The Reeves Fam

Dinner conversation

2011-12-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

Let me just preface this conversation with the thought that Ethan's our intense child and Catherine's our "Tree Hugger"

We're finishing dinner and Ethan yells down the hall: DAD!

I ask him what he needs and he starts asking where Larry is. Finally he tells me he's all done with his dinner. (So he wanted to ask Dad's permission to get down from the table...)

Catherine chimes in: You don't have to only ask your favorite person.

My response: Oh, :( Is dad you're favorite person?

Ethan: ya. (then obviously seeing my hurt from the rejection) You're my favorite too, Mom.

Catherine has to chime in again (of course): I love everyone, all the animals and all the people in the whole world. Even the bad people.

Then my intense boy, can't resist a chance to talk about some kind of serious subject: "ya, but if they try to shoot us, we'll just try to find the shield. but we don't shoot them back."

At least some of the principles of "not hitting back" are sticking, even if it is in some random sort of way.

BIRTH

2011-11-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

Everything has always been scheduled and structured - “by the book” in my past deliveries. Arriving to the hospital at 5:20 pm Saturday evening for a scheduled induction, I expected the same type of experience and had just accepted the fact that I was never going to have one of those exciting “crazed-rushing-to-the-hospital-in-labor” experiences. I thought I’d never know what it was like to be in labor without the consistent 2-minutes-apart contractions I knew so well. Little did I know then that my labor this time around would be nothing I expected and everything I’d always hoped for.

We arrived to the hospital at 5:20 pm Saturday evening, September 3rd. The nurses were quick with all the prep work this time around as they had been so overwhelmed with patients that week and we were pushed back 36 hours from our scheduled induction. With how similar this induction was to my induction with Ethan, and how quickly that labor had gone, I was hopeful that our baby girl would be born before midnight.

Dr. Layton came in to see us and decide how to proceed with the induction. Since I hadn't dilated and was still at a station +3... it would have been really hard on my body and baby to start the pitosin right away... it would have made for a really long, hard labor. Instead he decided we would start with a 12 hour time-release Cervidil to prepare my body for labor. Dr. Layton asked when I had last eaten and since my last meal was at 1:30 that afternoon, he told me to go ahead and order some dinner, then they'd start me on the Cervidil and give me an Ambien to sleep through the night. It was starting to sound a little more like a vacation than labor... “order some dinner, take a sleeping pill, have a good night’s sleep...” The time-release disk of Cervidil would be removed at 5 am and pitosin would be started at 6 am.

At this point I was starting to calm down a little knowing we were in for the long haul. "Well! I guess we'll be having this baby tomorrow afternoon sometime..." Everything was now sounding just like my labor experience had been with Catherine.

At 8:15 pm, after dinner and the shift change of nurses, I started the Cervidil and reluctantly took the Ambien. My nurse thought that with the contractions I was already having, the Cervidil would probably jump start my labor. I was a little concerned about taking a sleeping pill right before possibly starting labor.

Larry and I hung out for awhile chatting and watching some shows. At 9:10 pm our baby’s heart rate dropped significantly and my nurse came in and hooked up a bag of saline solution to my IV. Everything was fine. I was already exhausted and pretty uncomfortable, but by the time the Ambien kicked in, I was out. The much needed rest didn’t come that night...nor has it since. :) My contractions were coming faster and stronger. I would wake up with them but was too out of it to communicate anything about it, and Larry would just encourage me to go back to sleep.

Finally by midnight I was in enough pain to communicate something effective about it. Thankfully, my sweetheart was still awake. He had stayed up watching shows on our laptop...so that he would be awake and alert to help me with anything I might need. He called in my night nurse, Dorothy. She is a saint. She was compassionate and calming - exactly what I needed. She handled everything with such ease, especially considering how overwhelmed labor and delivery was not only that night, but the whole week. She came in to look over my contraction history and decided to check to see if I had made any progress. I had dilated one centimeter. Wonderful news to my ears! Remembering my first labor and delivery with Catherine, it was a very, very long ordeal starting an induction without being effaced or dilated, and I expected this labor to be the same. You can imagine my excitement to find I had dilated a centimeter in the first 4 hours when it had taken 12 hours to progress that much with Catherine. Still anticipating a long labor, (afterall, the pitosin wasn’t going to be started for another 6 hours...) Dorothy encouraged me to get some more rest. I explained that I was trying to, but even with the Ambien, i was just in too much pain to sleep. (stubborn body) She offered a muscle relaxant, Stadol, to help me sleep some more. I remembered having that in my early stages of labor with Catherine, and it worked very well for the 45 minutes it lasted. I went ahead with the stadol, and it worked like a charm! I zonked out for 2 hours.

At 2 am I woke gasping for breath. I knew I was in labor. I couldn’t help but breathe through the contractions, I couldn’t catch my breath enough to yell or scream. Of course at this point, Larry was completely passed out on the couch. He later told me he had just finally gone to sleep at 1:30 am... figuring since I had been out for an hour and a half, he might as well get a little sleep before 6 when the pitosin would start and I’d really need his help. Well, if you know Larry, you know he is nearly impossible to wake. You have to shake him to wake him up...especially when he’s only 30 minutes into it. My efforts to yell over to him were coming out as a very weak whisper. I looked around for something to throw at him, to no avail. I was sitting up at this point, turned to the side and practically ready to fall out of bed. Then I remembered the nurse call button. So, I called, but all I could muster was “I’m in a lot of pain.” The BLING of the nurse answering stirred Larry, but I’m pretty sure he just rolled over and went back to sleep...great. At least I had a wonderful nurse! :)

Dorothy came in and checked my progress again. FOUR CENTIMETERS! And 80% effaced. “You’re in labor, my dear!” The news just kept getting better! All I could think was, “bless you for not telling me I hadn’t progressed because I’d feel like the biggest wimp to ever give birth!”

My labor progressed so quickly after that! I was still amazed that I was really IN LABOR...NO PITOSIN... At this point with all the commotion, Larry sat up, and I told him I was in labor and to go ahead and call my mom and Diana (our dear friend and amazing photographer who captured our birth story for us) to come to the hospital. Of course, he didn’t believe me. “But she hasn’t started the pitosin yet.” No amount of explaining by myself or Dorothy would convince him, but the sweet husband he is, he tried to appease me by going ahead with the phone calls. Thank goodness. I knew it was going to be fast. Dorothy offered to send for the epidural... YES! Please, bring the epidural. Nothing sounded more wonderful at that moment! The anesthesiologist began the procedure for placing the epidural at 2:25 am and was finished and starting the medicine at 2:40 am. I wanted to forego the initial bolster and have a half dose of the epidural. The anesthesiologist compromised at half a bolster and half a drip. This was my first time having a difficult epidural placement and it was MISERABLE. I was in so much pain and progressing so fast, I thought I was going to pass out having to sit so still all hunched over for the 15 minute procedure.

Larry is the best labor coach! He was a saint holding me up and letting me grip his arm... I about severed it during the procedure. I apologized several times for squeezing the life out of his arm, each time explaining that I couldn’t have let go even if I wanted to. I was in a survival mode and I couldn’t have survived any other way. I was dilated 4 cm when the epidural was started, by the time it was finished, I was at a 6...it was count-down time. Larry called Diana to tell her to come on down. He finally believed me that our baby was coming! The anesthesiologist was leaving at 2:45 and gave me the little button that I could push every 15 minutes if I needed more pain relief. My mom arrived at 2:58 am. I’m so glad she was there for Abigail’s birth. It was a wonderful experience and I’m glad I was able to share it with her. I wish I had realized how special it would be to have her there so that I would have invited her for my first 3 births.

I was still in a ton of pain and watching the clock for 3 am when I pushed the button for the first time. I pushed it again at 3:15 and by about 3:30 I was feeling a little more comfortable.

Despite the pain I was in, I felt completely calm. I felt so much strength and confidence as I labored through my contractions. I felt delicately aware of my surroundings and the events happening around me, but my emotions remained unchanged by them.

At 3:32 am Dr Layton came in to break my water. I was dilated 8 cm and still not totally numb. There was only a small gush of water. I am assuming that because I was so close to delivering, my baby’s head came right down and blocked the opening in her amniotic sack. The pressure was becoming more intense, I asked my nurse to check my progress and she said I was dilated 9 1/2 centimeters and waited for a contraction to see if that would push me to a 10. It did. Time to push!

I was a little nervous to start pushing before Dr. Layton came back, but as policies change with each baby, Dorothy explained that she couldn’t call the doctor until I had already pushed once. So, I did...very carefully. :) I was really having a lot of pain along the inside of my left hip and felt like my baby was stuck. I pushed the epidural button one more time...not knowing if it’d make a difference before she was born, but with the pain I was in, it was at least comforting to push the button. :) Dorothy said my baby’s head was a little crooked and stuck on the one side. Suddenly I felt a pop, a gush of fluid and she was crowning. Dorothy was over getting baby’s bed ready... Dr. Layton and Larry were getting suited up in their doctor gowns and gloves.

Dorothy looked over at me and said, “Go ahead and keep pushing with the contractions.” Still a little reserved about pushing since no one was there to catch her, I thought about it for a few seconds, and then, throwing all caution to the wind, I thought, “well, OK! Here she comes!” The next contraction I felt coming on was a big one. My baby was finally in position and I knew this was it. Something inside of me just took charge. I pushed for real and immediately delivered her head. Everything felt like slow motion though I’m sure it was only a matter of seconds. The only one who saw was Larry. When I looked up, Dr. Layton was turned around answering Larry who had just asked him if he was standing in a good place to help with the delivery. I’ll never forget the look on his face when he turned back around. His eyes popped out of his head and he started waving his arms and saying, “Stop! Don’t push!” He was so amazing under pressure. He dove forward ready to catch our little babe, and I could see him, in a matter of moments, mentally go through the delivery process up to the point we were at with her head already being delivered. Realizing that his part had passed...he looked up at Larry and said, “well, I guess you’re up!” Dr. Layton showed Larry where to place his hands on her head and with a little push down and up she came right out into her Daddy’s arms. The best, most touching part was how he held her up and looked up at me and smiled with tears in his eyes.

Then he handed her to me.

She was born Sunday, September 4th at 3:54 am. I love that she arrived in her Daddy’s hands and that he was the one to place her in my arms. Nothing was forced or planned or technical. It was as if no one else existed but Larry and I and our baby...the three of us working together, in a quiet room, in the middle of the night, to accomplish this miracle of birth. It was the most amazing experience and felt just as it should be.

From the moment she was born she was instantly calmed in my arms and by my voice. I love that she knows me and finds her greatest comfort in my arms.

I was able to hold her in complete bliss for the first 15 to 20 minutes of her life.

Then she was weighed and measured, had her first immunization and was cleaned up.

Then I was able to nurse her for the first time. After that, she had her first bath by the most tender-hearted surgical tech who came to the labor and delivery floor to offer assistance and volunteered to give our baby her first bath. It was endearing to see this big tough man being so gentle with our tiny peanut.

He was bragging to the nurses that all the babies love his baths and they never cry for him...
our baby wasn’t so sure about that. :)

But it all ended well.

Soon enough, she was all bundled up and we were heading to recovery...just as the sun came up.

It was the dawn of a beautiful new day!

We are so thankful she is here and healthy and strong. She is an answer to countless prayers and she is truly a joy...our little Abigail Joy!

