8 Months

Most mornings, I will go into get Seth and something will be sticking out of his jammies. A leg.  An arm.  Sometimes both a  leg and an arm.  This little monkey makes me smile all day long!

His new thing is to crawl under the piano but gets stuck.  Sometimes he sucks on the pedals.  Sometimes he licks the back of it.  There are no limits to what this little boy will explore and taste!

8 months old.  Why can't pregnancy go by this fast?  I love him.

Bouncer and beauty

Sometimes, you look at what you have been given and all you can do is say "Thank you."  No words because your heart can't say what it feels.  That is how I feel about all my children.  And Seth in his bouncer?  Just about the cutest thing I have seen!

A boy and his mountain

My boy.  So loving, so tender, and so inquisitive.  He appreciates things that most 4 year old boys don't.  For example - nature, the sunshine, the clouds, natural beauty.  We will often drive down the road and he will sigh and say "Heavenly Father gave us such a beautiful day today!"

For days, he has been asking to drive up to the mountains so he could admire the city from up high.  And he really said that!  He is so wise and sometimes it catches me off guard.  So on Monday, we took Sariah to a play date and we drove up the mountain.  He sat on the wall for a good 5 minutes, simply gazing.  I could tell he was thinking.  I wonder if the spirit was talking to him, and helping him feel the beauty of life and family and joy.

My girl makes my heart sing

This girl is changing before my very eyes.  She is growing up, and I love every minute of it.  Our relationship is evolving as well, in a very positive direction.  During her tough years, I was afraid that our relationship would always be a power struggle.  Me directing her actions and her rebelling.  Not so much anymore.  She wants to spend time with me.  She wants me to do her hair.  She wants to have "mommy dates."  She will actually sit on my lap and snuggle me!  She will say "I love you, too" as she gets out of the car.  She is opening up about her days.  She is asking for advice.  She is starting to talk about hard things.

As I parent her, I realize that we all envision the kind of parent we want to be from the moment that first baby is born.  I quickly figured out with her that I couldn't be the parent I wanted to be.  I needed to be the parent that SHE needed.  She has to guide my parenting.  And that means taking a step back and letting her come to me.  Letting her figure it out.  Not pushing her to say prayers, talk about her day, or even help her with her homework.  She will do it on her own time, and will ask for help when she is ready.  

I love her.  More than she knows.  And my heart sings with happiness as of late.

Scooting and Backsides

I seem to be seeing a lot of Seth's backside!  He is scooting so well, and is starting to push up on his hands and knees.  And what is almost as fun as watching him learn is watching his brother and sister coax and encourage him to do so. 

Now that he has figured this out, he is FAST!  He will often scurry away from me as I am changing him and I don't even have enough time to button up his onesie.  He is also become very curious and I will find him in odd places.  Such a funny boy!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year and I am so excited!  This year will bring some changes to our family, and they will be wonderful and long awaited.  I don't make resolutions, because there are always things I am working on and goals I am making.  Why should a new year force that upon anyone?

Here is what our New Year's Eve looked like:

Glamorous, right?  I loved it.  I love being at home, with my family.  I haven't ever been one to enjoy parties and am kind of a party pooper.  But it's time to create some traditions and create some memories!