Finley

So I realize I never posted about Finley's birth. Maybe because she's the third child, and maybe because it was a c-section and I was so drugged I don't remember a thing. Either way I will try to make something up recall the details now.


So Finley's story really starts a few weeks before she is born. In one of my late ultrasounds it was discovered that Finley had short femurs ( I was 36 weeks, but her femurs measured at 32 weeks), which can be a marker for downs, but she had no other markers so I put it out of my mind. At that appointment they were so concerned about her legs that the fact that she was breech was overlooked. So at my next appointment they told me that she was breech and I had only 2 weeks to try to flip her naturally before we would have to discuss other options. So home I went. I spent 2 weeks upside down, I had a huge headache, but if I could save myself from a c-section it would all be worth it. 

The morning of my appointment she got the hiccups and I felt them way up in my ribs, so, no flip. Then I saw on the ultrasound that she was still breech and also she was so high up in my ribs that her nose was all smashed on the ultrasound. Fantastic. 

So I scheduled my External Cephalic Version for a Thursday afternoon and an ultrasound for the Tuesday before to see if maybe by some miracle she would flip on her own and save me a trip to the hospital, no such luck. So on Thursday, December 22 I went to the hospital to be manhandled by a doctor. Now for those of you who aren't familiar with the version procedure I will save you the google. Basically it's a procedure for the lucky moms with the stubborn babies. You willingly check yourself into the hospital, they hook you up to an IV, clear an operating room in case you go into labor and have to have an emergency c-section, and then shoot you up with some speed while they push on your belly to turn the baby. Maybe it wasn't actually speed, but it definitely made me feel like I could lift a car, I was hooked up to lots of machines and an IV and wasn't able to test it, but I'm sure I could have. I feel like that description raised more questions then it answered, my apologies.


So after they drug you they poor oil all over your belly and push and pull and knead your belly until your child turns. Finley refused. They said usually the baby's heart rate will speed up to show that they are annoyed by whats happening, not Finley, she remained cool as a cucumber, she's so strong. During this time I realized that I had given her too sassy of a name, "a Susan would never behave like this" I muttered to myself. Turns out I wasn't muttering to myself and the doctor laughed and told me that her name was Susan. She confirmed that she was head down as a fetus so my theory was right. At this point I decided to add a little more incentive to the situation, I offered to name my baby Susan if she could get her to flip. I really feel like this helped, she tried again with a new determination. The problem that we had was Finley was hiding her head up under my ribs so when they would push her she would move and hit my lowest rib and get stuck. So the doctor tried to pry her out of my ribs by clawing at my stomach and trying to pull her down. She tried for 45 minutes without any luck and then called a second doctor to come and try because he had bigger hands and a better turning record. Clearly she really wanted my baby named after her. Now I think it is worth mentioning that in the room it was myself, a female nurse, my female midwife, a female doctor, and the man who put me in this awful position, also known as my husband. There was a strong, man hater vibe in that room, I was the only one putting it out there, but it was felt by all. So the big handed doctor arrived, they told him everything they had tried and I could see on his face that he didn't know why they called him since this baby was clearly the most strong willed fetus known to man (men. Ugh.), but he greased up and tried (I think halfheartedly) to turn my baby. No luck. So he left. Of course it didn't work, if a woman couldn't do it, the man didn't even stand a chance.


A couple days after Christmas I went back in to schedule my c-section, the first day they offered was December 29th, Brisa's birthday. She had already told us under no uncertain terms that the baby was not to be born on her birthday, so I was left with the only other date available January 3rd, a Tuesday, what a lovely day for a baby. So January 2nd rolls around and I decide that this would be a good time to go out and get all my hospital supplies and pack my hospital bag. I really love procrastination, and I love putting off packing the hospital bag, there is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you get some Braxton Hicks and don't have your bag packed. The rush. The fear. The shame. The relief that its not real labor and you still don't have to pack the hospital bag, sublime.


January 3rd, D-Day. I woke up at 5:30 to get to the hospital at 6. I was grumpy, I hate mornings. So they checked me in, I gowned up and she placed my IV and then she lifted my gown to put on the baby heart rate monitor and the nurse looked concerned. My belly was still covered in bruises and claw marks. I explained that I had been abused, but it was OK because I paid them to do it and they gave me speed. Then she left and Chad suited up for surgery.

