Bailee the reader

Bailee has always taken to reading and has always loved books. Most nights we have to limit the amount that we read to 3 or we would be reading late into the night. This summer she has started to enjoy listening to chapter books as well. We started with The Little Princess and soon after were reading Cinderella and other fairy tales. We let her have a little extra time up while Elise settles for bed to just sit on the couch and look at books as she is doing in the picture. She loves that time to feel like she is older and gets a special privilege. We are so grateful for her love for reading and we spend a lot of time at the library because of it :)

Tennessee State Fair

Yes I have been terrible about posting but I am trying to decide how I want to journal since there are so many options and I love the app I use. Anyway.. Trying to blog again :)

Today we decided to try out the Tennesee State Fair and although we can't compare it to the one in California it was still a nice day out as a family. 

We got ready and headed to Nashville this morning. The temperature dropped to being in the 60's so it was nice being out with much cooler weather during the day. It really felt like fall and it got me excited for my fall candles. I have realized that I am only in the mood to burn candles in the fall but it is something I look forward to in the season. 

We saw the biggest pumpkins and watermelons that I never knew could exist and it made me wonder how they even taste because I had been taught that bigger doesn't always mean that it will taste good. Anyway, they were my favorite of the displays! 

Man oh man this baby is yummy! In the 8 months she has been in our family I just can't get enough of her! She has such a fun personality and is so happy and loving. I continue to be greatful for the greater plans The Lord had in store for our family by blessing us with her :) 

We watched the flying hounds and some pig races which were both entertaining. 

So I am usually very anti-fried fair food but today I was feeling curious and went ahead to experience deep fried Oreos. Really they were not too bad. I probably won't go searching for them again but it is always fun to experience new things :) We even let Bailee play the dart toss game to win a stuffed animal which she is holding below. She had fun with it :)

As we were about to head to our car we finally noticed some horses arriving and decided to go check things out as our last stop. Bailee had an experience riding in June while we were in California and ever since we got back I have had the thought in the back of my mind to contact some of the programs here to start getting involved to see if it is something she really wants to pursue. Dave and I also love seeing horses and they really are majestic. 

Overall it was fun to just be together in our community and to check out the fair here :)

3 months

Elise is 3 months old now! She is over 15 lbs already and 24 in long. She has grown so much that I now have lots of extra small diapers to figure out something to do with. 

She is such a good baby now that I don't have milk and ice cream. Other dairy products don't seem to affect her the same as those two do so I am grateful I can at least enjoy some things again :) 

Our typical nighttime routine. After bath I feed and rock her a bit before laying her down in the port a crib next to my bed. She typically sleeps 4-5 hours before wanting to eat again and then stays with me the remainder of the night. I have debated putting her in with Bailee within the next few months but I love waking up to her sweet little body next to me with a big smile on her face. 

Sitting up

I knew that once I put her in, there was no going back. That is, going back to the floor. She LOVES being up and watching all that goes on. Elise is so happy sitting and her happiness is infectious! Bailee sits in it too and fits well. She hated it at Elise's age but thinks it is the coolest chair in the house now :)

Dishes, teething, and bedtime stories

Bailee washed off all of the dishes and put them up on a towel to dry! I was so proud of her enjoying cleaning. It is times like this that remind me of the importance of being an example. She watches me cleaning and desires to help an it becomes a positive thing instead of a dreaded chore. I waited until she napped to do a more thorough cleaning and when Dave came home she proudly showed him all of the dishes she cleaned. 

Elise is teething and fell asleep gnawing on the side of my thumb during dinner. I hate having my hand in her mouth but it worked so much better than the teething toys or a pacifier. I then had to get Bailee ready for bed holding her this way. It was quite the task! For once I truly felt like I was super mom :) haha. Wiping a bottom, washing my hands, brushing teeth, putting on Jammie's, all while holding a baby who awkwardly has her mouth clenched to my finger... I am sure many moms can relate on some level. 

Ending the night all reading together. Bailee had Elise in her lap for the first book before Dave got home and I didn't want that time to end. I loved being able to read to both girls cuddled up on Bailee's little toddler bed :)

My Bailee.

This little girl gives me so much joy! She is growing up so fast and catches on to things she learns so quickly. She is sick today and as much as I hate to see her discomfort, ever since she was little, I have found a bit of delight in her being sick. She is such an active girl that when she is sick, I can finally soak up extra cuddles and love from her that is typically hard to get :) Elise was sleeping in her bed so I was able to lay with Bailee and rub her back singing songs at her request. It felt so wonderful to cuddle and hold my big baby girl and provide her with the comfort she needed. 

Sweet Bailee

I have been thinking about my blog title "Enjoying our Journey" and how that came from a talk by President Monson years ago to make the most of life whatever stage you are in. I typically post the most positive and "fluffy" side of our journey, but decided today that I should be including the blessings through the "not-so fluffy" side of our journey as well. 

Bailee loves her little sister and it makes me so happy to see her just want to be close to her and love her. 

Elise is having some serious trouble with her tummy as I have mentioned before and I am now on a strict "no dairy" diet to hopefully help. So far it hasn't made a difference, but we will see how the next week goes. Elise only slept on me last night which made for an extremely restless night for me. She would scrunch up her body with discomfort regularly and wake unsettled. I definitely had zero motivation to get up and work out this morning.

With all of that, I have very little patience and energy but want to share that Bailee has been my angel today. First she came and layed next to Elise as I changed her diaper and just started singing to her. She started with a primary song that quickly became made up words and a conglomeration of movie lines and primary songs that she knows. Her little voice calmed her sister and gave me peace as well. Later, after I had been trying all sorts of ways to get Elise asleep, Bailee came running into my room to try helping once again. She jumped on my bed, put in the paci, and started to sing what she knows of "I am a child of God". Although her comfort didn't last long, it was enough to remind me that these are The Lord's children and they need my care and love. 

Once I finally got her to sleep, holding her, I listened to a talk by Elder Holland that I needed to hear. I was reminded to "remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." (Like a Broken Vessel). Although my bitter cup is small in this example and I have so much to be grateful for, it reminded me that these times will pass. In moments of struggle and feeling inadequate as a mother, I know I can always find strength in The Lord to make it to the happier days.