What i'm reading

I've been on another reading kick lately. So I thought i'd post what i've read in the past month.

The girl with the pearl earring- I really liked this book a lot. It was sweet, clean, interesting, informative, and really a well told story.

Goose Girl- I also liked this one, It was an easy read (which is important for me since I have to put them down a lot with 3 kids at home) It was a fun story that of course had a nice happy ending.

Book of a Thousand Days- This story made you ache for the main character and rejoice in her happiness, it got irritating in parts but quickly rebounded and was a fun read.

Fablehaven- I liked the story, got irritated with one of the main characters...A LOT. Its not a book that makes sense, I mean obviously a fairy world doesn't make sense but some of the choices the characters made didn't make sense. And the climax was very short and easily solved...so ya it kind of wrapped up too quickly but was still fun to read. I do plan on reading the 2nd and 3rd books.

The Host- I really just started this book yesterday, so i'm only on page 69. But so far I like it. I'm usually not a sci fi fan so i'm having a hard time getting "into" it but i'm sure I will soon.

Tag for the Mama's!

Here you go mommies - a different kind of TAG. For a change it's all about you and your first baby. Anyone who reads this must do this on their next post of their blog. If you don't have a blog I would love for you to email it to me.

1. Were you married at the time? Yes

2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? Crazy excited and really afraid i'd miscarry. We'd had a miscarriage and had been ttc for almost 4 yrs when we had her.

3. How old were you? 23

4. How did you find out you were pregnant? I was waiting to start my period so I could get a dye test done, frustrated I hadn't started yet because I needed to start for the dye test (a fertility test) I was 4 days late and figured I wasn't going to get AF on my own (I don't when I don't ovulate) I THOUGHT i had ovulated so I was irritated. Then it dawned on me to take a pregnancy test, I did and got those lovely 2 lines.

5. Who did you tell first? My parents, I called them at 6:30am their time, then I called my sister and woke her up too, it was her birthday :)


6. Did you want to find out the sex? OH yes, it took 3 ultrasounds to find out too. She was shy.

7. Due date? July 5th

8.Did you deliver early or late? EARLY on June 13th, I had PIH (Pregnancy induced hypertension)

9. Did you have morning sickness? Not at all

10. What did you crave? Hotdogs and McDonalds Chicken McNuggets

11. Who irritated you the most? I didn't really get irritated, I was a very happy pregnant woman

12. What was your first child's sex? Girl

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? At week 36 I had gained 15 lbs, when I went in at week 37 I had gained 25 lbs


14.Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? My pregnancy was perfect until I hit 37 weeks and got REALLY high blood pressure. They had to induce me right away and I had to get some yucky drugs during delivery so I wouldn't have a stroke.

15.Where did you give birth? Provo, UT

16. How many hours were you in labor? 18 hours, my body was not ready to be induced at all.


17. Who drove you to the hospital? I walked to the hospital! :) I was at my doctors office by myself when she told me I had to be induced that day, I was going to have an NST at the hospital anyway right after and was supposed to meet my husband there for that, instead I went down the hall to Labor & Delivery and had them send him over when he got there. He was quite surprised!

18. Who watched? Matt watched most of the time, My mom and sister were in the room with us but they stayed by my head the entire time, I think my sister took a peek when everyone commented on how much hair she had.

19. Was it natural or c-section? it was vaginally, ALMOST c-section though, she wasn't ready to come and didn't drop until they broke my water

20..Did you take medicine to ease the pain? OH yes, I got a epidural when I was 4cm dialated

21.How much did your child weigh? 6lbs 10oz

22.Did your child have any complications? she had jaundice and had to have a little tanning bed at home for a day or two

23..What did you name him/her? We had the name Adele picked out for years, after her Mama. We chose her middle name Hannah, because it meant a lot to us, I really related with Hannah from the bible and thought it would be perfect for her.



24. How old is your first born today? She is turning 5 next month :)

Spring has Sprung!

Tomorrow is Mothers Day! Which means one thing in my book (well this and the fact that i'll be spoiled rotten) Its PLANTING time! In Utah you really do not know when its going to snow, and TYPICALLY your safe for no snow after Mothers Day. Its definately not a failsafe, last year we had snow and my friends mom's garden suffered, but I'm prepared with some sheets for my pretty little garden this year!

