10 things on a day of love

1. I made pink pancakes for supper. The kids love breakfast for supper. I tried one heart shape and it didn't work so I was glad I made the batter pink. I love those kids.

2. Almost every Valentine my kids brought home was super cute and/or had a treat on it. Mine was just a box from Wal-Mart. You're welcome every mom that got one less treat from my kid! Except the treat that was Justin Bieber from Alli!

3. Derek and I got each other the same thing for each other. A magazine and a treat, we planned nothing. And we were both happy. Derek also cleaned up the kitchen really good and didn't complain when it it was breakfast for supper. I love him.

(The 3 babies born September, October, November on Talia's blessing day on Sunday. I'm pretty sure it will never get old taking pictures of these 3 cute babies together!)

4. Sage has found her voice. It is loud and cute. She smiles when you look at her and even laughs on her own without having to be tickled and baby talked out of your mind. She is 4 months old today. WHAT?! Love her.

(I don't know if you can tell but her hair is super curly out of the bath. The hair that is left anyway, she's a side sleeper!)

5. I don't think I mentioned that Derek is coaching the jv basketball team with his brother Ryan. I told him no at first because Sage was like a day old... And then for some reason I had a moment of weakness and told him to do it. Love that Derek is doing something he loves.

6. If nothing else came out of it (for me that is, because he better be getting all sorts of life lessons or whatever out they do out of this) at least we got to tag along to Calgary for a tournament on the weekend and go swimming at the hotel and see our cousins! He's had so much going on since the fall really and it all kinda ends in March and April. It will be weird when he can be home at 4:00 most days. I'm sure he'll find something else to do, but I was thinking maybe I'll find something to do and he can hang out at home! I'll love that!

7. We had a mouse incident at our house. Let me start out by saying the last time I saw a mouse was maybe 2 or 3 years ago in the fall. (I may have mentioned this on here before)We were at Indian Battle Park with some family. I saw a mouse run through the grass in front of me (in its own habitat where it is allowed to be and SHOULD be because that is not in my house) and poor little Lindsay freaked out and cried like a baby. Yep, you bet I cried. I was laughing at the same time, but I was crying and could not stop and lost sleep for a while there.
Here is the most recent installment in my life. It's a long story, I'll try and sum it. Alli screamed and in the end I think I put the thought in her head that the flash of a shadow she saw was a mouse. But let me tell you, I did not even see anything and I went directly into to my mental mouse phobia state. My poor kids are scarred, I'm serious, I truly feel bad for what I have done to them. Derek was gone coaching some dang basketball game. To sum it up, when Alli screamed I froze and immediately thought she saw a mouse, it was that kind of a scream TO ME. I freaked Alli out and she was cryingand wouldn't say what she saw. I made my kids gather my things, (good thing we were on our way out the door) had a heart rate of oh 200, couldn't talk or breathe normal, dry heaved a little, cried to my inlaws as they drove to coach some other dang basketball game, went and got traps, found my parents were still in Mexico, went to the fabulous Rhonda's house while Regan set up traps for me, went home 4 hours later and made the kids go in the door first, turned every light on in the house, music and tv too, got Alli to bed and let James stay up with me until Derek got home and haven't slept good since and I finally started making supper again. Derek is such a good sport about this crazy woman that appears when those rodents appear. I feel sorry for him, I know I'm insane, but I honestly cannot help it. I wish I didn't act this way. This was 2 weeks ago and I only think about about 2 or 3 times per hour instead of every waking minute, I'm not joking. SO, in these 2 weeks, there has been no sign of anything lurking in my cupboards, the traps are untouched, and I can finally put my feet on the floor in the middle of the night when I'm feeding Sage, but I won't go in the food storage room, even though Derek has checked it multiple times and nothing, and we were upstairs when the saga occurred. That was really long and I feel like I have about 2 more pages worth of things I could say about all this. I'm sorry, but I'm hoping this is therapy for the crazy woman. I'm not sure I can find anything to love about that.

8. Back to lovely things. I love when my kids play and get along together. Some mornings before school they get so so deep in play that I have to get kind of mad at them to snap out of it and get ready and eat lunch, and then I feel all bad and mean after. I love when they are good and I am nice.

9. I have been blogging for 6 years! I started when Alli was right about the age Sage is right now. Check out my 1st lame post. But I did do a valentines post all those years ago! (Derek got me a massage 6 years ago for Valentines, this year he got one for himself on Valentines...he also happily hung out with us between practise and mutual and that dang massage!)I love that I have been doing this (off and on) for such a long time. Love all my readers and commenters too!

(if you take the time to go read my 1st valentines post you'll get this pic and see that Sage is slightly bigger than Alli at this age! and no her diaper doesn't need to be changed that's just how small the outfit is. I still don't know who this girl looks like)

10. I had a couple little Valentines parties for the kids last week. It was fun and cute. I planned the same things to do for each party, and they turned out so different! Girls spent forever doing a craft and the boys just wanted to wrestle!

