Sugar and Spice...

... and everything nice--hopefully that's what our little girl will be made of. (And all the other essential things.)

It was confirmed last week that we are having a GIRL. We are excited, but I can't quite grasp it yet because all I know so far is boys. Pretty sure we have a solid name picked out, but I usually always change them at the last minute, so we aren't announcing anything yet. I really feel like I have put on the weight this time around, and the scale confirms my fears every time I go to an appointment. At least the fat is not selective--my butt has gotten equally as big as my belly, and there seems to be no stopping my growing bosom. The latter might be my least favorite thing about the whole process. My belly is measuring 3 weeks ahead because the placenta attached right in front (lucky me), but the baby's measurements are right on for a Dec. 14th due date. My iron levels were even lower than last time, so I am taking an iron supplement to help with the anemia that is probably causing my lack of energy and drive. I am so excited to be halfway through the pregnancy and am blessed to be so healthy. I got some ultrasound pics but do not have a scanner, so I will post pics of my boys and our outings in July later.

My baby is Growing

And when I say "baby" I am referring to my current two year old baby. Not because he acts like a baby, but because he has been my baby for the last 2 years and will continue to be my baby until December when the new baby comes. We still call him baby, even Tyson addresses him that way. But this last week was his birthday and he is now two! We decided just to have a simple party with just the four of us. Tanner loved every minute of it and he loved helping us sing happy birthday to him. A couple of balloons and two dart guns from the dollar store, and both my boys were happy as could be. How simple and great.

The birthday boy!

The baseball cake

Brothers and best friends

Fishing about a week ago.

So, what is Tanner like these days? He is becoming quite independent. He insists on doing everything that Tyson does. He likes to help say prayers, and usually can sit still and quiet for longer than his brother. He is a good helper when it is time to clean up. He loves animals and bugs. He is a good sleeper (what a blessing!) He likes to sing and run around at the same time.
His favorites include chocolate milk, TV, and all things sweet. No doubt he throws his share of fits but he is a joy the majority of the time and I am so glad he will be my little baby for a little bit longer.

HAPPY INDEPEDENCE DAY

It is something like this that makes me proud to be an American. If only there were more people willing to speak up and take a stand for the principles this nation was founded on.

In God We Trust.

If the link doesn't work, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQOCvthw-o

Haircuts

So there are a million things I could blog about, but I will choose to discuss my children. My boys are cutie pies, but it was that time of the month again for them to get hair cuts. Because their hair grows so fast, and because I am so frugal (aka cheap) I opt to cut their hair myself. I dread this task. Tanner does just fine. He has my dad's hair, thin and fine, so it doesn't take much to cut, and he thinks the clippers tickle. Also, as long as a movie is playing for him, he would sit still all night for me. He is a TV addict. Sad, but true. Tyson is a whole different story. I have never been able to cut his hair without him crying through the whole thing. It really is quite frustrating. The more he cries and moves around, the longer it takes. Then he will try to rub the hair off his face with the cape that is also covered in hair, getting it in his mouth, eyes, nose, etc. He has a thick head of white hair just like his daddy, so it gets all over, and he can't stand it on his neck itching him. By the time we are done, I am yelling my head off at him and he is wiping his tears with more hair all over his face and to top it off, a runny, snotty nose ends up all over his face from the crying. Arghhh! What to do with this child? I am tempted to take him to a salon, but know he would cry the whole time anyway, so I save myself the public embarrassment. Then, Anthony is always last because his takes the longest. He has the thickest hair I have ever seen and I refrain from cursing it now because I know later in life when we are old and gray, I will be so happy he still has a full head of hair. However, in my haste, I nicked the one side and then had to shorten both sides. It ended up looking like what he called a marine haircut. It is not horrible, but not how I usually do it. Luckily, his hair grows at a record pace, so it will be fine in a week. I think if this next baby is a girl, I will just let her hair grow down to her bum so I don't have to deal with more haircuts!

The beginning of the torture.

Doesn't he have such a hard life?

One baby shower, but no baby?

I've been in Beaver all week with my kids. This actually was quite relaxing because my boys love uncle Brian and became his constant companion all week, thus leaving me with some peace and quiet--well, it is never actually quiet at my mom's house. The purpose of my trip was two fold: one sister was due to have her baby, while we were throwing a baby shower for another sister who is due in 4 weeks. The shower turned out really well. We decided to do a fruit, veggie, and crackers and dip bar. It was so colorful and so yummy. I don't think I stopped eating all day.

This is my sister (on the left) that is due with a little girl in 4 weeks.

