tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51415207525903560342024-03-05T20:13:45.677-07:00THE RUECKERTSKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-79816791839576362382015-03-24T16:34:00.001-06:002015-03-24T16:34:49.300-06:00Baby #4 30 Weeks - Growing PainsOn Thursday the 19th I reached 30 weeks. If it follows the pattern of my other kids that means only 10-11 weeks to go!<br />
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Also on that day I was informed that some of the immediate stability we have enjoyed would be decreased.<br />
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As a preface let me explain that although Troy and I haven't been rich we have never felt any sort of financial distress or uncertainty in our 10 years of marriage. We still haven't felt financial distress, but that is a possibility as we face an uncertain financial future.<br />
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Troy has worked as an engineer for about 6 years. In that time he has spend 5 years with a great company that was very heavy on analysis and although he didn't thrive in that setting he still did ok. He started looking for another job when that employer kept doing lay-offs. He was able to find a job that was practically a dream job. It had perks, and an amazing work environment. His one complaint was that there weren't a ton of veteran mechanical engineers he could kick ideas around with.<br />
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On Thursday he was informed that the company was having some cash flow issues and as a result they were going to need to do some cuts. Troy happened to be a main engineer on a project that was easy to cut so he was laid-off.<br />
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We live well below our means and don't buy things on credit so we should be fine even if his unemployment status isn't changed for a few months. We are hoping he finds something within the next few months and hopefully by the time the baby comes he at least have a job offer.<br />
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We were given 0 warning about the lay off so it practically blindsided us, but even in that I have felt things that let me know God is aware of us and our situation and he loves and cares for us. The morning of the lay off I actually started having feeling of what would it be like if Troy was laid off. I didn't really think much of it because his job was what we thought stable, but thinking back I know that was God preparing my mind for something that we wouldn't have control over. Both Troy and I have been able to feel the comfort that the Holy Ghost can bring.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-33057603176332855572015-03-06T11:25:00.002-07:002015-03-06T11:25:36.968-07:00Co$t of Rai$ing Kid$I often think those estimates on how much a kid costs while your are raising him/her is over exaggerated. And then I thought of all the things you have to replace because they ruin them.<br />
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For the last 5 years we had been watching TV on a 32" rear projection TV that had a broken power button and no remote. We would turn the TV on by getting a K'Nex piece and shoving it into the little hole where the power button used to be to activate the little button inside the TV.<br />
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We were really excited to recycle that TV when we got a new 42" LCD TV for Christmas. At about 20 weeks pregnant I even helped carry it up the stairs and put it into our van to get that thing out of our house. The TV made it possible for us to also set up a Blue Ray player and a sound system that we also bought.<br />
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After just a few weeks of using it Parker learned that if he dragged a toy along the screen it would make fun colors. However it also left scratches in the screen. The scratches although annoying to look at when the TV was off didn't effect the picture quality of the TV. I threatened Parker if he ever did that again that we wouldn't have the money to get a swing set. That was enough for him to not try it again.<br />
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Last night I heard Parker say from downstairs, "Mom, come down here Max just did something really bad." On my way down I was trying to figure out what in the world Max could have done and just figured it would be a small thing, and I would have a sit down with Parker about not tattling or something. Upon walking into our main room I looked over at the TV, which was on, to see the picture totally messed up, and upon closer inspection a crack at the top near the middle of the screen. and a toy cup laying close to the front of the TV that had apparently been thrown at the TV. I took a deep breath and then called Troy down advising him to also take a deep breath before coming into the room.<br />
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In the end the TV is a lost, and the other TV is gone. We do have a 20" rear projection TV with a working power button and a remote, but we are planning on waiting for a month or so before setting it up. We won't be able to set up the Blue Ray player and the sound system to that TV, but o-well for now. For the most part the kids are the ones who usually use the TV so I'm hoping that this is hard on them. Maybe after a month we won't want to set the other TV up, but with a new baby on the way and general conference coming up in about a month I'm guessing we will set it up. And maybe next Christmas we can try again for another nice TV.<br />
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I've seen couches, beds, walls, cabinets, doors, computers and more ruined by kids. Is the replacement value of these items factored into the cost of kids?<br />
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There are worse things that could have broken. About 8 or so years ago there was a family that lived by us that had just brought their newborn daughter home. Their oldest daughter was holding the new baby and somehow dropped her. The baby ended up with a cracked skull and bleeding on the brain. The baby ended up with significant brain damage and was never the same. A TV IS NOTHING.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-121121991510216172015-02-09T09:10:00.001-07:002015-02-09T09:10:21.713-07:00Facebook Status Updates (1/2/15 - 2/7/15)2/7/15 - <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">We were out to eat at a Chinese resturant tonight as a family. After Parker took a sip of his ice water he said, "Chinese water is SO cold."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/4/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Parker let us pull his second loose tooth out tonight. If the tooth fairy had come last night it would be two night in a row she would be stopping by, but she was sick or something last night so she has double duty tonight.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/3/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And Parker braved up and let Troy pull his tooth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/3/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">We've decided on a name for our baby Abacus Tesla Rueckert. The names just screams . . . "Yes, my parents are an engineer and a scientist, and they think they are funny."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/3/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Today for breakfast Parker ate: two bowls of oatmeal, 1 bowl of cereal, 1/2 grapefruit, some dried apples and a bowl of apple sauce. I'm not looking forward to that aspect of having 4 teenage boys. We have 10 or so years to save up.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/3/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I remember when my first tooth fell out (It was probably during the summer before I started Kindergarten) I was eating some of my Grandma Cranes Christmas caramel, and there was a harder than normal piece in it. I pulled it out and there was my tooth. Parker needs some of that caramel. He has two teeth are are so loose they are ready to fall out the next time he sneezes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">2/2/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Tonight Parker wanted me to read Hop on Pop to him. I refused because I told him it is a book he could read himself and that I would rather read a book he couldn't read himself (I'm sure I'm the meanest mom ever). In the end I read a story about a haunted television that was way more entertaining.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1/30/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I think I'm going crazy. Out of the blue I decided to give Isaac a bath. And now I'm making spaghetti for dinner. He'll at least be clean for 1 hr or so.