In the Yard

This morning we went out into the back yard with a blanket to soak up some sunshine! Camilla got to snuggle her baby brother and I enjoyed watching her tell him stories and try to play ring around the rosey with him. She grabs his little hand, sings the song, and then she falls backwards at "all fall down". It's cute. She's such a great big sister!

Hyrum is growing like crazy! I am trying to come to terms with the fact that he wants to be awake more during the day. I always seem to nurse and bounce him back to sleep when he wakes up just so I can get things done around here. Poor kid. He's a good boy though!

I've also enjoyed Camilla's help today and her humor. She says the funniest things! My favorite is "No, you're too funny too!"

I just got them both down for naps, although I can hear Hyrum grunting still in the livingroom. I think I am off to tidy this place up! Maybe we'll hit up the park a little later this afternoon!

 

Check out those chubby little cheeks!

The Gong Show

All day I have been going over yesterdays events and trying to figure out what we should have done differently. For a day of rest, it really wasn't restful. I think the events might have something to do with lack of sleep due to the fact that we kept our kids out way to late two nights in a row. I tell ya, what a day! Despite getting to sleep shortly after 11:00 PM miss Camilla still decided that 6:00 AM was a fabulous time to emerge from her bed. I took her downstairs with me and left the babe asleep with his Daddy in bed. Camilla turned on a show and had some chocolate chips and craisins in a little bowl while I snoozed on the couch. Eventually, I made up some spicy eggs for breakfast. After breakfast, Camilla had a bath since I couldn't remember when I had last bathed her being gone for both the previous nights. While Daddy dressed her and put her down for a nap, I bathed our little man, who was also in need of a bath. While the children snoozed, I prepped a roast and peeled the potatoes for dinner that night as we were having the missionaries over. Mr. Stannix and I were also able to sneak in a quick morning snooze.  Having church at one is pretty nice, but for some reason we are still always pushing the clock when we show up! 

By the time I finished nursing Hyrum it was a quarter to the hour and I needed to get my tush there to play prelude music. This was the first Sunday I played Organ since Hyrum was born, so Mr. Stannix had his hands full as I was up at the front. We finally realized how unreasonable tired almost-two-year-olds really are. Our over-tired daughter decided she was going to be the worst she has ever been on a Sunday on this day. Let me tell you, overtired parents make very impatient, grumpy ones. Miss Camilla pushed every single button you could imagine. I jumped down from the stands earlier than I usually do just to give Mr. Stannix an extra hand during the sacrament portion. When I went back up in between speakers to play the opening hymn, I could hear Camilla crying and throwing a fit. Trying really hard to concentrate, I made it through the hymn and then joined Mr. Stannix, who was now baby free, on the bench. I turned and searched the congregation to find my baby boy and found him sleeping contently in another sister's arms. Thank-goodness for kind ladies who like to snuggle babies! During the final speaker, Camilla decided it would be fun to play peek-a-boo in the curtains. Mr. Stannix tried to get her out, but was having no luck. No amount of bribery can change that kids mind when she's having fun. Alas, due to crying and screaming, she was taken out of the meeting and had a good chat with Daddy. I sat alone on the bench surrounded by books and cheerios. They returned pretty quickly and we had an okay last 10 minutes, until I had to leave again to play the closing hymn. 

I then took Camilla for a bum change and brought her to nursery. She happily went. I nursed Hyrum during Sunday school and missed almost the whole lesson. I played the piano for the opening hymn in Relief Society, during which a little kid wandered through the door and started banging on the bass notes. I recognized the blue dress and pigtails out of the corner of my eye, IT WAS MINE! A nursery leader grabbed her shortly after she plunked out a few notes and took her around to the other door where she met her Daddy. After the hymn, I left the meeting to change Camilla's bum again and return her to nursery. She wouldn't go this time. She just wanted to hang out with us, but I wasn't giving in! Soon, I hear a crying baby boy outside the nursery doors, (ALSO MINE) and see a frustrated Mr. Stannix. I give him the soother, but it turns out Camilla wants her Daddy anyways, so we did the old kid switcheroo. I finished off my day at church feeding the baby. I then picked up Camilla from nursery and she ran around like a defiant hooligan in the gym, up the stairs and on the stage. She wouldn't come with me to round up Daddy, so I had to pick her up. I looked ridiculous with a 2 year old under one arm and a baby cradled in the other arm. I felt like one of those crazy mothers who had had it. Ya know, the ones with the messy hair, hair pins sticking up all over the place, a few grey hairs forming, and the distorted faces who everyone stares at? Finally, I found Daddy and we exited the building.

