The Waite Family

Stylin'

2012-01-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

"Brody, why are you so cute?"
"But I'm not!"
"You're not?"
"Because, my hair is down."

"Brody, why are you so cute?"
"Because my hair is up!"

Even at the tender age of 3, Brody has some strong opinions on what looks good. That's probably why on more than one occasion he wouldn't wear the shirt I had picked out for him because it didn't match his 'unawares' (underwears). True story folks. From the styling's of Mr. Brody Jay....

Shutterbug

2012-01-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

I think there are so many mom's out there that get a fancy shmancy camera and overnight think they are some kind of superstar photographer. I'll admit, this bugs me. Its stupid really, because um, hello...isn't that me? I have dabbled on and off in photography since highschool, but I never ever take the time to really LEARN like I need to. That's why when people ask if I take pictures and if I would do theirs, I'm so quick to suggest they find someone else. I have a couple friends that have become SOO good at taking pictures, that I look at theirs and this wonderful talent that they've developed and all I can see is the crappiness in mine! However, once in a while a family member, close friend, or someone that refuses to take no for an answer will convince me to take their pictures.

This past fall, I had a few instances of this. First, I had this way cute family. They were so easy to photograph because they were willing to try anything and so photogenic. The only problem was, the only time we were able to take their pictures was right smack during the sunniest part of the day. The mom wanted a field with tall grasses or sunflowers. The dad wanted something more rustic with a barn or a tractor. Believe it or not, we found ONE location that had all these components. It was great!

The next one I shot made me really nervous. Wait, I shouldn't say that. EVERY time I take pictures I'm super nervous. I honestly just about go into cardiac arrest because I know that someone else could do so much better. This one just made me more nervous because I haven't ever shot a newborn. Plus, you really should do newborn pictures within the first 10 days or so, and she was a few weeks past this. She didn't want to sleep at all, but baby A was beautiful waking or sleeping so it really didn't matter.

Finally, was my friend, Shelly's family. I have done their pictures for three years now. I probably am the least nervous with them because they know what to expect from me, and I know what to expect from them. I am the most comfortable and at ease, even though I have to work myself into this state for about 3 days prior to the day we take the pictures!

I never am one to make new year's resolutions, BUT if I did...I think one of them would be for me to develop a better talent and more skills at picture taking. To become more confident in what I do. To REALLY figure out lighting (its one thing I struggle to get just right). And maybe just maybe get a handle on the photoshop program I recently got!

Ryder's 15 Month Stats

2012-01-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

The pediatrician that we have been going to for the past 3 years has retired and in his place left a lady that I really do not care for at all. So I don't know if it was because she was new, or because they had a pipe break over the weekend, or because it was a snowy mess outside, but the at Ry's 15 month wellness check-up things were just hectic. Normally they write down his stats on a page and what percentile he is in as well as a paragraph or two on what he should be doing at this age. I got none of that. I do know that at this check up a month ago, he weighed 26 lbs 2 oz. I know he was more than 30 inches tall but I'm not positive exactly what it was. He was also above average in all of these things. Basically healthy, and doing great.

Currently Ryder isn't saying a whole lot. Actually, he says a whole lot in his own language, just not in English. They only words he says are boo, uh-oh, and daddy. I really don't mind this at all because I just want to hang onto my baby a while longer! His favorite way of communicating is begging. He will hold out his hand to whatever he wants and open and close it as if saying, 'gimme that' and then he says "uh....uh..." until we figure out what it is he wants. I seriously wonder why and how kids learn this. Brody never begged like this, but Ry learned it early on. He also likes to make any sounds around him. Growling, whispering, yelling, squeals, rasberries, any noise, especially if he's imitating his big brother.

He still loves food. He eats his, and everyone else's. Brody often leaves his cup of juice or snacks down, and it usually results in him yelling because Ryder has gotten hold of it. I always have to remind him that if he leaves it down, Ry will get it. Its just a fact.

Ryder LOVES to play with matchbox cars. They are probably his favorite thing to play with. Of course, just about anything with wheels that he can 'drive' is pretty fun too.

If anyone sits on the floor Ryder believes its so he can use you as his personal throne. He backs up and plops himself in your lap whether you want him to or not. If you lay on the floor he thinks you are fair game for him to climb all over.

He loves taking a bath. He hates having his diaper changed (after all this time you'd think he'd be used to it). He hates wearing shoes, but wants them put on all the time. Ryder loves to be right next to us wherever we might be. If we sit on the couch he has to sit right beside us, but he does NOT want to be held or cuddled.

Ryder is my shadow. Wherever I go, he is two steps behind me. There is no such thing as privacy. Its a little out of control at times. If he and Brody are in the bath and I walk out of the room to grab his clothes he screams until I'm back. If Trevor gives them the bath and he walks out of the room, Ry doesn't make a peep. It drives me crazy.

Despite not talking, he understands us completely. If you ask him to throw something away or to put the cars away he does it. He can point out his eyes, nose, hair, tummy, and feet. If you ask him to scrunch his eyes he does it and its about the funniest thing ever. He loves to dance. He makes us dance with him. Lately if I tell him no he will shake his head. If I say yes, he'll move his head up and down.

Ryder is a happy boy. Cheerful and easily pleased. BUT.....get him mad......whoo. Its not a fun time. He screams with the best of them. When he cries hard his forhead gets red blotches or speckles all over it. Thats when you know he means business. He is U-P-S-E-T!!!!

He really is developing into a fun boy. He can challenge us, and our patience, at times but he is so dang cute and loving that it totally outweighs the hard moments!

6 Years Ago Today...

2012-01-06T14:34:00.001-08:00

...this guy, and this girl, became husband and wife when they were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Mesa Arizona temple. Today (picture taken by the Brodster) the most celebrating we'll probably do is a high five and dinner of pepsi and nachos between the games that Trevor is coaching. But that's okay. Someday maybe we'll celebrate huge. For now we'll just take pride in the fact that we have made it six years and are probably more happy then ever before!

Christmas 2011

2012-01-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

Every year I want Christmas to be special for our family. I also want to send out cards, deliver goodies to neighbors, and help a family less fortunate.....Unfortunately the farthest I ever get in accomplishing any of these things is just thinking about doing them. So if you're my neighbor, friend, family, someone less fortunate, know that I THOUGHT about doing or sending you something nice. Someday I hope to actually carry out these things.

I do, however, think I some-what make Christmas time special for our little family. This year we have a dvr so I was able to record all the Christmas shows at all hours of the day for us to watch when it was more convenient for us. Many a chilly day or night was spent watching one christmas movie or another.

Looking at lights is always something we enjoy doing. When Brody was Ryder's age he was so much fun when we looked at lights. He would oooh and aagh and be so excited. We wondered how Ry-ry would react. He did not disappoint. Dispite a skimpy amount of lighted houses this year, Ryder would make this growl sounding word sounding somewhere between a whoa or wow! It was hilarious! We looked at lights so many nights that Brody knew where the best houses were, and what their displays were. He would say things like, "Wets go see the house wif santa cwaus going down the chimney!!!"

Christmas shopping with kids isn't very productive, but we did pick a few things with them, but the best part of any shopping trip was going down the aisles with the holiday decor. The boys would get so excited about every little thing. It just made Christmas so much fun with them.

Snow has been very limited, but just before Christmas we had a pretty good storm come in. Brody couldn't be happier because he kept telling us it would be Christmas when it snowed.

I am no crafty mom, but I did roll up my sleeves and me, Brody, and my nephew Aftyn, made a couple things that even I was proud of. One was a simple christmas countdown chain that they both thought was pretty awesome. Brody looked forward to pulling one off each night and then counting how many days until santa would come. The other craft was a snowglobe made out of sculpey clay and baby food jars. Thanks to pinterest for that super cute idea. (and of course, no pictures)

Finally, Christmas day came. It was great. Ryder didn't wake up on the right side of the bed and it took him a while to warm up, but Brody couldn't get the covers off him fast enough when Trevor went to tell him Santa had come. I had two cameras ready, but do you think either one behaved? Not really. The truth though, is that even if they did work properly I sometimes feel like you miss out on reactions when you are looking behind a lens waiting to get a good picture. I don't want to even get into details of who got what, but I will say this: Trevor was surprised, I was excited, and the boys were tickled pink. I can't complain about having too much family to visit when so many people are far from family, but we spent a good portion of the day running from our house, to my mom's, to Trevor's family several times. We truly feel blessed to have family to be with, and were really grateful and surprised by some of the things we did receive.

Christmas Tree & Christmas Eve

2012-01-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

My Christmas decorations have all been taken down, boxed up, stored away, and I am just now finding time to write about how our holidays went! The sad, but very true story is....my mommy brain cannot even remember HALF of what has gone on in the past 4-6 weeks. Its just a blur. This is why if I was a good blogger, I would get around to blogging before I forget everything. So this is what you get. Take it. Or leave it. (sorry to my kids in the future for not being better!!!) As per usual, we set up our fake Christmas tree. My OCD/perfectionist self gets a sick satisfaction out of its perfect shape and un-scrawny self. For anyone that might roll their eyes at this, or say I'm missing out by not getting a REAL, albeit charlie brown, Christmas tree will take pleasure in knowing that my perfectionist dreams were dashed by the constant "beautiful" re-organizing of the ornaments on the bottom half of the tree by two sets of cute little boy hands. Truthfully though, after everyone helping put up the tree, Ry went down for a nap and that left just the 3 of us to put the ornaments on it. Brody LOVED it, and was really and truly helpful even if we may have guided him where to put certain things (only to have him move them throught the rest of the season).

Christmas eve was not the usual this year. Normally we have a big Mexican food dinner at my grampa's house, but this year it couldn't be there and it worked out better for my mom and us kids because I had been up the whole previous night with a sick baby and I didn't want him around all the other kids, so we just went to my mom's. It was a little bittersweet, I'll admit. I loved having it with just us, but I definitely missed being with all the cousins. I really love all the noise, chaos, and togetherness Christmas Eve brings with that part of the family.

After a delicious dinner, we headed home for the boys to open their Christmas jammies. I LOVE doing this! Brody told anyone and everyone that his jammies had "Pirate skull bones!" Trevor got out the bible and read the Christmas story from it as well as a picture book of the night before Christmas. It was simple, but great just the same.

We went to bed that night in the hopes that 'St. Nick soon would be there...' And when Brody saw that Trevor and I weren't in bed like he was he made sure to come out and let us know "you need to go to bed so santa cwaus can come!"

Off we went to bed shortly after that and had 'visions of sugarplums' all night as we awaited to see if we had been on Santa's naughty or nice list!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

This year my brother and his wife weren't going to make it home for Thanksgiving anyway, so my mom and other 2 siblings took off to lands unknown....not really, but they did head out to "greener pastures". That left my little family to attend only one Thanksgiving day feast instead of the annual TWO we usually go to. After cleaning like a crazy person despite not having any company staying with us, and making my contributions to dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, we were off to spend some quality family and turkey time with the Waite's! Of course, I had to capitalize on the extra bodies around and get someone to take a family picture of us before the gluton-ness eating began. Let me tell you, Ry had already begun eating and taking away his precious crescent roll was not even an option, and Brody in his typical 3 year old way was doing anything but smiling or even LOOKING at the camera. So, if you can find JUST ONE good one out of all these, that's one more than I could find. After the 5 minute 'photoshoot' it was time to EAT!!!! Oh my, it was so delicious! There was good food and good company and it was just enjoyable being with one another. My family dug in and ate like we usually do...Trevor overate and felt like bursting, but still managed to cram in 2 pieces of pie. I ate my fair share, but left enough room for me to snack on food for the rest of the day. Brody in his latest eating fashion claimed that it was all yucky, but then ate it at a VERY slow pace. Ryder got his shirt stripped and stuffed fistfuls of food in his mouth. I mean, EVERYTHING that was placed before him was gobbled up until he out-ate his brother that is 2 years older than him. I really don't know where he put it all. It was quite a day, and as Brody said to everyone (because he refused to say thanksgiving for some reason), "Happy Turkey Day!"

Halloween 2011

2011-11-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

Before Thanksgiving comes I figured I better get a post and pictures up of our Halloween this year! We woke up to a really nice day. Probably one of the nicest Halloween weather I can remember. I decided I wanted to make the day a little extra special for our family, so I was going to prepare a Halloween dinner.

Me and the boys, along with our nephew Aftyn ran a few errands and got some things I needed for our fun dinner, and at each store we went in Brody told the cashier's "happy halloween!" He even earned himself and Aftyn a sucker at one store.

We spent the rest of the morning playing, napping, making dinner preparations, and waiting until it was time to join the annual Halloween Parade! Of course, we had to hit some bumps along the way. It can never be that easy or that simple for me to do nice fun things for my family. I had made a cheese ball, but shaped it into a headstone and grave. It turned out really cute and Brody enjoyed helping make it. But I got a phone call....I left the room.....Brody thought it would be fun to make a moat around the cheeseball, so he surrounded it in water! Now I can laugh about it, but then....well then.....I was SOOO mad! It was not my proudest parenting moment. I just felt so deflated. Like, "why do I go to the extra trouble to do something nice, and it just gets destroyed or makes things harder?" Brody was in so much trouble. Sometimes I read other people's blogs and they seem like such "nicer" parents than me. They probably would have handled it better than I did. Seriously.

Moving on....I was able to salvage most of the gravestone cheeseball, and despite threatening that no parade and no trick-or-treating was going to be in his near future...Brody did get to participate, and I did end up having an ok night.

The parade, like usual, was nothing too big, but my kids love it. They think they are so cool to walk around in their costumes and have people wave and honk to their cute little selfs. Aftyn came with us too, and it was fun having the 3 boys together. Once again though, we had a few problems. Costume malfunctions with Brody's chaps caused us to be at the very end of the group just trying to keep him together. Plus, with basketball practice just having started that day Coach Waite was gone and it was me vs. 3. Call me crazy, I know.

After Trevor got home and before trick-or-treating we had our Halloween feast. It was a mummy pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, gravestone cheeseball, and bats and pumpkins jello jigglers. Kinda a lot of work, but fun for everyone else. Pretty tasty too.

Trick-or-treating was the most fun ever this year. I imagine it'll just get more fun as the kids get bigger, but it was great this time! We did go to a few houses besides just the grandparents. Ry just stood next to Brody the whole time, but Brody was the only one really collecting candy and he had practiced (a lot) saying, "We are here! Trick-or-Treat!" Who wouldn't want to give those two stinkin' cute kids all the candy they had? Man, they were cute. One lady dresses like a witch and had "brews" homemade rootbeer to hand out. Brody wasn't too excited about it until he drank it and then he said it was "yummy, and tasty, and GOOD!"

Overall, despite a slightly hectic day, FUN Halloween! My kids got just enough candy for them to have a few pieces now and again (and some for mom and dad too), but not so much to rot their teeth out. Brody insisted on being a cowboy because he remembers being one last year, and the giraffe costume Ry wore is my favorite costume of all so not only did they like their costumes, they looked dang cute too!

Carving Jack-o-Lanterns

2011-11-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

Roughly 6 years ago Trevor and I had a pumpkin carving contest. He won. Maybe because he won by carving "will you marry me?" into the pumpkin, or maybe because I said yes. Take your pick. I already enjoyed the tradition of carving pumpkins, but this just made me hold it a little more dear to my heart. Trevor probably never should have asked me to marry him that way because he doesn't particularly like to carve pumpkins, but I make him each year.

Truthfully its not like I have to drag Trev kicking and screaming to carve pumpkins, but I am met with some resistance, and a little grumbling each time. Although we didn't buy pumpkins until 3 days before Halloween, and everytime I mentioned needing to get some, Trevor really didn't complain any more than just a little eye rolling.

I would definitely say we had more fun making our jack-o-lanterns than any before. Brody of course got into it. He made the choices for what mom should draw as our 'pattern' on his and Ry's pumpkins. For Ryder, this was the time of his life. Last year he was so little that he just sat in his bumbo on top of the table and watched, but this year he got to get down and dirty in all the pumpkin guts. And boy did he!

When Brody was this age (and even now) he really didn't want anything to do with the guts. He liked taking the tools and poking them into the skin of the pumpkin and he would scoop out some guts, but touching them? Heck no. Too gross.

Ryder thought the guts were the best part. Evertime we threw some into the big bowl on the floor he would use the scoop to pull them back out. He even took it upon himself to taste test the pumpkin. More than once. More times than we could count really.

We stripped down the boys to just their jammie pants but quickly realized that was a mistake. We should have just had them naked. Especially Ry. He was covered. We were smart enough to just sit on the kitchen floor and the mess was easily mopped up afterwards, but my gosh....it was SUCH a mess! It got so bad that Ryder would nearly do the splits everytime he tried to stand up. So nasty!
When everything was all said and done, we all had a great time. The pumpkins were not perfect, definitely done by ameteurs, but cute anyway. Trevor's pumpkin said Trick or Treat (for like the 3rd year in a row), I called mine a Dracu-lantern, Brody had said he wanted his to "have eyes wike me, and a mouf wike me, and a nose wike me..." so his got a cute little face to match his cute little face, and Brody wanted Ryder's pumpkin to have a bat so a bat is what he got. And the only challenge after the clean-up, was keeping Ryder from touching the lit candles inside the pumpkins.
After our jack-o-lantern adventures on Sunday, it was on to trick-or-treating Monday!

The Newest Addition

2011-11-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

But no, its not the one you are thinking. There would be no baby plans in our near future. But our living room got a new addition. One that Trevor has been practically drooling for ever since we got married 6 years ago. You see, we received a really nice (but not flat screen) new tv as a wedding gift. In my opinion, even larger than necessary. I guess that comes from the female perspective. Trevor and his wishful electronic thinking.....would say other wise.

(before pic, with the tv we loaned from fam until we got a new one)

Over the years as the prices of flat screen televisons have become more reasonable we've debated getting one, but we just really couldn't justify it when we had a perfectly good tv at home. We kept saying well, if our breaks.....

Wouldn't you know that it did. With a sly grin on his face Trevor said, "shoot. guess we'll have to get a new one." We did look into just repairing ours. Its like a relic. A dinosaur. No really....the cost of fixing it wasn't worth it. So guess who's flat screen dreams came true? Yep. Trevor's.

I always have had a stiputation that if we got a new tv that I would get a new entertainment center. We looked. EX-PEN-SIVE. Even at wal-mart! I don't know if its the couponer in me or what, but I just couldn't bring myself to buying one.

Then I remembered my mom had this old hideous and heavy dresser in storage. I asked her if I could have it. Trevor just could NOT see my vision for the avocado oil base painted dresser. He thought it would look dumb. But with his elbow grease and some serious paint stripper we got down to business.

After that I painted the whole thing a flat greenish-brown. Once it dried I worked in sections putting on a thick layer of elmer's glue. When that got a little tacky I did a coat of satin dark red. When it dried the elmer's glue had the same affect that crackle medium would but for a FRACTION of the cost (thank you pinterest for the idea).

When my new entertainment center was in place, with the tv, and things hanging on the wall again, I just sat back to REALLY look. The change took some getting used to, but I really think it turned out great. Even my skeptic (Trevor) liked it!

Little Dude making Big Steps

2011-10-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

I never want to be one of "those" moms. You know the kind that thinks their kid is a prodigy or something? My boys are the best, to us at least, but they aren't perfect and we are totally aware. I am not one to say Ryder is talking simply because he's been babbling mamamadadadabababa for months now. I also would not say he is walking even though he has circled the furniture while holding on, or because he'll walk behind a toy with wheels. Even when he started taking 3 or 4 steps I wouldn't call it walking. Attempting to walk, yes. Actually walking, no.

Until about 2 weeks ago....

Part of me says FINALLY, at 13 months you're walking! The other part of me says, SIT DOWN NOW! I am not really ready for a toddler. I want my baby for a while longer!!!!

But he's doing it. Everyday his steps get more and more sure. If he falls in the middle of the floor he can get himself back up to standing without any assistance. If we say, "Get up, buddy!" he knows exactly what we are mean, and he does it. He is choosing to walk as his main means of transportation as opposed to crawling. He even thinks he can run, but his legs just aren't quite ready for that.

Its fun to watch Ryder LITERALLY following his brother's footsteps, but it feels like one milestone down, many more to come....less and less baby more and more big boy!

2011 County Fair

2011-09-27T14:10:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love when the fair comes. To me, the fair is more than just the auctioning of livestock and the fun of the carnival rides. To me, the fair signifies the beginning of the fall. That means weather cooling off, time for baking, and friday night football games. In fact, I distinctly remember being in highschool at the football game and seeing the lights of the fair and just waiting for the game to be over so we could all head over for some fun.

I could NOT wait for the fair to come this year! Last year I had Ry during the fair weekend and then was way too sick after to make it to it at all. This year was going to be different. We were going to enjoy the fair, and you better believe that we did!

Nearly every lunch and dinner was eaten at the fair and we probably consumed more navajo tacos than should be allowed. After being rained out and a little bit sick one night, otherwise engaged at a certain lil dude's bday party another night, we were bound and deteremined to get use of the tickets we bought for the rides because there was a strict NO REFUNDS policy on the final night. The result: one pretty thrilled 3 year old going on carnival rides for the first time ever, and a 1 year excited by the lights and noise but pretty mad he wasn't able to partake in the fun as well.

We were sad when the fun left town, but our pocketbook probably appreciated it!

Ryder's 1st Birthday!

2011-09-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

If I was a better mom I wouldn't be a week and a half late posting about Ryder's birthday celebration! We had the fair, football games, work, shopping, and all the everday living stuff that has kept us busy, and me late on posting. It may not seem that long ago to you, but I swear my memory of Ry's big day has already faded some. Sad, but true.

