The girls helping me make donuts!

Daddy and Nora having some morning snuggles!

I am happy to say that time is passing rather quickly, and I don't usually like that. I generally like time to, well - take it's time! Having babies makes you realize just how quickly time flies and to just enjoy every day that you have. Of course being 38 weeks pregnant has changed that perspective a bit for right now. But yes, time seems to be moving quickly and right now that makes me very happy! My mom is coming on Tuesday and I don't know who is more excited: me - for obvious reasons, the girls - they'll totally get spoiled, or Brian - so he can focus on school and not have to worry about his prego wife! Brian has been pretty busy so far this semester so the girls and I have been busy making homemade donuts and bread, playing Barbies, reading books, making Valentine's, watching movies and eating popcorn and cleaning/organizing the house. I think I can officially say that the baby could come any day and I would be ready! But of course I still have two weeks of waiting to do, but I'm sure they'll go fast! :)

Self Portraits by Sophie.....

One of Sophie's favorite things to do is be on the computer. When she isn't playing games on pbskids.org she is taking self portraits with the photobooth on our computer! She doesn't like to be watched while she's taking them - so I get to enjoy them later when she's not around. Which is nice because then I can laugh out loud without her hearing me - she hates being laughed at lately. What a diva.

2007 Getting to know You - (well Me I guess)

Where were you born? Logan, Utah

Middle name: Suzanne

How old will you be this year? 27!!

Nicknames: Lecka
Are you taller than your mother or father? Taller than mom, shorter than dad
Do you cry often during movies? Yes, very often!
What is your biggest pet peeve? Loud, thumping music

Favorite color: orange, red, brown and green

Favorite foods: fruit, pizza, and fruit pizza! :)

Favorite beverage: water, Crystal Light - fruit punch flavor

Favorite cold cereal: Wal-Mart brand of Raisin Bran

Favorite smells: rain, skunk, and the smell of my kids after a bath and lotion

Favorite time of day: Morning
What brand of shampoo/conditioner do you use? Pantene
Favorite make-up products? Lip gloss and mascara
How many pillows do you sleep with? Right now like 4, usually 1 or 2

Do you play an instrument? No, but I wish I played the piano
Have you ever been skinny dipping? Once in college

Did you do any sports in High School? Cheerleading and Cross Country
What was the last movie you saw in the theater? Spiderman 3

What is your favorite article of clothing? Some maternity sweat pants from Old Navy. I seriously will be wearing these constantly for the next 3 weeks. Don't worry, I wash them occasionally! :) When I'm not pregnant I seem to be obsessed with finding the perfect pair of jeans - which hasn't happened yet.

What is your dream vacation? With my kids - a Disney Cruise and DisneyWorld. With my husband anyplace warm and tropical! And Italy. And Greece.

What was your first impression of your spouse? I fell in love with his long curly hair, good looks and great sense of humor - instantly. I was smitten at age 13!

If you were an animal what would you be? Probably a cocker spaniel puppy.

What is your favorite "me- time" activity? Exercising or shopping

Favorite TV shows: The Biggest Loser and American Idol - once they are down to the final 12

What is your dream car? Toyota Highlander Hybrid 7 seater or Honda Pilot 7 seater

What is one of your weaknesses? I seem to overestimate myself by thinking I can get way more done in a day than is humanly possible. Clean the house, wash the car, do all the laundry, organize the basement, go to the store, read a book, feed the hungry, save the world - no problem! I'll have it done by noon. Riight.

What do you fix for dinner when there's nothing to fix? Baked potatoes or pancakes and eggs

If you could live in a different decade/era which one would it be? Any one but the 80's. There's no way I can pull of wearing tapered pants! :)
What is the emotion you feel the most? Grateful
Do you consider yourself outgoing? Sometimes
What is something you are constantly working on? Being more patient with my kids
Any hidden talents? I can cross one eye and put one leg behind my head - I bet I could even do them at the same time - now there's some real talent!
What is a word or phrase you overuse? Hey you two!! (talking to my girls of course)

What was the hardest thing that happened to you this past year? A miscarriage and moving

What is the best thing that happened to you this past year? Getting pregnant and moving - I got to stop working and just be at home with my girls again!

What is one thing you hope to accomplish this year? To just be a little better in every aspect of my life - mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, etc...

The best piece of advice you learned this past year? Say 90% of the kind thoughts you have and hold back 100% of the negative ones

Who are the 7 people you are going to tag to do this survey? Ashlee, Emily Ingram, Emily Becker, Cathie, Janell, Rikki, and Alyson - and I'm sure the rest of you will be tagged eventually! :) ha ha!
At the end of the survey post a picture of you that was taken within the last week!

Wow! That was the longest survey ever - if you read the whole thing consider yourself a good friend! :) Yes, I know I look ready to pop!!

