Life Changes

So my mom says I need to do more blogging, because I always tell her the random things the kids do, but never get it written down. I've already forgotten all but one of the stories I was supposed to blog about. I guess I'll just share the one.

A couple weeks ago Gabriel and I were cuddling on the couch, he needed to chill out before Mommy was committed. He was holding his "baby" aka a little blue elephant he hauls everywhere and his "sister" aka the little lion with a mane he got for his last birthday. His "sister" was introduced to the family when he finally accepted that #3 was in fact going to be a boy. We were sitting there and he looked up at me so seriously and said, "Mommy my sister needs to nurse." I told him to go ahead and nurse her. He looked back at me pretty indignantly and said, "I'm a boy, yooouuu have to nurse her." So he held her up to my shirt (yes she can nurse through clothes) for a good 20 minutes before she got full. Funny boy he hasn't seen me nurse for nearly 2 years now, but it must have made quite an impression on him.

About that #3...I'm now at 35 weeks. That means in two weeks I'll begin my labor dance. We have NO name. We're lousy namers and have given up on even trying to talk about names before we can see what they look like. My brother and sister-in-law call him Baby 'G'. I really, really want to avoid another 'G' name, but I thought baby 'G' was super cute. This has been a crazy painful pregnancy; my hips and legs and well everything have hurt the whole time. Movement is really more than I can make myself do most of the time. According to the old wives tale, with the amount of heartburn I've had lately this kid better have a TON of hair when he's born. I've been sick for most of it, there were a very few weeks in the middle that I wasn't puking or about to puke. That just gets annoying and makes me cranky. Yeah nausea cranky on top of two destructo machines, on top of I can't bend over or eat more than 2 bites, on top of I'm still trying to get settled into the house we moved into almost 7 years ago, not such a good combo.

I have to give a little brag time to Stephen, I am the luckiest wife ever. He's willing to help with kids and housework, and even go shopping. He now has an extensive collection of pictures of me sleeping in random places. I guess as long as he doesn't wake me up he can take all the pictures he wants. He was even able to keep the kids quiet enough one day to let me sleep till 10 am. This was quite a feat because the only time the boys are quiet is when they are sick. I was happy to see that I still have the ability to sleep that long. Sometimes I get so excited to think that some day they'll be teenagers and we can all sleep in all morning. :-D

Lastly, the big 3-0 hit this week. It was a little hard. It's one thing to feel old, but still be able to say you're in your 20's; but now I just feel old... Next year I'll be that old lady standing in the hall at school to pick up my kindergartner. What a strange new stage of life I'm entering. We had a family dinner at my mom's house. Gabriel and Garrett helped Papa wrap my gift. They were sooo excited about my surprise that they got to help Papa with. I was excited to open it and see that it was some more of the shelfreliance can rotators. Costco had them for cheaper than buying online. Woo-hoo!! When we got home that night I found a yummy surprise waiting for me at the door from a sweet friend. Stephen saw it and said, "Ahhhh, look somebody likes you." He's such a romantic. What a fun surprise! Gabriel thought it was "so cool dude". We're not sure where he picked up dude from, but he uses it in his sentences correctly so we'll just let it go.

Garrett carries on a Christmas Tradition

Ever since Gabriel was born we've been in the Urgent Care every single Christmas or Christmas Eve, except last year. I thought we were going to get lucky again this year....until Garrett woke up Christmas Eve morning with a fever of 102. I thought we could manage it and just tough it through...till he came in screaching that his ear hurt. GRRRR, an ear infection, his FIRST ever, and of course it had to hit on the 24th. We headed into Urgent Care once again this year. I knew he wouldn't travel to Bisbee well if his ear hurt. The Doctor confirmed he had an ear infection. I thought we'd managed to get out of the ear infection fun with Garrett. That's what I get for counting my blessings too soon. :-)

What is it with these kids? Is it too much to ask to develop a fever on the 23rd or 26th when it would only be a $15.00 co-pay, instead of the Urgent Care fee?

