Addiction is a terrible thing.

I just realized I have a horrible problem. I am addicted to these rice snacks. Why do I think I have an addiction you may ask? I just found myself fighting over a bag of them with my 3-year old. Maybe I should have figured it out last night when I was dumping them into my mouth to make sure I got all the crumbs out of the bottom of the bag? Better yet, I should have realized it was a problem when I excused myself from the check-out line at Target because I forgot to stock up on them for the weekend. They are intended to be a nice healthy snack but when you can't stop eating them, it becomes a problem. I think I have to blame it on nursing cravings - so much worse than pregnancy cravings!

All Is Well

Today Clara turned 4 months old. Time is going so fast. I just want to slam on the breaks and make time slow down. She is such a great baby. She is happy, sleeps well, and very social. We are all so in love with out little girl.

We celebrated by going to the Doctor for her 4 month well check. When we took her to the 2 month appointment, she was 11 pounds 14 ounces and 22 1/2inches. She was in the 80th percentile for weight and height and 90th for the size of her head (her hair must have been included in that measurement). Today she was 13 pounds 5 ounces and 25 inches long. She has dropped to the 50th percentile for weight and is in the 75th percentile for height. I am glad to see she is starting to slow down on the weight gain. She was really piling it on for a while.

She did have to get some shots. It was so sad, she just cried and cried. I picked her up to comfort her after the pokes, but she was still pretty upset. I put her down to get her dressed and Thomas came over to comfort her. I was SO GLAD I had my camera to capture this shot of them. I had to take it fast without Thomas knowing because I didn't want him to move. He had such compassion for her.

Overall, the visit was fine. The doctor said she was "perfect," but we already knew that.

You can see how concerned he is and how upset she is in the picture. What a great big brother!

Does this picture say fear or what? I told him over and over again that he was not going to be seen by the doctor, but he was still a little apprehensive about being there.

Something to add: While we were at the doctor, he was playing with my cell phone to keep himself occupied. He took the cell phone and put it in the pocket of his cargo pants. I had forgotten he had it.

After the appointment, we went to story time at the library. Thomas was sitting on the floor with all the other kids and I was sitting on the back bench. He was sitting so quietly and really paying attention to the librarian. Well, he reaches down into his pocket and pulls out the phone. He then opened it up and aimed it at the librarian and took her picture. Then he folded the phone up and stuck it back into is pocket. He was so casual about everything. I can only imagine what the lady was thinking and what the other moms in the room were thinking.

He later told me that he thought the librarian was pretty. I guess he wanted to remember what she looked like.

Pigs Flew Today

Those who know me know I am not a "lets go work outside kind of gal." I like being outside on nice days, but it usually consists of sitting in a lawn chair sipping ice water. I am trying to broaden my horizons. I am trying to get into this whole yard work thing.

We planted our garden today. It's done, now I just have to try and keep it alive and growing. I am trying to stay positive about it.

I was really glad my mom came over to help. She had some great pointers and helped me with the placement of the veggies. I would have never thought to plant the things on vines along the edge so they could grow out and over the pool. I think she also had a good laugh, she knows I am not into this kind of stuff. I am trying. I want Thomas to have the experience and I also want to have a garden.

This is what Clara did while we planted everything. She was fine just sitting in the doorway watching us.

We planted tomatoes, squash, strawberries, melons, beans, herbs, peppers and cucumbers.

I am really excited about my tomato tree. I bought it from the every-so-chic QVC. I had heard of them and wanted one and was really excited when I was flipping through stations one night and saw them demonstrating it. We'll see if it really works. I have my fingers crossed.

Cirque Du Clara

Clara has recently found a new snack, her feet. She loves to roll around on the floor and suck on her big toe. I am amazed at how limber she is. She is just a big ball of rubber! It is so cute to watcher her grab her feet and guide them into her mouth. She is growing up way too fast!

Prep Work

Steve and I have been talking about starting a garden. We have been talking so much about it that I decided we better just get it done, or it is not going to get done this year. We are still working on our backyard (hey, we've only lived here 4 years. Cut us some slack) so we didn't really have a place to dig a garden, so I decided we would try to make a planter gardens out of kiddy pools from The Wal Mart.

Thomas and I went shopping for our vegetables and dirt. It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun shopping for all the things we are going to attempt to grow. He had a blast pulling the little red wagon around the place. He loved the nursery.

I loved the conversation on the way to the nursery, it was the best part of the day...

Thomas: where are we going
Me: We are going to the nursery.
Thomas: I don't want to go to church.
Me: No, it is not that kind of nursery.
Thomas: What is it, mom?
Me: We are going to the plant nursery. This is where they take care of plants and we buy them. Just like the church nursery takes care of you when mommy and daddy are in classes.
Thomas: but I don't want to go to nursery.
Me: We're not, we're going to the plant nursery.
Thomas: oh...but...

