Tissue please

It's been a long couple of days of coughing, runny nose, crying, tired sickness. Not to mention the kids! :) Oh my babies! Lots of blowing noses, drinking fluids, and movies. Hopefully another day of indoor only fun will get rid of it. I haven't heard any coughing for a while, but I was at Winco. ;)

Ab notices now when she does something and I laugh. "What I said/did mom?" with a grin. I'll tell her why I'm laughing and she's do it all over again. You'd think I'd have some great stomach muscles with all the laughing I do...

Dax at 8 months, and Abby 3 months shy of 3 years old

Reading

Thursday after Book Babies at the Kuna Library, Ab picked out some books. I took her to the Valentine section and let her sift through the stack. She found a Dora one, and a Strawberry Shortcake, and an Elmo among others. The Elmo one talks about what people love, and then says that Elmo loves you! "ME?!?!" she asks with a huge grin. She's been attached to the books ever since, and so naturally Dax wants to see what the fuss is all about. She was getting pretty angry with him, so I told her she could sit up on the couch or on her bed where he couldn't reach them. A few minutes later, I notice her closing herself into the pantry. I thought I was in for a round of Trick-or-treat, but when I knocked and peeked in...

She had made a little safe place in the pantry. She stayed in there until she had "read" through all the books. And Dax was none the wiser. :)

This morning in the kitchen, while waiting for the oatmeal to cool, Ab and I were singing "Jeramiah was a bullfrog", and in the chorus"...joy to you and me!" I pointed to A and then to me. Ab then continued a list of about 15 people. :) "...joy to you and me, and Dax, and Daddy, and Tom, and and and and..." It was great. Kind of like our prayers when she includes everyone. Too sweet.

Part 2

I brought the Flip into the playroom were the kids were to see if I could get Ab on video singing. "What you doing mom?". I told her. "Hummm, let's see. Here?" and she climbs onto the chair. Well, ok then :)

8 MONTHS!

I can't believe it! Already?!?! And at the same time, that's all? He's just so busy. I sat next to Shirlyn at church (she had Logan a week before we had Dax) and Logan's not quite sitting up on his own yet. And then there's chubbo that's crawling up peoples legs and walking himself around chairs. We went out into the hall. (where I'm pretty sure I lost some friends for telling them we don't immunize)

He's been jabbering more, and likes to make the indian noise. His teeth are almost through, and he's been taking a bottle before bed. He's already wearing 12 month clothing. The pants are alittle long, but fit in the waist :) Loves to eat paper, and laugh with Abby. She's into books, so he is too. We started giving if some solid food, like peas and those dissolve puffs, and he's learned to work his tongue. He crawls around twisting it. Still no more hair than he had when he was born. And loves to play peek-a-boo.

Part 1

Ab got her self dressed today in a turquoise flower shirt, pink beastie pants, red socks, and Meme strapped to her back. She was quite the site at Winco. One gal asked if she picked out her own outfit. :) We were driving home from Winco, and I asked Ab what song we should sing. "Hummm, let's see." while tapping her pointer finger on her chin. "Skinny Dink!" :) Otherwise known as Skidamarink. I'll have to get it on video tomorrow or the next day.

Just shy of 8 months

Must be genetic??

Saturday

So little miss thang has a fear of car washes. She thinks she's going to get wet, brushes pound on the windows, it gets dark, the blowers shake the car. So our car is FILTHY. I could go when she's not in the car, but when is that?! :) I've been preping her for the car wash, because I don't want to touch the car it's so covered in grime. We finally made it today while running some errands with dad. She's was ok with the idea, and then the water shot onto the car and it was death grip on my hand for the rest of the way. I got her distracted and she says "I don't need to be afraid." That's right. :)

Later, she was helping me with dinner and wanted to crack one of the eggs. She got a little excited and the egg went flying out of her hand and broke on the ground. We got a rag and started cleaning it up, and she asks for another egg. No, I say, we don't have that many left and we need to be careful. "Just one more?" She kept saying that, and when she didn't get a response from me while I was bent over wiping up egg, she came to my side and patting my back, "Just one more, sweetie?"

