In Review

Most of the pictures I post on here were taken with my phone. Since my phone automatically uploads all movies and pictures to Google+, that's where I often go to find blog inspiration. 

I was perusing my files yesterday, looking for something post-worthy, when I found a little gift from the folks at Google+. It's a year in review, made up of the footage I've uploaded.. Some of these pictures have been on the blog before, some are new. When I saw it I thought, "That's perfect for my last post of the year!" And yes, it made me a little weepy. Sadly, it does not include pictures of Sophie, but you can scroll to any of the other posts since her birth and look at those pictures and imagine that she's part of the movie.

Happy New Year!

Gifts

The children have spent the last few days engrossed in their Christmas goodies.

Peter has split his time between his Lego book, his new almanac, and The Dangerous Book for Boys. Cooper has been engrossed with his new Batcave, his Darth Tater set (which Bryan found on clearance for $5, because he has skills), and his new doctor kit. Consequently, I overheard Phoebe today as she used the stethoscope, "Wow, my heart is really healthy!" Phoebe, in what is not a surprising move, can't decide which she likes more, her princess storybook, her princess castle, or her new princess costume. (Both of the latter were also found on clearance; did you know that Costco does clearance very well?)

I'm thrilled that they love their new toys so much. I'm even more thrilled that some of those toys are books. The best part? I've been able to spend less time playing referee and more time with my favorite Christmas present:

Without a Title

In naming the first three children, we had quite a bit of debate. We would go back and forth suggesting names we liked, vetoing names we didn't. But when they were born and the doctor held them up for the first time and asked if we had a name, we always did.

Not this time.

If we had gone with the most recent name we had been discussing (which is what we did with Cooper), her name would have been Autumn. But when the doctor asked, we looked at each other and knew that Autumn did not feel right.

So she was known as baby girl. We called and texted family and friends to give the exciting information: "My water broke on its own, then they had to give me pitocin which really got labor going, then an epidural, but the epidural didn't have time to take full effect before she was ready to come! She's our biggest baby at 8 pounds 10 ounces and 20.5 inches long and has a head full of dark hair. Oh, her name? We don't know that yet, but we'll tell you when we do!"

Each nurse that came on duty would ask her name and I would have to say I didn't know. The woman that filled out the complimentary birth certificate worthy of framing kept coming to our room and asking if we had picked something. Each time I sent her away empty handed.

Why the delay?

We had a short list of names that were in the running. My favorite name on the list ended up having kind of a weird meaning and was dropped from consideration. That left a few names that Bryan had suggested. I kept trying them out when I would talk to her and only one name felt right.

And here's where the problem comes. The one name that felt right was the name that I really didn't care for. How could that be? I couldn't give a child a name that I didn't completely love, could I? And the name was popular, which went against my naming policy. It did have a great meaning, but still, I must not be listening correctly for this inspiration.

Except I was pretty sure I was.

So Bryan and I talked and we prayed and kept trying the name. And when he and the kids came to take us home from the hospital, we introduced them to their baby sister, Sophie.

She has a middle name too, but of course I never put middle or last names on the blog. Just know that her full name looks really nice written out, it has a sort of visual balance to it. And look at all four kids' names next to each other: Peter, Cooper, Phoebe, Sophie. They look like they fit, you know?

No, it's not my favorite name, but it's her name. I needed to move myself out of the way to see that. And I sure love this little girl, no matter what her name is.

Christmas Comes This Time Each Year

We had an excellent Christmas with almost no pictures to prove it. The gift opening didn't begin until 9 AM, which was pretty great, though the kids might not agree. The children spent most of the day playing with new toys and reading new books. In fact, the draw of the stuff was so strong that they took it up again this morning and chose to forgo meals in favor of playing. Thank you to both sets of grandparents, great-grandma, and aunts and uncles for their part in making Christmas so fun.

At the top of the stairs, waiting to come down and open presents.

Speaking of meals, Bryan flew solo for most of the food prep this year. I was otherwise occupied taking care of our smallest family member. Christmas dinner was delicious.

Our lovely Christmas dinner.

The only item that I was really responsible for was the pumpkin pie. As I was opening the pumpkin pie spice to add it to the batter, the bottle slipped from my hand, flipped through the air, and landed on its side in the bowl of already measured ingredients. I have no idea how much went in. I had a moment of shock, then dismay, then the realization that there wasn't much I could do other than throw it out or keep going.

I kept going.

It's the best pie I've ever made.

The big news to come out of Christmas dinner (and the whole day) is that while he was chewing, Cooper lost his first tooth.

Cooper, sans tooth.

Bryan discovered it as Cooper was talking. What did we fail to find? The tooth. We think he swallowed it. Also, Bryan told Cooper that he was pretty sure the Tooth Fairy doesn't work during Christmas break. With no tooth to go under a pillow and a delay for the break, I hope the Tooth Fairy remembers to come.

This is what she did while we opened presents, and ate dinner, and even while I took a Christmas nap. It was lovely.

Christmas Christmas

Peter wrote the lyrics to a Christmas song and asked me to write the music. I asked if I could share it on the blog as a poem. He said yes.

Christmas Christmas

Christmas Christmas
It's the time of year to show our kindness, peace, and cheer to everyone
We celebrate this Holy day by Jesus' birth.
Christmas Christmas
Kindness, love, and cheer.
To show our love this Holy day.
Christmas Christmas
We show our gratitude for the Holy day Jesus Christ was born.
Christmas Christmas
Kindness, love, and cheer
To show our love this Holy day.

Nothing says kindness, love, and cheer like a picture of this sweet girl.

Merry Christmas!

One on One Time

Guess Who Decided to Join Us

Hey Guys, I Know Kung Fu

We experienced our first kung fu testing and advancement ceremony this week. We thought it would last the duration of their regular one hour class. We were wrong. It took almost three and a half hours. Three classes were tested together, no doubt to inspire the newbies to keep going so they could someday achieve the awesomeness of those testing for their black belts. Lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" followed the more advanced moves. My favorite was when they were testing with equipment and I heard Peter yell out from his position on the sidelines, "Nun chucks!?!"

