JANUARY
Michael
** Getting over the SHOCK of receiving a new calling at church - is now serving on the HIGH COUNCIL for the Stake ** Just barely got out of a TRIP TO BRAZIL (Shelley is grateful) for work, but may be going to ARGENTINA soon ** Happy to have WON in his Fantasy Football League for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW - even got a trophy to prove it! ** Re-watching all of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy with Shelley - it's slow going; we watch about 1 1/2 hours a night
2011 GOALS:
** Keep the counter beside the stove CLEAR of all his STUFF ** Keep the GARAGE CLEAN and organized ** NOT GET SICK in any way immediately before, during, or after the birth of our newest baby
Shelley
** Finally, finally, FINALLY got my prescription anti-reflux medication filled, and can DRINK MILK - yes, you heard me right! ** Have finally GAINED WEIGHT in this pregnancy as I can actually EAT FOOD and have a legitimate appetite ** Think it's safe to call that I've ERADICATED PINK EYE from my house ** Because I feel better, finally back to COOKING DINNER every night, buying HEALTHY FOOD, and CLEANING the house on a regular basis - after 6 months of feeling bad, I feel like a NEW WOMAN! ** Thoroughly enjoying our new unit in preschool this month - FUN WITH SCIENCE - we're doing a lot of the fun stuff you see on Sid the Science Kid and the kids LOVE IT!! ** Having CONTRACTIONS once a day or so, just like I did with Rachelle at this point in pregnancy
2011 GOALS:
** Have a CLEAN KITCHEN SINK every night before bed ** PACK A LUNCH for Michael every day ** Bring things in FROM MY CAR (like trash, empty cups, mail, etc) every day ** SORT THE MAIL as soon as it comes in the house - file, shred, or recycle accordingly
Shaelyn
** RIDES HER BIKE as often as she can, even though it's freezing outside! ** Is TALKING like she's AN ADULT - with her sentence structure, verb conjugation, and detail; Michael and I can't get over it! ** READING everything she can get her hands on - and can read most LEVEL 1 readers BY HERSELF - what this poor child is going to do in kindergarten I have no idea ** Has recently become very interested in CLEANING HER ROOM - and Mom is not complaining about this! ** Turning VERY HELPFUL - sets the table, cleans up her dishes and food trash, comforts Rachelle, and becomes more and more self-sufficient every day! ** Loves her time on PBSKIDS.ORG - looks forward to Rachelle's nap every day because it means she gets to play on the computer ** TAKES PICTURES of everything around her with her new CAMERA she got for Christmas ** FAVORITE TOY: Princess Barbie ** FAVORITE SHOW: Word World and Busy Town ** FAVORITE FOOD: Cake
2011 GOALS:
** READ THE SCRIPTURES every night - and so far has not missed a night ** Become a BIG SISTER AGAIN! and let Rachelle move into her room with her ** WRITING and CUTTING - two things she's just now starting to enjoy ** TEACH more Family Home Evening lessons ** PUT TOYS AWAY before bed each night ** LEARN TO SPIT so we can use "big girl toothpaste" this year
Rachelle
** TURNS 2 this month - and probably having a Busy Town birthday party ** Full-on MISS INDEPENDENT - washing hands, brushing teeth, putting on clothes, getting in her car seat - all activities that she does NOT want Mommy's help ** SLEEPING IN A BIG GIRL BED!! - Mommy was NOT ready for this, but she kept crawling out of her crib and then couldn't get back in, so after several nights of finding her asleep on the floor, Mommy consented - she LOVES it!! ** Finishes EACH PHRASE with "Mom" - ie: "I want watch Huckle, Mom." or "I need wash hands, Mom." - Where'd the MOMMY go? ** Tells me she WANTS TO GO POTTY - hilarious! We'll start that next year, kid! ** Calls everything "GREEN YELLOW" - no matter what the color ** Sings "C IS FOR COOKIE" at the top of her lungs every day ** Has a NEW ELMO BACKPACK and a hook in our preschool classroom - she is officially a student now! ** FAVORITE TOY: her Fur Real puppy she got from Santa and all her new dress-ups ** FAVORITE SHOW: "Huckle" - from Busy Town ** FAVORITE FOOD: "dinosaur sandwich" - PB&J cut out with a cookie cutter
2011 GOALS:
** GROW THE REST OF HER TEETH - she still only has 8, with 4 finally poking through the gums ** LEARN COLORS and do more art projects with Mommy ** SHARE A ROOM with big sister ** Become a BIG SISTER herself! ** Say MORE PRAYERS by herself (with help, of course)
February
Shelley
** I took this picture a month ago and I am 3 TIMES that size now, I swear! ** Having my THIRD TRIMESTER WALKING PAINS that seem to get worse with each pregnancy - so now I'm down from a waddle to more of a shuffle - PRETTY PATHETIC! ** Also having between 10-20 DAILY CONTRACTIONS - really fun, and whoever said false labor isn't painful, just "uncomfortable" was definitely a MAN! ** Getting a VAN later this month - and actually happy to join the MOMMY VAN club ** SICK AGAIN - so between that and pregnancy pains, keeping up with my clean house is out the window!! ** Teaching RHYMING and POETRY this month in preschool - really fun! ** Putting up as much PINK, WHITE, and RED as I can - having young children during holidays might be my favorite part of being a mother!