We've been popping a lot of popcorn as a night time snack. It reminds me of growing up. I'm pretty sure we had it everyday for about 8 years.

lovely day

lovely day, lovely day, love-ly day! Who sings that song? [Bill Withers] It's in my head now. From start to finish we had a great day! Dax woke up a little earlier and I was able to shower and get ready before a happy A closed the door behind her and came into the kitchen this morning. We had a bowl of cereal AND oatmeal. Got her dressed and ready and headed out for some errands. We stopped at the sprint store next to a Sonic, and A says "Mom. Let's go there, and then there.", pointing to sprint and then Sonic. I ask her if she knows what "there" is called and she says yes. I tell her it's called Sonic. "Sonic and Lunch" she says. Any restaurant or fast food place is Lunch, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. :) We picked up some food and brought it home so Dax could finish his nap. We played and then I was able to get them both laid down for about 2 hours!!! Yippee! Ab woke up happy and was delighted when I told her Mols and Aj were coming over. And they played sooo good. She's coming around. And I can feel the breathe of relief coming. It's getting closer everyday. Everyone was in bed by 9:30 and I actually got some laundry folded! Go our team. Here's to a good nights sleep. Well, at least better than last night.

Green

So I've always tried to be friendly to the enviroment. Recycling, I really want to compost, reusing, not littering, ect. Well I noticed these reusable bags that a lot of places are selling. I got 10 at wal-mart for a buck each,(Winco sells them for $.88/ea) and was so excited that I wouldn't be using plastic bags anymore! I've forgotten a few times, (changing routine takes some getting use to) but this morning we went to Winco for a few items for the week. I remembered our earthwise bags, and it was great bagging it up. They hold a ton! and the heavy things(sack of potatoes and 10lbs of sugar) just got transfered from the cart to the car. When she handed me the reciept, she pointed out that she gave me a discount for using my own bag!! Granted it was only 6 cents, but that means I only have to use a bag 16 times to pay it off. :) It's more about the slogan "chose to reuse" than 6 cents. So there's my soap box.

"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass,

it's about learning to dance in the rain"

I had my first class this morning, and this is how she started class. I've thought about it all day. What have I been waiting for?? The storm to pass. It'll be better tomorrow... No. Live in it now! Start dancing!

---------------------------------------------------

Abby was all jazzed to go see her friends at the daycare they hold in the gym. She did great, and when I picked her up, the lady says she was perfect and hoped that I wasn't taking the class for her because she's a great kid. I had no words. And yet I know this. Yes, I am taking the class because she is my daughter and I need to be a better parent, and yes I know that when I am not around she does not whine and yell. Something about me brings it out in her. JB says when I am in the room she wants MY attention, and that is what her programing says she needs to do to get it. Therefore, I am taking the class to start changing the percentages of our behavior together. It was a great class, and I'm sure that saying will end up in vinyl letters somewhere in my house :)

Nesting

We had a great day doing my visiting teaching with Marnie. We met with Karen for the first time, and the kids just made themselves at home playing with all of Cammie's toys. Jen made some banana bread with chocolate chips that we all snacked on. And Addie wasn't there when we went to visit Kylee, so Ab just played with all her toys by herself. :) We came home and Ab watched a short movie while Dax took a long overdue nap. She came downstairs and was playing in the office while I worked on dishes, when she walks out with an arm full of shredded paper! She piles it up in the middle of the sun pattern. Whoa. What are you doing A? "Making a nest!" "A mess?!" I ask. :) "No, my n e s t !" There was no mistaking the pronunciation that time. Well, ok, that's fun. But then brother wakes up and wants to eat the nest. Who could blame him?? I hadn't realized how much shredded paper was actually available, and how it covered the office floor. We then spent the next 15 minutes arguing about getting it up off the floor. She just wanted to watch me clean it up. Hummm... it lead to some good explaining about making choices to make messes, and how then it needs to be cleaned up. She was pushing my boundaries, so it was time for nap. Which, now that she's got toys in there, didn't happen. So she's tired, I'm tired and everybody wants mommy. Hooray for daddy coming home to save the day. We popped some popcorn and watched "Stardust" and it was off to bed with some stories. "A woman who treasures motherhood on earth will treasure motherhood in the world to come, and 'where her treasure is, there will her heart be also'. " I can't wait for tomorrow. My parenting class starts tomorrow. Last semester was such an uplift, a great source of strength. I told Ab we were going, and she was all excited to play with her friends. :) My greatest joys and frustrations... i love being a mom

DAY 11!!!!

