Once there was a Snowman!

It snowed the other morning. And like a good Daddy Jordan is, he took Claire out, bundled up in snow gear (thanks Annie!) and played in the powdery white. Claire thoroughly enjoyed herself of course :) But so did Daddy :) He made a GIANT snowman, and when I remarked how big it was, he said "You know it would've been bigger if I had more snow..." What a freak. All of the snow in our yard, front, back, and side, was used though!

And, yes, once there WAS a snowman, because by midday, it was gone!

Life With TWO

Here goes...

* I don't have enough hands, arms, and laps.
* Claire is driving me INSANE. Good thing she's so freaking cute, or I would have thrown her out the window a few weeks ago.
* No more naps for Mommy, less sleep than ever (who told Claire SHE is now supposed to wake up in the middle of the night? And at the SAME EXACT TIME as Anya, yeah...)
*In order to not become entirely insane, I just can't STOP for a second. It's go go go or my whole home will fall apart...
*Remember in college when you and your roommates' menstrual cycles fell into sync? That's how Anya and Claire's crying schedules are. Who do you run to first??
*I used to be late to things. Now, I'm EXCEPTIONALLY, EXCEEDINGLY, UNDOUBTEDLY late to things.
* How 'bout Claire deciding to NOT NAP anymore??? Yeah, I just lock her in her room for an hour while she doesn't go to sleep like she's supposed to and sits there playing, crying, whining, etc. HELP! (Although that night, she's a little angel to get to bed because she's so tired.)
* Who knew a toddler could be so dangerous around the house?
* Who knew a toddler, unattended, could naively threaten a baby's mortality 50 times a day? ("I love you, baby sister!" *smother,* *suffocate,* *squish*)
* This mom used to pride herself in the fact that she didn't unnecessarily raise her voice at her toddler very often. Ha ha haaaaaaaa..... yeah, that's a pathetic laugh. NOW, a good day is when I only yell at Claire a handful of times. It's really sad. (today, I only yelled at her ONCE...an accomplishment to be sure!!)
* I am on the verge of a breakdown almost every day.
* I can't even imagine having any kind of "job" with two kids at home.
* "Getting stuff done" is really based on the luck of the draw... I can't plan to do things and expect that 100% of the time, I will be able to accomplish the task. There are now too many unexpected variables, like kids waking up, not going to sleep, or my tiredness getting the best of me.
* Going out by myself with two kids. HA. Not my cup of tea, that's for sure. The amount of stops I can make is cut in half--like before, with Claire I could make two. Now, just one :) jk. Maybe a couple more, but really depends on my energy level. I can't even FATHOM having these two kids and being pregnant. Deadbeat mommy for sure!
* I now know why the verb "juggle" is used when talking about taking care of kids.

I should probably say a few "GOOD" things about it though:

* Two little cuties to cuddle instead of one.
* Seeing Claire with Anya is so fun. She is such a good big sister (when she's not trying to kill her on accident)
* I just love my kids, what can I say??

OK, so maybe I can't think of many amazing, easy, fun things about having two kids yet...or today... when things were so hard. Just keeping it real though. Any ADVICE would be entirely welcome!!

Pumpkin Pickin' Time

A week ago (or so) we went to the pumpkin patch with Jordan's family. It was so fun! My first time! There were a lot more people there than in these pictures, but what can I say? We are obsessed parents that only take pictures of Claire (and Anya will be getting more pictures soon).

She did it again...

Yep, another ER trip. This time, Claire tripped and hit her head on the rocking chair in her room.

It's funny because just that morning, Jordan took THIS picture:



She wasn't hurt at that point. She simply likes to play with her Dora band-aids. Was it a foreshadowing of things to come? The band-aid is on the exact eyebrow she sliced open!

Here we are at the ER.



That is the amazing taping job that Jordan did prior to going to the ER. We originally tried to just get into a pediatric plastic surgeon to avoid the expensive ER copay, but they were all in surgery. Oh well!

And here she is post-stitches. The doctor was awesome and did 5 really good stitches. We figured most doctors would do 3 and call it good, but he was meticulous. We shouldn't have to worry about scarring and her eyebrow hair not coming back in--that's what we worried about since it was right in the eyebrow.



It was so sad though because once they put her in the papoose (the like straight jacket thing) to stitch her up, it was sad...she, the whole time was a broken record of "I want Mommy" even though I was right there, stroking her head telling her that I was there. After they were done she was OK though.

When we got home (Jordan couldn't come, so we saw him after...my wonderful mother-in-law went with me, so that was great!) Jordan took a picture of her with the stitches:



OK Claire, no more trips to the ER!!! We're glad you survived it all...you were a brave little peanut!

