Partying

celebrating Dad's big day

It's Mikey's birthday, so I really ought to do a post on how wonderful he is and how great it is that he's twenty-eight, because he is and he is. Seriously, I am so blessed to have his as a husband and am so proud of all he does to balance home, work, school, and working with the youth at church. He does it all well.

But right now, I'm just feeling kind of blah. My allergies are acting up because of all the pollen--in February, I know--thanks to our mild winter. My nose won't stop running, my eyes are watery, and my face itches; I've gone through half a roll of toilet paper at least and should just have gotten out a new box of tissues for myself. Granted, I have appreciated some of the warm days and taking the girls to the park in the dead of winter.

Last night, we were trying to get some errands done and take Mike out for dinner before his class. (We had missed him for a few days while he was out with his family for Grandpa Gotfredson's funeral last weekend and didn't want to spend more time without him at home.) Instead, we went on a wild goose chase on UMKC campus, which is very pretty, by the way. We wanted to go to Baja Fresh since we have a gift card and the only one in the area is there, but, wouldn't you know, they close at 5:30pm (after driving around looking for parking, we missed that by twenty minutes) and turns out they are an Express location, so they wouldn't be able to take the gift card anyway. Kind of funny. So Mike went to class with some snacks he had in his knapsack and the girls and I discovered a Thai place I'd had my eye on for the past year-and-a-half.

It was great food and the lady was super sweet--she insisted on helping me to the car with my kids and Mike's portion. I was really happy because we went to another Thai place when we first moved here that was kind of different from what we were hoping for. Mike and I go out infrequently enough that we usually get the same menu items when we do and we loved the green curry beef and cashew chicken at our old place. This compared well.

We visited with the cousins for forty minutes before picking up Mike so I could nurse Em, pick up some forgotten items from partying the past weekend, and because my girls wouldn't let me hear the end of it if Dad went to class and we didn't get to see their cousins. The girls went to sleep on the way home, Maggie waking only briefly after we pulled in long enough to tell me, "I did forget something at Ava's--my pink laptop!!"

Emily was awake for three hours in the middle of the night and a bit on the cranky side. I'm guessing the Thai food was to blame. It was worth it. (I've never really had a baby react noticeably to something I ate though, and I've never been one to cut the spice when nursing or pregnant.) I transferred Kate back to her bed after she wandered in early this morning. And then woke up a little before seven to Maggie calling from her bed, "Turn my songs on please!" ("her songs" meaning a Primary music CD).

So, yeah. I'm tired, feeling kind of sick, and looking forward to sleep. I probably ran myself ragged end of last week as we ended up super busy while Mike was gone, partially things we had already planned and couldn't get out of and partially to keep the girls busy so they (and I) wouldn't miss Mike so much. (Sidenote: Kate was really sweet. Every time she talked to Mike on the phone she would say, "Daddy. Home? Daddy come home? Home?") We had a playdate, the missionaries came to dinner (actually, I forgot they were coming, but luckily it all worked out and I had dinner ready), we picnicked at the park, played with cousins, shopped, and went to church.

I didn't follow through on all I would have liked to do for Mike today, but we did have a good dinner of pulled pork, the chocolate cake was scrumptious (even if I couldn't taste it that well), and we had presents ready. Of course, Mike already kind of knew about some of what we got him because the day we went shopping Maggie told him, "We got a grey shirt for you, Dad!" (We're working on the concept of surprises.) The girls were really cute about celebrating for their dad's birthday. He was gone most of the day at work and an evening meeting too, but when he got home, they sprang to action. Maggie got out the candles and they stuck in thirty-something--making Mike nearly ten years older. Then they sang with vigor and were ready for Dad to open his presents. I'm glad their enthusiasm filled in for some of mine.

while the dads were away--a niece's birthday and a first sleepover

Three Months and Counting

When I started this post, little Em was closer to three than four months, but now she's only got a week left until four. I've gotta admit, it's kind of depressing. I still think of her as my new baby. Does it go faster every time?

