#beingamomishardwork

"My sister was gone for an hour and I've been thrown up on twice and changed three "blow outs" and found the toilet full of trash #abstinence #birthcontrol"  -Uncle Michael

My brother so kindly offered to watch these cute boys of mine for like 2 hours so I could go with my mom to Costco.  This is what he posted on facebook. So I commented on his post and said #beingamomishardwork

I think I am funny! :) It's true though.  Being a mom to two little cute boys like this is HARD work.  I try each day to have more patience than I did the day before. 

I love these boys and I have read something on a friends blog lately that I really liked.  She said she wants to be a good mom even on the hard days.  I can't remember how she eloquently said it but it was sweet! I am really not good at articulating my thoughts well; but, the more I write the better I get or hope to get.

Let's just take a minute to talk about how ADORABLE these two are.  But boy are they hard work!

Sunday that FUN day!

The house doesn't stay clean for as long as it used to but I am realizing that is ok for now.  Some day I will miss my children being little and playing with them.  I will miss them looking to me as their #1 (or should I say #2 when dad is around) playmate! They are starting to play with each other and it makes a moms heart swell with joy.

Today I saw Karter grab Keaton off the floor just to hold and love him.  This is a bit of a rare occasion as most often he is usually ending up hurting Keaton either on accident or purpose.  It made me almost cry!

Yesterday I was a lone ranger at church.  I couldn't fathom missing church.  I know that amidst my week I rely on the spirit I feel there.  It just doesn't feel right when I miss. I knew this would be a hefty task to go to church on my own.

It took me approximately 2 1/2 hours to get everyone feed, dressed, napped, diaper bag packed, and myself ready. We did it and actually walked in the church building before church officially started. I walked in with my back pack diaper bag and holding Karter on one hip while balancing Keaton's carrier on the other arm!

I set down the diaper bag, carrier and Karter as fast as I could find a seat! I said a silent prayer to help me make it threw! I just wanted to at least take the sacrament and if needed take the boys out for being irreverent. We made it threw.  THEN Karter started to melt down a bit and Keaton was in my arms pulling out my hair.  Sis. Smithson 2 rows behind me grabbed Keaton. Karter was fine about that until he realized he had disappeared. Then he wanted "My Keaton." 

I took Karter out. He calmed down and we came back in. Then as I sat down Keaton was fussy and likely hungry....Church is during lunch and nap time. So I grabbed Keaton and packed my things and took both boys to the mothers lounge.

Karter was running around the mothers lounge and being so wild! I just had to laugh! I took Karter to nursery. Then it was time to ventor into Sunday School. We lasted in there for a couple minutes until Keaton was hungry since he didn't finish eating with Karter being wild and distracting him.

We made it into relief society and Keaton needed to go to sleep....I got him to sleep and there was only 15 min. of the meeting left.

What I got from the last 15 min was amazing. Our bishop is inspired. He spoke to us women about revelation and building strong homes. 

We made it (with the help of many others who helped hold Keaton and carry him out to the car after church) Thank you....all of you!! :) Until next time...and dad will be there!!

I have much more empathy for the single mothers of the world. They amaze me with their strength.

October so far

Karter favorite thing to do is take a bath and he is a goofball! He would not just smile for the camera!

Karter is growing up so fast! He is saying such cute things that I am trying to remember them all and make sure to write them on the blog. I need to record the way he says them too.

-What's that making noises? (one of our favorites)

-I'n a big boy!

 

6 months old already!! I can't even believe it....where has the time gone?

stats:

16lbs-25%

27in-75%

17 1/2 head circ-not sure?

scoots around the floor like captn dan

starting sitting up today!! :)

eats 3 meals a day plus milk of course

loves his big brother

loves playing with toys

sucks his thumb

laughs

smiles

 

Next to bathtime going to the park is Karter's next favorite.  He LOVES playing outside and now the weather is finally nice enough.

 

Don't worry I am right here and wouldn't let him fall! He was too cute I had to snap a quick picture.

 

Joe (our nephew) was baptized this month! Rusty was able to baptism him and they both were pretty excited. They didn't even plan on matching and they did! So handsome.

 

Karter wanted to get baptized ALL DAY!! He would not stop saying "I wanna get baptized" and we kept telling him you can when you are eight. 

