The Hunt

Luckily there was a break in the rain this past Saturday morning.  Whitney got to join some of her chums for a fun Easter Egg Hunt.  She really had the hang of it this year. She knew EXACTLY what was in those eggs.  Waisting no time at all, she picked up her dozen and started cracking open those eggs.  

Hippity Hoppity.

p.s.  See that binkie that MacKay has in his mouth?  Yeah.  It was his favorite.  Unfortunately, on Easter Sunday right before church, I accidentally FLUSHED IT DOWN the toilet.  How does something like that happen?  Well, when you store a binkie in your bra to "keep it clean" and then it slips through and straight through your legs and into the toilet, you figure you better find a better storage spot in the future.  

Haircut

It was time.  The tangles, mangles, messy, curly, hard-to-manage-bed-head-days were too much for our family.
Whitney got her first haircut.  

It was while I was still sick.  One night after we put MacKay to bed, I told Whitney she was going to get her haircut.  (By Yours Truly!)

 She said, "Don't use the clippers!  Don't shave it!"  

Earlier during Whitney's nap, Bart had shaved his head in the backyard.
When she woke up she had a surprised look on her face.  

I'm pretty sure when I told her we were cutting her hair, she thought we were going to shave it, just like her Daddy's head.  

No, sweetheart.  I'm not abusive.  

We even promised her some ice cream if she sat really still.

She did pretty well.  I cut off more than I had planned on.. doesn't it always work that way?  I have much experience cutting hair.  I've cut my Dad's, brother's, sister's, Bart's, my own and now Whitney's.  No.  I'm not good either.  

I figured I couldn't mess it up THAT much.  Her hair is curly and very forgiving.  

I think she looks darling...

and she was happy we didn't use the clippers.

During the haircut:  Distracted withe soap and oreo cookies.

The first locks that were cut.

The cookies & cream ice cream afterwards.   

Pay no attention to the chocolate on her lips.  

And yes, that is a BYU cheerleader dress she loves wearing.  

The next day:  All smiles for her big Easter Egg hunt!

Sick Day

I thought taking a 'sick day' was hard when I taught school.... writing sub plans, finding a sub, coming back to a messy classroom where my sub plans weren't followed and the kids were buck wild and full of complaints... you know.  It was sometimes just easier to teach while being sick.

Unfortunately, my new career, as a full-time Mom doesn't really allow for many sick days.  This past week, I woke up around 5 am with a fever and feeling like garbage.  I had been trying to recover from a bad cold/sinus infection... and I knew it was going to be a hard day.

After heading to the doctor with my two kiddos, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and a bacterial sinus infection.  The doctor prescribed me some antibiotics and I called Bart and drove home.  Then the kids and I  crawled into bed.  When Bart got home I was so relieved.  My "SUB" finally came!!!  And what a great Substitute-Mommy he is.  He took good care of me and the kids.
When he had to be at school, Heather made us dinner and took Whitney one whole morning so I could lay in bed and try to get some rest.
I am so grateful for wonderful friends and a supportive husband who took such great care of me.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not a "happy" sick person.  I hate it.  It's even harder to be sick when you want to take care of your kids.

Things are starting to look up.  I am looking forward to feeling like my regular old self again.  Hopefully soon???

So as yesterday was Easter Sunday, I thought a lot about Healing, the Atonement, Gratitude and Family.  I know without the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, none of this would be possible.  I am grateful for modern medicine, the support of my husband and friends, the ability I have to stay home and be a mother to my children, AND the fact that 99 percent of the time I really do feel great and have good health...

None of that would be possible without this infinite Atonement.   And for that I am so grateful.

As far as Easter pics?  Well... I didn't do a great job about taking pics this year.  So here are a few from the past few weeks:

 Here is one of Whitney's Easter presents from Grandma/Grandpa Paxton.  

She loves dressing herself these days!  

Mac and me on his blessing day.

Master BBQ man.  

Happy Easter!

Whiny

What happens when you take the "T" & "E" out of Whitney's name?

Yes, 

She becomes Whiny...

And we've been dealing with a lot of that the past few days.

