Daddy's boy

Wow, I can't tell you how much of a "daddy's boy" Peyton has become!! It's soooo cute! I just bust out bawling the other night (oh, and don't worry I know I've been mentioning how much I bawl lately but it's mostly because of these darn pregnancy hormones) because Eric was sitting on the couch watching the opening night of baseball season and Peyton goes up and sits right next to Eric. Peyton looks at Eric and mimicked his EXACT body language. He slouched down as far as Eric was, folded his arms across his chest exactly like Eric, the whole time looking back and forth between himself and Eric to make sure he was getting everything just right! I just silently observed, until my bawling interrupted everything! haha. Talk about added responsibility to Eric to be all that he can be because he has a little copycat now!!! Eric looks at sale catalogs for cow sales occasionally while sitting up to the breakfast table and here Peyton was eating his lunch but had to make sure he was rifling through a catalog too! After this occasion, there was a ban put on all cow magazines/catalogs while we were eating!!

Helping daddy till the garden. He really wanted to help, but it didn't last long because he didn't really like all that vibration in his hands. I've been having issues wanting him to do ANYTHING inside the house. He's continuously going to the door and saying, "bye bye. DADDY!" He just wants to go outside and be with his daddy. The last three days have been absolutely beautiful and we've done just that. Helped Eric fix fences, helped feed calves, helped scrape down barns and throw sawdust, bed some pens, etc...... and it really has beeen so fun!

I really am grateful that Eric is such a wonderful man to copycat in the first place!!! We're lucky indeed!!

Awkward and Awesome!!!!

So, I love my sister in law's awkward and awesome posts so I'm totally copying her awesomeness! Seriously, she's awesome!

Awkard

• I still can't be outside when I know the milkman is coming soon to pick up the milk. I can't bring myself to look him in the eyes yet...... I walked in on him going potty a couple weeks ago. (need to explain..... Peyton had fallen asleep for his nap in my bedroom and the only bathroom in our house is through the master bedroom, so I didn't want to walk through and wake him but I had to seriously pee. So I went outside to the farm bathroom..... which is where the awkwardness began)


• Like I said above, the fact that our ONLY bathrrom is through my bedroom. (awkward for guests)


• Having to censor EVERYTHING we say or just be super quiet when we talk in our bedroom because Barb (our neighbor) informed me awhile ago that she could hear EVERYTHING we said. hhhmmmm, what had she already heard is the question........


• Peyton making chicken noises over and over at the Family easter egg hunt on sunday and Eric's dad exclaiming, "See everyone, he can say Pappy! Listen listen." uhhhhhh, huh.


• Upon returning from Utah, when cleaning the playroom I find a few opened/unused tampons on the floor from when Peyton had played with them earlier which was unfortunate since it was used as the "guestroom" when Eric's family visited the house while I was gone.


• Also upon returning from Utah, having my neighbor exclaim first thing when she saw me, "Wow, you are getting big!"


• Peyton's new obsession and need to tell everyone he meets while pointing to his crotch, "POOOOOOOOOOh!" Winnie the Pooh diapers........... hmmm


• Having to use my shirt as a kleenex from bawling so hard while watching........ Biggest Loser!

Awesome!!

• General Conference weekend!!!


• Taco Soup for dinner


• Pumpkin roll for dessert


• Eric's soft, tender heart for buying WAYYYY too expensive pumpkin rolls from a little preschooler for his school fundraiser so we could have dessert.


• A huge box of diapers for Peyton's easter gift from the inlaws!!


• A little baby girl doing flips in my stomach right now!!!


• Finished weeding and preparing the whole flower bed in the front yard!!


• My boys sleeping and snuggling on the couch while I watch American Idol


• Hanging out with Eric on the farm a LOT the last two days!!!

Excited for easter!!!!!!!!

Utah Trip for Amber's WEdding!!!

