ants on a log

conversations with Emma usually go a little something like this:

Emma: Mom, what are you making?

Mom: Ants on a log

E: That isn't ants on a wog. That is celery, peanut butter and waisins.

M: I know. But I like to pretend its ants sitting on a log.

E: Are you seriously telling me you are pretending those waisins are ants on a wog?!?!?

M: Yes! It's kinda fun.

E: Mom. Don't ever tease me like this again. That is so silly!

Mini Me

Have you met my husband? I mean my baby? I mean my husband? Wait... who is that?!?!

When people see Zane, the first thing they say is, "Oh my goodness! He looks just like Luke!"

Or some similar variation. And I couldn't agree more.

I need to find a picture of Luke about this age so we can compare side by side.

Zaner is already four months old! I love this little guy like crazy. He is so sweet and calm and just the best baby ever. When he starts to cry, which is rare, I get so flustered and frustrated because it doesn't happen often and I  don't know what to do with it! He sleeps most nights at least six hours. He had his first applesauce on Thursday the 9th and absolutely loved it. He is always ready for more. He almost rolled over today, and every other day for the last week! If he rolls, he will be my earliest roller. In fact, he already is, because he rolled over in the hospital right after he was born and up until he was about 3 weeks old. Then, I think he got too chubby.

Luke can always make this boy smile by singing a silly song about a Zaner Tot. Zane smiled his first real smile on my birthday, but not for me! It was for Uncle Jesse. Zane always wakes up with a smile. He is so happy. Love, love, love this baby.

To my Valentines...

Noah... I love you. I love your readiness to learn. I love that you love your baby brother like crazy. I love your pinboard in your room where you pin everything special to you. I love that you never want to play in your room so you can keep it cleaner. I love that you look like me. I love those big brown eyes! I love your sincerity. I love that, sometimes, you still let me snuggle you. I love that you plan. I love that your favorite song is still "Rudolph" even though its February.

Emma... I love you. I love your craziness! I love that lately you started calling everyone a 'funny gooser.' I love your dancing. I love that you can't get enough of  "Moves like Jaggar." I love your smile. Sometimes I love it when you wake me up in the middle of the night for no reason at all, except to say, "Mom, I wuv you." I love that you love your hair and that you are upset that I cut mine. I love you because you are you. And nobody else. Because, sister, you are something else!

Zane... I love you. I love how sweet, sweet, sweet you are. I love you because you wake up with a smile. I love your chubby thighs and your blue eyes. I love that you sleep six hours a night. I love your intense desire to move! You are ready for the world! I love that you are trying to roll. I love that you want to sit up and watch your brother and sister all the time. I love your snuggles.

Luke... I love you. I love that you are passionate. I love that you love your job. I love that you take care of our family. I love that you are strong. I love that you sing to the kids and make up silly songs for them. I love that you love your hobbies... painting, taxidermy, hunting. I love that you laugh at my jokes. I love that you are patient with me most of the time. I love that you let me be me. I love your blue eyes. I love that Zaner looks just like you. I love that you are my best friend. I love that you love our kids like crazy. 'Cause I love you like crazy.

just a few notes on my kids... i love 'em and they are growing up too fast.

Zane grabbed his toes on Thursday night. Don't know why this is a moment, but it is. He is almost rolling over! He is such a happy and content baby. Happy and happy. He is half giggling! And slept eight hours last night making him my favorite child o' the day. He loves company and hates being left out of anything. In the morning, when I have to go to work, I wake him up, change his bum and get ready to feed him. He just lays on the changing table, stretches his arms up, opens his eyes and then he smiles the sweetest smile. He melts my heart.

Emma, oh Emma! She is a study in contradiction lately. She is so bouncy and flashy at home. I guess flashy might not be the right word, but I can't think of the right word. She is loud, she likes to be heard, she loves to dance and sing. Until you leave home. Then, she is quiet and reserved and all things that Emma is not. Thursday, my friend Darlene picked Emma up for "bring a friend to preschool" day with Andi, and brought her home 30 minutes later. Why didn't Emma want to stay, "Because, I was being shy!" At dance class, she dances her little heart out exactly the way she is supposed to, but when they have "free dance" she stands there not knowing how to break the mold. And insists on holding the teachers hand when they aren't dancing. I told her she didn't need to do this and she said, "I'm her friend. She needs me." Such a big, dramatic heart.

Noah has become somewhat of a planner. He has planned out his life and I fear, oh how I fear! how disappointed he might be if it doesn't turn out how he tells me it will. And his plans are so specific and detailed. (Brittany, if you happen to stumble upon my blog, please don't be alarmed). There is a sweet and gorgeous little girl in our ward/neighborhood/Noah's school that Noah has decided to marry. Her name is Dylan. He is not forward or kissy or lovey-dovey... yet. He is... matter of fact... decided to marry her. He has planned out their life. He tells me bit by bit as it is planned and the timeline goes a little something like this...

• Noah and Dylan will get married in the Bountiful Temple
• They will live in Zach and Melanie's old apartment on 1200 S. in Bountiful
• Noah will be a police officer and a teacher. Sometimes, he wants to be a Costco 'cooker' as well. Basically, he wants to pass out food in a hair net.
• Noah will work for Centerville being a police officer.
• Dylan will stay home with the kids and bring Noah his lunch while he is at work.
• Noah and Dylan will have 4 or 5 kids.
• He will buy Jelly Belly beans at Costco. And he will share them with his kids.
• They will move to Silver Creek someday

As far as I can tell, Noah has not told Dylan any of his plans. But Dylan's mom, Brittany, has told me that they are quite chatty in the car on the way to school. When I was driving carpool, it was the beginning of the year and nobody spoke too much yet. And Brittany tells me that Dylan has told her that Noah is pretty much the only boy she likes to be around. The rest are too loud, crazy, bouncy or what have you. Oh my! Don't try to argue with him about this. It just results in him being stubborn and upset that you don't agree. He has also informed Luke and I that there are 2 more babies that need to come to the family. One girl and one boy. This last week, he informed me that they are coming at the same time. Oh dear. We'll let you know how that one turns out!

January is flying by, but it seems Christmas was so long ago! We are super busy lately, as I have been working part time and now full time for a couple more weeks. Little temp jobs here and there help me keep my sanity and my family seems all the more appreciative of me when I get home :).

A few updates... One more week until I lock the blog for privacy. Please let me know if you want to be included.

My mother-in-law, Michelle, has started a blog with her sister, Robyn, to document her journey through chemotherapy at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Michelle was diagnosed with MDS Leukemia in November. We are praying for her and love her so much. Her blog can be found here.

Michelle's New Dawn