It sounds kind of mean, but if I had known it was going to go so long (an hour and a half past bedtime), I would have sent Bryan and the boys without us. I am glad I got to see them show what they've learned, but man, that thing was loooooong. Thank goodness I had food stored in my bag. Phoebe and I shared an apple and what was left of a bag of goldfish crackers.

Here Peter and Cooper are being presented with their new white and yellow belts, a step-up from the white belts they previously wore.

Now they're turning and showing their certificates saying they passed that first level. Also, the whole room applauded for them. The teacher called kids up in familial groupings, probably to both save time and provide good photo ops for the parents.

Here's the whole group that tested and advanced and their teachers. This is why we sat on folding chairs for three hours.

A handful of moms came over and said they were so surprised to see me there and how they thought I'd have been home with a new baby. One told me that she kept thinking about me on my due date, hoping I was well. The sweet feeling of camaraderie among the kids and the moms is my favorite part of this kung fu adventure. It's also good that someone else gets to hand out discipline for an hour twice a week.

Tiny Dancer

This week Phoebe's dance class held a parent observation day and had a little holiday party. They also performed a short Christmas dance. I'm pretty sure it was the first time they had all done the routine together. The kids got to choose where they stood and were invited to wear costumes. Rumor has it that they'll start learning more actual dance steps in the new year.

Bonus Level

I'm four for four now folks. Another due date has come and gone without the arrival of a baby.

The good news is that I was able to attend both Phoebe's parent observation day in her dance class and the boys' first kung fu belt promotion. I wouldn't have been able to go to either if the baby had already been born. The not so good news is that I'm still pregnant.

I do like the kids to come when they're ready, but I will admit, this is the most uncomfortable I have ever been during pregnancy. And that might be a bit of an understatement. Walking and rolling over in bed are both quite painful, as is changing position from sitting to standing and vice versa. I have officially started to waddle. I'm pleased that I put it off as long as I did, but I couldn't escape it forever.

What's funny is, if my due date wasn't changed, I would still technically have a few weeks to go. And there's a chance that the first due date was the right one. I keep reminding myself of that to try to keep me patient.

Here's to my bonus (or maybe not) week of pregnancy!

Every Day a Princess

I've written a few times about Phoebe's intense love of all things Princess. It hasn't diminished. She still spends time each day in a princess dress, or a crown, as this picture illustrates. Every book that she picks from the library either has to be about princesses or ballerinas. Again, see the picture.

The week of Thanksgiving we took the kids to see Frozen. We all loved it and I cried more than once. This movie has not one, but two Disney princesses. It also shifts focus from romantic love to familial love, something that I appreciated, though there is still an aspect of romance. The music is fantastic, we've been singing it since we saw it. I recommend it if you haven't seen it, though it does have a few scenes that might be too scary for tiny kids (there's a giant ice monster and some sadness in the beginning).

I think the combination of that movie and the princess audio books Phoebe has been getting from the library led to a new question.

Phoebe: Mom, what's true love?

Me: (trying to figure out how to accurately answer that question in a concise and age-appropriate manner for a three-year-old) It's when you really like someone and want to be with them all the time and don't just think they're handsome or pretty.

Phoebe: Oh. Does Daddy have true love for you?

Me: Yes.

Phoebe: And do you have true love for Daddy?

Me: Yes. And when it's true love you want to do kind things for them and they make you want to be the best person you can be. If you're mean and grumpy when you're with someone, that's not true love. True love makes you want to be good and kind.

She seemed satiated by my answer. I didn't expect to have to define that concept quite so early for her.

One other side effect of the princess stuff? Think back on all the princess stories you know. How many of them have both parents still living? Most of her games now start with, "Let's pretend our parents died. You're our aunt and we live with you."

I don't love that game.

Can't Catch Me

Cooper gets a homework assignment each week. Sometimes the work is solitary, sometimes it requires group participation. Last week our whole family was asked to decorate a paper gingerbread man. I could have taken charge and dictated what it would look like, handing out tasks to each of the children.

But I didn't.

Cooper and Peter had equal say (though Peter really wanted to call the shots) and Phoebe's biggest job was practicing with her safety scissors nearby. I mostly supervised and then drew the face. Sadly, Bryan was at work and didn't get to join in the fun.

Peter designed the pants (are they a form of lederhosen?) and mittens, Cooper got really excited about the buttons, the hair, and the trim. I'm just glad we got it done.

I do wonder, what is the point of a family assignment? Are they concerned that we aren't spending time together so they're creating family togetherness? Maybe they want the quality of the work to improve? Or are they just running out of things for a Kindergartner to do on their own?

True Blue

We don't follow sports, but we really love BYU. This made me smile, and maybe a little misty-eyed.

Fog Lights

Did you know that fog can freeze? And that when it does it leaves an even sheet of ice on everything?

We had our first school cancellation due to inclement weather yesterday. I thought it would come from snow, but no, it came from freezing fog. Bryan went into work a few hours late to give the roads a chance to thaw, and even then he said there were a few hills that he almost wan't able to climb.

I had originally planned yesterday as a major grocery shopping trip, one where I would restock our pantry so it would be all ready for a new baby and a mom that probably won't be cooking much for a while. When school was cancelled, I changed my plans. Cooper was kind of sad and assured me that they would be really good if I took them all to the store. I didn't exactly laugh and say, "Yeah, right" though my response may have been along those lines. Mostly I didn't want to drive on the ice skating rink the roads had become, but I also didn't want to wrangle all three kids and my giant belly through the grocery store.

Instead we spent most of the day in pajamas (or comfy pants) and played Old Maid, read books, and watched movies. I did insist that some cleaning and homework take place, but we mostly relaxed. And while it would have been nice to fill up the pantry shelves, I really liked not having to fight with anyone to get dressed or eat breakfast or wear a coat.

Comfort Over Beauty

I reached 39 weeks a few days ago and thought it was time for another picture. 