Some of the delicious food. This is my sister (and mom) that was due yesterday on the 13th. When we planned the shower, we thought for sure she would have had her baby by then and would be showing it off. Nope. The rest of us have all had our babies 1-3 weeks early. She is now officially past due. I was hoping she would have it sometime during last week while I was there, but the baby girl just isn't ready yet. So, no baby yet. Four of five pregnant Anderson girls. We really missed having Andrea there, but she helped by making all the cute invitations.

It was the father and sons camp out in Beaver, and I decided to let Tyson go with my dad and Brian. He was so excited, but Tanner was so so sad he couldn't go with the boys. Next year he will be old enough. Anyway, Tanner found this hunting beanie and had to wear it around the rest of the day. I didn't sleep very well because I had dreams that Tyson wandered off and got lost in the woods. No need to worry, they were home by 7 in the morning to do chores and Tyson came in as chipper as can be. The clothes I sent him in came back soaking wet and drenched in dirt and mud. I still haven't gotten the full story, except Tyson said he was trying to jump across a puddle and fell in. It must have been a big puddle, because his clothes were wet up to his chest. Then my dad thought his jacket was going to melt off of him because he stood so close to the fire. He had a great time! Maybe next year Anthony can go too.

The 4-1-1

So I have tried to post sooner, but life got in the way. Anytime I get to the end of the day without having the chance to jump on the computer, I feel like I have been productive. Now that it is out in the open, and the pregnancy rumors can rest in peace, I wanted to give a little update. I am now between 11-12 weeks. I was forced to announce earlier than I had planned for a few different reasons:

1. The info was starting to leak outside my family circle (don't worry, I'm not pointing fingers at anyone).
2. Some people knew we had been trying for awhile, and many people were starting to ask questions and speculate about my joining in the family pregnancy.
3. My body betrayed me early on in this pregnancy and I felt like I was already beginning to show. Though this may not be the case, I would much rather people know that I'm pregnant instead of just looking fat for no reason.

We are really excited, but at the same time, we don't feel like making a huge deal out of it because it is our third child, and I am the last of my sisters to be having a baby this year. We waited awhile to tell Tyson, and then he started telling our neighbors that he was going to have a little sister. We would be thrilled to have a girl, but most importantly, a healthy baby. I haven't been very sick...mostly at nights so I can just sleep it off. My main thing has been the exhaustion. I spend most of my energy keeping up with my boys, and the rest goes into growing this baby. I am due December 14th. Christmas will be so fun with the Anderson's this year with 5 babies! I was a little sad that there was a bigger gap between Tanner and this one, but I am really enjoying having two kids right now. They are in a fun stage where we are able to go and do many things.

Tyson is in swimming lessons right now and loving it. He is getting better all the time. Tanner just cries because he can't get in. My kids love the little water walk park on main street. Anything to do with water, they love. I am done babysitting and enjoying the freedom. We are looking forward to many BBq's and baseball games and otter pops this summer. Not to mention our annual migration to Beaver in July and part of August. Fun times, fun times.

There's No Place Like Home

Especially when you have a sick child. We spent last Wednesday through Saturday in Salt Lake for part business and part pleasure. We had planned on going to my bro-in-law's 40th B-day party, but Tanner came down with the chills on Thursday, and then had it coming out both ends by Saturday. He was just miserable, so I stayed with the kids while Anth went to the party. We did get to meet up with my best friend in Provo, and it was great catching up with her, as always. I also got my hair cut, again, and it is now the shortest I have ever had it. We also spent a night and day at Jeff and Vicki's and the kids had a great time playing with the cousins and I just relaxed. On Friday, Anthony dropped us off at temple square to kill some time while he made some business contacts. My little guys walked all over temple square and loved all the water features and flowers. On Sunday, we ventured south and stopped in Beaver for Sunday dinner and to see both sides of family. The White's have a huge pile of dirt in their back yard and the kids climbed it and played in it and rolled down it. Tanner decided he didn't want dirt in his diaper, so he stripped down to his birthday suit and rolled around in the dirt. I think Tanner is feeling better, although he still has some lagging diarrhea. It is definitely nice to be back home again, and everyone sleeps better in their own beds!

I am really enjoying my garden so far, however, my plants are getting big and it makes me nervous. Regardless of watering plenty, many of my plants are drying out. We are trying to decide if we need to add clay to the soil, or to shade it part of the day. I think the heat that comes off the cement is not helping any. So, we may not harvest much this year, but that's okay, because it is a good learning experience. It is a good thing seeds are dirt cheap. Here are a couple links for square foot gardening:

www.squarefootgardening.com and also http://frugaldad.com/2008/03/03/how-to-build-a-square-foot-garden/