What is blogging?

First, I will say that it has been a long time since I have written! Second, my baby is one and Hunter will be 2 next week! And third, I will answer the before mentioned question. Now that facebook has come about I find it harder and harder to blog. I wasn't very good at blogging before but I would say I am A LOT worse now. It takes a lot longer to upload pics than facebook and it is a lot easier to just put a thought in my status then a novel on my blog. But I will also say that I love looking at blogs and catching up with people because we definitely give more info than just a one line sentence! haha So here is my novel for today but no pics again...sorry.

The holiday season almost forces you to think, analyze, ponder, view things, and express your thoughts and feelings. Am I grateful for that? Yes. Do I wish we were forced more often? Yes and No. Yes because I love the way people act and how I feel. No because sometimes being forced to think is not always something positive happening in your life. If that makes sense?
I have been very blessed to have parents, siblings, inlaws, and sibling-in-laws that are WONDERFUL! They are always there when I need them. I am grateful to have an awesome husband that takes care of me and my kids! He is so patient with me especially when my emotions are all out of whack. He takes care of many things that I just don't have the energy to do at the end of the day. And he will sit and just let me talk his ear off without trying to "fix it". I have a great 6 year old that helps me tons around the house and with his brothers. And to top it off he LOVES school. I don't have to bug him about getting his homework done because he can't wait to get it done after school. I love listening to him read especially to his brothers. He keeps my mind going, always, with question after question. He is a huge help and I don't tell him enough.
Then, with my babies turning one and 2 in the last couple of months, it has really had me thinking. "This is my family. These are my three boys that keep me busy but have me appreciating motherhood everyday." I didn't think I would have any more after Tanner but now I have three and they are awesome! I wouldn't change anything about them or how they got here. Obviously the Lord knew what I could handle when many days I wonder, "Really? You think I can do this?" When Linc turned one I wanted to have a huge party! And selfishly more for me...because I MADE IT! We are all still alive, doing well, and I didn't hurt anyone...especially myself! I know that I have the Lord to thank for that. He sustained me when I thought I couldn't go anymore. He has been patient with me when I haven't felt adequate enough. When I have felt like a failing mother, He has given me family and friends to buoy me up. He has forgiven me when I have fallen into bed exhausted without saying my prayers. He has given me strength and encouragement when I have need of it the most. I am definitely not perfect and have LOTS to work on, but feeling the love from my Father in Heaven, my Savior, my family and friends will never go unnoticed.

thoughts....

First, we haven't got rid of the internet yet because I find it too convenient in my life and we are finding other ways to save money.
Second, Lincoln will be 1 in less than a month...time sure flies and I wonder how I have made it this far.
Third, I have so many things on my mind that I don't know where to start. I have wanted to start a journal so that I can work through my emotions better but I hate writing and I won't sit down and make the time. Hopefully I will get there soon. So for now this is acting as my journal.
Growing up I all I wanted to do was get married and have kids. Now in the space of 2 years we added #2 and #3 child. Wow is motherhood soooo different than I expected. In the world today us mothers are fighting to feel important in the world! When someone asks us what we do we say, "Oh I am a stay at home mom." or "I am home with my kids." Have you ever felt from people that that isn't enough? Or when your husband says, "So did you enjoy your day at home eating bon bons, reading a book and taking a nap?" I know it is a joke but sometimes it hurts. Why can't the husband come home and say, "Thanks for feeding the kids today." "Thanks for changing 8 poopy diapers today." "Thanks for doing my laundry." "Thanks for vacuuming." "Thanks for making sure the bills are paid and taking all the stupid phone calls from solicitors." "Thanks for being drooled on, spit up on, and making sure you don't smell like it when I get home." I know that isn't in their nature, but it is okay to hope sometimes right?
Since Lincoln started moving around, motherhood became something I didn't expect. Many nights I go to bed thinking, "What did I do today? Anything productive?" Well, many times I don't feel productive! Then over a month ago a wonderful woman in my ward gave a lesson in Relief Society that has changed my thinking. She asked us, "What is your duty to God?" Or course my first thought was Motherhood and then my next thought was...is that all? So I started searching and thinking about what Motherhood means. Motherhood to me is...Wow the pressure but Wow the privilege! I try to enjoy the moments I can because they won't last long and before I know it they will be out of the house and into the scary world.
As a mother and an individual person it is hard not to look at the people around me and wish I were more like them. Wish I could enjoy the moments to the fullest. Wish I could feel things to its fullest. Wish I could express feelings to the fullest. Be truly happy. Be truly sad. Be truly grateful. Be truly respectful. Be truly sorrowful. Be truly considerate. Be truly loving. Someday I will figure things out. Gotta go.

update and later

Tanner has started school, Mark is still loving his job, Lincoln will be 1 in Nov., Hunter will be 2 in Dec...which gives us 2 one year olds for a month and a half haha..., and I am trying to keep up with everything and everyone.

Well, the time has come in our lives that we are doing away with the internet in our home. Why? you ask? We are trying to save some money. Our goal is to be debt free in the next 5 years, so we are trying to get rid of the funny things that we think "we need" but can really do without for awhile. I will try and update when I can, so see ya later for now!

Summer...

Hello everyone, again the months have just flown by! We are alive and doing well. I thought I would eventually get better at posting but I guess not. haha I am finally starting to get in a routine and feel more confident getting out of the house with all three boys. So this will come too...sometime! My boys are doing great. Growing up and keeping me busy! Tanner will be starting 1st grade at the end of August. Hunter and Lincoln are discovering things everyday. I am trying to keep my house clean, getting my family fed, the laundry down to only one pile instead of 7 or 8, hopefully getting a workout in, and enjoying watching my kids grow. Mark is loving his job, enjoys golfing, and shooting with Tanner and his friends.

I have been taking pics but that will have to be for another day because it is my bedtime! Hope everyone is doing well. And I appreciate your dilligence in keeping your blogs updated so I know how you all are doing. I am hoping to get better. Bye Bye

WOW!

I can't believe it has been so long since I wrote last! Time just flies! Lincoln is now almost 6 months old, Hunter is 16 months old, and Tanner is 6! That is a lot of 6's haha. It is so crazy around this house that I barely have time to shower most days. And since it has been so long, I won't be posting many pics or going into great detail of what we have been doing.

December: Hunter had his first birthday and we had Christmas at home for the first time as a family then headed to the Nichols for the rest of the day.
January: We were all stuck at home because of the weather. I guess I should rephrase that because we were stuck at home most of the winter because of our little Lincoln.
Feb: Another lovely month at home. :) EXCEPT for a weekend over to Boise for one of my good friend's wedding! Just Lincoln and I while Mark stayed home with the kids.
March: I got a double stroller while down at my parents house...that was a hard purchase for me, but I have LOVED it ever since. MY BIRTHDAY! :) It was an awesome one at that! I remembered that the year before on my birthday I was throwing up all weekend and later to find out because I was pregnant haha.
April: Tanner turned 6 at the beginning of the month, he has started soccer, and has been able to play outside with the neighbors and on his new bike. (I ran over the old one conviently right before his birthday.)

Now we are onto May! Good grief!! We did get our family pics from Jenny and some pics of the boys from my sister's mother-in-law. I love them all!











Mark is loving his job at Melaleuca as a Buyer/Purchaser. I hang out at home with the kids and don't venture out much with all 3. Grocery shopping is done at night after the kids are in bed, cleaning is done while following Hunter around as he destroys everything he touches. There are lots of smiles and screams and whining and crying and hiding (I try at least) and laughing and talking and loving around this house. It is kinda crazy but I try to cherish every moment because they grow up too fast!

he is home...

Okay, so he has been home for one week now and we love it! Talk about adjustment, but it is totally worth it. My mom came up at the beginning of the week, mark has been off since Wednesday because of the holiday, and my parents and sibling came up Thanksgiving night and then left yesterday. I am grateful for having another adult here with me because frankly I am scared to be left alone! I am getting more comfortable since I am trying to work out a schedule, but when I am all alone all day long...SCARY! :) Bring it on? Haha

Anyway, we are doing great and Lincoln is doing awesome! I will post pictures later when I get longer than a minute to update. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Lincoln pics...finally

Lincoln William Nichols
5 lbs 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches long

cpap...had to wear over night


first time I got to hold him after he was born! Saturday afternoon

2 days old
3 days
4 days
was under a light for jaundice and had cute sunglasses
6 days old

got to move into a "big newborn" bed
8 days old
9 days old
I am sorry it has taken me so long to post these! I can't believe how crazy my life has been since Hunter came home, a week and a half ago. I barely have time to breathe somedays and I am lucky if I can return phone calls the same day, haha. And Lincoln isn't even home yet...wow! So sorry for the delay :) He is now 13 days old and we are hoping to bring him home soon!

He is here...

Lincoln William Nichols was born Nov. 6th at 8:06 pm! He weighed in at 5 lbs 15 oz and 19.5 inches long. He is doing great! I am now home but he will be in the hospital for a little longer. They took his oxygen off this morning so hopefully that will help him with eating because he was getting a lot of air bubbles, which would cause him to spit up. So we will see how he does today :) I am going to see him while Tanner is at school, hopefully I will still have good news at that point! He takes a bottle really well when he is not tired of course. He was born a week earlier than Hunter was, is doing better than Hunter did at this point and was bigger than Hunter was when he was born! So he has a lot going for him. I will keep ya posted. Tanner is home with me for school, Hunter will come home in a couple of days and then hopefully Lincoln will come home a couple of days after that! :) We have been truly blessed! I know I wouldn't have said this a couple of weeks ago, but all the weeks and weeks I was on bedrest was totally worth it! It actually doesn't even seem like it happened, especially when I hold my sweet baby in my arms! Thank you are all the thoughts and prayers for him, me and my family. I will post pics soon :)

Hunter at 10 months...

Hunter was able to come home this weekend and we LOVED it! He has gotten so big and gets into everything. He has started to stand on his own and will even take a step or two before falling to the ground and then crawling! I can't believe how much he has grown since we got to see him last. I can' wait to have him home with us for good!
He loves Tanner and will follow him all over the house! He doesn't take very good naps here because if he hears Tanner at all he wakes up. I think it would be safe to say that Tanner misses Hunter just as much as I do! But I at the same time Tanner has gotten use to being here by himself and can make tons of noise and not have to worry about Hunter. So that will have to be another adjustment when he comes back home.
While Tanner was off trick o' treating with some friends, Mark was taking Hunter's clothes off to put his jammies on and Hunter crawled away laughing! He loves not having clothes on! So he sat and played and laughed for a good 45 mins! Mark and I had a blast just watching our little (not so little anymore ha) guy!
He loves playing with my medicine bottle...
and he loves to blow spit and bubbles!

This was a couple of weeks ago...not quite 10 months old yet :)

karate kid...

Tanner in his Halloween costume :) (thanks to both grandma's for supplying it)