We're grateful that it was only an ear infection; during one of our traditional Christmas trips we discovered Gabriel had pneumonia. We're also grateful that he waited to get his first ear infection until his language had developed well enough to tell us that it was his ear that hurt.

I love traditions!

Gabriel's Christmas Joke

We've had the busiest Christmas ever!! Maybe I'll get pictures posted....maybe not. I'm having some serious nesting urges set in, which means I must get ready for little our little "baby boy Maskey" to arrive. I have to get this written so I don't forget.

While we were eating Christmas breakfast Stephen told Gabriel a joke that went like this:

Why was six afraid of seven?
Because seven eight (ate) nine.

Yeah, real knee slapper, considering Gabriel hasn't learned about homophones yet. Gabriel was not about to be out done, so he made up his own joke right there on the spot. It went like this:

Why was the booger afraid of the tissue?
Because it was gonna get blown out.

I'm always a little worried when something begins with booger or some other bodily function. I think it was a pretty cute joke for a 4 year old to come up with. We all got a good laugh, and a great start for our Christmas Day.

We are never sure what will come out of these kids mouths, it keeps like exciting.

Christmas Lists

In my family we all make out a wish list, then spread them around the family. A couple days ago I had the boys dictate their wish lists for me.

Gabriel (totally self generated list)
~Cuddley giraffe or "Daddy" blue elephant (His "baby" is a little blue elephant he hauls everywhere)
~Puzzle Book (like the one at Nannie's house)
~Little People Train
~Little People Rug like Katelyn's
~A sticky wall that with things that you put on your hands and feet and climb up. (Yeah, he wants a velcro climbing wall like you see at the fair, or on a reality TV show)
If we ever build a house I think that we may have to build a whole room, with velcro walls and a rubber floor, for these little critters to climb all over.

Garrett (mostly self generated list)
~Purple band aids
~Anything with a trailer on it
~Little People farm stuff
~Noisy book (the kind with the buttons that have music, or make sound effects)

I count my blessings that they are still so easy to please.

Our Little Costco "Habit"

The Maskey family LOVES Costco! Stephen stops by at least twice a week, sometimes more.

Yesterday we picked Stephen's car up at the mechanic and tried to stop by Costco on the way home, it was still closed. As we pulled into the parking lot Garrett got so excited and yelled from the back seat, "Go see a Chis-a-mas stuff?" I had to laugh out loud. If we could all be so pleased about JUST looking at the Chis-a-mas stuff. He was very sad that we didn't go inside.

Last night they needed to get out of the house, so off to Costco we went. I told the boys to get ready for Costco. Garrett was on fire, he had himself dressed, and shoes on in ten minutes. On the drive I heard this conversation from the back seat.

Garrett: (Super excited voice) Want to see Chis-a-mas stuff with me Gabral? (He always leaves the i out)

Gabriel: (silence)

Garrett: Want to see Chis-a-mas stuff with me Gabral?

Gabriel: Yeah.

Obviously one is much more excited about the Chis-a-mas stuff than the other, I'm sure time will take care of that. Only a couple of weeks ago Gabriel explained, in great length, to Garrett that you can't be scared of sitting on Santa's lap or you won't get any toys. We haven't even talked about Santa this year, and don't require them to sit on his lap for presents. I guess if it gets them to both sit on his lap without a problem, I'll take it. Interpretation of the world according to a 4-year-old.

I love that they are both old enough to actually have conversations with eachother. I like it even more now that I can understand most of their conversations with each other. It wasn't too long ago that I could tell they understood each other, but I was in the dark. They would be playing, talking, and all of a sudden fighting. Now I can hear and understand the wind up for the fight. Their imaginations never end; they make their cars, animals, etc. interact and "talk" with each other.

The funny things they say, and simple pleasures in their lives, make all the power struggles, and naughty times worth it.

Cousins

When we all got home Gabriel was the first one in the door. I was in the very back and heard, "EW, what's that smell, it smells like poop." I'd made a crockpot dinner; a Mom just can't win. I used a combo of spices for the first time, and was a little bit worried. I'm happy to annouce that it DID NOT taste like poop.