At home, we were welcomed by toys and dishes that needed tidying before company came. Between Mr. Stannix and I kid swapping, cleaning, and getting dinner on, we weren't having fun and neither were our kids (and I'm just summing up because if I wrote every little detail of that hour, this post would be HUGE!). I had to run upstairs and change Hyrum's poopy diaper, during which time Camilla filled her cup to the brim with water from the cooler and proceeded to dump it all over the floor. That made for a not so happy Mommy and Daddy. About 10 minutes before our guests arrived, we finally pulled it all together. The meal went well except for the fact that more of Camilla's potatoes ended up smeared on the table than in her mouth and she really didn't eat that much. She did however tell me the names of the two girls she held hands with in nursery while they sang ring around the rosey. 

During the lesson from the missionaries she was a crazy. My sanity was saved by a scoop of ice cream and chocolate syrup shortly after (not for me, I prefer caramel syrup). I strapped Camilla into her booster and put the bowl in front of her. She sat in the kitchen alone and enjoyed her ice cream quietly. She was the quietest, and stillest she had been ALL day long, so I wasn't about to disturb her. I actually forgot she was there for a few minutes while I enjoyed my own bowl of ice cream. I peeked in on her near the end, thinking she'd fallen asleep at the table again. Sadly, she hadn't, and she was a mess, but a happy mess.

Before the missionaries left, they wanted a picture of our family together since one of them is leaving the area.  Mr. Stannix went into the kitchen to get our daughter. He emerged with someone I didn't even recognize. The little girl in his arms had crazy hair due to the fact that she taken her pigtails out at the table and chocolate syrup smeared all over her face and dress. After the picture was snapped Mr. Stannix asked the missionary to promise to tell people that we are not a 'welfare' family, and that we do bathe and groom our children on a regular basis.

As soon as they left, Camilla went for her second bath that day and then straight up to bed. Daddy still read her stories of course. At last, our house was quiet. We had to apologize to our home teachers for the absence of our daughter, but she REALLY needed her rest. I think my only regret is not snapping a picture of my darling daughter with her crazy hair and chocolate covered face to share with you all!!

Happy One Month

Some Afternoon Snuggles

Today I am thinking about my little man and the first time I set eyes on him one month ago. It's been a great first month. I am in love! Overall he is a fabulous baby, but he seems to be more fussy then I remember Camilla being. I love seeing the differences and similarities between them. I love when Camilla says, "I looove baby Hyrum". It really has been a great month and we've been blessed. Night times are sometimes long and difficult, my patience has been tested to the max, but the little snuggles and smiles make everything worth while. I have learned that when Hyrum is fussy the only things that will make him happy are the 4 S's: Swadled, Snuggled, Soos (soother), and Skin to Skin contact. If we don't do those we usually get a lot of G's (grunts). I have nick named him Sir Grunt-a-lot. If you ever spend a night at my house, you'll know why. He sleeps well at night, but because he grunts so much, Mr. Stannix and I are awake more than we should be. We also learned today that he enjoys watching Camilla get into trouble. It's kind of humorous! My favorite moments with him are when he is about to fall asleep because he will give you a hundred little smiles and grins (most of which are crooked and cute). It makes me laugh. Happy one month Hyrum!

Sunny Saturday

Today was a good day overall. It started out a little rough because we stayed up way to late last night! Even though Camilla went to bed around 11:00 PM she was still up bright and early at 6:30 AM. We came down stairs and she ended up crashing on the couch for a few more minutes. We had a slow start this morning and didn't end up eating breakfast until around 10:00 AM. Camilla was complaining because she was hungry and Daddy was super tired. Despite being tired, Daddy went out to mow the lawn because it needed it bad. Camilla went for a car ride with him to get gas for the mower and then sat on the deck watching Daddy mow. She was super cute with her giant pail, sitting so quietly.