Fast forward to the operating room with a new nurse:

Me: "Chad, don't look at my butt"

Nurse: I'm sure he's seen it before"

Me: You can't prove that.

Nurse: Are you an organ donor?

Me: Yes, but I know how many kidneys I walked in here with, so don't even think about it.

Nurse: That would be a completely different surgery.

Me: I know, it was a joke.

We just clicked right away, I wonder what she's up to... hmm...

So they drugged me, cut my baby out and whisked her away, but not in a traumatizing way. I found out later that I wasn't able to hold her because she was purple and had some trouble breathing and had to be taken away so the nurses could work on her while I got stitched up/played would you rather with my midwife. Clearly I take childbirth and motherhood super seriously. The children ARE our future after all. So after I was all stitched up they put a bunch of warm blankets on me and wheeled me back to my room. Chad was in there with Finley, she was perfect, he tried to hand her to me, but I was shaking too much to hold her, it was heart breaking, but he laid her on me and I could smell that perfect baby smell, its like crack for new moms. When I was finally able to hold her she started rooting around to eat, and she was not subtle. So I nursed her and she latched right away, it didn't hurt at all, it was weird, I think she was such an awful tenant that she realized she had better be a perfect roommate if she wanted to stay. 

About an hour later they came back to take me to the maternity wing. The nurse was an awful driver and with every bump and run in with the wall I felt intense pain in my abdomen. I can't stress enough how much I loved this woman, we are talking life long friends here. So there I was in my new room, she pressed hard on my tummy to get any clots out, then we said our goodbyes, and she went home (I assume, to kick puppies). In came my new nurse.

Nurse: Have you been passing gas?

Me: yes, I'm sorry I can't control it, I still can't really feel my legs.

Nurse: No, that's a great sign! And really impressive!

Finally someone who appreciates my talents. Later that night I was doing so well that she took out my catheter and told me that I had to pee twice in the next 12 hours or it would have to be put back in, that was all the motivation I needed, so off to the bathroom I went with the help of 2 nurses (Chad had gone home to put the big kids to bed). They had to measure my urine and I filled up the whole container they were impressed. This whole time I didn't have Finley with me because I was alone and couldn't pick her up from the bassinet without help so she was in the nursery. So I just sat there alone drinking tons water, and eating a delicious chicken ceasar salad. I had 4 of them while I was there, it was delicious. and 30 minutes later I had to pee again and and I filled the cup again and my first assignment was checked off my list.


Wednesday morning comes and they tell me my next mission, walking. I have done everything on the go home check list and so once I complete 4 laps around the floor I can leave. Game on. So I ask Chad to help me get up because I have to go to the bathroom, and I realize that all of the morphine they had given me has completely worn off, so much pain! I was shaking and couldn't even talk, I barely made it to the bathroom, so Chad called the nurse so I could get some more pain meds, they helped and so I decided to take a shower because if I am going to be walking around the halls, I'm going to have clean hair. So off I go to the shower, and it hurts, but I'm tough so I keep going, I look down and see I've passed a huge clot, oh well I just have to rinse my hair and then I'll get out and tell the nurse, then I pass out. I called for Chad, but he had fallen asleep and couldn't hear me. So I stood up all on my own (so much pain) turned off the shower then yelled for him again and he walked in, saw me and called the nurse (narc, I want to go home!) they help me to my bed, I lay down, drink water, and eat some crackers, then move to the couch so the nurse can change my wet bedding, and the bed breaks, it wont go up or down. so I have to get in to a bed that is all the way up. I'm 5'3" and have just had major abdominal surgery, it was awful. But eventually I get up and walk. 4 times. It was excruciating!


Thursday at around noon the doctor who preformed my surgery came and did an exam and told me I could go home! I was thrilled, I could finally go home and see my big babies, I missed them so much! We didn't tell them we were coming so we just came in and surprised them, they were so excited, I sat down on the couch and waited for the hugs, turns out they just wanted to see the baby. Whatever. 

