My Ten Reasons

So I was going through my maternity clothes the other day so I could swap them out of my closet for regular clothes (yeah!). And although I did shed a little tear because getting rid of maternity clothes means the end of being pregnant, it was also nice to find clothes I forgot I had - it was like free shopping! But as I was doing this, I thought of a few other reasons that I'm glad I'm not pregnant anymore and a few reasons I wish I was again (don't get any ideas though!).

5 Reasons I wish I was pregnant again:

*People are more than willing to give up their seats for you while waiting for a seat at the restaurant. And there were several times that people wouldn't let me do any manual labor because I was pregnant so I got to just sit back and watch while they worked. Awesome!
* Elastic pants are so great for eating a lot, using the bathroom (which you do a lot of when you are pregnant), and getting dressed in the morning.
* Sleeping through the night!!! Yes, you do get up in the night to use the bathroom but it takes like what? A minute? Feeding a baby, changing his diaper, and rocking him back to sleep takes a good 45 minutes at the least!
* You can eat what you want and not worry about gaining weight. You are supposed to gain weight when you are pregnant, right? And who can tell what is baby weight and what is extra weight you have gained?
* Feeling the baby move is the best part of pregnancy! It is so fun (and so difficult!) to try and tell what body part is pushing against your ribs or your stomach. And feeling hiccups is the best.

5 Reasons I'm glad I'm not pregnant anymore:

* We go through a LOT less toilet paper now.
* I can actually bend down and tie Rix's and Bryce's (and my own) shoes. Before I had to find some sort of table or chair to place them on so I could reach their feet. Not an easy task when we have a no shoe policy in our house.
* I don't worry if I've eaten my 5 servings of fruits and vegetables for the day anymore (although I should still try, but now I don't have another person depending on my nutritional intake).
* I don't have to call my doctor every time I want to take a medication or eat a food that is questionable (hot dogs are okay!!!). And I can eat right before bed and not take a Zantac or Tums - that rocks the most.
* The best reason is, of course, seeing the little baby that was hanging out in my stomach (well not my stomach but you know what I mean) for 9 months. I see him get the hiccups and think - I remember those when you were in my tummy! And he always sleeps with his hands by his face and I remember feeling his little fingers move by his head before he was born.

Cole David Pearson!!!

So of course you all know that Cole is here, but being at home for a week and not having internet access makes this blog a little late - but better late than never, right? So the story goes like this - on Sunday I was really really sick and couldn't keep anything down. I had some sort of stomach flu and felt really yucky. Later that afternoon I started to get contractions that came and went, but they were getting painful. When I called Labor and Delivery the nurse said I was having contractions because I was dehydrated. I finally kept a glass of water down at 2 am, but by then the contractions were coming every ten minutes. Monday morning I called and let Labor and Delivery know that I was on my way in - even though I was sure they were going to send me home. Nancy Morelock (you may recall her from cheesecake fame - if not, look back to past blogs) came over to watch my kids and we were on our way. When we arrived the nursing staff realized that I was scheduled to be induced the next day but decided that Monday was a better day for them, so they proceded to hook me up to pitocin and an IV. This was around 8:30 am. Contractions started almost right away, and of course I was begging for an epidural. The first round didn't work at all, so after what seemed like forever, the epidural man came back and gave me what he called a "large dose" of epidural stuff. My right leg, which was already numb from the first epidural, went dead but the rest of me was just right. My last dose of epidural was given around noon and I was about at 4 centimeters. Then at 12:30 I started to feel hard contractions and the nurse checked me - and my water had broken. And I was at 10 centimeters! I went from a four to a ten in less than an hour! And I didn't even have to push! The doctor came in and Cole basically slipped out. It went so fast and it was so amazing. In fact, it went so fast that I didn't have time to turn off the TV or anything - so you will all be pleasantly surprised to know that ESPN was on while Cole was born. Nice, right? But it was so amazing to see him for the first time, and to hold him right away. He had this little lip pout and would cry, and then stare into space, and then cry. It was so sweet and precious - and he was so little that I was afraid of touching him! He was 6 lbs. 11 oz. at birth - bigger than we thought he was going to be - but still so small compared to Rix and Bryce. Overall he is a great baby. He sleeps really well - about three to four hours at a time - and just loves to be held and snuggled with. And - the best part - he sleeps through the crazy noise in our house. And even though he only has three outfits that really fit he already is a huge part of our lives! Rix and Bryce have adjusted to his presence in our home. There have been a few meltdowns, but overall they love Cole and ask about him all the time. We love our new addition to the family and can't wait to share all the new pictures and milestones with you!

Pregnancy Update: ALMOST 39 weeks

I can't believe that I am so close to being done with my pregnancy! My baby countdown is 10 days. That is such a small number!! This pregnancy has been very different for me, with lots of aches and pains, cravings and little weight gain. My hip flexers (I probably spelled that wrong!) hurt all the time and, yes, I occasionally waddle. I don't sleep very well and my false contractions are very uncomfortable. With that said, this pregnancy has also been so great. With all the concerns the doctor has had about the size of the baby and my lack of weight gain, everything has been okay so far. My ultrasound yesterday was a huge reassurance. Last Friday, the pre-birth APGAR (a test they do to determine how well the baby is doing based on several factors) was only 6 out of 10, resulting in a scary trip to Labor and Delivery at the hospital where they did fetal monitoring for an hour. However, everything turned out fine and the baby looked really good on the monitor. Yesterday's ultrasound went much better and he got a 10 out of 10 on the pre-birth APGAR. Yeah for baby! My doctor, however, is still concerned about the weight of the baby, especially since Rix and Bryce were healthy weights, and we don't have a solid reason for why this baby is so small. I am dialated to a one or a two, so I am on modified bed rest and I'm not supposed to be getting up a lot (like that is possible for me!) and am scheduled for an induction next Tuesday. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Wish us all luck and pray that I don't go into labor before Thanksgiving dinner - I want my turkey and pumpkin pie!!!

Bryce's Quirky Obsessions

Bryce is growing up so fast! He is so silly and does things every day that make us laugh (or pull our hair out - see why Bryan is bald?). He has certain things in his life that he has to have or the world will fall apart - and I will share these objects with you for your enjoyment and entertainment:

1. Please never show Bryce an apple unless you plan on giving said apple up. He loves them and will eat an entire apple on his own, although it takes several hours to finish. By completion time, the apple is an odd shade of brown and has fuzzies all over it. Notice the wet spot on his shirt in this picture? It's from holding the apple against his chest as he walks around with it. Nice, huh?