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1/19/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">When Troy and I were expecting our first we easily came up with a girl name. We've kept that name in mind with each child, but so far haven't been able to use it. Coming up with boy names has been really hard for us. For the most part our kids have just gotten the best name we could agree on come their birth. We are now in the same boat we've been in 3 times previously. I couldn't be more excited to struggle to find another great boy name if it means I get to raise my 4th boy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1/14/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">On Sunday Parker's primary class was coming into the classroom that I had just finished teaching in. He told his class that we were going to have another baby. Then came and rubbed my baby bump. One of the kids said, "That is CRAZY, you're going to have two kids in diapers." Who knew that was a concern of an almost 6 year old.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1/9/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Isaac has learned how to give kisses. They are the best.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">1/2/15 - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Before bed we told Max to go potty.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Troy said, "Just go sit and see if anything comes out." </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Max said, "I just stand.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">T: "OK, then go stand."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">M (very defiantly): "OK"</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />M (a few moments later while in front of the toilet, very excitedly): "The pee is coming out."<br />Amazing how that works!!!</span>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-18128441951342880822015-02-06T15:53:00.001-07:002015-02-06T15:53:28.793-07:00Helping in the ClassroomI had the opportunity to help in Parker's kindergarten class yesterday. I was nervous about it at first, and was afraid the kids would totally intimidate me. Or that I'd be asked to do something I wasn't comfortable doing. I think I thought of every worse case scenario imaginable (maybe this is why people don't volunteer in the first place).<br />
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Parker's class has about 25 kids and 15 moms who want to help so I only have to go in every 3 weeks, and I wasn't quick enough about telling the teacher I was willing and could be available so this is the first time I have helped. The time she needs the help is just for 1 hour. So I had a neighbor watch my kids and headed over.<br />
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When I first got there I got to grade some math worksheets. After that I just helped during "center time". For center time the class is divided into different groups and then each group goes to a different table/station to do an activity. The activities ranged from drawing the right animal in a animal book that was in Spanish, to walking around the room and writing valentine words that were hidden around the room, there was even a station for the kids to do some math games on a computer. Every ten minutes they would change stations. I believe there were 6 stations and each group went to 3 stations.My job was to help the kids get logged-on the computes and then just make sure everyone was on task.<br />
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An hour isn't a long time but it still seemed like it was over way before it should have been. I can't wait to go back in about 3 weeks to help again.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-86551037891121748262015-02-05T16:17:00.000-07:002015-02-05T16:17:04.589-07:00Boy Oh BoyAround the end of September I found out I was pregnant with our 4th child. I know there was a possibility of it happening and was one day late getting my period. I normally would have waited another week so as not to waste a pregnancy test on a negative test, but I was scheduled to give blood that morning so I drove to Walgreens bought the test and came back and did the test. It came back positive. I was SO EXCITED which surprised me. My youngest was not even a year yet and by all accounts I could be considered crazy under some circumstances.<br />
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Usually when I find out I'm pregnant I start to think back to having to wake up during the night, dirty diapers, and nursing. I guess because it hadn't been that long since I had done some of those things and I was still in the thick of dirty diapers, and nursing those things didn't seem like that big of a deal.<br />
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My early pregnancy was easier than any of my other ones, but that doesn't really explain it. I have really easy pregnancies and at the worse I have a lose of appetite, am tired, and have to get up to go potty at night. This pregnancy I only experienced the last symptom during the first little bit. I wasn't sure if it being so easy was because I was having a girl, but was really hoping it was a boy.<br />
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You would think after 3 boys I would have been hoping for a girl, but I'm the type of person that orders the dish I know will taste good from a restaurant rather than venture off and order something that might be just as good, and who know might even be better. I've really enjoyed raising my boys. I also have limited knowledge/desire to do a girls hair, figure out dance classes, or play with barbies/dolls.<br />
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One great thing about girls is their clothes are SO CUTE making them really fun to dress. I will miss out on that for now, but I can always buy cute things for others. I'm sure the expectant moms won't mind me getting my girly shopping done on their behalf.<br />
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At almost 21 weeks I had the ultrasound and although we had considered not finding out what we were going to have we decided on the way to the ultrasound to find out. As they went to the area to look for the gender we knew without them telling us that we were going to be having a boy. I was so ECSTATIC. Don't get me wrong I would have been happy for a girl, but a boy was in my eyes PERFECT!!!<br />
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One drawback to having boys is they are known to eat a ton when they become teenagers. When this one is 12 we will also have a 13, 16 and 18 year old. We figure we should start saving now to feed these growing boys. I guess I can use all the money I'm saving by not buying a ton of girl clothes to start a fund to pay to feed these boys in a few years.<br />
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We are looking forward to having our 4th boy around the 1st of June. Ideally it would wait until the 5th when Parker will be done with school, but I'm not banking on that since that would be a little over a week over my due date.<br />
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-21298188746542836812015-02-05T15:48:00.002-07:002015-02-05T15:48:36.552-07:00Parker's Looses His First Tooth.For the last several months Parker has had a loose tooth. His adult teeth were even coming in behind the teeth. After several months of it being loose and him refusing to try anything to get it to come out. I finally talked him into having Troy pull it out. He pulled it out and then Parker put the tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. In the morning the tooth fairy hadn't come, and Parker demanded answers. The answer came that night when we pulled his next tooth. I told him the tooth fairy must have know he was going to loose the other one so she just waited. This morning Parker woke up and the tooth fairy had transformed his teeth into dollar bills. Pretty cool. I'm kinda wishing I could put teeth under my pillow and have money magically appear.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-82137935379187941292013-06-16T18:58:00.003-06:002013-06-16T18:58:57.794-06:00Specialists make better productsIf you want a top of the line product you are going to get it from a company that specializes in that product. <div>
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On May 20th we found out we are continuing to specialize in boys. We found out our 3rd child is going to be a boy.</div>
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Going into this I was about 70% they were going to tell us we were having a girl. This pregnancy has been a little different than my others so I assumed that was a sign that this one was going to be a girl. Also Parker kept telling me it was a girl. His reasoning was that I was a girl. I did however have a dream that it was a boy. I actually bought a few CUTE outfits for girls. I figured if it ended up being a boy I'd have them for shower gifts so ether way I could make use of them. </div>
