The Birthday Girl!

Zannah Mae turned 5!  I was in tears the night before the big day as I tucked her in for bed.  She is growing too fast, am I taking advantage of this time, etc. etc.  But, then as she ecstatically told me how excited she was to be 5 and what the big plans were for the next day, I thought maybe we should all be this excited for life and turning a year older.  Her requests for the day were chicken nuggets from McDonalds and to go swimming and decorations.  We stayed up late hanging streamers and blowing up balloons.  She loved it.  We ate Chicken McNuggets and met Grandma Dana in Boise to go swimming.  She was in heaven.   

Life just wouldn't be fun with out Missy Z around. 

Here are her favorite things right now:
Food: Yogurt, grapes, oranges, apples, waffles.
Candy: Suckers and lollipops and Gum.  (all the things she rarely gets)
Animal:  Butterflies and Ponies
Toy:  Castle and EVERYTHING!
Color: Pink, Purple, and Blue
Song: Ring of Fire
Game: Dancing or playing house with Max
What makes you laugh? When my friend Jensen, says "Tissue, Tissue, Tissue"
What are you going to be when you grow up?  Whatever I want to be!  
If you could do anything you wanted all day, what would it be?  Eat a healthy lunch, cook my own food, go swimming, and eat chicken nuggets. 

Monumental Moments

This little guy decided to potty train himself about 3 weeks ago.  (Little bums in underwear are stinking cute.)  I was not super pleased at the timing as I was still feeling pretty sick and absolutely exhausted each day.  Max would say, "Mommy, I need to pee!"  And I would reply, "Max you have a diaper on, just pee in it!"  I'm a little ashamed now that I think about it, but I was just trying to survive.  He seriously did it on his own and has had very few accidents.  Minus the two times Zannah and Max decided to spread his little deer-like poops all over the basement carpet and play an odd game of "Smash the poo with hand weights".  I'm still trying to forget about that.   

   

Second monumental moment is I am on to my second trimester.  Which means I have 12 weeks of daily shots in the rump and suppositories and lab checks and transvaginal ultrasounds behind me.  Marcus was my primary shot giver, until January came around and he had business trips 4 weeks in a row.  My mom stepped in and gave them to me while I was in Malad for a week and then she and my dad drove up and spent a few days with us to give me shots again.  I also have some very, very nice friends and co-workers who stopped by morning and evening to administer injections the other days.  To say I am excited that this part of my journey is over would be an understatement.   

I'm Pregnant!

Marcus and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary this month.  I never thought at 10 years I would  see a little heartbeat growing in my uterus!  Still cannot believe it.

As per routine with our family, we don't do things the typical way.  We did an embryo donation/adoption.  If you haven't done IVF, then you have probably never considered what happens to all those left over created embryos.  Until last year, I thought the only options were to keep them frozen and keep transferring, have them destroyed, or donate them to science.  But, another option is you can donate your embryos to other couples.  

It is much more affordable than IVF or regular adoption AND is like a very early adoption with the benefits of carrying the baby yourself.  When we met with the doctor, we were told we were 10th in line as far as choosing embryos.  But, we could look at the list of embryos no one else seemed to want.  I don't know what people were smoking, there were many great options.  We immediately grabbed the only 2 sets of mixed race embryos on the list.  We all know I am obsessed with my mixed race babies.  This little baby growing in me is 1/4 Hispanic 3/4 Caucasian.  I am due late August.  

We are just thrilled at the miracles Heavenly Father has in store for us, miracles I never saw coming!

Christmas Sunday Pic 2012

Most of the Time....

Most of the time this is Max:

 Marching around in superman cape, rope in hand, completely nude otherwise.

 Wearing the Christmas stockings as "boots". 

And very chipper, loud, but chipper. 

  But sometimes, Mom makes caramel pull-apart rolls for her Young Women before church and Max doesn't understand why ANY food in his house is not intended for his digestive tract.    

Being a Mom

Today, Zannah's preschool had a little Christmas party/program.  Max of course fell asleep for his nap 40 minutes prior, so I was about 15 minutes late getting there.  Zannah must have been watching for me, because as soon as I pulled in she came bursting out of the house to greet me.  They sang a few songs they have been learning in school. Z was cheesing it the whole time and kept looking to make sure I was watching and periodically giving me thumbs up.  Afterwards, we decorated sugar cookies and paper stockings.  In the midst of all this, Zannah says to me, "MOM, this party is sooooo AWESOME!" 

For some reason, I thought later today what would have happened had I not gone to watch her.  She would have been so disappointed.  Her main care was that I was there watching this big moment of hers.  Sometimes, being a mom can be soooooo AWESOME! 

Halloween 2012

Zannah, of course, was a princess.  She looked like she does almost every other day of the week.  I loved that it was so easy.

Max was "The Queen!" by day and a monkey by night.  We barely talked him out of a dress for the ward tunk or treat that night.  Although he looks like a monk axe-murderer to me. 

Marcus was a "door" and I had the letter "C" pinned all over me.  Get it?  We were the Dorseys.  (We are so funny)