Today's the day...

Today's the day I'm going to update this thing if it kills me! Every time I sit down and attempt to update the blog, I just never seem to have enough time to put everything I want to on here. So here is the "short" version of what we've been up to lately. Of which I hope to add to later for my detail documenting. :)

*It's been a busy and sickly couple of months, if I had to sum it up in a couple of words. We just can't seem to stay healthy for long at our house these days. Most have heard the story, but Emma celebrated her birthday (end of January) in the hospital with pneumonia. Here she is in her "cage" as I liked to call it. When the nurse offered a crib for her, I saw her bringing this down and I thought, "poor kid who has to be in that thing." Then she wheeled it into our room. Ah well. I suppose the hospital isn't supposed to have the comforts of home, but this isn't what I pictured when she said "crib." Kinda funny...anyway, you can see all her cords and tethers that were no fun but made her better. She did look cute in her gown, but obviously not the most ideal situation.

**She's doing fine now except she can't seem to shake these darn ear infections. She's had 3 in the last month and a half...a double one this last week. I'm getting really good at detecting them, if I do say so myself, but I'd much rather spend my time outside the doctor's office. Call me picky. :) You know it's bad when the nurse says, "back again, are ya?" She's on her 3rd round of antibiotics since her hospital stay, and this last one we discovered her allergy to penicillin. Poor little thing has been through the ringer! She still is so happy and loves to play, and is still my feisty little girl! She's usually the one to have Jentri crying and holding wherever Emma just hit her or pulled her hair. Definitely need to work on that. She's getting more and more brave when it comes to walking, and her vocabulary consists of "Hi," "Mama," and "Arf" which she says over and over again whenever a puppy is in view.

**We finally were able to celebrate Emma's birthday when it was time to celebrate Jen's. She wanted a Cinderella birthday, and was really excited to share her party with Emma. My babies are getting so big! I can't believe Jentri is 3, and I really can't believe Emma is 1 already. They grow up too fast! These two are so much fun. They keep me so busy I can't even think straight most of the time, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. My favorite sound in the world is hearing them laugh and giggle and play from the next room. Can't beat that! Oh yeah, short version...moving on. :)

I think Jake is going to quit his job as an engineer and become a full-time cake decorator, what d'ya think? :) He did a good job. We were running short on time so he took over and voila! He even wrote their names on the side of the cake. My creative hubby...gotta love him. :) Here is Emma enjoying her cake...

BEFORE...

DURING....

AFTER...

So nice of her to share with her sister. Jen thought her "messy handshake" was pretty funny. Life's simple pleasures...

As for the rest of us, we're staying busy as usual. Jake's got two weeks left of his final semester, and will have his thesis finished hopefully by the end of the summer. Hallelujah! Light at the end of the tunnel for me! Oh yeah, and him too I guess. :)

Jentri tells me just about every day that she "just wants her other sister to come." I've tried to explain that she's not done growing yet, but she's in that "Why?" stage and I just don't have all the answers, sorry Jen. :) We are getting down to the wire with just 8 weeks left, which has left me both nervous and excited. This pregnancy has definitely gone by fast, and I don't think it's really completely hit home that we will have 3 kids before we know it. People have asked if I'm ready for 3. Hmm. No, I don't think I am nor will I really ever consider myself ready, but as a wise 3 year old once told me, "Ready or not, here I come!" How true that is. :) Seriously though, I am feeling now more than ever, (maybe it's just taken this long :)) that this babe is supposed to be here and I'm so excited to add to our family.

There are about a million more pics and stories I want to post, but I'd better quit while I'm ahead. Naptime is only so long for my girls. :) I hope all is well with all of you! For some it's been a while but I do check blogs and such on occasion and try to see what ya'll are up to. Anyway...more to come!

It's A.....

GIRL!!!!