Later on in the afternoon we got a phone call from some really good friends who invited us over for a BBQ. It's always fun to get together with friends and especially on such a beautiful day. While the kids had an afternoon nap, I gave Mr. Stannix a much needed hair cut. We then cleaned up a bit and then loaded up the kids for the evening. Hyrum looked like such a big boy in his car seat, I just had to take a picture. He's growing so fast and turning into a little boy! Check out his baby blues!

Camilla chatted our ears off the whole car ride there and exclaimed "Fries!" every time we passed a McDonalds. She was looking pretty cute in her new sun glasses and pig tails. She rides so good in the car now!!

We enjoyed some hamburgers, watermelon and chips with our friends. Camilla was excited about the watermelon.

After dinner we enjoyed a great walk to the park where we tossed a frisbee around for a while! Man, it's been a long time since I've ran and jumped like that. Camilla looked so funny and small Standing in the middle of all of us. She loved running around after the frisbee and even threw it a few times. We ended off the night with a movie and then brought our kiddos home for bed.

A Typical Day

Today we were up at 6:00am as per usual. Hryum was grunting in his crib and woke Camilla up and then she jumped into bed with us for a while. We all eventually made it downstairs for breakfast. Breakfast is usually waffles, spicy eggs, pancakes, or just bagels depending if Hyrum is still sleeping or not. While I get breakfast going, Camilla usually watches one of her favorite shows (Piglet, Nemo, Garfield). Then we make Daddy's lunch and give him hugs and kisses goodbye when he leaves for work. This morning Camilla was lucky enough to get a tiny glass of milk to enjoy on the couch. Just after Hyrum woke up, Camilla spilled her milk all over the couch and floor. I was slightly frustrated because I had to clean it up while Hyrum was upset all at the same time. Sometimes mornings are really long, and I can get really frustrated with my almost two year old, but her smiles at the end of the day make it all worth while. We usually pass the time watching shows, playing games, playing outside, listening to music, eating snacks, cleaning up the mess made by snacks, going to the park, or blowing bubbles. We have a few tantrums here and there, and sometimes some tears, but the good always outweighs the bad. Camilla sometimes likes to stand on the edge of the couch and jump to the floor which scares Mommy, but she's getting used to it. If Hyrum is grumpy, Camilla will lift up her shirt and try to feed him from her belly button. She feeds her Mickey mouse a lot from her belly button when "Mities Hungy". Snacks are always had mid morning and very welcomed. Camilla technically snacks ALL morning, but especially loves her big snack. We usually eat lunch sometime around noon and then I try to get the kids to bed between 12:30 and 1:00 in the afternoon. Sometimes, Hyrum isn't as cooperative and needs to eat and be snuggled a lot before he will go to sleep which means that my nap is SUPER short, but always appreciated. Some days I will use nap time to go mad getting things done that I can't do while the kiddos are awake (cleaning the bathroom, laundry, blogging, baking bread, reading, relaxing). After an hour and a half, Camilla wakes up and is energetic and ready to go. We spend the last half of our afternoons playing together on the floor, reading, singing songs, or soaking up the sun in the backyard. I usually prep some dinner around 5:00 and Mr. Stannix usually shows up between 5:00 and 5:30 depending if he is working on his CASB or not that night at work. Sometimes, we eat dinner really late, like 7:00ish. We like to sit on the couch and watch for Daddy's bus to come so that Camilla can run to the door when he walks up the sidewalk. Around 7:15 Camilla usually goes into a bath for a good 20 minutes or until the water is cold. She plays with her alphabet letters, talks with her ducky, plays pretend with her other animals and makes sure to say what she's washing as she washes it ("kneeeeees....Mouffff....Hannnnn.... Toooeees...Ebow"). While she is bathing, I clean up the kitchen from dinner and tidy the living room. She cleans up her toys into the bucket when she's ready to get out and exclaims "ALL done!" in her little high pitched girly voice over and over and over until someone comes to take her out. She pulls the plug, slides to the end and back a few times and then is ready to jump out and get warmed up. I rub lotion all over her little body to make sure she smells fresh and feels good before bed. Sometimes she gets away from me before I can get her diaper on and giggles as she runs around the house "Nated", while I chase after her. Hyrum is usually sleeping, or listening to the commotion from his bouncy chair. We then gather together as a family on the couch for scriptures. Camilla looks at her picture version of the Book of Mormon while Daddy or I read a couple of verses. We then finish the evening together with prayer and smooches before one of us takes Camilla up to bed and reads her a story (always Silly Suzy Goose). Hugs and kisses are given, "I love you's" are said and Camilla tucks into her bed ready to go to sleep. Then it's time to get Mr. Hyrum bathed. I check the water temperature to make sure it's baby-safe and then fill his little tub. I set out a nice fresh towel and get him all undressed. A soft washcloth is used to wash his baby skin with soap. Usually he cries the whole time. I then take him out quickly before the water gets too cold and wrap him tightly in a towel to warm him up. Lotion is massaged all over his little body and he is all fresh and clean. He is put into warm sleepers for the night time and then we go upstairs to nurse. When his belly is full, he slowly drifts off to sleep. I gaze down at him as he shows off his crooked little pre-sleep grins (my favorite part). He is then tucked tightly in his crib. After the kiddos are asleep, Mr. Stannix and I have some time together before bed to catch up, read together, or watch a TV episode (Smallville or Lost). Bedtime is very welcomed around 10:00 or shortly after and then it starts all over again the next day. This is the life I've always wanted, and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Self Potty Trainer

