My Baby's ONE!

I can NOT believe that one year ago, I was snuggling a little newborn, wondering what she is going to be like in a year! NOW I KNOW! Ha! She is a sassy little girl with a 'tude! She refuses to walk because she thinks crawling is faster and easier, and LOVES MEAT! I had no idea she would be like this! But, I love it regardless! She loves to laugh at her brother and throw temper tantrums! But I still think she is the light in my heart! When I see Steve with her, its a whole new side of him! Not the rough and tumble, I'm gonna wrestle you, type of love! Her eyes light up when she sees her daddy and its the best feeling in the whole world! Her first birthday was fun! We celebrated as a family on her "real" birthday. Got her a cake from Target and gave her some presents! She loved it, so did Layne. He seems to be taking after me, wanting to open all her presents! But, its ok, she opens one and wants to play with that and forgets about the others! She loves cake! Had the best time with it! I am sure she would have preferred a "beef" cake, because she is obsessed with meat, but I just couldn't get that kind of cake :) She is more and more beautiful everyday and I can't wait for what the next year brings us! BRING IT ON!

Birthday Week!

Layne has turned 3! WATCH OUT!
They say that it's the terrible TWO'S but oh dear... Today has put a whole new meaning on Terrible THREES!! The first thing he does when he wakes up today is come into our room and wake me up. I say "Happy birthday baby!!!" and he says back "Happy Birthday MOM!!" I thought it was going to be an AWESOME birthday! Then he went on to ask for a beer at breakfast time and from then on... I knew it would somehow go down hill. He knew that since it was HIS day, that he could try and get away with everything under the sun. Including sneaking out of time out (which he has never done), ask for beer for breakfast, taking away toys from Laelynn after tackling her, the list goes on and on. But, after all said and done, this little guy is the one of the best things that had happen to me in the last 3 years. I wouldn't trade him in for ANYTHING!

We had two parties for him. One was a dinosaur party that he wanted my family and friends. I made him an awesome Dinosaur cake. I drew dinosaurs on the windows with window markers, and he had his cousins here from Alaska! It was awesome! Then my mom had a birthday party for him tonight. With a Spiderman cake and pizza! He loved it. But there are sometimes that I should wait until he is out of the room to speak.
Just like any other mom would do... wait until the exact moment of birth is when he will turn three. This was at 6:39 pm. At 6:25 pm I said, unknowingly he would remember, "I believe only Laynes head is 3, the rest of the body hadn't come out yet." So later when my sister came in, she asked how old he was. His response... "My head is 3!" Oh dear.

Springs Here!!

It is about time we can open the windows and feel the cool breeze on our faces, then hear the sneezes, coughs, and runny noses. Allergies all over the place! Poor Layne and Laelynn have decided to be sick with this miserable crap for over 3 months now! It is ridiculous! But gotta take the good with the bad right?
Laelynn has been crawling since she was about 8 months old. She is all over the place and in lightening speed! She pulls up on everything, including myself. She is like a little person now! I can't believe how fast it all went!
Layne can count to 20 (sometimes), knows most of his colors/shapes, and can sing the ABC's! He is pure genius :) I'm am just kidding. I will NOT be those mothers who thinks their child is a Doogie Houser at age 3. OR I might, who knows :)
So even though they are both ALWAYS sick, they have grown so much, that it makes me teary eyed. Sometimes I wish (remember, sometimes) I could keep them this age because of the unconditional love they give. That's all they know! Layne calls me his Princess and I am to call him, my prince. He saves me from the evil dragons and tells me "I love you Princess!" It melts my heart. THEN, there are those times like the one in church this past Saturday night.
I like to take both of my children to church, when I have help of course. I like that they can learn to listen and enjoy the stories. This is also a very stressful time as well. Layne is ALMOST to the age where he SHOULD know to whisper and not blurt out loud. Lu on the other hand, will sing with the music, playing or not. We walk into church and he is full force, like someone feed him some Easter candy to be good. Who would do such a thing?? :) OK, my fault. As we start to take our seats he is bouncing off the invisible walls of the pews. The nice lady behind us says, "Oh he's so cute!" As the words just fell out of my mouth, I muttered "Do you want him?" Of course I wasn't serious! He's my little man... But oh was I ready to loan him out the hour we were there. She just giggled. As church when on, I had to take Laelynn out because of her constant need to get out of our arms and onto the floor to explore the varies pieces of dirt and grass left from shoes. We were about ready to go back to join the rest, and here comes Layne with my sister. "HEY mom! Whacha doing?" All the other moms with their babies were laughing. I am sure because they are thinking "Better her then me!" I kept Cecily out there with him, while I took Lu back in. 3 minutes later, in walks the two, distraught on my sisters face. "We were a bit naughty out there!" she stated. The steam kept filling up, minute by minute. I am sure you could probably see it sneaking out of my ears. As we were doing our "Peace be with you's, he looks at the lady behind us again, "No, I don't have batteries in my bum." So matter-of-factly that I was so in shock, all I could do was laugh. What can you do? Not much. All she says is "Man, I wish I had his energy!" I mumble... Me too. Jesus sure does love his children, naughty or not, in church. I guess I'll keep taking him.