I feel...

I feel like maybe I'm going to start blogging again.

I feel like maybe I miss writing down my random thoughts.


I feel like it is confirmed, I'll take wind over cold. I can totally handle this winter.

I feel like I watch Sarah Richardson design for her great design style and also to check out all her boots.

I feel like making brownies. Scratch that. I feel like eating brownies.

I feel like I'm never going to lose the last 15 pounds from the babe...wonder why.

I feel like running outside, and I have been when the wind and ice allow.

(somebody slept in her crib....once...almost, then mommy got sick of walking back and fourth by 6 am)

I feel like Sage is a good baby.

I feel like for the last few weeks I am losing my milk to feed her.

I feel sad when my baby cries and is hungry. Thankfully at 11 at night I have good friends I can call (Whitney!) who had some formula when this first started happening. I've been trying all the 'natural' ways to remedy this with no luck, but I don't want to quit. So thankfully I have a brother who helped me out with a prescription when my dad is away! Hope it works.

I feel like I am in junior high (not really) but my itunes was on random and came to a Cranberries song, remember them? It has been years and years. I took it off random and I have literally been listening to them all day and love it, kinda, some of their songs are just weird. I used to put the song Dreams on repeat 24/7 and I still love it. I still know every word to every song!

(happy to have some friends close again!)

I feel like most people are kinda nice, but sometimes they just can't help it. Derek has to ref a couple junior high games every week. When I'm feeling like I need to get out of the house at the witching hour (4- 5 ish) we go watch. Sometimes people yell at the ref. It makes me so upset when people yell at Derek when he is reffing a junior high game FOR FREE right during supper time. Derek doesn't seem to phased by it, but I AM. (mostly because for 10 years I have been trying to yell at him during a good ol husband wife 'disagreement,' but it's impossible, you just can't yell at the guy, he's too great!) Today was one of those days I felt like getting out. I went to the game and ended up sitting in the area of a large group of the opposing teams parents. During the first half it was close and there were some remarks about the ref, but I'm a big girl after all and just watched the terrible display that girls basketball usually is. (I do have a great plan for if I'm ever there and people get crazy, but it hasn't been that bad at the couple games I've been to dang it! I feel it is a good plan, ask me about it.) Then at the end of the game the teams were getting a little fiesty and one of the parents started to chip at the refs again. Then I heard this mumbled shhhh.....wife.....raymond.....Baldry.... HA! I think one of the parents saw me at half time and knew who I was and told them to be quiet because Raymond may or may not have been playing a town we used to live in...the age group that Derek may or may not have taught while there... I told Derek and he was like that's weird that they quieted down for you because they Raymond parents never do. It's true. I feel some people do not realize how they act while spectating a game of sports. ( I would carry out my plan to Raymond people too, so bring it!)


I feel I may have said too much!

I made brownies in the middle of writing this post, they will be done soon. I might have a problem.

I'm doing a photo challenge and some of these pics were for it. From here on I'm doing it right and I'll post them right, ya know?

new year

This is might be a long boring post but I didn't do it last year, and I liked it when I did it the year before so I'm doing it again. I put in some random pics in no particular order that didn't make the blog last year because of my lack of blogging I suppose.

Sage's blessing day, Dec 4, 2011.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Held a calling for the shortest amount of time ever! I was the Primary President for about 3 weeks and then the ward boundaries got changed. I was so excited to do it, but am just as happy it didn't happen. Now I'm the 2nd councilor in the primary and I absolutely love it. I love being in primary with my kids. I never thought I'd say this, but I never want to leave primary! Unless they call me to cubs, then I will RUN away!

Also, I took a lot baths. Obviously I have taken baths before, but after I had Sage, I really stepped it up having a few baths a week. I could take one right now actually.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'm not sure that I made any actual resolutions last year. I miscarried last January and before I could blink was preggo again so I just enjoyed my last year with 2 potty trained, talking children, who feed themselves and let me take naps!

This year I chose a 'theme word' like Christal does. I was reading the Ensign the other day and the word Courage jumped right in my face from President Monsons message. "Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one's coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve...Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day the says, 'I'll try again tomorrow."

So this year I have a plan to fit into my clothing by the spring. I want to run a marathon if my post c-section body agrees, but for sure a half marathon. I want to take more pictures. Finish decorating my house. Read the Book of Mormon with a purpose. Be diligent with family home evening and keeping the sabbath day. Most of all, have the courage to act on those promptings no matter how big or small to be a better wife, mother, sister, and friend.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I suppose I'm close to myself. Also, Sage is going to have plenty of cousins and friends.

