a beautiful mess

In my Early Childhood training in college, we were constantly taught that childhood was about the process, not the result. This is really hard for me. It's hard to find "joy in the journey" and easy to get bogged down by the constant mis-fires of parenting. At the end of the day usually all I can see or think about is what I didn't get accomplished.
The last few weeks have been particularly challenging. We've all taken turns being sick. I get stuck in the house for days at a time, and it shows. The house is a mess. We are all restless and irritable. I'm exhausted. As my Mom says, "I'm up to my armpits in alligators."

Today I was really feeling it. And then I remembered something I heard, from someone who really knows. I've read and heard this article numerous times and consciously tried to store it in my scattered brain for days like today:

"If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likely hood you have occasionally felt the pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn't appreciate that time of your life as much as you should have.... If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware

that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface,

the toys scattered about the house,

the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will - to your surprise- miss them profoundly."

{Finding Joy in the Journey, Thomas S. Monson. Ensign, November 2008}

I've spent too much time worrying about what I missed during the day, that I really missed it. Yeah, my house is still a mess. The laundry is still waiting to be done. And the kids are still sick. But...Bailey learned to tie her shoes today. Benson learned to successfully clear his dishes off the table without breaking or throwing them. And Brynley said "muh" (more) and "zdd" (slide) purposely, for the first time.

And that made it worth it all.

{and this post is to remind me}

To Day I Feule Sik

Bailey left this message on her easel last night. I found it when I tiptoed into her room late at night to put away laundry. It was too cute not to post.

Being sick is miserable. Poor thing.

Notice the rosy, feverish cheeks? Notice she's wearing a coat over her fleece jammies because she keeps getting the chills? She's been under the weather for a few days. I think it's the flu. ugh.

the birthday boy

A few days ago (March 1), Benson turned THREE!

B @ 3:

*LOVES all things "Junior" (Junior is what he calls ALL race cars) and cars

* 33 lbs, and 3 ft tall

* Likes to pretend he's a "Baby Jaguar"

*Loves to snuggle

*Loves to stick his tongue out when pictures are taken.

*Still carries a Bee (binky) and Ah-Ahs (monkey lovey) everywhere.

*Speaks in full, complex sentences

*Sleeps in a big-boy bed

*Loves to play outside

*Loves to run, jump and climb on anything

*Worships "Bub" (Bailey) and Dad

*Finds Brynley incredibly pesky

*Likes to help Mom cook

*Goes through about 10 napkins per meal, because he doesn't like food on his hands/mouth.

*Eats everything. All day long.
*Believes that Mom's kiss fixes everything.

Benson had two days of celebrating...due to Dad having school on Monday nights. So...on Monday, he opened a few of his presents

...like his Trio Blocks and "Birthday Monsters" book from Guh and Popf L. Along with some new "juniors" and a racing ramp from Mom and Dad, and a "Big Junior" from the Sisters.

We also went to lunch with Dad, and then to Chick-fil-A in the evening to play.

Then on Tuesday...

Benson had his cake and party.

And he opened even more presents...

{Like:}
*Backpack, binoculars, and clothes from Guh/Papa W.

*Big Blue Junior and clothes from the Stewarts

*More Big Juniors from Gavin and Laynie

*R/C car, potty, and undies from Mom and Dad

{which he thought was hysterical}

*More clothes and books from Guh/Popf L.

*Target Card from Aunt Kate and Brody (to buy MORE Juniors)

He love his cake I made so much, he tried to make the cars drive on the track when I wasn't looking.

{it was a hair raising birthday}

the growing goat

I've been meaning for weeks to write a post about how much our Little Goat is growing and changing.

But life happens.

First Benson got really sick with a bad chest cold/cough. And then, Brynley got pneumonia. She has been one sick little goat for the last week.

Although the medicine is helping her body heal (VERY SLOWLY), the side effects are nasty and makes for one sad/fussy/cranky baby. So between breathing treatments and diaper explosions, I haven't had time for much of anything. I'm lucky if I get a shower. And I'm exhausted from worry. Thankfully we have great family that helps. Dinners, babysitting, freezer meals and visits have saved my sanity this past week.

So here's what I was going post about originally:

Right after Guh and Popf left Brynnie finally (at 14 MONTHS! YIKES!) started pulling up to a stand. Within a day, she was cruisin' along the furniture. Her new skills open up a whole new world for her. And her siblings. For some reason, Brynnie is much more fun to play with now that she stands. Maybe she seems like more of a "human" as Bailey says. She's also become a bigger threat to Benson.

oooh...look what I can do now!

Just yesterday she stood solo, and has done several times since!

Her most favorite thing to do is ride her pony that Santa brought her. She will sit on it and

''rock out" to the music, or cruise all around the room. She's very good and very fast. Just like in her walker.

Some of the other notable accomplishments/changes:

*She's up to 19lbs! (oh-so-little still!) She's gained 2lbs in 2 months. The goat milk is helping 'bulk up' and grow.

*She's also sleeping much better now that we've eliminated cows milk and soy from her diet. Both of which she is allergic/sensitive to. It's a challenge, but worth it. She gets excited when I say "goat" because she knows it means a bottle is coming.

*She has outgrown her jumperoo and exersaucer. While she still fits in them, now that she can stand up and walk around she has no interest in playing in them. I guess at almost 15 months she used them much longer than most.

Hopefully soon I will have a post about her walking. Maybe by 18months she'll do it? My sweet little slow-poke.