Hard Times make for Stronger people!

Well, in that past month, our family has gone through A LOT! I am not talking about what a bad day that was... I'm talking about... I am ready to crawl under a rock until Febuary comes around! This may sound a bit over exaggerating, but it was a hard month!
With this post partumn crap, I tend to become more emotional with everything that happens. So yes, I can be a super bitch at times. So sorry :) As most of you know, the first day back to school after winter break was the scariest day of my life. It was more scary for others closer involved and less scary for those who have less involvement in it. Here is my story:
Just another Wednesday at school. First day back, kids were pretty quiet (thank goodness) because they were all tired from all the presents, candy, family time they had. It was nice weather as we all head out to recess after lunch. It was nice to have them all run around and have fun with their friends they hadn't seen in a couple weeks! Towards the middle of recess, the school nurse came running out to tell us there was a code red. Code red means we all go into our rooms, shut the lights off and sit in the corner quietly. We have many practices with this, thinking we would NEVER have to use it. Today was the day. As the other teacher and I herded all the children in, I was the last one in. The nurse tells me there was a shooting at Millard South. For all of you that didn't know. My mom works in the front office of Millard South. My heart dropped. Tears started to fall, I started to shake. There was NO way I would be able to comfort my students knowing my mom was there in the middle of this nightmare. I grabbed my phone and started to call her. No answer. I got all my kids in the room, shut the lights off and waited. I think the kids were a little taken back from what happened, they were not sure what to say. Even though they weren't to say anything. Finally... my phone rang. It was my mom. THANK GOD!!!! "Mom!!! Are you ok????" Trying not to let the kids hear my worried voice, she says "YES! I am in the car wash right now!" WHAT? The car wash? She wasn't even there. She was on her lunch break. I told her I loved her and had to hang up. Now that I knew she was ok, I could take care of my students. I read them a story, they asked questions. All I could say was, there must be something going on down the street. I do have a door that goes outside. No windows. They wanted to know if a bad guy could get through that? After I reassured them it was bad guy proof... Someone tried to open it. I nearly crapped my pants. Turns out it was police officers making sure they were all locked.
After it was over and all the kids were gone, I lost it. I don't care what people say, I am close to most of those up at Millard South. I am there with the kids all summer. They have watched them grow up. Especially Vicki. She loved Layne. So of course I was upset. Some people could not understand why I, out of all people, would be mostly saddened by this?! Well, come on people! Put YOU in that situation. I guess people will think what they want to huH! Well, after comforting my mom from all of this, Steve's grandmother passed away. This was just a few days ago. Very sad. Since my grandma and all my other relatives live far away. I consider all of his family, my own. She was struck with cancer around Thanksgiving and now is an angel above us. She was ready to go, wanted to go. She said she just couldn't find the right road. I prayed and prayed for someone up there, maybe Vicki, to help her. Finally, she found it.

Death and me do not mix well. This is when I need friends the most. This was definitely a true test of friendship. So thank you to all those who were there for me. It means the world. Those of you that I thought you would be there and weren't. Now I know. I am still a bit upset with those who did not even ask how I was, or my mom. Just goes to show that some people only think about themselves.

So lets hope for a WONDERFUL Feburary and things looking up. I hate feeling like this and being sad allll the time. Thank you to all that helped me! I hope I can turn around and be there for you!

"God places the heaviest burdens on those who can carry the weight." Reggie White
Lets hope I can carry the weight!