Mess Maker

Mess Maker

10.16.2013

Watch out for Levi!  He is officially a walker.  He may stumble across the house like a drunken sailor, but he walks nonetheless!  And I absolutely love it.

However, now that he has his feet beneath him, Levi is enjoying himself by getting into EVERYTHING.  Whatever you do, do not turn your back for a minute.  Ever.  (Or else you might wind up with stamps plastered to your tile floor--that's money literally stuck to the floor, just so you know.) 

This kid needs constant supervision.  In fact, he has earned a new nickname: Mess Maker.  I sing-song his name to the tune of Match Maker from Fiddler on the Roof.  "Mess Maker, Mess Maker, make me a mess!"  Jed thinks it's funny... and honestly, so do I.  Despite the endless messes, I find I can't help but pick Levi up for a good squeeze or smooch on his chunky cheeks all day long. 

I love him, I really really do.

^^The little raccoon likes emptying my jewelry box!^^

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Scenes from a Fantastic Family Filled Weekend

Scenes from a Fantastic Family Filled Weekend

10.15.2013

 

We enjoyed a fabulous weekend filled to the brim with fun, food, and family.  It was just the kind of change from our normal that I needed to recharge.

 

Our weekend started with a three hour drive in the car on Friday afternoon that looked something like this: I drove, Jed slept, and Bron had his laptop open for a conference call while I desperately handed back books, toys, and snacks to Levi in an effort to keep him content and quiet.  But it worked!  We pulled into Ririe just in time to see Bron's little brother, Call, play in his football game.  Call even scored a touchdown!  Though it did feel quite cold in the shade of the stands, I couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous Fall afternoon!

 

^^"Shooting" Dad with our finger guns.  It's funny to hear those sounds coming from someone so little!^^

^^Though it's not really pictured here, Jed adores his Grandma Nelson^^

 ^^Views on the Nelson Dairy Saturday afternoon^^

^^Cousins Jed and Leah sure have something special!^^

 

Saturday afternoon we women left our children with our husbands and went to a baby shower for a cousin.  It was so fun to actually see a brand new baby at the shower (why don't we do that more often?) and catch up with all the girls.  Then that night we hired babysitters and went out to dinner with three of Bron's brothers and their wives.  In other words, I spent an entire day void of my motherly duties and it felt so refreshing!

Sunday the ENTIRE family (50+ people) gathered in church for Kayzlee's baby blessing and to hear Lad's homecoming talk.  Then we moved the party to a garage filled with rows of tables and chairs for lunch: soup, bread, and cookies.  It was noisy and chaotic, but as always, lots of fun.  (Except for the part where Jed got a bloody nose.)  The Nelson family sure knows how to gab the afternoon away!

^^Aunt Crystal with her newest grandchild^^

^^This had to be documented: all the adults gathering around to chat like they've done every get-together for years.^^

^^Rylee and her cute boyfriend (whom we all approve of) and super baby, Cooper^^

^^These two.  There aren't words.  They're just the best of brothers.^^

I feel so blessed to have married into this incredibly tight family.  No, things aren't perfect, but we love getting together.  It really is a special thing!  And then, after the chaos and noise subsides, I am all the more grateful for my own sweet little family of four whom I get to tuck into bed and kiss goodnight.

Thanks for a fantastically fun weekend, folks!  Till next time...

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Mommy Guilt Takes No Prisoners

Mommy Guilt Takes No Prisoners

10.11.2013

^^That time Jed snuck off to eat a blue crayon while I tried to make dinner.  I expect that from Levi, not you, Jed!  Oh well. 
I sure love my pair of Crazies.  They just scream "trouble" don't they?^^

 

I've had an off week, or more like an off week and a half.  I feel like a roughly inadequate mother and I can't quite pinpoint why. 

 

Is it my self-imposed lack of sleep? (ME time!)

Or lack of exercise?

