Valentines Mantel:

I am so glad today is the last day of January. What a long month...right? Things have been a little busy lately around here. What with Max testing my patients at nap time and being outside in the beautiful drought weather all day I haven't posted in over a week. I have tried a ton of different recipes thanks to pintrest last week which were a hit and finishing my second valentines day banner. Its very similar to the birthday one I made in June. I have also had a lot of contractions due to the fact that I am walking everyday pushing a 25 pound toddler for a couple miles each day so thats about the most exciting thing going on in our life, oh and the valentines day mantel. Its a work in progress but I like how bright and cheery it is in the house. Its the closest thing to celebrating this year because Larry has school and I will be watching my sister-in-laws 6 children while they are in Mexico...hurray! Anyways I am happy to welcome February into my life with all its 3 day weekends and fun girly colors in the house.

Sunday Night Routine...Are You Watching It?

I look forward to Sunday nights every week so I can sit baby free, drink diet coke, and watch masterpiece theater. Yes people on PBS like an old person. Man this season of Downton Abbey is scandalous and I love that there is no commercials and its all drama...its the best. Haven't seen it? Well you can catch the first season on Netflix. I love masterpiece theater there is so many great miniseries that they have made over the years. The best part is that Larry loves watching them too haha its awesome. Just watch and you will get sucked in too. And yes you do spot Professor McGonagall She took a break from Hogwarts to star in the show, and she is hilarious.

What do you do when it rains all weekend?

Watch a ton of Curious George. Entertaining him for long stretches of time is very hard when its pouring down rain and your usual thing to do is to go play outside or go to the park. George has been our saving grace, oh that silly monkey.

Side note: I had some good strong contractions last night for a good hour then they were gone. FYI baby I would love for you to come early but you need to wait at least 7 weeks so I can be full term. Thanks.

Parenting.

Today is one of those days where I have to continue to tell myself that one day I will no longer be a single parent, over and over again so I can continue on with my day. I have seen Larry a total of 20 minutes this week...people this is no exaggeration. He comes home so late I am always asleep because hello I run after a toddler all day and am pregnant and he leaves probably 5 minutes after I wake up to get Max from his crib. I did talk to him around 3:45 am this morning when Max was crying and I will probably see him tomorrow night. I don't mean to write this to have self pity its just the reality of our lives and the choices we have made. Knowing that one day years down the road he will have a somewhat normal schedule keeps me going, and keeps me wanting to get out of bed, because somedays lets face it its hard to muster up the energy to get up and go on with your life without a spouse by your side. I am also trying to get myself psyched for this new baby to come because facing a new baby and taking care of Max who is basically a baby still is daunting and scary. Will I have time to shower, eat, sleep or even pee in peace? Who knows only time will tell. I am going to take it day by day and just keep pressing forward. The other day as Max was screaming in the car I sang very loudly "I love being a mom" over and over again and you know what eventually he stopped screaming and found it funny and I really do love being a mom, so what if its solo most of the time at least I get the opportunity.

We Survived!

The stomach flu hit our house hold thursday night. It was a blur of days filled with vomit, poop, cranking people, sleepless nights and a lot of clorox wipes. Thankfully all my prayers paid off and I did not get sick. Sick 7 month pregnant mom taking care of sick babies and husbands really doesn't work out so thankfully I was able to keep it together, clean up multiple accidents and wash our sheets lots of times. Max always found opportune times to puke like at 3 am all over Larry and me...sweet memories we are making. But Sunday afternoon everyone was on the mend except for Max who still has the occasional runs. My sister-in-law was battling the illness at her house as well so it was a super fun 3 day weekend for us. I don't know how many baths, loads of laundry, or times I washed my hands but it felt like a million. I am so thankful everyone is healthy-ish and that the house no longer smells. Hope it doesn't hit anyone else's house!

All In A Days Work.

8:00 am- Max wakes up

8:05- Change a huge explosion diaper, dress him.

8:10-feed Max some breakfast...most ends up on the floor

9:00- go up stairs to find throw up ALL over Max's crib, door, sheets, floor...everywhere. Spend the next hour and a half cleaning up the dry throw up. Not so fun for a 7 month pregnant women to be scrubbing on her hands and knees while Max is trying to help and climb on my back.

10:30-Wash sheets, air out house, fabreeze the heck out of the closet

11:00-take Max for a walk

11:30- change his blow up diaper again and put him in fresh clothes, wrestle him to get medicine down his throat and put him into bed.

12:00- Listening to his crying praying he will go to sleep so I can wash the smell of vomit, and poop off me and feed myself and my unborn child.

12:30-All is silent...do you think Im off the hook? Or maybe he puked again and fell asleep in it like he did last night.

29 weeks...and other mom ramblings.

I went into the Dr. today for my 29 week appointment. The baby looks good, small but good and my fluid level is normal for now! Its a love hate relationship with my fluid levels. Sometimes its nice to have a concern because then you get above and beyond care but then there is a worry as well. For now everything is good though in that area. The baby is not too active though and I don't feel too much movement. My placenta is right up front so if the baby kicks I barely feel it so thats kinda annoying because that is one true indicator if something is wrong but its harder to tell with me.

I continue to let my Dr. know how anxious I am about this labor. I really really do not want to have a baby in the car so I am crossing my fingers that she will induce me but we will have to wait awhile to see. Lets all hope because rapid births are all to real in my family:) I have gone through all the baby clothes again and organized them and we are moving Max into his own room next week! No more closet baby! So things are starting to feel more real as the weeks go by. We are getting pretty excited and nervous to be adding another family member to the mix but I can't wait to hold this little guy and tackle being a mom of 2. Hopefully I survive.