So we've been back from utah for about a week now! Taken me a week to blog about it, recoup, you know, all that jazz! The trip itself was up in the air for awhile........ I was having lots of contractions and complications with the pregnancy (which I know I blogged about earlier) but after all that was cleared up I knew I just HAD to go! My closest cousin was getting married for pete's sakeeeeeee! So I sucked up the fact I had to go on a plane with my "lap sitter" infant and flew to Utah! This is Peyton's CHEESE face, waiting to board the plane in the terminal.You know what too, we SURVIVED!!!!! Yes it was stressful, and yes it was super squishy and I couldn't breathe half the time, and there were moments when I questioned my sanity for trying to fly in the first place but we made it. We had a layover on the flight over and back and 1 out of the 2 flights was usually GREAT! The one flight for different reasons were stressful but I knew I could handle ANYTHING for a few hours. I LOVE going to Utah!!! Love the mountains, love cache valley, love going to Taco Time, but mostly, I just LOVE being with all my family!!!!!!!!!!! My family's the greatest! Seriously......

Well, Friday we set up for the wedding. It was an all day affair and pretty fun! The picture above is the "champion pose" for the fastest, "roll the table into the reception room from the gym and set up" race. Yes he was the champion by A LOT!!! And not to rub it in Christian's face, but Whit totally schooled him at this challenge. And that would be Christian Larson I refer to..... I'm goin to need different names for the two Christian's. Well, I'll just call my bro Chin-chin..... after Peyton's name for him.
This was Christian and Amber's "I'm getting married in 12 hours" face. Hahaahaah. Let me just take a walk down memory lane for a sec....... I remmeber those good ol' days when Amber and I would walk down Hollow Road on a sunday afternoon discussing marriage and growing up. We had it all planned..... we'd have a double wedding and then we'd totally have a double honeymoon. Up in a cabin somewhere, and we'd totally lock ourselves in our bedroom together (amber and I). Cause that darn honeymooon, was SCARYYY!!! hahhaa! here we are, both married, SEPARATE honeymoons, AND living on the east coast together! I just love that girl, soo excited for her and Christian! And Christian is totally perfect for this crazy family.... he's such a froof! (it's a compliment)
Here's all the sibs! Tear, tear. Everyone is getting sooo old, and look at how gorgeous and GLOWY Amber is! What a hottt bride!

The cute bridesmaids with Joshy! And let me just toot my horn for abit. I totally did heather and jaz's hair and makeup........ yeah be impressed! I thought they looked gorgeous! I showed Eric all the pictures when I got home and he coldn't believe how much everyone had grown and he just thought Heather and jaz were GORGEOUS!!! Wish I could take ALLL the credit but alright alright, they were born that way, I just emphasized their hott looks!
here the loverly ladies are again!!! The wedding was such a blast! The only downside of the whole thing was, when I lost Peyton right before the reception. Peyton is SUCH a mama's boy and would never wander far from me. I was busy taking pictures of all the bridal party and totally just into it when i realized I hadn't seen Peyton for a few minutes. So I started looking for him, I knew he'd be close so I wasn't worried. Then I realized he wasn't just in the next room.... in fact, nobody could find him. This was the moment when my adrenaline starting pumping and I started getting anxious, thinking out the worst case scenarios for this situation. I felt a franticness........ a little crazy! And I must admit, I've never been that scared in my whole life. Peyton is my whole life for pete's sake!!!!! I just bust out bawling but still frantically running the halls and calling his name. After just a couple minutes, which felt like 30 to me..... they found him!!!! Then I just started bawling with relief!!!!! I love that boy with a ferocity that matches nothing else!!!!!!! I didn't want him out of my arms after that!!!! Moving on though.

The ceremony was beautiful!! We couldn't find my recommend right before and that was a bit stressful! But anyway, the sealer said some great things that I kept thinking I had to remmeber so I could write in my journal!!! it was such a beautiful ceremony though!!!

The luncheon was absolutley delicious and the people very accomodating....... which I say because they got me a bigger dessert upon requesst!!! haha. And the reception was wonderful as well. Good food.... great company! Just a fun time! I love everything wedding!!!
here's all the hott women in our family and yup, I swallowed some pride to post a preggo pic of me. I love all these women soooo much thouhg!
We had an AMAZING breakfast for dinner at Whit's new house (which is adorable by the way) for Ben's birthday!!! I love me my family's breakfastssssss!!!!
Just check out that smile.... EVERYONE loves these breakfasts!!

