To my Scarlett, on her 1st birthday

(I know, I know, this blog has turned to mush, but you didn't think I could do one and not the other, did you?!?)

Baby girl, words cannot express how much joy you've brought into my life and my home. It was one very short and long year ago that I pushed you from my body at 9:20pm. You gave me my perfect natural birth that I had longed for...let's just say I should've taken it as a sign that everything you touch turns to gold. The nurse handed you to me and I was in awe of your full head of dark hair and blue eyes so dark they looked almost brown. You were, and are, so beautiful.


It's no secret that I wasn't any too thrilled when I found out I was pregnant with you, Scarlett. We wanted to have you, just not quite as soon as you decided to come. Georgia was still so young when I got that positive test result, heck Ezra wasn't all that much older, either. I cried...a lot...but you know what, sweetie, even then I wouldn't have traded you for anything. Heavenly Father decided to send us to you when he did, and I always knew there was a reason.


Now, looking back on the last year, I can't help but wonder if it wasn't to bring joy to our family in such a stressful period of time. I've had a bit of a rough year, what with the thesis, our move, and both Georgia and Ezra being in high-maintenance phases. While you added the normal newborn stresses and strains, it was definitely the minimum. Mostly you've just brought smiles and laughter into our home. You have that huge smile on such a small, pixie-like face and body. When one sees it, they can't help but smile back. You've been one of the happiest, easiest babies I've ever known. I think the Lord knew I needed you now or I wouldn't have made it through the year. Who would've known that so much happiness could come in such a teeny-tiny package? You spread joy around you like glitter.


You are one of the wiggliest babies I've ever held and have been for most of your life. You are so squirmy that the mere act of holding you is difficult and as soon as I put you down you're off like a shot. You're so little, and always have been, that people often mistake you for 2-3 months younger than you really are. Then they see how active and alert you are and guess much more accurately. You love your brother and sister so much! You follow them around like an eager little puppy dog and "Ezra" was your 3rd word (I suspect there's a "Georgia" in there, but I don't hear it often enough to confirm). You love shoe shopping almost more than any girl I know (beaten only by Auntie Stephie, MiMi, and Cousin Ella) and get so excited and hold your feet up for me to try on new shoes. People can't help but love you, Scarlett.


Little Miss, you are truly my sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please, never ever take my sunshine away.

The birthday girl in her birthday outfit

Happy, happy birthday Scarlett Caroline. Thank you for choosing to come to our family. You have made our home a much happier place to be. I love you, my baby, with all my heart.

Love,
Mom

To my Ezra, on his 4th birthday

4 years ago today, at 8:08am, the doctor took you from my body and made me a mommy. That was the day my universe shifted. I had no idea how my life would change. Does any mother, really? One day, little man, they'll hand you a squalling newborn and you'll begin to grasp what I've talked about all these years.


Ezra, you screamed for the first 5 months of your life. I was kinda upset at the world that first little bit...but never at you. You were my ray of sunshine in that freezing cold, dark, little basement apartment. I slept, ate, and breathed you. You were the reason I got up each morning. I know you love to hear it, so I'll say it again-you spit up everywhere and on everything. You were soaked just barely after we'd get you dressed. Your grandma used to chide us that you were sopping wet and it was freezing cold outside. She was right, it was freezing and you were sopping. We'd change your outfit because it'd make her happy, but we knew you'd soak your clothes again within the hour. You were like our little toy, Daddy was always dressing you up in little outfits he'd think up, his wedding ring becoming your monocle and your burpie the Pope's hat. You were so pudgy and adorable. You had the biggest thighs I'd ever seen on a newborn and there was no mistaking that you belonged to anyone but your Daddy. After we hit about 5 months, you seemed to decide that the world was an alright place and you figured you might stick around for a bit. That's when you became happy. You were still my temperamental little man (what else is new?), but you were suddenly a happy baby and everyone in our new ward fell in love with you. You were so sick so often that first year, but you just smiled through it all. You were our little trooper and it wasn't long before all the nurses at the BYU Health Center knew you by name. By the end of the first year, you brought me so much joy, I couldn't help but want another one. You made me *that* happy.

