Bad Day, Good Attitude Alaina's Blessing Day

We have been really looking forward to February 2! We had set up Alaina's blessing, it was free zoo day, it's Rachelle's birthday and the only teams I care about were playing in the Super Bowl!

I set my alarm early so I could get all ready and be to church on time, even if we had a hick-up or two. Everyone's outfits were set out the night before. I even used my special occasion shampoo. Everyone cooperated and we were out the door earlier than ever! Gary was already down stairs and had cleaned off my car. He was sitting in the drivers seat trying to get the car to start. My car has never had issues starting so I knew it would start if I gave it a try. I put Alaina, who was all dressed in white and snuggled up in her carsear, in the car.I ran up front to start the car and told Gary to check fluid levels. It wasn't starting. We had 10 minutes till church started and poor Ellie was standing on the sidewalk in the freezing cold patiently waiting.  I gave up and asked Gary to drive his suv over so we could begin the 30 minute car seat installation process. At this point I was sad and bumbed we'd be late on blessing day and had no idea if we'd even make it in time to bless her. Now you would think this is the part where our prayer were answered and a miracle got us to church on time but that's not so... Gary got in his car, which thankful started without hesitation. He puts it in reverse and nothing. He pushed the gas and the tires just spin and spin in the snow and ice. I'm now standing by my car in my knee length skirt freezing with 13 pound Alaina in her 15 pound car seat with Ellie by my side. I see a man walking his dog and desperately pray he'll go give Gary a push. Thankfully he did. Still nothing. Another kind stranger goes to help and in the mean time, I've decided there is no way we're getting to 9:00 church in 2 minutes so I lug the kids back up the 3 flights of stairs. We go inside, Alaina is hungry and crying and my brain is frantically deciding who to call first. Gary, who's still stuck but trying to get out? The bishop who is probably on the stand about to start, or my in-laws who were there waiting for us? I texted my mother in law and called Gary. Gary called his brother and had him go tell the bishop. All of my efforts were wasted and we were now just sitting stuck at home.

Gary's family came over and I made them lunch. It was nice to visit for a while. Once they left I cleaned up lunch and then we watched some shows as the kids napped. Once they woke up, Ellie and I made some broncos decor with her orange and blue art supplies.  I made pear crisp and got out our guacamole to go with our corn chips and homemade salsa. We sat down just in time to watch the teams run out. The game started and we all know the rest of that depressing story. I guess that's what I get for betraying my home team.
Don't worry though, our snacks were delish and most importantly, we are safe, healthy and happy. I just wish our day was as great as I had been imagining for weeks.

This is what I've been dreaming of....

This morning Ellie woke up at 6:50. If she wakes up before 7:00 I usually make her wait or if it's really early, I put her back to bed. Today she pushed down the baby gate and came into my bed. I was tired and really wasn't ready to be up for the day. I asked her to go play in her room for a few minutes. She did. She literately played for 3 minutes and came right back in and begged me to go watch cartoons and snuggle with her. How could I resist? I went out and we snuggled. She grabbed my cheeks with her little hands and said "You mine best friend". She is the sweetest little person in the world.

I was just eating cereal and Ellie came to share. She sat down on the chair next to me but after eating a few bites of my cereal she decided she wasn't close enough. She tried climbing onto my lap as I held the cereal bowl. Something led to something else and before I knew it the cereal bowl full of ice cold milk and Honey Bunches of Oats was upside down on my lap. I wanted to scream but I caught myself and instead thought "how sweet is that? She wanted to be with me".  I did let Ellie know that she needs to be more careful to which she replied "Sorry" and gave me a kiss. How can you get mad at such a sweet little person? Imagine what would have happend if I did yell at her? I can bet she wouldn't have said sorry or given me a kiss. I was so close to letting that sweet moment slip by. It's so easy to get mad and frustrated rather than seeing things through their eyes.

As I gave Alaina her bath (she started her day out with a bang, or as we call it, a blow out) she looked up at me with her innocent little eyes. I was cooing and babbling at her as I always do and she gave me the saddest little pouty lip I've seen in my entire life. This girl has me wrapped around her little finger.

I get so sad when parents complain about the struggles of parenthood. I will admit I have gotten mad when Ellie smacks my head with her head or when Alaina wakes up a few extra times in a night. I know it's a sacrifice. It takes patience. Sure they break things and make messes but I'd take all of that over not having my little girls with me. I love my life exactly how it is. I wouldn't change a single thing. I have THEE most amazing little girls in the world to spend each and every day with. I have a hard working husband who despite hating his job and the abuse that comes with it, works 60 hours a week so we can have everything we need and want. I have a tiny little condo but it's the most beautiful home I've lived in and it keeps us safe and warm.

I'm not kidding when I say, this is what I've always wanted. This is the life I have always dreamed of. I have everything I have ever wanted in life and I couldn't be happier. I wish I could bottle this up and save these moments. I know time is going fast and it breaks my heart that before I know it my sweet babies will be grown and out of the house. I love this phase of life and I'm trying so hard to savor every second of it!

Now here is our sleepy-head-just-woke-up-messy-hair picture that seems to fit this post quite nicely! Here is to enjoying life as it is and not caring about it's imperfections (something I need to work on remembering)

3 Months Old!

I feel horrible for not writing about Alaina on her one month and two month marks. I suppose I have been in denial about her growing up so fast. She woke me up at 4:30 this morning and I thought "Yay Alaina,  you are one month old in a few minutes" but as I pulled myself out of my sleepy state I sadly realized no, my sweet baby is 3 months old! Why does time have to slip away so quickly? She's lost that sweet newborn cry and her little corndog nose. That is what I call the little tiny white speckles on newborns noses.

Alaina at 3 months:
She wakes up with a huge smile on her face and her arms stretched high every morning.
She loves watching her family run around the house while sitting in her excersauser jumper thing.
She loves jumping in her bumper jumper in the bathroom doorway as I shower each day. After jumping for a few minutes she falls asleep.
She goes to bed at 8:00 every night and falls into a deep sleep minutes after being put in her bed.
She sleeps 8-9 hours each night before waking up for her mid-night snack.
She loves to grab my hair or shirt while I'm holding her
She's too long for her 3 month pajamas! She's starting to wear her 6 month outfits now.
She was diagnosed with eczema :(
She's been rolling from tummy to back since she was 2 weeks old.
She giggles but she's stingy and hardly laughs with us.
She smiles when I talk to her. She smiles a lot!
She can bat at toys and hold rattles.
She's loved tummy time every day of her life but this past week decided it's pretty much the worst thing ever!