And the Results are in!

It's another...

Girl!! I am very excited and for the first time was right about my guess. Aimee knew all along ;) 

I wonder if baby girl will look more like Aimee or more like Jack. I guess either way - she will look like both of them. We have some strong genes... 

And just so you know, getting this picture was no easy task. Let me show you some of the outtakes: 

Come on, photographer. 

And for about 5 minutes Jack freaked out. Tore up his paper and threw himself on the ground... 

... And nose picking. 

Well baby girl, you're in for some wonderful craziness.

For the Love of Everything...

For several weeks now, I have been getting the "bug" to start an art project again. And not just doodle a bit in my dusty sketchbook, but actually finish a project, have it "gallery" ready so-to-speak. Let's just say, it's been a while.

Let me back up: So once upon a time I was known as an artist. Growing up I constantly had a pencil and sheet of paper in hand and I was always drawing. I drew without fear of anyone not liking what I did. I drew for hours on end. I made up little stories and characters. When my friends and I would play "pretend" I drew what all our little pretend people looked like first, our hair, our outfits... I think I always knew that when I grew up I would be an "artist." I pursued art throughout my entire education. I went to a university with a reputable art program and got my BFA in Illustration. But somewhere towards the end of getting my degree, this fire I had for drawing fizzled and dimmed.

In my last year of school, I remember being so stressed out all the time. I was *trying* to work full time and go to school full time. I was pulling all-nighters frequently to get projects done. Everything was always so rushed. Sometimes things would be late - I remember showing up to a final critique like an hour and a half into it (and for you non-artsies, it's when you present your final project to your professor and class, you spend some time "critiquing" it... kind of a big deal). That was SO unlike me.

I remember meeting with a professor after a class, basically in tears because I just wasn't feeling inspired. I wasn't enjoying myself... I think he gave me some zen-like advice and told me to find my inner-child, the Emily that loved to draw for hours on end. Yeah... I didn't find her. Eventually I made it through, I still got into the the BFA program, still got my degree and managed to get good grades. But the whole thing took its toll.

Within 2-3 months of graduating Greg and I moved to Utah. Greg was starting up a business and I snatched up the first temp-job I could find. I started that job with the intentions of moving on to something more art-related but I got comfortable where I was. I got comfortable with the people there. I got comfortable with my routine and so I just stayed... I don't want to paint this dismal picture, I actually enjoyed working there. I made really good friends, I had good co-workers and a lot of the time, it was fun - well it was full of funny moments anyway.

Two years later I became a mom. Right up there with marrying my husband, it was (err...is) the best thing I ever did, without a doubt! But it also meant I had another excuse, if you will, for putting my former-artist life on the back burner. And since then there has been another baby, a cross-country move, law school, another cross-country move, more law school, and now another baby on the way. On top of all the other demands you have as a mom - it is easier, ( and more comfortable) to not have another thing on your to-do list.

But like I said at the beginning of this - I've had the bug to get serious about making art for a few weeks now. Several things have led up to this strong desire and a lot of the source has been through spiritual reflection. Not too long ago I was reading in the scriptures (and for the life of me, I can't find the scripture anywhere - I've just spent like 20 minutes looking for it) and I read something about not spending your time on that which is of no worth. It really struck me. I mean, how much time have I wasted on bad tv? Un-inspiring books? Blog-stalking? You-tubing? Facebooking? MANY hours that I can never ever get back. Shortly after this - I read something about (again, not finding it) not hiding/burying our talents.

Hmmm... well I definitely haven't been putting mine to good use lately. AND finally, the last shove I needed in the right direction was when I visited my dear Jones' blog (old college bestie/roomie/art-pal) and took a look at some of her goals for 2012. There were a lot of "artsy" goals for the year. How perfect was that??? Here was my old comrade-in-arts ready to dive into the world of being creative again.

A few days later I sent Jones the following message on facebook: "So Jones, I've been thinking. I desperately need to start creating again. Anything!! I have half a dozen projects in my head that need to make it past the brainstorm phase. Projects ranging from things I want to sew, walls to decorate, pictures to draw and paint... And from your last blog post it sounds like you want to do more artsy things too. What if we started a "creativity accountability" blog?? Somewhere we can post finished results of our projects? I think if I had a partner in crime and deadlines I might actually produce something. Let me know what you think!!"
This is her reply: "I'm in!!! I'm buying a computer soon to get photoshop etc. doing that with you would make me super happy!!... Bayba- scary that we are totally on exactly the same wavelength though!! I'm ready to start something."

