Ro Rock

Addilyn loves being rocked. Before she takes a nap or goes to sleep she loves it just for a minute or two. And who am I to deny my little girl of being rocked? They grow up too fast. She has to have her "blee" (her pink/brown blankie) laid flat on my shoulder. (another thing she loves more than life itself.) Anyways, so while Bryan or I rock her and she has her head on my shoulder she will quietly say, "Ro Rock" over and over. Then she will look at me and whisper "hi" and smile.
So, the other day I wanted to see if she would let Carter rock her. And, clearly, from the pictures, she did. It was SO cute!! I had to get a few pictures.

It's moments like these you have to take pictures of so when they are fighting the other 23 hours of the day you can look at them and remind yourself that SOMETIMES they get along.

The Beloved Purse

While we were on vacation last month my mom got Addilyn a little purse and several plastic bracelets to go in it. Since that moment, this purse has only left her side when she sleeps and when she bathes. (and not happily) She will take each bracelet out of the purse, put it on until she is wearing all of them (at least 10) and then take them off one at a time and put them back in the purse. She always walks around with the purse on her arm. It's just so crazy how different boys and girls are from the very beginning.

The Luckiest Girl Alive

I know lots of girls think they have the best husband in the world, but when I say it, I'm actually right. Bryan is AMAZING. He's so sensitive (thank you, Maureen) but not TOO much so. He's obviously strikingly handsome, very smart, caring, thoughtful, and the best father in the universe. For our anniversary a few weeks ago he took me to a hotel for the weekend. It was so much fun. We ate WAY too much (remember, I'm on the bulk up program), shopped, played games, and just hung out. I loved every minute of it. It was a good amount of time being away from the kids and they were in good hands at home with Grammie and Granddad. Not a day goes by when I don't thank our merciful God for letting me spend eternity with Bryan. He is, in every way, perfect. Poor guy, he definitely got the short end of the stick with me.

One of the things I love about Bryan is his jawbone. Isn't it so hot?

(you can see the ever growing belly in that picture. 1/2 way done, baby!!)

Playing our current favorite game, TTR. (Ticket to Ride... better with 4 people but that's ok.)

La Jolla Shores

I grew up in San Diego. While people always mentioned how great the weather was and how no where else in the world was as beautiful (as far as the weather goes) I thought they were exaggerating a tad. After time at BYU (which I hear have fairly mild winters compared to other parts of the country?!?!?) and living in Phoenix (pretty sure it's THE hottest place on earth), I finally believe it. EVERY time I go home the first thing I think is, "Why am I not living here? Why am I not giving my children the same opportunity that I had growing up with this weather?" And the beach... just the smell of San Diego... I love it. I absolutely LOVE it.
Anyways, this was the first time we have actually taken the kids to the water to play. We always go to the beach but we BBQ or watch the sunset, something like that. The kids have just been a little small. But they had a BLAST! Especially Carter, in case you can't tell from the pictures. We did have to explain to him that he couldn't "fall in" the ocean the way you fall into a pool. :) Anyways, here are some pictures from our day out.

Hey, these things are pretty handy. (With this girl, it doesn't matter the accessory. She'll wear it all.)

Carter drove home in just his undies...

GRANKY: THIS IS FOR YOU!! Remember when I was pregnant with Carter and we went to Gapetto's by your house? We knew we were having a boy and I saw this "Digger." I wanted it SO badly but we had no money. You just laughed and rolled your eyes saying by the time the baby was old enough we wouldn't even care about it. Well, that toy stays at Nona and Papa's house and all of the kids LOVE IT! HA! Take that! :) These pictures will show you just how much everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is enjoying it.

I saw a quote at a store the other day that said, "When I grow up I want to be a little boy." Isn't that how every man is? Sad thing is, SO many actually succeed at that goal! (isn't he cute?!?)

Disneyland

Disneyland was SO much fun!! Addilyn was definitely too small for it. She was NOT interested in any of the rides. I think they were too dark and loud for her. All she wanted was a balloon (which for some crazy reason we couldn't find until about 3:00 in the afternoon) and once we got her one she absolutely REFUSED to leave it to go on another ride. But Carter loved the entire day. It was a long, exciting adventure and we were ALL exhausted by the time we headed home. Thanks, Nona and Papa for the great time!!

BUZZ!!! He's one of my favorite characters!

Dumbo was one of Carter's favorite rides. Addi... not so much.

Peter Pan. Carter loves to fly. Just like his Granddad.

Carter put his hat on all by himself... I thought it was a cute look. :) (But I'm his mom.)

GIVE ME MY HAT!!!

All tuckered out on our way back to the car.

Hmmm...

