Babysitting Mania

I just got back from an 8 day babysitting experience in ID. (I babysat my aunts 3 girls). It was crazy, fun, and definately an eye opener about future stages of motherhood. Then, I am shortly leaving to go watch my brothers in CA while my Mom travels "across the pond". I'll be there for a couple weeks. That will be another adventure. So, this blog will most likely continued to be neglected until beg/mid-ish April. Hopefully, then I can get back on this blogging bandwagon. haha

Angry Face

Paige has started doing, what I think, is the most adorable thing! She makes this face when she is mad/frustrated.

She also breaths very heavily thru her nose when she makes this face. Ok, so she actually started doing it a couple weeks ago but I could never get a picture. Finally on Sunday I decided to make it happen. haha So while we were playing I had Jared block Paige into a little corner, knowing she would get frustrated. I am probably like the worst mom, but hey I got some pictures and now we can always remember this cute little angry face!

15 Informational Tibits About Me

"Tagging".... a game-ish thing going around some blogs I follow. This one is writing 15 interesting things about yourself. I have been "tagged"....... interesting......... haha. I think it will be an exciting challenge, to think of 15 things about myself (I am not gaurenteeing any of them will be interesting). I honestly can not remember the last time I took the time to get to know myself, so I think it will be a worthy challenge. haha Here goes nothing......

15 Informational Tidbits

1.  I added to the teenage pregnancy rate in Utah. Yep, I got preggers when I was 19. NO, we did NOT plan it, yes I had my baby when I was 20, but I still was counted in that statistic. Maybe I should have made a television show out of it? haha jk

2.  I need order and organization, like need it to function. Everything has to have its place and be straightened up and organized. Not just counting household things; computer files, pictures, emails, movies, clothes, etc etc... Jared says the perfect place for me to live would be a space shuttle, because everything always has to be put away, in its place, and out of site. haha

3.  I am lactose intolerant, but I L-O-V-E ice cream and chocolate! I didn't when I was little, because come on, what little kid would willingly want to get sick? But I have since matured and discovered the joys in some dairy. And I know there are pills I can take to help it, but no thanks, I just choose the times I indulge wisely, and just know I will suffer the consequences. But most of the times, it is SOOOOOO worth it!

4. I am missing two teeth. My body never made two "grown-up" teeth and when I got braces the dentist pulled out the baby teeth. So now I have two teeth sized holes in my mouth, and will until I get implants..... and that wont be for a while.

5.  I LOVE Disney. Everything about them!! Parks, characters, movies, plays, you name it, I LOVE it! I love how they are clean and wholesome, perfect for all ages, yet they have some of the funniest jokes and story lines. And yes, I am living/going to live vicariously thru my daughter with this great princess empire Disney has built.

6.  Photography is my new passion. Can I take your picture, pretty please?!? I am just learning but I get such enjoyment out of it. Such a fun hobby!

7.  I do not find pleasure/enjoyment in cooking. I love food so I cook, not the other way around.

8. I sing in the car. All. The. Time. Loudly, and theatrically. Yes I am one of those people you see singing crazily in their car and you think they are a freak. I don't care if people think I'm weird. My car, my singing =>

9.  I have not danced in years but I LOVE dancing. I will still say its my ultimate passion. And since I have not danced in years, I have not stretched for dancing in years. But I am still crazily flexible. What a gift! =>

10.  I thrive on change. Two big ways: I really enjoy moving (apartments, states, cities, etc), and I am constantly rearranging furniture and decorations.

11.  Saturday was my first day "extreme couponing" and I saved $70.68 on our groceries! Not too shabby for my first time!

12.  I love love love water! Swimming in pools and especially playing at the beach. But I am deathly scared of any and all living creatures in the ocean. So, its a love/hate relationship.

13.  I celebrate EVERYTHING, even the tiniest accomplishment. They don't always have to be a full blown party (some definitely are) but even shooting a trash ball into the garbage can and getting "nothing but net" deserves a big "Wahoo" and a jig! I never thought that was out of the ordinary until my husband pointed it out. My philosophy: Celebrate every accomplishment, big or small. It gives more satisfaction and joy to your life.

14.  I am VERY competitive. In practically everything I do. I will "fight to the death" to win. So is Jared, which make for some hilariously funny moments while playing games.

15.   I always eat sweet and salty together. I don't enjoy having my mouth overwhelmed with one type too long. Ill have a couple bites of sweet, then change it up with salty, the sweet, etc etc. It always has to be an equal balance. This prob goes along with #2 and #10.


