The Boy at Almost 15 Months

What can I say? I have a mama's boy, and I love it. I relish in the fact that James loves his mother better than anyone else. It makes a mom feel good.

Alas, this sweet boy is growing up so fast. I love it. I hate it. How can I have conflicting feelings like that at the same time? I'm not quite sure, but I do.

I love quiet afternoons like this one, where Sariah is sleeping and James and I get some one-on-one time together. He is perfectly content to sit on my lap, and watch the birds out in the backyard. When I'm on the floor, he will run all around me and play with all of his toys. But every minute or so, he runs back at me with his arms wide open, and swoops in for a quick hug. It's almost as if he wants to make sure I am still there, and haven't gone anywhere. The reassurance of mothers is irreplaceable.

I love that I don't have to impress him. These pictures are my "just out of the shower with curls flopping all over the place." But he loves me, and them, regardless of how my curls are placed.




I love how James shares. He is so proud of things that he find, and thrusts his arm up to show you what he has found. This is especially funny when he has found something that he knows he is not supposed to have, such as a cell phone or his sister's blanket. He thinks he is so clever, and is radiant when he has defied a rule.



I love his quiet, solitary play. He loves to play by himself sometimes. I think it's because he can have whatever toys he wants and doesn't have to worry about sharing. He is very thoughtful - always deep in thought when looking at a book, watching the birds, or is trying to figure out his sister is doing. Very serious a lot of the time.




And, I love his silly faces. Mid-sentence pictures are always really funny.


Love you, best son! Excited to watch you grow and see what you choose to become. Just don't stop loving your Mama the way you do.

Earning Her Keep

Sariah. *Sigh* What to do with this child.

I was recently talking with a behavioral therapist about the energy Sariah has. Sometimes, I am at a complete loss when trying to teach, discipline, and direct her. The therapist was very encouraging, telling me that she's very bright. Bright beyond her 3 year old self. She's creative, and needs creative outlets - constantly.

The therapist also said that Sariah is bored. She isn't satisfied doing puzzles that she knows how to do. That bores her. She needs puzzles that are way beyond her capabilities because her brain will thrive in the challenge. (This is going to get her in trouble in school! She's going to need a fantastic Kinder and 1st grade teacher!) She needs kitchens, dolls, and other toys that will foster her creativity and let her imaginative play excel. We are now officially on the hunt for some new toys! Craiglist and yard sales here we come.

Anyhow, back to Sariah. One of the ways she feels very important and useful is when she helps me clean. We clean the house every other Friday, and she is in love with cleaning. Wiping. Scrubbing. I usually let her have a wet paper towel and she goes to town!

The funny thing is, she is calling herself "Cinderella" because she's cleaning just like Cinderella. Here she is, wiping out the sink and cleaning the kitchen table. In her fancy tutu dress. My Grandmother Vene (who Sariah is named after...Sariah Vene) would be thrilled to see her namesake cleaning in her fancies.




And here she is, cleaning the toilets with dad. (I personally believe that cleaning the house should be a family affair. Jared gets the bathrooms.) Again, she's in her fancy church dress, and her church shoes. "Clean in your pearls," as my Grandmother Vene would say!



I only hope that I can foster this child's creative imagination, direct her energy in the right way, and create a child that has a love of learning, the gospel, and her family. I need to be better about playing games with her, doing crafts with her, and instilling a strong sense of self.

King of the Castle

We FINALLY cleaned out the toys. It was time to put the baby toys away, and break out the toddler toys for James. Sariah is also needing some new toys, so we switched out hers as well. But when I pulled out the bin of toys, James didn't want the toys.

He wanted the bin.

Monkey Swing

Remember that hunky husband I talked about yesterday? Here he is, swinging our firstborn around like she's a feather! It's called doing the "Monkey Swing." Sariah kicks up her legs, and Jared tosses her around.

The squeals of delight that come from both of them make me smile, make the neighbors nervous, and make his mother hide her eyes.

He's No Cowboy

When I was a teenager, I made a list of all of the things I wanted in my future eternal companion. I think we all did! Some of the list included the following:

Returned missionary
Loves me
Honors his priesthood
Is tall, dark, and handsome
Makes me feel special
Makes me laugh
Makes me feel sexy
Has motivation
Wants to get a degree to support his family

As the list grew, I started to add more of these types of qualifiers:
Drives a truck
Wears cowboy boots
Plays the piano
Sings
Is a cowboy

You see, I grew up riding horses and being a cowgirl (without dressing like one!). I wanted a cowboy to match my cowgirl heart.

Let's face it - I couldn't have married someone further than a cowboy! He can't stand country music, he won't step foot in a truck unless he has to, he won't be caught dead in cowboy boots, the only thing he knows about a piano is that the "things" are black and white (keys), and carries a tune that would make anyone cringe.

But - I love him. He has all of the important qualities - all of the first part of the list I posted. He served an honorable mission, married me in the temple, loves me fiercely, loves his children more than he can contain, thinks I am sexy, and is tall, dark and handsome. My heart races when I look into his chocolate eyes, and my toes tingle when I kiss his luscious lips.

And really - who doesn't love a man doing manly work? Even if it is just mowing the lawn - it's hot.

Is She Allowed?

Yesterday, we took a wedding present to a very special girl who is getting sealed today in the temple. We ran by real quick to drop off her wedding present, because we aren't sure if we are going to be able to make it to the reception tomorrow night. As we were talking, her dad took Sariah outside to look at the fish. He was asking Sariah about how old she was, etc. Sariah was telling him all about preschool starting. His eyes widened in excitement as she was telling him all about the things she was going to get to do.

Simply, I said, "I am not quite sure if this little girl is allowed to grow up or not."

He kind of chuckled and I realized something - his little girl was way beyond preschool. She was going through the temple, and getting married. I am sure he blinked his eyes, and had this upon him. A loving father, watching his world age around him.

But whether or not Sariah's allowed, she is growing up.

Today was her Preschool Open House, where she met her teacher, found her cubby, and made some friends. *Sigh* Preschool, here she comes!



"Miss Malia is magic, Mommy," she whispers as we leave her preschool classroom.

Learn with JOY little one!

Nothing Special

Just a video of an ordinary day. Girls playing on the slides and climbers. James wandering and exploring.

Thought Grandma Franklin in Illinois and Grandma Wilkes in Prescott could use a little piece of our day. Enjoy, Grandmas!

14 Months

I am more in love with this boy every day! I mean, who wouldn't be? Look at those chocolate brown eyes, those gorgeous dimples, and that sweet face. He is 14 months old today, and it is hard to believe. Walking, talking up a storm (in his own language), curious, stubborn, and is dramatic as a hormonal 14 year old girl! But, he melts in my arms, reaches for me when he's upset, and is a real lover.




Quick video of him jabbering away. And then walks in Miss Emerson, in her "tutu dress"!

Kenzy Suzy Girlzy

We had my sister's little girl with us, Makenzie! We had an absolute BLAST. Sariah and Emerson loved having someone else to play with, and played their little hearts out.

Because all of our rooms are taken, this is where Makenzie slept:


Don't judge. It was dark, cool, and perfect. She LOVED it.

There was lots of this:


And this:


And of course, this:



Thanks, baby Kenzy Suzy Girlzy (as Sariah called her nonstop) for visiting us. PLEASE come again!!

I love my job

Sariah and Emerson are utterly mesmerized by a tractor working right outside our house. Our water pipe broke, and the crew is out there fixing it. They have been watching the crew work for about 45 minutes - perched atop the dresser/changing table like two little prairie dogs.

And then there's James...taking the baby wipes out of the tub. One. By. One. Ahh, the different stages of development!