 

Joe's Step brother Grayson also got baptized. They are very close in age!

 

We went to the boys flag football game after the baptism and Keaton loved playing with grandma and eating her hat!

Day to Day Cuteness

I have really been trying to reflect often on how to be a better mother and wife.  I have really felt like I needed to start blogging again to help me reflect on the positive things of the day.  It is really easy to feel like a bad mom or horrible wife with the business of each day.  These two cute boys of mine are very demanding of my time and energy and it is easy to get put out of shape or feel exhausted. 

Last night I had felt like I wanted to receive a blessing from Rusty.  I asked him to give me one since I have felt worn out lately from the pressures and demands of being a mom, wife, daughter etc...
He told me exactly what I have been feeling lately.  It was neat to have the spirit confirm through this blessing things I have felt impressed to do to help me.

I just wanted to share some cute pictures of my cute boys today.  As I have tried harder to live in the moment and focus on the positive cute moments of the day I have felt more Joy today. 

Keaton is a big boy and eats real food now.  I can't believe it! He has grown so much:

-he cries when toys are taken away

-he scoots around on his belly like capt dan on forest gump

-he sleeps 12 hours at night

-he smiles with his whole face

-he fights it when you tickle him until he gives in and laughs

Does his smile melt your heart as much as it does mine?!

Keaton sucks his thumb! Karter was so excited to pose for this picture! He has really grown up a lot lately

Karter goes to his room every day for "quiet time" and sometimes falls asleep but sometimes just plays.  Today was one of those days he fell asleep.  It cracks me up how he falls asleep off of his bed during quiet time.

California

We decided we needed a family vacation! Rusty had a short break between his two jobs and so we made a last minute decision to go to California!  We were going to go to Disneyland one day but did not go since we had no extra hands to help out with Keaton.  We still had lots of fun.  Karter's favorite part was probably the hotel.  When we walked into our room he got so excited and wanted to share his excitement about it with Keaton as he started undoing Keaton's pack 'n play and said "Keaton excited??" It was darling!! We laughed about that for almost the whole trip.

Karter had his airplane back pack ("pack pack") on wheels and it went EVERYWHERE the whole trip.  We had to hide it from him if we didn't want it to go with us.  He loved rolling it around like a "big boy."  When we talk to him and ask if he is something like "are you _____?" and he will say "NO I a BIG boy!!"

It was a pretty chill vacation.  We saw Matt and Jillian the first night.  Karter scratched his eye somehow and was pretty upset about it.  Once we went back to the hotel we got him to calm down and fall asleep but he woke up at 1am screaming for 2 hours about his eye....we finally got him to calm down after putting in eye drops and giving him ibuprofen rusty went and got at the grocery store.  He still talks about it and says his eye "feels better." We almost took him to the ER.

We dropped my ring off at the place we got my ring at in California.  We took a trip over when we were engaged to get my ring.  It brought back a lot of special memories and helped us realize how much has happened in the short six years that we have been married. 
The next day we went to the beach! It was so relaxing and nice even though it was a cold overcast day. Karter had fun playing in the sand.  We cleaned up and went to downtown Disney that night and then we went to Farrel's Ice Cream Parlor. The atmosphere was fun but the food was disgusting!

Saturday we went to the City Baglery that has AMAZING Cinnamon Bagel sticks that are to die for. I bought all the ones on the shelf to bring back and freeze....well none of them made it to the freezer!

We headed home Saturday afternoon. Keaton and Karter had fun and were so well behaved on our trip! It was fun to enjoy each other away from our daily duties!!

Enjoy some pictures of our trip:

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August captured by my point and shoot

Any chance Karter gets to get close and love or love too much his little brother he is right there.  It is so special to me how much he shows his brother affection and love.  He gets mad when anyone says Keaton is "my Keaton"  he says no "My Keaton" or "Keaters"

 

I didn't know kids this little could have best friends but Karter deffinately LOVES his friend Rhet and Tanner- pictured above is Karter and Rhet at BounceU. They LOVE playing there!

 

 

This is at BounceU while Karter played Keaton happily kicked his feet! Does that smile melt you as much as it does me! I could just eat him!