So, Mr. Stannix and I have been tossing around the idea of potty training Camilla for a while now. I wanted to put it off until after the baby came and we had some routine/schedule. Now that the baby is here, we still haven't started. She likes to sit on her potty fully clothed and make peeing noises, and sometimes she'll even sit on it naked and toot, but we've never been able to get her to pee, so I haven't pushed it. Yesterday she told me three times that she had to pee, and I just didn't want to go through all of the effort of undressing and taking off her diaper just for a little toot, so I ignored it. One of the times was first thing in the morning. I was upstairs feeding Hyrum and Camilla was playing with the bathroom door handle saying "Have to pee". Daddy was in the shower, so we waited. She came up a few seconds later and she was totally naked! She now knows how to take her own diaper off! This morning while I was showering, Mr. Stannix and Camilla stormed into the bathroom. Camilla was totally naked. I asked what was up and Mr. Stannix told me she had to pee. I guess she started stripping down in the living room and then told Daddy "Have to pee...potty?" and so they came in to give it a shot! Seconds after she sat on her potty, I heard, "Addie, she peed!" I thought to myself yeah right. 

Ladies and Gents, I am pleased to announce that Camilla DID indeed pee in the potty for her very first time! It was just a few tinkles, but I was so excited! She scored herself a jelly bean for a job well done. We called Gramma and Camilla excitedly told her "Peed potty!! Peed inna potty! Jelly beans...tastes NUmmmy." Now that she has smartened Momma up, I'm sure she will be getting a few more jelly beans today. I am excited that she is ready and looking forward to no more diapers with her!

I do, however, still have to diaper this little man's cute bottom. He is a peeing/pooping machine and goes through WAY more diapers than Camilla ever did! I am falling in love with his chubby little cheeks (the one's on his face of course) which are getting chubbier each day. He is getting to be a very big boy and I love how content he is (except for his fussy time). This morning he was awake in his crib for a good half hour at least, and when I went in to get him his eyes were bright and there was a tiny grin on his little face. He is more alert and absolutely loves when you interact and talk with him. Yesterday I decided it was time to bring out the "baby" toys. Down came some rattles and the baby einstein play mat. Today is another rainy day, but I plan to just play with the kids all day long! Maybe, I'll wash the dishes, but mostly I just want to play with them today...

Pouring Rain

It's been raining on and off all day. Poor Camilla just wants to go play outside and slide at the park. I'm too much of a wimp and I really don't want the little guy out in the cold right now, so we have been home bound today.  We did however manage to slip out to Walmart today. I also managed to bake cookies, bagels and pizza sticks this afternoon. The bagels sat rising on the counter for a little longer than usual as I had an afternoon nap with the kiddos today. The dough was a little dry when I went to boil it, they still look delicious though and I am just waiting for them to come out of the oven! It's been a semi productive day today anyways. If Camilla had her way, I think this would be her today....She takes after her Momma and loves her bare feet!