The next two weeks were a drugged up blur. One of my medications made me fall asleep. It took me a while to figure out why I would be sitting talking and then just fall asleep. I accidentally deleted Facebook off my phone because I fell asleep with my thumb on my phone before I even opened the app, it was a wild ride. Chad had just started a new job and didn't have any time off to help me so after my mom left I was on my own, so naturally on the night before she left Carson started throwing up. So I was home, all alone, 2 weeks after a c-section with 3 kids, what could possibly go wrong? I'll tell you what, I had to get Carson out of his crib because he was sick and crying and he wouldn't let Brisa help him and I ripped my stitches open. It was gross, they couldn't stitch it closed again so I just had to cover it with band aids, I had band aids holding my stomach closed! It worked, but my scar is hideous now because of all the ripped parts, but such is life. The baby is perfect and she's the happiest little baby that I have ever seen. I love her so much! She's got short femurs, a perfectly round c-section head, and all of my love.

Brisa is literally the funniest kid that I know.  I mean all toddlers say and do funny things, but this girl takes it to a whole other level.  I'm so grateful that I get to be around to hear and see it all, I just wish that I was the older sister and not the mom, because she is strait up nuts.  Any way here are a few "funny" things Brisa has said and done.

Most of you have heard this one, but I'm going to expand it to include more of the details.  One morning while I was in the bathroom peeing/ hiding in the quiet bathroom Brisa went upstairs and grabbed three rolls of toilet paper and TP'd the hallway upstairs and my room and the living room.  I have no idea she could make that big of a mess that quick, but she did.  I didn't have the energy to clean it up and she was so proud that I decided to leave it and clean up when Carson went down for his nap.  The next time I had to go to the bathroom I had to run in and lock the door behind me because I was being chased by two little monsters. I heard Brisa come try to open the door then turn and say to Carson "She locked the door Carson!  I'll make a mess, I think I have a plan!"  I rushed out and found her squirting toothpaste on the toilet paper she had laid out earlier.  After that I thought she could use some time outside since she was obviously too "energized" to play inside.  After a few minutes outside she got bored and went back inside and I ran upstairs to put Carson down for a nap.  I was hiding in my room when I heard a sound that I know all two well.  It was crayons on a wall.  I ran downstairs and couldn't find Brisa anywhere, but found a mural on the wall.  I watched her like a hawk the rest of the day.

Lately Brisa has been asking for a new baby.  Apparently Carson just isn't cutting it anymore.  One night before bed she was negotiating with Chad how many more babies I need to have.  why no one felt that I should be included in the conversation I don't know. 

Chad: How more babies do you think mommy should have?

Brisa: Um.  Three babies.

Chad: how about one more?

Brisa: no, 5 babies

Chad: OK 2 more *goes for the handshake*

Brisa: OK, 3 more babies *shakes*

The next morning Brisa walks in while I'm still sleeping and stares at me.  I wake up, jump out of my skin and she giggles and waves.  After snuggling for a few minutes she asks "Mommy, do you have a little baby in your belly?"  "Nope.  No baby."

Brisa loves her baby brother and is often over come by his cuteness and has to give him hugs and kisses.  Carson is not big on hugs and kisses and only snuggles when he is trying to hint that he wants a nap. Now that he is big enough to get away from her he is always trying to run away when she is in one of her loving moods.  A couple days ago she caught him and was hugging and kissing him and he was screaming and wiggling away.  He got out of her arms and she ran after him yelling "Carson!  just let me love you!!"  I was cracking up.  eventually I pried her off of him, but it was hard because she was being so sweet which is a switch from the fighting that usually happens.  

A week or so ago I gave Brisa a dry erase maker and  laminated piece of paper and let her go to town.  She was having so much fun and being so good and quiet and I was laying on the couch with my eyes closed thinking about how easy parenting is and how I can't believe I have ever complained, this is a piece of cake.  I heard Brisa in her most excited voice yelling "Look Mommy!  I decorated!!"  It would have been totally normal if her voice had been coming from the kitchen table where I left her, but it wasn't.  I opened my eyes and saw that she had colored all over Carson's walker.  I dont have any poker face what so ever and I'm sure she could see the horror on my face because before I even said a word her little eyes started to fill with tears.  I knew it would wipe right off so I just asked "What happened Peanut?  You know you are only supposed to draw in paper, right?"  She burst into tears and was wailing crying saying "I just got excited!"  I didn't have the heart to punish her (mostly because I was a "decorator" at that age too so I know she comes by it naturally, and plain wall still make me sad to this day) I handed her a baby wipe and we cleaned it up together.  