Shaelyn
** Is seriously the SWEETEST GIRL I know - can be so thoughtful and sensitive to others ** Really helping Mommy get ready for Christian - and the arrival of her baby, PINKY ** Has become very POUTY when she gets disciplined for things ** Is the most PAIN SENSITIVE child on the planet - and something is hurting on her on a daily basis (I swear, one day she's really going to have appendicitis or something and we're not going to pay any attention to her!) ** WRITES NOTES to her family and friends all the time, and then "reads" them to you - they are always "signed" by the receiver, like "Dear Mommy, blah blah blah, Love, Mommy" ** Imitates Angelina Ballerina's BRITISH ACCENT pretty well, and needs all others to talk like Angelina when she is ** Very excited for BUNK BEDS and our new SILVER VAN ** Is SPELLING and "building words" like on Word World - and gets very mad when her sister messes with her "built" words ** Growing up WAY TOO FAST ** FAVORITE TOY: her GIGANTIC MIRROR Mommy just put up in her room - can play dress-up in front of it for hours ** FAVORITE THING TO WATCH: Madagascar (again) - although now that she's older and can understand the dialogue, Mommy's not too sure about it... ** DOING GREAT reading her scriptures EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Rachelle
** Is a BONAFIDE 2-YEAR-OLD - with all the annoying tantrums and habits to go along with it ** GIVING UP NAPS - some days are great, others are disasters, but at least she's in bed by 8:00 instead of up until 10:30 like she was! ** Getting ready to move in with sister and get BUNK BEDS! ** Is becoming aware that we think she is HILARIOUS and is doing things to make us laugh - most specifically CUTTING HER EYES - that girl can cut her eyes like nobody's business! ** Loves to ask questions to find out WHAT BELONGS TO WHO - "Id dis MY CUP, Mom?" "Id dis Maggie food, Mom?" "Id dis sisa shoes, Mom?" - there is always a big pause between the end of the question and the "MOM?" ** Got a BIG GIRL PRINCESS BIKE for her birthday and passes it everyday in the garage and says, "Id dis my pin-ses bike, Mom? MINE?" ** FAVORITE TOY: doll house and her new wooden blocks ** FAVORITE THING TO PLAY: song #44 on the keyboard - "The Nutcracker March" ** FAVORITE SONG TO SING: the ABC's
May
Michael
** Is a BONAFIDE 2-YEAR-OLD - with all the annoying tantrums and habits to go along with it ** GIVING UP NAPS - some days are great, others are disasters, but at least she's in bed by 8:00 instead of up until 10:30 like she was! ** Getting ready to move in with sister and get BUNK BEDS! ** Is becoming aware that we think she is HILARIOUS and is doing things to make us laugh - most specifically CUTTING HER EYES - that girl can cut her eyes like nobody's business! ** Loves to ask questions to find out WHAT BELONGS TO WHO - "Id dis MY CUP, Mom?" "Id dis Maggie food, Mom?" "Id dis sisa shoes, Mom?" - there is always a big pause between the end of the question and the "MOM?" ** Got a BIG GIRL PRINCESS BIKE for her birthday and passes it everyday in the garage and says, "Id dis my pin-ses bike, Mom? MINE?" ** FAVORITE TOY: doll house and her new wooden blocks ** FAVORITE THING TO PLAY: song #44 on the keyboard - "The Nutcracker March" ** FAVORITE SONG TO SING: the ABC's
May
Michael
** Proud papa of a new BABY BOY! ** For the last 2 months, busy trying to BALANCE work, church, family in town, and traveling ** Yes, has TRAVELED TWICE since Christian has been born - and was gone an ENTIRE WEEK his second week of life ** Counting down the days until our family BEACH VACATION later this month ** Did NOT get sick after Christian's birth - only deathly ill the weekend PRIOR to his birth, so I'll take it ** Health-wise RECOVERED; sleep-wise still DEPRIVED
Shelley
