computers are laaame.

tried to post some kid pictures. didn't work. i'm blaming this computer, because it isn't apple. i like apple.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

yesterday was our anniversary. two years! yay!
our plans kind of changed as we went, but we spent a very nice day together.
way back when i first started this blog, i posted a list of all the things i love about aaron. here's a little copy/paste, with a few additions.

Aaron is the most wonderful man.
He is kind. And handsome.
He is generous.
He is selfish.
He will ALWAYS think I am attractive, even at 3am after giving birth.
He would starve without me.
He has gorgeous blue eyes.
He made my daughter beautiful, and my son handsome.
He was the first and only person to make Chancellor laugh consistsntly.
He didn't change Alek's diaper for the first month of his life.
He proposed to me without a ring, because he knew I don't care about that.
He later on bought me an engagement ring, because he knows I care about that.
He taunts our daughter with food I won't let her have.
He's friggin tall.
He loves anything satin.
He talks, loudly, in movie theaters. Every time.
He's great at haggling, and is very proud of that fact.
He lets our baby sleep in bed with us, even though it means not as much cuddle time for us.
He puts WAY too much milk in macaroni and cheese.
He often claims to not know how to use the microwave.
He sleeps with a fan blowing on him, even when it's freezing.
He rubs my feet and back every day.
He likes to wear colorful things to church, not just black and white.
He's like the only person who reads my blog.
He can sing pretty dang well.
Even though he's a vegetarian, he loves tuna.
He tries his hardest to support any decision I feel strongly about.
He washes bottles for me every night, because he knows I'll fall asleep.
He never made me feel bad about having to pump my milk instead of natural breastfeeding.
He has lots of shoes, but not very many laces.
His opinions are strong, and he'll never shut up about them.
He likes his Levis.
He talks kinda loudly on a regular basis, but never realizes it.
He loves Mountain Dew, and Kool Aid.
He can't pass Hot Dog on a Stick without getting a sample-topia of frozen lemonade.
He hid his video game addiction from me until after we were married.
He is the best friend I've ever had, and the only man I could ever want to spend eternity with.

falafel failure

a few days ago i decided to make some falafel. we had garbanzo beans, and aaron had never tried it before. to start off, i overcooked my pita. the bottom was burned, and the top was crunchy. not completely horrible, but not good pita. i think from now on i'll just stick with store-bought.

when i first put the falafel in the oil it was working just fine. the patties held together nicely once everything was mixed.



but then, the longer they fried, the more they fell apart. i ended up with a big pile of oily, crispy falafel crumbles.




i put them on my overcooked pita, threw on some tomato and spinach, and they were...just fine.

Food Blog #2

More food! we got some zucchini. Then the pizza I made. Homemade crust, with sauce cheeses and green bell peppers. Then, it is my yummy plate of food. It was goooood, but the bottom of the crust could have been a little crunchier.

Food Blog?

I like to cook.
So I thought I might take pictures of food sometimes, and then put it on my blog.





These are just some black beans. because I love the way they look after you've soaked them, rinsed them, and put them in water, but before you cook them. Gorgeous.

Be nice to everyone, and you will have some friends.

One of the best lines from Yo Gabba Gabba. With a nice spotlight on DJ Lance. But, I guess it's pretty true, too.

The other night, I was singing Chancellor to sleep. If it takes her a little while to fall asleep, we go through quite a few songs. Eventually we got to the song "I'm Trying to be like Jesus" and I just had a really cool thought. Here are the lyrics.

I'm trying to be like Jesus
I'm following in his ways.
I'm trying to love as he did
In all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice
But I try to listen as the still small voice
whispers

Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught

I'm trying to love my neighbor
I'm learning to serve my friends
I watch for the day of gladness
When Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts
saying

Love one another as Jesus loves you
Try to show kindness in all that you do
Be gentle and living in deed and in thought
For these are the things Jesus taught.




