31 Weeks

thirty-one weeks

(but our midwife says I am measuring 32 weeks, I'll take it!

   Mabel at 31 weeks and Baby Boy at 31 weeks.

I am starting to retain water like I did with Mabel. I notice it most in 

my face and my feet.  Good thing flip flop season is just about here 

because these hobbit feet don't squeeze into shoes very comfortably

any more! This baby starts his daily exercise routine around 8:30pm 

and it has been fun for Nate and Kelsey to see and feel him 

kickboxing in there! Besides the discomfort of just being large in general 

(and tired) I am feeling pretty good.  I bought my first

little boy outfits the other day, and also picked up some diapers

at Costco today (they sell newborn size now!)

 - it's feeling pretty real that we are going to 

have #2 here in two months! 

First Quarter Commentary

Mabel's communication skills, imagination, and creativity have really blossomed 

these past several months.  She makes me laugh everyday with the things 

she can remember, the words she tries to use, and her stories and phrases. 

We love her so much! 

She is a high energy, inquisitive, talkative, busy body and it has been so 

fun for me to watch her personality develop. 

I also need to sleep for 3 days straight.  

We didn't want to forget some of the funny things she has been saying

 so we started a quote jar and have been writing down our 

favorites over the past several months.

(DISCLAIMER: Some refer to Nate...specifically his body parts....but they 

were too funny not to include! Sorry Nate!)

12.04.13  (Telling me a story) "Once upon a time a little tiny penguin walked into the woods. 

The end."

12.09.13 For the first time she noticed her fingers looked and felt strange after getting out of the bathtub.  I told her that we call them pruney fingers and it happens sometimes when we stay in the water for a long time.  She got worried and tried to rub it off on her towel saying, 'Pruney fingers go away!!"

12.15.13 Nate was laying next to Mabel while she was falling asleep and she asked, "Daddy, sing me the temple wants pee pee song."  (she thinks inserting potty talk into random songs and sentences is pretty funny....I thought it didn't happen until 3rd grade!)

12.22.13 To Nate: "You're my best biggest daddy friend."

12.26.13 She loves for you to lay by her before bedtime and just "talk." She starts out by saying "So....." (and then she asks to talk about something that happened that day or week.  After the story ends she always says, "Talk more talking."

1.03.14 When she is playing with her doctor stuff and takes your temperature she looks at the thermometer and says its, "7, 8, 9 pounds." Every time.

1.04.14 Early morning:
Nate: "Bye Mabel, I love you.  I have to go to work."
Mabel: "AGAIN?!!"

1.08.14  When she wants to do something herself she says, "I GREAT DOING IT!" and "YEMME DO IT!"

She starting drawing faces and it's her
favorite thing to draw now. She draws them ALL the time and
I have started saving a few of my favorites.

1.12.14 (Sunday) Mabel ran up to Nate after sacrament meeting and said, "Mama feeling mad. I being a little stinker."

1.16.14 We were in the store and Mabel randomly lifted up my shirt saying she wanted to kiss baby brother.  After she kissed my belly I started to pull my shirt back down and she said, "No! Hug too!"

1.17.14 "Mama, your my best friend!"

1.18.14 Mabel was going pee first thing early in the morning when Nate woke up and came in.  We were all in the bathroom and she said, "Mama, daddy's penis is funny!"

1.21.14 Mabel said our family prayer this morning, "Bless my freckles, bless the baby, bless mama's back."  (my back is fine....???)

1.23.14 Mabel's eyes were crusty and goopy from her cold.  We were laying in her bed that night and she said, "Mama, why I have gunk in my eye?"

1.28.14 She woke up and was playing with two toys in her room (a monkey jack in the box, and this little house with locks and keys) and she was getting really frustrated that she couldn't figure out how to make them work.  I told her that they were both kind of hard toys that took a lot of practice to figure out.  She said, "Can you help me with these hard things?"