Perhaps I can blame these blue feelings on the actual period I'm having for the very first time since Levi's birth.  (That's fourteen months, folks!)

Or is it the fact that I cannot take a shower while my boys are awake for fear of my house falling apart that's bothering me?

Maybe it's the change of weather.  (Ironically when the sun begins setting sooner, my days start feeling longer.)

Perhaps I've been spending too much time keeping my house clean and not spending enough quality time with my boys.

I know I feel guilty about not sitting down with Jed for a few minutes of "preschool" each day like I thought I would this Fall.

 

So many things.  So many good things to be doing.  So many needs to fill.  I sometimes feel like silly putty being pulled in a hundred different directions, but I only stretch so far. 

 

It's an uphill battle, this motherhood life thing. 

I am constantly learning and relearning lessons on patience, humility, balance, kindness, and understanding...

 

Most days I'm able to keep the unrelenting mommy guilt (you moms know what I'm talking about, don't you?) at bay.  I cut myself some slack and make sure to spend some quality time with my boys.  Voila!  I feel good.  Genuinely.  But like I said, this week has been an off week.  I just haven't been able to bounce back like I normally do.

 

So here's to a fabulous weekend and high hopes for a fresh beginning to a wonderful week! 

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The Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch

10.10.2013

We officially ushered in Fall this week with a trip to the pumpkin patch!  It's a tradition I look forward to every year.  Bron just shakes his head and smiles, but secretly I know he loves it too if only for the fact that it makes me giddily happy.  (And he likes making me happy.)  The boys excitedly clamored over the large piles of orange globes, "drove" a tractor, and ran through the miniature straw maze.  Finally, after much deliberation, we chose the perfect pumpkins to line our doorstep this season.  Jed can't wait to carve a jack-o-lantern!  I am loving how he is starting to remember holiday traditions from year to year.  It was a perfect evening spent together as a family. 

I wish the month of October was twice as long.  I'm going to miss these perfectly warm Indian summer days!


P.S.  All these pictures were done with my brand new program to me, Lightroom.  Any feedback on how they look?

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Let's Catch Up!

Let's Catch Up!

10.07.2013

 ^^A new classic favorite: Levi fell asleep at the kitchen table.^^

Some folks have mentioned that I've been curiously MIA from this little blog lately.  Honestly, nothing out of the ordinary has been going on; just the normal ups and downs of this sweet lucky life I live alongside three handsome {and crazy} boys.  But if you were to come over for lunch, I might mention a few of the following things:

:: We spent all of Saturday afternoon cleaning and organizing the garage.  Who knew giving the rakes and shovels a home along the wall would feel so good?

:: We enjoyed listening to General Conference, or what I heard of it anyway.  It sure is hard to hear when all my little boys want to do is wrestle!  But the parts I did hear were uplifting and seemed to be meant just for me.  I can't wait to read them over the next few months.

:: I bought the boys a handful of new winter clothes.  (Three pairs of pants and two shirts for $26.  Not bad, huh?)  Who said boys' clothes aren't cute?  The styles now are really fun! Unfortunately, it took Jed less than 24 hours to put a hole in the knee of his brand new pants!  Whaa?!?  Crazy boy.  I suppose I'll just sew on a patch or else Jed has an extra pair of shorts for summer.

:: On a more serious note, last week I read multiple articles pertaining to a feminist movement within the LDS church.  Frankly, the articles frustrated me and thoughts about them kept me awake at night!  Was I not being forward thinking enough?  I absolutely think it's okay to question.  It's exactly the catalyst for many of the rights and liberties I enjoy today.  But their arguments just didn't sit right with me; they smacked of bitterness and anger to say the least.  I felt like the very things I feel so passionately about were being attacked.  Finally, I came to the same conclusion that I have come to many times before: it's silly to let little things get in the way of the big picture.  The church itself may be imperfect, but the gospel is perfect.  I am grateful my elder brother Jesus Christ atoned for my sins and made a way that my family can be together forever.  Never before in my life have I felt as content as I do now.  I am happy and confident in my beliefs and I think that's all that really matters.

