Grace's 2 year checkup!!

Grace had her 2 year checkup on the 24th. She is 26 pounds and 35 1/2 inches long. I have not had the chance to weight and measure Gwen in comparison, but I hope to do that when we stop in Pittsburgh to visit our family. Her fever had finally broken (after 2 days of it being really high) and she was feeling much better. It was just a viral thing (not strep throat, which she was being treated for just in case) and we know that because Gwen came down with a fever the next day (the 25th) and just got over it, and Grace's nose started to run pretty bad. So, just a cold. She is doing really well though and is ahead developmentally. Weight wise she is average for her age and very tall for her age. All in all she's doing really well.

My husband is a Graduate!!

Robbie is finally done with school!! Hooray!! It's all so exciting. My parents flew in to Salt Lake on Tuesday drove our moving truck up to us, then went to Wyoming to visit my sister. Wednesday I had to take Grace to the doctor cause she had a high fever (103) and Robbie's parents came up. Thursday we spent the whole day finishing most of the packing in the house and packing up the truck before graduation. During all this we still found time to meet up with friends and spend some much appreciated time with them before we moved.

Finally graduation came around. We didn't get to see Robbie walk in to the commencement but we saw him and waved and he waved back. He looked so happy and handsome in his graduation gown. The commencement was about an hour long with multiple speakers and songs. The choir was the best part...they sang so beautifully, you could really feel the spirit.

After commencement was over we separated into different colleges (College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, College of Business, College of Family and Child Development, etc.) for the actual handing out of diplomas. They separated because there were almost 1500 graduates this semester which I guess is the most for the summer semester graduating classes ever. Of those only about 500 were married and of those 500 about 50 were couples graduating together. I was very pround of him and I know that he's glad that it is all over and done with. We went home after graduation to celebrate because my kids were screaming and my brother and sister couldn't get them to calm down. We spent a lot of the night packing for the trip, cleaning a bit, and packing up things we found here and there.

What a wonderful husband I have!! He did so much while in school so I could stay at home with the kids. He worked so hard and did so well in school and I am so proud of him. Congratulations Robbie!!

Moving!!

We are moving in less than a week!! How crazy is that? I only have a few more days to do everything that I want to before we leave. I've been trying to find time to make a few things before we go that will be beneficial for our trip: car seat strap covers (which I just have to sew together), neck pillows so the girls don't have problems sleeping in the car, and a wet bag which is pretty much fabric on the outside and vinyl on the inside so if one of the girls has a blowout or pukes everywhere (Gwen-plums and grapes baby food on the move out here) I have a bag I can stick them in without getting it everywhere!! My sister Melissa is visiting right now (hip hip hooray!! extra help!!) and she has volunteered to do the neck pillows and wet bag as long as I help her out. I am hoping to sit down and work on them on Monday.

I have been packing as much as possible too. The girls room is completly packed. All I have to do is pack their stuff in a suitcase for the trip, put their bedroom toys into their toy box for the move and dismantle their beds. Our room is done except for Robbie's stuff (which he still needs) and my computer. And our living room is done except for a few movies to take on the trip, the toy box, and a few small odds and ends that I have saved to fit into tiny spots. We are getting some paper plates, bowls, cups and silverware on Monday so I will be able to pack the kitchen as well. I am going to sit down tomorrow and make a list of things we need till we move and things we'll need on the trip.

Yesterday our ward had a big yard sale that we participated in. Missy and I sat outside from 7:45 until close to noon and did really well. The only bad part is I have lobster arms...I was in such a rush that I forgot to put sunscreen on. So now I can't wear a few of my shirts thanks to the awesome farmers tan I have...oh, and I have a tan line across one of my calves from wearing my capris instead of my shorts. So, again, shorts only in the house. When we go out, have to wear the capris.

