Libby in the Spotlight

We have been memorizing a scripture at night. Libby is quite good at memorizing, but she gets distracted and won't say the whole thing. We learned a trick this week. If I hold up my thumb, and tell her it is a microphone, she will say the whole thing as if she is giving a masterful performance.

She cried and cried at church today because I got to talk in the microphone and be on the stand and she didn't Not sure how Derek calmed her down, but he did. Good job daddy!

When I took Libby on some errands one afternoon this week (I didn't even write about that one) we came out of Home Depot and she insisted I take this picture of her. She loves this little "seat."

Libby and the Nephites

We learned some new Book of Mormon history from Libby today, and so did the entire Junior Primary. Apparently the Nephites fought with Libby, put her in jail and killed her. Hmm...

The Week in Review

The more kids I have, the less I can do. Or should I say, the more easily I get overwhelmed by the things I have to do, and the bigger messes they can make while I am trying to get things done. It has been one of those busy weeks, where there was more to do than I thought I could manage. But I have almost made it. Just a birthday party to get ready for and host in a few hours. It is hard, though, to let go of any of the fun things on my to do list. Here is what we did this week (keep in mind that I am pregnant if the list seems short and easy to accomplish)...
Monday: Taught zumba, went to Costco while Derek went to the Chiropractor. Then tutored one of my former students in Czech, he is heading off for a study abroad in a few days. (So jealous!) Then went to the Shorewood v. Meadowdale match (which was a particularly instense match and painful loss.)
Tuesday: Taught bodystep and filmed some zumba songs. (If you want to see the zumba songs go to youtube.com and search for thezumbatrish ). During the afternoon I started sorting out the little girl clothes to give away, consign, etc. We had playdate with a friend who has a newborn girl so we could give her some of the clothes. That evening I went to enrichment night.
Wednesday: I did preschool with the girls in the morning. A most unsuccessful endeavor. Sarah has been in a mood and I tried too many new things. Then I went to yoga. During class, a little hema..something on my ear started bleeding profusely. I gave the instructor quite a fright.
In the afternoon I continued to sort the baby clothes, then taught the wrestlers some zumba and yoga.
Thursday: I had a burst of cleaning energy before Libby's dance class so I finished sorting the baby clothes. Then rushed to dance class, got there late and forgot Libby's dance bag. Grr. Also forgot the Target return. But managed to go to Ross, Marshalls, and Micheals to run some of my errands. Then we picked up Libby, swung by home to pick up Target returns and then went to Target for some shopping, returns, and Pizza Hut. I folded laundry when we got home and then taught BodyPump. We couldn't make it to the wrestling match after BodyPump, so we got Burger King and had a girls night. Sarah and I got lots of bonding, since she took a nap she wouldn't go to sleep. She is really testing boundaries these days.
Friday: We had a lovely playdate with the Fillmores then Emmi and I went to water aerobics. I tutored my student again, then spent some time getting ready for the zumba fundraiser on Saturday night. Derek came home and I went to my consignment appt. and left about 1/3 of what I brought. (About 1/3 was "too summery" and 1/3 not what they needed.) We had dinner and went to bed pretty early. Whew.
Saturday: The girls got up at 6. boo. I was in desparate need of talk preparation time, zumbathon prep time, and cleaning time before I taught step. Didn't get it. Luckily Derek was home and so he took the girls to the gym early so I got a little alone time. Then taught step, came home, showered and headed to Pike Place to meet my friend Laney who was in town will just a few hours to hang out. Then back home, prepped for Zumbathon and danced the night away. (As much as a tired pregnant girl can.)
Sunday: The girls got up at 6:30. Seriously, what is their deal! No talk prep time again! But I practiced my talk with them climbing all over me. I gave the talk in sacrament meeting, then the Fillmore/Norton family troupe sang. Everyone thought we coordinated outfits, but we were just cooincidentally matchy matchy. Now, the birthday party and done. Next week looks much less busy. Whew.

Sarah and the Octupus

I am not sure when the whole octupus thing started with Sarah. I think it was sometime around Christmas. She just comes up to me, or Derek, or anyone, and says, "I saw an octupus. A red octupus." I hear it at least once a day I would guess. If you ask her where she saw it, she usually says, "At the zoo." Hmmm. I wonder if this octupus is anything like a Snufflupugus (sp?).
Anyway, tonight at dinner Derek was having Libby make rhymes. It was her first time doing it, and she was doing a great job. Sarah was enjoying it too, every time Derek would say, what rhymes with "leg", Sarah would say "OCTUPUS!" Finally, Libby got fed up and said, "No Sarah, Octupus rhymes with Choctupus, not leg." A good solution I thought. But, it didn't stop Sarah from interjecting "OCTUPUS!" into the conversation about 10 more times. Libby would just respond "CHOCTUPUS!" and go on rhyming with her daddy.

