Chip 'N Dale Baby

This is my 5-month-old son Logan. This is how we have recently discovered he prefers to be-- free of clothing and all those other distractions. This is the only time he will roll around the floor freely. When fully clothed, he stays on his back and gets frustrated. Too bad we now live in IDAHO where clothing seems to be a mandatory thing most months of the year.... At least I kept his socks on to keep him warm.....

Bye Bye to My Penguins....

Here's my genius Ethan. He loves counting. He knows every letter of the alphabet by sight (and will repeat the alphabet, but not sing it:). He knows his colors, too. Counting's the newest of them all, but he's doing pretty good. I have the right to brag every once in a while.... I love this little boy.

We've been in Idaho a few weeks now. Can't say I love it yet, but it's alright. I really need to get my own house, though.... Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Moving

So.... We are moving. I never really thought it would happen, but apparently it is (I think it kind of hit me after I realized that 3/4 of our stuff is now in boxes). Our destination is Idaho-- Boise area, to be specific. We leave in a week. Joe is happy. He's wanted to live there since before we got married. After getting laid off and not being able to find a job here in Phoenix, he found one there quite quickly. Maybe it's where we are supposed to be? He thinks so. I always thought my boys would be Arizona boys.... not potato farm boys.... I am sad. I'm leaving my family and everything I've ever known behind. I'm leaving my beloved heat, which Joe refers to as Hell (just as I refer to Idaho as "Hell frozen over"). I can no longer wear flip-flops year-round. I can't call Mom up at a few hours notice to watch my kids for an hour or two. I won't be around when my sister starts Junior High and High School and starts dating boys that I won't meet to be able to approve of. I'm leaving behind a nephew and a niece, as well, who've I've watched grow and mature since their births. We'll be totally on our own, without my parents to help us (not financially, but in many other ways), and without the comfort of knowing they're right there when we need them. My kids will rarely see their grandparents. I'm sad.

BUT... maybe this is the Lord's plan for me and my family. I must put aside my sadness and feelings of negativity. My husband does have the right to receive inspiration for our family. Heavenly Father HAS blessed him with a job to support us. As much as I want to, I cannot know ahead of time what will happen there and why it is good for us. Maybe I will grow as a person, and my kids might be safer. Maybe we should be there to help someone else. I don't know the reason, but I must hold onto something, and thinking about these things makes me feel better about it all. I must sound like the hugest Daddy's Girl, as I know many, MANY people live far from their families, but I guess I never considered I might be one of them. To all of you who do live far from your families, you are strong, strong people. May I one day be like you.....

Pillow Fight

I recently gave Ethan a pillow in his crib, as I have finally gotten over my paranoia that he may suffocate (he is TWO, after all!). This is how I found him that night.... So close.... yet, so far....

At least his TOYS are comfortable!

The Big Two!

My little Ethan turned two-years-old yesterday. It's hard to believe that it's been that long since I was in the hospital, pushing and in labor, wishing I were dead.... wait, that was just two

MONTHS ago.... but also two years ago.... Anyway, I tried making his day special with yummy breakfast, dinner, and cake, and I had the Nursery kids sing to him. My family came over for presents and cake in the evening. He really felt special and learned to say "Happy Birthday." He already knows to say "two" when asked how old he is, though he sounds like a little Scottish boy when he does.....

Here are his stats from his two-year check-up today:

weight: 34 lbs (95%)

height: 37 inches (97%+)

I love this boy. I love how he says "si" when you tell him to say "yes." I love that he is obsessed with phones and remotes and anything he can take apart, but shouldn't. I love his sweet demeanor and how he always says "please," "thank you" and "love you." I love his sweet kisses and his over-abundance of energy. I love his Flintstone feet, even though it's incredibly hard to find shoes to fit their wideness. I love that canned green beans are his favorite food and that he drinks their juice when he's done. I love that he stays in his crib, even though I know he can climb out. I love that he plays for a few hours in his bed before falling asleep and is perfectly content doing so. He is amazing and wonderful, and I am the luckiest mother in the world.

Prima Donna Ballerina??

Look at those toes, made for "pointe" in ballet..... Oh, wait........
They're Ethan's..... Yep, Ethan LOVES walking around the house on his toes lately, and he shows his exceptional skill here as he tries reaching around the safety gate to turn on a light (which he knows he's not supposed to mess with:).... I say ballet... Joe says martial arts.... He'd make a mighty BIG ballerina........ Probably crush too many little girls' feet.....

Feeling thankful

I feel I must take some time just to write how blessed I feel. Joe has been officially jobless for a month now. He'll be paid his severance through the end of September. I've managed to save enough money to pay our bills for two months after that, since we've known this time was coming for some months now. Why some companies feel the need to ship off American jobs to India, to earn a few billion dollars more a year than they're already making, I will never know. But, I digress. Even though Joe has no job, we've been lucky enough that he's had some contract jobs and we've had friends who need things done that he can do, and they pay him for it. Joe was able to take 3 weeks of vacation right after Logan was born (he had to use the vacation or he would lose it), then his job ended shorty thereafter, and I must say it's been really nice to have him home, even if it does mean he has no job. It's helpful to have another adult around with two kids under two, plus it's just so nice to be a family together so much-- we've had so much fun together! We've just had so many people helping us out, when we haven't even asked, and I feel they've been inspired. I know we must be doing something right to be so blessed. Heavenly Father really does look after all of his children. It's nice to know that. When we're doing all we can do, and trying to live righteously, things will all work out in the end. They don't always work out how we think they will, or how we want them to, but they do work out. I've been praying for months now that Joe will find a new job, and I know it will happen eventually. I just don't stress about it, though we do actively pursue it. Anyway, I am blessed. I have a wonderful family and people who love and support us. What more can I ask for?