Do you know what else it was time for? Comfy pants. I've gone almost this entire pregnancy without a pair of comfy pants. That's unthinkable. On Monday I paid a visit to Target and rectified that. I might live in these pants for the next few weeks, depending on when our girl decides she's ready to join us.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

I've been checking off more items on my stuff-to-be-done-before-the-baby-arrives list. This past weekend I wrapped all the Christmas presents. I woke up the next morning to the sound of tissue paper being ruffled. I pulled myself out of bed and hobbled to the loft where Bryan had moved all the gifts. Phoebe was sitting in front of them, watching. I told her not to open anything.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because we want them to be surprises," I said.

"Okay," she responded, "I'll only look in the boys' bags."

Thankfully, nothing has been opened, though upon seeing everything wrapped all the kids asked if it was Christmas morning. Except we still have more than two weeks to go.

Is this what it feels like to be organized?

Bundled Up

The kids have been mourning the fact that it's snowing in Utah and not here. They all miss the frozen white stuff. On Friday morning they got their wish. We woke up to a Winter wonderland. At least, we woke up to snow. There was just enough everywhere to make driving slick, but not much more than that. And we learned that they don't plow the roads here. I'm glad that I have so much driving-in-snow experience, otherwise I might have called an unofficial snow day for the boys.

School was not canceled, however. And though the snow wasn't deep, it sure was cold. I guess I felt the difference between arid cold and humid cold. The boys wore their snow boots and heavy coats to school. At pickup time I saw one of the older classes out playing in the snow. Several of the kids were in sweatshirts and shorts. I got cold just looking at them. When the boys got home in the afternoon I sat in my house, wrapped in a blanket, and watched the kids play in the snow in the backyard.

Now I truly appreciate the beauty of the fully-fenced backyard.

Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod

On Wednesday I moved Peter's bed into the playroom. He was thrilled when I asked if he'd like to have his own room. Cooper, on the other hand, was less excited about the idea. He didn't want to be alone. But about thirty seconds after his initial dejection, he perked up and I heard him say to himself as he looked around his newly empty room, "But now I have all this room to run!"

Bedtime came and I separated the kids into their own rooms. Phoebe was the first one asleep, which is how it usually happens. Peter snuck into Cooper's room at one point with the tempting offer of coming and jumping on his bed. Peter is good at suggesting activities that will get someone else in trouble. Cooper made the right choice and just came and told me about it rather than participating in the mayhem himself.

Amazingly, Cooper joined the world of slumber shortly after Phoebe. I was feeling pretty good about this move. Now I just had to wait for Peter to finally succumb to sleep.

I am so naive.

Every time I thought Peter was finally asleep he would wander out of his room with a question or a concern. I finally went downstairs because I was starving and almost dropped the dinner dishes I had been clearing from the table when he startled me from the stairs. It was 10:30 at this point. I'm afraid I was not particularly nice or patient anymore and told him (repeatedly) to go back upstairs and go to sleep. He kept saying no. It wasn't a pretty scene.

Apparently the new freedom brought with it new fears. While I was on the same floor, he could stay in bed. Otherwise, he was too afraid of his closet, his room, I-don't-know-what-else. He asked if he could go back and sleep on the floor of Cooper's room because he was lonely and afraid. A talk with Bryan calmed Peter to the point that we thought he would be able to sleep and he finally stayed in his bed.

When I checked on him at 11:50 (desperate for sleep of my own at this point) he was awake, reading. I'm really not sure what time he went to sleep.

Phoebe woke me up at 6:20 yesterday morning because she had to go to the bathroom, something that didn't require my assistance. In case you're wondering, that's not enough sleep for me. The morning... was rough. And until about 1:30 in the afternoon yesterday, I wandered around in a sleep-deprived haze. I finally plunked Phoebe down on my bed, put Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood on my laptop, and fell asleep holding her hand.

I must say, I was a much nicer mom in the afternoon and evening than I had been in the morning.

I am happy to report that last night Peter was asleep by 10:30, a full two hours earlier than the night before. He still wanted to move back into the old room, but he seemed more accepting when I said no.

Maybe tonight he'll shave another two hours off his bedtime. Not likely, but it would be lovely.

Like an Elephant, He Never Forgets

Packages often arrive at our house. Bryan is a big fan of online shopping and I'm not always aware that purchases have been made until a brown box shows up on our doorstep. At this time of year we've also been getting packages courtesy of the grandparents, so we're used to hearing a knock, then opening to a cardboard cube.

Since I rarely know what's in the boxes, I can usually say in all honesty, "I don't know," when the kids ask about the contents. When I do know and it's a surprise I just say that I'm not going to tell them. When it's not a surprise I share whatever knowledge I have.

Yesterday two packages arrived. I knew I wasn't supposed to open the first. The second was a complete mystery. Phoebe and Peter crowded behind me as I stepped onto the chilly porch to retrieve it. Peter's first question was, "What is it?" I told him I didn't know. Then he asked, "Is it a Christmas present?" Again, I didn't know.

At that point he turned back to walk into the house and said nonchalantly over his shoulder, "Oh I know, it must be my laminator."

Pros and Cons

Thanks to those that responded to my sleep question yesterday.

One benefit to your children staying up three hours past their bedtime is that they'll be exhausted the next night and fall asleep relatively quickly.

One downside is that you might get a call from the school principal letting you know that your kindergartner decided to add his own artistic flair to the exterior of the school by way of a crayon smuggled out in his pocket during recess.

We're in the process of deciding who we'll move to the other room.

Another Post About Sleep

Why is sleep so elusive?

We're almost to the point of separating the boys into their own rooms. I really don't want to give up the playroom. And more than that, I don't want them to get used to having their own rooms. For some reason I think going off to college and having a companion on their missions will be easier if they've had to share a room.

But we're at our wits end. Every night we send Cooper to bed while Peter sits and reads in the other room. This was a fine solution for a while. Cooper would nod off while Peter got in his reading for the day. Lately, however, Cooper won't go to sleep. He stays up two and three hours past his bedtime, all while Peter keeps asking if he can go to sleep yet. No one is sleeping enough and it's showing in daytime behavior.