1.30.14  She calls Pirate's Booty, "Spider's Booty"

2.01.14 Laying next to her at bedtime, "Mama, you pet me and no stop?" (wanting me to rub her back)

2.03.14 At Grandpa's funeral, "Grandpa gets to have a long sleep in his treasure box."

2.03.14 In her nighttime prayers: "Thank you for the spirit.  Thank you Grandpa got to be in heaven."

2.07.14 Having quiet time in her bed and after about 30 minutes I hear her say really loud, "Trick or Treat mama! I have lots of caaaaaandy for you! Come in here and get your candy!"

2.19.14 We went to check out a dance class that she might go to this September and before we got out of the car she said, "Mom, I'm feeling a little bit nervous."

2.28.14 She has a hard time saying the letter "L" - While she was singing Baa Baa Black Sheep she said, "One for the Yittle boy who Yives down the Yane."

3.01.14 Mabel (while picking her nose): "Mama, I have a boogie in my nose."
            Me: "Did you get it out?"
            Mabel: "No, it's taking a nap with it's mama boogie."

The "FROZEN" soundtrack and movie are on repeat around here. 

I tried to get this without her knowing so please forgive the bumpy car

ride...we were on an awful road full of potholes and Nate 

was doing his best to navigate around them.

3.05.14  Playing with Aunt Kelsey downstairs and she pulled out the popping ball toy and says, "This toy is called balls go the weasel!"

3.07.14 Nana was sitting in the bathroom with Mabel while she was going potty.  Mabel leaned forward so the toilet lid hit her back and said, "Nana, I'm a turtle!"

3.08.14 Nate to Mabel:  "Hi cutie baby."
            Mabel to Nate:  "Hi cutie daddy."

3.09.14 At dinner: "Mama, your my best best best best best best best (43 times she said best, Nate counted) friend!!"

3.09.14 Nate trying to persuade Mabel to get her pajamas on for bed:
"No daddy, we have to get ready for the coronation!" (When Elsa gets crowned Queen in the movie Frozen.)

3.11.14 Aunt Kelsey was downstairs taking a bath with the door locked with Mabel came down and realized she couldn't open the door.  She put her mouth up to the crack and said, "Do you want to build a snowman?"

Everyday she asks to go outside and ride her tricycle.
She rides up to the mailbox and back and she can go pretty fast.
My baby is a big girl!

3.12.14 Mabel was crying because she tripped on her stool and she said, "Mama, I need a tissue for my raindrops." (her tears)

3.12.14 Mabel: "You come with me Aunt Kels?"
            Kelsey: "Where are we going?"
            Mabel: "To feel the Holy Spirit!"

3.13.14 We had been driving A LOT in the car today (mom to the airport, keys to daddy's office, drop off flyers, Target, TJ Max, Sweet Tomatoes) and by 8pm when we were driving home from returning our library books my brain was about to explode from the nonstop toddler talking in the car and I just needed some silence.  I said, "Mabel, sometimes we just sit in the car, look out the window, and think. So you need to look out the window and just think for awhile. (This was after she asked me for a toy, but then she realized it was too dark to see anything.)  Mabel, then looking out the window, said, "Hmmmmm.....I'm thinking.  Do you want to listen to the Let it Go song?"

3.15.14 On the way home from Wheeler Farm, "Mama, I'm a cow.  Can you milk me?"

3.15.14 To the tune of Book of Mormon stories, "Beet diggers, Beet diggers, Righteously." (We had driven past Jordan High School and their mascot is the beet diggers so Nate and I were discussing how interesting a beet digger is as a mascot.)

3.19.14 When I go into Mabel's room in the morning,
Mabel: "Hi Mama, is daddy here?"
Me:      "No, he had to go to work early."
Mabel:  "Again?!! But I LOVE HIM!"
Me:       "I know, I love him too."
Mabel:   "I want to go see Aunt Kels."
Me:       "Well, I don't think she is awake yet."
Mabel:   "What!? I have no friends!"