Ryder woke up bright and early to a house decorated with banners, balloons, and hanging tissue paper flowers in a white, yellow, light green, and light blue color scheme. He made the appropriate oohs and aahs so the time spent up late the night before seemed totally worth the trouble.
I was out of stuff to make him special birthday chocolate chip pancakes, but being that he IS only ONE I didn't think he would care-or remember-so much. His daddy however couldn't believe I wasn't making them (maybe because he wanted some? I'm not sure....) so he ran to the store and got the stuff for me to make them. Of course they were a big hit and a huge mess, but oh well, nothing is too good for the birthday boy.

The cake and decorating had been done the day before, so the morning and afternoon of Ryder's birthday were spent doing a few last minute things for that evenings pizza party along with some lunch and quality time at the fair.

Pizza and breadsticks were picked up and brought home from Little Caesar's in Show Low that I just warmed in our oven for the party. The pizza was probably one of Ryder's favorite parts of the day. He LOVES it! Not only was Ry surrounded by his parents and brother there was also most of his grandparents and a few aunts and uncles. So much love in one room for that one sweet boy!

After the yummy dinner we thought we'd wait until we weren't so full for cake, and open presents. As usual, way too much! Spoiled? Um, yes. Because Ryder still chooses not to walk we bought him a toy that is meant for him to walk behind in the hopes that it would inspire him to do it on his own eventually. Everything else he received was from everyone else. There were lots of noisy toys (boo) and toys that will help him learn a thing or two.

Ry was pretty interested in opening gifts, but Brody was even more so. He "helped" Ry open everything and lucky for Ryder, Brody also "helps" him play with them too. In fact, everytime Brody plays with one of the new toys Ryder lets out the most loud ear-piercing scream with his legs stretched out in front of him stiff as a board. The noise is beyond description really. It makes you ALMOST wish that there was something similar to a bark collar that he could wear....(hehehe)

After presents we stripped Ry down to just a diaper knowing the mess that would ensue as he ate his caterpillar cake. He liked the cake OKAY. I don't know if he was just tired from the long day, but he didn't really seem to want the cake all that much. He even cried in his highchair for a while. I think he enjoyed his pizza more than his cake!

After getting hosed down in the kitchen sink, putting on jammies, and having a bottle it was off to bed for our sweet little ONE YEAR OLD! It was a fun day. A long day. Ry won't remember it so I don't know why we go to all the trouble, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

2 boys. One is 3. One is 1. Its a pretty fun time!

Growing Bigger and Stronger

2011-09-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

There are definitely some good things about having your kids around the same time of year. One is that all the clothes that fit Brody fit Ryder at the same time. They are roughly the same sizes during the same seasons so I have had very few things to buy for Ryder (poor second child, I know). The other beautiful thing is, I can schedule their yearly wellness check-ups at the same time. Instead of making the 90 mile round trip twice, I only have to make it once. Granted, having to plan one birthday party and make a cake and then turning around and doing it so soon again doesn't leave much 'recovery' time for mom, but the benefits of them being born around the same time far out weigh the disadvantages.

So over to the the pediatrician's office we went on Monday. Brody was scheduled for his 3 year wellness check-up, and Ry was scheduled for his 1 year wellness check-up. I knew Ryder was due for shots (4 to be exact) and was prepared for his screaming. What I didn't know we were going to have to do was take Brody to get his blood drawn because now the dr.'s like to do that yearly to check for lead poisoning (?) and a couple other things too I think. Brody was pretty tough through it all and only whined for about a second when they put the needle in and that was it.

Besides doing the lovely shots, they got examined, weighed, and measured. This is always something I look forward to because I love seeing how much they have grown and how much their growth stacks up against the kids their age. I see them with my own eyes everyday and know that they are growing, but its nice to see it written down. AND its definitely nice to hear from the pediatrician that your kids are as perfect as you think they are.

Brody's 3 year stats:

Height- 38inches - 59%

Weight- 34.4lbs. - 74%

Ryder's 1 year stats:

Height- 30inches - 57%

Weight- 24lbs. - 68%

Both my boys have averaged out some, so I was surprised to see that their weight was up again for their age. I was really REALLY surprised that Brody's weight was higher for his age than Ryder's was because Brody has become a finnicky eater lately that I have to constantly tell to 'take another bite' or 'eat your dinner' or 'chew your food', while Ryder polishes off all of his food and feels that anybody else's food left within his reach is completely fair game.

Overall, our boys are growing great! Bigger and stronger each day. The doctor seemed to feel that the progress they are making is right on track, if not better, so we must be doing something right!

What We Remember

2011-09-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

Where were you on that September day? I'll bet you know exactly what day I'm talking about without me even saying it was 10 years ago today. September 11, 2001. Other wise known as 9/11. Our modern day Pearl Harbor. Only on a larger scale. Hitting our mainland-something never done before. Something I don't think most Americans believed anyone would even DARE do to us.

So where were Trevor and I when our country's safety was compromised? He and I were both clear across the country in our little Arizona hometown. I was 16. A junior in highschool. Sleeping in the comfort of my own home when the first towere was hit. I absolutely hate waking up to an alarm beeping at me. Its the quickest way to make my day start off bad. I always have my alarm set to the radio. My radio went off nice and early and in my groggy state I remember not hearing music, but hearing news of the tower being hit. They weren't sure what had happened. Was it a plane malfunction? I don't think my naive self even really knew what the World Trade Center was at the time. I walked downstairs in my pajamas to find my step-dad sitting on the edge of the couch watching the t.v. The t.v. and John being downstairs that early wasn't normal. I sat on the arm of the couch and watched quietly with him. If I remember correctly I was up just in time to watch as another plane crashed into the second tower. It was the craziest thing to be watching. We couldn't even look away. I remember saying so many times that I needed to get ready for school, but I just couldn't stop watching. At some point, in a daze I imagine (because I don't even remember doing it), I threw myself together and got to school. There in the hallways all of us kids were talking about what was happening to our country. I don't remember much about any lessons that day. Probably because there weren't lessons being taught. There were t.v.'s on in the classrooms. They were our teachers that day. I remember specifically 2 of the 7 classes. One was my American History class in the morning. We watched the t.v. and I thought, "I am watching American History happen in my history class." At some point in the day while we were watching the news I remember specifically watching footage of firefighters on some ground level of a building and we kept hearing these loud crashes. We didn't know what they were at first until the news explained that it was people jumping from the buildings. I couldn't even imagine the horror they must have been going through to make them choose to jump as a better option. Later that afternoon I sat in a darkened psychology class. It was normally a rowdy class. Not then. It was quiet. It was shock. That's how most of the day was spent. Quiet. In total disbelief. I may not have been in NY at the trade center, or in Pennsylvania at the Pentagon, or in one of the crashed airplanes, but I felt the sadness. I felt like I was directly attacked. It was scary.

Trevor was 18. He had graduated highschool a few months earlier and was working on the grounds at the school. He and 2 other guys were working when another worker came down to them to tell them that the first tower had been hit. They worked for a few minutes more and then decided to head up to the shop to watch what was going on. Once they were there they watched the second plane crash. Trevor's co-worker had previously been in the airforce and once that second plane hit the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "It's Osama Bin Laden." That was not even a name Trevor knew at the time. Unless you knew politics or were involved in the military Osama Bin Laden was not the household name at the time. This day is the day that he became more known to us. Terrorists or terrorism is not something we really had heard of before this time.

It's been 10 years. I can't imagine how those families feel that have lost loved ones that they were never even able to give proper funerals to. I know I still get sick when I even think about the hatred those people must feel towards the U.S. enough to want to hurt so many innocent people. I can't believe that my own kids will someday sit in a classroom with history books in front of them, and read about something Trevor and I have lived through and have distinct memories of. Someday I may even have a grandchild come ask, "Grandma were you alive when 9/11 happened? Do you remember about that day?"

Thank you to people who served and fought for our country then, before then, and now. Your sacrifices, and your families sacrifices are more appreciated then I think could ever be put into words.

Letter to Ryder

2011-09-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Ryder,

Before this week is over you will be ONE! How is that even possible? I have heard from so many people to enjoy your kids because it goes by so fast. They were not wrong. It has gone by so fast! Even though your first year of life was 365 days long, just like your brother's first year, yours seemed to go by twice as fast! Seriously. I'm kinda sad about it. It makes me wonder if we have a third baby if his/her life will go by 3 times as fast?

Wow, so much to say about you little man. You fit our family perfect. I love having a baby in our home, and its sad that you are quickly learning and growing and becoming so much less our baby.

Its safe to say that you are more challenging to me. I think when I really look at other people's kids, you are not challenging at all, so I don't know if its because I have two of you wearing me out or if its just that you do things way more differently than your brother.

Speaking of differences... I know that I constantly compare you to Brody. I want you to know (obviously not now, because you are too little, but someday...) that I don't compare you to make either one of you feel like you are deficient or lacking in some areas while the other one shines. I do it for two reasons. One, after having kids I have seriously lost some brain molecules or something. I have a hard time remembering who did what and at what stage. By writing it down and comparing I can keep it together! The second and biggest reason I compare, is because I've been told that every child is born with their own distinct personalities. My Brody Boy and Ry-ry are no exception to this! You both are your own little individuals and I love to see how you learn differently or how you handle situations.

Ryder, you are the typical 2nd child. You are much more relaxed at about everything. Your brother would tend to just do things without a second thought. He walked, got teeth, everything, without much trouble. You little one are a little different. Its just like when I had you. I was dialated 5 weeks before you came, I was ready, you were ready, BUT you needed a little nudge. I had to be induced before you would come. You-I KNOW- are ready to walk, for example. You hold on to the furniture and walk around it, you love when you can walk behind the basket with wheels on it and go all over the house, but you just don't want to walk. Today your dad even stood you up and let go without you realizing it and you stood their for quite a while....until you saw he wasn't holding you and you immediatley sat down. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! I guess you'll just have to be nudged.

You still just have 2 teeth. That doesn't hold you back from eating. If we get sub sandwiches for dinner I get a footlong and have it cut into 4 pieces. I eat 2, Brody eats 1, and the other one usually gets wasted, until now. I decided to try letting you eat some. You ate a WHOLE piece to yourself! That was more than Brody ate! Hahaha. You never slow down when it comes to eating. Your dad thinks he may have to get a second job to support your eating habits! If this is how much you eat now, we can only imagine what it'll be like with you as a teenage boy.

I have noticed lately that you seem to be a critical thinker. You see Brody's legos and you try to fit the pieces together. You can't do it, but somehow you know they should fit. We also have a ton of wooden blocks. There is one particular piece shaped kind of like a doughnut and another like a long cylinder. You will work and work until you can make the cylinder piece fit into the whole of the doughnut piece. Another toy you've recently discovered is the barrel of monkeys. You dump out the monkeys and then put the monkeys back in, but your favorite part is trying to make the lid fit back on the barrel. It amazes us that you know these things.

You aren't saying any words but you do like to mimic us. You'll make noises or faces that we make to you. You wave hi and bye. You don't say our names but you seem to know who we are talking about when we say dad or mom or Brody. You love to play peek-a-boo and games where we chase you all through the house.

Ryder you are such a joy. You make us all laugh. People stop us all the time to say what a cute little boy you are, and we have to agree! Happy Birthday big little boy.

Projects are like Childbirth

2011-08-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have heard people say that the reason women ever go through childbirth more than once is because your mind and body kind of forget all the pain that it went through. This is not the case for me. I remember childbirth. Very. Well. I think the reason I ever even contemplated any children beyond Brody is because I got distracted, I guess you could say, by how cute and fun and sweet he was. That distraction made me think that I could do it again. It wasn't all that bad. Then came Ryder. Things were great up until labor and once again I was telling Trevor that there was no way I could do this! Let's be honest though, at that point, you have no choice. You have to go through with the labor. You began the pregnancy process, you gotta finish it out. Then that sweet little one comes and you realize that he is your end result. He (or she I guess for people besides me) is what was worth making your body hurt in ways you didn't even think were possible. And you look at that baby and think, "I would totally do it again...SO worth it!"

I totally TOTALLY can liken my home projects to childbirth. I seriously think halfway through every project 1: I'm never doing this again 2: I cannot finish this! Its hard, I hate it, and I'm tired 3: I realize I have no choice. I started it, I have to finish it. Then just like when my boys arrived and I have that end picture I love it. I love all my completed projects and I am proud that I can say I did them, but I am always amazed at the amount of work I put into it!

In July my project 'bug' hit. I was in the mood for some change. I refinished my table and loved it (it only took me 6 years to actually do it). That led to me paint my hutch a sleek cannonball black. I think these changes turned what I would call my amish dining room look into a much more sleek and pretty dining room look.

Next came my built-in bookshelves and mantle. We've only lived in our house for nearly 2 years and I've never even put stuff onto the shelves because they were too narrow for most books and I just didn't know what to do. Finally a couple months ago I scoured my house for books and pretty things that would fit. Its a work in progress, but I think it turned out fairly well (besides the bottom two shelves staying empty because my kids yank everything off them). But that project 'bug' was making me itch, and filling the shelves just wasn't enough. Rather then wait another 4 years like I did with my table, I decided (with a gentle shove from Trevor) to re-do them as well. The mantle got stained to match the table. The shelves not only got painted a pearly white, but I backed them with that paintable wallpaper that looks like wainscoting(also known as bead board). End result? Shocking. I mean really. I have to take a few days to get over the change before I can decide if I like it. Its been a few days...I love it!

All of this was done from about mid July to now. Oh, and I might have painted my laundry room as well....and painted picture frames and put them up...and other minor things.... So I think my project 'bug' has almost left me. I only am looking to perfect my projects. Things might need touch-ups, or edges roughed up...That kind of stuff. More fun and less stress stuff. I think I am taking a much deserved break from big projects for a while.

Brody's 3rd Birthday

2011-08-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, August 15th 2011, was our little Brody boy's birthday. I woke up and looked at Brody (who had crawled in the bed with me after Trevor left for work early in the morning) and just thought, "3 years ago at this exact time I was at the hospital and had been in labor for a few hours. I was on my side clinging to the rails on the bed anxiously waiting for an epidural." During the whole day I'd stop at different times and remember exactly what I was doing at that exact time three years earlier. Am I the only mom that does this? Is it as clear as yesterday for you too?

Once Brody's little eyes opened up he said, "g'morning mommy!" in his usual chipper morning manner. I replied with a big "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROD!" He smiled so big and said happy birthday back to me and then we got up and began our birthday celebrating.

Brody's other birthdays have fallen on the weekend and we've all been home the whole day, so it was really weird just having me and the boys and no daddy, but I knew I would try to make it as special as possible. First things first: Brody woke up to balloons, streamers, and happy bday signs. For breakfast we made it a little more special than normal by having chocolate chip pancakes, and Brody's even had 3 candles in them for him to blow out.

(besides the 'oohhing' and 'aagghhhing' Ry-ry made when he saw the decorations, the pancakes were his favorite part of all the festivities)

The morning and early afternoon were spent playing with Brody's newest cousin, Aftyn. They played in the dirt, watched movies, and had an indoor picnic complete with the Cars shaped macaroni and cheese (brody's favorite).

After Aftyn had left and Trevor had come home from work it was time for the big unveiling.....

A "TRAMP-O-WEEN!!!!!"

Trevor and I have been wanting to get one forever and boy were we right on the money with how much Brody would love it! We played and jumped until we were all red faced and sweating from the sun beating down on us (ry missed out on the fun because he was napping).

Once we were back inside Brody had a few more little things from us to open and with each present he would ask Trevor while he was opening it, "Dad what's in dare?" in the most excited voice! It was so fun watching him be so happy and excited.

Not long after that we had visits from Brody's Grampa and Gramma Waite, Red Gramma, and Aunt Taylor. Of course, he was more spoiled by them! And he had to show them all his trampoline out back. We tried to get a picture of us, but it seems he has been cranky on all 3 of his birthdays! I guess he takes that whole "its my party and I'll cry if I want to" thing seriously!

We wrapped the evening up with big pieces of tractor birthday cake and lots of love all around. Brody is one lucky little boy to have so many people love him so much, and we are so lucky that we have him to love.

Brody's Birthday Cake

2011-08-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

For weeks leading up to Brody's birthday I would ask him what he wanted for his birthday. The only thing he would say was cupcakes. Cupcakes? Really? SWEET! That is SO easy. But of course, about a week after saying this he got a wild hair and decided that he wanted a tractor cake. What? Where in the world did you get the idea for a tractor cake?

I am not one of those "creative" moms. I can't just come up with cute ideas off the top of my head. I'm pretty good at copying other "creative" mom's ideas, so I turned to the internet and began scouring page after page for any ideas that I could find. I mostly could only find farm scenes with toy tractors placed on top, or tractor cakes made from tractor cake pans. I didn't want the farm scene because I don't think that's what Brody had in mind (although that would have probably been the easiest solution), and I didn't want to have to order a cake pan and pay for it plus the shipping. I also felt that if I used a cake pan I was kinda cheating. I really was hoping I could figure out how to cut up a sheet cake or something to form the tractor, but without someone else doing it and showing me EXACT instructions I didn't think my very limited skills could accomplish that alone. Then I remembered seeing a John Deere cake pan at one of our local stores about a year ago, and knew it was a long shot, but I thought I'd check there. They didn't have it. BUT they did have a different tractor cake pan! It was way cuter than the one I remembered seeing before AND because it was a discontinued item I got it cheaper than the original price!

Cake pan found and bought.....now how the heck am I going to ice this baby? Once again, turned to the internet for some help. I couldn't find any iced tractor cakes made from the same pan I had, but I looked at lots of others to get a general idea. I was all prepared for a green tractor when Brody then specified he wanted a RED tractor cake. Agh! Who does he think I am? The cake boss?

I found some stuff that was supposed to turn my white icing red and not pink, and also not make it runny. I used every single drop of that dye and the icing still wasn't as red as I had hoped, but I was going to make do anyway.

Wouldn't you know that because of it being August and the weather is pretty warm, my icing was melting off the cake! I was having to put it in the fridge, take it out, ice a little bit, and put it back in to harden a little more. My "glass is half full" attitude was quickly turning into a "glass is half empty" attitude, and when I looked at my hands and saw that they were stained a bright (very bright) pink from the icing, it didn't get any better.

Finally, after a few hours of stressing and swearing I would never make a cake again (that is until 3 weeks from now when Ry turns 1) I finished! It wasn't perfect, but it still ended up pretty dang cute.

Brody was happy. He thought it was awesome and couldn't wait to have candles in it the next day so he could "bwow the fire out!"

Letter to Brody

2011-08-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Brody,

For 1,068 days we have loved you. For 156 weeks we have cared for you. For 3 years we have constantly talked about how blessed we are to have you a part of our lives. In just days you will be celebrating your 3rd birthday. THREE! I really CANNOT believe it.

So much has changed in these 3 years. Your dad and I will definitely admit to our lives revolving around you (and now your brother too). We can't even really remember what life was like before you.

Each day you are learning and growing SO MUCH! I have such a hard time of letting go of my baby and giving in to the little boy you are becoming. Every day you amaze me with the amount of things you seem to just soak in. Just months ago if I asked you a question you would have probably answered with a yes or no. Now you will say something like, "No, that wouldn't work." You also say things that you really shouldn't. Recently you went to the burn pit with your dad to drop off some grass clippings and you got the idea in your head that you wanted to walk home. When your dad said no and put you in the truck you threw such a fit and told him as you were driving down the road, "Stop this damn fing (thing), pick-up truck!" When your dad told me this later I didn't believe him at all, but when I asked you, you totally owned up to it! You told me "I cry wike (like) a baby and I say stop this damn fing, pick-up truck!" I told you that wasn't something nice to say, but it was SO hard not to laugh. I was even kinda impressed that you used damn correctly. Okay-but seriously--no more swearing dude!

Even though you are my big boy now, you still are as loving and sweet as ever. You can't let Ryder go to bed without making sure you give him "wuvs and kiss" and making sure we do too! When you get hurt the best medicine for anything is still a kiss from Mom or Dad.

Your memory has also grown and grown. I am so surprised by not only how much you can remember, but that you can remember things from months ago.

You love to play with trains, tractors, dirt, Ryder, Daddy, and your blocks. You also love to watch movies and quote things all the time from them.

Brody you have so much rhythm and really like to dance to music. You like to music and know the words to songs, but you really aren't much of a singing kid. If I ask you to sing you'll throw a fit, but if I sing something like A,B,C's or the itsy bitsy spider, I'll pause and you'll fill in the next words, but absolutely will not sing the whole thing with me. Kinda funny....

No matter how many other siblings you may have, you will always be our first baby. You are the one that turned Trevor and Taytum into Daddy and Mommy. You were the one that began us on the journey of fulfilling the greatest rolls we will ever probably have in this lifetime. You are our sweet, fun, handsome, and lovey-dovey boy! We love you more than we could ever even express. Happy 3rd Birthday Brody Jay Waite.

Helicopter Gazing

2011-08-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Wallow Fire came to our part of Arizona and destroyed. We have gone on a couple drives to see all the damage. Some areas, despite being severely burned, still have some green. I couldn't believe all the destruction that was done, but the optimistic part of me was really surprised that it was still pretty in many places.

Even though the fire is gone, the problems are not over. We are right in the middle of monsoon season so the new worry is flooding and mudslides.

Besides people sandbagging areas or putting up barricades of hay bales, there are now big helicopters that are loaded everyday all day with straw to drop over the mountain sides. The hope is that this will help prevent the ground from eroding when the the rain is heavy.

Because Trevor drives all over this area with his job, he has been able to watch the helicopters at work. Each day he has come home saying how much he wants to take Brody to Alpine so he can see.

Brody is, after all, ALL BOY! He loves to see 'hockers' so we went on one of Trevor's days off. Brody was totally into it! Well really, all of us were. Ryder made noises and his head went back and forth between the 2 helicopters not sure of which one to watch.

The first place we stopped was along the highway and they carried the straw right over our heads. We told Brody to wave to the helicopter and as it flew over us, the pilot could see us and he stuck his hand out and waved back! On his next trip over us he did it again!

