Or not...

For one reason or another, Mike didn't get the job he was offered at Mercedes...just thought I'd keep everyone in our dark, miserable loop.

Halloween Cupcakes

There would have been a much prettier picture at the end of the post, but my cupcake stand was totally demolished by a certain 3 year old...oh well - I have plenty more holidays to do pretty.

Blessing Day

Dallin was blessed today by his dad. We were lucky to be able to have family there to participate in this special day for us.

Life is good...

Dallin had his two month appointment on October 5th. Yes, I realize I am a HUGE slacker for just now getting to it, but I have good reasons...you'll see in a sec.

Here are the stats:
12 lbs.
24 inches.

and he's in the 50th percentile for both! YAY!

He is such a little chub...I often sing to him "I like 'em big. I like 'em chunky" (Moto Moto's song from Madagascar 2. If you don't know the song, drop whatever you are doing and go rent the movie. Now) He is smiling all over the place and is such a good baby. He (mostly) sleeps through the night and Mike and I are L.O.V.I.N.G. that. Hayden loves to play with him, and I think Dallin loves it just as much. They are such cute brothers.

Moving on...I started back to work at Ann Taylor last Monday. I'm only working part time and it's a pretty sweet situation we have going on. I get to play with pretty clothes for a few hours a week and the kids get to hang out with Grandma. Life is good...

...except - after a few days of being back to work I was somehow exposed to the Swine Flu and spent a miserable 3 days moaning and groaning in my bed. The fever, the chills, the achiness...oooohhhh the achiness. I've never been more aware of the tiny muscles in my toes! Thankfully I got some Tamiflu in me and I'm feeling better. Life is good...

...except - Hayden now has the swine flu as well! Poor thing has been battling a fever that we just can't seem to break! He's had a terrible cough and some vomiting. My sweet little bug is just miserable!

Mike is no longer working for Dominos (YAY)! He got a part time job at Sears doing Loss Prevention and he absolutely adores that job...unfortunately the pay is crappy and it's just not cutting it, so he found a full time job detailing cars at a dealership that is right around the corner from us. I know it's not what he wants to do but I'm just so thankful he was able to find a full time job. He still has a few things to do before he officially starts (they've got to make sure he's not a druggie or anything) but soon we'll be rollin' in the dough! Or...paying our bills on time at least...

It's just after 6am and I think Hayden is back to sleep so I'm going to go crawl back into bed. I'll try to post some pictures today.......life really is good!

Grandma Lorna and Uncle Mike

My mom flew in from Utah to meet Dallin and see Hayden (and me...I think). It's been too long since I've seen her! It was a short trip, but we spent the entire time just laughing and having a blast! We got to go up to see my brother, Michael, who is stationed in South Carolina. It was about a four hour drive and I'm amazed at how great the kids did!

Grandma and Dallin!

Toddler Power Hour at the Library...Hayden made a "duck"
Can you tell?

Dallin's first time to the beach!

Snuggled up!

Waiting (forever) for our dinner at Smokey Bones
My beautiful mom and my handsome sailor brother, Mike.

Doesn't Hayden look so serious?
"So...tell me, why would you like to come work for me?"

I just love this goofy kid!

Or as my mom has affectionately nicknamed him:
Monkey-bug-wiggle-worm-snake-frog-boy
(Stay tuned for more silly hotel pictures)

"The big big big big big big boat"

"A sailor went to sea sea sea"

"To see what he could see see see"

Doesn't it look like my brother is doing a little jig here?
My mom is adorable.

Checking things out

Hayden loves his Uncle Mike!

Shooting the big gun

Me and my cute boys...I am a lucky girl!
We stopped at Burger King for lunch before taking Mike back to base and I think this picture is just precious!
Hayden: "LOOK AT ME IN MY COOL HAT!!!!"
Uncle Mike: "Look at me...in my hat...please don't tag me on facebook"

The Zoo...MAN it's still hot!

We braved the Florida heat and ventured out to the zoo today. I wish I had some sort of creativeness to write about the fun we had today...but my wit seems to have escaped me, along with my ability to keep my eyes open, coincidentally.

The lions were actually awake today! We even got to see them playing with each other...I'd show you a picture, but my camera is a piece of garbage, so you'll just have to believe me

This is where I learned something rather disgusting about giraffes today...
Oh, man...Dallin is into it! Can't you just sense the excitement?
Hayden, posing by the giant manatee
(Why did it take me 4 tries to spell that correctly?)

Walking back to the car...not very exciting, but I think Mike looks funny here

Middle Child Syndrome

Dallin will be my middle child...I am aware of this - so you'd think I'd do everything in my power to prevent "middle child syndrome", right? It seems as though I'd have hundreds of pictures flooding this blog, boring all of my readers to tears...however, I am a slacker of a mom and I do not.

Hayden has countless pictures...most of them he's just sleeping. He was my first, so everything was cute and exciting. Not that Dallin isn't just as cute - but I guess I haven't seen the need to photograph him sleeping five times a day every day. OR it could be that I have a toddler tugging at my pant leg all day everyday...probably both.

But anyway - enough of my rambling. Dallin has started smiling a bit so I dusted off my camera and tried to get a good picture of it...these will just have to do:

Hayden loves to get in on the action...good thing he's cute!

Why did the best one of the smile come out so blurry?