Sunday, September 4, 2011
born at 3:54 am
6 pounds, 1 ounce ~ 18 1/2 inches

Thanks again to our good friend, Diana, for photographing Abigail's birth story.

What is your most treasured blessing?

2011-09-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Most everyone I know and love are experiencing difficult times. Whether the challenges be financial, emotional, physical or social, one thing is certain, we can always find comfort and perspective through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My greatest comfort in time of trial is to remember what I treasure most in this life: my husband and my children, and then to remind myself that there is no power on earth that can take them from me. No matter what challenges may come, I find comfort in knowing I am sealed to my husband and children for all eternity and will be with them as long as I keep the covenants I made at the time Larry and I were sealed together in the temple of our Lord.

In Primary, the children learn at a very early age that a covenant is a two-way promise made between us and Heavenly Father. We promise to keep the commandments he has given us and he promises blessings associated with that covenant such as being together with Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ, our husband or wife and children through all eternity as is promised in the covenant we make when we are sealed as husband and wife in the temple.

This blessing of eternal marriage (marriage that does not end at death but continues on forever) and eternal family has been in the forefront of my mind with the recent birth of our baby, Abigail Joy. How grateful I am for my wonderful husband who loves, supports, sustains and sacrifices for our family through all of our ups and downs in life. How grateful I am for each of our precious children who, with each birth, have multiplied the love we share in our marriage and family. We are taking part in the greatest joy our Father in Heaven has: FAMILY, and we strive each day to keep the covenants we have made that we might always enjoy that blessing of being together forever in the joy and peace of the Lord.

I am grateful for the encouraging and comforting words of Elder Robert D. Hales, one of the Lord's apostles on the earth today. As I logged onto lds.org today, I saw a beautiful picture of a family with the title: "A Little Heaven on Earth." I wanted to read more so I clicked on that link, and read the following article:
"A Little Heaven on Earth."

It was very inspiring to me. I learned many things I can do to strengthen and better myself, so that I can "...stand strong, strengthen [my husband and children]..." and "...have true happiness and find the joy of a celestial marriage with a little heaven on earth..."

My most treasured blessing:
My Family Can Be Together Forever.

perspective

2011-08-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

I remember growing up reading a stitchery that my mom made... it hung on the hall wall outside my bedroom and I walked by it a lot... I read it a lot...

Cooking and cleaning can wait til tomorrow,
for babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

I didn't totally grasp the meaning at the time, but now, as a mother of soon to be 4, and my first little baby just starting kindergarten... I most definitely do!

To keep perspective, I try to ask myself often what it is I'm focused on and where my attention is... and so I ask you, dear young mothers:

Are your children hanging at your legs as you try to make the bed, wash the laundry or dishes... fix dinner? Are you typing on the computer as your children are whimpering at your knee with a toy in hand?

Is this the time of your life??

Are you worn out? Exhausted? Just trying to "get there"?

Are you sitting on the floor playing with your children... dressing the dolls, reading books, playing cars or rolling the ball?

Is this incessant whining and crying just to drive you crazy or is it because you are missing an opportunity now that will never be there for you again?

Are you saying "just a minute" all day while your child wants to ask you questions and play... as you try to wash those last few dishes or put a couple of papers or toys away... does the park have to wait until later or tomorrow because that errand is so pressing?

3, 4 or 5 years down the road from now when you are finally organized and your life "is in order" are you going to look around your ankles to find that your young ones don't want to play with you anymore...? They'd rather play with their friends, and they spend half of their waking hours with a new teacher... a school teacher... rather than their mother teacher they've had from birth... don't miss out on what is yours for such a short time.

since we have the time...

2011-08-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to guess how big this little girl will be?? Or what day she will be born??

My first: 5 lbs, 7 oz, 20 inches and 2 1/2 weeks early

My second: 6 lbs, 13 oz, 19 inches and 4 days early

My third: 6 lbs, 12 oz, 20 inches and 2 1/2 weeks early

anyone think we might actually have a "7-pound-er" this time?? Probably not, but you never know!

still pregnant...

2011-08-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

Still pregnant... not much news other than my ultrasounds on my leg Monday showed that I don't have any blood clots in my deep veins (deep vein thrombosis). That is VERY good news! Now we're just hoping that this little girl will be born soon enough before my veins get any worse.

Other than the pain and the waiting game, things are going very well... we don't have near the complications we have had in the past and our baby, though still very tiny is doing well... healthy and strong.

We feel so blessed and loved by so many wonderful friends and family members. Thank you, thank you, to all who have helped and been praying for us. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you, let me assure you that this is exactly what Christ taught when he admonished us to bear one another's burdens. Our load has definitely felt lighter through your love and service. We also have felt that extra strength on days when we just didn't know how we'd make it through. My Nana says, sometimes you just have to focus on making it through the next few minutes, and then once you do, you go from there.

We are very excited and feel very blessed to have this little girl coming to our family. We know she's worth every sacrifice. We will definitely keep you posted as soon as we have anything exciting to share!

Thank you again! We love you and are grateful for you!

How does it feel to be told you CANNOT be on bedrest?

2011-08-09T23:21:00.000-07:00

relieving, exhausting, overwhelming... all at the same time.

So what does it mean, really?

Everything's still the same... all the same risks, all the same problems... just that being on bed rest is potentially more life threatening to me than not being on bed rest. doesn't that sound nice? The veins in my leg are so bad that just resting for a day and a half brought on what we are hoping is just an infection in one of my veins and not a clot. The pain from it makes it difficult to walk...pretty bad alone, but on top of everything else... can anyone say scream, cry, throw up and pass out all at the same time??

I have felt very calm in my heart all along about this baby. I feel she will be just fine. I know she's Heavenly Father's daughter, and he is watching over her. My biggest fear has been developing a blood clot and all the repercussions that come with that... complications it adds to delivery, the threat it is to my life and also my baby's. not to mention the way it may alter the rest of my life. I have done everything I can to try and prevent this situation throughout this pregnancy... so no matter how exhausted or awful I feel, I still force myself to get those impossible hose on each day and get out of bed, no matter how painful... and get moving.

maybe you can imagine my anxiety over being put on bed rest? So, here I am hobbling around the house... trying to keep my blood flowing through the contractions and the pain in my leg, the exhaustion and nausea... just keep moving, moving, moving... and whether it puts me into labor, or brings on my pre-eclampsia necessary for induction... chances are this little girl is coming soon, and we're praying I last until then and that by then, she'll be just fine.

a long 24 hours

2011-08-09T23:17:00.001-07:00

well, more like a long last few days.

I started feeling really sick and experiencing a lot of abdominal pain starting Thursday morning this week. I finally went into the doctor's office later that afternoon and the only conclusion that we came to was that I was experiencing early labor, but it wasn't causing me to dilate or progress in anyway toward birth, so not to worry about it too much unless it got worse. Thursday was shot. I was exhausted from all of the pain. Friday was a little better and by Saturday morning, I felt almost back to my usual pregnant self. However, Saturday night, it hit again, and this time harder than the first. I thought I was just sick... like with a stomach ache, and tried walking around the block, soaking in warm bath, curling up in a little ball on my knees and elbows... nothing seemed to provide much if any relief. After about 5 hours, the pain became so intense that I started vomiting. I vomited for a couple of hours until there was nothing left to vomit. Finally we decided to head into the OB triage to see what was going on. I was thinking... maybe food poisoning? Maybe the flu? Who would have guessed... LABOR... contractions every 3 minutes. So, that's what that pain was! The only odd thing about it is that it wasn't making me progress. So, after an bag of saline through the IV, a shot of Tribultylene and a shot of zofran, I was on my way home again...just as the sun came up... still in a lot of pain, but a little more relaxed to where I could actually give into the exhaustion and sleep for a couple of hours. My relief was short lived because at 8 am, it all started again. This prodromal labor, as they call it comes on so suddenly and so strong! And the worst part, there's no relief. At least if it was real labor and I was progressing and getting ready to deliver, there would be an end in sight, and options for pain management... like... EPIDURAL! but not with this vicious attack. The nurse described my next couple of weeks to a month that I have to look forward to as "you feel like you just want to murder someone, but there's nothing we can do about it." great. The rest of my day has been a fog.

I'm trying to keep an optimistic perspective. I remember when I was so sick with morning sickness that I was shaking and couldn't get out of bed, I thought... I can't do this for another 10 plus weeks... like I did with Noah. But I survived, and it didn't last as long as I was worried about. At that point I still had 32 weeks to go. Now I have 4 1/2 or less. perspective. and knowing that the end result will be the sweetest baby girl I can imagine in my arms makes it all worth it.

such a character!

2011-08-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ethan is such a character! He always keeps us on our toes and giggling. Today he was making thank you cards for all of his friends that came to his Batman birthday party... He wanted to write BATMAN on all of the cards...

Me: "I'll show you how to write it..."

Ethan: feeling like he doesn't need mom's help... he already knows... "Is it P-R-A-N-C?"

um. no.

mommy of the year award... right here!

2011-07-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

nothing could be farther from the truth.

disclaimer: not for the weak stomachs...

SO... we bought a minivan... yup! We finally took the plunge. We love it. It's a wonderful van and everything we were hoping for... just hard to stomach such a big loan... but no matter how we'd try... there's no way we can fit our 4th child into our 5 passenger sedan. no.can.do.

The van is beautiful... big, but beautiful and although, might i say, it's big... it drives just like a car AND is definitely not as intimidating as driving my in-laws giant SUV... that sealed the deal for me on a minivan. :)

SO... you're wondering about the "weak stomach" part?

well, Everything inside and out on that van is pristine... that's what you get, AND what you pay for when you buy a used car from a dealer... all but one part... there's something sticky inside one of the door pockets... too deep to see but you'll find it if you stick your hand in there and rummage around...
AND...
I did.

Well... turns out it wasn't just a small little melted gummy bear or fruit snack... I have no idea what it was, actually, has the consistency of gum and the smell of gum, but looks more like a fruit snack or gummy bear... I have scrubbed and scrubbed, dug and peeled, and haven't gotten it all out yet...
Since I was washing my rags at the same time, I thought I'd give it a whirl and throw add it to the wash. WELL... long story short, I got some big chunks off and didn't want to rinse them down the bathroom sink... so I found a small disposable plastic cup out on the counter... the ones the kids use when they are brushing their teeth or want a quick drink... and i just tossed the gross chunk of blue in there...

I'm sure you can guess what happened...

yup.

I forgot to throw it out.

came across the same cup and chunk in the bathroom hours later... this time with water remnants in it... much to my horror, my sweet Catherine unknowingly took a drink from "mom's yucky cup" as Ethan would call it.

"Catherine did it, mom. Not me. I promise."

I apologized over and over again and decided we needed to say a prayer to ask Heavenly Father to protect Catherine from whatever disgusting goo she ingested.

Ethan to the rescue! He wanted to say the prayer:

"...please bless Catherine to not get sick from the yucky cup that she drank... And please bless Catherine not to drink out of Mommy's yucky cup anymore... and please bless us to be quiet while Noah's sleeping..."

