My complaining was justified...

We made a trip to the doc.

Not good.

PNEUMONIA.

EMMIE.

Awesome. :(

Nursery Times

It's official.

Her first 18 months flew by and this sweet little face started nursery last month.

Crazy. Exciting....

SO many plusses:

She is willing to go and seems to enjoy it. My 2 cute neighbors are her darling teachers. I can actually go to Sunday School and hear the lesson. I don't have to roam the hall with my disruptive toddler when I should be in class with the YW.

All great, right?

Just one problem. So far we've only been able to go every other week.

WHY?

You guessed it.

GeRmS.

It is almost inevitable that this smiling, cheerful face turns to this sad one:

(It breaks my heart)

several days later upon spending a few hours in nursery. I am so torn. Not to be negative, but a fever (102.7), cough, constant goop and a miserable little girl seem to outweigh the benefits of sending her. Especially when the following Sunday we have to skip church in order to avoid spreading the same germs that someone else so lovingly decided to bring with them the previous week and share with my Em.

Nursery may be the time in life that these little ones learn to share, but really, do we have to share EVERYTHING?

The good news is that spring is here, General Conference is next week and with stake conference soon after, we will have a little break and hopefully all this RSV and pneumonia floating around will have dissipated upon our return.

Meanwhile I am off to take care of my Em...

and to suggest to the bishopric that calling a

Lysol Nursery Specialist would be a good move. (Only kind of kidding)

Not to step on any toes or anything.

Seriously, a little disinfectant would make for a much healthier toddler rate post nursery visits.

Fact is fact.

How can it not be taken seriously when it affects church attendance??

Or are we the only ones that come home from church with sick kids?

I know, I know. What do ya do?

If you're me, apparently you whine. :)

Relief

*Big Sigh*......

Well.

I made it.

The troops are in bed.

(HAPPY DAY!!)

They're still alive.

I'm still alive.

Now why do I feel like I've just run a marathon?

Up hill the entire way??

Dang. This kid thing is exhausting.

To say the least.

Now excuse me while I go and get some much needed R&R and catch up on my American Idol....

Oh, and if anyone needs me, please tell them I am clocked out until morning.

(I wish... :))

Raise your hand if you're ready for summer

& both hands if you're really ready for summer! :)

Bring it on, sunshine, these two little munchkins can't wait!!!

Candid camera, are you there?

I have mentioned Parker's obsession with my hair before. Well. Just so you know, his strong (& strange) attachment to it continues....

...So much so, that sometimes I'm waiting for candid camera to pop out and tell me that the joke is on me and my 3 year old is in on it. It is all I can fathom to explain this bizarre behavior of his.

Really, all I can do is laugh about it... maybe you will too...

So my little guy is constantly kissing the ends of my hair...

Yes. I said kissing it.

Kinda cute, right? Oh wait.

He then caresses my crunchy split ends against his cheek (quite dramatically I might add - eyes closed and all!) while telling me how beautiful it is.

Over. And over. And over. I try not to laugh and respect this strange passion of his but seriously sometimes it is just a bit over the top.

I hear "I just love your hair, Mom" numerous times a day, followed once again by a declaration of it's beauty.

What? This is totally normal 3 year old boy behavior, right?

These compliments baffle me as I have battled with my self-acclaimed nightmare not-quite-curly enough, definitely-not-straight hair my entire life, so to have such a nemesis of mine placed on a pedestal is purely comical to me.

The only explanation is that through the innocent eyes of a child all flaws can be overlooked and pure, unconditional love can reign...

even for naturally-naughty, frizzy, uncooperative, time consuming hair ...!

Before Christmas I was all geared up to have my hair cut into a cute A-line stack. I mentioned to Parker that I was cutting my hair later that week, & he was devastated. He whined and lectured me for three days straight that I couldn't cut it. I couldn't believe how strongly he felt about it so I went ahead and kept it long. So yes, my long lockes these days can be accredited to none other than my 3 year old Little P.

I'm actually glad I didn't cut it all off...I mean seriously when would I grow it this long again? I may as well try it out for a while, right?...

Mental note: Ends up that maybe I should take my little guy's advice more often..

Just in case you weren't convinced of his obsession yet....

I am often instructed in the mornings as to how I should deal with my post-shower hair...

Well, yesterday I was helping P do something when he looked at me sideways and let out an exasperated,

"MO-OOOOOOOM! You did it WRONG! Your hair is supposed to be CURLY today, NOT STRAAAIIGHT! It's supposed to go straight, then back (in a pony), then curly. Today was supposed to be CURLY!" Letting out a big, disappointed sigh he continued, "You gotta remember next time, Mom!". He then repeated the directions,

"STRAIGHT, BACK, THEN CURLY! (wish you could have seen the hand actions!)