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During the ultrasound they came to the point where they find out the gender. The technician showed us and with out her telling us what we were seeing, both Troy and I could tell we were going to be having another boy. I'll admit when we saw that it was a boy I was a little disappointed, but that only lasted for about 30 seconds or so when my disappointment turned to extreme excitement. Another boy is perfect for our family</div>
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This pregnancy has continued to be different than the other two, but maybe that is because I'm pregnant at different time of year. In a few ways it has been easier, and in other ways it has been harder.</div>
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The worst part of having another boy is deciding on a name. I think we can figure out a name for this one, but honestly if we have another boy after this we might have to name him: Boy, Kid, Dude or Male.</div>
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Max doesn't seem to care/understand what will be happening in a few months. Parker on the other hand will ask me questions about it. He'll say, "Mom, is your boy baby laughing." He tells me that the baby is going to kick really hard and then he'll come out. I think Parker will do OK once the baby comes. Max on the other hand is going to struggle.</div>
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There is still about 16 weeks or about 4 months until the due date.</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-47907502602512784202012-09-30T04:53:00.000-06:002012-09-30T10:54:40.425-06:00A Mom's Spiritual Struggle I'll admit I've been in a spiritual slump for the last little bit. The spirit hasn't been strong within me.<br />
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Recently I've pondered on this and wondered and prayed for WHY???<br />
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Reverence is more than just quietly sitting, it's thinking of Father above . . .<br />
During church, how is a family to be reverent when you have a 3 year old and a 1 year old.<br />
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A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to some church history sites. We got to see the Sacred Grove - The site where Joseph Smith wondering which church to join, knelt down and humbly prayed for direction. As we walked into the grove a sign said to be reverent. I read this as we walked in with our two kids. I chuckled at the thought of us actually being reverent. HA HA HA! Luckily there weren't very many people there. There was a peaceful feel while we were there, but I can't say I was overcome by the spirit while there.<br />
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A few hours later we were at Hill Cumorah - the site where Joseph Smith was led to to get the Gold Plates. A similar experience. except this time, I was out of breath; it is a really steep climb and having our littlest in the front carrier, and pushing the older one is the stroller only made it worse.<br />
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During the day . . . when it seems evening comes before lunch time. How do I find time to ponder and think on Christ.<br />
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OK so are kids the problem . . . NO!!! <br />
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I love my kids and can't imagine my life without them. I actually think they have been part of the answer to my problem.<br />
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How are they the answer when I just showed they are the problem?<br />
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Recently I bought some pictures from the distribution center. One of each of the following: Christ, the Jordan River temple, Thomas S. Monson, and Joseph Smith's first Vision. I put the pictures on Parkers wall. As I told him about the pictures he listened well. The next night, we talked about the pictures again. Now he tells me about the pictures. I feel the spirit as we talk about them and I see the light in his eyes as he gets excited about these pictures and the meaning/stories behind them. (BTW - I still need to work with him a little with the picture of the current prophet - Thomas S. Monson. Right now he just calls him Thomas (I think it stuck because of Thomas the Train). I'd hate for him to someday walk up the the prophet and say, "Hi Thomas").<br />
<br />
I recently also became more selective in what I'd bring to church. Sacrament meeting can be long for a 3 year old. I've decided he can sit still until after the sacrament (about 20 min). After that I'll have picture books about church related things, friend magazines, things to draw with, maybe an eye spy bag or even a sticker book, but NO TOYS (especially cars)!!!<br />
<br />
I've recently had two other experiences that allowed me to feel the spirit strongly. Yesterday I was able to go to my nephew's baptism. I felt the spirit really strongly there as the spirit witnessed to me the truthfulness of the gospel. I was moved to tears. I also felt the spirit really strongly at the General Relief Society Women's Conference. I was reminded of instances in my life when God has taken the time to let me know without a doubt that he loves me as he has literally wrapped me in his love.<br />
<br />
I'm not perfect. God knows that better than anyone else. He loves me. I'm sure he doesn't love my imperfections, but that is why he gave me a way to overcome those imperfections. WHAT LOVE!!!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-78574009705931820462012-08-09T17:16:00.000-06:002012-08-10T16:08:52.956-06:00GRRRI recently unknowing volunteered myself to babysit regularly for FREE.<br />
<br />
I find myself in a hard place. I feel selfish for thinking I should be compinsated some how for the 3.5 hours per week I watch a 4 1/2 and an almost two year old. But at the same time the time is a time when my kids would normally be taking naps so it is a lot more work than I'm used to.<br />
<br />
When I was going to school I always felt so grateful to people when they would watch my kids for me and felt like they deserved to be paid. Honestly they deserved to be paid more than I gave them, but still I did pay them. <br />
<br />
When I started watching my friends kids she messaged me via Facebook and asked if I knew anyone that could watch her kids one day a week for a few hours between they time her husband goes to work, and she gets home from work. She said she could pay. I volunteered, thinking sweet now I'll be able to put the money towards an awesome swing set I've had my eye on, but have never received payment. I guess could pay doesn't mean she would pay. I'll have to make that more clear in the future. <br />
<br />
I feel like I'm in a hard place because I'm her visiting teacher (however her husband is our home teacher) and feel like I should be willing to serve her, but at the same time I don't want to become the free sitter in the neighborhood. I don't mind watching someones kids for a few hours every now and then, but when it is weekly I think that deserves some sort of compensation,<br />
<br />
I tried to call her to take my kids (I only gave her about 2 hours notice) for a few hours while Troy and I go do something, but she said she already had plans so no luck there. I'll have to try again when I'm able to give her more notice.<br />
<br />
Recently another person in the neighborhood approached me about watching her 2 1/2 year old for 1-2 days per week. I told her I could do it and hopefully made it clear that I plan on getting paid for it. When I start watching her little boy I'm going to approach the other person and say that I recently starting watching another little boy and to keep things fair and to prevent being the dumping grounds for kids if she wants me to continue watching her kids she need to start paying either by taking my kids one night a week so we can go out or with cold hard $$$.<br />
<br />
Why do people think they should pay when other people watch their kids on a regular basis? What are your feeling about this (and telling me I'm out of line for wanting payment is perfectly ok)?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-47507608774774217752012-08-01T10:07:00.002-06:002012-08-01T10:16:59.288-06:00Night Training ParkerI wanted to catalog this for future reference. Sometimes I think I remember the easy parts and forget the hard parts of life. This is so maybe I'll have the same patience with my future kids.<br />
<br />
I decided just over a week ago that I was going to stop putting diapers on Parker during the night. Prier to this Parker finally started WANTING to go potty by himself, and most of the time would stay dry during his naps. However he would ALWAYS wake up with a wet and poopy diaper. I was expecting the worse, and although it wasn't an instant success I think it has turned out pretty well.<br />