2. Bryce LOVES his blankie and heaven forbid we forget it when we go somewhere. Lovingly called "Bee" by Bryce, blankie goes with us to the store, church, other people's houses, and in the car. When we say it is time for bed he will ask for "bee" and "piddy" - which is sippy - and will not go to sleep quietly without either. One time I washed "bee" and forgot to dry it in time for bed, and it was a horrible experience. I also took it from him one night after he had fallen asleep to wash it and he woke up in the middle of the night crying for it. Thankfully it was dried and I ran to the dryer to get it. He also threw it out of his bed once and freaked out - he has never thrown it from his bed again. I dread the day we lose "bee"! In this picture he looks grumpy, but he is actually eating a Peanut M&M with his front teeth :)

3. Bryce has a sock fetish and will take everyone's socks from their sock drawer and scatter them everywhere. He loves to have socks put on his feet and hands and gets excited when I pull a pair of socks from his drawer (which I have placed at a much higher level now). He also loves shoes and will play with a pair of shoes for hours. He also begs to have shoes put on, even if they aren't his.

4. Josh Groban. Need I say more? Whenever we get in the car, Bryce immediately asks for "Oban" and by "Oban" he means the Scary Drum Song that Rix loves. (For those who aren't familiar with this song, it is track #7 on the Closer CD). We play it over and over again - and if I change the song or station, he starts asking for "Oban" again. How can I deny a 17-month old his favorite song?

5. I wish I knew how to do videos, because Bryce loves to say "no" and when he says no, he means it! I love when you ask for a kiss, he gives the most definite "NO" that he knows how to do. And when he really doesn't want to do something, he will lower his head and purse his lips and say "no" - and he will not give you eye contact. He is so ornery! I love it for now, but I'm sure this will get old really fast!

Pregnancy Update: Week 37

I went to my doctor's office yesterday and - SURPRISE - the baby is head down. He even used his super ancient ultrasound machine to check. I am so relieved that I don't have to go through the whole baby turning thing. It made me nervous and it sounded painful. However, to put a damper on my relief, my doctor is now concerned because I haven't gained any weight in seven weeks. Normally I would be thrilled about this news. But the doctor says I should be gaining some weight because the baby should be growing. I haven't eaten super healthy, although I haven't been pigging out either. So either I have lost weight or the baby isn't growing, which could be bad. So now I have to wait a whole entire week to get another ultrasound to make sure everything is okay with the baby. It is going to drive me crazy! My only consolation is that the baby is still very active and has been from day one. And if my doctor was super concerned he would have sent me to get an ultrasound right away. So one more week of waiting and we will know for sure. We will know by next Friday and, of course, will keep you posted. (Haha, did anyone else get that? Posted - which is also the term for writing on the blog - posts??? Nevermind...)

Tagged by Destiny!!!

So I never do the "tags" that I get, or the emails that ask you to answer like one hundred questions, but I like this tag, so I will humor you all. And FYI - some of these answers will be different tomorrow!

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
*I was working at Papa Murphy's and smelling like pepperoni and onions
*I was in high school
*I went to the National Competition inAnaheim for DECA (a business club)
*I was captain of my dance team in high school
*I ate McDonald's chicken sandwiches almost every day (so gross!)

5 things on my to-do list today:
*Go to my doctor appointment to see if the baby is still breach (have you all been cheering for me?)
*Meet Bryan for lunch (woohoo - leftover Koto's! My sisters are totally jealous)
*Finish planting my bulbs in my yard
*Buy milk and Diet Coke
*Do laundry and clean my room

5 foods I enjoy:
*Messy taco salads
*Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce on anything
*My homemade stew
*Crunchy grapes
*Steak with no fat or bones on it

5 bad habits:
*Calling people names when they are bad drivers (Rix can totally hear me!)
*Drinking too much caffeine
*Holding my feeling in until I explode and get super mad at someone
*I write too many lists (to-do lists, packing lists, honey-do lists) - it drives Bryan crazy
*I expect too much from people

5 of my favorite toys:
*My microplane
*My cell phone
*On Demand from Comcast
*My camera and video camera
*My kids (I know what you mean Carissa!)

5 people I tag:
No one - every one I know has been tagged!!! So you are all spared!

A Lakewood Halloween

We had a really great Halloween, especially since this year Rix really understood what was going on and even chose what he wanted to be this year (a pirate). The Saturday before we went to the Lakewood Fire Department (woohoo - men in uniform!) and participated in their safety fair. Rix got to hold a fire hose (with help) and aim for a target. He also got to jump in the blow up castle, which he loved and still talks about. We got to pick out two big pumpkins for free and sit in the fire truck, which is really high off the ground. Those people who saw me lifting Rix into the truck got a great show! On Halloween night, we went to our stake's Trunk-or-Treat, which I think is great because it's safe (no cars can drive in the parking lot during the activity) and since it was so cold outside they got a lot of candy really fast. We put the kid's makeup on in the parking lot because we got there early, and it was not easy! Rix decided he didn't want a beard after it was on, so he wiped it off. However, being his mom, I vetoed this idea and insisted that all pirates have beards, so we painted one on with mascara, which you can't just wipe off. Bryce was a beat-up BYU football player (BYU being the only jersey we have - sorry!) and hated the makeup. Bryan had to hold him down while I frantically rubbed on purple and black eyeshadow on his eye (to make it look like a black eye, and it must have looked good because several people asked if he really had a black eye!) and took red paint to his band-aid. Needless to say, there was a lot of screaming going on at our awesome mini-van Halloween night, but that's festive, right? We also went trick-or-treating at some friend's houses, including Crazy Uncle Dave's and Lindsay's, and some houses by my parent's house. By the end of the night they were ready to go home (although they didn't know it) and ate more candy than they probably eat in a month's time. But overall it was a fun night, and I look forward to next year when Bryce can choose his costume too. Oh, and I also look forward to when they bring home a bucket full of candy and are too young to realize that all the Snickers are missing!

Rix with the firehose. He was a little nervous, but managed to put on a brave face (and he only got the hat if he held the hose!).

Jumping in the blow-up castle. He went crazy in here! I'm considering getting one of these for our backyard (but not really).

Bryce just enjoyed hanging out and wearing his hat. He especially liked picking out the pumpkins, which he called "apples" and wanted to eat them.

Rix in the fire truck. He wanted to push all the buttons, but I was afraid he was going to start the siren or, worse, start the truck!

Bryce getting ready to trick-or-treat. Isn't he the most adorable beat-up football player?

