One Year Older

**Today my dashing Mr. Stannix turns 26!**

Every day is a special day when you're married to Mr. Stannix. Last night he couldn't sleep and when Camilla woke up at 4:30am with a bad dream he was the first to pull back the covers and jump out of bed. He soothed his crying girl, tucked her back in, and even ventured downstairs to refill her sippy with water. When Hyrum awoke this morning cooing in his crib, Mr. Stannix went and got him and gave him a cuddle. After learning he was soaking wet he proceeded to change the wettest stinkiest diaper of the day without even being asked. These are just a few of the many reasons why I love my man. 

Mr. Stannix is super sweet, supportive, and full of laughter (not to mention very handsome).

I couldn't have asked for anyone better to share eternity with!

Happy Birthday Hun!!

Quick Reflexes

Today I was proud of my quick reflexes. I felt like superman or something. It felt good.

First amazing save:

We were all sitting on the floor chatting. I was holding a sweet, tiny baby girl and sitting by Hyrum, who got excited when Camilla was talking to him and fell backwards. With one quick move I managed to get my hand behind him before his head hit the floor.

Second amazing save:

We were grocery shopping. You'd think after a jar of mayonnaise and a thing of sour cream being busted on the floor I would learn not to let Camilla hold things while we shop. I just do it because it keeps her occupied, but today she was holding a Yop and got that mischievous look in her eye. She chucked it out the side of the cart and before she could blink I caught it and was handing it back to her. She was in awe. I walked through the rest of the grocery story with a triumphant grin on my face.

This momma is totally proud of her quick hands today!

Pears for Breakfast

Hyrum seriously cracks me up lately. His little personality is just exploding! His newest thing is mimicking sounds. If he hears a baby scream in church, he'll start fake screaming. Or today, when he heard Camilla crying, he started fake crying. It was the funniest thing ever! Ya know what else is funny? How much this kid loves food.

"Hurry up with those pears Mum! I'm Hungry"

The Best Afternoon Snack

Camilla sat in her bed for an hour and a half reading books and refusing to nap. She came down twice with a poopy diaper and once to pee in the potty in that time. After I sent her back up the third time, I could tell this nap wasn't going to fly. A few moments later I went up to officially tell her she could come back downstairs and play. She came down dressed in her old snow gear from last year, ready to go outside. She went out on the back deck and dug in the snow for a while. Hyrum watched her from inside. I was sure she was frozen, so I bribed her to come in with a plate of hot buns smothered in melted butter and fresh honey from our friends' beehives. Whenever I make bread for the week she always requests bread, butter and honey. Then we sit at the table together and eat it. It's almost a tradition I'd say. Now that the children are both sleeping, Mr. Stannix wants me to watch Star Wars with him. Epic. Any excuse to snuggle up on the couch is fine with me!

That's What Sisters are For

Last night Mr. Stannix was out. It was late, dark, and silent. I hate being home alone at night. I had to go down into the dungeon to change out the laundry, but I was too scared. I left the sliding door unlocked the other day when I ran a quick errand and my imagination thought up crazy reasons for the noises downstairs. 

Maybe there's a homeless guy living in my basement..etc

This fear is legit and almost stops me from coming downstairs in the dark for a drink in the middle of the night.

So what did I do? I called home.

"Hello?"

"Hi. Um. Mike's away and I have to do laundry in the creepy basement so stay on the phone, okay?"

Some Laughter

"Did you seriously just call me for that?"

Then we chatted for a whole 36 minutes. I love my sister.

December 2008

Dinner is Served

...I found myself stepping over the blue plastic cup on the floor for the 198273th time. After I set the cutlery on the table I turn and my leg automatically lifts, strategically missing the cup full of water once more. I pause in the middle of the kitchen and smile, almost letting out a triumphant laugh. A picture of my favorite blonde toddler playing on the floor with her cup of water just hours earlier flashes through my mind. Then Mr. Stannix calls me into the office and shows me a sweet deal on tickets to The Nutcracker put on by the Alberta Ballet. I then start thinking of possible babysitters for that night and mentally going through my wardrobe, envisioning us all spiffed up for the ballet while Mr. Stannix buys us balcony seats.