For the past two week Brisa has been requesting that I braid her hair every night before bed.  While I braid her hair we talk about all the things that she did that day and she tells me everything.  Its probably my favorite part of the day.  Last night I could tell she wasn't quite as bubbly as usual so I asked her what was wrong.  She shrugged her shoulders and sighed and said "Its just hard being little sometimes"  Shes was so upset, but cheered right up when I told her only little people like her can climb on the shelves in the pantry and jump on her bed.

A couple weeks ago I was helping Brisa put on her running shoes and I asked her if they felt okay, or if they were too tight (shes had them for a few months) She laughed and said "They're not tight, Mama.  I not big and tall like the sun!!  Silly Mama."

One day Chad and I bought a pie and planned to eat it after dinner, but we forgot about it.  After we put the kids to bed we remembered and I said "ya lets eat that pie!"  seconds later Brisa's door opened and she was walking down the stairs
Brisa: What you eating?
Chad:  Nothing.
Brisa: Mommy What did you said?
Me:  Brisa,don't worry about it, go to bed.

Since we moved to Utah Brisa has become a booger picker.  I think it started out because it was so dry all of our noses were getting dry and bloody, and now it is just a habit.  Anyways now she will picker her nose in the middle of the night and then cry until Chad goes in there and she makes him take her booger so that she can go back to bed.  yuck.

We are trying to turn Brisa into a more obedient and well behaved child so after much online searching I decided that the best course of action for our stubborn as a mule "strong willed" daughter was to take away privileges when she throws a fit.  After a week of power struggles and fights she was finally starting to catch on so when she was about to throw a fit all I had to say was "stop now or you'll lose a privilege" and she would stop.  It was magical.  One particular time She was being difficult and I said "Brisa, do you want to lose a privilege?" and she calmly replied "no, I don't like that Mama"  It was so funny because the way she said it was so sincere it made me smile.  I guess she just doesn't understand what punishments are.  Haha.

#proudmom

I think I'm going try out being a hashtagger for a while, I think it might be the key to happiness, we'll see I guess.

I'm going to tell you all a secret, brace yourself.  Brisa is strong willed. I know what you're thinking "what?  Brisa?  But she is always so calm cool and collected, you must be thinking of someone else" But it's true guys, shes difficult.  I like to tell myself that I got this child because she needed a mom with extra patience and God said "I know just the woman" and sent her to me.  It's a compliment!  Either that or its because of all those times my mom said "I hope you get a child just like you!" I can only assume this is because she enjoyed raising me so much that she hoped I would be able to experience it someday!

While I sometimes feel sorry for myself, lately I have been feeling like it is the biggest blessing!  I would like to preface this by saying I am not "Braggy mom"  I hate "Braggy mom" what with her organic produce and her kid that learned to walk a week before yours.  You know the type, I am not the type.  But since She is turning 3 in just 8 short days I wanted to brag in a humble, my kid is better than yours, but I wont say that out loud kind of way.

She loves her baby brother and would do anything for him.  Even if it means lying to Mommy.  I used to get mad when I would be telling Carson to not hit me and he was laughing and Brisa was in the background saying "He said sorry mama, it was an accident!"  Now instead of seeing it as a lie, I see it for what it is, her trying to protect her baby brother.  I still explain that she shouldn't make things up, but in a kinder way.

They like to go through the mail together, she opens the envelopes, he rips up the contents.  The dream team.

She is full of ideas.  She's always getting into something or thinking of her next big idea.  She pulls so many stunts that other parents ask me for my latest Brisa stories because apparently other kids don't climb on counters and dump entire bags of flour and sugar and salt out because they were in the mood for some cookie baking and thought they could do it themselves.  Sometimes you just have to embrace the crazy, yes it was a huge mess, and yes it made me crazy, but she didn't mean any harm and it was adorable.