Also, Bryan and I have discovered that we really need that quiet time at night. Our kids are constantly talking and moving, so by bedtime we're beat. I feel kind of guilty that we need time away from them, but watching the occasional movie on the couch or talking after they go to sleep are the only dates we get. And dates are important, aren't they?

Last night we told them that they would go to sleep in the same room, just at their slightly staggered bedtimes. Bryan talked about how we would need to be better at bedtime by the time Baby Sister arrived. He had the boys come up with their own consequences for when they got out of bed or started goofing off. We had high hopes.

It didn't work.

We reached the point when all of the consequences had been doled out, some repeatedly. Nothing. The boys were still not sleeping. Bryan finally had Cooper go to sleep in the playroom. At 10:30 both boys were asleep. For the record, Cooper's bedtime is 7:00 and Peter's is 7:30.

And so, unless we can find a miracle cure, I'm afraid the boys will be getting their own rooms soon. At least then if one of them stays awake, they won't have the other one a few feet away to bother.

Thanks goodness Phoebe sleeps at night.

Do any of you have any magical sleep suggestions? Short of drugging them?

Squishy

I've reached that stage of pregnancy where my feet and ankles swell to epic proportions. It happens every time and yet I'm always surprised. I've completely given up wearing anything other than slip-on shoes, though this might have more to do with my mid-section than my feet.

Over the Thanksgiving break I picked up a cold. My timing was perfect because Bryan decided to take that time off from work, so I actually got to recuperate by sleeping and staying in bed until noon on Friday. It felt like a real break, which I think we all needed. I'm still not well, but at least I'm well rested.

It was thanks to this extra sleep that I discovered the trick to getting rid of my swollen ankles. All I need to do is sleep for ten consecutive hours and my feet and ankles return to their normal size. If only I could figure out how to accomplish this every night...

Gobble, Gobble

We had a lovely day of feasting and giving thanks yesterday. Due to planning, preparation, staying on schedule, and sacrificing sleep (along with a late night trip to Wal-Mart by Bryan to replace a broken can opener), all of the food was ready and warm slightly earlier than we had planned.

In fact, Thanksgiving morning was fairly low-key. I got up and baked an apple crisp (which we ate for breakfast), started the rolls, and pulled the turkey out of the fridge. We watched a parade. I put the turkey in the cooking bag and let Bryan do the heavy lifting into the oven. I also let him take care of the other few things that were left to cook while I took a nap and a shower, both before the food was done in the mid-afternoon. It was nice to eat a delicious meal void of excessive stress.

Yes, we know this is a Christmas tablecloth, but it's the only one we have that fits the whole table. Pictured: razzleberry pie, rolls, candied yams, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, ambrosia salad, cranberry sauce, turkey, and sugar-free candied yams. Not pictured: carrots, pumpkin pie, and gravy.

Bryan was there too, just behind the camera instead of in front of it. We all enjoyed the food. And thanks to Bryan's diligent cleaning as we cooked, the clean-up was a snap.

Last night Peter asked if we could have Thanksgiving dinner again tonight. Soon he will know the power of the leftover.

All the Trimmings

After twelve years of marriage, today we are having our first Thanksgiving on our own. We live too far away from family to spend the holiday with them, and flying is a big no-no for me at the moment. I guess we won't be totally alone since we've been invited to have pie with some friends, but the bulk of the meal is up to us.

The last time I cooked a turkey was when Bryan and I were dating. I remember thinking it was the grossest thing ever. I think, after three children, my gross meter has been readjusted, so maybe it won't be so bad now.

We spent a chunk of yesterday cooking and preparing things to be cooked. We pretty much just have the turkey, the rolls, the sweet potatoes, and the stuffing to do today (which sounds like most of the meal when I list it out), and the sweet potatoes are already cooked and waiting to have butter and marshmallows added to them.

My favorite holiday food is homemade cranberry sauce. I did a quick search and was surprised to find that I've never put the recipe on here. It's time to remedy that.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup honey (or 1 cup of sugar if you prefer)
• Combine water and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil, add

• 1 pound fresh cranberries, rinsed (frozen is fine)
• 1/2 a sweet apple, chopped
• 1/2 an orange, peeled and chopped
• Let all the ingredients cook for a long time, until most of the cranberries have popped and are mushy
• Turn off fire and let cranberries cool, refrigerate before serving

This is a tart dish, so if you like your cranberries sweet, you may want to add more honey or sugar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

All You Need Is Love

Cooper came home from school yesterday and announced that he was "in love with Elianna." Elianna is a little girl in his Kindergarten class. I asked him what it meant to be in love. He said it meant they played together.

I tried to explain the difference between being in love with someone and having friends. I suggested that we save "being in love" for after his mission. He would have none of it and continued to proclaim his feelings.

I have two thoughts

• Where did he learn the phrase "in love with" in the first place?
• Does Elianna know?

Not Quite As Long Ago

I showed the kids my post from yesterday. Yes Paige, you were right, that was Peter. Cooper saw it and immediately wanted to see himself at that age. Usually when they want to see old pictures of themselves I turn to the old blog. But you see, I didn't start this blog until Cooper was a few months old, so there weren't pictures to show. I told myself that I would make newborn Cooper the subject of today's post.

And then I had a major parent fail.

I spent quite a bit of time last night (and this morning) trying to find Cooper's hospital pictures. I know we took some, but they have vanished without a trace. Cooper already suffers from some jealousy of his siblings (why do they get that and I don't? why do they have your middle names and I don't?), he doesn't need any more fuel to throw on his green-eyed fire.

I'm going to keep looking, I'm sure they're somewhere. But for now, here is one of the earliest pictures I can find of Cooper, taken the day he came home from the hospital. I think.

Long, Long Ago

Bryan and I spent some time looking through old pictures yesterday. Every time he would come across a picture of a young Peter or Cooper he would say, "He looks so little." I know Throwback Thursdays are popular, but how about a Throwback Monday? Memory Monday?

Know who this is?

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting

Remember when the boys started doing taekwondo? Well, they had three lessons each. Bryan and I reviewed our finances and looked at how much it would cost to continue and then we looked for less expensive options.