Rix is his get-up. He didn't keep the eye patch on very long because it got dark and he couldn't see well with only one eye. His jeans (which you can't see) were cut on the bottom to look more pirate-y. What can I say? I'm a cheap Halloween mom!

Waiting for the trunk-or-treat to start. My car isn't usually this messy - we shoved everything to the front and put the seats down for more room. Can you see Rix's jeans? Anyway, they were really cute and had a good time.

Rix wearing Uncle Kory's pirate hat which was too big to wear all night. Notice the double fisting and the white knuckles - his bucket is so heavy (maybe full of Snickers?).

For You, Crazy Uncle Dave

So for those of you who read this blog and don't know (which is basically all of you except Lindsay and Bryan), Dave said he wasn't going to read my blog anymore because a country song came on as soon as he opened the page. Well, I changed the opening song for you Dave! And it's definitely NOT country! So enjoy!

Pregnancy Update: Week 35

I went to my doctor's appointment last Friday ready to have a normal boring visit. But no - baby #3 is not coming out without a fight! My last two labors were very similar and "by-the-book". My water broke, I had contractions, I went to the hospital, got an epidural, and delivered without complications. However, baby #3 is breach. Talk about throwing a wrench in the gears! My doctor said there isn't a lot of room for him to move a lot, so he probably won't turn on his own, but he might. I am carrying him so far in that it is hard for the doctor to feel him and one of the ways I know he is still breach is his daily hiccups - I used to feel them really low, but now the hiccups are really high up by my rib cage. So I am scheduled to see him again in a week and a half and if he is still breach then they will try to manually turn him from the exterior. FYI: I have seen an episode of A Baby Story on TLC where they did this to a woman and she was screaming her head off. So I guess it doesn't feel good (Janalyn - did they try to turn Johnny?). Anyway, if that doesn't work they will schedule a C-section which not only scares me (hello, surgery???) but will cost us more money than a regular birth. So let's all root for this baby to turn (cheerleading style will work fine, although prayers and positive thoughts will also do) and hope that next Thursday everything is fine.

Vegas, Baby!

I am finally blogging about Vegas even though it happened like over a week ago. So sue me! In my defense, I haven't been able to download pictures because my wonderful Bryce threw our old camera on the floor at Walmart and completely broke it, so we had to get another one and I couldn't figure out the downloading of pictures. But anyways, about Vegas:

Bryan and I in front of one of the few G-rated statues at Caesar's Palace.

Bryan and I had a really good time in Vegas. We went for the 2007 Remodeling Show, which was a bunch of booths set up to show off products and tools for remodelers. It was a pretty big show with lots to see - and I think Bryan was in heaven. I was amazed that he could get so excited at every booth and not be tired of being excited all the time. While he was enthralled with each new tool, cabinet front, hardware, and siding, I was interested in color pallates and looking for the next chair to sit down in (a bonus was when the booth would have chocolate!). After the first day of looking at remodeling stuff, we met up with Brent and Stina, who drove to Vegas to hang out with us. At first we were a little shocked (and Bryan a little dismayed) to see that they had driven the truck (it only sits three) and with two big Pearson boys and a totally pregnant me, we though we would never fit! But the art of spooning comes naturally to us and we were able to squeeze in to the truck (note to Brent: extended cab buddy!!!!). Mostly we walked around the strip, looking at the amazing world of Las Vegas (it's so over the top!) and trying not to look at the things about Vegas that aren't so great. We ended up going to the Rio Buffet, which Bryan thought was amazing and I didn't care for (except for the cheesecake and unlimited Diet Coke). We did a lot of window shopping since most of the stores are out of our price range (we saw the cutest baby jeans for $120!) and just hung out together. Kristen and Kevin and Luke met up with us on Friday (yeah!) and we went to the M&M Store, which was amazing. I can't believe they can find so many things to put M&Ms on! We ended up going to PF Chang's for dinner - which is so not a Vegas thing to do - but we knew it would be good and Bryan wanted to take me there for our anniversary (we went to PF Changs in SLC the night he proposed). It was so good and so much fun! We talked and laughed the whole time and the food was really great. Saturday Kevin and Kristen left (sniff) but it was so good to see them! Brent and Stina took us to breakfast (THANKS!) and then we said good bye (sniff again). Bryan and I walked around the Venetian, which was so cool, and looked at the shops and the little shows they had. When you are in the Venetian you feel like you are in Italy - it is that cool. We also went to Caesar's Palace and looked at the shops and the shows. Of course, the one store I wanted to go in (MAC Cosmetics) had this weird show in front of it where these men and women in VERY little clothing and LOTS of gold body paint were lounging around as if they were Greek gods and goddesses. I was so embarrassed I couldn't even look, although there was a huge line of women waiting to take their pictures with these men. Gross! By this time, Bryan and I were so so tired and so we found a relatively cheap place to eat and caught a shuttle to the airport. Our flight ended up being cancelled, then the flight we were rebooked on was delayed and then delayed again. We were three hours later than expected and all I wanted to do was sleep!! But overall the vacation was a nice break before boy #3 comes and Bryan and I got to spend lots of quality time together. We also got to see family from Utah which was nice since we don't know when we will visit there again. I will never go to Vegas pregnant again - I had to find lots of public bathrooms, which were mostly and surprisingly clean, and walking so much gave me false labor contractions, which were uncomfortable. But we will visit Vegas again, hopefully not in the Super 8 Motel and hopefully we will get to see a really cool show next time!

Stina, Brent, Bryan, Celeste, Kevin, Luke, and Kristen at the MGM Grand


Bryan and I in front of Bally's on our long walk back to the motel

This guy was so cool! We checked out his feet, and they weren't attached to the ground. I don't know how he did it, but we watched him for a long time. And Bryan is pretty cool too, I guess!

We took a picture of this for Adam because we thought it was so funny. They actually had a whole store of Barry Manilow stuff at the Hilton where we ate breakfast.

Kristen and I in front of the Paris Hotel. I don't know if it's the angle, but I look HUGE!

Stina and I in front of the Bellagio water show. The guys literally dropped us off on the side of the road at a red light and then picked us up again so we could watch it. Aren't they sweet?

Stina got this cute necklace at a store where everything is $10. Isn't it cool? Only in Vegas, right?

Bryan and I went to the Lion show at the MGM. It was really cool - the lions woke up right when we got there are he was eyeing Bryan - he must look tasty!

The Mommy Song

So my friend Jill sent this to me and I laughed so hard! Granted, I don't say most of these things yet, but I know I will and I clearly remember my mom telling my sisters and I these things. So rock on MOMS!!! And boys, you can listen to - listen to the part about your DNA - it is so true.

