Fat Girl

My parents got Merrill and I this cool Crepe Grill for our Christmas present....and it is great! And I look great using it. All big and 7 1/2 months along!

Snow!

So it started to snow here in Sierra Vista today. We went out - but Braxton didnt like it...'too cold!' So Merrick and I went back out and he ate some snow that was on the candy canes, and then his hands were too cold - and hurt him - so we went inside.

Here is picture of Merrill and his brother Neil and sister Jenn - first time together since Merrill got back from his mission.

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

~Got this from my sister-in-law Jenn....Thought it was funny - and true. (1) Fine: This is the wordwomen use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shutup. (2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed,this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if youhave just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helpingaround the house. (3) Nothing: This is the calmbefore the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes.Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine. (4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, notpermission. Don't Do It! (5) Loud Sigh: This is actually aword, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loudsigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wastingher time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer backto # 3 for the meaning of nothing.) (6) That's Okay: This is one of themost dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay meansshe wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you willpay for your mistake. (7) Thanks: A woman is thankingyou, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to addin a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - thatis PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you'rewelcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever'). (8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F-- YOU! (9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerousstatement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to doseveral times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in aman asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Ahhh Yes! The Stool Sample

Let me start by saying, "Having kids is great."

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Braxton is in Pre-school from 9-12 MWF. So I try and get Merrick in the hourly care at the same times so I have a few hours to get either beading in, or - with Christmas coming - shopping/present wrapping done. It is normally a good thing. But now and then they both get sick.....with the same thing. This weekend it was wicked diarreah. Taking them to the Dr. is not something I would do for this, but we had a follow up apt. from when they had Croup last month. So, since we were there, I mentioned - "They have had diarreah since Friday"

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Dr. - "Oh - Friday?! Lets get a stool sample so we can make sure its not anything serious."

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I like our Doctor - she is very thorough. But really? A stool sample?!

What does that mean I have to do?

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So - we went to the LAB and got 2 little jars (one for each boy) and were sent home to wait. When the time came - Merrill was there for Braxton with a little cup - all ready to catch the pay load. I am glad he didn't barf all over it......because then we would have had to try again...tomorrow. Merrick was easier - just had to scoop it out of the diaper.

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Like I said - "Having kids is great"

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But let me finish by saying - "Having Merrill there to do the DIRTY work is Best!"

(This is not OUR stool sample - I found the picture on the Internet. If you want - comment - and I will take a picture of Braxton's and post it later...but only if you are really really lucky!)

Tasty Time with Zefronk

All of you know I like to watch the Food Network. And I make the boys watch with me in the afternoon after I have put in my time watching what THEY want to watch.

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This is Braxton's favorite "Food Network Show" (his words) he told me this morning while the boys were watching Playhouse Disney at the butt-crack of dawn.

Lights!

After a few weeks of talking about it (Since we got back from Thanksgiving at my family's house) Merrill and the boys got the lights up today. And it was CRAZY windy! Merrill had to climb up on the roof because our ladder wasn't long enough for the area over the garage. I'm glad he didn't get blown off. The boys are showing the little clips that we used to hook the lights on the the house with.....you cant use nails here because it is military housing - gotta keep it nice for the next family.

And on another note - I got to bead on Friday since both boys were at 'school'. I don't know if it was worth it though, they both came home with wicked diarriah. But this is what I made:

PS - I won the bet. I thought 5 Nutter Butters was an OK amount for a treat....Merrill thought that was a lot....but according to my friends and readers, 7 or more is a lot. So he owes me a "Hot Date" (as Braxton says)

Baby Jesus

Since I go in spurts - I am going to post 2 things today and then wont post anything till next week....maybe.

Tonight for our project we made the Nativity that was in "The Friend".

(On cereal boxes no less - try cutting those out!!)

The boys did a good job watching. And we all know:

"Watching is helping" -Dana Livingston

Hick-up

It has been a while since I have posted anything. I have been dealing with the boys FIGHTING a lot. Merrick is the one in time-out more then Braxton, but it takes 2 to fight!

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We did make sugar cookies this week.

We have done lots of walking at night to go see the Christmas lights. Merrick is funny - he says "WOW!" about every 5 seconds when we are out.

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Baby news: She has hick-ups a lot now. I remember Braxton had them 3 or 4 times a day - and they were really big.....Sophie's are little lady-like hick-ups.....and only every few days....but its fun that we can feel them now.

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Only 2 months left!

The Tree is Up

We went here for Family Night.

Even though it is now December, the boys won't stop wearing

the $1 t-shirts that were on sale at Wal*Mart last month from Halloween.

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We got this......

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And the boys did this:

Don't you love how all the decorations stop at Braxton's head? I was going to put some more on top - where they couldn't reach - but then I would have to put them away at the end of the month. Why would I do that to myself?

