Five

5 years ago I was ... dreaming of my future children, recovering from a DNC, working as a parts manager for a company who's owner had a compulsive gambling problem,

5 months ago I was ... pregnant with my daughter, feeling huge and uncomfortable. Going to the doctor's at least 3 times a week, celebrating my birthday and thanksgiving, I was on "bedrest"

5 hours ago I was ... doing some major grocery shopping, grateful to get it done faster without my kids

5 minutes ago I was ... holding my baby

5 things on my 'to do' list today: separate laundry, work on Noah's birthday book, get dinner made, FHE and getting all the garbage outside for tomorrow.

5 recent pieces of mail I've received: gas bill, ads for this week, Stampin Up Spring mini catalog, Bill for hospital when Sofia had RSV and party favors catalog.

5 things I would do if I became a billionaire: pay off the debts/save a good portion, go on a Disney Cruise with my family, travel Europe, buy a modest house and buy Kersten at least 3 of his dream cars.

5 of my bad habits: pulling out my hair, cleaning out my fingernails, piling my clothes on the side of my bed, clutter and procrastination

5 good memories: First time my childhood family went to Disneyland, When Noah met Donald Duck for the first time, talking with Sofia now that she is cooing, Crazy dates with my husband and going on walks in the summer with my cute grandma.

5 films I watch over and over again: Pride and Prejudice, Music and Lyrics, Enchanted, Flight of the Concords and Ever After

5 places I've lived: My parents house, Dorms off Campus at usu, our first dinky apt, our condo and our little house

5 songs I love: Grace Kelly by Mika, 1234 by Feist, Upside down by Jack Johnson, Love Song by Sara Bareilles and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own by U2

5 jobs I've had: Rainbow Sno Cone maker, Cabin Counselor at Millhollow, Parts Manager, Receptionist and After School Program Director.

5 things most people don't know about me: hmmm, I am an open book.

5 things in my virtual shopping bags: Silly Wagon's Felt Sugar Cookie box, Downeast Rosebud dress, J-Crew yellow trench coat, Anthropologie Medallion Bloom Blouse, and Canon Rebel camera

5 books I love to death: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Gable Faces East by Anita Stansfield, The Blue Castle By LM Montgomery, Book of A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale and The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva

5 things that are out of place around my house: boxes of baby girl clothes I just took out of her dresser, Card table in my living room, Breast pump in my kitchen, stroller in the kitchen and laundry basket in the hallway

5 films I want to see: Indiana Jones IV, The New Batman, Made of Honor, Wall E and Mrs Pettigrew

5 things I love to eat: Ice cream, graham crackers, carmel, cheese and little chickens

5 destinations I'm dying to see: Austria, New Zealand, Boston MA, Bahamas and Sweden

5 scents I love: chocolate chip cookies, clean babies, all citrus fruit. baking bread and Kersten's Cologne Mozart

5 people (who are not blood relations or in-laws) who have had a positive impact on my life: Caroline H*, Villa B*, Kieran H*, Tom E* and Diane H*

3 Months Already

Sofia Caroline is 3 months old today. I can't believe that my baby is so big. I am writing all this down so I remember my sweet baby girl. She is so strong and proud of it. If you tell her how strong she is she get a satisfied smirk on her face. She already pulls herself up to stand. Her head bobs around as she holds herself up. She does baby sit ups when laying down, trying to get up. She moves her head back and forth. She loves to be as close as possible. If she is upset and you pull her in really tight so every part of her body is touching you and you bounce her up and down or rock her. She will usually calm down in a bit.

Sofia is one talkative little girl. She coos and gargles all the time. Especially after eating, you can always get her to smile really big and talk to you for awhile. She looks around if she hears voices that she knows. If she is hungry and I say to anyone, I am going to go wash my hands etc and then I will feed her. She will quiet down for she heard what she wanted but if it doesn't happen in a minute she starts screaming again. If you give her a binky and she really wanted it she makes a sound kinda like growling. She attacks that binks with all she's got. She is so much happier now most days. She loves to lay in the middle of the floor and look at everything around her. I have a social butterfly on my hands. She loves going out. She loves watching all the people and be in the middle of whatever we are doing. Kersten's Mom, Monika calls her Johnny Five from the 80's movie, Short Circuit. Because when she is awake she is so alert and takes everything in. It reminds her of Johnny Five "Needs more input". So funny to bring up that memory.

I swear her favorite person is Noah. One day Noah was having an adventure day with Aunt Ginny and Josh and she was so cantankerous all day. When Noah finally got home she calmed down and just kicked and kicked her feet while following him with her eyes. Her world was right again. He loves her a little to much sometimes but most of the time she does not mind. He has started carrying binkies in his pocket around for her. He wants to be the best big brother ever.

She is so sweet and precious. I am so glad that she is in our family and that I am a little more coherent. Love this Sofia girl.

Easter

March Real Simple Interview

On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do you worry about money and why? Right now, about a 9. Our medical bills keep piling up and now I have to buy a new insulin pump. Ahhh, we will figure it out..

