Goodbye...

...5 pounds and 9 inches! Don't you come back again!

Christmas Fun

This year, we spent Christmas eve with my family. First, we went to see Santa Clause, and Brody was so excited to see him. He ran up to him and gave him a big hug, and sat on his lap. Peyton on the other hand, wasn't so sure about that jolly old man in the red suit. Santa gave Brody a tractor...he was SO excited about his tractor. All day long I heard "Mom, I saw Santa Clause and he give me a tractor."



After Santa Clause, we drove out to the lake and had Christmas Eve lunch with my Nana, Aunt Emily, Uncle Ben, and Uncle Bill. We received so many wonderful gifts, and had so much great food! Brody loved all of his new toys, and Peyton has really done well with her new mobile. It is helping her relax in her crib. She slept in her OWN bed for 5 hours last night! Thank you everyone for the gifts.

Then, Christmas Eve night, Nick helped me prepare dinner for his side of the family. We cooked a turkey, mashed potatoes, home made stuffing, cranberry salad, and green bean casserole. Here is Nick peeling and chopping potatoes:

After the potatoes were peeled, and the turkey was washed, we baked Christmas cookies with Brody to give to Santa Clause. Brody is very independent and makes sure that he gets to do things the way that he wants to. He decorated his own cookies, and Santa and Mrs. Clause sure did enjoy them when they were deliving his gifts!


Brody and Peyton both went to bed with no problems Wednesday night. It was truly a Christmas miracle. I bet you can't guess what happened next? Yep! Santa came! He brought Brody an inflatable castle to jump in, a penguin (which Brody has repeatedly told me for about a month that Santa Clause was coming and was bringing him a Penguin), a penguin for Peyton, and a Handy Manny toy. Also shown in the picture are the Smart Cycle and V-tech Walker from Grandpa and June Shaw!

Brody woke up at about 8:00 and I told him that Santa Clause had come. He was so excited about his castle that he pretty much ignored all of the other packages for about 20 minutes. We had Nick's family over for Christmas dinner and we opened packages from them for about an hour and a half! They brought so many gifts, and all the kids had such a great time opening and playing together. We are so thankful to everyone who spoiled our children rotten this Christmas, and for all of our family. This was a magical Christmas!

I am still alive...well, sort of.

It has been a rough week in the Petersen house. Brody has not fully recovered (he still won't eat much, and complains of his tummy hurting, or his head hurting). Peyton got sick 3 nights ago...REALLY sick. The poor little thing lost everything in her tiny tummy. It is so hard when they are that little because they can't talk, and they can't tell you if they are feeling well enough to eat, and I just worry about her getting dehydrated. She only had it for 24 hours, but has been running a low grade temperature since then. Then, last night, she got sick again. REALLY sick again. I think I am almost out of laundry detergent from having to wash so many clothes. Nick and I have been feeling up and down, between headaches and slight nausea, we have definitely been fighting this thing. Lets all just hope that we are better for Christmas!

Poop and Puke...

That's what my life has consisted of the past 24 hours or so. Peyton has had a blow out EVERY night this week. Brody woke up at 4:00 AM throwing up, and has thrown up 4 times since then. On top of that, he had a blow out in his diaper that leaked all the way down to his feet. In the past 24 hours the kids have gone through approximately 12 outfits, 4 baths, 5 popcycles, 3 cups of juice, 4 cups of gingerale, 2 saltine crackers, 5 blankets, 4 pillow cases, and who knows how many diapers! Please say it will get better soon! My poor poor babies...

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Jesus Christ is our Brother...

Today in Sacrament meeting, Michelle Manning got up and bore her testimony. In her beautiful testimony, she mentioned how Jesus is our brother. We are all children of God, including Jesus Christ. I had never thought of Him this way. I always think of Christ as the Savior, our Lord, our Redeemer, but I have never thought of him as a brother, almost an equal. Her testimony brought tears to my eyes...it brought new light to my heart. Thinking of Christ as my brother made me feel that I was more capable of becoming like him. Although he is still my Savior, Lord, and Redeemer, he is also my brother.

John 20:17 states: "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." In this verse, Jesus is telling Mary at the tomb, after he was resurrected to not touch him for he had not yet ascended to HIS Father and HER Father. We are ALL children of our Heavenly Father. What a wonderful thing to know and to think about as we live our lives.

Whatever happened to Mama, Mommy, or Mom?

Brody: "Mommy! I mean, Nikki!"
Me: "Yes, baby, my name is Nikki, but you call me mommy."
Brody: "No, I call you Nikki."
Me: "Mom?"
Brody: "No, Nikki."
Me: "Mama?"
Brody: "Nikki."
Silence
Brody: "You daddy's BABE!"
Me: Laughs, "yes that's true, but I'm your mommy!"
Brody: "Okay, mommy."