Nursing, pregnancy and dance moms!?!

This post is a little random and scattered but it's what's been on my mind.

Rora: is mommy pregnant?
Kira: no. Mommy can't get pregnant because she is nursing Ella and it's hard work to nurse and be pregnant. So her body won't do both. Okay?

Kira is just so grown up it's scary!  But she is right.  I love watching my girls interact.  I can talk to Rora up and down but when Kira explains something she seems to understand it easier.  It's amazing how smart Kira is!

I am so blessed to be able to nurse my babies as long as I do.  Ella started to get sick Tuesday night.  By Wednesday morning she was so sick.  Thanks to breast milk and DoTerra oils by Friday morning she was down to a nose wipe once every hour or so and an occasional cough.  Breast milk is so amazing!

Pregnancy has been on my mind a lot lately.  2 of my sisters are pregnant.  Both of who have babies right at Ella's age.  Of course I want another baby, whenever the Lord will grant me stewardship over another child, but it most likely won't happen for a while.  My body takes longer between pregnancies.  That doesn't stop the longing.  Because of the pregnancy talk on the phone it has taken me back to my pregnancies.  This last pregnancy gave me so much.  The support network around me was just amazing.  I have been so blessed by all the people that have come into my life.   It's been 8 months since we moved from Alabama and I can't imagine my life without the friendships and sisters I met there. 

The truly believe that the Lord guided me to the friends I made in Alabama.  He knows who strengthens me, makes me laugh, raises my spirits and teaches me.  I know that I will never meet another as diverse a group of women with children all the same ages  who are as fantastic. 

Which brings me to my last point.  Dance Mom.  I really enjoy being a dance mom.  Kira and Rora both take classes so I'm at the studio 3 times a week (2 days for Kira and 1 for Rora.)  I enjoy it so much.  The conversation is much needed for me and Kira is making some great friends!  Finding DSPA dance studio has been one of the greatest blessings since moving to Arizona.  It is just amazing how the Lord knows what I need and places me where I need to be.  And if being a dance mom is what brings me joy, then bring it on!

My girlies and I on Valentines Day :)

9.5 months already!?!

ACK!  Where did the time go?  Without my permission Ariella has decided to grow up.  Of course, Mommy is still her favorite person so I can't complain to much. :)

She is TALKING!  She says mama, wub, wawa, and da.  She combines the words and using her eyes and facial expressions is able to get across exactly how she feels.  My favorite is 'Wub OO' said in response to Love you and combined with a kiss.  It completely melts my heart. 

Ella is the most contented child I have had.  She won't roll or try to crawl off the couch if I leave her there, she only will go for a toy out of her reach if she doesn't notice me or anyone else.  She crawled for the first time at Rora's music class.  They were listening to a story and she crawled 3 steps to play with Kira's hair.  I pulled her back after a few minutes to try and see her do it again and no chance in he!! that she would!  She flopped down on her belly and wouldn't try.  Since then I've only seen her crawl when she doesn't know I'm watching.  As soon as she notices me she pleads with her eyes and voice for me to help.  I try not to, but she knows how to pull at my heart. 

Ella is extremely intelligent.  She signs more whenever she wants anything and then claps and gets the biggest grin.  She loves to be read to and will sit next to anyone with a book.  Rora is an especially grown-up big sister and loves to retell Ella all the stories.  Ella's favorite book is 5 Christmas Penguins which she got for Christmas.  She knows it's her book and squeals when it gets pulled out.

She gives the best kisses.  Starts with an open mouth and then closes it halfway on your cheek depositing a smear of slobber.  So adorable, especially when its accompanied by a 'wub oo'.  SWOON! 

Ella smiles at everyone, as long as they keep their distance. 

She loves being amidst life and hates to be on the sidelines.  She is great in Nursery with me, just watching all the kids and smiling. 

