About 10 inches later.....
I think I lost about 10 lbs in a half hour! Life is good.
Elle's comments: "I want to cut all my hair off!" (before she saw the actual result)
Then, when she saw me: "I don't want Mommy to cut all her hair off!" Too late, little Monkey :)
Elle's happy-face pose
Somehow we've missed the boat on teaching our girls to smile for pictures. No matter how goofy we are, they are pretty much stone cold during any and all photo shoots. Normally, Eden is the exception and lives every day in a constant blissful smiley state, but she must have needed a day off. Oh well... for us, they're still the most beautiful creatures on earth.
"It's OK, Eden, Mom and Dad stop torturing us all soon." Seriously, I'm in awe watching Ryn magnify her role as biggest sister. Leading Elle to the potty chair with her arm around Elle's back, cheering her every success and encouraging her after near misses ("Good job, Elle! You did it!" or "It's OK Elle, next time you'll do it."), and filling Eden's every minute of every day with smiles and giggles.
We really just wanted them to stand by this lamp post, but it was just too tempting of a climb. :)
Kev-the-photographer was getting frustrated with the lack of cooperation from the older 2 girls, so I told him to take a snuggle break with the "bundle of joy" poster child and snapped a few.
So, yeah, it's all worth it.
Yesterday was one of those days where I seriously wondered. Not if it was worth it, but if I was capable. After 2 hours straight of ear-piercing jungle puma screaming, cleaning up more potty and poop near misses than I could stomach, doing the 2 extra loads of laundry that went with them, and trying to keep Eden happy and fed and Ryn entertained and occupied, I honestly just did not know how women for hundreds of years, all over the world, have survived and excelled at this job of patiently loving and mothering.
But here I am, the very next day, back to loving every single minute. I've been laughing at all the adorable things they say, cleaning up the messes with no self-pity, carrying Eden as much as I can so I can kiss her delicious rolls as much as humanly possible, and seeing how truly blessed I am and how I will do whatever it takes to help them be happy and learn as much as they can.
What a roller coaster it is for me. I wonder if it's like this for all moms? These complete extremes from one day (or one minute) to the next....It's like the lottery for Kevin coming home every night--which wife will greet him at the door? :) Poor guy.
So my goal is to be more consistently happy and grateful. One thing I'm doing that will hopefully help me reach that goal is following Elder Kikuchi's counsel in last month's Ensign. He encouraged daily morning personal devotional time that includes sincere prayer, scripture study and meditation, if only for a few minutes. I have always known these habits were important, especially after having them so blissfully uninterrupted on my mission :). Since becoming a mother, and then a mother of 3 in 3 years, it has become increasingly more difficult to find the time. I'm exhausted in the mornings after getting up all night with 1 or more of the girls, then I'm running all day just keeping them alive, and I'm even more exhausted at night when my mind is a worthless mush. Still, I've been able to squeeze in a few minutes most days when Elle is taking a nap, but there are too many times when someone calls or Ryn needs help or Eden won't sleep and my study is cut short or distracted and I have to go over the same sentence 10 times before I even register what I've read. So after Kev and I read this article for our FHE a few weeks ago, I decided I just need to get up a few minutes earlier, no matter how tired I am, and have faith that I will receive the promised blessings for my efforts (just one of which I have on my kitchen wall to remind me: "those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength").
I know that the Lord is just waiting, standing at the door and knocking, to give me the help, the strength and the blessings I need. How ridiculous when I do not open that door. An example of today's immediate result is this quote from President Uchdorf's message this month that filled me with hope:
"May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fulness of the gospel (see D&C 45:28). Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5).
My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. He knows you. He listens to your prayers, and He answers those prayers, wherever on this world you may be. He wants you to succeed in this life and in eternity."
So it takes 30 days to form (or re-form) a habit, isn't that right all you SW alumni? :) That means in 30 days, Kev, Ryn, Elle and Eden will be winning the lottery every day and being a mom every day will just be a walk in the park. ;)
Today this world lost one amazing woman. Becky (in the red apron) was married to my Dad's younger brother, Kelly (another amazing person who deserves his own entry), and was always right up there with my mom in terms of being a woman I admired. Her home was open to anyone and everyone who needed a place to feel welcome, to laugh, to talk, to eat, and to love life. She worried more about helping people feel good about themselves than worrying about what people thought of her. Every holiday was celebrated for weeks through the decorations, treats, and traditions that were so Becky. As she cared for my dad's parents unceasingly until, and even after their deaths (cleaning out their home, etc.), I was in awe of her example of a faithful daughter-in-law. She did what was right, no matter the consequences--even sending her youngest out on his mission knowing that she might not see him again in this life.
Princess pants, big girl pants, underwear...none of these titles inspired the necessary desire in our little Miss Independent to keep anything clean by using the potty chair. In this book, a princess with a similar disposition finally uses the potty because she just got some beautiful "pantalettes" and was determined not to have to give them up for her royal diaper. Well, our Wee Word Woman latched on to that one, and now, hallelujah, wants to wear "pretty pantalettes" every day and keep them nice and clean. 
With movies and treats to get the princess to stay put and shoot for success, it's fun for the whole family!
At the end of April, Kevin had the great idea of taking our first weekend trip with just our own little family. It had been almost 2+ months since Eden's arrival and 4+ months since we got back from France and started the adjustment to real life. The perfect time to take a break and re-focus.
Sunday was absolutely gorgeous. We attended the ward directly across from the temple so we could visit it after the meetings. I'd never been to this temple before and in the spring sunlight it's white walls were literally blindingly beautiful. 
One corner of the grounds hosts a perfect rose garden where we sat and enjoyed all the different colors. 
The girls desperately wanted to go in, but were satisfied with a visitor's center tour :). 
then the Temple of Sinawava 
and finally the Emerald Pools. Ryn and Elle were excited to start every hike, 
found lots of lizards, birds, and scary bugs along the way, and then were usually ready to be carried at least part of the way down. Eden had the sweet spot in the baby bijorn, her juicy chunk rolls spilling out so we could kiss them every few minutes.
Yes, Kev and I were pretty worn out by the end of the day :), but we loved every second and will definitely return soon. 
The next video is of Elle following Ryn's every move--something that happens almost 24/7, but it's so obvious and heartbreakingly adorable in this clip. I remember so vividly feeling like Elle, wanting to do and be everything Joy was. Actually, it's not that far of a stretch to remember since I still feel that way :). It all goes back to that adoration little sisters are born with that I referred to in the last post, and I love seeing it in my girls. What a huge responsibility a big sister has forced on her as soon as a little sister is born. Every tiny little thing she says or does will be watched, and most likely imitated. Fortunately for me, my big sister was, and still is, worthy of emulation in every way--she got straight A's, excelled in piano, dance and everything else she tried, she served a fabulous mission, and is now a world class mother of 4 incredible boys. As I watch Ryn love and teach and encourage Elle and Eden, I know she will beautifully rise to the challenge, just like Joy.
And now, for a final 2 minutes of pure happiness, here is the video of Eden's first real laugh that went on for about 10 minutes tonight.
