This Week in Pictures

...plus a movie.

Benjamin proudly displaying his Lego
"broccoli" that he built for a the kids club
competition. We might work on a few
more before sending one in. :)

We worked for a while on the last one. This is
Benjamin's made-up animal that he built for
the last kids club competition.  He was really
hoping to win that $100 Lego money!
Oh, well. At least he's still trying! 

Nora modeling her new swimming suit for me
(what?! I had to see if it fit!) . She really likes it.

Nora's first pig tails! I hear this is a big
milestone in a young girl's life.

And last, but certainly not least,
PETER IS POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!!!!!

Peter picked out Spiderman and Spongebob
underpants after he proved he could
stay clean and dry for 7 days.
We're SO proud of him!

Double Digits

Nora is officially in her double digits- in months, that is. I got curious this morning, so I did a little math. You are in your double digits from 10 months until you are 8 years and 4 months old, when you enter your triple digits (100 months). From there, you are in your triple digits until you are 83 years and 4 months old (1000 months), or roughly until the end of your life.
So humor me for a second and follow me through my crazy theories. Nora, who is now ten months old is just barely beginning to understand right from wrong. And she has roughly until her triple digits to learn right from wrong before she becomes accountable for her actions. The triple digits make up the bulk of a person's life, until you reach 83 years, which is about when I think you've made it. It's like your mental and physical capability become like a child's again. So I don't know, but maybe the quadruple digits don't count as much- kind of like the double digits? ;) Ok, I'm a little crazy.

Anyways, Nora really is growing up. She claps, plays peek-a-boo, understands "no," and is always on the go. She has also become really fond of sparkly things, and loves to take necklaces and headbands on and off. Her favorite spot in the house is on the child-size rocker in Benjamin and Peter's room. Lately, she almost always has a bruise somewhere on her face from climbing or falling. She just barely cut her first tooth a few days ago. Uninterrupted nights of sleep are also becoming less of a rarity for her. Last night, Peter was up screaming from 3 a.m. until 4 a.m., but Nora even slept through that. She loves to be held, and will nuzzle her face in Paul's or my shoulder. She also loves to sit on my lap and read stories. She's a sweetheart, and I can't imagine life without her!

Debt Elimination

So Paul and I recently finished reading this together, and we're feeling committed to getting out of debt for good. So far, we've completely eliminated our credit cards and student loan debt (WOOHOO!), and now we're tackling the remaining debt we have on our van. It already feels so liberating (even though my scheming for the front-room-redesign has been put on the back burner for a bit). I don't think we've ever been frivolous, but I think this book has made us a lot more focused. And I do feel liberated when I think about our financial future. Was it a well written book? Not really. But I would recommend it, especially BEFORE you buy a house (which we obviously didn't do).

Three

I took all three kids to the kids to the zoo by myself today, a feat worth noting. I thought the initial adjustment to three kids was pretty easy, but it seems to be getting harder. I had my share of people watching while we were there, noticing all the wonderful moms of two who were patiently explaining all sorts of fascinating facts about the animals to their kids, and I sort of miss those days. I felt like I was running around, chasing Benjamin (who always seemed to be at least 50 feet ahead of us), trying to interest Peter in anything (he has been perpetually exhausted from weeks of missed naps), and keep Nora from throwing herself out of the stroller (she was tired from missing her morning nap)...sometimes I miss just having two kids. 

I guess most of us are prone to comparing ourselves to others, which is never healthy. My thing right now is trying not to compare myself with who I was before, like when I had all the time (and energy) in the world to just focus on one kid. 

I'm sure this is just one of those temporary phases of life, one that I will laugh about in the future. Right now, I feel stretched pretty thin. I have to remember to take it one day at a time, rather than fearing the long summer ahead of me with three kids under 5 at home all day every day.

Life is what it is. I'm not really complaining, just noting that this is an especially challenging time, and navigating my way through it. I really am blessed to have these three cuties all to myself every day. 

