Taj

He would NOT stay out of this photoshoot I was doing for some friends, so I thought I would snap of picture of him and those darn balloons that kept floating in and out of the frame:)

Everyone told me 3's are harder than 2's and I'm here to confirm that is in fact 100% correct! Taj is getting more and more stubborn about doing things "his" way. We will ask him something and usually the response we get is "Uh-Uh," "No, es my tun (it's my turn)!", "Oh Gosh!" or "No, es zzzzis (no, it's this)." That last phrase he uses to try to change the subject. He'll also point his finger at us and ask "Spankin?", like "Do you want me to give you a spank?" We've found that time out gets far better results as this kid HATES to sit still. He absolutely has to have his hat and boots before he even steps outside. He wears them everywhere. His latest favorite animal noises to make are snake (for this he makes the "z" sound, only it sounds like a crappy transmission gearing down from overdrive), a turtle (he makes a sound like someone snorting in their sleep-don't have any idea where he got the idea that a turtle make that noise!), and a duck/chicken/anything flying fowl (for this he makes a VERY loud, gutteral "ew-WACK WACK!" which as Brannon put it, sounds more like a duck with it's throat in a dog's mouth). He loves making his baby "tister" smile and I can already tell that those two are going to be TROUBLE! She just laughs and smiles at him when he is being especially naughty! Lately he loves being outside in the backyard riding his bike, his big wheel, or his four wheeler. The other day he told me "Oh hey! Good job!" when I put on my shoes. I laughed and thought everyone could use some encouragement for doing the little things:) He is quite the little man these days and likes to act so grown up out "working in the yard" and "fixing" his bike and fourwheeler. I believe he has also adopted an imaginary friend because when I look at him through the window to check on him outside, he is quite often having an animated conversation with someone. He is everything I always wanted my little boy to be. I love that little stink so much!

In the Moment Mom

Lately I've tried to be an "In the Moment Mom." I know that I should be treasuring these early years with my children, but honestly sometimes I just like to have a pity party and let myself complain about how hard it is, how tired I am, how much energy I don't have, how I can't seem to get anything done, how the laundry basket self replenishes everyday (even on laundry day), how I'm never going to lose the last 15 lbs. of baby weight and inevitably have the forever spare tire and a stomach ache from trying to hold it in in public, etc., etc. Motherhood is definitely THE hardest job on this planet. Sometimes I think I'm not cutout for this big job and I feel like I'm not being a good enough mom. Only now do I realize that parents are perfect like I always thought when I was a kid. I hope my kids cut me some slack someday! Sorry Mom and Dad, I won't judge so harshly in the future when Dad picks his nose or sticks his keys in his ears or goes to bed before the elderly...or when Mom turns all Jeckyl/Hyde when it's cleaning day or that she has the most annoying ring tones/text/voice mail alerts on this planet or when she uses her "man voice" to yell at the dog in front of company. Only now do I realize what great parents I really had (and still have) while I was growing up. I hope that I can do as good a job raising our kids as they did raising me and my siblings.

SO, what am I doing about this "woe is me" cloud that hangs over me? I am just taking it one day at a time. I am trying to be more patient, spend better quality time, sing more songs, read more books, give more hugs and kisses, and be more patient with my husband at the end of the day. I know that most moms at the end of the day have had it, well at least I have and I pretty much have to scrape the bottom of the patience barrel. I know that I am not the only mother who sometimes wonders if she matters because the world does not recognize the efforts of a mother. All I can think when I feel that way is that my mother mattered to me, so I must matter to my kids. The other night I was having a particularly rough go and I was so tired that I couldn't bring myself to read my scriptures that night, so I settled for an Ensign article. As I was pondering how I shouldn't have done this or how perhaps I should have done that, or why I felt I wasn't measuring up as a mom or a wife, I suddenly felt a moment of peace from those thoughts and distinctly felt the Lord letting me know that I mattered to Him. I felt that all my efforts were not in vain. The moment was brief, but it was enough to know that the Lord is aware of me. I know that still have a lot of room for improvement in so many way, but it's so nice to know that our efforts, no matter how small they may be, are recognized by the most important person of all, our Heavenly Father.

At the end of the day when the kids are asleep and the house is quiet is when I realize how blessed I am to be a wife and a mom.