A nearby city offers a kung fu/tai chi class for significantly less money. The class is bigger and the boys attend at the same time. Taekwondo was more about preparing for competition, this is about being active, learning about self-defense, and how to focus and follow the rules. For now, this is a better option for us.

The boys have been asking me to take pictures or a movie of their class to put on the blog. On Tuesday I finally did. Part of what they do is practice sparring. This isn't my favorite part of the class, because it feels like they're just beating up on each other. Really, the idea is to practice the forms they're learning. I think Peter and Cooper just don't have the skills yet to do it properly; at this point they mostly just run backwards from their sparring partner.

Bryan pointed out that sparring is not fighting, just like acting is not lying. He likes to explain things in my terms.

And so I present, sparring. Cooper starts near the center and is wearing blue boots and gloves. Peter keeps running in and out of the frame and is wearing red boots and gloves.

Weighing In

Each of the children has recently voiced their thoughts on my current size. What have they said, you ask?

A few nights ago I was finally sitting down from a long day of standing and chasing children when Peter called me and asked if I could come see something in another room. I told him I was sorry, but no, I really couldn't. He came in to see why. I told him that I needed to keep my feet up because they were swollen, something that has just started in the last week. He looked down at my feet and said, "No they're not." Then he paused, pondering, and added, "Except that they are kind of puffy."

On Saturday morning I was getting breakfast for the kids and was still in my pajamas. Cooper looked at me and said, "Did you know that when your tummy is really big, sometimes your pants fall down?" Yes, I knew. And don't worry, my shirt was still long enough to keep me modest. Then last night during bedtime Cooper looked at my midsection and asked, "Mommy, is your tummy just going to keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger until it's all the way across the room?"

Every night while she says her prayers, Phoebe has started including, "And please help Mommy's tummy that it will get smaller and that her legs will get bigger." Apparently she misses sitting on my lap. I wonder how she'll feel when I have a lap again, but she has to share it with a little sister...

The Dawdle

Phoebe and Cooper like to take their time. Let's be honest, Peter does too. Phoebe and Cooper are probably the biggest culprits though. I'll send them off to get shoes on or grab something before we can leave the house and I have to track them down, only to discover they haven't done whatever it is they were sent to do.

Nine times out of ten I'll find Cooper in his room with a book. I love that he loves books, but I do wish I could convince him to, say, get dressed in the morning before he plunks down with a tome. Yesterday I sent Phoebe to use the bathroom so we could pick the boys up from school and found her a few minutes later clad in a princess dress with barrettes in her hair. I wouldn't have minded so much if her daytime clothes hadn't been discarded in a pile on the floor. The rule round these parts is that you are welcome to leave the house in a costume, as long as you're wearing real clothes underneath. Phoebe just grinned when I asked her to get dressed.

We did not leave when I wanted to.

They are also slow-eater-tiny-bite-takers. I can't begrudge them this since I fall into that category as well, but I do now understand the frustration that my parents must have felt during meals with me.

I feel like most of my day is spent asking someone to hurry up. Aren't I supposed to follow their childlike example and take time to enjoy my surroundings? I think that goal and being on-time anywhere are mutually exclusive.

Jumpy

Does anyone have a good cure (or help) for restless legs? At this point that's one of the pregnancy symptoms that's causing me great discomfort. I've been keeping myself awake until I'm so tired I fall into bed asleep, because otherwise I jump all over the place. My head and most of my body are exhausted, my legs feel like they're ready to go running.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

This Is How I Find the Kids Most Mornings

Too Much Information

Do you ever hear something come out of your mouth and you immediately think, "Why did I just say that?"

A few nights ago I was finishing Peter's bedtime routine. He and Cooper share a room and, because they keep each other awake when we send them to bed at the same time, he has to wait for Cooper to fall asleep every night before he can climb into bed. This means that he's always the last kid awake.

On this night I had just finished singing his two songs to him. I told him that I'd have to wait a minute to get up because I was having a contraction (I've been having them for the past twenty weeks, they've just kicked up in intensity and repetition during the last few weeks) and wanted it to finish first. This is what followed.

Peter: What's a contraction?

Me: It's some of my muscles tightening a lot.

Peter: Why?

Me: That's how my body gets ready to help the baby be born.

Peter: So you had them with all of us?

Me: Yup.

Peter: Wow, so you've had four contractions.

Me: (quickly realizing that in his mind four children must equal four contractions) No, I've had way more than that.

Peter: What does it feel like?

Me: Basically like you're dying.

And that folks, was the moment. His eyes got kind of big and he paused, which is unusual for Peter. I tried to fix it, but I'm not sure I succeeded. I told him that it wasn't actually dying, just really painful. Then I stopped explaining and changed the subject.

Either I've curtailed his questions about this topic, or he's just ruminating on what I've said and formulating a whole new set of questions. It's probably the latter.

Cops and Robbers

I came to a realization this week about my boys. In the old-school game of Cops and Robbers, Peter would be the cop, Cooper would be the robber.

Peter has an intense sense of justice. He is outraged when he sees someone breaking a rule or doing something that he deems inappropriate. Sadly, this does not extend to himself. So I suppose that would make him a cop that thinks they're above the law. 

Also, he's a bit of a vigilante. He thinks that he should dole out consequences. It doesn't seem to matter how many times we tell him this is not his responsibility, he still does it. In fact, he and I each got to chat with a vice principal at his school this week because of this feeling that he should police his classmates. The issue has been resolved, but it wasn't awesome.

Cooper, on the other hand, doesn't have the same sense of right and wrong. He simply wants what he wants, all the time. Often that means we have a screaming, hitting, naughty-word-hurling Cooper, using all the wrong means to get his way. Yesterday morning that resulted in him going to school sans coat. He chose to throw a major tantrum/screaming fit and not put on his jacket, so when it came time to go to school, he was left without one. I even gave him a chance to redeem himself, but he didn't take it. That meant that when we got to school he was hysterical at the prospect of being cold. It was chilly, but much warmer than it has been recently, so I didn't feel like he was in danger. I had to drop Peter off and park to pull Cooper out of the car. For the record, I stayed calm, frustrated, but calm.

