The kiddos being cute...

Here's an exciting, fun post!! No more moping or whining from me!! Now it's time to show off my adorable babies and how big they're getting...and how silly they are!! Hope you like the pictures!!

Some of you have seen our FLEXIBLE baby...and some have heard about it...and some will see/hear about it all for the first time now. She's scooting and moving more now...so the other day Aysha scooted to the couch and this is how I found her sitting...yep...doing the splits!!
It's really nothing for her...she'll do it day or night...any time, anywhere...and this is usually how she has to fall asleep. As you can tell...she's all smiles about it!!! She won't go to sleep in her bed unless each foot is touching OPPOSITE walls of the playpen...I think that's why she won't go in the crib...it's too BIG for her to stretch her legs like that!!! Silly girl....
I just love her...she's getting so big (8 months yesterday)...and is starting to really giggle, squeak, interact with Klous, and just be fun. It's too cute watching the kids play and laugh at each other...they're adorable!!!
Look at those eyes...how can you get mad or upset at her!?!?! Too dang cute!!!
Yep...she doesn't have to be up against the couch to do it...this is usually how she just gets down from sitting up...just spreads the legs and lays down...she can do the splits the other way too...but I haven't gotten pictures of that!! She's a bit flexible!!!
Then there's Klous...he's my boy!!! Goes from whacking me in the FACE with a wiffle ball while I was pitching to him...then comes into the house so I can get ready...and this is what I find. Silly kid was trying Aysha's hat on and trying to snap it...I just had to laugh and grab the camera. Daddy isn't real pleased with the picture...but I thought it would be a good one to pull out on those IMPORTANT days when he's older!! ;)
I made him re-do the face/pose he did for me when I walked out...but then he was all smiles and laughing that he looked so silly!!! Crazy to think you can get SO mad at him one minute...then laugh at him hysterically the next!! Love you bud!!!
Klous has been bugging us lately too cuz he wants to HOLD AYSHA...I keep telling him she's real wiggly and won't sit for very long...but he insisted on holding his sister. So I let him and actually got some pictures of it...
Won't be too long...(5 months from today I'm due)...and there will be ANOTHER one...yikes!!! But at least they're cute huh!!! Can't complain about that!!! Sure do love these kiddos!!!

Dr's Appointment today...

So I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings with this post or seem heartless or anything. But I've been feeling like I should post something and keep it recorded, because my goal is to someday make a book out of my blog!! Anyways...I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I hope that you understand where I'm coming from, and that I'm not intending on hurting anyone with it.

Ok...anyways...so I had a doctor's appointment this morning. It was just a regular check-up to hear the heartbeat...ask any questions I may have...schedule my ultrasound and next appt...do the pee in a cup...you know just the regular stuff. We got in...(Ryan was with me)...and I got all ready to have the Dr. find the heartbeat. Well usually with Klous & Aysha...and with the appointments for this baby...he's just found it immediately. Today it seriously seemed like FOREVER. He moved the doppler thing around...looked and looked for it...I didn't think anything of it at first, then it got longer and longer...my heart was sinking and aching...I was watching the Dr to see his expressions or anything...NOTHING...he went over the placenta and it was making a sound (like that of a muffled heartbeat sound)...but he said "Oh...that's the placenta"...then moved it around a little more. FINALLY way down low and where he never usually finds it, he found it. I let out a BIG sigh of relief...or what felt like a big sigh...and the Dr apologized for scaring me or making me nervous. It was such a relief to actually hear it and know the little one is still in there. I'm almost 18 weeks, and thought it was weird that I haven't really been feeling it move much...then when he couldn't find the heartbeat I got nervous.

