Happy Birthday Ali-Bug!!

Ali's birthday is on Saturday, but since we are having her birthday party on that day I figured I'd better do this now. I call Ali my "Love-Bug", or in short, "bug". I have to remember to add the "love" part in there every once in a while so that she doesn't think I'm calling her an insect!

Ali will be turning 4. Wow. That means we have been in this home for 3 years. When we moved in she was turning 1! Time flies. And in that time she has developed a strong personality as most of you know! I guess "bug" has a double meaning....she can be quite the "stinker" too!! Ha Ha!

Her story: The morning of March 28, 2005 started with me being able to "sleep-in" till about 8. I got up to go to the bathroom, came back and after laying down felt that "pop" that everyone talks about. And it was like a dull pop.....and then came the water. Luckily I had laid so that my back was to the outside of the bed so I quickly slid off the bed (keeping it clean!) and wobbled to the bathroom telling Joseph that my water had just broken. I wasn't in instant pain, and my water wasn't gushing. So I decided to hop in the shower, to try and have a fresh start to the day.

My brother-in-law, Bret had asked to borrow our truck that day and was coming over to switch vehicles. This worked out wonderfully because we sent Anna and Reese back with him to stay with my sister Heidi. The timing on everything was awesome! So at the same time Bret came, we were loading up in the car to head down to Provo.

Now Anna and Reese were both born at Orem Community Hospital, and we had lived in Orem. Well....things changed, we moved, so now we had to go from Eagle Mountain to Provo, in morning traffic. I made sure to have a pile of towels to sit on for the ride, and good thing, every time I had a contraction a small gush of water would come after it. I was more worried about getting stuff on the car seat then having the contractions! TMI, I know, sorry!

We got to the hospital, set up, and waited for our Dr. who himself was at a Dr. appt! Needless to say he got there right in time to deliver Ali. She came out as a healthy 8 pounds 7 ounces! Definitely our chubbiest newborn, and our darkest. She almost looked oriental!

Ali has grown up to be a determined little girl! She is now in pre-school and a dance class, and loves it. She loves her brothers and sister. She has a healthy imagination, and loves to do many things. We are very thankful to have her as part of our family. She keeps things exciting!

That's our Ali-bug, or Ali-babe! Happy Birthday Ali! We love you!

Time keeps "March"ing on....

Time keeps marching on at a nice quick pace! March sounded so far away, and yet here it is! March was holding a couple things for us.....like, the last weeks of Joseph's job, and the last month to get everything ready and organized before we head to Brazil. We've been booking things for Brazil the last little bit, and it has started to become real to me. I am so excited to go. I do want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone that is helping with our children. Joseph's sisters and my mom, and some neighbors are sharing this wonderful challenge! It almost reminds me of organizing babysitters for when I was going to school. Whew!!

I am also reading the "green dragon". That's what Joseph called the Portuguese textbook from the MTC. He has been wondering how to get one for me because he says it's the best book to help learn the language. Well he was making his rounds in the DI's when he found a "green dragon" ! He was so excited. So now....I am in learning mode!

For an update on Joseph......his last day is March 13th. How fitting,....Friday the 13th! He's been sending out resumes and all that jazz. But isn't too stressed yet because we will be gone for almost a month before he can start anywhere. But hopefully during this pause in time he is able to think about what he really wants to do. He says if anyone has some leads let him know! I am so proud of Joseph and thankful for him. He is an amazing person, husband, father etc. He has been a wonderful provider for our family. Love him!!!!

Ali's birthday is also this month. She will be 4. I will hopefully put together a birthday post later in the month.

I have been getting into "Parenting with Love and Logic". My mom had a workbook for the class 10 years ago I think. But the concepts of this "program" are awesome and I'm trying to learn them and practice them so that I can feel like I can control my children. I've been struggling with the feeling of "why have more children if I can't manage the one's I have?" It's a very frustrating and conflicting feeling. So I am trying this parenting concept to see if that will help me help them. It'll take practice though.

There ya have it.....there it is.