The principal, who was welcoming kids to school as they got off the bus, came over to see if she could lend a hand. When Cooper realized someone else was present he calmed down. I walked him to the door and the vice principal (the same one who called about Peter) walked Cooper to his classroom. Both women were very sweet, but it is not an experience I'd like to repeat.

So while Cooper isn't really a robber (though he is my child that has pocketed toys from friends' houses only to sneakily show me his bounty later), he does have a backwards way of looking at what he should and should not be doing.

I hope that Cooper will outgrow this. Frankly, I hope Peter does too. I want him to maintain his strong moral compass, but I want him to start applying it to himself, and to stop enforcing the rules on everyone else.

Triumph

Good news! After dismantling a handful of parts on my sewing machine, I've fixed it. I suspect the problem may have been that I put the needle in backwards. That would cause issues, don't you think? The boys came into my room today and saw the machine in pieces and were highly impressed. I had to usher them out quickly so they wouldn't investigate further.

And even better news, I'm done with my sewing project! That means that Christmas is basically done. I have to wrap presents, but otherwise I'm set. No, I've never been prepared this far out, but knowing that I'll be wildly sleep deprived in those few weeks leading up to Christmas has been great motivation.

Rise of the Machines

I've taken on a sewing project for Christmas because, hey, with only five weeks until this little girl is due and a myriad of other things I'm responsible for, why not? I won't tell you what the project is until after I've gifted it, but it's important to know that I'm making one for each child.

I've finished two; I was working on three and four last night. So far I've broken not one, but two sewing machine needles. I've replaced it each time. At one point my bobbin freaked out and kept getting tangled, but I've fixed that. Then last night, my machine decided it didn't want to remain threaded. I could sew for about half an inch before it would come undone. This happened repeatedly. I took the end off the machine to see if I could figure out what was going on.

I couldn't.

Does anyone know what might be causing this?

I'm at a loss, and I'd really like to avoid taking my sewing machine into a repair shop if this is something that I can fix myself. And I'm so close to being done with this project!

To Protect Our Liberty

It turns out we moved to a very patriotic part of Washington. The boys have come home every day this week talking about the different branches of the armed forces that they've learned about in school. They don't have school today, which is the first time we've had Veterans Day off. Cooper brought home two blue stars to write down the names of the people he knows that are serving in the military or have served in the past. Two was not enough but we squeezed them all on and they are now hanging on a bulletin board of honor in the hallway of his school.

Peter was very proud of a picture that he colored and a song he learned about the military. I asked him if he wanted me to film it and put it on the blog for our Veterans Day post, and he said yes. So now I present, Peter's musical tribute to those serving our country!

Rosie the Riveter

Last night I put together three pieces of furniture from IKEA. We now have a place to store the baby's clothes and a place to sit upstairs and hold the baby (other than a bed or a folding chair). I feel quite accomplished.

Also, I don't think I've used my upper arm muscles in a really long time. I say this because now I am sore. So sore. So sore that lifting my laptop is a bit of a trick.

But hey, at least now we're one step closer to being ready for baby sister's arrival.

Preview

It occurred to me that some of my readers (primarily of the grandparent variety) might like a sneak peek at our new girl. This is one of the 3D images we were given at the ultrasound. It's not perfect (I'm sure her skin in not actually textured that way), but it's still pretty cool. I think she bears a striking resemblance to her siblings, no? We'll see if that holds true in six (or seven or eight) weeks.

From Sea to Shining Sea

When we made sugar cookies last week I gave the kids the chance to wield the cookie cutters themselves. Cooper and Phoebe tried it out for a bit, then moved on to other activities. Peter loved using the cookie cutters. At one point in the process he decided to freestyle and started cutting out his own shapes using a table knife.

That's when he made his great discovery. Like Michelangelo seeing the sculpture within the unchiseled stone, Peter saw the shape within the dough. Behold, his great creation:

Can you tell he has a penchant for geography?

Buzzing

I think we need a serious Halloween detox over here.

The kids have been flying (I've expected to see Peter actually start to levitate) since Thursday night. Getting the kids to school on Friday morning was crazy, and not a fun zany crazy either. Sacrament Meeting on Sunday was spent keeping kids from sliding off chairs, among various other activities.

Even Phoebe has had a hard time. Yesterday during her dance class she was more engaged in flipping her hair all over the place than in dancing. That is highly unusual.

There have been a few points of light in the haze of sugar: Peter cleaned the kids' (meaning the gross one) bathroom on Saturday and Cooper had a good day at school yesterday. I'm holding to those two things, because the rest of the time has been rough.

How long until Halloween wears off?

Generations

Last night I sat down at my computer to write some long overdue emails. Before I started I thought, "Maybe I'll take a few minutes looking for a name for the baby." Peter had been urging (pestering is a more appropriate word, but rather negative) me to look up Family Search and, since family names are so important to Bryan, I figured that was a good place to start.

I had never been on Family Search before. Should I admit that? I was able to sign in with the same information that I use for lds.org. I had no idea all the information that was on there. Also, I had no idea how far back some of those lines go. I didn't really find any names that sang to me, but I did learn some interesting facts. For instance:

• Danish names are tricky to pronounce
• I have lots and lots of ancestors from England
• But if you go back far enough I have some from France
• And some from Spain
• And some from Rome
• I'm a descendant of a few famous people like
• William the Conqueror
• The King of the Visigoths
• Ferdinand the Great, King of Spain
• Henry, King of Germany
• Constantine, Emperor of Rome

That last one floored me. Granted, I'm sure he has lots of descendants by now, but even if I'm one of many, it's still kind of awesome.

That few minutes turned into an hour and a half. I can count this as family history, right?

Guess I'll need to write those emails another night...

Sugar Rush

We started our Halloween celebrations last Friday at Bryan's work party. Apparently it's the biggest party they have all year, which makes sense given who he works for. 

