Babies are curious things!

Naturally with a new baby on the way, the kids are bound to have questions. Unfortunately, they had to attend maybe a few too many appointments before we found some friends and family that were able to watch them. But, I thought I should take the time to write down some of my favorites that have cropped up during this pregnancy. And Bart promises a belly shot to go on the blog this weekend! Anyway, love what kids say:

Jacob: Mom, what time of day does Heavenly Father put the baby in your tummy?
Mom: I don't really know, I would guess usually at night while you are sleeping.

Anna: I don't like milk! I don't want any milk! (just to be opposite)
Jacob: You have to like milk Anna. When you get older you have to feed it out of your breasts to a baby.

Jacob: Mom, at what point do you realize you are pregnant?
Mom: Well, you usually don't feel good, so you have the doctor check you and they look at your blood and can tell you.
Jacob: Well, what if you don't get sick?
Mom: That's why we have check ups so they can look at your blood.
Jacob: And your pee too.
Mom: That's right, and your pee too.
Jacob: What's in there?
Mom: I don't know, we'll have to ask the doctor.

Anna: Mom, which part of your privates does the baby come out of? Do I have one? Does it hurt?
Mom: It comes out of the baby part and the doctors give you medicine to make it not hurt. Yes, you have one too because you are a girl.

I asked Anna to help pull me up off of the couch and she used all of her 2 year old strength and said, "C'mon, big Mama. You a big Mama with a baby in your tummy." She has since referred to me more than once as "Big Mama". Hope that one doesn't stick too long.

This last one occurred while sitting in the doctor's office. Jacob kept looking at the posters of the woman's anatomy. I finally had to explain that baby's don't come out of the belly button. He took in the limited information I gave him and thought about it. A few seconds later with the widest eyes you have ever seen he said:
How does a baby that big come out of a place so small?
Mom: I don't know, Heavenly Father just made our bodies so that they can do it?!?

The next morning I overheard him explaining everything to Anna. He was actually very accurate. Hopefully this hasn't turned him into the Kindergarten informant or I may be getting some interesting phone calls.

These kids are just too smart. Fortunately we have not had the one big question of how the baby got in there just yet...just what time of day and how they come out. Hoping to sidestep the big one for awhile!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! We had such a fun day this year. Jacob had to have a Valentine's box for school, so we took it to heart! We spent several hours making the perfect box for him, one that looked like Lightning McQueen himself. I must say that the idea came to me in tribute to my creative Dad. One year I had to make a box and wanted it to look like our Red Suburban. My Dad made the best box you have ever seen. The one we made was not nearly as cool, but it reminded me of how much I loved that box that I made with my Dad. Anyway, once we made his box, we of course couldn't leave out our sweet princess, Anna. Her life revolves around pink and we both have a thing for cute ladybugs, so the choice was obvious. The kids and I had so much fun and made such a big mess. Jacob did a lot of the artwork that we cut and glued to the box while I made the frame of it. We had a great afternoon and I hope one day they will remember it as a great day the way I do. The best part was Jacob carrying it home loaded with treats! We used them to put something special in them from Mom and Dad too. I have only one picture ready to post, but will add close ups of the boxes shortly. We hope everyone we know got to spend the day with their loved ones too! Who knew this holiday could be so much fun?!?

Spring is in the air!

I must admit that my two favorite seasons are Spring and Fall. I love the perfect temperature and the newness that both of the seasons represent to me. I am so over the snow and grayness already, which is why it is perfect that I am now in Colorado. It is so gorgeous here. Yes, there is snow, but it is mixed with so much sunshine in between that you can't help but love it here. We had an absolutely perfect day last week with the temperature at a nice 58 degrees. It was so heavenly, especially since I have been so confined to the house with this baby. So, we went to the park and had a wonderful time. It was a bit windy, but we didn't mind. It was so much fun. My kids behaved like angels and we had the place to ourselves. I even bribed them with candy for a photo shoot at the end. I took a ton of pictures, but so far have only managed to upload a couple of them. They were so cute though I had to put them up. And if you look closely, you can see Anna's new haircut. That is a fun story to follow this weekend for sure! Anyway, here is to a beautiful Spring with beautiful children. I love them so much, even when they really test me....just look at those faces, how can you not love them?

Pregnancy: How beautiful is it really?

So I must start this entry off with the fact that I am so very grateful to be pregnant. I have too many friends and family members that have struggled with this area of their lives to be ignorant to the true blessing it is. I can hardly wait to meet this little one and after a few very small, insignificant scares, I understand how much I already love this baby. So, I am not taking this pregnancy for granted.
However, I do still feel the right to complain a little bit and to see what other women out there really think about the subject: How beautiful is pregnancy really? I mean, as I sit here barely able to reach the laptop on the desk because I am so short and my belly so large, I started to wonder just how beautiful this really is. I, of course, have gained weight, but there is also the pregnancy acne, the swollen body parts (and not just cankles), the noises that come out uncontrollably when trying to move around, and as of late, the real true difficulty of putting on shoes and socks. Even pants are getting hard to put on because my legs are so sore. Really and truly. I can't sleep at night because I can't get comfortable. I can hardly get in and out of the car. I think I stink more, I probably do.
And then there is the idea that just because you are pregnant that you want to share your life with complete strangers and they with you. I have fallen into this category before but then you get a bizarre comment and you think, why? Why did that person say that? My favorites are: wow, you look like you are going to burst--well thank you, I'll keep that in mind for the next 5 weeks that I have. Wow, are you having twins? NO I am not, my butt is just that big. You don't know what you are having, how can you handle the stress of not knowing? I don't know I just like surprises, how can you handle the stress of being so rude?
Seriously, what is it about pregnancy that everyone claims is so beautiful. Yes, the end result is beautiful. I love holding a newborn more than anything. The fact that our bodies can actually do this and that so many babies are actually healthy after enduring this is beautiful. It is beautiful to see families grow and to see your spouse become a parent (whether the 1st or 2nd time, so I imagine the same for the 3rd). But what, physically, is beautiful about your belly sticking out so far that you literally can't drive your father-in-law's stick shift? Really, what? And does this just make me sound bitter that I am not the person that looks normal from the back and then turns sideways and everyone at the gym hates her? I guess so. Oh the joys of being a woman. Is there any possibility that they could just hook me up to the epidural now? I won't complain anymore, I promise, I won't. Any comments or funny things that people have said to any of you ladies out there? I really need to hear them to keep me laughing!

Happy, Happy Bart!

Well, I am having camera difficulties, but promise to get some pics on soon. However, I couldn't let the day pass without a shout out to my love of my life! My old man turns 33 today and I think each year how happy I am to have him in my life. Each year I can look back at struggles and triumphs and be so grateful to have experienced them all with him. So, to the man that I love. I love you for being the best daddy ever, including wrestling nearly every night with the kids. I love you for helping to rub the kinks out of my pregnant back. I love you for the look in your eyes when you see me and the kids. I love that I feel grounded when you walk in the room. I love how hard you work for me and the kids. I love how much you love a bargain and watching you do anything for a bargain. Really, anything. Even for a few pennies. I love that we have lived in 6 places in the last 9.5 years and all the adventures that have come with each one. I love that you are always the most fun to be around. I love that you love to surprise me as you know how much I love them! I love your jokes. I don't love your bum, but I love that it still cracks you up, as juvenile as it is. I love that you are always there for me. I love that you were born today. I love you more than I could ever really express, especially in a blog. So, I hope that the white sheet cake was well worth the wait. I love you the most. Happy Birthday, babe!