Yesterday my Grandpa & Grandma Sessions and my cousin Amanda came up from St. George to see us one last time before we move. It was so great to see them!! We haven't seen them in a year so it was really nice to have that time to visit and for the girls to spend time with them again. They had never met Georgia, and since we couldn't go down there due to school and work and packing they decided to come up here to visit. Gwen was friendly and outgoing right off the bat (go figure) but Gracie had to warm up to them for a little while. Once she did though it was great. They loved playing with them and showing them their toys. When Gracie got her birthday card from them Gwen was upset that she didn't get something too, so my Grandpa gave her a dollar. He said it was the best dollar he ever spent because Gwen walked around singing "I got a dollar...I got a dollar...I got a dollar" over and over again for the longest time. She carried it with her when we went out to eat and when we went to get ice cream and continued to tell people "I got a dollar." First thing this morning too..."Where's my dollar? I got a dollar!" The girls were upset when they realized that my grandparents were not coming back over to the house. Gracie kept asking where grandpa and grandma were and has already asked me a few times this morning. Gwen too has been looking for them and keeps telling me that they are coming over and not going home. They both cried when I explained to them this morning that they were going home and not coming over again. They had so much fun with them and love them so much. They loved hanging out with Amanda too...Gwen had a blast taking pictures with her phone and both girls wanted to sit with her when she came over and not their Uncle Matt. Hopefully it will not be a long time before we can visit them again....thanks so much for coming to see us again!!

Last Sunday at church...packing a little bit every day...trying to find time for the girls to get together with their friends one last time...oh the joys of moving!! Thanks to all who have offered to help us out...we will be calling to take you up on those offers this week!!

6 Months Old!!

Wow...I cannot believe that Georgia will be 6 months old tomorrow. It sure has gone by fast. I took her in for her 6 month check up today and she is doing great!! She's right where she is supposed to be developmentally and growing well. She is 15 pounds 10 ounces now and 25 1/2 inches long. She is getting so close to moving up to 6-9 month clothes. I actually hope she lasts until the end of the summer in 3-6 because I only have a few summer outfits in 6-9 months. She still has her ear splitting smile and is such a happy baby. She is finally eating cereal like a pro and I can't wait until we get back to Vermont to start feeding her fruits and veggies. I'm still debating about starting juice with her before we leave (just giving it to her with her morning cereal) so we'll see. She is still growling at everything, rolling all over the place, turning around in circles on her stomach to face a different direction, blowing raspberries (as often as she growls...a lot!!) and sitting up supported. She's still wobbly when we let her sit up on her own, but she'll get the hang of it. She's been imitating a lot of sounds lately too...ba's, da's and ma's so when she starts getting vocal she actually sounds like she's talking. She's also trying to figure out the whole crawling thing. She loves to watch her sisters play, and her favorite toys are balls, but it gets her so frustrated when she can't chase after her sisters or the balls. I know she'll get the hang of it. Her other favorite toy right now is her jumper. She just loves that thing...all of the girls have. Boy she's getting so big!!

Gwen and Grace are doing so good too (well, we are all getting over colds, but other than that, good stuff!). Gwen will officially be 3 1/2 on Sunday the 12th...one day after Georgia turns 6 months old. Crazy that Georgia couldn't wait until her due date and had to come so close to Gwen's birthday (Gwen is January 12th, Georgia's January 11th). She is getting so excited about the idea of going to preschool in the fall. We are starting to look into preschools so that we will have two different schools picked out so we will be prepared for where ever we live (where ever Robbie finds a job...close to Essex-my parents-or close to Rutland-Rob's parents-.) She loves being around other people and other kids. She has a shirt that says social butterfly on it and boy is she ever. We went to a ward party at the end of last month and she "flitted" around to every spot to talk to different people in our ward. Oh, and she does something called the "Wiggle Wiggle" dance now. After using the potty, she will take a long piece of toilet paper, put it behind her back up against her bottom, put one end in one hand and the other in the other hand and wiggle her bum back and forth to wipe it off. And yes, she came up with the name "Wiggle Wiggle Dance." What a goof.

Gracie will be turning 2 on the 26th...crazy!! I look at her and it seems like she should be older than 2 because of her size and development. She is learning by leaps and bounds, and the saying around here has become "monkey see, monkey do" because Grace copies everything that Gwen does. She is, and probably always will be, my most cuddly and loving child. Kisses and hugs all the time. Whenever someone gets hurt, and even if they are crying hard (and especially if she caused the hurt) she will tell them "is all wight." Such a funny girl. She loves nursery, loves her friends, and loves swimming in our little kiddy pool. She pretends to be Super Grace all the time and still climbs around like a monkey. I will definately do a post just for her and her birthday when we finally celebrate it.

Rob and I are doing all right, besides the colds. Robbie actually ended up getting a sinus infection and had to be put on antibiotics for it, poor guy. On the plus side he only has 9 days (counting graduation) of school left (13 total days counting weekends)!!!!! We are moving the day after graduation so it might be a little while until I post about that (and about Grace's birthday...we will be on the road!) but we are so excited. Especially Rob...he's been going to school for so long...the entire 4 1/2 years we've been married plus 1 1/2 years before we got married is how long he's been in college/doing internships. 6 years of college...enough to drive anyone crazy. He bought his cap and gown this week along with announcements and we went to grad night together. It's getting so close!!