I'm including two pictures because I couldn't get one of both Peter and Phoebe smiling. I have no idea if Cooper was smiling due to the mask, but he was posing, so that's something. Yes, we bought all the costumes this year. A small part of me missed the wow factor of the homemade costumes, but a much bigger part was glad I didn't have to worry about them. And laziness wins out again.

The kids got SO MUCH CANDY from his work. I don't normally write about who he works for, but posting the following picture will give you a good hint. Notice how they're full sized packages? I'll also say we were very brand loyal this year in the candy we gave out.

Speaking of which, here's our bowl of candy ready for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. See what I mean about being brand loyal? The smaller candy offerings in the middle were the peanut-containing candy that Peter got; we handed it right back out, which was rather clever I think.

We also made Halloween cookies.

And ate Halloween jigglers.

And went trick or treating.

See Phoebe's choker? It didn't come with her costume. The day of Bryan's work party I pulled out some black ribbon and dug up some velcro (they were picture hangers, but velcro nonetheless) and the glue gun. That's right, I own a glue gun. I think the homemade necklace made the costume.

Because the kids had already pulled in quite the haul, we only went to the eight houses close to our house. The kids got just the right amount of candy. They enjoyed eating what they could while we watched a few Halloween cartoons on Netflix.

We'll decorate those Halloween cookies today after school. I meant for us to do it last night, but there were only so many hours in the day. And only so much sugar three children should consume in an evening.

Gourd Artists

At Peter's last two schools Halloween was a big deal. The kids got to wear costumes to school, they had parties, they got treats; it was quite the affair. At their current school, Halloween may as well not exist. Cooper did go to a pumpkin patch, but it was all in the name of Fall, not any specific holiday. I feel kind of bad that they don't get much of a celebration, so I'm trying to up my game and do more here at home.

Yesterday after playing at the park (it was early-out and, according to the weather reports, one of our last sunny days) we came home and covered our table with trash bags. A few days ago I picked up a bag of mini-pumpkins. The kids like to carve pumpkins, I do too actually, but I wasn't willing to tackle the mess and sharp knives to get three pumpkins carved. My compromise was that we could decorate these little gourds.

I pulled out some paint we were given and have never used, told the kids to go get on big pajama shirts over their clothes, and laid out our supplies. Rather than use paint brushes, we used Q-tips. The kids were thrilled that I let them paint. We do a lot of coloring with crayons and markers and pencils, but we rarely delve into paint.

I donned my apron and joined them. After we painted our pumpkins, we also each painted a Halloween picture on construction paper. Well, Phoebe's was actually more of an abstract flower. Then we got cleaned up and gathered all our Halloween themed books (we found fifteen) to read while the paint dried. The paint was pretty low-quality and cracked and flaked, but it served our purpose.

Now to see if I can carry out the Halloween fun I have planned for today...

Expidited

It turns out I'm not the only one that thought I was a bit bigger than I should have been.

I had a doctor's appointment today. Baby girl wouldn't show her face during her last ultrasound, so they did another one today. We got lots of face pictures this time, including some 3D shots. I've never had those done before. I can report that she already has chubby cheeks and fingers. And a nose like Phoebe's. And they verified that she is indeed a girl. I was kind of nervous that they would do this second ultrasound and say, "Oh, just kidding, it's a boy." That would have been really hard on Phoebe.

After reviewing the data, the doctor came in and read the findings. The baby was measuring big again, consistent with the last ultrasound. Then she told me she was changing my due date. By eleven days.

I've just jumped from the 31st week to the 33rd week. My own doctor (who I saw right after the ultrasound doctor) confirmed that I'm measuring nicely at 33 weeks. I'm glad that I wasn't crazy and overreacting about my size, but it does feel a little weird to have jumped ahead so far. I wonder if this is how time travel would feel.

One lovely perk of the change is that she is now due on my Great-Grandma's birthday, which makes me smile. And, if she's like her siblings, she might still make it all the way to her original due date.

Shock and Awe

This picture is shocking for two reasons. 

The first is that I'm 31 weeks along and I'm not sure how much more I can grow. This picture doesn't do it justice, maybe because I'm wearing a skirt? I'll have to take the next one in pants. I had to invest in the next size up in maternity clothes because what I had was no longer providing adequate coverage. I'm not quite short waisted, but almost. I'm really feeling that these days.

I'm not the only one. Sunday night during her personal prayers Phoebe asked that "baby sister will come out of mommy's tummy so her lap can get big again."

The second reason? Do you see the shirt I'm wearing? It's pink. That's right folks, I bought a pink shirt. Phoebe was thrilled. And it's one of the few from the first round of clothes that still fits.

Of Primary Importance

Another Primary program has come and gone. Both boys had their lines memorized, though Cooper didn't get a chance to show that since his line was fed to him without his asking. He still did a good job. Peter was the only member of his class that didn't read his line. He looked out at the congregation and said it clearly. That made this theatre mom happy. And if anyone has read about past public speaking, then you know this is major progress from our Peterman.

We couldn't see much of Cooper during the musical numbers since his class was on the floor in front of the stand and we were too far back. Occasionally a woman sitting in front of us would shift slightly and we would glimpse him. I can verify from the few Cooper-sightings I got that a necktie is quite a source of amusement as it's good for both flipping and chewing. Peter was on the stand and thus visible. He did a great job and sang all of the songs and didn't do anything remotely squirrely.

Phoebe was kind of sad that she didn't get to be up with the boys. At the same time though, I think she enjoyed sitting with both mom and dad all by herself.

As a "good job!" treat, the Primary Presidency made cookies for all the kids. I got a call a few days before explaining that they were all worried that their kitchens had traces of peanut butter and would I be willing to make cookies for Peter? And while I was at it would I make cookies for nine other children as well. They needed to be snicker-doodles (for uniformity sake) and I said sure. I thought about it throughout the week and kept reminding myself to bake them on Saturday.

And then I forgot.

I remembered at just after midnight the morning of the program.

Amazingly I was able to get up early enough to shower, make cookies, and (with Bryan's help) still get us to church on time. And we even remembered to take the cookies to church. Yes, I'm rather astounded myself.

