Just Like Daddy

Devin sat down here and Jaxon did too. He is always trying to be like Daddy and do what Daddy does. It's so cute!

Baby Belly

At 21 weeks, it's starting to show.

Mother's Intuition

Recently, I had a neat experience about listing to that quite voice of warning that we sometimes hear.

Jaxon was playing outside and had been for a few minutes. I don't usually check on him very often, becuase I can hear him and can tell if he needs something that way. Also, the dogs were out there with him and are good at warning us if there is anything suspicious going on.

I was in my bedroom and I had a thought to go check on Jaxon. I thought to myself, okay, I will in a minute. I immediately had the thought again to go check on him now. I looked in the backyard and didn't see him. I went out looked for him and he wasn't there. I checked all over in the house thinking maybe he came inside, but I couldn't find him anywhere (panic now setting in). I went out the front door to see if he was out there and sure enough, I have no idea how, but he was in our side yard by the back gate. I had gone through the gate earlier that morning, but doubled checked to make sure it was latched since he plays out there so much. I don't know how he got out, but I am so thankful I listened to that voice urging me to go check on him. What a blessing it is to have the Spirit to guide us if we just take the time to listen and obey.

Jaxon's Vocab

Jaxon really has 2 first words. He started saying "mama" and "dada" at the same time. He started doing that at about 15 months. These are the words he can say now:

1. Mama & Dada
2. Woah
3. Wow
4. Oh
5. No
6. Amen
7. Jo Jo (One of our doggy's names is Joey)

He also signs. We started showing him signs long before he would have been able to understand and do them himself. I think he started signing about the time he started walking--9 months. Here's some of the words he can sign: more, please, baby, food, water, Jesus, prayer, toothbrush, corn, excuse me, bird, butterfly, book, phone, and come here.

People have asked me if I think signing delays the child's speech. I say NO WAY. Well, I think there could be a very rare occasion where a child is so comfortable signing his or her wants and needs they do not get frustrated enough to try to speak--they may not feel a need to learn to talk. BUT, there is no way I would not teach a baby to sign becuase of that reason. Jaxon was able to sign, and therefore communicate, months earlier than he could have physically said words. I would not trade months of communication through sign for a frustrated baby who can't talk. I am grateful Jaxon can sign. It's so easy to know what he wants. I can't imagine if he had no way to communicate besides whining and crying.

That is all my opinion, of course. None of that is based on any scientific research; it's just based on my experience. But, I know that it has been said that babies and children who can sign are more calm and better behaved becuase they do not get frustrated that they can not communicate their needs.

Anyway...I don't know why I even thought to post about that, but there it is!


PS: Jaxon has had a runny nose from teething lately, and his new favorite thing to do it wipe his boogers on my shoulder when I am holding him. I don't know where he learned it, but he thinks it is so funny.

Canning...Twice

This week, from Bountiful Baskets we were able to get strawberries for really cheap so we bought a lot of them. Joy and I planned on making jam. We worked for 4 hours on Conference Saturday (still listening) and canned around 15 pint and 30 half-pint jars! (From 4 8-pound flats of strawberries!)

When Monday came, the jars hadn't set so we decided to redo them! Yesterday we worked from 11:30 until 4:30 with our last batch coming out of the pressure canner at 5:30. It was a lot of work. It was fun and not very complicated, but a lot of work! Joy and I both really enjoyed doing it, but it was exhausting! The jam is so yummy and is a great addition to our food storage. We both felt like such Molly-Mormons! And were proud of it too!

That night I slept, without even waking up to pee (don't forget I'm pregnant), from 10:00 until 5:30 when Devin's alarm woke me up. I was exhausted!

I've Been Tagged...

Tag I'm It...

Well, I've been tagged so I'm passing it on...

4 people who email me regularly
1. Devin
2. Online stores I have purchased things from
3. Copper Basin Relief Society
4. Friends living out of state

4 places I would like to visit
1. Hawaii
2. Victoria, Canada
3. Caribbean Islands on a cruise
4. Alabama

4 favorite restaurants
1. RigaTony's
2. Cracker Barrel
3. Tom's BBQ
4. Cafe Rio/Costa Vida
I have to add another:
5. Quisnos & Subway

4 things I am looking forward to in the coming year
1. Having another little boy!
2. Devin graduating
3. Landscaping our back yard
4. Getting skinny after having my baby

4 things I am not looking forward to in the coming year
1. Sleepless nights
2. That's all I can think of...
3.
4.

I tag: Brooke A, Joy, Kiera, and Jen S.

The Office

Any of you Office fans might be interested to know that new episodes start this Thursday, April 10! I believe the time is 8:00...please correct me if I'm wrong. I'd hate to miss it!