Mother of the Year AWARD: goes to anyone who wants to buy someone's car and pull their unidentifiable sticky melted mess out of the door, throw it in a cup and give it to their 5-year-old to drink. Exactly.

okay, okay. so maybe it's not a big deal to any of you, but seriously, would you want to buy a car and then proceed to drink the goo that was melted into the pocket of it from only Heaven knows where??

happy through and through

2011-06-14T16:57:00.000-07:00

I have often wondered at the endless activities that parents indulge their children in. "They're just so bored," or "They'll drive me crazy if they're at home all day," or "We just have to get out of the house everyday," or, "We just have to have SOMETHING to do everyday," are a few of the many reasons I hear from parents when they talk about their days. Paid-activities or free, structured or not, in or out of the house, I have always felt that a child who is constantly stimulated will never find that inner peace and confidence that only comes from knowing who they are and what they love and what makes them happy as they mature and take steps toward independence.

It's important to have days where there is "nothing to do" so that my children can clear their minds and let their own creative juices flow. Over the last year or two we have gradually weaned our children off of television and movies. We haven't had television service in our home for the last couple of years and I think it is one of the top reasons our family bonds have grown so much stronger. Of course my older children still LOVE to watch a movie, and they do a couple of times a week, but they know now that it's a special treat, and not just a "babysitter" when mom needs to get something done.

There was a time in my life where I did have my children in several activities each week, and the TV was on for several hours of the day (whether they were intently watching it or not) but I began to notice that if my children watched TV first thing in the morning... whether cartoons or a movie or something educational, they were sure to fall apart and have temper tantrums that day... and though that will still happen from time to time, the tantrums were much more frequent on the days they watched TV. So, gradually, I began to wean them from television and movies. Later, I began to wean them from many of the extracurricular activities they were involved in. I had to wean myself too, because as all moms know, social events and activities for children add to the social life of the mother as well... :)

This has allowed for a lot more "play" time. By play time, I don't mean structured activities, on the contrary, this is the undirected time where my children can invent and daydream. They discover what their own interests and talents are... not the popular trends, and they discover an inner peace and joy as they begin to develop their own unique talents. They develop confidence as they discover they can choose to be happy and they can choose to do things that will make them happy, rather than waiting for someone else to come along and entertain them and make them "happy."

At times I have wondered if I am doing the right thing for my children choosing not to indulge them in preschool, music, dance, gymnastics, and other sporting events year-round -- because I do believe those are wonderful, enriching, rewarding activities. But then I remember that motherhood... just being with my children and mothering them, is the highest and noblest of all things a person can ever do. And I find even more comfort and reassurance as I listen to the words of the prophet and general authorities of Christ's church...

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy...Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list...Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives...It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice...If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most." - President Deiter F. Uchtdorf

"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all...Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best. When the Lord told us to seek learning, He said, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom” (D&C 88:118; emphasis added)...Family experts have warned against what they call “the overscheduling of children.” In the last generation children are far busier and families spend far less time together. Among many measures of this disturbing trend are the reports that structured sports time has doubled, but children’s free time has declined by 12 hours per week, and unstructured outdoor activities have fallen by 50 percent...The First Presidency has called on parents “to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles. … The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place … in … this God-given responsibility.” The First Presidency has declared that “however worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform.” -Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all." -Julie B. Beck

Today I was reading about what really makes children happy or not, and I was interested in what Edward Hallowell had to say. He's a psychiatrist and author of The Childhood roots of adult happiness. He explains that children need to develop inner tools they can rely on throughout life and that over-indulged children -- whether showered with toys or shielded from emotional discomfort -- are more likely to grow into teenagers who are bored, cynical, and joyless. "The best predictors of happiness are internal, not external."

Though it's very difficult to not follow the trends of today's society and to not be a part of all of the social events happening around me, I am happy that I have chosen to allow my children the time to be home...to play and imagine with their toys...to create and dream and find joy in who they are and what they love about life. I know they are building a sure foundation that will not fail them as friends or popularity comes and goes throughout their lives. I see joy, contentment, confidence and peace in their lives, and I know their happiness comes from within and is lasting rather than fleeting with each activity. And though we are not free from tantrums, tears and trials... we are growing stronger each day individually and thus, as a family as we have chosen to spend more time learning, growing and playing together rather than apart.

my angel

2011-06-04T14:50:00.001-07:00

did you know i have an angel?

she's the sunshine in my darkest hour.

this is for her:

THREE! it's the magic number!

2011-06-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

On our way home from swimming lessons today, Ethan was telling about some guy with horns who was a bad guy with "Dark" Vader as he calls him... but "Dark Vader doesn't have horns..." and then something about cutting off hands... and then he gave him the sword...

I'm thinking to myself... HAS THIS KID SEEN THE MOVIE?!! GREAT! who showed him the movie?? he wouldn't just think those things up on his own... that's too coincidental...

Hey Ethan, have you seen that movie before with Darth Vader?

NO. Just dad's that he showed me on the computer...

and i remember that Larry told me he showed him a scene with the light sabers...

but really, cutting off hands? Great. Thanks, babe.

so i decide to change the subject...

Hey, Ethan! Are you so excited for your batman birthday party?

but I just don't want to be four because I like being three.

Being 4 could be lots of fun, Ethan.

But I just like being a little boy.

Well, you'll still be a little boy when you're four... you won't be as big as Catherine or as me or daddy...

But I just don't want to be 4

Okay, that's fine. you don't have to have a birthday

WELL... (the NOTORIOUS negotiator shines again...)

I just want to have a three again and again and again...

(aka: I still want to party! I just want to celebrate my third birthday over and over again)

E: Let's give them a bear with a 3 on it...

Me: Oh, give your friends an invitation with a 3 on it so that they know you're still three?

E: but they'll say, you can't be 3 still... and I'll tell them, yes I can because I like being 3

So, tell the Stevens when we go there that I'm still 3

dialogue

2011-06-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

What was your favorite thing about swimming lessons, Catherine?

The water. I just love to be in the water! That's why I always ask to go swimming at Grandma and Grandpa Reeves' house. But grandma and Grandpa Cattin don't have a pool. They just have grass...

but they don't know if they're gonna keep their grass or not... cause Grandpa always trims the grass down all the way until it's dirt.

Catherine: Mom, tonight when we take Penny on a walk... can I hold the leash and walk Penny?

Me: Sure.

Catherine: And Ethan can ride his bike and Noah can sit in the stroller...

I can SEE it, Mom! Like.. sometimes when I'm thinking of something, I can see it with my eyes... haha. Oh, now it's gone.

LIFE

2011-05-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

7 months ago, we almost lost our third child to an anaphylactic reaction to a scorpion sting and now in about 3 months we will be having our 4th child. I'm so glad that our little boy's life was spared, and I'm thankful that we have this sweet baby girl coming to our family... I am reminded again and again just how delicate and precious life is. For the Lord giveth and He also taketh away.

catherine caught a bug...

2011-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

catherine has been really wanting to catch a bug over the last couple of days...

she had some pieces of food yesterday in a cup trying to catch a fly outside... this morning she found a poor little helpless bug in our house...

Ethan came in awhile after they had caught it and were carrying it around outside in the cup...

"Mom, can I have a watermelon?"

What for, Ethan?

For the bug... it died, but if we give it some watermelon, it can come back to life...

well, the watermelon isn't going to bring it back to life...

Well, can i just have some watermelon for it?

Catherine... it's not dead mom, it's just sleeping. It's just that it's little poky things popped off when I pinched it to pick it up...

poor bug

big boy talking!

2011-05-24T08:53:00.001-07:00

Noah's vocabulary has boomed since turing 2!

when I asked him if he'd like some milk this morning, rather than his usual "no" that really means "yes" he actually answered "Ya."

This morning when he ran into me with the vacuum I asked him to say "sorry mama." and he did! "Sorry Mama!"

When I suggested, "Let's go to the park." He echoed, "go park!"

When I told the kids it was time to go, and everyone started cheering YAY! Noah chimed in, "YAY!"

He just walked in from the garage and said, "Let's GO!"

Do you love the way kids' minds work?

2011-05-15T20:52:00.001-07:00

Catherine, "I love healthy food, mom. I like vegetables, but not the slimy ones like squash or zucchini...but I like all the plants and animals we eat... and milk that comes from the cows... and all the vitamins in there... but they must be tiny pieces because I can't see them, and they must be white..."

hide and seek

2011-05-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Catherine, Ethan and Noah are playing hide and go seek... Catherine and Noah hid first... Ethan was counting...

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX...

WHEREVER YOU'RE NOT, HERE I COME!

germs

2011-05-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Ever since my microbiology class, my hubby has said I've never been the same....thank you, Dr. Goodwill.

Well, my new awareness of bacteria and it's amazing replicating abilities weren't life-changing until the birth of my first daughter. It's funny how we are as humans... I'm not sure if it would be considered selflessness, laziness or just plain weakness... but I am a lot more lax and unconcerned when it comes to germs invading my own personal space. On the contrary, if they even come within a mile of my beloved child, there's no amount of soap and hot water, Clorox or other disinfecting/sanitizing agent that will satisfy my nerves.

Sometimes I relax a little bit, trying not to "over-react" and I don't make my child wash their hands if they touched the public bathroom wall, and I actually let them turn off their own water, touch the inside of the sink (gasp, I know.) or open the door themselves (all speaking of public restrooms of course) without making them wash again. (Please tell me I'm not the only one who worries about these types of things... I'm really baring all here.)

Then, I have moments like the other night when my son starts vomiting at my sister-in-law's wedding reception, and scooping him and as much of his vomit up as possible, I take him into the nice little public restroom down the hall, plop him and his germs all over the counter and proceed to retrieve paper towels from the dispenser... vomit still on my hands... yes...now contaminating the paper towel dispenser... strip him down piling his vomit covered suit into the sink... now contaminating the inside of the sink... and when all is said and done... I did wipe up my mess, but just paper towels and water... you know? and I thought, looking at the counter, sinks, paper towel dispenser, this is EXACTLY why I am careful about everything any of us touch in a public restroom... and yes, these same disgusting germs could be anywhere outside of the restroom as well, but that IS the most common place to encounter them.

SO, sorry, babe. back to strict hygiene. :)

2011-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

baby's kicking... i love it!

IT'S A GIRL!

We couldn't be happier! Catherine can't wait for her baby sister! Noah and Ethan are ecstatic too! The boys are loving all over my belly already and we all can't wait to meet her!

A Much Simpler Time...

2011-04-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

We were just looking through some old pictures tonight from our days living in Hawaii. It's amazing how much has changed in the last 4 years. We long for Hawaii and feel blessed to have had the chance to experience living there. We have so many great memories from those days.

LIVING TODAY

2011-03-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

"Life is not a race--but indeed a journey. Be honest. work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you," "I love you," and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than a pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given; it is not accidental--search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself--plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment." -Bonnie Mohr

making life sweeter

2011-03-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

I just love the things my children say. They keep life lighter and sweeter.

Awhile back:

Ethan, "I ate it all gone. Now you can't have a bite. But it's okay if you're sad."

Me, (trying to understand) "Oh, I was going to have a bite but you ate it all, so now I can feel sad if I want to?"

Ethan, "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ate it!"

drop by drop

2011-02-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday our Stake Relief Society put on an amazing brunch to celebrate the up-coming birthday of the Relief Society organization. The breakfast was delicious but nothing could compare in any way to the production of the Ten Virgins. Amazing, touching, inspiring... They did a fabulous job and I am forever grateful to them for all of their efforts and months of practicing. A parable that I understood on the surface but never really had a personal connection with is now very personal to me. I identified with so many of the different women portraying the 10 virgins... their struggles and strengths, their weaknesses and mistakes... How I long to be more like the calm woman who finds balance in the most important things in life and the one who constantly lifts the hands that hang down and strengthens the feeble knees. How I wish I was less like the woman who scurries about frantically working all day but feeling as though she never accomplishes anything.

