Halloween and Thanksgiving Pictures

Here are some pictures from the races on Thanksgiving and a couple from Halloween. I love these ones of James running, he is going pretty fast actually. You can tell by how long my stride is just to keep up with him. He did great! I also really love the ones of Harrison plodding along in the race. He would go as long as I held his hand but that was it. He was so cute.

James is on the left side wearing the big blue coat.

Here is Harrison and I pluggin along. Cute kid.

James running as fast as he can. Which was actually faster than I realized he could run.

James and I heading for the finish line!

James with his Second Place Ribbon and Gift Certificate for a pie!

Me and My little runners! I love my little boys!

These ones are from Halloween. Ben was dressed up as bleaker from the movie Juno, and actually won first place at his work in the costume contest, mostly because ben really does look like the kid, even without the costume.  James loved his Bumblebee Transformers Costume. The thing is definitely getting its wear out of it. Harrison was a cute little skunk, but he liked wearing the Darth Vader mask instead of his little hood. We laughed at that.

Thanksgiving

Once again, we ran the Thanksgiving Day Races, aka the "Earn Your Turkey" Run. I ran the 4 miler, I was slow, 41 min, but it was fun anyway.  James and Harrison both ran the kids races though and that was definitely the highlight of the day. I ran with both of them. Harrison's race was just a short little race for kids 0-2 yrs old. He didn't really feel like running but as long as I was holding his hand he plugged along. At one point I let go of him and had him chase me... he didn't like that. He finally just stopped and put out his hand for me to hold and then he started running again. I was proud of him for finishing though, he was so cute all bundled up with his number on his coat.

Then it was time for James' race. He was so excited for it. I warned him that they were going to shoot a gun to start the race so he wouldn't be scared when it went off. And he thought that was really cool. It was so great, he was so ready and focused to run that race. As soon as it start he just took off. He was running really fast. I was surprised that I actually had to run to keep up with him.  His race was 1/4 mile long, and about halfway through he started to get a little tired and reached out for my hand and so we ran together until just before the finish and then he let go and just took off through the finish line and got second place!!! I was so so so proud of him! Ben and Harrison came running over and we all just hugged him and were so excited for him. He was really excited too and wanted to know if he had won a turkey. First place gets a turkey and second place gets a pie, so we told him he would get a pie. His response was "Pie is better than turkey anyway" That made me laugh.  

We waited around for about 2 hours for the awards,  they finally called out James' name but they said "James Morris" instead of Mo-reese and James said "mom they said my name wrong" I told him he had better get used to that. But he was happy to go get his Red Ribbon and his gift certificate for a pie. Then it was time to go home get ready and go to Gma's which we did and ate and ate and ate and ate. Sheesh. But it was a fun day. Now we have to go pick up that pie....like we don't have enough already! ;)

Reading

So last night when I was putting the kids to bed I was really tired and not feeling great nad was just going to put them to bed without all the books and stories. However, after we said prayer Harrison got the very hungry caterpillar  book and plopped himself down on the floor and started to read it aloud. It was probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen and really wish I had it on video. He opened the first page and said "the caterpiller in the moon and POP!.....ate yummy apple......ate. .1. .2.. 3.. 4.. 5 mmmmm....ate one cake..one pickle...one lallallalla...and one watermeyon....and then ta da...butterfly!" Yeah, it was really cute. So then I pulled him over and read it to him, and then he got book after book and the boys and I read for quite some time. It was very enjoyable.

What Kids Say

Harrison always stand on his chair at the table, dancing around and being crazy. He has fallen off several times, but still has not learned his lesson. So, the other day during lunch he was once again jumping on his chair and I said "Harrison! Sit your butt down!" Harrison continued dancing and starting singing "Butt Down Butt Down Butt Down" Yeah, thanks for picking THAT word up. how come he chooses to repeat that phrase and not "I love you" or anything else that I ever try to get him to say. I try really hard to use nice words and the times that I slip, they of course immediately copy me. But when I am trying to get them to say something, they refuse. Seriously, he will not say a prayer for anything. I always sit and tell him what to say and he just wiggles around until we get to amen and then bursts out an "amen!" and runs off. He always kneels and folds his arms very nicely though, and I think that is so cute. When Ben came home from work I told him what Harrison had said, we laughed pretty hard about it and have been quoting the kid ever since.