The second place we went was right up to where they were hooking up the huge bags of straw to the helicopters. With the helicopters making the air blow around us, their were bits of straw everywhere. It clung to our clothes, made our hair look like we had dandruff, and got everywhere inside the car because of one slightly cracked window.

As we left and began our journey home, we were able to see the helicopters dump the straw fairly up close. It was just a neat site to see, and although the trip was made for the sake of Brody, we all really had a good time.

Pioneer Days 2011

2011-07-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

Every summer one of the things we look forward to around here is our 24th of July celebration, Pioneer Days. Last year, and a couple years before that I did NOT get excited for the 24th at all because I was at the end of my pregnancies and looking pretty similar to Shamu so I absolutely HATED to see every skinny cutely clothed person that came home for all the fun. This year, I wasn't pregnant, but I also am not skinny and I don't have very many cute and new clothes but I decided not to care. I decided we WERE going to have fun no matter what!

On Tuesday and Wednesday night the fun had begun. There was the 3 on 3 basketball tournament as well as the volleyball tournament. Normally, Trevor gets dragged at the last minute into playing on someone's basketball team, but we just steared clear of the middle school where that was being held and watched the volleyball games. I love to go watch this. If I wasn't someone that benefits a team more by NOT PLAYING, I think this would be one of the most fun things to participate in. We stayed both nights until our sleep scheduled kids couldn't take being up any longer.

On Thursday, we skip the free swimming the pool offers because its crazy busy and just went to the chili bean/cornbread dinner for $2 a plate and then the FREE ice cream social. In years past, we haven't wanted to wait in line for the ice cream so Brody has never had an ice cream cone at the social before. This wasn't going to happen this year. Brody got his first ice cream cone all to himself, and Ry may have had a lick or two as well!

On Friday, we went ahead and braved the hot weather at the rodeo! In all the time Trev and I have been married we haven't ever gone to the rodeo. We took the boys, climbed the stands, got filthy, and tried to "cowboy up".....OKAY, not really....but we still had fun, flushed pink cheeks and all. That evening we played like the pioneers and circled our cars just like they did with wagons when they would make camp at the end of a day of traveling. Without fail its either super windy or rains while we eat dinner there. Somehow, someway, that didn't happen! Miracles DO happen! Our spot was basically on a ant hill though, and wouldn't you know Brody got bit? Not fun. You better believe he let us know that too.

Saturday came, and we were off to the parade. It seemed like an above average amount of kids were by us and between the older kids stealing candy right out from under the little kids hands, or parents grabbing it as fast as they could for their little kids, Brody got 1 sucker and we decided that was plenty. He was pretty pleased with the one sucker and didn't even care that we didn't get more. After a little rest we went to the rodeo again.

It seemed like our days were jammed full of fun things to do, and yet between all the activites we attended, eating with our families or hanging out with them, fitting in naps for the boys we still didn't go to everything! There were 3 dances (one was the teen dance) that we decided to completely forego, a steak fry, and a program. Somewhere along the line we even squeezed in a family photoshoot, where our kids behaved miserably (more of those pictures to come)! We went to bed exhausted each night and couldn't have imagined fitting more in!

Overall a very fun Pioneer's day celebration for the Waite's! Now we are just trying to adjust back to a normal pace of life!

Sweet Moments

2011-07-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

I distinctly remember when my brother and sister were thinking that whoever thought up "terrible twos" was totally wrong because ages 3 and 4 were far worse. Brody's third birthday is quickly approaching (20 days away to be exact) and although he is still a sweet cuddly boy, the confrontations and meltdowns aare becoming more and more frequent. The "threatening threes" as I like to say, are looming-but last night....well, last night was not one of those I-wanna-pull-my-hair-out-cause-you're-driving-me-nuts nights, last night I wished I could stop the time for just a bit. I thought, please let me be able to remember this kind of moment 30 years from now.

Ryder was alseep and Trevor had gone to bed early because he didn't feel well so Brody and I were up by ourselves to spend some rare one-on-one uniterrupted time together. We didn't spend this time doing anything special, or really anything at all by most standards. But we did get to laugh and talk, share a bowl of popcorn, and sneak in some hugs and kisses. While Brody was snuggled up on my lap he said, "wuv you mom!" and "you all cute, mom" in his still-sick sounding voice. This would be sweet words any day, but I was dressed in baggy un-cute clothes and he'd spent the whole day calling me by my first name "Tay-um" so hearing these simple words made my day complete. I looked into Brody's big brown eyes and just wished I could hang on to this time a little longer. When did my baby, the one that turned me into a mommy-a crazy overprotective mommy-, get so big? Where has the time gone?

Please, please let me remember this time of life always. Please let me remember Brody being small enough to fit on my lap and in my arms. Let me remember the sound of his laugh and sweet little voice. This is the the stuff that makes being a mom so wonderful.

This is just the good stuff.

Kitchen Table Makeover

2011-07-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

I wish that the title of this post was dining room makeover, but for now this will do. I honestly look around my house and see little projects in every single room. Not one is completed to my satisfaction and so I have delayed putting any pictures up. However, I couldn't wait to show off my table that got a facelift so to speak.

Nearly 6 years ago, when Trevor and I were dating, we bought this solid oak table at a yard sale. Even then I knew that the light oak color was okay, but not what I had envisioned. So here we are 6 years later and we finally did it. We finally made it into a table that I absolutely love!

The table and chairs were all one light oak color. Originally I thought of painting the bottom half of the table and the chairs black, but changed my mind to white because I wanted the table to have more of a cozy almost country like feel to it.

After the paint went on it was time to figure out what color of stain I wanted for the top. Trevor and I looked and we both really liked this bombay mahogany color, but the more and more I thought about it, I knew it wasn't what I wanted for this table. I really wanted a dark brown. Trevor wasn't thrilled when we came home with the mission oak color I picked....but....I am SO glad that is what I picked! I love it!

Now on to my next decorating woes. I have this cute little corner with a fireplace, mantle, and built-in bookshelves. They are all also that light oak color and just not my fav' so here it is folks:

Tell me, what would you do, all you decorating masterminds? Would you paint everything white? Would you stain the mantlepiece the dark color of my table but all the shelves white? What are all your expert opinions? Help!?

NoBUDDY.....

2011-07-19T10:00:00.001-07:00

...like a brother...

'nuff said, right???

Adoptive Parents

2011-07-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends from highschool had a beautiful daughter a few years ago, but due to the complications from the birth she was left unable to have any other children. I spent days crying myself so I can only imagine what she and her husband went through.

A couple years ago a miracle happened. A birth mom chose Clint and Tiffany to adopt her baby! It was an amazing experience for everyone involved. That little baby was SO loved!

Now the time has come for them to adopt again. They are super excited to start this new journey and are keeping their fingers crossed that they will be blessed once more.

I have known Tiff for so long and find her to be pretty amazing! Even as I read her adoption profile I was still more amazed. I know there is not much I can do to help but I wanted to post the link to their profile here and ask for you to read it and spread the word about this special family!

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/25904091/ourMessage.jsf

My Blog

2011-07-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Because I don't journal, I blog. Because I blog, memories, days, moments, are written down and preserved. Because I wrote, I someday will print this into a book. Because I'll have a book, I hope future posterity will read and see what our family life was like.

I love to blog. I love to read other blogs. Just like we all have different personalities, we all have different styles of blogs. I love to see all the different ways people write, take pictures, raise their families, or even just the background choice of their blog.

Ultimately, my blog is for me and for my family....BUT....I do love having other people read my blog. One thing I aspire to do is have a blog that people really WANT to read. I take a little bit from others and try to apply it to my blog. I love a blog that is fun to read. Its nice when a blog has pictures, but a really good blog to me can stand up on its own without a bunch of pictures crowding the post. I also love a blog with beautiful pictures. I don't always love a blog that has so many pictures and no words to accompany them. I know, a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think words can set the tone or tell you things going on in between all the shots. I like blogs that are updated every few days but not one that I have to read on a daily basis.

Does anyone think about their blog as much as I do? Sounds dumb, but at night when it takes me forever to wind down and fall asleep one of the things I think about is the next entry for my blog. In the Anne of Green Gables books, Anne is always "imagining the whole story out in my head" or even whole conversations that a flower might have with another flower. I do this, but with my blog. I have some pretty clever posts imagined out, and then I wake up and its gone from my head. When I sit down to finally write its never ever as good as the first draft I had in my head!

Have you ever read a blog that you really enjoy? I have a lot of blogs to read, but right now I have two favorites. One is a friend that posts not only beautiful pictures, but something enjoyable to read. When she talks about her husband or kids it inspires me to want to be a better mom and especially a better wife. Despite being far away from home and in a foreign country she makes the best of the situation, where as I would be probably pouting about how rough things are. My other favorite blog is an old co-worker of mine. I probably loved working with her more than she enjoyed working with me because she always saw the humor in everything. Her blog is humorous and cleverly written. Reading it makes me feel like I still get glimpses into her life.

I want to be someone's favorite blog to read! I figure, if my blog is enjoyable to read for someone, than when its someday made into a book it will be enjoyable for my kids and family to read too. I want someone to be blog hopping and come across mine and think, "wow! This girl (I know I should say woman or lady but I can barely choke out those words because they sound SO OLD) has a witty way of writing. I love reading her blog!" This is something I aspire for.

Maybe someday I will achieve the kind of blog I hope to have, but for now it'll be a work in progress.

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July has come and gone already???

Both our families were out of town, so it just left us all to ourselves.

We went to the only fireworks being held in our fire-scarred region, in Round Valley on Saturday night. Our cautious Brody, who has previously been afraid of the fireworks, thoroughly enjoyed the display. And Ry is the opposite of his brother and tends to throw caution to the wind, so he bounced on my lap and smiled until he was too tired to care anymore.

Monday we woke up and did not attend the pancake breakfast at the park, and just had our own at home.

We missed the program, free BBQ lunch, and races held at the park later that hot hot day, but we did buy a little pool and set it up and had a Brody swim instead.
We did make it to the park so we could take some cute pictures of the boys in their patriotic red, white, and blue. It was a great idea, but not one that either Brody or Ryder wanted to be a part of. It is hard enough to get one good picture of one wiggly boy, but throw two kids in and its dang near impossible to get a good pic of both of them at the same time!

Brody got fed up 5 minutes in and not even bribary from Dad could get him to take one decent picture.

We have the best snow cone shop I have EVER eaten from, and they had set up their stand at the park so Brody and I decided to share our first snowcone of the year. It was super tasty and a good reward for mom after the fight she had to put up on such a hot day during our mini wanna-be photo shoot.

You just can't celebrate the 4th of July without fireworks on that day. Luckily for us, I found a few fireworks we could light in front of our house, courtesy of our dollar store! Brody told me as he waited for Trevor to light them that he was so "sy-ked" (excited) to see the fireworks!

And finally to end our enjoyable weekend, after we had begged and tried to coax Brody to say happy 4th of July, he climbed in our bed and said, "happy four-jew-why!"

Getaway

2011-06-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

Have you watched the news at all? Have you heard of a little thing called the Wallow Fire? Well, if you have than you know its not so little. It is the biggest fire that Arizona has ever had. As the smoke from the fire crept IN to our little hometown me and the kiddos decided it was time we crept OUT of town.

My highschool friend, Bailey, has invited us many times to come stay with her and since Trevor was working overtime due to the fire Me, Brody, and Ryder thought it would be fun to take her up on it.

Bailey has two cute little boys just like me. Her oldest is named Brody but is a little bit older than mine, and then her little Rigden is the same age as Brody. Bailey's boys were tons of fun, full of energy, and nice enough to share their toys. I was most impressed with Brody's interest in Ryder and how sweet he was to him. And Rigden--well, he has by far, the CUTEST voice I have ever heard on a little boy. He was cute already, but you tack on that scratchy I-got-a-cold sounding voice, and you just want to take him home with you.

Because I didn't have a lot of money to spend, and Bailey is pregnant and not feeling all that awesome, we just spent our time hanging out at her house and playing in her pool. This was our first time this year venturing in the pool. I was pretty embarrased because 4 month pregnant Bailey looked better than regular me (that's possibly why I have ventured out to our public pool yet). Maybe not the most exciting time, but we still had SO MUCH FUN!

It got pretty confusing with 2 Brody's running around so we called mine Brody Jay and Bailey's little boy, Brody Michael. You would think that Brody Jay would have more fun with Rigden, but he really liked Brody Michael. For the past few weeks all he talks about is, "Browie Michael swim in pool. Browie Michael jump in pool and kick his toes in water really fasser (faster)."

Thanks so much fun for letting us stay at the Michael Hotel, Bailey! We LOVED it!

Ry's 9 Month Stats

2011-06-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Technically speaking Ryder is really more like 9 and 1/2 months, but he barely had his wellness check-up today. Its so hard to believe that he is as big and old as he is. I swear it has gone by even faster than it did with Brody.

Stats:

Weight: 21 lbs 54% for his age

Length: 29 and 1/4 inches which makes him in the 77%

Head: large....but still not as large as his brothers was at this age

What to say about this little dude? Hmm....Besides being called Ryder he is Baby Ryder, Bubba, Ry, bug-a-boo, and Ry-Ry. I don't know why I started calling him bubba. Its not a name I ever called Brody, but it just seems so fitting for a kid with thighs like Ryder's.

He has become a pretty quick army crawler. If you look at the bottom of his feet his big toes and right below the big toes are bright red from how much he pushes off the floor while he crawls. He has also gotten really good at getting himself into a sitting position! Walking? What's that? Not something even being attempted because he isn't even trying to pull himself up! Lazy? Maybe...But it does mean that I haven't had to lower his crib at all yet.

When we get in the car if Ryder cries or is making too much noise Brody makes silly noises or talks to Ryder and instantly Ry will laugh or make sweet little sounds back. Its quite the cute/friendly brotherly banter I used to dream about them having. By no means is this nice banter happening at all times. Brody is the TYPICAL older sibling. He takes it upon himself to take away anything from Ry that he deems harmful. Sometimes this is helpful, but usually annoying because its not always harmful things Ry has managed to get his hands on, it just things Brody wants. Brody also tends to shut his bedroom door in Ryder's face after he has gone to all the trouble of scooting down the hallway to play. Who said sharing would be fun anyway?

Ry is only sporting one tooth. I'm okay with this because I love a nice big gummy grin. And I have to admit, that one tooth grin is pretty dang cute. Speaking of grinning, he does it a lot. When he is really tickled by something he scrunches up his nose and makes almost like a snorting noise. Hi-lar-i-ous!

As far as eating goes, he still loves everything. He is anxious to not only scarf down his food now, but get in on all the table food action. Typically in the morning after having a bottle, AND rice cereal, AND baby food, he cries and cries until he gets to eat some of Brody's oatmeal AND some of his yogurt. With all the eating you would think he would weigh so much more, but maybe its just because he is on the move so much?

This little guy is a ton of fun. He is so much a momma's boy but he doesn't discriminate his love with dad, big brother, or the extended families that live near us. Here is to our sweet Ryder Joel Waite....we can only hope you will continue to grow in size and personality. We love you!

Ouch

2011-06-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

Thunk!

followed by....

Ooouuuccchhh!

These were the sounds I heard coming from our spare bathroom a couple of days ago.

I know that bumps and bruises are a part of the territory of being a kid, especially a boy. The manner of HOW they get these bumps and bruises are sometimes crazy. Brody came out of the bathroom rubbing his forhead and sure enough there was a bruise quickly forming with a knot underneath.

From what I can gather, Brody went to pee--standing up of course like all "cool" boys do--and when he finished his business he bent over to pull up his underwear and shorts like always, but had a little incident happen. His head just happened to whack the edge of the porcelain throne on the way down. Owie!

It sounds unbelievable, right? It sounds almost as lame as an abuse victim saying they ran into the door. But seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. Only a parent can truly comprehend all the odd messes and accidents kids can get themselves into.

Like Mom?

2011-06-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

I have said it before, and I'll say it again. No one ever thinks that my kids look like me. Once in a great while I might hear that they look like me, but its pretty rare. I personally think it depends on the day, on the facial expression, or even on the mood. Somedays Ry looks like me, other days more like Trev. Somedays Brody looks like me, other days more like his daddy.

Trevor and I are both pepsi drinkers. Probably not, scratch that, definitely not the healthiest choice of beverages, but its sooo good. Brody calls it pep-ee juice. He doesn't get pepsi himself, except when he decides to steal it. When a sip (or two or three) is stolen, its more like gulps. Not just sips. One day I even caught him with my camera taking mommy's pep-ee juice. He is never ashamed of stealing it. Nor is he afraid of being caught. He just smiles a big sweet smile and tells us, "that good pep-ee juice." Not so long ago....okay like 20 something years ago.....I was caught stealing soda from my Grampa Mesa (my brother and I distinguished between our grandparents by the cities they lived in Grampa & Granma Mesa, Grampa & Granma St. Johns). When I see the pictures of me doing that I think okay, you are like your mom right there. Maybe they are more like me in personality? Anytime they are behaving naughty or some OCD-like tendencies, Trevor says they are definitely my kids. I don't know, it really changes daily.

Cute Boys

2011-05-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we had graduation, and our cousin returned from his mission, and it was Memorial weekend. It meant that lots of friends and family were in town. A lot of the family either hadn't ever seen Ryder, or hadn't seen either of the boys in quite a while. We seemed to get the same reaction from everybody, and that was, "Wow. Ryder looks just exactly like Brody." I think that at times they look so different from one another, but the bigger Ryder gets, more and more he reminds me of Brody.

At church later on....

Lady: "Let me see that baby. You have the cutest little boys."

Me: "Thank you! I think they are pretty cute, but I guess all moms think that about their kids."

Lady: "Well, yeah, they do. But your kids REALLY ARE so cute."

Call me vain, call me shallow, I don't care.....but I seriously love to hear how cute my kids are from other people. I think when you become a parent you put on parental blinders. You know, the kind of blinders that can make you think that your kid should be a starter on the basketball team instead of sitting the bench where they probably belong, or that they are some sort of awesome star on the stage, when in reality they are kinda annoying? I like to think that I'll recognize when my kids may not be the best at something, but maybe not. I ask Trevor if our kids really are as cute as we think, or if its those blasted blinders? Having outsiders tell us quite often how handsome they are, makes me think that maybe we only have PARTIAL blinders.

Maybe they are that cute....? Maybe beauty is just in the eye of the beholder.....?

2011 SJHS Graduate

2011-05-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm the oldest of 4 kids. I love all my siblings and am always so grateful that they are a part of my every day life. I don't know about you, but I feel like I have different relationships with each of them. Spenser is closest in age to me. He is who I have most of my memories with. We played and fought all the time with one another. He is so much fun to talk to now as we have grown up and are in the same sort of stages of life. My youngest sibling, Taylor, is my only sister. She is the baby. I will forever be glad that I have a sister! She is 11 years younger than me so along with having a sisterly relationship, I have tender motherly feelings toward her. Then there is Kade. He is the middle child. He is 8 years younger than me and I also have those mothering tendencies to him. All of my siblings have talents or seem to shine in certain areas. Kade is no exception. He is what I would definitely call "the golden child." He is fairly popular, VP of the student body, a lifegaurd, a prom king, he's protective, he has been involved in the school plays, and just this last Friday he graduated as the Valedictorian of the St. Johns Highschool class of 2011.

Despite being 8 years younger than me, Kade is the sibling most like me. I think that we are somehow always tied to one another. He is so much like me. My mom always says he is the male version of me (and Taylor is the female version of Spenny). The day I was baptized, Kade was blessed. The day Kade was baptized, I gave a talk at it. When Kade was burned and had to spend time in the burn unit, the only person besides my mom that spent time watching him in the hospital, was me. And when Kade graduated from highschool on Friday, it was my birthday.

As we sat through graduation and listened to Kade's speech a sense of pride totally overwhelmed me. Tears never actually spilled over, but my eyes misted more than once. Kade has turned from that annoying little brother with the high pitched voice that drove me bonkers, to a confident, smart, handsome, outstanding human being. He truly amazes me and even being so much younger, makes me feel completely insignificant. His light shines a little brighter than most.

We are so proud of you!

Real Live Trains

2011-05-22T17:56:00.001-07:00

Ever since receiving a train for Christmas, Brody has fallen in love with them. He will play and play with the train. He even likes to just drive it around without using the tracks. He also has a set of lego blocks that make a train and he plays with that a ton too.Well, about 2 months ago we were headed to Mesa for Trevor's brothers wedding, and as we went through Globe we noticed they had a train at the station. We took a little detour and went to check it out. We got there just in time to watch it pull out. It was easily one of the most exciting parts of our trip for Brody. He was so amazed. He and I stood outside of the car and waved as it drove by. One of the cars had big windows so we could see the people and they waved back to us (pretty sure one even took our picture!).

Maybe someday we'll take him to ride on one. Maybe even the polar express that they do in Williams around Christmas time. He would LOVE it!

Potty Talk

2011-05-22T17:42:00.000-07:00

As we continue our adventures in potty training Brody there are a few things I want to remember.

I've been asked if Brody is completely potty trained, meaning no diapers at night or at all, and the answer is no. When Brody takes a nap or goes to bed at night he is still in a diaper, but all waking hours he is potty trained. There is two reasons for this. The first is, he still wakes up most mornings with a significant amount of pee in his diaper. This to me is a tell-tale sign that he is not ready for underwear at bedtime. The second reason is that Brody joins us in our bed at night almost every single night and it is one thing for him to pee all over his bed and his sheets, but it is quite another to pee in OUR bed on OUR sheets, or worse, on US!

We have gone 8 days without any accidents. Its a small victory if you ask me.

Everytime Brody sits down to go to the restroom he tells us, "It's still working!" when he begins to go. Thanks buddy, we were worried that it didn't.....