My late grandmother used to counsel me when I was a teenager... how I wish I would have listened more!!! A reoccurring theme I often heard was how I could be, accomplish or become whatever I wanted to. She often talked about the power of our minds and how sending good thoughts or vibes out into the universe would bring good back to us. Though not of the same faith, I have gleaned so much wisdom from her experiences. I understand more now than I did 15 years ago and see the parallel in a parable that I've known for as long as I can remember. It's the parable of the mustard seed found in the book of Alma in The Book of Mormon. As I was thinking about the characteristics I so desire in some of the women portrayed in the Ten Virgins production, I would start to get a sinking feeling that I was so far from achieving that; it was nearly hopeless. Then the whisperings of the Holy Ghost would remind me that it all starts with a thought... a mere desire to believe... and become.... drop by drop... I know we can all become the great Women and Men that our Heavenly Father sees in us as we come to Him often and allow His spirit to fill our hearts and lives.

TODAY in CHURCH...

2011-02-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

I really love our ward. I love that our Primary is so huge. It's always exciting! There's always something to keep us busy and on our toes! Today I presented sharing time. It was a lot of fun. The lesson was on how the commandments help us follow Heavenly Father's plan for us and that brings us happiness. The children had an opportunity to share a commandment they thought of and how that makes us happy. I had chosen several children from the Primary and they were starting to share in the microphone which commandment they had chosen and why it makes them happy to keep that commandment. During the middle of it, Ethan came walking up to the podium. I thought maybe he was just coming up to see me... but it turned out he had something to share, and he shared "go to the temple." It was so sweet. It just melted my heart. He turned to go sit down but I directed him over to get his bean to put it in the jar. I feel like I'm always running out of time during sharing time. My main struggle is that I'm not a very good judge of time and how long something will take, or how much time has passed. I skipped the last half of the sharing time I had planned because I didn't want to cut into singing time (as I often do... feel bad about that). The senior sharing time is always much more productive and I had a better idea of how to get to everything that i wanted to. We were able to get to the part of them making a banner of what they pledge or promise to do as a class to follow Heavenly Father's plan for us. They wrote down several commandments on their banner as a class and then one child from each class brought it to the front to share. I was really touched and inspired to hear them share the commandments that they planned to keep together as a class. I invited them to keep their banners in their binders so that they could remind each other each week of the promise they had made. I'm really grateful for Primary. It inspires me to be better and to be as our Savior invites, "as a little child."

After church while getting ready for lunch, We had an interesting conversation with Ethan... then again, Ethan's conversations are always interesting...

Me:

How was your class today, Ethan?

Ethan:

It was a little...long. Did you see that? You know.

Me:

But did you like your class? Don't you like your teachers?

Ethan:

ya...

Me:

What did you like about it?

Ethan:

Because my teachers were talking nice, not stupid.

Me:

Uh oh.

Ethan:

(little smirk... wanting a reaction)

Catherine:

Why'd you say uh, oh?

Me:

Oh, because Ethan said a word that wasn't very nice.

Catherine:

What word was it?

Ethan:

Stupid, but... (so nonchalant)

(then with conviction) I was saying they were talking nice!

moving out already??

2011-02-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

Catherine:

"I'm moving to Hawaii. Did you know, Dad?"

Larry:

"Oh, you are? When?"

Catherine:

"When I'm a mom."

Shall I Say, "HAPPY NEW YEAR"

2010-12-29T13:55:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas 2010 and Happy New Year 2011

It is a wonderful season. Our hearts are fullest right now to have our family surrounding us. How grateful we are for life. A month and a half ago, our youngest child, Noah was stung by a scorpion and had a severe reaction. It was a very close call for him. Our hearts are full of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for answering our prayers and sparing his life that day. We’re also grateful for medical professionals who have prepared and sacrificed and given so much of their time to provide medical help in our time of need. It is in moments such as these when seconds feel like hours and life hangs by a delicate thread that we quickly assess what is most important to us in our lives. We both have found it much easier to set things aside to focus on our family. We have found ourselves hugging our children a little tighter, snuggling them a little longer, reading just one more story and singing just one more song... laughing more and loving deeper.

Most especially this time of year, our hearts and thoughts are turned toward our Savior, Jesus Christ. We think not only of his humble birth, but his miraculous life and glorious resurrection. We learn from the example of His selfless life and find hope in His atoning sacrifice and resurrection which makes possible for us the greatest of all of our Father in Heaven's gifts: Eternal life with Him, with our Savior Jesus Christ and with our families. How it warms our hearts when we realize the love we share in our families and the joy we feel with them surrounding us can last forever. What a gift! How comforting it is to know that we will one day be reunited with loved ones who have passed on. Larry and I find our greatest joy in having a family… welcoming each of our children into this world, growing, learning, loving and laughing together in this journey called life.

Catherine is our angel. She has the most tender, loving heart. We call her our baby doll because when she was born she was about the size of a baby doll. She turned 5 a month ago and is growing into a tall and very beautiful young lady. She is quite the little sponge and has started teaching herself to read over the past few months. She is a natural with numbers and math and is quite the little artist. Our house is covered with her detailed depictions of animals, people and everyday life. Her patience and persistence surpasses that of my own. I will watch her spend an hour and a half to 2 hours completely focused while working on just one picture. She is imaginative, inventive and an endless fountain of ideas and questions. Catherine loves animals… ALL animals: real, toy, stuffed… Rather than "princesses" and "dress up" she will dazzle you with playtime ideas such as: “Mom, let’s play kitties (or birds). I’m the kitty at the pet shop and you come buy me and take care of me...”

The whole “animal pretend play” is right up Ethan’s alley but you’ll find him deciding to be the dragon or the tiger that’s going to chase and hunt down all the poor innocent animals, tormenting them until they’re screaming for me to come to their rescue! Ethan, almost 3½, is the pure definition of a 3 year-old BOY. Ethan is Mr. Independent, who loves to climb everything, scream, laugh, run and play from BEFORE sunup ‘til WAY after sundown. Ethan loves sports. We have discovered he has a natural talent in all sports: football, basketball, track and field, baseball, soccer, swimming, skateboarding, bike riding... you name it; he can do it -- effortlessly. From day one we have seen that he definitely takes after his Uncle Taylor in his personality and athleticism. Though tough as nails when it comes to sports and wrestling with other boys, Ethan is also one of the most compassionate, tenderhearted people I know. He definitely takes after his Uncle Ben Donner in that sense. He is always aware of people, their needs and feelings. If he notices you are feeling down or discouraged, you’ll find him quickly returning with one of his toys, ample hugs and silly faces to cheer you up. He is a natural friend and always goes out of his way to include everyone in his fun. Ethan is a ham and finds great delight in making anyone laugh.

Noah is still our “little” baby who is more of a tank than a baby and already starting to wear his older brother’s clothes. He’s growing up so fast and finds delight in everything we do. He is the happiest, most pleasant 1½ year-old we have known. We think of Noah as being JOLLY and often joke that he’s “Santa’s child.” Noah is wild and loving, snuggly and independent all rolled into one! He’s a curious little fellow and keeps us on our toes!

Larry and I are truly enjoying these three precious gifts from Heaven! We have had a full and busy year with a lot of sacrifice but far more blessings than we could hope for!

We hope this is a wonderful season for you and your family and that you find an abundance of health, love and laughter this Christmas and throughout the New Year!

Merry Christmas from The Reeves!

2010-12-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Food conversation

2010-12-21T13:56:00.000-08:00

Ethan: I don't want any because it's spicy.

Me: Green beans aren't spicy

Ethan: but i don't eat it if it has squash because squash is not good for kids.

Catherine:
Hot dogs are squishy, like pillows.

kid talk

2010-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

I just listened to the funniest conversation between Catherine and her friend, Sydney Viramontes this afternoon while they were watching "The Sound of Music." (one of Sydney's favorites, I'm sure)

Sydney, "Why do you have this movie?"

Catherine, "Because it's a church movie."

Sydney, "No it's not."

Catherine, "Yes it is."

Sydney, "No it's not."

Catherine, "Yes, it is."

Sydney, "Why?"

Catherine, "Because at the end of the movie Captain Von-Trap and Maria get married."

Sydney, "No they don't."

Catherine, "Yes they do."

Sydney, "No, they don't."

Catherine, "You'll just have to watch the movie, and you'll see at the end of the movie..."

Sydney, "Are you toes painted?"

(smart girl... can't agree? Just move on to a new subject.)

2010-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

I was running along in the cold damp air of La Verne this morning... totally loving life and barely resisting the impulse to immediately move back to Hawaii to enjoy this typical weather all winter long! Still running along trying to decide whether that smell was In-N-Out's grilled onions or B.O..
I REALLY LOVE vacation!
but i guess it is about time to shower...

what could possibly be better than a trip to Disneyland?!

2010-10-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

what is honestly better than Disneyland?? A character dinner! no crazy lines to wait for rides that kids bail out on at the last second... no crazy lines to wait to see the characters, no additional over-priced fees for food. no worries about losing a child in the crowds...
rather...
characters coming to meet and greet YOU individually!
amazing food, as much as you want! no extra charge!
top-quality entertainment that Disney is famous for!
and less than half the price!

Thanks, cousin Ryan for turning 6 and having the coolest birthday dinner ever!

WE are so happy we got to celebrate with you!

be nice

2010-10-03T15:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when I hear my children repeat phrases I have used in my exhausting efforts to teach them values that will help them develop Christ-like qualities and testimonies of Him.

I was delighted when I heard Catherine talking to Ethan in the other room as they were playing...

"Be nice."

"But if you don't love each other, that's okay; you can still be nice."

I hope the phrase I used was, "if you don't LIKE each other..." But either way, it was sweet to hear.

Those are the moments that make it all worth it!

I feel like I'm raising a husky puppy

2010-09-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago the kids and I went to a park about a mile and a half away... I pushed Catherine and Noah in the stroller. Ethan wanted to ride his bike... not only did he ride all the way there and back but he rode around and around the sidewalk loop while we were there.

This morning as I was going for my run, he (of course was up) told me that he wanted to go with me. I told him he could later. When I got back I took him out running and he just kept going! We probably ran about a half mile together!

Not only that, but he's fast. REALLY fast.

aw

2010-09-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

oh, my sweet baby!

So, when I got out of the shower today, I went to check on the kids... I usually do, just to be sure everyone is still alive and kickin. This time I couldn't find Noah. There weren't many places he could have gone... I had locked the gate in the hall. Catherine and Ethan didn't know where he was. I was beginning to panic, especially since he usually shows up pretty soon after calling his name. I had the thought to check my closet... the door was closed and I wasn't sure if it was closed or not before I got into the shower. I opened the door... thunk. right into his little sleeping head! My poor baby! He had shut himself in there with the light off, and apparently thought since he couldn't figure his way out and couldn't see anything to get into, he might as well catch a few winks until someone came around to rescue him. What a little doll. It was the saddest and cutest thing ever! He's so darling. I just can't figure out why he can open doors when he wants to get into something, but can't figure out to open them to get out... maybe because it was pitch black?

my new running buddy

2010-09-17T13:05:00.001-07:00

i have a new running buddy...

