It's a Wonderful Life

As promised on my last post, here are pictures! And lots of 'em.

But first- here is a little update about the little Logan family.

Jake- grew a beard- it looks awesome (well in my opinion, his sister really hates it haha); crazy busy at work with all his projects and deadlines; taking me to Calgary in May and Hawaii in June (hopefully.. you never know what could come up); looking to buy a house this summer- it's like we are real grown ups- jump back! (name that movie)

Me- finally did some more work on my independent study classes- so close to being done; going to run a 5k in May and trying to get ready for it- it's hard dudes, I know that's lame but still- hard; just reading and cleaning and taking care of babies

Mikey- basically completely stopped talking, all he says now is yes, dada, mama and baby Adam- but mostly just yes; has learned how to take everything off, including his diaper- awesome; jumps on the bed constantly; loves making messes- yesterday I went into his room after his nap and he has taken Adam's messy diaper out of the diaper pail and rubbed the squeezed out poop everywhere- in case you were wondering, I love my life.

Adam- can now roll over! wahoo; has slept the whole night a few times- very exciting; smiles, especially at fake coughs; met his Aunty Liz for the first time this week- he seems to be a pretty big fan.

 

Now on to the pictures! Enjoy- they may be repeats and they are in no particular order.

 

Mikey digging into his St Patrick's Day present- a mason jar with gold chocolate coins, layers of skittles as a rainbow and kleenex on top as clouds. He loved it. As did me and Jake.

St Patrick's Day breakfast- complete with sausage, eggs- green for Mikey, green rice, kiwi, green grapes, bananas, muffins and oj. I love it

Valentine's Day breakfast- pink pancakes, eggs, sausage, oranges, grapes, strawberries and oj. In my head, all holidays should be celebrated with breakfast. And I don't think the boys mind one bit.

Matching clothes! They had a baby sale at Old Navy so it was all 25% off, plus I have an ON card so it was another 10% off and then because I had a coupon it was another 15% off. Don't worry- half off. Good shopping mom.

 

Kisses

baby overalls are awesome

Naked Mikey holding Adam's bottle. Such a helpful guy.

My boys- and the start of Jake's beard!!

 

The family at the Leonardo in SLC. We went to see the mummies and then wandered around. This is one of the few pictures of me, so enjoy it haha.

 

Mikey went into the pantry and came out with a full sheet of nori. Just chilling on the couch, pantless eatin' seaweed. Whatta guy.

One of the exhibits at the Leonardo. He liked the colored lights a lot.

Adam was just laying on the floor and Mikey laid down next to him and held his hand.

Logan cousins photo shoot. Cute right?

 

 

This was right before Adam sucked on Malie's toe and she hit him. (not on purpose, she's like 4 months old) Hilarious.

Graduation picture! Me, my pops and my baby. Well technically both of the babies- one is just hidden under the grad gown.

Merrill family picture. Jeff and Whit were there too but they didn't want to wait inside with all the people. Good turnout huh?

Logan family picture- Mikey obviously wants Aunty Abby in this picture.

Grandma, Daddy, Mikey boy and Uncle Gideon

Thanks for looking!

Work and Treasure Planet- such is my life.

So I have all these awesome pictures that I wanted to share with the blogging world but every time I tried to put them up my computer could fritz out and so I haven't blogged in a month. Which is okay, I don't really have all that much time ya know? So I am going to blog an update anyways and hopefully soon I will figure out why my computer blows and I will get some pictures of my ever adorable boys.