During our first week I hardly ever left the house but one day I had to borrow something from a friend, so we left and kept our fingers crossed that he would inform me if he needed to go. Sure enough, Brody announced the need for the bathroom. We go to the spare bathroom and lift up the seat to a longer shaped toilet. Brody looks at it and then looks at me and says, "Hey Mom! Its a oval!" Yes, I guess it kinda was shaped like an oval. Glad that your need to go didn't override your knowledge of shapes....hehe!

Brody will use his little potty or a normal toilet now without hesitation. If he uses the normal toilet when he's finished peeing he does this little jiggle to get the last drops of pee to fall. If he's on his potty he'll tap, shall we say, his boy parts(?) to get the last drops to fall. This is not something we've taught him, he just does it and it makes us laugh every time!

Brody's also discovered the joys of being a boy. He can 'go' just about anywhere, and standing up too! While outside with Trevor he peed and informed Trevor that he was, "watering the plants."

We are so excited that he's done so well. He loves to wear his "unawares" (not undies, or chonies please!) and has opinions on which ones to wear each day. High five to you big boy!

Indoor Play

2011-05-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

The windiest city in America may be Chicago, but did you know that the windiest town is Springerville, AZ? Being that they are the closest town to us, it means when they have nasty windy weather its just about as bad here. So after being cooped up in the house most of the winter and ready to get out and enjoy the warmth of spring, we have been stuck indoors because of the wind. No joke, the past two weeks have been particularly nasty but the week before was nice and the week before that was also gross. It is really hard to plan any sort of outdoors activities.

I'm not just talking about a little breeze. I'm talking downright crazy gusts that can be 50 mph! Don't believe me? Then you aren't from St. Johns and you haven't ever visited here. I somehow get piles of dirt blown in through cracks in doors and windows that the naked eye cannot even see! This is not exagerating at all!

I hate to admit it, but Brody watches far too much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and movies because of this. He plays a ton, but the t.v. is also on quite a bit.

To pass the time indoors we have many a deep conversation.

B: "Mom, wets(lets) talk about.....(long pause)....Dragon Movie!"

Me: "Really? How about something else?"

B: "Um....(more pause) wets talk about Tang-ole (Tangled)!"

Me: "What about Tangled (as I think to myself we watch too many movies)?"

B: "Fwinn (flynn) Rider and Punzel (rapunzel). Girl have magic hair! You have magic hair, Mom!"

Me: "I do?!"

B: "Ya! You sure does!"

We do the standard indoor boy stuff too like play with cars, and blocks. Sometimes if I'm really lucky Brody yells from his little play kitchen that he's "Cookin' sumpin a-you Mom!" I love when he wants to cook me something! Maybe that will someday translate into him ACTUALLY cooking something for me.

Then we have days (they don't happen often) where I decide to try my hand at being creative. I turn a stick, piece of string, and paperclip into a fishing pole and some colored paper into little fishies. It is a pathetic attempt, but Brody thinks I'm the coolest mom ever so we go with it....

Please weather, turn nice! This mom isn't going to come up with many other ideas. I am tired of days where we stay in our jammies all day and watch movies! We are so ready to play outside in the dirt, enjoy days at the park, run in sprinklers, and go to the pool. So if you are in AZ and dealing with a windy day, think of us, remember that if its windy there its probably 3 times as bad here!

Potty Training 2.0

2011-05-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Probably about a year ago we tried out the idea of potty training on Brody. He took to it unbelievably.....that is, for one day. After that it was a big no-go. For this year or so, the potty has always been out and visible. Before baths he would often use it. Sometimes he would take a fancy in his head to even use it for about a half a day and then the novelty of it would totally wear off. Potty training was too much work! It meant Brody had to think about going pee. It meant not being able to just go whenever without thinking about it. So without fail, after going on the potty for a few hours he wouldn't even just ask for a diaper back on, he would whine to get it back.

You know, once upon a time I thought that I never wanted more than one kid in diapers at a time. Once in a while, diaper duty on two kids can get old, but for the most part I haven't hated it. Diapers were just way easier than potty training. I cannot stand to clean up pee, or worse, poop messes! It involves lots of gagging on my part.

However, on Tuesday last week I realized we were running low on Brody's diapers so I just decided I was going to buckle down and do it. Trevor for weeks had been saying 'we really need to potty train him', but I'm pretty sure that "we" really meant "ME!"

But we pressed forward. I set the timer in my kitchen for 30 minutes and stripped Brody down naked for the entire day. When the timer went off I made Brody sit on the potty and go. He did it! Then I would set the timer again and we'd start all over. After each time he used the restroom he got a treat. It was usually only 2 M&M's or a small piece of chocolate, but when you are going potty every 30 minutes that really can add up. By the time Trevor got home I was totally worn out. Potty training is just as hard on mom as it can be on child! It definitely means NO leaving the house, talking on the phone for long, or doing basically anything besides potty business. Lucky for me, Trevor relieved the pressure and everyday when he would come home I would take off for about an hour and a half to just get a break!

Day 2 I made a chart. Brody loves stickers and getting rewards so this was perfect. For every pee he got 1 star sticker. For every poop 2 star stickers. Once he reached 6 stickers he then got a prize or treat. We even bought some glass jars with lids to put candy in for more incentive.

So far things have gone GREAT! On Tuesday, Brody stayed naked all day and had only one accident. On Wed, Thurs, Fri he got underwear and still had one accident per day, but only pee accidents so not too bad at all! On Saturday Brody went all day long without any accidents until we had to go to a reception, and he just got too caught up in everything and had an accident right before it was time to go home and go to bed. Sunday-not a single accident!!!! Can I get a hallelujah? Is there light at the end of this tunnel? I think, yes!

Our baby is taking more and more steps to becoming a big boy. He is still wearing a diaper at night, but he's in his undies all day and that is more than I could hope for, for now!

Ryder is on the Move

2011-05-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

Have you ever noticed that when you are trying to figure something out or working out a problem that once you finally give in and decide to ask for help that that's when the answer comes to you? Well, maybe it doesn't happen to you, but it happens to me all the time.

I guess that's all I needed to do with Ryder. I wrote about him being 8 months old and not crawling, and it didn't take him 2 days before he started doing it. (stubborn child..hehe)

It is most definitely not the traditional form of crawling. Ryder uses a variety of techniques to get wherever it is he wants to go. Sometimes he gets up on his hands and knees and just lunges forward. Other times he likes to use his arms to drag his body, you know, the good ole' reliable army crawl. But his favorite method involves him reaching out as far as he can with one arm and then he stretches our the other arm. It looks a lot like someone swimming out of the water.

Although Ryder does not love to be on his tummy and crawling can be frustrating enough to cause some tears, he also has lots of fun getting into his brother's fun and games. He grins the whole time while Brody is shouting out exclamations of: "Uh-uh! No! Dop it!" I have a feeling that this is only the beginning!

8 Months Old

2011-05-09T13:18:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe, but 8 months ago today I was suffering more pain than I had ever experienced. 8 months ago today we made Brody into a big brother. 8 months ago today a new little love came into our lives. 8 months ago today our 9lb. 1oz. Ryder Joel Waite was born.

So much has changed about our little dude since then. He seems SO big. Probably because he IS so big. Its been a while since we've been to the dr. and had him weighed but I would guess he's somewhere between 18 and 20 pounds.

Ryder thoroughly enjoys eating. He just recently quit nursing. Poor boy loved it, but Mommy just runs dry about this time. So we're on to bottles, and although its nice on the pocketbook and for health reasons to nurse, its like a whole new sense of freedom has come over me. Yay! Ryder doesn't discriminate when it comes to baby foods...he likes them all! If we seem to be taking too long between bites of food Ryder will let out some loud man yells at us...meal time is serious business around here! I don't think he seems to favor any baby food over others, but he cannot have carrots because it makes him have serious digestion problems. Because of these issues Ryder gets apple juice everyday....something Brody never had this early on.

Most babies have begun to crawl at this point. Not our little guy. He refuses. Its all about rolling anywhere he wants to be or just sitting up in the middle of the floor. I'm not too worried about it. I guess he'll crawl when he is good and ready to crawl.

Ryder continues to be a rocker/shaker/bouncer, whatever you want to call it. He just doesn't sit still. If you are holding him, you better make sure you have a pretty good grip because at some point (even if you're standing) he will begin to move.

No words yet. Just yelling somedays, and sounds like bah-bah-bah. There's always giggling and smiling going on, and if you are lucky you'll get to hear the sweetest little cooing noises.

Ryder love, love, LOVES his brother. If Brody makes crazy noises or is jumping around it makes Ryder laugh. Before I put Ryder down for bed at night Brody insists on giving 'loves and kisses.' Ryder smiles through the whole process. Every morning when Ryder's cheerful little self wakes up his brother loves to run in the room and peek through the crib and say 'good morning baby Ryder!!!' And yes, he is still BABY Ryder to Brody. We wonder how long it will take before he stops calling him this and just says Ryder.

Ryder I would say is slightly more challenging as a baby then Brody was, but everyday gets better as he seems to gain more personality, more independence, and just becoming all around more fun. He is a joy to have in our home and we couldn't imagine our lives without our two little boys!

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

The day started off with Trevor making me breakfast. It was an oh so wonderful (if not so healthy) amount of bacon, sausage, and eggs. And even better than getting breakfast made, was having the dishes done afterwards.

Brody said all day, "Happy E-ser muh-er's day, Mom!" No matter how many times we would ask him to say Happy Mother's day it always came out Happy Easter Mother's Day. With Easter so fresh in his memory and clearly far more fun than mother's day, that is what he kept saying.

Breakfast was followed up with a card from the hubs that may have made my eyes mist up a little bit from the tender words telling me how much I matter to him and our family. Then I got a card from the kiddos that kept unfolding until it was a huge heart. Ryder's 8 month old hands even got in on the action. Those little scratches across the card from the boys mean more than any flowery poetry ever could.

A shower was next without ANY interruptions. Total peace.

My toes got a much needed polish without any little busy bodies stealing the bottles to line up in rows, or taking files to scratch between those little toes.

My hair got curled without ever having to stop.

I was slightly disappointed with church. There was no mention of mom's. Was there spiritual upliftment? Yes, some, between games of peek-a-u (no peek-a-BOO for brody)and a busy baby. But still, sometimes its nice to hear a little about the importance of mom's and I got none of that during sacrament.

Dinner was made mostly by me, but cleaned up by Trev.

It wasn't a lavish day. No expensive gifts given. BUT....I call the day perfection!

Wants and Hopes

2011-05-02T13:21:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner, and as always it will go by too fast. At the end of the summer our kiddos will both celebrate birthdays and turn 3 and 1. Trevor and I are constantly in disbelief at how fast the time has gone by. Before I know it Brody and Ryder and any future children we may have will be grown and gone. I constantly wonder what my kids will grow up to be like. I have so many wants, hopes, and dreams for them. So many things....

I want my kids to be strong and independent, but not so independent that they don't need Trevor and I every now and again.

I want them to be leaders not followers and to set good examples for one another and for those surrounding, but if they must follow, I hope they have picked good friends to follow.

I want them to have empathy for others and be willing to do service.

I want them to just be GOOD. I mean really really wholesome-y good. I hope that they have a naturally gravitate towards the good things in life without having to think about it.

I want them to choose the right.

I will never be able to give them everything they want, but I hope that even if I could that I wouldn't because I want them to know that things aren't going to be handed to you on a silver platter. That's just not reality (for most people that is), and I don't think it does your kids any favors to do this.

I want them to know how to work hard and be willing to pitch in and help whenever they can.

I want them to be sweet, kind, and loving.

I don't hope for them to be rich someday, but I do hope for them to find something they would love to do.

I don't necessarily want them to be 'popular' but I want them to be well liked.

I hope they are intelligent, and that even if studies don't come easy to them they won't get too frustrated and that they'll work at it.

I want them to always want to be around Trevor and I. To always value our opinion and ask our advice, but I also want them to figure things out for themselves.

I hope that they'll have a natural willingness and want for church and things spiritual, and that they'll serve missions because they want to not because we tell them they are supposed to.

I want them to be patriotic and PROUD to be American.

I hope they find love and have families of their own.

I hope they love Trevor, me, their siblings, and extended families unconditionally.

My list goes on and on and becomes more and more overwhelming as I wonder how in the world Trevor and I can instill these values and desires in our kids. I already know we'll be strict parents but how do we make sure that we aren't too strict? I've seen all kinds of parents and I don't want to be the kind that just jam rules down are kids throats, but I also don't want to be the kind that are too laid back. How do we find that middle ground? Trevor and I talk a lot about what we'll do. His favorite quote to say to me is from Joseph Smith: "Teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." In other words, we'll do what we can, we'll teach them and love them but ultimately they have free agency just like we do and they will have to make their choices themselves. Sometimes we may like their choices and other times, maybe not.

Ready, Set, DYE!!!

2011-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

About 4 years ago I bought a easter egg coloring kit because I was bound and determined to just do all the holiday things that I did growing up whether or not Trevor and I actually had kids. When it came down to it, I felt silly doing it all by myself so there is still a kit in our filing cabinet. This year, however, was different.

Brody is finally old enough to dye easter eggs! I was so excited. Even Trevor who is somewhat of a bah-hum-bug when it comes to doing all the little holiday activities, likes to do things if it is something that Brody will have fun doing.

I got everything set up, put Ryder in his bumbo seat on top of the table and got my trusty little canon powershot (not my fancy camera) ready. Brody gets up to the table and points to all the dye and shouts, "Colors!" all excited-like. Then he says the same thing about the eggs waiting in the carton to be colored. Trevor and I try to explain what to do and Brody grabs an egg all excited and ready to go and taps it on the edge of the table to try and crack it open (I think he's 'helped' mom a few times in the kitchen when she's cooking?). No-no-no Brode! We both are saying and then laughing while we show him what to do.

The dollar I spent on a plastic tablecloth was probably the best investment I could have made for our dye-fest! First, it was a play thing for Ryder while I got things set up:

And then it was a spot protector from all the dye that splattered on the table. I seem to remember coloring eggs taking a heck of a lot longer when I was a kid doing it with my brother. Maybe it was because we had to share the dye and maybe it was because we were competing to see who could get their eggs the darkest and prettiest colors. Then again, it may be that Brody is only 2 and 1/2 and really thinks just coloring the eggs is pretty awesome and there's no need for perfection at this stage.

Our 3rd Wheel

2011-04-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

There's this impossibly handsome little boy that never wants to take a good picture anymore named Brody Jay. Mr. Brody Jay has developed a TERRIBLE habit. He seems to think its perfectly acceptable to join Trevor and I in our bed on a nightly basis!

Not a big deal you say? I think its a huge deal. Prior to Ryder being born we knew we were going to have to transition Brody from his crib to a toddler bed. We wanted to do this before Ryder came so that Brody didn't feel like he was getting booted from his beloved crib. Trevor was more adament that this happened than I was. I knew it would be even a few months after Ryder was born before he actually slept in the crib because he would be in our room for a while.

So, we did it. We got a toddler bed and moved him in. It was a very easy and smooth transition. The very first night he slept in it with no problemo. For about a week when Brody would wake up he would call to us that he was up. We would go get him and all was well. Could we really be so lucky? Um, no, of course not.

The week came and went and he finally realized that he could just get out of his bed whenever he felt like it. He started making the trip across the house to our room. Trevor and I would let Brody in bed and then after a bit one of us would take him back to his own bed. One night close to my due date we had taken Brody back to his own bed SEVERAL times and I distinctly remember tearfully telling Trevor I didn't know how I was going to handle this once Ryder came. I deeply value my sleep, and I knew I would be getting up with a newborn but then to add even more time awake with the 2 year old was just not going to fly with me!

Then for a short period of time we were blessed. Ryder came, and Brody stuck to his room (mostly). It was so wonderful.....and short lived.

Both boys are in their own rooms. Both sleep through the night. However, Brody joins us each night at some point. I truly believe that this has become such a habit that he now makes the trek to our room in his sleep half the time. He always goes to Trevor's side of the bed so I sometimes don't even know he's even in the bed until I end up with his head on my shoulder and I wake up to see his feet stretched across to Trevor's shoulder. On nights like that I get up and put him back in his bed. On other nights I don't do so well....I just leave him there because I'm too tired.

I'm hoping this is just a phase. Its not my favorite thing because I'm a big believer in having our kids in their own beds. For now its okay, it just won't be appropriate if he's a teenager still climbing in with us! So I guess I'll just go with the motto: "This too shall pass."

Simple Joys

2011-03-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

We have been in our house now for over a year and I still haven't posted very many pictures of our house. The thing is, I just want things to be perfect before I post pictures. Well, the reality is...its never going to be perfect. There is always one more home improvement to do. It never ends. On a nice crisp morning this week I bundled up the kiddos and we sat on the steps as we watched this going on:

That's right! We finally poured sidewalks(with some help from Trevor's dad and brother). Finally no more mud tracked into my house. Who knew that something as petty as cement could give us such happiness, but it really does! We are one step closer to not being in the middle of a giant patch of dirt and tumbleweeds.

We stayed busy (we as in Trevor while me and the boys we were just onlookers) all week with preparing for the sidewalks and also getting gravel dumped for our driveway areas.

We aren't rich ever going to get rich at the jobs we have, we don't have relatives that have money to pay for things, we haven't inherited money nor will we ever inherit money, and we aren't going to win the lottery because we don't play it and even if we did I have no luck so it looks like one project at a time, one year at a time. Sidewalks down....only a deck, well, grass, trees, and other plants, shed, fence, and other projects on our wish list to go!

5 Month Old Ryder

2011-02-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

In just a matter of days Ryder will turn 5 months old. The time with him has just flown. He's growing in size, but also in personality.

A month ago at his 4 month check-up Ryder weighed 16 pounds 1 ounce and I think was 25 and 1/2 inches long. That is the exact same weight as his brother at 4 months but about a half inch shorter. I love to compare their differences! Since that last weigh in he has really begun to eat rice cereal, applesauce, pears, peaches, squash, and bananas and I think it shows. He seems so much heavier to me!

Ryder enjoys LOTS of attention, but especially from his mommy! It seems that he is so much more needy than Brody. They both want my attention, but this kid DEMANDS it! If I'm sitting near him but don't talk to him or look at him for a while he starts to squawk and yell until I will.

He is still mostly a happy baby. He laughs and smiles without hesitation. He still struggles with sleep. He sleeps, but it doesn't come naturally. It is a constant work in progress. Some days are good, others not so good. He was sick for the first time this week with a cold and that has made sleep impossible! Ryder can sit up with just a little assistance. He still only can roll over onto his tummy but not back onto his back. Most of the time when he rolls over it takes only a matter of seconds before he starts yelling because he hates it.

As far as the future goes I'm a little concerned for my sanity. He loves to play with Brody already and Brody for the most part loves it too, but I often hear him telling Ryder to "dop (stop) it." I can already forsee Brody running down the hall and slamming his door once Ryder really becomes mobile. Brody's OCD/oldest child issues are really going to be tested when Ryder follows him to his room and gets into his train or other toys. Ryder also cannot sit still. He rocks back and forth when sitting on your lap. I don't know if this means he's going to be hyper-active or just a mover, but either way its going to get crazy in a short few months....

pray for us!

January 6th, 2011

2011-02-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

Not only have we started a new year, but something even more significant has happened in our life. Trevor and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Its so hard to believe that the first 5 years of our eternity have come and gone.

What is there to say about the past 5 years? Well I remember thinking before we even got married that 5 years was a long time. When you hit 5 years you are no longer a newlywed. By 5 years you are a little more established in your marriage. By year 5 you probably have a mortgage(check 1 for us), a few kids (check 2), and have steady jobs (um, yep check 3).

I think 5 years ago we (well mostly me) probably looked a lot better. I think we were both void of gray hairs but Trevor has it running through all of his hair and I have recently discovered some single strands in mine! I also have not come out of the war each mother battles during pregnancy untouched....I was left with more than my fair share of battle wounds...muffin top, and many a zebra stripe (aka stretch marks). I didn't have some rockin' body 5 years ago, but it was definitely more rockin' then compared to now.

Our anniversary wasn't spent celebrating, or doing anything special because yet again Trevor was coaching. Points were earned though when flowers were sent to me even though he was traveling on a bus. However, I wouldn't trade in what we have or where we are in life for those early days. We have grown together as a couple. We've gone on trips and purchased vehicles. We've lived in 3 different homes but all in the same town. We've brought two awesome little boys into this world. We've laughed, cried, fought, and most of all we've loved.

Video Gamers

2011-01-13T15:44:00.001-08:00

A long time ago, before there was xbox or Wii there was a little thing called Nintendo. Its where Mario brothers got its start. Both Trevor and I grew up with one in our homes. I believe ours eventually stopped working and got thrown out and Trevor's ended up in an attic and has now disappeared. I was never really any good at nintendo. My brother was the true expert and anytime I got into a level I couldn't pass he would take over for me.

Lots of good memories playing Nintendo for both Trevor and I. We have talked about getting a Wii, but just can't stand the thoughts of paying so much for something we really wouldn't use that often. Then we thought maybe we'd just try to find one of our old Nintendos, but alas....nothing could be found. I had looked into buying one off ebay but everytime I looked it was too expensive.

Flash forward to Christmas morning 2010 at my mom's house. Trevor got a card with a picture of a nintendo. My mom got him one for Christmas, but it got lost in shipping and wasn't here yet!!! Because of all the mix up they sent extra stuff so we ended up with 2 controllers, the gun, and 4 games(mario brothers was the only one Trev was interested in)!

Once we got it and set it up, wouldn't you know that Brody got hooked. The original Mario brothers game also has the duck hunting on it, and Brody loves it! Maybe it isn't the best game for him to be playing since he says , "Browie shoo-it (shoot it) duck all day." And he really would shoot ducks all day if I'd let him, but we limit the time. Anytime he misses a duck he shouts, "oh man!" It is so funny!

