The Life of Mom

I have good intentions at the start of almost every day -
to make it a good day -
to speak softly and kindly -
to get the house in order -
to keep up on all things that need to be done on my list -
spend quality time with my sweet babies and make wonderful memories -
to prepare nutritious and yummy meals -

But most days don't end up like that.

Sadly today was one of those days....
My kitchen is not cleaned.
The boys pretty much lived off of pediasure and crackers.
We barely made it through Costco to get diapers (since Maylee had one left) and I had to carry her and push the cart, all the while she was screaming.
My to do list still has things to be crossed off.
I didn't get to play with the boys as much as I would have liked.
Toys are still strewn about the house.
I was not so soft spoken when the boys were loudly playing instead of going to sleep.
I definitely did not speak so kindly when Maylee was screaming and Drew spilled his cup of chocolate milk at dinner.

I am grateful that children are so forgiving and that I get a new chance tomorrow. I am so glad the boys forget about my imperfections when I take a deep breath, go back in their room, get them the drink of water they requested, and tell them good night one more time. I am thankful for quiet time to rethink my role as a mommy and my special and sacred responsibility I have to raise these sweet babies who rely on me, watch me, and trust me every second of the day. I may not be perfect and I am still learning about this whole parenting thing, but I love it...and I love all three of my little treasures!

Osmun Family Christmas Festivities

We enjoyed the last part of our Christmas day with my side of the family. We were SO glad Shelley and her little family were feeling better and could join us - we had so much fun. We went simple for dinner (which I didn't get a picture of) and just did Costco lasagna, garlic bread, jell-o, and veggies. WAY simple....WAY wonderful! It was so nice not to have a stressful day cooking and cleaning up.

After dinner we opened family presents and had so much fun. Shell had me this year and got me this fabulous bracelet along with some great eyeshadow and a new curling iron. My sisters are bound and determined to get me out of this "frumpy mom" rut I am in.

The kids had a blast opening their presents. Jared was being a ham and ripping his paper like a crazy man. The kids loved it!

Drew LOVES his new plate from Grammy and Poppie. It was a priceless find...hopefully this will aid in the adventures of trying some new foods and decreasing his food anxiety a bit more!

Lu got this beautiful, very jingly bracelet from Shan - love it! And we all got these cute "Be" blocks from my mom and a chalk plate (which I didn't realize was a chalkboard until the next day!) 

Sad that we all couldn't be together on Christmas, but loved spending time with my wonderful sisters here. I am so grateful for the Christmas season to celebrate the birth of our Savior, to spend time making others happy, and making sweet memories.

Christmas Day

We wanted to make sure Drew didn't come out in the middle of the night to find Santa...or the gifts before the rest of us, so we made a blockade down the hall and Bry slept in the front room just in case. I found Drew laying on the floor around 7:30 so he went and played in the playroom until Carter got up about an hour later.

Bryan taunts the boys before they get to see the presents. He stands where he can see the tree, but the boys can't. He talks about how great it all looks and how excited they will be. It gets them so pumped. It is so fun to watch. Then we let them loose!

Grandpa and Grandma came over for presents and breakfast in the morning. Grandpa helped Maylee open her presents with help, of course, from her big brother too!

Grandma tried to get some shots of all three in their candy cane jammies too, but alas success was far from found on this attempt too. Ah well - they are still pretty cute!

The boys took a bath after breakfast since they didn't get one the night before because we were out so late. Of course they had to try their new bath crayons. Carter stayed in a lot longer than Drew and I think used up 75% of the crayons already. He had a blast!

The rest of the afternoon was filled with playing with toys and enjoying time together as a family...and of course nap time. I love Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Even though we were home late we were able to still pull off our own little family traditions for Christmas Eve. The kiddos get new Christmas jammies....and apparently if you cover your eyes AND ears you are more surprised since jammies can be so noisy!

Maylee does have a neck...I promise. It was quite tricky trying to get a picture of these three after the busy night we had. Carter needs a hair trim, yes I know! I think footie jammies have to be one of the cutest things invented! The boys were pretty excited about them too since they haven't had jammies like these in a looong time. They look like little candy canes!

Daddy read Twas the Night Before Christmas with his boys. I adore all three of these boys!

I don't think Santa left our house until about 2:00 AM, but I think he enjoyed his cookies and milk....but I can imagine how tired he was after all he had to do that night....

Baker Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve is usually filled with all sorts of Baker Family fun and this year was not short of that one bit! We started at Greg and Holly's for a potluck soup bowl dinner, surprise visit from Santa and the Mrs. and of course a nativity reading and little talent show. We had so much fun!

Carter knew what Santa was all about and was eager to climb up on his lap. He started on Mrs. Clause's lap and then to Santa...and after he was done he kept going back and saying "hold" so he could climb back up.

Drew was excited to tell him he was "5"!!!!

