At War with the Birds!

In the past, meaning our last house, we've had issues with the black birds.  I've come to REALLY despise them.  At our last house it was the poop, and the screaming baby birds outside the window at 5 in the morning.  We had a bunch of really huge trees all around the house, and there were so many birds that EVERYTHING was covered in their poop. 

This year, I still hate them.  All spring we've been battling the things getting into the BBQ grill, and I'm about to go crazy!  EVERY time I go to grill, which is about every other day, I open it up to find it stuffed with twigs!  Every time!  So we heard that the fake owls would do the trick, but no.  The birds were a little leery at first, but after a couple days didn't even notice them.  So I covered up the holes they were getting into on the sides of the grill, and that seemed to work for a while.  But now they have found a way to get in through the bottom!  The worst part is that they started using my potted plants to put in the nest!  I walked out to water my cherry tomatoes, basil, and jalapeno plants, and they were just stubs....no leaves.  I thought bugs did it, until I opened up the grill and it smelled like basil!  I was so mad!

The other day Reed found a nest with eggs under the deck.  I didn't feel the least bit bad letting Macie play with it...because the last thing I want around here is more starlings!  Might sound a little heartless, but we've had it with these dumb birds!

The green stuff in this picture is my basil plant.

And this is my jalapeno.....

The cute fake owl that I never thought I'd have!  I used these things were just tacky decorations, haha.  Now I know. 

Close up of the owl that is not doing his job.

Macie with her nest of eggs.  It was so funny, I was explaining to her about the eggs, and that they were blackbird eggs.  But Macie thought that they were eggs for the birds to eat.  She said, "And they stir them and cook them?"  Pretty cute. 

"No, I not tired."

These are just a few pictures that I caught of Macie after she told me she wasn't tired.  When she's tired she gets really grouchy, like her mom, so I would ask her if she was tired.  She said, "No, I not tired."  But she obviously was. :)

Our baby is a ........

Girl!  Macie was right.  She would NEVER let us tell her otherwise, so I'm glad it turned out this way.  I just have to say though, I've never been wrong on my guesses......yet.  We went and got our 20 weeks ultrasound(well, 21 week actually), and everything looks great.  I feel very blessed to have another baby growing inside me.  But I'm not gonna lie, I'm also very overwhelmed.  Every time I think I can handle it and start to feel more at peace with the whole situation, someone lets me know how hard three is and how crazy I am for having them so close!  I KNOW it will be crazy.....it's already crazy.  I have been scared since before I found out I was pregnant.  I knew I was supposed to and going to have another baby soon, and it terrified me, because I still had a baby.  But I felt that's what needed to happen.....for some reason.  So that is what's happening, ready or not. :)

Branson is One Year Old!

Last Friday (April 29) our baby turned one!  We had a good time celebrating his birthday, but I'm not sure he really knew what was going on.  When he was opening his presents he did good with pulling stuff out of bags, but wasn't into opening up anything that was wrapped.  Of course Macie gave him LOTS of help opening and playing with his gifts.  He got lots of clothes, which is always exciting for ME, and some new toys that he loves. 

After dinner we had some friends and family over for cake and ice cream, and I made Branson his own little cake to tear into, just like I did Macie when she turned one.  Branson is a lot more wild than Macie ever was, so I thought he would dig right in.......but he didn't.  Just like Macie, he didn't like the frosting on his hands.  Oh well, he warmed up to the idea a little after he tasted it, but not much.  Reed tried to get him into it by sticking both hands into the cake, but Branson just shook it off his hands with a disgusted look. 

So here is some fun facts about Branson at One Year Old: 

