Happy Valentine's Day!

Gifts for my sweethearts
(can you spy a corner of Bean's Valentine's box in the background?)

I got the kiddos new cuddly kitties. I am such a sucker for their obsession with them!

Heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast

My 3 valentines

Luxury

I am browsing a few blogs and Cares has decided to come brush my hair for me (dressed up in her Ariel dress and holding Twyla and her blankie as she does so--just so you can picture her...) Honestly, it feels so so good. I am loving it and she is just working away. OK--now I am going to close my eyes and enjoy it for a few more minutes...

Our Photo Booth fun a few moments later

Princess Ariel and her mommy--with smooth and tangle free hair :)

and an early Valentine's kiss from my favorite little boy!

One Month...Or So

My baby is due in one month from today. It seems so soon! And I don't think I even have that long (may be wishful thinking, may be mother's intuition...) It's just crazy to think that in a matter of weeks I will have 3 children--such a huge life changing event looming in the future. But I am excited for it :)

Today the doc told me I am at 3+ cm...

iPhone Weekend

A peek into our weekend via hubby's iPhone:

Joseph took the kids to Discovery Gateway on Saturday where they met Uncle Jim and cousin Tiago. They played there happily for hours.

(and this mommy was left with a whole bunch of free time to prepare her Relief Society lesson and run errands--such a relaxing day!)

After the Gateway, the dads took the kids for more playtime at Burger King (this helped meet the goal of the day--to wear out the kids' bodies which have been cooped up inside for many winter days)

And Joseph threw in some indoor plant shopping. We are horrible at keeping anything alive in our home but we're ready to try again--the rich colors of real plants are just so appealing this time of year!

On Sunday evening at my mom's house, Bentley really loved making Sam the cat carry Whiskers around on his back. It was pretty cute :)

My hubby and I also snuck in a date night on Saturday to eat Marble Slab ice cream and see the movie He's Just Not That into You. Loved the night out with Joseph and really liked the movie.

(sorry sisters-in-law--I had a chance to finally see a movie and so I went ahead and saw the one show we talked about going to. Still go see it with your hubbies--I think they'll like it!)

The Luckiest

I read this recent post by the eloquent and real Sheye Rosemeyer today. It won't matter much if you read it and don't know her story because her entry is a lovely reminder of all the beauty and simple joys children bring into our lives. Even though my kids are very sweet and learning to be quite obedient, I need these kind of reminders often (because my kids are also kids--independent and very energetic and quite naughty at times too :)

As I read Sheye's tribute to her daughter (a darling 3 year old who passed away almost exactly 2 years ago) I looked over at my Caroline and felt an immense wave of gratitude pass over me. She looked so feminine and content, working away in a huge coloring book sprawled out on the floor. My heart was full of love for my own, happy, healthy girl. I grabbed my camera and took some pictures of her right there, just how she was (and she of course added her own personality to them.) And now I have decided that you can never, ever have too many pictures of your children. And you can never, ever love them too much--it is simply impossible.

The Belly

Wow. There it is folks--at 35 weeks in the making. I saw my lovely doc today for a good old fashioned pelvic exam. And things are actually happening down there. Turns out that Braxton-Hicks and I are old friends. But as long as my contractions are serving a purpose then they are most welcome :) As of today, I am 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced...which could mean anything really.

Anybody want to make a prediction of baby's birthday?

Month of Love

Valentine's Day is in full swing around here. It seems like kind of a random holiday and yet this year, we have had so much fun getting ready for it!

one of our many batches of sugar cookies. I have an amazing recipe from my sister-in-law for both delicious (and therefore very naughty) dough and very tasty frosting (let me know if you need me to pass it along...)

our late afternoon craft project last week as we waited for Joseph to get home from work

and on Saturday I made some Valentine hairclips for miss Caroline