BABY BLESSING

I finally finished Madison's blessing dress and bonnet. Nate says it is Omish looking, but I don't care I like Omish styles. :) The dress is wrinkled because I was ironing it and the iron spit brown on it. I had to re-wash it. I will try ironing it again in the morning. Sierra wanted to see her blessing dress. We pulled it out and she tried it on... and wow... it still fits! I even was able to fasten the buttons. She say it looks like a wedding dress.

MICHAEL ANGELO --- SIERRA

Sierra is my little artist. This is one of her latest creations. It is a picture of Me. The circles in the center ar my eyes. I am laying side-ways. Here is Madison. She is sporting poka-dots and that makes her beautiful.

Here is her picture of the ocean. She used water colors. The yellow is the sun and the blue is the water. This is my favorite!

20 BUCKS THRIFTING IN THE BURGH

My friend Shelly did a post similar to this one and I really enjoyed it and so I stoled her idea. She is full of many fabulous ideas. Sierra loves to draw and her dad is after her all the time about wasting paper. She can waste all the paper she wants now because I picked up five packasges for 50 cents.

I picked up the teddy bear puzzle for a dollar.






I found the missing book in Sierra's Beatrice Potter collection.











I found two t-shirts for Sierra and a sweater and a turtle neck that will fit Madison next winter.







I saved the last for the best. My sisters had a tea party with my nieces over Thanksgiving holiday's. The girls were only allowed to use British accents. My mother said they laughed and laughed. I wanted to have memories like that with Sierra. We don't have any tea cups or tea pots. I found this beautiful tea pot and all of these heavy porcelain mugs. Sierra and I have been enjoying tea (water) and crumpets (marshmellows) and talking in English accents all afternoon. Now every time I talk Sierra says, "Mom, talk in that silly voice."

ALL BY MYSELF!

These are the moments we as mothers live for. Yesterday I went into Sierra's room and she had made her bed without being asked and without any help. I told her I was proud of her I would put a picture of it on my blog. She is such a good girl. What would I do without her?

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

This is the picture of the year. I don't know why but I really love it. I wish the ornament Sierra is holding wasn't blurred but other than that it is a perfect picture. Sierra is the worst subject to photograph so I am pretty excited every time I get a good picture.
We put up our Christmas tree for family night this week. It was quit the ordeal. I pulled into home depot and Madison started to fuss. I pulled into the back and flagged someone and told them to throw a Christmas tree into the back of the truck. They said, "Don't you want to pick it out, most people want to pick it out."I said, "I have a baby ready to start screaming. I just need a tree. I don't care which one." They loaded one up and I went to the register and paid for it. I must admit the tree is the best one we have ever had and I didn't spend an hour hunting for it. I got the girls into the apartment and loaded the tree into the elevator hauled up and set it up. I was pretty proud of myself for being so independent. (Nate is in the middle of finals week, so if I didn't do it wouldn't have gotten done.) Sierra and I had just finish putting the last of the ornaments on and she went to a friends to play and I went in to make supper. I heard a crash. I guess I shouldn't have been so proud! :) I didn't set the tree in the stand right. There were ornaments and water everywhere. My friends saved the day again. Steven, Shandra's husband, came and trimmed the tree and reset it into the stand. What would I ever do without the many angels in my life? Merry Christmas.

NURSING PADS

I made nursing pads. I won't go into any personal details about why. I sandwiched a piece of warm and natural batting between two pieces of white flannel. I cut them out using a cup the size I wanted. Then I surged them in the round and sewed and X down the center. Anyway not only will I save money but I will be more comfortable. Again, if you are having the same trama and want a lesson feel free to call or come on by.

