Easter Egg Hunts, Candy and the Resurrection

Easter was such a blast with baby James. He just intensifies these kind of experiences. He was spoiled and was involved in 4 different Easter Egg Hunts.

During the first Easter Egg Hunt this year, James had know idea what all the fuss was about. All he saw was tons of crazy people gathering around a park at 9 a.m. He didn't have a clue what was so special about the colored eggs either. So mommy had to gather almost all the eggs during this one. Until.... ..... he opened one up and found candy. After he had a taste of sugar, he learned that there was a treasure of candy in each one. Then he became pretty good at gathering eggs for the next egg hunts. He loved holding the eggs and eating the candy, while mom enjoyed watching her little guy grow up and do big kid things. Then we went back to the house and daddy and James checked out his eggs. James made his first $2.00 from 2 eggs. Daddy thought there was to much candy for our little guy, and didn't want James to get sick so he helped out there.Then we headed to Discovery Park with the Sedivey cousins. James was rearing to go this time, now that he knew there was candy inside of each eggs. James and McKay were ready to go and the wait killed them. It wasn't fair having to wait for the whistle when the eggs were just a few feet in front of them.

Then Nana and Papa had a fun one with all the cousins in their backyard. He loves playing with all his many cousins.

He was so independent on this egg hunt. He pretty much took off, basket in one hand and the other ready to grab the egg. He became pretty good at spotting the colored eggs.

Papa giving James a hand. Cade, Harrison and James chowing down on their finds.

James and the ladies.

Lastly, we had our personal family Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday after conference.

Mommy had both of her babes searching for their Easter things.

James had the chance to color Easter eggs for the first time. I let help out with each one and by the end of the whole process, we both had dyed hands.

James even made a pink one for his baby sister.

Right before he went to bed on Easter Sunday we had a short Easter lesson about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We had pictures for James to look at. He knows who Jesus is and it is so interesting to see how he responds when we talk about him. I really see that he can feel the spirit, even though he is really young.

I am so grateful for the resurrection of our brother, Jesus Christ and for the pain that he sadly went through so we can be forgiven of our sins and seek to become better people through the mistakes we make. I look forward to the day when I will be able to see him again and wrap my hands around him and tell him just how much I love him. Heavenly Father has made this all possible and I know that it was hard for him to watch his own son suffer on the cross, yet it had to be done for each one of us on earth. That just shows how much he really does love and cherish each one of us. Being a mother to sweet baby James lets me feel a glimpse of just how much our Father in Heaven loves me. It is indescribable and perfect. There is always room for more love and for it to grow. I know this because each day I seem to find myself loving James more and more. Even to the point that I thought was in imaginable. The love even for my unborn baby girl seems to grow daily too. Love is an amazing thing and it is what counts here on earth. I hope each of us can be more aware of the love that Jesus and Heavenly Father have for each one of us, not only at Easter buy everyday we are blessed to be living on this earth.

How did James' First Hair Cut Go?

Before: ( smooth, soft silky strawberry blond hair, it was even curly if I added gel, yet it was a little to long to style)

At 17 months he got his first hair cut and it was quit an experience for our little guy.

During: (I'll let you be the judge, his facial expressions explain exactly how he felt about the electric razor) Daddy was right beside him the whole time, giving him love and letting him know he'd be okay. There goes all his hair that took so long to grow, his first year of life he was practically bald. He took a break from crying for a few minutes, thanks to the fruit snacks and daddy's comforting head lock. But then he burst out again. He did not like that vibrating loud razor one bit. Finally his hair was gone, the hair cut was over and he DID walk out a happy boy. It was a bit shorter than I expected, but thank goodness hair grows back.

We are having a baby......

GIRL!!! We are so excited to be parents of a little princess. Secretly I was really wishing and praying for a girl. I guess it is because I am a girl and know the relationship between mother and daughter. I am totally thinking pink now too. I already feel closer to her and it was really fun today going to the mall with my two babes and looking a girly things. I will admit that I love seeing everything made at boutiques and stores, cause they sometimes give me ideas of things I can make- making it more affordable. There are so many dang cute things out there for girls. I have to hold back, because we really can't afford it. But it is still really fun to look. Josh and I are really struggling to come up with a girls name. It seems like we both can't come to an agreement. It was so easy coming up with James' name, but this girl naming is so hard. Let us know if you have any great girl names, we need some help with this one. Our ultrasound visit was a lot of fun. I went with by two babes and Josh was definite that we were having a boy. Even in his prayer right before we went in he prayed for Preston (we already had a name picked out for our next boy). I was still thinking it was a girl. I told him I was 95% sure. When I layed down and pulled my shirt up to reveal my tummy, James didn't quite know what was going on. We had to keep him occupied with ice. But every once in a while I would try to explain it to him and he would just smile and watch the screen of his little soon to be sister float around in my tummy. The technician checked all measurements and all parts of the body. I shedded a happy tear of amazement. Seeing my soon to be little child in my tummy made me cry because of the huge amazing miracle that she really is. She's right there in side of me, yet I can't grasp her hand or see her completely. God truly is an incredible creator and it is so amazing how a child can survive and be born as perfect as they are. The whole pregnancy and labor process has always been a marvel and a truly touching experience to me. I really enjoy seeing my belly grow and seriously in the last 2 days I have popped. Right now I kind of am in the stage where I look like I may have gained some belly fat or am pregnant. To me it is kind of fun seeing my little princess grow,yet know one really thinks I look pregnant quite yet. In the ultrasound she was totally sitting as far down as she could on my pelvis, I guess she found a comfy spot. Once the tec moved her a bit, we were anxious to find out the gender. Josh asked if she could tell. She gave a small silly hint and said well it definitely has a brain and then she told us that there was "in door plumbing" this time. I screamed in excitement and clapped my hands, James smiled and it took Josh a second to take it in. I guess he thought that he was definitely going to be a boy and that it kind of surprised him. Then a second later,I could tell that his little heart melted for his baby girl. We left with a few pictures (that I will post later)and a really really excited momma. After leaving that doctors office, the color pink has become something totally new and exciting to me. My head turns each time I see it. It is already so much fun just knowing that I am going to have a daughter. We hope she looks like me, with the dark hair and olive skin. We have agreed that the boys should look like their daddy and the girls their mommy. They may not look like brother and sister if this happens, I guess we will see eventually.

This is the question....

Today we find out if James is going to be an older brother of a sister or brother. I feel as though I have never had the mother intuition of knowing exactly what my child will be. With James, Josh and I would always call him a boy even before we found out he was male. Yet, right before I went into get the ultrasound of James I changed my guess to a girl, because everyone I talked to always said you get what you least expect. As for this child I have totally been thinking both ways, we want a little boy so James can have a close buddy,plus we have all the handy downs too- it would be a lot cheaper. Yet I want a little girl because she would be so much fun to doll up and have as my little princess. Either way it would be a win win. Well just yesterday I had to come up with a guess. It was hard to stand by my decision, because each time I think it is a boy I think about a girl, vice versa. So I am just making a complete guess when I say that I think it may be a girl. Plus, last night I had a petal party with my friends, where we made a bunch of dang cute hair flowers and it kind of wore off on me that having a girl would be fun to deck out in cute little girly things. I will stand by this until we find out, even though I wish I could say that I know and can feel that my baby is a certain gender. Josh has always wanted another little guy for James and to start building his sports teams. So this whole time again he has been saying it is a boy. I guess we will find out at 3:30p.m. And since it is 12:15 a.m right now I think I better go to sleep so I can function tomorrow. But..... I am so excited to find out if we are having another boy or girl. I think that when you actually find out the gender it actually begins to feel more real and I can actually start getting ready for the baby. What a great thing to look forward to today, maybe I will dream a mother, child dream where I will wake up knowing. Ya right, I don't work that way- I wish. The anticipation is killing me. I am 20 weeks now and NEED to KNOW!!