Libby the Rapper

The other night I said to Libby, "Alright STOP" in a good mommy voice.
And she responded, "collaborate and listen" in her best Vanilla Ice immitation. Really. I am not making that up.

IT'S A BOY!

I am not posting the revealing boy part pictures, but we have them as proof. Derek could not stop smiling. He loves his girls, but he is looking forward to having another man in the house :) Baby Ben. (Derek Benjamin Norton to carry on the DBN tradition.) We didn't have to work hard on this name, since we have had it picked out for over 3 years.

I WILL NOT TAKE A NAP MOMMY!

But I will haul my pillow, blankie and thumb whereever I want to and lay down. And sometimes fall asleep too. This shot is on the kitchen floor. Yesterday she napped on the floor of her bedroom. She is becoming more stubborn every day!

Tubby Photos

How can I resist posting these cute little bottoms?

Sarahism

Sarah went with me to get an estimate for an iPod jack in my car stereo. On the door they have an ad for an iPod jack, any car, STARTING at $19.99 or some such low price. Well, they told me they could do one in my car. They got out the part and started ringing it up. I casually asked how much it would be. "$366.67" They replied. You can imagine my shock and forgive my response when I said, "SHUT UP!" Sarah quickly informed me, "We don't say shut up mommy!"
Yep. And we also don't spend $366 to listen to our iPod in the car. I already own headphones, and I can put one side in if necessary!

Daddy's Little Cheerleaders

I can't believe we only have 2 more regular season matches to go. This wrestling season has gone by quickly, and the girls have LOVED it.
They love cheering for daddy and his wrestlers. Libby has one or two "boyfriends" on the team. Sarah runs up and down the bleachers chasing after her sister and yelling. Last night they discovered the fun sounds their feet make with then pound on the bleachers. Loud and fun! It has been a season with wins and losses--but Shorewood is going to finish with a winning record this year (knock on wood!)

BodyStep 82

Every 3 months we do a "launch" for our new choreography for Bodystep and Bodypump. This time around for Bodystep the theme was creepy halloweeny. I described it as a spooktacular event, or a Freaky Fabulous Fitness Adventure! (When they did the release in New Zealand it was around Halloween I think...we are about 3 months behind them.) Anyway, I was going for freaky, spooky with my look. Many people described it as "cute." Hmmm....

Libby the Hypochondriac

About 2 weeks ago I was making a visit to the chiropracter with Libby and Sarah. I told Libby we were going to see Dr. Oman. A few minutes later she asked, "What does Dr. Oman fix?" "I said, "He fixes backs." She said, "OOOHHHH my back hurts REALLY BAD!"
She had him "adjust" her back before he did mine. She seriously loves going to the doctor. She told me yesterday that she had a big stone in her throat and she needed to go to the doctor.

On the flip side, the other night Derek was putting her to bed. He hurt his back a bit wrestling last week, so he told her he didn't want to lay by her because his back hurt. She quickly responded by jumping out of bed and "adjusting" his back, complete with sound effects. "There, I fixed it," she announced. "Now get in bed and lay by me."

Singing Sarah

Now for something adorable about Sarah...this morning I was changing her pants and she started singing. It took me a minute to figure out what it was, but I recognized Gwen Stefani's "Wind it Up." She was jamming and singing along as we went into the bathroom to do her hair, she got to a certain point in the song where it said something that intersected with another of her favorite songs and all of sudden I found myself listening to an amazing mash-up of "Wind it Up" and Ariel's beautiful "I Wanna Be Where the People Are." Hmmm...not two songs I would have put together, but it worked in Sarah's world.

Sarah is Stubborn?

Libby has been stubborn since birth. When a child won't eat for no apparent reason except that they don't want to (and might have reflux, okay) but seriously, we knew she was stubborn right away. It is turning out that Sarah is stubborn too. We attempted potty training again this week. She clearly has the bladder control. Day 1. Dry through a 3 hour nap, only one accident, even pooped on the potty. Day 2. Dry in the morning and went once in the morning. Then as the day progressed, she got increasingy upset about the idea of sitting on the potty. This escalated as the days went on. The last night she held it for something like 6 or 7 hours before Derek finally placed her on the potty (letting her hit him and scream) and she finally went. She is SO MELLOW about most things. Somehow, she has been turned off from going potty. She likes the independence of diapers? She likes it when we aren't following her around and reminding her to let us know? She must definitely prefer it when we don't make her try occasionally because it has been far too long? We gave up, again. I guess she knew we would. She had her insides in such a snit that she gave herself the runs, and diaper rash.
I am going to just appreciate that Sarah is mellow about most things, but I can't help being puzzled about what her hold up is with going potty. We won't try again until she begs. Even if we have to drain our savings to pay for diaper rash meds and diapers.