The Latest Claireisms (and random photos)

Some funny stuff about Claire, and that Claire is doing lately. The good pictures are taken by Jordan, of course :)



* Claire likes to press on your nose and say "beep." Well, the other day, she picked up the picture of Jesus in her room and...beeped HIS nose. LOL Glad she's comfortable with her friend, Jesus.

* When Jordan puts Claire to bed, sometimes he says, "Now dream of elephants, monkeys, cupcakes, treats, bunnies, etc." listing things she likes so bed will be more...appealing. Anyway, the other day, Jordan was about ready to go to bed (he sleeps during the day, since he works graves) and told Claire, "Daddy's gonna go ni-night." Claire proceeded to say "ni-night, Daddy. Elephants, monkeys, cupcakes, treats, bunnies, etc. etc."



* Claire's already getting names mixed up, and she's not even 2 yet! She'll say "Hi Dada" to me, or "Hi Mama" to Grandma, or "I love you, Mama" to Jordan... She generally corrects herself by saying something like, "I love you Mama, Dada."

* Speaking of names, she think's Daddy's name is "Honey."

* And she knows all her nicknames. We experimented by saying "touch Claire." Then she'd touch chest. Then, "touch sweetie bug." She'd touch her chest. Then, "silly monkey," etc. etc.



* Claire likes to "pick on somebody" smaller than "her own size..." She likes to order around my inlaws' dog, Tess. I hear, "No, Tess!" and "shhh! Tess!" a lot :)

* How does Claire react to Anya? Well, she wants to nurse, and wants Jordan to do it too...that was a fun discussion. She will say "baby sister, drinkin', boobie" It's hilarious. She is pretty obsessed with my boobs lately. When I am nursing Anya though, lots of times, she wants "up" on my lap. Yeah, I need 2 laps now...



* Claire is very concerned with Anya. Whenever she hears Anya cry, she says "baby sister cryin'" and she wants to help her. She also loves to...maul her...I mean, hug and kiss "baby sister." We remind her to be soft with baby sister...a lot.

* Claire doesn't finish the -ing words in -ing. She says, "drinkin', sleepin', cryin'"

* I think I've only said "Milky time" once or twice, when preparing her milk before a nap or bed...and now she says it to me all the time.



* ONE TIME, in her nightly prayers, I prayed (on behalf of Claire)that she would remember that Jesus loves her. On two separate occasions, out of the blue, she has said, first to Jordan: Daddy. Jesus loves you. And to me: Mama. Jesus loves you.

* Thanks to our good friend, Jonathon (who taught her this), Claire now, very enthusiastically "SUSHI!!!" every time you ask her what she wants to eat, what she wants for dinner, breakfast, lunch, etc. It's hilarious!

* Claire cutely says "oopsie" when she falls or anything in her hands falls.

* Jordan loves this one. Claire recently has decided that "p's" are now "f's." She also seems to drop some of the consonants in the middle of certain words. Lately, for "pumpkin" Claire starts it with an F and drops the "ump" part. Yeah. It's bad. She also starts "pocket" with an F. I have told him to STOP asking her to say these words. Yeah. Falls on deaf ears!

Going through the phone photos...roundup

Yep, some fun things have happened. I snapped some photos on my phone. Usually they just STAY on my phone. Not today. Here are some highlights of the last couple of months:

Claire being cute at the park!


I went to temple square with my mom recently, and saw the new diorama of the temple! So cool!


"Little Orfan Claire"
Ok, so it's not ALL Jordan's fault dressing her--it was she who wanted to put his socks on as "shoes." But all of the other business--that's ALL him. Yep, this is a typical "Daddy dressed me" outfit.


Got new eyeshadow...MAC's "Humid." It's the best!

Claire and I went to Discovery Gateway with Uncle Jay, Lauren, and Quinn! It was so fun! Sorry, Lauren didn't really want to look at the camera...ever...


The "Car Seat Potato." Yep, that's Claire's favorite seat... She is watching Diego, I think.


One fine morning, Claire came to my bedside with her Dora undies on her head (Grandma Taylor bought her underwear when she was like a year old...yeah, potty training was/is still a little far out!) saying, "cute hat!"


Claire got her face painted (a dragonfly, if you can't tell) by Auntie Katie at a ward activity a few weeks ago. I just love this picture (Claire isn't smiling like a gremlin!)



The stork came by with a present :) One with chubby cheeks.

And this concludes the camera phone roundup. Yes, it's a camera phone, which is why some of the pictures look a little not very good quality...

We remembered our anniversary this year!

OK, so we haven't forgotten it...yet. But if any year was the year we would, it would be this one! SO glad Anya was born in September. There is WAY too much going on in October in both of our families!