Old school nintendo! Thats what we're all about at our house these days!

Santa Came!

2011-01-11T18:06:00.001-08:00

After waiting and waiting Santa Claus finally came! I guess that our boys must have been good because they each got a present from him and a stocking with a few little goodies. The only thing Brody would ask for was 'choc-it' but he got pretty excited when he saw the timber town railway train set!

Before making the rounds to each grandparents home we did our own little Christmas. When Trevor carried Brody into the room he threw a fit because he saw me with the camera and he is so anti-pictures these days, but his attitude soon changed when he saw his train. Ryder was pretty oblivious to all the excitement but he was happy to be seated in his new bumbo seat.

We weren't sure how fun the train would be, but soon Brody was saying, "choo-choo!" and "all aboarg (aboard)" as the train would pass by. He also liked to tell us he was making it go forwards or backwords. The most satisfying part of the day was when Brody looked at me and said, "Mom, Browie wuv a train!" Christmas success!!!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2011-01-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

We prepared and prepared for the big day for weeks. Up went the Christmas tree at what some would consider too early. Most of the Christmas shopping was done prior to Thanksgiving. Presents were wrapped in coordinating paper and put under the tree. The stockings were hung....and then we had to wait.

What were we going to do to make the time pass quickly? Trevor and I were SO excited for this Christmas! Not because of anything we were getting (since we totally decided to forego the presents for each other this year) but because of how exciting it was for Brody. We ended up spending many nights watching Christmas movies and eating popcorn, reading Christmas stories, looking at Christmas lights, and talking a LOT about Santa Claus in order for Brody to not only understand who and what Santa was, but also just to make it ten times more exciting for him.

Once Brody started to get it, he noticed everything and was quick to point it out to us. Any lights outside he thought were awesome. Every snowman he sees is now 'fos-ee (frosty) no-man'. If you visited our house he would point out his stocking and tell you he wanted 'choc-it' (chocolate) in his 'docking'. Chocolate was the only thing he really wanted for Christmas!

Finally when Christmas eve arrived we just could hardly wait. We went to my family's annual party, then went and visited with Trevor's family for a while, and finally we came home. It was a big night and Trevor and I could NOT wait to see what Santa was going to bring Brody and Ryder. We couldn't wait for the reactions. It most definitely was more fun than any Christmas we have had in a while just because of the anticipation of our kids joy!

Santa Flies In

2010-12-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

Being in a small town we sometimes miss out on all the bells and whistles that come with the city life. No freeways, shopping options are limited, not a lot of good restaurants, and definitely no malls with Santa Claus where our kiddos can sit on his lap. But we have something better than any old mall Santa. Every year Santa Claus flies in on a helicopter and lands at our elementary school. There aren't many (if any) towns that have a Santa as cool and hip as ours.

Brody was so thrilled about seeing Santa stick his head out the "copper" and wave. His excitement was only matched by the few hundred little kids standing on the school lawn chanting, "Santa, Santa."

Things only got better when Brody's Uncle Kade got out after the helicopter landed to help out Santa. We weren't sure that the school was open to the public, so Brody missed out on sitting on Santa's lap, but seeing him from outside the fence was pretty cool by itself.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

2010-12-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

The boys opened new matching jammies to wear.

A quick pic before they nestled all snug in their bed

A huge fit was thrown by Brody instead.

We didn't think taking pictures would cause such a fight,

But, alas, we gave up and said....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was great this year. I normally don't love this holiday, but everything about it was enjoyable, and of course, all the food was awesome!

We celebrate all our holidays with both our families since they both live here. This year was no different. Most years my family does thanksgiving with our extended family, but this year it was just our little family, my mom, and my siblings. We were even lucky enough to have Spenser and his wife this year. We went there for lunch and had a great time, and then a few hours later we went to Thanksgiving dinner with Trevor's parents and 2 of his brothers.

We are SO thankful for our families, thankful that they live close, thankful for each other and our sweet boys. We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and remembered all the things they are thankful for.

Translation Please?

2010-12-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

Everyday we are surprised by the things Brody says. Not only is he constantly repeating the things we say, but he is continually learning and saying things we don't even think we have taught him. Sometimes we go places or we are with friends and family and they look at us like, "what did he just say?" and because we are around him everday we understand it as clear as anyone else speaking we don't realize others don't. We have to repeat what he says a lot of the time so people know what he has just said.

Most words that begin with the letter 'F' are said with the 'H' sound. He has a lot of words that in the past he says wrong, but has learned to say them correctly, but this is one he still hasn't mastered. So if you here him say something about a "hireplace, hireworks, hog, or hore" it means: fireplace, fireworks, frog, and four.

If you ask Brody what his name is he'll tell you, "Bowie Jay Waite." He also tends to refer to himself in the third person. He hasn't really figured out how to use I's or me's yet. He knows all our names, and our families names too. I'm "mommy Tay-m" and Trevor is "Tre-er Joel Waite" and of course there's "baby Ry-er." He used to call my brother, Kade, cake but says his name right now. Taylor, Spenser, and Stormy however are still "Turry, Bense, and Dormy." Trevor's brother Adam also has a different name, he's "A-am."

There are always little words Brody says wrong, but the funniest things are his sentences. He is really good at the one-liners from Toy Story. At any given time you may hear, "Hinny-on(to infinity and beyond)", "Buh-white year re-cue (buzz lightyear to the rescue)." or "nake in boot (there's a snake in my boot)," when you come to our house.

The other morning Brody was drinking juice and I asked him if it was delicious and he said, "no wish-us(delicious), mom. Bowie, boo(blue) juice tay-tee(tasty)." Ha! SOO funny! He also told Ryder when he was fussing the other day, "baby Ry-er, chill out!" I can't imagine where he's learned that one....

If you ever need a good laugh you just need to hang out with a 2 year old. They say the funniest things, and they are far smarter than you would ever guess.

3 Months of Ryder

2010-12-03T13:37:00.001-08:00

Time has just flown by since we have had this little guy! Having Ryder was SO much harder than Brody, and recovery has continued to be hard. I never got completely rid of my headache and by week 11 of post-delivery and still no relief the doctor sent me to get an MRI. Luckily they found out that I was no longer leaking spinal fluid, so that wasn't the problem, but the bad thing was they don't know what is. However, by week 12 my headache somehow started to heal itself. I cannot tell you how much better I feel. You don't know how good you feel until you feel bad. We have been extremely blessed though, with another good baby. He isn't the natural born sleeper like his brother (he's doing better!!!), but he is just so pleasant. He hardly cries, he eats well, he smiles a ton, and is just super mellow. As hard as a time I have had, he makes me feel like I want more. I can't get pregnant now (I have an IUD in), and truthfully I wouldn't really want to be, but if it happened I don't think I would be sad. Ryder is just so awesome that he makes me want more. He is just sweet!

Ryder will be 3 months old in a few days, but when we went to the dr. for his 2 month appointment he weighed 14 lbs 8 oz! That is exactly one pound heavier than Brody was at that age. It puts him in like the 96% for his age. Ryder is also in the 86% for his height, but he is almost an inch shorter than Brody was at 2 months.

Currently Ryder is cooing, smiling, and observing everything. He loves all of us, but he is always extremely interested in what his big brother is doing. He watches Brody anytime he is near. Ryder is still holding off on laughing, but he makes up for it with all the smiles and all the "talking" he does. He is such a delight to have in our home. I feel like I can't get enough of him.

We could not have gotten a better baby. We all love our sweet, smiley, chubby "baby Ry-er."

Halloween 2010

2010-11-12T11:16:00.001-08:00

Its so crazy to have 2 boys now to dress up for Halloween. This year Brody was a cowboy and Ryder was his cow....or maybe I should say bull since he's a boy.

The whole week leading up to Halloween we built up the excitement in Brody and we taught him to say trick or treat, which sounded more like, "tri-treat." and even practiced knocking on the door and saying that and then giving him a piece of candy.

The day of Halloween roled around and I could hardly contain MY excitement. I couldn't wait to dress up the boys. Despite windy (very windy...this is SJ could we expect anything else) weather we got Brody and Ryder ready and headed to the courthouse where a bunch of goblins, witches, princesses, and other cute characters were waiting to start their parade! This is the third year Brody has been in the parade. Just like Ryder, he was a cow at his first parade and rode in his stroller during the parade totally oblivious to what was going on but this year was a new ball game. This year Cowboy Brody walked the whole thing by himself and never even wanted to be picked up. It meant that we were the last ones straggling behind the whole group because of Brody's refusal to be carried, but it was fun anyway.

Our kids are lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents living here so all 3 of them wre waiting along the parade route to honk their horns and take pictures of these cute kiddos. I love doing the parade because its just a little longer that they get to be dressed up and it makes dressing up that much more special because you are being admired by everyone you pass.

That evening there was a trunk or treat, but since Ryder doesn't eat candy at this stage of the game, and Brody really doesn't need very much, we decided to skip trunk or treat and just go to a few designated places. Even without going to the trunk or treat Brody was able to haul a nice amount of candy in his "puple punkin bucket." Getting as much candy as he did probably had something to do with the fact that he ended up with lots of pieces(one time a few handfulls) of candy from each house. We never just knocked on a door and then left either. Brody and Ryder were invited in so that they could truly be seen. As we would walk away Brody would say to us, "a more tan-ee! ( more candy)"

We really had so much fun celebrating Halloween this year. It just seems to be more and more fun as we have kids and as they get older. Just imagine the how fun Christmas will be this year!

Pumpkin Carving 2010

2010-11-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

I love love love the fall and everything that comes with it. As soon as September 1st hits I put up the decorations and begin to enjoy this season. I love to do all the traditional things that most people do at the holidays. For Halloween I don't do the dressing up but I like to have decorations, I love passing out candy, and I always want to carve a pumpkin. Trevor drags his feet and roles his eyes everytime I talk about doing these kinds of things, but especially with the pumpkin carving. He hates it. If the truth really is told, I have to say that I actually don't LOVE carving pumpkins, but I just hate the idea of NOT doing it....thats tradition....thats just what you do. I want our kids to grow up and have memories of doing this kind of stuff with us like I have memories with my mom.

Last year Brody was just right in the center of all the pumpkin activity. This year he was a little more leary. We stripped him down to just a diaper and pulled a chair up and all he would do was take one of the tools and poke little teeny holes. He didn't really want that much to do with carving pumpkins. Well that is he didn't want anything to do with them until we put the candles in them. I truly believe that every boy is slightly a pyro at heart. Our little Brody is no exception to that rule. He kept saying, "a hire a hire!!!" (a fire a fire) when we would light the pumpkins.

I think the pumpkins turned out great this year. Despite hating the pumpkin guts(a lot), Trevor mucked out 3 of the 4 pumpkins and carved his own. I drew out the design of all of the pumpkins and carved 3 of them. The two boys won't remember these pumpkins, and they couldn't carve them themselves, but I wanted 4 pumpkins to grace our front door, and 4 pumpkins did.

Ryder's Blessing

2010-11-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

There are still days that I can't believe that we have 2 kids. Yesterday was no exception. Yesterday was Ryder's blessing day. It seems like it was only the other day that we were blessing Brody. It makes it even harder to believe because I put Ryder in the same outfit Brody wore, and they look so much the same that it was like deja vu! Trevor said that he had even worried and had dreams all week that during the blessing instead of giving Ryder Joel Waite as Ryder's name, that he would say Brody Jay Waite.

Ryder was priveledged enough to have his daddy give him his blessing. He also had his great-grandpa Garner, grandpa Waite, Uncle Dustin, Uncle Mike, and Uncle Spenser participate in his blessing. How lucky we are to have family willing to travel and be a part of this special day!

Ryder's blessing was great! I don't know that there are blessings that are bad, but it was special all the same. I am always struck at these moments at how blessed I am to have the husband that I have. I am grateful that he honors his priesthood and that he can give our kids blessings. I am also SUPER glad that its him that has to do the blessings and not me! I do not like to do any sort of public speaking or anything that draws any attention to me, so its wonderful that men hold the priesthood and not women. Besides that it just makes me an emotional mess so its better for Trevor to do it and not me.

Thank you everyone that participated in Ryder's big day, and thanks to those that just came and were there! We love you and are grateful to you!

Random Act of Violence

2010-11-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

Its sad but true. We had an act of violence committed against a member of our family. To make matters worse the criminal that committed the crime was our very own Brody Jay. His victim: baby Ryder. The crime scene: our living room couch.

I knew it was only a matter of time before Ryder was hurt more than just an eye being poked, but I have totally and completely trusted Brody around Ryder. I have left the two of them alone in a room on plenty of occassions without even a second thought. That was the case one morning last week.

Mornings are always busy for me. Feeding kids, getting us ready for the day, laundry, and all the other typical household chores. This morning I had done all of that but I hadn't had time to blow dry my hair yet. I left Ryder on the couch and Brody paying extreme attention to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on tv to go to my bathroom and dry my hair. With all my hair it sometimes can take a while to get it dry, but I didn't think twice about that until I finished and turned off the blow dryer only to hear the sounds of my baby crying. Not just crying...more like screaming. This was not the normal, 'i lost my pacifier' or 'i'm starving' kind of crying, this was 'i'm seriously not doing so hot right now mom, please help!!!'

I run into the living room to find Brody leaning over Ryder and holding his Woody(from toy story) figure in his hand. I go to Ryder and find scratches all over the right side of his head. Some places the skin has been broken and there is a little blood, but all the scratches were hard enough to raise his skin and make it look like they were welts. Not only this but the scratches are almost instantly turning into some serious bruises! I realize that Brody has taken his plastic Woody and dragged Woody's spurs all over Ryder's head.

To say the least I'm horrified. First, I feel bad that I didn't hear poor Ryder sooner. Who knows how long Brody was scratching Ryder. Second, I'm just sick that Brody could do this. And third, I feel SOOO guilty for leaving Ryder unattended with his brother.

I am pretty upset with Brody. Actually really upset. I feel somewhat mad, but mostly I just can't believe he did this. He quickly realizes he's in trouble....BIG trouble. I show him what he's done and tell him how wrong it is and I take him to his room for a time-out on his bed (a first for Brody). Brody begins to cry as I carry him down the hallway to his room. When I set Brody down he flings himself away from me only to whack his head on his bed! Instantly there is a black and blue goose egg on the same side of his head as Ryder's injuries and in nearly the same exact place!

My boys looked like they were being abused by their mother! I didn't hardly take either one of them out of the house for a week for fear of what people would think! Haha! It was pretty bad. Brody told me the next day, "Woody trouble." How does a 2 year old already know to place the blame on others? So not only do I have an abuser in my house, I have a little liar! Oh well...I guess its all part of having 2 boys....I know that it was just one beat down of many to come.

Duplicate Copy

2010-10-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Being the mom I can see the subtle differences in the way Brody and Ryder look (emphasis on subtle), but more and more they are looking alike. People are always saying that Ryder looks exactly like Brody. Even Steve Crosby (my mom's bishop) said while looking at Ryder, "Well, he looks like a ditto..." Haha! That's the best description I've heard...Ryder is just the ditto to Brody! I guess you have to be the judge.

If you want to know the real truth though, I kinda wanted our boys to look alike I didn't want them to look totally different from one another. I love when you see little brothers and sisters playing together and they all have a similar look. I want to be able to tell that they belong together and I think that you definitely can with Brody and Ryder.

Brotherly Love

2010-10-16T15:14:00.000-07:00

Ryder has been with us for 5 weeks now and other than the sporadic sleeping, (and of course that first hard week for me) things couldn't be better! Brody's transition from being an only child to an older brother has been pretty seamless. He is such an awesome brother!!! The day we were having Ryder I left our house really emotional. I just couldn't even talk about Brody without tearing up. I was super excited for him to become a big brother, but there was also a little sense of guilt. I knew we were going to completely rock his world in just a matter of hours. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. I love having siblings and have become especially grateful for them as I got older, so I knew that giving Brody a sibling was probably one of the greatest gifts he could ever get, but I worried that maybe he wasn't ready. Was it too soon? Had we prepared Brody enough for the arrival of Ryder? Could his 2 year old mind really understand that we loved him as much as this new intruder that was taking up so much of our time?

Things at the hospital were crazy and Brody had had a long day so he didn't really seem too interested in his brother. He did plant a kiss or two but he didn't seem to care all that much. When we came home from the hospital the first thing Brody said was, "Bowie hode baby Ry-er." He wanted to hold Ryder!!!

Things have only continued to get better. Brody has been the best big brother. I couldn't ask for a better big brother for Ryder. Brody is interested in Ryder without being overbearing, he doesn't ignore him, and he doesn't act jealous at all. If Ryder cries he makes sure to tell me. He runs into my bedroom to check on the baby, and loves to give Ryder his pacifier. Of course, Brody is 2 so he can't be perfect all the time....Ryder's eyes have been poked on occasion and he's been bounced a little too hard in his seat, but its all out of curiosity or in trying to be "helpful" its never out of being mean.

I was so excited to have 2 boys together because I wanted them to be buddies, and although Ryder is too young now for them to be playing but there is definitely some bonding going on. I love the idea of watching them grow up together....I can't wait to watch them cycle through being buddies, enemies, competitors, companions, and just plain brothers.

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Mazes

2010-10-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Every year in Snowflake there is a pumpkin patch and corn maze. I have always wanted to go, but just have never done it. Finally this year we went! The corn maze is turned into a haunted maze at night, but its too scary for kids so we just did it during the day. My brother Spenser and his wife Stormy came home for the weekend so we made it a family outing with my mom and all my siblings. Before we went to Snowflake we went and supported my sister at her soccer game, and then headed from Holbrook to Snowflake. It made for a long day, but it was SOOO worth it!

At the corn maze they had a game sort of set up. Throughout the maze there were posts and you had to find them to and punch a hole in your paper. There were like 6 different shapes you had to find and it was pretty hard to do, but if you found them all you got a candybar. I swear I couldn't tell one row from another, so I basically spent the time following everyone else. No shapes were found by me. When all was said and done we were able to find all the posts and make it out of there in just under 2 hours. It was WAY fun! Brody really had a good time too. He picked up several "souvenier" corn cobs while we were in there.

After that we headed over to the pumpkin patch. I have never visited a pumpkin patch because I've always just bought my pumpkins at a grocery store. I don't think I have ever seen so many pumpkins. It was fun to see all the different sizes and colors. They were even catapulting pumpkins in one area.

Overall, such a fun day spent with my family! I hope to be able to go again in the future!

My Other Half

2010-09-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

I just can't explain in enough words my love and gratitude for my husband. I have always appreciated him and loved him, but these past few weeks have really put things into perspective for me. I honestly don't know how I would have made it through.

Trevor has always ALWAYS been one to help me out. Even though I am a stay-at-home mom he pitches in without me asking. He knows when I'm feeling a little frazzled and I need some extra help. He will clean the house, make the occasional dinner, and he has never failed to help out when it came to Brody and now Ryder too.I have always been grateful to Trevor for being our family's "bread winner" but he goes about and beyond the call of duty at times. Never in my life have I been so completely incapacitated as I was the week after I had Ryder. Trevor just totally took the reigns. He changed a countless amount of diapers, he fed Brody (which can be quite an ordeal), I started laundry 2 times but couldn't finish so he folded clothes and hung them up to dry, he cleaned our bathrooms, did dishes, took out trash...I mean the list goes on and on. On the weekends when he's home from work I feel like we have a tag-team effort going on. We both put in the work, but Trevor was doing everything. He told me at the end of the week, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I have a whole new appreciation for what you do at home during the week...I mean, I always have, but now I REALLY do."

I am also so thankful that Trevor has continuously honored his priesthood during our marriage. That may not be a big deal for most, but it really is to me. I can probably count on one hand how many times I have received a blessing (not including the standard ones like your baby blessing that most lds people have had) on one hand. This past week Trevor was able to give both me and Brody a blessing. What a comfort it is to me to know that we can ask for a blessing at any given time and it will be done.

Trevor is my rock. He reassures me when I freak out about things I have no control over. He is my best friend. He is my confidant. He is my comic relief. When I worry about something being wrong with one of the kids he is probably the only person that will worry as much as I do. He is honest, loyal, trustworthy, hard-working, loving, fun, sarcastic, and more. Trevor is the best dad to our kids and the best husband I could ask for. I love you, Trev!

The Recovery Time

2010-09-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

If I thought that the labor and delivery of Ryder was hard, and I had another thing coming to me. Things only continued to get rocky.

I distinctly remember being SO shocked after I had Brody that my body 'down south' could be so messed up! It was just so much more messy and bloody than i could have ever imagined. I thought to myself over and over, "nobody told me about this!!!" So, this time I was prepared. I had all the things I could possibly need so that Trevor wouldn't have to go to the store for anything 'embarassing' (let's be honest....he would have sent my just-home-from-the-hospital butt to the store instead of doing that for me). I was totally ready for that, but completely unprepared for the aftermath of my epidural.

In basically every aspect of my life I'm what you would consider average. Average smarts, looks, height, etc. Wouldn't you know that the one time I decide to be unique its in an aspect that no one wants to be unique. Anytime you get an epidural there is like a 1 to 2% chance of the dr. going through a membrane and causing spinal fluid to drip in your back which then causes a MASSIVE migraine. I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of these lovely headaches!!!

We got home from the hospital on Friday and my head was killing me but I really thougt that it was normal. The next day we woke up and Trevor suggested we go get lunch at the fair. I wasn't feeling well, but I thought I could do it. We got to the county fair walked from the car to where the food was and I told Trevor, "I can't do this. I really don't feel well at all." Turned around and went home. I honestly went home took off clothes, put on pjs, and got into bed and pretty much stayed there the rest of the day. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were not much better. In fact, I would say it continued to get worse. My head literally felt like it was going to explode. The only small amount of relief was when I was laying down. Sitting up and standing was excruciating. Normally showering can make me feel a little better anytime I'm sick, but it only made me want to pass out.

