18 Months.

Happy Monday!

If looking at this little 18 month old won't brighten your day today, 

I don't know what will! 

But perhaps I am quite biased because she's mine. 

This toddler had a doctor check up on Friday and she was found healthy and strong, 

which makes any parent happy.  

She weighs 21 pounds 5 ounces (32%)

She is 31.1 inches tall (28%)

It looks like she fits right in with the rest of us Jensens.  

Her vocabulary has expanded extensively these last few months.   

She says: 

mom

dad

Brielle

flower

up

bite

ball

baf (bath)

phone

eye

baba (for milk)

nana (banana)

boo!

boo (for book)

vroom (car)

hot

down

jum (jump)

bubble

bravo

She has a good 20 to 30 words. 

I had forgotten how exciting it is when they start talking! 

She is quite mischievous and a total mess maker! 

The older kids are learning what is like to clean up messes that are not theirs. 

It has been good for them. 

She has an obsession with hair, any hair she pulls. 

It is bad, It has proven to be quite the challenge in nursery. 

(Braden was a biter and now Brooke is the hair puller...can I ever get a break?) 

She is a daddy lover and does a happy dance when her daddy comes home from work.

She loves to eat avocados, strawberries, bananas, pears...she is a fruit lover and also a cheese lover. 

She is growing out of her second nap, but could still take one.  

She is a good napper and a good sleeper overall. 

Brooke is essentially a good 18-month old. 

I think we'll keep her!:)

7 Years Old.

I needed baby finger nail clippers.  It was a cold, snowy wintery night in February 2006, as I drove to Walmart on that pothole infested Rexburg road.  I knew the moment was getting close when I would hold my own baby in my arms.  I wasn't ready. 

On my way back home, our lemon car began to shake.  I felt confused.  As I pulled off the road, snow hitting my face, I found that I had a flat tire.  My emotional pregnant body didn't need this.  Scott and his friend Justin came to my rescue.  I lost all inhibition and sobbed.  

Scott and Justin laughed when I complained in between sobs, that on top of having a flat tire, I couldn't even zip up my coat. My round belly was too big with that little life inside of me waiting to be born, any minute now...

Little did I know that a flat tire and an unfitting coat would seem like nothing the next day...

How could I have known what child bearing entailed? 

No one can prepare you. 

I was going to become a mother, whether I was ready or not, 

whether I had baby finger nail clippers or not.

  

After a whole lot of work, and by work I mean 3 hours of pushing, I held a baby girl in my arms.  I was her mother and she was my daughter.  She came perfect, with a head full of black hair and with those big brown eyes that were ready to see the world.  She blinked those big eyes, as if she were thinking, "Finally! I'm out here!" I could tell she wanted to be here.  

She was ours.  Scott and I were young and dumb, we made mistakes from the beginning, but we loved our baby.  We love our Brielle.  Her simple existence and everything that she has brought into our lives cannot quite be described in a few written lines.  She has refined me in a million ways and has brought intense joy into my life.  

Brielle is turning into an amazing girl.  

Can hardly believe is has been 7 years since she joined our family! 

As promised, we headed to Idaho to celebrate her birthday.  

Lanie had a whole bunch of activities planned out for us.  

She went above and beyond to make Brielle and Braden feel special. 

It was a memorable birthday.  

I think they both knew that Lanie would make it special. 

We went to Blast off and had a blast!;)

Brooke loved the slides, the ball pit, she was in heaven. 

Our birthday girl. 

Dressing up never gets old. 

The rock climbing wall was a hit. 

Braden had no problem getting up there. 

Brielle tried, but got a little scared. 

I think those rain boots weren't quite appropriate for rock climbing.  

Poor girl! 

...at least she tried. 

Lanie planned out a treasure hunt.  The kids went all around the house looking for clues.  

They LOVED it! 

Lanie did such a good job! 

She got the cutest little treasures for the kiddos. 

Then came time for presents. 