 

Karter's favorite place for Keaton is right on the floor in the middle of the action! Keaton doesn't seem to mind it either. I think Keaton looks more like me and Kaden....but everyone says someone different.

 

 

I swear Karter has a diaper on!! LOL. Karter will put his hands on Keaton's head and say he is giving him a blessing. What a good big brother!!

 

 

This is actually Keaton even though the bib says Karter! I need to have one made for him. These are my favorite bibs.

 

I had to stop feeding him in this bouncy chair because all he does is lean forward!

 

This is what I have been up to lately.  If you aren't apart of my group on facebook you should be! :)

Karter and Keaton update

Karter-

Yesterday I decided to take his mattress off the box spring and metal frame and put it on the floor.  I figured it might make it less scary for him to sleep in.  We had naptime yesterday which ended up being more like quiet time since he just played in his room quietly. I am just fine with that. Then at bedtime he went to bed like a champ!! 7:30pm and he was out like a light.

At 2am Rusty went to check on him and moved him b/c he looked uncomfortable.  He woke up! OH no! Now what? Rusty thought I'll just bring him into our bed.  He would not stop moving and I am not about to start that as a habit so I told Rusty come with me to put him back in his bed. Stayed in bed like a champ!! SO stinking proud of this cute little boy!

He was so proud and I was so proud we called both grandmas to tell them the exciting news!!

Cute things he is saying right now:

-When he wants something he will come up to me and ask and then say "I asking NICE mommies"  -He calls me mommies and it cracks me up!

Love this boy!!

Keaton-

Now sleeping in the crib!! HAULELUA! It is wonderful. He has been a pretty good sleeper from the beginning. He has learned to sooth himself really well. He sucks his thumb is why.

He is rolling all over! He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks and will pull himself to toys if he wants them. 

I feel like he has grown up so much faster watching Karter.

Yesterday, he kept whining because Karter kept taking away the toys he was playing with. Sharing already?? He is not even six months old! :)

Sleeping Arrangements

Karter has always been a good sleeper. I put him on a good schedule from the very beginning. It was easy to do since he was my only child.  Not my first child of course but my only one to care for. Anyways...he continues to nap once a day.  Sometimes he refuses but I still make him stay in his bed till I can't take the screaming. 

Today I was fed up! Fed up with the mess in Karter's "new" room.  Basically, this was a room that held his toys, clothes, shoes, everything except his crib and him sleeping. Keaton is 5 months old and I wanted the pack 'n play OUT of my room.  It's small and it was in the way.

So today we cleaned Karter's "new" room and de-junked some of the toys that he hardly plays with....might just get rid of them but I am not sure yet. I lost some of my patience...that I am not proud of...but let's be honest it's hard being a mom-I won't lie!

I left the pack 'n play and his "new" cool bed in his "new" room to choose from until he gets use to sleeping in there.  I don't know if this is the best way to do things but he really is my Ginny pig since Kaden bailed outta here! ;)

So Keaton is asleep in Karter's old room and Karter is in his "new" room...but keeps climbing out of the pack 'n play (that's a new trick that started today)

feeling a bit exhausted....although I love them!

Play Group

I started a play group with a couple friends from Karter's nursery class at church.  He is super social and LOVES to play with his friends.  The mom's rotate hosting play group at their house once a month! It is wonderful for them and wonderful for us mom's who have a break for two hours once a week when it is not our turn. Here is a picture from today and from the first time....

 

^ This is from today at Bentley's house ^

 

^ This is the first day it started! ^

Feeding Keaton

I just bought this handy little contraption today! I make my own baby food for many reasons: cost, nutrition, taste, etc.  This nifty little guy can be found here: http://www.infantino.com/product.cfm?product_id=1446  If you are interested.

Canning season is coming...in fact I pick up my peaches tomorrow and plan on making peach baby food for Keaton...these little pouches are going to be happy with peach puree very soon! :)

I tried feeding Keaton oatmeal a week or so ago.  He was NOT a fan.  It is something I had on hand and thought I would give it a try.  So today I got some rice cereal. He liked it a little better..I just can't believe how fast time goes and it's already time to start trying food with my baby!! :(

Going Private

If you would like to read this blog please comment with your email address so I can add you. I don't want the whole world to know my whole life!! :)

Pictures from this summer

Karter loves to play with these connecting toys and pretend like he is cooking things.