<br />
<strong>MONDAY</strong>- I put a Pull-Up on Parker and told him if he kept it dry I would give him a sticker and a piece of candy. It DIDN'T work, he soaked it, and his PJ's.<br />
<br />
<strong>TUESDAY</strong>- Woke up wet, and Parked didn't like it. He wanted a bath and clean clothes/bedding when he got up. <br />
<br />
<strong>WEDNESDAY</strong>- Woke up wet, but it didn't seem to bother him. He didn't even want me to take the wet clothes off. I thought for sure this was a bad sign.<br />
<br />
<strong>THURSDAY</strong>- Wet his underwear while brushing his teeth that night. Woke up crying at 5am. I could tell he must of wet his pants, but they were only damp so I figure it must have been pretty early in the night. I changed his clothes and bedding while he went potty. He went back to bed, and woke up dry.<br />
<br />
<strong>FRIDAY</strong>- Parker woke up at 2am crying. When I walked into his room he was standing next to his bed. There was wet spot on the floor, his pants were wet, but his bed was dry. I brought him to the bathroom and stood him next to the toilet while I cleaned up the mess and got him a new change of clothes. When I came back into the bathroom he had pooped, but since I hadn't sat him on the toilet I had another mess to clean up. When I brought him back to bed he said his stomach hurt (which he never says unless he is about to throw up). I decided to lay with him in his bed for a little while. That only lasted a few minutes, because he started throwing up. Needless to say the rest of the night we were down stairs watching movies. Through all of this his bedding did manage to stay clean though.<br />
<br />
<strong>SATURDAY</strong>- I woke Parker up at 11pm had him go potty, and then he went back to bed. He woke as well around 1 or 2 and starting crying so I went in his room and showed him to the bathroom. He went potty and then went back to bed. Woke up dry.<br />
<br />
<strong>SUNDAY</strong>- I tried to wake him at 11pm to go, but he was so out it didn't work out. I decided for us this wasn't something I'd try again. He woke up at 2 am crying. When I went into his room he ran out and wanted me to read him a story, but was still dry. I told him to go use the potty which he refused to do. I was finally able to bribe him with a story. After he went potty I read him a story and then sent him back to bed. He was dry when he got up for good.<br />
<br />
<strong>MONDAY</strong>- (I put a diaper on him because he had had A LOT of liquids that night) woke up at 5am with a soaked diaper and PJ's. After I changed him into underwear and clean clothes he was up for the day :(<br />
<br />
<strong>TUESDAY</strong> - Woke at 1am ran through the house screaming. By the time I got up to help him he was standing by the toilet so I let him finish and helped him wash his hands and brought him back to bed. He was dry when he finally woke up for good.<br />
<br />
<strong>WEDNESDAY</strong>- Wanted a diaper when he went to bed, but I told him he was a big boy and he wore underwear to bed like mommy and daddy. Woke up dry (and as far as I know didn't wake up during the night).<br />
<br />
I think the worst is behind us, but I'm sure we still have awhile before I won't have him wear a diaper when we don't sleep at home.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-57750549674914311052012-05-25T17:11:00.000-06:002012-05-25T17:11:17.644-06:00Garden 2012My garden this year is much like last year. I still have a few things I want to plant but for the most part got most of it planted last week. This year I have: spinach, green onions, peas, lettuce (all dead or got eaten), pumpkin, corn, green beans, bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, tomatoes, egg plant, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, acorn squash, and butternut squash.<br />
<br />
Most of the seeds I planted are just seeds I had left over from last year. This year we also invested in a drip irrigation system that I put together. We found a really affordable kit at Harbor Freight. I was able to get a few pieces from Home Depot that made it work perfect for us. It was a lot easier then I thought it was going to be. In the end I think it will pay for itself in just the first year with the water it will save. I also hear it is a better for the plants.<br />
<br />
I tried to start the watermelon, bell peppers, tomatoes, egg plant, cantaloupe, and broccoli from seed inside a few months before I wanted to plant, but they didn't grow very well so I ended up buying tomatoes, and egg plants from a nursery.<br />
<br />
I can't wait for it to start producing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20_vNrESGONBMuXzHNorWgwjhQdrhgFmrgy405I9-7veYH75eCtttHqGhEEawkyetUCijUgSomWot75BG_88cLxLy9Qv6BLHBUNxydRRWbofjKlOPaHYg6z1WrHATBD4SJL0ocqBvTk2H/s1600/25-MAY-12+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20_vNrESGONBMuXzHNorWgwjhQdrhgFmrgy405I9-7veYH75eCtttHqGhEEawkyetUCijUgSomWot75BG_88cLxLy9Qv6BLHBUNxydRRWbofjKlOPaHYg6z1WrHATBD4SJL0ocqBvTk2H/s320/25-MAY-12+034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My starts I planted inside in March</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r9o4uzXxpMXmWOWXzFSgt3-x5xwJzV2093SdZi29l-R2259Z3h_dzz_CjFNkB9IQVOS8_c4b_WZm8SBw6maLi8dw_pKc1tWPvZlbWLoKrnSRprPvhluYY_VP0WAtfXLNk_FstRznxdWp/s1600/25-MAY-12+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r9o4uzXxpMXmWOWXzFSgt3-x5xwJzV2093SdZi29l-R2259Z3h_dzz_CjFNkB9IQVOS8_c4b_WZm8SBw6maLi8dw_pKc1tWPvZlbWLoKrnSRprPvhluYY_VP0WAtfXLNk_FstRznxdWp/s320/25-MAY-12+035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach (surrounded by marigolds)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IurL2eyvwdBJZVo3poI8qkIwlNDw85n_NbUXLwIxJgLh0MAQZQM4Xm3wXePEqBFBKBtn4Gqze4XGRPpGhG4nRc_-aVtb9hNL_1otgcTZ4sCUikiCt6UKzy14kSytJY-FVF95Zy45tAKg/s1600/25-MAY-12+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IurL2eyvwdBJZVo3poI8qkIwlNDw85n_NbUXLwIxJgLh0MAQZQM4Xm3wXePEqBFBKBtn4Gqze4XGRPpGhG4nRc_-aVtb9hNL_1otgcTZ4sCUikiCt6UKzy14kSytJY-FVF95Zy45tAKg/s320/25-MAY-12+036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Onions (again surrounded by marigolds)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y7LRytxwr9h5IDIWz1j6OsVq5BqycZW1y81Gr8zfTb-Rx74klJ9dyYahLZ4GzbrXbFfMtXGT-Uz3I1UzpHT1X2Me-gJT-kdks9uD4ipvqKMZ10HsXbVkeFVS3cCOZRiKLxf0oAWDtvZz/s1600/25-MAY-12+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Y7LRytxwr9h5IDIWz1j6OsVq5BqycZW1y81Gr8zfTb-Rx74klJ9dyYahLZ4GzbrXbFfMtXGT-Uz3I1UzpHT1X2Me-gJT-kdks9uD4ipvqKMZ10HsXbVkeFVS3cCOZRiKLxf0oAWDtvZz/s320/25-MAY-12+038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where I planted the lettuce, but at this point only one plant was still there. Right now all of them are now gone. I'm not sure if they were eaten or just didn't get watered enough.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pacK17OC0s7VbetGH-YQOl8OIMWIKtm-eD3TEKcOXUf0ICVkdOM91JY9Bcpx7ipZ8yi3PGLrPlSS8RB6e_k_t3nFHVpha3Lz3dJl49bzolybDzQRGxICgIdoxPyDSgR7CxqMVmFBAdq/s1600/25-MAY-12+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0pacK17OC0s7VbetGH-YQOl8OIMWIKtm-eD3TEKcOXUf0ICVkdOM91JY9Bcpx7ipZ8yi3PGLrPlSS8RB6e_k_t3nFHVpha3Lz3dJl49bzolybDzQRGxICgIdoxPyDSgR7CxqMVmFBAdq/s320/25-MAY-12+039.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our garden (before I put the drip system in)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz1UOFrWW74nwe56luNgZyKGKGk7jpuNLl0ql0s5EKdeSKmCnTHhN1KPY2aOYGOjH-4soZv3XUJoRBDbtWnij6Qh_4IF6aYRAQl6H4s8Ip6na_Vc18LLhGQ9EsZ3ug7pJe6sUcivVaRXD/s1600/25-MAY-12+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhz1UOFrWW74nwe56luNgZyKGKGk7jpuNLl0ql0s5EKdeSKmCnTHhN1KPY2aOYGOjH-4soZv3XUJoRBDbtWnij6Qh_4IF6aYRAQl6H4s8Ip6na_Vc18LLhGQ9EsZ3ug7pJe6sUcivVaRXD/s320/25-MAY-12+052.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden from the other side</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I plan on doing a 1st of the month update for reference during future years.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-89519447071196386042012-05-25T16:45:00.000-06:002012-05-25T16:46:39.535-06:00Max is ONE!Max is a really sweet boy. He loves to cuddle. He is also quiet the chatter box. I love listening to his jabbering.<br />
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<br />
He loves to eat peanut butter sandwiches, mac and cheese, bananas, mangoes, pineapple, peas, and carrots<br />
<br />
He isn't walking yet, but he can stand for a few seconds.<br />
<br />
On his birthday he surprised us by showing us he can now safely go down the stairs.<br />
<br />
I didn't really want to stop nursing him, but I have an overnight race coming up so I decided I better wean him before that or else we would both be hating life. He reluctantly drinks whole milk.<br />
<br />
He LOVES to crawl with a car in one hand.<br />
<br />
He likes to draw/scribble<br />
<br />
He has 7 teeth (4 top, 3 bottom)<br />
<br />
He is on the small side (I mean he is REALLY small) - at his 1 year check up these were the stats<br />