Rixisms: Edition 3

So as Rix is getting older, his comments and phrases are a little more complex, which makes them that much funnier. It's really funny to see how he perceives things and how he understands the world. So I hope you enjoy these - and I'm sure I've forgotten some, so I will add them later if I remember!

* Rix LOVES teriyaki and will do almost anything I ask him to do if I tell him that we are going out to teriyaki. So with that said, we go to the post office every week day to get my dad's mail and there is a lady who has a salon right next to the post office, so we see her every now and then (she happens to be the mom of a friend of mine from high school). She also happens to be Asian. So a couple days ago she said hi to me as I was getting the kids in the car and Rix looks at her and says to me, "MOM! Look! She works at the teriyaki place!!!" So what, all Asians work at teriyaki places? I just really hope she didn't hear him.

* We haven't had the Ford Focus for almost 6 weeks now (a moment of silence please). But yesterday, Rix asked me where the red car was. I told him that we didn't have it any more and that we had this new super-sweet minivan instead. Then he says this: "We need to take this minivan back to the car place. It's not beautiful. Well, this part is beautiful (pointing to his and Bryce's seats) and up there is beautiful (pointing to the front of the car where I was sitting) but the rest isn't beautiful so we need to take it back." There is a point well taken my friend.

* Rix has an obsession with driving and telling me when he is going to drive. The other day he said when I become a big boy and can sit in his big boy car seat and he becomes a mom then he will drive me around. I haven't figured out how to tell him that he will never be a mom and I will never be a big boy, although when I get old and senile, he can drive me around.

* Rix told me that when he grows taller in his bum then he can drive my car. The mental picture of that is funny to me.

* For Halloween Rix has decided he wants to be a pirate, so we went to the dollar store and got some pirate gear, including a pistol (at least I think it's a pistol but whatever). So anyways, Rix is definitely a product of his environment, because he keeps referring to it as his pirate nail gun. You will also hear Rix refer to any gun as a nail gun. When does nail gun hunting season start? Sign us up!

Five Years Strong

So yesterday was mine and Bryan's fifth wedding anniversary and, needless to say, I was a little bummed because we didn't have anything special planned. I mean, so many people do fun things for their wedding anniversary and all we can afford to do is go out to dinner - which is usually just fine with me! But five years is a big number, so I was a little bummed that we weren't doing anything special. I felt so bad that I brought Bryan lunch up at the North end of Tacoma (I even got the baconater from Wendy's, that is how bad I felt - I have always in the past told him he couldn't have it because it's so bad for you!). I knew we weren't going to do anything that night because I was cleaning a house for my dad that he has in the Tour of Remodeled Homes this weekend, so I figured at least we could do lunch! As planned, I went to clean the house and didn't get home until 8pm. Bryan called me while I was driving home and asked what time he should have dinner ready. I was a little nervous because I know what food we have in the house and I had no idea what he was making from said food. When I got home, I immediately knew something was up because Bryan smelled good and he had shaved. He told me I had ten minutes to get ready - and the kids weren't home. Nothing was on the stove or in the oven. I was so confused! I changed really fast and brushed through my hair. We then got in the super-cool minivan and headed to a restaurant for our anniversary dinner. Now, I pause here because, for those of you who know Bryan, surprises aren't his thing. He usually somehow gives the surprise away or he just doesn't surprise at all because he knows he will give it away anyway. So I was way surprised. We went to this new restaurant that we had never been to before. It is a Peruvian/Argentinian BBQ restaurant and I had the best steak ever. It was so dang good! And it was so romantic and thoughtful of Bryan to take me there. I seriously thought I was coming home to some meal cooked by Bryan (scary) and a night on the couch watching Grey's Anatomy (which he also taped for me - how sweet!). So after five years he can still surprise me. I thought I would know everything I needed to know about him - five years is a long time to be with someone! But I find out each day something new - whether it is something he says, or a behavior, or a story from his past. And I can't believe that we have almost three kids! Bryan is such a good husband and father - and I look forward to seeing how he handles three kids. He is so patient (most of the time) and loving, and loves to do things for his family and other people. He is a hard worker and has big plans for our future, which I love knowing that he is thinking of his family in future terms. So here's to another five years - which is such a small number compared to eternity! Thanks for the yummy steak and a great marriage honey!

Just Loungin'

My dad bought this cute little chair for Rix, but he didn't utilize it's fabulousness. He always preferred to sit in the big computer chairs when watching movies on the computer. However, Bryce LOVES this chair, and will just sit in it. There is no movie, no entertainment, nothing to keep him there - he just wants to chill out. On this particular day he sat for over half an hour! What a nice break for me! And look at those thighs! He definitely gets those from his dad!!! (P.S. One of my dad's employees came in the other day when Bryce was wearing shorts and he commented on how big Bryce's legs are - and then proceeded to ask if Bryce got those legs from Bryan or me. Hello?!? Of course he didn't get them from me! I was totally (but not really) offended. Just another example of males not thinking before they speak.)

Preschool Update

Rix loves his new preschool - and the first day went so smoothly that I wondered if I was doing something wrong! Aren't your kids supposed to be sad when you leave them? Aren't I supposed to be super-emotional? Well, Rix took off towards the toys and never looked back when we dropped him off. And I got in my supercool minivan (with Bryan saying "Don't cry!" as he walked to his truck) without a tear in my eye. I was a little sad, but I think I was more sad that I wasn't sad to be leaving Rix for a little over 2 hours. I think what kept me from being emotional was that I knew Rix was going to have a good time, and I have always felt guilty that my kids get dragged along to the office every day. Now at least twice a week he gets to play and be a real kid! He gets to paint and is read to and hangs out with kids his age! And when I picked him up after the first day, he came out with two completed art projects (for those who don't know Rix well, he doesn't do art - he'd rather sort the crayons or pocket the paint so no one else can have it - we call it hoarding). On Thursday Rix was more apprehensive and wanted me to stay with him (I was secretly glad, but I gave him a big kiss and told him I'd be back to get him in two hours). I peeked inside and one table was full of paper and real paint (not watercolors? These women are BRAVE!) and another table and mounds of shaving cream on them for the kids to play in. How cool is that? Rix came home that day with a new attitude - he thinks he is so cool and grown up! And he listed three friends that he had made, which is nice to know that he isn't playing by himself or ostracized for being crazy (I blame his craziness on his uncles). So preschool overall is a good experience, and when Rix starts being more specific about what he does there (usually all he says is "I did lots of stuff" or "Preschool was good today") I will report back.

