Spring Is Here

I know once a month isn't enough to help me remember my thoughts at this time or catch every cute and terrible thing my children do that I do want to remember, but I have my excuses. This weekend has been wonderful not just because Dad is here to put Dallin down for his naps, but because it's General Conference! Even though I half hear things and I take it more casually than I should (pen, paper, prayers & meditation before, during & after didn't happen) but it goes to show you simply TRYing to listen and set aside time to hear even part fills you with a sense of peace you don't naturally get in this world. So just imagine if we really gave the gospel our all, we would become something so much greater overnight. 

But I know my Savior still loves me even though I am so slow. I want to yell COME ON KAYLA yet He is oh so patient & loving, which just reminds me how I have a lot to learn. This doesn't mean I can excuse myself and rest just low enough under the bar set before me and think I'll be carried. I know that if I want the blessings of eternal life, I have to seek Him consistency. I have to ask. I have to try. But He doesn't push me down when I fail. That's what Satan does or makes us feel like we need to do. Somehow in his grace and mercy, His arm is always extended. Yes, I have to humble myself at times and repent; yes, I won't reach my full potential if I decide to do the bare minimum BUT today, nothing is lost. He knew I would fail & He suffered for those mistakes, sins & heartache s so that He could ALWAYS extend mercy. He paid for everything! So that my plight is to just keep trying to Follow Him. I know if I keep trying to do this every day that I will not only become a better person, but I will have the strength to handle whatever comes as a happier person because my hope is in Christ, my peace is in Christ, my joy is in Christ. And Christ connects us all and provides more than we could ever imagine. I know every good thing comes from Him. And the bad? The hard stuff and bad stuff of this earth is bearable through Him. I want my children to come to know this.

Update on us this last month:

Dallin has been stuffy this entire month and most recently coughing again! It has me paranoid he has dust or mold allergies and I'm not sure what we can currently do in this environment to help him. Lexi and I struggle with them too, but it's harder when we haven't sucked his nose out as much as we probably should...I've always had breathing issues and I can't remember if I've always been like this, but I am terribly sad to know surgery hasn't changed anything. BreatheRight strips help me at night, but I really want to sort this out!

Dallin has started walking more than crawling. His 7th & 8th teeth also are fully in and I'm beginning to wonder how the rest will fit in there. Unless coughing gets the better of him, he sleeps through most of the night and puts himself to sleep half the time without nursing for naps? Even if both are still 30-min. He will cry for a bit and throws everything out of his crib, including his clothing. This kid. We have aimed for no more than 3 nursing moments in a day and the past few days have just been morning & evening. Again, easier when Dad is around. Otherwise, it takes a lot longer for him to take the bottle from me. And it's a bottle ...for now.

Lexi has exploded with her craftiness more than ever. She is always drawing and cutting paper, begs for play doh or paint (when she isn't begging for screen time). She likes to make notes for all her friends and tell me what her paper says. She likes to read all the letters on things and the big thing now is trying to remember all their sounds. She writes mom or dad and her name. We are still working on numbers 14-20. I was excited to find out that UT has a free online preschool program starting in the fall that by some miracle we got added to right after I applied (later than most). I want to put her in swim classes sometime soon & we decided dad would just make time to teach her soccer. She was over the moon to plant some seeds in the backyard with dad. I'm a little skeptical. She still annoys me with how she tackles Dallin to the ground, but he is good at taking care of himself and they still play well together too. It's still debatable which one of them want to be held & hugged most often as well as who makes the most messes.