Still it'll be Anya's bday, then the week after, our anniversary and my dad's bday, and the week after that, Jordan's bday and HIS dad's bday. Everyone will be getting the shaft, basically.

But anyway, this anniversary I prepared a masterpiece for Jordan:

Dear Honey:

It's no secret I like NERDS, but beTWIX me and you, there are ZERO nerds out there with the SYMPHONY of good looks, talent, and charm you have, that sends me on a love trip to MARS. You are my ALMOND JOY I always want to SKOR, and I always have a WHOPPER of a good time with you, as I SNICKER at your amazing "grandpa jokes" :) I guess that's proof that what I feel for you is a little THINGAMAJIG called love.

A masterpiece, right??? And super cheesy!!! I know, I'm pretty much a professional at these things...although Jordan thought I might have stretched it a bit with the "beTWIX." Whatever!

For our anniversary, we went out to dinner...WITH a coupon...and came home EARLY instead of going to an expensive movie...because I was tired...and we thought it would be too expensive to go to a movie...yeah, we definitely ARE an old married couple!!

Honey, thank you for 5 wonderful years together. And thank you for this :) I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

The Story...

Due date was October 9th.
My doctor said he'd induce on the 4th though. (much to my happiness...NOT fun 3rd tri)
I really didn't want to wait that long, and it seems as though neither did Anya :) Besides, last
doctors' visit I was dilated at a 3 and effaced at 70%.

On September 28th, I was done being pregnant, and willed myself into labor. OK, fine, I didn't, but I went into labor and was very happy about it!

Since I was positive for Strep B (same with Claire), it was important for me to go to the hospital sooner than later because they need at least 3-4 hours of intravenous antibiotic in me before I deliver.

So I called my doctor. They said to come in. At this point, I had started feeling contractions in the early afternoon at Target, with my sister in law, Camille, and Claire. Because we were walking around and everything, it's not like I was timing them.

So they had me come in. My doctor said he was looking for signs that I was actually contracting because I seemed kind of fine, but don't worry, they hooked me up to the machine and the contractions were coming at 4 minutes apart. But since I'm totally brave, awesome, and strong, I could handle it... :) I was now dilated at a 5 and effaced at almost 80%. My doctor said that my membranes were so thin that my water could break at any time...so it's not like I wanted to go home and pack! Who would want to clean up a water breakage?

So I was sent to labor and delivery and was set to go. Jordan came with Claire in a little while and then some family came over to keep me company. Finally, I got the epidural (I held off as long as I could, not that I was planning on going AL NATURALE or anything!!) But, the epidural unfortunately slowed down the contractions quite a bit...

Claire passed the time a bit with Diego, one of her faves, and playing with band-aids :)


She kept saying "Mama, sick." And she was actually wanting to kiss me all the time...which is rare because she usually, when asked for a kiss, says "NO" in a really cheeky way.

Around 8pm I was done with the round of antibiotics and ready to go, so they gave me pitosin and we just waited....and waited.....and waited....

Me being a dork. While waiting. Jordan was bored too.

Poor doctor had to come in at like 2am. But he had another patient that late anyway, so it was OK.

Finally, my contractions became a lot stronger and she was ready to come. My doctor was really really good at telling me "how" to push this time, and she came out in 4 pushes!! They still had to clip me a little...sucky. Oh well. A few stitches aren't so bad, I guess. Fortunately, Anya didn't have meconium like Claire did, and they gave her to me right after she came out! I didn't even know what to do about that...she was gooey :)

So I just kissed her. Claire had the meconium, so I didn't get to hold her right away while they cleaned her out.


I just love my little girl!! The first pictures.

I didn't cry this time with the birth. I don't know why, but we have definitely bonded with our little angel.

Yep, 8 lbs. 3 oz.! No WONDER I was so ornery during my 3rd trimester. Seriously. It was the worst (but still not as bad as the first trimester). I will stay up with Anya all night long every day for 3 months rather than repeat the 3rd tri... Claire was only 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was a few days late, so it was definitely different! But Anya seems more like she is a couple of weeks old, not necessarily chubby, just some nice chubby cheeks :)


Claire loves her too...so far :) She always wants to hold and kiss "baby sister, Anya."

So far, she is SUCH a good baby!! She sleeps ALL the time, nurses like a PRO, seriously. I don't even need to focus on the special hold to get her to latch on or anything! She also isn't gassy (yet, at least?) and hardly ever cries. Bliss! And so far, Claire has been great with her. She has her moments, but definitely doing pretty well...just the "normal" tantrums :) haha

And mommy loves her too :)



*The End*

Introducing: Anya Corinne Taylor

Here she is!!

2:30 a.m.
September 29
8 lbs. 3 oz.
18.5 inches long

More to come...