Maylee even did great since she was holding her candy cane. Sweet little baby...

Carter was one of the Wise Men....stinkin cute if you ask me! He was pretty stoked about this costume.

Haley and Drew were Mary and Joseph. I love these sweet little innocent faces....(they look a little nervous if you ask me, but I am sure Mary and Joseph were a little nervous themselves!)

The night didn't end here. We headed off to another Baker party with the Baker cousins and more fun and food. The kids had a blast and burned any ounce of energy they had left. Needless to say we crashed by the end of the night!

Christmas Cookies

Bry took the initiative this year to find the sugar cookie recipe, gather ingredients, and make dough. It was so much fun! We stayed up late the following night with the boys to decorate and enjoy. I know Santa enjoyed these delicious sugary cookies Christmas Eve....

Christmas Sunday

Of course we were running late this morning and I didn't get out pictures before church....so we got some right when we got home which means that the boys had candy eating faces. Either way they are stinkin cute!!!! They are not the greatest pictures, but hey - pretty good for three little ones!

Love these little faces...even when he is covered in candy (which is a normal addition to his daily outfit) And check out Maylee gripping Carter's arm.

Drew got to read the scripture in primary today and he actually let me be in the room to watch, but wouldn't let me be the one to help him. It was ADORABLE and he did such a great job!

Our Attempt at Snow and Polar Express

Last weekend I found out that one of our strip malls had snow periodically through the evening and the bookstore was doing a Polar Express reading. Both sounded fun so we planned a family night out. My sister in law Jami and her family joined in on the fun! Well...the snow was just a sprinkling of foamy bubbles, but the kids didn't care and enjoyed the ten minutes of foam falling and made for some cute pictures!

Caleb and Carter were being too cute giving each other a hug!!!!

We walked from the snow to the bookstore and on the way over Ellie and Drew were being so cute holding hands. Jami even got all of them (minus busy Carter of course) to hold hands...stinkin cute!

We got the to bookstore early to get seats and waited...and waited....and waited. Apparently we were on the right floor, but wrong spot! They read the story again for those of us who miss it and the kids all got a bell and cookie. We had fun and it was nice to get out and do something "Christmasy" together!

Carter found this little gem while we were waiting and waiting....but I am SO glad! Drew has a monkey just like this from his birthday two years ago. He sleeps with it and it is well...a little disheveled these days. We have looked and looked for one just like it and this is the closest we have found! We secretly bought it without the kids knowing....ssshhhhh.......he may find it under the three Christmas morning!

Eight Months and a Whole New Woman!

I would like to introduce Miss Maylee....our now 8 month old daughter who sucks her thumb, soothes herself to sleep for most naps and bedtime, almost always rides in the car without a peep, loves to smile at strangers, and is just a happy, snuggly, adorable little princess! Maylee is a whole new baby these days and the change has just happened over the last 1-2 weeks. I am not sure if we give credit to the reflux medication, her getting older, or her skill to finally find her thumb when she wants it...but whatever it is we are SO grateful and are just soaking up all of her sweet, good little girl cuteness!

We had family pictures done a couple weeks ago.....you don't think she is adored do you?

I think she is just beautiful. She is such a little dolly!!!

Maylee has a very good attention span when it comes to studying people. She has great focus...and it is so cute. She REALLY liked Uncle Jess when he came to visit. She was such a snuggle bunny with him.

I love her little legs in leggings...so adorable. It is cute to watch her figure out how to move around these days.

She still adores her brothers and loves to watch them play....and occasionally gets in on the action for a minute or two.

Baby toes...need I say more...

She has turned into a snuggler again. She will lay with you and such her thumb.  Just wrap her in a blanket and stick a corner by her face and she snuggles right in (most of the time).

  

She LOVES peas. She really likes to have some yogurt with her brothers in the morning. She eats fruits and oatmeal for lunch and then veggies and barley cereal for dinner. She still does NOT like green beans. She will eat bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and applesauce.

Apparently a toe is good for sucking too - I don't think I want to encourage this little habit though.

She is getting so big and still working on sitting up on her own. She does okay for a little while, but then topples over. We will get there....I swear it was just yesterday she wore this shirt as a dress!

She gets up on her hands and knees like a pro these days and rocks and rocks. I usually find her this way when she wakes up from her nap and I just love it!

I had to have proof she actually wore this outfit. I have tried to put her in it about four times before, but every time she would have a leaky diaper and I would have to change her!

Her official doc appointment for her weight check is next week, but her home nurse came for her evaluation on Monday so we were able to get a height and weight and developmental assessment. Maylee is doing great and is advanced when looking at her adjusted age which is just over six months, but of course a bit behind from her real age.

Height: 25 inches

Weight: 12 lbs 11 oz

****At her doc appt a few days later she weighed in at 13 lbs...I think that is more realistic!