Trying to Stay Positive

The current condition of my bedroom- complete disaster! It's gonna be a long night!

The moving truck arrives in one week from today! I'm shocked with how fast September flew by. When Spencer and I first talked about me staying behind, I was excited about staying for one more September. I knew it'd be hard to be apart from Spencer, but Madi would be in school (3 morning a week) and I'd have alot more freedom- not to mention cooler temps, leaves changing, etc. Unfortunately, it hasn't been as wonderful as I thought and I'm currently trying my very hardest to stay positive- but dang is it hard! Being a single parent is the worst and I can't help but feel resentment when I hear how Spencer slept in on Saturday, or how he got to have a nice, quiet, relaxing weekend alone. Even though Spencer would love to be able to trade me spots, it's still hard not to get a little dramatic over the situation (sorry Spence, I know I've been an emotional roller coaster lately). Packing is a beast and I'm truly exhausted from it. Madi's dramatic outbursts have doubled- probably due to all the changes, on top of Spencer not being around, etc. Elle came down with croup about 5 days ago. Thankfully she's finally getting over it cause it's a killer packing all day, taking care of every single need for two children, dealing with the fun of pregnancy, and then getting up a gazillion times in the middle of the night! It was only my second time dealing with croup and I don't really remember Madi's experience (probably because I wasn't doing it alone)- but it's scary!

Anyway, it's now crunch time! My parents fly in on Saturday (soooooo super excited about this). I'm hoping to have almost everything finished except the kitchen and breakables. I want to be able to enjoy General Conference on Sunday, so we've really only got Saturday afternoon/evening and Monday. Totally doable though- right!? I do want to throw a shout-out to all my wonderfully amazing friends who've been super awesome with volunteering to watch the girls, bring me dinner, have the girls and I over for dinner, etc. etc. It's been fabulous and I'll forever be grateful for the incredible friends I made out here- thanks guys!

Looking ahead though- we're excited to play with cousins in North Carolina next Tuesday, then continue onto Dallas and see the triplets again (last time we saw them was the day they were born)! Saying I'm excited is an understatement!! Oh, and it'll be fun to see Clark and JoSue too! :) Then we'll finally be back with Spencer on the 12th (only two weeks and one day from now- but still feels like an eternity away)!

13 weeks!

I really wanted to think of some fun/creative way of announcing baby Jenkins #3, but truthfully this pregnancy is already a lot different than the others. I haven't had much time to think about it (we've kinda had a lot going on around here these past 3 months:)! But I'm surviving- now in my second trimester- I'll be 14 weeks on Tuesday! Wanted to compare my 13 week progression with last pregnancy, so for record keeping sake I snapped a picture (or two). I tried to recreate the same pic from last pregnancy, but I don't think I turned to the side enough. And self timers are so annoying that I finally gave up.

My belly really is quite big (at least it feels that way), but all of the pics made it look just like a pudgy tummy- hence one of the reasons I despise this stage so much. No one's gonna ask if I'm pregnant- it just looks like I gained a few.

The next pic isn't the greatest, but I think it shows my belly better. Right?!

Madi loved this little photo session. She's all about taking pictures these days (she used her little camera while I did the self timer). And she's all about telling me how big my belly is looking everyday. She'll pat it and say, "Whoa mom, your belly is getting SO big!" I love it though. I love how excited she is about this baby coming. Elle's excited too, but mostly just to join me on doctor's visits. When we talk about seeing the baby Elle will immediately add, "And I go to the doctor and I be so brave!"

As for how I'm feeling, my legs are already way worse than last time (hard to believe)! I've been wearing the compression stockings for several weeks now. Big bulgy veins are spreading up my left leg and crazy spidery veins down (almost to my ankle) on my right leg. Left leg is much more painful than the right, but both just as ugly. It's definitely my biggest complaint while pregnant. I was nauseous the entire first semester, but I never threw up. And I'm crazy exhausted and in need of at least one nap a day, but I usually always get it- so no complaints there. My energy level usually returns once I hit the second semester, so I'm not too worried about my weak morning work-outs. It's just my dang painful legs that drive me absolutely crazy! Well, and the fact the the compression stockings I'm supposed to wear make me feel claustrophobic and don't allow me to wear flip flops (my daily shoe of choice).