On Monday and Tuesday I began throwing up and couldn't eat anything. Trevor was basically doing EVERYTHING for me. He changed almost all diapers for both boys, he made meals, fed Brody, bathed kids (gave Ryder his 1st bath and I bawled because I wasn't doing it), cleaned toilets, washed dishes, did laundry, and just took over everything else. I cried because I hurt so much, and cried more because I felt like a failure as a mom and wife. The worse day was on Tuesday when he took Ryder to get circumsized and Brody to his 2 year check-up and shots. I was just too sick to go and I could not stand the idea of not being able to go and comfort either of my boys. I just cried and cried when they left until I fell asleep.

I finally wised up and called the dr. realizing that things were not going to get better on their own and they prescribed me a VERY potent migraine medicine that night and scheduled me to come in the next day. After paying over 25 bucks for one pill I took the medicine that night and woke up pleasantly surprised to find that the headache that had also seeped down into my neck and back as well was gone, and the headache itself was a little bit relieved but not gone.

I went to the dr. and they prescribed me another one of those pills to see if it would help knock the rest of the headache out, but they sent me to the hospital to see about getting a blood patch done. I had no clue what a blood patch was and when they described it, I only cried more. They take blood from your arm and then go back into your epidural site and put the blood in there. It seals off the leaking spinal fluid and it has an 85% chance of working. If it DOES work you will feel relief within 20 minutes. I just could not stand the idea of them even touching my back after everything I had gone through, but this headache was so ridiculous that I talked myself into it.

I go in and put on my gown and wait for the lady to come in and they decide to instead send in the SAME EXACT DOCTOR that messed me up in the first place!!!! You have got to be kidding me..... Not only did this dude act like he didn't want to do my blood patch, but he also acted like he didn't think he COULD do it! If he isn't confident in his abilities how can I be??? So, I decided not to get it. I went home in the hoped that my second $25 pill would take care of it.

Thursday I woke up and finally, FINALLY felt a little bit like a real human being! Friday was even better. It only was like a whole week later, but I felt better. I have continued with just a tinge of a headache, but nothing like what I had before. I could finally start to enjoy my baby...just a week after he was born.

Saturday I was feeling great but Brody decided to get major sick for the 1st time in his life. We spent hours at an urgent care only to have Brody puke all over me and get no answers. We spent the whole weekend trying to figure out what was going on and if we needed to go the ER or not. Could things get anymore awful at this point? I'm really not sure. We got to the pediatrician on Monday and were told he had hand, foot, and mouth disease. I guess its fairly normal in kids. There's really not much you can do but let it run its course and by then he really was a lot better but we were just happy to have an answer!!! Trevor and I had both spilled more than a few tears worrying about this little boy. It was really bad.

By Tuesday Brody was WAY better but I was aching all over, I had the chills, and a fever started. I thought maybe I was getting sick, but when the fever broke that night and I felt so much better I wasn't sure. I looked in a book I have and after thinking about how my chest has been really sore I realized that I probably have Mastitis. That would explain all the achiness and the sore lumps I had.

I really have felt like these first 2 weeks of Ryder's life have been 2 of the most challenging weeks of my life. I have cried and cried and cried because it has seemed like one problem on top of the other. I thought that since I had a hard delivery I could hope for and easy recovery but I was wrong. Its been pretty tough, I almost feel like I was robbed of Ryder's first 2 weeks, but things are FINALLY starting to look up. Everyone seems to be well. Somehow Ryder has escaped getting sick himself. We'll keep our fingers crossed that things will be normal for a while.

Ryder's Labor and Delivery

2010-09-22T10:15:00.001-07:00

About 5 weeks prior to my due date I started to dialate and efface. I think that every lady at the end of her pregnancy is hoping for an early delivery, but my doctor seemed to really think that I would have Ryder early. No doctor should EVER say that to a pregnant woman. It makes you just hope way too much. For over two weeks I had my bag packed for the hospital, and every single night I would shower, wash my hair, and dry my hair because I couldn't stand the idea of going to the hospital with dirty hair. But all the anticipation was for nothing. I went to my final appointment on the 3rd and Dr. Connelly scheduled me for an induction on the 9th (one day past my due date). I think he really didn't think I'd even make it to that because I was about 80% effaced and 3 1/2 cm dialated. He was wrong.

On September 9th we got up and got ready for the day and made our 45 minute drive to the hospital in complete calm. There was no freaking out because of painful contractions. Trevor and I had always talked about how weird it would be to know the day your kid was going to be born, and here we were doing exactly that.

At 8 am I was admitted into the hospital. I got dressed in my lovely hospital gown, got into bed, and was hooked up to the heart monitor. My nurse, Yvonne, began asking me questions and filling out paperwork. The whole time she's doing this we find out that I am having contractions I'm just not feeling them. She checks me and we were pleasantly surprised to find that I was dialated to a 5. Sweet! Halfway there!

At 9:30 my dr. came in and broke my water. About 5 minutes after that my favorite dr, the one bringing me my epidural, came in. How great was this delivery going to be? I was going to get my meds before I even started to really feel contractions. I could not have been more pleased. But things were about to get crappy. When I had Brody they struggled a bit getting my epidural in. They even bent the needle in my back, but when all was said and done it got in and I felt great. This time was much harder. It seems that the muscles in my back are too tight or something. The dr. had me lean over and he began to poke....and poke....and poke. I ended up with 7 different holes in my back, but I was probably poked about 30 times. He would get the needle into the epidural space but he couldn't ever thread the catheter in. He kept hitting my bones. It was extremely painful! He would go back into a hole at a different angle hoping to get it, but it just wasn't happening. My body began to shake uncontrollably. After an hour of being hunched over we got it in. I was definitely feeling my contractions now. The epidural made my right thigh very numb and it never did anything more. My contractions were getting intense. I was on my side and just crying because I hurt so much. Trevor kept telling me to call the nurse but I didn't think she would do anything. I kept thinking this epidural would work.

After what seemed like forever I called my nurse and told her my epidural wasn't working She came in and had called a different dr to try and fix my epidural. She said this dr. was excellent. She could do an epidural in like 5 minutes. Well, it took her 35 minutes to do mine. During all this time I'm trying to stay still but I'm having major contractions. When the epidural gets put in she checks me and I'm at an 8! At some point during all of this I was asked if a student nurse could come in and observe. I told them sure, why not? Let's make this a party. I'm such a prude and so private but at this point what was one more person? I already had 4 dr's that had seen my vage plus Trevor and 2 more later right before Ryder was born.

The second epidural made both my legs very numb and that is about it. I was feeling every contraction. I have NEVER EVER been one of those people that wants to "fully experience" child birth. I say bring me the drugs. I have also heard people say that they had to deliver without meds and once they did it they were so glad that they had. They felt proud that they had done it or something. Hah!

In what seemed like only a few breaths I felt the need to push and the dr. was there. Holy cow! Talk about the most painful experience of my life. There was a lot of crying involved. There was a lot of me saying, "Trevor, I can't do this!" Granted, at this point there is no turning back, you pretty much are doing this no matter what, but I seriously felt like it might just kill me.

With Brody, I was able to push him out in like 4 pushes. I ended up pushing for only about 20 minutes, but I just couldn't do as well. I felt like I was so busy concentrating on my major pain that I couldn't concentrate on the correct way to push. I also felt like I couldn't breathe. It seemed like I couldn't catch a breath. There was so much burning and tearing going on. At on point I grabbed onto the rails of my bed and when I did I hit a button that made the end of the bed go down, and the dr was sitting on it, so I nearly dumped him on the floor. It felt like such an out of body experience that I couldn't control my actions. I remember apologizing to him. Every once in a while I would catch site of the student nurse and sometimes she would have this terrified look on her face like, "oh my gosh!" and once I was really pushing the baby out I remember her getting this big proud smile on her face and kinda clapping to herself. She was like my own personal cheerleader in the background. After all was said and done I told her that watching me was probably the best birth control for her ever!

Finally after so many tears, burning, and tearing I pushed out Ryder's head. Normally that's the hardest part but Ryder's chest ended up being bigger than his head and it hurt more than his head. Trevor says I cried out more at that point than any other time. With Brody he was face up and that makes labor and delivery much harder I'm told. They never got him turned around either. Ryder was face up as well, but they did turn him around before he came out. However with Ryder being so broad not only did I tear down, but he tore me up on top. So not fun.

Finally Ryder entered the world at 2:06 that afternoon. He came out wailing away. Brody hardly cried at all, and so this was quite different. We knew there was a new baby alive and well right off the bat. In fact, they do the Agpar test at one minute after a baby is born and again at five minutes (it basically tests them on the baby's color, breathing, reflexes etc.) and Ryder scored a 10, which is the best score he could get. Then they took him off my chest and began to clean him up and weigh him.

As all this is going on the dr. then delivers the placenta and because I wasn't numb I felt that and thought it was like a second (but much smaller) baby being born! Then came the stitching and I felt ever one of those go in too. It was seriously the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I remember just crying and crying when Ryder came out because I was so glad he was okay but also I cried a lot for myself. I really couldn't believe what I had just gone through.

Overall the most important thing was having a healthy baby. We were very blessed with that. The following day with a major headache and backache we were able to take our newest addition home. I'm glad to have Ryder out of me. I'm glad he's doing so well, but I'm also very grateful that my first delivery didn't go like this one did because it would have taken me a lot longer to decide to have another one. I felt so proud of myself after I had Brody, but with Ryder I felt like the biggest wimp, and yet it was way harder and I basically did it with no medication.

Ryder Joel Waite

2010-09-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

Even though I was dialating and effacing on my own 5 weeks prior to my due date, Ryder just didn't want to come. He needed just a little nudge.

Finally on September 9, 2010, just one day after my due date we went in for a scheduled induction. By 2:06 that afternoon Ryder Joel Waite made his first appearance into this world.

He weighed the exact same as his brother did, 9 pounds 1 ounce. Originally he was measured at 21 inches long, but after being measured again this week we found out the hospital got it wrong he was 22 inches long.

Preparing Brody

2010-08-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

In less than two weeks we are expecting Ryder, baby boy number 2, at our house. We have tried to explain this to Brody and I think he kinda gets it....that is, he gets it as much as a 2 year old can, well, at least I HOPE he does because ready or not, Ryder is coming, and possibly sooner than that.

When you point to my belly and ask Brody who is in there he says, "Ry-er", and lately he'll even say "baby Ry-er." Nearly every night he makes me pull my shirt up and he'll rest his hand on my stomach or gently rub his hand back and forth and say the baby's name. He is so sweet, but I just don't know if he realizes that there is an actual baby in there. An actual baby that is going to come and invade his world!

When we pulled up to the dr.'s office last week he pointed at the door and said, "mommy...ry-er." Its so funny to me that he knows so much. When we went in and heard the heartbeat he would tell the nurse, "ry-er noise.." and during the week if we asked him what kind of noise Ryder makes he makes this growling type sound that I think is supposed to be a heartbeat!

Most days I think Brody is going to love this baby. Yesterday while he was sitting on the bathroom counter I was combing hair. Unfortunately for Brody his Mommy's round baby bump is right at his eye level when he sits there. Totally unexpected, Brody leans forward and gives my belly a big kiss. I know what a sweet and tender little Brody can be, but I was really surprised at this. He got a big grin on his face and told me, "Bowie kiss Ry-er." Talk about melting my heart!

Hopefully having Ryder come live with us won't be too much of a shocker. I'm thrilled to have these two boys grow up and be buddies and play together, but I do worry that initially it might be a little rough for our Brody boy. We have talked a lot, so we'll keep our fingers crossed for smooth sailing!

Brody Turns 2

2010-08-16T14:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was our little man's birthday! It is so hard to believe that Brody is already 2!!! We had a pretty awesome day. It was Brody's RED birthday. He doesn't say red is his favorite color, but we have noticed a definite preference for red.

Usually in the morning Brody stays in his jammies for a while, but Trevor and I went into his room and put him in his clothes first thing. He was so mad at us. He cried and threw a little fit. "No, shirt....no, shirt." He kept telling me. Finally he was dressed and I carried him down the hall to show him all the decorations that had been set up after he had gone to bed the night before. As soon as Brody saw the balloons his mood dramatically changed. A big grin came across his face and he said, "boon!!!" Then we turned to the kitchen and he got even more excited and said, "more boon...tan-ee (more balloons and candy)!!!"

We still had preparations to make before the grandparents and everyone else came over for lunch so we got busy. I made 24 cupcakes the day before, but Trevor wanted me to make a whole other batch. Why? Well, because he informed me that cupcakes taste SO much better than cake and he wanted to have some leftover. Almost 5 years of marriage and I barely find out that my husband thinks cupcakes are SOOO good. These cupcakes were a little more special than normal too because I made them the colors of the rainbow, with red the last layer so you could see it on the edge under the icing. Brody ended up mostly just licking the icing off of his cupcake, but made up for it later on that night when he ate a whole one for a bedtime snack! Everytime you ask him about his birthday he'll tell you about the "nummy cake."

Things were kept pretty simple. Altogether we had the 3 and 1/2 of us, plus 3 grandparents, brody's Uncle Adam, Uncle Kade, and Aunt Taylor. We ate a lunch of beans and sopapillas while toy story was playing. After that it was opening presents and then cake.

Brody was spoile, of course. Trevor and I had tried to not get very much because we knew he's get things from everyone else, and we were right. We got Brody Toy Story 2, a book, and some toy story legos. Toy story seemed to be the theme because nearly everything he got was toy story. Truthfully we should have gotten Brody nothing and let everyone else give him presents because he got way more than necessary. We had to practically bribe him to open the presents. He was more interested in stacking the packages.

Happy Birthday to our Brody boy!!!! We love you SO much. You have brought more joy and happiness into our lives than we even thought was possible. There has never been one stage of your life that we haven't enjoyed. It has all been great. You wake us up almost every morning by walking down to our room and announcing, "Bowie's up!!!" as if to say I'm awake so you need to be too! At night you like to settle down in our bed with us while we watch tv before you go to your own bed. Everytime we go to the store or do anything it all revolves around you, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you for being such a sweet, cuddly, happy-go-lucky little boy!!!

We can't wait to celebrate years and years of birthdays with you!

Our Big Talker

2010-08-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Just a few months ago Brody was saying a few words. All of my friends that had daughters around the same time I had Brody said their girls were saying tons of things! Most of my friends with boys said just the opposite....their boys said only a few things.

Things have drastically changed at our house. We aren't just hearing a new word everyday, we are hearing like 4 or 5 new words a day. Sometimes, okay maybe a lot of the time, Brody says things that only mom and dad can understand because we're with him all the time. It can take a translator to understand what he wants at times. These are some of his current words that you may not understand at first:

gare = scare

dop it = stop it

cock = clock (this word usually makes Trevor die laughing for obvious reasons, but it gets even better when Brody adds word like nice or daddy so its something like this, "nice cock." Yeah, you know you're laughing too)
da-ee = daddy
dumpeen = jumping

tan-ee = candy

murning = burning

I tried to count all the words he's saying but I just can't keep up because he's learning so many new ones everyday. I'm pretty sure that we are up to 125 words if not more. The most exciting part of his talking is that he is grouping words together to try and form sentences. The not so fun part is having a bossy kid telling us what to do. If he thinks we are being too silly or he just doesn't like what we are doing he tells us to "dop it, mommy (or da-ee)." Then yesterday afternoon I guess I hadn't fed him enough because he yelled to me, "Mommy...eat!" I asked him if he was hungry and wanted something to eat and he said yeah and ran to the kitchen. Another funny thing he says now is when he sees a bug he'll tell it, "way, bug!" and wave his arm in the air. This means go away bug, and if I was the bug I would go away.

Of course there are sweet things he says too. When Trevor walks in the door after work Brody looks up at him and in the sweetest little voice will say, "hi da-ee!" It makes Trevor's day. I love when he says, "Bowie, happy!" translation = Brody's happy.

We still cannot get Brody to say anything we want him to say. I'm pretty sure he's capable of even more, but if he doesn't want to say something he's not going to. He chooses the words he says not us.

Brody's 2 Yr. Pictures

2010-08-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Its hard to believe, but our little baby is turning 2 in less than two weeks! Its amazing how much he has changed and grown in the last 2 years. Truthfully, it seems like he changes daily to me. When I look at the pictures from Easter to now he seems so much more like a little boy and less like a baby.

We haven't always been the best about getting pictures done at milestones. There are always pictures being taken, but not always nice pictures. I made it a priority to get these taken. How often does your kid turn 2?

Home Improvement Helper

2010-07-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

Anyone that has ever owned a home is probably just like us...you probably have a list of "someday we're going to..." Things get checked off our list, but more gets added, so we are never finished with projects.

One thing on my list was to get hardware put on my cabinets. I love the way knobs and pulls on your cabinets can really make it your kitchen (or bathroom) seem so polished and finished.

The hardware really isn't that expensive of a buy. We don't have some sort of huge kitchen, but having the knobs and pulls are not a priority so we just haven't bought them.

At the end of May I celebrated my 25th birthday, and to my surprise Trevor and his parents went in on a gift together, and it was enough hardware to do my whole kitchen! It may not be exciting to anyone besides me, but I was SO happy! Unfortunately, those knobs have been sitting in the gift bag that they came in for the last two months.

Finally this weekend Trevor put them all on! Yay! After every drawer or cabinet door that got finished Brody would run into where I was and say, "Mommy, Mommy....Da-ee (daddy), door...wood door..." He thought this was so cool. The funny thing was watching Brody examine everything Trev did. He would step back, fold his arms, and stare as if to examine Trevor's work. He had to give his approval or something before we could do the next door. It was so funny!

Seriously, how would we get anything done if we didn't have Brody there to "help" us?

Pioneer Days Schedule

2010-07-17T18:59:00.001-07:00

Its that super fun time of year again! In the past I have put up the entire schedule, but this year there is an actual website for all you out-of-towners that are trying to plan when you want to come. So check it out:

http://StJohnsPioneerDays.wordpress.com

When I was pregnant with Brody, I went into hiding during the celebrations, but I think even though I'm nice and huge and only getting bigger, that I'm just going to suck it up and participate. Brody shouldn't miss out because his Mom is so self-conscious....so I guess we'll see you there!

The Root of all Evil

2010-07-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

After getting way mad over nothing at Trevor on Sunday I realized what my real problem was.

I hate doing laundry. Its the never ending job. I had done 4 loads that day while running around trying to get me ready for church, Brody ready, get us fed, and several other things. I felt like I never slowed down the whole day. Instead of going to church ready to be spiritually uplifted, I went with a poor attitude and not wanting to listen.

We are told all the time to "remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy". I'm pretty sure doing laundry does not qualify as an activity that keeps the Sabbath day holy.

I could do laundry anytime during the week, except that on Sunday its off peak hours all day so its way cheaper. I don't have a fancy washer and dryer that can do a whole load in 40 minutes. The washer is a hand me down, and the dryer is a 10 dollar yard sale find thus making them not the most efficient. It takes a while to do our laundry.

So maybe, just maybe, I'm learning a new lesson that isn't anything really new to me. Maybe our church leaders know what they are talking about. Maybe if I made a little more effort to do my laundry during the week, one load at a time, I wouldn't spend all day sunday running around like a crazy person. Maybe I would go to church with a better attitude, and maybe I might get some much needed spiritual uplifting.

New goal: NO LAUNDRY ON SUNDAY (or at least only 1 load if I really really need it done)

4th Festivities

2010-07-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

This year we had so much fun during the 4th of July weekend. There is a pancake breakfast and a community bbq here in town, but Trevor and I have never attended those. They even have foot races for the little kids, and maybe we should go because it might be fun for Brody, but this year wasn't the one we tried it out. Maybe next time.

Every year since Trevor and I have been married we have traveled up to RV for their parade in the morning. This year we decided to change it up and not go. It was weird not going to a parade for the 4th of July, but we had just had a parade the weekend before during the San Juan fiestas and we knew that it was just going to be really hot.

So instead of the parade we headed to the Show Low for the movies. We took Brody to see Toy Story 3. Up until a couple months ago Brody showed little to no interest in tv or movies, but we bought the first Toy Story movie and he has become addicted to it! We've tried other movies like Cars, but Toy Story is his fav'. Brody has gone to the movie theatre before but he was so little that it wasn't that exciting for him. This was a totally new and fun experience! He sat on Trevor's lap for most of the movie and kept giggling and saying, "buzz" and "woo-ee"(woody) and then at one point they end up in the trash so he was telling us all about them in the "sash". It was so much fun.

My brother and his wife were able to come for the weekend and it was nice to enjoy their company. I love my other two siblings, but they are so much younger than me that its nice to have Spenser come because he's somewhat in the same point in life as I am. I really like his wife, Stormy too because its nice to have a sister-in-law. Trevor only has one married brother too so I don't have a lot of 'sisters' my age. We spent quite a bit of time with them while they were here and I think we had more fun this time than ever. It was such a fun and relaxed time!

That evening me, Trevor, and Brody decided to head to RV's fireworks and not Lyman Lake's with my family. We were excited to see Brody's reaction to the fireworks because last year he mostly slept through them. As night came on there were people lighting off their own personal fireworks and Brody kept saying, "more" and we had to tell them that they would be coming soon. Once the big fireworks started Brody reacted like he usually does to new things. He was as mellow as could be. At times he would duck behind his blanket, but mostly he was silent taking it all in. Brody would have stayed pretty chill through it all if Trevor and I hadn't started saying wow, cool, or nice and he would copy us.

The weekend ended with us making smores over a fire at my mom's house on Sunday evening with all my siblings. Minus the mosquito bites we all seemed to suffer, it was such a fun time.

Rainin' on Sunday

2010-07-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

After enjoying dinner at Trevor's parents house today, we were lucky enough to get a little bit of rain! Anyone that lives here knows how much even the littlest bit of rain can be appreciated.