-He's very cuddly, especially with women, and loves to give big hugs and kisses.  And when he kisses you it has to be a very slobbery, long, open mouth one on the LIPS.  Has to be on the lips, he's very adamant about this:)
-His favorite thing to do is get into the garbages...especially the kitchen one.  I forgot to tie the cabinet under the sink's doors shut one day, so when I was using the bathroom he got into it it and pulled out a moldy bread and ate it. 
-He also loves to eat anything I am trying to sweep up, no matter what it is or how long it's been there.  (mother of the year)
-He shuts his whole arms in the kitchen and bathroom drawers daily.
-He LOVES to splash in the toilet, and it's so hard to keep him from doing it with a potty training sister around. 
-He loves pulling all the toilet paper off the roll, and tearing it up into tiny pieces. 
-If the door isn't shut, he empties the bottom two drawers in my bathroom and is starting to be able to reach the next ones up too. 
-Ok, he LOVES to make huge messes, all day long, however he can make them.  If there is any way he can make a mess, he will.  He is a little tornado, but he makes up for it with hugs and kisses and huge smiles. 
-He sleeps through the night.
-He is now on a sippy (with a hard spout) and did so well switching over!
-He takes two good naps a day, and goes to bed at about 7:30 at night. 
-He wakes up at 6:30 in the morning, no matter what time he goes to bed, so does Macie. 
-He loves strawberries, but can't have them because they give him a really bad diaper rash. 
-At dinner time I can't put more than one piece of food in from of him because he sorts through it, chucking whatever he doesn't want over his shoulder, and eats the one thing that is left in front of him.  Even if all of it is the same, he still sorts it like this!
-He loves playing with his sister, when she isn't torturing him.  And loves playing with his Daddy. 
-He's a terror at church.
-He doesn't really talk, just grunts a lot.  He can say no no no (of course) and mama and Daah (dad). 
-He crawls really fast!
-And he is walking really well along the furniture and walls, but is still scared to take any steps by himself. 
-He can stand by himself when he doesn't realize what is happening. 
-And he's starting to CLIMB!

We really do love him to death.  He's so busy and curious and SWEET.  He's got lots of personality, and I can't wait to see what he can do on his next birthday.

This is Macie trying to give Aunt Sonja a kiss with her frosting face. 

Easter 2011

We had a great Easter this year.  The weather was actually nice all weekend, and we got to see the kids get excited about the eggs and baskets.....well, mostly just Macie.  Easter Sunday is always my favorite Sunday of the year.  I always feel the spirit so strongly at church, and especially when we sing the hymns.  This year was a little different since we were trying to quiet Macie and wrestle with Branson all Sacrament Meeting long, but it was still good. 

Saturday's weather was amazing compared to what we've been having, so it was fun to be outside for awhile.  We planned on going to an egg hunt at 12:30, so I got Macie all excited to go and find the eggs and get candy and prizes.  Well, we got there a few minutes early and the hunt was already over!  I guess they couldn't hold the kids back.....and the parents.  But Macie wasn't as upset because Grandma & Grandpa showed up with some candy that she got to carry around in her basket.  Then Reed and I were able to go to the temple while Reed's brother Casey and his wife Cindy watched our kids.  After that we dyed Easter eggs at Reed's parents. 

Sunday morning the kids, especially Macie had a ball finding eggs and eating treats!  Here are some pictures of Easter morning, but I forgot to get some of them all ready for church in their Easter outfits....oh well. 

Macie finding her basket.

Branson with his spoils.

Macie & daddy.

 

She was so excited for all the treats!

And I had to get a close-up of her dyed fingers.  She kept getting the eggs out of the dye with her hands.  Luckily it came off in the bath before church.

Photo Blog Update.....

I just wanted to let you know that I updated my photo blog today with some newborn pictures.  It was my very first time doing a brand-new baby, so I would LOVE any advice anyone would like to give me!  Be brutally honest, I want help!

Macie's Wedding Plans

Macie is still OBSESSED with getting married.  The plans get more and more detailed all the time, without any help from us.  It's so funny.....she already wants to be a BRIDE so bad.  She doesn't care about the after, besides getting a "big huge belly," she just wants the WEDDING!  So here are her detailed plans she reminds us of every day:

-Get married
-In the Temple
-In a white dress
-with white shoes
-and a white flower
-and a "married" (veil)
-Mommy will zip her up

-She will dance with Daddy
-and Twirl and twirl and twirl
-Mommy will sit down and watch her dance

The other weekend we went to a wedding reception.  Macie was SO EXCITED, but a little confused.  She thought we were going to the temple to see them get married.  So that was a little disappointing.  We got to the church and got inside and she said, "This isn't the temple."  So then we showed her the bride's pretty white dress and her wedding cake.  Macie kept wanting to see her white shoes, but her feet were covered up.  Then the reception got over, and the bride was walking around and Macie saw something very upsetting.........under her wedding gown she was wearing hot green and black converse shoes, haha.  Macie's face was so worried! "She needs WHITE shoes!"  We told her that SHE could have white shoes when she got married. 

