Girls

Our Maya-girl is adorable. Just adorable. And in the last month she has finally turned into a person. So let me introduce you to Maya. Maya crawled "for real" at 6 1/2 months. At 7 months she started pulling herself to standing, which now makes her India's official partner in crime during naptime. They goof off and refuse to sleep because they're having way too much fun. Maya's two bottom teeth have just poked through. Like India, Maya is a GOOD baby. However, she mostly only wants me just all of the time. Lucky me. Maya is not a crybaby, but she is emotional and sensitive to Ammon and India's teasing, pretend-yelling/mad, and scaring. (No wonder she wants me all the time - I'm the culprit that turned her into a mommy's girl by being nice to her). Maya will sometimes give open-mouth kisses. She teases India by pulling her hair and teases me by pulling my glasses. Maya shakes her head no. Maya plays laughing games with all of us and pretends to hide. She will sit and play with toys. She will even let me read books to her! Finally, Maya will eat everything in sight, including garbage.

I love this stage!

India is just getting so darn big. She has graduated to Barbie dolls whose names are Belle and Aunt Brittany (who is a nurse Barbie). When she's not teasing Maya, she is taking such good care of her. India is so teachable right now. She has decided we sing a hymn every time before we read scriptures. And she sings them too! India prays to go to school every day. Every morning she asks if we are going on a run or a walk. Finally, we are teaching her about earning, saving, and paying tithing, so she divides up her earned money every Saturday.

Finally

she crashed.

#6

Ammon, we did it again. Happy 6th Anniversary (yesterday)! It was more of an accomplishment than a celebration this year, so good on us for doing hard things! I had a lovely time swimming at the Scera Pool with our girls for our family birthday, watching the lightening on the porch, shopping for "old people stuff", and having a delicious kid-free lunch (as in getting a babysitter --- not devouring children).

I love you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Free Book

Colum McCann's new novel, Let the Great World Spin, is free to download through Wednesday, August 5th! You have sign up to become a member to oprah.com, (Ammon - don't panic, I'm not converting to Oprah-worship) and that's free too!

Secret Crush

Ammon told India she needed to take a nap after lunch.

India: "Ok. I'm going to dream about Josh."

Ammon : "Which Josh?"

India: "Kenna's Josh."

Ammon: "Why?"

India: "Because I love him silly."

You wouldn't know it because she's a bit shy around Josh, but now we know why! We've already given Family Home Evening lessons on kissing rules since India kept snogging neighbors and nursery friends. Sheesh.

Featured above is Kenna & Kenna's Josh. They have started a blog explaining who they are and why they are choosing to adopt. Click here or the box on the side to read more!

We love you Shumheads! Keep persevering, stay strong, and someday all those tears will be worth it.

So if you haven't heard . . .

I left my sleeping girls with my sleeping husband since it had been a late night. On the way home from my morning walk with Sarah and Lauren, I saw 2 police cars in front of Cheree's home on 200 East. I distinctly remember saying, "Let's go see why the police are here because I'm nosy."

Turns out they were there for me: Cheree was holding a very frightened India. The officers ask if I am the parent of this child. A wonderful lady (who I do not know but would love to) found India, called the police, and I'm guessing dropped India off in front of Cheree's house, which isn't exactly just around the corner from our apartment. The police took my and India's name, birthday, address, and phone number. I thought they were going to arrest me or fine me or both for being a dummy.

When we came home the door was open, and Maya and Ammon were still sleeping. India claims she left the house to look for me because she knew I was on a walk without her. Needless to say, the girls will be coming with me on all walks and runs from now on.

More Firsts

I'm so sad our pictures always turn out so dark. Someday, maybe an upgrade. Anyway, Maya sat up BY HERSELF for the first time (yesterday). We can hardly keep her down. Like when she's supposed to be napping.

Also, Maya has started sticking out her tongue when she is the most happy such as when Ammon and I come home from work, or when she gets to take a bath, or everytime she sees India.

And, of course, whatever Maya does, India proves she still CAN do. Believe me, she is NOT deprived of attention.