<ul>
<li>Height - 2'3.25" (0.00%)</li>
<li>Weight - 18lb 4oz (8.87%)</li>
<li>Head Circumference - 47.8 (88.49%)</li>
</ul>
The doctor isn't concerned about him, and just told me to not to plan on a successful basketball career for him. She said he looked good, and was developing well.<br />
<br />
For Max's birthday we had cake and ice cream.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-63989436430485723522012-05-25T16:01:00.003-06:002012-05-25T16:03:20.562-06:00Class of 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DONE!</td></tr>
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<br />
It is OFFICIAL I now have my BS in Biology. I finished my last class on Thursday the 3rd of May, and then walked for graduation on the 4th. I didn't know if I had actually gotten a good enough grade in my class, but I sure hoped I did for a few reasons.<br />
<br />
1- I really wanted to be done<br />
2- I didn't want to pay any more money for school<br />
3- I didn't want to find out I had sat through the graduation ceremonies for nothing.<br />
<br />
I finally got my grades the following Monday and found out I had gotten a good enough grade WAHOO. That feeling was AWESOME!!<br />
<br />
I went to both Commencement and Convocation.<br />
<br />
Commencement was interesting. They had Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, speak. He had some great things to say a few of them were: don't be afraid to fail, when there are no disagreements there is no innovation, and chance has a lot to do with success (I see God as he sees chance). I don't really remember a whole lot from the program. I had a hard time hearing. We ended getting there a lot later then we were expecting so instead of sitting with the graduates I sat with my parents, Troy, and the kids.<br />
<br />
The Convocation made me NEVER want to go to a science one again. If I could go back and do it over I would have found out when the fine arts college was doing theirs and gone to theirs. I'm sure it was at least a little entertaining. I guess chemists, biologist, and mathematicians are entertained in a rather boring way. It was dreadful, and felt bad for my supports who had to sit through it especially my two kids.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe7lYDiBVczXgampmb5OEuktBA7y8NsbAo3RNx7l-sD8WnO0nArpmRacPTVEoPXg3dhu0oU4DAGf675-BxT002iVAD74_8LqnpmqDs-Coj03FL9jRrgo7sxR8niQ332wXU3_tI5G2rvxA/s1600/25-MAY-12+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe7lYDiBVczXgampmb5OEuktBA7y8NsbAo3RNx7l-sD8WnO0nArpmRacPTVEoPXg3dhu0oU4DAGf675-BxT002iVAD74_8LqnpmqDs-Coj03FL9jRrgo7sxR8niQ332wXU3_tI5G2rvxA/s320/25-MAY-12+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys were so good to sit through such a boring ceremony </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1DZwf1R9zqBmYcJGyGQvoTCwcrDRLlo3OM0omhjkbX7acvs933x6nO3qCNFLu8F4QrfzlaLzkwgILC7r61eb3Vd00gvNwRUlqd2IaUqBuwgKVnMYxVCyVZaLtYAK5uqN9orA2s7uSuKx/s1600/25-MAY-12+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1DZwf1R9zqBmYcJGyGQvoTCwcrDRLlo3OM0omhjkbX7acvs933x6nO3qCNFLu8F4QrfzlaLzkwgILC7r61eb3Vd00gvNwRUlqd2IaUqBuwgKVnMYxVCyVZaLtYAK5uqN9orA2s7uSuKx/s320/25-MAY-12+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max just wanted Mommy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQln95eXcAozVjJMAZI-tykAs42tKlwwVlCpzKUukhLb1k0TyKi9dc9hM57AdSEK6ZlU590M4aFwTxnl88rhPsdgZmybHt4GaZ1P0HWTWe60-UNOv9k2DRA_ZUB_nMqPWlCi_R0nR_8wj/s1600/25-MAY-12+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQln95eXcAozVjJMAZI-tykAs42tKlwwVlCpzKUukhLb1k0TyKi9dc9hM57AdSEK6ZlU590M4aFwTxnl88rhPsdgZmybHt4GaZ1P0HWTWe60-UNOv9k2DRA_ZUB_nMqPWlCi_R0nR_8wj/s320/25-MAY-12+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Max now has Mommy and his thumb.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkR_4G0RlP7NBapaErlEem1QORSBgxIvsvtpKPc66s-No9zTvjooDeqBHt1Vz-zYo6B7xaxcMAQeU_CF59IJ39bjIZf5oqzuQFEHyvPSVIddXOog1UioXGbkJnG07BvO6mrWHNOOTilxx/s1600/25-MAY-12+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkR_4G0RlP7NBapaErlEem1QORSBgxIvsvtpKPc66s-No9zTvjooDeqBHt1Vz-zYo6B7xaxcMAQeU_CF59IJ39bjIZf5oqzuQFEHyvPSVIddXOog1UioXGbkJnG07BvO6mrWHNOOTilxx/s320/25-MAY-12+016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jOWLNlAv1WVbmUXW-Bvfghrjf6icMF7OIeCjowVpWWbLPZTCNkSNEwdrbiq-SqjPKbQ_RU5O3Yduce4IflTrbXuDLJHk50wVhJqvIGiEkc35gee-Blrgyr2M_8PCtVgmLPz2gDcPYtif/s1600/25-MAY-12+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jOWLNlAv1WVbmUXW-Bvfghrjf6icMF7OIeCjowVpWWbLPZTCNkSNEwdrbiq-SqjPKbQ_RU5O3Yduce4IflTrbXuDLJHk50wVhJqvIGiEkc35gee-Blrgyr2M_8PCtVgmLPz2gDcPYtif/s320/25-MAY-12+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents were so good to come and support me.</td></tr>
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Afterwords we went over to the science building for a little mix and
mingle thing. I have to say I felt really proud parading my kids
around. I was never a wonderful student while at the U, but I'm really
happy that even with kids I finished.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-74900214193593635662012-05-25T15:31:00.000-06:002012-05-25T15:32:13.904-06:00Parkers UpdateIt is all fun and games until you get a 3 year old!!! (at least in our house)<br />
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Parker is rather difficult to deal with lately.<br />
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He has a hard time making his mind up. I try and give him choices like: do you want mommy or daddy to help, do you want to go potty up stairs or down, do you want a pink bowl or a green one. Most of the time it ends in him screaming at me because he keeps changing his mind and I usually just go with the one he said second (in other words I allow him one change of mind).<br />
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He is also asks for help with everything. Much of this is my fault. I've encouraged him to ask for help, but then it got to a point where he wouldn't even try or would try very little and then ask for help. In the end I would just do it for him. Up until recently I was fully dressing him, and helping him with everything when he went potty. The other day he dressed himself and this is what we got<br />
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I couldn't have been more proud since he dressed himself.<br />
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One thing I know he can do is put on socks, but he often refuses to do it, and he hates to wear his sandals so if he doesn't do it himself I either just put on his sandals or he goes out without shoes which can be seer torture for him if I go for a run and then don't let him get out to play at the park.<br />
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One thing I'm not proud of with him is his TV time. I feel like I've let him watch way too much so I'm now on a quest to cut back. The first thing he asks for in the morning is a movie, and he will pick a movie over any other activity. I've spent way too much time and money looking for quality games, toys and puzzles at the thrift store to let them go to waist so my new goal with him is 1 movie a day. I'm hoping it will help with some of his behavior issues. I will be forced to be more involved with him and maybe these outburst are his way of telling me he wants more interaction.<br />
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Parker is REALLY mean to Max at times, but I think it is because he doesn't know how to play with him, so my next goal with him is showing him how to play with Max. I'm sure it is confusing for Parker to see Mommy and Daddy throwing Max in the air and then not being able to do that with him too.<br />
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Parker is REALLY AWESOME with shapes. I haven't figures out if it is fluke or not, but he usually correctly identifies octagons, pentagons, and hexagons along with the other more common shapes. I'm sure that was something I didn't figure out until much later in life. He is still struggling with numbers and letters, but I've seen a lot of progress with numbers in the last few days he even tries to count it usually goes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 6 (who needs 4 & 5 right?). We sing the alphabet song every time he washes his hands, but it hasn't show to be helping yet (however I'm hoping it is). His colors are coming along. I think he can identify them such that if I say get the red block he can do it, but he struggles more if I say what color is this?<br />
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Parker is MOSTLY potty trained during the day. I still has a few #2 accidents, but he has been doing really good, and after many tears he will now do most of it by himself. He still like me to come in with him, but now he can do most everything by himself. I figured tackling night training would go better if I first got him going by himself during the day. I'm determined not to buy any more diapers for him, and we still have enough for one a day for the next 3-4 months so at that time we'll him the night time training hard.<br />