Then last  Saturday we went to walk around the temple with the kids, and Macie even got to see a few couples getting their pictures taken outside.  But when it was time to leave she got so upset.  She wanted to get married herself.  She started to cry and said, "I all growed up, I get married today.  I all growed up!"  This is going to be a long wait. 

Branson's 1 year Photoshoot......

Branson doesn't turn one for about a week and a half, but TODAY I had time to take some pictures.  I will warn you, there are a million, and some of Macie too.  I am posting them here and on my photography blog because they are MY kids, so get ready for TONS of pictures.  And as always, feel free to give me any tips for improvement. 

Sunday Mornings.......

Sunday mornings are usually a little crazy around here, but yesterday took the cake!  For instance........I was showering, with the bathroom and bedroom doors shut, when I see the shower curtain move forward and Branson's little head pops in....followed by the rest of him:)  So he showered with me, fully clothed, and then decided to get out early and crawl around the bathroom soaking wet.  I guess Macie opened the doors for him, how nice.  I get out and give the kids a bath which went okay, then they both went down for a nap.  I used their nap time to get ready, make lunch, pack the diaper bag, get everything packed for my lesson, lay their clothes out, and get the house picked up from Branson's destruction.  I'm going to start calling him "Destructo", because he makes the biggest messes so fast, and he NEVER stops going!  So Branson wakes up first, and I get him all dressed and hair done.  Then Macie wakes up, on the wrong side of the bed, and will not stop bawling.  So I get her dressed, and start doing her hair (she's still bawling her head off) and she pukes from crying so hard!  So then we get her all cleaned up and finish her hair.  It's time to go to church, so we sart heading out the door and I look around my house to see it destroyed.....again....already.  While I was getting Macie ready Branson decided to pull everything out of the drawers in my bathroom, empty laundry baskets, pull ALL of the toilet paper off the roll, get into the shower and knock all the soaps and shampoos down, pull the hair trap out and suck on the bottom of it, leave trails of milk drips from the sippy and cracker crumbs and smashed cheese all over the kitchen, and pull a bunch of books off the shelves.  My house was clean an hour ago.  We make it through sacrament meeting, which is VERY crazy with Branson these days, and I start to teach my Sunday school class.  About half way through it Reed comes in and tells me that Macie needs me.  She was laying down on the floor in nursery, and had an enormous BLOWOUT.  It was everywhere.  She was up to her chest and down to her knees in runny poop!  We all just stood there not knowing what to do for a few minutes.  How are we going to get her home like that?!  So Reed took over my class and I got the kids home and Macie all cleaned up.  Then I had to wash the car seat, and her dress, and clean out the bathtub.  But luckily, Branson went back down for another nap, and Macie laid on the couch, and I was able to get the house in order again in time for Reed to get home.  After that it was pretty smooth sailing.  We ate dinner, hung out at home, then went to visit family, and the kids did great!  I'm sure I'm not the only one with Sunday mornings like this, just comes with the territory I guess.  But I sure do love those little kids......even my little destucto boy who turns ONE at the and of this month!  Here are some pictures I took the other day of bath time. 

Good News

Yes, it's true......we are expecting number 3.....already:)  I'm thirteen weeks along, and everything seems to be going great.  The due date is October 19.  I've actually felt pretty darn good considering, and I think this might be the easiest pregnancy so far......but, we'll see how the rest goes.  I've really been trying to eat good foods, and have been getting good whole grains and protein for breakfast, so I don't know if that's why I feel so much better, or if the pregnancy is just treating me better this time.  But I do love treats.....and when I do cave, which isn't very rare, I feel pretty yucky.  So....anyone who might be pregnant out there: make yourself eat breakfast, and make sure you are getting GOOD carbs and protein with every meal and snack, and see if you feel a whole lot better like I do!  There is one downfall to this feeling good thing though.....I've already started gaining my baby-weight, sigh.  We're excited to be adding to our family, and feel very blessed to be able to get them here so "easily" now.  Macie is very excited, and is always concerned about the baby.  She'll cover my belly with blankets and tell me the baby needs to stay warm.  She doesn't want Branson to crawl on my belly, and today on the way home from the Dr. she asked, "The baby okay Mommy?"  She also tells me that I have a "big huge belly."   But she made up for it by telling me it was "so pretty."  Reed asked her if my belly was huge, big, or small.  And she told him it was huge.  Then I asked her if Daddy had a huge, big, or small one, and she said, "Daddy has a tiny one!"  Hahaha!  If she thinks it's huge now, I don't know what she's going to think by the end!