While I finish getting dinner ready, Camilla occupies herself with sticky tack and the pictures she colored that day. After unsuccessfully trying to stick a wash cloth to the wall with a sticker, she dug through Daddy's desk and found the blue sticky tack. She sat in the entry way to the kitchen sticking up pictures and playing with the "sticky stack". I think to myself, Sure, why can't you play with sticky tack. I was just glad it was keeping her busy. A few moments later, I hear Hyrum coughing. I quickly run out of the kitchen (avoiding the cup of water) to check on him and find Camilla with two fingers shoved in his mouth. I pull her hand out and find a gob of sticky tack between her pointer finger and thumb. I say a silent prayer, thankful that she hadn't let go and he hadn't choked on it.

The time out chair stayed nice and warm until dinner was ready. Camilla screeched and screamed, trying to get attention, in her chair. Soon Hyrum began mimicking her as he sat on the floor in the hallway. I put a hot pad on the table, grab my oven mitts and pull the Lasagne out of the oven. Just as I take a step to place the Lasagne on the table, I kick over the glass of water that I had been strategically side stepping all afternoon.

 I had to laugh about it, and photograph the moment. And with that, dinner was served!

Busy as a Bee

This morning Camilla requested pancakes for breakfast. I used my Mum's recipe which calls for whole wheat flour. They almost taste like my Mum's, almost.

After Hyrum finished his bowl of food, I spent the rest of my morning making baby food. I filled three ice cube trays to freeze (sweet potato and nutmeg, acorn squash, and asparagus). 

When Hyrum went down for his nap I whipped up two rounds of dishes and made some syrup because we were running low. 

While the children finished up their lunch I put a chicken on for dinner. Tonight I'll fill the last tray with mashed potatoes/carrots/broccoli and freeze it with the rest. This little man will be eating like a king for the next couple of weeks. Just before Camilla went for a nap I made up puffed wheat squares for dessert tonight.

Hryum has been a pooping/puking machine all day, so I figured it was time for an afternoon bath. His sleepers were soaked with puke and he had just dirtied his diaper while he was in the highchair. Little boys are so messy..
He had so much fun splashing and playing. When he was done, I wiped up my counter tops, cupboards and floor with a towel. It's a good way to get your floor clean with minimal effort.

The fourth picture of him is my favorite. Who do you think he looks like? Mr. Stannix guessed it after a few minutes. The bubble mustache and mouth give it away. I laughed pretty hard when I saw it!

(You might have to enlarge it)

 Hyrum played in the living room while I finished cleaning up the kitchen. I love when babies discover their toes, and right now, his toes are his very favorite. After he was squeaky clean and all dressed, we had a cuddle session and then he went down for his afternoon nap.
I spent my afternoon finishing up Camilla's Christmas leggings and enjoying the smell of chicken cooking in the oven. I didn't feel like making buns, so I made up some Yorkshire puddings for dinner instead. Daddy and Camilla are wrestling around in the living room and with all the thumping I'm guessing my Yorkshires are going to be flat when I take them out. I love the giggles and screeches I hear in the living room though! The wrestling match has officially ended with Mr. Stannix laying on the floor saying, "I think I broke my toe..."

I think it's time for dinner.

Monday Morning Smiles

 This morning after Hyrum went for a nap my girl and I colored some pictures and ate left over popcorn that Daddy made up last night. Hyrum woke up after only a few minutes and I had to go upstairs to check on him. He is my lullaby boy. I tucked him back under his covers, kissed him goodnight, and sang to him until he fell asleep. When I went back downstairs to color with Camilla I was greeted with a page full of recognizable smiley faces! She was so thrilled that she could draw circles and eyes. A moment I want to always remember. 