** Happy to officially be a MOM OF THREE!! ** Enjoying getting to know my LITTLE BOY and doing my favorite Mommy activity - NURSING! ** Starting my first week ALONE with the kiddos - up til now, I've had my mom or my in-laws here since Christian was born ** RUNNING ERRANDS and going to the PLAYGROUND with 3 kids by myself (and baby wraps are a LIFESAVER!) ** Actually likes being a MINI-VAN DRIVER - and it is amazing how much room 3 car seats take up! ** Can't wait for the BEACH - and napping with my newborn!!
Shaelyn
** Is the BEST BIG SISTER in the whole wide world - any concerns I had over a "transition" for her were unfounded ** Also a great MOM OF PINKY ** Got a BABY ALIVE DOLL in the hospital - was a little disappointed that Pinky wasn't a REAL BABY, but accepted the "pretend Pinky" rather quickly ** HOLDS CHRISTIAN by herself (with help from the Boppy) for long periods of time ** Can help SOOTHE Christian when he cries - usually with a song (that she's made up about how much she loves him and how they are best friends) and finding his paci for him ** Also POLICES RACHELLE when Rachelle tries to "love" on Chrisitian - "Too rough, Rachelle! Gentle! Gentle!" ** New favorite movie: TANGLED - which is watched once daily ** Really enjoyed having attention for all the family that was here after Christian's birth - and MISSES THEM greatly! ** Loving going on DATES WITH DADDY - this month, to a BASEBALL GAME! ** Can't wait for the BEACH with "CWAWA!"
** Has really GROWN UP over the last two months (not being the "baby" anymore can do that to you...) ** Also had the horrible STOMACH FLU last month and had to be HOSPITALIZED ** Had a HARD TIME when Christian was first born - much to my surprise, since she is the more "NURTURING" of my two children ** Luckily, her behavior has GREATLY IMPROVED and she's become my sweet little girl again ** Is very ROUGH with Christian when she's trying to LOVE on him - lots of squeezing, poking, and pushing involved ** Has started having BAD DREAMS that get her out of bed at night - poor girl! ** Also loves TANGLED - and has "learned" the lyrics to all the songs already (every time she goes outside, she starts singing "to feel the grass, the dirt, just like I thought they'd be..." but in 2-year-old-ese) ** Also got a PINKY DOLL after a HUGE FIASCO and major oversight on my part that she was ready for one too - and she responds to hers when Pinky "talks" to her ** Favorite questions to ask you: "WHAT DOIN'?" and "WHAT YOUR NAME?" followed by an "OH" ** Really good at learning lyrics - probably has more of "PRAISE TO THE MAN" memorized than Shaelyn does from our Family Home Evening lessons ** VERY LOUD!!! The loudest of all my children by far - and not just when she's mad, but when she's happy, too (maybe even more so)
Christian
** WELCOME to our NEWEST ADDITION!! ** Was BLESSED AT CHURCH on May 1st by his Daddy, Grandpa, Paw Paw, Uncle Sam, and Bishop Sweat ** Already FILLING OUT and wearing SIZE 1 DIAPERS and 0-3 MONTH CLOTHES (which makes Mommy very sad!) ** Lost his UMBILICAL CORD at 2 weeks ** Had his first PHOTO SHOOT and was a very cooperative and happy little baby ** NURSES like a CHAMP (have had NO problems!) and eats ALL THE TIME - must be a boy thing, right? ** Is like a little BABY BIRD because he poops all the time, too! ** Had his nights and days MIXED UP for the first 2 or 3 days home from the hospital, but is more on our FAMILY'S RHYTHM now ** Loves BEING HELD and hates being PUT DOWN ** Definitely a PACI BABY - and prefers those big, ugly, green SOOTHIES - even after I found some really cute little boy pacis! ** Might be excited about the beach - but he'll just SLEEP RIGHT THROUGH IT!