Cute Maya and adorable baby Olivia - our neigbor who is 6 weeks younger than Maya. I couldn't get both girls to look at me at the same time. So I had to post one of each.

Oh yes. I forgot to mention that Maya got her first of many to come dorky bangs haircut by me! It's a rite of passage in motherhood. I'm glad she doesn't know and isn't going to lock herself in her room for the rest of the day.

Silliness

Last night the sandman played a mean trick on Maya. Our crib has gap between between the end and mattress since there is only fabric on one end of the bed (see teddy bear demonstration). At 11pm Maya is crying because her head, shoulders, arms, and torso had become stuck upside down in this gap. I've deployed a teddy bear brigade to protect Maya from further incidents onto the floor via the gap in the crib fabric. Luckily, Maya is fine and decided to celebrate life by being extra cute and talkative and staying up with Mommy and Daddy till midnight.

Team Goofy. Clearly, one binky is not enough for Maya. And pigtails make the girl look so grown up at 6 months.

A different day I heard Maya whining in the living room, but I ignored it because I was busy. The whimpering didn't stop, so I investigated and saw this:

I asked India if Maya had sat up by herself. But no, India had "helped" Maya do the splits just like her. Good thing kids are so cartilage-able/ish/y (choose your own suffix for my newly invented adjective!).

And for fun, here is Uncle David obviously not feeling well at all. My mom, who just put in new, creme carpeting, told him to get a bowl and not to miss. And that's Uncle Jared in the corner practicinghis deer- in-the-headlights look. I'm such an awesome photographer.

Hearts & 6 Months

-Conversation with India after listening and comparing heartbeats-

What does Daddy's heart say?

Bump, bump.

What does Maya's heart say?

Bouncy, bouncy.

Officially 6 months!

15.2 lbs and 25 inches

After four shots and literally three seconds of crying, Maya slept for twenty two hours, waking only for a few feedings. We must have bought a magic binky, which I am going to let her keep until she turns 21.

Mmmmm

She likes it! Rice cereal that is. And she likes to feed herself.

Her aim is pretty good and very messy.

I love this stage. She sits up by herself. She's not crawling but remains a scooting maniac, which is great because she can get to where ever she needs, but not fast. She is a good, good baby. Today I cleaned the church and left her in the stroller. She made not a peep until we reached the two hour mark. She will watch me work out and scoot over to grab my hair if I'm on the floor.

I thing the biggest difference between Maya and India at this stage is that Maya has turned into a mommy's girl and is going through stranger anxiety. She doesn't cry at every stranger. It's been a bit random. But Great Grandma Parker found a way around stranger anxiety in the form of a bowl of icecream!

Zoinks - She's Sassy

Ammon put the girls in the car to pick me up from work at 9 pm last night. Maya was cranky and crying, so Ammon asked India to talk to Maya, thinking it would help distract and calm her down. Obediently and irritatedly, India says, "Shut up Maya!" Ammon then tells India to use her nice words, so she changes her tone and sweetly says, "Be quiet Maya!"

Rain

Only the cool moms let their kids risk giardia.

We've had some rain! And I love it! Our thunderstorms have not been nearly as wet, torrential, or loud as the Mississippi (for Erin) or Illinios (for Ammon) downpours we'd have for HOURS, but this will suffice. All the neighbor kids have been stir-crazy locked into our tinyish apartments, so Susan and I let the kiddos intially splash in the puddles. However, when India layed facedown into the puddles in her clothes, I let her change into her bathing suit.

Tristan sporting the oh-so-cool farmer's tan.

Not afraid of muddy water when totalllly bored.

Gorgeous rainbows. I wish God would permanantly place one over my home everyday.

India & Alyssa playing and talking during the rain.

Marshallman!

Uncle Marshall: smashingly good-looking in a tuxedo.

I recorded Marshall's concert for my parents who were house-hunting in New Hampshire. This piece is entitled Something Classical. Just kidding . . . Marshall probably knows the right name. I am blaming the terrible filming on Maya, who wouldn't stop grabbing the camera string. I couldn't get the other two videos to upload.

Duh.

