Halfway point

I was just thinking about where I am at on my Maternity leave and I am about at the halfway point this week. I will go back to work end of December or beginning of January. It is crazy how fast time goes but am I ever glad I get the opportunity to have 18 months off. Elizabeth is almost 9 months old and I feel like she is growing up faster then any of the other kids did. I am just starting to feel like I am getting the hang of being a stay at home mom (I mean always at home) this maternity leave ( I actually did well cleaning the house and getting it ready for Sunday last Saturday and I am doing well this week at staying on top of Laundry - not like that all matters, it is the kids that matter). I really don't think being a mother has come naturally to me but I am trying and I will continue to try and I love being at home with my kids. And even though being a mother is challenging for me, I would have more children if I could and if it made sense too (and perhaps it doesn't make sense too). It seems that after each of our babies is born, I want to grow my family even more. Even with all the faults Chris and I have, I believe we are working on establishing a loving home where the spirit can dwell and children can thrive. I am very blessed to have the family I have and I wish others could have what I have. I do believe that in the eternities our families will continue to grow and that means I, and other women who desire it, will be mothers to many many more children.  That thought makes me hopeful and happy, not just for myself, but for other women. I know of the Devine role of a mother. 

 Yesterday I made paper boats for Mary and Selman and we went outside searching for a puddle to float them in but there was none to be found. Last week we had such fun one day jumping in muddy puddles. Anyways, yesterday we ended up playing in a rock pile and working to move the rocks to another location with the help of Nana and Papa.

I just wanted to say some things about Selman as I feel like I haven't talked about him in a while. I love my little Selman! And he is not so little. He will be 3 TOMMORROW! I love the expressions he makes and the things he says. It is sometimes hard to understand him as he started talking a little later and is still learning but he is a chatter box now and we love listening to him. He loves to laugh and I can tell he is going to be a jokester like his brother. I LOVE IT when that light goes on in his eyes and he points his little finger up when he has an idea and says "I an idea." He is an early bird and is always up anywhere from 5:00 to 6:00 while the others sleep at least until 6:30. I would probably sleep till 8:00 these days if no one woke me up but I guess this is good for me? Selman loves lego and dinosaurs, mario (he wants to play video games like his siblings, and playing anything the others play. He is not that into books so I feel grateful that we are doing Bedtime stories online each Monday evening and he does well listening to the books with the instructor. I need to read more to my kids - it is sometimes hard to find a book everyone wants to listen too. Selman still likes to nap almost every day (the others were off there naps by this time I believe) and he loves cuddles - he is very much my cuddly boy and that is ok. 

Well, I will write about his birthday in a few days or so. It is an eerie foggy morning and I like those mornings when I can stay home and bake (Selman's cake) and feel the warmth of the stove and hear the sound of the dryer going. Life is good!