I loved being pregnant the first time, was ready to get pregnant the second time, but I have to admit- this time I've been a little less than excited. I mean really- am I thrilled about gaining 30 pounds and suffering through 6 more months of painful, achy legs?? Definitely not! But do I want more kids? For sure! So I guess it's inevitable that I'm gonna have to go through it all again. I really am excited about this baby though and can't wait to get to CA, find a doctor, and find out the sex!! We should know by the end of next month! Of course Spencer and I both want a boy and Madi actually insists that it is a boy. But for some reason I can't help but refer to it as "she" and "her". And truthfully, I think 3 little girls in a row is so adorable. Not sure if I'm up for more drama, but I'm definitely not opposed to another baby girl.

My two year old

SO in love with Elle right now. I know I've said it before, but I absolutely LOVE this age. Two year olds are just so darn cute- the way they run, their squishy little bodies, their language, their sweet little voices, their diaper bums, their innocence.

And I'm also in love with this dress that my grandma made for me when I was two. It looked adorable on Madi and it looks adorable on Elle. Thanks Grandma- love you!

Conversations with Elle are the best right now. And she really does carry on complete conversations- sometimes she'll go off on random tangents that leave me busting up laughing, but for the most part she's always got something to add. She's always saying the cutest things, talks up a storm, always speaks in full sentences, but still has those words that don't sound just right or that you can't understand all the way- and it's so stinkin adorable.

She's definitely my happy-go-lucky child. She's easy to please (well, unless she has her mind set on something else), and not as dramatic as the older sis. For example- we were out on a nature walk this afternoon and Elle was excitedly running up and down the sidewalk collecting leaves. While running she tripped, fell, got up and then kept on laughing. Later at home, with a blanket over her head (being really silly and laughing), Elle walks right into an open drawer. She pauses for a minute, peaks out, and then walks around the drawer. Then tonight she sat down to the table for dinner and right before the prayer she bonks her head. Instead of making a complete scene (what I'm very accustomed to with #1), she just rubbed her forehead while Madi said the prayer. It really is refreshing when there's so much other drama I deal with on a daily basis.

I really need to write down some of Elle and I's conversations, but lately they're always at times when I've got nothing to write with- and I forget so easily these days. It makes me extra mad about my flip video camera breaking back in July. I hate not having the hundreds of cute moments saved- and our "real" video camera isn't as easy to have on hand.

Many of Elle's conversations lately are about her dad- who she misses oh so very much. I was packing up some family photos and an old blog book that had a huge picture of Spencer on the front page. Elle ran to the book yelling, "My daddy, my daddy!! I wanna see my daddy!" She spent the next minute or so caressing Spencer's picture while talking about how much she loves and misses her dad.

Elle loves wearing this shirt and telling me how she's "Daddy's lil sunshine!"

While Elle is very happy and easy going, she's also very strong willed and always sticks up for herself. I've been told on many occasions about how Elle "fought off the boys in nursery". While gripping the object of attraction (whatever it is the boys are trying to get), she'll scream with so much power and vigor that she shakes, and tells them "NO" or to "GO AWAY"! Since I'm not in nursery I've never got to experience it firsthand, but I can only imagine- since she's done the same thing to Madi before. It's a little scary, pretty humorous, and very effective (so I've been told).

Her hair is getting so long!! I've got to figure out what to do with it.

For the times that I have had to get after Elle (and surprisingly I do quite a bit because she'll fight back with Madi- push if Madi pushes, pull hair if Madi pulls hair, etc), it's hard to stay upset for long. Cause in her cutest, pouty/sad voice she'll tell me, "Don't say stop it." or "I not naughty." Oh, it just melts my heart and I usually end up pulling Elle in for a snuggle to explain why I got upset and why it makes me so sad when she and Madi fight.

I know there's more I wanted to document on Elle (again, I gotta be better about writing it down as soon as I think of it), but for now I just want to add how great of an imagination she has. Elle plays wonderfully by herself and is a dream when we're at home alone. I've been getting some great packing done in the mornings, while Elle engrosses herself with her babies, ponies, and dollhouse. And she's a fabulous "cleaner upper" (if that's even what you'd call someone who's wonderful at picking up toys with and/or without being asked) afterwards.

Love you baby girl. Please don't grow up and change too much!

Showing off her "beautiful dress" some more!

