Sleep is for the weak!

One of the joys that comes with being a new mom is the gift of no sleep. Or for some (the lucky ones) very little sleep.
When I was younger I was not a very good sleeper. It took me forever to fall asleep and quite often I would end up in my parents bed. Hence the reason my children have such wonderful sleeping habits. My mom in desperation once I started to understand time, taught me to count the hours I would be sleeping if I were to fall asleep at such and such time. The idea came after reading or seeing some article about how much sleep should you child be getting. Well I knew that I should be getting at least 8 hours of sleep. As I would lay there and look at the clock I would count over and over in my head and calculate how much sleep I wasn't going to be getting. It worked when I was very young but once I got into my teen years and I liked sleep it would haunt me because I knew I would be tired the next day if I didn't go to sleep soon.
So to make a long story short. I am the kind of person that values my sleep. I have always been this way. But being a mom has caused me to get used to living on as little sleep as I can possibly get.
I made the mistake when Mason was a baby of letting him sleep in our bed. Well he's very rarely goes a night without ending up in my bed to this day. And with Mattix I felt bad making him sleep in his room by himself so he is now worse than Mason. Now poor Manning doesn't stand a chance I would like to keep him in his own bed as long as possible. As a result it causes our house to experience some very long nights. I have gotten to the point over the past 2 and a half weeks of being able to sleep in any position. I have gone as far as falling asleep sitting straight up with my legs crossed. (I am going to have some severe back and neck issues soon)
I've been watching many episodes of SuperNanny in hopes that I can pick up some pointers and when I start feeling up to it. I am planning an attack with my new found knowlege. Wish me luck. We'll see how it goes. I'd like to get my bed back one day, maybe a little more sleep, and the opportuntiy to lay next to my husband and not have little feet in my back or someone pulling my hair on the other side of me. Maybe for Christmas I'll ask Santa for my own SuperNanny.

Happy 1 week birthday!

In light of his one week birthday, here is the picture of when I first set eyes on my little Man.

"My Gooey Baby"

And baby makes 3!!

I'd like to welcome to the my blog, the newest "Harris Boy"

Manning Austin Harris.....

Pictures compliment's of BellaPhotography.

I may be his mom but, I do have to say I think I make some dang cute babies.

On the Monday before we had Manning I had my last "prenatal checkup." It felt good to know that I was almost to the end. Dr. Barney asked if I had any last minute questions or any concerns. I've had this dream of the doctor pulling the baby out and holding him up so I can see him right away. (they do it on t.v.) I've never seen any of my kids "gooey." How else can you prove that he came out of me if I don't see the mess I'd made? I asked him if it were possible if everything looked good if he could hold Manning up and let me see him semi first. He laughed at me and promised I would see a dripping gooey baby. I wasn't to sure he'd remember.

On "D" day (delivery day) I couldn't believe how nervous I was. By the time I walked into the O.R. in my beautiful gown. I was litterally shaking. I was so scared. I don't mean to sound dramatic but I felt like my whole life was about to change and than there was the fact that I was about to endure a huge needle along with a surge of what feels like electricity going through my back and the obvious fact that I was about to have my stomache cut open and my guts strung out across my stomache. I was scared.

As I layed there getting the play by play from everyone. I waited. Than sure enough I hear everyone start ewwing and awwing his head was out and he was so cute, than they all started counting one, two, three, four as the doctor unwrapped the cord from around his neck the doctor held him up over the curtain and I saw him. Dr. Barney asked if that was what I was looking for and I was trying not to cry so I didn't answer. He brought this gooey baby around the side of the curtain and gave me a good look. I was very happy. How do you explain that first look at your tiny baby? It's very overwelming to even repicture it in my head. It is one of the best feelings I think Heavenly Father can bless anyone with.

So now he's here he's what everyone would call a "good baby." I love him. He's beautiful. I am in aw at how wonderful his little spirit is.

Thankful I am a Mom!

For as long as I can remember the #1 thing on top of my "what do I want to be when I grow up list" was to be a mom. I always wanted babies. Everyone keeps posting their things they are thankful for and I thought with our big day approaching it's fitting to say, I am thankful Heavenly Father has blessed with the gift of being a mom.
I remember the night I found out I was pregnant with Mason. I had so many emotions flooding through me. I was excited and extremely scared. Than when he was born and I held him for the very first time, I knew what "mommy love" really was. I had this immediate urge to teach him, protect him and love him. That same feeling came when we had Mattix and I am already feeling that love with this soon to be new little Man.
I made the decision the day before I was supposed to go back to work to stay home and raise my family. It has not been easy. In fact I have often toyed with the idea of going back to work outside our home. It has been emotionally draining, physically draining and very draining on our wallets. I have tried quite a few things to try and bring money in. I babysit, I've taught preschool, sold MaryKay and Discovery Toys. And when all that failed or it got rough I just have to look at my boys and I know what I need to do. Just keep chugging along. We are blessed and have been blessed things seem to work out.
One of the biggest blessings that comes from being a mom is knowing that you are doing something right. I love watching my kids grow and learn new things. My favorite thing in the world is the hugs and kisses they spontaneously spring on me.
So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for my family and the major responsiblity that has been giving to me to raise valiant young men that will one day hold the Priesthood and have thier own families to love and teach. I pray that I will be able to teach them all that I can to help them be the best they can be.

Does money grow on trees?