I thought about how I want to teach my children to be nice. Showing kindness in all you do. Yeah! Why not?
It's just...so nice. OF COURSE you should be nice to everyone. Everyone! Just saying it gives me a good feeling. And I really want my children to grow up learning that. You certainly don't have to like everyone, but you should try your best to be nice.
I know, I'm one to talk...my sister knows how mean I am...
But it just feels so good to teach my children to be kind to everyone they meet. Especially once they get to school, and they learn how to make fun of people.

me and my girl

picture of me at 18 months. picture of chancellor at 18 months. she looks nothing like me.

I'm busy!

Stop complaining that I never post any blogs anymore, I have two kids! Maybe some pictures will shut you up... :)

Chance likes to make funny faces now. She pulls on her ears, her cheeks, pulls open her mouth, and puts her finger up her nose. You know it's supposed to be funny if she does a head tilt.

Chancellor, where are your teeth?

She LOVES to play with her little brother. Alek puts up with a lot. She hugs him and lays on hs face...and then he grabs her hair and never lets go.

He's a happy boy. This was right after bathtime. Both my kids love the water. He likes to play when I am drying him off. He laughs soo much!!

Here's Aaron before I cut his hair. Not bad, eh?

So, maybe that will tide you over until I have the time to write real blogs again.

Heart-healthy

According to our special pediaric cardiologist, this here little boy of mine has no more heart problems! No irregular heartbeat, no under-developed nerve. Just a big, healthy boy, who, at four months, weighs just about eighteen pounds! It is such a big relief to know that everything is okay. The doctor was showing us his test results and comparing them to his previous heartbeat. Showing us how it's all regular now. He said, "This goes on for ten pages..." He probably still has some irregularities when he sleeps, but nothing to worry about. We don't have to go back for another checkup until February! That's way nicer than every three months!

So here he is...my happy and healthy baby boy.

Motherhood

He is laughing here, I promise.

He fell asleep with his Papa.

Chancellor loves to dance. This was taken while she was dancing. I love how happy her precious little face looks!

He's getting so big and strong! Look at that neck control!

My little adventurer. She loves to explore outside. While I was pregnant with her, Aaron would tell her stories of her safari adventures with Papa. I think this hat fits the occasion nicely.

And it's still sometimes hard for me to believe I am a mother of two. I mean, I'm only 21. But it really is the best thing I've ever done. These kids are so much fun!

But of course there is a lot of negativity that comes with motherhood. I'm exhausted. My kids are YOUNG, so I feel like if I'm playing with one, I'm ignoring the other. And people are really good at making you feel like a bad mom. "Breastfeed always! Give them vitamins! Too many blankets! Hold them more! Don't hold them so much! You had an epidural?! Don't let them eat that. Let them eat anything. Take that diaper off sometimes. Talk to them like you think they're stupid." It's really hard not to let that stuff get to you. Magazines, doctors, family, friends, strangers. They all have something to say. But that is my absolute favorite thing about Aaron. No matter what I do, he backs me up. He thinks that I am the best mother ever. Any decision I make, he will not only support, but he'll think that it is the best thing I could possibly do.

I love my husband! And I love my kids!! Nothing could be better!

Easter!

She started out her Easter basket experience by taking out an orange egg. I filled each egg with a little piece of sugar cookie. She REALLY liked it.

She got a kazoo, and mr potato head, and a new glow worm thing. She is giving the glow worm a hug in this picture.

Then we saw some grandparents. Here is Aaron, Chancellor, and Aaron's dad, Grandpa Trick.

Grandma Jodi is in this picture, but she turned around so we could see Alek's face. I love how Aaron and Chancellor look in this picture.

It was simple and fun. Cookies and strawberries.

Blessing Day Weekend

My little baby boy was blessed by his father in church on Sunday. Grandma Sandy got him a new outfit to wear, and I think it is just adorable! Aaron, Uncle Aaron, Grandad, and Uncle Micah all gave him the blessing, and Bishop Duran. Alek didn't even cry. It was the most beautiful blessing I've ever heard. My new priesthood holder is getting the hang of things pretty nicely.



