The Short, Long Month of February

I am not quite sure how 29 (yep, we got Leap Day this year) short days can feel so long.  It's felt like a long month for me!  I don't know if it was the weather, the pregnancy or just one of those months, but it felt much longer than February should.  It wasn't necessarily a bad month, but I am excited to see March here and move towards spring and warm weather.

For our February recap, let's hit the highlights for each member of the family, shall we?  Should be fun for all.

Oh, Ivy Jo.  Maybe this is why February felt long?  She is everywhere and into everything.  It's so adorably exhausting (especially when you are 20+ weeks pregnant).  Not only is she into climbing on things, writing on things, chewing on things, and pulling out ALL THE THINGS, she also had a nasty cold and was cutting molars at the same time for over a week.  So yeah, February was long.  But amid the chaos, she rocked her 15 month check-up (19 pounds!!!), mastered the cheeser smile, and became even more grown up with her mothering skills, understanding and little voice.  For as much toddler-ing as she does these days, we are still pretty much obsessed.  And also grateful for her 7pm bedtime.

Eliza spends most of her days in her own little world.  And it is best thing ever to just sit back and observe.  Unless you get caught--then you receive a stink-eye and good scolding.  She's quickly learning what it feels like to be the older sister who is constantly pestered by her younger sibling.  Ivy is trying to keep up with all the big girls are doing, so you can be sure Eliza's little world is rocked quite often.  We started frequenting the weekly open gym time at the local gymnastics facility, and little miss has loved it.  She still loves preschool and makes me all sorts of special projects, and we also discovered her love for cats.  She pretty much carried, chased or mauled my cousin's cat for over an hour a few weeks ago.  It was the best afternoon of her life.

Stella basically spent the month moving farther away from being my little girl, and growing into the sweetest, smartest big girl there ever was.  Writing songs, drinking V8, perfecting her cheerleading moves and looking like a forlorn teenager were just a few of her February activities.  But the majority of her time was spent being the best big sis to her little shadows.  I'm so grateful these girlies have each other.

Mom's February was spent facilitating all of the previously mentioned fun, while also keeping the house stocked with food, the toys mostly picked up, pulling off a Blue and Gold Banquet, and, oh yeah, growing a human.  Doing those last two activities simultaneously about did me in.  Five hours straight on my feet at the church did not do this pregnant body any favors.  And I'm still really working on my testimony of Scouting.

  After a few months of not being the best at getting meals planned, prepped and cooked, I've been enjoying a good run of cooking homemade meals almost every night of the week.  Notice I say almost--I certainly leave a day or two in there for take out and leftovers.  And I can't forget the blessing that is freezer meals.  My sisters, mom and I got together for the President's Day holiday and each made a freezer meal to help us better rock this wife/mother business.  And while the ready-to-eat meals are awesome, spending the day together chopping onions, entertaining kids and letting Taigen make us beautiful was the best part.

And of course we can't forget the dad.  His presence can often be scarce on this here blog, and on my phone's photo library in general, but man is he the one that keeps us all going.  He works hard for us at the office, then comes home and works even harder to make his ladies' lives a little easier.  They decided to start seeing patients an hour later in the mornings, so the past month has been filled with a little extra help and time with dad before school.  It's been so nice!  We've been able to be more consistent with our family scripture study and prayers, and this mama isn't complaining about a couple extra hands getting breakfast ready and little girls dressed.

While he certainly stays busy being a dentist, the Young Men's president, the husband of a crazy pregnant lady, and the dad to three spunky chicas, he always happily lets me escape for girls night (or weekend) and supports us in whatever we have going on.  We are so grateful for his awesome dental skills, his energy for a nightly session of Wrestle Mania (or as Eliza calls it, "wrestlevania") and his love and concern for all of our needs.

Now we are looking forward to March and it's anniversary getaways, break from school and (hopefully!) warmer weather.  See ya next year, February!