Cravings

I forgot to put something in that last post, so here it is.  With my boys, I never really had cravings. In fact I hated chocolate when I was pregnant with James and Harrison.  The only craving I remember having with either of those kiddos, was one day I wanted pumpkin pie. However, with this little girl, I am addicted to chocolate.  Seriously, nothing is too chocolatey for me. I love chocolate milkshakes the most and have probably had more of those in the past 5 months than I have in my entire life. No wonder I am gaining more weight with this one.... :) Also, during the first three months I was completely addicted to Brick Oven Root Beer. It is just under $3 for one 2 liter, and I would buy 2-3 of those every time I was in Provo. The reason why I liked that root beer so much was because it was the closest to homemade. I loved the way it smelled, and tasted...mmm now I want some.  I wouldn't drink any other brand of root beer, it had to be Brick Oven.  I know I am crazy.

 Another thing that I still constantly crave/want is mint. And yes, chocolatey mint is the best. I always have some mint chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer, I bought several packs of junior mints a week during the first 3 months. I just went through a bag of mint truffle hershey's kisses. Andes mints are amazing, but when nothing else is around I will settle for a simple breath mint.  I love love love mint. Those are the two main things I have been craving so much.  Oh yeah, I went through a time where I seriously wanted to drink vinegar. I ate a bunch of pickled beets and pickles instead. So weird. It seems like each day I want something different. I plan all our meals for the week, go shopping, but by the time the day rolls around for those meals, I no longer want them. Something new sounds good to me. Sheesh I am seriously out of control here. Ha!

Oh yeah, another thing I forgot to mention...smells. Oh my goodness. I can smell everything all the time everywhere. I buy different deodorant almost every week, and its not like my old one has run out. I just need a new smell. I have gone through several different shampoos, soaps, house cleaners, air fresheners, candles, detergents, etc. This is how it goes. I get a new cleaner, use it for about a week, by that time, the smell gets old and it starts to stink to me. So I get a new cleaner or shampoo or soap or whatever it is. I have 3 different laundry detergents right now that I am rotating through.  Right now I am liking good old Arm and Hammer detergent. It smells clean to me.  I feel sorry for Ben. The poor man has put up with my nose the past several months. See, I always think he stinks, unless he has just gotten out of the shower.  Then he smells good. But by the time he gets home from work...yeah. And it isn't like he stinks, it is just that I can't smell that clean soap cologne smell anymore, it has worn off, so then I think he stinks.  One night I came into our room and he was in bed reading and I said "ugh! what is that smell? It smell like fart in here!"  Ben responds "okay it's me! I stink! I'm a man and I stink" I started laughing so hard. I have tried not to complain about smells so much since, but sometimes I can't take it anymore. Like the other night, I couldn't even sleep, something smelled so bad. So I went and got an air freshener, put it on my nightstand and faced that way all night. Yeah I am really insane.  Sheesh, I hope this dog nose of mine goes away when this baby gets here, because it gets really annoying. 

The First 22 Weeks

Well here I am 22 weeks along, and today we had the Ultrasound. I was so anxious and nervous and it that I didn't go to sleep until 5 am this morning, and here I am at 11:30 still wide awake and happy as could be that I don't even care how tired I should be.  I seriously could be dancing around the house I am so excited because I am getting my little baby girl. The very first view we had of our baby was of her long legs and the obvious lack of boy parts.  And then the DR, hey I think we are having a girl mom and dad! I, of course, was crying and have been crying pretty much all day, out of joy, not sadness. Everything on the Ultrasound looked 100% great. She kept her little hand by her face the whole time and one time when she moved her head I swear her profile looked just like Harrison. I guess we will see in 17 weeks (I will be induced at least a week early).

As soon as the ultrasound was done the phone calls began and every time I told someone I got all choked up...sheesh I am SO emotional these days! Then it was time to tell the boys. Harrison had no clue what we were talking about, but James, he knew. And he has known since before this baby even existed that we were having a girl next. When Harrison was about 1 James started asking about where his little sister was and when was she going to come to our house. And once I got pregnant he has been 100% insistent that this baby was a girl. I love that he was right. It makes me think that he knows this little sister of his and that they will have a very special bond. I can't wait to see those two interact and grow up together. 