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

I made these muffins! Can you believe it. I am so proud of myself. My Aunt Susana taught me the tricks to making a good muffin and have been making all flavors. If you won't tell Nate, I will tell you a secret. They are alll whole wheat, and I used applesauce as a substitute for most of the oil. I cut back on the sugar by half. They are really healthy except fo the chocolate chips, which are there to just help the medicine go down. MAN I AM GOOD! I have made dozens of failed muffin recipes, so I am pretty proud. If anyone wants a muffin making lesson, come on over. Here is the trick, in every recipe put at least 2 tsps of Baking Powder and 1 tsp of Baking Soda. Then add a lot of liquid, which will help make the muffin moist in the center. I added an extra cup and a half of warm water to this recipe. I recommend adding some form of liquid, orange juice, milk, banana, pumpkin, or just water until the batter is the consistance of pancake batter. Also, and here is another trick, fill the muffin containers until they are heaped a little above the rim and then pat the tops with water. This will moisten the top of the muffin. Who knows maybe one day I will write my own recipe. Top of the Muffin to you!! :)

THANKSGIVING

Sadly, Nate and I forgot the camera when we went to Virginia for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time. Susanna went all out and we ate like kings while we were there. Sierra loved my cousins Tristan and Tanner and she kept referring to them as her friends. She would say, "Mom, where did my friends go." She would run through the house yelling, "Friends, friends!" until she found them. Nate got to go out on the ocean and fish with Uncle Curtis for two days. He had an awesome time. Just being out on the ocean hunting for fish for two days was a dream come true and a much needed R&R before finals week hit. We love our Virginia family.

SUNDAY MORNING

Sierra was brushing Madison's hair and putting her necklaces and bracelets on her. I reprimanded her for trying to put too many necklaces over her head because she wasn't doing it very gently. She decided to put them on her waist instead. I know this picture is a bit blurry but I thought Madison's face says it all.

FISHING BOAT

Nate finally got his first boat. He is so excited. There are a few minor hole but that is okay because they are as easy to fix as holes in a bicycle tire, right? He had me take this picture right after he inflated the boat. He had to hold Madison while I got the perfect picture. It is the first time he has actually asked me to take a picture of him. I was pretty excited. He is in finals this week so he hasn't actually had the opportunity to test it on open water. I am sure he will have it up and running as soon as he can find the time.

BEST FRIENDS

What did my girls ever do without each other? Sierra is constantly putting one arm around me and one arm around Madison and saying, "We all love each other. Madison, Mom, and Me." She can't ever get enough of loving on Madison. Often I will just put Madison down for a nap and a few minutes later I will hear her squeal. I will go back to check on her and Sierra will be in the crib with her arms around her. She will protest, "Mom, Madison needed me." At this point I want to strangle her but I know in my heart she just loves her sister and is really bored when she is asleep.

ISN'T THIS IMPRESSIVE? YOU GO GIRL!

My daughter loves to wear her mother's shoes. I am so impressed at the age of three how well she can walk in my heels. She is amazing. I have always felt empowered when I wear heels and I love them. I hope she continues to love wearing high heels. (Funny Note: These particular heels Nate doesn't like because they make me slightly taller than him. When I wear them he refers to me as amazon woman. Despite all his best efforts I won't give up wearing them. I am certain I will own a dozen or more pairs of three inch heels when we finally get done with dental school :) )

BEAUTIFUL MADISON

My beautiful little girl didn't want to go to sleep tonight she was just watching me. I kept telling her it would be a good idea to close her eyes but she didn't think so. Isn't she so beautiful? I love her.

WHITES ONLY, PLEASE?

Sierra is hilarioius. I have stopped eating cereal for breakfast because milk is something Madison can't tolerate, so I have been eating a lot of eggs and toast. Sierra asked to join me a few mornings ago. She ate the white part of the egg and gagged down the yellow part. The next time I made eggs she asked if she could just have the white part not the yellow. I usually don't give into special requests for food but this one is amusing to me so I have made her white only eggs for a few mornings now. Feels like a waste when I discard the yellow part, so if you have a suggestions for the use of just the yolk of an egg, post a comment.

WHO AM I?

I don't know why I am obsessed with the comparison game lately, maybe because I keep having deja vu. I feel like I have had Sierra's twin three years later. I know there are dissimilarities like Madison's head is a little more narrow and she only has one dimple instead of two like Sierra but still the resemblance is uncanny. Sierra is in the green. Madison is in the pink. She was holding her hands just like Sierra but moved when I clicked. Look at their chins! Identical.