The boys' parts were the most important today, but I'm pleased that my assignment was completed as well.

Pen to Paper

Are you wondering about the significance of this picture? I'll give you a hint as to who wrote it: it's the only person in our house that loves pink.

Phoebe is learning to write her name. You're looking at the letters E, O, P, B, and H, the letters in her name.  Last week she surprised me by writing O, E, and P unprompted. Together we worked on B and H. Yesterday, when she wrote this, the only letter she needed reminding about was H.

We'll work toward getting them written on the same line, and maybe even in the right order, but it's not bad for a girl that turned three less than two months ago.

Royal Title

As is our custom, we still do not have a name for this baby. There's one name that Bryan likes, but I don't love it. There are a few that I like, but Bryan has an uncanny knack for pointing out how each name could lead to future teasing and scorn. Thus, we are left with nothing.

The kids have all chimed in with what they think we should name baby sister (which is what we call her). Peter votes for Rose, Cooper likes Arabella, and Phoebe wants an Elizabeth. Until the last few days, at least. Her suggestions have gotten a little more creative.

Yesterday at the park I overheard Phoebe talking to a new friend. The little girl had just said that she had a sister. Phoebe's response?

"I have a baby sister. I named her Cinderella Rapunzel Elizabeth."

There you have it folks, I guess we can stop trying out girl names to see how they fit with our last name. We just needed to reach into the Disney vault and pull a few things out.

Teacher Talk

I went to parent teacher conferences for both boys yesterday. Peter's teacher talked very little about academics and quite a bit about behavior. Cooper's teacher spoke almost exclusively about academics, which is funny since she and I have been in communication about Cooper's behavior choices.

Peter's antics have been documented, at least in part, on this blog. His behavior has improved immensely in the last year. Yes, he still does and says things that make us wonder what on earth he's thinking, and his impulsiveness shows up more than we'd like, but it's so much better than it was.

I have not spent as much time writing about Cooper's choices. Well no, I guess I've written about his culinary adventures, but those feel mild in comparison to some of the other stuff he's been doing. At home Cooper is a screamer. He always has been, but now there's more anger behind it. I'm usually the target of the outbursts, but occasionally the others feel his wrath as well. What makes it really hard is that he'll scream and call you a mean name, then he'll immediately want to give you a hug. Call me mean, but that doesn't really fly with me.

At school he's discovered the fine art of being the class clown. During the first few weeks of school his teacher pulled me aside when I came to retrieve him at the close of the day and let me know that he'd been standing on chairs. The next day, after a talk with Cooper, I asked if it had been better. She said, "Well, actually, today he climbed on my desk."

What?!

So given how the boys have been acting around me, I was kind of surprised at what each teacher talked about.

Peter's teacher does seem to understand him, which is good. And even better, she said that she can see that he's a good kid who is trying hard and she loves him and wants to see him succeed. And that she doesn't let him get away with anything. That's what he needs, someone firm and consistent who loves him. She also said he's so far ahead academically that she's not concerned about that at all. Maybe that's why we discussed it so little?

And maybe the reason Cooper's teacher focused on reading, writing, and arithmetic is that we've already talked about how he acts in class. She did say she thought he was turning a corner. It would be lovely to see him turn that corner here at home as well.

As far as the schoolwork, she said she could tell that we read a lot at home. I confirmed that we do. I learned that the kids in his class have been drawing pictures and then writing short stories to describe those illustrations. Except, most of the kids will draw one thing and then write about something completely different. Cooper always writes about his picture, and he writes more and includes more details than his classmates. This was delightful, though not surprising. She said that the whole class was at the same reading level, which didn't sound quite right. Then I learned that they haven't done the official reading assessment yet, so they don't really know. That made more sense.

I have new things to work on with both boys, so I guess I have homework now too.

Nose Stuck In a Book

I've been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to the kids. On Saturday I only had one chapter left. Then, due to some poor choices and resultant timeouts, I didn't finish it. Peter, who was not in timeout, was beside himself. He desperately wanted to know how it ended.

So I handed him the book.

Last night at bedtime he stuck his bookmark in page ninety-eight of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I think he's a fan.

Running Water

Nothing says family fun like spending your Saturday visiting a 611 foot tall waterfall. We didn't make it all the way to the top since one of us has little legs, but we went up far enough to get some cool views and to see the signs warning us of poison oak if we left the trail. Saturday was a rare clear day, so we took advantage of it.

Foxy

I found this note written on one of our small whiteboards after I got back from taking the boys to school yesterday.

Any guesses which YouTube video Bryan showed the kids this week?

Hint: It's this one. If you haven't seen it, be warned, it's odd. Catchy, yes, but odd.

Mommy's Little Helper

Cooper is preparing to go on his first field trip. I sent his permission slip with him on Tuesday with repeated reminders that he needed to give it to his teacher. Cooper has had trouble remembering to turn things in, so I was concerned that the paper would still be in his bag when he came home.

Phoebe must have been listening. When Cooper's teacher accompanied him out of the school (as she does each day for the handful of kids that don't ride the bus), Phoebe looked at her and asked, "Did Cooper give you his envelope?"

The teacher was a bit surprised and said yes, he had.

Then Phoebe turned to Cooper, said, "Good job Cooper!" and gave him a big hug. Our family won serious "aww, isn't that cute" points. And given some of our other antics, we need all the points we can get.

Those lucky boys, they have one mom and one sister that thinks she's the mom.

Follow the Leader

For the last three weeks in Phoebe's dance class, the dancers have made a line and marched around the room to one particular song. I suspect that this is the beginning of the routine they're learning for the short performance they'll put on for the parents in December. Phoebe has consistently been asked to lead the line. I thought it was because she was the shortest in the class, but this week one girl came who was more diminutive in stature, so now I'm not sure of the teacher's intent.

I had a request for a movie from tap, so here it is. You'll see that Phoebe gets a bit muddled at one point, but overall does well.

Oh, and Cooper had a sick day from school and, since the class is during school hours, had to go to tap with us. Peter was intensely jealous of this fact. That's Cooper's hand that makes a cameo in the very beginning of the movie.