After picking up the boys it was time for shopping. Oh yeah baby. We went to Target, I got the cutest little dresses and night gowns and onesies, and then it was off to Wal-Mart where I got some more onesies and some other little things. Ben was just as excited as I was. As we shopped he kept picking cute things out and asking me if it was okay if he got her some things too. I told him I would love him to pick some things out for her. Yeah this baby is going to be 100% spoiled, that is for sure.  And now tomorrow my sister and I are going to go to a bunch of other stores. 

So, I want to recap the past 22 weeks of this pregnancy....I guess we will start from the beginning. Or before the beginning really. Since Harrison was born I have been extremely nervous about having another baby. We came so close to losing that little guy, he was premature, his heart rate was only at 30 beats/min, once he was born he wasn't breathing and  it was pretty much the most traumatic thing to see them resuscitate him, and I just know that he was a little miracle baby and seriously, not a day goes by that I don't look at him and thank heavenly father for letting me keep him.  So I have been nervous because who knew what to expect with the next one. What if it didn't turn out so well? I could never deal with that. And whenever Ben and I prayed about having kids, well it was most definitely a no answer. So we figured that we were probably done and actually were looking into adopting (which still will happen one day, I need my little black babies) .  So then I was very surprised this summer when I had the strongest feeling that there was a little baby ready and waiting to come to our family.  Ben felt the same way and one month later (yeah we have NO problem getting pregnant), we were expecting baby #3. 

I remember knowing that I was pregnant before I even took the test. I was sick from day one and that didn't even start to go away until week 13. Seriously I wanted to die. If I ate, I was sick, if didn't eat I was even sicker, and everything was always spinning, always. I was nauseous the entire time and it just never went away no matter what. It was awful. I swore this was definitely the last time I was ever doing this. I pretty much lived on the couch while the boys and I watched little einsteins or other cartoons. The house was...trashed...completely trashed. I seriously think I just got all the crayon off the walls from those early months of letting the boys run wild while I died.  Ha!

 I ate a million eggs, cottage cheese and peanut butter sandwiches.  Everyday I would have to seriously sit and think about what I could possibly eat that wouldn't make me absolutely sick and then I would have to eat it right then before it started to sound gross. We ate out a lot! I only cooked 2 meals in 6 weeks. Yep, slacker. But then I realized how much we had spent on eating out I about had a heart attack and have been cooking the meals since, no matter how sick I do or don't feel.  Oh yeah I forgot, I got heart burn from day one, which I have never had before. For those of oyu that have seen Juno she says "I have heart burn that is radiating in my kneecaps" And I always thought she was exaggerating, but nope, I know exactly what she was talking about. And that was exactly how I described it.  Also, peeing all night is never fun. That still goes on though, so oh well. 

During this time, the only time when I felt like a human being was when I was running. It made no sense to me, but I was grateful to find some relief.  So I actually ran quite a bit. I would be sick right before I ran and during the first few miles, but then it would go away and I could just enjoy my run. But as soon as I was done, well about 10 min later, I would once again be sick. Ugh. So I kept up about 35 miles/week during the first 2 months, During August and September I ran 3 half marathons.  But am now only running about 25 miles a week. A few weeks ago I went on my usual saturday run. I ran 10 miles. I felt fine the entire way, but once I got home I started having serious labor pains. Full on hard contractions.  Yeah. So I run shorter runs and that seems to be okay.

 I love running. As you all know. But I have especially loved it during this pregnancy because that is when I feel closest to my baby. During each run I have sensed her presence and knew that it was a baby girl. I felt like she enjoyed running with me. I still feel that way. Every day when I run I feel like she is there, cheering me on almost. I know I am crazy, but that is how it has been.  I have known we were having a girl, but just in case I was wrong didn't want to get too excited about it. These were my reasons for knowing, well part of me just knew and that is just that. The fact that james insisted that it was a girl made me think he knew as well. Aslo, my dreams have been insane. Seriously. I have had a different emotional drama high school soap opera every night. It is just how a young girl thinks and feel about guys, crushes and all the drama that goes with it. At first I didn't realize why I was having these dreams but then I thought, oh yeah I have a girl inside me with all her emotional crazy hormones developing, That's where these dreams are coming from. Also, I have been extremely emotional this entire pregnancy. I cry at the drop of a hat. When we went to Disneyland, I cried when we got there and the boys were so excited. I cried again when we went to Wall-E and saw the Disneyland castle because it reminded me of our trip and how fun it was. Yeah, a little over the top, that is for sure.