"[cough, cough] I think I'm getting the black lung, Pop. It's not very well ventilated down there."

Takin' a hike at Bridal Veil Falls

Reading books
(which, other than destroying things, was your very favorite pastime)

Ezra, honey, I can't believe you've been in my arms now for 4 long and short years. You're such a smart, independent, stubborn little boy. You're always shocking and amusing me with the things you say and the ideas you come up with. You're such a wonderful big brother. You love your sisters so much, and they're so lucky to have you. The girls just adore their Ezzie. You have helped me grow and learn so much. Thank you for choosing me as your mother and us as your family.

The birthday boy

We love you sooo much, sweetheart! Happy birthday, my big 4 year old!

Love, Mom

Tidbits of Everyday

Things have been busy lately...yet I haven't managed to have a single, huge thing to post about (then again, do I ever, really?). So, I figured I'd just fill you in on a few of the things rattling around in my head.

ps-I've had my camera lens all smudgy and didn't realize it, so if the pictures don't look as crisp as normal, that's why.

First off-yay! yay! yay! I love fall. yay! for fall colors. yay! for fall weather. yay! for fall clothes. Just yay! in general that fall (my favorite season) is finally here in full swing! There, just had to get that off my chest.

The view from our back deck. The leaves are WAY brighter in person (especially if it's not overcast), I promise.

Scarlett is starting to walk. We're up to probably 15-20 steps total. Very exciting, especially as I haven't had a kid walk before a year yet. She is also starting to do very big girl things like trying to put on Georgia's shoes, stealing her bracelets to wear, and using a makeup brush for her cheeks, and not just to chew on (I can just hear the teenage fighting now ;). As I'm preparing for her 1st birthday at the end of the month, I'm gearing up to wean her. I've never voluntarily weaned a baby before (I had to wean Ezra because the doctor needed me dry for a lumpectomy and with Georgia, my milk dried up because of my pregnancy with Scarlett and the allergy diet I was on), so it's a little different this time around. It's just hard for me to realize that Scarlett's really, truly growing up. She's so little (15lbs at the end of September) that I sometimes forget she's as old as she is. Add to that the fact that I'm not pregnant (praises be!), which is kind of unusual because I've never hit a baby's 1st birthday without being in the midst of preparing for another baby. It's just a little strange to have my arms getting a little emptier as the days go by. I'm excited for this little baby break, don't get me wrong, it's just a little odd feeling.

Scarlett trying on one of Georgia's play bracelets

I think it's safe to finally say Georgia is officially pottytrained. After many failed attempts and sullied panties over the last eight months or so (she kept on losing interest after insisting she wanted to wear panties), Georgia's finally decided to stick with it. We still have the occasional accident when she doesn't make it to the potty in time, but when she is completely done, I know that will be it and I won't have to do much to help her. Georgia's very independent, so she insists she goes on her own time-table (no encouragement or insistence from me will get her to go potty when I want her to) and that she goes completely alone [insert eye roll here] and even cleans herself up. Ridiculous, I know, that she's so young and recently trained and is already doing everything by herself. But, I always knew Georgia only does things on Georgia's terms, and I'm just kind of her guide along the way. Oh, and as for a Georgia-specific witticism: she calls me Mamma Mia, which I've just gotta say, is friggin' adorable.

Mmm, isn't she beautiful?

We're getting ready for Ezra's 4th birthday on Friday. He's getting so big it kills me. I can't even believe my baby is so old and independent. He does mostly everything by himself (well, except for cleaning up his toys which he insists is just toooo hard to do by himself :P). Ezra's independent nature is definitely a catch-22. On one hand, it's really nice to have a kid that'll completely dress himself every morning, occasionally make his own breakfast, and entertain himself. On the other hand, Ezra thinks that because he's allowed to be independent, that means he gets to get his own candy down from the top of the fridge without so much as by your leave. The other day Ezra got his own chicken nuggets out of the freezer, put them on a plate, put them in the microwave, and started it for 1 min, 20 sec (which, while too long, wasn't all that off of what it should've been). I still haven't figured out if that was a good thing or not. Not to mention his utter refusal to wear entire categories of clothing. Ezra figures that because he's allowed to dress himself, that means he's allowed to refuse to wear anything with buttons on it, anything that doesn't match the underwear he is currently wearing that day, or (until very recently) pants (instead of shorts...with the cold weather...you didn't think I let him run around with no pants on, did you?). It's a constant attempt to find balance between squelching his independence and still teaching him to figure things out, do things for and by himself, while teaching him that there's still rules and regulations he has to follow. Definitely a work in progress.