 Another thing that makes me smile is the things she comes up with. She likes to use her old TV remote as a cell phone. A few days ago she came up to me and was talking on her "cell phone" to Grampa. When she finished, she went to push the button, and it didn't light up. So she put her hand on my knee and spun on her heels like a little girl does and said,  "This cell phone is broken, may-me (maybe) Santa will bring me a new one!". Where does she come up with this stuff?

Bribery and Other Fun

We made it through church today with the help of left over Rockets from Halloween (bribery). It seemed to be working well until we figured out it was having the opposite effect. She started being bad so that we would bribe her to be good, and then she'd get more candy. She's too smart for us!! And when we wouldn't pay attention to her, she would march over to Hyrum innocently sitting on the bench and club him in the head with her empty treat container, causing everyone around us to break out into giggles. Luckily the kid has a hard noggin' and didn't even cry. Mr. Stannix saved the dried mangoes (her favorite) until I had to go play the closing hymn. He called it his 'secret weapon'.

Then there was nursery. The whole routine got switched up with an awesome new nursery leader. The other kids adjusted last week, but we were away visiting family. Camilla sat at the table confused while the other kids played with their toys. When I looked in she was 'talking loudly' to a kind nursery leader who was trying to convince her to go play, letting them know that it was "puzzle time not play time".

Then in Sunday School I saw the smallest baby EVER. Mike looked over at me, and I gave him my pouty "I want one" look. He burst out laughing, he already knew what I was thinking  as soon as my eyes caught a glimpse of the tiny newborn body. We laughed pretty hard about that. I'm glad he knows me so well!

When we got home we ate left over chili. Camilla had about a billion time-outs before dinner was even served, and it doesn't take that long to nuke a couple bowls of chili. After dinner she helped her Daddy with dishes, rewashing all the ones he just washed. It was a long process, I admire his patience.

We talked to Gramma and Grampa on the phone and when they asked Camilla what she learned in church today she replied, "I sit on the bench and get Rockets". I laughed out loud. Last time we try bribery.We finished off the evening with milkshakes, jammies, and prayers. Then she was lucky enough to get two stories read to her by Daddy. I'm sure she zonked as soon as the lights were turned out. After the children were both asleep, I finished up the hat I started this weekend. I found a few more fun patterns (here and here) while searching the web for a flower pattern. I'm super excited!

Happy Sunday!

Be of Good Cheer

Yesterday I whipped up dinner while the children napped. Manicotti stuffed with ricotta cheese and spices, smothered in pasta sauce, parmesan and mozza cheese. Then I made up some italian herb and cheese bread to go with it. It's kind of a favorite around here. Mr. Stannix walked by the kitchen and peeked in while I was making it and told me it looked good. On his way out to shovel the walks he told me he would, "be back soon with an appetite". 

While everything was cooking in the oven, I tackled the dishes. Hyrum sat at my feet in the kitchen playing with his rattle. As I scrubbed and rinsed, I tickled his sides with my toes to keep him entertained. He would giggle and pull at the bottom of my pant leg as he looked up at me. Camilla played in the living room with her make-shift tent (piano bench and blanket) and her teddies. While I washed she played. Then she started bouncing her teddy on top of her tent while she sang, "Jumpin' on my bed, jumpin' on my bed" to a tune that sounded very much like "Mr. Golden Sun". When I finished the dishes, I picked Hyrum up and noticed he had white sugar all over his bottom. Camilla had gotten into it earlier while I was putting him down for his nap and he sat in the mess under the cupboard.

Soon my rosy cheeked Mr. Stannix arrived back inside and we all sat down for dinner. It was wonderful to eat as a family, to look around the table and see smiling faces, to share laughter and food together. It is in these moments that I find joy in being a homemaker. I love cooking meals for my little family and watching them gobble it all up. I love serving them and seeing their smiles. And I extra love hearing my children giggle as they relish in life's simple pleasures. Life is good.