Although we have had rain many times in the 2 years that Brody has been alive, but he's never actually experienced playing in the rain. We took him out in just a onesie, but he quickly decided he wanted his "shir" off. After that Brody played in the yard in just a diaper. He probably would have loved to stay out longer, but after seeing his little teeth chatter one too many times we wrapped him up in a towel and brought him in.

Monsoon season has begun, and we are not loving the mugginess, but we do enjoy the rain!

31 Weeks and Counting

2010-07-07T09:29:00.001-07:00

Depending on how you look at it, I have 2 months, or 9 weeks, or 63 DAYS until my due date September 8th! Woo-hoo. I can hardly believe that this pregnancy is nearly over. I am so glad!

I have to say that this has been a pretty good. I can't complain because I feel like I have it pretty easy. I do have to say though, that the discomfort has definitely started to set in. 2 weeks ago I was looking pretty good, but all of a sudden not only do I feel like Shamu, I look like her, because I am as big as her! This is not a joke. I went from not much there to a full blown pregnant lady. And I feel that big too. Even though my weight gain is only around 10 pounds or so, I know that from this point on all the weight gain is going straight to fattening up this baby. He is already feeling so big to me! I can hardly breathe at times and its only going to get worse.

My heartburn has come out in full force. I live on tums and pepcid ac at this point of the game. I get up to go to the bathroom 5 times a night. Exhaustion has started to catch up with me. None of this is different from my first pregnancy except that through this one I am chasing a VERY active 23 month old!

Brody still has little to no concept of getting a baby brother named Ryder. We try to talk about him to Brody and all he says is, "Door." He just thinks that one day we are going to bring a baby home through the front door (if only it was that easy on mom!). When we ask if he wants Ryder to come to our house he always says yes with lots of excitement, but I'm not sure he really knows what he's saying yes to.

I have started what I guess most people call "nesting." At this point in my pregnancy with Brody I had pretty much everything in his room ready to go. I had a few things to get still, but I was done. Call it over-eager or first time mom syndrome....but I was most definitely prepared. Not until this week have I felt the need or desire to start getting ready for Ryder. On Sunday, I rearranged all the furniture in our guest bedroom to make room for Ryder's bed. (Trevor walked in to find me sweating as I moved a bed and vanity and just said, "Idiot...." and then walked out) I'm really not decorating a room up for this baby because eventually I'm going to put him and Brode in the same room, but things still needed to be moved. Then yesterday I pulled out all of Brody's old clothes and even though they were washed before they were put away, I rewashed them and organized them into drawers. I also got out the infant car seat and gave it a good scrub down, and now it looks almost new.

We are really excited to meet Ryder. I can't wait for the day when he and Brody can play together and be buddies. I wonder more and more each day about if Ryder is going to look like his brother or be totally different. I wonder if his personality is going to be even more laid back than Brody's or if he's going to totally steal the spotlight.

Just 63 days to go.....(hopefully a little less....)

Potty Progress

2010-07-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was super excited about Brody going potty like a big boy, but luckily I didn't get my hopes up too much and its a good thing I didn't.

Brody woke up the very next morning and decided to exercise his independence and NOT go potty in the toilet. I think he just wanted to show that he is smart and capable of going, but that it is much easier to not think about going in a potty and just going in the diaper.

Oh well. At least we know he's capable. I didn't want to do the whole potty training thing this week anyway. I guess we'll try again soon!

Pees in the Potty

2010-06-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

For weeks Brody has been telling us about 'pee' and 'poo' while gesturing to the places that the stuff comes from. He practically stalks us in the bathroom(especially trevor), and even tells us when he needs a poopy diaper changed. All of this helps us to know that he is approaching potty training, but I still have been hesitant to really start the whole process. Why you ask? Well, I have read that the worst thing you can do is pressure them when they aren't fully ready. If you do that it can set them back even more. So I have patiently been waiting and thinking that there is no way I can get him potty trained before Ryder comes.

Today was a major breakthrough!!! While explaining pee and poo to me I just flat out asked him if he wanted to go potty in his big boy potty. He said, "Yeah!" with a ton of enthusiasm and ran into the bathroom that has his little potty and tried to get it down. Sweet, I thought.... I stripped Brody down to just his t-shirt and put him on the potty. Of course, nothing could be accomplished unless he had his shoes on while sitting there. He would wear them to bed if he could, so there was no way he was going to sit there and not wear them now. So t-shirt, shoes, and potty. We sat there and sat there....time slowly creeping by....I try a few different tactics. I let the water run for a while....let him have his sippy cup of juice...even give him my cell phone. Twenty five minutes later and much getting up and down I tell myself its just not going to happen, when all of a sudden HE PEES!!!!

Brody watched himself pee into the bowl and was totally amazed. I only made a huge deal out of it too, so then he really knew he'd done something good. We high-fived and 'pounded it'. To make things even better I let him help dump the pee in the big toilet and flush it. He loves to do anything like us so this made going potty all the better to him.

I thought this was surely a one time deal, but I left him in just his shirt and shoes in the hopes we could try again, when he surprised me and went in the bathroom by himself and said, "Mom, a- more.." I ran in there and sure enough he had peed more! He hadn't quite made it in and got a little on the floor, but mostly he went all by himself! Talk about a huge accomplishment at the Waite household!!!! I was practically jumping for joy. Unless you have kids you cannot know how exciting a little pee in a potty can really be! Brody went about 4 more times without me telling him and only had one accident. Yippee! I have dreaded the whole potty training experience and maybe we'll have setbacks. I would like to have done this whole process when there wasn't a holiday weekend coming up thats going to throw us off, but this was so not planned! Can we be this lucky? Is it really going to be this easy? Woot-woo Brody Jay!

A Boy's Boy

2010-06-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Brody is nearly 2 years old and it never ceases to amaze me how much of a little boy he really is. I have blogged about it on more than one occasion and I guess its just because I am really believing more and more that boys come as boys. There is no denying that Brody is a boy through and through.

Brody is interested in trucks, all things noisy, messy, dirty, anything related to Daddy, and now he is especially into basketball. I do need to clarify that although such a boy, Brody is also quite sweet. He will cuddle up to us and give loves, play with my hair when tired, and rub his hands softly across our faces or arms. But the boy part of him outrules most sweet qualities.

My mom gave Brody a basketball hoop for Christmas this last year and he has played with it on and off through the past few months, but now he gets really into it! He makes us turn on the light in his room and then he'll just hang out and "shoot hoops." He really is pretty impressive and makes most shots and if he misses he claps his hands hard together and says, "OH!!!"

The NBA finals of course were on at our house the last few weeks and Brody sat with Daddy or stood near the tv shouting things like, "Go...go....go" when the players were running up and down the court and "Shoo-it (shoot it)" when they were near the basket, and loud exclamations of "OH!" when shots were missed. It cracks Trevor and I up because normally Brody has this sweet little voice that says hello and mommmy and daddy, but when it comes to basketball this deep, loud, man voice comes out!

It mostly makes me laugh when all the noise is going on from the game, to Trevor, and then down to Brody until I realize that I have another boy on the way! I will be even more outnumbered and I'm sure the noise will increase even more. I didn't think my sweet 2 year old could have so much testosterone running through his little body, but I guess they are born that way.

Taylor Graduates

2010-05-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

It is so hard to believe that my little sister graduated 8th grade last night! I know its not as big of a deal as highschool graduation but it still is so weird!

When my mom moved us to St. Johns Taylor was only a baby when we moved here. She is the youngest of the 18 Stradling grandkids and so the last one to graduate 8th grade. It was kinda bittersweet to watch her graduate and not have our grandpa there.

Taylor is known for being quite the tomboy. She is awesome at sports, and especially at basketball. She is not a fan of girly colors such as purple and pink, and she definitely likes dressing in more of a "sporty" type way. It was pretty out of the norm to see her dressed up and looking so elegant and pretty. She had her hair done and I even did her makeup.

We love you and are proud of you!!! Way to make it in the top 12 of your class!!! You are awesome and we can't wait to watch you grow even more into your own self as you enter highschool!

Bathroom Vocab

2010-05-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

I always always swore that I would not have more than 1 kid in diapers at a time. It looks like I was wrong. Brody will barely be 2 when his baby brother, Ryder arrives and I just don't know if it will happen. I bought a book called Pottywise (same writers as the best book ever, babywise) and now we have a baby potty, but that is the extent of my trying to potty training. However, there have been a few promising moments lately....or at least thats what I tell myself....

Scene 1:

Since there is no privacy in our house because Brody knows how to open doors, he followed closely behind Trevor as he went into the bathroom. Pretty soon Brody comes back out and stands right in front of me. He cocks his head slightly, points to the door behind him, and tells me with his knowing little eyes as if he's my personal informant, "Da-ee (daddy), Da-ee....pee. Da-ee pee." Well, yes actually that is what daddy was doing.

Scene 2:

I get up to leave the room and Brody starts to follow and I tell him, "Brody, Mommy will be right back. I have to go potty." Brody looks up at me and says very seriously, "Poo." Hmmm...not exactly, "No, mommy go potty." And he then starts to say, "Mommy poo, Mommy poo."

Scene 3:

Brody gets out his teddy bear and lays him down on the coffee table. He points to the bear's bottom and looks at us and says, "Poo. Poo. Ew. yuck." Then he gets a piece of material and begins to wipe the bear's behind.

I don't love the fact that my kid is saying poo and pee, but as a consulation I tell myself that maybe its a good thing after all. Maybe the more he knows and is interested the easier it'll be to actually potty train. Thats what I keep telling myself......

Easter Weekend 2010

2010-05-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

During Easter weekend we were lucky enough to go to the valley. It was such a fun trip with lots and lots to do. I always feel like when we go to the valley we are rushed in about 50 million directions. We always have family to visit, and friends we would like to see, but its just too hard to get to everyone. We also usually come with an agenda. There are always things we need to shop for that we either can't get here in our little town or we have to pay way too much for it. And of course there are always things we want to do that we can't do here....this weekend was no exception to any of the above mentioned!

The things we needed to shop for were summer clothes for Brody, and as always more diapers. Yes, both things can be bought in SJ, but there aren't many options and its expensive. We always have Wal-mart 45 minutes away, but even that is limited so shopping we went! Lucky for us we hit some great sales and our first "valley thing" to get done was checked off our list.

Then as far as places we wanted to go we did hit 2 out of the 3 things. We weren't able to make it to the Easter pageant at the temple, and that was a bummer because neither Trevor or I have seen it before. Maybe next year.....

We did get to the zoo, as I have posted but the other place we got to take Brody to was Chuck E. Cheese!!! I know that Peter Piper Pizza is probably better, but as a kid that is where my parents took us and I was bound and determined to take Brody. He LOVED it! This Chuck E. Cheese didn't have as many things as the one I remember going too, but it made no difference to Brody. He loved all of the rides and could even play a few of the games. Pizza is always good and Brody ate a ton of it. As a kid you think its great pizza simply because of where you are but as an adult you really can tell that Chuck E. Cheese is more about the fun than the food!!! Eventually Chuck E. Cheese himself came out and I was really curious to see Brody's reaction. Brody surprised us by holding out his arms and wanting to give him a hug!! He couldn't stop smiling and giggling at Chuck E. Cheese. It was probably the highlight of dinner.

Lastly we did get to visit some of our families!!! We spent time with my brother and Stormy when we first got there. Then Trevor's brother, Mike, met up with us at lunchtime. Trevor's parents ended up at the hotel the same weekend we were there because it was Trev'r mom's bday and so we saw them even though we see them all the time. The most exciting was getting to see my Aunt Shelley. We haven't seen her and her family in about 3 years and so she had never met Brody in person! It was so fun to visit with her and her kids. Everyone is so grown up and since they are in Utah we just don't get the opportunity to visit. We also saw my grandparents and were able to visit with them too.

Easter morning came and we had decided that the Easter bunny was probably going to visit us at the hotel instead of waiting until we got home. Brody was pleasantly surprised to find a basket filled with goodies. He didn't get a whole lot because Trevor and I just don't think its necessary to go overboard even if we would like to because he isn't going to remember it anyway (besides he was excited for the little he got!). He loves mini m&m's and spilled them on the ground more times than we could count and we finally gave up and just let him eat them off the ground....he's eaten worse we figured. Last year Brody crawled to his basket and pulled out the eggs and grass and had tons of fun but this year he got to eat the candy and open and close the eggs all by himself. I can only imagine how fun it'll be when he can hunt for Easter eggs.

Overall, it was such a fun weekend! We went, got things done, had fun....but as always....were so grateful to come home.

Mother's Intuition

2010-04-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

After drinking tons and tons of water and going to the bathroom an obscene amount of times, it was finally time for our ultrasound today! I have said since I got pregnant that I really felt like this baby was a boy. Trevor has disagreed with me and said just the opposite....girl.

Mommy was right! Brody is going to have a little BROTHER! I just knew it. Sure I want a girl, but in my heart I have never ever even kinda felt like this was that girl. I wasn't expecting a girl so its not like I was disappointed. It was like, "yep, I'm right!" Boy #2!!!

When we went into the ultrasound the tech had barely stuck the thing on my belly and she wasn't even looking for anything and I said, "Oh, there's the turtle." She said, "did you see that?" Um yeah, right off the bat. Trevor had no idea what I was seeing, but sure enough it was that little boy's junk.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but we think that this is our little Ryder Joel Waite. Joel is Trevor's middle name and I would like for our boys to have 'j' middle names. Ryder is just a name we both like. Everything I suggested Trevor disliked but Ryder was his favorite of all, so Ryder it is.

Visiting the Zoo

2010-04-20T15:00:00.001-07:00

For months and months I have been wanting to take Brody to the zoo for his very first visit. I kept getting more and more jealous as friends and family of ours were taking their kids. Living as far away as we do, its just not an option to say, "let's go to the zoo tomorrow." It has to be a planned thing. It is a whole weekend trip really. We finally had a little bit of money and had found the perfect time for us to go. So on Easter weekend we made the trip.

We were so lucky because the weather happened to be perfect while we were in the valley. We arrived on a Friday but decided that Saturday morning would be the best time for us to go. We loaded up the car and got there before the gates even opened. With shades on and lathered up with sunblock we listened outside the gates to the birds squawking away while we waited to be admitted. Trevor and I were more excited than Brody because he didn't know what was going on and we knew how much he was going to love seeing all these animals and fish.

The first place we went was to the aquarium and Brody was so interest in all of the fish that were swimming. He kept saying, "water, water." And making his fish face. We had some people behind us that seemed to be right next to us everytime we turned around and the dad was driving us crazy so we kinda hurried through so we wouldn't have to listen to him.

There seemed to be a lot of birds at the zoo but other than that we really enjoyed all the animals. I don't think that Brody was interested in one more than another he just liked to be able to run from each exhibit.

I loved seeing the giraffes that were there and you can feed them if they'll come up to you, but the problem was they would never come near us! We walked up to the platform several times when we thought they were coming our way....but it just wouldn't happen. Brody did get to feed some ducks though and he loved throwing the food to them.

I think we pretty much saw everything but we definitely hurried through it because as we approached Brody's normal naptime he got pretty grouchy and all fun ends when that happens.

We decided that we better head out even though we had only been there a few hours, when we remembered the petting zoo. We had passed it when we first came in and didn't go in, but thought Brody would probably love to do this so we had to try it before we left.

Trevor and I were so glad we went to the petting zoo! I think it ended up probably being Brody's favorite part. He wasn't scared at all of the animals! Truthfully, the animals weren't scared of the people either. I guess they see so many people everyday that it makes no difference to them, but I was surprised because they would come right up to Brody. He would almost back away a little because they were so forward with him he was a little surprised.

Trevor went in where the goats and deer were with Brody, and then he and I went in with the turtles. He loved petting everything. He had to be told a couple times to touch the turtles heads "soft" because he was just a little too excited, but overall he was really gentle and loved the whole experience.

The only bummer to the zoo visit is probably the cost! Good grief. It just seems like way too much, but I guess since this is not something we get to do very often it was worth the money!!! I would most definitely take Brody again.

16 Week Appointment

2010-03-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

With my first pregnancy I felt that I talked about it A LOT. It probably wasn't the most exciting thing for everyone else to read about, but we were so thrilled that it was hard to not want to talk about it.

Well, pregnancy number two isn't all that much different. I may not be gushing about everything, but I am just as thrilled. I cannot wait to cuddle a new little one. Brody still enjoys being held and loved on, but it usually lasts all of about 2.5 seconds before he's off and running.

I feel pretty awesome about now. Yay for second trimester. I'm also LOVING the very little to no heartburn that I have had this time around! I think I've only had maybe 3 tums altogether! That is a record compared to the Brodester's pregnancy.

My appointment went as routine as could be. We did finally get to hear a heartbeat!!! Its just taken a while. It was 144 beat per minute. I don't know if that is fast, slow, or right in the middle.

I believe that I have started to feel a few little flutters that are the nugget moving around. Its pretty exciting, because that is what I have looked most forward to with this baby.

Our next appointment (not telling when that is) we find out if whether 'it' is a boy or girl. I can't believe its almost time for that! It has gone by so fast. I feel about 99% sure that its a boy. Trevor thinks I'm wrong and that this baby is definitely a girl. What would we like to have? Well, truthfully we both would like a girl, but I just feel very strongly that it is a boy....maybe that is because we can't agree on a boy name, but we've had a girl's name picked out for like 3 years.

So anyone wanna guess??? Boy or Girl?

Let's Talk

2010-03-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

I think for most kids the first words they say are mom and dad. Not for Brody. We have patiently been waiting for him to call us mom and dad!

Months ago Brody began to say his first couple words, hot and guck(this means truck). Then as weeks went on he added a couple more words like ouch (which he has now figured out can be shortened to just ow!) and of course the big N-O!

Then he woke up on Valentines and got a little gift from mommy and daddy that included a ball and a balloon so I guess he decided to start saying ball and boon(balloon). Among the other words he said that day were shoes and cheese.

Each day he seems to add a few words, but the real kicker came when I was giving him a bath. Brody has known for quite some time all his body parts. We ask him where his eyes are and he points, or when we ask where his buns are he pats his rear end. But then being the little BOY that he is he was touching his little boy parts and said we-rr. Hmmm.....he can't be saying what I think, right? Then he does it again and points. Yep, my son is saying weiner! I don't know if thats the most appropriate word for him to say, but he was saying it!!! He refuses to say mom or dad, but he knows how to say truck, and 'beep' when he drives a toy truck, and now he knows we-rrr!!! If that isn't a boy for you, I don't know what is!!!

But finally we have made progress! Two nights ago, Brody was looking at the wedding picture or Trevor and I that hangs in our room and he pointed and said, "mom!" and then "dad!" Yippee!!! Then he pointed at the pictured and said mom, but then pointed right at me and said mom! I know its not a big deal for most, but considering he's choosing to say EVERYTHING else besides mom and dad we were so excited. Its about time.

Mom and Son Doctor Day

2010-02-28T14:09:00.001-08:00

We have had a busy week. Doctor and dentist appointments and baby showers. It seemed we never stopped this week.

On Thursday, both Brody and I had dr. appointments. My apt. was in the morning and it was my first one for this pregnancy. I have felt like this pregnancy is not quite reality yet, so I was pretty excited to go and hear the baby's heartbeat. I have to say, this pregnancy is pretty similar to the first one. I am more nauseated, but just like with Brody, I have only thrown up one time. A major difference is that with Brody I had heartburn before I even realized I was pregnant, and I have only had it a few times with this one. At the doctors it was the usual first appointment. They made me pee in a cup, I had my blood drawn, and got all my woman parts examined (yuck. I don't think I'll ever get used to that!) and then got ready to hear the baby's heartbeat. While they were putting the doppler thing on me Brody got really concerned that they were hurting me and he said, "Ow!" a couple times until I said it wasn't an ow. For one reason or another they couldn't find the heartbeat. I have felt so apprehensive with this pregnancy so it made me panic a little. When the nurse practioner came in she said she would send me for an ultrasound normally, but the tech was gone this week. Of course, that is my luck, but the good thing was she could bring in a small handheld ultrasound machine. With Brody we only got one ultrasound so we were excited to see this baby. It took only about 2 seconds when we saw the baby moving arms and legs all over the place! Even though they didn't get heartones, this little one was moving and it put me at ease. I was told I am 12 weeks along, baby looked good, and my due date is September 8th.

Brody's appointment that afternoon was much shorter, and less stressful than mine. It was just his 18 month wellness check-up. I know, can you believe we have an 18 month old? He is such a big boy! I love these check-ups even if they usually are accompanied with shots because I like to see how much he has progressed. As of Thursday Brody weighs 27 lbs 2 oz which puts him in just the 63rd percentile, and he is 32.5 inches tall making him in the 53rd percentile, and his head, well its big! He has evened out quite a bit on the growth curve, but he seems so big to me! The doctor once again said he is exactly where he should be, if not ahead, as far as his development goes. When he got his shot he only was sad for a minute and shook his head and said, "no..." but once he got a bandaid (his current obsession) he was okay. He also got a sticker that he had us put on his face (another favorite thing to do). He amazes us with how much information he soaks in. His talking has remained limited to only about 4 words until he woke up on Valentines and began saying all sorts of other things and continues to say more each day.

So this week we say adios to my first trimester (yay, can't wait to start feeling good) and Brody being a baby as he seems to grow more and more into a toddler.

Christmas 2009

2010-02-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning was as good, if not better than what we thought it would be this year. Brody was so much fun! We couldn't wait to have him see what Santa brought him!

As usual, we knew that besides doing Christmas at our house, we had to go to both mine and Trevor's parents house. We were going to my mom's first and we had to be there fairly early, so we woke Brody up before he normally gets up and changed his diaper and fed him a bottle in his bedroom before coming into the family room where the tree was.