My sister-in-law and I have tried several times to get cousin pictures. It has been exhausting, and a major work out every time we've attempted it. When we all got home I thought we'd try to get a picture with all of them. WOO-HOO! It worked and got some cute shots. They had a blast running around and playing with eachother.

Gabriel's First Primary Program

This weekend was Gabriel's first Primary Program. We worked on his part for several weeks, and he had it memorized well. His line was:

Bible stories teach me how to live the Gospel.

He had it memorized so well that he started adding to it, his own version was, Bible stories teach me how to live the Gospel with flowers and dogs. After a little coaxing we were able to convince him to just stick to the regular line. His little class also had the first verse of one song to sing. He did well singing here at home, but I wasn't sure how it'd go at church.

The night before our Ward had a practice, so the kids would know what to expect. I had Gabriel all prepped for the practice. So, 6:30 rolled around and we headed to the church. We got there and couldn't find anyone. I called one of the leaders, and discovered it ended at 6:30. The start time was 4:30. Yeah, I felt pretty dumb. What's worse is that I called the one girl I have in my class and gave her the wrong time too.

I explained to Gabriel that I messed up and we missed the practice. He took it well, but was very disappointed. He asked why I messed up, so I told him that my brain was broken. He suggested that I get a new brain with a hole in it. (I think the hole in it is the problem. ;-D)

Not to be outdone by his brother Garrett piped in with his own solution to Mommy's broken brain. I hear his little voice from the back seat say, "You need new batteries Mommy?"
I had to laugh out loud...from the mouth of babes. Garrett has a bumble ball that bounces around the floor. He LOVES that thing! He'd turn it on and leave it bouncing around all day if we'd let him. His little bumble ball eats batteries like crazy. He now get one set of batteries a week, causing him to constantly ask for new batteries. Batteries solve all of this kid's problems. He likes to put them in his mouth too. It's gross, but even more than that, it's a major choking hazard, and acid leak hazard....(sigh) BOYS!

Fast forward to Sunday morning. Gabriel did well all morning, picked his suit and tie that he wanted to wear, and I was confident that all was well. We walked into the building and it was all over. He wouldn't sit up front with his class, OR wisper his fight with us. Finally, we settled on he could sit on my lap if he would do it with his class. Yeah, just what I wanted to sit in front of the entire ward and get beaten to death by the 4 year old on my lap. He was calming down and settling into sitting in front, when he decided to throw his "baby". I told him it was gone, that throwing his baby was not ok. He proceeded to start a slow motion, fairly quiet, punching fit with me. When I didn't let him actually hit me, the noise started. I had to take him out for a time out, just the fantasitic behavior I wanted to deal with in front of everyone. My parents have soooo already gotten their revenge for all the rotten things I did growing up, and I'm only 4 years into it.

We got back in just as the program was starting. He was in the first group of kids that went up to say their lines. He stood up and waited, I thought we were gonna pull it off. Then he decided he wanted me to go up with him. When came to get me they thought we was coming to sit down, so the intro for the music started. He was upset that he didn't get to say his line. Sister Lindsey was really sweet and let him go up with another group, totally out of order, and say his line. He stood up, holding his "baby" and delivered his whole line. Good job Gabriel!!

He turned around, smiled at me, ran back to my lap, and wispered, "I said my part really really fast Mommy." Funny kid. He didn't sing a sigle song during the entire program. The end was approaching so I got him ready to stand up with his class to sing I am Child of God. Once again, he wanted me to hold his hand while he went up. I was able to get him up there alone, and sit back on the bench. He didn't sing a single word of it, but was cute in his little suit and tie anyway. What an experiene it was. You did a great job Gabriel! Thanks for working so hard on your parts at home with Mommy and Daddy.

I think the highlight of his Sunday was going to class with his cousin, and the spiderman bag he was given in primary for doing a good job in the program. The spiderman bag is now his "baby" carrier.

Stephen said Garrett was really into watching the kids stand up and talk. He kept saying, "I want try, my turn talk." I hope we can keep that going until he's old enough to get to participate.

It was a good day. My baby is growing up fast, and his brother is following right behind.