Looking forward to seeing my "funny" girl again!

Siblings

She adores him.  He loves to look at her.  

She loves to poke and hug and cuddle. 

He loves to stare, and coo and giggle.  

I know there are many wresting matches, fights, brawls and arguments to come...

but for now:

These two love each other.

A Blessed Day

On April 10, 2011 our baby boy was given a name and a blessing.  His father gave the blessing and it was very sweet. 

MacKay Carlisle Paxton

He is named after his great-grandfather, Carlisle MacKay.  Also:  Bart's middle name is MacKay.

 My mom bought the little white sweater set and Bart's mom sent us the little blue and white booties on his feet.  

He was quiet and still for the entire prayer.  (So was his big sissy!)  It was a very special day.  The weather was in the low 80's.  After the blessing and a wonderful day at church, we came home.  The kids napped while Bart and I prepared dinner.  After having some friends to a dinner, (MacKay slept the WHOLE TIME!)  we enjoyed a lovely evening with the windows wide open.  

That evening as I rocked and fed my little baby with the sun shining through the bedroom windows and the curtains blowing in the breeze, I just felt so blessed myself.  How really nice it is to have such a great support system of family, friends and my little children.  Of course, none of this could be possible without the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for His Church in the Latter-days.  

It is true!  

I am so looking forward to one of my favorite holidays:  Easter!

It just felt so good to be so happy!  These moments are ones I never want to forget.  

 Here is MacKay Carlisle Paxton all giggles and smiles on his big day:

Three Months

My little chubbers is three months old!  I remember when I was in the delivery room ready to give birth to the little guy, and I seriously couldn't believe how quickly that pregnancy went by.  I feel like it's all been a blur.  Maybe it's supposed to be that way.  I do remember the beginning was a BIT challenging.  Now we're getting into the swing of things.  We don't really get out much.  That's okay, though. I decided to lower some of the expectations I place on myself.  It actually makes me a little bit happier.  Instead of feeling like I should be totally showered, dressed, (already exercised) and doing some really great project or having the kids out somewhere.. I just try to focus on a few things.  Maybe being sweeter to my 2 1/2 year old... or fixing a nice dinner for my man.  Maybe even just getting in a nap.  Those things are my new accomplishments.

Lucky for me, I have a very cute little 3-month-old who is so very sweet.  This boy is very good and chill.  Oh, yes... he has his moments.. for instance, he screams bloody-murder when being changed or disrupted in the middle of the night(we all do, right?) but overall, he's a good baby.  He likes to share a room with his parents.  I'm sure this won't be the case for the rest of his life.  But for now, in a 2-bedroom apartment, that is where we all sleep.

His longest sleep stretch is still only four hours.  I'm pretty sure we'll be "sleep training" in about a month.  MacKay LOVES to sleep next to his Mama.  I seriously wouldn't mind if it wasn't for the kinked neck and stiff back I get in the middle of the night.  He is pretty easy to 'put' to sleep.  He just likes his binkie and to be cuddled.

He loves sucking on his fist.  Bart does NOT want him to find his thumb.  I secretly wouldn't mind if that meant that he would sleep for 8 + consecutive hours.  Being a recovering thumb-sucker myself, I know it's not the best road.  So we'll just use the binkie and hope he leave his thumb alone.

MacKay started giggling this past month.  He loves to be tickled underneath his neck.  (Whit calls it his "neck meat") and underneath his arms.  He's quite the conversationalist.  He loves being "talked to" and watching people.  He gets a very serious look on his face when he starts cooing and gooing.

Just this past month he outgrew his size 1-2 and size 2 diapers.  Onto bigger and better things, I guess.  He's quite the rolly-polly and is still a good nurser.  He much prefers me to the bottle.  (Can you blame him?) He is now wearing size 3-9 month sized clothes.

I also have a confession:  I really wasn't sure about having a boy when we found out MacKay's gender.  Being more of a "girly-girl" myself, I really wasn't sure what I'd do with a little boy.  But I'll be the first to admit.. I LOVE IT.  There's just something sweet about having your own little man who adores you.

MacKay is a snuggle bug.  We all just love him so much.