We really didn't feel like it was necessary to go overboard on the presents. As much as we wanted to, we knew Brody didn't need it. So he got a couple of Barney movies (yes, our kid likes that stupid purple dinosaur) and his cozy coupe car. Being that was all that he was getting we had the car out and waiting. As Trevor brought him down the hall this groggy little boy started to smile when he saw his guck (truck). He got right in it, and wouldn't leave! We tried to get him out to open his movies and his stocking, but he refused so they were opened in his truck.

We had so much fun seeing Brody's excitement. After that we went to my mom's for a way yummy breakfast and to open presents followed by going to Trevor's parents house to open more!

Trevor and I felt way spoiled this year! We received so many things that we needed, and Brody...well he just got down right spoiled! Its good we hadn't gotten more for him because he got more than necessary!

We can't imagine how fun next year will be with Brody understanding everything even more, and having a new baby too! Two kids for x-mas....sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Christmas Eve 2009

2010-02-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

This year I think we were more excited than ever to celebrate the holidays. Yes, we had Brody for all the holidays last year, but this year it was so much more exciting because he could actually enjoy things and understand a little bit. Of course we had to do Christmas Eve at my Grampa Stradlings house. It was so nice because we were able to just walk over there this year since we live so close! It was a little bittersweet knowing that this was going to be my Grampa's last Christmas eve with us, but I am so grateful that we did do it!

I honestly try and think why I love this tradition of going there every year, but there really isn't anything extraordinary about that evening. I think what I love most is that we are there with all of the extended family. Every cousin and aunt and uncle that can make it, comes. Its so fun to just all be together, especially with those that don't live here or close by.

We always always have mexican food and that is never a bad thing if you ask me. When we were younger every grandchild opened a present from our grandparents, but now that we are older we have received a card in the mail with a recipe that our granma or great grandma used. I really love this idea and think its better than any present I could get.

All the great grandkids received their own x-mas card and a gingerbread cookie this year from grampa and Laura.

I think every great-grandkid was there except for one, and it was so fun to see them all interact and play together. There was constantly noise, and I know it wiped out our grampa but I loved every second of it.

When Brody was born he was the first one of 6 new great grandbabies to our family. This year at Christmas Eve we had them altogether for the first time and it was so neat to see all their different personalities. I can't wait to watch them grow up together and play and hang out during the 24th of july and all the holidays, they will have so much fun! I was able to get a picture or all of them together, but of course they aren't all happy and they aren't all looking!!!

After we went there we walked back home and Brody got to open up his christmas pajamas and we put him in them and then went to look at x-mas lights with Trevor's parents. Brody really loved lights this year. He would press against the glass and make oh's and ah's. He couldn't get enough of them! Even the houses with only one string of lights made him excited. Unfortunately he was pretty exhausted so we didn't stay out very long before it was time to go home and go to bed so Santa could come!

Anniversary

2010-02-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

January is gone and now we are a week into February. Basketball season really takes a toll on keeping up on this thing. Not to mention, christmas and everything else that has kept us busy that I have had no time to post about.

The first week of January marked mine and Trevor's 4th anniversary! Talk about crazy. It seems like we have not been married that long, but at the same time it feels as though we have been married longer. We have so much to be thankful for these last four years.

Unfortunately because of the time of year we chose to get married, it seems we are always too busy to actually celebrate our anniversary. This year was not any different. The day before Trevor had a basketball game to coach and then he had practice the day of. I also was busy getting my first root canal on our anniversary. Talk about a great present.....

We ended up just going to dinner here in town and Brody came along. The biggest present of all was that we found out that Brody is going to be a big brother! That's right....baby number 2 is on the way. We are pretty excited and think that is the best present we could have received on our anniversary!

Grampa Stradling

2010-01-29T11:01:00.000-08:00

I know, I know....I have gone and left the blogging world for quite some time! There has been so much going on in our world that I need to catch up on, but for now I need to post a few sentiments and memories.

Just recently my Grampa Stradling took a turn for the worse. It was crazy because a matter of months ago he was walking around and doing fine. Christmas Eve has always been celebrated at his home, and I have posted about it before, but this year he was so bad he pretty much had to be carried in to the party. It was about as sad as it could be. I felt awful knowing that this party was going to wipe him out, but so grateful that we were doing it anyway because it was probably going to be his last. Most of the family was able to come and I am so glad they did!
Hospice got called in during this month, and that is never ever a good sign. Laura (thats my grampa's wife) asked the nurse on the 11th if she could tell if we had a few months or weeks or what, and she gave grampa one month. By that friday he was so much worse and Laura said to the nurse, "he's not going to last a month is he?" And she shook her head no. I was able to visit with Grampa that day. Just me and him. One on one, no one else. He was kinda out of it, but at the same time he was able to talk to me and knew I was the one with him. I got to tell him a few things I wanted to say and before I left I told him I loved him and hugged him, and he said he loved me too. As I walked out of the room I had a break down. It is so hard to see someone you love so much go from being strong, tough, and healthy, to tired, weak, and barely there. On Sunday, January 17th he passed away. It was so so so sad. I had my moments of tears, but mostly I felt at peace. I had my time. I got to talk to him and I knew he was in a better place.

I know that there were many people waiting to greet him on the other side. My granma, his mom and sister, his daughter that passed away exactly one year before him, and many others. Knowing the reunion that he probably has been having makes me so happy for him.

I just want to remember a few things about him:

* he was called, grampa, gramps, and banca
* he had candy all the time, but the good stuff was in what he called "the stash" and that was in the top of his closet....if we were lucky we got some of that, if we were naughty we stole some of that
* he left behing a pretty impressive legacy....every grandchild that has been married has been married in the temple, and all of the grandsons old enough to serve a mission have either served or are serving now
* he was a rancher, so swearing came pretty naturally, but a lot of the time they didn't sound like swear words....just part of his regular speech
* when he came to visit anyone he NEVER would stay long, but if you would visit him he would ask you why you were running off so soon when you left
* he had no backside. By that I mean, he had no butt. And fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, many of us have inherited that
* he was kinda shy. He always sat in the back row at church and it was known that you don't ask him to pray or talk in church. Its not that he didn't have a testimony, because he really did, he just did not like any attention focused on him
* he was extremely tough. Even those last few days of life. He was breathing really hard but his respiration was fine, the nurse finally figured it out and said that he had underlying pain that was making him hurt but he didn't even realize it and that was causing the labored breathing noise. So strong and tough....

There are so many more things that could be said, but I would go on forever. Grampa will always be loved and always remembered. I am so grateful to the example he set.

Spenser & Stormy GARNER

2009-12-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it, but my little brother is a MARRIED man! Not only is he married, but now he's practically a pro....he's been married over 2 weeks now. That must make him an expert, right? Seriously though, I cannot describe how excited I am for Spenser and his new WIFE, Stormy. The newest Garner family was married on November 21st. They had a reception that evening in Goodyear (i think thats where it was), and their second reception was here this weekend. Everything seemed to run smoothly, and turned out really nice. The wedding itself was really nice. I was lucky enough to go to a friend's wedding in August, but Spenser and Stormy's wedding is only the 2nd wedding I have been to in the temple since my own, and the first time for Trevor since ours. The ceremony itself is the same for everyone, but the guy marrying them can say a few things before, and he did such a good job. I really feel that he said things that he felt impressed to say, and not just a bunch of stuff he wanted to say. It was nice to get to re-hear those vows you take because you forget about them through all the hustle and bustle of the big day. Spenser and Stormy both seemed nervous....him more than her though...a few tears were shed by them and by some of us there. Overall, just a really really good ceremony!

That night was Stormy's reception. All along we knew that they had a movie themed reception. I could never wrap my head around the whole theme. I thought it was a cute idea and super fun, but I always think weddings should be ELEGANT. How was this supposed to be pretty? But it really was! I was so impressed! It was still fun, but it was so nice! Because you were supposed to feel like you were at the movies they had nachos, popcorn, and candy. They had a dj and a little music video that they made. It was really fun.

This weekend we had the reception here. It stressed my mom out, and she worried a lot, but truthfully I think it turned out GREAT! We were able to bring a lot of the decor from the first reception, but they were definitely not the same. I think they were equally nice. The only thing I think was a little disappointing, was that for all the invitations we sent out, a lot of people didn't make it to our reception. There were 3 different tournaments going on that made a lot of families be out of town, and its a really hard time of year to plan weddings, but we still thought there would be more. My wedding was kinda the same way, but we also didn't get married at the greatest time of year. I always find it surprising who ends up coming, and who doesn't. There are people that I thought would for sure be there that weren't, and then there were those that I never thought would come at all but did. Very interesting.....

I was asked at the first reception to give the newlyweds some advice on their wedding video. I was put on the spot and couldn't think of anything. I did end up telling them congrats, and to come home often, but I couldn't think of one other thing to say! Of course on our way home I thought of plenty things! So I'll give a little now: (this is something I am still working on and learning more and more) when you get married you are really two seperate people from two seperate families. There are things each of you have grown up doing a certain way, whether that be holiday traditions or just the way you load the dish washer... there are bound to be things you do differently. The thing to realize though is that just because your significant other does something different than you it doesn't make it wrong. Learn ways to compromise or figure out what works best for you two.

We love you guys, congrats again....and have fun on your honeymoon cruise this week (I am SO jealous!!!)

Life Before Baby

2009-12-02T07:44:00.000-08:00

All the time I hear people say things like, "We don't know what we did with ourselves before (insert baby's name here) came into our lives." I never knew how true that would ring until I had my own kid. Every aspect of our life has been invaded with baby stuff! Even my blog that used to be funny and sarcastic has become more like a shrine of our little Brody. I really don't mind it all. I'm sorta glad that our world revolves around this sweet little guy, but every once in a while I feel like there is not one drop of me left for myself!

What does that mean exactly? Well, it means that my blog used to be fun and people commented, now its all about Brody everytime and no one ever comments....which then (this is so lame of me...)makes me occasionally pull out the pity card and think, "I have no friends anymore!" It also means that everytime we go to the store we get more excited about buying clothes for Brody than just about anything else there is to buy. And lastly-and this is my favorite thing of all-

It means not even going pee in privacy! If the door happens to get shut all the way we get to listen to a very upset little boy that feels extremely left out. He then sticks his face and hand as far under the door as possible. Instead of being annoyed that you can't even go to the bathroom in a little bit of piece and quiet you end up laughing and this face pressed against the floor peering out at you.

When we went to the valley for Spenser's wedding I decided to take a bath (something that NEVER happens, almost always showers), and apparently I didn't close the door all the way because pretty soon the door flings open and here comes the Brodester. Yep he decided to come for a visit. I just figured that rather than climbing out to get him out I'd just let him stay. This was all fine and dandy as Brody reached over the edge and splashed my water a little, but then he decided to be a little more brave. Brody began to hitch his leg over the side and join me. I gently pulled his fully clothed body out before it really got in. Before I knew it, Brody dove head first in the water! My legs caught him so he didn't completely crash, and it could have been worse.

Brody wins again. No privacy for mom, and he ended up getting stripped down and in the bath like he wanted all along.

15 Month Stats

2009-11-25T13:07:00.000-08:00

Today was Brody's 15 month wellness check up. He has been 15 months for 2 weeks now, but we barely got in to the doctor today. I love going to these check-ups because I love seeing how much Brody has grown, and also seeing what percentile he falls in for his age group. Unfortunately for us, the doctor's office whole computer system was down. That meant we did find out his stats, but couldn't chart it on the computer and see where he was for his age.
As of today Brody weighs 25.8 lbs. That is up 2 pounds since his last appointment 3 months ago. He has also grown a half an inch, which puts him at exactly 31 inches tall. He seems to be growing well, learning, and changing each day.

Brody is still a pretty pleasant kids. He likes just about everything, but I'll give a short run-down of some of his favorites. He loves: balloons, mom & dad (of course), being outside, dirt, riding tractors with daddy, wearing shoes and anything on his head (weird for a little kid, but that's Brody for you), wearing nothing at all, bathtime, cuddling when tired, lights of any kind, bottles of things that he can organize, dogs, other kids, books, the list goes on.

The list of things Brody strongly dislikes is much smaller: food (that is when he is getting teeth like the current 4 molars), being told no, getting his diaper changed, and getting clothes put on (once there on he's fine, but before that....), and milk in a sippy cup (that only goes in bottles apparently).

Brody can do lots of things now too: run, climb, point out his head, eyes, ears, nose tongue, tummy, and toes when you ask where those things are, he nods yes all the time when he wants something, he says dunt, nop (sometimes dop), gog, and nononono which roughly translates to don't, stop, dog, and no-no (yeah thats right....no nice words like mommy or daddy) he tells my mom's dog to shush, Brody gives squeezes and kisses (our favorite!), and high fives followed by "pounding it" or knuckles as some people say.

I could go on forever about this kid, but thats all for now. Besides, I don't think anyone besides Brody's mommy and daddy really find this stuff remarkable!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that October has come and gone! Seriously, where was I? We have been so busy it seems that we didn't get to fully enjoy the month! I love fall, and especially October. Everything we did seemed a little rushed because we put things off to the last minute!

We didn't get Brody's Halloween costume until the week before Halloween. It wasn't that I didn't look its just that I never could find anything that I loved. Trevor is such a scrooge and all "bah-hum-bug" about holidays too that I felt a little discouraged. He didn't want me to spend money on something Brody would only wear one time for a few hours. He also kept telling me that Brody wouldn't remember it anyway. Finally after pouting about it Trevor said it was fine, I could go ahead and get a costume...of course, if you ask him he'll tell you that he never said I couldn't get a costume. Technically, I guess he didn't say NO, he just made me feel not so excited.

Less than a week to go I scoured Walmart, Walgreens, and Kmart in their VERY picked over Halloween section. We found a giraffe costume that was pretty cute. It was a 12 month size, but we thought it looked big enough. There weren't any sizes bigger in any costume unless I went really big. One plus side to waiting so long was that I got the costume on sale for only 9 bucks! Woot-woo.When we finally put Brody in his costume, it was a little more snug than we had hoped for! He couldn't walk very well because the seams were stretching in his feet, croch, and head/face areas. If Brody tried to look up it was so tight that it would make his eyes slant down like he was sad. It was hilarious to see him. There was a little Halloween parade that Brody and I walked in the morning of Halloween. We went by and got Julie and Kaitlyn and went together. The kids were given orange balloons and had a great time. Brody couldn't have been more content as I pushed him in the stroller. It was really pretty fun. After the parade we made a few stops visiting grandparents and great grandparents then came home, stripped off the costume, and resumed normal afternoon tasks.

As evening approached we finally sat down to carve pumpkins (yes, another thing we had put off because we were too busy). Brody sat on top of the table and "helped". He didn't really care for the guts of the pumpkin, but he was curious about how the pumpkin itself tasted. He had a little carving tool that he kept poking at the pieces we cut out and after a while he'd try those pieces out in his mouth. It was lots of fun!

That night we stayed in and passed out candy with Brody in his costume. Overall, a pretty fun Halloween!

The Little Chef

2009-10-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

One of Brody's favorite things these days is "helping" and watching me cook. If something is on the stove he stands on his tip toes and begs for me to pick him up. Once he gets his way he'll smile and stare at everything going on. I ask him things like, "Should I stir it, Brody?" and since he doesn't talk he'll just nod his head yes. He gets the biggest kick out of it because he thinks he is helping me so much.

It doesn't matter what is cooking or where it is being cooked, Brody wants to be a part of it. If something goes in the oven Brody will stand at the oven window and press his nose all the way up against it to watch whatever is baking.

Last night we had beans and sopapillas (perfect for this dang cold weather the last few days), and Brody had to watch so I put him on the counter and he watched me roll out the dough for the sopapillas. A few weeks ago we made a cake for my mom's birthday and Brody sat on the counter then too. He watched as each ingredient was put in the bowl and then was lucky enough to have his first experience licking the beaters! He LOVED that part. It doesn't surprise me that he is so interested in what is going on in the kitchen because he loves to be in the middle of everything, but I am surprised that he does so well. When he gets to be on the counter he doesn't try to take a dive off, he'll usually stay just where I put him, and he does really well at not putting his hands into everything.

Maybe, just maybe, we have a future chef on our hands!

Seriously? Snow?

2009-10-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Snow,

I know that each year you are bound to come, but let me tell you a few rules on snow ettiquette. One, there is a time and a place for you. It is not on this day October 28th. October 28th is part of FALL. Not winter. We are supposed to be enjoying the leaves crunching under our feet, carving pumpkins, and getting ready for Halloween.

Two, we are in Arizona. Not Maine, Vermont, Colorado, Utah, or any of those other places known for getting lots of snow. I repeat....we are in Arizona!!! Granted, we do live in an area of Arizona that gets snow, we do NOT get it this early, or at least, not usually.

Third, although some people may enjoy you, you aren't my favorite thing. I prefer the sun and warm days. However, I do realize that inevitably you will come but if I could put in one request....I would love for you to come on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. That's it. That shouldn't be too much to ask. I mean, you can't really have Christmas without snow, but after that I have my snow fix. I'm done. I don't need you anymore. This area does need moisture, but could you send the rain instead. I can deal with rain, I even like rain most of the time, but you snow...you can come as little as you want.

Sincerely,

taytum

Cutest little Girls

2009-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, so do you remember when you were young and used to watch all the older kids? You know, the older siblings and their friends, or kids in your church, or even just older relatives? I seriously remember looking up to some of the girls my mom would teach at church and think I wanted to be just like some of them.

Well, last week was homecoming here and when I took Brody to the parade we ended up sitting with my Aunt Gina (said like jenna), she had some of her grandkids with her. At one point Kennedy and Avery ended up sitting by me on some steps and I could hear them talking. When I glanced over at them they were both staring at me. I said, "What are you two saying?" Both of them immediatley said, "nothing!" I tried coaxing them just a teeny bit and finally Avery burst out, "We said that you always look so FANCY!" I just about died laughing. I don't know what made them think I looked fancy. I had my hair pulled up and I did have pearl earings in, but I didn't look special by any means, but for some reason they thought that I did.

I have to say that those two little girls kinda made my day. I think that was quite the compliment!

Official Owners

2009-10-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

This fine piece of dirt you are looking at is officially ours! That's right. We are the very proud owners of our very own piece of property!

It may not look like much, but we couldn't be more excited. We now own a little over an acre of property. Its a little more than we wanted, but we got a good price and we have been looking for over 3 years for something.

Trevor has been out on a tractor leveling and digging trenches and all of that hard stuff, while I have just sat back and pretty much watched. Brody LOVES to ride the tractor with his daddy. He also has really liked just getting down right dirty by playing in the loose sand!

Being in the small town that we are, we have people constantly driving by to be nosy and see what exactly we are doing. I guess you'll just have to wait and see!

Biggest Mess EVER!

2009-10-19T12:59:00.001-07:00

The messes Brody creates each day just keep getting messier and bigger and much more of a pain to clean up, but the worse one ever just happened this last week.

In our kitchen we have all the cabinets locked with safety lock minus a few drawers and the cabinet under the sink where the trash can is because it can't be locked. Brody is allowed to get in the drawers, and I haven't had to worry about the cabinet, because he just doesn't ever try to get in it.

Well, the other day Brody was playing in the kitchen when I was in the living room and I heard the cabinet open. Sure enough once I walked in there he had the dishwasher soap and the regular liquid soap out. He loves bottles and arranging them, but I don't think its the best idea to play with cleaners so I took them away and told him no-no. Brody the proceeded to throw a little fit. He ran down the hall crying and yelling the whole way. I chose to ignore the tantrum and walked back to the living room. Just as I have sat down and started back to organizing stuff, I hear the crash.....

You see, under the sink not only do we store our trash can, trash bags, and soap, I also take the oil or grease we use when we cook and I pour it into a big V8 can (which is like 52 ounces) and then eventually throw it away.....so the crash I heard wasn't my trash can or soap, it was a full 52 ounce can filled to the top with oil spilling all onto my floor!

Oh my gosh! I cannot even express the panic I felt. Brody was covered head to toe in old cooking vegetable oil! My favorit shirt of his possibly ruined along with one of his cutest pairs of jeans! I just got mad. I kept saying, "Brody, this is a big no-no!"

I stripped Brody of his clothes and began pulling every paper towel left in the roll and throwing it on the floor in the hopes of seeping up some of the oil. Brody is now screaming at this point because he knows I'm pretty upset and I keep sitting him down in the same spot so that he won't track oil everywhere else. I call Trevor and ask him to please come home now and help me. All he can hear is Brody screaming and the panic in my voice.

Why the panic? Well, at the edges of our laminate wood floor we never finished it off under the cabinets. I realize that the yucky oil is not only all over the floor and Brody, but it is now sliding underneath these floorboards onto the old linoleom! I can't start a wash because Brody won't sit still and I can't stick him in the bath because there is WAY too much oil everywhere that I have to try and get up!

Luckily, Trevor was close by and he was able to come home and save the day. Brody is near hysterical and his breath is catching in his throat because he has cried so hard. While I start a bath and the wash Trevor does his best to get all the oil up, and then he has to move the stove and dishwasher so he can pull up the flooring to get the oil underneath. He begins to clorox every single board he pulls up and the floor underneath while I scrub Brody.

Trevor got the harder job for sure, but when Brody got out of the bath he was still cleaning and I had to try and keep that busy 14 month old boy out of the way. We finally stuck him in his high chair with crackers and yogurt melts and while Trevor kept spraying the clorox I began to mop the floor on my hands and knees to get up the now greasy crap that was tracked through the dining room. Once Trevor was done he had got the oil all cleaned and the underneath floor clean, but the grease was still evident so I had to get new mop water and clean that half. The worse part was I had to work my way forwards otherwise I would be in the grease myself, so I would mop a spot, wait for it to dry, and then go forward and mop more.

So one to two hours after the initial spill it was all cleaned, Brody wasn't crying, and my house didn't smell gross like old food. Someday it might be a funny story, but its still a little too fresh in the memory to be funny yet.