UTAH

We have been in Utah a little over a week now! Minus no sleep and a very clingy Thomas, and daddy not being here, we've had so much fun. We did the Tulip festival with Sara, Amanda, and Brittany and all the kiddos. Tulips are still my favorite. 

We've done just about everything at thanksgiving point, I think I was there every day last week. Thomas has been having so much fun with his cousins-and they are so sweet with him. He especially loves Tyler. 

He's warming up to grandparents and aunts and uncles, one minute he loves them the next he's scared of them. But I love this picture of him and my mom. 

Kyle was an instant favorite though. 

My mom was watering flowers one day and Thomas decided he wanted to soak himself. Head all the way under and all!

And tulips round two::golf carts are the way to go. 

I no longer have to worry about flying alone with Thomas because we are moving back. Next weekend believe it or not. We are excited to be back with our families close by. JT told me to stay here because I am prego and pretty useless for moving, and Thomas would be no help either. So he is handling the packing and driving along with my brother in law guy who is heading out to help Friday. We are very thankful he was so quick to offer help. So hooray! Utah will always be our home I hope. 

Side note: I am 27 weeks today!! 13 more!! Or 91 days. 91. That number is both scary and exciting to me. 

April Showers

It's been more rainy here lately. We've enjoyed the rain and all the green and flowers by spending a lot of time jumping in puddles. Thomas thoroughly soaked his shoes and feet the first time. Since then we make sure to have his boots on.

I've been trying to prepare for conference this week by listening to an old conference talk every morning when Thomas and I go for our walks. He sits extremely content in his stroller and it's made my exercise attempts much easier and more enjoyable. These two have been my favorites this week. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/10/an-high-priest-of-good-things-to-come?lang=eng#watch=video

Jeffery R Holland 

As things with JTs job could be changing very soon and we are once again looking at the possibility of moving and a new job, after only three short months, this talk gave me comfort that I can't put into words. The story he tells near the end of his young family had me extremely emotional-and maybe crying a little on our walk. I probably looked a little crazy. 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/11/stand-strong-against-the-wiles-of-the-world

Gordon B Hinkley will always be a favorite prophet of mine. This talk is SO wonderful and touching for any woman to listen to. It's pretty long but worth the time! This was one of my favorite quotes: "It is the home which produces the nursery stock of new generations. I hope that you mothers will realize that when all is said and done, you have no more compelling responsibility, nor any laden with greater rewards, than the nurture you give your children in an environment of security, peace, companionship, love, and motivation to grow and do well." 

It's easy to forget how important the role of motherhood is. Days are repetitive, your whole life is run by tiny people with big attitudes, and finding time to shower and do anything for yourself is hard. Being away from our family and friends has made it even harder. I've learned more about being unselfish in the past year and a half then ever before in my life.   But there is nothing better than being a mom, getting hugs and kisses out of the blue, cuddles, tiny hands and feet, being with them for every first thing they do, and watching them learn and grow and soak in all the things you teach them. I am responsible for teaching my kids literally everything.  It's a daunting task. But nothing could compare to, or prepare me for, all of the big feelings I feel on a daily basis as a mom. 

These guys live at the end of our street. They are so stinky and kind of gross-but Thomas carries those carrots and runs to them as soon as we say lets go feed the cows. I had no idea their tongues were so long. 

Rainy day activities (thanks Amanda for the Pom Pom one!) also this train from my parents is quickly becoming his favorite toy!

No longer can I feed him or prevent the mess of his own utensil using. He is Mr. Independent all the way. See his booster there on our kitchen chair? Not long after he finished his yogurt, he decided to push back on the table with his feet and fall. All the way backwards. I've never seen a bigger scared face on him before. I wish I had a picture but taking one would have been mean. It was so sad, and very dramatic. The only thing that made it okay was some chocolate milk. Also-I'm pretty positive he is a lefty. Red hair and left handed, who would have thought. 

Finally some sunshine-and getting wiggles out at the park. He will be 18 months on Easter, next Sunday he will go to nursery, and in July he will be a big brother. I love my Thomas. 

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Oh it's just 4 in the morning again. Why is insomnia part of pregnancy?! At least I'm  blogging more. 