Here's the plot:

GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER - Pam and Jim find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan and Michael's house for dinner. When Andy and Angela are also invited to dinner, Dwight's jealousy gets the best of him.

I'm so glad the new episodes are starting!

Hugs

I was reading an article about Hugs this morning and thought I'd pass some of the info along:

Virginia Satir, one of the key family therapists of our time, suggests that we need to get four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth.

A study done at Princeton University confirmed that babies and toddlers who are frequently touched in a loving manner until they are 12 years old are much more likely to be intimate and loving in future relationships. These children, when grown, found it easy to snuggle and cuddle, hug and touch, and hold hands. Those who didn't receive loving touches as children tended to be distant and uncomfortable with such contact with other people.

I think that's so interesting. The whole thing isn't very long if you want to read the rest:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-135425400.html

I love hugs and hug my family often, but I'm kinda shy to hug even close friends. I should work on that...every one would benefit from a hug!

It's A...

GIRL! Yea! We are so excited we're having a girl!

APRIL FOOLS!
We're really having a BOY! I think a lot of people wanted us to have a little girl, but Devin and I both really wanted a boy. We are so excited to have another little boy in our family! Jaxon will have a little brother to be his playmate and best friend! I love Jaxon so much that I can't imagine having more love in my heart, but I've heard it happens. I've been told that with each child the love doesn't divide, it multiplies. What a blessing it is to have these sweet spirits in our home and in our families forever! They truly are what this earth life is about: coming here to have families and earn the gift to be with them in the eternities. I can't think of anything better! Yea! Another BOY!

Scrapbook

I just wanted to brag a little that I'm all caught up on my scrapbook! All our pics are current and journaled! I am sure I'll get behind as soon as the new baby comes, but I want to stay caught up until then!

PS...We have our ultrasound on Monday! Hopefully the baby isn't shy so we can see if it's a boy or girl!

Important

A couple weeks ago we were over at my parents for dinner. It was a workday for my dad. He is a police officer for the City of Gilbert. He is on patrol (on the streets driving around in a cop car) so, I think it's a pretty hard job and I think most people would agree. It's hot, people are rude, and he just has to see so much ugly in the world everyday. It is a very important job to keep peace in our community, but it isn't easy by any means. So...I was setting the table when my dad came to help me. I told him to go sit down until dinner was ready and rest becuase he had worked all day.

As he helped me he said, "You worked today too. Taking care of that little boy of your's isn't easy."

I said, "Yeah, some days it's hard, but your job is harder."

He said to me, "But your job is more important."

I almost started crying right there! It made me feel so special as a mom. My dad is SO wonderful and works SO hard and for him to think what I do every day is so important means so much to me. What he said reminded me that being here for my children truly is the most important thing I could be doing on this Earth. Even though some days it feels like playing, reading, changing diapers, and cleaning make no difference to anyone, I have to remember that I am doing it all for my sweet little boy. I will always remember those words my dad said to me. I love being a mom. It is truly the most demanding and rewarding job I could ever have.

Bedtime

We have been trying to get Jaxon in bed earlier so that Devin and I have time together in the evenings. Jaxon is such a good sport if we go out somewhere and we're out late. Last Saturday, we were over at our friend Cody and Melody's watching "I am Legend" (good movie, really intense!) Jax watched it for a while, well, mostly played quietly while we watched it and at about 9:30 he decided he was tired so he laid down on a blanket on the floor and just fell asleep. It so nice for us when he does this, but when we are at home, we need to put him down earlier. So, I have been making his nap time earlier and waking him up no later than 2:00 so he'll be tired earlier. I am happy to say that on Monday through Wednesday he went to bed at 8:00 and last night he went to bed at 7:30! Yea! In the morning he woke up about 6, which is a little earlier than I prefer, but it's worth it for him to go to sleep earlier. Anyway, yes, my great success story!

Easter 2008

For Easter this year, we spend Saturday with the Millers' and Sunday with the Judds'. The whole weekend was really fun (even Friday b/c we went on a DATE!) Here are some pics of the happenings and egg hunt!




























Grandpa was doing handstands and Jaxon wanted to try.

















Jaxon loves to play with Uncle Joshua.













Jaxon & Grandpa:)













Grandpa, Jax, Uncle Joshua, & Daddy

White Horse

In Mesa, on the south east corner of Stapley and Brown, there is a photography business. For as long as I can remember (it was there when I was a baby) there has been this white horse statue out front. Recently, they added a baby horse! I've always wanted a pic by the horse and when they added the baby, I thought it was so cute, so we finally got a pic!