We always stay super busy when we're in Utah..... and this time wasn't any different!! Have I mentioned I just love to visit! Peyton was all about it this go round as well. He was all about going outside adn seeing Pampa's chickens...... especially if it was Pampa taking him. (sidenote: everytime we mention Pampa now that we're home, he'll snort) haha. He LOVED playing with his baby Ty-ty. In fact he had Ty-ty withdrawals when we got home. he was alwasy walking around the house and saying beebee...... we'd ask him, "What baby?" "Ty-ty...." he'd say. Or he'd stand by the door and say, "bye bye." I'd ask him where we were giong and he'd say, "ty-ty." Yup, he sures misses him alirght!! He also talked about chin-chin a lot when we returned home as well!

Love this pic! Now we just need Peyton squished on mom's lap. Since returning home, Peyton now refers to mom as Ga-ga. So she's lovingly referred to around here as lady ga-ga! haha. Love my mom, she's awesome!!
Uncle levi is the greatest!!! Peyton just loves him to death.... he'd follow him around the house like a little puppy! notice above, he's eating some delicious cereeal! Oh gosh, we ate so well when we go to Utah. Too well in fact!!!!!!

All in all, it was such a great trip though. I didn't get around to seeing all the people I was hoping to but the time just goes soooooo fast! And I only have sooo much energy..... especially while pregnant! Although, the last trip we took was during my first trimester of this pregnancy and I had WAYYYYY less energy that trip by far. So it was refresshing, being able to go longer and party harder!!!!!

So family........ I love you all! I had soooooo much fun! I was soooo touched and grateful for the time you took out of your busy schedules to hang out with Peyton and I! We really do cherish every moment we get to spend with each of you. Yeah, I still wish we lived closer so i could stalk.... I mean, hang out with each of you more but being sooo far away sure makes us less likely to take you all for granted!!! We miss yuo all, more than you know and can't wait for the next time we're all together!!!!!

Good ol' Sundays

I love sundays!!! Despite daylight savings time, I just really enjoyed giong to church today! Eric woke up not feeling to well...... (don't be alarmed anyone.... you know how boys are...... SUCH big babies when they're sick....... and he was over the sickness by the time I got home) Well, I just left Peyton at home with Eric. Not only does Eric and Peyton ALWAYS need more bonding time but I was in charge of sharing time for the first time in my LIFE and was a tad nervous about it. Peyton STILL refuses to go into nursery(we have to sit in there with him) So I usually take care of my calling duties then sit 2nd hour in nursery with him. Eric teaches gospel principles 2nd hour but comes in 3rd hour to be with him. We try countless, countless countless ways to leave him in there but no matter what we do, the nursery leaders are always bringing a "out of control" "sad as can be" "hysterically crying" baby to us if we're gone for more than 10 minutes. So anyway, it was going to put a damper of my whole sharing time because I would have to have Peyton for 2nd and 3rd hour if Eric wasn't there and it all just seemmed like a little much for me today.

Ya know what, I reallllyyyyy enjoyed doing sharing time. Believe it or not, it is intimidating standing in front of a bunch of kids to do a lesson. Well, we did a prophet/apostle matching game today and it went great! And it was a double bonus because when I got home, I wanted Peyton to get his spiritualness for the day so we watched some music videos on lds.org then he went to town on my prophet/apostle matching board from sharing time!!!!!!!!!!!