Dear Daddy

A Mother's Kiss

Hyrum is over six months old now, and we are trying to teach him how to fall asleep on his own. 

Yesterday I put him down for his nap, wrapped him in a blanket, gave him his frog teddy, and left the room. A few minutes later I could still hear him crying, and went up to check on him. 

I could tell he was almost asleep, but he was so so sad. 

I wiped his tears and rubbed his head and then kissed him on the forehead, between his eyes. 

As I kissed him he smiled that sweet smile of his and let out a tired giggle. 

I kissed him again, between the eyes. More smiles came as his sleepy eyes began to close. 

I kissed the tip of his nose, his tiny lips, his chubby fingers, and his forehead once more.

 Soon, his eyes became to heavy to stay awake and they closed as he turned his head to the side. 

He started breathing heavily, and I knew he was asleep.

I watched my sleeping boy for a few minutes and then tip-toed across the creaky floor.

I love the magic of a mother's kiss. 

I love watching him drift off to sleep after I touch my lips to his little forehead. 

That will always be special to me with all of our little babes.

No Secrets

A few days ago I did some early birthday shopping for Mr. Stannix. He's been hinting about completing his Harry Potter collection for a while now, and since the last one came out on DVD I thought I would get a copy while I was at Wal-Mart getting groceries. Perfect. Done. I made sure to hide it before Mr. Stannix got home from school. Just as we were finishing up dinner, Camilla somehow remembered we picked it up. She looked across the table and said, "Watch Hotta Potta Daddy?". He tilted his chin down, and raised one eyebrow like he does when he's asking her a really important question and replied with, "Did Mommy buy Harry Potter today?" to which she replied, "Yeah". I'm a crappy liar, my face went red as I tried to cover. We had a good laugh. Poor Mr. Stannix now knows what he's getting for his birthday at the end of the month but he wasn't the least bit disappointed about it.

Mr. Stannix and I got sweet passes to the leisure centers. He dubbed Tuesday nights mine to do whatever I wanted. Last night I went to drop in aquafit and had a blast. It felt good to feel my legs and arms burn again and my cheeks go all rosy. On my way home I picked us up some Hot Chocolate from Starbucks. I came home to sleeping kids and Mr. Stannix sitting on the couch watching Toy Story. We turned on Fringe as soon as I got in and cozied up together on the couch for the rest of the evening. We watched one too many episodes, and today I feel tired. The combination of exercise that I'm not used to and lack of sleep isn't a fun one. Crossing my fingers for an afternoon nap!

Winter is Here

We had our first snow of the season yesterday. Camilla couldn't wait to get outside once she noticed it coming down. It brought back memories of the first snowfall from my childhood. So much fun! She was thrilled to put on her snow pants and get out the door. It didn't matter to her that it was almost 5:00pm and very chilly out.

 Originally I was just going to send her out on the back deck to play for a few minutes, but then I figured what the heck let's all go out! I bundled up our little-big boy and we all went out to enjoy the falling snow.

That look in Camilla's eyes was promptly followed with pushing her brother back into the snow. Despite the cold and wind, he had a blast! I just love his one-toothed grin and funny faces. I'm excited for him to experience winter this year!

 Camilla enjoyed running around and sliding in the snow (like baseball players would slide to first base). I'm sure we'll have plenty more outside days to come!

Hyrum's Favorite Toy

We're home! After a wonderful weekend away from the city visiting family, we are home. 

We pulled in around 7:30 last night. 

While I bathed the children, Mr. Stannix unloaded the car and cleaned up the house! 

Did I mention how much I love that man? Because I do.

Highlights from this weekend included a surprise 50th birthday party for my dear ol' Daddykins

(a nick name he acquired on one of my 7th grade outdoor ed trips).

We had the whole family home, which hasn't happened for a while.

We snapped some family pictures out in the fresh snowfall to send to my little brother in Chile.

Hyrum's favorite toy at Gramma and Grampa's is "The Backscratcher". 

