3 Months and Counting

At 3 months old, Little Gauge is doing lots! He can grab his hanging toys.

Gauge loves Lexi and is excited to interact with whoever talks to him.

  He smiles tons and laughs easily.  When he smiles his whole face looks lights up.  His eyes are still a beautiful bright blue color.  I think he is the most handsome little guy I've ever seen (I may be slightly biases, but still).    He is a good baby, always happy.  He sleeps in his crib.  Still isn't sleeping through the night, but he goes to sleep at 8 and wakes up at 3 to eat and is up at 6 for the day.  He loves to go out and about but is just as happy to play at home.  We feel so blessed to have him in our family.

I Love to See The Holy Temple... I Went There Yesterday

(I got this off this website.... http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/newportbeach/gallery/download.php?id=463)

Going to the temple is one of the best things in the world.  For some reason, it always takes a lot of planning and an unreasonable amount of effort to get myself there.  It seems like things always come up and make it so I postpone, or usually end up canceling my trip.  It is ridiculous that I have lived here in Southern California, a mere 30 minutes from the Newport Beach Temple, for 10 months and have only gone once. 

I am so grateful my mother-in-law took a whole day out of her busy schedule to watch my kiddos for a few hours so I could indulge in a much needed visit to the temple.  The morning was crazy and hectic and I thought about not going and cancelling my plans to go once again.  Boy am I glad I didn’t. 

There is nowhere else on Earth more peaceful then the temple.  As soon as I walk through the doors all the cares of the world vanish, time disappears, and for those few hours I get to experience pure peace and happiness.  I get to feel so close to the savior and to my ancestors who have passed away. 

I need to remember how the temple makes me feel and strive to go back more often.  The sacrifices I have to make to get there seem minute compared to the blessings I receive for going and the peace I feel while I am there.  I truly believe that if I make an effort to attend the temple more often I will be a better, more patient mom, wife, and person in general.  I am grateful for the temple and the sacred covenants I made there.  I am grateful I can go back to visit whenever I want and refresh my mind and remind myself of those covenants.  

 I am also appreciative of the answers to prayers I receive in the temple.  I went yesterday with a purpose.  I had a question in my heart that I wanted answered.  “How can I be a better mom?  What do I need to do in order to raise my kids so that they will be strong enough to overcome the mountain of adversities I am sure they will face in the upcoming years?”  I received answers.  Attend the temple more.  It is important for them to see me and Tyson going to the temple together often.  Read our scriptures together as a family every day, no matter what.  Even if it is just a few versus, it is more the consistence of it.  Enjoy my children more.  These moments are precious and the will slip away before I know it. 

(look at those cute kids!  I know I'm a little biased... but really, I can't help but grit my teeth when I see them!)

Baby Olivia

Last weekend I threw my friend Tatum a baby shower. Baby Olivia is scheduled to make her grand appearance around May 25th and we are all soo excited to meet this sweet little girl.  :) It was a lot of fun to get a group of girls together and "ooo" and "ahh" over all the cute little girl things! My how I miss the pink baby clothes :) She got some darling things. The food was good and I would say the party was a great success. It is the first baby shower I've ever done and I was a little nervous about the whole ordeal, but all turned out.

(Thanks Pinterest for the mantel idea!  It turned out cute)

(YUMMY YUMMY food! I ate way too much that day :) )

Lexi The Explorer

 

Lexi watches Dora more then I’d like to admit.  I always feel guilty plopping her in front of the TV, but let’s face it, how else would I get things done?  It’s not like she’s watching it is 24/7 or anything like that.  She watches for an hour in the morning while I work out, and usually an hour at some other point in the day.  Okay, I guess two hours out of her 12 hour day is quite a bit of TV.  Oh well. 

Dora is really educational and Lexi is learning a lot while watching.  (I’m justifying away my guilt).  Anyways, I’m not sure if it’s just because she watches Dora or because she is an explorer at heart, this little girl LOVES exploring.  I usually take her on an “adventure” at least once a week where we go exploring. 

It’s basically just a walk, but we bring a basket and collect “treasures.”  These treasures consist of things ranging from flowers, to twigs,  to pinecones, to old dog-chewed tennis balls, to coins, or whatever else catches her eye.  One day she even found a dried out, mold covered orange peel.  Yummy.  We bring her basket into the backyard when we get home and dump it out onto her little table to take inventory of her loot.  Then I get out the paper and the paint and let her paint a nature picture using her treasures as the paint brush.

A couple weeks ago a dear friend of mine invited us to go explore the river bed with her and her little boy.  The river bed is an awesome place full of all kinds of treasures.   Lexi had a blast and so did I.  I have a feeling we will be returning there often.  

(Lexi and her buddy Liam exploring in the dirt)

(Every Explorer needs a snack break! Lexi adores my friend Tatum)