Jake
- Not kidding, he works like a fiend. He goes in in the middle of the night sometimes. I wish his company paid overtime because if they did we'd be rolling in it.
- uhm... that is pretty much all he does these days. Work. Oh and he really likes to organize game nights. We have got a few new games recently that we have been enjoying. Also, we recently found out that our upstairs neighbors like games. We have been living here for a year and had no idea, plus Jake has known them for almost 3. We are obviously really good at getting to know people.
- bought an elliptical! Awesome.  Every time I use it though I think I am going to die- no joke. It's disgusting.
Meredith
- hmm... I cut my hair- a whole 7 inches off. I don't think Jake is that pleased but he says it looks nice so that counts for something.
- slowly but surely working on my independent study classes so I can graduate for real
- really missing photo shoots. Anyone wants picture taken? Pick me pick me! haha but for real. ;)
Mikey
- Mikey  seems huge now. 27. something pounds and like 34 inches. Amazing. Jumped into the 78 percentile from the 22. Jake is thrilled and he jumped from 12 month clothes right to 24 months. (he is only 19 months old)
- watched Treasure Planet all the time. I hate it. But not enough to not let him watch it. But he will play with his toys or go outside instead so it works out.
- carries Adam around- no joke, he literally carries him around. He dropped him today for the first time. No harm done but Mikey was pretty upset that Adam was crying.
Adam
- doesn't cry as much as he used to but still more then is desirable
- 22.5 inches long and 10 lbs 11 oz. He gained a pound and a half and grew an inch and a half in 4 weeks which is pretty exciting.
- can lift his head off the ground and sits in the bumbo. We are so proud
- sleeps about 5 hours at a time during the night. Although the other night he slept from 10 to 5. I was so tired though because Mikey woke up that I didn't get to fully appreciate the blessing.

Well I think that's it. We are doing well.  I am still thrilled to not be pregnant, Jake is still loving his job and the boys are thriving.
Next time there will be pictures. I promise. Be excited- they're cute.

The Grass is Green on Both Sides

I recently found out that a friend of mine has a great opportunity to go study abroad because she won a grant. Awesome. I am so excited for her. And yet, sad for me.
Ever since I was 7 years old I have actively dreamed of going to Europe and with each new development in my life, that dream fades into the background while my life is slowly filling up with laundry, dishes, diapers, kids, and the like. Don't get me wrong, I love those things.. well I don't love dishes or diapers or laundry... but I do love clean clothes, clean kitchens and clean babies.
One time I was talking to my sister Shelly about life plans and how life doesn't always go the way we plan. Or really ever but how that can be a good thing sometimes too. [When I started at BYU I was going to graduate with a degree of Secondary Education and teach at some junior high out east (I am not sure why but thats what I wanted) and live all myself for a year or two and then if I met someone, get married and if not, well then I wouldn't get married. Simple as that. Instead, I am almost graduated with a degree in Art History, married with two kids and as such definitely not living alone. Sometimes I am amazed at how little I knew myself and where I would've wanted to be 6 years ago.] I asked if that upset her that her life was not where she always planned and, very enthusiastically, she responded with "heck no!" Another time, I was talking with my brother Jeff and he said that it's naive to assume that multiple pathways in your life couldn't make you happy.
I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I don't have any regrets, at all, ever. I love Jake, Mikey, and Adam. I loved what I studied in school and I loved the people that I met because I switched into AH. But what if Jake and I hadn't got married? What if I didn't change my major? What if I lived in Connecticut or Rhode Island, working as a teacher? I bet I would've been happy. Probably not as happy but still, happy. I could've taken that road and still ended up in a good place.
Basically, the whole point of this rambling post is that I have realized that the grass is green everywhere. My friend is lucky but so am I.

Life lesson learned.

Two Posts in 4 days! What!

Shocking I know. Another post. But man oh man do I have something too cute to keep to myself.

Ever since we found out little Adam was a boy, I have been beyond excited to dress my little guys in matching outfits- weird because I am pretty sure that as a young girl that was beyond cruel and unusual punishment to be dressed liked Shelly. But oh well- it's just what parents do. I have been constantly on the lookout for matching clothes and have had no luck until yesterday!

We went to Walmart and I found these adorable outfits and so the boys were matching at church today! Adorable right?

Mikey just loves Adam

 

Yeah, Adam is amazed at how big Jake's head looks too

Mikey is watching Treasure Planet. He was mad at me because I was standing between him and the tv. Heaven help the person that gets between that boy and his Treasure Planet. (half kidding, whole truth)

 

Also, unrelated to the pictures but a fun Mikey story. Today in Sunday School I was out in the hall walking Adam to sleep and I was right by the nursery (our ward building is not really made for 3 wards and that little hallway was the most peaceful place I could find) All of a sudden it was like some huge disaster hit in the nursery and it sounded like all the kids were crying so I walked over to the door to peek through the hole because I figure if Mikey is unhappy, I could go help out. Well, I look in the peephole and all the kids are bawling and laying on the floor as if its the end of the world and Mikey was in the corner, peacefully playing with a truck on the floor. Whatta kid huh?