JULY
Michael
** Is BUSIER than I have ever known him to be ** His work in his calling is really BLESSING OUR FAMILY, so we are supportive and happy even though he's not around as much ** Traveling to BOSTON and CHICAGO this month ** Has put a TON OF MILES on his car after 6 months of constantly driving to the stake center ** OBSESSED WITH the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables (as am I) and watches selected songs frequently ** Just finished RE-READING HARRY POTTER 7 to get ready for the movie ** Enjoying taking a walk in the past as we look at his OLD FAMILY PHOTOS together for "dates at home"
Shelley
** Shaelyn took this picture - pretty GREAT, huh?! ** FEELING A LITTLE WEARY this month with some recent parenting challenges that have crept up ** Trying to SERVE OTHERS to lose myself (and my weariness) ** Doing NEVER ENDING LAUNDRY as the girls change and change and CHANGE their outfits a million times a day, compounded with Christian's twice-daily changes ** Only ever going to 3 stores: WALMART, TARGET, and COSTCO - and if what I need isn't at one of those 3 stores, then we ain't gettin' it! ** Forcing myself to get at least 7 HOURS OF SLEEP (cumulative) - have been having some scary DIZZY SPELLS, and sleep is a necessary ingredient to avoid them ** Looking forward to SOBBING IN THE MOVIE THEATER on July 15th ** Reading some GREAT BOOKS right now on the lives of Marjorie and Gordon Hinckley ** Trying to be the WIFE and MOTHER the Lord needs me to be
Shaelyn
** I have re-named this child "MAE WEST" for all the drama she is constantly getting herself WRAPPED UP IN ** She is a NEW CHARACTER daily, sometimes several a day, and INSISTS on being called that character's name, eating food that character would eat, dressing like that character, etc. ** Her current character: LILO from Lilo and Stitch (see above photo) ** Wants COCONUT MILK (really chocolate milk - she doesn't actually like coconut) every morning with breakfast, and is constantly asking to EAT PINEAPPLE, even though she can't stand it ** Tries to sing the lyrics to He Mele No Lilo, which is hilarious because it is all in HAWAIIAN ** Finally got a COPY OF LILO AND STITCH from the library - we'll see if she actually likes it (yes, the obsession with Lilo comes without ever having seen the movie) ** Baby Christian is STITCH ** Insists that she has BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, and BROWN SKIN just like Lilo ** Also, in her mind, Lilo wears ALL GREEN ** Mommy had to make a special trip to the DOLLAR STORE to track down some "luau items" to make Lilo's costume complete ** ALL DRAWINGS done by Shaelyn, I mean Lilo, involve little girls dressed ALL IN GREEN with BROWN SKIN, etc. ** Saw her very first MOVIE IN A MOVIE THEATER with Daddy this month: CARS 2 ** Also went to her very first SUMMER CAMP this past month - a good taste for what's to come next school year when I send her to preschool 4 days a week
Rachelle
** Is lucky she's so STINKIN' CUTE because she TRIES MY PATIENCE to the very extreme these days ** Has DAILY BATTLES with me over clothing (or lack thereof - see above) ** If she's not "nakies," only wants to wear her ARIEL DRESS or her SLEEPING BEAUTY dress (called "sweeping booty") and nothing else ** The fight was BIG ENOUGH that she got to wear SLEEPING BEAUTY to CHURCH (much to my consternation) ** Is so VIOLENT TOWARD CHRISTIAN that I have had to purchase a "baby jail" as I call it (a super gate/play pen) to put Christian in so he is safe from his sister's hits, pulls, pokes, and slaps ** Loves CURIOUS GEORGE (the movie with Will Ferrell) and THOMAS THE TRAIN (knows