Emily is doing everything she should and is the most pleasant baby in the world. Her eyes have lightened a bit and are a beautiful shade of blue; her hair is taking it's time. Sometimes it is a full-time job to protect her, but she is very good-natured about all the prodding and poking she receives at the hands of her older sisters, all in love of course. When she was still weeks old, I found Maggie curled up in the bassinet, practically on top of her. (Me: "What are you doing?!" Maggie: "I just wanted to take a nap with Emy.") She survived a couple stray dry beans from a bean sensory box I keep in the kitchen. (Me: "What did you just give her?" Kate, proudly: "Bean." Me: "You did?!" Sure enough, it went all the way through without incident.) And she was unscathed when Maggie carried her to me when I was in the bathroom. (Me: "Aaaah! You aren't supposed to pick up your sister. Maggie: "But she just wanted you.")

She has a mighty stare-down and has added hand-clasping, fist-sucking, toy-holding, blanket-tussling, and rolling to her side to her repertoire of talents. Her engaging smiles melt my heart and stop me in my tracks for a five-minute smile and cooing convo--I'd take baby-smiling over starting dinner any old day of the week. She started laughing just after she turned three months; she still giggles rather sparingly, but when she gets started it is too cute. Mike and Maggie heard her first chuckles (unless you count the sleeping ones when she was newborn) and Maggie seems to be the best at making her giggle, though Kate got a few good laughs out of her the other day.

Oh yeah, as for sleeping, in the past week or two she has started to sleep quite well and has had several nights where she slept ten or eleven hours straight. She probably has taken the longest to begin to sleep all the way through the night, but I haven't been very focused on it. I've been more preoccupied with another one's sleeping habits (ahem, Kate). Luckily, she too is doing better.

Emily has had a good five- or six-hour stretch down for a while and she is so pleasant it's not really a big deal to wake up with her. After I feed her, I can just put her back in bed awake and she is usually fine. When I've gotten really run down and exhausted I've just gone ahead and nursed her in bed so I could catch up on sleep. I had to do that some when Kate was teething too and have done it with all of them occasionally to catch an extra hour in the morning or during a nap, so it was nothing too new. I don't sleep as well, but I do so love cuddle-time with my baby. I have the sweetest babies.

Oh Emily, your coos, gurgles, growls, and laughs are all music to my ears. You don't cry much, but when you do that's sweet too. I love watching you watch your bears and butterflies or play with your hands. I can't walk by you without giving you a squeeze and kissing your head and getting one of your special smiles or looks. I love having you grasp my fingers and holding your soft feet. Your spit bubbles are the cutest and you still love the bath. It's fun that your interests are starting to branch out from people's faces and mobiles to rattles and crinkly objects. I love when you fall asleep in my arms--it's hard to put you down and sometimes I don't even when I should. Please slow down and let me enjoy it all. I love you!

Snow Day and Valentines

Happy Heart Day! Hope everyone had a good time celebrating loved ones. We did. But first, we had SNOW!!! It seems that is has been a rather warm winter across the country; here has been no exception. Maggie had given up asking me when it was going to snow.

Monday was our first snowfall worth mentioning. It wasn't much, but the couple inches were enough to make my girls ever so happy. At daybreak Kate's relentless pleas for "outside" started and Maggie was asking me, "Is there enough snow to make tracks?" Before 9am, I gave in and we went out. Maggie and Kate were in heaven; Emily, not so much. I took her back in to nurse and made girls play on the back patio with the door and window cracked so I could hear and watch them. After Em was napping, I went back out to play with them for a few minutes until they got tired of being cold and wet. Poor Maggie didn't get to build a Snow-Maggie again, as there wasn't much and she got distracted by all her track-making and other snow-enjoyment. But we did fit in a quick snow castle. And Kate was just in awe of the experience. She probably doesn't remember last year's. She was so cute making lines of circles in the snow with a Dora yogurt cup.

And the girls had tons of fun making and sending Valentines this year. We had some store-bought fairy ones and also painted some for cousins and family last week. And they sure got sugared up. They got to go to a Valentine's party at a friend's AND at the library. I gave them treats to wake up to: Maggie's first Bubbletape and a pack of "Starburrs" for Kate. And if that weren't enough, they got a special package in the mail from Grandmommy with more Valentine cards and sweets and Emily's first stickers. She hasn't used them yet. I may have to save them for her because her main ability right now is sucking on her hands and most recently a toy. More on that cutie later. Another sidenote: Maggie has been OBSESSED with gum since my mom gave her some when she was here. That was why I wanted to finally get her some, since we don't ever have it much. Of course she chewed it all up that very day and is now counting down to Easter in hopes that the Easter Bunny will bring her more. It did make me feel good that the girls wanted to share their treats with each other. I'm sure that niceness will pass as they get older and better understand limited quantities, but I love how they look out for each other.

