This week

we haven't done anything since monday! well, not entirely true. we went down to my cousin's house but jared got sick with croup (hopefully he didn't give it to all her kids!) and i didn't take any pictures while there 'cause i'm lazy like that sometimes. we did go swimming and hang out with her and her adorable kids! it was fun- just wish that we didn't have to leave early.
(Spencer did get a little beat up by the cutest 17 month old ever! my fault for letting him babysit!)

jared had a high fever for 3 days. then i took him to the doc and he said he had croup. i didn't really believe the diagnosis at first, 'cause jared hadn't been coughing all that much- it was just the way he was breathing. but, needless to say, the doc was right. and since then, all jared has done is cough. poor kid. he sounds terrible. and now i have it. well, i don't think i have croup per say, but the same kind of thing. i feel YUCKY!

but we get to see jason this week- so i AM going to get better here REALLY REALLY soon so that our trip isn't totally ruined.

here are the few pics i took at the beginning of the week. my boys are just too cute! i went to load the pics on to the computer tonight thinking that i hadn't taken any this week. there were about 20. and to me, that is nothing. i forget sometimes how many pictures i take when we are all feeling normal!

and, just in case you were standing on pins and needles wondering how the potty training is going... it is great! today was totally accident free, but average is about one accident a day. he doesn't really like to do #2 on the pot, but he is getting better. and i KNOW he is going love that put this pic on here for the world to see!

Do Not Despair

We used this talk by President Benson in our young women lesson today. I really quite enjoyed it, so i thought i would share some of it. Basically it is a talk about how to not be depressed. Don't worry, I'm not. But i do have my days lately when a little pick-me-up like this is really helpful. He gives a list of 12 things that we can and should be doing to keep our spirits happy! If you don't want to click over and read it all, here are a few quotes i really liked:

"A woman whose life is involved in the righteous rearing of her children has a better chance of keeping up her spirits than the woman whose total concern is centered in her own personal problems."
"Work is our blessing, not our doom. God has a work to do, and so should we."
"In general, the more food we eat in its natural state—the less it is refined, and the fewer additives it contains—the healthier it will be for us. Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression." (this was written in 1987- before all the hype about natural foods)
"A good physical examination periodically is a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit."
"While you are going through your trial, you can recall your past victories and count the blessings that follow if you are faithful. And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears"
"Every accountable child of God needs to set goals, short- and long-range goals."

Fun in the sun!

It sure has warmed up fast! Pretty much we just sit outside all day long playing in the water. jared has no fear- no matter how cold that hose water can be! we'll fill his little pool up and his friends will slowly get used to it. not jared- he just jumps right in and splashes them all!

Jared being silly:

Yesterday i got a little bored of just sitting in our yard. brooke had told us about this fun new splashpad that isn't too far from us. it took me a little while to find it- it's kind of hidden (which is good, 'cause it's not crowded yet!) but we found it. i didn't know if i'd be able to, so i didn't put jared's swim stuff on (just in case- so there would be no dissappointment for him) he just played in his clothes and loved it. we will definitely start adding this place to our weekly fun stuff. i love it the most because it is FREE!!! and because it's not a pool so i don't have to watch two babies in the water at the same time.

Happy Daddy's Day

Jason is just an amazing daddy. His boys love him so much. Even spencer, who's only spent a few days with him. He knows jason's voice. when he hears it, his little legs start kicking like crazy and he gets a huge smile on his face. jason takes the time every day to talk to his boys- when i know all the other guys around him must think he's crazy when he is saying things like "did you go poop in the potty today." but he does it.

he is working so hard right now. i know he misses me and all, but i think it's killing him to miss his boys growing and learning new things with out him.

Thanks babe- we love you and wish we could have been with you today! You really are the greatest daddy! Get some sleep! Happy Daddy's day!

My Dad

I really enjoyed this last american idol season. I think it is the one season that i have watched to most of. So, as soon as this medley started on the night of the finale, I was sooo excited!