Aaron took this picture of hum and I on Sunday. I think it's a nice picture.




Uncle Micah and cousins Zadok and Odin, and Aunt Kim, all stayed at our house for the wekened. This is Chancellor playing outside in a pile of rocks with her only cousins. And of course the dogs. Zadok was climbing the hill of rocks, and saying that he can do some very tricky things now that he's 4 years old. Odin was playing with his bubbles as the dogs ate them as they floated in the air. Chancellor was wandering around picking up rocks.

grandma Sandy holding baby Alek on blessing day.

Grandma Jodi holding baby Alek on blessing day.

Me and my son in the mei tai Sally made me.

Chancellor and Papa hanging on the pull-up bars.

Sally and Odin eating some snacks.

Zadok posing with a muffin.

Micah and Odin on Odin's 2nd birthday (day after blessing day).

Action shot of all the kids beating up Uncle Aaron.

Odin with birthday cake and gummy worms hanging out of his mouth. Happy Birthday mr Odin!

It was such a nice weekend! Aaron's family came to church and then back to the house with us on Sunday. And Rachele and Nate came to visit later that day. It was just a day filled with family and love and laughter.

my babies

Chancellor is getting so big! She's 14 1/2 months old. I just tried to see if she wanted to pee on her new little toilet, but it really scared her. She asked to put her diaper back on. And she HATES having her diaper on. She loves watvhing Yo Gabba Gabba, because it and she are just so awesome. She dances all day long! Anytime she hears music, she starts dancing. And she's talking now, too! Here are the words she says well enough for me and Aaron to understand:
dog
mama
papa
grandpa
grandma
grandad
aaron
katie
alek
cat
horse
up
more
peek a boo
roll
cheese
cookies
bottle
diaper
poop
bath
that
gabba
baby
broccoli
prayer
amen




Aleksandr is 1 1/2 months old. He's such a good sleeper!!! He's getting big and chubby, and still had a nice round bald head. He sleeps. He eats. Sometimes he's awake for a little while. But mostly he just sleeps and grows. His cardiologist thinks he's okay. He said the nerve that slows the heart down is more mature than the nerve that speeds the heart up, and that this usually corrects itself before his first birthday. He sleeps with me at night, and is getting really good about not eating too much while I'm sleeping. Once I've fallen asleep, he eats twice and needs one diaper change. Other than that, it's peaceful sleeping for us both! He's getting better at smiling and every now and then he'll make eye contact with me. He likes to look at the blinds when thy're closed, nice contrasting stripes.




My babies are growing up so fast! It's really fun watching them learn and grow every day.

Too busy to be grateful??

Seriously. I am soooo busy. Two kids is A LOT! I like to kinda try to do as much parenting as I can without any help, to prepare myself for when I'm not surrounded by extra adults. Chancellor just will not let you ignore you. Ever. She is happy and loud and energetic and always wants you to play with her. Alek is still new, and cries and sleeps and needs to be held. When I'm lucky, I get two showers a week, but it's usually just one. I make food for Chance 3 times a day. I make food for me and Aaron three times a day. I literally MAKE FOOD for Alek, about 8 times a day. I try to clean, but find that my children always need me right when I start. I was going to start learning to belly dance via fitTV, but I only got to do a couple episodes before that routine was ruined. Every moment of every day is taking care of children.

I used to want to write. I guess I still do. Everybody wants to do something. Write, dance, sing, paint, run, whatever. Everyone wants to be really good at something. I wanted to be a really good screenwriter. It's often hard for me to realize that the thing I'm really good at is being a mom. For some reason motherhood tends to not fit into the same category as things people get paid for.

