Spotlight Spotlight

Julia just started primary and they asked us to put together a spotlight. I thought that it would be a good idea to do an extended spotlight on Julia here on the blog so that we could look back on it year to year and see how she's changed. Here is an interview I gave Julia today in her own words:

What is your full name: Julia Atricia (She can't say Patricia)
How old are you? I'm just three.
Where do you live? I live at primary.
What is your favorite food? Noodles
What is your favorite snack? Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich.
What is your favorite animal? A horsie
What is your favorite color? Red and pink.
What is your favorite toy? Ponies and rocket.
What are you good at? I'm good at church.
What is your favorite thing to do? Play with Jansen.
What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Play with him.
What is your favorite thing to do with mommy? Give hugs.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A momma.
How old are you going to be when you are a mother? Five
What is your favorite thing to do with Audrey? Play with her toys.
Where is your favorite place to visit? Nana and Papa and Grandma.
What's your least favorite thing to do? Bug Audrey.
What's your favorite movie? Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)
What's your favorite t.v. show? Dora.
What's your favorite letter? J U L I A
What is your favorite hobby? Dance at dance class.
What is your favorite scripture story? When Jesus was baptized.
What's your favorite primary song? I Lived in Heaven (what song do you think they're learning this month?)
Who is Joseph Smith? He said a prayer in the backyard.
Where's your favorite place to play? At primary.
What's your favorite thing to do at pre-school? Learn my letters.



In addition here are some other things about Julia...
She knows all of her letters and letter sounds. She is asking words all day long. She can also write her name and spell Julia, mom, dad and Audrey.
She is left handed.

Julia gets very upset when she feels she is being treated unjustly. Time outs and going to our room are very dramatic scenes. She is always trying to negotiate her side and pushes her limits as much as she can. It's a good thing her mother is as stubborn as she is.

When Julia is nervous she talks ALOT. Her preschool, primary and dance teachers can confirm this fact. I am told she can make some really random comments in primary.

Julia starts walking around the house really fast when she has to go to the bathroom. I can ALWAYS tell when it's time to go.

She's starting to make jokes. Sometimes she is surprisingly funny.

Julia loves movies.

Julia has a very kind heart. Whenever I ask for a hug she never refuses me. She tells me many times a day that she loves me and she loves her little sister.

Julia loves her friends. She is always looking for someone to play with and just adores the friends that she has.

Julia has lots of energy. She gallops everywhere she goes.

Julia loves milk and peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I am certain she could survive on these two items alone.

Julia loves to go shopping with me. She is almost always great at the store.

Julia bites her nails terribly. I haven't had to trim them in years.

Julia is very attached to her Strawberry Shortcake blanket and cannot sleep without it.

Julia talks in her sleep.

Julia was made to be a big sister. She helps me with Audrey all day long, whether I want it or not.

Julia loves to sing. She catches the words to music so fast and is always listening for music. She'll often comment on the elevator music in stores.

Julia is not afraid of new experiences. She goes to primary, dance and preschool with lots of enthusiasm.

Julia is stubborn.

Her hair is naturally curly.

All of her toys are downstairs but she is too afraid to play down there by herself.

Julia doesn't enjoy dress ups all that much. I have to convince her to wear her princess dress which is very surprising considering her obsession with princesses.

Julia doesn't enjoy getting her hair done but hates it when her hair isn't fixed so she tolerates it.

She still takes a nap every day and often requests it. She naps better now than she did a year ago.

Julia cannot sit still in a chair. In fact just last night she fell out of a chair at a restaurant.

Julia doesn't like it when I'm mad at her. She tries really hard to admit her mistakes in a very positive way as to avoid punishment.

Things I've Learned This Week

Things I've Learned This Week...

1. Winter isn't going anywhere any time soon so I might as well try to make the most of it.

2. Just staying home often seems easier than putting coats, socks, hats and blankets on two kids and getting out the door.

3. I can fix a vacuum cleaner.

4. Audrey has an irrational fear of the vacuum.

5. An 8 month old baby waking up two times a night to eat is NOT okay.

6. The 8 month old will not resent you in the morning for making them cry it out at 1:30AM until 2:30AM though you will have a tired headache all day long.

7. Impressively enough Julia can sleep through quite a bit.

8. One of the best ways to spend a day in the house is having singing and dance parties. Julia and I have a great time and a broom stick handle makes a great microphone. Julia knows most of the lyrics and sings right along with me.

9. The Biggest Loser workout video is not as easy as I thought it would be. Even going to aerobics three times a week did not prepare me for the pain and sweat I would endure with the video. Bryan and I are no match for Jillian. Our pride was hurt by trying to start out at level 2. We will be returning to level 1.

10. I'm so glad I have Julia in preschool and dance class or I'm afraid I would never get out of the house or see anyone.