all the words to the theme song) and wants to watch them everyday ** CHANGES and CHANGES and CHANGES her clothes so often every day that I want to SCREAM (but hey, I guess I can celebrate the fact that she can DRESS HERSELF!) ** Plays "HORSEY" with Michael every day when he comes home from work - initiates this by looking up at Michael and saying "NEIGH?" ** Has the BIGGEST BLUE EYES I have ever seen, which is one of the reasons she gets away with half the stuff she does - when those peepers are looking into yours, you MELT ** Despite her violent advances, I think she really does love her "BABY TRISTAN" as she calls him - and she's even had some recent moments when she's been soft with him! ** Has decided our house should be REDECORATED and has COLORED on most of the walls downstairs (but luckily, with washable crayons) ** Has the LOUDEST SCREAM I have ever heard!!!! :)
Christian
** Where has the TIME GONE?! ** Is my BIGGEST BABY by far and weighed almost 12 POUNDS at his 2 month appointment ** Is practically GROWN OUT of his 0-3 month clothes, wearing SIZE 2 DIAPERS, and looking very much like a LITTLE MAN ** SWEET, SWEET, SWEET ** COOS and SMILES and just LIGHTS UP when I talk to him or look at him ** Still a good nurser, but HATES BEING COVERED while nursing - so we do a lot of nursing in the car ** ON A SCHEDULE already - 3 naps (sometimes 4) a day, and sleeping from 9 PM - 4 AM, nurses while sleeping, then 4 AM to 7 AM. HALLELUJAH!! ** Takes his SISTER'S BEATINGS quite well - is one tough little guy ** Has really stepped up the SCREAM CRY - because he doesn't get his needs tended to immediately most of the time. POOR 3RD CHILD! ** Still has CLOGGED TEAR DUCTS in both eyes, so his eyes are constantly goopy and have to be wiped out - he HATES THIS! ** Loves the SWING and his vibrating SLEEPER and doesn't much care for anything else ** Gets WRAPPED EVERY SUNDAY during my Sunday School lesson and snoozes right through it - most of the ward has still never actually seen him! ** Has completely STOLEN MY HEART!
September
Michael
September
Michael
** Traveling to ATL this month ** Looking forward to yet another BEACH WEEKEND this month as our last one was cut short due to HURRICANE IRENE. ** Won the BIGGEST SPLASH CONTEST at a community pool on Labor Day - and came out singing "Fat guy in a little pool!" Hey, got a free round of golf out of it! ** Starting FANTASY FOOTBALL again - and even after 35 practice drafts, still didn't get the teams he wanted (imagine that!) ** Excited for FOOTBALL in general, both NFL and college - GO GATORS and COUGS! ** Got to go to a WRANGLER COMMERCIAL SHOOT this month - and his "football throw" to the models in the commercial might even make the cut!
Shelley
** Finished reading both PRESIDENT HINCKLEY'S and PRESIDENT MONSON'S biographies - and am inspired to BE BETTER. Would love to say that I actually am better, but inspiration takes time! ** Enjoyed my GETAWAY with Michael (see above), even if we did have to cut our trip short because of HURRICANE IRENE. ** Start teaching PRESCHOOL and BALLET this week. Both one day a week. ** Finding that BEING 30 is no different than being 29 ** Had my first EXTERNAL EAR INFECTION and it HURT! Probably got it from what I did in picture above. If so, still totally worth it. ** Adjusting to sending my oldest to school almost EVERY DAY - both from a scheduling aspect and an emotional one. ** Happy happy to see the onset of LOWER TEMPERATURES - and finding myself outdoors more often as a result. ** I LOVE: coloring and reading with Shaelyn, snuggling and singing with Rachelle, and nursing and holding Christian.