First Day of Preschool

So Rix is going to preschool at the Little Church on the Prairie (I know, sounds weird, but it's a really great preschool!) and he is so excited. His preschool has lots planned, including a trip to the pumpkin patch, baking days where he bakes breads and cookies, a Christmas pageant, a Heroes Feast (where the Dad's go to preschool for food and activities) and a Mother's Tea (which I hope serves hot chocolate?). Last week he got to go meet his teachers - Miss Karen and Miss Karen - and play with the toys and meet his other classmates. I had to stay with him for the entire hour as they made it very clear that it was NOT a drop off day! So this morning he got up and dressed himself (note the "cowboy" shirt - it's his favorite) and we did his crazy hair, which is something I don't do often. I explained to him that Mommy wasn't staying with him this time, but that I would drop him off and come back to get him. Even Daddy went late to work so he could watch him go to his first day of school. When Rix saw Bryan still at home this morning he said to me, "Hey Mom! Dad is going to take me to my preschool so you can just stay home, ok?" Um, no, not okay, but whatever. So we got in the car and Rix started to whimper, saying he wanted his blankie and wanted Mommy to stay with him. This is where I started to get a little nervous - was he going to freak out when we left? Was he going to be the only kid who cried and made a scene? When we got to his school, he made sure that Bryan and I were in sight as we took pictures and waited for the door to open. When it finally did I showed him his teachers (thankfully he recognized them from last week) and I ushered him through the door. Of course, he went straight for the Mr. Potato Head bin (he has talked about them all week). He didn't even glance behind to see if we were still there! So we left him at school, excited for him, and sad that the office is a little quieter (and cleaner and calmer and not as chaotic). But he only goes to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so tomorrow we will be back in business. I pick him up in an hour, so check back tomorrow to see how he liked it (and how good he was!).

The Babbling of Bryce

Bryce is growing up so fast - it brings tears to my eyes but he is so fun that it's worth it. He is totally walking now - no crawling anymore! He is almost running, but gets going too fast and he face plants, which luckily is funny to him or else we'd be having a lot of tearfests in our house. He is also talking like crazy! It's nice because he can communicate with us and I think it helps his frustration issues. Rix didn't talk very much at this age because he was just being weaned from the pacifier, but Bryce never took the pacifier, so there isn't much left to do with his mouth except talk and scream (which he does a lot of). I'm not very good at teaching my kids sign language - I'm not consistent enough. In fact, Rix learned "more" and "please" in sign language from watching Hayden two summers ago! (Thanks Hayden!) Anyway, I think it is good that Bryce doesn't know sign language because he is forced to speak. Here are the words he knows:

*Ball (he loves the throw them and gets excited when he sees one, and he will call for it)
*"Set, GO!" as in Ready, Set, Go - we will say "Ready" and he will say the rest
*More - which is self-explanatory, but he also uses it if he wants something nonedible, like when we were in Target yesterday and he dropped my keys out of the shopping cart, he said "More?"
*Please - which we only hear ever so often
*Blankie
*Sippy - which is anything he can drink out of, like a cup, sippy, straw, whatever
*No. This one I love (sarcasm intended). It is actually really funny, because last Sunday a lady in our ward that was sitting behind us reached out to take him and he yelled NO! and shook his head vigorously. I felt bad for her, but his reaction was funny. And I hear no when he doesn't want to eat something or give me a kiss or whatever.
*Vroom Vroom - means car and it is also the sound he makes when playing with cars
*BOO! He does this when he hides behind his blanket and then surprises us or when I'm in the shower and he appears from behind the curtain. It's really cute - I mean, scary.

That's all I can think of, but it's lots of fun. He copies us a lot, and will say things like night-night or hot dog or milk if we say it, but he doesn't use it all the time. Anyway, he is only my baby for three more months, so I'm going to milk it for all it's worth, even if I do force him to snuggle with me at night (or I go in after he's been asleep for a few hours so get some snuggle time!!!).

Swallowing Our Pride (Gulp!)

So I have always said I would never own a minivan. I think they are great for those who own them, I even think some minivans look kind of cool (like the 2007 Nissan Quest!). But they weren't for me, and I researched every SUV and crossover I could find. I had my heart set on the new Mazda CX-9 - it was exactly what our family needed, right? Well, not exactly. You see, Bryan and I are not financial wizards - we do our best - but we had no idea what car payments would be like. We test drove some vans and looked at some SUV's, but the prices were so high that I almost threw up when the dealership presented us with monthly car payments that rival our mortgage payment! (Maybe we could live in our car? I actually proposed this question to Bryan. You see how delirious I was?) We finally stopped at a Dodge dealership on a whim, and the guy tried to sell us a white minivan that is the long lost twin of Brent and Stina's minivan. We declined, mostly because Bryan already has a white truck (we didn't want a theme going on) and I didn't want to be in Utah and always confused about which car is mine. But we did find a blue-green 07 Dodge Grand Caravan that fit our needs (and our budget). The car belonged to a leasing company, and so it was well taken car of and had only freeway miles on it. It has tons of cargo space and the stow-and-go seating. It also has pretty good gas mileage and drives like my Focus did, not like a boat like I thought it would. We both really like it and are mostly relieved to have found something big enough for our growing family. We tried really hard to fit three carseats in the back of the Focus, but it was really cramped and probably not safe, so what do you do? You buck up and buy a minivan! So you all have a little while to imagine Bryan driving a minivan (except Lindsay, who couldn't imagine it - she can have an actual real life image :) !) Bryan and I will someday have our dream car, but for now we have a car that fits our needs and our family, just maybe not the image Bryan hoped to portray. (P.S. You can still be super manly and drive a minivan! It takes a man with lots of confidence to do so, right Brent?) Oh, and we traded in the Focus, which was really sad. I actually cried on the way home from the dealership knowing I wouldn't see it again. How pathetic, right? So if you see a red Focus driving down your street, honk at it for me!

Our Crazy Busy Summer

So pick yourself up off the floor and I don't want to hear anything about how I have finally updated my blog. We have been so busy from one thing to the next that my blog has been on the backburner. Our summer has been really busy getting our bedroom/bathroom addition finished on our house. What a project we took on! I had no idea it would be this extensive (or expensive!) but the end result rocks and we are so close to being done! We finally have a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. The only thing left to be done are two pieces of baseboard, some trim around the door, and trim around the backsplash. The bedroom needs some touch up paint and Bryan is almost done with the built in dresser. I will post pictures when it is all done AND clean, and I don't know when both of those will happen :).