The girls' room has smelled like nail polish since Friday, and I have NOT been able to find the source of the smell until today: a can of glitter spray paint tipped on its side. No wonder they haven't been sleeping well. I hope they didn't lose too many brain cells from being high.

SOS

Once upon a time Lady Erin was able to change her blog background whenever she wanted. However, this also resulted in accidentally erasing links, widgets, her husband's play lists, etc.

The handsome, cunning, and blog savvy husband Ammon would counter Erin's clumsiness by repairing the blog without complaint and restore the background to something less girly.

One day Ammon surprised Erin with a beautiful girly background! Yet, unbeknown st to her, Ammon cursed the girly background so she could never ever change it again.

If you are able, please come teach Erin how to break the curse on her own blog. She will reward you with a high five or slightly used baby that refuses to sleep throughout the night.

Awesomeness

 

Who needs dance lessons when you've got moves like this? 

Maya Cuteness

Exhausted from watching India & neighbors play in the sprinklers.

Maya is incredibly happy.  Who gets two good babies in a row?  She loves sitting and playing with toys.  She especially loves trying to get the toys Inida is holding.  The way we get India to do things fast is to "beat" Maya or us to it.  The sibling rivalry is quite funny now, but I'm sure I'll get annoyed with it in the future.

In other good news, Maya has started sleeping through the night again.  She took a 2 or 3 week break for no GOOD reason - it's not like she's a newborn anymore.  Anyway, aren't her rolls and chubby cheeks so squeeze-me adorable?  

Summer Fun

Free helium-filled balloon from grocery store + more string + hanger + child = Balloon Kiting

India did a fabulous job of painting my toenails with her new fingernail polish that she got for letting Livia-O wax her unibrow.  I love it!  Last night at work when I was missing the girls, I would slip off my glass slipper shoes (India's term for closed-toe shoes) and admire all the pretty colors she chose for me.

Family Home Evening: "Samuel the Lamanite"

Trying to Catch Up

While watching Enchanted, Panties Livia-O & Hannah gave India a princess makeover.  I didn't get a picture, but Saturday India also got her unibrow waxed off by Livia-O.  And don't you judge me . . . someday she will thank me and hopefully do the same for her children.

Cousin Jack, India, & Maya

Stay tune all week for more updates!

Sleeping

Maya has done this since she was a newborn.  And she is dead asleep.  Goofy, isn't it?

Beads

Ammon: has less than one month of school left till summer break! And we have already packed most of our summer break with plans! Since he just finished boys' soccer this week, he left school at 3pm for the first time since January! He celebrated being home early by immediately driving to the pediatrician's office to complain about a bill (which he axed down to $40 from $140 - no yelling AND no swearing, just a grumpy face).

Me:  Sariah, Livia-O, Hannah, and I went to

 jumparobics at Jump On It in Lindon.  So FUN and so HARD!  And I didn't pee my pants just a little.  They provide free babysitting where the kids get to play on the other blow-up toys and trampolines, and I just kept Maya on the platform by me.  I can't wait to go again.  I also went down to Centerville twice this week to help get my family's house ready for new carp

eting because they are moving to New Hampshire.  Sad news.  But it will be fun to go visit the

m since we've  never been to New Hampshire before!  Lastly, my hair is now dark.  Really dark.  So dark that all of my students, boss, and husband noticed.

India & Maya: India is so fun!  Every morning she asks, "What are we going to do today?"  She loves playing with friends and going to story time.  Maya is rolling over and starting to sit up on her own (finally . . .  at 4 months).  I thought I would take away the bink, but I'm weenie.

The Real Giggles

India is the only one who can make Maya laugh.  (Sometimes Maya will grunt for Ammon and me when we tickle her.)  I filmed this as I was holding Maya Moo, which is why you don't see the front of her face.  Although her laughing and "talking" sounds more teradactyl than human, I think it's adorable because I'm the mom.

Oh sweetie . . .

"Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it." ~Author Unknown

What an Andrew Jackson Can Get You

Here's an email from my mom.  Background: Bryce & Nathanael are my brothers. Nathanael (6)  shares a room and bed with David (8). Nathanael has been scheming ways to marry Josie since he was 3.