Ethan really wanted to go running with me this morning... he woke up just as I was about to leave. I told him he could come with me after a little bit. So, I went out for a quick run, about 2 and a quarter miles, then came back and got Ethan all suited up to go with me. He wore his little dark grey cotton pants, new plaid tennis shoes and his family reunion t-shirt. When we got outside I asked him where he wanted to run to...

"COST-CO!"

haha

I suggested we run to the fountain... he liked that idea too. So we did.

Then he wanted to run some more... I asked him if he'd like to run to the mailboxes.

And we did.

Then he wanted to run back to the fountain.

Then he wanted to run back to the mailboxes again.

He sounded a little winded so I asked him if he'd like to walk a little.

He said, "Ya, (and a split second later) AND LET'S RACE!"

And he was off again!

After the mailboxes he consented to "racing home."

I was really impressed. We probably ran a total of about a half mile.

When we got home he told me, "I'm a good runner." and "I make lots of good choices and bad choices... That's because I'm a good boy."

I love my new little running buddy!

We need to get some good running shoes for him!

a new chapter...

2010-09-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

Noah can now reach the door handles, and hasn't wasted a second figuring out how to open all of the doors now....

So, like it or not, we are on to the new chapter of baby/toddler hood...

first it's the crawling phase where every tiny speck on your floor has to be cleaned up and monitored at all times and every available counter/tabletop space is occupied with everything but the kitchen sink... your furniture is now resembling some form of Picasso's artwork to hide all of the dangerous plugs and lamps...

Then it's the walking phase... removing lamps and other objects from the lower table tops and scooting everything in from the edges of the higher counters and tables... out of reach of the curious little fingers appearing at the edge of every ledge...

so now we are onto the opening doors stage... back to the baby gates! Heaven help us! And Heaven HELP ME! stop this vicious cycle of clutter invading my house and get it all picked up and away from curious little fingers before it's all in vain!

food for thought...

2010-09-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

SO, all you physics majors out there.... i still SO wish I had minored in physics....

we know that darkness is just the absence of light....

we know that energy is found in various forms... kinetic, potential, thermal, gravitational...etc. and these energies can be converted or transferred into other forms of energy... such as electricity.

This is really mundane, I know... but what got me thinking on this was my bottle of water....

haha.

I had about 10 ounces of warm water in a bottle, and added about 24 ounces of cold water (to fill it up) As my sensitive teeth are not a fan of super cold water, I thought about how nice it would be to drink the "not very cold, but not warm" water.... I thought to myself, "should I shake it up to mix the temperatures well?" then I remembered about diffusion and thought about how quickly the like elements at different stages of energy would diffuse to meet an equilibrium.

And as I thought about this diffusion of thermal energy, I wondered...

and i pose my question,

If HEAT is an indication of the presence of energy, is COLD merely the absence of it?

ain't much to do when it's RAININ' out!

2010-07-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

except go to swimming lessons!!!!!!!!

WAAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

one more day!

Noah Robert

2010-07-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Our happy little chum has been having a rough month. He weaned himself in the past couple of weeks and has discovered so much independence that it frustrates him to no end when he finds a limit to his abilities. He developed a high fever last week and hasn't been able to sleep very well. We think it was the stomach flu which was then followed by a respiratory infection. On top of it all, he cut his 5th tooth last Monday.

On a more positive note, he took his first couple of steps yesterday! The expression of wonder and excitement at his own achievement was classic! It's almost like a glimpse of the future and what it will be like as he realizes his own talents and abilities.

Ethan Paul

2010-07-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

Root for Captain Hook!

My little man may seem like a rough and tough boy through and through.. but he has a very sensitive and tender heart.

He has been crazy about Peter Pan's captain hook for months now. His birthday is next week and he has been planning an adventurous Captain Hook birthday party for months! I keep trying to teach him not to hit as he just itches to "hook and sword" everything and everyone in sight! Today he told me that he doesn't want to be Captain Hook any more because Captain Hook is mean... and for the first time (the "captain hook birthday party" is less than 2 weeks away) I found myself encouraging him to love this evil villain rather than praising him for not wanting to fight any more. sigh. what's a mother to do?

Catherine Victoria

2010-07-19T17:02:00.001-07:00

my little lady is growing up so fast!

She is 4 1/2 years old and discovering new talents everyday!

She loves to tell stories... she is very creative and the stories usually include one of us... as royalty... always beginning with "once upon a time... there was a...."

She loves to draw and color, and is an amazing little artist. She loves to daydream and wish for things for the future. She continually tells me about all the toys she is wishing for for her birthday... and since that list has become so long, she is now moving on to her Christmas wish list.

She is my very best helper. She helps Ethan put diapers on but now that he's potty-trained, she can even be found occasionally wiping his poopy bum! what a saint! she helps him get the soap when he washes his hands, she sets the table, dusts, vacuums messes and cleans her room to perfection! she makes her own bed, and even helps Ethan make his bed as well as helps him get dressed. she picks up Noah for me and moves him to safer places... She is an endless fountain of imagination and new possibilities. Her favorite colors are still orange and blue, and she has changed her mind for her birthday party theme in the last month or so from Tinker Bell to Mickey Mouse to Princesses to a "fishing" party. For the longest time she felt like she had to pick the theme of her party according to what toy she was wishing for, so she would wish for a dolphin party and then a whale party... once i told her how she could wish for presents regardless of what kind of party she had, her list quadrupled and she was pretty set on a princess birthday party until most recently.

She knows all of her manual alphabet in American Sign Language, and has learned to spell several words. She is also picking up basic concepts of math. She has an amazing memory and will tell us names, places and details of events from years ago! She loves to learn and has a very keen mind.

My favorite thing about Catherine is how noble and Christ-like she is. She is a very gentle, sweet girl without a mean bone in her body. She can be completely pummeled by her brother and just sit there crying without fighting back because she can't bear to hit anyone. I love my little princess and am so grateful for her wonderful example to all of us.

Sedona

2010-07-19T17:01:00.001-07:00

What a memorable first Robert Reeves family reunion!

special time to get to know my nieces and nephews a little better.

cousin love!

swimming lessons!

2010-07-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

splish splash!

forever friends...

2010-07-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

we met in Hawaii while attending BYU-H. We gave birth to our first babies... We established a friendship that will last forever.

DISNEYLAND

2010-07-18T21:47:00.001-07:00

way too much fun! it will always be one of my favorite places!

Sweet baby

2010-07-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

My cousin Katie and her husband, Mike Byers blessed their first baby, Cayden the next day, which was extra special because it also happend to be Father's Day. We were so happy to be there and be a part of this special time in their lives. It reminded me so much of when we had our first baby, Catherine, and her blessing was so special for us as well. It is a special time to have family around... and there was a lot of family there with us that day. We enjoyed each other's company at a nice luncheon afterward.

It was an extra special Father's Day as we were able to celebrate so many wonderful fathers together... Larry, my dad and my grandfather. The best part was being together as a family and celebrating Larry and the wonderful, fun, loving father he is to our children.

Together Forever

2010-07-18T17:29:00.001-07:00

My cousin, Julie married her sweetheart, Scott in the Los Angeles temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Everything was exquisit. The ceremony was beautiful. The weather was perfect. The reception was gorgeous and a perfect blend of romance and fun! It was wonderful to see their love for each other and to be there as their life together began. We are very happy for them, and grateful to have been a part of such a special celebration. Tons of family came in from far away. It was like a family reunion for such a special event.

California... WE LOVE YOU!

2010-07-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

i like hot on my chicken!

2010-06-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ethan made me laugh this morning... he has said this same phrase before, but I had forgotten, and this morning I just had to write it down.

He was getting dressed, and brought a pair of pants and short-sleeved shirt into my room...

Oh, not pants... it's too hot outside for pants.

Ya, I don't like hot, do you, Mom?

No, I don't like it when it's hot either.

But do you like hot on your chicken?

Isn't it entertaining how children's minds work?!

a little shout out!......

2010-06-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

DREFT STAIN TREATER!

Goodbye to the strawberry stains...
goodbye to the chocolate stains....
goodbye to the wedding punch stains...
and for everything from formula, spit-up to poop...

HUNDREDS of dollars saved in a little bottle of clear liquid for FOUR dollars!

really? a two-year-old?

2010-06-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

I'm watching Ethan from the room across the hall. He's getting his church pants on...

he had them on backwards... so after taking them off and turning them around... he shakes them out, checks them out, sits down to put his feet in... dances around as he pulls them up... and as i watched him... put on his pants almost like any grown adult, I thought to myself... he's only 2... not even three yet... articulates like a 5-year-old... he's been doing this for AT LEAST 8 months... and I couldn't help but thinking... really?? A two-year-old?!

but he was just a baby!

2010-06-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned Ethan's fascination with Peter Pan's Captain Hook lately? He LOVES captain hook... he loves the hook, he loves the sword... he loves the coat, "beard" (aka Mustache) and pistol.

He's only 2 and a half...so I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when he saw my mom's beautiful statue of Christ as a shepherd with His sheep and exclaimed:

Mom! Jesus has a hook as Captain Hook!

polite kids

2010-06-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

sometimes my kids surprise me in a a nice way....

last night at dinner, Catherine:

"I don't care for it."

tonight at dinner, Ethan:

"I ate so well."

me:

sigh....

seriously?

2010-06-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

where does this kid come up with it?

it's always a scramble getting ALL three kids down for naps... yes, that's what happens when you birth 3 babies in less than 3 and a half years... you have moments when they all take naps at the same time.... but back to the scramble... all three kiddos are in swimming lessons, and unfortunately, the only time available for all three of them at the same time in June was 11:45 am... so by the time we are done with switching swim diapers back to regular diapers and getting three kids buckled into three car seats across the back of one sedan, it's usually around 1 pm or later by the time we get home (rather than 2 pm...thankfully with our new routine of having lunch BEFORE swimming lessons)

so amidst my scrambling, i put ethan into bed and told him i would be back with his drink... this kid is like a camel when he sleeps!

wellllllllll i had to pass the computer on the way to the kitchen, and i just couldn't help myself... my good friend is in labor with her baby, and i just can't wait to hear the news, so i had to jump online for a quick sec to see if there was an update. ANYONE who knows me, knows i have absolutely NO CONCEPT of how much time has passed, and so although i'd love to say it's all ethan, it's only obvious that it's my fault that he was waiting too long for his drink, and came pattering out of his room... the best part though, is it took me a few tries before i made out his whisper....

"mom, my blanket came off."

ya think? i guess that's what happens when you climb out of bed!

i just have to laugh, seriously, what will this boy say next?!

morning love

2010-06-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

we hear the first little squeaks of our youngest love this morning, and the resounding exclaim from Catherine and Ethan:

NOAH'S AWAKE!

They barrel through his door, and

"GOOD MORNING NOAH!"

Ethan climbs up on the side of his crib and gives him the sweetest, most endearing little kiss on the side of his face...

"Aw, that was so nice, Ethan."

"Don't worry, I won't bite his finger again."

"You bit his finger before?"

"Ya, but it's okay. It's feeling better."

persistence

2010-05-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ethan talks very well for his age. I always know what he is talking about, but I'm not always certain of what he's trying to communicate.

Mom, is that a Frisbee?

No, it's a lid. The lid to the vegetable tray that we used for Noah's birthday party. Remember?

