Another brother!

That's right, baby #3 will be another boy! I used to joke around that I was going to only have boys, back when I was like 12, and guess for now, I was right! I really did feel it was a boy already, but the 18 week ultrasound confirmed it! I love that ultrasound where you just stare at this tiny baby on a screen for so long. I can never really tell what I am looking at, but it always amazes me that that "thing" is inside me, moving around, sucking thumbs, etc. Pregnancy is a real miracle. I am starting to have a little more energy, and although I need a nap every other day, I can get up earlier, stay up later, and feel like doing more throughout the day.  At least  it's almost half over! :)

Tommie's 9 month check up stats: 18 lbs, 29.25 inches long, with a head size of 44.75cm. Crazy how although my kids look like they have big heads, they are long, skinny, and small headed! :) He can officially sit up during crawling, and go back to crawling, and pull himself up on furniture. He loves to climb up in his crib and jump on bed. And, he's obsessed with opening doors. He pulls them up, crawls back around and kicks them closed. He cries if it closes all the way and he can't get it back open. And, he is now an amazing sleeper! The other night he slept 12 hours in a row and took a 2 hour nap, and a 3 hour nap. Who would ever thought I would have complained??? :) He goes to bed at 7:30 and I've almost quit nursing him. We're on to once a day, and my doctor says I have 2 more weeks to officially wean and then I need to stop.  It's crazy how that makes him seem so much older to me.

Jackson finished preschool this week. He had this little music ceremony and he stood in the back. He knew EVERY single word to every song. He was by far the loudest singer, but surprisingly not obnoxious. I was so impressed that he kept smiling at everyone, and was just so confident. I will really miss having him go to orange patch, but we are signed up for next years, and swim lessons start in one month.  I have been trying a lot harder to compliment Jackson and find positive things to focus on. He really does try hard to be obedient, eat good foods, and he is the best brother to Tommie. He was the most excited to have another brother. He thinks we should name him "Bob" or "Timmy". Ha! :) Too bad he doesn't get to pick.

We went to a lot of baseball games this past week. Mansi finished up WW softball, Matt finished up baseball and had his "senior night" at HoHoKam Stadium. The coach hasn't really put matt in to play much this year, which has made Matt mad. But, he was a good player and it was fun to go watch when he did play. He somehow found a way to have a positive attitude about it all, and he never complained that Jackson was his loudest fan. Even when Jackson yelled things like "Hey bubba, want to come to my house after the game? we can have macaroni and cheese!" Jackson really can yell loud!

 James also got diamondback tickets at work with valet parking. SO nice to just drive up, have someone park the car, and walk right out when we were done. We only stayed about 4 innings but had a good time, and took Matt along too. I think I'd go to more MLB games if we could sit up front, and not walk far like we did this time!

My cousin McKenna Anderson had her mission farewell, she is leaving to Spain. We combined her luncheon with Matt's since my Aunt donna was in town from colorado. It was weird to think of Matt leaving so soon. We will miss him.  Everyone kept commenting that Shaela and I looked exactly alike. I blamed it on the outfits, Shaela blamed it on the fact we weigh the same. That was making me mad since she is farther along. :) Brad joined in the photo to "make us look good".

James also took Jackson to father's and sons this weekend. The camped only about 20 minutes away, just past fountain hills. Jackson complained the whole way there saying camping was going to be "so boring" but cried again because he didn't want to come home. They just slept int he back of Wilford's truck on foam pads and had a good time eating hotdogs and pancakes. In two years, James will be taking 3 boys to fathers and sons! (assuming I can convince him to take the baby.... he sure wouldn't take Tommie!)  I had a good time shopping with Mansi, Brianna, and my mom and watching a movie.

 After writing all that down from what we did last week, no wonder I feel totally wiped out today! I had all these great goals of making freezer meals, doing dishes (dishwasher still broken), taking laundry to my mom's (washing machine still broken), etc. But, I haven't done anything so far besides dust, clean out file cabinets, eat, and blog! :)

Pretty boring week

Not too much to report on this week. I woke up at 6:30 with Jackson telling me breakfast was just about ready. James had gone to basketball and came home to make sausage and eggs. It was so incredible to not have to smell breakfast cooking, just eat it. I told James he could do that more often! The washing machine broke, finally. It's been dying for a long time so I'm kind of glad to get a new one that will have hot water! We finally finished the chicken fence completely, and then Jimmer busted through it to get at the chickens....boy was James mad. But, after a few hours of being banished to the side of the house (the gated dog run), he came out a much better dog. Jackson refused to eat a lot of the days this past week. I hate when he does that. It gets so frustrating to see how skinny he is, how active he is, and yet wonder why he won't eat. Yesterday, all day long, he only had a small bowl of cheerios, a banana, and who knows what treats his class fed him at church. So, we read the story of Daniel refusing the king's meat because he wanted to eat healthy. I told him that Daniel said after 10 days he was healthier, could run faster, etc. So, we are trying a challenge for Jackson this week. For family night we are recording his running times, jumping jacks, push ups, etc (and James' of course) and then he has to try hard to eat at least 3 times a day and to eat healthy foods (aka veggies) so he can see if he can run faster. So far he is really into it and had 3 eggs, 2 pieces of sausage, and orange juice. So, here's hoping something can finally get to him.... I don't think I'll have that problem with Tommie. He never stops eating, and will eat whatever I give him. Jackson was never like that. Even at 9 months. I have tried so many different creative ideas to get Jackson to eat. James worked 3 nights this week, we took an investigator to Gospel principles on Thursday, went out to the movies on Friday, and took Jackson to Pete's fish and chips on Saturday.  It was ward conference yesterday, and I picked up a lady and her 2 boys for church on sunday. She had a bishops interview so it took like another hour after church to just wait with her. But, Pres. Burnham reminded all of us that it is time to start doing what we need to do, especially in terms of missionary work and doing the little important things each days (prayers, scriptures, etc). Basically he said if we aren't doing it, we either don't know it's important, or we just don't want too. So, I'll do better this week!

