FIVE

Noah turned 5 (yes 5 can you believe it?) the other day.
I can't believe it.
5 years ago I had my first baby.
5 years ago I felt the most anxiety I've ever felt watching a tiny little baby in a little suitcase under lights for being jaundice.
5 years ago I felt love in a way I've never felt it before and understood a lot more about love and sacrifice.
I realized some time later that mommy is the best name in the world and that parenting would be the hardest thing in the whole wide world. (Good thing I don't have to go at it alone)

FIVE! Go here to see him in the chair for his other birthdays.

He had a Batman birthday party but more like a superhero birthday party. 

Yes, I made that. I know, AWWWWWWWWWWW-some :)

Yes, he was Captain America at his Batman birthday party. 

AND just have to say thanks to the moms who let their kids come on such short notice and even got Noah presents. I let them know at 4 pm that the party was at 6 pm. Good thing we have so many kids in our neighborhood :) Good friends for sure.

Colorful! I think she might be getting bottom teeth.

Hannah with her cousin. They are one month and one day apart. Hannah's older. 

Then there is this guy...

I love him so but he sure puts me through the ringer sometimes.

He's been through a lot.

He still doesn't like to gain weight.

We are going to take him to the NAET doctor next.

He's funny and stubborn, cute and tiny, determined and polite.

The other day I took time to tickle my boys. I can't remember the last time I did that. Heath does it all the time. I love their laughs. Our windows were open and before long there was a knock at the door. We opened it to 2 little neighborhood kids. They said, "What are you doing?", I said, "tickling". They said, "Can you tickle us?".   Sure, come on in. The laughing commenced.

I find myself talking in high, silly voices to get a smile out of Hannah. 

I've been feeling a little poopy the last few days so I put on some inspirational music this morning and thought about all my blessings. I think today will be a good day.

I love my husband.

Asher's birthday and other stuff, too.

It's true that it's been a little while. I've been posting mostly pictures.
It's also true that I can't recall the exact date in which I last washed my hair,
there are mini marshmallows in my bathroom sink , and
Asher watered my aloe with his milk yesterday.
Also, I'm pregnant.
I don't think I actually put that on my blog yet.
I'm 14 weeks, Due August 4th.
I've been so tired and a lot more nauseated than my other pregnancies.
Although, I shouldn't complain because my sister-in-law is pregnant and feeling a lot worse.
Noah is 4, Asher is 2 and I think he's feeling it.
I think we are seeing some of what might be called the "terrible two's"
terrible fits. He tries to make himself throw up when I try to ignore them but thankfully
he hasn't been successful.
I think a lot of his frustration comes from the desire to be so independent but the inability to become so.
Asher talks a lot. Says lot of words (too many to list), says 3 and 4 word sentences, says please and thank you.
He doesn't cry when you put him in the corner and he's stubborn.
He's got a funny personality and likes to make people laugh.
His arm is doing well.
We see an occupational therapist 2 times a week still.
His right arm is still smaller and I think will always be but he uses it more naturally and without hesitation.
He does really well when the therapist stretches his arm out. So much better then it use to be.
Although he hasn't gained much weight (still weighs a little over 20 pounds) he's grown taller and his head is getting bigger
and our doctor doesn't seemed to be concerned.
I try not to be too concerned either.
Over Christmas vacation he did get sick for a week and was throwing up a lot.
I admit I worried. The kid doesn't have a lot in reserve.
We have been lucky this winter to be pretty healthy. What a blessing.
Noah's speech has improved a ton. He sees a speech therapist 2 times a month.
Noah always says (pointing to my stomach), "I like your baby" last Sunday it was followed by, "but he doesn't have any church clothes."
Noah thinks it a boy and Asher thinks there are 5 babies in there and they're girls.
Noah's baby name suggestion is baby Jesus. Asher has suggested Apple and Claira.
Noah is pretty well potty trained. It took a little while to get him to go #2 by himself.
It was cold the other day our water pump was frozen. I had to put a heater by it so we could get some water.
and Despicable Me is probably the best movie ever.
Heath is doing well.  I guess a little stressed out right now.
This is the last semester of grad school.
We have no idea where we'll be headed after this but I hope it's close to family.
Also, Heath and I went on a date last Thursday. Almost a little weird just because it's only the 2nd in 3 years.
We are trying to make that a regular thing.
Well, I guess this is all for now. Here are some pictures from Asher birthday party.

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

Noah's present (a train whistle)

I have to admit it wasn't much of a birthday party. It was just us, no cake, just ice cream. I so did not feel good. I brought the presents down in a blanket and it was kind like a birthday Santa. The boys didn't seem to mind.

I told Asher to show me his belly. I know it doesn't look very big but I think it actually stick out a little. You can see that the muscles in his right arm are getting bigger. Anyway, Happy Birthday to Asher. 

Number 2.

My number 2 baby is 2 years old today, still in size 2 diapers, has 2 skinny legs, 2 arms (one that's lucky), and 2 ears that stick out a little. His birthday party is Sunday so I will post more pictures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!!

Heath turned 30.

On 3 everyone close your eyes. 

Not really sure why I didn't take more pictures. 

Yes, it is gluten-free.

You can't get a store bought cake that looks that awesome. 

