Cute Pics

I have taken several photos recently. E and L like to ride on a little red toy in the house. They take turns driving, so I took some pics of them. T is sitting up now, and he loves to be put in front of a container of toys and just goes wild. Simple photos, but I love to share!

It's Been a Long Time

Ok, my kids are so great! It is amazing to see their personalities shining through. I have noticed that E has so much compassion. She is so caring and watches out for her sister. For example, we were at a restaurant with Aunt T, and I went to change T's diaper. The girls were playing on the toys, and there were some boys that were teasing L because of her glasses. E heard, went to L, put her arm around her and said, "That's my sister, and she's cute. Be nice," and led L away from the boys. WOW! Talk about a proud mama teary eyes moment!

L is almost three, less than a month. She definitely has the 3-year old attitude to accompany her new age. She is trying so hard to be independent and to do everything herself. Her newest accomplishment is being able to open doors (she's so short it is a really big deal), and climbing into the van and into her car seat all by herself. It is fun to see her drive and determination, though there are still things and times she doesn't want to be 'grown up.'

T is so fun. I'm really enjoying this little boy. I loved my girls as babies, but I feel like I've really come into my own as a mom. I'm more comfortable with a baby, and feeding and sickness and poop and puke and sleep and all that stuff, so it is just fun to snuggle him, and see him be so curious and trying to get his hands on everything. He really loves to watch his sisters - it always makes him giggle.

Last week Matthew had the opportunity to present a paper that he submitted into a contest of sorts. It is something called the student symposium, and students at BYU write papers about religious topics and then if they are chosen, they get to present them to their peers. So, he presented last week, received a small cash award and was informed that they want to publish his paper! He said it isn't a big deal, but I think it is wonderful. So congrats to Matthew!

I'm not doing anything new. I've been involved with planning the PIP Camp this year that the Utah School for the Deaf puts on, and get to do some training for other parents, but for the rest of the time I just do the mom thing. Matthew and I have been exercising - P90x - since January, and it is working wonders on my energy and physique. (I still don't look like a million bucks, but I feel like it!)

Anyway, I'll send some photos in a bit!

Chocolate Hitler & Tired Boy

L was so funny last night. We had ice cream for a bedtime snack (I know, not healthy, but fun once in a while) and L got some chocolate stuck above her lip right where Hitler's mustache was. So, of course we took a picture to share with the world of our little Hitler! She is getting to be so funny. Matthew and I decided last week that we needed to sign everything when she is in the room and have really been doing better at that so she has access to what's happening instead of just what we decide to tell her, and in so doing she has become very wise and is adding even more signs to her conversations. Aunt "T" sent candy skeletons that we put together and L was trying to put hers together when she signed, "Mom, this is hard. Help please." It is the first time she has signed that something is difficult or hard! It's so exciting to see her vocabulary and expressiveness progress. I have said all along that if there is any delay in her development of language, it will be the same lack of development of ASL that I have!

T on the other hand was exhausted. He completely crashed in his bouncy chair while I was making dinner! Sooooo cute and relaxed!

Our Super Star

E was super star in preschool this past week. She was so excited - even more than last year! The super star gets to take in a poster with pictures and information about them and their family, bring snacks, bring show and tell items, help the teachers, and be the leader in activities. Each child gets a turn, and watching her prepare for her turn and be so excited to share information about herself with her classmates was really fun! On Tuesday she got to wear a crown, and on Thursday she got a dog tag-like necklace. She decided that for snack on Tuesday, she wanted to take cheese and crackers, and on Thursday she wanted pear muffins. I took a couple pictures of her with her poster and her crown just so you could see how excited she was.

Today in church she sat reverently with her arms folded for about 10 minutes before the meeting started. There are days when she is so grown up I can't believe it!

E's Owie, L's New Meds

Well, we went to the store last night in the red car, which E can get out of herself, and as I was going to get L out, E started to cry, "Mommy, mommy" so I ran to help her, and her thumb was shut in the door! OUCH!!! I opened the door and surveyed the damage, she was amazingly composed as we walked into the store and got some ice to put on her thumb. It is okay, a little sore but you'd never know it. She is such a trooper, though she posed for the picture quite well. You can't really tell, but there is a dark purple line around her entire thumb! Quite the adventure!

Also, a photo of L at playgroup today. She loves playgroup and tends to try and boss the other kids around. She wanted to sit on a chair today instead of the usual mat, so that shook things up for the other kids. We got word on her most recent tests yesterday, she has massive reflux and just started medicine to try and control it. In one month they will add another medicine and wait another four weeks. If that doesn't work to control the reflux, she may need surgery! Scary! However, good news, they thought she may have celiac, but the test for that came back negative. Finally one test that shows she doesn't have an abnormality!