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It will be interesting to me over the next few months to see how things with him change.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-41720479456924146132012-04-30T16:29:00.000-06:002012-05-01T08:00:42.179-06:00My First Half MarathonThroughout high school I would run 1-2 5K's a week during the summer and fall. I remember when I completed my first 10K I was so proud. Well I have added a new distance to my name. On Saturday (April 28, 2012) I successfully completed the Thanksgiving Point 1/2 marathon.<br />
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Leading up to this I was planning on training properly, but I let life get in the way. Trying to run with 2 kids usually resulted in a few 3 mile run a week. Occasionally I would go a little farther. I think I did a hand full of 4 mile runs. I did do about two 6 mile runs, and one 9 mile run (that I walked the last 2 miles). The two weeks prier to the race I ran a total of 3 times that resulted in 14 miles. Needless to say I didn't feel really confident going into the race. <br />
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My goal for the race was to finish. The race required that you maintain at least a 16 min/mile pace. I figured if I ran the first 10 miles I would be able to walk the last 3 and be just fine. I figured I would finish in less than 3 hours.<br />
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I told Troy although it would nice to have him there to cheer me on. I didn't think it would be practical to have him get the two kids up before 6am and then entertain them while I was running. I knew it would be sheer torture for the three of them. So I was all alone at the race, but that was OK, because there were 2500 other CRAZY runners.<br />
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Driving up to the park I saw a sign that said "Marathon parking" with an arrow pointing forward. Up to this point I hadn't really thought much of what I was about to do. But when I saw that sign. I thought, "I'm really doing this." I almost starting crying. I have had a goal to do one for many years, and I couldn't believe I was finally going to accomplish it.<br />
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After parking I went and picked up my race number and electronic chip. The race started at 7am and at this point it was 6:15. Since it was only about 35 degrees I decided to go listen to music in my car until it was closer to the starting of the race. I waited until 6:45 and then headed over to the starting line.<br />
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They did what is called a choke start, and had people line up according to their self proclaimed speed. I got in near the 2:45 sign. There I saw a girl I used to run with in high school. We chatted a little until the start. Slowly the crowd moved forward. Because of the chock start once I passed over the starting mat I was off.<br />
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The race provided pacers so I would know about how I was doing. I ended up passing the 2:10 (9.55 mile pace) pacer. I figured I would stay in front of that pacer for as long as I could, but didn't expect to finish in front of that pacer. The race started with a run around Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point and then went into their garden area and then all around the golf course before heading back to the same area the starting line was. I LOVED running through the gardens. It was pretty and unique. The golf course was OK at first, but after a few miles of running through greens I was pretty tired of the same old thing. The course was really hilly, but the hills were short, and I guess because I'm used to pushing a double stroller while I'm running they didn't seem to effect me as much as the people I would pass :).<br />
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The race was really well staffed. They had water/power aid ever 1 1/2 or 2 miles. They also had GU, oranges, and bananas at about every other aid station. I would switch off between power aid and water at the water stations, and then every 4 miles or so I would take a GU. I learned after the first GU to not try and ingest it all at once, but rather nibble it from the pouch. The first time I squeezed the whole pack of GU in my mouth and about gaged. I would walk at each aid station until my water/Power aid was gone and then I would start running again. <br />
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As I hit mile 2 I thought . . ."There is no way I'm going to do this." By mile 4 I was feeling really good. At mile 6 I was thinking, "Man I wish I was doing a 10K. At mile 7 I though, "SWEET . . .more than half way done." At mile 8 I wanted to stop, but I knew I shouldn't, because if I did I would never be able to start again. By mile 10 I was thinking, "I have NEVER run this far before." At mile 11 my muscles were really tired, and were cramping. At this point the 2:10 pacer still hadn't passed me so at this point I made it a goal to not let him pass me. For the next two miles I just put one foot in front of another until I was about 1/2 mile from the finish and I could hear the pacer behind me saying something. I looked back and there he was. I picked it up and decided to finish strong. <br />
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At the finish line the race clock said 2:10.19. I then went into the sea of delicious after race snacks. I got: chocolate milk, bottled water, great harvest bread, oranges, bananas, chocolate chip cookies, and white bean and ham soup. I know I shouldn't have felt like eating, but it was so delicious. I then checked my official race time and found out I had run it in 2 HOURS 8 MINUTES 19 SECONDS. I finished 512 out of 1109 finishers. And was 45 person in my division and the 265th female finisher.<br />
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I walked around for awhile, stretched, and then headed home. When I got home I told Troy how it went, took a shower, went shopping and then came home and then took a nap. I wasn't really tired, but my leg muscles were and it hurt to sit, stand, or walk so I figured if I laid on my stomach and took a nap it would give them a little rest. It felt nice.<br />
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In the end I really enjoyed the experience. I would like to do it again in the future. The weather was great. I also learned that I CAN DO IT! I was once again reminded that I love to race, because it reminds me that I'm not the only crazy person out there that likes to run.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-54703990505550305542012-04-18T04:52:00.006-06:002012-04-18T21:23:52.734-06:00Parker - 3 years old!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLX6Q18ASYSuOMwIrZM_WgbkOtOYEc3M8kAuS1UnGBg_SmmdVOaCGs47dKTG8VvNc7TLMlpGHSGqcAxlWefm5vLXb8sUSpirklBylw0aBLryHwQ72URIi0n6Yrkg-wbS7SSFJn5tuZEt5/s1600/18-Apr-2012+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLX6Q18ASYSuOMwIrZM_WgbkOtOYEc3M8kAuS1UnGBg_SmmdVOaCGs47dKTG8VvNc7TLMlpGHSGqcAxlWefm5vLXb8sUSpirklBylw0aBLryHwQ72URIi0n6Yrkg-wbS7SSFJn5tuZEt5/s320/18-Apr-2012+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732944634174081858" border="0" /></a></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Love the green smoothie uni-brow and stache</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPnBF4Yf24_wNAkxlFIstgzaVnHK_tJmf-kHUwAQ6OSrh9BbvuJnSqZ6iP3uSltUaouZuPI3jCw8shMjZdNHXQu5WQhgW4HawBcLRPaH9UgQ-65iXynnLNWjHByA6fGWJXKT5IXZWDa47/s1600/10-Mar-2012+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPnBF4Yf24_wNAkxlFIstgzaVnHK_tJmf-kHUwAQ6OSrh9BbvuJnSqZ6iP3uSltUaouZuPI3jCw8shMjZdNHXQu5WQhgW4HawBcLRPaH9UgQ-65iXynnLNWjHByA6fGWJXKT5IXZWDa47/s320/10-Mar-2012+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732944243187144994" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lov'n the snow</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJB7yrx04MJEJT_GFrFH_XuAWZihtm73VlHPZ89W5x9wiZJH3kAL7xw6zTIURuEfM3psvcEchJQN58MYoIvlqYREyfbRt3Dr5tAkvOa_0hqAiozCFH7O08W1V4Q_jSctMFdBrhEGgZWvv/s1600/18-Apr-2012+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJB7yrx04MJEJT_GFrFH_XuAWZihtm73VlHPZ89W5x9wiZJH3kAL7xw6zTIURuEfM3psvcEchJQN58MYoIvlqYREyfbRt3Dr5tAkvOa_0hqAiozCFH7O08W1V4Q_jSctMFdBrhEGgZWvv/s320/18-Apr-2012+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732944256759450082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Lov'n the warmth even better</span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV11mJVkwLHYhUzw2xCcDIY_h0zQV0Z4wbkoSEhTVGDGrnKUq3RXqYvD5lK9mjO2wnGcW9T5NE0OhX2Be9-nwgcYtlhaGf973fGdhoG-uy4W8t37kZTIeDHf7dPLfavCoxMMIn3k7G4Ik3/s1600/18-Apr-2012+017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV11mJVkwLHYhUzw2xCcDIY_h0zQV0Z4wbkoSEhTVGDGrnKUq3RXqYvD5lK9mjO2wnGcW9T5NE0OhX2Be9-nwgcYtlhaGf973fGdhoG-uy4W8t37kZTIeDHf7dPLfavCoxMMIn3k7G4Ik3/s320/18-Apr-2012+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732944271610027218" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This year Parker really understood what a birthday was. It was so fun to see his eyes light up when he realized everyone was singing to HIM!! When I asked him what kind of a cake he wanted he said, "White and green." He didn't mind I got a little carried away with color.