She does know how to read a recipe.

She is so creative!  She loves coloring and doing crafts.  Of course we can only do that kind of thing while Carson is asleep, but I think she would craft all day if she could.  And I think she is really good!

She runs to the coloring table the second we walk in to Old Navy.  She also knows exactly where the bathroom is.  Do I shop there too much?  Nah! 

We play with playhough everyday.  

She runs away sometimes if we put her in her running shoes because she just gets too excited (I know this is why she does it because I asked).  Of course she gets a lecture because running away could get her kidnapped(she's adorable and her curly hair makes her a huge target), but I understand that she isn't trying to be difficult, she's just practicing for track try outs.  A friend of mine actually helped me embrace this particular personality trait.

She' s a natural born athlete.

She is so smart!  Brisa recently learned how to say a few words more clearly and she is pretty proud of herself.  For example: Yellow used to be "lellow"
"Yellow.  I can say yellow!?  I can say yellow!!!"
Candy cane used to be candy candy
"Where's my candy cane?  Hey I said candy cane!!"
She also thinks she can say restaurant and now home cooking is beneath her
"We need to eat at a restranaut, Mommy.  I can say restranaut."

She talks like a little adult!
Me: "Brisa we have to go, Daddy is already waiting for us with Santa, please come down here and get your shoes on"
Pea: "Daddy and Santa are waiting for us?  Oh Crap!"
I just see it as another word she has learned to use (flawlessy) and I tried not to laugh as I told her she wasn't allowed to say it anymore.

She also likes to critique my home making skills:
"Mommy, when you see the clothes you need to hang them up.  You didn't clean them up, you were just sleeping, but you need to clean up, it's your job Mommy!"

"Aww.  Potatoes again, We just had those the other day!  *sigh* you need to try harder Mom"

"Oh no!!  The counters are a mess Moooom!  you hafta clean them up!  Its your job Mama!"

She might have a touch of OCD.  She organizes everything by colors and has a total melt down if you try to put her to bed without cleaning every inch of her room isn't clean.  While its hard sometimes, like when she's asleep in the car as we drive home late and then wakes up during the transfer and we have to clean her room at midnight.  All we want to do is sleep, but her yelling "I can't sleep, my room is a dirty, mess!  We hafta clean it!!" kinda keeps us up.  At least I don't have one of those kids who refuses to clean their room, that sounds rough.  Maybe that will be Carson, who knows.

She also is very in touch with her emotions and is able to tell me exactly how she feels and why.  I love that I can ask her why she is crying and she will give me a whole back story about how daddy told her no, but she wanted to anyway and he said she would get time out, but she didn't stop and then she got time out and it made her sad.

She's got style!  She dresses herself everyday and while sometimes I get nervous people will think I actually dress her in head to toe purple I love that she knows what she likes.  And now I know that she loves purple and that she would appreciate a new pair of purple pants.

Purple lady.

Runway ready

She is the best daughter ever.  Sometimes Chad and I just sit up at night talking about all the funny things Brisa said and did that day.  Like the time she started a vicious pregnancy rumor about me by telling her nursery teachers that I was going to have a baby girl.  Such a prankster.

If at first you don't succeed... break the engine and start over?

So as I mentioned in my last post, our car has recently gone under the wrench and emerged looking 5 years younger.  I thought while writing the last post that the car saga was over, I thought wrong, in fact I have never been so wrong in all my years of being wrong, and I am wrong a lot just ask Chad.  So to preface this I would just like to say that we thought our car was acting funny when we first moved here, but when we took it into the shop they couldn't figure it out and sent us on our way. Now for a little recap:

One Sunday morning our car wouldn't start and we were forced to walk to church, that was over a month ago.  Into the shop it went, to a Pep Boys that I can only assume is full of drunks wielding wrenches.  At first everything was on the up and up, they found a couple things and fixed them up (after a few tries, buying the right parts is tricky), and while they were doing that they noticed that our timing belt could use replacing.  Thanks boys, we wouldn't want that to break, that could have destroyed our whole engine!  Crisis averted.  While they were changing out the timing belt they accidentally dented something and so that had to be replaced, so they got that fixed up in a jiffy started her up, and oops, two pistons collided.  Turns out they didn't put the timing belt on wrong and basically destroyed our engine.  So in an effort to save our car they sent our engine away to be repaired at a specialty shop.  That took a week.  When they got the engine back they tried to put it back in, but didn't have the right gear (buying the right parts is really REALLY hard) at this point they decided to get us a rental car, it had been a week and a half after all and we had been very understanding and that kind of behavior should be rewarded.
So we had a rental car, a Tahoe, it was huge, we could barely fit it in our garage.  Finally we got word that our engine had been successful installed in our car.  Great!  Unfortunately it was still broken.  Not so great.  But since they broke it they were kind enough to replace it with a newer one at no cost to us!  So generous, no really, they thought they were being generous.

"We got the new engine in and its running great!"
"Yay!"
"Also your engine coolant had a leak, we fixed it up free of charge."
"Aww, you guys!"
"So, we kinda spilled oil on one of the belts."
*good feeling gone*

  So they sent it home anyway and it made the most awful screeching noise that you have ever heard in your life.  "Just drive it" they said "it will dry out" they said.  At this point we had returned our rental car and were completely unsatisfied with our car so off to the Chevrolet dealership we went.  We picked up a Malibu that I have been waiting months to own and all was right in the world, until we had to drive the Santa Fe home screeching all the way.  So on Monday morning our dear sweet Santa Fe went back in to the shop.  They replaced the belt, hooked up the wiper fluid that they forgot the first time (oops) and pronounced our battery dead.

"Hey, aren't car batteries supposed to last longer than 3 years?"
"Ya, but sometimes sitting for a long time can drain a battery"
"Oh, like if a car was sitting in a shop without an engine for 4 weeks?"
"Ummm... We already replaced the belt free of charge, we wont cover the battery"
"Seems fair, I mean you already replaced the engine you broke and the belt you ruined, what reasonable person would expect you to replace the battery you killed too? Nah, we'll pay for it."

So it was done, all fixed and ready to go!  While Santa was away at the spa for her month long vacation, her registration expired.  Here in Utah cars have to pass a safety and emissions test.  Our car had just been in the shop for over a month, so we were feeling pretty confident, they could't possibly find ANOTHER problem, Could they?  They could!!  Our coolant hose was leaking (of course it was, pep boys "fixed" it) and our front axles had to be replaced (unrelated issue, but I still blame Pep Boys.) So we took our sweet Santa Fe to a shop that was less peppy and full of trained MEN!  It went in on a Friday and was ready to be picked up on Monday.

"I got your car all fixed up and it will be ready on Monday"
"Great!  A week from Monday!
"No, Monday..."
"You mean Monday a month from now right?"
"Monday, like three days from now."
"Is 4 weeks not a standard time frame for car repairs?"

So today we are officially done with all of our car repairs (well except for the cruise control that mysteriously stopped working) , and officially really really broke, just in time for the holidays!

Looks Like Rain.

So the past 5 days have been gloomy for us Bunn's.  You know what they say: "When it rains it pours" and who better to prove that theory than the Bunn family?!  Some families play board games, we try to see how many things can go wrong in one week.  So far it seems like a lot. Here are a few of the highlights or maybe lowlights would be more accurate.

On Saturday we went to the playground as a family and since I had gotten a nap and was feeling energized I decided to play with Brisa instead of sitting with Carson like I usually do.  The first thing Brisa wanted to do was climb up the slide then slide back down.  I helped her up the waited for her to slide down.  She was feeling silly and decided to slide down on her belly, so she went down feet first and when she got to the bottom her feet hit the ground and somehow jolted her forward so she hit her mouth on the slide and started screaming.  I scooped her up and then she started bleeding everywhere.  We came home and washed her up and fed her lots of otter pops. She bruised her gums and upper lip and it still hurts.  I have to cut up all her food super small so that she doesn't have to bite in to things because that hurts her.  Smoothies have been her main source of food for 5 days now.  Chad blames me for making her accident prone, I think it could have happened to anyone.

