Just For the Record

I have received some concern as to my well being after my candy/potty/crying post. Just for the record I want to say that I am actually really OK. Of course I would love an hour or two here and there to myself but who wouldn't? Some days test my patients more than others but honestly I am doing just fine and actually enjoying it. I see looking back at some of my posts how it might be hard to think that but I really am enjoying it. There is actually no other place I would rather be and nothing else I'd rather be doing than watching my girls grow up. Everyday they make me laugh 100 times with all the funny stuff they say. I wouldn't want to miss any of it and I am so glad I get to be home with them. They do so many sweet, funny, wonderful things that make up for any frustrations I have. They are so sweet to their baby brother already and try to share their toys with him, by putting them in my belly button. They always check him with their doctor kits, love to act out their Book of Mormon videos, sing, learn new things, and take care of each other. I love watching them learn and grow in so many ways. Everyday they seem to amaze me in some way by something they say or do. I really do love them with all my heart and I am so happy I get to be their mom and to be here with them all the time. I hope they know how much I love them and would be happy to be here with them everyday even if they overflowed the toilet daily!

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year. The girls got more into it and enjoyed all the Halloween stuff. We actually didn't make it to the pumpkin patch but they still had lots of fun. We carved pumpkins at the beginning of the month with Grandma, Grandpa, and Hannah so we didn't do it again.

Eric took out all his Halloween stuff a week before and the girls like playing with some of it. Livy was more scared than Rachel of stuff especially anything with a noise. Rachel had a special fondness for this remote controlled rat. Creepy looking but she carried it around with her all week like a baby. She called it a "rap" but we got the right name down after a week.

Happy with her rat.

This was more Livy's speed. She like some of the decorations but it took her a while to warm up to them.

Enjoying the beautiful weather outdoors for a picnic lunch. They were riding on the bench of the picnic table like a horse.

Livy put her hat on herself. They were both so happy and had so much fun. I wish Halloween was longer because they absolutely loved it.

Showing you her Thomas costume. Everyone was calling her Thomas all night instead of Livy. After her bath I called her Thomas again and she said "I not Thomas anymore, I Livy."

Happy little Ariel. As you can see we didn't really try the costume on earlier and it was like 5 inches too long. I kept trying to pin it up and every time she would say "That's so you can't see my garments." I was rolling. The Sunday before I pinned the front of my dress together so it wouldn't open up and that is what I told her. Now she associates safety pins and not seeing your garments!

Favorite candy this year: Livy liked Snickers and Rachel like Almond Joy. I have never known a kid who liked that best. An adult once in a while but I don't think I've seen a kid eat them!

Opposites for sure. Livy chose her costume and was set on what she wanted to be. Rachel didn't care to much but was very happy to be Ariel when the time came. Maybe she didn't get what it was for so she didn't care as much when she was picking. Next year she'll know now. Luckily they both loved their costumes and kept them on the whole time.

Cute girls, chubby mom. I did not want my fat face up on the front of the blog but it is the only picture they are both looking and smiling. Sacrifices.

Group shot. They all looked so cute! Sorry no better picture! Before we went out trick or treating we had pizza at our house. We tried our neighborhood but it was a bust so we all left and went other places. It was so fun to see all the kids dresses up together.

Trick or treating in action!

Livy's joy! She absolutely loved it. She was so happy, loved running to the door with all the kids and made sure to hold mine or Eric's hand between houses. We only had to skip one house because it was too scary. They were both so good and loved it. I wish we could have gone more.

At the end daddy held Rachel for a while so we could keep up with the rest of the group. Her outfit was a little hard to walk in. But she loved it so much. She took turns holding my hand and Kevin's hand for a while. She wanted to show Greg all her candy too. She had so much fun and they really wanted to do more. The next day they asked if we could go trick or treating again. I tried to explain only on Halloween and it's a whole year away but luckily they forgot about it a while later, though still wore their costumes again around the house for a bit. I'm already excited for next year for them to get to do all the fun stuff again!

Up and Down

I feel absolutely crazy some days. I'm sure that being pregnant is making me hormonal but I have been totally fine up until this point. So I think it is the staying home all the time cabin fever that is adding to my craziness. Some days I just want to cry all day, usually I can hold it in until night time though. And who knows what it's about, just about anything. I get so sad that I yell at the girls or get mad at them when they don't listen. And I get mad when they have their horrible days at using the potty but I know that I can't really get mad at them for that so then I get even for upset because I can't not get mad. And around in a circle it goes. There are other things too, like husband frustrations too, but who doesn't deal with all of this. I used to be able to all the time with out crying about it. Anyway.....

one night I was a crying mess and just in a bad, sad, depressed mood. The next day I felt great. Lots of energy and feeling good. At nap time I started cleaning and got a bunch done, including just cleaning all the bathrooms, and was feeling pretty good. Make dinner, just getting it on the table and Rachel walks out with no pants on. Accident #1. Wet clothes in the garbage can (don't know why she does this) and a puddle of pee on the floor in my newly cleaned bathroom. Clean it up. Going to find Livy to go to the potty. She pees on the floor as I am walking to get her. Accident #2. Another puddle. Clean it up. Finally sit to eat dinner. Clean up dinner. It's too quite. Accident #3. Rachel pooped in her pants and didn't tell us. "I can do it all by myself now." She has poo smeared down to her knees from taking off her own pants and all over the toilet seat. Wiped herself too. With half a roll of toilet paper. Eric thinks it will flush so we try it. No such luck. Watch out, here it comes. All over the clean, only peed on once, bathroom floor and into the hallway. Does this explain the picture above yet? After the cleaning of Rachel and the bathroom again I had to unwind with at least ten candy bars. I think it was actually more but that is all you can see in the picture. But I didn't cry that night. So I guess chocolate is the answer for now. I'll be crying in a few months when I try to lose this extra candy weight. Update: Since then I have tried going out more and it has helped for sure. I feel more normal.I don't need as much candy and haven't had a crying depressed afternoon/night! And the potty training is still up and down but possibly taking a step in the right direction!

