Wheeler Farm

Lately, I have been doing some really fun things. Last week, the weather was absolutely beautiful, so I wanted to take full advantage and get out of the house while we still could. So Tuesday, my sister in law Ali and I headed to Wheeler Farm to look at the animals.

 Abby was in heaven. The only way I could get her to nap that day was to bribe her with the animals. The whole way there she kept talking about the different animals she was about to see. She saw a goat poop, and the rest of the week when you asked her if she saw animals she would say "ya. Goat was poopin." It really had quite the effect on her.

After seeing the animals, we decided to check out the little maze and pumpkin patch. Abby was a little scary in the maze running ahead while us ladies in strollers had to chase after her. Luckily, we were the only ones in it for the most part, and it was quite small seeing as it was made for little kids. Abby would get far ahead, and then stop and jump out at us to scare us. It was super cute, even though her running ahead of us did give me small panic attacks.

We made it to the end of the maze!

After the maze, we went to the pumpkin patch where there was another little small maze. I let Abby play around and we got some cute pictures, then we were able to pick out some pumpkins for us to take home. Daphne and Maddi were in heaven with all those pumpkins to play with.

I turned around and little cheeseface was just sitting there as if waiting for a picture. 

Trying to get a decent picture of the three of us.

Nailed it. Kinda.

Trying to get pictures of all three babies was fun. But I think them falling over turned out super cute. 

After we played there, Ali had to head home. I had to leave soon too, but since I paid for the tractor ride, I was going to take it. Luckily, there was a tractor waiting for us and as soon as we got on they were ready to go. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of it, but Abby had so much fun on it. Maddi had fun being lulled to sleep by the movement.

It was such a fun day! I am glad I was able to get out of the house, and I am extra glad Ali and cute little Daphne live so close so we can have play dates.

Up next: Liberty Park and our amazing weekend.

Two Months

(I am totally going back to this format for baby updates. My BFF8's way is just the best.)

Months: Two, already. I honestly don't know how time went so fast. Why does the last two months of pregnancy drag, but once the baby comes, time flies?

Weight: I stepped on the scale with her last week and she is about 12 pounds. She has her two month appointment in about 2 weeks, so we will see officially then.

Things she can do: She is smiling a lot, and starting to talk a little bit. And it is the sweetest thing in the world. Also, she is really good at pulling her binkie out of her mouth and then getting super mad when she is no longer sucking on it. She is a ton of fun during bath time. She is all full of kicks and won't sit still. I love it!!

How she is sleeping: She sleeps so good! During the day we have to fight it a little more, but it is totally worth it at night. She sleeps from between 10:30 to 11:00 and then doesn't wake up until about 5. Sometimes it has even been at 7. I can't complain about that.

How she is eating: She loves her milk. The chubbiness on her legs prove that fact.

What Maddi loves: She loves being cuddled, and she loves facing out to see everyone.

What Maddi hates: Being mauled by her big sister. Abby means well, but she just doesn't know what the term "be soft" means. And of course Maddi doesn't realize just how much her big sister loves her and practically laying on top of her is the only way she knows how to show it.

How mommy is doing: Two kids is a ton of work. Some days are harder than others, and on those days I wonder if I am really fit to be a mommy. Like seriously. But then my sweethearts do something to melt my heart and it makes the hard days all worth it.

What we are working on: More frequent tummy time, letting mommy clean without wanting to be held, and trying to get her eye better. She has a clogged tear duct and every time she wakes up she looks like a pirate. Any tips to get it to clear up faster?

What we are looking forward to: Halloween, even though we don't have costume ideas yet. And even though we won't have our most favorite party of the year. And even though daddy has a test that night too. Wait...are we looking forward to Halloween?

A New Name

About a week after she was born, I looked at Madalyn and knew I had made a mistake naming her Madalyn Lily. It just didn't feel right. Immediately, the thought that we should have stuck with our very first plan of naming her Madalyn Marie kept coming to my mind. So, Sam and I talked about it and finally about two weeks ago we decided to go ahead and change it. Today, we blessed our sweet baby as Madalyn Marie Tappana. And it just feels so right.

It was a wonderful day today. Sam gave Madalyn such a sweet blessing. I am so grateful  that I am married to a worthy priesthood holder, who loves me and his little girls so much.

Another amazing thing was Sam's dad was able to be in the circle this time too. It was so wonderful to see him up there in the circle with everyone else.

I wish I would have taken better pictures, but I did manage to get a few good ones.