Holy cow, can I just saw how hard that was!?! Who knew finding 15 facts about yourself could take so long and be so difficult! But I have to say, I enjoyed it. => I challenge you to try and state 15 facts about yourself. Since I have to name a couple people to continue this "tagging" game, I tag: Heather, Tess, Danae, Amber, and Jen. I look forward to your 15 facts, as well as any and all of you who are reading this! I want to read your 15 facts too! Good luck! =>

Paige Gets Tubes

So one day I will actually talk about me and Jared...... when we get lives that more happen in than working and raising a baby. Sometimes I can not believe I am one of those people whose blogs turn all about their child. Its my goal to change that one day, but for now its all about Paige! =>

Paiges first surgery for tubes was scheduled for Monday Jan 24. We did all the preparations and everything for her sirgery the night before (mainly not feeding her), then went into the hospital early in the mornign for surgery. We were there for an hour but no surgery. She was still too sick to have it done (although she was MUCH MUCH better). So then we go home and do it all again the next Monday, the 31st. And she was well enough to actually get it done! Wahoo!!!

 



Isnt she just the cutest little thing in the hospital gown!?!?!



 

So after surgery the doctors and nurses warned us Paige would have a REALLY hard time, that all babies do. When they come out of anestesia they feel super funny, which scares them, then they wake up with a whole bunch of strange people around them, which scares them more. They told us to expect lots of screaming and crying for the first few hours after but then things shoul dbe better than normal.

Little did we know just how much screaming and craying would happen! It was one of the HARDEST things I have ever gone thru. I HATED seeing (and hearing) my daughter being so upset and distressed and being powerless to make things better! I tell you, I was so grateful Jared was there to help calm me down as well as help me with Paige. =>

After we got the OK from the hospital to take her home (still SCREAMING like no other mind you) we knew one of us had to go to WalMart to get Paige some formula (we had one bottle full left). Jared, being the amazing husband he is, told me to go so I could get time without the baby before he had to go to work. So I went, and I hurried as fast as I could because I did not feel right taking my time while leaving Jared with an inconsolable SCREAMING baby. I was gone no longer than 10mins (no joke) and I came home to find something similar to this:

***This is a "reinactment" picture. I didnt get a pic of the original happening but I couldnt
not have somewhat of a picture of it! And great timing of the shutter, Paige was awake and
playing around when I took this pic! Perfect timing! haha

Paige was asleep on Jareds lap, and Jared was asleep with his gun canceling ear covers on. It was one of the funniest and most unexpected sights I have ever seen! I almost had a heart attack when I walked in the house and didnt hear a thing! haha So then I woke Jared up (because he had a meeting to go to, if he could have stayed home I would have let him sleep) and we put Paige in her crib. She slept for 3 1/2 HOURS! It was AMAZING!!!! And I had a pretty hefty size nap in there too! After she woke up she was one of the HAPPIEST babies I have ever seen! Success!

Tubes = Miracle workers!

A Little Update

So, I have been a slacker on the blogging aspect recently. Let me try and catch you up on our lives. (trust me, that wont be hard).

The main thing is we are moving into our doctors office. Not really but we might as well! We (and by "we" I mean mainly me but occasionally Jared) have been taking Paige to the doctors AT LEAST twice a week for the past 5ish weeks. Thats right. I told you, we should just move into the doctors. She has had a double ear infection since THANKSGIVING! And NOTHING the doctors are doing is even breaking it slightly. The poor girl. Every time we go in the docs exclaim how bad it looks and how they are amazed at how bad it is/how long its lasted. So basically, thats my life. Doctors, doctors, and more doctors. And sprinkle on a lot of crying, cranky, baby (and who can blame her? ear infections hurt like the dickens!).

We have an appt tomorrow (suprise suprise) but its with a new doc,  Ear Nose Throat (ENT). The appt is a preliminary one for Tubes. The thing is, Paige has not only had ear infections these past weeks. Its about every other sickness you can think of too. (I had to collect her poo for some tests bc of one of these "sicknesses", collect the poo wihtout the pee. these doctors want the impossible I tell you! haha =>) So now we are fighting as hard as we can to break her most recent sickies, a WICKED BAD cold/cough/etc. If we dont get it broken by tomorrow (its lasted 2 weeks already) there will be no tubes until its gone. Meaning, cranky, grouchy, in pain baby for longer! So we are hoping for a HUGE miracle here.

OK, didnt mean to get ont hat big rant. But im not gonna lie, it kindof feels good to get it out. => But basically thats what has consumed my life for the past loooong while. My goal:get this baby better, then maybe I will have the strength and motivation to blog more.

Another thing I am debating is this being private thing. I know its "safer" and more protected, but Im missing the things that happen when you are public. Like people actually reading your blog and commenting haha. And, I know this is insignificant but i do miss my name moving to the top of peoples "friends" list when I posted. Idk what it is about that, makes me feel special or something, haha. But you dont get that when your private. => We will see what becomes of this. haha (prob nothing, just another rant thing =>)

And what is a post without pictures? Nothing! haha So here are a few recent pics of my little sicky! And even though she is deathly ill at times, she can always turn on her happy charm and be the cutest baby in the world. Thats probably the only thing that has saved her during this period of illness. =>

 

She loves cand canes



 



We left her Bumbo high chair in Idaho so we let her eat on the table. Mesys but oh so adorable!