Cross Country Visitors

Last week my brother Charlie and his girlfriend Michelle started their trip driving from New York to California. We are in the middle so we got to have some visitors for a day! It was so good to have them here and begged them to stay longer but they needed to get going. They only got to stay for a day but it was a good break from being in the car!

This picture is a good example of Rachel's excitement to have them here, well mostly Charlie, sorry Michelle! She has an obsession with the Psillos men. When Richie was here it was him, when Grandpa is here it is him. Whoever is around is her favorite person. She followed Charlie every where and had to talk to him constantly. It was adorable! She waited outside the bathroom for him when he showered, always wanted to be with him and if he wasn't in the same room she was asking everyone where he was. It is quite funny when you witness it.

It was a short visit but we had a good time together. We went to Meyer park and fed the ducks/rat things there. We all had a good laugh with that as one tried to sneak up on Michelle! We are really glad you guys came this way and got to stop here for a day! See you at Christmas! Love you guys!

Life on Lock Down

Well we are at 31 weeks already. It is kind of scary that I only have 8 weeks left but very happy that it is almost over. It is just hard to move around and bend over, which I feel like I do constantly picking up after the girls and helping them with the potty. Which is not going as great as I hoped it would be by now. They do great for a day or two and then accidents a few times the next, then repeat.

Getting large. I realize that I seem to be in this shirt a lot for pictures. I don't have many that fit anymore. Sorry about that! As for the baby, we don't have a name picked still. Eric likes the name Colt but I can't decide how I feel about it. Any suggestions are welcome. The baby is very active most days and every time I lay down of course. He also gets the hiccups a lot just like Livy did. But from his ultrasound pics, not that they are very telling, he looks more like Rachel to me. So I'm really excited to see who he looks like, or maybe a mix! It's gone great so far and now we are on lock down at home for the next two months until he gets here because of swine flu fears on my part. Everything I read and hear is that it pregnant women are more susceptible to getting the swine flue and usually get hit harder by it due to compromised immune systems while pregnant and your lungs/diaphragm already under stress due to being so squished. Pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized and so forth, bad news, bad news, bad news. So we have decided to play it as safe as we can and stay home as long as we can handle it. When I have to go shopping I go late at night when the store is pretty much empty. So if we aren't around much or don't hang with anyone sick please forgive us. Haven't decided whether I will get the vaccine for it or not. Scared of that too! Oh, what to do!

Trying on costumes when we pulled out Halloween stuff.

Painting pumpkins!

The girls are doing good so far and some times ask to go to the store but I am actually enjoying it so far. We are never rushed to go anywhere, it's easier with the potty stuff staying home, and we are getting a good dose of mommy and girls time before the baby gets here. A blessing in disguise!

Baby Shower

My awesome sister in laws and mother in law gave me a wonderful baby shower about 2 weeks ago. It was so adorable and these girls are professionals. They had everything you could imagine matching, down to the last detail! The theme was "Jess's Lil Pumpkin." Perfect for this time of year and the fall decor!

 Here is the cute invite April made.

Favors, pumpkin seeds which were delicious.

Pictures of some of the wonderful food. Everything pumpkin themed or flavored as you can see.

I'm always amazed at the parties/showers these girls can put together. They did such a great job.

Photo of the little guy.

April came and took some pictures of the belly and the girls a few days before but even with the girls not cooperating she still managed a few cute ones!

And I really loved all the painted pumpkins. They made a little pumpkin patch of mostly painted pumpkins that were so cute, and I am sure lots of work!

We don't have a name picked out yet so "It's a boy" was displayed!

Thank you so much guys for an amazing shower. You all put so much time and effort into the whole shower and I am grateful for all you did. It was so nice to celebrate this little guy and to spend the evening with everyone. You did an amazing job and I just want you to know I appreciate all you did for me. Thanks guys! Love you!

MDH

OK, so I am a little behind on posting but what else is new. My Mom, Dad, and Hannah came to visit us at the end of September. We had an awesome trip as always and can't wait for them to come back. The girls ask frequently when we can go to Grandma and Pop pop's house and it's sad to say we won't be going for a while.

Pop Pop in charge of craft time. They brought all sorts of crafty things with them for all the girls to do. They all had lots of fun but we didn't take enough pictures as usual.

Carved pumpkins, a little early and we already had to throw them out but it was fun to do with everyone.

Cookies.

More crafts.

Mom and I got to shop for this new little guy who is coming pretty soon. It was fun to start buying stuff since I hadn't really bought anything "boy" yet.

Rachel dressing up Grandpa.

Happy early Halloween! Thanks for coming guys. We love when you do and we had a great time. Come back soon. Love you tons!