Is it a lid or a Frisbee? (meaning, can it be a lid or a Frisbee?)

No, it's just a lid.

but i think if it's a Frisbee or not.

(can you tell he's just itching to throw that thing like a Frisbee? watch out!)

BIG ONE-YEAR-OLD!

2010-05-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

our baby noah turned a year old on Thursday. it's still sinking in for me. he had the best birthday and party thanks to wonderful friends and family who shower us with love. i'll try to post more about the party later.

enjoy!

Noah's last day as a "baby"

Now an official "one-year-old"

This is how he was the whole day, ESPECIALLY when we would sing "Happy Birthday" to him... all smiles, giggles and dancing!

He LOVED his very own ball!

It was the funniest thing... he was crawling around and around it in circles looking for the "handle" because the giant bouncy balls he is used to at our house are his brother's and sister's hoppers (and they have handles on them).

He loved his cake!

and even loved getting cleaned up in the bath afterward!

my Catherine

2010-04-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Mom.

Even when I'm not being nice, the Easter Bunny STILL brings me treats!

You must have done something good, huh?

I was smiling in my sleep.

check it out!

2010-03-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

Check out the finished product and how nicely my kids clean up. I just love my kids, and I love the Spring, and I REALLY love my kids in the Spring!

take a look:

Larry's Blog

because it makes me feel like a professional...

2010-03-27T08:14:00.001-07:00

i can't even tell you how excited i am about this sleeve. who would have known... it just worked.

AND not only is it more modest for a little girl who is growing up WAY too fast, but just look at what a soft, feminine touch it adds to the stark edge that used to exist.

i used the back of the trim around the hem... it was doubled, now it's just rolled and stitched...

i've made a little girl's sleeve for a dress before...ONCE... about 6 or 7 months ago... at an enrichment activity... with a pattern, and it turned out O.K.

i guess that's my blessing and dilemma with sewing, i always forget the possibility of using a pattern. 95% of the time, i just make it.

i was just tickled to death that the hem turned out okay and the dress wasn't ruined when i got the hem back on last night around midnight after two evenings and about 5 hours of work. i thought,

"well, at least i'm back to where i started, and i have some fabric to try a sleeve... but if the sleeve doesn't work out, i'm not any worse off than where i started...nothing lost."

i completed the sleeve last night as well.... and i LOVED the way it turned out... but i wanted to wait until Catherine tried it on this morning to be sure it looked okay on her.

it did.

it does.

success.

(perma-grin)

it makes me feel like a professional!

o.k.

i can't take all the credit.

thanks to my mother-in-law for the idea of using the back half of the hem rather than making a new hem from a different fabric. AND a big thank you to her for suggesting to line the back of the sleeve the way i did... i'm almost POSITIVE i wouldn't have thought of that myself, and that would have been disastrous!

thanks to my darling friend who kept her aching pregnant body awake into the late night hours as she tickled my not-so-creative spunk and we laughed at how absurd it all seemed as i spent hours ripping out the perfectly beautiful hem on the dress. AND definitely more THANKS for her raw honesty about how she definitely would not attempt what i was trying to do. she would have just put a little shirt under the dress and called it good. it was just enough temptation for my stubborn determination to take over with the added blessing of absolutely NO expectation for the end result. hence, my delight in the outcome.

AND

thanks to my tried and true husband who not-even-the-slightest-bit-resentfully snoozed on the couch to keep me company into the wee hours of the morning. i love you.

and, yes. i plan on making the other sleeve.

2010-03-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

it has been way to long. what can i say. we are just loving life and loving each other, and there's not much time left to tell about it.

but i'll try...

;)

so without further adieu, this is the start of what we have been up to:

Melanie

2010-03-03T00:22:00.001-08:00

I was just looking through our photo collection...it's late and I can't sleep. I found a bunch that I recently took of Melanie. I'm so grateful for her and don't think I give her enough credit for what she does here at home. Thank you, love, for your sacrifices. I love you. I'm sorry for the times when I'm impatient or don't understand. Thanks for putting up with me and all my craziness. Love, me.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

If you are anything like my family, you will still enjoy wishing "Merry Christmas" even though Christmas day has once again come and gone. There is something sweet about the expression; children can feel it and connect it to those two simple words long before they can ever eloquently express their feelings in other words. I can remember back to last year's Christmas time... and even months after Christmas had passed, our oldest child, Catherine, who had just turned three years old, would come up to me and say, "Merry Christmas, Mom." She said it in the most endearing way, and with the sweetest smile. It left me with a feeling as if she had just told me she loved me... After contemplating that experience for some time now, I have discovered that the love I felt was more than just the love between a mother and child.

I'd like to take this moment to reflect and share my feelings on this expression of love found in the phrase, "Merry Christmas." The phrase seems to encompass all of the love that has been or ever will be shared. I think of the reason we celebrate Christmas: the birth of Christ. I think of a perfect father giving the gift of His perfect son because He loves us. I think of the Son giving His life because of His love for our Father in Heaven and His love for us. I think of Mary and her love for Jesus, not only as her baby but also as her Savior. I think of the love of Joseph. I think of the overwhelming love I felt as I gave birth to each of my three little angels. I think of the love I share with my dear husband, my greatest friend. I think of his love for me. I think of the love I share with my earthly parents and the love I have for my Heavenly Father. Love between family... love between friends... and the list goes on and on.

And so it is with this "Merry Christmas" expression of love as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, His love and His life that we bring this message of love and friendship to you: May His love be yours and your love be His now and forever.

Pure, Victorious One

2009-11-22T21:22:00.000-08:00

Four years ago, time stood still as I laid in my hospital bed snuggling my firstborn child. I remember so vividly the quiet reverence that abound in that very room where this miracle of birth took place... Four years ago, exactly, the machines, doctors and nurses were all gone... it was quiet and peaceful. Nothing impeded the Spirit -- my heart was forever changed -- and as I beheld my Father in Heaven's miracle in my arms, I knew I was resting on holy ground. I didn't think about what I would be doing or where my life would be 4 years from then. At that time, I couldn't possibly have fathomed it.

Catherine Victoria has brought joy, love, light, goodness, purity, peace -- an outpouring of the spirit -- into our family for the last 4 years. Her gentleness and selflessness are a constant reminder to me of who I would like to become... she reminds me very much of her two grandmothers... wonderful women who endlessly give of themselves and find their greatest joy in bringing joy to others.

Catherine is intelligent, talented, spirited, creative and imaginative (to name just a few)... I could give hundreds of examples of each of these attributes, but that would be only a meager attempt at describing this noble child of God. One of her greatest attributes, by far, is her ability to feel and show compassion far beyond her years. She is humble and grateful.

I'm grateful for the last and best four years of my life... and it just keeps getting better! I love my girl. My life is forever changed.

Four years ago today...
After 37 1/2 weeks, and 17 1/2 hours of labor...

Our 5 pound, 7 ounce miracle came into our arms and hearts,
and our lives have never been the same.

Happy Birthday, my love. I hope that our celebrations this weekend helped you feel just how treasured and loved you are. I hope that in some small way it gave back to you even a portion of the joy you have brought to others your entire life.

Daily dose of joy

2009-11-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

I just can't help but be happy, optimistic, full of love, joy and gratitude when I'm with my littlest angel.

5-month old pictures, Noah

2009-10-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to posting some more 5-month-old photos of Noah. Melanie's been asking me for a couple weeks now, but I've had so many other shoots and images to process that I forgot. So...without further delay, here they are!

Pumpkin Patch!

2009-10-27T21:55:00.001-07:00

We went to the pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening the other night. We've gone to this same patch for the past couple years so Catherine and Ethan were somewhat familiar with it and they all had a lot of fun!

4 pockets + one boy = endless possibilities

2009-10-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

front pockets:

1 puzzle piece

1 quarter

3 pennies

1 outlet cover

10 rocks

back pocket #1:

water bottle cap

back pocket #2"

1 cootie game piece

1 lego (not ours, it came home from a friend's house... in a pocket)

a dear friend, an amazing example...

2009-10-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

We had the privilege of spending some time with our dear friends, the Glausers, this past August while we were on vacation in California. I love that we have a timeless friendship. Each time we get together with them, it feels as though no time has passed. And although it has been 2 months now since we saw them, Meli's words still ring loud in my mind...

Meli is an amazing woman... she is a wife and a mother, a daughter and a sister, and most dearly to me, she is my friend. As we talked about our children and how quickly they are learning and growing up, the conversation topic of preschool came up. We talked a little about the types of things children learn in preschool, and I told Meli about the preschool curriculum that I had written for Catherine. The next thing Meli shared with me will stay with me forever.

She expressed that although she agrees that reading and writing and arithmetic are important for children to learn... eventually they DO learn those things, whether at home or at school. She would rather spend her time teaching her son values such as kindness, love, compassion and honesty... to give him a solid and sure foundation before he is off to school, out "in the world" and bombarded on every hand with the lies and deceptions of the world.

Thank you, Meli. Thank you for reminding me why we are here on this earth and what is most important to learn. Thank you for reminding me how we as mothers have the greatest opportunity and responsibility while our children CAN be at home all day with us, if we so choose, to teach them eternal principles and truths.

5 months old

2009-10-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Not so little anymore! Noah is 14 pounds 12 ounces!

It's hard to believe our little Noah is already 5 months old! While it feels as though he was just born, thoughts of our family before his birth now feel so distant and empty! We feel very blessed that he is a part of our family!

Great photos of Noah at 5 months coming soon...

look alike contest...

2009-09-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

so, now tell me. i mostly hear that our kids "look just like Larry!" but on occasion, i hear that one of them looks just like me... of any of them, i have felt that Noah may have gotten more of my genes than the others (like maybe 10% to their 1 or 2%) ;) But mostly I think they all look very uniquely different until they get to the toddler age.

Catherine and Ethan, I think look a lot alike right now... nothing alike as babies... could be the hair. (or lack thereof)

Noah, I think looks most like Catherine did as a baby. But also, I feel he has a look all of his own.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Here they are at 4 months old:

This last image is for all of my friends from TVA days... go ahead, smile and sigh. Enjoy the sweet little memory. I know you all know that sidewalk view very well. :)

dialoguing for Noah

2009-09-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

mmmm, my first ride in the wagon... this should be fun!

WAIT! Mom, you're not coming with me?!!

You're actually letting a 2-year-old push me around?!!

WAAA! I want my mommy!!!!!

fun to come

2009-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I love to dialogue! I've done it for as long as I can remember, and honestly, I don't think I even realized how much I did it until my husband pointed it out to me. The good news is, he loves it... AND it keeps life fun and interesting.

A lot has happened in the last almost 4 months since Noah has joined our family! I haven't had time to blog about it because I spend every waking moment just soaking it all in!

Now that the dust is starting to settle... there are actual times when all three of my children are napping at the same time! That means, more sleep for me!!!! Okay, okay, well... hopefully you can count on a lot more fun posting coming along!

First, I plan to entertain you with some of my daily dialoguing humor!

Noah's Bathtime

2009-07-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

Melanie will often ask me to take photos of Noah when he's in the tub...I think it's because he's usually very happy to be hanging out in the water. I really like the light reflecting in his eye...we usually bathe him in the kitchen, where we have multiple lights overhead.