Pedicure

The other day we were coming home from Park Play Day and I got a text from my friend Kiera asking me if there was a nail place nearby. I told her there was one right outside our subdivision. She said she wanted to get a pedicure and I should come with her. My first thought was, I'll never be able to go because of Jaxon. Then, I looked in the back seat and he had just fallen asleep! So I told her I could go now...so we went! Jaxon slept the whole time on my lap and woke up at the end just in time to play in the water basin of the chair. It was a spontaneous and totally needed self-pampering adventure!

Rant

This is a post from my friend's blog. I was with her at that lunch and I have been in that situation (one time I changed Jaxon in the back of a sushi place on an extra table they had sitting there b/c there was no where else to do it) and I totally agree...ALL restaurants should be required to have a baby changing platform in the restroom. In both men and women's would be nice, but I doubt that will happen. (Dads can change diapers too!) So for now, we'll just petition in women's restrooms.

Hello???????!!!!!

Okay, seriously, call me crazy, but something little (and I mean little) happened today and it's been bugging me ever since. Hopefully by writing about it I will get it out of my system!

I went to lunch today a place called "Cravings"- it's Mexican food over by Dippin Dots and the new Target (in case you want to check it out).... so during lunch I had to stop to feed Landon a bottle.... okay, this is totally normal considering it takes quite a bit of time to get anywhere if you live in Queen Creek and your kiddos will be hungry no matter what. After feeding him I figured I probably needed to change him so I didn't have a mess on my hands when I got home. As I proceeded to the bathroom I stopped in horror as I entered---THERE WAS NO CHANGING TABLE! What restaurant doesn't have a changing table pull-out thing in the women's bathroom? Isn't that like a code violation or something? Not really, but it is just as serious! Do they not realize that more than 50% of Queen Creek is LDS--which means we have KIDS----HELLO!!!!! Which means, in turn, it's totally bad business if they don't have a changing table-because who's gonna eat there? Okay, maybe that's a little overboard-people will still eat there-but honestly! So, out of spite (mind you the restaurant wasn't that full) I full on changed Landon's diaper on the bench of one of the booths. What other choices did I have? Sure, I could have walked all they way across the parking lot to my car, but no. I did it right there. I'm not normally this riled up about a topic I guess it just left me in a bad mood.

So, if you're planning to hit the town ladies- feel free to check out Cravings---but of course plan ahead on your creative diaper changing methods....or not....then maybe they'll get the point.

Sunglasses!

As you can see, Jaxon loves to wear any glasses he can get his hands on...even if they're upside down!

Alpacas

Many of you know my parents have an alpaca ranch here in Queen Creek. Well, Jaxon loves to be outside but he especially loves helping Grandpa with the animals! We were all outside enjoying the beautiful Arizona afternoon when Jaxon saw my dad head out to work with the animals. Jaxon ran inside and put his hat on and came outside with Grandpa's hat in hand. It was so cute! He thought of it all on his own to put on his hat and then bring Grandpa his! Grandpa always teaches Jaxon neat things and shows him what he can do to help. Jaxon loves every minute over at Granny & Grandpa's!

I am so blessed to have grown up with the best dad who is now the World's Greatest Grandpa to my little boy.

Random Rush!

Hot dog butt & bun butt

This is totally random, and almost embarrassing how ridiculous we are to notice such things and even mention it to others...oh well...

Last weekend was our Stake Conference. Devin and I were in a huge rush to drop off Jaxon and make it to the adult session on Saturday night so we grilled some hot dogs to eat on the way. I was almost done eating mine when I noticed something I've never seen before. You know, on the end of hot dogs, they have like this bellybutton-looking (or butt-looking, depending on who you ask) mark? Well, I was looking at it (who knows why) when I noticed my bun had a matching mark! Who knew hot dog buns had those? Not me or Devin! I always carry the camera around (for emergency cute moments of Jaxon that I must capture) so I pulled it out and snapped a pic of the double butts!

Swiffer Wet Jet!

I just have to say I LOVE this thing!

For Christmas my sweet mother-in-law bought me what I asked for, a Bissell Flip Eaze. It's a combination vacuum/mop with washable pads for the mop function. I thought I would love it, but for vacuuming it clogs with like the smallest amount of dog hair. And for mopping, it's heavy and the handle isn't very long, so it's very hard on my back (and I'm not even tall!)

So, today I finally broke down and bought a Wet Jet. I just got done with my floor and it was a wonderful moping experience! (Of course I had to sweep first since this doesn't have a vacuume, but it was totally worth it.) It took 2 pads to mop with the Bissell and the Wet Jet only took 1. Also, the Wet Jet doesn't leave streaks like the Bissell.

Okay, anyway, I guess when you are a stay-at-home-mom the smallest things are exciting! Haha...

So, if you are in the business of finding a mop...go with the Swiffer Wet Jet!