Pure Country

The picture above looks more like a sombrero! In the picture below, I asked him to smile and I think he gave me "The Laaaaaazeeee Eye" from Fievel Goes West.

I couldn't help but think of Willie Nelson's "Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys," tonight when I came home from the gym to find Taj had donned not only his boots, but his dad's cowboy hat. He's been wearing it nonstop going on about three hours now. He will probably have to go to bed with it tonight and lucky for me I am still sleeping in Taj's bed, so Brannon will have to wrestle Taj and the hat tonight, lucky him! While I was feeding Haiven, I had to laugh into my arm while Taj stared at his reflection in the mirror adjusting and readjusting the hat, pulling up his pant legs to check out his boots, lifting up his shirt to check out his abs, and then topping it off with some man faces before watching himself strut out of the room in the mirror. I think someone's been watching a little too much Fievel Goes West (and his daddy)!

Boots

Taj always wore me and Brannon's boots around, so I think he felt it was time he got some of his own!

The other night we decided it was time to get Taj some new shoes. His feet seriously grow by the season and I was surprised to find that his foot had grown 1 1/2 sizes since fall. Then I felt bad because I think we were squishing his feet into this shoes, poor boy! So we took him to Payless and let him pick out his own shoes. He picked out these black cowboy boots and I'm not even kidding when I say that he loves them so much he even wears them to bed, which of course didn't make his momma very happy since I had just washed the sheets! Everywhere we go he bends over and pulls his pant legs up and struts around bowlegged showing everyone his "boots." Lately he has also loved helping me cook dinner, so I let him pour things and stir things and cut things (only with his toy saw of course!). It's so fun doing more things with him as he gets older. I actually like letting him "help" me clean, do laundry, and cook. I'm hoping that someday he will help his wife do the same!

Momma's Girl

Taj wanted in on this photo-op, but took over for me immediately afterwards.




Let it be known that at the ripe age of 4 months, little miss Haivi has uttered her first word: "momma." I am so proud and for those of you who don't believe me I have proof on my phone and I definitely made sure to send it to everyone in my family just in case they ever forget! It's so cute when she says it because she has to warm up her mouth first and she looks like a nursing home patient trying to gum down a piece of fried chicken. Haivi is absolutely a momma's girl all around. She loves me to hold her and cries about every time I leave the room. She eats really well for me and whenever Brannon tries to feed her, she is such a little stinker for him. I know she adores her daddy and big brother though because she is always good for a smile for them. We absolutely adore our little Haivi Gravy!

Mr. Smarty Pants

He kind of looks like Ralphie off A Christmas Story, melts my heart!

Haha, love this pose. That is what I call high fashion!
He was making the funniest faces with these on because obviously the prescription is way too strong for him and he had trouble not only seeing, but walking.

Today Taj told me, "It my tun! (turn)" and he reached for my glasses. He's been trying to get at them for a few days now so I decided to let him try them on. He loved them so much I got out an old pair of glasses and let him wear those. It's a good thing I gave him my old ones too as it took less than 15 min. for him to crack one of the lenses. To play it safe, I just had Brannon remove the lenses. Of course now that the lenses are removed, he refuses to wear them because he thinks they are broken...ahhhh, whatever! Three-year-olds are soooo dramatic and demanding! It's just a good thing he's so cute or I don't know what I'd do with him!

The Best of Taj

I thought I erased all the flattering picture Taj took of me, but apparently I missed one, so I thought I would include it in his portfolio:)

Prop #1: His toy hammer, which he personally handed to her just to get a picture of her with it:)



Prop #2: The lid off a Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcake container.

Taj is way into taking pictures lately. He is only willing to pose for a picture if he can then turn around and take a picture of me or Haiven. I cringe when I let him hold my camera, but he is smart enough to at least know to put the strap around his neck just in case he does drop it, so it won't hit the floor. He likes to point the camera only a few inches away from your face and thinks it's hilarious to keep hitting the button only halfway down so that the flash keeps going off in your face-drives me nuts because I'm practically blind afterwards. He also likes to take a picture trying a different setting each time and he does this because I think that he likes just pushing buttons. I think I know what to get this boy for his next birthday! All of the above pictures were taken by Taj. As you can see he added props in a couple of them:) Yes I think my photographer sister (Marci Dawn Photography) may have some competition!