This dress was worn by my sister, me, and Abby. I told Maddi she was not to poop on it. She listened. 

Pretty baby and sis. 

Already finding it's impossible to get a good picture of the 4 of us. 

It's her big day. She'll cry if she wants to.

The three babies. They are going to be best friends. 

So funny story. The blessing dress comes with booties. Last night, I could only find one bootie. I ripped my house apart, with no luck. This morning, after I said a desperate prayer, I opened a box of Abby's 12 month clothing and lo and behold there was the other bootie. I was SO excited. I put them on, we left to church, we got there and she only had one bootie on. Darnit! Luckily when I got home, I saw it on my couch, but I just left her barefoot the rest of the day. At least I will have the booties when my brother in law takes our more professional family blessing pictures next week.

Anyway...

Thank you to all the friends and family that came. We missed Tim and Ashley and Brigham and Kari, but we know you would have been there had it been possible. Madalyn sure is loved already!! 

Mommyhood

Oh that face of Abby's. How I love it.

Tuesday night was rough. Sweet little Abby decided to act like a two year old, and decided she didn't like little sister that night. Never before has such a fit of that magnitude happened in our house. When Sam got home from young mens, I just sorta threw in the towel and let him take over for a bit. I was done.

But then the aforementioned sweet Abbigale totally went from a terrible two year old to the sweetest two year old in the world as she sang "I Am A Child of God" and my heart melted. 99% of the time, she is still the sweetest little girl in the world.

I know some days are more challenging than others. In fact, the next day as she was acting up again and I was about to lose it thinking about how hard this whole mom of two business is for me, I got the thought in my head "find joy in your posterity." Sometimes I am too rigid. I want to get things done first, play second. If I am in the middle of cleaning something and my girls need attention, I will usually just hurry and finish, because it bothers me not to. However, I've noticed that is when Abby starts to act up. I need to focus on the joy more that parenthood brings to me, rather than the hardships. My girls are only going to be this young for such a short time. I can let things go and play more. Heaven knows it will make for happier children and thus, a happier mommy.

I love being a mommy. I love that I have two beautiful girls to call my own. Two girls that are already growing WAY too fast (like Abby acting like a teenager today and she rolled her eyes and sighed when I wouldn't give her a cookie, or Maddi who I swear is already starting to grow out of 3 month clothes because she is just so chubby.) and before I know it they will be teenagers.

So, I am focusing on my girls for a bit. The house can be cleaned later. (for some reason, I can't have a spotless house and happy girls.) My homework can be done during naps. For now, it's girl time. (after I finish this post that is.;))

Life Lately According to my Phone

 Life lately has been busy nights getting the girls ready for bed all by myself while Sam has been in class...and being successful at it might I add. Life has been Abby getting an ice cream cone for being a good girl during pictures, and getting a goatee from it. Its been having a homework date night and ordering food from our new favorite Chinese place, and Its been a cute curly mo-hawk on my cute little girl.

 Life's been Maddi's first Sunday at church and hanging out in the mothers lounge. It's been my beautiful baby girl smiling, and showing off her new owl jacket. Life has been loving every minute spent with my little family of 4.

 Life has been Abby not being able to get enough of her little sister. Poor Maddi.

 Life lately has been Abby dressing up in her hat and gloves, getting excited for winter. It's been her block tower that for some reason I found cool during library day. Life lately has been getting festive with our Halloween socks (and already losing one of Abby's. I am so mad!) and It's been my new cute Fox sweater. What does the fox say?

 Life has been a very naughty toddler running down the street when we got home, thus being put in time out. It's been that same naughty toddler refusing to nap, and then zonking out later on my lap. And it's been all naughty-ness forgotten when I came out of the bathroom to find an Abby Wonder playing her piano. What a goofy girl I have! And life has been me not being able to get enough of this baby face of Maddi's. 

 Life lately has been dressing my girls up in their cute Halloween attire. It's been visiting the cold mountains to look at leaves between conference sessions. Life has been a fun girls night at Arctic Circle and then Gardner Village, and it's been Maddi's new swaddling contraption that Aunt Ali and baby Daphne are letting us borrow. 

And, life has been keeping herself entertained during conference by jumping on my tramp. It's been the whole family enjoying the Conference Muddy Buddies, that I took later to my in laws so I wouldn't eat them today and now I am about it. And, life has been cuddling Maddi in my robe, because my cool bff8 taught me that trick.