A Powerful Mommy Moment

We just got home from a long trip, which was our third trip in a month. We are tired, all of us! Caleb I think is the most tired, because his naps have been neglected severely, and he keeps waking up all night. Tonight, he would not stop screaming and crying. He was picking fights with his daddy about reading books or singing songs. Nothing was working. I had an idea, after hearing the screaming and crying for quite a while from downstairs. The Spirit inspired me to have Blake give him a blessing. I went upstairs and held him in my arms and asked him if he wanted daddy to give him a blessing while I held him. He nodded yes. His daddy gave him a beautiful blessing of comfort and love. After the blessing, he was all calmed down and said, "Can I have one more song?" I said, "Do you want me to sing it or daddy?" He replied, "I want daddy to hold me and sing it." I then realized, as I was holding my big huge 4 year old like a baby in my arms, that although he seems like such a big boy, he needs physical affection and love. He needs squeezes and cuddles, kisses and hugs. The more he gets these things, the happier and more confident and more secure he feels. It is so easy to forget this now that he talks like a 7 year old and rides a two-wheel bike.

Caleb then went to sleep peacefully.
Children need affection, even when they are big giant babies all grown up. I know this is one of the many blessings we obtain from having a body in this life - we can feel physical affection. The communication through touch is much more deep than any other type of communication. We feel loved, empowered, and inspired through a simple hug. Physical affection is something we never had before we came to earth to obtain a body. I am sure we longed for it. I am sure we longed to hug those we loved and to squeeze someone's hand who needed comfort. I am so grateful for this body - even though 7 months pregnant it is a very uncomfortable body - I am so grateful to be able to have a body, so I can give my children and loved ones squeezes and cuddles, kisses and hugs.

29 1/2 Weeks Through Baby #3

I am 29 1/2 weeks along and man am I moody. It's like every minute is a struggle, unless I am sitting in a pool or sleeping. I have already gained more weight than the average pregnant woman gains her whole pregnancy, and that all came on in the last 15 weeks alone. Awesome.

I have managed to keep some positivity in my mind, which is why I am both alive and not in a mental hospital. This is temporary. This is worth it. Yes. These are the things I repeat to myself constantly, hopefully helping it to sink in. It's just so hard to live in this skin. I look in the mirror and don't recognize that large lady with the big, splotchy face staring back at me. Oh wait it's me. Then I suffocate a little, cry a lot, and eventually say a prayer and get over it for the moment.

No part of my body works the same as it used to, or looks the same as it did 15 weeks ago. This is so hard for me. I tried so hard to not gain all of this weight and this effort hurt both me and the baby. So my doctor has commanded me to gain the weight my body wants to gain and realize that I will lose it later.

The creepiest part today is that my knees are hurting me. All of this weight on my knees and then the whole joint softening pregnancy hormone thing together makes my knees feel very weak and sore.

Sorry about the whiny post. We'll get through this. Eventually.

Merry Christmas Eve!

We made tons of Christmas treats!These little Santa hats were so much fun. Bugles + White Chocolate + Sprinkles & Marshmallows
Caleb was a great helper. We did it during Anndi's naps... she's not as cooperative because she always wants to eat everything in sight. hehe
Christmas Eve morning = Green Christmas Tree Waffles!
They decorated them!
I love Christmassy jammies...
Aren't they so cute?
Caleb's tree turned out awesome!
Excited to post pictures of Christmas tomorrow! Oh and I posted new things to my cake blog!

Crafting is Therapy

Lots of projects going on around here! I made boxer briefs for my friend's baby boy. I Freezer Paper Stenciled the football dude on them!Also, I refashioned a man's dress shirt into a girl's dress. So fun! I copied the smaller pink dress (below). I took in the collar, made the poofy sleeves, made the ruffles and the belt loops and the sash, and put it all together! SO FUN.
On top of that I have had much baking to do, as I always love...
I had an order for cupcakes! I did little baby footprint cupcakes. They are chocolate cupcakes with a cream cheese chocolate chip filling, buttercream frosting, chocolate candy footprints, and handmade paper liners. My favorite cupcakes I've ever done!I did this bike cake for Niki's birthday. She loves BYU and usually I would do a BYU football cake but... yeah... this season... yeah... So I did a bike cake because she loves to road bike.

They're so cute I could just chew on them...

Triathlon fun!

We did a triathlon in August! Me, Niki, and Lori were the only team there so we won trophies. But we totally would have won trophies even if there were a ton of other teams... :) Lori swam the 1 mile distance, Niki biked the 38 mile HILLY course, and I ran the 9 mile HILLY run. Fun time!

Caleb in August

Caleb's got a swim cap fetish going on!
The missionaries got in on the fun!

And this is my favorite...

Caleb was "feeding" Blake his toys

Oh man Caleb is sooo fun! I love being his mom!

Anndi in August!

I found Anndi watching tv sitting in the swim ring that was on the floor!

She LOVES wallets, purses, credit cards, money... oh she's such a girl!

My pretty little sunshine! She gets into such mischief. But I love it!

August! My adorable little ones!

I love to sew!

I made this dress for Anndi last night. I copied an adorable pink dress just like it that my friend gave Anndi.
K so I made it out of Blake's old dress shirt! So fun!
I made the collar a little smaller, otherwise it would have been like covering her shoulders. :)
I love these little bambinos!