father's day

I have never seen two kids idolize, adore and obsess over their daddy more than mine. And I don't blame them one bit, he really is the best. Paul is such a devoted and involved father and he truly is obsessed with the kids. So many times at night as we are laying in bed he tells me "We just have the best kids. They are just so amazing." 

Paul is usually very manly and likes boy things but he has a tender sweet way that he reserves only for very special girls in his life and Caitlin is at the forefront. He and his little princes share such a special bond and way together that touches me and teaches me too. I truly think that it is in big part to Paul's special relationship with her that she has turned out to be such a sweet and kind hearted little girl so far.

Paul and Nolan are best friends. Nolan is every bit the wild and crazy and adventurous little boy that Paul hoped and prayed for and envisioned himself having and I can see the stars in his eyes as he thinks of and plans for all their exciting adventures they will have doing all their "boy things" together.  

To celebrate Father's Day weekend, we got to have an overnighter at the Montage in Deer Valley together. It was heavenly. We enjoyed the gorgeous scenery, a yummy dinner, hot tubs and the spa and most of all the time alone together. We did a lot of reflecting on our little family and kids and parenting and this new baby on the way. I also thoroughly enjoyed the robes and slippers.. best ones i've had at a hotel hands down... definitely worth documenting.

On actual Father's Day we went to church, had lunch with the Meads, attended our friend's baby blessing and played a lot. I asked Paul what he really wanted for Father's Day and he said to play with the kids and have a yummy meal. All the primary kids sang a song during sacrament meeting and Caitlin actually made it on the stand this time (improvement from mother's day) but she was close to tears and had a pained and scared expression the whole time and got out maybe two words of the song. It was pitiful. So she made sure to compensate with many performances the rest of the day in the privacy of her own home stage.

Cortney: 7 months along

Third trimester time!! Very exciting and also a little nerve racking as the reality of how short 3 months is begins to set in!

Symptoms: I feel good in general. Just tired. All the time. Some days in fact I'm so tired all I can thinking about is when will be my next chance to grab some sleep. Usually those days are full of movies and sitting on the couch and bored kids. Sorry guys. Although some days I feel very energetic and I try to make the most of those days and get things done.
Cravings: Back on the sweets. I'm ashamed thinking about some of the candy-only lunches I've consumed. I'm especially into the sour patch watermelon candies... now a staple in my pantry. I've also gotten really into Cinnamon Life. I'm usually not much of a cereal eater but I could have that any time of the day, and sometimes do.
Fitness: I'm feeling big(ger) than with my last two. I actually looked up pictures for photographic analysis and concluded I am indeed looking a few weeks bigger. Guess that's how it goes with baby #3. I feel more pregnant than I am. I'm already feeling aches, pains and uncomforts that usually don't come until later on. Even though I'm not totally huge, I feel like i'm lugging around a huge belly and body. My weight gain is pretty steady and still working out some. One of my workout teachers didn't know i was pregnant (couldn't really tell with the shirt i was wearing) and felt the need to poke my tummy while i was on my back trying to do abs during class. Umm yah, there's a baby in there. I'm doing the best I can down here. I will admit though I've liked working out some while being pregnant.

News: This baby is getting stronger! As of last month is was till not super wiggly. I had been taking an allergy pill everyday that was completed OK by my doctor however I stopped taking it and the baby's movements increased by about 3 times! I don't know if it's coincidence of something to do with the medicine but this baby is movin' now! The most active time is usually the most at night before I go to bed.

I got my first pregnancy comment from a stranger around 22 weeks. It was the girl doing my pedicure. She asked "So how far along are you?" and then I told her and she asked "Is this your first?" {bless your heart} "nope it's my third" it felt SO weird to say it was my third! Three kids!! Woah.

Drank the dreaded orange drink for the glucose test. The best way I can explain that drink is orange cough syrup that they had tried to add a little carbonation to make it better but then it went flat. Anyways I passed and everything looked totally normal.. even after eating my cereal with sugar on it that morning. 