3.22.14  I don't like this celery, it's like seaweed.  (it was a stringy bite)

3.22.14 "Be careful with that daddy, it's fragile." (Nate was holding her little chicks in a nest that I always tell her to be careful with.)

3.26.14 Mabel's favorite game to play with Aunt Kelsey:
Mabel: "Hey Aunt Kels?"
Kelsey: "Hey Mabel?"
Mabel: "What?"
Over and over and over again.

3.29.14 We went to the zoo yesterday and this morning when Nate got out of the shower Mabel came into the bathroom and said, "Daddy, your penis looks kinda like an elephant trunk."

3.30.14 While trying to have Mabel focus on Jesus during our sacrament meeting I have recently been trying to have her look through some pictures of different scripture stories.  There was a picture of Jesus and she reached out her hand, I thought to touch his cheek or something, and instead she pretended to pinch his nose and she said, "Honk Honk, Beep Beep!"

~God Be With You Till We Meet Again~

My grandpa Naylor passed away last month on Wednesday, February 26th.

After a major heart attack about 6 years ago his health had been steadily

declining.  I know he is so happy to be free of that old body that couldn't see or hear very well, couldn't move around much, and was basically preventing his YOUNG soul from doing great things! I am sure the reunion he had in heaven
with his parents, family and old friends was a magnificent one! 

Grandpa was such a fun loving, charismatic, spiritual, intelligent,
and caring person.  He LOVED to talk and was always so interested in hearing

about what was happening our lives. He and my grandmother were married
for 63 years! My grandmother was the best nurse, friend, caregiver,
and wife to Grandpa - especially over these last few years....
we love her so much!

I collected photos from family members and Nate put together
a slideshow to play at the funeral - it turned out great and I thought I would
post some of the pictures of Grandpa's life through the years:

Because ya know, shooting a gun with
your shirt off looks so much cooler!

Grandma couldn't resist this looker!
So handsome and I love his bowtie.

My grandparents got married when she was 16 and he was 24,

can you believe that? Look at those cute lovebirds.

 

They moved from California to Kamas in 1994...

They loved Nate from day one and were so happy

that we got married!

Grandpa sportin' his new sleeve:

Best dressed couple don't you think?

We had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa

on our Hawaiian cruise.

When we brought Mabel home Grandma and Grandpa

came over to see her.  Grandpa couldn't walk up

the tall flight of stairs to our condo so we brought

Mabel down to him. 

Mabel is great grandchild #9 and loves playing up in Kamas.

(although she has never been a big fan of the drive...but she

has gotten soooooooo much better!)

Grandpa was a card shark and taught all of

his grandkids to play rummy.  Even though the last few

years he had a hard time seeing the cards he still loved

to play.  Whenever we would go to Kamas Grandpa

and I would take advantage of Mabel's naptime

and play a hand or two. 

(Which he would usually win!)

Mabel and I would try to stop and visit Grandma 

and Grandpa once a month at the dialysis center in 

Murray.  Grandpa had to go 3 times a week.

Getting his nails "painted" by Mabel:

I love this picture from last summer:

This is the last picture I have of me and Grandpa taken

a few months before he passed away.

-The Funeral-

Our entire family was able to make it for the funeral.

It was wonderful and crazy to have everyone together!

We were able to get some family photos taken:

Grandma and her three kids:

Koreen, the oldest is on the right, then 

Kristy the middle child on the left, and 

Kraig (my step-dad) in the middle.

Nate said some beautiful words at the grave dedication:

Mabel had a lot of questions...she eventually said that

Grandpa gets to have a long sleep in his treasure box. :)

My cousins Nick and Anthony were in their military uniforms

and gave Grandpa one final salute.

I have never been on the receiving end of food donated
by ward members for a funeral. It was such a blessing to be able to
come back to the church and have a warm meal that we didn't
have to prepare.  

Thank you so much to these sweet ladies who helped to

coordinate and plan the luncheon, it was much appreciated!

We love you Grandpa!