What we're up to...

I've been using my blog as a journal for the past year or so and plan on printing it off again sometime in the next couple of months. So, I know this will probably be a boring post for all of you, but I feel I must write a quick note or two about what's going on with each of us recently. That way I will have a reference point when I look back at it.

Jon Mark:
Jon Mark is still working for the Joint Budget Legislative Commitee. His summer schedule is nice, he gets to come home to me by 4 everyday and sometimes gets to work from home on Fridays. Although, this year, he only got to telecommute three times due to the government's inability to come up with a budget. He's the Deacons Quorum advisor and loves that. He still as handsome as ever and is a great husband and father.

Me:
I am loving this motherhood thing. I feel I am in "the swing" of things lately. I've got Mercedes on a wonderful schedule that works for me, and I'm learning how to manage my two year old's new found desire for independence. My house isn't always as clean as I would want it to be, and there's a laundry basket or two that never seem to stay empty for long. But, for the most part the important things are taken care of, like dancing with my little buddy in the afternoons (he thinks I dance really good, and it's so funny to watch him try and copy me), snuggling with my little Miss when I nurse her, singing funny songs to Joshua and watching his face light up when the frog gets eaten by a dog in a song my sister inlaws taught me (he always says, "YAY dog!" at the end), and marveling at the sheer cuteness that both of my children possess. I love finding new hobbies to try, even if it's only for a week or two. I'm currently back on a photography kick now that my sister is into it as well. Hobbies are always more fun when there's someone to share them with.

Joshua:
He's a handsome little guy. I love his LONG blond eye lashes and his cute HUGE smile. He has the talent of showing ALL of his teeth when he smiles. He loves his little sister. He always makes sure to give her plenty of hugs and kisses (yes, there was that bite on the nose that happened, but he was disciplined for it, and we're hoping it won't happen again!). He loves to laugh and learn new songs. His new favorite song is The Farmer in the Dell and he is CONSTANTLY asking me to sing it. I think he likes the repetition. He seems to enjoy one song at a time and will have me sing it until I can't bear to sing it anymore, and once he's learned it, he's on to a new one. It happened that way with the "temple" song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, the "frog" song, and now the Farmer in the Dell. It's really funny though, because whenever he is in one of his crack-up moods and nothing seems to calm him down, all I have to do is sing the song of the moment, and he stops his whining to listen. On the way home from the Frost's Ranch, I SWEAR I sang the Farmer in the Dell a MILLION TIMES!!! Joshua loves pretend play nowadays. The other day he was turning around in circles with his arms stretched out and he was saying, "Look, Mommy, Joshua's an airplane!" He is talking so much these days. He is learning to use long sentences, though still a little broken, he is talking in full out sentences. Yesterday he said, "Mommy, sippy cup fell. Mommy get it?" I sure do love my little Joshua Mark McAmoi (as he says it).

Mercedes:
She's my little butterball turkey. Oh, I sure do love my chunky baby! She is in the 95th percentile for weight--and boy, it shows on her theighs, but she is SOOO cute! I just want to eat her all up! I know that's weird, but that's the best way to describe just how cute she is! I love her cute little smile and laugh. My parents heard her full out belly laughing, I wish I had seen it, I guess I will in time. She loves to cuddle and is really a very good baby! She rarely cries these days at all. She sleeps really well at night (knock on wood) and she loves to give you smiles. She HATES being swaddled, but needs to be in order to sleep well. She loves to such on her hands. I keep trying to turn her into a pacifier baby, but she doesn't seem to take it all that well. I know I need to post more pictures of her. She's just too cute!

The pictures are of Joshua and Bekah and Jon Mark up at the Frost Ranch. Lindsay's inlaws were kind enough to let us use their getaway for Labor Day weekend. Joshua absolutely loved being outside and exploring. He loved getting dirty and riding on the ATV's (but now he thinks the alphabet song goes like ATVDEFGHI....). If you're still reading this, which picture should I use for our family photo contest???