I had some REALLY weird pains on June 6th. It started as a dull pain on the right side of my belly button on my stomach. The pain would grow in intensity and spread to my back. At the peak it was the most intense sharp pain I have EVER felt... literally brought me to tears and i could not move or breathe. Then it would back down and then build up again. This happened for about 30-40 minutes. I finally sat down for a good period of time and the pain subsided. I called my doctor's office and they suspected either a UTI or kidney stones however the pain never returned. Which I was glad for! But it still remains a mystery.
I got another ultrasound at my 28 week appointment. At 20 weeks they saw a small cyst on the baby's head over the brain. My doctor said it is usually a developmental thing and goes away. If it grows, it can block fluid drainage from the brain. Which is why we did this ultrasound. Good news! There was no evidence of the cyst. However, the cisterna magna (i think that's what it's called?) the part of the brain where fluid collects and drains was measuring a tiny bit larger than normal. Therefore, I will be getting another ultrasound in 3 weeks at my next appointment to measure that area and make sure there are no fluid drainage problems. The doctor is not worried and neither am I. I will see what happens in a few weeks and move on from there. I also found out that the baby is measuring about a week bigger than where I am!

Inklings: Still feeling like its a girl, but not necessarily hoping its a girl. That sounds bad. What I mean is that I will be SUPER happy either way, but intuition is saying girl. However I have other days when I absolutely feel like it's a boy so really it just depends on the day. After having my last ultrasound and seeing our baby's cute profile and a few features the baby looked so chubby! Definitely reminded me more of Nolan than a dainty feminine.
Paul is using his intense mental willpower and willing it to be a boy. But he has acknowledged that "it's ok" if its a girl.
I'm feeling a little anxious that we don't have names for sure picked out. We are really dragging our feet, maybe because we feel like we don't have to commit to one yet. I also know that either way one of our names won't be used and I feel like I don't want to become too connected to one or the other in case it's not that gender. We have a general list but nothing picked out for sure, for either gender.

Nolan's party was a family BBQ and we probably had about 75 people there. Everybody loves Nolan! We did a construction trucks theme and it definitely suited him. Paul and I worked hard all day to get our backyard in ship shape for the party (Paul has a nasty sunburn to prove it) but it was all worth it in the end for a fun party, beautiful evening and a happy little birthday boy.

Nolan just kind of mosied around and mingled. Whenever I saw him he had new food in his hands and was messy and happy. The kids played on the play place, jumped on the tramp, and played with some big boxes I had put out. We served a grilled hot dog bar, fruit, veggies, chips, pasta salad, lemonade, and cookies. His cake was a white Costco sheet cake that I added the mountain and truck to. When Nolan saw his cake he said "Ooooh! Big truck!" We did a truck pinata with all the kids and Nolan liked hitting it. As everyone sang Happy Birthday to him he started signing along and then blew out his candle. Immediately after the candle he wanted to hold his truck off the cake! After cake we did presents and he got SO spoiled. Everything he got he wanted opened right away, especially all the new cars and trucks! A little while after all the presents were opened he quietly gathered a huge armful of his new trucks and brought them into the house where I found him happily playing with them on the couch by himself! Just needed some alone time to get to know his new toys. After awhile he gathered them back up and brought them outside, ready to socialize and share again.  

Nolan: 2 years old

My funny little lover boy. I always say that you are a boy of opposition:

You are generally so sweet and gentle and kind. But when you decide not to be you get this little scowl and scrunched up nose and growl or hit or run away! In an instant you can turn. You are a little sneaky. You know how to ignore and how to get your way and aren't afraid to be a little aggressive when it seems necessary. You are happy to be obedient when you want to and it's convenient for you. But you are very determined and stubborn and if you have your mind set on something, nothing or no one will stop you!

You are so independent but also snuggly. You are such a wanderer! You are friendly to mostly everyone we meet. You like to meet new people and be social. You are very agile and able to do lots of things, you aren't afraid of things but luckily not too crazy of a risk-taker. I have spent a good portion of the last year either telling you to stop, yelling for you to come back or chasing you. Life is an adventure and you are my fearless little explorer. When you are done exploring though you are happy to come back to me and snuggle for a few minutes. You genuinely love your family and even at this young age you know how to show it. You will ask to snuggle, and you like to give kisses and "nee nees" (eskimos kisses). You also love being tickled!

You are smart and are starting to speak in full sentences and want to have conversations with people. You like to talk to whoever will listen and like to point things out and show people what's around you. You are proud of your interests (which include: cars, trucks, trains, horses and Mickey) and you want everyone to notice those things and take part. You have always been more of an early riser and you are usually a good eater.

You make everyday an adventure and wear me out by the end of each one, but your beautiful eyes and sweetest little grin with those delicious cheeks make me want to go on that adventure again and again no matter what your little scowly face decides to throw at me. There is no doubt that our family would not be complete without our Nolan Man and we all can't get enough of you! I hope that your adventurous happy spirit will always stay with you and that you will keep sharing that adorable grin with everyone you meet! 

