Pregnant AND Homeless :)

Hi family and friends! Just a quick update -- we ARE still alive! I apologize for being a lame blogger lately, but let's be honest -- we have been CRAZY!!! The Parade of Homes is almost over (whew!) and we have been bouncing from house to house living with different family members as all of our furniture is currently at the Parade Home. (Tried the air mattress at our house and wasn't loving it! :)) Getting the house ready for the parade was definitely an adventure, but I am SO happy it is over with! Hopefully you all had a chance to see it - I think all of our hard work and team work paid off! I love it... I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone that helped us during our crazy week - Lisannie and Mom were UNBELIEVEABLE and Kate totally took my kids overnight! BIG deal no matter what, but she gets extra points because she has three of her own -- Five kids under Five? She deserves a medal! :)Trish and Jesse full on picked up giant rugs and art and drove in the rain to deliver them! Who does that? There are too many people to name, but I have Thank Yous coming for all of my amazing helpers. Friends and family dropped everything to rescue me and help - From the bottom of my heart -- THANK YOU!
The kids are doing great in "vacation mode" - it is hard to keep a schedule when you aren't at your own home and they don't have their own space. I am so glad that it is summer and that we have realitively no strict timelines to deal with just yet. Things feel totally wild, but no complaints - we have so much to be grateful for.
More importantly, we have had a lot happening with my sweet sister-in-law Shelby, who is four weeks ahead of me pregnant. She started leaking amniotic fluid and is on bedrest. You can read all about her and our nephew Baby Boston at their blog -- . Their little family is amazing and we are praying for them everyday! Boston is a miracle in the making and we have so much faith that he will make it here!
Thank you for all of your love and support. I promise that we will be up and going again soon... OR if not soon - as soon as I can! Loves to all... xxoo

Dear Diary,

These are just a few of Bella's latest... Isn't she cute?

(You can barely see it, but there is a baby next to Cole in the picture.)


(Reads: Dere Diri, Im rili ixsid obawt the baby in moms bely. The End.)
(Translation: Dear Diary, I'm really excited about the baby in Mom's belly. The End.)

Cowboy Coley

Cole is obsessed with horses. He LOVES them! For Cole's birthday gift from my older brother Chad and his little family, Chad brought some horses up to McKay's parents home for Coley to ride. He was in heaven. Chad couldn't have picked a more amazing gift, it was really thoughtful and a ton of work! THANK YOU CHAD!!! It ended up being an afternoon of fun for everyone - kids and adults alike. After all the kids had a ride - some of the adults wanted a turn too! I think that we all left there wanting our own horses and just thinking we could all be cowboys if we wanted to! :)
Since that day, Cole has told us over and over that he wants to ride the horse that Chad gave him for his birthday! Ha! He doesn't totally grasp that it was just a ride - how funny is that?!



ps... Again - camera phone pictures... Not the best:)

Gum anyone?

Mac took the kids up to see the new house yesterday. Cole and Bella helped themselves to Daddy's gum on the way up. They wandered around the house for a bit then loaded back up in the car. Cole reached for the gum again...

Mac: "Hey -- you already had some!"
Cole: "I need some more!"
Mac: "Where did it go? Did you swallow it?"
Cole: "No I spit it out. Sorry Dad, it's in the office."

Ha! I think he is so used to the construction phase - a.k.a. crap everywhere - that he didn't think spitting his gum on the floor is that big of a deal. Gross! :)

Happy Birthday Cole!

Coley turned three on April 25th. Can you believe how grown up he is?! This year - things finally clicked. He sang (and still sings) happy birthday to himself. He announced to everyone that it was his birthday everywhere we went. He picked out his Power Ranger cake all by himself. He had a special day with Daddy - Mac took him golfing, to lunch and the dino museum. He was spoiled by our families and received mostly clothes from everyone. I thought it was so cute that he was just as interested in the clothes as the toys. He genuinely appreciates everything - it is super cute.
He is my baby (for now) and I am so emotional at his getting older. His tender personality absolutely melts my heart. He is incredibly sweet and I can't get enough of him. He is all boy -- loves guns and cowboys, swords and pirates, power rangers and ninja turtles. A huge relief considering in the beginning, he only had girly toys to keep him busy. He asks almost everyday if he can wear his cowboy boots and I have taken to hiding them to avoid the drama! :) I have let him wear them to the store occasionally, but I prefer 'only at home' instead. He is very particular about funny little things - like heaven forbid you should ever sit in HIS stool, his blanket has to be perfectly spread on top of him every night before bed and he WILL wake me in the middle of the night to fix it again should it get out of place, he is very picky about which sippy I offer him out of the cupboard, and his shoes must be tied in a double knot! His little quirks are endearing. He loves to have his haircut - thank you Kookie Cutters in Draper - and tells me all the time, "Mom, my hair is falling! I need a haircut!" (When it won't stand up for his usual faux-hawk.) He adores Bella and follows her everywhere. They are sweet little friends and so protective of each other. Cole has learned to pray by himself and his little voice just couldn't be any cuter. He never forgets to bless each of us. He is so excited for the new baby and asks "Mom, if it's a boy - can he sleep in my bed?" I just love him so much and am overwhelmed with pride that he is mine. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

SPRING BREAK '08

So I know I am a little behind, but catching up takes time! Bella is only in Kindergarten, but she was totally into Spring Break this year. She would wake up everyday and ask me "Mom, what are we going to do today that is really fun and exciting?" No pressure, right? :) Poor girl had to put up with a week full of meetings and appointments for the house - definitely not that fun and exciting. I did manage to get us up to the zoo on the one day of nice weather that week though. Bree, Gavin, and Ayva came with us and we all had a great time!
*Disclaimer -- camera phone photos! :)

SICK OF BEING SICK!!!

