Nine Months!

I cannot believe how amazing this little guy is. He is truly my cherubic angel. (Nearly) always happy, content and cheerful. Unless of course you are taking more than 1.5 seconds to shovel food into his mouth. He is truly insatiable. Eats more than the two "bigs" combined! But, he can eat all he wants as long as I can cuddle, love on and squeeze to my hearts delight. He is crawling and so wants to play with the two hooligans. Please stop growing up.

Side note: his nickname is chubba-chubbs, since he is our biggest baby... weighing in his 9-month visit at 18 lbs and 3 oz.

THANKSgiving take 3

Sleep. Glorious sleep. My sweet munchkin now sleeps for 12 hours... in a row... without waking up... all night long. I have never had a child do this, not at 8 months. Let's be honest, not ever. I know there are those of you out there with babies that do this very early on. I hate you. Ok, I don't hate you, I just wish I had your gift. I have failed miserably in this department of parenting. But, wow... 12 hours. I pinch myself every morning.

Tivo. This was truly an inspired creation. I don't need an entire hour to watch a show. Just zip thru those annoying commercials. I have true and real love for this little box. Only downfall, and I do mean only... I really have no idea of any movies that are ever coming out. But that is what Netflix is for, right?

My blog. It's my little space on the web to vent, brag, put down my ramblings. I don't have amazing pictures on it like Mrs. Jones, nor do I have witty topics with fantastic writing skills like Mrs. Miller, and I'm not funny in any way like Miss McClellan( I am about 95% sure I am not spelling that correctly). But, it's mine, all mine.

THANKSgiving, take 2

It's a hard one today to come up with these.

My husband's job. I am making myself be so very grateful for this one. I AM so grateful that he has a wonderful means of bringin' home the bacon. I just wish that for the last 2 months it did not include 80 hour work weeks and arriving home on Saturday night(make that sunday morning) at 5am. That LDS church can be a workhorse!

My kids sleeping, or rather, lack thereof. I am grateful that my 8 month old has caused me to toughen up and make him cry it out... tonight. (While my husband is still at work.) Give me strength, I am so not good at this one.

The internet. Oh sweet Safari. How much simpler you make my life. When sweet Toria asks me how big beluga whales are, I can head to you for answers. When I don't want to attempt the mall with my clan, I just jump on over and let my fingers do the shopping. How I love thee...

My Mom. This is not a hard one to come up with. She is AMAZING!!!! I do not know what I would do without her. She is the most present and engaging Grandma to my kids and I am immensely GRATEFUL that she is so close to us. Mom, today, and all days you are the best!

THANKSgiving

As I approach the upcoming holiday, I am attempting to focus on the "little big" things that I am thankful for. I can easily put a huge list of "big" things: my husband, my kids, my family, my home, food on my table, the Gospel, the Temple, the Atonement, prayer, my Savior, the list goes on and on. But for the rest of the month I am going to dig a little closer to the surface, or rather, simpler. Maybe with something to focus on... maybe... I will be a more consistent blogger.

Thanks this day for...

Yo GabbaGabba. I mean really, what can cause more excitement and love in a child than our fabulous friends Plex, Brobie, Foofa, Muno, Tootie, and DJ Lance? We went to the "Live" show this week and the pure and utter joy gushing out of my kids as they sang and danced to "Party in my Tummy", "Name Game"(of which I have heard the lyrics... my name is muno, muno, mmmmmm, muno muno, muno... about 2,300 times since), "We don't Bite our Friends" and all the other great favorites. Hey, if they love a skinny guy in an orange jumpsuit, who am I to not be grateful to him and all the rest of the funky bunch?

Modern Medicine. Let me sum up our last three weeks:

Davin: double ear infection, cold, croup

Rome: croup

Toria: cold, croup, ear infection, inflamed tonsils, and possible UTI

Hence (I love it when I can write that! Hence and Thus... no better words in the English language. They sound not only intelligent, but also a bit pretentious.) Hence, I am extremely grateful for good ole' antibiotics.

These are a few of my favorite things

Toria has MANY great loves in her life. They change daily, but the staples remain the same:

Unicorns

The color purple

Anything to do with weddings

Drawing

Barbie movies

Pinto(or Appaloosa) Horses

and Davin

Ten-O-see

We ventured off to the Great Smokey Mountains a few weeks ago and loved it. It's an amazing part of the country... trees as far as the eye can see. So, so beautiful.

