Sleep

                                             Have I posted this picture on this blog before? Who cares, so damn cute.

The first time around with Deacon I was really good at sleep training, it felt right to me, he responded so well and it was no big thing. While I would not say sleep training has been terrible with Gwennie it has certainly been different.

Poor babe had her 4 month shots this week and then ran a fever the next couple days. The first night I was holding her at 1:30 am, she did not want to sleep but also did not want to be snuggled. I had a patience I did not even now existed inside of me. I remembered how badly I wanted her. I guess that is why I do not feel a great urgency to let her "cry it out" but guess what, tonight and last night I let her "cry it out". It was not as bad as I thought, and she is sleeping so soundly in her own little crib and honestly I think she feels just as happy to be mine as I feel to have her.

Two days ago Deacon asked me "why don't you ever sneak into my bed like I sneak in to yours?" (answer: because kids beds are pieces of shiz) so that night at 10 pm I snuck down into his bed, cuddled up next to him and whispered to him how much I love him, told him all the things in my heart, well as much as I can put those things into words.

So the thing about sleep is, I know how badly I need it and how much better it makes a person feel but I need to remember to hold my sleeping (growing) baby and to sneak into my almost 6 (NOOOOO!) year olds bed sometimes.

The craziest thing

She has started sleeping too long in the night. Doesn't that just sound so ridiculous? All this time I have been working to teach her to sleep, in her crib and for long periods of time. I did not stop to think I would miss holding, rocking and kissing her in the dark quiet hours of the night. Ha!

Truthfully I am so glad she is sleeping more, it gives her the energy she needs to smile all the time, look cute and start to coo. I love love love Gwennie.

Having a baby around is such a delight. It is the kind of thing you never want to end but cant wait for the next step all at the same time. Super weird and super awesome all at once.

A love eight relationship

Here it is, the anniversary post. No matter how behind I get on this blog I do not like to miss a chance to shout to the world how much I love Curtis, for reals.

Here is my top eight things I love about the Laysh:

8. his dimples and blue eyes.

7. his smarts, he always knows the answers to my questions and jeopardy? Forget about it.

6. the sense of humor of this man CAN NOT BE BEAT.

5. boy does he take me on some sweet trips, he may text me after spending two dollars at 7-eleven but I really can't complain when I am averaging two Hawaii trips a year.

4. he sticks up for me and loves me. At the end of the day I am his number one.

3. when I am sad he wants to fix whatever is making me feel that way, while it does not always work I appreciate his effort.

2. he loves loves loves Deacon. Reads him chapter books, takes him to Holiday Oil with a quarter to buy a airhead and tells him he loves him 10 times a day.

1. he lets me be me, encourages me to do things I love and wants me to have a fun, happy life.

Happy anniversary Curtis, I am shocked and thrilled you did not do anything WEIRD to your face! I love you so much.

Boy oh blog

I have been the worst blogger ever. Truly, the worst. Which makes me sad because I really do like keeping a blog especially to keep track of all the funny things Deacon is up to. I have certainly been in a funk this last year but I am realizing that I can not change everything I do not like but I can try my best to be happy in the situation I am in, I have so much to be happy about.

How about some funny/cute things Deacon is doing?

His new favorite thing to say when he is bored or annoyed or whatever is: "But I am skinny" or "I can't I'm too skinny!"

So so so obsessed with Spiderman. He is forming his little hand to shoot webs before he even opens his eyes in the morning.

Deacon is really lovey at night when I tuck him in. He says things like "should I snuggle you?" Or when I try to leave he quickly says " But how about just one more kiss?" And my personal favorite when I say I love you he replies " I love you most"

I love when I ask him a non negotiable question like "ready to brush your teeth?" he responds with a simple "no fanks"

After his second week of swimming lessons he is really comfortable in the pool, he loves to say " I am such a great swimmer"

We called my Dad on his birthday last week and Deacon sang to him, hours later when Curtis came home from work he said "Know what day it is Dad!? It's Grandpa Steve's Batman birthday!!"

At a friends house for dinner I was told Deacon was outside peeing. When I got out there to tell Deacon he needs to come inside when he needs to go potty he smiled proudly and said "no mom! I already did!"

His concept of time is hilarious, " I want to play three more months" or "Let's go in 10 weeks"

The other night my young women were over playing water games in my front yard, we had two slip n slides set up and the neighbors cat was playing on one so we told Deacon to go scare it off. He ran and scared it off and then shouted "Yay! I won the team!"