And moving is getting so close!! We are still moving back to Vermont to stay with our parents because we still have not been able to get a job (isn't it beautiful? Hiked to the top of a trail back home and took some pics) . Robbie looks online at multiple different websites every day and has turned in (or applied for) way more than 120 resumes for so many different jobs, but no luck so far. It's hard to have to move across country not knowing if in a couple months we will have to move back out here, but I guess this is what we need to do. President Clark (the president of BYU-I) told a story during his talk on grad night about a woman who came up to him during a vacation with his family and knowing who he was, told him that she had been worried about her son in YM because his youth leaders were more like kids than adults. She said she prayed so much over that and eventually two young men from BYU-I moved into their ward and became leaders in the Young Men's organization. She said everything changed, and that they were an answer to her prayers. He then told us that we may be going where we are because we will be an answer to someone else's prayers. So there's that to think about. We've also thought about something that someone told us-that the place we need to be in doesn't have a job open right now and we may just have to wait a month or two until there is an opening and we will get that job because that's where we need to be. We've also thought about the fact that we may be moving home to spend time with all the family we haven't seen in 2 1/2 years before we get a job somewhere far off where we once again will not be able to go home for more than 2 years. So, a lot to think about. Just taking it day by day...hoping, praying, having faith and knowing that the Lord knows what is best for us and that moving back home for a while may be something we really need to do. I've watched the blessings that have come into our lives when we just follow what the Lord would have us do without murmuring or complaining or overly worrying about it and He has blessed us so much in the short time we've been married. I know he will again.

So I have been thinking a lot about our kids lately (due to the fact that I have felt strongly the past few weeks that there are members-yes, members-of our family waiting to join us, but no worries...we are not pregnant and we know it's not time yet). As I was thinking about how fast we got pregnant with Georgia and how she came 1 1/2 weeks early, a thought popped into my head. If we had stayed true to what we had told everyone when we had Grace, and we had waited until Robbie graduated to have another baby, we would have missed out on having Georgia because he doesn't have a job and we can't have another baby without him having a job. I always kind of wondered why she came so fast and why she came when she did and I now have the answer. I am so glad that between my husband and constant prayers to my Heavenly Father I was assured that I could handle a third child and that it was the right thing to do. I could have missed out on such a sweet spirit becoming a part of our family, and I am so glad she is here. I love her and my other girls to death.

Well, now that I have rambled on about my thoughts and feelings, I had best go. My kids are being stinkers for their daddy. We will continue to keep everyone updated as it gets closer to graduation if anything happens. Thanks to all those who have come to our apartment for a goodbye visit or have welcomed us into their homes for a goodbye visit-we loved seeing you and hope that it won't be years before we see you again. To all those that are coming for a goodbye visit-we can't wait!!

Marker

This is the reason I never let my girls color with markers...always with crayons.

Thank goodness for washable markers!!

Happy 4th of July!!

We had a wonderful time today! It was so nice to just sleep in for a little bit (amazingly, all 5 of us slept in) though that did make us a little rushed to get to Rexburg's parade. We left a half hour before the parade was supposed to start and when we got there we could not find a single spot to sit right next to the road. Instead, we parked ourselves in the shade of a building and started to watch the parade there. Eventually Robbie took the girls to stand out in the road with the rest of the kids to see the parade and get candy. The girls got a lot of candy, some paper fans from a local insurance company, toothbrushes from Rexburg's only pediatric dentist (which I find amazing that there aren't more since there are SO many students with kids) and half-pints of chocolate milk. There were dancers, bands, gymnasts...cool cars, fly bys from the local aviation museum, and a water truck from our local national guard that was spraying the crowds on both sides of the street (luckily we missed that...well, I think it was lucky-Robbie wanted to get sprayed). The girls loved the Cheerleaders, the baton twirlers, the dancers and the gymnasts (Gwen's favorite were the gymnasts). They also 4 contestants from the local Jr. Miss pageant. Robbie told the girls to look at the princesses (they were wearing gowns so to the girls they looked like princesses) and say hi to them. Gwen said hi princess to one and she turned around, asked Gwen if she could have a hug and Gwen was so thrilled. She got a hug from a princess!! It made my heart fill with joy to see her so happy-her grin was ear to ear.