11. The book Angels and Demons by Dan Brown is a page turner and better than I thought it would be.

12. I enjoy playing the piano and have been trying to do it more often this week.

13. I hate teething.

14. I love Gain laundry detergent. It makes our clothes smell so so good.

15. I still hate doing laundry.

16. I watched the movie Penelope and really enjoyed it, though I'm glad with my many faults I don't have a pig nose.

17. I have been missing many of my friends that moved away this past year. I don't know what it's been this week. I just have been missing them more than usual.

18. I wish I played basketball.

19. I'm SO excited for my friend Rachel to come and visit me on Thursday. It's been over two years since I've seen her and I get to meet her little boy.

20. I haven't been on a date with my husband in eight months. I think I need to change that one of these days.

Caged In

We've been so cooped up this winter so far that I have resorted to cages.

Seriously, Bryan just finished a week of vacation that was so wonderful and now he has had call two days in a row. I am not complaining...but...it does become difficult to keep the girls occupied and my sanity in tact through the long evenings. I did put them both in laundry baskets and filled them with toys and books. It bought me at least 40 minutes until Audrey fell over and was wedged in the bottom of the basket. I also keep a stash of "special" toys up in the closet for those "pull-your-hair-out moments". It includes play dough, magnet paper dolls, coloring books, paints and the like. The type of activites that if she had free reign it would mean a gigantic mess, but if it's "special" is a great time filler. So I'm curious and eager for more ideas. What do you do on these freezing winter days to fill and occupy your time? And don't say movies. We've already done that one today. Twice.

I did make it out to the store and grabbed this little beanie for just three dollars. Her hair is too long for headbands, but not for cute beanies.

Julia was feeling left out and had to get a picture as well. We had pancakes for dinner tonight (yes Bryan is on call) and Julia got syrup all over that long hair. I watched her just using her hair like a napkin wiping away. We then discussed WHY it is she cries when I comb through syrupy hair. I'm not sure what reasoning she used to think that hair is the best thing to get the sticky off your hands. Lesson learned today: Hair is NOT a napkin.

I then added a flower to the beanie to see what I thought. That's right. We had a very eventful day. I just can't figure out how I have one child with such brown eyes and another with such blue. Audrey is getting teeth and it makes her sad sometimes. We're hoping for a "break through" any day now. That or she's going to chaw her little fingers right off.

Some Girls and Their Hair

Now that I have two girls I am learning the joys and pains of fixing little girl hair. Audrey came out with such a mane that it has been necessary to fix earlier than I expected. Audrey is getting quite thick piggytails at this point which is 7 1/2 months.

I couldn't fix Julia's hair like that until she was 14 months. Not that I'm complaining. In the spring of last year I talked Julia into letting me flat iron her hair to see how long it is.Look at how much longer it has gotten. We have some difficulty getting it fixed each morning and I have debated cutting it shorter. For the moment I love it long and I will keep it as long as she is still willing to endure the fixing it requires.
This little one has such crazy hair I am often at a loss of what to do with it. It it always sticking up somewhere. My brother thinks that she looks kind of like one of these...
I'm just glad her hair isn't purple (amongst other things). I was hoping I could compare her to some adorable cartoon character or baby model. These were really popular back in the day though and I have to admit I owned one or two. Why were they so popular? Maybe because they look like really REALLY adorable babies.

Julia's grandma sent her a new leotard, skirt, tights and ballet slippers for dance class. She is SO thrilled with them. Santa got her some princess shoes for Christmas and they don't hold a candle to the ballet slippers. She wears them all over the house all day long. She would wear the whole outfit all day long if she could get it on by herself.


What a pretty ballerina. Thank you grandma. You couldn't have send a more perfect gift.

I also need to give a quick Happy Birthday to my Mumma Kunga. She turned the big 6-0 today and I wish so much I could be there to celebrate. Mom you are my best friend and I hope you have a wonderful day. We love you! Also I am getting a new nephew today. Good luck Eric and Aimei! We can't wait to meet little Max.

Goodbye 2008 Hello 2009

I saw this on several blogs and I decided to follow suit. Here is 2008 for our family in pictures starting with...
December spending some quality time with daddy at the spectacular Wild Lights.
November having the best visit from my mom and dad and admiring the beautiful fall leaves.

October celebrating Julia's 3rd and having so much fun with Halloween.
September cheering on the Buckeyes.
August having a wonderful visit back home with family.July celebrating the Fourth and these two cute girls.
June graduation and visits from both of our parents.May welcoming the sweetest little girl you ever will meet.
April long walks and enjoying the beautiful blossoms.
March the biggest snow storm in Columbus in about 100 years.
February taking Julia to see Disney on Ice.
January and the success of a potty trained child.

2008 has been a challenging, wonderful, busy, fantastic and crazy year all in one. Our family not only grew in number but in many other ways as well. We have been so blessed and recognize our Heavenly Father's hand in all aspects of our lives. May 2009 bring as much joy and blessings as this past year. Happy New Year!