But, also it's a completely different experience. There is a lot of poverty, difficult educational opportunities, housing everywhere that I couldn't believe humans actually reside in. I came home with a new and GREATER GRATITUDE for ALL that I have. Seriously, I can't believe how blessed we are.

It was a wonderful time and there was so much to do... our highlights...

Racing at the tracks. This is definitely NASCAR country and there are race cars everywhere!

Hiking in the amazing mountains

The aquarium. AMAZING!!! Best we have ever been to. This is in the penguin enclosure where they swim all around you.

Excuses, excuses

Pretty much anytime that Rome attempts to love on/squish the little guy, it's always the same response.

"But, but he's my brudher."

Count my blessings.

Life, it's hard sometimes. Lately I am tired. So very tired. I know you all do it to, but cooking, cleaning, kids, work, laundry, more work(can I state for the record that I am so over this one, but dang it those flight benefits) the list goes on and on.

BUT, just when I start to feel like I've got it so rough, I am reminded constantly that my life is amazingly blessed. That I have so very much and that my trials are mere compared to so many.

I have a dear friend, really a sister more than a friend. I love her so much and she is enduring the trial of her life. She is so brave, so strong, so much more than she knows. I can do nothing to make her trial go away. But, I can be there, call, hug, love, comfort, and listen. It's not much, nothing close to what I wish I could do. I am constantly reminded by her situation how really, REALY easy my life is.

To her... my heart is filled with love for you, my prayers are filled with pleading for you, and my thoughts are filled with hope for you.

Wisdom

I am constantly amazed at the things I learn from my children.

On Father's Day this year I thought we needed to start a new tradition. Since my Dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago and my step-dad just in the last month... I thought I would have the kids draw them pictures and would would send their "messages" off to them with balloons.

When I first presented this idea to the little ones here was the conversation...

t: why are we going to draw them pictures?

me: i just thought it would be nice to send their father's day pictures to them

t: will they get them?

me: do you think they will get them?

t: yeah...

me: i do too(as I tear up a bit.. because... well, because I am a crier)

t: mommy, don't be sad... they will be resurrected.

Lesson #1 the faith of a child is a beautiful thing

While the pictures were in progress, I asked Toria what she was drawing.

t: A path. Pappi Jim(my step-father) needs a path. He needs to find his way.

Jim was not a member of the church and maybe, just maybe she know exactly what he needs.

Lesson #2 i cannot begin to imagine how well a child's ears can hear the Spirit

I

The "mr."

He will not love me for this but here goes...

10 thing you may not know about my husband:

1) He has a great love for Charlize Theron(really? could you get any more opposite of me? leggy, thin, blonde.)

2) He will not share beverages with anyone. Not me, not our kids, no one. Do I really have any germs that you don't already have?

3) He will keep his nursery calling for the next 25 years, if they let him.

4) He has been in 2 major biking accidents. One time hit by a car and the other he was graciously taken to the ER by some kind hikers who came across an unconscious guy in the mountains(really, no embellishing here!). And I let him ride a motorcycle because...?

5) He was in a movie... treats for those who can figure it out.

6) He would go shirtless at all times if he could.

7) He would buy everything at Costco if he could, it is absolutely his favorite store.

8) And speaking of shopping... he actually likes to go shopping... for clothes.

9) When he gives a gift, it is the most thought out, perfect gift. He really, really goes out of his way to make them special.

10) He hates Oprah.

Zzzzzzz's

8:15 pm

The time I put Davin down to sleep last night

8:45 am

The time my angelic baby woke up this morning

Never had one like this before... home truly can be a heaven on earth

Daddy and Disney

About 2 weeks ago Doug decided to surprise Toria with a quick 2 day jaunt to the land of princesses and Dumbo. They had some fantastic one-on-one time and went like mad thru the park... not having to wait to park strollers and such makes the day much speedier.

And this is what a full day at Disneyland and then a quick trip to LAX turns into...