On Sunday we woke up early and miraculously got in the car to go to church 5 minutes early!  Unfortunately the aforementioned car didn't start.  So we walked.  Uphill.  In church shoes.  Lovely.  While at church I remembered that on Friday Brisa had turned on the light over her car seat while we were putting our groceries in the car and wouldn't let me turn it off so I thought that the battery had probably died and so we were feeling hopeful!  We got home and our neighbor was kind enough to jump it for us.  It started!  Crisis averted!  We were able to go to Meghan and Carlyle's house for dinner as planned and were so happy we made it because it was the most delicious food I've had in a long time.  We came home were waiting in front of our house for the garage door to open, got halfway in the garage and the car died.  It was bedtime so we just tried to start it a few times and finally it turned on and we got it inside, closed the garage and went up to bed.

On Monday Chad had to go to work bright and early, so we just prayed he would make it to the mechanic by his office.  It started up fine and everything seemed like it was going to work, but then it died at a red light a few miles from his destination.  He coasted into the suicide lane and waited.  He didn't get out of the car because literally EVERYDAY since we moved here there has been pedestrians hit by motorists on Chads commute.  After ten minutes one of Chads co-workers came by and they were able to jump it to get it started and then his coworker drove away and Chad continued on his way.  For a block.  Miraculously another co-worker stopped and tried to jump the car again, but she was dead.  There was a church across the street so they pushed the car there and Chad waited for a tow truck.  They towed it to the shop and Chad hung out until they could drive him to his office.  Then we waited to hear what was wrong, they said it could have been one of two things.

At around this time I was reading books with Brisa.  Out of the corner of my eye I see a crazy baby climbing on his sisters craft table and teetering on the edge about to fall.  Being the hero that I am I spring into action and run on my knees to grab him before he falls.  BAM!  Puzzle piece to the knee.  Not just any puzzle piece a puzzle piece with one of those little red pegs that make it oh so easy for little hands to hold on to them.  It made my whole leg get that funny bone feeling then I cried.  I texted Chad once I could sit up so he could feel sorry for me and maybe send a sympathy pizza. He told me he wouldn't pay for my medical bills and to suck it up.  My husband, ladies and gentlemen.  I didn't ask about the pizza.  So now I can't walk up and down the stairs, I just scoot up and down on my butt like a baby.

Chad finally got the call and of course it is both things!  I say things because I have no idea what is wrong, if I had to guess it would be a gasket, or a plug or belt or something else car-y, I'm a mom, not a mechanic. What I do know is we are out $1000.  They had to drive to another shop to get a part, it turns out it was the wrong part and so they have to keep our dear sweet Santa Fe over night.  Sweet dreams Santa, and remember you can always call home if you get scared.

On Tuesday we got word that while poking around in the engine they discovered our timing belt needed to be replaced!  Ok fine, here's another $270 dollars and why don't you keep her another day, its not like I want to leave my house anyway!

Today we got word that they made all the repairs, but there is still a "hiccup" that they are trying to figure out.  Turns out the timing belt had likely bumped something and it was now dented and had to be replaced.  They ordered the part and it will take a couple days to get in and since its labor day weekend they wont be able to work on it until Tuesday.  Don't ask me how I plan on getting groceries this weekend because I don't know.  I'd walk, but I was recently crippled by a puzzle piece.

Fortunately we have just as many things to be thankful for as we do to be bitter about.
On Saturday we got to spend the whole day together as a family without having to run any errands.
On Sunday we made it home before the car died and weren't stranded on the side of the road in the dark with our two kids.
On Monday Chad was blessed with not one, but two co-workers to help him get the car to safe place to wait for a tow truck, and our insurance offers free towing.
On Tuesday The shop offered 10% off our bill because it was taking so long, and Carson took his first step.
And today the shop told us they would cover all costs for the last repair since they couldn't determine if it was dented before it came in =, or while they were replacing the timing belt, saving us $1000.
*BONUS*  We still don't have it as bad as Job.  ;)

Mommy's Little Darling.

It is no secret that my sweet little girl has a big personality (to put it mildly) and she is saying and doing so many new things all the time that I feel like I never really have much to say about Carson and that is such a shame because he is a stud and deserves some attention.  So tonight on the eve of his 9 month birthday I am going to tell you all about me little angel.