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBour1S0zGCJR2eFxpSFFMTXiB3ihNTPXrEygxnRPIGcy9HFFq0GFjaE8OqqE68kgfvzAlNkXnu-_khmOd68cEA3FgQwbmRalek5YCIz7iLTmbKglxH09BzFsp6rHBd7QYK9oA-GUvLs6/s1600/18-Apr-2012+018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBour1S0zGCJR2eFxpSFFMTXiB3ihNTPXrEygxnRPIGcy9HFFq0GFjaE8OqqE68kgfvzAlNkXnu-_khmOd68cEA3FgQwbmRalek5YCIz7iLTmbKglxH09BzFsp6rHBd7QYK9oA-GUvLs6/s320/18-Apr-2012+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732944259919426386" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">He must have really liked the cake because he hardly ever uses his hands to eat</span><br /></div><br /><div>At his 3 year check up he was 37 in and 32lbs.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Parker has been talking more. In public, I'm reminded that I know two languages, English and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Parkerese</span>. I do a lot of translating, but I think he is getting clearer, and his vocab is increasing. Sometimes his words are a little off like when he calls <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">band aids</span> - rubber bands, or apple sauce - sauce sauce sauce, or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">magnifying</span> glass - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sun glass</span>. It has been really fun knowing what he says.</div><div> </div><div><br />Parker has started to like books more and more. Some of his favorites are his Frog and Toad and Curious George books, Are You My Mother?, and Danny and the Dinosaur. He could sit and listen to story after story if I let him. We recently got a Dr Seuss collection book from the library. I read him, If I Ran The Zoo, It was a rather long story, and I thought it was weird, but when I got done he said, "That was a fun story."</div><div> </div><div><br />He know about half of the alphabet by sight. I sing the ABC song <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every time</span> he washes his hands, but for the most part he just stares at me.</div><div> </div><div><br />He can now <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">consistently</span> to count to 2 and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> 3 (I know brilliant). I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">recently</span> started singing 5 Little Monkeys with him, and he fell in love with it so maybe we'll make some progress with numbers soon.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>He knows a few colors - Black, White, and Orange. For the longest time I wondered if he wasn't colorblind, because he always got black and white right, but he called everything else pink. We got a game for Christmas that required him to match colors, and he could do that fine so I decided that wasn't the reason for his color <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">confusion</span>.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>Parker loves <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Play do</span>, cars, trains, blocks, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Lego's</span> and puzzles.</div><div> </div><div><br />We also started playing some games together. He has a firm grasp of turning taking and is starting to understand following the rules of the games. The games we play are simple, and I often alter the rules so he can play with little help.</div><div> </div><div><br />Now that it is getting warmer I'm reminded once again of his LOVE for rocks and sticks. I think our house is slowly filling up with them.</div><div> </div><div><br />He is AFRAID of heights - a few weeks ago we were in the church parking lot and he started <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">walking</span> over a storm drain and literally froze with fear as he was over it. It was so funny, hopefully he didn't see me laughing as he was struggling with this fear.</div><div> </div><div><br />He has spider radar and can find the smallest spider. He will then come running to tell me to kill it. Luckily usually the ones he notices are so small even I can tackle them.</div><div> </div><div><br />Parker loves to play at the playground. He loves to climb, slide, swing, and jump. However it is always more fun when another kid is there. Often we are the only ones there and it gets pretty boring after awhile. We go a few times a week. I works out well that I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and only find it fair that we stop and play at the park during my runs.</div><div> </div><div><br />On a typical day Parker will eat: a bowl of oatmeal, a banana, a bowl of apple sauce, a whole peanut butter and honey sandwich, an apple, one bite of dinner (unless it is pizza in which case he will eat 2 pieces) and 3-4 glasses of milk.</div><div> </div><div><br />He is also potty training - it is going good. He is to a point where he will tell me when he needs to go, but still needs/wants help in the bathroom. The problems are going poop in the potty, and going when he is playing outside. I finally found a way to explain the difference between pee and poop to him. He would always say, "I poop again." whenever he would go, but he would only pee in the toilet. Well yesterday I started calling pee - yellow poop, and poop - brown or big poop. I think that will help. He has been really good about going pee, he even has days of no accidents. I haven't tackled night training yet, but he's often fine for nap time, so I'm hopeful for night training.</div><div> </div><div><br />Parker is 3 and with that comes a lot of frustrations as well. For <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">discipline</span> He responds well to timeouts and counting to 3.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-53945809926702798222012-03-16T10:29:00.005-06:002012-04-18T21:05:06.369-06:00Max - 9 & 10 Months<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFEceLS5Fwfq3K-bzL4kR09PiTZn8Ht7sVmJnNPDoOL5aYafzy0CNoUE3lwFuOCbTXCiWDG9EDyY6MqdPDj8N-rkgw2foS3GVO2BaoN0pNqakEgY4UrxNeC4C5PtcOkujm7gmh0MzJAAx/s1600/10-Mar-2012+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFEceLS5Fwfq3K-bzL4kR09PiTZn8Ht7sVmJnNPDoOL5aYafzy0CNoUE3lwFuOCbTXCiWDG9EDyY6MqdPDj8N-rkgw2foS3GVO2BaoN0pNqakEgY4UrxNeC4C5PtcOkujm7gmh0MzJAAx/s320/10-Mar-2012+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732941453555299554" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(No . . . he isn't close to walking I had to strategically place the truck next to the wall so it wouldn't get away from him)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGo2GF5MImMBEgsHrvuT6qVt2UT_simo8LdZsqxRphc2G_BSCAgCaAxP6Ue8fCnOW3QIT_ZOzzg3vUYNMu0AqVoAxJ9kI9R98soPvSYZO8eAImX_A6hdMZSzNgm427dYkpvRES5nFAfRG/s1600/10-Mar-2012+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGo2GF5MImMBEgsHrvuT6qVt2UT_simo8LdZsqxRphc2G_BSCAgCaAxP6Ue8fCnOW3QIT_ZOzzg3vUYNMu0AqVoAxJ9kI9R98soPvSYZO8eAImX_A6hdMZSzNgm427dYkpvRES5nFAfRG/s320/10-Mar-2012+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732940321575845202" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Both these kids love baths</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mq8QYaB27F1PPDQHrxcTkH_EFb9Gox_z1AYVb9poOxfujdDbMLKLQMsQfjY99DM03KVT_Xw8PDJORP7cKI9SDqMEPNLdT1JvUJrBDgC_2qaxTVrcAwk2SFY3xyT4jREUarlHggMWuvkS/s1600/18-Apr-2012+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mq8QYaB27F1PPDQHrxcTkH_EFb9Gox_z1AYVb9poOxfujdDbMLKLQMsQfjY99DM03KVT_Xw8PDJORP7cKI9SDqMEPNLdT1JvUJrBDgC_2qaxTVrcAwk2SFY3xyT4jREUarlHggMWuvkS/s320/18-Apr-2012+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732940329867362290" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Green smoothy - YUM!!!</span><br /></div><br /><div>At nine months I brought Max to the doctors. At the doctor's appointment they had me feel out a developmental questionnaire. I was instructed to stop when I got to 3 NO's. Well the first three questions were: Does he get to sitting position? -NO, Does he pull himself to standing position? - NO, and Does he say Ma Ma and Da Da (Not necessarily with proper association)? - NO. I'm not sure what the question after that were, because I was done according to their instructions.