Pregnancy

wooooeeeeee.... thanks for allowing me my "pregnancy rant" yesterday! HAha...... but really, I do rant a LOT more when pregnant. Speaking of pregnancy.... that's what I want to blog about today!
I have a hate/love relationship with being pregnant. Of course I LOVE having a little human being inside my stomach and most moments I'm just overcome with the miracle of it all. I LOVE feeling my baby move inside..... that's my most favorite! I love using it as an excuse for everything.... so I was grumpy with my husband (hormones from pregnancy), I can blame eating habits on cravings, the wonderful "I'm eating for two" thing.
I dont' particularly like getting this fat. I know I could control it a lot more than I do but third trimester I just feel HUGE. I feel like my oxygen supply is depleted when I bend down to put on socks, I feel a need to let out a HUGE grunt everytime I bend down because again, it cuts off my oxygen supply. When pregnant with Peyton, I felt soooo beautiful! Even at my biggest, I just felt so pretty. Well, looking aback at all those pictures I took of those maternity days I think, "uggghhhh, for reals. Was I blind? I'm sooooo HUGE." So this go round I'm not taking too many pics but still, there is a really beautiful thing about being pregnant. I still feel pretty..... whether I really look it or not.
I'm going to give a quick rundown of this pregnancy with my little girl...... mostly for preserving memories sake!!!
We'd planned this pregnancy down to the minute... haha. But really, we had a month opening for getting pregnant. We have a cruise planned January 2013 and my baby has to be at least 6 months old. So that gave us one month........ we were in the middle of a move, and switching insurances which gave us that window. Well, after peeing on that little stick and seeing that positive I was STOKEEEEDDDDD to the moon and back. I started screaming adn screaming.... Peyton and Eric were in our bedrrom "waiting for the result" and I came out dancing. Let's just say I did a happy dance for a long time. Eric gave me a big hug and Peyton just sat there staring like, "WHAT THE......"
This pregancy has gone sooooooo much quicker than my first. Time has flown!!!! First trimester I stayed away from all sweets and most fruits adn yogurts. For some reason, "sweets" made me really sick and nauseous. We love eating pancakes with syrup for breakfast all the time but that was a big NO NO for first tri. OOOOHHHHH gosh, I can't tell you how sick that would make me.
2nd tri came around and I was able to eat sweets and stuff again. And all of a sudden I was bursting with energy.... which gratefully still hasn't gone away and I'm at week 29. Man, I loved 2nd tri..... although I hate that period when you just look like you've gained weight and noone wants to say anything..... that whole awkwardness. Halfway through 2nd tri though I started cramping up severely. It really really really really freaked me out. I couldn't even wakl somedays because I'd be cramping adn contracting so much it just hurt too much. YIKES! Long story short, I was dehyrated. The doc says that the cramps and contractions were my body's way of trying to expel whatever was taking my water supply.... which in this case was my sweet little baby!!!!!! Sooooo grateful we figured that out pronto because dehyration can cause pre-term labor which is the road I was oging on. So I drink ALLLLL the time now, and peeee all the time.
2nd tri we also had our ultrasound to determine gender!!!!!!! LOVEEEE that appt! The lady who did the ultrasound was new so she was taking forever which you know I loved!! Then a second ultrasound tech came in to make sure the first lady did it all right.... then we had the doctor come in and recheck everything. That appt was a good hour just getting to watch my baby on the screen!!! The first gal told us we were having a boy at first........ Eric and I looked at each other of course excited. But a coupel minutes later she realized it was just the umbilical cord in the way. IT'S A GIRL!!! Oh man, then we were ecstatic!! One of each! Even better, our baby was healthy as could be.... and what a mover!!!!!! Maybe that's why the appt took soo long too, she would just wiggle wiggle wiggle.
3rd tri heralded in my acid reflux...... uugghhhhh. So I wake up about twice a night for my tums and another 6 times to go pee. hahah. The joys of pregnancy. I'm starting to PUFF up at night too. Can't wear hair tyes aroun my wrist or it cuts off the circulation to my hands.... and my wedding ring is the next thing to go. Eric does give me foot massages frequently though...... I"m soooo lucky!!
Our second scare came when I thought I was leaking amniotic fluid...... thankfully it was just an infection!!!
I feel sooo good righ tnow though. My morning is jam packed with energy and gusto and my nights I'm totally crashing but lucky I get lots done in the mornings and afternoon.
We are sooooooo excited for this little girl! I can't wait to have her here in my arms. I'm just ready to cuddle and kiss on her every second of my day. Soooo excited for Peyton to have a little sibling to love on. I know he'll be such a great big brother. Right now, he rubs my belly softly and says "Beebee." then kisses my belly. Ummmm, tear tear. too cute for words.
Feel so grateful for the blessing of my kids everyday!!!

