Dustin and Erin Watson: September 2011

My Silly Kids

Kate is just so silly! Here are some stories and quirks about her that I wanted written down.

Kate refuses to sleep in her bed. She used to be so good about sleeping, but ever since we brought Max home she's been so stubborn about it. We've finally got her to at least go to sleep in her room, but she's on the floor! I don't know what is wrong with her bed, or what is so special about the floor but that's where she chooses to sleep! She's also gotten super quiet about coming into our room at night. I don't even hear her come in any more! When I wake up to feed Max, she's always there, either on the floor or in the chair. So ridiculous!

She's started to quote movies and it's just hilarious. The other day she picked up the book I was reading and said, "How can you read this? There's no pictures!" I also hear her saying, "Gaston, can I have my book please?" when she's reading. She also loves to run around the house screaming, "Best day EVER! Woo hoo!" (Tangled).

During a particularly difficult day (one of those won't-obey-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-time-out-days), I asked Kate to do something and she replied, "Yes Mother." At first I was like, "All right! That's what your supposed to say!" But then I thought about it and I realized that not once has Kate ever called me Mother. So I said, "Yes Mother?" and Kate replied by singing "mooooother knows BEST". Yep. She was calling me Mother Gothel. I was too mad to laugh right then, but we had a good laugh about it when I told Dustin later.

She refers to poop as "yucky snakes", and farts as "ghosts".

Her tea party set is her "birthday" (from Alice in Wonderland, in case you didn't make that connection), and any tube that you can look through is a "pirate".

The other day she found some fake flowers of mine, and she carried them all around the house. When I said,"What do you have Kate?" she said "Jeremy gave me flowers." (Jeremy is a character from Phineas and Ferb.)

She is so excited to go to "Disneywand!" and has not stopped talking about it. But to be fair, neither have we. We leave on Sunday! I'm so so SO excited!

Of course I couldn't leave Max out of this post, even though I don't have any funny stories about him just yet. He's just too cute!

I love my kids! They definitely keep me laughing!

I feel like I forgot to post about something...

Oh yes...

Our new car!!!

We've been living with just one car for 4 years now. Which wasn't too bad since I just stay home, but it has been so nice to have a second! It definitely brings a peace of mind too. I was always worried that some emergency would happen and I wouldn't have a way of getting to the hospital fast enough or something. Our new car is a Hyundai Tucson and it's brand new! It's a 2012 model and it's like a bronze-ish color. It has a gray combo leather/material interior, and is equipped with XM radio and bluetooth capabilities. We feel pretty fancy! But then again anything is fancy next to our Aveo :) We love it!

All about Max

Little Max is 2 months old today. Time flew with our first kid, but it feels like it's flying even faster with our second. I can't believe two months have already gone by!

We just LOVE our baby boy!

His current stats are:
Height-- 23 3/4 inches 75%
Weight-- 13 pounds 75%
Head Circumference: 14 inches 50%

He is sleeping MUCH better at night now. I'm so grateful for that! His stretches of sleep are about 4-6 hours now, and sometimes he only wakes up once a night! I'm feeling like a different person :)

He is so cute and cuddly that I just want to hold him all the time....and I do.

Having two kids was hard at first, but I feel like I've got it figured out now. Max has been a lot happier ever since I figured out that he hates it when I eat ice cream. Pizza and soda used to be on that list, but I caved on Saturday and ate both and he seemed fine with it...it's still something I'll avoid though.

Max's biggest accomplishment to date...

smiling! He is such a smiley boy now.

I love this little boy with all my heart.
I think I'll go snuggle him some more.

Sharing

First off, just look at his little face! Isn't he so cute?

Kate thinks so too. She just LOVES her little brother. She's always giving him kisses and hugs and reading and singing to him.

She loves to push him in his swing and bounce him in his bouncer chair (sometimes a little too violently). And she loves to share with him!

I'm constantly finding toys in his bouncer seat. Her baby doll whom we've deemed "Mowee" (Molly),

and this morning she wanted to have a tea party. Max was in charge of all the plates and utensils.

She sure does love her little brother!

(If Max would've cooperated, this pic would have been amazing)

In other news, we got our Disney tickets yesterday!! 2 and a half weeks to go!

"Earwings"

This last weekend Dustin went on "man-cation" with his dad, brother, cousins, uncles and grandpa to Virginia. So my mom came to play and help me with my kids. We had lots of fun being lazy, shopping, and braving the monsoons. There was even a tornado watch out when we were at Hobby Lobby! Of course I didn't know that until later, or I would have been hiding under my stairs.