The conversation went on for a couple of minutes. How do you explain homophones to a 3 year old? I guess it's not even really a homophone because they are both nurseries, just different types. None the less, it was a difficult conversation that he was having a hard time buying in to.

When we got home I started the task of punching a gazillion holes into the bottom of the larger kiddy pool. It took quite a while, longer than I wanted. Thomas tried to poke the holes with the huge nail I had. I wasn't to thrilled with the idea of him playing with sharp objects so I had him play with the dirt while I did the holes.

After I punched all the holes I told him it was time to start filling the pool with dirt. I gave him his shovel and put him to work. He was so willing to help and such a good worker. I didn't have the heart to tell him we were going to be dumping all the dirt out in the morning to put the compost and potting soil in.

Always fun at Grandma's house

We went over to Grandmas house today. We dropped Clara off and Thomas and I went to the nursery to pick out vegetables to plant in our new garden. When we got there, she had just left to run a quick errand, so Thomas and I were exploring outside while we waited for her.

I remember as a child going to my Grandma and Grandpa's house in Glendora, California. I thought they had the most massive yard. There was so much to explore and so many things to do. As I got older, I realized the yard was not as big as I once thought it was. But, I found that the things that would entertain my cousins and me for hours were still entertaining. I miss that place a lot and I miss my Grandma even more, especially this time of year.

Taking Thomas to Grandmas reminds me of the fun I use to have at my Grandma Helen's. He loves to play in her backyard and is always finding things to get into. He would be completely content if we spent everyday over there playing. Yesterday he found quite a few dandelions and had fun blowing the pods everywhere.

I had fun finding this...

This bird has built a nest in one of my Mom's planters. It just sits there when she walks out there. She knows my mom, and she knows not to be frightened of her. She is afraid of me. I kept trying to get a picture of her, but she would keep flying away. I finally took one from standing inside the doorway.

This is what she has been protecting. I think it is so cool. I am anxious for the little birds to hatch. I can't wait to see them. I was able to get this picture by just sticking my camera up over my head and into the planter, so I didn't disturb anything.

Our Kid Is A Genius

All people think their kids are smart, but seriously, ours is (insert the "we're not bias or anything" comment here). There have been two different incidents the last couple of days that have really impressed me.

On Saturday we had to go at Steve's office to feed Clara. We were on that side of town and she needed to be nursed so we stopped by and he showed me his new office and I was able to feed her. While we were there, Thomas was playing on the white board. I asked him to draw me a circle - AND HE DID! I was blown away. I know he knows all his shapes, he will walk by something and tell me it's an oval or a diamond. He will even tell me how many he sees, but I had no idea he could draw them.

The second thing happened yesterday. He has recently started to play games on the computer. He loves to go to PBS.org or playhousedisney.com. I will set the computer up for him and then he plays while I check my email or work on something else. He has gotten really good at using the mouse. He knows how to navigate around the sites and also switch from game to game.

Yesterday he was playing a painting game on the Curious George website. The game consisted of mixing colors and then painting a picture. The picture he was painting was one of the dogs on the show. The game gives you 4 colors and then you mix them to get the color you want. He had yellow, blue, red and white. I sat and watched him mix all the colors to get gray. He then painted the dog on the screen.

Me: Oh Thomas, that is a nice picture you are painting.

Thomas: thanks

Me: Hundley is cute.

Thomas: Mom, that's Sharky.

He was right, Sharky is a gray dog on Curious George. He knew to mix the colors to get gray. Maybe that's not too impressive, but I thought he was pretty smart to know to mix them to get that dark a color.

Train Ride

On Saturday we went to Boulder City to ride the Southern Nevada Railroad. I had read on a friends blog about the train, so I thought we would copy her and go give it a try. We went with my "cousin" (aunt's step daughter), Heather, her husband Todd, and their 2 year old Tanner. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time.

Here is one of our few family pictures. (You can't see it in the picture, but thanks for the Sparkle and Shine t-shirt Grandma Barb. Clara (and Mommy) loved it. She had the perfect pants to go with it.)

I have mentioned in a previous post that Thomas is going through a phase where he doesn't want his picture taken. This is where he stood while Steve, Clara and I tried to get another family picture outside by the train.

The volunteers dressed up in the old time train costumes. I thought the short one in this picture kind of looks like President Hinckley.

The side we sat on had a really nice view. I was surprised, I was expecting just a bunch of dirt and rocks, but the scenery was really pretty. You forget how beautiful the desert can be.

Recent conversation I want to cry about

Thomas: Mom, do you have another baby in your tummy?

Me: No, Thomas.

Thomas: Does Daddy?

Me: No, Daddies don't have babies.

Thomas: Let me see your tummy.

I lift up my shirt to show off my war wounds from two pregnancies that have left my stomach looking like a road map because of the amount of stretch marks.

Thomas: Oh Mom, your tummy is all smashed up. What happened? Your belly button looks funny. Why does it look like that?...