It's quite hilarious really, he will play with that thing for hours!

A few of my favorite things from yesterday included Camilla sitting all by herself on the 

"big potty" singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". 

I really wanted to change the lyrics to 'tinkle tinkle'.

I feel like my life has turned into a musical as Camilla will make up songs everywhere she goes.

"Sitting on my potttttty, sitting on my pottty" was one from yesterday.

I also enjoyed watching Hyrum play with his toes as he snuggled with Grampa before we left.
He is the most content little boy I've ever met. I love how goofy his personality is.
He was up a lot last night, I'm thinking tooth #2 will soon be making an appearance.

We all slept until 9:00 am, and I have had a rather lazy day.
We ran out to Wal-Mart this morning for milk and other necessities, and then home again. 

Camilla fell asleep on the couch watching "101 Dalmations"
cozied under a blanket while the snow began gently falling outside.

Hyrum just woke up, and is enjoying a bottle in his saucer.

He is looking out the window at the big snow flakes that have just arrived.

 

The falling snow always makes me extra excited for Christmas! 

Evergreen trees, baking, hot chocolate, the smells, lights...

I can't wait!

Silent Night

Mr. Hyrum didn't sleep too well last night. I was up at least three times before 3:00 am. I finally had to bring him upstairs to change his diaper because he was soaked. After I changed him, I went to the kitchen to get a drink, and was pleasantly surprised at the view out the window. Snow had been silently falling all night long and the world was now covered in a fluffy, white blanket of fresh snow. It was beautiful. I love waking up in the morning to the surprise of snow cover. Me and my little man snuggled on the couch for the night, and every once in a while I would wake and look out the window at the beautiful world outside. By the time 7:00 am arrived, my baby boy couldn't sleep any longer. I picked him up and we went to the livingroom window to peek outside just as the sun was coming up. As I stood, Hyrum cuddled his chubby cheeks into mine and we were still as we gazed upon the world outside. Snow is a completely new thing to Hyrum. After a few minutes he let out a little giggle of excitement. I can't wait to bundle him up and take him out today! I love the quiet and still of the middle of the night and early morning. Babies are such sweet blessings.



Sisters are so Special

I have always felt blessed to have a sister. We enjoyed a lot of things together growing up including late night chats and giggle sessions over toast and nutella at the table. We have so many good memories together. With our middle man (my brother) gone on his mission, we are realizing how important our relationship is. Today we decided to take some time, just the two of us, and capture memories on camera. These sisterly pictures will be forever special to me.



"C" is for Cookie

Hyrum has recently discovered baby cookies. To say he loves them would be an understatement. He goes nuts over them! Why, just the other day I was munching on one myself and he had to have a taste. What's mine is yours buddy. 

What's mine is yours...

Being Two is Terrific

What is your favorite color? 

Blue

You mean purple?  

Yeah

What is your favorite color? 

Actually RED

Who's your best friend?

My bear is my best friend

What is your favorite thing to do?

Color

How old are you?

I'm two. I'm not three.

What's your favorite food?

It's alphabet soup

What's your favorite treat?

Cookies

What's your favorite animal?

Cat, he's cute!

What's your favorite show?

Doodoodops

What's your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

I like to play blocks with Daddy

What's your favorite song?

Hyrum

So we're done here then?

Yeah...

My Testimony Shoes

I have a pair of soft, red shoes that I bought when I was living in Costa Rica during my grade twelve year. They are my favorite pair of shoes by far. They are comfortable, soft on the feet, easy to slip on and off, and they don't have heels. Although those are all fabulous reasons to love a pair of shoes, these shoes tell a special story for it is in these shoes that I first gained my own testimony of the Gospel. 

Although I've always had a testimony of the Gospel, I guess I never knew it until I was on my own, in a foreign country. When you don't speak the language, it is easy to feel alone, even when surrounded by people. It is in these shoes that I began devoting my spare time to reading and studying from one of my favorite books, The Book of Mormon.

