Whining

To all the moms out there... We have hit the whining stage and I am going crazy. 

Tell me I will survive. Please.

Today everything that was happening was exactly what he didn't want. I would give him choices and he would create his own choice that was not a choice. Every. Single. Time. 

When we drive anywhere, he thinks he gets to decide which direction we go and he always wants to go the wrong way. It's pretty much awful. 

So, when I want to plug my ears and tell him to quit, I have to remember why I love him. Like how he flaps his ears and tells me he's a butterfly. That is awesome. Every. Single. Time. 

Everything All At Once

Life has been beyond busy for us...crazy...insane...

I'm a couple weeks into my night shifts. I love working nights and there is no doubt that it is the best fit for our family. I also know I don't get enough sleep during the day. And yet, I still am able to do all I need to do. I love being a nurse and a wifey and a momma. How lucky am I to do all three?!

Husband isn't much better off in the sleep department. He works during the day, takes care of the kids when I am gone, and stays up late doing his BYUI class. Every spare moment is filled to the brim with this, that, and the other. He is my superstar. I'm grateful for his love and support. 

Our kids are cuter than ever. They put up with a lot these days. Lots of time in the car running Mom and Dad to work, grumpy tired Momma, running around town house shopping, etc. P.S. My children are twins. It makes me happy. 

Speaking of house shopping...we found one. Our offer was accepted. If everything goes well, we will close at the end of the month. I am super excited. I'm going to love having a house of my own. It's been fun and such a blessing to be at my mom and dad's. I'm going to miss it in some ways, but it'll be good to be on our own again. 

We just keep swimming.  We're making it, barely. :)

First Day at Banner

It's after 9:00pm.  I have to be up at 5:00am to get my tired little booty out to Banner Thunderbird by 7:30.  I may as well drive to California.  And yet, I am determined to sit here and blog so that I can remember today.

I carpooled with my dad to get to my first day of orientation at Banner Good Sam.  It was a VERY rainy day.  Lucky for us, the windshield wipers on my dad's car might as well be water skis as well as they work...it was awful.  I arrived in plenty of time, though, and figured I would get a head start on my day by pumping (breastmilk, that is).  I am such a good mom.  Except that I am missing vital pieces of my pump.  Great...

Orientation is orientation, complete with complimentary orange juice, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, etc.

Meanwhile, back at home, Husband is trying to get my siblings ready and out the door for school while also wrangling Hyrum and Lindi.  He needs a shower, so he leaves our children in the care of my mother's children.  Lindi poop 'splodes.  Leslie and Sydney ditch out because they're going to be late for school.  Brooke (10) is left to clean up the 'splosion.  It gets on her pants.  She reports she threw up in her mouth.  She did an excellent job of cleaning Lindi.

Husband gets the kids to school and comes home to feed Miss Lindi before bringing me my pump pieces.  She fusses and fights.  I guess we're going to have to become acclimated to the bottle again.

The rain has made for terrible traffic, but Husband finally makes it to Good Sam so that I can pump.  I give my babies hugs and kisses.  I cry because Husband reports that Hyrum "wants to hold Mommy!"  My sweet little babies need their Momma not to be working all day!  Then, Husband makes it home just in time to discover that Hyrum has thoroughly peed his car seat.  Oh joy!  He scrambles to change Hyrum, strip the car seat, feed the three of them, get dressed and ready, and out the door to pass the kids to Grannie and get to his interview.  He makes it with one minute to spare.

Of course, once we're all home, it's time to make dinner, do dishes, catch up on laundry, iron uniforms (don't say it...who irons these days?), brush teeth, and watch the old school "Johnny Lingo" as the kids go to sleep.  Phew!  Tomorrow is a new day.  Just as busy, too!

Creative Mothering

Child number two ushers in a whole new phase of mothering. What's a mom to do when she finds herself with a poopy diaper and a diaper bag wipee thief?

Creative thinking, I tell ya!

Here's to Lindi! Alive, freshly diapered, and happy to boot!

Now to discover the wipee thief!

Jeri Lin Brown, RN

I accepted my first position as a Registered Nurse.

What?!

I will be working at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.  I will float between the Cardiac PCU, Neuro PCU, and Outpatient Observation Unit.  I will work three nights a week.

I'm super duper excited and super duper want to cry and pee my pants and what am I thinking?!  I'm not sure I know how to be a full-time nurse and a full-time mother.  I can see myself evolving into my own mother.  Never sleeping, constantly going.  Somehow I will have to figure out how to learn and grow and enjoy working while still loving and holding and squeezing my sweet babies and Husband too.

Blessing Day for Lindi Beth

What a beautiful little family!

And what a special day to share with grandparents and great-grandparents!

I was so grateful to have my daughter surrounded by her father, her Pops, her Grandpa, and her Papa!

Three generations of faithful Priesthood holders!

A beautiful day for a beautiful girl!

After Lindi's blessing, as I held her and had my boys on either side of me, I was overwhelmed with a love for my little girl and for my family.  I felt as if my heart would burst!  I am so grateful for Priesthood keys that allow us to be sealed for eternity!

A Visit from the Browns

Grandma and Grandpa Brown came to visit for the week.  They rented a house nearby and we enjoyed having lots of space, a pool, and (of course) GRANDPARENTS!

We spent a few afternoons in the pool.  Even Missy Lind joined us once.  She's to-die-for-cute in her little swimmer suit.

 Another family photo...we're on a roll.

Aside from swimming, we enjoyed playing board games, eating yummy food, touring model homes, and just being together.  On Saturday night we went to Benihana's. It was a little bit of a fiasco.  We should have known better than to wait for over an hour with two little kids.  Then, we finally got seated and Hyrum fell over in the high chair and cracked his head.  As awful as that was, he recovered fairly quickly and enjoyed the rest of the evening.  He loved watching the chef cook our food right there in front of us and he love love loved the chicken fried rice.  I'm still glad we went and I'm glad it's a night we will never forget, even if it is at the expense of Hyrum's head.

We sure do love Grandma and Grandpa Brown.  They always spoil us.  Hyrum loves playing with them.  Grandma is so good about entertaining Hyrum.  She took him to the park multiple times, even though most people (like me) would never go out in the heat for that.  We were sad to see them go and hope we can see them again lickety split.