Yippee! Hooray! WooHoo! Go my team! And I plan to keep going for as long as I can! HA! I've really enjoyed it. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something that I've wanted to for a LONG time.

Even though we've separated the toys, so D can have his own room-We still hang out in there most of the day. It gets great light. Makes it warm and inviting and happy. I hope our next house can have more south facing spaces. Anytime the camera comes out, D turns on the charm. He always has smiles for the camera.

Addiction

I've been pining to get on to blog! The modem came yesterday evening, and we finally get everything going. The first thing I do? Well, I'm doing it. I am addicted.

Ab got invited over for lunch and play to Sarah Smith's house on Wednesday. It was going great for about an hour, and then the pushes came out. Ab started bawling and we were packing up. It was good still. She talked about her all the way home. That night the power went out and in our search for another flashlight, I came upon some stickers. J had lit the fireplace for light in the living room, and A had a good time putting the stickers on me :)

So another addiction is that book!! M dropped "Twilight" off and I stayed up until 1 reading the other night. I didn't shower until 2 yesterday, and any chance I get I'm downing my way through the 500 pages. (Renee'-I'm it your way, unless you already have it :) ). JB took Ab to a gun show at the fairgrounds this morning, and I stayed home with a teething Dax(and Edward;)). He's fairing it well, but I wish it wasn't with so many poopy diapers. The own room thing is getting better. Last night he slept from 9:30 until 6! I heard him wrestling a few times, but he feel back to sleep. My big boy. It sure made the day easier having slept for more than an hour span at a time!

Wednesday

Just I was about to get on to blog last night-the power goes out! It was out for about an hour- from 8-9. And apparently it surged the clearwire modem, so I'm blogging from the library. I guess I'll come back and edit later, because I'm getting the evil eye from the librarians since A is running a muck!

2008

Things I want to be percentages better at:

entering bills

reading my scriptures

individual play time with the kids

haveing FHE, or FFT :)

taking off my makeup at night

being patient with A

making a dinner schedule

following though on projects

wifeing

The move

I am just loving this snow! It has been years since it snowed like this in the valley. Everyday and it's sticking! Makes me want to bake and sew and read a good book. :) I love watching it. I remember laying on the couch in December (when it would be under the window because of the Christmas decoration rearrange) and watching it come down. I loved it especially at night when the street light was on. I like when it's cold, when there is something to show for it. I can't wait to go for a walk tonight and hear it crunch under my feet.

We moved Dax into his own room yesterday. I had to do some prepping with Abby, since he was moving into the toy room. She finally agreed, and the move was on! We went through the toys and put some in her room and left some in his, so they could still play if the other is napping. He still isn't sleeping thought the night, and I was worried that I would be walking across the house all night. It was pretty good. He wakes at the littlest sound during the night, i.e. if me or JB move our pillow. Which was one of the reasons he needed his own space. He woke about 4 times. 1 for comfort about an hour in, 1 for a diaper change, and 2 to eat. Not bad! That's what I was hopeing for. That he would get some sleep. And Ab slept through the night. I wasn't sure with crying down the hall, but it didn't bother her. It felt weird moving him out. Like we finally have 2 kids...

Pony

There are a few things I love about this picture. First is the fact that ever since Papa Santa & Grandma brought her these pajamas, she wants to wear them everynight. "I wear my flower jamees." Second, is the pony tail!! I put one on her about a month ago, and we both love it. She likes that it's only one, instead of 2 "piggies". I think it makes her look like a big girl. And I clip her bangs with a little hair clip. Which she used to say "hair plip". Third is the crossed ankles. I have a picture of her a few days shy of 9 months where she is crossing her ankles as she eats. That's almost 2 years ago!!!! *teary* And lastly, the sun glasses. It goes in phases of wearing them all time, and we are in a phase now. It will only last a few days, but it's fun.

SNOW DAY!

Well, she liked it!!! The sun started to shine, so I got Dax all bundled and prepped for a sled ride. Abby wasn't sure, but went along with it, since her baby brother was going. By the time we were ready, the clouds were coming on again but I was determined we were going and it was going to be fun! It's nice when things work out how I think they will in my head. We got going up the sidewalk, and once we were on the street they were making each other laugh. We just went to the end of the road and back but that was plenty. I had forgotten last winters sled rides until Abby started dragging her glove in the snow. It's exactly what she did last year. I had to laugh. Which made Abby laugh, which made Dax laugh, and it went the rounds.