And almost instantly Jones came up with this:



And she was the brains behind making this blog something truly awesome - so much more than what I had in mind! It is a place where we not only post our artsy projects, but things that inspire us on so many levels. We went ahead and spread the word about this blog on Facebook, Sunday night, now that we've got some posts for people to look at. I hope that if you ever visit my blog, you will jump over to visit everythingforthelove too! (And follow us, please!)
Here's to getting back to my creative roots!

The Big Day

So this is a video my preschool co-op friend Valerie filmed at her house last week. This is Val's son Aiden sitting next to Aimee. Aimee and Aiden are really good friends. And apparently, a little more than that. They have big plans in the works once they turn five...

Observation

My sister-in-law and I recently shared the same observation: When you are home and trying to get work done around the house (like make dinner, especially) your kids are starved for your undivided attention. They cling to your pant legs, beg you to hold them, and cry when you don't. BUT those times you want/need to hold them (like walking out to the car in a crowded parking lot or shopping at the grocery store)- they want nothing to do with you. They freak out like little wild beast children when you try to hold them and keep them close.
Why is that?

And on an unrelated note:

Jack wasn't too keen on "Bring Your Baby to School Day" 

Family of Five? That seems so weird...

If you haven't heard it through the fam or facebook... you ought to know, (as a friend of mine so delicately put it) : My eggo is preggo.
Yes. Baby number 3 is due sometime around July 22-26th.
Surprise!!!
And it was - for me. And Greg.
A pleasant surprise? Well, I guess. I mean, I'm warming up to the idea. This just wasn't what when I had in mind.
Ok, honestly, the night I found out I cried. And not really tears of happiness. I cried because I felt bad for Jack. I wasn't ready for him to not be the baby anymore. I'm sure a lot of it is because he's my "little guy" literally. And he's so sweet - a total momma's boy and I'm loving every minute of it - I wasn't ready to let someone else take that place. I cried for me a little bit because I wasn't ready. I was finally getting into "shape" (although still a bit doughy) and I feel like I just did the whole pregnancy/newborn/nursing/up all night thing.
When I was trying to pregnant with Aimee and Jack I wanted it so badly. And it took us a while - and each month that would go by not being pregnant was discouraging. And so I was thrilled when it finally happened.
This time around it is all very different.
I feel bad at times, because I don't feel the kind of excitement I did with Jack and Aimee. I mean, it's getting better - it just still feels super surreal. I had a sonogram and got to see the baby, that helped. My sister just had a baby and we Skype all the time. Seeing and hearing her little baby helps with my enthusiasm some. And I know once he/she gets here all of that will be forgotten. But still - the dominant thought that still goes through my mind is, "I can't believe this is happening. Is this really happening? This is really happening. Holy crap. I am going to have 3 kids. Holy crap." And behind the shock is a little bit of the "How is this going to work? Our ONE car is small, our apartment is TINY. We are so dang broke... Holy crap." And I guess it's a good thing that those secondary thoughts aren't stressing me out too much... yet. I take that as a tender mercy and a blessing from Heavenly Father. Because on paper - it just doesn't add up. But like I said, I'm not freaking out too much about that end of things. Yet.

So anyway. Here we are. I am about 14 weeks along. I think the worst of the early pregnancy sickness is over. I have a LOT of sympathy for those ladies that are sick the entire pregnancy. This time around has been miserable. I was so sick, almost immediately.  I was throwing up multiple times a day. And I know this isn't uncommon for a lot of women - but it still sucked. I laid around on the couch a lot. My kids and husband ate a lot of cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. To me, nothing sounded good to eat. For a while it was all about trying to eat things that wouldn't be so bad coming back up. FYI: popcorn, cottage cheese, chips and salsa = bad. Life cereal: surprisingly smooth. Ha! Gross, I know.

My mom took pity on me and flew the kids and I out to Florida for Christmas a little earlier than we planned to be there, so she could tend to the kiddos. And it was wonderful! If I could have stayed with her the entire sickness-phase I think I would have!

But anyway, I think the worst of it is over. I've gone a few days in a row now, keeping my breakfast down. And because of that, I think the weight will begin to pack on soon. I'm approaching the "if I can keep eating I don't feel so bad" phase.

As much as I might be on the unenthusiastic side about this whole pregnancy business, Aimee is the opposite - so long as this baby is a girl! She is CONFIDENT that a baby sister is growing in my belly. I will share a funny story:

While we were still in Florida, I was lounging on the couch with Aimee. She had her head on my belly, when she looked up at me. Then back to my belly and pushed on it with her hand. She asked, "Mom? Is there a baby in your tummy?"
I wasn't planning on telling her right then, in case she wanted to share the news with others, but I went ahead and told her, "Yes, there is a baby in my tummy."
Her eyes lit up, "A baby sister? For me??" (Her hands clasped together)
"Well, I don't know yet. We won't know for a while."
She started to bounce with excitement - "It's a baby sister!"
"Or it could be another baby brother."
Aimee stopped bouncing, and with all the drama in her little self declared, "No! I don't want a baby brother!! I already have Jack!" And she ran out of the room, crying.