Girls Weekend

What a fun weekend Madi, Elle, and I just had! Tisha, Ani, and Ezra drove up Friday afternoon to spend the weekend here with us! It was wonderful and I more than appreciated the company. They didn't get in until 5pm on Friday, so Tisha quickly fed Ezra and then we headed off to Cafe Rio for dinner (I've now been once every week this month- and still crave it)! We got home in time to put kids to bed and then hang out till late! Tisha was such a trooper- staying up so late while still getting up in the middle of the night with a 13 week old! Then Saturday she was kind enough to sacrifice her own morning workout and let me go running instead (since it's not something I get to do anymore without a husband around). We left the house for the day at 9am, hopped on the Metro, and headed into the city.

With little kids in tow we only hit up the American History Museum. Knowing that would probably be my last trip into DC for quite awhile I was sad not to be able to walk around some more, but Madi was beyond crazy and having to listen to her drama for one more minute was seriously going to put me over the edge! The kids were all in bed by 6pm Saturday night, giving us a fabulous relaxing evening. I made Tisha a little birthday dessert since she turns the big 3-3 on Tuesday!! Happy HAPPY Birthday Tish!!

Jenna came over later to join us! It was fun to have a little cousin reunion! We again stayed up and talked late into the night. Then this morning around 10:30am, Tisha, Ani, and Ezra took off to head back to North Carolina. It was a super fast trip, but a lot of fun, and much needed (for me at least:)! Luckily, we'll be down there in just 2 1/2 weeks- otherwise it would have been much harder to say goodbye! It was sad knowing that that was the last time they'll come to DC to visit us though. Love you guys!!! Thanks so much for coming to play and keeping us husband/fatherless gals company!

Pretty happy with only our second attempt for a self timer pic! Everyone looking and smiling! Success!!

Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, and Virginia Beach

After the depressing news that our Outer Banks vacation was out of the question, we changed plans and last Tuesday headed off for Williamsburg, VA. Rain was in the forecast but nothing was stopping us! We were gonna get our vacation- rain or shine! And what an awesome vacation we ended up getting. The rain kept us indoors on Tuesday- which was fine cause our place in Williamsburg was pretty sweet with tons of stuff to see and do. And the kids were just having a blast kickin it together!

Morning cartoons in bed!

With Spencer and Stacy as our chefs, we ate like kings and queens for 3 solid days. Seriously, every meal was incredible! And an added plus was having 2 other adults with tons of tricks up their sleeves to get Madi and Elle to actually eat their food. Dinner time is always a stress for me and I get so annoyed when we're with company and my girls won't eat the delicious food that's been prepared. Stacy and Scott were amazing though- the "Boom" game still continues to be a hit with my girls. Thanks guys!

Wednesday morning we hit up Colonial Williamsburg. It was fun just to be down there and get a feel for life back then.

We lasted about an hour before the rain started- at first it was a light sprinkle which didn't slow us down, but what followed was a torrential downpour!! We ran for cover and stayed put until it had pretty much stopped. By then it was nap time though, so we headed back.

Of course as soon as we got back the sun was shinning and it was hot! So while Elle and Weston snoozed, Spencer, Stacy, and I headed off with Madi and Owen for some swimming. Scott was a good sport and stayed back to man the house!

Thursday morning we headed over to the Jamestown Settlement. Last year we went to Jamestown and drove around, but never went through the actual museum there. But I'm so glad that we did this time- it's incredible and very fascinating! The indoor exhibits were awesome and super interesting. I really would have liked to take more time to read through everything, but with 2 two year olds and 2 four year olds in tow we were forced to move at a much quicker pace. They liked the outdoor/hands-on stuff much better.

Thursday afternoon we went to the Yorktown Victory Center.

After the museum closed we headed over to the beach there in Yorktown. My girls have been begging to go to the beach for months now, so they were instantly in paradise!

I thought it was hilarious how each kid set up their own sand castle building area.

We stayed for about an hour and a half, then rinsed off, went out for ice cream, and headed back for dinner!

Friday morning we had to check-out. So we packed up all our stuff and were on the road, headed to Virginia beach by 10am! We knew we wanted to go to the beach, but we wanted to make sure we had some beautiful weather. Thankfully we totally lucked out and couldn't have asked for anything better! It really was the perfect day- just what I needed.

It was super hard for me to leave- one good day at the beach just wasn't enough. Good thing in just one month we'll be living only a 15 minute drive from the beach!!!