Deacon could play for hours in the backyard with or without a friend, it is his favorite place to be.

I said to Deacon the other day " I love......." thinking he would fill in the blank with Deacon but instead he shouted "William!" He loves his cousin Will.

One night when Will was over late we were putting some of Deacons jammies on him and Deacon said "Your looking goooooood William!"

Writing all these things down makes me mad at myself that I have not written these things, I think they will be so priceless to me in the future. No more feeling down for this girl! Even if I do not ever have another baby or have any of the other things or experiences I want, I have so much. I have a husband and Deacon that I love more than anything and I have I know I am doing my best. That is enough, I have more than enough.

Sugar pie Honey Bunch

You know I love you! I can't help myself, no really I can't help myself. Holidays and special occasions really bring out the spaz in me. And you know what? I like it! Valentines day was no exception, what a great holiday. Cute decorations, love in the air and telling people you love how you feel about them. Deacon starting off the day with his buddy Thomas drinking pink drinks out of valentine straws.

Is this soup the number one most darling thing EVER?? I know I know I am nuts, those noodles are handmade and delicious. And I cut those carrots out with a teensy tiny cookie cutter. Deacon thought it was the coolest dinner. Curt thought I had lost my mind.

Love is having a husband who accepts a two pack of beef jerky from costco for his valentine. And actually does not just accept it, loves it. I love that Curtis is not materialistic at all.

My favorite thing I did yesterday was make up this little Valentine garland with pictures of my family, I love all these pictures and it was fun to dig them up. I am keeping this up the rest of the month. It just makes me feel so lovey. And so what if I hung crepe paper for just my little family, its the little things people! And I already admit, I am a spaz!

This little valentine boy is what love is.

Happy to be in this family, happy to be in love, happy to celebrate valentines with my little family.

fireplace

What is it about a fireplace? I love everything about it, the fire in it the mantle around it and the warm cozy feeling coming from it. The fireplace is on my favorite things about this little bungalow we call home.

Lately when we have been out and about Deacon will get nervous that I will not be able to find our way home. When we pull up to our house he always praises me "Yay! You found our house!" That boy sure has a way of making me feel good about myself.

Like when I am having a down day and we decide to make a fire in our beloved fireplace and he sits next to me and says "you wanna hold my hand? you are my sweetheart" I have decided the best thing about being a mother is being that person for someone. The person who finds our house when you think you are lost forever, the person that makes you a cozy fireplace when you feel down or tells you that you are their sweetheart.

And the even better part of being a mom is that sometimes Deacon does all those things for me.

Happy Birthday to this beard.

This bearded man is 33. Wowza. His birthday is always a little bit tricky for me. I love birthdays and am a spaz. Curt is happy just having his favorite meal (skiers stew, a cute name for man stew aka beef stew) and buying his own gift (an all you can fly pass on Jet Blue for the month of September last year) so I have learned to take it easy on his birthday.
Buuuuuuuuuuuut, that does not mean I can't write whatever I want on here about him. Take that!

For a girl (me, duh.) who has a lot to say most of the time I am at a loss as to what to say about Curtis. Alls I know is: I would not what to know a life without him as my number one. Happy birthday Curtis you are the bomb.com And that phrase is my birthday gift to you.

Who wants a Deacon update?

I do! I can not forget all the hilarious things he is up to lately. He is so full of life and imagination and I laugh all day long.

1. One of my favorite things he does is if Curt and I are close together he will out an arm around each of our necks and say "mommy daddy!" And pull us in close for a hug.

2. He loves to try on every pair of underwear he owns all day everyday. Lots of times multiple pairs at at time.

3. The other morning at breakfast with my mom and Walker the restaurant was pretty empty and Deacon had everyone cracking up when he was running across the whole place yelling "it's a stampede!"

4. I have always sang James Taylor's Sweet Baby James to him, since he was born. (my mom sang it to us and I know my sister and brother sing it to their kids) but i never realized he knew almost every word to the "cowboy song" so the other night it was very cute when he sang along to the words "his horse and his cattle are his only companions" now I sing every few words and leave a word out for him to fill in.

5. He loves his friends Thomas and Will down the street. He asks all the time to walk down to their house. He also likes their mom Jenny. We pulled up to their house the other day and she stuck her head out of the car door and he said to me "Oh Jenny I like your hair!"