 



Love this face! =>



All she wants to do in the bath is walk around. She doesnt quite graso the concept of bathing yet haha



Jared was making Paige laugh



She was laughing so hard! It was sooooo cute!

Playing with cousins, wearing Mr Potato Head glasses, a comic already



I just love this little girl!!! No matter how sick she is (although, I would appreciate it if she would just get better haha)

Look What My Baby Can Do

Paige is a little cruiser now! She is crawling, scooting, shuffling, and......

walking everywhere! Jared and I absolutely LOVE it! And it makes for some fun hide-n-seek games trying to find your baby when she is not in the place you left her! haha

Opening Presents!

This year I did Christmas in a way Jared calls "Hanuka Style". We opened presents with just our little family on the 22nd, then Jared got me one more present that I opened on the 23rd, we went up to Idaho and had Christmas celebrations on the 24th, and opened presents again on the 25th. That is a strange way to do it, and it wasn't exactly planned like that, but it was good and fun none the less! We opened presents on the 22nd because they were driving me crazy. Not because I wanted to know what was in them (bc I knew what they ALL were) but because they were taking up room in my house and making it look dirty. I just wanted to be able to put all the presents away int here places and have a clean house! haha And these presents were the ones that we were not taking up to Idaho. Because lets face it, thats a lot of effort to pack up all those boxes just to open them up there and bring them back home. We took just 2 small presents each to Idaho. These are the pictures we took that first present opening night (22nd)..... and yes there are lots because I have the cutest daughter in the world, and its her first Christmas! hahaha


Paige opening her first present EVER! She was more interested in opening the presents when she wasnt supposed to and now that she could, she didnt really care. haha

 

Once the present was opened Paige went right for the wrappings.=>



On Paiges second present she did better. She ripped open half the wrappings by herself, in order to eat them.

She almost looks like she is guilty haha. But just enjoying the wrapping paper



Paiges 3rd and last present for the night. Baby Einstein music toys from Mimi and Pappa (my parents)



Paige was ADORABLE with this toy! She kept looking up at us and smiling then leaning over to check it out!

Look at that smile, she just loves that toy and she haddnt even played with it yet. haha



Her hand must have been on it for 15mins, she was not going to let us take that box from her!



Paige was having ablast with all this Christmas stuff, even tho she didnt really understand what was happening. haha

Jared and I were consentrating on one of his presents he just opened (nice shirts and ties) and we look over and see Paige like this. We laughed pretty hard and it scared her off but before that she was super consentrated on eating the box. haha

Caught in the act of attacking the paper. haha

By the time we were done this little girl was all tuckered out, and she just layed down in the wrapping paper.



Our little one is all Christmas-ed out for the night haha

 It was fun to open presents with our little family, but both Jared and I agreed its more exciting to open them with more people. Maybe once Paige knows whats going on it will be more exciting. haha We love Christmas and we love presents! haha

Christmas Traditions

I love Christmas time! And I especially love all our Christmas traditions! A little while before Christmas my family and I (the ones that live in Utah) got together and had our Family Christmas Party!

First we have a family gift exchange. How we do it can vary year to year from white elephant, to "pass the gift" story, to assigned people. This year each kid got assigned another one. Even Paige and Kylie got to join in the fun!

 Next it was time for the Nativity play! This is the BEST Christmas tradition ever! We have a "script" that mixes scriptures to tell the nativity story and Christmas songs to emphasise the points. Oh I just love it!!


Paige was the sheep! So ADORABLE!




Sydney was our Angel! Beautiful!




Love how the shepherd had to get bribed with M&Ms to sit in place.




The sheep wasnt too interested in what the Angel had to say, but Mary was. haha




Raygan was an Awesome Mary!




Now Paige is interested. => I just cant get enough of this baby!




Pretty soon after her "part" Paige discovered the Christmas tree lights and could not get enough of them




Brooklyn was a GREAT wiseman!

  I love Christmas and I am so glad we were able to get together and had a fun night of celebrating Christ! Normally we do all this and a little more on Christmas Eve, but it was GREAT to be able to think of Christ, and center Christmas around Him even more! Merry Christmas! =>

Christmas Cards

I LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail! So I decided this year I will return the joy and send them out to everyone. Well, I got almost there. We had family pictures taken (like we do/will do every year) and I made these cards in Photoshop, but there were some snags. I couldn't decide which of my favorite two I wanted to send out (I made lots alots of different ones), I also didn't get everyones addresses that I wanted to send them too, and it was getting too close to Christmas! All of this and add on postage, I decided this year I will just send them via email and post on my blog! => (Thats the lazy in me kicking in).
So to all of you: We love you and hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!