Snow. It won't be long.

Freddie and I walked to church together to go to choir practice. It was snowing a lot. I feel I love the snow. I feel I'm adjusting to the cold. I love to explore with my boy. 

Collin and Hattie drove to church so they all drove back home together and I got to walk alone. It was wonderful and quiet. 

Hattie....

Funny kitty stuff

Eating breakfast at our place. I say it's so. Cafe on 1st in SLC. Delicious waffles. Multigrain liege with berries. And bacon and the breakfast burrito Collin got was amazing. I get a bfast sandwich w cheddar and egg. 

Babes playing while I shopped. My favorite store, LUSH. 

Happy+green smoothie. His favorite color is green. 

Headlock dinos

My ladies 

"I'll let you keep your purse if you wear your boots."

My city. Rainy day. 

She's just so cuddly. What a little Monte, sleeping in the box while we play. 

About to go to a birthday party and be dropped off by himself for the first time. Growing fast. I'm proud and humbled that he's mine. 

Snow today. We went for a walk this afternoon. Today was sunny warm. But early evening got quite chilly. The walk was good for my lungs and spirit.  All of the next photos are Freddie's. 

Woke up with two snuggle bugs in good moods at the foot of our bed. It's so nice when we don't wake with someone crying! We have been consistently putting our bugs to sleep in their beds in their rooms.  Hattie doesn't nurse at all to sleep anymore. Lots of transitions for these cosleepers and night nursers. They have been doing pretty good. It gets scary in that old dark room with noises and vents. And Hattie is such a pillow talker. Hahah. They have been really sweet with each other. 

Hattie was stirring and Freddie went over and said, " hi Hattie." "You can sleep in my arms." Hehehehhe. 

Then he told her she's really warm and told me she's hot from a fever. Hhaha. 

No such thing but she got up and said,"let's jump!!"

Then Fred (whom Hat calls "Red"): "let's jump and bump into each other and fall down."

Luckily, no injuries. 

Then they are being silly, kicking their feet, etc. Freddie tells Hattie what to do and she happily obliges. 

Dot just watches. Collin is trying to sleep. I have to pee but don't want to get up. Baby is kicking and flipping. 

Good good feelings this early morning. 

....and I just got a head butt to the face and my tooth cut my lip....

Wild ones

There's an Instagram account I follow of a woman who about 2 years ago lost her little son. He was 3 or 4 and was hit by a car and killed in front of the house they were at. The woman and her husband have held tight to each other through this sad experience. She tastefully shares her heart and and tries to serve others to keep positive. I cannot imagine the horrific pain of such a thing. I have continued to follow her as she posts about her blessings as well as her sorrows while enduring her trial. 

They very recently had their second child, a little girl, and yesterday she she shared this: 

The caption said, "made Mickey pancakes this morning for Ryan. As Mila and I go about our day, I'm trying to imagine how it would be with Ryan running wild around us. If he were here I'd have made him these this morning..."

This touched my heart very deeply. It reminded me that though life can be challenging and mundane, I am SO LUCKY to have two healthy children, even if they are wild--even when they don't listen or have tantrums in the middle of the store or wont go to sleep early.  Yes it was a hard transition for me to go from 1 child to 2 children. And i know many frustrating experiences will come with entertaining an active opioniated toddler, driving a social pre schooler around to his different activities while nursing and caring for a newborn all day. What I feel from her post does not diminish my own experience, but I do feel a great amount of gratitude for my children, my circumstances and even my trials. As I turn to the Lord every time I struggle, I receive peace. That doesn't always mean things get easier but it means I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me. I have felt their love and know it exists. Peace fuels my faith and endurance. 

"I am a child of God;

His promises are sure.

Celestial glory shall be mine 

If I can but endure."

Babe 3 little bee, little bee. (Pand-apple)

I had a dream that I had a baby girl. Collin informed me as I wasn't there for the birth....ha!

Real life:

I was a little worried early on in the pregnancy about how it would work out but I prayed and got confirmation that it was the right thing. Since then I've been nothing but excited about this baby!!!!! It has been wonderful. Then this past week we had a somew hard times and I was reminded of how little I know what I'm doing and how the baby is probably going to be the easy part...it's the two big crazies I have to be worried about. It's going to be hard. Really really hard. But it's also going to be wonderful. Hattie and Freddie have been developing their relationship lately. They have become friends. They love playing together and talk to each other. We do lots of arts and crafts together. It's so funny and fun to listen to their conversations. Last night i asked Freddie what our new baby is going to be like. He said, "me." Good answer boy, really good. 

I took these pictures with the self timer in my bedroom alone. I would have been so embarrassed if anyone walked in on me. Hahaha.....

..Around mid-20s week..

LOVE YOU, little baby. We are all excited to meet you! 

Ps. We have started doing chores together all the time. Freddie responds so well!!!!! He does some stuff that is just helping out the family stuff and during the days I give him extra stuff that he can earn money for his bank by doing. He gets .05 per chore. We love reading the Mercer Meyer book, Just my Piggy Bank.