So then all day I've been thinking about it...I think I was more nervous because of the feelings and thoughts I've been having the last 3-4 months. The feelings of doubt and fear and stress and worry and unhappyness at times. I feel TERRIBLE thinking any of these things, because for 4 1/2 years Ryan & I tried to get a baby...and now even though it's not in OUR timeline and plan...I find myself upset sometimes. It's horrible I know...and I'm really trying to work on it, but it takes time. Each day is a new experience for me and I never know what I will feel like when I wake up and get going. I'm more then happy to be having this baby...don't get me wrong. I know of the number of ladies and mothers who can't have children, or lose their children, or sit and watch their children suffer. So for the fact that I got this one all on my own and that it's got a strong, healthy heartbeat...I couldn't be more grateful. I just struggle I guess. It's a hard truth to admit...and I think getting it out will help me to overcome it more. Who knows...

I'm sorry for my rambling...like I said though...I wanted to have a record of my thoughts and feelings today and get it out. This pregnancy sure has been an emotional roller coaster and I'm just trying to make it through at this point. Sorry again if this has offended anyone or hurt you. That was NOT my intentions...just a rambling, venting session for me I guess. Hoping to get some reassuring comments or advice maybe!?!?!

To all you Mothers...just a little uplift!!!

Ok...so some of you know and some don't...but I've really been struggling a LOT lately. I've kind of turned into a hermit and shut myself off from the world, family, friends, pretty much everything. But I'm coming to realize that's NOT the answer!! I had hormonal and emotional issues when I was pregnant with Aysha...but they didn't start until I was 30+ weeks along. So I dealt with it. Well this time it's come at 14 weeks and isn't stopping. I've talked to friends, doctors, family, and mostly my hubby...and we're trying to get through it and work it out. For any of you who know me, know that I'm NOT a depressed, down, sad, unhappy person...well that's how I've been lately. Tired, crabby, no energy, no ambition, depressed, stressed, and everything else.
ANYWAYS...enough about that...I went to ask my bishop (leader of our church/area for those that don't know) for some help this last week, and he gave me something from a General Conference talk. He told me to read and study it, so I've taken it to heart and I have been this week. There are parts that have really hit home with me, and I wanted to share some with you guys, because we're all mommy's and all going through hard times and struggles at one time or another.
So here's the quote I wanted to share...it's a talk entitled "Because She is a Mother" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in the April 1997 conference.
It says:

"I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife-or both-may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband's bread-winning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs-Deseret Industries (the goodwill out here) provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island.
..."Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones...."

So I hope that can uplift you guys in some way and help you all realize you're not alone...I know I'm not alone, and that there are LOTS of people out there that care. We can all use a little helper once in awhile to get us through the next week!!! Hope this can help some of you in that way!!!

Update on getting big!!

Just a little note to update and let you all know that Klous woke up at 7:00 this morning just to run in and tell Ryan..."Daddy...I slept in my big boy bed ALL night, all by myself!!!" It was pretty cute...guess we'll see what the coming nights bring...hopefully as nice as last night was...I wouldn't mind him sleeping in a bit though!!!

Getting so big... :) :( :)

Somethings are just bound to happen, and we reached one of those things today. It's been a long time coming, and I know other people who have kids as old as Klous, this is a thing of the past, but it took us awhile :) We decided awhile ago that we weren't going to put him in a toddler bed when we moved him to a "big boy bed"...just cuz if he had problems at night and we had to lay with him or whatever, I wasn't going to lay in a toddler bed!! So anyways...we've had the idea and thought of getting bunkbeds for awhile, but couldn't find the right ones. Well leave it to us on a Saturday morning...bright and early at 6:45 I got up and went garage saling!! Some friends came along, then we came back about an hour later to get Ryan & the kids. One of the high schools was having a band fundraiser, so we went to check it out...they had bunkbeds with mattresses...there was a sign on the mattresses that said SOLD, so I was discouraged. Then we thought maybe they only sold the mattresses...so we asked...and sure enough they had. So I asked how much they wanted for the actual bunkbeds...and the kid said $25...can you believe it!! I was shocked and excited!! They were decent...wood...had drawers...had a ladder...was everything we wanted...so we decided to go for it. Then they had ONE mattress left laying on the other side...we asked if it was still available and it was...so we asked how much...$5!!! So for $30 we got bunkbeds with drawers, the "bunky boards" to go under the mattress, and a mattress!!!