 

Keaton will smile almost anytime you talk to him~he loves attention

 

Karter still is refusing to give up his crib....but this a picture after a Sunday nap for the both of them

New Blog Design

I am still figuring out how to edit my blog design.  It had been a couple years since I have changed the design and now that I want to keep this updated on a more consistent basis I thought it was time to update a few things.

My goal is to post at least once a week so each year I can make a family book for my kids to see how life as a fife was as they grow up! I am definitely keeping busy as a mother of a very busy little toddler and an almost 6 month old....yes every mother of a toddler will tell you their toddler is busy too but I think mine is a little extra busy than most. ;) 

I am not a clever or fancy writer nor do I have a glamorous life but what you see is what you get around here.  At the moment I am able hear myself think since both of the boys are asleep! Naptime is beautiful thing around this crazy house we call home!

I will post current pictures soon!

As of Lately....

So here is a little sneak peek of what we have been up to lately:

Karter is absolutely 100 percent in LOVE with Keaton and wants to touch, kiss, hold, and pick him up 24/7.  Keaton is never left alone with Karter after 2 incidents of Karter picking him up and dropping him.  One of those incidents happened when I was in the same room with both of them.  I was not right next to Keaton but it all happened so fast.  Nonetheless, Karter is no longer trusted alone with Keaton.  It has made it a bit stressful and hectic for me but we are surviving.  I take a shower so long as Karter is still sleeping or Rusty is home.  So if you see me and I stink I am sorry! :)

Karter started swim lessons a week ago and they are every day for 10 min.  He has made a lot of progress very quickly!! :) He now will swim to the "top step" and it cracks me up...he asks for the "top step" saying "I want top step."  He is seriously talking up a storm and tells me what he wants when he wants it.  He is a little bugger in church and 2 weeks ago he was "all done with church mommy."  He has LOTS AND LOTS of energy. 

Karter is still napping every day so if I can get Keaton and Karter to nap at the same time it is a wonderful thing! :)

Keaton has been growing like a weed! He is SO much longer than I remember Karter being.  He is 8 weeks now!! I can hardly believe it.  It is so fun to watch him progress but sometimes I wish my babies could just stay little a little longer.  Starting out at almost 9 pounds makes them get big fast. 

He is holding his head up longer and longer. He smiles all the time now and has such a cute little smile.  He is also cooing which is one of my favorite things! :) 

We blessed him on Sunday.  It was truly wonderful.  I can hardly believe the amount of Love and Support we had.  Rusty, Jim, my Grandpa, my Dad, Jason (Rusty's mission companion in town from Texas), and Mark (Rusty's cousin) were all in the circle.  It was such a sweet blessing.  Amidst Karter's ruckus I remember Rusty blessing Keaton to gain a testimony at a young age.  He blessed him to know of the love we have for him.  He also blessed him with the ability to discern between the two influences of Good and Evil.  He blessed him with a desire to serve a mission and one day meet a worthy young women to take to the Temple to be sealed for Time and all Eternity.

Keaton Addington Fife

I have decided to make it a priority to update my blog...if for no one else it will be for me.  I need to keep track of the cute and funny things my boys do.  I need to keep better track of the life of the Fife's! :)  So I'll begin with the most recent important event.  Keaton's birth.

It was April 3rd.  I was litterally ready to burst and wanted to have this baby so bad.  I was beyond uncomfortable and not the most pleasant person to be around.  I was scheduled for a "just in case"
C-Section (in hopes of delivering VBAC) on April 5th.  I was told by my Dr. to just go into the hospital for my scheduled section and if I was progressing they would induce my labor.  So I was a bit confused when April 3rd rolled around I wanted to know if I should go in fasting if I had not gone into labor and was going in on April 5th.  The scheduler told me I could not show up and expect to be induced when I am scheduled for a C-Section.  My Dr. said to ignore her.  SO I did! On April 4th I started to have contractions that seemed more like laboring contractions...not just braxton hicks like I had been having.  They were 4-8 minutes apart and I was not able to talk thru some of them.  I called my mom and said mom can you please come help me with Karter today.  I didn't have the energy to chase him or take care of him.  She did just that! :) She ended up taking me to the hospital to be checked because I was in a lot of pain.  I was only at a 1 and 80 percent.  I was so frustrated because I did not want to go to the hospital prematurely. I had made an appt. with my Dr. to get things sorted out about the scheduled C-Section and possible induction.  It was for 4:50pm.  I went.  My mom took Karter to her house.  When I saw the Dr. she looked at me and said "Labor just has a certain look about it" checked me and accidently broke my water!  I was releaved and also became a bit nervous! I called Rusty (who works at the hospital Sleep Center) and he was just getting off work. 

