Guiltily Grateful

Life is sailing by so fast these days! My little Nathan James is already three months old! Can you believe it!? Anyways, here's the short version of our lives right now.

James is cooing sweetly all day long now. He's sooooo happy all the time. He only fusses when he's had it for the day and is ready for bed. He's sleeping for a ten hour stretch now from around 7 pm to 5 am, after which he goes back to sleep till 7 or 8. Occasionally, though, he wakes up in the middle of the night and is bright and happy as if he's ready to start the day! During the day he loves sleeping in the carrier or snuggling down with mom and Emma to take a nap.

James still nurses like a champ and takes his binky, though he usually only needs it to fall asleep. He's so patient with Emma's very loud attention, though she often visibly startles him. He flirts with his mama and my mother's day balloons more than anyone else, though I think he's on his way to being a ladies man. I mean, look at that face! :)

At his 2 month appointment he was 12 lbs! He has since grown out of 0-3 month clothes and is wearing 3-6 month size, so I'm guessing he's gained at least another lb or two. He's got more rolls than Emma ever did, but I think most of his pudge is in those cheeks!

He's discovered his hands and loves to examine them, He does a sit up every time we lay him down because he wants to sit up and see everything. He loves to mouth his toys and blankets (the blanket one kinda freaks me out because he likes to have it right by his face as he's falling asleep). He's doing better at falling asleep by himself in his crib. Overall, I have absolutely no complaints! He's so fun and perfect and we love him to death!

Emma and friends at the Magnuson Park

I've decided that my kids are doomed to forever be called by a million names. James, for instance, is Nathan James to me right now, but he's "brother" or "baby James" to Emma and "James" to everyone else. Currently, I've been calling Emma "Miss Marie." It just rolls of the tongue! But I've called her everything from "zoosk" to "monkey butt!" Oh the nicknames we come up with!

Emma is going through a bit of a demanding phase right now. Unfortunately, that means she's constantly yelling at me to do this or that. She's also developing a lot of fears. Currently, she's terrified of Nate's hair gel because it has a gorilla on it. We have to hide it in the cabinet before she'll go to the bathroom. So hilarious!

Emma loves everything pink! She keeps telling me she is going to take Tessa for a ride in her imaginary pink car, and EMMA is going to drive, not mom or dad haha! She also says she wants to get married in a pink temple.

She's still so in love with her brother! She has to kiss him every time she can reach him. She's been very passionate lately, and that extends to her love for James. 

Emma has been taking a ballet class with some of her friends. They are having such a blast! I love Emma bouncing around the living room yelling, "Sache! Sache!"

Nate is doing well in dental school. Sometimes scheduling patients can be frustrating for him, but overall this quarter is going great! He's working on some crowns and dentures now. He's even doing some work for his mom at the school.

Nate's also been golfing and playing softball lately. The kids love watching daddy play!

I'm doing just fine these days. I'd say I was just starting to feel like myself again when allergy season hit! Haha it's one thing after another! Nate and I have been able to start running together a little bit and I'm not in much pain anymore, though, so definitely an improvement. I'm starting to enjoy cooking again and I've been taking the kids out and about in the beautiful spring weather. I started writing another novel in April but it's moving very slowly these days. Here's the synopsis for Back Again for those who are curious:

When Reagan first met Will, she had no idea his disappearance a few months later would unshakably haunt her. Though years later, Reagan has moved away from shabby Dayton, WA and is only an impressive LSAT score away from Law School, she still cannot get feeble, cowed Will out of her mind. All of Dayton declared him dead, but Reagan catches glimpses of him everywhere, including in her new friend, Jake. Straddling the line between her promising future, engaged to a one-day Senator and bound for a successful law career, and her past, the memory of the battered boy she had the heart, or the stupidity, to stand up for, Reagan feels that no matter what she does, she can never quite prove herself or, perhaps more importantly, make up for the mistake she made in letting Will go.

I know you're wondering, so I'll tell you: What has having two kids taught me? Well for starters, I'm learning it's okay to split the laundry up over several days, even if it seems like I'm perpetually doing laundry. Otherwise, the kids and I are getting smothered in piles of unfolded clean clothes. Also, I have to rank tasks in order of how pressing they are, versus how important. For example, when I manage to get everyone back in the house after going out, one of the children usually has a need that needs met immediately. However, my bladder is always the most pressing issue! When I take two seconds to take care of myself, I can better handle everyone else's needs, hands-down. And, most importantly, I'm learning that it is in fact possible for things to get better when you think they're already great! My two kiddos make me so happy! Even when I'm stressed or down or whatever else comes, I still feel happy most of the time, which I know is because of my love for my kids and Nate. Sure, the work load had doubled (tripled?), but so has my love and my joy.

Seriously, I feel so blessed all the time that I honestly feel guilty every time I pray. How can I ask for anything more? I'm just learning why I've felt guilty even as I've been expressing my thanks. Part of it is because I know that I will always be an unprofitable servant, but I've realized that I could be giving more. I could take my calling more seriously. I could try harder to serve others. I could strive to make it to the temple or do family history work. I've wanted to use the excuse of just having a baby and having a hard recovery to explain away why I wasn't giving my best to the Lord, but I know I can't do that anymore.

Here's a photo update of the fun things we've done since James was born:

I was in desperate need for a mental health vacation, so I convinced Nate to take us to Seaside, OR. We played on the beach, flew kites, threw rocks into the Columbia, ate some smoked salmon, climbed the Astoria Column, and ate at Bigfoot's Steakhouse. What a fun weekend! Then we headed to Nate's parents house for a few days to wrap up Nate's break in March.

Astoria, WA

Stopped by Multanoma Falls on the way home :)

We ran into Nate's great-uncle in Tri-Cities and he drew this for us!

Easter! We had a fun Easter dinner with friends again this year, and Nate made a delicious ham. Yum! 

Skagit Valley Tulips

Nate filled my love tank to overflowing by taking us an hour away to see these pretty flowers! Emma was in heaven too! That girl can't get enough of tulips haha :)

Then Nate's family came for James's baby blessing on April 12th. We explored Seattle with them while they were here.

Gum wall with Sylvia and Grandma Richardson 

Ate at the Crab Pot :)

What a handsome boy! He was so good for his blessing :)

Glad a lot of family was able to come!

Love our church building!

My sweet little family :)

Nate and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary by going to The Phantom of the Opera broadway musical! It was so good! :) Honestly, I can't believe we've only been married for 4 year! It seems like we've always been together :)

Emma and Grandma Nette

Emma, James and I got to go to Utah for a week in April. We had such a fun time seeing my family and a few of my old friends!

Emma scaring my brother.

My cousin Ginny came with her family to Seattle the first weekend in May. We rode the Bainbridge ferry with them, got ice cream at Mora's, and played at Gasworks park.

Emma had a blast with Hallie, Hannah, and Helaman!

Nate's parents came to visit just before Mother's Day. We went to the Ballard locks and watched the boats go through, then hit up the Woodland Park Zoo. 

Emma did NOT like the gorillas, but grandma did!
My favorite this time were the Asian small-clawed otters.
Emma liked the toucans and the tigers. 

Nate and the kids spoiled me for Mother's Day! Nate made me a delicious breakfast and got me this flowers! There were also chocolates and goodies to spare! I love being a mommy! :)

This weekend is Memorial day weekend, and we're going to visit Nate's family and celebrate his birthday! If it seems like we've been busy, we have! Haha :) I'm excited for more fun but ready for things to slow down a bit. I'm so grateful for all our many blessings and hope that I can be the means of bringing some small blessing into others' lives as well.

Till next time!

Kamie