The Bug turned 2

Kate.  This girl is something else.  She is constantly amazing me with what she is capable of - from her advanced vocabulary to her imagination and independence.  She is non stop.

Kate at 2:

Favorite Song: "Let it Go" from Disney's Frozen
Favorite Movie: Frozen
Favorite Food: Noodles
Favorite Toy: Baby Dolls - all of them.  She has named the ones that she has: Lily, Caleb, Trisha, Maggie, and Clara.  All names of family.  She loves her family.
Best friend: CharLee
Favorite phrases: I love your.... (insert clothing, body part, etc.), I want to nuggle (snuggle) you!
Favorite past time: Anything Sam is doing :-)

     She is so funny to listen to. She picks up on phrases that she hears people say, and then uses them.  Sometimes appropriately and sometimes not so much.  Like the other day when she was sad and she walked around with her head hung down sadly, saying "It's all my fault."  Or the time she called me a "punk sauce".
      She gets along really well with Sam these days.  My heart is happy when I hear the two of them playing together and laughing.  They have their moments of all out brawling with each other, but I think that is part of growing up so close in age and trying to figure out how to be a toddler and share your space with another toddler!  The other day we were all sitting on the floor by Maggie, trying to make her laugh.  Sam looks over at Kate and says, "Oh Katey bug, I just love you."  She smiled and said, "I love you to, my Sam."  Seriously, these are the moments that a mom dreams about.

Kate will sing all day. Frozen is her favorite and she will sometimes run around pulling her hair out like Elsa taking her hair down during the song "Let it go".   She also loves to sing, "I'm so pretty" from Westside Story, "Twinkle Twinkle little star.... how I under what you are", "I am a child of God", and anything else I get stuck in her head.  I have a habit of singing out loud all day long.

My favorite moments with her are at night when I am putting her to bed, and she and I just lay there snuggling, talking.  She will sometimes pet my face and say to me, "Mom, I love ya hair!" Or "Mom, I love ya face!"  She is so complimentary, so sweet.

Katey Bug - I wouldn't trade one minute of the time I have had to spend with you over these past two years.  You have taught me more about patience than I ever thought I would learn.  I am learning to be a better mom because of you.  Love you bug.

Mornings.

At our house, someone has usually crawled in bed with us by 7. Everyday, I hear little footsteps, see tired eyes and bed hair as either Sam or Kate wanders in. If we are lucky, we will get snuggles for a few minutes. I love their scratchy voices as they have their first conversations, and I love how happy and sweet they are when they wake up. I also have to wonder what they dream about when I hear what they have to say first thing.

Yesterday, Sam crawled in bed and said to me, "Mom, I just said to myself- I need two pennies!" Then he held out his hand expectantly.

Kate loves to go and find Mike first thing- further evidence that he is her favorite.

And Maggie. Sweet, sweet Maggie. Her first moments in the morning are full of cooing, and smiling, and excited kicks. I love happy babies at the start of the day.

My three little loves

I have been trying to find a way to find joy in the day to day.  Too often, I get frustrated because things aren't moving along at the pace that I want them to or think that
they should.  I have noticed that in those moments I want to get things done quickly, my children have other plans.  They would rather play, or take their time getting dressed, or decide they need to go to the bathroom or don't want to go to the bathroom when really I KNOW they do.  It is in those moments that I become the mother that I promised myself I would never be.  The one threatens and yells.  This is not who I am.  This is not the mom my kids want.

I have been thinking about how to change.  I have decided I need to pray for Joy.  Joy in the day to day.  Joy in the independence my children are showing.  Joy in the silliness and the craziness and the mess that is made while memories are being made also.  I love my life, and I think I get so busy trying to keep everyone around me happy, that I forget that the only ones that really matter, truly matter in the end are the ones with the sticky fingers and the crumby messes following them.  I love these three.  They are my delight, and one of my New Year's Resolutions is to let them know how freaking amazing I think each of them are.

Sammy Wacky Brown....

He is starting to make up stories and is really quite the story teller.  The other day on the way to preschool he told me a long story about how he saved people from a one eyed two tailed monster.  As we pulled up to his school, he told me that he was going to tell the story to his teacher and that she would be so "impressed!".  He is saying really heartfelt prayers these days, and is very thoughtful.  He is kind and polite to strangers and adults at church.  He has only one volume still, and it is his trademark.  He really is a sweetheart and tells me reasons why he loves me.  He also tells me reasons why he doesn't love me - things like I don't give him candy and let him watch toonsies all day.  Oh well, you win some and you lose some.