Yesterday we drove about 45 minutes outside portland to the Wooden Shoe tulip farm. I pictured this being just like the tulip festival at Thanksgiving point-it was beautiful. But not the same at all. Literally a huge farm in the middle of nowhere with tulips as far as you can see. Which resulted in SO. MUCH. MUD. No paved walkways at all. We slipped and trudged through that mud and just laughed the whole time, I'm surprised none of us wiped out. I was wearing sandals-bad idea. And thomas was dressed all cute, I thought we would get pictures among the tulips and it would be wonderful and perfect. Instead I just gave up and his church shoes are now more brown then grey. Oops. Isn't that how life usually works out? JT didn't wear a coat and it ended up being freezing way out there. But we had fun and it really was so pretty. My mom would have loved this place. The northwest is one of the prettiest places. 

23 weeks today!!

See all that mud and water? Our stroller wheels were caked in it, along with my toes and Thomas's everything. 

They had a big area set up with music and blow up inflatable things and sandboxes and slides for the kids. It really was so fun and Thomas didn't know how to handle all the excitement going on around him. He just walked around taking it all in. 

This was his favorite thing to do by far. JT went to get us some food and Thomas didn't move from here for a good half an hour. We need a sand box I guess! And more big trucks. Whenever he sees a truck driving he asks over and over again "what's that?" Trucks and airplanes are his thing. 

Our new mattress came today too. We caved and bought a king size bed. We were used to it back in Utah and our queen was a million years old and so uncomfortable that we were using here. I blame my pregnant body/insomnia for that random purchase right now-but it is heavenly to have my own sleep bubble back. And it is so nice to have with kids, especially a new baby! So even though I'm awake at least I'm comfy.  

And finally-the Rec center had a free swim night so we took Thomas tonight. We haven't been since last summer-i thought he would love it. He hated it for the first 20 minutes! But I refused to give up and leave, so we gave him a ball and sat him on this raft and he was okay. But only on the raft-with as many balls as possible. 

"Give me all the balls mom!!"

We will have to keep trying so he loves it more. 

And now-sleep I hope! 9 am church comes way too early sometimes. 

4 a.m.

4 in the morning is my most dreaded hour lately. I swear every night I wake up at 4:00 and am awake for at least an hour if not longer. With Thomas I had the worst insomnia too so I didn't really expect that to be different this time, but I was hopeful! I've tried everything but nothing seems to work. Oh well, 17 weeks left! Other then insomnia, I have just been getting terrible heartburn but that's about it. I truly cannot complain about my pregnancies. I have it pretty easy and I am so thankful for that. Baby girl has been getting more and more active lately-especially when I eat any kind of sugar, which is too often probably.  JT has been able to feel her for a few weeks now. It's getting more real that we will soon be parents of two. 

Yesterday we needed out of the house bad. We took Thomas to a fish hatchery not far from our house. It was free to walk around and there were so many fish. While I was getting ready to go, I made the mistake of telling Thomas we were going outside. Literally as soon as he hears outside, he runs to the door and expects it to happen right away no matter what. If it doesn't-it's not good. So JT handled that drama and I got ready in record time. Off topic-but we are working on learning how to best handle tantrums and disciplining a toddler. Let me just say that it is so hard to know the best way to handle different situations. They are so good at pushing buttons and testing their limits, so JT and I have had a lot of talks lately about what we want to do in terms of handling it. Suggestions are welcome!!!

This was after JT used his stern voice with him. JT can say one thing and Thomas will instantly stop and get so sad. I on the other hand am apparently not intimidating enough because I usually get laughed at. Whatever. 

Anyways. We left to go, thomas was happy, and it was great to be out of the house. 

Here's a few pictures from our last week:

See his head?? He fell so hard in the shower while JT was gone last weekend. Poor babe. 

Church by ourselves and we were even early. 

We went out for pizza one night this week. His new thing is to need his hands wiped after every bite. He would eat a piece of pizza and hold his hands out to us until we wiped his hands clean. He's a princess. We are working on mastering a fork but he's not quite there yet.

All hot wheels cars are phones. Especially this little truck. He jabbers and laughs and has his own conversations while pacing around. It's my favorite. 

Doesn't he look so old?