But most of all it's just hard to stay positive while I'm living with my parents. It really sucks having no way to support my family. I want my own home! It's not fun being the mother in a family of four, and having your own parents leave you chore lists and tell you to wash dishes. In MY house, it's okay to leave the dishes dirty for a while so I can have a little moment to play with my kids, or maybe even relax. It's really hard to remember that this isn't my house. It's hard to remember that I am sooo lucky to have parents this nice. And as much as I want to run my life the way I would if I weren't living with them, I need to keep remembering that they're being nice enough to support my family in our timeof need, and I should just go ahead and empty the dishwasher.

back in the day

Aaron had long, sometimes black, hair. I had short, sometimes blonde, hair. We had no babies. We had more money than we do now. We went on dates. We saw movies at the expensive theatre. We had little responsibility and nothing to do. it was REALLY FUN!!!

This is Aaron and I almost 3 years ago. His hair looks so girly! I think he looks prettier than me in this picture.

The rest of the pictures are from about 2 years ago. This one is Aaron playing his bass in his old room. Or wait, is that one just a regular guitar? Whatever it is, he was getting pretty good. Behind him, on the wall, is a picture I made for him with some inks. I made him a lot of pictures back then.

All I know about this one is that it's us, and on the sofa in my parents' living room.

It's hard to tell, but my hair was REALLY short. I would like it that color again. I enjoy my dark dark hair. Maybe somebody will buy me two boxes of hair dye someday. hint hint.

Anyway, just wanted to show some pictures I guess. Life sure was fun before kids came along. I think it might be fun to be childless again for just ONE day. But I think I'd miss them too much to ever really be able to do it. Oh well, i guess liking my kids isn't the worst thing in the world.

Sweet New Baby...

Alek came home from the hospital last Monday. He has been home with us for one week now, and it is so much fun! At night he sleeps with me on our sofa, and Chancellor sleeps with aaron on the bed. Someday I'd love to get a bigger bed so we can all fit on there together. (of course, a little bed just for Chancellor would be just fine, if she can ever sleep through the night).





Chancellor loves her little brother! That's a picture of her going up to give him a big, wet kiss. She kisses with a big gaping mouth, and her tongue sticking way out. She likes to bring him his bottles, and make a little pretend eating noise. She'll get his diapers for me. She'll yank his hat off and touch his head. She likes to find his eyes and nose, and poke them. She always tries to pick him up, but we make her settle for a hug. It's so cute watching her lay her big(comparatively) head down on his little body for hugs!





I think Aaron's having fun with his little boy. They'll be cute together as Alek grows up. Aaron picked out his name, Aleksandr, because he likes Russia so much. And Edward is Aaron's middle name, and his father's, and HIS father's. If it weren't for Alek, the Umberson name would die with Aaron, because there aren't any other boys. He's a very important little guy.

BABY BOY!!

I gave birth to my son on Thursday, January 28th at 1:39pm.

When I first arrived at the hospital they noticed that he had an arythmia(no idea how to spell it). So when he was born, I held him for a brief moment before they rushed him off to the NICU. As for now he is still there. His heart sometimes slows down, to 85 or so instead of the usual 130, and beats with an irregularity. However, it is still doing the job it needs to do. His heart just does it in its own slightly unusual way. Hopefully he will get to come home to us tomorrow or Tuesday.

He was 7 pounds 5 ounces, and 19 3/4inches long. He looks just like I did when I was a baby. He's got gorgeous dark blue eyes. Not very much hair, but what little there is is blond. His name is Aleksandr Edward Umberson, aka Alek, and I love him very much.

Yesterday he started having his eyes open more often. He likes to look around and practice moving his neck. He looks like a little turtle.

I can go visit him whenever I want, and stay as long as I want. I get to hold him and breastfeed him. Whenever I'm not with him I pump and freeze my breastmilk so I can bring it with me next time I go visit him. He likes eating the good stuff.

He's got the softest, puffiest cheeks I've ever seen! They're squishy and squeeze-able!

Best of luck to this little boy of mine. I know he'll be home with me soon.