Shaelyn
** Has started a big NEW PHASE in her life with PRESCHOOL 4 days a week ** Loves playing "BABIES" - a creative, yet very annoying game where she and Rachelle take turns being a baby of any age, and the other one is the mother. With Shaelyn's great acting chops, this game lasts WAY TOO LONG throughout the day, and I have to constantly remind her that she actually is a 4, almost 5, year old. ** Taking her turn with the CRAZY BEHAVIOR - Rachelle's rotation just ended, so someone needed to pick up the slack! ** Loves, loves, LOVES to DRAW and has become very DETAILED in her artwork. I am in love with this hobby and greatly encourage it. ** READING EVERYTHING she can get her hands on - which means there are no more secrets. We've reached that phase of "what does 'love triangle' mean Mommy?" while we're standing in line at the grocery store. LOVELY. ** Actually WANTS TO HELP CLEAN when Michael and I are doing it - most recently has helped me fold some clothes, helped Michael spray the Windex, and helped vacuum. Just doesn't want to put anything away. ** Favorite "center" at school right now: HOUSEKEEPING ** Loves the fact that there is a little girl named "Jazmine" in her preschool class - I think she thinks she is PRINCESS JASMINE. ** Favorite new show to watch: SHAUN THE SHEEP and, much to my consternation, DORA. ** Has worn the dress that I sewed her EVERY DAY to school so far. ** Starting BALLET AGAIN, this time at home with me!
Rachelle
** It is so funny for me to read all the ways she was DRIVING ME CRAZY back in July, because now she is such an easy kid! Like I said, she and Shae SWITCH OFF with the CRAZIES! ** Still only wanting to wear DRESSES, but will pick a dress and wear it all day, sometimes a few days in a row. Will also wear SHOES and CLOTHES and DIAPERS all day long. Thank goodness!! ** Loves playing LITTLE PEOPLE and plays with the little people doll house daily ** Makes the BEST FACES on the planet and keeps me laughing on a daily basis ** Uses LICKING as her mode of self-soothing right now. From getting into trouble to falling and hurting herself to being overwhelmed, she will LICK WHATEVER'S IN SITE to calm herself down. Sometimes it's just the AIR. ** Has developed major SOCIAL ANXIETY and wants nothing to do with crowds. ** Starting PRESCHOOL at home this month - has 5 little friends in her class this year. ** Has greatly matured in her BEHAVIOR TOWARD CHRISTIAN - I was even able to get rid of the baby jail that was protecting him!! ** Back to sleeping in her own bed ALL NIGHT - I think our "new baby" transition is ending. ** Says her OWN PRAYERS all the time now. They are always the same "Heavenly Father, Thank you for the day. Please bless I go to (insert name of Shaelyn's school here). In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." ** Misses Shaelyn while she's at school, but loves PLAYING WITH THE TOYS ALL BY HERSELF! ** Has started showing interest in POTTY TRAINING. Has some new "Tangled" panties. Rapunzel starts with "R", just like Rachelle, and both princesses love the color PURPLE. A match made in heaven! ** So SOFT and WARM and SWEET ** GALLOPS everywhere she goes. ** Starting BALLET with Shaelyn's class this year and couldn't be MORE EXCITED!!!
Christian
** Has moved into HIS OWN ROOM and is SLEEPING IN HIS CRIB - the earliest I have done this with any of my babies. He is very happy with the arrangement as his sisters are no longer waking him up. ** Has FOUND HIS FEET and is constantly shoving them in his mouth. ** Is officially a THUMB SUCKER and prefers the right thumb, with the left hand grasping the right hand or wrist somehow. ** ROLLS OVER onto his TUMMY as soon as you lay him down, and at first got VERY MAD about this because he would then be stuck. But now sleeps on his tummy and is starting to figure out how to flip back to his back. So the "stuck tummy" crisis is over. ** Can GRAB AT TOYS now and also shove them in his mouth. ** Favorite toys: his MOBILE and his ELLIE THE ELEPHANT ** Won't take a good nap unless we are home, but he is SO HAPPY and PATIENT, even if he hasn't slept all day. AMAZING! He's got some lessons to teach me about happiness and patience in spite of lack of sleep. ** Loves, loves, LOVES HIS SISTERS! ** Is getting more talkative and just COOS his way through the day. ** Does not SLEEP THROUGH all of my Sunday School lessons anymore, but still will sleep through part. But is silent and happy in my wrap while he's awake. ** Has started PAYING ATTENTION to the TV when the girls are watching it. ** Trying to SIT UP. ** Still just has little CHICKEN FEATHERS for hair - see above photo.