6. How to train your Dragon had a BIG impact on Deacon, he is constantly pretending to breathe fire and growling at you.

7. Deacon will think of an idea in his head and instead of asking you for something or to do something he presents it to you like it was your idea. For example he will say "Okay! I go get a candy for me!"

8. He never wakes up in the night crying ever anymore but every once in awhile you I will wake up in the middle of the night with his face right in front of mine and he will say something like "I need my squishy ball" Super important at 4 am.

9. Very good at the whole potty thing and is very proud of himself. The other day from the bathroom he yelled to our friend Matt to come see, um pass.

10. He will start preschool in a couple weeks and is very excited about it. Good thing it is only two hours at a time, I am going to miss him.

Sound asleep

I woke up a few nights ago to Deacon in my bed with his arms around me. I did not hear him come in I just woke up to him snuggling me. We are serious about our sleep in this house. Deacon has always been a great sleeper almost right off the bat. We trained him early to love his crib and sleep through the night. All that made it so much sweeter when he snuck into my bed and cuddled right up. Even sweeter was that after 30 minutes I felt him get up and walk back to his bed. Guess he just wanted to let me know he loved me at 4:00 am. Love you too Deacon.

love love love

To say that we love you a lot is the understatement of all time. We love you more than you can ever imagine in your wildest dreams. So glad you are our husband and Dad. Happy Fathers day.

Mothers

I need to post all about Deacons birthday madness and I will but today is Mothers day so I want to post about that. I have so many great Mothers in my life and so many people who help me be a better Mother. I am so grateful to all these people for making my life better. And since I love a list I thought, why not? Here is 5 things I love about some of these Mothers.
Curt's mom Sharon-
1. So accepting, never once has she questioned me as a wife or mother, she loves me for me.
2. Amazing cook and seamstress, she knows how to make anything!
3. She is loved by all her grand kids and they love to be sang and rocked by her as infants.
4. She is an excellent Dr. Mario player and one of my first memories of her is coming over and seeing my boyfriends 60 year old mom playing Nintendo.
5. She is the person to call if you want someone to tell you your problems are going to work out and you need a listening ear.
My Step mom Dana-
1. She is the number one most hardworking organized person I know. She knows how to tackle a project and get it done.
2. She loves and dotes on Deacon, when she is around him he knows he is loved.
3. Dana is so service oriented and very giving. She would help anyone in need with anything.
4. She is good at her job and takes great care in doing a job well done. Whenever I meet someone who has worked with or for her they always rave about how great she is.
5. She has always loved and treated me and my siblings with love and always treated us like family from day one.
And last but certainly not least my own mom-
1. If I ever feel bad for myself and want someone to feel bad for you as well, I just call my mom and she always validates my feelings and helps me pick myself back up.
2. She loves to take me and Deacon to breakfast once a week, it is always a highlight in my day.
3. She is so creative and talented and free thinking. Can laugh at her craziness but also is crazy in all the best ways.
4. She has always celebrated who I am , never tried to shape me into someone or something she wanted me to be. She literally missed only one soccer game in my entire 4 year high school career. That means two games sometimes 4 a week for 3 months for four years. (My dad did not miss as well but its Mothers day okay) pretty great.
5. She still is excited and vivacious about life, a quality I love. She really is pretty rad, has great taste in music movies and clothing.
Love to all our moms. And love to my husband Curtis, whom without I would not be a mom to such a fantastic boy. Thank you Curtis for supporting me and encouraging me and writing me sweet notes telling me you think I am great, for the record: I think you are great.

5 more minutes

Motherhood is a lot like the book If you give a mouse a cookie. You know where you give the mouse a cookie and then he asks for a glass of milk to go with it then if you give him a glass of milk he will want a straw to go with it etc. Tonight after a fun day full of candy and family I was putting Deacon to bed and he begged for one more song, one more prayer one more kiss and then my favorite, "five more minutes mommy!" How many more times will Deacon want 5 more minutes and one more kiss? I realize that the 5 more minutes requests will someday be gone, so today I am happy to give 500 minutes, 500 kisses and as many more hugs as he wants.

Six whole years

Of wedded bliss, or something like that. Happy Anniversary Curtis I love you still.