How I'm Doing

That is a great questions, considering I am now almost 17 weeks pregnant. Wow, how time flies. It is such a blessing that this pregnancy is so similar to when I was pregnant with James. Physically I am about the same- feeling extremely good- no throwing up or morning sickness (huge blessing). It seems like I am more tired, but I think it is only because I have my little guy to tend to, am working part time, and on the days I have off I am tending 2 other babies and than after 2:00 I watch 3 more older kids. It really is busy and I never get a nap or get to even sit down. It is crazy how I stay constantly busy all the time.

My normal everyday schedule:

Monday, Thursday and ever other Friday I work as a 3rd grade teacher from 8:00 till about 4:00, than get home around 5 or 6 depending if I have to pick up Josh and take him to school (we even do the one car thing- it's great fun) , our commute is about 40 minutes there and 40 minutes back.

After I get home around and around 6:30 or 7:00 (and on all other days- most nights are the same)I give love, sweet love to James and try to get something cleaned. We eat dinner, give James a bath and than my favorite part of the whole day is reading books to him as he drinks his ba ba and has his silky blanket in his little fingers, cuddled up in my arms. I seriously cherish these moments. He LOVES books so much and lately he has really been giving a liking to Dr.Seuss rhyming books, he also loves alphabet/ picture books. He wants them over and over again. Every night we read scriptures from the illustrated children scriptures. They are so great and he really likes them too, the wording is just right and there is so much for him to look at. Sometimes out of the blue he will grab them and hand them to me to read to him. Then we brush his teeth (one of his most unliked things to do- he likes holding the brush on his own and tasting the paste, but when I start brushing them, it really is a struggle) and say our prayers. He now folds his arms (only for a few seconds though, and he is so proud of himself ).

Next, we sing songs to him (which he loves, his favorite song is Angels Above and I am a Child of God) and I usually just lay with him and soak in his cuteness. I just can't get enough of him. He is irresistible. He loves night time cuddles and morning cuddles. He totally falls asleep in my arms and when he is in his bed I place his soft bunny stuffed animal close to his body, make sure he has his silky close to his face and tuck him in like a blue burrito. Than he's out until the next morning at 7:30 or 8:00 am. So he sleeps a good 11 to 12 hours.

Then on Tuesday after a great cuddle with James we eat breakfast and Eliza and McKay (my niece and nephew ) join us for the rest of the day as I babysit them. They are 2 and 3 years old. James is a very lucky boy to know his cousins so well. They get so excited to see James and James adores Eliza. He is always giving her hugs and kisses (so priceless), he will even just cuddle with he ( and she's about his size- very petite). McKay on the other hand is a tough little guy who beats on poor little James. He is in this stage of biting and hitting. Poor James, since he is the youngest, gets beat up sometimes. It breaks my heart. McKay gets disciplined, but does he learn? I guess James will really grow up having to be tough. I mean I protect him while I am around, but I am not always there.

So us four usually read stories, play with toys and dance and listen to music. Then the boys go down for their nap around 10:30. Eliza watches a child's show, while I do laundry, dishes, and clean. Tuesdays I have my friends come over for craft day. The babies wake up around 12:00 or so than all the kids (6 of them) play together. It's a great time for me to hang with the girls, while the kids all get to hang out together and make even more messes.

Then I am usually trying to get all the household chores done, while tending these little guys (almost impossible keeping it clean- sometimes I think what is the point and just wait to vacuum until later that night when they lay down for the night). All the older kids get home around 2:30 and than at 3:00 I do study hour with them and test them on spelling and math. Then I make dinner (with all the 3 right by my side helping of course, they love to be right by me doing whatever I am doing) for the 10 of us. I always have to cooks for a whole crew on these days, so I try to find fast, easy and inexpensive meals. Around 7:00 I am free. Wow, what a day!! Than I am with my 2 greatest people in my life- James and Josh ( who I usually see after 9:00 because of school).

This is why I am tired, yet happy.

This is why I cherish little moments with James.

This is why I LOVE Weekends and the Fridays off.

I can't complain, it works and it helps all of us out in some way.

Life is great and people make it even more rewarding. I do get excited about my bed and just laying down, yet mornings come so soon and I never fully feel rested. Oh well, I guess this is what motherhood is, right?