April 26, 2009

The funniest thing happened tonight.  Bryce and Josie came over and we did the Easter candy hunt with them (yes, 2 weeks late).   At bedtime, Nathanael said that he would sleep with Josie and Bryce could sleep with David.  Bryce said, "well it cost me $1800 for a wedding ring for Josie so I could sleep with her, so do you have $1800. . . (and then just to be nice). . . or do you have 1800 cents?"  Well, Nathanael ran to his room, grabbed his $20 bill (birthday money) and ran back out to Bryce and said "You owe me 2 dollars"    So, as I write this, Nathanael is sleeping INBETWEEN Bryce and Josie in Rachel's bed, with his tooth under his pillow.  Bryce will learn not to mess with Nathanael when it comes to numbers.

So Bryce, I hope you kept the money. Maybe you could buy Josie a bit of therapy, so she'll want to keep hanging out with our family.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Not really.  The only thing missing from this picture is the cool stripey witch socks.  

India dragged Maya into her secret play space while I was out of the room for 20 seconds.  I'm thinking of the  fun {read: damage} they'll have when Maya's legs start working.

Last week after lunch outside on the porch, I said:

"India, go put your plate in the garbage."

India: "No, you go put the plate in the garbage."

Me: "No, you go put the plate in the garbage. I am not your maid."

India: "You is my mommy maid."

Me:  "No, I'm not.  You've got legs.  Put your plate in the garbage.

India: "I NOT YOUR MAID!"

Me: "YES YOU ARE. GO PUT YOUR PLATE IN THE GARBAGE NOW."

Point for Them

You win PEHP.

Thanks Mom for listening to me unload my frustrations and giving me a great pep talk and advice even though you have tons of homework to finish for finals.  

Thanks Dad for being a human before a doctor and writing off many a patient bill because of his/her circumstances.  

Thank you Diane in billing for changing Maya's bill today after I balled beside your cubicle in front of my children and 13 other strangers because PEHP doesn't cover all immunizations.  

 And finally, thank you to John Schmidt's inspirational music (that I found on Kenna's blog).  After so much crying, it has been the perfect "pick-me-up."

Beautiful Baby

Just a cute picture

India wanted "Cinderella braids" today.  Wait, she's old enough to make requests?  She looked at herself in the mirror the other day and frustratedly exclaimed, "I want straight hair - not curly!"

De-Mulleting the Baby

Beautiful & Spunky: Aunt Livia-O

Before: (shudder)

After: It actually looks a ton better.  Thanks to Hannah for your honesty and to Livia-O for Maya's first haircut!

She Told Me She'd Like a Pink One

I've Learned to Upload Videos!

Maya has recently starting "talking" to us. India was not as social at this age.



These girls adore each other.

Point for Me

I loathe insurance companies.  Even more so than Walmart, bad drivers, potty soup, ranch dressing, and the obnoxious cartoon Sid the Science Kid.   We pay mega-bucks for a 100% insurance coverage, but surprise bills and more deductibles keep popping up.

But you know what?  This post-pregnancy I've actually got some time and a killer cell phone plan to battle it out.  Me vs PEHP. And they cannot hang up on me.

The Battle: Infant Audio Screening Test $84. Insurance denies the claim because the doctor is out of PEHP's network.  I go ballistic, not necessarily because of the money, but because I'm confused as to why the hell an out-of-network doctor is working at my already-insurance-approved hospital.  (No wonder people have their babies at home.  That almost might be worth giving up the epidural and going natural).

Many phone calls later, PEHP pays for part of the claim AND I get the bill down to $50.25 for Maya's deductible.   BOOYAH!  I saved $30 bucks, and I won a moral battle.  I have now saved our family over $200 as of January because I would not give up.

Oh yeah, and it turns out the doctor is in the PEHP network.  NEVER trust your insurance. Apparently, PEHP only hires old women for customer service to make you feel bad for swearing at them, but it's still a ruse.  (And for the record, swearing only happens when x amount exceeds three digits).