I remember the very first day that I wasn't sick. Ben's brother's wedding. I felt good the entire day and I was very grateful for that. However, the next day made up for it. But after that it seemed like I would get a day here and there where I was feeling good until finally I was feeling good most of the time. Since then things have been pretty good. I got a really bad cold from running in the rain at the start of October.  It lasted 2 weeks and I coughed so hard I tore some muscles in my abdomen and that wasn't much fun. But once it was over and I could sleep again, life was good. 

Since then things have been really good. I feel the baby move all the time now. ( i LOVE that) I have felt her since week 14 and she has just gotten stronger. Ben felt her move at about week 18, and she kicked James' hand last week. He thought that was great. I have a lot of energy these days, I am able to keep the house clean, make dinners, take care of fun little boys, run and still get to take a short nap each afternoon. I actually really enjoy naptime, not because I get to nap but because James always sleeps by me in my bed.  I love that time with him. We always read stories and then he just starts talking and telling me about everything and makes me laugh. He asks question after question and I always am amazed that he is actually my kid. He is so good. He has a heart of pure gold and really really tries hard to be a good kid. I love that about him.  And then of course he always cuddles up next to me and then we nap for a little bit.

 I love being a mom. Seriously. I love my little boys and I am so excited to be having  this baby girl.  I know she will be so loved by her brothers, her dad and everyone else. When I first found out I was pregnant I remember feeling so close to her. Knowing that she was a very special and sweet spirit. I fell 100% in love with her from day one. I can't wait to hold her. I can't wait to see her little face. I can't wait to show her to James, to let him hold her. To see how Harrison reacts to this new baby in our home. See what he thinks about her. I can't wait for Ben to hold her, to fall completely in love with her and have her wrapped around his finger. I can't wait to give birth to her. I have decided to do this one naturally. In the hospital for sure, but just no pain meds. I am scared about that a little bit but with ben there helping and supporting me through it, I know I will make it. I will most likely scream, but I will make it. And then, I will get to hold my beautiful baby girl Sophie. 

Baby#3 Ultrasound

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIssionary

When James came home from church today I asked him what he learned and what songs they sang. He told me that they learned a new funny song. I asked him what it was. He burst into song....

 "I want to be a missionary now! I don't want to wait until I'm Grown!...Isn't that funny mom? They want to be a missionary Now. I DON'T want to be a missionary now, I want to wait until I am all grown." 

 I busted my gut at that.  I told him that he wouldn't go on a mission until he was grown up. He told me there was another missionary song he learned he then sang

"I hope they call me on a mission, when I have grown a foot or two!...that song is better for me, I want to grow before I go on a mission."

I love my funny kids.

Snow

James got up very very early this morning, and was not too happy when I told him to go back to bed. He did though, and actually went right to sleep. I, however, was now awake, and could not go back to sleep. So I got up. Ben got up as well and then looked out the window. Yep there was snow. And lots of it. It was still snowing and coming down pretty good.  I suddenly felt bad for making James go back to bed and went to go see if he was awake yet so I could show him the snow. He was still sound asleep.  So I decided that while the boys slept and Ben got ready, I would head on over to the Gym and get my run in.  So I drove on over and alls I have to say is, I love my car. Seriously, I love it. I love that it is seriously hard to make that thing slide. And I always feel a little bit tough when I drive it. The roads looked slick to me, so I drove careful anyways.  I am always scared of wrecking my car, and I will admit. My first thought is not because I am concerned with myself, but I would sure hate to put a big old dent or worse into my car. Yes I know, that is NOT what I should be worried about, but that's the truth of it, unless my kids are with me, then I worry about their safety. Now Ben's car. Yeah you could push that thing  off a cliff and I would most likely thank you for it.  Anyways, As I left our house, there was already a car that had slid off the road and into the ditch, I can't even count the number of cars I have seen in that ditch. It is always a strange thing to see though.