Two cute girls

Sophie getting her teddy bear ready for church - I know she' s on the bathroom floor in this picture but I think she looks super cute in it! (She fell and hit her eye on our futon- ouch!)

Nora loves to do whatever Sophie is doing of course. Here she is helping Sophie with the important task of what hair things to put on the teddy bear for church

I love my girls. They are so much fun to be with every day. Because Nora doesn't take naps (and hasn't since before she was two) I have finally decided to have a designated "quiet time" every day for an hour. I've always tried to have the girls do some form of quiet time during the day but have never been diligent at it. So I now put them in their beds in their room with books, turn on a CD of stories (thanks Emily Ann!) and set my kitchen timer for an hour. It has been the best thing EVER! They actually enjoy it! Most days they stay in their room and after the stories are over they just play together. Of course some days are rough, but MOST of the time they even end up getting involved with what they are doing and stay in there longer. Hooray! It has made a huge difference for everyone. The girls don't ask for TV in the afternoons, I have more fun playing with them because I know I'll get at least an hour to myself and if Brian is home he knows he can have some extra study time. I couldn't ask for anything more! (Except maybe a baby coming early!)

The Mommy Survey

Here we are with Sophie in 2003!

Here we are with Nora in 2005 - Sophie was still asleep at home with grandpa john!


Some of my friends in Michigan have been filling out this survey so I decided to do it, too! Thanks guys!

1. Age(s)? 4 1/2 and 2 1/2
2. Name(s)? Sophie Alexis and Nora Grace
3. Birthdays? 7/28 and 8/18
4. Time(s) of birth? 10:19am and 7:20 am
5. How long did labor last? No labor for Sophie (I had to have a c-section because she was breach), about 27 hours with Nora (counting from my first real contraction to delivery)
6. Who was in the room when baby was born? Brian and lots of doctors with Sophie, and Brian, my mom, the doc, and some nurses with Nora
7. How long did you push? No pushing with Sophie, only about 10-15 minutes with Nora
8. Weight? 7lbs 7 oz. and 7lbs 13 oz.
9. Length? 19 1/2 inches and 20 1/2 inches
10. Any hair? just a little peach fuzz on both of them!
11. Who does baby look like? It depends on who you ask!
12. Be honest...how much weight did you gain while pregnant? 25 pounds with Sophie and 35 with Nora
13. Was baby early or late? Sophie was 3 days early because it was scheduled, Nora was 3 days late
14. Who drove you home from the hospital? Brian
15. How many baby showers did you have? 2 with Sophie, 0 with Nora
16. When did baby start sleeping through the night? Sophie was almost 2 - seriously! Nora was around 9 months. I still consider it a miracle when I wake up at 7 and realize I slept all night!
17. Did you breastfeed? both for 11 months
18. Who takes care of your baby/kids the most? I do because Brian is in school. When he's not busy with school it's pretty equal.
19. When do you want to have another one? Hopefully within the next 4 weeks! :)
20. How did you pick the name(s)? We just liked them (Sophie's middle name is after me obviously) We wanted Nora's middle name to be after someone but nothing sounded quite right with Nora so we just picked Grace.
21. How did you know when it was time to go to the hospital? We had an appointment with Sophie and with Nora I'd been having contraction since 4am and by 10pm they were 2 minutes apart.
22. Anyone spend the night with you the first night home? I don't remember exactly, I don't think so, if so it would have been my mom.
23. Did you cry the first time you held your baby? No - I was just happy! But now I cry when I see pictures of them in the hospital as newborns - they grow too fast!
24. Where was the baby born? Sophie in Logan, Utah and Nora in SLC, Utah
25. Did you video tape the birth? They wouldn't let us tape Sophie and with Nora we were taping in the delivery room - but not the ACTUAL birth. :)

36 weeks down and 4 to go!

My family has been bugging me to post something on the blog - though it's only been 4 days - and not a lot is going on but doctor appointments, eating, hanging out with the kids and me getting bigger! I am due 4 weeks from tomorrow so I am rapidly running out of room to breathe, motivation to bend over and pick things up, and energy to take both the kids out of the house (we do make it to story time at the library twice a week!) Overall things are going well. I feel pretty good and have been sleeping great - really gonna miss that- so I can't complain. The girls have been playing well together and can't wait to meet their new little brother or sister. Although the other day Sophie said she's SURE it's a boy - or a girl! So here is the only recent picture I've taken - and it just happens to be of my large belly at 35 weeks!

Sledding fun!

During Christmas break we did a little "sledding" in our back yard. We have a small hill and Brian pulled the girls up and down it, over and over again! The girls loved it but Nora was very upset when she fell off! And although we had quite a bit of snow at the first of January we now have NONE! This past week has been warmer (one day was 62 degrees!) and all our snow melted. I'm sure we will get more but it's been kind of a nice break for now!