An August Afternoon

Dearest Hyrum,

As your four month birthday approaches a sweet memory is brought to my mind from mid August. Your big sister had just gone down for her nap and I was busying myself around the house. You started calling out from your play mat in the living room. I picked you up and you smiled up at me, safe in my arms. It was a beautiful day, but I could feel Fall in the air when we went outdoors that morning. It was crisp, and there was a gentle breeze, blowing in change. A change of seasons, a change in the leaves, a change in the air.

 I sat on the couch with you, placing you gently on my lap. Your long body stretched from my knees to my stomach where your little legs curled up for warmth. You continued to coo and smile at me while you squeezed my fingers with your little hands. Your grasp felt so strong, and I didn't ever want you to let go. The house was quiet, it was just the two of us. We stared into each others eyes for a few minutes. My heart swelled up with emotion. I got lost in your big, beautiful blue eyes and dark eye lashes.

I looked at your little feet pressed against my stomach and realized that you had grown so much in these four short months.Then I looked at your hands as you played with my fingers and tried to bring them to your mouth. You found my wedding ring and you became so still as you turned it around on my ring finger. I thought about what that ring meant to me, that we were a forever family. I thought about how your Daddy made all my dreams come true as we were sealed in the temple and I later became a mother. It wasn't long until you drifted off to sleep after a short snack of course.

Your eyes slowly closed as I hummed a lullaby. The grasp you had on my fingers loosened slightly, and your tiny breaths became deep and heavy. At that moment, in our quiet old house, I felt so much love for you. I just sat and watched you and listened to your sweet little breaths.  Babies are a miracle, and I felt so blessed to have you as a part of our family. I wanted to hold onto that moment with you forever and ever. It was such a brief time, but it felt like a life time. I love it when time slows down so that I can soak up every ounce of joy and emotion I can out of one little moment with you. I write you these letters so that one day, when you leave the safety of our home, you will know that you are special, and more importantly, that you are loved...

xoxo

Mum

Somersaults

Yesterday, Camilla learned how to do a somersault! She was quite excited about it and has been somersaulting in circles ever since. It's so fun to watch her learn new things! She also gave herself a nice tattoo all the way down her leg with her dry erase marker yesterday at Gramma and Grampa's.

Little Feet

My kiddos already have the sibling thing figured out. You know the "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" thing? Except, in their case it's, "I'll tickle your feet if you tickle mine".  We are busy bees today running around gathering everything up for a last minute holiday. After the dishes are done and the garbage is taken out, we will be loading up to spend the night at the acreage, and then we will be off for a week of camping!

Afternoon Tea

Today we had afternoon tea on the deck. We got all dressed up, complete with pearls, lipstick and eye shadow. After the table was set, we enjoyed salmon for the main course and delicate little puffs for dessert. Tea with my daughter was absolutely delightful. We indulged ourselves in good conversation and lots of giggling. The cool breeze was especially nice, except when it tried to blow away our salmon.

Dessert went quick, and needed refilling often. My little girl has a sweet tooth just like me. The sun peeked in and out from behind the fluffy white clouds while we sat at the table. Once, when it disappeared, I looked up and noticed the leaves on the tree were already starting to turn beautiful fall colors. I couldn't believe my eyes! Our afternoon tea parties are definitely numbered. Fall is on its way, but I am excited for the change.

When we had eaten all our food and finished our pretend tea, it was time to come in for naps. We removed our strings of pearls and climbed the stairs to bed. My sweet little girl is now quietly resting in her sunlit room with the curtains gently blowing in the breeze. What a perfect afternoon.

Motherly Love

I don't know what it is about this little boy, but every time I pick him up I want to squeeze him tight and smother his little face with kisses. Maybe it's his round little face, or his big blue eyes, or the way he sucks his fingers, or his sweet little grins. I am in love.  So glad I can squeeze and kiss him all day long.

A Little White Shirt

A part of me loves 1:00 PM church because we can spend the morning together, slowly eating, playing, and getting ready for church. The children slept in a little which was nice. Camilla went downstairs by herself and I stayed in bed for a few minutes. Later on, she was sitting by my bed asking for help. I looked over and she had the booster seat strapped to her. We had taken it off the chair the night before to play cards. She sat, strapped herself in and realized she couldn't get out. Poor kid climbed the whole flight of stairs with it stuck to her. How does she do it? It made me giggle as I unbuckled her. Daddy and Camilla made block towers while I showered and got ready. Both kiddos took short morning naps before church while we relaxed. It was a fabulous morning! This last week I found the cutest little white shirt. I figured Hyrum was old enough to be all dressed up for church. I was so excited. We even had time to snap some family pictures before church today. SOMEBODY was embarrassed to be out on our front lawn with the tripod, so I had to make quick work of it!

All ready for church! 

 It always amuses me how huge Hyrum looks next to our petite Camilla.

Then I had to snap a picture of my Handsome men together in their white shirts and ties!

Happy Sunday!

Is Like...

Last night after the park, we decided to watch a traditional Friday night movie. We went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on goodies and then came home. Both the children were bathed and readied for bed. Family prayers were said and up to bed they went. After about a half an hour, Mr. Stannix asked me to plug in the movie while he made some popcorn. I asked if he really needed popcorn and he replied, "Watching a movie without popcorn is like...."