Bryan Adams takes me back to being a kid. My dad always had the best music playing. I mean it, always. i have very few memories that don't invlove music being played at the time. It was great. I can sing every word to every song that he played. No matter how long it has been since i last listened to it, it all comes back. It's good stuff.
Thanks dad- for instilling such a love of music in me. It is my therapy. A good song can help change my whole attitude. Hopefully we can see you soon! We love you!

He DOES laugh!

I know, they are a bit indecent and such. But i finally got spencer laughing! he WILL NOT LAUGH for me! he was just going crazy the entire time they were in the tub. he just loves his brother. so here you go jason, your baby laughing....... :)

I blinked

And you went from this: To this:



How did that happen? Happy Birthday Jared Bug!

(yes, just so when you read this in the future: on your 2nd birthday you wore underwear ALL DAY LONG. and as of now, 2:00 p.m. have managed to do the deed 4 times in the potty today! mom is sooo proud!)

Thoughts

As a missionary this scripture is one that i studied a lot. i've been thinking a ton about it lately, again. 2 Nephi 2:26

"And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. "
And I can't get this talk by President Monson out of my head. (not that i want it out of my head) I first re-read it over a month ago, and yet, i keep going back to it. the end specifically. here is just a part of a it:
"Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries; they should also be places where God’s Spirit can dwell, where the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells.
The world can at times be a frightening place in which to live. The moral fabric of society seems to be unraveling at an alarming speed. None—whether young or old or in-between—is exempt from exposure to those things which have the potential to drag us down and destroy us. Our youth, our precious youth, in particular, face temptations we can scarcely comprehend. The adversary and his hosts seem to be working nonstop to cause our downfall.
We are waging a war with sin, my brothers and sisters, but we need not despair. It is a war we can and will win. Our Father in Heaven has given us the tools we need in order to do so. He is at the helm. We have nothing to fear. He is the God of light. He is the God of hope."

He's getting better!

He's getting better at staying like this: But really, it's only a matter a minutes before he has found that silly hand and is like this:
Though today, he did remember that he can kind of role over, so he did that and wasn't screaming at me.

Hats

I've often posted about jared and his love of hats. he pretty much always has a hat on- whether it is his or his dad's. well, as you will see below, he is trying to teach spencer that this is the way of life. no matter how many times i take the hat off of spencer, as soon as i turn around, it is back on. (with jared saying "DON'T" to me) spencer doesn't really like hats! i wonder why?! and yes, jared always does it when spencer is in the exersaucer. maybe i just shouldn't put him in there anymore.



But, this last picture is funny to me. jared will NEVER pose for a picture. i always have to have the camera pre-focused so that i can just click when i get a chance at a good shot. which often leads to 30 shots. but anyway. since i let him put the hat BACK on spencer, he sat down for a picture for me. what an angel!

Little things...

He is hilarious! he has reached a new level of independence today. he went poop on the potty. yes he did. it was real. for those that don't know how great of an accomplishment that is, let me explain.
jared has been TERRIFIED of the toilet. he never ever will even sit on it if he doesn't have clothes on. i bought him his own little potty to try to help him learn to feel comfortable sitting like that. he never will sit on it. until TODAY.
The reason i bought him the potty really was because he has consistently been telling me when he goes poop and wants me to change him as soon as he does it. but even when i ask him if he wants to sit on the potty to do it, he won't. he goes and hides for a few minutes, then comes back with a messy diaper. OR he'll poop in the bathtub. which i HATE- but he does all the time. until today....
this morning he said his usual while in the tub comment "mommy, jared poo poo" i ask, as usual, "do you need to go poop? sit on your potty" and today, he actually did it. and sat there long enough to do the deed. and was excited about it. and every time he had to pass gas today, he took his diaper off and went and sat on that potty to do it. i don't know how many diapers we went through today. he insisted on taking it off and throwing it away.
My baby will be two in a few days. i don't know if i'm really ready for him to want to be this independent. i guess i don't get much of a choice. i realize that we are still quite a few steps aways from actual potting training. but today was a MAJOR step for my son. he overcame a great fear.
spencer is so sweet. especially when he sleeps. for 12 hours every night. with out waking up at all. even to eat. and doing it consistently now for over a month. i guess i'm ok with him sucking his thumb. if it means i get sleep. and, well, because, really..... i don't have a choice!

