Teary Eyes

Being pregnant causes me to be teary eyed more than usual.  I am not usually a person who cries.  Actually Will has told me multiple times since being married "Tiff it is okay if you cry."  
Being pregnant makes me very teary eyed. 
Pictures of my family, past and present pictures, make me really teary eyed.

I don't talk about my Mom much.  Mostly because I don't want people to think I am sad all the time.  Because I am not.  I do miss my mom, I think about her daily, and think (of course) what life would be like if she were here with my family now.  When I hear a song, when I watch certain TV shows, when I listen to Alicia Keys or Stevie Wonder, when I find a picture with her in it, when I see a picture of Oprah, and eat yogurt - of course I think about her. 
Mostly right now I think about her when I am walking.  I walk 4 miles 5 times a week in the morning.  Will calls it "jogging" but I won't go that far.  I do go fast.  But I am by no means running or jogging!  I think about my Mom a lot on those walks. 

Why do these pictures make me think of my mom so much? 
A few reasons:
1.  I look a lot like her in the pictures.  My brother always tells me when I am pregnant I look like my mom.  I sure hope so.  She was beautiful. 
2.  Max smiles like my mom.  And also has her serious face. 
3.  My dad is happy.  He loves being a Grandpa, and you can see it all over these pictures.  That would make my mom happy.  She told me over and over he was going to love being a grandpa. 
4.  Looking at my pregnant belly in these pictures reminds me that my Mom isn't missing out on meeting my children.  She is with them right now.  She is with them in the pre-exsistance.  She is watching over them.  Sure, she is missing their earthy life.  But she has met them, and will be with them always. 
5.  The veil is so thin.  I can't wait to hold Baby Peanut because he was just with my Mom.  I can't wait for that feeling again.  Max gave it to me multiple times when he was a newborn, and I am grateful for that feeling. 

Thank you so much Casch for these beautiful pictures. 

 (By far my favorite Max picture EVER!  He is dancing, and showing off his moves!)

These pictures are just perfect!  I love all three of the following.  Look at all our faces.  Pure joy!

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched, but are felt in the heart. *Helen Keller*

Max Movies

Max might not know his animal sounds, but he can tell you what THE COUNT on Sesame Street says.

When Grandpa Rust was here Max learned how to Jump. 

What has Max been up to lately...

 Playing with cars.  No surprise there.  But we now take them in the tub.  He lines them up.  Washes them.  Studies them. 

 The face below explains it ALL.  That is right.  A potty has entered our house.  We are not doing anything intense right now just letting Max sit on it.  We put him on the potty after the bath, and anytime he is in the bathroom he will sit on it.  We are waiting for a nice long weekend to do the 48 hour intense potty training. 

 Funny story.  We take Max to run around the mall.  We have been doing this all winter long because it has been so cold here in Utah.  There is a play area which he has very little interest in.  But, he can spot WHEELS anywhere in the mall.  We were walking the mall and Max started running toward a store.  And guess what he saw?  Wheels.  Skateboard wheels. 

 Max loves going to the fod store because leaving he gets a lollypop.  Blue face!

 Forts!  This is a new play time adventure for us. 

 Park time.  Max will do anything to be outside.

 

  "Come on Dad!"

 Art lessons from Dad. 

And finally Max and Will are buddies.  Max cries when Will leaves for work, and after nap time looks all over the house to see if his buddy is home. 

Photo Shoot with Grandpa Rust

I have such talented friends.  Casch has an awesome eye for photography.  She took some great pictures of the four of us (well 5 if you could the peanut) while my Dad was in town.  They turned out super.  I love how she captured Max.  He is a typical toddler right now.  Hardly looking at the camera, and making his "teeth" grin. 

Grandpa Rust Visits Max and Baby Peanut

My Dad came out for a quick visit this past week.  The funny part is when I was pregnant with Max he came out the same time.  I was about 6 months along, and that is what I am now. 

He got in on Tuesday and we hung out at the apartment.  Grandpa brought Max cars and a mini golf set.  Max wasn't sure what to do with the clubs, but he will learn.  We then went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant in Provo.  Pizzaria 712.  It is a MUST if you haven't been yet.

Wednesday we headed to the park.  We went down slides, played on the swings, took a long walk.  It was beautiful out.  Wednesday night we had a BBQ with all our friends.  Our friend Casch took pictures of my little Rust family, minus my brother.  I can't wait to see them all. 
Tanei and Jed were so kind to host the event. 

Thursday we ate breakfast at the hotel in Provo my Dad was staying at.  Max broke a hotel decoration...oops.  We then had to say goodbye to Grandpa. 

What a super Trip.  It is really fun to see my Dad as a Grandpa.  I love it.  My Mom is smiling I am POSITIVE of that!