2 year stats from the doctor:
weight: 30.5 lbs (85%)
length: 34.75" (58%)
head circumference: 19.2" (65%)

On Nolan's actual birthday Caitlin and I sang to him in the morning then had a special birthday breakfast and got ready. Then we played with cousins at the Meads and got lunch and ate at our house. During nap time Nolan decided now that he was two he wold start climbing out of his crib and came out about 6 times during his nap! That evening we had dinner together, opened a few presents and had popcorn and watched the Planes movie.

neither here nor there

month of May instagram:

joys of motherhood: May

Oh these kiddos.

-A lot of times after Nolan wakes up from his nap he wants to just snuggle on the couch while he finishes waking up. One of my favorite things. So the other day i was holding him and Caitlin REALLY wanted to hold Nolan and snuggle him. She sat on the couch and put her arms out and i tried to put him in her lap. It lasted for about 2 seconds. Caitlin was so sad because she "just really wanted a baby to snuggle" So i told her when we have our new baby she can snuggle it whenever she wants.
-Nolan has started saying "oh man!" whenever he drops something or anything like that. "oh maaaan!" in this kind of grumbly voice and it makes me laugh SO hard.
-Caitlin was outside playing with the chicks with Paul and said:
C: "Dad, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Paul: Maybe...
C: "Are we thinking what the chicks are thinking?!"
Paul" Probably not.
Speaking of, the chicks are still alive! Possibly our longest run yet with pets and feeling pretty proud. However in the last month they have turned into big ugly chickens and they are stinky and growing out of their cage. They are also getting a little more fiesty and they are bigger and faster so they are harder for the kids to catch and play with. So whether they die on their own or not I'm pretty much ready to let them move on.
-Nolan likes to do everything himself. "self! self" he is very independent. One thing he has denied help with for awhile is hopping in his bed. We will say "ok bed time go hop in" and he chants "hop in! hop in!" and runs to his room, holds onto the side rail of his crib, pulls himself up and hurls himself over the side onto the mattress. Then giggles. Sometimes it takes a few tries and sometimes he stops midway to put away toys or say goodnight to things in his room, but heaven forbid you try to help him in any way!
-Nolan's main discipline problem right now is running away from me. If he sees a window of freedom he takes off running and he is fast! If you run after him he likes the chase and keeps going. It's a very delicate situation, one that I have in no way mastered. How do you not let him get too far but also not run after him everywhere? And most importantly how do you get him to come back to you!? For awhile the takeaway was working, ex: "ok by nolan, see you later!" and pretend to turn around to leave. He would said "wait!" and come back. That lasted a few times then instead of wait he began saying "ok bye mom! see you!".... fail. The other day as I chased him down the target aisle I had about 4 older moms just laughing and watching the whole scene play out. One said "We're not laughing AT you..." Guess who wasn't laughing?
-We were driving on the freeway and went around a sharp turn and Caitlin started saying "mom I'm tipping over! I'm tipping over in my seat!" I thought she was referring to the turn so i joked back "yah! It's like  roller coaster! It's so fun! woo!" and she said "But mom I'm really tipping over!" So I looked back and sure enough.... her car seat was slanted tipping over! Oops! Strap that baby in tighter!

-Whenever I say, "Nolan you are so handsome!" he responds with a little sheepish grin "thank you"

-Nolan will point out that i have a baby in my tummy. He comes up and points to my tummy and says "baby?" then he will give it a hug and a kiss. He is going to be such a sweet big brother. 

-Nolan is obsessed with apple juice, we seriously go through one a week. 

-The other day we were shopping looking at a rack right next to a lady with bleached blonde short spiky hair. Caitlin goes, "Mom, that lady's hair is crazy!" I had to quickly say, "oh yes it's so cute! It's kinda short and spiky!" so awkward.

-We've had so many workers through the hows and many of them are hispanic. The other day one came to the door and was talking to me and (luckily after i closed the doors) Caitlin said, "Mom, he talks kinda silly!"
me: "sometimes when people are from another country they have an accent and that's just how they sound."
C: "well they just sound really funny"
me: "well maybe they think that YOU talk funny!"
C: (super serious) "oh no. No, I don't talk funny."

Family prayer at our house, serious one this night:

...along the way in May

May has brought some nice weather and taken us into thinking about summer which has been very nice. Here are a few things of note this month:

-The Meads are finally here! Christine and the kids came up to join Chris in their new house May 7th and we have LOVED having them. The kids are obsessed with each other and it has been so much fun, we are so glad they are finally here! We celebrated Corinne's 2nd birthday on the 8th by going out to dinner, doing a pinata and having cake.
-Lorraine came to visit for the first week of May! We always love having her here and she was able to help out with the Meads moving in. We also got to have her here to celebrate Mother's day which was fun.
-We've had fun play dates with friends and now also cousins and playing at the park, splash pad, Thanksgiving point farm, and enjoying this warm weather!