We run into another parenting stumble or what I like to call a milestone. We have discovered that Mason is growing up. I know that sounds like a DUH kind of thing to say but it's hard when you are the parent and you see your kids everyday. Him being the oldest he's kind of had to grow up faster than most 3 year olds. He's creeping up on his 4th birthday and the kids is to smart for his own britches.
We have been noticing lately that when we take our boys anywhere they have begun to throw fits and beg for things. It has really become quite a problem. They expect to get whatever they want. Well that wasn't so bad when they are younger and you can devert thier attention to something else. But Mason the other night demonstrated that he's wants what he wants and that's the way he's going to get it.
We took the boys to Barnes and Noble to find something that Matt has been looking for. The second we walked into the store the boys wanted this and that. I took the boys back to the kids section and Mason walked right over to the Pokemon stuff. I told him we could look at the books. That worked until Matt was ready to go. There were two books he particularly wanted one was $10 and the other was $15. Yeah right. (I am a super frugal shopper. If you can't find it on clearance or at the DI I will usually not buy it.) We told him no. The melt down began. Matt was at the check out and I was trying to get my two massive fit throwing children out the door. (Mattix does what Mason does.) I left Mason for Matt and took off with Mattix out the door. He was making the biggest mess and the most noise.
We got into the car. After a big wrestle between dad and son. Mason proceeded to yell at us that "my mommy and daddy are so mean," "I don't love them," "They are not fair," and than I turned around for some reason that struck me. How does he know what "fair" is. So I asked him.
And his response. (which totally shocked me) "Everytime we go to the store you and dad get whatever you want to buy. I don't. If you want something you just get to buy it." What!!! He's is 3 almost 4. Where the heck is this coming from.
Let's just say that Matt and I sat down and had to reevaluate how we "spoil" our children. We had a talk with him and sat down and told him that he's now big enough to buy his own stuff and will need to start saving his own money and earning money. I don't know if we are doing what we are supposed to do. I hope that we are doing what's right and our kids don't grow up being greedy spoiled rotten adults.
Any one have any ideas?

Date night at the Jazz game

At the last minute last night Matt called me in the middle of a horrible bad day. (My kids had hit my last nerve.) And he asked me if I had plans for the night. Well considering the fact that he had meetings amd was planning on being gone all night I guess I really didn't. I had planned my normal bum around town just to get the heck out of the house. Well anyway, He had been offered Jazz tickets and was asking me out on a date. I cleaned my tush off yesterday and was feeling pretty much like crap. I could tell he was excited and was even willing to skip his meeting. So I put on a smile and said that would be fun.
We dropped the kids off at the in laws. They are awesome to take the kids that late. The game started at 8:30. And took off with Matt's brother and his friend. They all kept teasing me about how I couldn't walk or I would go into labor and no one had any available time off for me to have a baby. So they even went as far as to pay $4 extra to "park closer." We had to pick up our tickets from will call and while standing in line Matt made the comment "just watch well be in the last seats in the last row." Well as we started our climb I realized as the numbers were getting bigger and I was getting very winded, that his comment was becoming a reality. But it wasn't that bad we were on the second to last row. Once I sat down I was determined not to get out of my seat and make that climb unless I absolutly had to. That meant limited sips of the shared Coke and many shifts in the little blue chair.
I am not that into sports. I love going to sport's games for one main reason, and that is to people watch. I find myself focused on other things. And cheering when everyone else cheers than wondering "what just happened."
And it doesn't matter where we sit there will always be certain types of people sitting somewhere around us, there's couple that is very lovey dovey that can't stop making out, the middle aged guy who would give anything to be the coach and tell the Jazz what to do and at times feels as though they can actually hear him, the people that have to leave every 10 min. to get more beer and than try to steady this very full cup up that monsterous climb and never stop to sip some down, and those teenage girls that go just to check out the guys and act as though they really know what's going on and scream on the top of their lungs while continuously spraying bodyspray and putting on scented lotions.
To sum up the night it was nice to get out and away from my crazy children to just spend time with my honey. I even got some Kettle corn. (which was very yummy) The Jazz won. They seem to do that everytime we go. I told Matt last night that the only reason that they won is all that wonderful advice he kept yelling at them. (He isn't the middle aged man I was talking about but will be someday.) Oh and I had fun!

Holding our breath!

It's officially November 3!! Election Day!!

Pretty much everything we've done for the past 4-5 months has been in preparation for this day!

Elect Matthew Harris!!

There are so many emotions to explain my feelings for today, excitment, stress, anxious, nervous, proud, and the list goes on and on. Last night the rush of getting out there kind of came to an end. It was like we had this feeling that we had physically done all that we possibly could do. Poor Matt looks like he's a walking zombie. But he's out there this morning doing what he called "sign shaking."

All of this campaigning has totally confirmed my admiration for Matt. When I met him I could immediately tell that he was not a guy that sat back and waited for things to happen or waited for "a good time to do it," he sees what needs to be done and gets out and does it. Given now that we are married sometimes that drives the procrastinator in me absolutly crazy. That is one reason we are so good for each other. We balance each other out.
Matt has worked his butt off litterally he has lost weight with all the walking and lost sleep over stressing. He is ready for this. I'm just praying that we can be ok with the results. While we were waiting for the results in the primary election one of the other candidates came over while I was sitting there deep in thought asked me if I was preparing my "I'm sorry you didn't make it speach." (he was running for a different office) That freaked me out. I started into a panic. What do I say? But we made it through. It hasn't sank in yet that we could lose. I have a calm feeling that whatever happens it's going to be ok. But I am sure that as I am sitting there tonight at City Hall with everyone waiting and waiting. I will be a reck. Matt say's all I need to say is you did you best. We'll get it next time. (he's already planning the next campaign.) And than he wants a hug. After that I know from experience to let him have his space.
Please pray for us today. Keep us in your thoughts. It's not like we are praying to win a baseball game. We are praying to do what's right for our family. Thank you to everyone that has supported us in this adventure and helped out in anyway. We do apprieciate all of you.

VOTE FOR MATTHEW HARRIS!!!