Now first off I would just like to acknowledge the fact that I am completely biased and prone to exaggerations.  But I don't think that I am wrong in saying that my son is quite possibly the cutest baby this world has ever seen.  He is just so perfect and just has the prettiest eyes that this mama can't help but get lost in.  I mean look at this kid.  I mean even with graham crackers smeared o his face he is a stud.  He's going to get away with murder as he gets older, I've accepted it.

Now my little baby boy is not all good looks.  He us also a baby genius.  This kid was rolling from tummy to back consistently since he was  days old.  I am convinced he is headed to the X Games some day.  Since that day he has only pushed him self to achieve greatness.  This boy can climb on and off the couches, go up and down the stairs and climb into all the cabinets.  

Clearly the easiest way to get up there.

He learned how to undo the baby gate and let himself upstairs.

He was pretty proud of himself.  

Now to the mushy stuff.  Carson is just my little buddy.  When Brisa was a baby she didn't really care for me that much, Carson on the other hand is all about his mommy,  Whenever I look at him and talk to him he lights up.  The other night before bedtime Brisa was putting on her nightly concert where she sings and we clap and she bows saying "thank you, thank you!" Well this particular night I was called on stage to perform and as I was singing Carson was dancing and clapping and yelling and waving and holding his arms out to me.  He is my biggest fan and I couldn't be happier.  It is an amazing feeling to be so loved by my baby.  Just knowing that I am so important to him makes me feel like I am doing a good job with my kids.  

Carson not only looks perfect, but he also acts perfect.  He rarely cries and can entertain himself until he gets tired, then he crawls on m lap and fusses at me until I put him in his crib.  He is a great sleeper and quite possibly an angel.  As long as I leave the toy box open he is a happy camper.  He is seriously the EASIEST baby there is.  Hes just a chill little dude.  I seriously can;t believe I get to be his mom, it is one of the greatest blessings in my life.  Needless to say I love my son.  Now here are some more pictures, You're welcome.

This face!  I mean come on!!

He LOVES giving "loves" as we call them.  He has such a sweet spirit.

He loves spending time with his sister!

Even when his sister is sitting on him, covering him with band aids, or putting 

bowls on his head.

And he never lets her bad mood get him down!

The kid even eats cute!!  (He is sharing and trying to get kisses in the first 2)

He loves to get in trouble.  If I get "mad" he is so happy!

But for the most part he is just one chill dude.  He can't see if he is sitting the right way 

in the cart, so he takes it upon himself to twist around to get a better view.  He looks cooler 

sitting like that anyway.  :)

She LOVES to see the temple...

On Sunday morning on the way to church Brisa started singing "I Love To See The Temple" It was so cute, and surprising because we didn't even know she knew that song.  We asked her if she wanted to go see the temple and she did her classic "ya ya ya ya" while jumping up and down. So we decided we would go after dinner when it was a little cooler, and by the time that rolled around Brisa was so excited she was basically pushing us out the door.  So we drove to the temple and she was so excited when she saw it!  When I got her out of the car she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front gate (she's not allowed to walk in parking lots without holding someones hand and she knows it).
So because it was Sunday the gate was locked...

After that things started to go downhill...

We tried to comfort her by telling her that she would be old enough to go inside (in 10 years) and that she could even get married in there like Mommy and Daddy if she wanted.  It wasn't as comforting as we thought it would be.

Eventually she snapped out of it and was excited all over again to be at the temple and demanded we take a million pictures of her as she walked around and posed by different things,  She is kind f a diva, but it was so cute!

Just marveling at its beauty.

She needed a picture of herself walking by the bushes.

A classic stand and smile.

I really don't know how she came up with these poses,

She was getting pretty creative.

This was obviously the perfect place to sit for a picture.

Whenever she found the perfect place for a shot she would jump and land on her butt, we were able to get an action shot of it.  

Nailed it.

Carson was also there, he just wasn't as loud about it.

He couldn't take any pictures alone though, he doesn't have her natural gift.

 All in all it was the perfect Sunday outing.  I still don't know where she learned about temples, it must have been in nursery.  I just hope she stays as excited about going there someday as she is right now.  :)