Happy Birthday Ethan, Horseback Riding

2009-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

We went out early this morning to take the kids horseback riding to kick off Ethan's birthday. We're lucky enough to have great friends who made this possible and are very thankful to them for that! Ethan got to ride Skeeter and Catherine rode Lulu. Since we live really close to the desert it took about 5 minutes to find a great spot to let the kids ride. We started the day off right with some Dunkin' donuts and then put the kids on and led them around for about 45 minutes. They also got to feed the horses and see their big teeth!

Noah: The Progression

2009-07-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since we blogged so we thought we'd post some photos of Noah over the past 2 months. Here (in order) are his 2, 4, 6 and 8 week photos. For an "official" 2-month photo of Noah, check out my blog here...enjoy!

Welcome, Noah!

2009-05-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that Noah Robert Reeves joined our family on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 10:48 am.

Due to medical necessity Melanie was induced and labored for 6.5 hours. She did an excellent job through the labor and delivery! Both Melanie and Noah are healthy and recovering well.

Thank you all for your prayers, help and support to allow Melanie to carry Noah to 37.5 weeks. We feel very blessed that everything turned out well.

Catherine and Ethan are ecstatic for their new baby brother. Ethan can't keep his hands off of him and has let out plenty of squeals. Catherine is the perfect little helper/mother and they both love to give him kisses.

We enjoy the special spirit that Noah brings to our home. He gets plenty of love, hugs and kisses in return. We are happy to have him as a part of our family.

How far you've come!

2009-05-08T14:01:00.001-07:00

It has been almost 2 years since I bought Larry his first pro camera for his birthday... He has always had a talent to match his love for photography, and I was curious to see where he'd go if he had the right tools for it.

I'm in awe of where he is today. What an amazing example he is to me of perseverance and diligence in developing the talents our Father in Heaven has blessed us with!

For those of you, like me, who don't understand much about photography and all the artistic rules... there's a lot a person can do to edit a photo to try to make it look better than it actually is. There's a huge difference between good pictures straight out of the camera, and those that have been edited to look good.

These pictures of my "crusty, unkempt kids" are straight out of the camera, and I love them because they capture the true, un-sugar coated memories of our life!

Thank you, Larry!

www.larryreevesblog.com

We love Uncle Brad!

2009-04-26T22:48:00.001-07:00

A big thank you to Uncle Brad for coming over to visit us tonight! We just love him. He's an amazing brother and Uncle. Both kids were practically hanging on his legs all night, and Catherine was begging him to spend the night... she was hoping to keep him all to herself forever.

Have a safe flight back to Hawaii... please be sure to double check your bags for stowaways!

See you in June!

Baby Boy Reeves coming soon...

2009-04-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess no news can be good news. I had my 35 week appointment today... with 35 more days to go... don't you love when numbers align like that?

The doctor's orders are "light activity" until 36 weeks. After 36 weeks he said they won't stop my contractions any longer, but he'd really rather the baby not be born until 37 weeks. We feel the same way! We'll have more news in a week and a half when I go to my next appointment... unless our baby boy decides to come sooner!

It sure has been a LONG week since my mom, "Grandma Cattin" flew home. We miss her! She was a HUGE help! I must say, Catherine and Ethan have been absolute angels for me, though, and have made my mothering responsibilities much easier than they might otherwise have been.

Larry is photographing a wedding this evening, so he wasn't able to come home right after work. The kids and I sure miss him! He is my greatest help and support and the kids' best friend! Catherine didn't even want me to turn her songs on her CD player "until Daddy comes home."

There is a lot scheduled over the next two weeks... most especially: preparing for baby. But tomorrow we kick it all off with the kids' gymnastic pictures in the morning as a prelude to their upcoming recital on May 16th. They are very excited! Check back for gymnastic pictures and highlights of the recital!

2009-04-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

We had a great Easter weekend, with lots of candy, trash all over the bathroom, easter egg hunts, cute pictures and more! This is one photo I got of Catherine and Ethan...they were so good for photographer dad!

Ethan uses lots of things to make himself taller so he can reach things on the counter. Today he decided to use a trash can full of trash from our bathroom. When he came out with it we let him do his thing...we figured he was trying to reach something. Turns out he wanted a drink...and had to do it by himself. I had to get a shot of the mess he made in the bathroom.

Coloring eggs with Melanie and Grandma Cattin

Here are some more I took of them this morning in their Easter outfits. I love the blue in their eyes.

Easter-egg hunt at our house on Easter morning.

Catherine and Ethan showing off some of the vegetables grown in our garden. These aren't from this weekend, but we wanted to show how well our garden has been doing.

The latest...

2009-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

The latest happenings in the Reeves Family:

We are very excited to have "Grandma Cattin" back to stay with us for a couple of weeks. What a help and joy she is to have in our home! We were so grateful for her help about a month ago... Catherine and Ethan just couldn't stop talking about when she'd be coming back!
We are very grateful to all of our friends and family who have helped us through our pregnancy challenges over the last 9 weeks. Their compassion and service has been priceless!
Back when the early labor started, 12 weeks seemed like an eternity, but now with only 3 more to go before we can go ahead and let this baby come safely, we are beginning to feel the relief that comes at the end of a long journey! We are so excited for this baby to come to our family. We feel very blessed to be able to have children and especially blessed with this one that we have made it to 33 weeks!
With all the challenges that come in pregnancy and raising children, the blessings are so rare and priceless we would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Our garden is growing BEAUTIFULLY and we are very grateful for the yummy cucumber we ate with dinner the other night. The kids have helped with every stage from building to planting to tending to harvesting, and they love every minute of it!

Ethan is our HAM! This photo captures his personality PERFECTLY! The kid would love to be naked all day everyday if I let him, and you rarely find him without a ball in his hand! He's 100% boy!

Catherine absolutely LOVES her preschool with mommy at the dining table! She amazes us with her love of learning, imagination and how quickly she grasps and remembers everything! I found her practicing her letters on her writing board (we've actually only covered A, B and C in our preschool curriculum) and this is what she explained to me when I asked her what she wrote:
"C, A, E, F... That's the word DOG!"

Our family LOVES to share, and we all take a turn! Starting with Mommy going to the hospital with the flu almost 3 weeks ago, we have all had a turn with the flu and the cold/cough/congestion thing... Daddy is the last one trying to recover from his cold this week. Needless to say, we were all more than thrilled about the loving and thoughtful care package sent by Ben, Adrienne, Brighton and Brandon Donner. The kids are showing off their Easter Eggs from their special "egg bags" as Catherine labeled them... filled with candy and treats not to mention the beautiful pictures colored by their cousins, Brighton and Brandon, the rice crispy treats, taffy, MUCH - LONGED - FOR book, 'Broken things to Mend' by Jeffery R. Holland for mommy and movie tickets for Daddy to go out for a much needed break from all of his hard work! Thank you, Thank you!!! You not only made our day, but our whole week and into the next month! We are so blessed to have such wonderful siblings/aunt and uncle, and cousins! We love you!

We were so fortunate to have a special visit from Melanie's "Nana and Grandpa" Christiansen! We love them very much and wish we could see them more often! They are a wonderful example to all of us of perseverance, sacrifice and love. Catherine and Ethan adore them and talk of them often! We are grateful that they have had an opportunity to develop such a wonderful relationship with their "great-grandma and great-grandpa"!

Much quieter and shyer than her younger rascal of a brother, Catherine often goes unheard or unnoticed... Thanks to the cover of the sunglasses, we were able to capture a glimpse of her fun personality... our Hawaiian baby giving the shaka. We believe her mind and heart will always live in Hawaii. Catherine is a dreamer and is growing up to be as beautiful and noble of a young lady as she was the day she was born! She adds so much to our family with her compassion, imagination, innocence, and Christlike example of forgiveness and love. She is loved by all who know her.

the highlights

2009-03-28T01:08:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful for a wonderful husband who is also an amazing Dad! Whenever Larry comes home, the kids run to him with open arms... "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" and thus the fun, playing, tickling, laughing, running and squealing begin! I love the way Larry loves Catherine and Ethan and I love the way they love him. Every moment I have with the three of them make up the highlights of my life.

Spring Photography Special!!

2009-03-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

In an effort to promote my photography and give you the chance for a great deal I'm offering a Spring Special. Go check out my blog for more details!!

Potato Feast!

2009-03-17T10:42:00.001-07:00

There is something wonderfully fulfilling about growing a garden... cultivating it, tending to it and watching it grow and produce fruit.

We have planted two tomato plants, two bell pepper plants, several yellow squash and cucumber. We seeded zucchini plants, onions, carrots and potatoes. The potatoes were last to be planted and last to sprout. We have anxiously awaited the first sprout, and on March 12th, five days ago to our surprise we had 3! The next morning, the 13th, there were 8... and that afternoon there were 11! Three days ago, on the 14th, there were 14 potato plants! Yesterday there were 23 potato plants!

We are soo excited! It looks like we'll be eating a LOT of potatoes soon! We'll let you know when we'll be having our potato salad feast and barbeque! You're ALL invited!

Inspiration

2009-03-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

I love the way a photo or video clip can take me back in time... not just a memory as a list of events that transpired... rather an experience that envelops me in the sights, feelings, smells, sounds and emotions of the whole experience all over again. It gives me courage when times are tough... pushing forward in that hope of what's to come... My inspiration as I rest and wait for our new baby to come...

My inspiration for after the baby's born... being ACTIVE again!
My inspiration to be more patient with and show more compassion and love toward the kids:

My inspiration to laugh more and just let kids be kids:

My inspiration to make them laugh:

My inspiration to go back to Hawaii, often:

My inspiration to take on fewer projects and play more with the kids:

What inspires you?

Melanie's Maternity Photo Session

2009-03-03T20:43:00.001-08:00

Melanie and I went out on a date last Saturday to take maternity photos. We had such a fun time...I think I had more fun than she did, but hey...that's just the way it goes when I'm behind the camera. Hop on over to my blog to see some more hot photos of Melanie! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2009-02-22T20:36:00.000-08:00

Here's to the greatest Dad and Grandpa in the World! Here's to your life and our memories with you! We love you!

Happy Birthday Grandpa! We love you!

Our Story...the long awaited...

2009-02-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

Just a little note before I begin:

Thank you for reading. I know you look at our blog and spend a few of your precious minutes reading our stories because you care about us and what is happening in our life. It means a lot to us and so we try to share those things that are more personal and most dear to us. We know that those who don't really care won't read it anyway, so we're not worried about "casting our pearls before swine." So, thank you again for being a friend and being interested in our life.

I love writing stories. It has been quite some time since I have written very many because my college classes stole all of my writing time and since graduating and becoming a full time mom of my two little babes, I haven't quite embraced writing again... but it is time now, and as we all have a story to tell, this one is ours:

I have been meaning to share our story for quite some time now, and it seems with each passing day the story grows more detailed and more dear to our hearts. It's the story of our baby boy, our little miracle.

Loving the 20-month age difference between our two little cherubs, Catherine and Ethan, we decided that we would LOVE to have another little jumping bean join our family following the similar time frame. We were reminded once again, however that it's not about OUR timetable, but about our Heavenly Father's and His blessings. So, we tried for several months to have another baby but it wasn't until the month after our little Ethan was completely weaned that we were able to conceive our little miracle.