When Carter gets home from preschool he has some quiet time. Before quiet time he goes potty. So, today he went in, peed standing up, and then spent about 5 minutes cleaning up all the pee that didn't make it into the toilet (I'm guessing somewhere between 75-80% of it).
Anyways, I came in to check on him as he was finishing up and putting the seat back down. He asked me, "Mommy, which part of the toilet do you sit on?" I told him I sit on the seat and not the bottom part. He asked why we sit on the seat and not the bottom part, to which I reminded him of when he fell completely into the toilet a week ago because he sat on the bottom part instead of the seat and his bum was too small for that part. (Seriously, his shirt was soaked in pee/poopy water. Sick!) He then said, "But, Mommy, you could sit on the bottom if you wanted to because you have a big bum." I started laughing... because it's that or you cry, right? What woman, let alone PREGNANT woman, wants to hear that? He looked confused and said, "Do you have a big bum, Mom?" "What do you think, Carter? Do I?" He smiled and confidently said, "Yep! You do!" No comment.

The Fire Station

While we were in California last week we went to visit my cousin Neal and his cute little family. His wife and their two kids (including 2 week old baby!!) met us at Neal's work. Neal is a fire fighter. The guy's amazing. He always has been. I'm sure I've driven him crazy since we were kids but he's my cousin so he HAS to love me.

You know when you're kids... or teenagers, and you watch your stud of a water polo playing cousin vomiting in your toilet late one night from... never mind, we won't go there... anyways, you know when you're younger you wonder who will do what with their lives. I'm proud to say that Neal is one of the MOST amazing people I have EVER met. His only rival is his beautiful Italian, excuse me, Sicilian, wife. So, Neal is now a brave firefighter. I am SO proud to be associated with him; to be related to him. He has a heart of gold, amazing taste in women (always has), and is one of the VERY cutest Daddy's in the world. (obvious exception: Bryan.)

He let us have a tour of his Fire Station. When I say "tour" I mean, he let Carter put on all of his fire fighter clothes (and I got THE cutest pictures), gave both of my kids little fireman hats and stickers, gave Carter an "honorary firefighter" shirt that I can barely peal off him, and most exciting, took us all on a ride in the fire truck. They even let Carter sit shotgun and wear the head set. (3 year old sitting shotgun... safety first, I guess. :)) My only complaint is that I wasn't there for the shooting of the Fireman Calendar. HA! But I did ask if they had any fireman outfits for sale at their gift shop I could buy Bryan. I got a big eye roll from Bryan. Hey, a girl's gotta ask, right? (I just don't get why they don't have gift shops there...) Anyways, that truck ride was HOT! Don't they have AC in those things? I guess it only gets hotter where they're headed.

I can honestly say that it was the highlight of Carter's California trip (and we even went to Disneyland). When he grows up he wants to be a "fireman dentist" and now waves and yells, "Hi, Uncle Neal" EVERY time we drive by a fire truck. It's THE cutest thing ever.

I am so glad my kids are getting to know Neal. He and his two brothers and sister were the cousins we grew up with. The rest of my cousins were all over the world. We lived by the McCann's for most of our lives. All of those kids have turned out amazing... but they all have chosen kind of dangerous professions. (poor Sandie and Ted) Family is so important and watching Neal and his siblings make it through the challenges they have faced the last few years has been heartbreaking and amazing. They are some of my very favorite people... even if they do have an affinity to writing ALL over themselves. :) I LOVE them all!!

(get comfy, Addi... we wouldn't want to put you out at all...)

Too Funny

While we were in California we went to Disneyland. Bryan and my Dad took Carter on Star Tours. He loved it so they went on Space Mountain... yeah... he didn't enjoy that one quite as much. He was too small so he was sliding everywhere. Bryan had to hold him so he wouldn't bang around the seat. But this picture made me burst our laughing. SO CUTE! At least Bryan's enjoying himself. I'm just bummed that I missed out because of the ol' pregnant belly. (which is a full on belly now.)

It's a....

GIRL!!!! (just keeping you on your toes with the blue writing.)
We are SO excited and figure this will be good for Princess Addilyn... something to bring her back to earth and remind her that she isn't the only one in the universe. Carter is ready to have two baby "stisters". He's so great with Addilyn (too had it's not mutual) that I know he'll be an amazing older brother. Plus, I just don't think any other little boy could measure up to him. I'm glad he's going to be my only little man. My girls will have an older brother and they'll have sisters. Everyone needs a sister, right? (I know I couldn't live without mine!)
We have no name yet so don't ask. We'll keep you posted. Let me rephrase that: we have no name we agree on. I have a name, but Bryan still needs to warm up to it. We're working on it... and Carter has already told Bryan the baby's name... Carter agrees with me. :)