As for Mike and me, we are keeping the love alive. I made him a yummy strawberry cream cheese braid, left him chocolates and sent him a card at work and he brought me Ben&Jerry's Americone Dream and the makings for chocolate-dipped strawberries. Seriously though, I am lucky. I am glad to have spent the last five years married to that man. He always tries to put my preferences and needs before his own and has sure done some dishes and laundry-folding the past few months. Yep. I'm lucky.

Need a Laugh?

I needed one last night. It had been a long day, the kind that concludes with shattering glass. (I had been expecting one of those after the weekend's high.)

So Mike had me watch Cold as Ice--now available on Netflix instant play--and read Eric Snider's movie review. Really only a fraction of the movie is needed for some therapeutic laughter.

In a hurry? Watch one of our favorite music videos: Take That's "Back for Good". I keep trying to convince Mike that he and his brothers should remake it. Keep an eye on the guy in the furry hat.

"Where are my kids," you ask. Currently, Maggie is singing her own remix of Bieber's "Baby, Baby" and Rebecca Black's "My Moment", Kate is dancing on a step-stool arrayed in dress-up clothes and princess shoes, and Emily is napping. True story.

Right Now

Right now I want nothing more than to curl up under my covers and fall fast asleep. But I can't. I can't without saying how happy I am right now. And I am so happy.

Even though I spent six hours in the car today, during the lowpoint, trying unsuccessfully to catch throw-up and making preliminary clean up efforts on my poor Kate in the cold wind at a gas station. (Sound familiar?) Even though there are dishes in my sink. Even though the laundry is piled high. Even though I spent a great deal of my week catching up on those very things. Even though I am still sitting on gifts and cards I've been planning to mail for several weeks. Even though I have a dozen and two projects sitting on my brain, making it hard to enjoy taking a break. Even though I am wasting valuable baby-is-sleeping time. Even though, even though, even though.

Because happy isn't an achievement. It's a place. A place where you realize all the annoyances are temporary and all the things that matter most are permanent. It's a place of mind.

Maybe it's knowing my beautiful sleeping babies are in their beds right where they belong. Maybe it's hearing Mike typing in the next room as he wraps up another paper towards his Masters, knowing he's doing it for us. Maybe it was helping the girls splash happily in the bath, thrilled I was letting Emily bathe with them for the first time. Maybe it was the sweet outpouring of the spirit at my darling niece Rachel's baptism this afternoon. Maybe it was the sweet note from Mike in my e-mail on Friday or hearing my mom's voice on the phone this afternoon. Maybe it's just the sweet peace of knowing Christ lives, that the gospel is true, and that miracles happen every day if we take the time to notice them.

But whatever it was my heart is full.

I have a special family. I have three adorable daughters. I have a husband I love so much it hurts. I have parents that are good and loving and wonderful--two sets! I have three beautiful sisters and eight sister-in-laws that might as well be. I have a brother who is fast becoming a young man I am very proud of. And I have brother-in-laws that are superb examples of what it means to be a righteous priesthood holder. I have a special family--they are my best friends and I love them.

Happiness is a place, and I'm there.

A Season of Thanksgiving

It has been too long since I have written a good catch-up post. Thanksgiving was forever ago. Christmas has come and gone--all twelve days of it!--and we are well into the New Year. 2012...wow!

I love the period between these holidays when we have a chance to reflect on the previous year and enjoy family time and traditions. I am starting to feel each season go too fast for my liking. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for my life and count my blessings daily...especially our three smallest, yet greatest, blessings: Maggie, Kate, and our sweet baby Emily.

