PSA

This is a public service announcement. Blogger has an app for the iPhone. Maybe I'll blog more now!

three

remember me? i used to blog here on dawg eat dawg. my name is heidi. i know there are only two of you that believe that i might still post something here (i still get my stats update every week). actually, scratch that...probably both of those visits are my mother.

anyway, here i am with not a lot to say. just thought i should probably let you all know that i haven't totally abandoned you. i've just been kinda busy and kinda totally off my groove.

but these three (yes, i had another child in june) have been keeping me pretty busy. i wish i could say life is all idyllic and stuff, but here's the truth: we watch a lot of tv. and i'm kinda cranky sometimes. and i yell way more than i should.

it's true what they say--three kids really does rock your world. at least, it's rocked mine! (insert laughter of my mother who had eight. or my friend stephanie who has five kids ages 5 and under.)

but i'm starting to feel like a person again, and i feel like although this will continue to be demanding that I CAN DO IT. i've starting cooking dinner again and i've actually gone to the park a few times without help. i've been to the store with all three, and quickly realized that i never want to do it again.

although it's been an adjustment, i feel a deep sense of gratitude everyday for these three little ones. i'm so grateful to be a mother and to be able to spend all my time with them. i'm a firm believer that the hardest things are also the most rewarding things. i know i'm very lucky to have this time with them, and i hope to make the most of it.

they are so sweet and so dear to me. love them so much.

and to you, please don't give up on me yet.

innovators

Several months ago Jayson got a call to be in a short film for byutv. He's done a few pieces before, but they've never turned out just right. There was always something off, or they didn't quite capture who we are or what we do.

This video, however, is so different. We love it. We really feel like they captured who Jayson is and the essence of J Dawgs. It's 3.5 minutes long, but it's perfect.

Because of changes at byutv, it won't ever air on tv. But they sent us the disc a few weeks ago and told us we could use it once they put it on their website. It went live tonight, so I'm so happy to share it now.



Words don't quite describe how proud I am or how much I love Jayson.

favorite resolution

(photo only somewhat related to this post, but i love the picture so whatever)

i was visiting my oldest friend today (not as in age, as in length of friendship), and she asked if i was ever going to blog again.

oh boy, it's true. ever since i had penny, i feel like i have less time to blog. and my parents came home from their mission, so i don't have to blog for them anymore. the best time for me to blog is after the kids are in bed, and by that time of day i'd rather poke my eyes out than put together a cohesive sentence. in the end, these are all excuses. and i like blogging. so maybe i'll try to be better. maybe.

we've been doing some fun things, and eventually maybe i'll post them here. but now i want to talk about what we have NOT been doing.

when i was making resolutions, i had lots of ideas of going new places. having new friends over. parties. time out with each child. date night with j--once a month (i tried to be realistic). family vacations.

after looking at all of the resolutions, i started getting overwhelmed. i had a lot of places to go and things to do. and i like being out...if i'm home too much i go crazy. but if i'm gone too much, i'm also crazy.

so my favorite resolution was born: one day a week, don't leave the house. stay at home all day. clean. snuggle. no media--no t.v., no computer, no iphone. laundry. crafts. forts. naps.

i rotate between my rooms--always cleaning the bedrooms, toilets, and living room every week, and then focusing one week on the kitchen and one week in each of my bathrooms. i've cleaned deeper in my house than i have in a long time. my house loves me. my kids get great rest and wonderful play time together. and when i got out the rest of the week, i don't feel guilty because my house is nice and clean.

i think this was one of my greatest ideas. tuesday is now my favorite day.

christmas card

jayson

Life continues to pick up speed. The family is keeping him busier and happier than he ever thought possible. Best part of his day is coming through the door after work to the various forms of ‘dad’ that the two girls can muster. Feels very fortunate to have weathered the economic downturn while managing to still see steady growth with the business. The new J Dawgs space has been a blessing and is working out brilliantly. While catering, met incredible people including: M. Russell Ballard, Robert D. Hales, Steve Young, and Jim McMahon (who is even cooler than he seems). Jayson still enjoys his outlets of medium-format photography, tinkering with the never-ending ’53 Chevrolet truck project, and reading great historical books.

heidi

Stretched her lazy bone and finished a sprint triathlon in May, and a riotous 188 mile relay race with eleven of her siblings and friends in September. She didn’t finish last--and that was all she really cared about. Found her groove with two kids and therefore decided to spice things up and add a third child. Her favorite week this year was our family vacation in June. Her least favorite week was trying to get ready to sell our house. Thankfully or unthankfully, it didn’t sell so we’re staying put for at least a few more months.

mae

Started preschool on a great little farm with sheep, pigs, goats, llamas, and kangaroos. Played soccer this year and ran around the ball a lot, but also managed to score a couple goals. Took swim lessons and made incredible progress in only a few lessons. We think she has a career in cosmetology since she cut her own hair twice this year. She is incredible kind, sometimes a touch bossy, very tall, incredibly smart, and most of all an amazing daughter and a very loving older sister.

penny

Grew up very fast and celebrated her first birthday in October. Is now walking everywhere, with a spring in her step. Is shaping up to be a daddy’s girl and will yell for and run to Jayson whenever he is near--including church where Jayson sits on the stand and she sits in the congregation (much to the amusement of those around us). She is a dog lover, has a hearty giggle, and thinks she is the comedian in the family.

we hope this holiday season finds you happy and healthy. we are deeply grateful for our associations and friendship with you.

baby #3

we had our ob appointment on wednesday. because my doctor rocks and because the nurses take extraordinary care of me they took a little look-sie at my baby. i was only 14 weeks, but they thought they'd see what they could see anyway (most doctors/clinics say you must be at least 16 weeks).

this little sweetie was not shy or difficult. it was quite easy to see that it's a ...

(no immodesties are shown in this pic. like you want to see that!)

boy! a BOY! a Boy! a boy! a BOY!

the genetic trend in my family is we never have more than two of the same sex in a row. so i thought we would probably have a boy...but then again i have so many friends who have 3, 4, and 5 in a row of the same sex. so i had to consider having another girl. jayson had thought multiple times that he'd be the father of all girls. and for the record, he was happy about this. many times when people heard i was pregnant, they would tell jayson they'd be praying that he'd get a boy, or they hoped he got it right this time, etc. i say to you: blah blah blah. girls kick butt. either way we would be ecstatic.

and we are thrilled that we will have a boy in the family. this brings with it several new experiences and aspects of being a parent. we welcome these experiences and are sure it will bring more dimension and love into our house.

jayson has already pulled out all of his signed jerseys and footballs and is telling me where he is going to hang them in the nursery. he keeps telling me all of the things he is going to need now that he will be the father of a boy. and how old he will be when junior goes to scout camp.

oh, and he keeps asking me what i think of the name lavell.

...because...

...because I was constantly looking for my third child...that I didn't yet have...

...because I love feeling sick...

...because I think kids rule...

...because I think sleep is overrated...

...because we felt like it was what we should do...but also what we wanted to do...

...because being a parent is the most amazing thing that's ever happened to us...

...we decided to do this...

...for a third time...

Baby coming our way May 30, 2011...