He continued to go on and on and obsess over my mangled midsection until I changed the subject - and told him I would never feed him again if he ever said anything like that again.

So much to blog, so little time

It's been a few days since I have been able to sit down and add to our blog. This week has just gone by so fast. What am I saying, this month has gone by way too fast. Clara is asleep and Thomas is watching Mickey Mouse for quiet time, so I finally have time to sit down with the laptop and pour my heart out.

The last couple of nights Steve has been getting home around 5:30. It has been wonderful. He recently switched jobs. When he was working physical therapy he wasn't getting home until 8:30. Now that he is working in insurance, he has been able to be more flexible with his hours.

Steve decided that with all the extra time he has had, he would work on our backyard that has been neglected all winter. He has been out there the past couple of nights weeding, raking, and fertilizing the dead grass.

Now I don't want to brag, but take a look at the weed he pulled. This thing was huge. I guess it is nothing to be proud of, but it was massive.

Thomas has been helping him get everything clean. Last night he went out there in his diaper and car shoes. I probably should have put his clothes on him, but I figured he would be easier to clean up without clothes on once he was done playing. When I went out there to check on him he was walking around with the rake. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him.

Maybe he's not our child afterall...

The other main event happening in our house is...drum roll please... Clara has learned to roll over. Steve and I are really surprised that she is doing it this early. Thomas didn't roll over until he was almost 5 months old. She is doing it a month earlier than him.

What I love is Thomas in the background. He hasn't been too impressed that she can roll over. He won't be impressed until she is able to do a somersault as you can see from the video. He keeps on asking me to put her on the floor so he can teach her.

The Gardens with the Gardners

Tonight we went to the Belagio Gardens for Family Home Evening with the Gardner Family. Here are just a few shots of the fun we had.

One of the few family photos we have with Thomas looking at the camera. He is gong through a phase right now where he doesn't want his picture taken. He better grow out of it soon.

Amy, Me, and Clara.
Amy and I have been best friends for over 17 years now.
It is so funny to hear Thomas talk to her. He calls her "Friend Amy" because he has an Aunt Amy and a Mommy Amy. I think the poor kid thinks half the women in this world are named Amy.

3/5 of the kids - Thomas, Emma, and Archer

(I don't know why we didn't stick Ridge and Clara in there.)

They have a green house with live butterflies. It was really impressive.

Thomas and Clara. Thomas did not want to pose for this picture. Amy is pretty much holding him down for me (and holding Clara up). That's a true friend for you!

See what I mean about Thomas not looking at the camera! He does this on purpose, he is such a little stinker sometimes.

Conversations with Thomas

Thomas always seems to come up with some pretty funny comments . This afternoon we were driving home from Costco (the best place in the world) and we were talking about everything we were seeing on the drive. We were lucky enough to pass a couple of people riding horses on one of the rural roads we live by.

Me: Oh Thomas, look out the window.

Thomas: What Mom..... ohhhhhhhh!

Me: Those are some real cowboys!

Thomas: No, Mom. Those are just horsies and people.

I guess he knew that I was trying to make it more exciting than it really was.

Then tonight, we were having dinner with our friends, Rob and Amy Gardner. Amy was talking to Thomas and this was part of the conversation.

Amy: Thomas, did the Easter Bunny bring Clara an Easter basket?
Thomas: No, she just gets milk.

Listen

I have learned as a mom that you need to listen to that little voice in your head. When it tells you to go check on one of the kids, go.

This is what I found when I listened. I was finishing up feeding Clara and I told Thomas to go and try to use the bathroom. He ran in there and I could hear him messing around. I put Clara down and walked over to where I could see inside the bathroom. I am so glad my camera was just a few feet away. I didn't say anything to him and just started to take some pictures.

He actually went to the bathroom standing like this. I am so glad he has good aim!

I am working on my Adobe Photoshop skills. Sorry for the messy bum-cover.

Harley and Thomas

Thomas Loves his cousin, Harley. I was uploading the pictures and found these 2 pictures of them. I hadn't realized I had gotten them because it was so sunny out and I couldn't see my LCD screen. These are definitely keepers!

Happy Easter

Yesterday we had our ward Easter Egg Hunt. We had been "talking it up" to Thomas for the past couple of days. We wanted him to be really excited about it. We told him that he needed to run and get as many eggs as he could. We also teased him and told him to push the other kids over to get the eggs. Luckily, we have a really sweet boy and he didn't take our advice.



When we got to the park, everyone was standing at one side of the grass waiting for more people to show up so they could start. Steve and I were getting all the stuff out of the car and Thomas was hugging all of his cousins that are in our ward. The next thing we know, Thomas had decided to start the hunt early and was already running and getting the eggs. Steve had to chase him down and get him to dump out the eggs. I guess we had him a little too excited. Needless to say, when the hunt started all of our training paid off. He actually did quite well and collected a nice amount of eggs.