In November, there was a lot of Emily adoration, tutu-wearing and ballet dancing going on here: Maggie would tell me to turn on Tchaikovsky and Kate would request "Tu-tu?". My mom came for several days to help me with the girls and meet little Emily: Emily rarely had to be set down, Mom and I made and ate lots of yummy chocolate-covered pretzels, and we all enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather. The girls loved spending time with Grandmommy. I even got a nap or two. Later in the month, Kate got a new trike and helped Dad put it together, so we had screws from the toolbox all over the living room for a couple days--now and then I still find a stray.

Thanksgiving was delicious, especially since I didn't have to make it. I just showed up with juice and soft drinks and some spinach-artichoke dip for an appetizer; Mike's wonderful parents took care of the rest--it's a good deal we have going. All the Kansas Gotfredsons were there for the occasion--Robert's, Lisa's, and Kevin's families. We spent the night so that we could spend more time with Kevin and Jenn's family, who had come up from Derby. (Emily's first overnight.) Two days were spent eating, shopping for Black Friday deals (online and in stores), playing games like Pretty, Pretty Princess, and reading Thanksgiving stories--we found I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson very funny. We also loved doing the...

Turkey Trot:

"First you turkey to the left, then you turkey to the right.
You heel and you toe and you scratch with all your might.
You flap your turkey wings, while your head goes bobble-bobble.
Then you turn around and say gobble-gobble-gobble-gobble."
(To the melody of "Turkey in the Straw" and with motions to reflect lyrics. I share because I don't want anyone to miss out next T-Day.)

December was here before we knew it. At every opportunity, the girls danced around the house in their tutus to the Nutcracker and we soon found ourselves picking out a tree and counting down to Christmas. The girls loved picking their tree and Maggie was so excited to have hot chocolate afterwards. I started to have dreams of making a fancy advent calendar, but I reigned myself in and instead we made a paper chain and took a blank Hello, Kitty calendar and filled in a simple activity to do each day. We ripped off a chain link and colored in one date square each night. Except for the nights we didn't, which is why there are still several chain links hanging by my front door and one uncolored square. We never did get to the gingerbread houses this year. Sadness. Kind of. I didn't miss the mess though. Maybe for Valentine's Day? What am I thinking?

We did get in a lot of Christmas cheer nonetheless. We kicked off December with a week or so of a half-decorated living room complete with an open box of Christmas decor, bubble wrap strewn everywhere, and Christmas lights dangling haphazardly from the tree, while bulbs hung five to a branch and were sprinkled on the tree skirt below (the girls and Mike decorated themselves). Eventually, Mike and I rearranged the tree and neatened up the house so we could properly enjoy Christmas (or at least so I could). We read plenty of Christmas stories, THE Christmas story, picked out our Christmas tree, visited a live Nativity and creche display, and sang Christmas songs.

We got in some Christmas caroling with our friends the Drakes and our cousins Sarah and Amy, though Emily complained we didn't prep her well for her first caroling experience--she didn't know the songs. We saw Santa at library storyhour and went to a Christmas book exchange at the Creaches. We went to our ward Christmas party at church, where I got to sing "Picture a Christmas" while Mike accompanied. The girls and I learned "the Reindeer Boogie" during our preschool time--much like the Hokey-Pokey, but with imaginary antlers, tails and hoofs. And we spent a half-hour or so one Saturday trying take a good Christmas card photo of the girls and keep my patience during the process, finally settling for individuals and more candid shots, which, truth be told, I probably like even better. We have never been good at getting pictures with everyone looking and it just keeps getting more difficult--we have yet to get a decent family shot since Em was born. :o/ (I know emoticons are kind-of dorky, but that is the face I was making.)

Things finally slowed a bit the week before Christmas. We made some treats for people and stayed close to home; I worked on Christmas cards, some picture projects, and finally monogrammed the girls stockings using fabric scraps; Mike was a dear and wrapped nearly everything. Sweet Tierna Jacobsen from church was home from college for break and came over to help me with the girls one afternoon while I addressed Christmas cards. The girls and I made granola and candied nuts to give as gifts and I made my first batch of almond roca, which was a success. (That was a particularly nice day when Kate and Emily's naps lined up and I managed not to crash myself but, instead, put Maggie in the highchair to paint watercolors and chat with me while I stirred toffee for twenty minutes. I've been wanting to make another batch ever since but somehow it hasn't happened...I hope this week. It's good stuff.)