CAN I SLEEP IN THE CRIB NOW?

I have nightmares about the endless nights I spent trying to get Sierra to sleep in her crib as a baby and as a toddler. By the time she could stand up she would launch herself over the side of the crib and get out. She hated it. Finally when she was eighteen months old we bought her a double bed, so she could roll and move around all she wanted. She was relieved to finally be out of the crib. Until now.... It seems the crib is far more exciting now that Madison sleeps in it. Last night I went to lay Madison down and this is what I saw. Madison ended up in Sierra's bed.

SISTERS BY CHANCE, FRIENDS BY CHOICE

I love watching the way Sierra loves her baby sister. I think this picture says a lot.

MY ANGELS

Joy Turner, one of my friends, came by the other night and watched Madison staring off like this and she said she was watching her angels. This morning as I was preparing breakfast and caught this far away look in Madison's eye I wanted to capture it on film.

BREAST FEEDING

Sierra has been a little amazed at the methodology of feeding an infant. She exclaimed over dinner the other night, "Dad, Mom has milk in her breasts." We all burst out laughing. She thought we didn't believe her so she said, "Guys, I know. I saw it." Then as we were packing up the diaper bag to take grandma to the airport Sierra said, "Mom, don't forget the milk for your breasts because Madison is going to be hungry." I am sure the nursery will get an ear full on Sunday.

MADISON 1 WEEK OLD

Madison has been such a joy. I can't explain how much happiness and peace she brought with her when she entered our home and our lives. She loves her big sister and endures Sierra's constant need to be in her face and have Madison in her arms. We are working on improving Sierra's holding of Madison from a tight noose to a gentle hug... I guess it will take time. Madison has been on a great feeding schedule. She only woke up twice last night, once at midnight and once at three. I am getting more sleep and am feeling like I can handle being a mother of two. Nate has been impressed with Madison's temperment. I don't think he has even heard her cry yet. Her fussing rarely excaltes past what you see on the video. We are blessed to have her in our lives.

GOOD BYE GRANDMA

Well, my mother has been in town for the last week taking care of me, Nate, Sierra and Madison. We feel so blessed she was able to come and be with us during this special time. We don't know what we would have done without her. She has been our saving grace. Madison came so quickly that we wouldn't have time to run Sierra anywhere. If we had of tried, Nate would have delivered Madison. Grandma's timing couldn't have been more perfect. We wish her stay could have included enjoying the city but maybe next time. She spent all her time caring for us. How blessed we are.

LOVE YOU MOM.

OUR LITTLE MIRACLE

If you want to hear all the gore details of labor and delivery, I would love to tell the story. I love to tell a good story and it is a good story. (So, just call.) (Short Version) My water broke at home. I had her less than two hours later. I didn't think we were going to make it to the hospital. We had her twenty minutes after reaching the labor and delivery room. No time for anesthesia. I told Nate I want a t-shirt made with the words, "I survived natural child birth" written on the front. He said, "I need a t-shirt too." A few mintues earlier and Nate would have had to deliver her. Can you imagine? I feel blessed that we made it.

Since before Madison was concieved, we knew she was going to be a little mircle in our family. The whole processes of conception, pregnancy, and labor and delivery has let us believe she was ment to come and ment to be a miracle. We feel so blessed and filled with the Savior's Love to have her in our home and in our arms.

SIERRA AND MADISON

A lot of people have asked, "Does Madison look like Sierra?" I will let you be the judge. Sierra is wearing purple. The other picture is of Madison, both were taken when they were two days old.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD MADISON JENNIFER

CHUCK-E-CHEESE FOR ADELEE'S B-DAY

Sierra was invited to her friend Adelee's birthday party yesterday at Chuck-e-Cheese. I wanted to go but didn't know if we should commit because of the obvious. I woke up yesterday and thought I can either clean my home and then wait or go and do something to distract my mind. Need-less-to-say everyone was shocked to see me at te birthday party. (But here I am on day three and still pregnant, so I am glad we went.) Sierra had a blast. Adelee's parents gave each of the kids 20 tokens. Sierra just wanted to ride the carosel. She rode on the horse that you could reach the token slot and held her cup of tokens. When the ride would stop she would put another token in. She had fun on the indoor playground and in the balls. I don't think she has had that much fun in a while. The best part was playing with all her friends. I was really proud of her because I took her to the store before and had her pick out a present for her friend. She found something she really thought she would like and then she was so excited about giving it to her. She even helped her open it but immediately handed it to her. It was something Sierra would have really loved to have kept for herself but she never said anything. She just said, "Adelee is going to love this.