We also had my sisters here in town for a few weeks for the Abercrombie family reunion. It was really good to have Rix's and Bryce's cousins around for them to get to know each other and play (and fight) together. We got to do lots of stuff, including shopping together, Wild Waves, eating out, and hanging out. With six kids in tow, not a lot gets done but we had a good time. The Abercrombie family reunion was on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. It was so fun! We hired babysitters to watch the kids so that us adults could play too. We were able to go to the lake and go canoeing, which was amazing. We went at night and the water was so peaceful! We also went on a whale watching tour and although we didn't see any whales, we saw lots of wildlife, including LOTS of eagles, seals, goats (I think they were goats) and porpoises. The kids had a blast and I enjoyed being out on the water in the front of the boat while it sped through the Sound.

Rix, Hayden, and Olivia looking over the boat for whales.

Bryce bathing in the large steel tub at the camp at Orcas Island. He loved it in there despite the lack of toys to play with. Maybe it was all the attention he was getting!

Bryce playing in the lake by our camp. The lake was really beautiful and clean! Bryce loved it so much he sat down in the water fully clothed and threw a tantrum when I pulled him out.

Rix and Hayden the night before we left. They love to be around each other and play well sometimes, but mostly argue and fight. It's a love/hate relationship that we hope will resolve itself as they get older. I'm sure in this picture Rix is bossing Hayden, who is probably contradicting everything Rix says.

We ate lots of good food thanks to my mom and dad, who were in charge. They cooked all our meals in the kitchen of the camp we were staying in. This included a so delicious salmon bake done on cedar planks! I could have eaten the whole thing! My sisters and I also visited Friday Harbor without husbands or kids and had a great time meandering through the shops and eating unhealthy food at the diner. It was lots of fun because we were all three tired so we were a little goofy (remember the book store?). It was a lot of fun to be with my sisters and their families. We played fun games (Mad Gab late at night is hilarious), heard fun stories around the campfire, and mingled with wildlife. Here is a video of Rix and Hayden feeding deer from their hands. This is how the Pearsons should deer hunt! Use small children for bait!

After all the fun of the Abercrombie reunion, Bryan and I had five days to recover and then we were off for another adventure (and I say adventure because driving 14+ hours with my kids, especially Bryce, is definitely an adventure!). We were off to Utah to see Bryan's brother John home from a church mission to Japan. We had such a good time in Utah! We got to see lots of family, which is always fun. Bryan and I got to retreat from our kids for a night thanks to Roger and Janalyn (you rock and we totally owe you someday!) and Karen (thanks for watching our kids!). We went to the SLC Marriot for a night of relaxation and sleeping in! Before we checked into the hotel we went to the Gateway Mall and watched Bourne Ultimatum (we even ordered nachos at the theater! They were delicious!) and walked around the stores. It was so nice not to have to crazy kids to discipline!

The week with the Pearsons was well planned and so fun. We went to the ranch, which is always a fun tradition. Minus Bryce getting up at 6am, we had a good time. We went on a tractor ride, let the kids ride horses, roasted things in the fire, and just relaxed. We also went bowling (of course!) and had a really good time - mostly for me because I beat Bryan both games, with one game being in the 120s! I know, I am amazing. The kids got to go swimming and play outdoors at the Homestead resort, which I think was one of my favorite things to do. The swimming pool was perfect for the kids and we all had a good time playing in the water. And, of course, the rooms were great and dinner that night was so delicious (if only Bryce wasn't so cranky I could have eaten my whole plate!). But I think the best event of the whole week was the baby blessings of Luke and Johnny and John's homecoming talk. They were so great and it was neat to hear the stories that John had to share. Overall, the vacation was amazing. We were tired, mostly because our kids were up way too early every morning, but loved seeing our family and friends and being there for an important time in the Pearson family history.

Uncle Roger and Rix in the creek at the Ranch. The boys made a dam of rocks so that the water would pool up for a little swimming pool. It was pretty cold water, but the kids had a good time playing in it and throwing rocks (and other objects) into it.

Getting ready for a tractor ride. Isn't the ranch so pretty? We make it prettier of course. And no, I don't know what Rix's thumb is doing.

Rix riding Bryan's horse Peppy. He was so excited and still talks about riding the horse's at Pompom's. He has no fear of horses, so we hope he will be our little cowboy.

I Know I'm a Mom Because . . .

* I don't have to look at a clock in the morning to let me know what time it is - I just go by what is on the Disney channel. If my hair isn't dried by the time Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on, I'm running late. If I hear the opening credits to Handy Manny, we need to start heading for the door. And if we get to the Doodlebops, then my whole day is off track.
* My lunch very (I stress very) often is whatever my kids haven't finished of their lunches.
* I have to check on my kids before I go to bed - just to make sure they are covered with their blankies and to see if Bryce has wedged his fat piggies in the crib railings again. If I go to bed without checking, I will get out of bed to check.
* When Rix and Bryce both threw up in my hair this last weekend (they were both sick) I threw my hair in a pony tail and cleaned them and the floor up first. Then, hours later, I finally was able to take a shower when Bryan got home. I couldn't leave them sick!! They broke my heart!
* I find myself keeping mental track of the amount of fruit and veggies they have consumed that day. If they don't get enough one day, I make up for it the next day. But I never keep track of the amount Bryan and I should get - and I should!!!
* I went to Albertson's the other day with chocolate pudding on my sleeve (compliments of Rix, who didn't like it) and spaghetti sauce on my front of my shirt (compliments of Bryce, who likes to throw anything). I also had no make up on. A few years ago, this would have been unacceptable. However, I didn't even notice the stains or remember I had no makeup on until hours later.
* I've managed to turn every song I know into a lullaby. Bryce's favorite song I sing is "I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee" which is not a lullaby, but sounds like one if you sing it slow and soft.
* I'm an antibacterial freak, and santitize my house almost everyday. Not that it helped my kids from getting sick - we can thank the Lafrancas for that!!! :)

There are lots of other reasons, but with my kids sick this last weekend, it made me realize how dependent they are on me! I mean, I knew they were dependent, but they needed so much, and the only one who could help them was me, and I loved it. They were so cuddly that when they would snuggle up next to me, and I could feel their fever and see their fever rash, my heart would break and I would start to cry! Anyway, being a mom has made me a little less selfish and I'm so excited to have another (and more in the future!) so they can make me a better person! Yes, sometimes I beg for a break from it all, but after an hour or so I miss them too much. I know, so sad, right?