Thanksgiving Weekend!

If you didn't know, we drove to Escondido this past weekend for Thanksgiving....my last trip till I have the baby! My mom always gets everyone matching shirts - this year it was for Thanksgiving - and Annie was the the only one not there... =*(

The boys got to make out with Ren and Jessica's dogs - sick.

Jessica and I decorated sugar cookies with the boys in our matching shirts.

Walked on the Pier in Oceanside - notice that Merrill was nice enough to let Merrick lick the fish guts and bird poo off the rail of the pier.

My mom and dad - They are in LOVE!

Girl!

Yep - Its a girl. It took a while to get a face shot with the hands out of the way, but we got a few. Here are the feet.

Here is her face again.

Letters

Braxton learned his letters this past Easter. He has just started to write them - on a mini Magna-Doodle. Yesterday we were outside with Natalie and made a chalk track for the bike. He decided he needed a stop sign. So Natalie did the shape - and Braxton wrote the word. Sounded it out and all. He is getting big - I think it must be time to start working with him on maybe reading/sounding out words....?

Weired to think I'm 26 and need to start teaching my first born to read!

Twilight!

Natalie and I went to the movie - and It was SOOO GOOD! We both loved it. I also need someone to break the tie on my poll.

New Poll

I have a new poll here on my blog - please Vote! It is a little bet Merrill and I have going - If I win he has to take me out (plan and all that) If not - I have to do the planning!

Tuesday

I am still home with sick kids but have decided to go to the PX and get Wall-E for a little outing and reward for a good trip (I hope) to the doctors office.

Braxton is really in to puzzles now - so we got him some at Target. He is getting good - doing them all by himself WITHOUT asking for help (he can't even look for a toy with out asking for help).

In other news - I am so excited for this:

Diane got tickets for herself, me, and Natalie for Saturday night at 7. Merrill has a friend coming in to town for the weekend - so I'm sure they will have a great time watching the boys while us girls go out for the night.

Apple anyone?

Little note from Grandpa

This is the e-mail I got from

my grandpa today in regard to the

anonymous comments from my mom.

Makenna: Enjoy your blog; Just wanted to assure you, your Mother didn't learn that little trick from her parents! Love You, Grandpa Peterson

Naked Up-date

Wow - that was a lot of comments - about the naked thing. The anonymous comment was from my mother. (Bet none of you guessed that!) I didn't know it would get so heated....humm.

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Merrick has been doing better today - I have kept him busy - not easy since we are trapped inside. Braxton and I had a nice trip to the E.R. because of croup. So we didn't go to church. We spent the day doing play-doe and playing with magnets and coloring (with markers and chalk).

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For those of you who care - Merrick has been going to the C.D.C. (child development center) on post for 3 hours while Braxton is in Pre-school. Gives me some time alone.....anyways... I have been thinking and the naked thing happens after that and I think it is because the people who put the diapers on are doing it wrong - the front is not spared across the front all the way (so that the tabs are almost rubbing on his bare skin) leaving way for some chaffing to happen on his little tummy below the belly button. I think that is why he wants to get naked....gotta give the little rash some time to go away. So when we get home from 'school' I will have to make it my job to check and make sure he is diapered correctly.

Naked Party!

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Merrick has started to get un-dressed in the middle of the day. Then run around yelling, "I naked! I naked!" Any tips on how to stop this....or at least slow it down?

Welcome Home To Me!

I had a good time in California - but it was way slow compared to what I am used to - with 2 small boys to keep in line all day long. We went shopping and I got some new maternity clothes, saw Madagascar 2, made some yummy Cream Cheese Brownies with Jessica, and saw Ren and Jessica's new little baby dog - Marcie (She is SO tiny!), went to Red Robin, Siamese Basil, Pat& Oscars, and Ulta and Fry's. With all that - I felt like we could have done more....and all I had was Sunday and Monday. We also made cookies for a church thing, and watched a few movies.

Of course, I could have done only 1 or 2 of these things IF the boys had been there, but it was still weired. Very slow and almost lonely. I loved seeing everyone - and being with my coughing mother and Natalie all day Monday.....and spending the day after church at Ren and Jessica's - but I am SO GLAD to be home! With MY family. Now that I have spent a weekend without ANY of the ding-dongs in my life - I am so thankful to have them back!

Merrill did a great job with the boys - having "Man Town".

The house was spotless when I got home too!

THINGS MERRILL DID WHILE I WAS GONE:

Got them all ready for church.

Made a roast for Sunday dinner.

Read to them to sleep every night.

And how nice - he even got me this poster of Edward

to greet me when I drove in to the garage!

(why is he so grouchy looking? I thought he would be happy to see me!)

The perfect ending to a nice quiet weekend.

California....

here I come!

I will miss these boys....

And this guy!

But will have fun with my brother, Ren

And his wife Jessica!