For her sake... I hope it's a girl. For Jack's I hope it's a boy. Aimee is a lot of sister to handle. BUT I have kind of convinced myself that it's a girl. Like, I found some baby girl sweaters at Target on clearance for $3 and bought them - that kind of convinced. But I was convinced Aimee was going to be a boy and was obviously wrong. I have zero intuition about these things... I guess we'll find out soon enough.

So ready or not, I guess this is really happening. I am determined to soak up the time with just the two kids as much as I can - because I hear 3 is a whole new kind of crazy.

Express Yourself

Jack was being extra silly tonight. So glad I grabbed the camera!

I love this little guy!

Floridian Christmas

Oh Florida, I was sad to leave you. You, and the fam. Well, mostly the fam. 

SO - our little FL vacation began on Dec 12th. Mom flew the kids and I out early, while Greg finished up finals. I was thrilled to be there - Aimee and Jack had a blast too. 

Here they are dining in the "Florida/Sun Room" (used to be the back patio - but previous owners expanded it, added walls, windows, and now it's kind of a play-room/man cave - complete with mounted flat screen TV, AND jacuzzi - also note the mini-fridge)

I love Jack's face in this one!! 

So this is Megan. She is the darling daughter of some good friends of my parents and Aimee absolutely adores her. AND apparently, Jack does too. He was SO shy around her! He'd look over, smile, and then when she smiled back, he'd look away - burying his face in my arms. And when she held him, he was star struck. It was the cutest thing ever. Sorry little man, I don't think she's going to wait for you.  But you can bet we took plenty of pictures, to embarrass him when he's 13. 

 The kids coloring...

...And the fun is over when Jack colors on Aimee's page! Every time I look at this one I laugh a little... perfect timing.

Aimee watching Pop-pop play on the computer. "Get the bad guys!"

And you can't go to Florida without at least one quick visit to the beach. Which is what we did. And it was kind of cold that day. But the kids didn't seem to mind. 

Downtown Disney! We all drove up to Orlando to do some sight-seeing. We stayed for a couple of hours, perused the shops, rode the ferry... and planned on staying for the fireworks but when we realized they were another hour away - we decided we were over it. It was still lots of fun though!   

(Aimee was truly excited to be there - really, I promise) 

The Bayba's (quit hiding mom!) 

 Jack in awe of... 

Dinosaurs!!

 More fascination...

Carousel time!! 

Aimee wanted to sit by some random little girl. "Mom! Look, it's my friend!" Um... ok Aimee!

Dance party time!! Good ole live music, crazy stiltz-dancing-man. Poor Whit, she got pulled up to dance! (Yeah, she totally loved it) I pretended to be super busy taking pictures - to avoid getting picked. *whew* 

Oh! And I need to mention our little Rain Forest Cafe experience. I've been to the one in CA a long time ago - but I think this one is bigger. The kids LOVED it. Jack could not get enough of all the animals... that is until it started to "storm" (and for those of you unfamiliar - it "storms" in the Rain Forest Cafe every 20 minutes - there is thunder and lighting - and all the animatronic animals go crazy) I wish I took pictures of that because he looked absolutely horrified at first, but when we all started to clap and say "Yay!" He did too... but still with a look of anxiety on his face. It was hilarious. 

And finally... Christmas morning! Every year I mean to take more pictures Christmas morning and every year I fail. Oh well... 

Jack's newfound love (besides Megan) 

ELMO!

We showed him a couple of clips on mom's iPad when he was acting fussy - and he's seen a few Elmo clips here and there, but something clicked. EVERYTIME he saw my mom's iPad he'd get all excited and start requesting, "Elmo! Elmo!" 

I wish I knew before Christmas that he was going to be so fanatic about it... I may have attempted to get him some sort of singing/dancing Elmo (not the $200 kind, obviously) I guess if he's still into it by his birthday...

Here he is, watching intently... 

And upset that it wasn't the exact video he had in mind... 

There you have it! 

As always, for me - the trip was over too soon. I think the kids were more or less ready to be back. I always hate coming home after a long trip. It always feels SO lonely for a couple of days.  Thanks again mom, dad, and Whit! Love and Miss you!