The Prestigious Titles of a Mom

I'm totally stealing this from my friend Amber's blog...I think it is very fitting!

Toilet Flusher in Chief- The only person capable of flushing toilets. This does require and extraordanite amount of skill and precise pressure applied. I’ve been practicing for many years to know the exact moment that toilets need to be flushed. My family knowing this allows me to undertake this job rather then try to learn themselves.

She Who Must Change the TP- Only one person in the house is allowed to do this chore. Preferably it’s the same person who is the Toilet Flusher in Chief since the skill set is much the same. Must also know the proper placement of the roll (always over never under).

The Nagger General- Decide what needs to be done when by whom (usually based on things they need to know how to do in order to grow up to be a responsible adult and functioning member of society). Remind them repeatedly until they do what is expected of them. Make them go back and do things again until they’re done to the General’s specifications. If this job isn’t done then nothing in the house will be done. It’s harder than it looks. Things that you need to remember to nag about: chores, homework, piano practicing, kindness to siblings, friends and non-friends even. Skills that are needed: expert negotiator, previous experience as a ‘fun sucker’ is a bonus.

Fun Sucker- See anyone having fun. Stop the fun immediately at all costs. Give anyone having fun a chore to do. Punish them further if it’s possible to do so.

The Bossiest Boss of the Universe- Sort of like the Nagger General but takes over after the Nagger General has asked 5 million times. Much meaner than The Nagger General.

Universal Bladder- Decide when everyone around you needs to pee. Tell them that. Make them run to the potty. Be right 98% of the time.

Secretary/Receptionist- Make phone calls, schedule appointments, answer phone calls, take messages keep track of all paperwork that comes home in folders, sign and send paperwork back to appropriate places…

Time Keeper- remind people where they need to go and when. Also arrange rides to and from those places when needed. Don’t expect any tips. Do expect whining and trashing of your vehicle.

Master Volume Control-Repeat these phrases with me- “your music is too loud turn it down” “you need to talk louder if you want me to hear you” “No screaming in the house!”

Referee- Must know how to use penalty cards, call a flag on the play and how to perform a foul shot. It’s not suggested that you say, ‘how about if I hit you every time you hit your sister?’ very often. May result in a time out for the referee.

Sanitary Officer- Having a superior sense of smell is a must. Sniff out stinky kids, dirty clothing, teeth that need to be brushed, hands that weren’t washed and shoes that need some Lysol.

I had no idea I could actually be happy...

I wrote this on August 7th but wasn't ready to post it on my blog. Postpartum depression is very real and extremely scary for everyone around. I think it is important that people realize it is a serious disease and not just something that can be ignored.

After I had Hayden I had really bad PPD. I didn't hold him at all in the hospital other than to feed him and at home Mike took care of most everything. He was tongue tied so nursing was a nightmare. The crying made me insane and I could hardly stand it. I felt nothing but gloom and doom. The exhaustion was all I could focus on and I hated my life. At one point I wouldn't allow myself into the kitchen to cook or clean because there were knives in there and I feared how far my condition would allow me to go. Thankfully I knew my limits and I would put Hayden in his crib and just let him cry while I went to get a shower...no baby has ever died from crying, but many babies die from exhausted, stressed, depressed mothers who don't seek proper help.

I don't know what is so different this time...I've only been on medication for four days (over a month now) so I don't think that's it...maybe I was more prepared, but this time I have really really enjoyed Dallin. I did a lot of skin to skin in the hospital and he has really been a fantastic nurser. I don't freak out when he cries - sometimes I actually just sit and listen to it and somewhat enjoy it. I love snuggling him and just can't get enough.

I had no idea having a baby could be this enjoyable. I had no clue I could actually be happy. I feel bad that I didn't feel like this with Hayden but I can't change the past...all I can do is try to enjoy Hayden the way he is now.

I'm just so in love with my boys. I know I'll probably have some of the same frustrated feelings with Dallin as I did with Hayden, but so far it's been a million times better.

21 Days Closer to Christ

I have started yet another blog. It is more for me than anything else, but I welcome you to follow my journey to become closer to my Savior. To view the blog, please click HERE.

Below is my first post:

Things have become a little crazy in my life lately. With the addition of another child, my husband starting a second job as well as school, and me just trying to keep my head above water keeping house, I have lost sight of what is really important. I have neglected my scripture study and it's not uncommon for me to skip saying my personal prayers for a day or two.

My testimony of the Savior is not wavering at all, but it sure could use some strengthening. I am one who needs structure in order to get something done. If I plan a party, there are spreadsheets, notebooks and photo examples of decorations and recipes, but if planned correctly - it turns out quite spectacular. I figure strengthening my testimony and getting back to the basics of the gospel should be no different...but where should I start?

While at Time Out for Women I purchased a book called 21 Days Closer to Christ by Emily Freeman. Each day there is an invitation to read specific scriptures as well as a step in the "journey". The idea is that after reading this book, becoming better acquainted with scriptures about Christ, and completing each step in the journey, you will become closer to Christ.

So there you have it! It's all laid out for me in a book containing uplifting stories, beautiful artwork and an invitation to come closer to Christ. You're welcome to follow me in this journey if you wish. I will post the scriptures and the step in the journey each day and then my thoughts about them.

Be sure to read from bottom to top so you can follow my journey in the correct order.