Max has been very helpful with organizing the baby clothes and helping me clean his new room. He has no clue what is going on...he doesn't even understand my belly is getting larger and that kicking me or hitting me there is a naughty thing. Its been a challenge to parent him as he is starting to gain his own personality and independence. He is pretty sweet natured but boy he can be so dang stubborn about things its hard to keep your patients and really try to teach him why he can or cannot do certain things.

Anyways I know that no one cares about these things but I want to remember and look back when things were nuts and I was in the thick of having and raising kids and remember the funny, challenging, and joyful moments.

Fresno ZOO

Friday we went down for a day trip to Fresno, where my mom grew up and lots of my cousins still live. We had a fun time wandering around the Zoo then a late lunch at my Aunts house. I loved getting away even just for the day. Max was a champ the entire day and did great on the car ride there and back sans nap. He is nonstop and I am so glad I get to stay home with him and take him to places like this.

Here he is trying to feed the fake dragon his cheese crackers.

He is learning to share really well. (sometimes)

One of the reasons I love the zoo is that he can wander and run free without me feeling like I need to always be telling him to be quite or not to touch things. An added bonus is that he loves being outside so he typically is always happy looking at all the animals and running like a wild man.

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago we had some family pictures taken. For 30 minutes and a cranky toddler they came out pretty well! I'm kinda bummed I am 6 months pregnant in these and you can totally tell in my fat little face but my mom says its okay...it's life and we are documenting the moment! haha.

We Also did some with my whole family which came out pretty great as well...at least I think so its always hard to get everyone looking great but my mom was pleased and thats all that matters. Hopefully next time we take them its at a wedding of my brothers and we will have a new baby and I will be skinny again...one can hope :)

Amazing Weather.

Today the high is 67 degrees and sunny. Its been pretty amazing weather here, so great that I feel guilty keeping Max inside till after his morning nap...but naps come first so we press on. Anyways my mom and I have been walking everyday for an hour and its been great but also my hips are killing me. Being pregnant a second time my joints are a lot more loose then they were so walking hard for an hour pushing a 25 pound baby and carrying extra weight as well on me is a big work out and my pregnant body feels pretty beat up at the end of the day. BUT the weather is beautiful so why complain, and I need to not be gaining too much weight so its win win for all.

Larry started back to school yesterday so we won't be seeing much of him for the next 4 months and one of his cases is going to trial so on top of it it all of we really won't be seeing him. I hope he can squeeze in time for the birth of this baby maybe?...he says has to check his schedule. Also my best baby sitter and brother John went back to school up at BYUI sad day for me because he was a great Max watcher and entertainer. Besides these few things that is pretty much the happenings around here. Tomorrow we are going to go to Fresno to see cousins and visit the zoo, it should be nice to get away for the day and do something different out of the normal routine.

Lastly I made this for dinner tonight: Lets hope its a HIT!!

Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken Curry:

• 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, Cut Into Large Cubes
• 1 whole Onion, Peeled And Halved
• 2 cloves Garlic, Peeled
• 1 whole Small Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Quartered
• 1 can Tomato Paste
• 1 can Coconut Milk
• 1-½ teaspoon Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Garam Masala (Indian Spice Mix)
• 2 Tablespoons Water
• 1-½ Tablespoon Cornstarch

**Mix all ingredients in food processor (minus cornstarch/water) Pour curry over chicken and cook in crockpot for 6 hours on low. The last hour mix water and cornstarch together then pour into crockpot to thicken the curry.Serve over rice.

Happy 2012!!!

We made it to a new year! This is my first 2012 post and I am pretty excited about it...can you tell? I am hoping and crossing my fingers that 2012 is a fabulous year with many happy memories. We have a lot to look forward to with a new baby, finishing up a second year of law school, and our 5 year wedding anniversary...wow time flies and 2012 is looking good!

I hope this year I can make some goals, keep them, and accomplish them. I have many different level of goals some to do with marriage, mothering, finance, and church goals. Here are just a few:

1. Be a more patient spouse...don't assume Larry can read my thoughts.

2. Attend the temple twice a month.

3. Read the Book of Mormon again, keep along with sunday school readings.

4. Pay exat tithing monthly not biannually or annually.

5. Sew my little heart about before baby comes.

6. Continue taking Max to the Park everyday whether permitting.

7. Be a patient and loving mom...remember Max is a curious toddler not an adult.

8. Try to not be such a compulsive clean freak.

9. Be more encouraging towards others, don't let me pregnancy hormones over take me!

10. Be the best mother of 2 I can be and remember its okay to take some me time to shower and get dressed in the morning.

11. Have 40 % of our desired down payment by the end of summer.

12. Remember my family needs are more important then our savings account!

13. Be a better supportive sister, friend, wife, daughter, mother.

14. Lose all my baby weight before summer...haha we shall see!!

15. Pick a baby name before this boy gets here.

There are so many more things I want to be better at this year but most of all I want to focus on being the best mom and wife I can be. Its hard, especially when I am pregnant and feel like sometimes I can't control how I feel or what I say but I know I can do better and I need to as well. I need to count my blessings, pick my self up from the floor, and serve someone everyday that will make it a better and brighter year!