She still is attached to my side 100% and that's OK with me.  I know that all to soon she will be running around and completely done with the cuddles.  She still nurses about every 2 - 2 1/2 hours during the day and since she is teething I'm lucky to get 2 hours at night.  Part of me wants to whine about how exhausted I am all the time, but the larger part is just so happy that I get to be her Mom that I feel horrible when I complain.  This to shall pass is a great reminder that the time of no sleep is short lived, of course that also means that all the extra snuggles that come with this age will be short lived too so I am trying to capture as many as possible.

Ella is an amazing child and I love watching her personality shine through.  It's so fun watching how she fits so perfectly into our family, I can't imagine life without her!

Akira...is she really only 6!?!

There is just something about Akira.  She is an amazing young lady and perfect for my first foray into parenting!  There are days where I look the qualities she is developing and the things she does for our family and wonder how she is only 6.

Kira enjoys school and is doing quite well. She is enjoying all her studies and loves hearing stories from history.  She gets so excited whenever she sees a picture of George Washington since we have been studying him the past 2 months.   She just finished learning the preamble.  She enjoys reading as long as she likes the story and I read every other page.  If we keep it light and I help whenever she reads to fast and guesses rather than reading she does wonderfully.  The older she gets the more I think she has dyslexic tendencies.  It's really hard to tell for certain since she can read quite well and most of the 'tells' for dyslexia don't show until a child is older. It amazes me that she is doing as much as she can with the obstacles in front of her.

She takes piano lessons and while she doesn't necessarily like the practicing it's great to see her learning a new language and gaining more confidence.

Kira is extremely emotional and can cry at the drop of a hat.  She also has a bit of a temper and will yell at Rora.  It's hard for me to relate when she starts crying since I don't cry often, unfortunately I completely understand her temper and we have had a lot of long talks and are working together so neither of us will lose our temper.

Kira can be crazy.  She has the fakest fake laugh I've ever met and laughs over and over again until I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous she is being.

She is an amazing big sister and loves to tote Ella everywhere.  She saves me many mornings when I have a hard time waking up.  She comes in and takes Ella to go play so I can get more sleep. 

Kira is a social child.  She loves spending as much time as possible with her friends doing just about anything.  

Kira wants to be a dancer when she grows up.  Moving to Arizona has been a major  blessing for her and her dancing.  She has amazing dance instructors and puts so much effort into her practicing.  Last month she wasn't feeling well and didn't tell me.  I had her practicing and stretching and 'putting energy' into her dancing before class.  She then went to class and worked hard for an hour.  When we left her class she said she wasn't feeling well.  By the time I got Ella buckled into the car she said she was going to throw up.  She barely got her head out of the car before she threw up over and over again.  I know it's nasty, but it just shows how amazingly hard she works.  When I asked her why she didn't just tell me she wasn't feeling well she said that, "I wanted to go to class.  I couldn't miss it." 

Six is such a fun age.  She is really starting to understand  the world around her and our conversations are getting deeper and more meaningful.  A couple weeks ago she was telling Josh and I how excited she was to turn 8 so she could get the Holy Ghost.  Rora piped up that the Holy Ghost was scary and started to cry.  Without any input from us Kira explained all about receiving the Holy Ghost and getting baptized.  Her maturity was wonderful to watch. 

Kira has been working hard on her Articles of Faith.  She copies one each day for her handwriting practice.  She knows 1,2,3,4 & almost all of 6.  Not bad since she started learning them in January!

I love this girl so much and am so privileged to be her mother!! 

Oh Aurora!

Today feels like a good day to do an Aurora update.  Probably because she has tested me far beyond what I can handle...an that was all by 11am! 

Rora is my wild child.  She is extremely intelligent and determined.  She knows what she wants and refuses to stop until she gets it.  I know when she gets older this will be a major help but at 3 it is sooo hard! 

She throws more tantrums in a day than Kira did in a month at this age.  Everything is a major issue and she deems every situation worthy of flailing and screaming. 

She has fantastic motor skills.  She traced and cut out hearts for valentines day and you can tell they are hearts!  It's amazing!! 