We were so thankful for the wonderful presents they got! 

Lanie took the kids to get their cake.  

They made their own cake, frosted it and decorated it. 

We got quite the results!:) 

Brielle is seven!!!! 

Happy Birthday sweet girl! 

Since we were in Idaho, we got to see a few of our good friends we hadn't seen in a while.  We had a game night with the Shurtliffs and had a blast! Right before heading back home, we stopped by to see my dear friend Rebecca and her new beautiful baby girl! 

We loved seeing this wonderful family! 

We also got to spend a couple of hours with my dear cousin Bonnie and her clan.  I hadn't seen her since we started med school.  It was definitely long over due...I can't believe how much we have multiplied!!!!

Braden is Six.

Braden turned six on the 6th.  

This little boy brings so much laughter to our home.  

Some nights before Scott and I go to bed, I tell him all the funny things Braden did or said that day.  We both laugh our heads off and I can't believe how witty this boy is.  

We love his little personality, (most of the time...he can be a stubborn one sometimes).

He is so creative and whatever he envisions in his little head he tries to bring out to life. 

He often amazes me and he makes me laugh hysterically (where tears are rolling down my face, that kind of laugh.) 

Like yesterday, he came home very upset because someone hadn't been nice to him.  As he walks in, he says, "you know what I've decided mom? 'so and so' can be a bully!" He goes on to tell me what happened. Then says very passionately, "I'm going to go tell his mom right now! and I will give her a piece of my mind!!!!" 

How in the world am I supposed to keep a straight face? 

Braden was the chubbiest baby.  Those cheeks were awesome.  

Braden was the cuddliest baby too and he was definitely a mommy's boy.  

Braden has such a depth to him now as a boy.  

He feels compassion for others often.

He is thoughtful. 

He also feels the Spirit and thinks deep thoughts.

Some nights ago, Brielle came to our bedroom after we had put everyone to bed and says, "Mom, Braden is crying like a baby." Then, Braden sneaks in from behind her crying, just as Brielle had stated.  Scott asks him, "why are you crying buddy? what's wrong?" Braden says, "I was laying on my bed, thinking about the good stuff." I asked, "what is the good stuff Braden?" he answers, "you know, that we can be together forever as a family." By then, we all had tears in our eyes and hugged. 

It was a priceless moment. 

For his birthday treat at school Braden requested chocolate chip cookies (because frosting makes his stomach hurt, he says.) So, as he requested we brought chocolate chip cookies instead of cupcakes. 

His teacher is outstanding and just makes those kids feel so special.  

It was especially nice to have Scott on vacation and be part of all of the celebrations.  

(He purposely requested the kids' birthday week for his week vacation.) 

We all sang 'happy birthday' to him and the kids had their treat.  

Mrs. Bitner is such a great teacher, I'm so grateful for her.  

Braden has grown so much and has matured a lot since the beginning of the school year...and I LOVE that she just picked up Braden for the picture to be next to his Valentine heart on the left.

The kids usually get to pick their favorite place for lunch on their birthday. 

Braden chose Chick-Fil-A. 

This boy is a soup lover.  He ordered their chicken noodle soup, his usual. 

But the main reason for choosing Chick-Fil-A was the ice cream. 

Around the beginning of January, I asked the kids what kind of party they wanted.  It was a friend party year.  I was ready to go all out and throw them a good party.  However, both of them almost in unison, requested to go to Idaho for their birthdays to spend it with their grandparents and Aunt Lanie! 

They were both so excited, that's all they talked about for most of January. 

A few days before Braden's birthday however, Braden asked if we could have our neighbor friends over to decorate Valentine cookies.  So, we had a little party nonetheless and enjoyed having our neighbors over.

 

We sang them both happy birthday since Brielle's birthday was only 3 days away.

It was supposed to be a no gift party, but our awesome neighbors gave the kids presents anyway.  

They were so happy and grateful.  

Penny came to drop some things off for us to take to Idaho, it worked out perfectly because she was able to join our little party! 