We were convinced it was a boy this time, but are super excited for another girl! That's all we seem to know how to make in my family. This will bring the total to 11 girls and 2 boys for my parents' grandbabies. Crazy! Girls are definitely fun, and as Jen said today, "Yay, TWO Emma's!" Give it up for Emma #2! ;)

It's still so amazing to me the miracle of having kids. Seriously! There's this little person in there with all its fingers and toes, moving around inside me. You'd think after 3 pregnancies I'd be used to it, but I just can't get over it! I feel so lucky.

Anyway, pictures to follow...sorry! Happy Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

Our not-so-little baby Emma is so fun to have around. She has developed such a fun personality in her short 10 -almost 11 months. She has her occasional feisty streak and will let you know if she doesn't like what's going down, but overall she's pretty chill and laid back. She is a busy girl and keeps her Mama hopping with keeping her out of trouble, mostly keeping things out of her mouth. She loves my cell phone, "reading" books, cell phones, Tickle Me Elmo, laughing with Jen, and my cell phone. Did I mention she loves my cell phone? Or any phone I have to my ear, I suppose. Anyone that talks to me on the phone anymore can either hear Emma oooing or crying ( because she doesn't have the phone in her hand). She's also been known to hang up on people, so if that's happened....sorry, it's nothing personal! :) Such a cutie!

Jen is not my baby anymore, but is growing into a little girl. She constantly cracks us up with the things she says, and as Grandma Price says, does not seem to think like a typical two year old. She is such a helper around the house and lets me know when the mess is big enough that it's time for me to clean up (thank you, Jen :)). Needless to say we're trying to teach her how to clean up her own messes. :) She's not too sure of this Santa guy yet, but says she'll be "careful" a.k.a. good so he'll bring her some presents on Christmas. The thing she seems most excited for is that Daddy told her they would try "skiing on the mountain" after Christmas, so I think most days she just wants to get this Christmas business overwith. Still not sure if she knows exactly what that entails, but she knows she gets to go somewhere with Daddy, and that's enough to get her excited about going.

I could go on and on about these cute and crazy girlies. We'll see what happens when Baby #3 comes in May. Jen's thoughts change about what it'll be, but Jake's convinced it's a boy. I've learned not to say one way or the other, because it's usually the other. :) The 20 week ultrasound is scheduled for January 13th, so stay tuned!

Merry Christmas! We love you!

Love, The Price Family

Expecting the Unexpected...

Well, I guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag...We are 13 weeks pregnant with baby #3! And no, I'm not kidding! :) Emma will be 10 months old this week, so I guess I didn't just have a baby, but still they'll be pretty close. About 16 months to be exact. We're due May 28th. Crazy, huh?! I keep telling myself that my mom had 7 kids in 11 years and she survived, so I will too (I think :))

Honestly I've been a little overwhelmed with this pleasant surprise, but everything happens for a reason, right? When all is said and done we're excited that we are blessed with children and whether they come on our timetable or not, it shouldn't make any difference, right? I'm comforted in knowing that Heavenly Father knows what we can handle, even if I'm not so sure of myself. :) I have no doubt that it'll be a challenge to have 3 kids when the oldest is 3, but in some ways I can't wait. Am I crazy, or what?! Ok, don't answer that. :)

And those of you who've had babies close together...input please! I need all the help I can get!

On another note, my girls are getting so big! Emma is crawling and pulling herself up on things already and loves to play with her big sis. And there's really no other way to describe Jentri- This girl's a crack-up! A couple more stories really quick...

I wish I was there for this one, but Jen was asking for Jake for something...a toy of some sort, and Jake's response was "Maybe Santa can bring it, Jen. We can ask Santa for presents at Christmas time and he'll bring them to us." He said she thought about it for a long time, then said, "Dad, if Santa doesn't bring it, we might have to go to the store and get it." Boy, is she determined! :)

Another one...and I'll warn you it has to do with poop, so if that grosses you out, stop reading here. :) Jen and I were out raking leaves while Emma was napping and discovered some cat doo amongst the leaves. Jen was about to step in it, and I of course told her not to, and she of course asked why, and I explained there was poop in the grass, and that I had to get it with the shovel. Gross job done, moving on. Well, a while later our conversation went a little somethin like this:

Jen: "Mom, who put poop in da weaves?"

