Not toilet trained

I can't get Sophia to keep her diaper on. On top of that, she won't use the toilet. Every time I leave her for even just a moment, she takes her pants off, poops or pees on the floor, and then if I'm lucky, she innocently puts her pants back on. Sometimes she doesn't poop or pee, she just takes the dang thing off to be free. This is happening several times a week, and just the other day she snuck up to the playground, did her routine, and came back home buck naked.

The only immediate solution is duck tape. We try to reserve this for night-time, but lately I've been wishing I had the super human power to do it more often. Safe and even application of the stuff requires two (although I think more might be helpful) able bodied adults to put the grey miracle adhesive all the way arround her waist. She kicks, screams, and then we have to make sure all of our scissors are out of reach.

She threw her first real, long, pre-two year old tantrum the other night during our bedtime routine over the duck tape situation. She shouted "No more duck tape!", "I hate scriptures", "You bad mom!", "No singing, no singing, no singing!", "NO Heavenly Father! NO amen!"

She loves her underwear, but just poops and pees in them too. I have a feeling she will be easy to potty train once she gets over her toilet fear. I think she's actually going to love being a big girl, but why is she choosing the few weeks before her sister is born to do it? Why? I would love to send her away to some potty training camp for a week so they could deal with her "crap". Maybe my sister Yvonne is up for the challenge next week. All I know is that I am NOT, I am exhausted, she's lucky that she's cute, and I love her.

Trying to be patient

The countdown is on! I have made progress at each of my appointments. 2 weeks ago I was dilated to a 1, no effacement. Last week my Midwife Julie called me a tight 2 with 80% effacement. On Tuesday, I'll have her strip my membranes, and then we'll see. I'm feeling finished but not hopeless. The sciatica, wacky sacral alignment, edema, and other pregnancy related woes are almost over and I'll soon be holding her in my arms. I've been romancing over the quiet hospital moments when I get to be alone with her, stroking her hair, inspecting her tiny body, watching her grimace and sleep smile. I am so ready for a new baby.

It would be absolutely perfect to have her anytime next weekend. Doug is super stressed at work, his professors and the people at the nuclear center have little empathy for our situation. They all placed bets on her arrival time being early, and since they've all lost now, they are done caring. I won't be starting any of the home inducement techniques till Friday just for Doug. I have a hospital induction scheduled for Tuesday the 2nd, but I've never made it to my induction date. Yvonne just confirmed that she'll be here from the 1st to the 7th, Andy and family will indeed be here for Conference, and my Papa will be here from the 5th to the 19th. I am so blessed with a supportive family.

For now, I just need to relax and mother the children that live outside my womb. Dalton, likes it when I call him my first baby, he smiles and kisses my belly. Joseph loves it when I call him my easiest baby, he reminds me that he'll wash his hands and hold our new one the best. Sophia... well I just hope she appreciates my new lap, and is soft with her little sister. She loves to see my exposed belly and show me hers while we touch bellybuttons. I think they'll be great big siblings.

Rumors

Okay, I'm the one that started this first one. We wanted to head to AZ for Thanksgiving once I noticed that the boys have Wednesday-Monday off of school. We've thought things over a bit and decided that we will not be heading down. Doug has an overloaded schedule that promises to become more so once our little one is keeping him up at night too. Travelling 12 hours each way with 4 kids, rushing all over the state to satisfy family requests, and trying to adjust to a new baby schedule all sounds too daunting for the both of us. Sorry.

I understand that Randy & family will be in SLC for Thanksgiving, and we're excited to see them for a bit during that time. Reason enough to stay put. Since this last trip the kids took to AZ, Sophia has been saying "I want Aunt Katie", and "Uncle Randy's funny."

Now, did Doug overhear a conversation that involved Andy & family coming up here for General Conference? If he heard right, you'll be staying in Midway, but I'd love to fit into your schedule somewhere. I'm hoping that the newest member of the family is draw enough to at least see you for an afternoon. Papa will be here, and we could beg him to make a lovely dinner for all of us.