Safari Time!

We went on a safari on thursday. it was a cold and rainy one, but still fun. jared hasn't stopped talking about it since. he remembers EVERY animal that he saw and lists them off with me. if i happen to forget one, he is very quick to remind me!

Every girl is a Princess!

Which one are you?

I am ........


You Are Jasmine!

Independent and adventurous. You don't want much; just to break out of the guilded cage society has put you in and experience life to the fullest. Following orders isn't really one of your strong points, and you would rather live a life of poverty than being forced into something that you hate.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Kind of funny!

More little things...

We had our ward camp out on friday night. we did NOT stay over night- though i don't know if you can even consider it a camp out because they slept in a lodge, not really camping if you ask me! but, we still didn't stay, 'cause well, i'm not that crazy! But we went up for dinner and to let jared be a boy in the wilderness.

While i went to grab my camera, jared was with his friends. they climbed this little mountain. jared sat on his bum and slid down it- saying "weeeee!" such a boy!

When it was time for dinner, he did NOT want to go back over to the tables. He tried to hide from me! didn't work so much. He just loves being outside. even just in our jungle of a yard. he always gets upset when it is time to go in. there has to be something pretty tempting for him to go in without some sort of defiance.
SOOO, it is sooooooo nice that we have this way cool sand box to keep him busy in all summer long. THANKS doughmans! we got the sand delivered yesterday. he played out there ALL DAY LONG. bruce came over and played with him for a while too. it is going to be SO fun teaching them how to keep the sand in the box, and not on each other's heads! really, he just loves it. the tree it is under keeps it shaded all day long, so i don't mind sitting out there playing with him.
This clip is his first minutes in the sand. he definitely got a little crazier the more comfortable he got in there. he is just like me- he likes to dig his toes down in it and wiggle them. it feels soo good. now all we need is an ocean!

Little Things

There have been lots of little things lately that i have wanted to post about, but really haven't had the desire to. So, here it goes. I'll try to break them up and keep it somewhat entertaining to everyone else- not just jason!

Jared got a little carried away with his birthday cake- three days later! it took him a few days to really want it. but when he did , he ate a ton! I made him a "special" orange cake. We hadn't gotten his test results back yet, so i played it safe. It was actually quite tasty- and rather healthy too!

Speaking of his test results. we did finally get those this week. frustrating is all i want to say- but i'll explain, in the shortest way possible. What they did was draw a bunch of blood and test it for different allergen levels to about 10 different foods and 8 different things (plants, animals, etc.) In order for it to be considered an allergy, the level number has to be above .37.

For him, the only things that came back higher than .37 were peanuts, at .67 (considered a very low allergy) and eggs, at 1.87 (considered a moderate allergy). oh, and dog dander, but i don't remember what the number was. i'll get a full print out of the results when we go back in in a few weeks.

So, the doc said to go ahead and try reintroducing things back in his diet, starting with milk. i got all excited and bought my first gallon of whole milk and gave it to him. yeah, with in the hour he had welts and hives all over his face, and he has had diarrhea for the last three days. his little body does NOT like cow's milk. frustrating to no end. so, he is NOT allergic to it- as in, it's not going to kill him if i give it to him- but it sure makes him sooooo uncomfortable.

So...... i am going to keep it away until we go back to the doc again. but i'm still trying new foods on him that maybe aren't just straight milk. also, things with soy (dino chicken nuggets- that he LOVED) i am trying as well. it's a great big guessing game that is not fun. but, at least now i don't have to go into a panic attack every time he eats something i'm not familiar with. i do still need to watch for peanuts and eggs- which are in lot of things, but his diet can definitely expand a little- Yay! Next- a lot more exciting (to me anyway!) Spencer has started the exersaucer. He didn't really love it so much at first, but has learned to love it! he is only 3 1/2 months, but his legs almost fill out the leg holes already. he is one big chunk!