I went shopping at the nursery this morning with Adele loaded up my cart and came home with my loot. I've never done this all by myself before because my gardening loving husband is usually more than willing to do the "hard stuff" like planting and watering and all that. Well this year said husband is busy studying for the APA test and that leaves the task in MY shoulders if I want a garden. Last year I had a baby the week of Mother's day so the garden did not get planted. And man did I mourn that summer without my very own tomato plants to pick and my jalapeno's and peppers to harvest. Well I have a lot more produce than that but I really missed those last year. In fact I probably scared the farmer's market guys when I stalked them every saturday morning asking when they were gonna bring in the tomatoes!! :)

So anyway this year i'm prepared, herb garden is planted, my little plants are safely in their dirt beds watered and probably going into shock (its okay little guys), heck I EVEN planted a FLOWER garden this year. I was sick of looking at my cemetary mums (don't ask...well actually do ask then I can share a little tip for you...lol). And of course this post has to have pics right!



I couldn't fit all of the garden in the picture this was the best I could get!

oh yes and my FAVORITE PART!

oh yes my friends, that is indeed boysenberry bushes in UTAH. They say it can't be done..but it SHALL IT SHALL!

Here is my flower garden...not really that pretty yet, the other side of the house is prettier but I didn't want to walk over there. lol I'll post more pics of it when its prettier and fuller later.

And lastely my herb garden, it will definately be more filled out in a month or so, but for now here she is as a baby :)

okay okay you've caught me, i'm not TOTALLY done with my planting...I still have 4 planters to deal with.. :P

Elaine, Lainey, Cuddles, Wainey, Stinker Butt, Sunshine Girl.....My Baby

It has come to my attention that some feel they do not know my middle child very well. Its not surprising really, she's my quiet one. The one that concedes attention to Adele & Seth. WELL let me rephrase that, she concedes attention with OTHER people to Adele & Seth. There is one she will NOT concede attention to. Me. Elaine is our quiet one, our laid back, go with the flow, shy one. Since she was a baby she would very content to just sit on our laps and cuddle with us. Only crying if we took her blanket away or didn't take the time to "chill" with her. She is our calm in the midst of a storm, our eye of the tornado in this home. As a baby I had to put a security camera over her crib so I knew when she woke up. She never would cry when she woke, she'd lay in bed thinking, pretending, whatever until Mommy came and got her. I'm sure she spent WAY too many hours up there hanging out but she never complained.

Lately she hasn't been thrilled with a new baby in the house. Especially since new baby is A LOT like his older sister and absolutely loves to here Elaine scream. For the most part she will stand in the background while I take care of her little brother but as SOON as I put him down she is by my side asking for me to hold her, cuddle her, sing to her. She doesn't jump, or run, or make much noise unless she's playing with her big sister (and in that case they BOTH make a LOT of noise) Her best friend in the world is Adele, she feels every hurt that ones she loves feels, deeply. Cries when Adele has been wronged or disciplined.

She is obedient and kind and is corrected only with a simple "No Elaine, we don't do _____." I've put her in a early education preschool lately because she wasn't talking much. I assumed it was because Adele spoke SO much that Elaine had no need to say anything. Which was basically true, the school has been great for her and she is speaking a TON more, really only at home with us still though since she is shy and likes to play by herself in most cases. There are beautiful moments when she shines brightest, she has a wonderful imagination and will play for hours with her toys pretending adorable stories. I've noticed that she isn't shy when there is a quieter child with her. She is kind and loving and tries to involve them in whatever new adventure she's thought up.

She does have faults though my friends. Yes oh yes she does. LOL She is my #1 Drama Queen. She is SENSITIVE. Which works to Seth's advantage, he loves to hear her scream so he will chase her down just so he can grab HER blanket and hear her scream and cry. If you look at her wrong she will burst into tears, if she is mad at you she won't yell or argue like her big sister does, she simply dissapears. Goes off into a quiet corner of the house and mopes and stews about how mean the world is. She wakes up usually quite grumpy and Adele isn't allowed to talk to her or touch her until she has had breakfast. And she's very sure that Seth is NOT the baby of the house. SHE is the baby, SHE is Mommy's baby, NOT Seth. LOL I always wondered when she would grow out needing to be the baby of the family. But lately i've come to a realization that it may not ever happen. I think its just her personality. I think she will ALWAYS be the baby, no matter how many babies come after her. Mommy is HER Mommy, She is MY baby, and in her world, case CLOSED on that point.

I adore her, she fits so well into our little brood. She's her own person, a perfect piece in the crazy Taylor Puzzle.