Calaway Park on a cold June day.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I really don't think I went to any funerals this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the states a few times.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
This isn't really answering the question but I am happy that I worked enough last year so that I get a year of mat leave for most of this year. Not that I don't like my job and working, but it is a pretty sweet deal to be home for year!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Oct. 14 when little Sage was born!
The day I found pinterest...
Jan 1, 2011 we moved into our house!

Pumpkin picking in October.

8. What are your favorite finds this year?
My favorite find was coke this year. I never realized how much I LOVE it! Too bad my love affair is over. I quit, see #2. farewell caffiene and carbonation...who am i kidding i'll probably see you agian by march!

9. What were your favorite new recipes?
I really liked my crockpot this year, put in some chicken and various ingredients with rice, but back to the preggo thing, this was not the year of too many new recipes. Even with pinterest, I just hate making supper.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Besides puking my guts out for 4 months, nothing to serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The wood for the headboard Derek made for our bed! I love it, now who will sew me some pillows!I can't believe I never posted on Allis dance recital. She was a great dancer and an even better singer! She seriously sang the whole song. My and I were crying with silent laughter by the end it was so cute. And please blow up the second picture to check out her face and pose. Her dance career is over for this year and and I put her in figure skating instead.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Where oh where does the money go? Kids, new baby, house, and having fun too!

13. What did you get really excited about?
Obviously I was super excited about our baby. I was so glad I saved the gender to be a surprise. I honestly was split down the middle for if it was a boy or girl.
-a trip to vegas with the girls
-a trip to montana with just me and derek
-trips to the pool with the kids on HOT days

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
hmmmm, my kids got super obsessed with the chipmunks and justin bieber unfortunaly, but i love black eyed peas 'don't stop the party,' my new favo running song. Just listen to the words, it's my new mantra. also, i love adele. i was introduced to her a few years ago by melissa, but she got mainstream this year which is always nice because i don't keep up with music, it's just the radio or my old stuff.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? same Thinner or fatter? RUDE! Richer or poorer? richer, i'm not doing nothin here!

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I would have gone to the pearl jam concert with Derek for his birthday. That was just dumb of me to not go!

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Less, sleeping in. It so hard to get up, like SO hard. I seriously love sleep to the extreme, I always have. I'm about to start listing it as a hobby. I've said it before so don't hate me, but my kids sleep in, so it makes it hard. But when I get up even at 7:30 I get so much more done in a day. I guess reality starts next school year when Alli starts grade 1.

Another of Sage on her blessing day. It was actually the first time we caught a smile on camera. She had smiled before a lot, but I never had the camera ready. Thanks to my dad we got one. I actually got James' first smile on camera on his blessing day too!

18. How did you spend Christmas?

see previous post...

19. What was your favorite TV program?

never really changes...modern family, snl, everything on hgtv....toddlers and tiaras!

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

I don't think I've ever had a favorite book. They put me to sleep, you know my other hobby. Divine Signatures was a good one though.



21. What was your favorite music from this year?

my running songs i don't want to admit to, and a new eddie vedder ukulele album.



22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I can't remember any movies right now...

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

the 30, Derek ran his marathon on my birthday, but my girls were more fun than him anyway!


24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

What a terrible question,my year was great, not much could have made it better let alone immeasureably better! Although I wish I would have blogged more to show how immeasurably satisfying it was!

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
no concept, preggo...

26. What kept you sane?

being outside, running even when I was preg. in the moment it was awesome, the next day not so much, apparently baths kept me sane too...

Remembrance Day 2011

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Time goes by too fast. Why is it that the days just go by the older you get? I have been learning to just enjoy my life where it is at. Just be with my kids and enjoy where they are at, not force anything else. Planning helps, even just planning little daily activities to spend time with my family and friends. If plans don't work out, carry on. I don't like to have regrets or dwell on hard things.

we had a merry time!

What better way to start off the new year of blogging that with a Christmas post!



Had a fantastic time over the holidays. For some reason blogger is only letting me load one picture at a time so after loading 7 pictures individually I'm done.

It started with an early Christmas dinner with the Baldry families. We had a great time together. Besides all the food, the highlights were the Grandma Hicken dance party, and the kids opening their present from Grandpa Baldry and Grandma Karie...a personalized bag of candy! Oh Grandma Karie, you love us SO much don't you.

We had the annual party with the Hickens. For the first year we've been around for the caroling I didn't go on the hay ride because of Sage and it was pretty much hot out that night compared to the past, darn it!

Christmas Eve with the Steeds included the usual 'talent show' the nativity and of course food! a meal of appetizers, one of my favorite things to do. A successful pj picture wouldn't you say? My favorite part is that Alden and James are still smiling away while holding the kids trying to escape. This is pretty much what every attempted grankid picture looks like.


