He did it!

He did it! Carden is binkie free! It took a couple of nights of no sleep but he is such a good boy and has handled this so well! I was the one ready to give in but the second night Carden went to bed fine. He never threw a tantrum but you could tell he just couldn't get comfortable putting himself to sleep without his binkie.

"No Binkie!"

Carden did the most amazing thing today. He fed his binkies to the ducks and I am so sad I forgot my camera. He didn't shed a single tear and instead it is ME crying (my little boy is growing up)! I miss the binkie (or rather my little baby). I am just an emotional Mommy lately. Everything is just so emotional. Carden was such a good boy today and so strong. We went to the park and on our way to the park we stopped by the river to give the ducks the binkies. Rhead took the small baby binkie and threw it to the Duck and the duck took it and looked like it was really sucking it. Then Carden immediately threw one binkie and then two binkie into the river and said happily "No BINKIE!" I was so proud of him and he did it so easily. I was the one that was sooo sad to let those binkies go. I miss them and not at all because Carden hasn't been a good boy. He has been so good. He has been talking to me all day long. He didn't even say "Binkie" the whole rest of the day. This morning he was sucking them all morning long and I felt like he was preparing himself to throw them to the ducks. He just had to get his last sucks. I have to admit that going to bed was hard for Carden but he never cried, never threw a fit or even said Mommy I need a binkie. But I could just tell that he really wanted that Binkie. He is just a strong boy. I wanted to cry and give him all the binkies he wanted because I know that it must be sooooo hard to go from having a binkie ALWAYS at night to fall asleep to then nothing :( Well hopefully he will continue to be strong because I am the softy!

Rhead's first steps!

Happy Argentina Day and Happy 10 Month mark!

What a HAPPY day it has been here in the Sweeney home. We celebrated Justin's FIRST day of the MISSION by having an Argentine salad and some STEAK and potatoes! Justin told us stories from the mission and what it was like leaving his family and going off to the MTC. It was really fun listening to him talk about the mission. It is crazy to think that that will be Carden someday! We decided to make this a tradition for our family since Sister Hinckley gave a talk about finding ways to celebrate things in our families to create good family traditions. What fun we had sitting down as a family and eating some AMAZING Argentine food and listening to the GREAT work our Daddy did!

We also hit the 10th month mark for Brooke and Rhead!!! Crazy that they are already 10 months but then so exciting that we are actually surviving. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done but it really is so beautiful to watch Brooke and Rhead interact with each other. The days are still really long and hard, but I do enjoy this age seeing that so many things are happening. For instance Rhead decided to take off his pants today during his nap!! He is an amazing boy. I can't say baby because he is so not one. He just decided that he didn't like his pants so he took them off and threw them on the ground. He likes to throw things. He also lets you know when he's done with eating by throwing his food on the ground! He is just so boy in so many ways. He is never clean and loves to follow Carden around. He loves finding toy cars and rocks! He also has been taking steps! ah! I don't know if I am ready for the walking thing but it sure is fun to see his little face light up when I jump for joy!

Brooke is just a sweetheart. Feisty when she needs to be but mostly calm and happy! She loves to be by people in her own little way. Just yesterday was the first time that I have EVER seen her lay her head on Justin's shoulder. It was so sweet. Although she loves to crawl right up to me or Justin and recline her body into us. It is so funny to watch. She loves it when I laugh because she just LOVES to laugh right back. Her tongue is always out! She can stand for a long time but hasn't made the "step" yet!

Carden is talking and learning so much. He loves saying his colors and animals and "Clickety clack on down the track!" He loves cooking and loves helping me "SMASH the SPIDERS!" He is getting to be such a big boy. He loves his cousin Chase (even though they LOVE to beat up on each other). He loves trains and cars! He helps me clean and vacuum the house. He is a hard worker!

Welp that sums up our HAPPY day here in the Sweeney home!

Time Out... For Women!

Last weekend was PARADISE for me! My Mom took my sister and me to Time Out for Women. It was my first time going and it was just wonderful. Justin watched the kids on Friday and Saturday. This was my first time actually being AWAY from the kids and it was awesome! I am not going to lie but it was just what I needed.

Friday was my favorite part because we got to listen to Jenny Oaks Baker. She was AMAZING! Oh wow it really made me want to learn the violin. I think I am just going to have to have Brooke play the violin. She also spoke and she was quite funny. The theme of the event was "Infinite Hope". All the talks were uplifting. John Bytheway was there as well and he is just always so funny. He talked about being DELIGHTFUL! I thought to myself wow I am so not delightful these days!!!! That is a great concept! Just be DELIGHTFUL! hmmmm, what a smart guy! hee hee. He talked about how in a relationship we go from appreciate to demand to expect. We should never leave the "APPRECIATE" part!