After putting "Happy birthday old timer" on the cake, I had a lot of letters left over and punk was the first word that seemed to jump out at me. Plus, sometimes he is a punk :)

just for your information, I am older.

The Birthday Boy...Noah is 4!

Tonight we had a small birthday party for our "baby" Noah.
He's into Spider man and Iron Man lately so Heath found him some cool Iron Man toys.
He soooo loves them.
Heath even got a little present for Asher to open so he didn't feel left out.
How sweet of a dad is he?

Anyway, here's some pictures.

Don't worry that thing is gluten free. I did, however, make the icing a little too thin but made it with organic extra virgin coconut oil instead of shortening (tasted yum).

Pay no attention to the dirty kitchen in the background.

Can't believe he's 4. How does that happen?

The birthday hat. 

Smashy's present. 

ONE

TWO

  THREE

(DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS BLURRY BUT IT'S THE ONLY ONE I CAN FIND)

 FOUR

  

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Love you!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I love you!

Things I've learned in my thirty1 years.

Yesterday at 7:12 am I turned 31.
Yes, thirty one. I know, I don't know how I got this old either.
To be honest 31 feels like 30.
I was looking back on my life and thinking about the things that I have learned.

I recently came to the realization that the only person I'm in a race against is me 
and that If I'm going to compare myself to anyone I should look upward.


I realized that Heavenly Father really answers prayers. Not just sometimes but all the time.
We are made in His image. He has ears to hear and lips to speak.

It is possible to become perfect in this life.
It happens one step at a time.
You can be perfect in saying your prayers, in reading your scriptures daily, or in having clean thoughts and language.
You learn a principle, apply it, and continue down the road to perfection.

We are not here on earth to be endlessly entertained. We are here to grow and to learn.


Sometimes the easy path is the wrong path. Maybe a lot of the time.

That thing about the apples...not true.

Well, I'm sure there are lots of other good things I have learned but I have a 3 (almost 4) year old that is asking if I will take him to bed.

It's true that Asher only has a week and a half left in his cast and true that Noah likes his hair fixed like his daddy's. Also, maybe I should add a "Heath says" section on my blog. I didn't feel good the other day and he said, "maybe you have the flu. I hear it's going around...our back yard." um...he's a little bit crazy.

pictures by Noah.

My name is Erin, I am 31, and my husband's a little bit crazy.

My other mother.

Today is my other mother's (Also known as Heath's mom) birthday.

I love this lady. She was a great strength to me when we lived in Utah and continues to be from afar . 

She's kind, caring, and always looking for fun things for the grand kids.

She's got the greenest thumb I've ever seen. You should see her yard.

She always shows concern and treats me like her own.

oh, and she bakes awesome cakes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LORIE!

WE LOVE YOU!

This is a picture of my mother and my other mother together. This was taken about the time Noah was born.

My brother the S.W.A.T guy and bodyguard

This is Jonathan

 He's not much for striking poses so I just kind of randomly took pictures of him. ;)

today is his birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHAN!!!

 

 Jonathan works at a  Dallas county jail and is on some kind of team

sort of like S.W.A.T but not exactly (I think)

He also has just started working part-time as a bodyguard.

He's tall, buff, 27, a hard worker and single as far as I know (but you didn't hear that part from me.)

also, he's got a cute, shiny head.

My Mother, an angel.

Today is my mother's birthday.
I love my mom more than most other people love their mothers (I'm pretty sure)
She is kind and loving and is the best example of charity.
She does everything in her power to do what she can for other people.
She's a thinker and loves to find inspiring quotes especially if she thinks they will inspire someone in need.
She loves her children.
She works full time during the week and on the weekends takes care of my grandfather whose health is very poor. He loves her, too.

She has sacrificed without complaint.
She has loved without judgement.
She has served without question.

She has fasted for my baby
She and my father pray for our little family by name EVERYDAY.

I'm glad I get to be here with my mother on her birthday.

I love you, mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The weigh in and a little birthday party

Asher weighed in at 16 pounds 8 ounces, a weight gain!
He saw the gastroenterologist on Wednesday.
After a million questions and a physical examination, she said that his tonsils looked enlarged.
She said this could be causing all the gagging and the not being able to swallow more solid foods.
She referred us to an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
(Doctors, please get in line to see my baby boy and wait your turn.)
She also had him get some more blood work done to check something to do with celiacs disease.
If this comes back positive then they will have to do some extensive testing.
She also gave him a prescription for an anti-acid medication.
I think in hopes that it would help with the vomiting.

Well, this little guy will be 1 year old on Tuesday. We did a little birthday celebrating yesterday.

Here are the pics.

Not so fond of the birthday hat.

Whose cute chicken legs are these?

 

He didn't actually eat any of the cupcake. He did taste a little frosting.

 

 

Just for fun.

 

 The birthday chair.

This is Noah's first birthday in the birthday chair. Just to compare.

"Sisters, now more than ever, we need women to step up and be strong. We need women who declare the truth with strength, faith, and boldness. We need women to set an example of righteousness. We need women to be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause' (D&C 58:27). We need to live so that our lives bear witness that we love our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ and that we will do what They have asked us to do. We need to rescue 'all that is finest down deep inside of [us]' so that as daughters of God we can do our part to build the kingdom of God. We will have help to do this. As Joseph declared, 'If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restained from being your associates.'"

-Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency