I guess I should explain why...

my kids and I have been looking homeless,

My brain is half gone,

I am exhausted ALL the time,

I am a regular at McDonalds getting my french fries,

TUMS and Zofran are my new best friend,

I get the dry heaves every time I change Peyton's diaper, and

I look like I've been downing the twinkies :).

#3 is on it's way!!!

Yep, I am prego again! We are excited and feel so blessed. I'm 15 weeks now and so far things are looking good with the babe. The sickness bug is definitely still gracing me with it's presence and I think me as well as Aaron and the girls are hoping it will decide to check out soon. So apologies to all who may think I've been a little off :). The girls are excited. Hallie really really really hopes it's another girl and hopes she can name her Lula. Aaron tries to convince her everyday how great it'd be to have a boy :). Peyton doesn't care. She just says everyday non stop "I wanna hold baby" and cries because she can't understand why I can't pull the baby out of my stomach and let her. But she does enjoy racing me to the toilet to push my head out of the way while I'm puking and yelling, "I wanna see! EWW! EWW!" :) We are all excited! Due date is Feb. 8th.

Hallie and Swim Lessons

This was not quite the experience I was expecting. Remember Hallie and all her get up in the pool? How she wore all of it so she made sure she wouldn't go under the water? Well, I signed Hallie up for swim lessons in the very beginner class that said, "little to no experience in the water". I was thinking it would be good to start off easy and work her way up. She was a little nervous about going when she found out I couldn't get in the pool with her but I assured her it would be fun and she'd do great. We got there and she was for sure the youngest and shortest in the class.

Day 1 of swim class: Swim Teacher: "Alright everybody! Jump in the water. Give me 5 head bobs! I want your head all the way under. Ready go!" Hallie: "Mommy!" (as she starts bawling frantically).

For sure not what either of us were expecting. I was sure that we were at the wrong class when the teacher continued to tell them that their final test was to jump off the little diving board and how they should always have their face in the water when swimming. Seriously? This was the easiest class? Hallie's number 1 fear in swimming is putting her head in the water. He kept saying, "remember to just blow your bubbles!" Duh! She doesn't even know what that means! Maybe you could show her.

Needless to say the next 5 times were hard on both of us. It's times like this that I want to say, "trust me Hallie, this is just as hard on me as it is on you." I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to teach her that we can just give up and quit anytime something hard comes our way. And i knew she was going to have to learn it at some point and get over her fear. But I also didn't want to traumatize her for life, nor have to sit through 5 more 45 min sessions of her scared for her life.

The first class I finally was able to calm her down with promising her ice cream after if she'd just get in the dang water and try a few things. The teacher soon realized that she was really scared and he was really cute to her. After class we got in the car and I told her I was really proud of her for getting in and trying things. She said, "Yea Mom. Like it was just like my first time at swim class. And so like sometimes you cry when it's like your first time. Nobody else was crying because I think like they've all been to swim class before. So like next time I won't cry because it won't be my first time." Bless her little heart. I asked if she wanted to go back tomorrow and she said yes. So if she had that kind of attitude, I decided I better encourage it and finish it off.

Well, as brave as she tried to be, the tears still came a few times more. The last two times she insisted she was not putting her swim suit on and she was not going to go. She told me several times that she wished she was Peyton so she got to be the one watching and not have to swim. It was hard for both of us. I didn't know what to do. I told her that I wasn't going to make her go, that it was her decision, but that I really hoped she'd decide to go (and also told her a few prizes she could get she's wanted if she finished :)). Well, we made a compromise that she'd go if I told the teacher that she didn't have to go under the water. She enjoyed doing the other stuff.

The last swim class, we had convinced Hallie to jump in the water (they have to jump in the deep end and tread water for a little bit before the teacher grabs them). If she did it, she was going to get the baby bath tub that she's wanted forever, and rent the Barbie movie. She had said lots of prayers for Heavenly Father to help her and was set in doing it. I was confident that she was going to do it (she had done it a few times the days before). We got to the pool and they told us swim class was cancelled. LAMO! It wasn't rescheduled until 6 days later! I was so bummed. 6 days of not swimming was totally going to get all those scared feelings right back.

Well, she was way more hesitant the last day, but still knew what she'd get if she decided to jump. Again, I told her that I wouldn't make her do anything, but I hoped she'd do it. She had a cute grin on her face the entire swim class and kept looking at me and waving and doing our secret "I love you" sign. Things were looking good. The teacher had just helped her finish doing something across the pool and left her to grab the side to hold on to (almost all the kids can touch there but Hallie couldn't). I was checking on Peyton and noticed I didn't see Hallie. Oh dear. She didn't grab the side and she was under the water trying desperately to stay above water and have someone help her. It was a scary feeling. I had to yell to the teacher to notice her and help. Poor thing. I felt so bad for her. Of course this would happen to her :). I tried to not make a big deal about it but I was dying inside. Well...the time came. It was the last thing left. The teacher said, "okay, we always save the princess for last. Do you want to jump in?" Hallie nods her head yes, gets to the edge of the pool. The teacher grabs her hands to make it super easy for her because he could tell she was nervous. She bends her legs, about to jump, and...sits her butt on the ground and starts to cry. Runs to me and tells me she just can't do it. I'm sure she was traumatized from the previous incident. It was a sad day. I tried numerous times/ways to convince her to do it, but she was set that it was just too scary. I felt really bad for her and was secretly wishing the swim teacher would've just pulled her in so she would be proud of herself and get her rewards.

So...class ends, she asks if we can go buy the baby bath tub and as hard as it was I had to say no. So what did she do the whole way to the car? Scream and cry at the top of her lungs, "You never buy me toys!". It was awesome!

We got in the car and I could see how disappointed she was in herself. I quickly realized that we needed to just not think about the fact that she didn't jump and focus on all the great things that she did do. We made a new motto in our family through this experience too that we tell ourselves when there is something that isn't easy or we don't want to do. "O'BRIENS DO HARD THINGS"

I know, I'm rambling on, but this was a good learning experience for the both of us. It was one of the first of many moments to come where I had to watch Hallie go through something that was really hard for her and decide how to handle it. I know when she's a teenager, I'll read this and wish that this was still the "hard thing" she had to do :).

Here's some pics on the last day. She would only go if she could wear her goggles. She wanted me to bring the video camera so she could watch all the things that she did. Her favorite was going on her back and told me to make sure to get a picture of it. She was so proud of herself for deciding to come and try everything. I love my little Hal. And I am so proud of her for sticking it out and finishing the class. Next time, I will for sure do my research before signing her up for another class :).

Her back float (she said she liked this the most)

Holding on for dear life until it was her turn.

Peyton's Captured Moments

May/June/July 2010 (22-24 months)

• “I wan (want) a abade (Band-Aid)! Abade! Abade!” She will cry and scream this forever. Has a major fascination.

• Always wants Hals bed. Loves to climb up and read books there forever. She’s fallen asleep a few times there.

• “Makey! Makey! Makey!” She says this as she runs to my vanity with a huge smile to put makeup on.

• Says her own little prayers. And always says, “Bert…Bert..Bert!” (I think she likes sesame street)

• Favorite sayings:

“Patey” (this is what she calls herself)

“Shank eww” (thank you) She says this all the time without being asked. It’s so cute. She will also continue to say it until you say “you’re welcome”.

“Peess” (please)

“I wanna do”

“Hug. I wanna hug.”

“I want Dustin”

“Mine”
“I wanna go!” (yells this repeatedly when we are out somewhere and she’s ready to leave)

• Laughs so hard every time we do butterfly kisses.

• Me: “Peyton, can you please pick up all the cookies you dumped out?”
Peyton: “I can’t” (as she runs away with a big smirk).

Still loves to be a tease. And loves it when she thinks she's funny.

Talking in sentences now.

Hallie's Captured Sayings

May/June/July 2010 (yes, I'm a little behind these days)

• Hallie has a new ploy to get toys that Peyton has. Here’s their conversation:
H: “Peyton, can I please have that toy?”
P: “No”
H: “Peyton, don’t you want to be like Jesus?” (in her sweet motherly voice)
P: “NO!!!” (as firm as she can sound)

• Hallie was sick with her rash so she couldn’t go to church. She was devastated. “Oh no! I don’t want to miss church! What if they learn about something really cool in primary? Will you email my teacher and make sure to find out if it was cool?”

• Hallie loved celebrating my bday and made sure to tell me happy birthday a bazillion times. After she gave me her present in the morning she said, “Mom, don’t worry. It’s still going to be a special day.”

• “Shew! Shew! Don’t bother me!” (talking to a fly)

• Me: “Come here Hallie.”
Hallie: “No, if you want me you need to come over here.”

• “You just messed up my eye shadow!”

• Shew fly, don’t bother me! This is my house! You don’t belong here!”

• Me: “Hallie, you need to go pick up all your toys.”
Hallie: “Remember Mom? We don’t pick up on church days.”

• Always starts her sentences off with, “There’s just one problem.” Or “No problem mom!”

• Me: “Hallie, you need to eat your dinner before you have a treat.”
Hallie: “Well how come you don’t have to eat dinner first?” (good point)

• Hallie: “Where are you gonna go today while I’m at dance?”
Me: “I don’t know yet.”
Hallie: I know! How about Target? You LOVE that store!”

• Hallie: “Mommy, you’re exquisite.”
Me: “Well thanks Hallie. Do you know what that even means?”
Hallie: “Yes. Very special and very pretty.”
(she says this a lot)