and it's november

updates that should be noted.

1-we are still living with my parents.  our move in date to the house has been pushed back a few times but it looks as if mid-january is when we will be moving in.  we are so excited!  i have to say though, the kids have loved living with their grandparents.  special time for all.  my parents are dreading our exit.  my dad has decided that we should leave one of our children.

2-baby ruth has turned out to be just as easy as her two siblings were.  champion sleeper. champion eater.  happy baby.  her siblings love her and are constantly rocking, bouncing, spitting (blowing raspberries with a little too much gusto) and poking her (usually her eyes or other parts of her face).  she has responded to it all with indifference.  i find myself repeating 'don't touch! be gentle!  stop that! where's your _____(fill in the blank with any toy that might distract)' over and over and over again.  i'm looking forward to when ruth can poke back and defend herself (or am i?!).

3-third babies are like the whipped cream on top of a hot chocolate.  warm and fuzzy and i just want to soak it all in.  somehow there's never enough.  there are so many memories packed into such
a small amount of time.

how i am able to make dinner and snuggle at once.  the best multitasking.

4-this year we have been spending a lot of time building new traditions.  it's been fun to try and find things to fill the void.  there have been some funny moments where i say 'don't you miss ____ from new york? and how we did this every year?' and branden says 'i have no memory of that.' and then i think about it and realize he was working.  for much of it.  his quality of life has gone up about 1000% since we moved here.  we are constantly talking about how grateful we are to be here.

5-parenting two toddlers has been hard.  there are moments where i can feel it all clicking and i know i'm doing it right. but then it all comes crashing down.  i'm learning a lot and realizing that i can't do it alone. i have to rely on my father and mother in heaven to teach me-and have some faith that they will make up the difference with the kids and they won't be hurt and ruined by my many mistakes. they are so forgiving of me as i learn-i hope that i can do the same.  i'm so grateful for heavenly parents that are teaching me.

photo by hugo.  sweet boy.

6-we are tired.  branden teaching seminary and a nursing baby still getting up in the night has us zombie like at night.  which leads me to closing up this post so i can go catch up with branden for a few minutes before we turn into pumpkins. nighty night.