Valentines day, in your face edition

So if you follow this blog at all you know I love a good theme. Any chance to decorate and make a day special is so fun to me. Of course Valentines day is no exception, in fact it gets a little crazier than usual. Deacon with sleepy eyes seeing his new matchbox cars. I love that 5 dollars makes a little kid so happy. I made a little valentines breakfast and gathered anything lovey/pink/red I own and decorated my kitchen.

I think Deacon enjoyed the breakfast, especially the pink smoothie, but who wouldnt?

This is what it looks like after Valentines day exploded at my house.

Deacon was so cute all day. At church when the Bishop was wishing everyone a happy Valentines day he popped his head up and said "Oh Valentines!" These cupcakes are my red velvet nothing bundt cake recipe. It is my favorite version of that recipe yet. And arent they adorable?!

My favorite part of this morning was him seeing this little garland I made out of leftover Valentines from last year. He saw it gasped and one by one touched each Valentine and said "You put Nemo on it? You put incredibles on it? You put woody buzz on it?" It was so fun to see his excitment. One of my favorite things about being a mom is seeing Deacons excitment in new things. I love you Valentines, now Spring come quick!

I sure love you Valentines Day

How has Valentines day almost come and I have yet to write one single thing about the Holiday I love so much? Do you know what I love almost as much as holidays? Lists! Love lists! So here it is, a list of all things LOVE! Because after all, all you need is love right?

Sophia loves:

• My little house, the cozy comforting place it is, in the happy neighborhood it is in.
• My upcoming trip to see my sister in Scotland, it gives me butterflies thinking about it.
• That husband of mine.
• Deacon, a million times over I love that baby
• My almost weekly breakfast with my number one fan, my mom
• Being in young women's.
• My awesome ward and the friends I have made within it.
• Lots of friends who love me a lot even though I am not always that great.
• Duke and his tiny twin brother Ralphie that Michelle just got.
• The four seasons and how great it is when spring finally comes.
• My body and the ability to run jump or swim, although I would sooner die than swim.
• Girlfriends who really feel more like sisters.
• A good book
• But really a good movie.
• My dads weekly emails.
• Delicious food
• But really delicious baked goods
• My Grandparents, Deacons Grandparents, knowing that he will love them the way I love my own Grandparents.

I could write millions of specific lists on the topic of love, but I will spare you. Just know if you read this I probably love you, unless your a creep.

If you read Deacon a story........

He will probably ask for another story to go with it.

LOVE

THIS BOY

Oh yeah, sure!

The other morning I had to go up to Ogden, I wanted to get out of the house early so my whole day was not sucked up. I decided it would be a good idea to wake Deacon up with the promise of a donut. I went into his room and he was sitting up sweetly in his big boy bed. I said "Deacon do you want to go get a yummy donut for breakfast?" He replied with a big gasp and then said "Oh yeah, sure!" I do not ever want to forget this little bit of sweetness. For the record it is now a huge part of his vocabulary.

Best date night in awhile

Curtis loves Pearl jam. When we first started dating I liked Pearl Jam ya know Better man, daughter, Alive that kind of stuff. I now LOVE Pearl Jam. When we were dating Curt asked me what my favorite Pearl Jam album was and I started to respond Te....... when he so rudely interupted and said "dont you dare say ten, everyone loves ten." As cliche as it may sound (and I dont really care) Pearl Jam is the soundtrack to my relationship with Curtis. It was so fun to go to last nights show with him. Even more fun when we scored 2nd row tickets! It was awesome, definately the best showI have ever seen. This is how close we were, real close (just like Bear world) Seriously like 6 feet away.

Another view of the band.

The only (and awful) picture of the night. But it still is special to me because I love Going on such a fun date with this beard.

You got a friend in me.......

After a sort of frazzled evening I finally helped Deacon brush his teeth and got him into his bed. (only forty minutes or so past his bedtime) So I began the nighttime routine of saying a prayer saying goodnight to the moon outside his window and singing some songs. I started to sing a song and Deacon demanded "Woody sings!" which means "youve gotta friend in me!"

I really only know a couple lines and I just sing them over and over again until he is satisfied. Tonight however he sang right along for the first time ever, each time he sang the line "you gotta friend in me!" it was louder and right on tune with me. It made my whole heart feel like it would explode. I love that little guy of mine. Then when I stopped singing he grabbed my cheeks and seriously asked "Woody a cowboy?" You betcha.