What is your favorite place on the planet and why? I love my cabin. it is up in Midway, and when I was young the mountains and scenery was so beautiful. So many happy memories. It was my Grandpa Larry's baby. Sadly now it is much more developed and not a lot of room for snowmobiling and peace. Still it is one of the last places of my childhood that feel secure.

What's the perfect age? (I like what Carrie said and I agree) whatever age I am, because that's where I am

What are you really good at? finding good in bizarre situations or people. I constantly work at this.

What's something that no one knows about you? I replay conversations I just had with people in my head. I even use the facial expressions I used etc. Kersten just learned this about me and teases me about talking to myself a lot.

Something on my mind lately is . . . how much out of pocket my new insulin pump will be, what is the next step with Noah's speech therapy, is there anything else we can do to help Sofia's tummy and what to get for Noah for his birthday next month.

What Is your True Color?

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Yellow

You're yellow, the color of joy and energy — two things you definitely bring to everyone around you. It's hard for anyone to be sad or lonely in your presence; your sunny disposition and cheery outlook just won't allow it. The warmth of your personality shines through in the kindness you show friends and family (and strangers, too). Always ready with a lighthearted joke or heartfelt compliment, you know how to make people feel good about themselves, so they can't get enough of you. Yellow is a warm and inviting color for a warm and inviting person — you!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

I did not even rig this test to try and get yellow. And it is my favorite happy color. Hooray

My Smiley Girl

My Smiley girl. I think we finally have figured out her meds. Each morning now she just sits and coos and smiles after she eats. It is my favorite time of day. Noah and I just sit and talk to her and play with her until she says no more. This is what life is about. This is what makes those all nighters worth it. And the constant crying. She is so much like her dad. When Kersten was a baby, his parents lived in the Avenues. Everyone in that neighborhood knew Kersten. They called him the "Town Crier". They would drive him around in their 1970 VW bug to quiet him down and as soon as they turned the car off, he would start screaming again. His mom always cursed him with a child just like him. I think what she did not take into account is that his future wife would also have to deal with it. I am kidding on that.

Grateful Sunday 3-16-08

Leg Warmers- Sofia is just too precious in her leg warmers. I was reveling in her cuteness all day today as she wore these. Mara gave her these adorable red leg warmers. It totally took me back to my childhood, when I sported the lavender leg warmers. She is also wearing the cutest shoes that Aunt Amy found for a steal and the red bracelet, Lena's Mom, Kathy sent to her. She is one hip little girl. So cute. Made me happy all day.

Playdates - for both Noah and I. We went to Kieran's house on friday and just hung out. Noah plowed Heber down last Sunday when he saw him, he was so excited. Heber is now one of the words that he working on for speech. He kept talking about it all during his appt on friday. It was so fantastic being with one of my best friends just hanging out and having adult conversation. And she did not even mind that Sofia cried most the day, and I did not have to worry that it would be annoying. And I could just pinch her cute Graham and bask in his chubbiness. It was really fun

Father/Son outings- Kersten and Noah had a guys day on Saturday. Kersten and Noah first went to McDonalds with Josh and played for awhile. Then Mom and Sofia met up with them at Home Depot. And then off just Noah and Daddy went to see a movie. They saw Horton Hears A Who and LOVED it. Both of them said it was awesome and talked about it all evening. I am so glad they got to have some fun together.

Hangin with my Siblings- My mom had dinner at her house today. It was so fun to eat her food and be with my siblings, their spouses and their kids. We just hung out and ate and afterwards played the game Apples to Apples which is one of my favorite board games. It was just so nice to be together, their is nobody more willing to love you no matter what than my sisters and brother.
Sibling Love- I am so glad that my kids genuinely love each other. Noah sometimes loves his sister to death. Sofia watches for Noah all the time and waits for his voice to smile. I know you can't tell from most of the pics but They really do adore each other.

Some definite cuteness

Sofia's Blessing Day

Today was the day that Sofia Caroline received her name and a blessing. She is wearing a vintage dress her mama wore back in the 70's when she received her name and blessing. I love the smocking. With her bonnet I thought she looked like a pioneer baby. Josh, her cousin said she looked like Little Bo Peep. Anyway, she looked beautiful. She was an angel during the blessing and did not cry. Kersten did a wonderful job on the blessing and drew the spirit in. Overall, it was perfect.

Afterwards we had a little shindig at our house with food and conversation. It was fun and went off without a hitch. Thanks to my mom, sisters and family. Thank you to all of the people that helped make it so wonderful. It really was fun. And we missed all of you that we love that could not attend. I just revel in my babies cuteness and beauty.

Treasures #1 -Sweaters

I am starting a new series on my blog. I saw this sort of thing on Natalie's blog and loved the idea. So from now on periodically I will post pictures of the treasures in my home to document them and their preciousness. They are not posted in any kind of order just that I love and cherish them very much.

Kersten's, Oma Christel knitted these two beautiful sweaters for her great grandchildren. She actually knitted them when Kersten was around 16 years old. Knowing that he would someday have children and she wanted them each to have something from her. She knitted a boy sweater and a girl sweater for each of her grandchildren.
Noah in his beautiful baby blue sweater
Sofia in her adorable pink sweater. This picture was taken yesterday. So cute