She threw up today.  It wasn't fun.  No, she isn't sick, I just quit.  I decided that since today is valentines day I wouldn't have the treats argument.  I have NEVER let her just eat however much candy she would like, but rather than argue with her I let her today.  She received a box of (6) chocolates from Daddy and a rice crispy heart from me for Valentines.  By 4pm she had eaten all but a small corner of her crispy treat.  Needless to say she threw up whilst at Gma & Gpa's house.  When we came home she immediately threw another fit because I wouldn't let her finish her treat. *shaking my head*  ONLY this girl!!

She loves to be involved.  No matter what I or anyone else is doing she has to be right there.  Whenever I cook she pulls the stool up to the counter and chatters so fast she forgets to breath.  I love having her 'help' me!

Whenever she gets excited she stutters.  A lot.  Her mind just moves faster than her mouth can. 

She only stops moving if you are reading stories to her.  She LOVES to read stories and will bring you half a shelf of stories at a time. 

Bedtime used to be an issue, we switched her from the playpen to the bed with Kira (it's a double) because there just isn't any room in their room.  She thought it was playtime at bedtime.  Thankfully she will snuggle down and go to sleep if she listens to Scripture Scouts when she is in bed.  The girls get to listen to Scripture Scouts IF they go to bed 20 minutes earlier than their bedtime.  Oh how this has saved me!  Now they rush to get jammies on, teeth brushed and cuddle up with their toys!

Rora has started saying her prayers without any help.  It's so sweet.  Last night her bedtime prayer was, "I'm thankful that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we get to eat treats."  So adorable!

She loves the work 'Freaking'
          "These vegetables are freaking me out."
          "My bum is making a freaking noise."
          "Stop!  Or I'm going to freak out!"
Yeah...

Whenever she can go and do anything she is happy.  She goes to Music Makers and Dance on Mondays, Story time at the library on Tuesdays, Homeschool PE on Wednesdays and I teach preschool at my house on Thursdays.  She loves that at these activities she has 'her friends' that are different than Kira's friends. 

Charlotte is her favorite person.  I find this rather amusing since she hasn't seen Charlotte for 7+ months, but every letter and card she receives is from 'my best friend!' 

She is attached to Daddy and loves to go on dates. 

Rora is spunky, outgoing, spontaneous, determined, frustrating, hilarious and annoying all in a 10 minute period and I wouldn't change her for the world!

Innocence

   We are really trying to get Kira to be more thoughtful in her prayers, so we have instilled a guideline to follow.  We thank Heavenly Father for 3 items to every 1 thing we ask for.  It has worked wonders and Kira is really pondering what she wants to say in her prayers.  Which has led to some great discussions for us.  Of course, not every discussion leaves me feeling wonderful, some like tonight's, leave me sad. 
   Tonight she thanked the Lord that our family is together.  This should be a happy thing, except that when I asked her about it she told me that the book she is reading (Meet Julie - an American Girl) makes her sad because that family isn't together.  She picked the book at the library and even though I hadn't read it I had read all the American Girl books that were out when I was a girl.  I have to admit that I was disappointed when the story started out with the family moving because her parents had gotten a divorce.  We then had a very, very long talk about what divorce was.  She didn't know anything about divorce.  I know, she is sheltered, but at six why shouldn't she be?  I don't think there is anything wrong with teaching her and instilling in her that Happily Ever After is a possibility.   I understand that divorce does happen, now more than ever, so American girl wanted to reach out to those girls, yet it makes me sad. 
   During the course of our conversation tonight Kira told me she doesn't want to read anymore of Meet Julie and I can respect her decision.  While I don't want to shield her from the world, I want her to be ready for it and at six she just isn't ready.  I guess I need to start screening the books she reads...I don't know why that makes me so sad but it does. 
   Any tips to help both of us navigate this new to us area? 

Will you be my Valentine?

Valentines Day is almost upon us and since Ella won't sleep I thought I'd take the time to write down a bit about my Valentine, in question form of course, it's just easier. :)

When did you first meet?     Josh and I first met at ballroom dance camp in high school.  He drove me NUTS because he kept following me around and wanting to partner.  He was covered from head to toe in sunburns and was a truly HORRIBLE dancer.  It turns out he wanted to be my partner because I was gentle to his burned skin.  It turned out that we had the same friends and were on the same team (it was an area wide camp) and the rest is history.

