My three little loves

I have been trying to find a way to find joy in the day to day.  Too often, I get frustrated because things aren't moving along at the pace that I want them to or think that
they should.  I have noticed that in those moments I want to get things done quickly, my children have other plans.  They would rather play, or take their time getting dressed, or decide they need to go to the bathroom or don't want to go to the bathroom when really I KNOW they do.  It is in those moments that I become the mother that I promised myself I would never be.  The one threatens and yells.  This is not who I am.  This is not the mom my kids want.

I have been thinking about how to change.  I have decided I need to pray for Joy.  Joy in the day to day.  Joy in the independence my children are showing.  Joy in the silliness and the craziness and the mess that is made while memories are being made also.  I love my life, and I think I get so busy trying to keep everyone around me happy, that I forget that the only ones that really matter, truly matter in the end are the ones with the sticky fingers and the crumby messes following them.  I love these three.  They are my delight, and one of my New Year's Resolutions is to let them know how freaking amazing I think each of them are.

Sammy Wacky Brown....

He is starting to make up stories and is really quite the story teller.  The other day on the way to preschool he told me a long story about how he saved people from a one eyed two tailed monster.  As we pulled up to his school, he told me that he was going to tell the story to his teacher and that she would be so "impressed!".  He is saying really heartfelt prayers these days, and is very thoughtful.  He is kind and polite to strangers and adults at church.  He has only one volume still, and it is his trademark.  He really is a sweetheart and tells me reasons why he loves me.  He also tells me reasons why he doesn't love me - things like I don't give him candy and let him watch toonsies all day.  Oh well, you win some and you lose some.

Katy Bug....

This little girl is a force to be reckoned with.  She mimics almost everything her big brother does.  She wants to eat what he is eating, sing what he is singing, play with what he is playing with and go where he goes.  This is taking some getting used to for him, and more than half the time the two end up yelling at each other and fighting over who gets to talk or sing.  Fun.  She loves to sing and I love her mashup of ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  She loves all things pretty. I straighten my hair usually, but the other day I did it curly.  She climbed up in my lap, grabbed my cheeks with her little hands and said, "Mommy, your hair is pretty like a princess."  Melt my heart.  Needless to say, I have worn my hair curly for the past week just to make this little girl smile.  She is potty training herself at not even two.  I had surgery this last week so I am holding off on going gung ho with the potty training until life feels more normal.  She loves her baby sister and especially loves to help her roll over.  I will sometimes walk in the room to find her rolling Maggie all the way across the room. Oh, how I love her.

Maggie Moo....

Oh. My. Goodness.  This sweet little thing is all cheeks and yummy rolls. Seriously.  She is so short and squatty and I love it.  She is almost 6 months old and can roll over, laugh, and has started eating rice cereal.  The one thing she does NOT do is sleep through the night regularly.  That has been the hardest thing with this little angel.  And I say angel, because really, she is.  People ask me all the time if she ever cries.  She doesn't during the day, and only for a minute at night when she is awake.  But the girl thinks night time is party time.  She is loved totally and completely by her family, especially her big brother and sister.  She has started grabbing at things and chewing on everything - me included.  Not something I love, and I am hoping that little habit ends before she gets teeth and it gets even more painful for me!

I love these three little souls that I get to hang out with everyday.

Welcome 2014

I have been thinking about how quickly life changes.  In just a 4 and a half year span our little family of two has expanded to a family of five.  I have two children who are becoming more and more independent and bursting with personality, and a sweet little baby who smiles more and more every day.

2013 was a year full of adventures that I did not capture on a blog.  We went to St. George for our annual Pharmacy Convention vacation.  It was a perfect trip until puke fest 2013 commenced.  My dear sweet Kate started the party and soon 80% of the people with us were joining in. My apologies to all on Kate's behalf.

In July Mike was able to go to Lake Powell with Sam.  I stayed behind with Kate for some girl time while they went off and played.  I was too pregnant to be comfortable in the 100 + degree weather, and the idea of chasing after my fearless girl didn't sound appealing to me.  At all.  Katy bug and I had a great time, and I am truly thankful for the time we got to spend.  Sam got all brave at the lake and even tried to swim on his own, with a life jacket of course.

At the end of July, Mike took the kids to North Carolina for a Cheney family reunion.  I was left behind because I was too far along in my pregnancy to travel.  I spent those two and a half weeks preparing or baby sister to arrive, and reading many many books.  A few days before Mike got home, I started to feel increasingly uncomfortable and contractions, especially at night, were becoming more consistent and much stronger.  I prayed that Mike would make it home before our sweet baby decided it was time for her to make her appearance.  Mike got home on August 9th at 4 pm and I went into labor at 8:30 that night.

Maggie June Sorenson joined our family on August 10th, 2013 at 1:59 pm.  She came 3 and 1/2 weeks early, small but perfect.

Adjusting to three children was a little hard, and I found myself letting go of a lot of the commitments that I had attached myself to in order to save my sanity and hopefully be a more present and happy mother.

We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Sorensons this year, and Sam and Kate were able to spend time with their cousins.  Sam constantly talks about his Zitos, thinks Tyler and Shannon live in Chinatown, and still says Clara's name wrong (Clarla).  He is getting so big and telling all sorts of amazing stories.  Kate is his best friend/worst enemy.  She wants to do everything he does, says everything he says, cries the way he cries, and is constantly on the search for her Sammy when he is not within eye sight.  I look forward to seeing them grow up together and hopefully become close friends.

Maggie.  Oh my sweet Maggie.  She is a child all her own.  She looks like Sam most days, but then I look at her and think that she doesn't look like either of her siblings.  She is short and chubby, and loves to smile.  She started rolling over at 5 months, and only laughs when her little thighs are tickled.  She has a ready smile for everyone, and doesn't really like to sleep at night - much to my chagrin.

We rang in the New Year the way we do every year, with Martinelli's a house full of Sorensons and confetti all around.

There are times when I feel like it is all going by so fast, and I need to capture these moments before I forget.  I am grateful for where we are in our lives.  For our children being small, and innocent, and so genuine in their view of life. I am grateful for the marriage we have and that I can honestly say that I am still married to my best friend.  I am grateful for answered prayers and for the knowledge that God is real.

Here's hoping 2014 brings more realizations of life's goodness and happiness.