You gotta get it RIGHT, Mom!".

Wow. Well Little P, I'm sorry to disappoint. All I can say is that I don't feel "right" about going out in public with my curly hair. Unless I'm really in a bind for time. Explanation? None needed... just reference the picture in a previous but recent post....

So yesterday THIS wasn't good enough for my little hair obsessed man.

(Don't mind the hideous self portrait please...)

Seriously, who knew that pleasing a three year old would be so complicated and involve a flat iron versus a diffuser?

Oh wow. I love my Little Parker though.

Yeah. I'm still waiting, Candid Camera....! :)

Bronson & The Today Show

Remember sweet Little Bronson's miracle that I referenced several posts ago in February? I just randomly looked at their blog today and was so glad I did.... because they are being featured on the Today Show to tell their miraculous story - tomorrow - March 12th. They have declined NBC's offer to air their story several times since this event took place, but now feel a great responsibility to share & help others learn from the miracle that has changed their lives forever & made their faith even greater. You can check out the reasoning behind what has led them to NYC here. It of course is intriguing to read - just as their entire blog has been over the last 6 weeks.

I am a big Today Show fan (the little spurts of it I catch here and there), and just in case any of you have come to love the Staker family through their blog as I have, I just wanted to tell everyone to tune in tomorrow morning!

I know I will.

(or my DVR will at least be set to record...)

Hope you catch this in time! :)

BROS

Last Saturday we were able to meet up with the in-town "Bro's" and their (super cute) wives for a little reunion at the India house for lunch.

Who the heck are "The Bro's" you ask?

Well in case you hadn't heard, they are Chris' good high school buddies who have called themselves this for the last 12+ years. They are the nicest group of guys who all have amazing wives and I can genuinely say that I have loved getting together with them over the years. It's always so fun to see them!

We had a great time over yummy food (I love curry) and it was so great to catch up with everyone!

Thanks Lichelle for making it all happen!

We missed you Jimmy & Carly (in WA doing med school residency), Carl & Barb (Carl is a commercial pilot stationed in Atlanta) & Josh and Brooke (who live in VA and are about to have their first baby -yay!).

(Sorry if I forgot anyone!)

18 month Emmie

This little cutie turned 18 months on February 25th!

For the record books, her 18 month stats go as follows:

WEIGHT: 21.49 lbs = 12th %ile

HEIGHT: 31 inches = 31st %ile

HEAD: 18= 27th %ile

Emmie is such a sweet, happy, content & loving little girl. She is also spunky, knows what she wants & is pretty independent (um she gets that one from me). She does have a history of hitting and biting when things aren't going her way, which baffles me because her brother has never been one to display that type of behavior so I am not sure where she learned these little outbursts. I guess these lovely retaliations might just be an innate result of some of that 'girl blood' firing up in her?? All I can is YIKES! She will have to learn real quick that her 'Ma' (as she calls me) does not tolerate caddy girl drama AT ALL! Non-violent dramatic outburts on the other hand - yes. She certainly could have picked up her drama queen tendencies from her big brother.

WHO, by the way, demonstrated some real good ones on Sunday at church reminding me of why I usually try and sit as far back as I can to avoid the embarrassment of having the congregation view the fiasco that ensues with my lovely little ones during lovely 1:00 church that have been known to bring me to tears on husbandless Sundays like this last one.... but that is a whole other story.....

A FEW OF HER LOVES AT 18 months:

Goofing off with her brother!

She loooves this boy!

They chase each other, race each other, hide and seek each other, help each other, entertain each other, antagonize each other, scream at each other, laugh together, cry together, play together, dance and sing together, conspire together.....LOVE EACH OTHER, ADORE EACH OTHER!

What a blessing it is to have a sibling.

More loves:

Loooves to eat! Favorites? Waffles, string cheese, mandarin oranges, & mac and cheese -- but she'll eat almost anything.

Loooooves shoes! Always wants them on. Doesn't matter whose they are or what size.

LOOOVES jewelry! Always wants to wear my "brace" (bracelet watch).

Loooves her baby dolls. All of them. Such a little mommy.

And her two all time favorite things???

Her right thumb and purple blankie!

Never leave home without them.

We love this baby girl and I love this age.

As Emmie would say,

"Bye bye! MWWWWAH!"

Did I really just waste my time on a whole season of the Bachelor???

Sure did.

Which raises the question: I don't know who's stupider - me or Jake....:)

Okay so the truth is I enjoyed it - the nausea it caused & all...

JAKE & VIENNA -

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!

With all sincereity, you so deserve each other.

And I'm seriously so gagging.

Tenley, count your blessings it wasn't you. You can do way better. Trust me. :)