How long have you been married?  7+ years

What is your favorite thing to do together?   We are both Disney fanatics and love our trips there...of course, since that isn't feasible very often we also really love camping and just being together.

What is your favorite quality?  Josh is amazing.  He isn't satisfied with where he is and is continually striving to better his faults.  He makes me want to be better.

What is one specific thing that he does to keep God at the center of the family?  As most everyone knows, we haven't always been religious.  We didn't get married in the temple (A sacred place to perform a marriage that lasts through eternity.) We didn't want anything to do with God when we got married.  Neither of us was in a place to let him in.  Now that both our hearts have been softened (Children are amazing at bringing this life back into perspective!) he keeps us on track with family prayer and scripture study.  I love watching him respecting the Priesthood power that he holds. 

In what way are they selfless?  When Akira was a baby my Mom was diagnosed with cancer.  We knew it would be a long road ahead.  Within weeks of her diagnosis Josh wanted us to move to a more expensive apartment that was farther from his work because it was closer to my Mom.  We then moved to Alabama and Josh was so selfless with both time and money allowing Akira and I (and later Rora) to fly back and forth to Utah so I could spend more time with my Mom.  That first year I was in Utah almost 3 months!!  I treasure the memories I have of those months helping Mom and am so grateful I have a husband that knew how much I needed that.  Even to the point of sending his 3 week old baby away just so that she could have a chance to meet her Grandma. 

Yep, Josh is amazing and I am still so in love with him. 

It's February already!?!

A lot has happened since I last posted so I'll try to keep it brief.

    We went to Utah just after Thanksgiving, it was so much fun and way to short!  One day we went out to Vernal to visit my Dad's parents.  It was great to introduce them to Ella.  Threw a baby shower for my brothers wife, my family is so talented!  Almost every gift had some homemade aspect.  It was amazing!  2 days were spent at Festival of Trees.  The festival is the embodiment of Christmas for me.  Everyone is a volunteer, all the $ raised benefits the children's hospital, the trees are beautiful, the goodies delicious and the atmosphere perfect.  We also managed to fit in a family dinner and my Dad got a live Christmas tree that the girls helped decorate.  It was a jam packed 6 days, every second was great!   The girls also did good with the car ride, and not to toot my own horn, but *toot*toot* mommy is becoming a pro at driving alone with 3 girls!!
 
    Kira danced in The Sugar Plum Tea, a shortened version of The Nutcracker.  She had a blast and can't wait until next year!

    I lost all my pictures from the last 6 months. *tear*   The hard drive on my computer crashed and Josh hadn't backed the pictures up, even though he *said* he did...I am still having a hard time swallowing it.

  Christmas was wonderful.  It was low key, the girls loved the homemade nightgowns I made them and we enjoyed Jesus' birthday.

   Rora turned 3!!  How can that be!?!  She really wanted a birthday party, and that was ALL she wanted so we planned it for the end of January (yes, it was a month after her birthday, she didn't care.)  She had a green party, we had a green bag toss, decorated reusable water bottles, and ate green birthday cake. (That was dye free!!)  Rora had a blast and that's all that matters.

   My Dad came out to visit.  He came for Rora's party and stayed another 4 days.  It was so nice to have him here.  Unfortunately Kira got sick while he was here and passed it on.  Sorry Dad!

  Girls are still homeschooling and I enjoy it more each week.  We are crazy busy with outings everyday (minus Thursday where I teach preschool out of my house.) and life is just flying by! 

  Kira is keeping busy practicing her dancing.  We are heading to Disneyland in 5 weeks and everyone is excited.  Kira is performing 3 dances there and is the hardest working 6 year old I know.  I am so proud of her!

  Ella is still the sweetest baby.  She is completely laid back and has no desire to talk, crawl, or do anything away from Mom.  She has a myriad of whines from sweet to mad to convey her feelings and as long as Mommy is within eye sight she is happy. 

  Wow, that's a very brief summary!  I hope you are doing just as wonderfully as we are!