Katy Bug....

This little girl is a force to be reckoned with.  She mimics almost everything her big brother does.  She wants to eat what he is eating, sing what he is singing, play with what he is playing with and go where he goes.  This is taking some getting used to for him, and more than half the time the two end up yelling at each other and fighting over who gets to talk or sing.  Fun.  She loves to sing and I love her mashup of ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  She loves all things pretty. I straighten my hair usually, but the other day I did it curly.  She climbed up in my lap, grabbed my cheeks with her little hands and said, "Mommy, your hair is pretty like a princess."  Melt my heart.  Needless to say, I have worn my hair curly for the past week just to make this little girl smile.  She is potty training herself at not even two.  I had surgery this last week so I am holding off on going gung ho with the potty training until life feels more normal.  She loves her baby sister and especially loves to help her roll over.  I will sometimes walk in the room to find her rolling Maggie all the way across the room. Oh, how I love her.

Maggie Moo....

Oh. My. Goodness.  This sweet little thing is all cheeks and yummy rolls. Seriously.  She is so short and squatty and I love it.  She is almost 6 months old and can roll over, laugh, and has started eating rice cereal.  The one thing she does NOT do is sleep through the night regularly.  That has been the hardest thing with this little angel.  And I say angel, because really, she is.  People ask me all the time if she ever cries.  She doesn't during the day, and only for a minute at night when she is awake.  But the girl thinks night time is party time.  She is loved totally and completely by her family, especially her big brother and sister.  She has started grabbing at things and chewing on everything - me included.  Not something I love, and I am hoping that little habit ends before she gets teeth and it gets even more painful for me!

I love these three little souls that I get to hang out with everyday.

Welcome 2014

I have been thinking about how quickly life changes.  In just a 4 and a half year span our little family of two has expanded to a family of five.  I have two children who are becoming more and more independent and bursting with personality, and a sweet little baby who smiles more and more every day.

2013 was a year full of adventures that I did not capture on a blog.  We went to St. George for our annual Pharmacy Convention vacation.  It was a perfect trip until puke fest 2013 commenced.  My dear sweet Kate started the party and soon 80% of the people with us were joining in. My apologies to all on Kate's behalf.

In July Mike was able to go to Lake Powell with Sam.  I stayed behind with Kate for some girl time while they went off and played.  I was too pregnant to be comfortable in the 100 + degree weather, and the idea of chasing after my fearless girl didn't sound appealing to me.  At all.  Katy bug and I had a great time, and I am truly thankful for the time we got to spend.  Sam got all brave at the lake and even tried to swim on his own, with a life jacket of course.

At the end of July, Mike took the kids to North Carolina for a Cheney family reunion.  I was left behind because I was too far along in my pregnancy to travel.  I spent those two and a half weeks preparing or baby sister to arrive, and reading many many books.  A few days before Mike got home, I started to feel increasingly uncomfortable and contractions, especially at night, were becoming more consistent and much stronger.  I prayed that Mike would make it home before our sweet baby decided it was time for her to make her appearance.  Mike got home on August 9th at 4 pm and I went into labor at 8:30 that night.

Maggie June Sorenson joined our family on August 10th, 2013 at 1:59 pm.  She came 3 and 1/2 weeks early, small but perfect.

Adjusting to three children was a little hard, and I found myself letting go of a lot of the commitments that I had attached myself to in order to save my sanity and hopefully be a more present and happy mother.

We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Sorensons this year, and Sam and Kate were able to spend time with their cousins.  Sam constantly talks about his Zitos, thinks Tyler and Shannon live in Chinatown, and still says Clara's name wrong (Clarla).  He is getting so big and telling all sorts of amazing stories.  Kate is his best friend/worst enemy.  She wants to do everything he does, says everything he says, cries the way he cries, and is constantly on the search for her Sammy when he is not within eye sight.  I look forward to seeing them grow up together and hopefully become close friends.

Maggie.  Oh my sweet Maggie.  She is a child all her own.  She looks like Sam most days, but then I look at her and think that she doesn't look like either of her siblings.  She is short and chubby, and loves to smile.  She started rolling over at 5 months, and only laughs when her little thighs are tickled.  She has a ready smile for everyone, and doesn't really like to sleep at night - much to my chagrin.

We rang in the New Year the way we do every year, with Martinelli's a house full of Sorensons and confetti all around.