Mom: "I think it was some cats."

Jen: "Hmm. I sink it was maybe Emma."

Mom: (trying not to laugh too hard) "I don't think so, Emma poops in her diaper, remember?"

Jen: "Yeah. She poops a WOT! (looking at the deposit on the ground) Maybe it was cats."

I can't wait until Emma starts talking and I can have double the fun with these two crazies. Anyway, life is good! Hope all is well! Happy Thanksgiving!

Not a very recent pic, but still one of my faves. Love these kiddos!

What does the sacrament do?

So, as we were eating dinner last night we were talking to Jen about the things we do at church. We talked about seeing her friends, learning about Heavenly Father and Jesus, sitting together as a family and most important - taking the sacrament. After some thought, Jen asked "What does the sacrament do?"
I started to explain why we take the sacrament, but Jen cut me off and said "Does the sacrament hop?" She then continued, "Does it run? Does it jump? Does it put clothes away? Maybe it eats chips... what else does the sacrament do?"
She didn't think my explanation of why we take the sacrament was as cool as the things that she does (hop, run, jump, put clothes away and eat chips), but I think we got it straightened out.

Halloween Funny...

So lately we've had to have a few (seemingly unsuccessful) lessons with Jen on what it means to listen to mommy, and why it's important to do what I ask her to do. Her usual response when asked to, for example, pick up her toys, is "I can't wight now, mom." or "One minute, Mom! I'm not done pwaying!" Given she's 2 1/2 and can only understand/do so much, still I'll admit that I have lost my patience a few times in trying to get her to comply. (I know that never happens to any of you:)...)

Well, in once such case, I was showing my frustration a bit in the tone I was using to tell her she needed to do something (I can't remember what). In the few seconds of waiting to see what she was going to decide to do, Jen, hands on hips, head tilted as if in deep thought, asks,

"MOMMY, ARE YOU GONNA BE A WITCH FOR HALLOWEEN?"

Not sure how I should take that one...I didn't think my tone was THAT bad, but needless to say the mood changed after that. Oh how she makes me laugh...however I'm afraid I would make a good witch come Halloween... :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Lessons Learned

I was so touched by this story....I had never heard it on the news or anything, but it was on Oprah Wednesday and I just can't stop thinking about it! It really made my life seem like a piece of cake next to what these people have gone through. This girl is from Provo and has had an incredible experience! Read this article about it!


http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090924-tows-stephanie-plane-crash


And watch this video too...it makes me feel pretty stupid for ever complaining about anything related to being a stay at home mommy!

http://www.oprah.com/media/20090924-tows-stephanie-struggle-crash


Amazing, huh?! I was especially impressed with her saying, "that was that (referring to her before her accident) and it was beautiful and lovely, and this is now and it's beautiful and lovely. Really the only thing that has changed is, ya know, the physical, but I still have all of these people in my life (referring to her family), and all of this is still love." I have definitely made a resolve to not get frustrated with myself when I supposedly "don't get anything done" and just appreciate that Jentri wants me to play blocks with her, or color for the thousandth time, or as she said today, "Mom, wet's juss sit an talk fo a minute." I resolve to appreciate and love that Emma wants me to hold her instead of put her in her walker. Deep down I love being a mom and it's all I can do to not cry at the thought that I have taken such things for granted. It's made me think of this quote from Pres. Monson that my friend had on her blog the other day...


"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."
Thomas S. Monson, Nov. 2008


It's comforting to know that I can receive gentle reminders in life, and before it's too late. It's hard being a mom, yes, this is true. But I'm realizing now that it would be even harder for me not to be. I feel so blessed to have my kids, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! Love these girls!