Christmas morning was fantastic of course. We decided to sleep at my parents. One of these years we will have to grow up and go home on Christmas eve, but both my sisters were there so I just couldn't! James was the cutest when we woke him up. Derek told him to wake up and he kinda rolled over and kept his eyes closed. Then, he told him it was Christmas and James sat right up and pretty much jumped out of bed. That is not how that kid normally wakes up.


We had many a late games and chatting nights with family and friends. Days of bowling and swimming and nights going out. An adventure of Ryan's cows running away, and a scout camp for Derek. Sure do love it when Scout camp gets cut back a day because the weather is TOO nice. I'm not even hating the wind or missing the snow. More parties and late nights and finishing up stuff around the house with a trip to ikea. I swear I am so close to feeling like this house is complete, it's only been a year. A very poor sick Sage on the mend now, girls night, visit from an mission companion of Dereks', I think that about sums it, and now back to routine!


And for the new year more blogging is at the top of my list...except that it isn't, so see you next month!

alright

enough is enough!



I just haven't been able bring myself to blog because I'll have to fess up to the fact that my baby is growing and time is moving along. I know you are all just dying to see pics, but as usual you get to read my ramblings too! I did actually follow through and take a picture a day for 30 days, I think these are in order (except that one above I just took last week) and I'm missing a few I took on my phone, but I DID do it and I am so happy I did.

-I pretty much kiss her chubby cheeks all day, and she loves it.



So here is some documentation on the little one and life around here.

(This is obviously the wonderful work of Rhonda! and as good as it got on our first attempt at a photo session)

-I put clothes on Sage some days not just sleepers which means she is big enough for clothes/dresses dang it! but it's pretty dang cute so it's ok.


-I don't want to jinx it, but she is a good baby. However, it doesn't take much to take that title in the Baldry house. It usually means that you don't cry for more than an hour for unknown reasons. (I cannot even fathom a baby crying for hours on end like James did.) I told someone she was a really good baby and they asked me if she slept through the night. I said, well she is still a baby and up every 3 or 4 hours but that is what they do!

(this was our second go around. Love this pic. I wish camera/photoshop lingo wasn't like Japanese to me because it would be really fun to be able to take/make great photos, not just pics like I do!)


-she does get a little fussy at bedtime most nights, but I laugh in the face of fussy. (and give gripe water)


-we have middle of the night parties on occasion, but again she doesn't cry, so we just hang out.


-Sage likes her soother now, but only one type and I only have one of them so I'm on the lookout


-I am so much more relaxed with 3 than I was with 2. I think it mostly has to do with the ages of James and Alli and the fact that I haven't really done anything yet. There are enough other things going on in life I don't have time to analyze every little thing.



-She has started to really smile, but I have yet to capture proof of this.


-Every time I try and do a somewhat of a posed picture Sage cries, every time. It's best not to disturb her she tells me.


-Finally had her first bath that she didn't scream through on Saturday and has been mostly loving them ever since. But I have to say, keeping up with the bathing and hygiene of 3 kids is quite the task.


-Through all the annoying/uncomfortable/painful post baby things I kept telling myself it doesn't last long, it doesn't last long. And it doesn't! 6 weeks goes by so fast and I feel mostly normal.


-Which means I started walk/jogging etc, oh yeah, that doesn't feel normal. Now I need to start telling myself the out of shape doesn't last long...right?


-Lots of people have asked me about her name. Well, I have loved the same Sage since probably jr high. We almost used it for Alli's middle name. Glad I help out for a first name cause I just love it! Her middle name, Ellis is a family name on Derek's side. His Grandpa Baldry had the middle name Ellis. The name goes back 5 generations or so I think, where it turns out a James Baldry married a Susannah Ellis and they are Derek's great great grandparents. (visited Derek's grandma this week to make sure I had my genealogy right, correct me if I'm wrong Grandma B!)


The kids are having a great time with her. James had a bit of cough the last day or 2 so I have been trying to keep him away and he pretty much cries when he can't hold her because he is usually smothering her.


-I realized James has way more pics with Sage than Alli. He used to always ask me to take his picture when he held her for all of 1 minute. But Alli will sit with her longer and I guess when she does I trust her unsupervised and get a thing or 2 done!


-Who knew I could say so much about my little almost 7 week old?


And just a couple more! First is Sage and Oliver a month apart. I can't remember but Sage is probably a week or 2 old and Oliver 4 or 5 weeks I guess.


Sage's cousin Talia born 4 weeks early. Sage and her chubby cheeks are 5 weeks here and Talia is 1 week! I guess Talia is still a little jaundice here, but Susie's kids do always make mine look pasty white. Love that there are 3 little cousins all in a row on the Steed side.


I'm so glad Rhonda gave me the great idea for the pictures with a new baby. Now Rhonda just gave me another idea to have a least one picture a month with the entire family. Totally up for it, thanks again Rhonda!