There are times when I feel like it is all going by so fast, and I need to capture these moments before I forget.  I am grateful for where we are in our lives.  For our children being small, and innocent, and so genuine in their view of life. I am grateful for the marriage we have and that I can honestly say that I am still married to my best friend.  I am grateful for answered prayers and for the knowledge that God is real.

Here's hoping 2014 brings more realizations of life's goodness and happiness.

Though she be but little, she is fierce.

Oh my sweet little Katie Bug. Since the moment I met you, I knew you were a strong little thing. You had your mind made up and a big personality from the very beginning. You were my best little nurser- until you decided you didn't want to anymore. Sad day for your momma, but highly indicative of things to come with you. You started crawling at 4 months and walking at 11. You got your first teeth at 5 months and decided you would start getting into everything as soon as you realized you had the power to do so. You have become this goofy, independent, sweet, loving little soul. Watching you with your brother amazes me. At one, you already know how to tease, how to play, and recently as I've been watching your interactions- how to defend your territory. You are tough my little one. I love you so much and thank Heavenly Father for the light you bring to this home. Happy one year, bug.

Love,

Mom

Happy Birthday to Sam!

My little man turned two on August 5. He continues to amaze me with his little personality.  Actually, I should take that back.  There is nothing little about his personality - or his voice for that matter. The kid only has one volume - very loud. Sam loves life.  His infectious laugh is so easily invoked by so many things.  He is talking up a storm these days and I laugh every day at things he will say to me.  He loves his little sister, and I will often times catch him giving her hugs and kisses and telling her that he loves her in his sweet little voice.  It melts my heart.

Sam at 2:

Favorite songs: Popcorn popping on the Apricot Tree, "Of God" (I am a child of God), and "I know you" (the song from Sleeping Beauty)

Favorite food: hotdogs and french fries

Favorite toy: his teddy bear and legos

Favorite show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Scooby Doo

Favorite things to say: "insert name, where are you??", "I love you! so much!", "What are you DOING?!",
"See ya later, alligator"

Words he can't say quite right, but that we absolutley love: "Ronka" for Grandma, "nunny" for bunny, "toonsies" for cartoons, "mote" for remote

Sam is very polite and is really good at saying please and thank you.  Today, he wanted a popsicle and was being a little whiney because it was taking a little longer to get it than he wanted.  I said, "Sam, how do you ask nicely?" His response was, "Can I have a popsicle, honey?" I laughed out loud.  What a character.

Oh Sam, you crazy, sweet, loving, smart little boy - how we love you!

Little bit of this, little bit of that

I feel like summer is upon us already.  Looking at our calendar, I see most of our weekends are full.  We just spent the last weekend in St. George for Pharmacy Convention.  We stayed at a beautiful rental home that allowed us to all stay in the same place and play together for three days.  The last night, we stayed in a hotel, and it was so different in comparison.  I definitely prefer being able to mingle with everyone in the house.

We got a chance to meet up with our good friend Marci and her family at a splash park in downtown St. George.  Sam was a little hesitant of the water at first, but it didn't take long for him to jump right in.  In his clothes.  Marci's little guy Lincoln is adorable.  The little guy is fearless, and loved the water.

Lately, Sam has been such a cheeseball whenever he see's a camera.  He'll smile real big and yell, "CHEESE!"  I love it.  This is him showing off his new jammies and modeling the front pocket.  Seriously love this kid.

 A few weeks ago, our friend Jessie came out from Maine to visit us.  We took the opportunity to be touristy and went to all the places that we've never been here in Utah.  First, we went to Kennecott Copper Mines.  This tire is one of the tires of a tractor that hauls rock from the quarry. The tractor itself is two stories high. 

 Sam loves his cousins.  He thinks he's so big! He wants to do whatever they are doing.  Whenever he is with them, he just lights up and they love him too.  It's so fun to watch them play.

 At the Great Salt Lake with his dad.  I love this picture.  Sam loves Mike so much, it's obvious by the way he gets so excited whenever Mike gets home from work.

Here is our little miss in her blessing dress.  My sister Nellie made it for her, and I absolutley love it.  Kate looks like she's skeptical in this picture, but she loved it too.

On a funny note, Sam heard me say Mike's name the other day and for the next 30 minutes called him "Mike" instead of "daddy."  I had to giggle everytime he said it.  Don't worry, Mike got him saying "Trisha" too. 

Life is moving along out here in Vernal.  I love it.  I love that I get to hang out with my two kids all day.  I love that Sam is so happy and expressive.  I love that Kate is spending more and more time awake and happy.  I love getting to spend time as a family when Mike comes home.  Love it all.