Chad? Are you and Shelley heading this way as well? Again just a rumor, but if you could afford the gas, we'll feed you and put you up on our lovely air mattress.

I'm only 10 days from being due, and I'm beyond excited to see this little beauty with my own eyes. I think she's a gymnast, but for the possible recessive auburn hair, cocoa skin and hazel eyes the suspense is killing me. I also want to see what my body is made of. I want to experience the whole process and enjoy knowing that this is, (most likely) my last opportunity to feel the hormones rush through my body and take over to help it perform it's animal function. The excitement of it all is keeping me up at night, to which I must respond with a nap this afternoon. Happy dreams. Hope I get to show off my little one to anyone willing to make the trip.

Here's the best shot of Doug on the field accepting his induction to the PHS Hall of Fame. It's a little hard to tell what you're looking at, but that is the PHS band in the back and Doug waving to all of his fans. I was pretty happy to see that his Letterman's jacket still fit. Mom, Dad & Mike Crawford along with the whole Nelson gang were able to show up to support Doug.

PHS Football Hall-of-Fame

This morning I said goodbye to my little family. They're off to AZ to have a wonderful time with grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, with a whole slew of planned activities. The kids are most looking forward to being out of school, playing with family, eating out, and using the new DVD player we got for the 12 hour trip each way. Doug is most looking forward to seeing some old coaches, and friends, and reminiscing the old football days, (I'm sure Jennie will be right in with those conversations). I am most looking forward to a clean house, and as much rest as my body can take in. I'm so happy for Doug, (and his mom too!) he remembers those days with such fondness. I think he's pretty excited to show some of those people that he has become much more than a football jock as well. With a great family, a fabulous education, and a bright future, Doug really has it all.

Stomach Flu

Ten days of the stomach flu have kept me from doing much of anything. Those words "stomach flu" don't really sound as terrible as they are. It is more like a stomach and bowel wrenching with nausea, fatigue, and muscle weakness coupled with a periodic fever... sweats, chills and all. I got it, Doug got it, but gratefully Joe is the only other one who vomited, and it was totally contained on his bed. My midwife was a little concerned with my 5 pound loss this week, but I couldn't help it. We think the baby is okay though, she has had my bowels to wrestle and sing with, and I'm pretty sure that when I wasn't eating anything for several of those days, she feasted on my limited muscle supply. It should be over soon.

Labor Day Camping

The Book of Pineview 1:1-5
As recorded by the Godfreys

1 And it came to pass that they took their tents and departed into the wilderness. And they traveled northward for the space of many miles and pitched their tents by a large body of water. And they called the water Pineview, for that is what it said on the sign.

2 And behold they did bring their own dinners, yea each family their own meal for the evening, and they did cook them on the fire. And they found to their amazement Dutch Oven desserts prepared for them, and they found that the dessert was more delicious in accordance with their righteousness.

3 And in the morning they rejoiced, for there were pancakes and other breakfast items in abundance. And after they had feasted they packed up their camp.Yea and behold, the afternoon was spent swimming by the water of the Pineview. And those who were planning to swim brought lunches of their own design, yea lunches to eat for themselves if they chose to stay.

4 Yea and there was no contention among them. Even the parents of young babies did find joy in the camping thereof. Yea even those who sayeth "I am not the camping type" found great joy. Even those who were great with child, even 8 1/2 months pregnant, yea even though they worried they might be delivered in the wilderness, they found great joy.

5 And it came to pass that they gathering of the ward in the wilderness was accomplished, and their hearts were knit together in unity and love one towards another. And the spirit of the ward grew in abundance, and all were welcomed in. And there was much rejoicing among them.

2nd Graders are so big, and Kindergartners too.

Dalton and Joe's first day of school really started the night before. For FHE we decided to get Back-to-School haircuts, and have Doug give the kids Back-to-School blessings. The boys looked so handsome with their short styled hair, and after quick showers to get the pokey's off, it was time for the bedtime routine.