SICK LITTLE GIRL

My little girl was up all night throwing up. I don't know if she ate something that disagreed with her tummy or she has the stomach flu. She said as she was drifting off to sleep, "Mom, I ate too much rice. My tummy hurts. Will you rub it?" I should of taken this for a sign. Sierra doesn't complain unless there is somthing significant going on but I was too tired to deal with it. I said, "Go to sleep and then it will feel better." I went to bed and got a short nap in when I woke to a beautiful present all over her bed. I rinsed her bedding and Nate took it down to the laundry room to wash it. We hung her blanket over the playpen and the couch to dry. Here she is, first thing in the morning, playing peek-a-boo out from under her drying blanket. She is such a morning person and despite the fact that she was up all night she still was ready to go at 7:30am. I put her in front of Little Einstien and went back to bed. It is now 9:37am and it looks like we will miss stake conference today. (I was mainly looking forward to going to help the day go by faster. There is nothing worse than waiting for your baby to come.) It is probably best we miss because as you can see Sierra is still very pale.

ZOOBOO

Today was ZooBoo in Pittsburgh. The Zoo holds the event a couple times near Halloween. Venders come out and give away candy, chips, and drinks. Sierra loves it! They don't hand out more treats than she can handle. She just eats one treat and by the time she reaches another vender she is ready for her next treat. This year we were lucky enough to go with friends. Shelly and Hailey came with us. Hailey is is the Lion. They have been some of our dearest friends since coming to Pittsburgh and we are greatful for all times we get to spend with them. Sierra was a princesses fairy for the occasion. She was always flying ten feet in front of me. I think I yelled at her to slow down more than I should have but wow... it is hard keeping up with a three year old when your nine months pregnant. Today, is Madison's due date any bets on how much long she will stay put?

Nathan is 31!! Happy 31st Babe!

Nate's 31st Birthday was today. Sierra made him a crown. She knows her father too well. She said we had to decorate the cake with green frosting and make him a green hat. I said, "How about pink?" She said, "No, Dad don't like pink. Dad likes green." After her father blew out the candles on his cake she helped remove and clean them. Nate has been busy for the last two weeks. He should have spent his birthday fishing but he was too tired to do that. Well, Madison still hasn't arrived but I have a feeling her arrival is eminent.

SIERRA's VIEW

This is the Fall view of Pittsburgh from Sierra's window. No wonder she hung on her blind upset that it was blocking her view. Amazing. Hopefully mom will be here soon enough to see Pittsburgh in all its glory. (I feel bad the camera can't capture the scenes exquisite splendor because the glass pane is in the way.)

SUNDAY DRESS

Sierra singing 'I am a child of God.' She was watching the computer as she was singing because the computer was playing the tune. I was trying to record her face, so I was recording sideways. Let us just say the cinematography is bad at best but she is cute. Enjoy!

SIERRA's BFF

Sierra, Jennifer and Brooklynn went to the park together on Monday. They had a lot of fun playing together. They didn't want to go back into the apartment so they hide under the bench. Jennifer and Sierra are tighter than butter and bread and often poor Brooklynn gets left out. We feel so blessed to live close to such good friends. Shandra, there mother, is one of the kindest persons I have ever met. Jennifer and Brooklynn are both helping Sierra learn how to share. When they left our home today shortly after Sierra threw a fit over a baby doll. Her dad told her if she doesn't learn to share she won't have anymore friends. Sierra wanted to say family prayer tonight and as she neared the end Nate prompted her, "And help me to be nicer to my friends." Sierra repeated, "Thank you I could be so nice to my friends." Nate reemphasised "HELP me, amen."