Veda and babies

This little girl loves babies. Like really really loves babies.

And I love her.

More Instagrams

Our ward meets at 8 am this year. I LOVE IT. At least last Sunday I did. We were able to come home and all take a nap! This Sunday? Veda decided to blow out her diaper and scream "Mommy" for 45 minutes until we came and got her. Hopefully next week we can nap.

 The weather is awesome right now. This past week was seriously heaven. While everyone else in the country was suffering through snow storms and freezing temperatures, we were in the 70's.

 We obviously took advantage and played outside a lot.

 Veda's new obsession? Playing "Na na." Which is just playing with play food/dishes. She wakes up and immediately wants to play it. She tells you where to sit and brings you food and even blows it off for you. It's cute.

 Oh man- has my cruise only been two weeks ago?!! It feels like forever ago. I miss the beach

Instagrams

Here's a few instagrams from this week

My dryer is kinda broken. Hendrix had an accident during one of his naps this week and I knew there was no way I would be able to get his bedding washed and dried before bedtime (it has been taking 5 or 6 cycles to get a regular load dry). So my friend/neighbor has offered to let me use her dryer until mine is fixed. I brought two loads over to her house, and she brought them back to me two hours later all washed and DRY! Plus a treat. I love my neighbor. She knows the way to my heart... clean clothes and candy :)

 HENDRIX IS OFFICIALLY POTTY TRAINED!!! Just two months shy of 4 years old. Way to go little buddy. These are the toys he got for filling up his sticker chart. And also- he is wearing a pull up at night- and during his nap if he refuses to pee before he goes down. He doesn't like to wear one- which is good, but I'm just not that patient with accidents, so we all cope better this way.

 Had an 11 miler yesterday with my 'sole sisters'

 date night with Dave! We finally saw Les Mis. Plus a little Freddy's before- please tell me you have all been to Freddy's. The absolute best french fries on the planet-- and my favorite ice cream EVER.

 Her little face is just the best. i love her to pieces.

 Rocking out with Dave

 Quinn putting make up on Veda. I love her face in this picture

 Hendrix: "Take a picture of my eye, mom."

 We had a 'no tv' day this week. Before you start thinking I'm a great mom- it was because Hendrix had gotten out of bed the night before. We are still struggling, but it's slightly better. Thanks for all your suggestions. We have taken away privileges and toys so far. We haven't cut back on naps just because every day this week he was so sleepy in the morning I didn't feel like I could.

 blue steel

A very deceiving picture of Veda at church. She looks so sweet and reverent here :)
Church is so hard with my kids right now. Veda doesn't want to go to nursery, and Hendrix wants to go back to nursery. It's a struggle.

Hendrix

I sit here to write this post as my patience is UP with this little boy. I love him to pieces, but boy oh boy is he giving me a hard time lately. Look at that cute face!! I think that's why I have trouble :)

We're struggling with sleep. At bedtime we are putting him back to bed 10, 15, or 20 times. Over and over with excuses about being scared, or hungry, or having to go potty, or the washer is waking him up, or he wants me to lay down by him. And of course- we don't give in. We don't give him food or let him stay up- occasionally we take him potty. Taking him potty is a hard thing to ignore since we are potty training- but the stinker knows it and uses it as an excuse- then sits on the potty and makes an 'sssssss' sound to try and trick us into thinking he is actually peeing... ha. :)

So I've been worried that he is done with taking naps. The problem is that I still feel like he needs them. He is sleepy (although he should be since he is staying awake until 9 pm some nights, then up at 5:30 am). A couple times this week I let him take a nap on the couch thinking that a lighter and shorter nap would help with bed time. It did not.

He HATES being in Sunbeams, I know it's still January and that he'll get used to going to primary, but right now it is a struggle. He misses just playing with toys (who can blame him?!) Today he went to class fine, but even as I dropped him off he was being naughty to his teacher. Ugh... then during sharing time he wouldn't sit with his class because he sees me in there and wants to sit by me. Which wouldn't be a huge deal, except I have a class of my own to watch, plus a VEDA on my lap because she is also not going to nursery.

 On a very positive note- he is ALMOST POTTY TRAINED!! He is doing awesome. It's been maybe 4-5 days of no diapers (Except at bed time). He's staying dry through his nap and even holding it well when we've been out.

He is also very sweet and kind and happy MOST of the time.

Scratch that- he just got up AGAIN.... any ideas? Or places that you've bought straight jackets from that you've gotten a good price? ;)

feet and kids and our cruise

Standing in line for pizza

 Relaxing on the 'adults only' level.

 All water- shoed up in Grand Cayman

 Dressed up for formal dinner

 At the beach in Mexico

 Hanging out on the ship reading books

Many of you have asked (or are wondering and didn't ask?!) how our kids did while we were gone. It was the first time we have left them for this long - and the very first time I have ever left Veda. I was nervous, of course. Leaving was SO HARD. Having said that-- leaving was the worst part. We left while the older kids were at church, and when it was time to actually drive away, Julie took Veda for a walk around the block. It worked well- most of the tears came from ME that way. 

I cried a lot in the week leading up to our trip. I not only have clingy kids, but I'm obviously a clingy mom. I rarely let my kids out of my sight. The day before our trip, I had made a comment to my mom about how I didn't really know why we planned a WEEK vacation, instead of just an over-nighter or something. I was definitely having some regret and feeling nervous about leaving. 

BUT... after we were on the road, I was fine. Seriously. It was obviously a gift from heaven, because I was honestly, truly FINE. I tried really hard not to think about my kids (I know that sounds awful, but it worked). Of course I still thought about them sometimes, and of course I missed them- but never once during the whole week did I wish that I was at home with them. I KNEW they were in good hands. We   called home after we had been gone two days to realize that Veda was at the doctor with an ear infection. At first I felt sad that my sweet baby was home sick without her mommy... then I realized that she was with my mom and sister (who are both nurses, by the way) who love her and treated her as well as I would have if I had been there.

Hendrix was not on his best behavior while I was gone. Sleeping was an issue- and I got the impression that he was having more tantrums and being meaner than normal while we were gone. I think that was to be expected, and everyone survived. And thankfully he didn't hold any resentment towards Dave and I when we got back (he has done that before to Dave after he returns from business trips).

I hope that this doesn't make any of you think that I am lesser of a mother because I wasn't SUPER homesick for my kids. Sometimes, ya need a break. And it was really nice for me and Dave to just be ME AND DAVE for a while without the kiddos. I LOVE my kids. Like really super love my kids. But it was really awesome to be able to enjoy myself knowing that they were at home getting their normal naps, routines, and mealtimes in the hands of a loving grandma and Aunt. Would I go on a cruise again- YES. As soon as I can talk my mom into babysitting again. ;)

pictures of pictures

Some pictures of pictures that the boat photographers took. I'm sure it's totally against the rules that I took pictures of these, but it's not like I was going to pay 25 dollars a picture ;)

 haha... Dave took a picture while I was getting this picture taken. Come on- why would I want a picture of myself like this??

 This one makes me laugh too- why would she have me stick my hand on my butt??? super natural pose for me ;)