My Dr.'s office is almost on the Hospital campus so I told him my water broke and to come pick me up! He came and took me to the hospital.  They had a room all ready for me.  The nurse in triage who sent me home earlier that day became my nurse.  They hooked me up with an iv and sent me walking.  I got to the point where I did not want to walk anymore and I went back to my room.  I was not really paying attention to the time.  It was happening...I was going to have this baby and I was so excited!! :)  I asked for some pain meds  until I could get my epideral...the contractions were long and hard...My mom and Rusty were there during this part and later my mother in law and father in law came. 

I was still in a lot of pain with the pain meds they gave me and so my nurse (who was amazing by the way) checked me and said I could get my epideral if I wanted! :) YAY!!! so sure enough the anestheologist came and quickly gave me my epideral...Rusty and I both agreed we would love to take him home! :) LOL!! Rusty was happy not to see or hear me in pain and I was happy to not feel so much pain either!

Then my Mother-In-Law came and they all kept me occupied chatting.  They called my Dr. so she could be there during labor (they are supposed to be there the whole labor process during VBAC's) My mother in law decided to go home and get some rest until the baby was going to come.  At this point I asked my husband to go ask the nurse when she was going to put in my cathedar.  When she came in to do that I was at a nine! So we called my mother in law and she came back....she only had enough time to take of her clothes and change into pj's.  She litterally was less than a mile from the hospital.  So she came back and my father in law came! I wanted my mom and mother in law in the room when I had the baby.

Rusty and my mom helped hold my legs and Helen was at my head.  I was pretty focused on getting him out I was not real sure what was going on except for about a min of time when I said "I am just going to pretend like I am not open to the whole world to see!"

From what they told me I pushed for about 15 min.  Karter shoulder almost got him stuck so they helped sweep him out somehow.  Rusty said the Dr. and Nurse got a little nervous but I was completely unaware of that!

Keaton Addington Fife

April 5, 2013

8 pounds 14 ouncs

21 inches long



He was out and they put him directly on me! WOW! I DID IT!! :) I was so happy! I was able to get up and go to the bathroom and as soon as he was done being bathed I walked him to my postpardum room! I felt so amazing especially compared to having a C-Section! Crazy!!

He was super sleepy and did not want to eat much.  I asked the nurse to help me on Friday morning because I was started to worry that he would not wake up to eat.  She evaluated him while I tried nursing him....mind you this is not my first rodeo so I think the nurses were super laid back with me.  When she came in though she noticed his breathing was too quick, sleepy and so she took him to the nursery to have him checked out.  They had to put him on oxygen and his blood sugar was low.  They decided to treat him for an infection with all the signs of him showing an infection...and since I had Strep B positive.  Rusty and our Bishop gave him a blessing.  His blood cultures never came back positive so he was taken off antibiotics.  He was weaned off oxygen.  His billirubin levels were high so they had to keep him under the lights.  It got better then got worse and then of course got better.  The jaundice makes babies sleepy so he was not nursing or taking a bottle well so I had to pump and made enough milk for the whole nursery!! :)  Finally a week later of him staying in the nursery, me sleeping at the hospital to be there for every feeding and my mom keeping Karter we brought him HOME!!! :)

It sure felt good to go home! Here we are almost six weeks later and I can't hardly believe how fast yet how slow the time has gone! We are all in love with our sweet new addition...including Karter! He is still adjusting to him going to church with us but other than that has adjusted rather nicely! :)

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

 

 

 

This is Keaton two weeks old at Lari and Mitch's Wedding! It is always wierd looking at pictures of our family knowing we are missing our little Kaden in the picture.  I feel so blessed to have my best friend for my husband and my beautiful, happy, spunky little boys! :)