:: With the change of seasons comes nasty colds.  If there's one thing I can't stand, it's not being able to breathe through my nose.  Ugh.

:: Spudnuts!  We had friends over Sunday evening for a donut party.  I'm not exaggerating a pinch when I say that Bron's spudnuts (donuts made with mashed potatoes) can rival any professional bakery's donuts.  I ate five, I think.  They were sooo delicious!  And delicious food tastes even better when eaten with good friends, don't you think?

:: I am feeling stoked and very spoiled.  I've been saving my money, but Bron broke down and bought me a brand new computer!  It's shiny and fast and has a 23" screen.  (Oh, the better to see that blemish, my dear!)  It's going to be a photographer's dream... well, as soon as I wrap my head around Lightroom.  My entire photo editing process is in upheaval right now.  However, in a few weeks I think I'll be glad I upgraded.

Happy Fall! 

What have you been up to?

^^Jed put a hole in the knee of his new pants when he fell on the road. He loves pushing this dump truck around the neighborhood.  And I think I'll continue to let him.  It makes him happy.^^

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My Three Year Old

My Three Year Old

10.01.2013

Let me tell you, Jed version 3.0 (well, almost 3.5) is a lot better than Jed 2.0. I am absolutely head over heels in love with my three year old! This little boy has grown and blossomed over the last few months in ways that make my mommy heart so incredibly proud. He is finally talking in a way that we understand three quarters of what comes out of his mouth. He is completely potty trained (though he does love to spray my toilet and floors quite often). And best of all, wait for it…. I can reason with him! This brand new reasoning development has made a huge world of difference in both our lives. There are much fewer tantrums and meltdowns. He’s even learned how to turn off his whiny voice, sometimes. Wow! Wow! Wow! I want to give myself a high five for mastering more patience with my little boys, but I think 80% of my more even temperament is a direct result of how “easy” spending all day with Jed has become.

Lately Jed has become a little preoccupied with who is a boy and who is a girl. “I a boy. Levi a boy. Dad a boy. But mommy a gurrl.” We had an impromptu bath time anatomy lesson one night when I just decided to be blunt about it because, son, belly buttons do not make you a boy.

On top of all this “boy” business, Jed likes to exclaim, “I a man!” And he certainly is a man—or a man in training at least—when it comes to the latrine. Whenever Jed has to poop, he places his comfy blue toilet seat on the toilet and grabs one of the two books I leave in the bathroom for him. He reads and reads and then calls me into the bathroom to retrieve the other book for him. “Go away, Mom,” he then says with his palm out in a stop position. (Gee, why doesn’t that work for me? Someday, I suppose I’ll regain some childless dignity on the porcelain throne.) Jed often sits on the pooper alone and reads for a good 10-15 minutes. It’s hilarious and curiously charming.

Oh yes! How can I forget? Every time we drive down a hill, we must put our hands up in the air like we’re on a roller coaster. It’s too funny and I laugh every time.

Jed is an absolute sweetheart. He’s a sensitive kid with a big heart—though don’t confuse that with weakness as he has an aggressive rough and tumble nature on the playground. Bumped his head? Bleeding? Rub it. Get back to playing.  Anyway, I look forward to his big bear hugs each evening before bed.

He’s such a good kid too. My heart nearly explodes with happiness when I spy him being kind to his little brother. Often times, Jed tries to pass something to Levi between their two car seats but he just can’t quite reach; he’s straining, his fingers are outstretched. When he does manage to pass the toy successfully he exclaims, “I did it! I made Levi happy!” And Jed just glows from the inside out. Boy, I can’t get enough of him!

I love you, Jed! I love you! I love you! I am wrapped around your little pinky finger as only a mother can. I am so glad to have you as a part of our family.

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