Humble Pie Anyone?

I have grown to love being at home with my kids. I know that may sound bad
"grown to love",but I thought at first there is no way I am going to make it 12 weeks without going stir crazy. I will admit that I have felt not quite with-it a few days from lack of sleep but have finally started to get my groove down. In fact, I have starting feeling so confident I have been throwing out advice to random people, because obviously I am now a professional. For instance, the other day at a doctors office appointment, a perfectly kind, single slinger (one child mom)asked if it was hard handling 2 kids. I proudly piped up "oh I have 3". I felt inclined to continue this conversation with "first one is always the hardest" and gave her some words of encouragement. She must have been biting her tongue as she surveyed the scene going on around me. While telling her this little bit of wise wisdom I turned around just in time to thwart a near escape from the doctors office by child 2. A kindly older woman must have thought if a two year old wants to go out, let 'em out. I smiled at her as I grabbed Sydney and pulled her VERY GENTLY back into the office. I was now returning to my seat with my car seat strapped infant slung over my forearm, and dragging a two year old. The young lady was no longer making eye contact with me. I should have regarded this as she doesn't want any more advice, but NO I went on to tell her again that really by the time you hit number 3 its like a favorite old movie you just know whats going on without looking. At this point we finally get called back and I notice that at some point during the wait Sydney had managed to paste about 15 smiling face glitter stickers on the beautiful ornate fish tank in the waiting room. Normally I would have stopped and tried to peel them off but the pressure to get into the next waiting room is so intense. Its like a race to get all your stuff gathered up and make sure they know you heard your name. I had no choice but to continue on. I said my "good luck and congrats" to the woman I had met and went my merry way. The true TA-DAH in all this didn't occur until I got home and looked in the mirror. Apparently, Sydney also decorated chairs with smiley face glitter sticker cause I had 4 stuck to my butt. Humbled? YES, I was.

My powerball numbers- 0,2,9,27,32

If Utah had a lottery these are the numbers I would play. All of these numbers have been so lucky for me this year.

0-Harley's age, wonderful baby. Sleeps great, nurses well, and I am feeling 100% attached with this kid.

2-Not too hard to guess, this is Syndey's age. This happens to be my favorite kid age. They are energetic, talkative, and very loving.

9- Okay I am lame.. Kaleb as you know is now 9, which isn't my favorite age per say but does represent one my most favorite persons.

27- Good year for James, good year for me. He is now on his own up at the Tracon (no more training). Lots of relief all around for doing this and many blessings.

32- Great age to be. Old enough to not be totally ignorant and young enough to still feel totally ignorant but able to admit it with confidence.


I wanted to post some new pictures of the family but needed to have some sort of story line. I find my lack of sufficient interactions with the outside world is putting a damper on Creative Alesia. I will have to walk the aisles of Walmart or Target this next week and see if I can find something or someone interesting to write about.

Did I hear a niner in there?

KALEB JAY


9 birthdays down

Total recall- past 9

NEWBORN- Beautiful baby
1) Age 1- Learns to crawl, walk along furniture, loves water. Cutest brown eyes.
2) Age 2- crashed his first automobile (Hot Wheels Jeep), Favorite toys-Trains
3) Age 3- Potty trained but felt that coming inside to use the bathroom took too long so he was often caught doing his business in the backyard. Favorite toy- Still trains. Took him to see Thomas the train in Heber.
4) Age 4- Learned to ride a bike. One of my favorite memories was catching him outside with no pants on riding his bike down the sidewalk. I can't imagine what my neighbors thought! Favorite toy- Trains
5) Age 5- Lots of changes in Kaleb's life this year and he had to grow up too fast. One of my favorite things he would say "mom you are a purple flower" He was always such a sweet talker. He proclaimed himself a "lady killer" due to his suave factor.
6) Age 6- Kaleb got a sister, and all of a sudden he had someone to boss around. Favorites: Friends, Play station, bike, trampoline
7) Age 7- Kaleb likes school and this will be the last year he actually says this to me. Kaleb starts asking for a cell phone. The answer to that was "no"
8) Age 8- Kaleb likes his friends at school,but that's about it. He got student of the month for showing kindness to others. Our family dog was put to sleep, this was pretty hard for Kaleb since he considered Roz "his dog." He could spend all day making rivers in the garden area. He also has informed me he has several girlfriends. Kaleb asks again for a cell phone, still "no"
9) Age 9- Kaleb gets a brother,a cell phone, and loves soccer. Likes to tell a good tall-tail or AKA loves to see what he can get away with. We are working on what is lying and what is a "tall-tail".

Kaleb is one of the most compassionate, kind, and empathetic little boys I have ever been around. I am proud to be his mom.
Here are some pictures of birthday week the activities were; Fun center with a couple friends, Camp out that weekend,and Golden corral (his fave restaurant) and the annual surprise cake made by James.

Oh baby!