Ez showing of his new haircut
(I told you if he didn't start letting me do his hair, we were going to have to go back to really short)

We're currently in the midst of the 13 Nights of Halloween (thanks Coty for the idea!). Basically we do crafts, play music, watch movies, read books, and eat dinners that are all Halloween-related for the 13 days leading up to Halloween. I also cut out and hide a Halloween shape for the kids to find each morning to help them count down the days. The kids have really been enjoying it. Part of me wonders why I've brought all this extra work on myself, especially in the very busy days leading up to Ezra's and Scarlett's birthdays and Halloween...but I think the simple answer is that I LOVE Halloween. Really, truly love it. It's so easy to get bogged down in the Halloween prep, especially if you're a masochist like me and make the costumes yourself, so I thought that maybe this will help me remember how fun Halloween can be and help my kids love it as much as I do.

My spider-web dip. Basically just any old regular dip with a sour cream spider web and an olive spider.

Here's some pics from some last nights Halloween-cookie decorating (who knew you could get a pack of 6 Halloween cookie cutters for $2 at Walmart? What a steal! The $6 Halloween-themed sprinkles...well, that's a different matter):

Doesn't he so look like he's enjoying himself

Scarlett does too, for that matter

Aaaand this would be the reason we don't actually eat most of the cookies

Man, don't I look exhausted? That would be what Spencer's (unusual) 62 hour work week will do to a girl. (ps-my hair is in a pony, it's not really as short as it looks in this pic)

Oh look! a picture where Georgia is actually looking at the camera and not making a silly face.

Ahhh, what a good sport

Thanks for reading my ramblings! Have a fabulous fall day and do something Halloween-ie. Even something as simple as worms/spaghetti for dinner fits the bill!

For My Mother

...who I suspect secretly believes Georgia's hair never gets done any further than a bow clip.

Here's proof I actually DO her hair occasionally. When it comes to whether or not she'll yank it out within the next hour and a half, all bets are off.


I know, I know, the part isn't as Nazi straight as yours are, mom, yet you've got to give me some credit...I'm working with more twist and turns than an Alpine Slide.

(Don't look now, but Georgia's actually pant-less in the pictures. Further confession: there was some major persuasion involved in getting her to even put a shirt on. *sigh* The most ridiculous part is that I've dressed her at least three times already this morning. I attempt to keep my children looking decent, but Georgie's constantly thwarting me with her rampant nudity.)

As further evidence, here's a bonus picture of Scarli all gussied up:


You get no pictures of Ezra because he's refusing to let me do his hair for anything other than church and even then, it's just barely. I foresee a cropped haircut quickly approaching in his future.

Heaven help me...

Today, Ezra was going to the bathroom. He'd been in there a while, but as my kids are slow pottiers, nothing seemed amiss...until I started to hear a odd scraping noise coming from the bathroom. It took me a moment, but it wasn't long before I realized it was the unmistakable sound of the top of the toilet tank being lifted off and then replaced.

Alarmed, I rushed in. When asked why he was messing with the toilet, Ezra replied,

"I just wanted to see what it looked like when I flushed."

When Spencer asked him what he saw, Ezra was able to describe in fairly good detail the inner workings of a toilet tank,

"You push the button and the anchor pulls up the black thing and that lets out all the water. Then the black thing closes and it fills up with water."

Don't even get me started on how he disassembled a small drainage system in the basement last week.

Heaven help me, I'm raising one of them...



ps-If you're raising one of them, married to one of them, related to one of them, or just friends to one of them...here's a link to my favorite engineer-humor website. I know I've mentioned An Engineering Mind before, but this is for all y'all who missed it the first time.