So as I was saying, the big differences are that I have been getting some bad headaches for the last 2 weeks and sweets really make me feel sick to my stomach and give me the headaches too. So I have really been good at not eating to much junk with sugar in it. I have the weirdest likes for eating (they aren't really craving) but they taste mighty fine. I love wheat bagels with vegetable sped, apples, grapes and mostly oranges. With this baby, I place so much attention on James that I don't have the same time to focus on all the little weekly details and I really don't focus on myself either. So me being 17 weeks this week, was something I actually had to count today. I had totally lost track.

Being pregnant with my second is still extremely exciting and I get so much joy from knowing my angel is growing inside of me, I guess the anticipation is just not as strong because of how busy I am. But, don't get me wrong- there are so many times I stop and just talk to my 17 week year old (ya, it's a mama thing). Daily prayers include the unborn baby all the time- for health and safety. It's crazy how much love I already feel for this baby. Isn't it wonderful how love can only grow and we can never give to much?

Sweet Baby, we love you and can't wait to cuddle, hold you and fall in love with you more and more everyday. I truly don't know how James will do at first. He is a total mama's boy, he gets jelous easily if I am holding another. I guess he'll have to learn to share, but for now I love it.

3 of US Photoshoot

Daddy's Little CougarFamily of 3

(Plus one) Cousins talking (James and Talmage)

Christmas 2009 Family Picture

Charming Personality

I love us three!

Christmas 2009 Photo shoot with my talented sister, Amber Holt Photography. I just love pictures and they are even better when our little one looks so dang cute in all of them.

Thanks sis, you rock like always!

Baby Seat Canapy's

I made these cute baby seat canopy's for one of my cousins and a friend. If anyone is interested in buying one, let me know and I can match up cute colors that you would love, or that you choose.

Temple

We had a class with a bunch of girls on how to make these large pictures. We made the frames from base boards and than had posters of the temple that we textured. They are completely beautiful. My camera didn't do justice for what they really look like. What I loved most was the price too. Now we finally have a picture of the temple hanging in our house.

Family Home Evening

Lately, for FHE we have been doing some pretty cool things together as a family. We have been really diligent about doing FHE with Baby James ever since the New Year. I know it is something that will help my children learn of Christ and gain a testimony, while at the same time allowing our family to be strengthened and gain relationships and memories. Along with prayer, song, lesson and an activity we have learned that the lessons need to be only about 5 minutes in order to keep James' attention. It has been awesome using the FHE bags that have simple, easy lessons with a prop. For one of our special days together (day off) we went to the Thanksgiving Dinosaurs Museum. We all loved it, it was very informative and there was so much to see. I was very impressed!

Here we are digging for fossils. He even got to dig on his own with the big boys. He did more watching than digging though. This was kind of scary for our little guy. It looked pretty real and it was huge.

Daddy, Mommy and Jamesy will go back when he's big enough to enjoy it even more. Pirate Island was so much better than I thought it would be. We made it another FHE activity. Talk about a great and fun atmosphere for everyone.

The pizza even taste good.

My favorite part was our server. He had the whole pirate thing going, even his accent. James didn't know what to think about it, it was a little scary for him. His favorite part was shooting with daddy and playing on the Farris wheel and the little playground ship. Our little dude loved the Farris wheel. He went on it about 5 times and only wanted more. He's such a big boy he could do it all by himself. He is becoming more independent (sad but true) and doesn't need mamma's help as much.

When it was time to go, he cried. Poor little guy, I guess we found his next favorite place.

We have so much fun, just the 3 of us, even though our fourth was with us in spirit. I am so happy to have two of my babes with me all of the time. They are a blast!

Another successful FHE we had was more of a service. We went to visit an Elderly Home. It was the old one I used to work at in American Fork- Heritage. There were only about 4 people there that I still knew, how sad is that, that the rest have probably passed away. Yet good, because they are not disabled and are now perfect in Heaven. It scared James half to death. He wasn't to sure about all the wrinkles, hunched over in wheelchairs and it even scared him more when they started talking. For a little guy it is kind of an overwhelming experience. I want to continue taking him, so he can eventually learn to love the elderly. It is a great lesson and these lonely people need love from anyone who is willing to give it.