Ducks Ducks Everywhere

So Bryan and I actually had a night together where he didn't have to work and I had no plans. It was a really hot day, so we decided to make some sandwiches and bring a picnic to the park. Rix LOVES to feed the ducks, so we went to the little lake that they swim at. Little did we know that ALL the ducks were going to come! We have fed the ducks on numerous occasions before and maybe ten ducks showed up then. But that day there had to have been over fifty! They were fighting each other for the bread and even started to come up on shore to beg for more! Rix thought it was great; Bryce didn't care either way - he just wanted to be held and eat crackers. It was a good time though and nice to spend time with the family. We went to get Rix's birthday ice cream at Cold Stone (the white kind with gummy bears) afterwards, and I think Rix thought he died and went to heaven. Feeding ducks, eating ice cream with gummy bears, and hanging out with daddy? All at once??? We look forward to another carefree night with the family.

Bryce and Daddy feeing the ducks - do you see how they are right by us? They had no fear. If only they knew of Bryan's shot gun at our house!!!

Rix feeding the ducks a cracker. They were eating right out of his hand. I think they actually bit him, because he said the duck was trying to eat his fingers, but it didn't hurt. Trust me, we would have all known if it had hurt.

Here's a Shocker!!!

So I know that most of you (if not all) who read this blog know we are having another boy this December. Shocker, right? Bryan has patiently explained to me that he only makes boys - even when I was sure we were having a girl this time. But we are very excited about having a boy! Some (and I stress only SOME) have expressed disappointment that we aren't having a girl. Some people I have told even apologized to me! I want everyone to know that I am not sorry that I am having another boy - well, maybe sorry we have to find another boy name we agree on - but even if all my children are boys I would be thrilled. Bryan and I are having children to have children - not genders. And I look at my two boys and I think they are so wonderful and curious and active and think to myself: How can I not want another one of these? Besides, we are saving a ton in not buying new toys and clothes (although this boy is way off season from his brothers) and having a bunch of boys around makes me the only queen of the castle, which means more pampering for me, right? So please help us think of names for a boy - we are really bad at that - and know that we are super excited to have another little boy ruling the household. It will make Girls Night Out that much more appealing! :)

Rixster is THREE!

I can't believe my little boy is three! It seems like life is going by so fast for me! It seems like not too long ago, Bryan and I were getting ready to go to Brent and Stina's Halloween party, and I called BYU to check my pregnancy test results only to find out it was positive! I cried as soon as the nurse told me, and life has never been the same. I remember so clearly waking up in the middle of the night when my water broke, to driving the dark canyon to Provo, praying we wouldn't hit a deer, and suffering through contractions until the miracle of the epidural came. When Rix was born, they took him away because he wasn't breathing right and I panicked. When I finally got to see him almost two hours later, I was so overcome with happiness and wonder. I had a baby! Bryan and I were parents and now we had our own little family. Rix has been such a blessing to us these past three years. He is a little type A like his mom, and a little impatient and stubborn like his dad (right? those characteristics come from Bryan, right?). He comes in my room almost every morning to wake me up, sometimes earlier than I would like. But even though I'm tired, he climbs on my bed and gives me a big hug and says, "I love you so much!" And then proceeds to get me out of bed so he can watch cartoons. He loves to hang out with his Dad and work on the house, go golfing, and mow the lawn. He pretty much wants to do whatever his dad his doing. He will always choose chicken nuggets over a burger, and is partial to BBQ sauce rather than ketchup (sorry, Papa!). He is so smart and learns so fast! He is often thought to be 4 or even 5 years old (which stinks for sneaking him in places as a 2 year old) and he loves music. He knows 6 or 7 country songs by name and loves the "Scary Drum song" by Josh Groban and will only listen to it at a deafening volume level. His birthday was really fun this year because he sort of understood what was happening. He got to have chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and have lunch with daddy, who was working. Then he chose to go to McDonalds, where he got his favorite chicken nugget Happy Meal. We had a party the next day (Sunday) with all the family there. He played with his cousin Isaac and we had hot dogs (his other favorite) and opened presents and ate cake. It was a really good day for him, and he was excited that his birthday finally came. We love Rix to death (even when he tests our patience - like every 5 minutes) and always makes us laugh with the funny things he says and does. He is mostly a good big brother, and is excited for his new brother to come (and apparantly for his baby in his tummy to come?). We love you Rix!!!

Rix opening his presents at his party. He opened his presents at lightening speed!

Rix blowing out his candles on his birthday cake. Surprisingly, he didn't spit while blowing, which came out good for us.

Fourth of July - Lakewood Style

So I know this posting is really late, but in my defense we have been really busy and I only have internet at the office. Anyway, our Fourth of July was really laid back, especially since Bryan didn't have to work and we had no obligations that day. Bryan got up really early with Crazy Uncle Dave and my dad and went golfing (my dad won of course) and I got things done around the house since both of my kids were up at 6am. Let me tell you how much you can accomplish by getting up really early! We went to the Steilacoom Street Fair and parade, which was a little lame since the parade consisted mainly of old cars and it was really hot by Washington standards. After that we went home to take naps - much needed naps! Dave and Lindsay invited us to their house for a BBQ (how patriotic, right? You can't get more American than BBQ!) and we ate yummy burgers and potato chips and homemade Oreo ice cream. We ended up taking both boys to the fireworks, which we saw over Puget Sound at the home of one of my dad's clients. The fireworks were really great but the show was really short. Rix loved them and asks for them all the time. Now, whenever we go to that client's house, Rix thinks we are going to see fireworks. Bryce didn't mind the fireworks at all, and snuggled on our friend Esther the whole time, dazed from exhaustion and the lights at the same time. Over all, it wasn't a spectacular day, but we got to spend much needed time with our little family and just relax.

My mom put sunscreen spray in Bryce's hair and Bryan and Dave proceeded to style it. Looks nice, right? Rock on Bryce.

Rix was so hot that he actually asked to sit in the stroller to rest and begged to go to the car so he could sit in his car seat. He is going to melt when we visit Utah.

Our friend Esther with Bryce at the fireworks. He was really tired and dozed on and off before the fireworks.

Rix watched the fireworks on Aunt Jodi the whole time.

Bryan and I were sans kids, so we took advantage of it!

Boy or Girl?

So the day has been set - we find out what we are having on Monday, July 9th at 12:30. So what does everyone think - boy or girl? And by the way, we know we are only having one baby, so no bets on multiples!!! So have your phones on and available around 1pm PST!!!

Today I am Grateful For . . .