The baby is here! Its 5 am and I should be sleeping. I am tired, a little sore and extremely happy to "be done". Its poring rain outside and I wish I was at home snuggled up with my 14 pillows and husband ,of course he usually gets lost in the pillow pile but its nice to know he is somewhere in the bed.
Harley James Ipsen born May 21st at 9:30 am. It was as easy as a delivery gets, I would almost say pain-free. It only serves me right that afterwards something would have to worry me. Its just the way things work to keep balance in the world. I hope this isn't too premature to say but the doctors are thinking he 'just' has fluid in his lungs that hasn't been absorbed yet. He was on oxygen all day yesterday and started on antibiotics. All his levels looked great after 8 hours and this morning he was taken off O2. We are pretty sure he will be weaned off the IV today too. That is the update on the not-so-fun stuff.
There were 20 babies in the nursery with Harley this morning it was a maze of sweet little ones. Great hospital and staff plus they offer free Wi-Fi..yipee!

Favorite part of last 24 hours: Being able to wake James up and say "my water broke" it was straight out of a movie.

Worst Part: well obviously, having to see poor little baby hooked up to all those monitors.

Time to nap again. Update again later with more pictures

Just another day in paradise with the Bubonic plague

You probably will be thinking "another blog stating how great it is to be a mom, and how great their moms are". Well, today you are going to get something different. This is the DAY AFTER MOTHERS DAY blog and that opens the door to more than just a "typical" post. While all those above things are true (most days) I find there are holidays where kids don't want to act like they should, I don't feel like I should, and nothing seems go as it should. But like all days that have gone to the dogs sometimes you just have "eat whats in front of you" (quoted from a great blog artist).
Speaking of eating whats in front of you, we got a half-a-cow from James' Dad and 6 coolers later we filled our chest freezer to the top. We had the best tasting steak in the world last night for dinner. I would like to thank the Academy (James, Mark, Becky) for the wonderful gift of glorious red meat!



Now that I have your attention I would like to swing back to the actual Mothers Day events.

1) Slept in til 5 am *thank you chest cold*- Right, do I hear sounds of jealousy?? hmm... well lets keep going.

2) Had to miss church for the 3rd Sunday in a row thanks to the hacking cough.. grrr but I did get an applause from my 9 year old because of this. DOUBLE GRRR.

3) Officially over-did the nesting again, and got stuck between two beds while looking underneath for a baby item (boppy) that I had to have right then and there! Barely wiggled my way out of that predicament without calling for help.

4) 2 year olds favorite monkey's nose fell off yesterday, and another plastic surgery took place.

5) 9 year old hated me all day except for when he realized we weren't going to church. 3x grrr. This age is especially fun, cause you get eye-rolls with the crusty looks. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I really do love being a mom, as you can see from my current situation of "about to poppage" but there are those moments where you wish for a warm sunny secluded beach, with no noise, no dishes/cleaning to do, no beds to be made, with just the sound of waves, birds, wind and quiet thoughts.


But of course, those wishful thoughts are only reserved for the day after Mothers day. On Mothers day I want the exact opposite, who wouldn't?

Just to re-emphasize I do love being a mom, I wouldn't trade this time taking care of my little ones for anything. Also, I do appreciate my mom and all the phone calls that she takes from me
(750 minutes approximately a month).
HAPPY DAY AFTER MOTHERS DAY!

HAS IT REALLY BEEN 2 YEARS?

To my 2 year old

I never completely understood that saying that love is not divided but multiplied UNTIL.. I had sydney. Some of my favorite Sydney moments

1) Her monkey is her best friend. Usually dressed and diapered daily. Last night she claimed monkey had poopie... "EW, poopie" and he was cleaned and re-diapered. As you can imagine this little game gets expensive with the diapers. I usually have to fish out the "dirty" ones and put them back in the diaper stock. I think monkey is ready to start potty training this summer.




2) She pulls out all the clothes from her drawers at least once a day. This super fun game used to be just a random throw-everything-in-a-pile deal, but now it has turned into a meaningful, and very contemplative process for choosing what to wear. Things are not thrown in piles, but rather layed flat and held up to her (to make sure it fits). Hilarious




3) My new favorite words; EW, Disquesting,, heavy (in a deep,breathless voice), "I want a balloon", "Help me"
She uses these last couple phrases with her super sweet voice and adds either a "mommy or daddy to the beginning or end. Its very effective way of getting what she wants.



4) Going to bed, ride in the car or just coming to sit by me on the couch she must have the essentials; Balloon, blanket, monkey, baby monkey, & multiple books.





5) Her love of balloons is sometimes out of control. Right down to having to say good night and "tuck" balloon in at night. I just keep telling myself that, if all it takes is a balloon to make all the world seem right then, why not?





6) Her morning hugs and kisses brighten my day, and late night snuggles are something I crave. -please note: she usually won't kiss on the lips. Apparently Sydney and Pretty Woman have the same feelings about kissing on the lips "too personal". She usually will only give you the back or side of her head.





I feel so lucky to have this quirky, loving, curious little girl in my world.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY SYDNEY GRACE