Brooke was in heaven with the frosting. 

Happy Birthday to Mr. Braden! 

He is now a 6 year old! 

Kicking the Winter Blues Right in the Buns.

I decided that I would kick the winter blues right in the buns and try harder to enjoy this winter.  

It helped that Scott had a week off vacation. 

Most of the week was spent running errands that he never has time for, but there is nothing like having him home and having dinner as a family.  

He recently scored a little 2003 Hyundai Accent from a co-worker who saw him waiting for me one late night and asked what he was still doing there.  He said he was waiting for me to pick him up because we only have one car.  She said she had been trying to get rid of her old car and give it to a good cause.  

She sold it to him for $1.

We had to put a couple hundred dollars on an engine flush, new front tires and registration.  

But now Scott is the proud owner of another $1 car and it seems like it will be running for a while...although having two cars here in Salt Lake with this awful pollution almost makes one feel guilty...but not really, considering I had to get up at 5 in the morning for a whole month to take him to the hospital (the buses don't start running until 7am)...we were polluting the air with so much driving back and forth.  

Scott getting this car, confirms to me in my heart and mind that there is God...and he is very much aware of us individually.  What we call coincidences are really not coincidences, but they are miracles and evidence that the hand of the Lord is in our lives. 

It makes me think of one of Elder Eyring's talks a while ago, O Remember, Remember. 

That talk deeply touched me and since I have chosen to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in my life everyday, in the little things, that sometimes we oversee. 

We officially have an 18-month old.

Brooke is growing way too fast and I can't stop it. 

She officially started nursery last Sunday. 

She is talking more and more and is such a little sponge.  

There is not a day that goes by, that Scott doesn't say, 

"oh how I love that baby!" or "that baby is just so cute!" 

Scott came home early yesterday, Brooke was still awake and as Scott walks in the door, with the most excited little voice you can imagine says, "Daaaad!" and does this little happy dance. 

She fills my heart with joy, I sometimes think my heart is going to burst! 

How can she bring this much joy? 

She has the best smile with all those teeth! 

******

My good friend Heidi turned 30 and we had a little lunch for her.  

Turning 30 is a big deal! 

Gretchen made that yummy cheesecake, 

I made THIS chicken ceasar sandwich and 

Steph made a yummy salad. 

It was a perfect little gathering to celebrate Heidi.  

I say this a lot but we've really lucked out to have great neighbors here  

These women are wonderful and I'm so grateful that we are going through the same thing together.  

Our husbands are all interns, except for Gretchen's who is already an attending. 

******

Scott had the day off one day, before starting his vacation and we headed to the Utah Capitol.  

It is such a majestic building.  

The architecture is simply beautiful and it wasn't crowded. 

Every time I went to the U.S. Capitol in D.C. it was always crowded and security was tight. 

It was a different experience here. 

We were able to freely wonder all through the 3 floors.  

Brigham Young. 

Brooke was in a hurry to go up to the second floor. 

We were there for a good hour.  There is so much space inside, the kids ran around and we all appreciated how aesthetically pleasing everything was.

Salt Lake is really a beautiful place.  

We are most definitely enjoying our time here. 

We have been here 8 months! 

It has flown!

******

One Saturday, we headed to the zoo.  It was 40 something degrees outside!...in other words it was warm!!! 

I couldn't waste a beautiful 40 degree day being inside, so we went to the zoo and met up with Jana and her family and Penny. 

The highlight of this visit was the polar bear. 

It was amazing, it was so active that day. 

It was swimming back and forth.  We stood there watching it for a while. 

It was so entertaining. 

Brooke was simply mesmerized.

Jana brought some hot chocolate for everyone.

It was perfect. 

Brielle was loving life.

These cousins have a blast when they are together.

There is nothing like a couple of good outings after being cooped up indoors for way too long. 

I am slowly seeing signs of Spring! 

It is good to know that Spring does come before too long.