And time really is fleeting. I'm always marveling at how fast they grow. Nora is quickly becoming a delightful little girl, Peter talks in full, deliberate, annunciated sentences, and Benjamin will practically be owned by the public school system in a few short months. Motherhood is one of those things that is perfectly designed to help you grow each and every day of your adult life. I'm sure I'll never have this all figured out, but that's ok.

Benjamin Funnies

I've been wondering about my good standing with Benjamin since I got my hair cut yesterday. His first reaction was a look of complete shock, then he said, "You look silly." Last night, I thought it was weird that Benjamin didn't give me a goodnight hug and kiss like he always does. Then this morning he slipped out the door, leaving before our usual hug and kiss on his way to preschool. Hmm...But I think we might be ok now. During lunch he told me that I used to look like myself, but now I look like Daddy, which officially gives me permission to be in the "Cool Dudes" club. Thanks, Benjamin. I'm honored! :) 

So Benjamin's Primary class has been learning the prophets by playing Memory each week, and now he probably knows them better than me. 

His teacher told me that Benjamin identified Lorenzo Snow as "Snow White." :)  I always thought his beard looked nice and snowy white too.

Then the other day, Paul asked who John the Baptist was in this picture, and he told him "John Taylor." At least the names are sinking in!

Hacked

I finally did it. I cut my hair...

I've been wanting to try a pixie for a while, and I finally got the guts to do it. I'm still getting used to it, but so far, I like the way it feels. I had to do something about the 1 1/2" post-baby wisps that were framing my face!

The Pacifier Elf

Peter is officially two-and-a-half now, an age which I still maintain is about as rough as it gets. He is a whirling ball of energy and emotion, but his verbal skills are beginning to catch up. Recently, he's started to develop very real fears- of ants, worms, thunderstorms...and a few other odd things that I can't remember. He screams at the top of his lungs and his little body shakes, and it's really sad. He must have learned that his fears get him immediate attention though, because now he's "too scared" to go to bed...ever. I've sort of given up on enforcing nap time, even though he desperately needs one. And sadly bedtime doesn't make up for lost nap time sleep, as he sits in his bed and cries for what seems like forever, finding any excuse he can to avoid the inevitable.

Peter is very aware of others, and sensitive to their feelings. Benjamin knows he can take advantage of his kindness, and Peter usually lets him. The other day, Peter noticed a scab on my arm and told me that I needed a band-aid to fix it, or that we'd just have to get a new mommy. Ok, maybe he's not always sensitive to other's feelings. 

So I was refreshing myself on pacifier weaning tactics the other day, thinking it was about time we pulled the plug. I (re)learned that older children who regularly use a pacifier develop a gap between their top teeth and their bottom teeth, which I admittedly hadn't even noticed in Peter until just now. 

That was enough to convince me, so we started telling him about the "Pacifier Elf," who is one of Santa's lesser known helpers. After a few days, he was ready to leave all of his prized pacifiers outside his door for the night, in hopes that the Pacifier Elf would bring him something fun in return. Silly Pacifier Elf didn't take into account that there were violent tornados in the area that night (that coincidentally ripped up our airport), but he was on a mission, and didn't want to disappoint that trusting little boy. Peter loved his new Spongebob ball and Buzz Lightyear flashlight, and was even kind enough to share his spoils with Benjamin. 

He seems to be a sponge. I don't feel like I've been as diligent in teaching him his alphabet or numbers as I was with Benjamin, but it seems to have made no difference. He knows all of his letters and can identify the letters in words by the sounds they make. He also continues to be very musical, and can carry a really nice tune! He has days where he gets very inquisitive, and will ask "why?" over and over again. It can get frustrating at times, especially when I've explained something as thoroughly as I can. When he's finally ready to move on though, he'll say, "Ohhhh, I get it!" 

My Mom always used to say that it's a good thing two years olds are so cute, or there wouldn't be any left. In Peter's case, I couldn't agree more!