't believe we didn't even think of that before.  Hopefully now that his teeth have broken through he'll be doing better. It's just nice to know that there is a reason for his recent grumpiness--and now that we know the reason, we hope he'll return to his happy old self soon.  

SIx Months

I can't believe that Grant is six months today! Seriously, where did the time go? We think he weighs around 18 lbs. and is about 26 inches long (it's been about a month since his last appointment). Grant is mostly a super happy baby. He is truly a joy and we love him so much.

Some of Grant's favorite things: laughing with Sarah, jumping in the Jolly Jumper, taking drives to the lake, going on walks (when the weather is above 45 degrees), smiling at strangers, smiling and cooing at mom & dad, the first three bites of rice cereal, cuddling with anyone , sleeping in the big bed with mom & dad, rolling over (mostly from back to front), almost crawling (he gets up on all fours and scoots back), taking baths, getting any sort of attention, reaching for and gumming anything within arm's reach.

Some of Grant's un-favorite things: sleeping through the night, sleeping in his big crib (we finally made the switch from the bassinet, as he has literally outgrown it), taking his acid reflux medicine twice a day, when Sarah takes his toy, getting his clothes changed, being tired.

I love my kids!

I don't think Sarah's been feeling 100% today because she's been in a very cuddly mood.  Earlier I today I was kind of bothered by it because I was trying to do my morning routine and the cuddling wasn't really part of all the laundry and dishes.  But then we took a few minutes and just cuddled.  It was a great little break and I had a chance to think how much I love this little girl.  I just put Sarah down for her nap and as I was leaving she told me she loved me.  I feel so blessed to be a mother and to be entrusted with this incredible little person.    Being a mom isn't easy or glamorous, but moments like these make it all worth it.  I am also so grateful for little Grant.  He is a little more intense than Sarah, but I love him just the same.  He is getting so big and his personality is starting to come out so much.  It's so fun to watch him discover the world around him and laugh (or cry) about it all.

A funny sidenote:  About a half hour after I wrote that above, I heard whispering in Sarah's room.  I went in to find her in the middle of her big bed with three books that she was reading  The whole I time I thought she was asleep and then I find her reading!  Love that girl!