So, off he went to make some popcorn. I warned him that the smell would probably waft up into Camilla's room and she would be down here in no time! One batch was popped on our turn crank stove popper. I melted butter for mine. Mr. Stannix asked, "Are you sure you don't want seasoning? Eating popcorn without seasoning is like....."

As Mr. Stannix finished up the second batch we heard, "Daddy? What-ya doin' down there? Daddy?" through the vent in the kitchen. I said, "Watching a movie without Camilla is like...." (It's been a while actually) Within a few minutes our little girl was snuggled up to her Daddy on the couch eating fist fulls of popcorn. Mr. Stannix has heard stories from when I was little and used to sneak out to the couch in the wee hours on the night to share chips with my dad and catch some of his movie. Dad would send me back to bed and tell me not to tell Mum. After about ten minutes, Mr. Stannix whispered to me that he wanted some "P-O-P", so we decided it was time for her to go back up to bed. She grabbed a fist full of popcorn for the road. Up we went to bed. I came back down to Mr. Stannix holding two tall glasses of pop. He then told me, "Eating popcorn without pop is like...."

After the kiddo was tucked into bed, I got to snuggle up with my Mr. Stannix and watch the chick flick. I like watching those every once in a while, it always reminds me of how lucky I am to have Mr. Stannix. We are always more in love after watching these kinds of movies together. It was a lot of fun to snuggle just the two of us. He put his arm safely around my shoulders and pulled me in close. At the end of the movie, we got up to go to bed and Mr. Stannix found my melted chocolate bar on the couch. He sat on it the whole movie! I told him, "Watching a movie without Mr. Stannix is like...." After we flossed the popcorn kernels from between our teeth and brushed them, up we went to bed for the night.

Swinging High

The other day we spent the afternoon at the park! It was full of firsts. Hyrum and Camilla swung on the same swing set together for the first time, meaning the Hyrum swung in a REAL swing for his first time. He didn't go high at all, just swayed back and forth shall we say. He wasn't entirely sure what to think. The looks I was getting were priceless and many photos were taken of our chubby 14lbs of boy.

Camilla has become quite adventurous at the park. She even tried out the monkey bars with a little help. She loves climbing and sliding. The tall edges make me nervous, but she navigates around pretty good. She also LOVES the splash pad and was soaked after 10 minutes of arriving.

Camilla tried out the "big kid" swings for her very first time. I pushed her low and slow and she instinctively started pumping her legs. She'll be a pro in no time! She even went one handed for a bit when she spotted an airplane... YIKES! She only had one minor fall, more like a slide off, and landed on her feet. She wanted back on right away. All was well.

Correo a Provo

Dear Elder Hudkins in Provo,

(Even though you won't read this until you get home)

Espero que este pronto obtiene.

Hay una sorpresa especial dentro de esta carta.

Con mucho amor,

A Sweet Little Voice

Last night was a crazy night. For some reason I decided to make cookies after dinner. What was I thinking? I believe our baby boy is cutting a tooth. He was clingy and sad all day with the odd smile here or there. He sat in his bouncer while Camilla and I mixed up some cookie dough. Pan one made it's way in and out of the oven. Pan two was slow going as I instructed Camilla to talk to her little brother, get him toys, and put the teething ring into his mouth to stop his crying. Pan two went into the oven.

Then I heard the saddest cry ever from my baby boy, and saw a frightened look on my two year olds face. Poor girl was doing so good helping calm her baby brother, but it wasn't working any more. While I bent down to pick Hyrum up to console the poor kid, there was a knock at my door. Off we went for a short doorstep visit, talking over the screaming babe with toddler attached to my leg.

Pan three made it out while I bounced my crying boy and then I shut off the oven for the night. I looked up at the clock which told me it was 8:30 and time for the children to find their cozy beds. I wrapped up Hyrum in his blanket and put his cheek close to mine as I trudged up the stairs behind Camilla, one step at a time. We finally made it to the top and she hopped up into her bed. "Where's my sippy?" I let out a gentle sigh as I sat on the edge of her bed with crying babe. "Why don't you go downstairs and get it sweetheart, it's on the couch." "Otay!".

She stood at the top of the stairs. "Guess what Daddy?" step
"Guess what?" step...All the way down the stairs.

Finally Hyrum calmed down, scrunched up his little body, and snuggled in close. I layed sideways across Camilla's bed with Hyrum on my chest as I listened to her feet run down the hallway and into the office. My eyes slowly closed for a quick rest while I waited on Camilla's return.

"Guess what Daddy?"
"What?"
"Guess what? I love you, SOOOO much!"
"I love you too Camilla!"

My heart melted at the sound of her sweet little voice. I love that voice. So sincere.

"I'm going to bed Daddy. Need-a sippy..."

She hugged and smooched her Daddy good night.

"Night Daddy. See you in the mornin'. Have good seeeep. LOVE you!"

Her feet ran back down the hallway, and she stood at the bottom of the stairs for a few seconds and then she yelled back to her Daddy, who was hard at work once again.

"See ya in the mornin' Daddy! Night!"

And back up she came, one step at a time.
Clunk, clunk, clunk

I placed my sleeping baby in his crib. Lifted Camilla into her bed. She lay her baby doll on one side, her teddy on the other, and then carefully lay herself in the middle of the two. I Kissed her on the forehead, and told her I loved her as I pulled the blankets up to her chin. Then I snuck down our creaky stairs so I wouldn't wake up Hyrum who was finally contently resting in the comfort of his crib. Pan four and five made it in and out of the oven. My cookie jar was full, and so was my heart.