Muffins and Vacuuming

 

 

Here are some pictures of my boys! They are both doing pretty great. I don't get to take as many pictures as I would like but I manage to capture some fun moments anyways.

 

Enjoy!

 

Mikey has been struggling with Jake working full time and freaks out when he leaves in the morning- every morning. I have been trying hard to distract him while Jake slips out so we made muffins the other day. Mikey stirred the batter and poured them into the cups.

The other day I asked Jake to vacuum up some food Mikey spilled- this is what I saw when I came into the living room. Jake really enjoys being a dad.

Tummy time bonding between boys!

 

Last night during my hour (every night I get one hour to do absolutely nothing while Jake does all the parenting) Jake was feeding Mikey and put Adam on the couch to "sit all by himself." Adam didn't love it, especially since gravity was not his friend.

Crying it Out.

What is with all the anti cry it out stuff that is going around?
Am I wrong or is this a new? It is possible that there has always been a controversy around this topic but I sure didn't notice it before maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago. Is it because I notice things about children and parenting more now that I have children? Who knows. All I know is I don't understand this. Especially when they get so intense. If you want to let your kid cry it out- by all means. If you don't want them to, then rock them to sleep every night, or try a different method of sleep training. (there has got to be more than one right?)
I personally found crying it out to be seriously effective with Mikey and fully plan on doing it again with Adam and all the other Logan children that will follow. Maybe that makes me a bad mom, who knows. I imagine that there are other things that I do that would push me into the bad parenting end of the spectrum- not intentionally of course. But whether I teach my kid to sleep by letting him cry or some other way, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that I love my child. I don't let Mikey cry because I am an evil vindictive woman that gets her kicks from others sufferings. Nope, that's not it at all. I let Mikey cry because I want my son to be able to sleep by himself. I want my child to learn how to self soothe. I want my child to be independent and I just happen to think that crying is one way for them to learn it. ( I know that studies say that this actually leads to greater dependence and whiny and depressed kids but I think that has as much to do with personalities as learned behavior- but that is just Life According to Meredith- no fancy smancy studies prove my beliefs, not even things I have learned from parenting, just what I have heard from other parents that I happen to think are pretty great at it)
I have read a bunch of the studies because I was taught to learn as much as possible on both sides before I make up my mind- here's looking at you Pops, and I am unconvinced in either direction.  Maybe when my kids grow up there will be proof that letting babies cry it out is cruel and neglectful and causes all kinds of terrible side effects like lack of trust and depression and they won't do it anymore.But my parents did it, my grandparents did it (at least my dad's parents, not sure about my mom's) and my siblings do it too. And me, my siblings and my aunts and uncles are pretty great I think. I think Mikey trusts me and he certainly doesn't seem depressed. I think that I showed Mikey that I loved him and cared about him and he learned to trust me and knew that his needs were met before I ever let him cry it out. Also, I trust my dad, I trusted my mom. 
Just something I have been thinking about ya know? And since I spend all my time with a 17 month old and a 3 week old, this is my outlet. Turns out Mikey and Adam don't care about what I have read on crying it out. Strange huh?
Also, one last point- when I have cried myself to sleep, those were some of the best sleeps I have ever had. ;)

A Family of Four- finally.

I just love my brown eyed boys. Aren't they just so handsome?

Here is my brief update:

Jake- loves his job still; tired from the two kiddos; did Adam's baby blessing on Sunday- it was beautiful; 

Meredith- exhausted; sore; very excited to not be pregnant anymore; even more excited to file taxes- I kid you not, it's better than Christmas for me; started watching Grey's Anatomy while nursing- that show is crazy;

Mikey- starting to get more stubborn; always bumped and bruised; started nursery; knows his nose, ear, eye, foot, mouth, and head- most of the time; says mama, dada, moh (more), done, deah (yeah), do (no)- big fan of d's apparently;

Adam- slowly learning nights and days; champion of cluster feeds; sleeps in 4 or 5 hour periods; works his lungs pretty well; a mama's boy; has dark and amazing brown eyes;

This is what a family of 4 means to me- Jake laughing, me exhausted, Mikey screaming, and Adam starving. It's a pretty awesome life.

The only way to calm Mikey down is to tell him that Baby Adam needs him. He stops crying long enough to give a kiss and a little pat.

The famous baby tux! Adam was a little small for it. Thank you Grandma Jill.