My boys are so happy

It hit me this week, how lucky I am to be surrounded by such HAPPY boys! James has a friend (Jeff) in the ward, that comes over several times a week to just talk to him. He's a little strange and I won't let him in our house anymore unless James invites him in. Jackson repeats a lot of the things he says, which aren't always appropriate, so lately Jackson has to stay inside while he and James are talking. Anyways, Jeff was the one who commented last sunday that he wants what James has..." happiness, a wife, kids, HAPPY kids, etc." He used the word "happy" over and over and it hit me, that my boys are always so happy. No matter how hard the night was, trying to get everyone to eat and go to sleep...they wake up so incredibly happy. Jackson comes right into our room, thinking it's going to be the best day in the whole world. Tommie wakes up talking to himself until someone goes in and he is just total smiles and laughs while you change his diaper, get him dressed, etc. It has totally helped any morning nausea to just see his laugh and feel his huge, open-mouthed kisses. No matter how late James worked, or how early he had to get up, or if I woke him up to get up with kids, etc, he is always in a good mood in the morning. And for the most part, all their good moods last all day long! Everytime Tommie is in his high chair, it's all smiles, no matter what he is eating. Seriously, never spits anything out. It's incredible.

Jackson is just excited to be with me, and do whatever I want, until James is home...and then he could care less about I'm doing. He even wanted to follow James to ward choir! :) James was in charge of a work festival for a HOA group yesterday. It pretty much took up his whole Saturday, but it sure had a good turnout. Jared was trying tog et the landscaping at that HOA and also helps put on parties. Thanks to his new "party wagon", he supplies all the tables, chairs, umbrellas, grill, rangers, horse rides, etc. It was quite the production, but neat to see the boys in action and to meet some more of the people James works with. He has had some good missionary experiences since most of them are not LDS and a tradeshow he just went too was themed "college days" with a lot of drinking, handing out shots, etc. He even won a fancy coffee maker in a raffle. It's still in the trunk! He called me on Friday pretty upset that  a man had called him "so cute" and wanted his phone number. The man was married but made the comments about James' good looks in front of his wife. That sure made James mad and I just kept laughing. Had to remind him we really don't live on BYU campus anymore!  Lately, I find pictures like this on his phone and have to laugh at how his days are spent surrounded by these women! :) Does he look like he fits right in? 

The carnival was pretty much our only outing for the week. That and we went out friday night to olive garden and exercise clothes shopping with Shaela and Jared. I am feeling better, but really didn't do too much else. I look really pregnant now and got a lot of comments at church today. (Must've been a bad dress! :) ) Julie's not showing at all, so I kept reminding people it's been almost 4 years for her, and only 9 months since I've had a baby! That really puts my life in perspective! :) Brad and Julie had an early ultrasound and found out they are having a boy. They are so excited. Shaela's will be a girl for her. So who knows for us. I thought about moving my appointment up, but decided I'll just go ahead and wait the 2 weeks out! No need to rush the real exciting parts of pregnancy! There's not too much left until delivery! :) 

Conference weekend

This past week has felt long and harder than normal. James has worked a lot of nights, including friday night (which is always THE worst).  I am not feeling very good lately, back to a lot of stomach aches and bad acid.  Come 5:00, when I'm supposed to have dinner ready and the kids require the most energy, I kind of just shut down and feel like throwing up, wearing PJ's and drinking sprite. Ha. If only that could happen! But, somehow it's worked and we are making it.  By the time James got home most nights, kids were fed, bathed, and asleep, and I was watching a movie and he thought it looked like I had the life! :) Guess I did pretty good then! But, it's been a good conference weekend and I am amazed at how clear and direct a lot of the talks are. What a good reminder to just be obedient, stick up for what I know is right, and to let Christ in to my life.  I also was reminded me of the important role I have to make sure my family is happy and that my kids can feel the spirit every day. So, even though I haven't felt great.... if you look at the good things I've done... walked Jackson and Tommie all the way to the library just to play board games and the Dora computer games. Made dinner for Brad and Julie 2 nights and watched Kate and Eliza for a few hours each day to help while Julie was on bed rest. Made dinner for Kristen Millet's family since she spent the night in the emergency room. Worked on teaching Jackson how to read and he successfully learned all 3 verses to "If the Savior stood beside Me". Taught Tommie how to wave "bye-bye" and clap his hands to "if you're happy and you know it". Took Jackson swimming at mom's for the first time of the season! (Still freezing, but he didn't care). Nursed my dying tomato plants back to life, walked Jimmer every day (big step for me), and made breakfast every morning except 2 cereal days. Basically, I'll call that good enough! :)