I love it when little girls have earrings. I love it when little babies have earrings. I always said I was going to do it, but then I just forgot about it when Kate was a baby. Now I've been debating for awhile about whether or not I should pierce a two-year old's ears. Would she sit still? Will she just tug on them all day? Will she be allergic? Yesterday I decided to finally go for it.

We went to Icing in the Superstition Mall. I wasn't expecting much from Kate, since she was being a stinker that day. But when we got to that store she was so excited about all the pretty jewelery that I decided to go ahead with it. Kate picked out her pair of pink diamond "earwings" and we got to work. She did so good! She sat in the chair so well while we were waiting. My mom kept her entertained with bracelets and a princess crown. Since Kate was old enough to sit in the chair by herself we were able to do both ears at the same time. Thank goodness, or we probably would have only gotten one. She cried only for a little bit, then was excited about her new earrings. The workers there were so nice and were so good with Kate. They were very impressed at how well Kate did. And because she did so well, she was rewarded with a vanilla milk shake.

I love them! I think they are so cute!

9/11

I wrote this post a few years ago, but I thought it fitting to repost it today. I think we all clearly remember where we were and what we were doing on that horrific day. This is what I remember...

My family didn't have cable at that time, but I did listen to the radio every morning as I got ready. I turned it on and expected to hear music but all I heard was someone talking about places that were unfamiliar to me. Before then I hadn't really heard of the World Trade Centers or the Pentagon. I left my room and stood with my family as we all listened to the radio. I can remember my mom turning to my dad and ominously saying "This is huge, Mark."

I remember being in seminary and discussing with all the other students the events that were taking place. Who had done this to our country? Why would they want to hurt us? How long had they had this planned? There were rumors of other planes still flying around that hadn't struck yet. I remember that rumor specifically because I had written it down in my seminary journal. I was just waiting to be attacked again.

After I left seminary, I headed to Mr. Fields room for Government class. I begged him to please let me go to the library and watch the news. I still had not seen for myself the tragedy that was transpiring. A couple others begged as well, and our class headed for the one television in the school. We were all silent as we gathered around the TV and watched the footage of the planes crashing over and over again.

I don't really remember the rest of the day, but I do know it involved being angry at my principal. He wouldn't lower the flag to half-mast, and he refused to cancel the event that was going to happen at the school that night. It was Parent's Night. I think it was called something else, but that's basically what it was. The parents came to the school and talked with the teachers and looked at stuff that we had been doing. Just like in elementary school, but for high school.

My friend Lydia and I had agreed to sing the National Anthem for this event two weeks prior.

How could I possibly sing the National Anthem on a day like this? I prayed for the event to be canceled. I really did. I didn't think there was any possible way that I could sing that song without breaking down and sobbing.

Lydia and I practiced, prayed for strength, walked into the gym, and faced our Nation's flag to sing our song. Everyone there was completely silent as we sang, and we sang it beautifully. When we were done some were clapping, some where crying, and I knew that I would never forget singing our National Anthem on one of the most horrible days in history.

Thank you to all those who have fought and served for our country. God Bless America!

Max's Blessing

We blessed Max on Sunday, September 4th. Here are some pictures we took to celebrate this special day.

(first family picture of all of us!)

I love this little guy!

When Dustin blessed Kate he said that before hand he had planned out what he was going to say. You're not technically supposed to do that, but he was nervous and he didn't want to screw it up. This time though, he didn't do that. He gave a beautiful blessing. Some points that I remember are that he will be blessed with the ability to learn, to follow to example of his mother and sister, that when the time comes he will accept a mission call and find an eternal companion. The spirit was strong, and I was definitely in tears. I wish I was one of those people that think things through and had brought a tape recorder, because it really was such an awesome blessing. Dustin bore his testimony during sacrament meeting, which again, had me in tears. He is such a good father and husband, I'm very blessed to be married to him. I know, I know...I should have bore my testimony too but I was already so emotional I just felt like I couldn't do it.

After church we all gathered together at my house for lunch. Most of our immediate family members were there. We had fruit salad, veggies and sandwiches for lunch (thanks to both my moms for their help!) and then we had this for dessert.

Mmmm... I wish I could say that I made that, but it's a snickers ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.

It's was also Dustin's birthday on Monday so since we were all together, we had a little party for him as well. He got a Target gift card from my parents and clothes from his parents.

Kate got him a Mickey Mouse shirt, a Perry the Platypus shirt, and a Phineas and Ferb cd (we really like that show at our house!). Now even Dustin is outfitted for Disneyland next month!

And I got him some new basketball shoes.

It was a wonderful day. My heart is full of gratitude for my family. I love all of them so much. I'm so grateful for our newest bundle of joy Max, and for the sweet spirit he brings into our house. I just love being a mother and want to soak up every bit of baby-ness before he grows up.

Max, you are such a blessing, and we love you!