A little bit of history:

With Catherine I experienced what some may call "morning sickness" but for me it was more of "night sickness" from about 5 weeks to 13 weeks... for 8 weeks total. The rest of the pregnancy was pretty uneventful until at 37 weeks when I was put on bed rest for 4 days with pre-eclampsia and then induced 2 1/2 weeks early. With Ethan, however, I thought I was in the clear until I started experiencing "first thing in the morning" sickness at 8 weeks along... still hopeful, I thought to myself... "Well, at least I only have 5 weeks to go until I start feeling better." But for some reason 8 weeks was just my magic number, so it wasn't until 16 weeks that I started feeling better. The rest of the pregnancy was a little eventful with varicose veins setting in at 25 weeks and bed rest with high blood pressure for the last 2 weeks until I was induced 4 days early... and how grateful I was to be induced being nine months pregnant at the end of July in Mesa, AZ in the 115 degree heat!

This pregnancy has been challenging to say the least and a whole new ball game for us. I didn't even have the chance to wait until 5 or 8 weeks to try to "guess" if it would be more like my boy pregnancy or my girl... I was so sick at 3 weeks along that I took a positive pregnancy test that early along and began wondering if there was some explanation for all of this... Could it be twins??

I should have known better than to think that I would possibly feel better earlier on... you know, by 11 weeks after I had fulfilled my '8 week dues.' No, no such luck, and probably just to teach me a lesson, the sickness lasted another 8 weeks until about 19 weeks. The first 6 weeks of sickness were long and wearing. Then we had a scare at about 9 weeks and thought we were losing our baby. Thankfully, we were able to keep our baby and I felt a renewed sense of gratitude and patience in enduring the sickness. After all, we all would walk through fire for our babies, wouldn't we?

If this pregnancy wasn't eventful enough already...my varicose veins flared up right at 12 weeks as I entered my 2nd trimester, and let me tell you, the pain is fierce. I never could have imagined the agony without experiencing it for myself... but for all of you women out there who have experienced those intense labor pains... the pressure just as the contraction peaks... that same kind of "labor in my head" that those who suffer from intense migraines experience... THAT'S what it feels like in my leg... that "peaking" kind of intense "almost going to explode" and "I'm going to scream" kind of pressure. Hats off to the person who invented maternity support hose. I can't get out of bed without them! One good thing about all of this pain is that it distracted me from how sick I was feeling.

On a lighter note...

For a "not so funny at the time but funny now" experience... I really thought we were having a baby girl... not just that I was HOPING or WISHING for another baby girl, but I REALLY WAS CERTAIN (however certain you can be when you are wrong) that we were having a baby girl. I had already bought her cute little pink "bring me home" outfit and all of this sweet pink crib bedding... At 19 weeks we went in for the LONG ultrasound, during which Larry was certain he had seen those "3 white lines" indicating it was a girl. At the end of the whole thing, the technician smiled and said, "I'm happy to announce that it's a girl!" Well, of course, I thought... 'no news to me... I already knew it was a girl.' The next unfolding of events is still hard for me to believe... "Oh no, wait. I lied. It's a boy," she said. I asked her, "Are you joking?" because this really was not a funny joke. "No, see there, it's a boy." Well now, where did THAT come from? After another 5 minutes and 10 different angles of the obvious, we left the office bewildered that we are really having a boy!

It only took a couple of days to get over the shock of the news and within the week we were full swing into "boy mode." Everything started looking bright... we are having another boy, this will be a great experience for Ethan and our baby... brothers so close in age... I was feeling much better, regaining my energy and feeling much more like myself. We were all back to our usual activities and enjoying our outings to the zoo, park and library! Five weeks later, the storms started rolling back in.

I had been experiencing contractions for a few weeks but didn't feel worried because I generally experience Braxton Hicks contractions from about 25 weeks on in my pregnancies. These contractions were starting earlier, but then again, so was everything else in this pregnancy, and they were a little different from before... so I decided to mention it to my doctor at my regular visit. He told me he was a little concerned but just to let him know if they became more frequent or intense. Four days later they became much more frequent AND intense, and the next day they put me into the hospital. It has been a long, worrisome couple of days trying to understand what is going on with my body. Though there was some reassurance from going to the hospital: I wasn't dilating, and there was no detection of the protein that indicates I will deliver in the next two weeks, there were also some things that we just didn't understand that gave us a sinking sick feeling. Why would they monitor my contractions every 3 to 5 minutes for 2 hours, administer two injections to try to stop the contractions, and while still contracting though resting and laying down, send me home from the hospital with the instruction to come back in if the contractions don't stop when I lay down to rest? The sweet nurse could not answer all of my questions but urged me to go in to see my doctor and get the answers I needed.

Thankfully, I was able to get in to see my doctor today to ask my million questions and finally understand what is happening with my body, what to watch for, and what to worry and not worry about. There are a lot of details that I'm sure you don't want to hear, but the basic verdict is that my body is just going to have these contractions for the remainder of my pregnancy. These contractions can make me progress into full labor, which if before 36 weeks, will put me on strict bed rest, or at worse, in the hospital on an IV to try to stop the labor... OR my uterus may tolerate the contractions just fine and I'll just carry this baby to full term no problem. Our goal is to do everything we can to keep the contractions from getting any worse. I have to be monitored more frequently to make sure that the contractions I am currently having are not making me dilate.

For all of the reasons and complications I have already shared, our little baby boy is our little miracle. We are very grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending this baby boy to our family. We understand that everyone makes a sacrifice for their children in so many different ways and different stages of life. It has been our experience that we have learned the most and grown the most from the experiences we have with our children. How sweet and perfect they are. What a divine plan. How honored we are to be a part of this great Plan of Salvation and witness the miracle and gift of life. May we always honor and reverence our little ones.

Ethan has finally made the charts!

2009-01-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

Great news! Ethan has finally, at a year and a half and 21 pounds, made it onto the percentile chart! Rather than being 0.0.....he is now in the 4th percentile for his weight...and I KNEW he had grown taller since the refrigerator door finally hits the top of his head...he's in the 13th percentile for his height at 30.5 inches. His head circumference is 19 inches...the 69th percentile! That would explain why we've had such a hard time getting his T-shirts on!

Catherine is growing into a beautiful young lady at 31 pounds...the 47th percentile, and 38 inches tall...the 63rd percentile...not much longer before she'll meet that height requirement for all the fun rides at Disneyland!

Way to grow kids! It must be all that heavy cream I've been adding to Ethan's milk....

One Year Ago...

2009-01-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

We love you Catherine! Thank you for being so sweet!

Family Fun and Disneyland! (lots of pictures)

2009-01-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving we drove out to California to spend some time with my family in Palm Springs. On Monday we all went to Disneyland. It was so fun to be together with my my sister, Jenifer, her husband, Steve and their son, Ryan. It had been a year since I had seen them. It was also really fun to see my brother, Ben, his wife, Adrienne, and their children, Brighton and Brandon. All of the cousins had soo much fun together! I wish we all lived closer together so that they could play together more often. I know my parents were in heaven to have all of their grandkids close to them... oh, and I'm sure they were happy to see their children as well. :) Disneyland was magical in all of its grandure. Catherine was floating on cloud nine all day and Ethan naturally joined in all of the excitement squealing and cheering for everything and everyone. The thrill and adrenaline of it all even kept me up on my ailing leg the whole day. I have an extreme case of varicose veins throughout my entire left leg this pregnancy. The pain is unbearable without support hose on. Between that and still battling morning sickness I was worried I wouldn't be able to share this special first experience with my children, but I made it through the day and it only took me two weeks to recover! :)

The kids all ready to go!

Catherine jumping to Grandpa Cattin

Catherine driving a race car

The castle

Small World

On the Matterhorn

Ethan on Jungle Cruise

Melanie's sister and brother with their spouses and children

Catherine rode on Dumbo with Grandpa

On Alice in Wonderland

The Teacups

Melanie's brother and his family

On the Rockets

Mommy and Ethan on the Rockets

Walking down Main Street

Thanksgiving and a baby!

2009-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

This year was our first year celebrating Thanksgiving with Larry's side of the family. We had such a wonderful day. The table was beautiful, the food was delicious and the company was priceless. And some of the boys even wrestled...nice one! There was quite a big group even though not all of Larry's immediate siblings were present. During our Thanksgiving feast we took turns going around the table expressing gratitude. Larry and I were the last to share. I expressed my gratitude for Larry, Catherine and Ethan. I am grateful that they are my family. Although there are many friends and hobbies I love investing my time in... my favorite moments are when the 4 of us are together. On Larry's turn he expressed gratitude for our family and for his "wife who has done such a great job through this pregnancy thus far..." It caught everyone off guard but at 14 weeks along, it was such a fun way to announce our baby on the way. We had called my siblings and grandparents to announce to them a couple of days earlier as they were on their way to Southern California to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family. At their Thanksgiving feast up in Lake Arrowhead, my grandfather announced our baby to the rest of our family. It was a very exciting time and even more relieving that I didn't have to try to hide my bulging belly or morning sickness any longer.

Catherine's 3rd Birthday: November 22nd

2009-01-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Our little girl has finally entered the grown-up world of 3-year-old independence! We celebrated Catherine's birthday with friends and family at our house during the day, then we went to Rainforest Cafe for dinner with Larry's side of the family and our good friends and neighbors, the Bigler's. We had a blast and Catherine was so excited to receive so many new presents. Thanks to everyone who gave/sent her something and for those who came to celebrate with us.

help

2008-12-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

o.k. I know not everyone has had the pleasure of meeting my little man, Ethan...but I also know from your stories that there are many more "Ethans" out there....so any wisdom would be more than priceless to me! ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY SANITY!

To be completely honest, Ethan is like 5 Catherines rolled into one. He is the most curious and adventurous little boy I can imagine. He doesn't mean to be destructive, and he really isn't for the most part...though he has left his mark in every room of our house.

I feel like a crazy mom putting up gates, locks on everything and contemplating remodeling part of our house to save my sanity.

My most recent problem areas: the bathroom...shredding toilet paper, turning on the tub water...flushing the toilet (hopefully free of toys or other clogging objects)...climbing up in the pantry...emptying clothes out of drawers...but my latest worry is our computer desk...I worry about him swallowing staples, sucking on permanent markers, or just coloring on everything...

I've tried to keep things out of his reach...but the safest spot to store harmful things is up in our kitchen cabinets and pantry... and we're running out of room for food and dishes!

any wisdom?

melting my heart

2008-11-26T14:34:00.000-08:00

I love my kids. They are the joy of my life. The other night I was in Catherine's room with her as she was getting ready for bed. I was just sitting on her bed quietly, smiling at her and admiring her sweetness and innocence and loving her more than I could ever imagine...

She must have noticed my gaze because all of a sudden she paused, leaned her little head to the side, gave me a sweet smile and said, "I love you too...I love you too, Mom."

Today while Catherine, Ethan and I were sitting at the table having lunch, I looked over at Catherine and said, "I love you Catherine." To which she replied, "I love you too." Then I smiled at Ethan and said, "I love you too, Ethan." He smiled and said "TOO."

My heart is full of gratitude for my wonderful husband and children. I can't imagine a greater gift than my family and the love we share.

kid talk

2008-11-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

Catherine says the funniest things that always keep me guessing. This morning, for example....

Catherine: "I want to get a chicken for my birthday someday. And another Mickey Mouse cake."

Well, she IS three years old now...

More Kona

2008-11-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

Just so you know, Larry blogged a lot of pictures from our trip. You can see them on his photography blog HERE! Enjoy!