Here is our great find!!!
Our good friend/neighbor Tyler came and helped Ryan put them together while I took the kids and Tyler's wife, Carole, to Wal-Mart to pick out sheets for Klous...of course he wanted CARS!! Don't mind the "storage" on the top bunk...that's what it'll be used for now...or until I put the laundry away ;)
Klous' new BIG BOY bed...that if we need to, we can lay in it WITH him and not just on the floor!!!
Out little man fast asleep in his new bed...don't know why it's so fuzzy...sorry though...
We'll see how tonight goes and if he stays in it all night...that would be GREAT...stay tuned for the update!!!
Now for tomorrow night and the coming week...finally putting Aysha in the CRIB and not the play-pen...getting Klous potty trained...taking the binki away...and whatever else we need to do...HA...I wish!! Someday...give it time, it'll happen right!! Aysha will be in the crib though...that one will be accomplished!!! Ryan & I want our room back to ourselves...for a few months at least!!! :) :) :)

4th of July 2009

Whew...this was a busy, crazy, fun weekend!! It all started for us on Thursday night when we had friends over for a BBQ...unfortunately the weather decided it didn't want to cooperate with us the WHOLE time, so while we ate we got rained on a bit...but then it cleared up for the kids to do sparklers and us to do fireworks!!!

The kids were pretty excited...
And the rest of us were excited for the fireworks too...we're all ready!!!
Aysha & Addi sitting with Auntie Shauna...aren't they cute!!!
Oooohhhh...Ahhhhh...pretty huh!!!
Sorry it's so dark, but I had to laugh cuz we were wondering how many guys it took to light a firework!! Or maybe they were doing something else!?!?!
More pretty ones...
And Klous' special pick of the night...the crazy clown with googly eyes!! The eyes and mouth lit up on this...it was pretty cool!!!
Then Friday morning it was time to get UP and ready at 5:15 so that we could leave the house by 5:30 A.M...we were going to watch the hot air balloon launch...here's Klous all ready and raring to go!!!
Klous & Summer by the BIG pig balloon...they were blowing it up at the time!!! Can you see the kids!?!?! :-)
Me and my kiddos...
Daddy and the kiddos!!
Watching Smokey the Bear going up...
There it goes...
And he's up!!!
The rest of them getting ready to take off...
I love this shot of Klous...just watching the balloons in the sky!!!

Ryan took this picture with the mountains in the back...pretty cool!!!
Klous saying..."buh-bye balloons" :)
All of them up!!!
Then to the morning of the 4th!! It was another early morning so we could find a spot at the parade...but not near as early as the day before!! I had to take pictures of Aysha before we left, because I never know if she'll keep all her cute stuff on by the end of the day!!!

Our little 4th of July baby!!
All ready for the parade!!!
We found a spot...and it was nice too...the sun was HOT...but it rained for a bit so that cooled us down...just in time for more SUN!!
Our cute family!!!
Mommy & Aysha...
Crazy Daddy & Cool Klous :)
Mommy & Klous
Argh...Pirate Klous :)
After the parade it was back to the house to get ready for the picnic at Grandma & Grandpa Pulham's...(Ryan's grandparents)...but the guys had to get a few swings/putts/hits in!! Klous thinks it's pretty cool to play with the big boys!!!
We did the picnic...but Aysha got sick there and puked the whole time...GROSS...so we ate and left...then took naps and got ready to stake out a place to watch the BIG fireworks in Provo. We went back to the park where they do the balloons, and it was great!! Klous & Daddy played for a bit before they started and while we waited...
Then my FAVORITE part of the whole weekend came...the jets flying over the stadium...I LOVE it...
I sure am glad to be part of such an amazing nation and the freedoms that we enjoy!! Hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th of July as well!!!