Libbyisms

This week I took the girls with my to Costco for my big grocery shopping outing. After we shopped we stopped to eat a churro in the deli area. (Which Libby calls a churr O, the emphasis on the O. It always throws me off at first.) As we sat there eating, Libby told me in all earnestness, "Mom, tomorrow I am going to start looking for a job."
I could barely keep a straight face. Where has she even heard about the need to find a job? Anyway, I asked her, "What kind of a job are you looking for Libby?"
Libby replied quickly, "A princess job."

Perfect.

Shoreline Invitational

Yesterday was the traditional Shoreline Invitational Wrestling tournament. It is one of my favorite days of the season because it is hosted at the school where Derek coaches. We help out with a hospitality room for the coaches and refs so that they can run in and eat between matches. There is always lots of fun and excitement. Also, it is so different than other wrestling tournaments that Derek takes his team to in that it is run like a well oiled machine. We were leaving the school at 3:30--other tournaments that he goes to are still going until after 7:00 pm. Bleh.

Anyway, I love the chance to visit with the other moms and coaches and watch lots of wrestling with a nice place to escape too when emotions get too high or the girls get too rowdy. They had a blast yesterday. Each girl did try to run onto the mat once, but thankfully the team was watching out for them. The girls also had a blast playing with Aunt Maren and Uncle Clark. The best part of the day, according to the girls, was in between the awards when the pedestals were empty and they could climb up and jump off. Amazing fun, and amazing they didn't get hurt. I stayed close just in case, but I was never needed.

And, the Shorewood T-birds took 2nd in the tournament. That always feels good too!

The baby was doing some serious moving as I watched the wrestling matches. Does this mean it is a boy????

I LOVE YOU BABY!

Libby has started doing something that I love. When she gives me a kiss, she then leans down and gives my belly a kiss too. She says, "I love you baby!" It is heart melting. I know she is going to be a good big sister, (despite the fact that she bit Sarah's hand in church today).
She really wants a girl. We have the ultrasound on the 18th, so if it is a boy I will have lots of time to prep her for the amazingness a brother can be.
She just asked me if the baby giggles. She is very interested in feeling the baby move. Soon, she will be able to!

Lilbbyisms

Oh Libby. Where to even begin. I feel like lately almost everything she says is so cute or hilarious I could post it. But here are some of my favorites.

She was playing with my brother Nick and they were taking turns being the doctor and the patient. Nick told her that he was very sick and needed to see the doctor. She stopped and looked at him and said, "Do you have an appoinment?"

When our family friend Melissa was over the other day with auntie Rachel, Libby went to get her ballet shoes so she could show them her dancing. I guess in her excitement she didn't realize she needed to go potty. She came running into the kitchen (wearing a very short dress) and said, sticking her bootie out toward me, "Mommy, guess what's missing? PANTIES! I wet them." And I could see that she was telling the truth. She pointed out where she wet and then proceeded to show Melissa and Rachel her dancing without panties until I got the mess cleaned up and retrieved some clean panties from the bedroom where Sarah was sleeping. Oh my.

Last night Derek took us to dinner for New Year's. He has been working lots and the girls haven't seen him much. In the car Libby exclaimed, "Oh Daddy, I am so excited to be with you!!!"

Libby is now in Sunbeams. She was very adamant that she didn't want to leave nursery, but then when Reid was leaving, she thought she had better go too. And she enjoyed it. She has a hard time getting excited about anything new. But, once she gets involved in the experience, she is usually quite happy about it.

Last night on the way home from dinner Libby told us a very coherent story, probably the first time ever. The story was about Prince Reid and Prince Gideon who came to marry Princess Libby and Princess Sarah.

One of my unofficial resolutions is to blog more often so that I remember to write the funny things that they say.

Sarahisms

The girls have had so many fun people around to entertain, and they have been stellar and cute. They have had so many funny things to say.

Today at church Sarah was looking intently up at me. "What are you looking at?" I asked.

"Your big nose." She said. Thanks.

The other night Derek was telling her Ariel for her bed time story. She stopped him and told him that he wasn't getting it right. He asked if she wanted to tell the story. "Yes," she said...and proceeded to ramble for 10 minutes. I swear that she said the names Ariel, Eric and Sebastian about 50 times each. She also said something that sounded like "King Triton looked like a rooster." I was so thankful when she finally said, "And they lived happily ever after!"

Last night I took Sarah in for her prayers. She was in bed sucking her thumb and holding her blanket right away. I said, "Okay, say your prayers." She pulled out her thumb and said, "Oh! I need to pull out my thumb!" Then launched into her prayer.

Lately she holds a Sleeping Beauty doll in her hand all day. It is her 2nd security object, right after her blanket. She often prays that Sarah and Sleeping Beauty will sleep well at night.

One of the most frequent phrases over the last few weeks comes when you ask her if she wants something. She almost always responds by saying, "Ummm, No thanks."

She has a little trouble with the concept of when you say you want some "of" something. So she just makes sure to always say it. "I want some of milk." "I want some of juice." "I want some of crackers." etc. It is always hard not to smile.