Yes, she is mine and the picture will prove it

With Mallory all I ever hear is, "She looks just like Stephen." It's true. The only reason I know Mally is my daughter is because I saw her come out of me. Oh, and she's moody like me. At birth Eva looked a lot like Mallory, but as she grows I see a lot more of me in her. I still have people say Eva looks so much like Stephen. To those people I say, look at the picture below. She looks like me.

Happy, Happy Birthday Mally Dear!!!

The Birthday Fairy left her mark. The next day Mally looked in the mirror and expected to see a #4. Sorry Mally, you will have to wait a whole year for that.

You can see how quickly her excitement can die.

3 years-old and Saying (Yelling) the 3rd Article of Faith

She's done it again. She learned the 3rd Article of Faith. She doesn't do it perfectly, but I think I prefer her version of the words more than the correct pronunciation.

The Good, the Bad and the Poopy

I am learning that motherhood is about moments. Some moments are wonderful with some much joy, like today when Mally took a big breath of air and planted a raspberry right on my neck. She then finished the moment by telling me how funny she is. And yes, she is funny. Or there are the bad moments of her countless tantrums about NOTHING!!! She just cries, to cry. Which wouldn't be bad except for the fact that she cries so stinkin' loud that she wakes up her sister. I appreciated a conference talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard called Daughter of God. In it he said, "There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration." I experience those moments of frustration almost daily with my 2 year-old.

I had a great moment yesterday I must share. I was down stairs reading while Mally was supposed to be napping. She had spent all of nap time yelling, "Mommy. You who." I chose to ignore her hoping she would "you who" herself to sleep. Then I hear her say, "Mommy I have to poo." Great! I thought. We are potty training her and she never seems to know when she has to go. Finally, she was telling me she needs to go. So, I darted up the stairs ready to grab her and rush her to the toilet. But when I opened the door she was holding a pillow and she told me, "look mom a balloon." A balloon, not I have to poo. Somehow I misheard her. I guess I have potty training on the mind. I thought the moment was so funny I fell on her bed and said, "you are driving me nuts!" She laughingly said, "no, I am driving you crazy!" The two of us cuddled on her bed for a moment while she repeatedly told me, "I am driving you crazy." And yes, I have to agree with her. That was a moment I hope I never forget.

The 2nd Article of Faith

Mally saying the 2nd Article of Faith. As you will see, transgressions can be hard to deal with.

Get to Know Your Apostles

Sweetheart