Nancy Morelock! For those of you didn't know, Bryan got this crazy idea in his head that we weren't going to find out the sex of the baby. I didn' t really care if we found out or not, but everyone we told cared! Some didn't believe us, others begged, and still others became mad and/or upset. And while there were no tears shed, only one person stepped up to the plate and hit Bryan where it really counts - the stomach. Nancy is my Primary President, and she offered to make Bryan anything his heart desired on the condition that we were to find out the sex of the baby. Bryan chose a "cheesecake, peanut butter, chocolate" something, with the condition that it had to be in his possession before the ultrasound date. Well, Nancy is so busy, but she remembered to make the treat for Bryan - and delivered it yesterday. It is a devine chocolate cheesecake with shaved chocolate and pieces of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on top. She is the cutest! She was so nervous that Bryan wouldn't like it, but it is so good. And we (I guess, really everyone else) owes it to her that we are finding out what we are having (our flavor, right Stina?). So, sorry family, but Nancy will be our first call after the ultrasound findings. And I guess we owe some sort of nod of gratitude to cheesecake, chocolate, and peanut butter, for apparantly they are Bryan's weakness. So, thanks.

Is This A Sign???

So Friday night was a great night for Bryan and I. We went to a really fancy restaurant where we had the best Caesar Salad and Steak ever! Our kids were at Nana's and Bryan and I got to really enjoy ourselves and have a really relaxing time - even though Bryan used the wrong fork for his salad!!! Our server thought we were funny and brought him the right fork! :) Oh, and I had a to-die-for banana bread pudding. Anyway, we got home that night with just Bryce since Rix was going to Scout Camp with Papa the next morning, so he stayed the night at their house. We went to bed at 11pm-ish. Normal, right? Well, this is Lakewood, and normal is out the window. At 12:30 am, I awoke to the sound of someone ringing our doorbell over and over again. Bryan went to answer it and found our neighbor there. This is where is gets weird, so stay with me. Someone was apparently stealing a car from a person down the street from us. This car they were stealing had no front tires and had all the windows smashed in. Inside the car and in the hood where the engine should have been were gutted stereo equipment and other random items. The truck that was stealing the car lost control of it, and the car slammed into Bryan's truck. Our neighbors heard it and came over to tell us. It was such a weird scene! I called 911 and the lady didn't understand what I was telling her. I think she thought I was crazy! But the cops came and found out where the car was stolen from, but they weren't much help (and personally I don't think they cared a whole lot about what happened). They sent a tow truck to remove the car, and after all was said and done, the ordeal took two hours and will cost us our deductible. What kind of people were these people??? They make me so mad, but Bryan and I both agree that the car could have damaged his truck a lot worse (it only hit the corner of his car, so the bumper, body, and tailgate are damaged). Also, Rix wasn't home, and our neighbor was pounding on his window, which I can only imagine would have freaked him out. And if our only trials in life are financial trials (which we run into on a daily basis) and slow-growing gardens, then I guess we will be okay. But the situation makes us nervous that people around us can be so selfish and reckless. It makes us reevaluate our situation and what we want to do in life. So enjoy the pictures, since I think that is the only as to truly understand the confusion we had that night. P.S. Bryce slept through this whole ordeal, even when Bryan forgot to turn off the house alarm before opening the front door.

When the car hit Bryan's truck, it moved Bryan's truck forward about 18 inches. You can see the damage to the body of the truck, which is dented and scratched.

Here you can see the bumper to Bryan's truck - it has been pushed into the tailgate. And the tow truck guy was nice enough to push all the glass into our front lawn. Thanks tow truck guy.

Can you see all the weird stuff in the car? It was really the weirdest thing I ever expected to see at one in the morning.

So whoever keeps putting the "Please Hit and Run Me" on Bryan's truck - please stop! This is the second hit-and-run report we have filed on Bryan's truck in the last month. Our insurance thinks we are nuts (well, we are, aren't we) and Bryan's truck is slowly becoming a candidate for the Heber Demolition Derby. But it's done and over with, and we will move on . . . to the next hit-and-run accident.

Welcome to Our World

So this last weekend was quite the experience in toddler-hood. With Bryce moving around and Rix's never-ending curiosity, we have a lot of unplanned and sometimes (note the word "sometimes") funny experiences in our family. Saturday morning Rix was up really early to go golfing with Daddy and Crazy Uncle Dave. He then went to get his hair cut with Papa and spent the day helping Papa at his house and at the shop. You'd think he would be exhausted! But nap time turned into "slather myself with chapstick" time. He came out of his room after I thought he had been napping and immediately I knew something wasn't right. Bryan asked what was all over Rix's face and Rix said "Chapstick." Not exactly was I was expecting to hear, but sure enough Rix had taken my little tub of DCT (a medicated lip balm) and used the entire contents of it all over his face. I mean, ALL OVER his face.

Do you see the yellowish sheen on his face? Needless to say, bathtime followed "nap" time.

So right after his bath, Rix decided to go out and help Bryan with the tiles for the bathroom while I made dinner. Everything was going smoothly until Bryan came in to put something away for literally ten seconds. When he came back outside to tell Rix to come in for dinner, he just started laughing. Not a good sign. In the ten seconds by himself, Rix had knocked over his car and was sitting in the window, pouring dirt on himself and his car. I guess not all the chapstick came off, because dirt plastered itself to the side of his face. Time for bath #2.

Don't you love his facial expression? I think his expression summarizes my feelings perfectly. P.S. See our tile in the background!!!

Then on Sunday Rix thought he needed bath #3, which is okay with me, because I can keep tabs on him easier. Bryce loves the bath and comes crawling at lightning speed whenever the bathwater starts running. However, Rix did not want to share his bath and I was prepared to give Bryce his own bath when Rix was done. Bryce, on the other hand, did not see the need to wait, and as I turned around to get my hair dryer, Bryce executed a plan of his own.

I think he slid in head first, although I didn't actually see it, because his head and shirt were all wet. Isn't this fun? I guess I should have seen this day coming, since Bryce always hangs over the tub edge trying to get to the water and toys, but I just didn't think it would be that day. And I tried to get the most PG pictures I could :)

I put this picture in for Brent; I thought he'd be proud. Bryce does this a lot (one-year pictures were a lot of fun with this). All you have to do is say "blah" or show him your tongue, and he does this. It's actually really cute, unless I'm trying to get a cute picture (like one-year pictures!!!) or if he's eating, which I think is self-explanatory. My kids are lots of fun and full of surprises. They make every day an adventure, although some days I long for a break!!! But I love their curiousity and love for life - I just wish I had the energy to keep up!