Don't be Jealous

The weather this past weekend was simply beautiful. We had 70-75 degree weather Friday and Saturday. Friday afternoon, the kids and I spent over three hours outside eating popsicles, playing with neighbors, playing in water and I even got the Christmas lights off of the house (FINALLY!!). Saturday we had a great time shopping with daddy and even ate dinner outside on the patio. We spent Sunday in doors and had to miss church because little Sadie-Pie got a tummy bug or something and threw up in the middle of the night. We were all much too tired to get up and ready for 9am church. She seems to be feeling much better today. The weather is back to being chilly and we might even get some snow so we're staying in all day to stay warm, feel better and get the house cleaned up. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

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I can't believe my little guy is 6 weeks old. He is getting so big so fast. He is such a happy-smiley boy and we love him to pieces.

Cutest Kids Around

This morning Drew and Hannah came to play for about an hour. They were so good and all of the kids had a great time. Drew is in the middle of Sienna and Sadie and does really well with both of them. These three play super well together and it was a lot of fun having him over this morning. Cute pictures of Tanner and Hannah coming.

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Sienna sharing a 'cutie' with a cutie.
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HUGS

I asked Drew to sit by Sadie for a picture and this is how they posed.

Much more appropriate than their last kiss.

Bath Time

Tanner LOVES bath time. He could stay in there all day. However, he got sick of me taking pictures of him after.

Nana, Papa & Dana

Great picture of Dan and Andrea holding their boys.

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Nana meeting Tanner for the first time.

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Papa snuggling Tan-man

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My girls were beyond thrilled that Dana came too. They had so much fun putting make-up on with her and hiding from monsters.

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Auntie Dana and Tanner.

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Crew George and Tanner Matthew

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Matt and Tanner taking it easy at the mall.

Blessing Day

Yesterday was a perfect day. Matt gave Tanner the most beautiful blessing and the sacrament meeting that followed was wonderful. I was in tears on and off the entire meeting for several reasons. The first thing that brought me to tears was being released from my calling in the YW but it was what happened after that meant so much to me and had my emotions on the surface. The blessing was beautiful. Tanner is such a special little baby and Matt did an incredible job at inviting the spirit. I was so blessed to have so many special people in my life there for the blessing too. Along with Matt's parents, Dana, Bryan, Allie and Crew, we had many of our closest friends including my dear friend and neighbor Sandy and her girls attend. For weeks I have been nervous about the talks given or what Sandy would think of church and just prayed that she could feel the spirit. I couldn't have been more pleased with how yesterday's events went. The speakers were our primary president followed by our new bishop and both talks were incredible. I felt like my prayers had been answered and that our bishop was truly inspired in choosing the speakers and topics for the meeting. Both talks were centered around Christ and his love for us.

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BUBBLES

Tanner is...

...my handsome little man

...a blessing in our home

...such a happy baby

...such an easy baby

...loved by his sisters

...the noisiest eater in the world, especially at night

...starting to smile more

...called little squeaker (he is a noisy baby. Always grunting, squeaking, or pooping)

...super strong

...super cuddly, always wants to be held

...finding his voice

...smiling more and more every day

...a victim of some serious baby acne (thank goodness it is finally starting to go away!)

...a great little eater

...a fan of bath time

...super picky sleeper (again, at nights. He sleeps so much better on his tummy or side but I won't let him sleep on his tummy at night. Truly, he prefers sleeping on mommy or right next to her but I'm really trying to break that habit! At least he sleeps well though and goes right back to sleep after eating.)

...excited to meet Nana, Papa and Auntie Dana this week

...is growing up way too fast!

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My little guy is 4 weeks old today and we all love him so much. I really don't know how it has been nearly a month since Tanner joined our family but I do know that it has been a wonderful month. I feel bad that I don't have more pictures of us all, we've been having so much fun together. Sienna and Sadie are wonderful helpers and have so much fun doing things for Baby Tanner. Sienna is the best helper a mom could have- always getting me diapers, clothes, cleaning and anything else I ask. Sadie is more of a hands on helper that loves being a part of changing Tanner or giving him a bath. All three have been so good and made the transition from two to three children a smooth and enjoyable ride for me. One of our favorite things is still grocery shopping together but we don't go often because I have become a 'germaphobe' and don't like having Tanner out much. I am so grateful that my kids are mostly well behaved and easy going. They are all such blessings in my life and make me a better person!!