This is just the beginning of all of our FHE's and even though James is so young, I think he already knows it is something special that he does with his mom and dad.

Little lessons, step by step...... I pray that it will make a difference.

My Perfect Parents

Wow, I just feel so blessed to have the family I do. I seriously had the best time with mom and dad as they came to visit this weekend. They arrived on Thursday morning at 2:00 a.m and left about 9 hours ago (Sunday, after church). I always hate saying good bye because the time just flys by way to fast.

When I think about mom and dad, I just can't help but smile. They did a dang good job of raising us kids. I always remember how mom was home every single day after returning from school, she always made us food and there was never a worry for me as a child, if mom would be there for me at anytime. Than, my fondest remembrance of Dad is having little daddy daughter dates or councils with only me and dad. I remember feeling like he always cared and that I could cry to him about anything. Mom and dad were amazing at raising us. They had their priorities in the right spot, even today they make these long 12 hour drives just to come see me and my family for a few days, just because they love us. How did I get so lucky, to be so loved by 2 people who love so unselfishly and perfectly.

We had fun playing games (Settlers, of course), shopping, eating at Cafe Rio (all of our favorite), mom and I went to Natalie (my cousins) baby shower, playing with big guy, talking, watching the Olympics, but most importantly, spending time together. Mom even came and helped me out with teaching- she loved it, while James spent the whole day with Grandpa. What an enjoyable weekend. I just wish mom and dad lived closer.

Mom and dad you made my weekend so great. James loves you guys so much, thanks for loving him so much, even through all the dirty diapers, throwing up and runny noses. We all feel your love when your with us and away from us.

My mom and dad are the greatest parents and a big thank you goes out to my Father in Heaven, because he knew just what I needed to get through in this life. My parents are one of my greatest blessings.

Learning the Hard Way

I really need to document an experience that I hope to never have to go through again with my little munchkin. I never wish this to happen to anyone, it was scary.

So as we were packing our Honda civic in Canada to go home from Christmas Holidays, Josh took James, who was already to go, out and placed him in the car. It was pretty cold, so he closed the doors not thinking anything of it. Dad and Josh continued stuffing out car with all of our luggage and gifts. Dad and I are known as the best packers just because we fill every single spot and make everything fit nice and snug, every time without fail. So I came out with the last few things and saw James in the car, the car was running (because it was bitter cold out) so I went around to the back door to make sure it was opened and placed somethings in the back seat. By this time James had made his way up to the drivers seat, standing and pretending he was driving. I ran inside again to grab the food and then we would be off. We were already running late, it was 11:00 am and it was a 12 hour drive on a clear day.

As I walked out I gave hugs to mom and dad, I went to open the car door where James was and it was ......LOCKED! I looked in the back and the doors were...... LOCKED too. The worst part was that the keys were in the ignition. I could not believe it, my sweet baby, who had a huge smile on his face was in the drivers seat, playing with the steering wheel and there was no way I could get to him. Once we realized that a hanger wasn't working and trying to entice James to touch the unlock button(which was next to impossible). While the guys tried to find a solution, I stood out in the cold trying to keep James happy through the window. After a while I could tell that he just wanted me to hold him, I honestly was scared that the car was on and that at anytime he could push it into gear, yet at the same time if the car was not on, he would have froze. All I could think about was getting him out.

Thank goodness mom and dad knew a mechanic from Raymond, he finally came out after about 30 minutes, and he opened it in less then 10 seconds. What a blessing. I grabbed him out, and just couldn't stop telling him how much I loved him and that I was sorry. He was a trooper, but I don't know if I was.

It was so hard for me, his momma, being totally unable to help my son. All I ever want to do is keep him safe and always be there for him. I guess we learned a lesson the hard way. So for all of you, read this and learn instead of go through it. Little ones can do things you'd never think they could do. I had know idea my little one, who was just barely one, could lock all the car doors.

He did it all with a smile too.

We got off to a late start, but seriosly how can you be mad at a face like this?

.......Lesson Learned.