The parade was almost 2 hours long, but after an hour and a quarter had passed by we decided to head over to the park where the parade was scheduled to end. There were booths of food and crafts that people were selling and we saw some friends from our ward (who are also from New England) at a face painting stall. Both of the girls got blue stars painted on their cheeks and a free popsicle for sitting so nicely (and then Gwen picked most of the dried paint off of her face on the way home from the parade). We sat a while to feed Georgia and had some really juicy, wonderful hotdogs.

When we came home we all kind of relaxed for a while and surprisingly all 5 of us took a nap at the same time (Georgia fell asleep, then me, Grace, Gwen & Rob-at about the same time). After waking up, feeding the baby and the girls having snacks we went outside to take some pictures. I had Robbie take them since the screen on my camera is still not working, and all though the girls didn't cooperate like I wanted we got some really good pics (some of the pictures are on my side bar where I show each of the girls, their nicknames and birthdates). My babies are getting so big!! At least three times today at the parade we were asked if we had twins (Gwen & Grace). This is something that happens to us at least twice a month. Gwen and Grace had matching outfits today, and while they do not look similar, they are pretty much the same size and so could pass as fraternal twins. One lady was actually shocked to find out that they were a year and a half apart. She saw us walking down the side walk as she was getting out of the car and she told us that when she saw us she thought "Oh, what cute twins!" Robbie and I told decided that the next person who asked us about it we were going to say we did have twins, but after that last person no one else asked us. We got a lot of looks like "Oh, they have twins" but no questions. How funny!

This evening we went to watch the Rexburg fireworks. They've always been a small time show, but this year you could tell that they just didn't have it in their budget for a lot of fireworks. It was fun for the girls though. They ran around and played with a little boy, tried to play frisbee, and played with their glowsticks and necklaces (again, pardon the fuzzy pictures...my camera screen doesn't work so I don't know how they turn out). Georgia slept until 10 minutes before the show started, and I thought that I would go ahead and feed her because I thought the show wouldn't start for a little while longer and it would last long enough that I could get her fed. Wrong!! The show started before the sky was completely dark (and we think it's because there was a storm cloud rolling in) and only lasted for about 15 minutes. You could tell they were really stretching out the fireworks that they had. Still, they did a good job, and the girls had so much fun snuggling with their Daddy while watching them, so it was worth it. We came home, Robbie fed Georgia while I gave the girls baths, and they are now fast asleep.

While watching the fireworks I kept thinking about how this is the Promised Land, and although this is a day to celebrate our independence from Great Britain, it's also a day to remember that the Lord brought our ancestors to this land and that it's a free land thanks to his blessings and love. The freedom we enjoy are promises that the Lord gave if we and our ancestors were faithful and obedient. Something I never really thought about before while watching fireworks, but a thought that really got me asking questions and wanting to look into more. I am very greatful that we live in a country that is free...that we don't have to worry about wars and poverty and famine so much in this country as you see in other countries in the news. I am greatful that the Lord continues to bless this land and those of us who live here and love the Lord. I couldn't ask for a greater blessing than to live and raise my family here. Our Heavenly Father is truly a wonderful and loving being!! Happy 4th of July!!

Weigh In

I am so very disappointed with myself. I have been trying so hard to loose 25 pounds by the time Robbie graduates, and now I won't make that goal. I only lost 2 pounds last month bringing me to a total of 17 pounds lost. Yes, I look different. Yes, that's a lot of weight lost, but when you are 40 pounds over weight 17 doesn't seem to be enough. I have 3 weeks to loose 8 pounds, which is really not going to happen. One of the reasons why I didn't loose a lot of weight last month was because for about 2 weeks I dreaded getting up in the morning and facing the day (those are the two weeks that every day was a nightmare thanks to the way Gwen and Grace were acting...I cried every day-no joke). So during those two weeks I didn't exercise at all. The other reason is that I am now weening Georgia onto formula so I don't pump as much, meaning that more food goes towards my body than making milk for her. So, I am really bummed out. I am not even sure I will make a 20 pound weight loss by graduation in 3 weeks. I haven't lost even half a pound this week. I guess 20 pounds wouldn't be too bad, but I am just really upset I won't be able to make my goal. Oh well. My big goal is to have lost all the weight by the end of the year, so 20 pounds in 4 months wouldn't be bad, and I could probably loose the other 20 by the end of the year. We'll see. Just very disappointed right now. I'll post pics of the kids tomorrow or Sunday from all the 4th stuff we do.