-We've also gone on a lot of razor rides (the wilder the better for the kids!) and had a few snow cones. Nothing says summer like a snow cone!
-We "celebrated" Memorial Day by going furniture shopping and having a pizza party in the backyard (Paul was bear hunting). But we did dress patriotically. We spotted flags everywhere and Caitlin kept calling it "Cereal day"

-The work at our house continues to press on. I had hoped to be done by the end of the month but that won't be the case. Everything is looking great though and I continue to remind myself to enjoy the creative process. Paul surprised me by having them build the pergola outside while I was out of town!
-Our garden is planted and doing great! So far I have only harvested cilantro but the other little baby plants look so cute. Can't wait to start getting tomatoes and peppers and everything else.
-I took Caitlin to the Fairy party on the 29th. We went last year as well, my friend Steph puts on a Fairy Tour party for girls as a charity event where they can get their faces painted, explore gardens with fairy houses, do little crafts and have treats. It's adorable. We met Bella and Nora there and the three little girls were in heaven.

-My mom stayed after we drove back and I got to have her help me with projects and hang out for the last week of May. My dad came up to drive back with her and we went to Ruth's Diner as a family for breakfast and enjoyed a fun day with him before they headed back.

Paul's birthday

Paul's birthday was a little scattered this year. Originally we had thought he would be out of town hunting for his birthday, thus part of the reason I also went out of town when I did. However, the bears weren't awake and his hunt ended up getting pushed back a little. Needless to say with your wife and kids and even a few of your friends out of town on your birthday and no real plans to speak of it ends up feeling a little not-so-magical. Especially when you are Paul and hate getting older to begin with. We tried our best to redeem ourselves once we got back into town and opened presents and had treats. He got his new Traeger smoker grill for his birthday as well as some fun BBQ implements.

No matter what the actual day held, we love Paul and hope he knows that we feel that he is anything BUT not-so-magical! Enjoy your last year in your twenties!!  

On the 28th we had a joint birthday party for friends with May birthdays. It was fun to try out our new BBQ, fire pit and test our (almost complete) backyard renovations. Mostly we enjoyed just being with our friends.

Southlake, Texas

May 17th-24 the kids and I decided to go to visit my parents in Southlake. We spent a fun week there doing all kinds of activities, chasing around the kitties, eating never ending popsicles and being spoiled by Grammie and Papa.
-The flight there was my biggest personal hurdle. Flying with a three year old, a lap child and being 6 months pregnant over two flights and a 3.5 hour layover took a lot of mental preparation for me but I'm happy to say it actually went really well! The kids were great, we were able to get our own row on both flights and even scouted out a nice somewhat empty place in the Denver airport for a picnic lunch and lots of people watching.

-Sunday we started our week off right with church with my parents and dinner with my grandparents and even home made ice cream! (Told you we got spoiled) the kids helped papa make the ice cream in the morning and Caitlin got really into her ice crushing duties... that girl can work a mallet.

-Monday we went shopping for new pool toys and took a wagon ride to play at the park. The kids swam with Papa almost every night and loved it.


-Tuesday we went to Grapevine Mills mall and in between mom and Grammie's shopping we rode the train, rode the carousel, got lunch and visited the aquarium! During nap time my Grandma was kind enough to come over while my mom and I went to the antique mall! One of my favorite places to explore and find new treasures when I'm home.

-Wednesday we saw the movie Rio 2 and then that night my grandparents came over for dinner and to visit. During dinner Great Grandpa Goulding told Caitlin that he had seen a fox earlier that day and she had so many questions about it and what it looked like that he drew one for her. The two sat at the table drawing for a little while together.


-Thursday we had a pool party! Two of my long time friends (Marianne Bluth and Chelsie Campbell) are now living in the Dallas area so we invited them and their kids over for swimming and lunch. It was a lot of fun! The kids all played really well together and it was fun to get caught up with them and their darling families. That night we visited my Dad at his new office at Gamestop in Grapevine and then went to Torchy's Tacos for dinner.



-Friday we played outside and got packed up and went for one last swim before leaving on our road trip back to Utah.

-My dad drove us through the night and we got home late afternoon the next day. The kids were troopers. Although they did prove they could pose quite a threat in any all-nighter contest... I probably got the most sleep out of anyone so I can't complain. We had dinner with my siblings that night.