It was in these shoes that I learned that Heavenly Father is always there for us. As I would kneel in prayer and ask for comfort, I would always receive it. If I was ever on the bus, or walking to seminary and felt unsafe, I could always say a little prayer and feel at peace.

It was in these shoes that I stood and joined in prayer for safety with my Spanish family every time we or another family member left the house. My testimony of prayer grew each and every day as we encountered bus accidents, potentially dangerous situations downtown, and scary acquaintances. I was always kept safe.

It is in these shoes that I learned that the Holy Ghost speaks in one language that all can understand. I attended church every Sunday with the family that I was staying with. Although the language was different, the feeling was the same. The hymns were just as beautiful in Spanish and even though the words were different, the meaning was still the same to me.

It is in these shoes that I walked to and from seminary at sunrise every morning to study and learn.  Because of the rough roads and sidewalks, they became very worn. One morning, the seminary teacher asked us to memorize Section four of the Doctrine and Covenants (in Spanish mind-you) to recite the following week in front of the class. It wasn't an easy task for me, but I am always grateful for that inspired seminary teacher and the wisdom she shared.

It was in these shoes that I stood and shared my testimony one of my last Sundays in Costa Rica. The closing song was "Las familias pueden ser eternas" (Families can be together forever). I had just finished crying my way through my testimony in another language and was missing my family so bad, still this Sunday makes my top five Sunday's list. I will be forever grateful for my experience there and for the family that took such great care of me and treated me as one of their own while I was there.

Mi testimonio es como la de un niño. Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera con todo mi corazón, y que José Smith fue un Profeta de Dios y que el libro de mormon es verdadero. Yo se que nuestro padre celestial nos conoce y cada personalidad y conoce a todos los que lo necesitan. Yo amo a Jesucristo y mi familia. Yo estoy agradecida por los templos asi yo puedo vivir con mi familia en eternidad. Yo se que me Padre Celestial oye mis oraciones y repuestas de mis oraciones. 

Few Things Cuter

 Tonight was a good night. We had a fabulous babysitter care for the children while we went to the adult session of stake conference. The poor girl had to change Hyrum's blowout and took care in making sure she dressed him in a new onsie and sleepers before bed. She did a fabulous job. We came home to a happy girl and a sleeping boy. I ran the babysitter home while Daddy put Camilla to bed. I came home to a girl in bed and a boy on the living room floor. I put him to sleep while Mr. Stannix got ready to make up some popcorn in the stove popper. 

I took my sleepy boy upstairs and rocked him in our bedroom so the commotion in the kitchen wouldn't wake him. I listened as the popper built up steam and finally started popping louder and faster. It was the best sound ever. The smell made it's way upstairs pretty fast and Camilla's tiny nose picked it up. I heard her whisper, "Daddy's poptorn!". It wasn't long until I heard her feet pitter patter out of her bedroom. She had forgotten I was in the room across the hall as she quietly and carefully made her way down the old, dark stairs. I peeked out my bedroom door to watch her as she took each step. Finally she made it to the turn at the bottom, about the third step up, and slowly peeked her head around the corner. Then she hopped off the stairs and ran into the livingroom where she nestled in next to Daddy and enjoyed some popcorn. There are few things cuter. I stood at the top of the stairs and smiled. Watching her face light up on that third step was the highlight of my day.

After she had a few pieces of popcorn, she gave Daddy a hug, and got a glass of water. Just before I got her to the stairs, she ran back in for another hug from Daddy, which was really a diversion. As she hugged him, she reached across his lap for another handful to tide her over. She ran towards me in the hallway doing the popcorn dance. She lifted her legs giddily, almost skipping and whispering, "Poptorn, poptorn" over and over again while putting pieces of popcorn in her mouth. She took her sweet time going up the stairs, carefully enjoying the last few pieces before bed, and licking her fingers. I have never seen a more excited little girl.