So enough about cars, onto my day. I went running and it was great great great. I only had time for 4 miles before I needed to get back home but the entire run felt good, and I didn't want to stop. I love a good run.  I drove on home and as I pulled into the garage James opened the door with the biggest smile ever on his face. It made me so happy to see him so excited about the snow. He loves the snow so much and has been asking for forever when it was ever going to snow.  I was seriously debating whether or not to let him stay home from school so he could play in the snow. But I sent him off to school and prayed that the snow would not melt until after he had had a chance to play in it. And thankfully, when he got home, there was still plenty of snow and he built the cutest little snowman.  He got out the carrots, and some chocolate chips, ate most of them. but then put the rest on the snowman. It was cute. Oh yeah, while they were out there Harrison came running to the back door and right then I saw James with a huge snowball and before I could stop him..smack! Right into Harrison's head. Poor kid. I then banned James from anymore snowballs.  After a while the boys came in for hot cocoa and sandwiches.  It was fun. We read stories and then all took a nap. It was a very good afternoon.

Oh yeah, so we went swimming yesterday, and Harrison was terrified of it the entire time. And when Ben got home late last night he went upstairs to say good night to the boys. As soon as Harrison saw Ben he said "I scared, I scared water....pool  I scared....water....pool" Poor kid. He must really have hated that pool. I thought it was cute though that he was telling Ben about it.

Life These Days

Life these days are pretty good I have to say. I am feeling really good.  I love this middle stage of pregnancy, energy is somewhat back, baby isn't so big that I can't move or breathe, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE feeling the baby move.  Every time I feel a little kick it just makes me so happy. But I will admit that sometimes I actually forget that I am pregnant. Like the baby will be moving and instead of thinking, "oh there is my little one" I think "what the world? Why do I have so much bubbling going in my stomach?" And then there are the times when I get up in the morning, head to the bathroom and pass by our mirror and think to myself "OH MY HECK!!! I am seriously bloated this morning!!!" And then I think oh yeah I am pregnant. The enlarged belly is a good thing.  But really I am really excited for this little one to arrive and can't wait for the ultrasound next monday. And I am sure I will post all about that come monday.

I have been really enjoying the kids lately, well I enjoy them all the time, but there ARE days when I might feel like selling them.  :) No seriously, James is just at the funnest stage. I have decided that 4 is a very good age.  He is pretty obedient, even if he doesn't want to be and is so interested in everything. He constantly asks questions and won't stop until you explain it to him fully. For example, he now knows how the baby is born. He asked and asked and I kept giving him sort of answers but never the real thing. but he wasn't satisfied until he got the truth and it made sense. He also knows what the umbilical cord is, what your heart does, what lungs are how they work. He has been very interested in his body and how it works. I love that though, especially since I actually know the answers to those questions.  He has also been asking about every food and if it is healthy or not, and telling me we should not eat so much sugar. This is probably a good thing for a boy that gets cavities so easy. 

Harrison is the same as ever. He teases us all the time. Every time you tell him to come here or whatever he laughs his head off and runs away. Part of you wants to be angry and tell him to get his bum over here now, but then there is the part that sees that little twinkle in his eyes and you can't help but laugh at him and chase him down.  And then when you say "Harrison, time for bed" He says "no, no, no, no sleepy, no sleepy!" it makes me laugh so hard. And I just throw him in his bed. He calms down fast.  I love to watch my little boys sleep. I always sneak in their room at night and just watch them sleep. They are always so cute. One night I came in and James had made beds for all the teddy bears and given them blankets too. It was the sweetest thing.  He really does have such a good heart.  Today while it was raining and cold he asked me where the people sleep. I asked him what people? He replied, "the people that don't have homes"  I told him there are shelters, but that many still have to sleep outside in the wet and cold. He thought about it and then said we should get them a home to sleep in. And take them somewhere where they could be warm. I agreed. 

We had a fun day today, after a good run I took the boys swimming. James, of course loved it. harrison was 100% terrified. I don't get it. He loves water.  HE would stay in the bathtub all day if I would let him. But when we go to the pool he just buries his little face in me and holds on to dear life. I always feel so bad and keep  thinking he will grow out of it, but so far, no luck there.  I felt bad for Harrison today. James had a friend over and they were playing transformers and Harrison couldn't keep up with them. He kept coming to me and just moped. Cute little bugger.  So then tonight after we cleaned the toy room we watched one transformers episode and one little Einstein's episode, while eating popcorn and drinking hot cocoa. Now, my little boys are in bed. Stories have been read, teeth brushed, house cleaned, laundry folded and I am ready to just relax. Ah. I love the end of a good day. I love going to bed in a clean house, with happy little kids asleep in the next room. Actually, James is not currently asleep. I can hear him singing the transformers song. Ah, that makes me laugh.  Kids are funny.