I am SO over this whole morning sickness thing. It would be one thing if it was only in the morning... But NO... All day? Ugh.... McKay says that I am complaining less so I must be feeling better. Rather, the truth is that I am just starting to accept it as part of my current "normal" life. And hey - I am tired of hearing myself complain! Ha! :)
The kids are so funny about it. Bella is ready to dis-include me from all family functions and activities because in her words "She's STILL sick." Today was a prized day as we all (Cole, Bella and I) took a nap! My kids are way beyond the napping stage so it is a rare treat when they fall asleep in the car and transfer to the house still zonked. So grateful for those times! I got a whole two hours - YAY! Cole woke up and was hollering at me from his bed in the next room.

Cole: "Mom?! Mom?!"
Me: "Yes?"
Cole: "Where are you? Are you in you bed?"
Me: "Yes."
Cole: "Mom - it is NOT night time! Yook (look -can't say his Ls just yet) outside."
Me: "I know Coley. Mommy just doesn't feel good. My tummy is sick."
Cole: "Mooooommmm! Get up!" (And in the most annoyed tone you can imagine...) "Get some food!"

He thinks he has it all figured out. Hee hee... He is so cute. I feel bad that he is getting annoyed - believe me, if I could change it I would! I have all sorts of new found sympathy for the mothers that get so sick during pregnancy. I have always felt bad for you, but now I have true empathy. Not sure how you do it over and over again.... I know that they say you forget, but fat chance I will! Yuck! You ladies are amazing... Mom, Kate, Shelb and Becky - you are my heroes! Thanks so much for your loving phone calls and all the offers to help. I have the sweetest friends and family. Loves to all...

Mommy's Little Helper...

Bella is so grown up... This weekend had me in tears - I am so grateful for her little personality!
I have been feeling super nauseated and sick this pregnancy, but rarely throw up. Unfortunately on Sunday - it actually came up! UGH! I was in bed trying to muster the energy to get up for my kids when I overheard Bella in the kitchen. She was completely taking care of Coley solo. She made him toast for breakfast and even managed to mix up some chocolate milk for the two of them. They were watching a movie on my laptop when I finally made it out to see them.
I laid on the floor or the couch most of the day with Bella catering to my every need. Ice water, toast for mommy, tissues and pillows and blankets. She brought me a special snack - a banana and Special K Bar on a paper plate. She even brushed my hair - which I am sure was looking super scary in order to prompt such a favor. :) She kept asking me "Can I get anything else for you Mom? Can I do something for you?" And when I would thank her - her reply was "No Problem!" She was even my amazing helper when Cole thought it would be fun to shove 20 million pounds of TP down the toilet, flush it and flood the bathroom. SO fun!
Needless to say, I am so grateful for her and her sweet willingness to be my special helper. She couldn't be more excited for the baby - and I couldn't be more excited to have her help! I love her so much and am so grateful she is mine...

My Little Fashonista...

I came out of the bedroom one day after getting ready and Bella proceeded to check me out from head to toe....

Bella: "Whoa! You look cute!"
Me: "Thanks honey..."
Bella: "You have so many more clothes than me!" (Imagine it in a valley girl sing song voice.)
Me: "What? Um yeah... I am the Mom. When you are the mom - you can have more clothes than your daughter."
Bella: "Hmph."

A few minutes later...
Bella: "Mom, you might not like this, but how about we share clothes when I get older?"

She isn't even six and already wants to be in my closet and in my clothes! How did she just come out like that? She is such a girly girl and loves all the things I do. Now if I could just persuade her to wear something other than her favorite outfit - a white tee-shirt and jeans - everyday. Argh!

BIG EXPECTATIONS!

I know... I know... I have fallen off the blogging wagon yet again! But it is just my crazy life -- I have yet to find a way to balance it all! I have decided that it is just because I have such BIG expectations... We are currently building a home and have BIG expectations for how it will all come together. We are working with the strictest of deadlines and literally have something to choose or pick out every single day. No pressure right? Super fun process with toddlers in tow. My kids have come to dread the words "appointment" and "meeting." And I am planning the quarterly Enrichment activity for our ward. You know how I LOVE parties and of course just have BIG expectations for how it will turn out. Balloons and Cake? Killer combo if you ask me! :) Not to mention the most heavenly breadsticks from Jules Bettinson. AMAZING! Then I am trying to progress as an aerobics instructor. BIG expectations to live up to... And all the while - I am going to get BIG because I am expecting! Surprise! We are adding another to the Christensen Family Chaos. We are thrilled! And I am tired...
I am going to be better... Promise!