My Nana and Aunt Linda came along so it was the five of us girls hanging out. We had just a great weekend. We had lunch Friday with everyone at the Glenn home. Kierstin treated us with some beautiful piano music. Then we headed to our house for some dinner and ice cream cake to celebrate Nana's Birthday.

Saturday Emily Watts spoke and she was HILARIOUS! Her motto was "Abandon all ye Hope!" She talked about being a first time Mom and warning them of all the things they might just have to abandon such as a GOOD nights sleep, nice things, and much much more as a Mommy. It was so FUNNY because she was just so right on! This is a pathetic story but I cried over a dirty dish rag that Justin used to mop the floor with. I know that is just so lame of me but it was "my nice thing" that I have only had for a couple of weeks and now it is ruined. I would have NEVER guessed that a dish rag could mean so much to me!

Mercy River sang and they were really good. I wish I could sing like that. Brooke is also going to be a GREAT singer someday as well!!! haa haa. It would be so fun to just be able to sing like that. We also had this other HILARIOUS lady speak named Amanda Dickson. She just made you laugh the WHOLE time. Her big thing was "What is PERFECT?" "Do GET your HOPES UP". Another lady that spoke was from Leone and her story was unbelievable. She just had the greatest smile and was so positive it was really great listening to her.

But anyways overall this is a great event that everyone should try to go to! It was so fun and it is a good little break for Mothers! Thanks Mom for taking me!

The DISNEY STORE: Where tears come true

Oh I feel like such a horrible Mother that just crushed all the "dreams" of a two year old boy.

I went to the Disney Store today with my sister and Carden's eyes were sparkling! This was Carden's first time to the Disney Store (as a two year old) and he was captivated by all the toys! He was such a good boy as I told him we couldn't get that ENORMOUS BUZZ LIGHT YEAR toy with all those fun gadgets. He immediately put the box back onto the shelf and walked away.

His excited eyes then caught sight of the "Cars" toys where he found several he wanted but when I told him we had to go he put all of the cars away except two, one in each little hand! It was so cute and it broke my heart when I had to tell him that he had to leave them at the store. I kept telling him, "Mommy has no money and we need money to buy these cars." His poor little face filled with tears and he stared to cry and the whole store was looking at me as I picked him up and tore the two cars out of his hands. (ohh it was just soo mean). I looked at the price and thought, "well this is the best deal in the whole store but I better not seeing its not his Birthday or close to Christmas." So I didn't purchase the cars.

As I walked out of the store with Carden kicking and crying, my heart just sank and I wanted to turn around and go by the two little cars, but then I thought I better not or else Carden will learn that he can have anything he wants if he just throws a tantrum. I put him down while we waited for the elevator and he turned and ran to look back at the Disney Store. He stood there and cried hoping I would follow him but instead I waited halfway in the elevator telling him he needed to come. I wanted to just run and grab him and take him back to the Disney Store where dreams DO come true. It was seriously the hardest thing for me to see being a Mommy of a two year old. I kept waiting and then slowly he walked back to the elevator and stood next to me like a good boy with huge tears in those big blue eyes. (ohhhhh). Luckily Auntie Kierstin had a fruit snack which helped the pain!

I think I might just HAVE to go back and get those cars. I feel so awful. Did I do the right thing? Was I being the WORST Mommy ever? I know I can't get CARDEN everything he wants, but he was only asking for two little cars! But then two little cars could turn into ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he wants if he realized that crying would get him what he wanted. But anyways it was sad that the trip to the Disney Store today wasn't where Carden's DREAMS came true. Hopefully someday soon they will!

P.S. The whole way home in the car Carden kept saying, "I want money Mommy." "Mommy, I want money." His little voice was just so tender as he said those words to me while driving home. He just wanted money so he could go back to the store and by those two little cars :(

Carden is a future Tapper!

Migraine. What do you do?

Last night I got the worst migraine. I felt so much throbbing that I threw up about five times before I could lay down and fall asleep. It was so painful. It is the worst pain. I think I rather be in labor than to have another migraine. I was about to take Ibuprofen last night before dinner but then thought, "no this won't get too bad". Sure enough it was really bad.

Do you get migraines? What works for you? What do you take or do to relieve the pain?

Brooke and Rhead Nine Months

Aren't these pictures great?! Well Brooke and Rhead are now over nine months but here are the stats:

Brooke: Head: 44.9 cm, Weight: 18.14 lbs, Height: 28 and 3/4"
Rhead: Head: 47.2 cm, Weight: 20lbs, Height: 30 and 1/2 "

They are tall for their age. Rhead is in the 96% and Brooke in the 74%. They love to play with each other can't you tell? They are so hilarious to watch. I really love this age. I could handle this age for awhile. I am getting nervous for the walking. I haven't been pushing it at all but I think Rhead will start soon. Both of them are getting there though.