baby

Today the boys slept until nearly 8:30. They came and got in bed with me. Ivy climbed out of her crib to find us and crawled onto the bed. No one could stop giggling so we went downstairs and ate breakfast. I turned on the music. We danced while we cleaned the kitchen. We did scriptures, we did reading, we did homework. We went upstairs to dress.

It was a good morning, is what I'm saying.

Then it was time for Michael to catch his bus. Christofer came home, and we packed William and Ivy in the car to head for my ultrasound appointment.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I told Chris I didn't want to find out what we were having. I had no gender preference this pregnancy; all I wanted was another baby. I thought it was the perfect time to be surprised. Christofer, it turned out, was not keen on the idea. Really, I should have known. I tried and tried to talk him around, but when it comes to our babies Christofer prefers as few surprises as possible. Two years ago when I called to tell him Ivy was being induced a week earlier than planned, tomorrow as a matter of fact!, he was more stressed than thrilled. And this time he was adamant. I could be surprised all I wanted, but as for him, he was going to find out. Be prepared. All that. If I didn't want to know, he would be happy to not tell me.

This was an unnacceptable option, of course, for two reasons: 1. not telling me doesn't mean not taunting me, AND YOU KNOW YOU WOULD CHRISTOFER, and 2. I am far too curious. If Christofer knows something, I want to know, too.

So I decided I would just find out with him. I mean, it's not like I didn't want to know. I got excited about it. I got this kids excited about it. (I got William a little too excited about it, unfortunately; I think he found the whole thing very anti-climactic.) And there we were, on our way to the doctor, listening to William talk about how we're going to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl today, when Christofer cut in, "Nope. I don't think we'll find that out today, bud. But we'll still see pictures of the baby." I thought he was just teasing William, maybe me; it wasn't until I was laying on the table in the ultrasound room and the tech asked if we wanted to know the gender and Christofer turned and looked at me questioningly that I realized he was serious. He was leaving it up to me.

So we didn't find out. It was harder than I thought, while sitting there, to not look and not ask, but I chalk that up to the fact that I was expecting to find out today.

This baby is mystery for a little while longer. I know everything I need to: it is healthy and teeny and already very-much-loved.

home again

We just spent the most wonderful week in Hawaii with our kids, my parents and my brother's family. I would like to post a million pictures to help illustrate what a fantastic time we had, but I took approximately 10 pictures before my camera battery died and I realized that I had forgotten to pack my charger.
(On the other hand, that's the only thing I forgot to pack, so cheers for me!)

and now we're home again. If I had enough energy I'd post a picture of all the laundry waiting to be done, I think that would effectively show how I feel about the end of vacation. boo.

late

So here's something you missed while I was throwing-up feeling sorry for myself not blogging: Ivy turned two!


We went swimming in the afternoon, then came home and had hamburgers and "cake," which was really a pan of mix brownies because I am too lazy to make a big deal out of a two-year-old's birthday. Sorry, but there it is.

then she opened her favorite present:



A baby doll from Grandy! She loves this thing. And she calls it...Baby.



I call it Creepy Baby (That Blinks Too Much).



I will do a real birthday post soon about how great Ivy is at two. (Here's a preview: really great.)

Michael's first day of Kindergarten

He was so excited.











































We were at the bus stop very early. Luckily, so were some friends.



and...Finally! He's been looking forward to riding the bus ALL YEAR.











































He's going to love kindergarten, I really think so.