Splashing at Gramma and Grampa's in the early morning (still in her PJ's)

Enjoying standing in the rain

A Photoshoot

Yesterday my sister took out her nifty camera and used her mad skills to photograph my kiddos. I am in love with all of the pictures that she took of them! She is still editing a few, but these are the ones she got done yesterday. She did a fabulous job and is super talented! It was fun to watch her and be a part of it.

 Our smiley little guy...

  I have always wanted to take a picture like this of my baby and now I finally have one!

 She also took this gorgeous picture of my little girl. I am definitely blowing up and framing it!

We tried to get a few of the two of them together, and only ended up with a couple good ones!

We tried to throw some sports in there for the little guy!

And I jumped in for a few.

Nightime Serenade

This weekend was wonderful! I love getting out of the city and going 'home' to the acreage. Mr. Hyrum has been having some trouble at night time lately. The nights that I am most tired, it seems he has the hardest time getting to sleep. On Saturday night, this happened. It was shortly after 1:00 in the morning and we had just finished a movie. Mr. Stannix and I headed to the spare room to get some sleep.  I had to feed Hyrum before bed, but for some reason, he was having troubles eating and started crying a lot. I got up to bounce him in the moonlit room. Once he calmed down a little bit, I could hear the frogs serenading us through the open window in our room. It was the best sound in the world. It made everything so peaceful. There were no buses rushing up and down the street, no loud cars or music, no streetlights...Just the frogs and the quiet. I rocked my little man for a long time before he actually decided to eat and go to sleep but it was such a special experience to take a step back from the business of the world and enjoy the quiet of the night. I watched his little eyes look around in the moonlight and studied his little face. I think he finally drifted off shortly after 2:00 and I was able to cozy up in bed and listen to the frogs put me to sleep. I loved it! Those are the things you just don't experience in the city.

May Long

This weekend my parents invited us to the acreage to spend some time out of the city.  It's been quite eventful to say the least. We got up nice and early and packed up the car and the kids. We left and noticed a strange grinding noise in one of our tires. We weren't sure what it was, but it wasn't too awful sounding, so we pressed on. We made it two blocks and decided it sounded bad enough to pull over. We pulled into a 7-11 parking lot and Mr. Stannix hopped out to check the tire... As he was checking, I remembered that there were little fingers playing with rocks by our tire the other day, and these little fingers dropped some rocks into our tire and the rocks were now making a horrible grinding noise as they wedged against our brakes. I hopped into the drivers seat and Mr. Stannix had me pop it into neutral while he slowly pushed the car back causing the rocks to come slowly un-wedged. We tried pliers, pens and sticks to get them out, but had no luck. I thought we maybe could just take off the tire so we could reach, but that would take so much work. Thankfully, we have AMA and today it payed for itself. We sat in the 7-11 parking lot for almost an hour waiting and then getting it fixed. While we waited, I bet Mr. Stannix a kiss that the tow truck would come from my direction (and it did).  The guy took off the tire, wiped out the rocks and put the tire back on. Poor Camilla started screaming in the backseat when he jacked up the car. He said, "Oh, I didn't realize there was still people in the car! DON'T open any doors!". The poor girl looked so sad, and I had to comfort her through a closed window. Hyrum, thankfully slept the whole time! We were glad that there was no damage to our brakes or anything else, and we took off to Gramma and Grampa's. When we arrived, these beauties were waiting on the counter for dessert.

The kids did great in the car. Hyrum only screamed the last 7 minutes of the drive and Camilla woke up super happy from her nap. She could not wait to get outside when we arrived. She ran around in her bare feet all night long! She was Daddy's go-getter when he was practising horse shoes.

I got a kick out of watching Camilla carry these heavy horse shoes to her daddy in her bare little feet. I also enjoyed soaking up some sun with Mr. Stannix on the deck!

I am loving this warm weather and hoping the rain stays away for the weekend!!

Camilla had a fun ride on Uncle Arland's shoulders. She also enjoyed when her Daddy would throw her up REALLY high in the air and catch her. Man, I love her giggles, and I seriously love that picture of her and her daddy. Her feet are so dirty in it!. Hyrum is getting lots of snuggles from his Aunt, Uncle, Gramma and Grampa. I'm looking forward to getting some rest while the kiddos enjoy time with family. Life is good. How special our families are.