We spent Christmas Eve with Mike's family, his sister Tina came in from Ohio and we had a grand time visiting with them and his brother Shawn's fam. We had a delicious Christmas dinner: the ham and potato spread was gorgeous and I wish I got a picture of the dishes lined up on Mom's beautiful new countertop and the Christmas veggie wreath my brother-in-law Jason made and the trifle Tina and Jason put together--again, easy eats for me. The weather was gorgeous; we found ourselves playing outside. Maggie loved running around playing tag with the older kids and Taylor was so sweet helping her run fast and feel part of things. We got to act out the nativity: Emily missed out on a role as she was sleeping, but Maggie was thrilled to be an angel and Kate was the cutest shepherd you ever saw--though her baby cousin was pretty sweet too.

Christmas morning dawned and we had another gorgeous day. Kate and Maggie were in heaven and are still in the adorable open-one-present-at-a-time-and-play-with-it-for-a-while phase that I love; Emily let the older girls open her gifts because she is generous like that. We took a break to eat cinnamon chip scones and drink wassail, then headed to church for an hour. Then it was back to gift-opening: The girls gained some momentum and finished up before too long and Mike scored big time with a few surprise Gap tops for me and a smooth edge can opener I'd been wanting. Mike finally got an electric shaver, a BYU hat, and some pictures for his office of the girls and me.

Overall, it was a great Christmas. I think my favorite activities were the Creche display, singing carols with family and friends, and reflecting on that first Christmas: I truly am so grateful for my Savior, that he came to earth and lived and died for me. It's always special to have a little baby at Christmas and consider the miracle of birth in general and especially the birth of that Holy One.

The next afternoon, my sister Becca arrived, followed by my mom and two other sisters, Catherine and Rachel. My girls were excited to pick up Aunt Becca at the airport, and we all were thrilled to see everyone else arrive. We had a blast with them here. We had a second Christmas morning, ate well, took silly pictures, danced around, and watched Miracle on 34th Street--I've been missing that Thanksgiving tradition the past couple years. We saw the lights at the Plaza in KC, played at the park (the nice weather has been crazy this year), and went running. My cute sisters and Mom watched the girls for us so Mike and I could go out on our anniversary (more about that later) and made it super special by decorating the basement so we could dance there when we got back--Catherine was the mastermind behind that one. It was so fun to stay up late with Becca and Cat and watch Rachel play with Maggie and Kate. Rachel really helped us move through activities--she loved my schedule cards--and Becca kept my girls entertained with her spontanaeity. And it was so nice to have some time with my mom again. They had to leave before New Year's, as Mom's break from school was not long this year. I just wished my dad and brother could have come too, as they had to stay back this time. I have such a great family. I wish we lived nearer to them. But also could stay here. Again I ask, why can't I live near everyone I love? Boo.

I shouldn't complain though. I was super spoiled and Cat stayed on before flying back to BYU--I got nearly an extra week with her! It was joyous: She is so fun to hang out with plus I got several days of help around the house. We were able to take the kids to Monkey Business one day, a children's playplace that my girls were previously terrified of--they're rather cautious types like their parents--but now never wish to leave.

New Year's was perfect: We blessed Emily. (Do you know she was three months today?!) Cat was still here and we stayed up on New Year's Eve making cookies for a post-blessing meal. Then we went to church on Sunday and were met there by Shawn's, Robert's, and Kevin's families as well as his parents, who were there to watch and participate. It was great to have them with us.

So yeah, twenty posts in one: That's efficiency for you. (Not for me--it took forever.) I saved you from having to click on our blog too much during your own busy holidays, condensed some of the dreary particulars, and passed on some pics. (I know you're thinking, "That's condensed?") You can thank me whenever.

L's and R's

I find Maggie and Kate playing with a bunch of small toys and wagon on the steps.

Me, upon finding Maggie and Kate playing with a myriad of small toys on the steps: "What are you doing?"

Maggie, matter-of-factly: "We're playing caw and sweep."

Me: "Caw and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep!"

Me: "Call and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep!"

Me: "Car and sweep?"

Mag: "Caw and sweep. And SWEEP!!"

Me: "Oh...car and sleep?"

Mag: "Yes."

Somehow I'm still a little lost.