He Works Hard for the Money

This morning some parts of our province saw snow! Mr. Stannix figured it was time to bag up the leaf pile for the winter. He went out after breakfast and worked hard in the brisk Fall air. Even Camilla requested to come back inside after only a few minutes. When I peeked out at Mr. Stannix I could see his breath as he exhaled into the cold morning air. I am so grateful that I married such a hard working man.  He is great at providing for us and taking care of us. I love watching him play with the children. I love hearing him laugh while he works. I love when he does my dishes after dinner and makes an extra effort to shine up the taps, sweep the floor and wipe down all surfaces (including the garbage can flip lid). I love hearing him read bed time stories to Camilla, especially The Tickle Monster book. I am one lucky lady!

Famous for a day

If I were famous for a day I would...

 Go on set in my hallway and watch my favorite little stunt man take a ball to the face after it was kicked by an aspiring soccer player. 

 

Spend all afternoon at the salon getting my hair brushed and styled, being complimented on how long my hair is and how well I'm sitting, whilst watching my favorite TV show.

Get smothered with kisses from an adoring fan.

Eat all of my favorite foods, including the Bombay Famous.

Have somebody voluntarily do my dishes every night for a whole week (I love Mr. Stannix).

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.

Just Like You

The other day Camilla and I had a mini blowout. She isn't even a teenager yet and we're pushing each others' buttons. To make a long story short, she screamed all through family prayer out of frustration, resulting in a timeout on the chair in the office and her dolly being chucked out onto the back deck (bad mommy, bad). I left her in the hands of her more-patient Daddy and stomped up the stairs to feed Hyrum and put him to sleep. 

As I sat in the big green chair in the dark room I felt like the most horrible person ever! Mr. Stannix took care of the girl and when she calmed, sent her upstairs. She quietly climbed into her bed and pulled up the covers. After Hyrum was tucked into his crib I went and sat at the bedside of my little girl. She sat up immediately and I asked for a hug. I apologized and she asked me to wipe her tears. A big smile formed on her face as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. I held her close and hugged her tight and there we sat.

After the longest hug ever, she pulled away and pointed to my ears. "Mommy has pretty ears, Camilla has pretty ears too," she said. Then she pointed to my eyes, "Mommy has pretty eyes, and Camilla has pretty blue eyes too". Then she ran her tiny fingers through my ponytail, and then twisted them through her own pigtails, "Mommy has a pretty pony, Camilla has pretty ponies too". Tears stung my eyes as I wrapped my arms completely around my sweet, forgiving little girl. I realized how much she compares herself to me, and how much she wants to be like me. I immediately knew that I had to be a better Mommy and example to my baby girl. I love you's were exchanged, kisses given and then I finished tucking in my baby girl. 

Little children are amazing. I love what Jean A. Stevens says about little children being "the first to love and the first to forgive." There is so much we can learn from the little ones in our lives. While Camilla is trying to be just like me, I am trying to be just like her. Patient, ever loving, forgiving, full of optimism, and full of affection.

These Little Piggies

On Sunday night Hyrum was fussy. He finally just cut his first tooth and is working on number two. Camilla tried everything a little girl could do to cheer him up. She started by offering him her dolly. When that didn't work she took it from him and went and got her teddy. When that didn't work she took it away and got her really big teddy for him to squeeze and love. And when THAT didn't work, she took a few steps back and leaned on the couch and stared at him. He calmed a little and then she went back over to try to cheer him up. She grabbed his biggest little toe and said, "This little piggy went to the market". Then onto the next little toe, "This little piggy went for a drive". Then to the next one, "This little piggy went to Wal-mart, and this little piggy went to Wal-mart too". She ended with the smallest of his little piggies, "And THIS little piggy (pause) went wee-wee-wee-wee-wee all the way home". She is such an awesome big sister. She is always so concerned for the well-being of others. She makes me laugh. Then she did it to Daddy and I too. It was super cute.