Note the hand in the last picture. By the time we got inside and de-layered with wheat sacks in the microwave, the snow was coming down!! It's been a good day

Sunday

Well, since our ward is still meeting at 3pm, I had some time in the morning to do a little cottage sewing. I think it turned out really cute. Megan knows how to pick her fabrics!

The other day Abby Doo asked to be in the 3rd row in the car, so I moved her carseat. She thought it was so fun to be back there. On the way to church I squirted the back window and started the wiper. Abby started laughing and said, "Look mom! We have a tail! Our tail wagging!" Then she moved her arm like the wiper to show me how it was "wagging". I never would have thought of it that way. :)

It's been pretty fun have the little bit of snow we get to stick around this year. And it looks like it might come down for a while today. I keep asking Ab if she wants to do play in the snow with me, but after the sledding tip at Donner, she promptly says no. A couple of weeks ago I made a slide out of the driveway snow like we used to growing up. I got her to go down with me once and once on her own, but she was saying "I'm done." the whole time. I think I'll just trying pulling her down the road, hopefully without tipping over. Maybe then she'll like it.

aahhhh

Is the day over yet? Mostly a good day, but just one bad thing can happen and it puts a sour taste on the day. We started out at 6am with Dax awake and Abby following an hour later. Not so bad. At least they both woke up happy. D went down for an early nap, surprise :) We ran some errands, had some lunch, bought a totally cute shirt (for ME), and then came home for a nap at 2:30, that no one took. Dax woke up and Abby wanted to watch... Strawberry Shortcake!! Big surprise there. I was talking with Dad in the office and heard the "I'm hurt!" cry belt out of Dax. I ran to the living room and Abby was sitting next to a face down and bawling Dax. I scooped him up and asked her what happened. "I bite his cheek." I took a deep breath and lead her by the hand "I'm going to the corner?" "No", I said. "You are going to your room. It's time for nap." She screamed for a few minutes, and when I went back in she was sitting on the mattress in the nook. I talked to her about how we love our brother and that she can't bite. He has red marks on his cheeks from her top teeth dragging across his cheek and a half circle mark from her bottom teeth. She slept for almost 3 hours. I have to be better about sticking to nap time. She gets past tired and the attitude gets past manageable. Bad parent of the year award nominee?

He did really good later in his chair eating those disolveable puffs and chewing on his sippy cup. He's getting so big. At dinner, he was standing up against the back door, smiling at his reflection. And he's kind of starting to clap. It goes by so fast.

JB got home from hunting with Kymber in time for dinner. After dinner we played battleship, and Ab was on JB's team. She kept moving the ships :)

Make room for food storage

So my project for the day was the pantry. There were things that I didn't want anymore, things that didn't belong in there, and some expired hamburger helper :) It's SO much better, and when JB got home I showed him. Ab went in the pantry to show him how much I cleaned out, and I snapped this shot. Hooray for cleaning out!


I found an outline "Year supply food storage for $5 a week" found here. I bought my salt today!! I'm excited to get it going. I showed JB the list and he said " So where's the canned chili?"

hearing

last night, my dad finally answered my question as to what we were planning to do that night. It was about an hour later, when he says "We'll pick at the guitar. That's what we'll do." So I smile, because I've been wanting to learn and he said he'd show me. A tired Abby gets a little upset and says back to Tom, "Don't kick! Don't kick at my car!!" HA! Truley my daughter.

Road Trip

JB is leaving and coming back all in one day. He's got a meeting in SLC at 6pm and says he's driving back once it's done. Hummm... I'd rather he slept, but he's a big boy.

Ab borrowed another strawberry shortcake movie from the library and is watching it upstairs while Dax takes a nap. She's only seen it a couple of times, so she still sits through the whole thing. :)

She asked me to take this picture of her and her new snoopy phone. And D at 7 months is just itching to walk. Now he's starting to walk around the furniture!!!

Up and Running

Well, the blog anyway. I'm just about ready for a nap, but I can still hear A talking in her bedroom. I just wanted a place to put my days. Hopefully this will be something I can keep up on. That's the point. That it will be easier than writting in a journal-because all my journals have been written on up to about page 10. Then I just get lost in life, and feel guilty for not filling it. So there will be a big celebration on day 11!! I can do it!