Payment

I sat on the couch holding our little Davin after a VERY long morning. Clothes had been folded, two older ones napping(or at least "quiet-timeing"), running around done, lunch made, and baby finally content. I was so very ready for a break, really coveting a nap(right, as if!), but really needing to give the little guy some uninterrupted one on one time. I mustered up an enthusiastic greeting to the babe. And he immediately returned the biggest smile( this being his first smile... timing is everything!). Ah, it really, REALLY is all worth it.

Drudgery

Is it just me or do you all have certain tasks that feel like they were created to add misery to our lives? I see their purpose, but really... can't someone else tackle them? Mine is emptying the dishwasher. It's something I do pretty much every day and I put it off, try to avoid it, hope and wish that my husband will do it(NOT going to happen). I make up games to trick myself into getting this one checked off for the day. I tell myself I will do it for 5 minutes and not a second more. Well, it never takes more time than this to empty the blasted machine. I count in my head like a stopwatch and see just how quickly I can get it done. (I have just revealed what a nerd I am... seriously, games to get the dishes put away?) It's not like it takes long, it's not like it's hard. I just despise it. Please help me to not feel like such a goob. Do you have a task you hate like this one?

3 or 13???

As we were eating dinner the other night, Toria asked for something. I don't even recall what it was... soda, dessert, something that she was not going to be receiving at that moment. Her response to my negative answer...

"You are ruining my life!"

Really? Already at three? It's downhill from here.

Best of friends... most of the time.

.

He has arrived! Davin Stockwell Stewart

Our new little boy made his entrance on March 16th(I was hoping he would hold off one more day and be our St. Patrick's kid!). He is my biggest thus far at a whopping 8 pounds even and 20 in long. Toria and Rome love to hold, make that all that they want to do is hold, touch, poke and prod their new bay Davin(as Rome says baby DaBin).

Our little mother in training

My two little men

Rome was just glad there were snacks at the hospital

Love at first sight

The Land of Nod

Since the post months ago, our little sugarplum has become quite the pleasant sleeper.

There is no reason nor change that accounts for this wonderful manifestation. She apparently just decided that she would not cause World War 3 each and every night. So, we continue our little routine of rabbit milk(actually cow's milk with a dab of Nestle Quik in it... you know rabbit on the front), reading, prayers, songs, then off to sleep.

BUT, just to put me in my place, just so she is sure I am aware of her feelings about the matter...

Last night's routine ended like this:

Me: Goodnight sweetheart, I love you.

T: Goodnight Mommy, I love you too.

T: Mommy (Pause)

Me: Yes

T: This sleeping thing is making me sick!(Said in the sarcastic tone of "you make me sick")

Me: Ok

Already?

My little ones were heading off to slumber last night. Rome was bidding adieu to all in the fam. But, for a new twist he strolled over to Toria's "sparkling princess" barbie collection. He proceeded to greet each one with a high-pitched "hi" and a smooch on the lips. When did this start?

On a scale from 1-10terda

Do you ever have those days? Well, two days ago was one of them. After one of my kids waking up at 4:30(yes, in the morning, a.m., that is) and the next at 6:15. And no one going back to sleep until 8:30. I was in a less than stellar and patient mood. The day just continued to escalate. I really can't pinpoint anything that my tykes did terribly horrible, other than being tired and grumpy. But, I really have to say that my parenting grade for the day ended up scoring around a 2-2 1/2. Do I want to be a 2 parent, not really. I really try to shoot for 10. But yesterday that was not the case. I can really attribute it to my cruddy attitude. As the day wound up and my hubby was STILL not home from work at nine, I reviewed my hours of endurance. As my little ones lay all tucked in their beds(Rome after 15 minutes of screaming and Toria just two or so requests for various things) I thought of how terrible it was of me to not allow our day to turn out better. These precious little kids I have been blessed with did not want a day of impatient, irritated, and counting down the minutes to bedtime Mom. No, they just want love. So, fast forward to present. Yesterday was great. We made cupcakes and I even let them make all the mess they wanted to decorating them. We read, we played, we had a jolly old time and even went to visit Dad at work. We accomplished things, we ran errands and my little gems were patient and wonderful. So for yesterday my score upped to I would say and 8. And the cherry on top of the day. No comment from Toria like the day before,"You're not a very nice Mommy." Honesty at it's finest.