My 2011

I love the beginning of a new year. It gives me added reason to reflect on my life and try to improve as well as make plans for the future. I have dedicated this year to be my year of gratitude, optimism, hope, service, love and productivity.

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My Goals:

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Keep a gratitude journal. (Matt bought me a journal for Christmas to fulfill this goal and every day since January 1st, I have written 10 different things I am grateful for in it.) It has already proven to make a huge difference in my attitude.

Try to read my scriptures daily. I put try because I know me and I know that I get behind. I have already missed several days this year but I am getting better. Now, if there is any down time during the day I try to read some because I know that if I put it off til night time, I will want to hang out with Matt and most likely fall asleep on the couch or in bed before opening my scriptures.

Do more for others. I love service and have a strong testimony of it from both of my parents. I firmly believe that helping others is one of the quickest ways to forget your own worries and find more happiness yourself. I want to find more opportunities this year to serve others.

Be more productive! Just this morning I was getting a bit down on myself and the kids for different things. I was stressed by 10am and emailed Matt that I had basically already given up on the day because there was no way I was going to get anything done with how things were going. After emailing him, I realized the joy of being a stay at home mom. I make my own schedule. Maybe I didn't have the start I wanted or anticipated but there were still 7 hours in the day before Matt got home. So, the kids and I made a yummy lunch together, watched a show while I fed and bathed Tanner, went through the kids' clothes and re-organized, took baths and showers ourselves and now I am snuggling with my little man while the girls take a nap. Not only was I happier once I started getting things done but the girls loved helping too. Plus, the more I can get done while Matt is at work, the more time I get to relax with him when he comes home and the more time he can enjoy the kids before bedtime.

Have more patience and be a better mom! At the start of the year I told Matt some of my personal goals and ended with being more patient and a better wife and mom. He told me that if I stuck to my first few goals (pray more, gratitude, scriptures) that being a better mom and having more patience would come naturally. It has proven to be true but I still have a lot of room for improvement.

I have several other things that I want to improve on in my personal life and other goals as a couple and family but these are my top 5 that I really hope to focus a lot on throughout the year. Overall, I really hope to become my best self and teach our kids to become their best selves. I want to make better choices and judgements and become a nicer person. "I want to be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me."

Tanner's 2 Week

Weight: 7lbs 11 oz
Length: 21 1/2 inches
Head: 14 1/2

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Tanner rolled over from his tummy to his back three times at the doctor's office today while laying on the table. Silly boy is just like his big sister.

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We sure love our sweet baby boy.

Our Little Goofball

One more from the museum.

Children Museum

Matt and I decided to take the kids to the Fort Worth Children Museum. Although we found it to be crazy over priced, we had a great time as a family. After the museum we stopped at Olive Garden for an early dinner. I have seriously loved every second of family time the past two weeks. Matt only worked two full days and two half days since December 17th which made this morning not so fun for me. I am fine at home with the kids and having three hasn't changed things much for me but it was so sad sending Matt back to work. I love having him with us and we have had the best couple of weeks together. Last night I had to avoid too much eye contact or conversation with Matt because I would automatically just start tearing up. I didn't actually cry but I wanted to several times. I am grateful Matt has a job and that he does so well at it, but that isn't going to change me being selfish and wishing he was with me more. The girls were completely spoiled and loved having daddy around so much too. This morning Sienna even said to Matt, "You don't have to go to work today, right?" She was sad when she realized the vacation was over. Here's to looking forward to weekends again!!!

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Gigantic Christmas tree.

Sienna loved putting the dinosaur puzzles together on the computer. She has a new found love for electronics. (Thanks to Jamie and Grandma Anne's Ipad)

Digging and brushing off dino bones.

BUBBLES

Sienna got the plate to spin all by herself.