Just say NO

So...... something that really weighs on my mind all the time is "wanting to do right by my children." For pete's sake, my husband and I were the ones who chose to bring another soul into the world. I want my children to be a good contribution to society (respectful to all adults, and all that good stuff). So many kids these days are soooooo disrespectful but in my opinion, parents are the ones who enable that behavior. I'm a BIG advocate in "NO means NO." I can't tell you how many parents I've seen that tell their children NO just to have the kids do what they want anyway. For example, the latest example of this.... I saw a mother tell her child, "no they can't have dessert before dinner." Well, next thing you know, icecream is out on the counter and they've dished themselves up a HUGE dish of icecream. I didn't want to be meddlesome and assert myself into somebody else's business so I kept my mouth shut. When teh parent saw what the child had done, they calmly said, "I thought I told you no. Fine, you can have one scoop."
WHAT THE.......??? Didn't you say no????? No wonder the child was just dishing themselves up icecream anyway. They've learned that no doesn't really mean no, it just means do it anyway and mom or dad will cave in and let you in the end.
Now, let me just say I understand this is a really hard thing to do. You don't want to be a bad guy that always is punishing and saying no. Trust me, I don't want to be the bad guy either!!! I just think that I'd be doing my kids such a disservice by being so lenient.
Lately I've been doing my best to apply this lesson in my own parenting stuff. It's soooo much harder than it seems. I didn't even really start being hard-hearted about the word NO until I thought Peyton was old enough to understand the concept. So at about 18 months I figured I'd start "meaning NO." Oh gosh, gives me a headache just thinking about it. So he'd want a third glass of chocolate milk....... "NO." Oh myyyyyy, he'd cry and cry and cry and cry. And I admit, I couldn't handle it at the beginning. I'd justify in my own mind..... chocolate milk really isn't worth such a fuss..... and, well chocolate milk is healthy.... what kind of mom am I for not allowing him his calcium and vitamin d from the milk for the day.? And the list goes on, so I'd end up giving him that glass of milk. So obviously, I'd made the problem worse even before I'd begun "saying No" for sure.
Peyton definitely is not stupid and he knew that if he put up enough of a tantrum I'd say ok. And I would.
When I realized what I was doing........ my mindset went back to that hardhearted mom who says NOOOO and means it. We had a lot of tantrums around here for awhile, and I learned to just ignore him. And finally....... today when he wanted another fruit leather strip for a snack I told him no and he was ok with that. I guess he figured throwing a tantrum wouldn't be worth it because it wouldnt' get him the snack in the end. HALLELUJAH!! I may or may not have hugged his cute little body for being ok with NO and smothered him with kisses for being so proud!!!
I'm definitely not super good at it yet and occasionally I'll give in to his screams but I want to be better!!!!! So I'm going to live by the motto, "JUST SAY NO," for the next couple weeks to get this ingrained in our family. I Bre, vow to not give in when he wants something at the grocery store and starts throwing a tantrum that tottaaaallllyyy embarrasses the heck out of me. I vow to say NO and mean it!!! Yes, yes I do!!!
Oh, except for when we fly on the airplane to Utah...... trust me, I'll give him ANYTHING he wants. As long as he's quiet and sits still....... and I'm not ashameddd.......

Smashing eggshells

Peyton's new favorite activity...... smashing egg shells. I got this idea YET again from Pinterest. You just wash out the egg shells with soap adn water, let em' dry and WAH LA! Peyton was a little confused at first because he's always trying to grab the eggs and "help" when I'm cooking breakfast and I move them out of reach but here I was giving him a whole bowl of shells on purpose. He got the hang of it quick though.... he loved smashing them! This kid goes till he drops. At the end of the day, if there's any blanket lying around, he'll grab it and just hunker down for the night (kitchen, living room, bathroom, wherever he wants).