Doug gave very personal blessings to each of the boys and then Sophia reverently climbed onto the ottoman for her turn with daddy's hands on her head. She sat still the whole time, which was an absolute miracle, and gave daddy a big hug afterward. Joseph had a hard time understanding why we didn't read scriptures, and we explained that a blessing is scripture just for him. He was confused, but satisfied. They each picked a song, and then we said prayers. "Huk-an-kikkas", comes right after a loud, "Amen" from Sophia, and then bed.

It was only then that Dalton asked me, "What is the weather tomorrow?". A question I hadn't heard since May. "I think I heard it was going to be about 90." He was devastated! All of his new clothes are nice long pants, and the exact outfit he had laid out for the past several weeks was not only long pants, but the matching long sleeved T-shirt too. He was quick to point out that I hadn't done the shorts load of laundry either. Just like the end of any other day, I was in an "oh well" mood. He, on the other hand, rushed off to the basement while I went to lay down. I heard him messing around in the bathroom, and reminded him that he needed to get some sleep before his big first day of 2nd grade. He quickly said, "I'll be done in a minute, and I promise I'll get to bed." The following morning I woke up before the boys, and noticed his favorite shorts hung over the towells, a little damp. I was sure they had a few clumps of beans and salsa on them, but after inspection they were clean, and smelled of my gardenia hand soap. He woke up excited for the school day, and was about to cry again when he realized they weren't dry yet. I rushed them down to the dryer while he jumped in the shower. I couldn't believe that he took the time to hand wash his own clothes, what a great solution.

There was some miscommunication with the buses around here, so we ended up filling the van with our whole lot, and a couple of neighbor kids and headed to Wasatch Elementary. Dalton and his two friends were quick to jump out of the van, and knew exactly where they were going. As an absolute afterthought, he said "I love you too", and was gone for the day. He has reported loving recess, where they play some game with all the girls chasing him the whole time, remembering his lunch number from last year, and getting to sit next to his best friend Devin. Pretty good start.

We then drove Joseph up to his first day of Kindergarten at Ensign Elementary. He was happy to be a little early with some time to play on the playground, but responded in like manner with all of the other kids to the sound of the bell by heading straight for the door. He found his name on a hook, and hung up his back pack. We quickly took one picture, and he ran right into his classroom giving us only a wave goodbye. I guess 2 years of pre-school takes the newness of Kindergarten away. He has reported loving the treasure box, understanding the classroom stoplight, and that some boy named Jacob didn't follow any of the rules. I think he's going to have a great year.

Now for Sophia and I... well I'm feeling more patient with her. We've been spending more time doing naked body dances, and loving being just girls. She gets to play with the neighbor girls each morning, and the house is so quiet for her nap that she sleeps even longer than before. I think I love school.

Just Sherrie and Doug

It has been years since Doug and I speant time together without the kids. As newlyweds we promised ourselves that we would never let an anniversary go by without cherishing one another and nurturing our relationship. That promise has gone unfulfilled since 2003 I think, it might actually be longer. This past weekend, however, we were able to entrust our 3 little ones to our friends the Klingonsmiths, and escape for what turned out to be almost a full 24 hours! We had the opportunity to head up to Midway and stay at a lovely cabin, for free, food included. No kids. I enjoyed waking in the night to, not a cry, or a knock, but to my own urge to watch the stars, and breathe the silent air. I love being in the peaceful out doors...just being. I loved talking to Doug during the afternoon and evening events, uninterupted. I loved that on the drive home we were just us, together, with no real stress or responsibility. We picked up our kids, and realized that they hadn't really even missed us, and the truth is that we hadn't really missed them either. I took this for a sign that we should do this more often. I love my children, they make us smile and laugh more than anything else in the world right now, but there is an appropriate balance between always being mom and dad, and just being Sherrie and Doug. We're still learning that appropriate balance, and from now on, I think it'll include more time together.

Claire?

I don't really know what happened, but it has been brought to my attention that Claire is not on my "Name the Girl" poll anymore. I tried to edit the poll with unsucessful results. If you really love the name Claire, post a comment right here, and I'll make note.