<br /></div><div> </div><div>Then the Resident training with my doctor came in to check Max out. She got his measurements and at the end showed me his chart. She indicated that she was a little worried because he seemed to have leveled off on growing. I don't remember what the measurements were, but he was in the 5th and 3rd percentiles for weight and height. She wasn't too worried about it, but said it is something they would keep an eye on, but then when she showed the numbers to the actual doctor she ordered that I bring Max in for a weight check in 6 weeks. I'm not too worried about his weight. I find comfort in his rolls of fat. He is REALLY short, but I think that is just a reflection of his 5'1" mom and 5'5" dad.</div><div> </div><div><br />A week after the appointment Max was saying Ma Ma and Da Da, and getting to both sitting and standing on his own. Also in the last month he has started climbing stairs, doing a more standard crawling, and cruising along the furniture. He has also gone from 2 teeth to 5 with one more to follow shortly.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>It is a riot watching Max and Parker wrestle. Surprisingly Max holds his own against Parker, and usually is on top.</div><div> </div><div><br />He seems somewhat picky when it comes to food. He will pick out what he doesn't like and throw it on the ground. I did introduce him to peanut butter recently which he, like his mom and brother, seems to LOVE.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-40162547540774719932012-03-10T20:00:00.000-07:002012-03-10T21:00:10.994-07:00End of an EraIn 2003 Troy bought a car that if you would have asked me at the time was OK. It was a 93 Subaru Impreza. There is hardly anything fancy about it, it doesn't even have AWD. We met later that year and the car has been apart of us since then. About 3 years ago the car hit 200,000 miles. I told Troy we should sell it, and by something else that was newer and would be reliable. We have been a one car family for a number of years so having a reliable car is important. After I thought about it awhile we decided that since our Subaru had only been in the shop 3 times since owning it we would just keep driving it until it needed something serious, and then we would just sell it. In the mean time we have been saving for our next car. Well we finally decided the car was NEVER going to die so we decided that we would replace it when we needed something bigger then we would get a van or something like that. Well a few weeks ago we had a family member that was in need of a cheap yet reliable car, so we decided it was as good a time as any to sell our trusty little Subaru.<br /><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i2-F_fhkxBTc_PCCr-5sXYhLxtceDGxVJvh1jG60-u524UxuFkj4RVqWOgGP93g0gb_DcPKom3OV4Q4vWWPFsV5jbl6-hBKZBv0NYA0Jla7nv79yryfvFQ2Tgkh-pA6EIyEpQ9CPBLNj/s1600/10-Mar-2012+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0i2-F_fhkxBTc_PCCr-5sXYhLxtceDGxVJvh1jG60-u524UxuFkj4RVqWOgGP93g0gb_DcPKom3OV4Q4vWWPFsV5jbl6-hBKZBv0NYA0Jla7nv79yryfvFQ2Tgkh-pA6EIyEpQ9CPBLNj/s320/10-Mar-2012+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718483756236406482" border="0" /></a>I'm really going to miss:</div><div>*The gas mileage<br /></div><div>*Virtually repair free</div><div>*Bragging rights that we are driving a car with over 225,000 miles</div><div> </div><div>Upon looking at cars I feel we were blessed to find a good deal on a 2006 Chrysler Town and Country. It has a lot of bells and whistles, and low miles. It was also less then we had saved up so now we have some money in our next car fund. I'm still getting used to the fact that I am now a van mom. We had a little over a week overlap where we owned both cars, and I kept finding reasons to drive the Subaru around. After we brought it home Troy said we sure do have a thing with going from having little to no space to an abundance of space. When we bought our home almost 3 years ago we went from a little, 700 sq/ft, 1 bedroom apartment to our 2000 sq/ft 4 bedroom home. Well now we have gone from our cramped little compact car to our spacious mini van.</div><div> </div><div>When we got done looking at vans we ended up going to a Big Lots and bought a large storage container, and a full size ironing board. When Troy went out to put them in the car he came back to tell me he was afraid they weren't going to fit in our car. They were too long for the trunk and with both kids in the back there wasn't room in the little 1/2 space left. We finally got creative and put the storage container in front passenger seat. I got the 1/2 space in the back, and the ironing board was carefully placed running the length of the car, between me and the door. I though it was ironic how we had been looking at vehicles where we could have easily carried this load times 3, and here we were smashed in our little Subaru.</div><div> </div><div>We are really going to miss our Subaru, and I'm still thrown off when I look in the garage and don't see our trusty Subaru. It will however be nice to have more space when we go camping or even just get groceries. Hopefully in 9 years I will like this van as much as I've grown to love our Subaru.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-16372096409061329242012-01-18T15:15:00.004-07:002012-01-18T15:43:13.630-07:00My Parker Bragging Momment & Potty TrainingParker has had quite the monumental day today . . .<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>1st - He said his first unassisted prayer:</strong></span><br />After I gave him his lunch today, I heard Parker say, "Mommy, Daddy, Baby Max, Jesus Christ, Amen" I asked him if he just prayed and he said "Yes"<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">2nd - He woke up dry from his nap:</span></strong><br />I decided one week ago today to start potty training Parker. Until a few days ago I was putting a diaper on him at nap time. So far nap time has resulted in a load of laundry needing to be done. Today he woke up and hadn't wet his pants. YIPEE!!!<br /><br />We have been at potty training since last Wednesday. I originally was going to wait until I was done with school, but was feeling motivated last Wednesday so we kicked off the experience by buying some underwear. Since that time I have decided to take a somewhat casual approach. When we are home he wears underwear, but if we go out I put a diaper on him. However getting him to want to wear underwear afterwards is harder than when he just wears underwear so I may decide tokeep him in underwear except at night, and while he is being watched when I'm at school.<br /><br />Right now I just have him sit on the potty every hour or hour and a half and most of the time he goes. I haven't been brave enough to see if he will go on his own. I might just keep doing what I'm doing for a few more weeks, and then start allowing him time to fail and hopefully learn to tell me when he needs to go. I'm guessing I'll need to tweek my reward system when that happens.<br /><br />His reward system is rather pathetic, but it is working so I feel ok about it. If he sits on the potty he gets to use toilet paper, and then make bubbles with his hands (aka wash his hands). I also cheer for him, which I think makes his day. Yesterday I had school, so he was in a diaper until 4pm. He was in a rather crumby mood most of the day. I'm guessing the joy he feels from the praises he gets for going on the potty carrys over to play time too.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-40934150541403274432012-01-16T22:36:00.004-07:002012-01-21T14:27:00.358-07:00Max - 8 Months!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DR8BgX8wTGLmb4GfRHOtB1XtZVhtgUrQvTvYr9mh2bsi3n3YZIiTb_8MwLGLwZG-3XbxmUj3oG3GlcQ6SRjZlcCtRSVM891wRfABjnq4yS1CotVXj_-nlTGEwAz5OaTMPzojhV7nXNn7/s1600/21-JAN-2012+039.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DR8BgX8wTGLmb4GfRHOtB1XtZVhtgUrQvTvYr9mh2bsi3n3YZIiTb_8MwLGLwZG-3XbxmUj3oG3GlcQ6SRjZlcCtRSVM891wRfABjnq4yS1CotVXj_-nlTGEwAz5OaTMPzojhV7nXNn7/s320/21-JAN-2012+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700199382328998482" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In the last month the following have happened:</div><br /><div>*He got his second tooth.</div><div>*Got really mobile (mostly via rolling, but he will scoot forward as well)</div>*Celebrated his first Christmas<br />*Started sharing a room with Parker<br />*Has gotten pretty good at feeding himself finger foods (He can down a whole banana)*Likes to play with toys (His favorite is a bouncy ball dinosaur thing he got from Grandma Rueckert for Christmas)<br /><br /><div></div><div>His sleeping schedule has pretty much normalized he is now sleeping from about 8pm or 9pm until 6am or 7am. He then takes a two hour morning nap, and a 1 hour afternoon nap. Part of me wishes he would take his long nap in the afternoon when Parker naps, and part of me like the one-on-one time I get with Parker during that time.</div><br /><div></div><div>It seems like he is starting to slim a little. I suspect he is MUCH shorter then the average, because I can put 6 month sleepers on him and they fit him just fine. He weighs around 18 lbs. We'll get an "official" weight next month.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div>He sucks a Binky when he is in bed, but when that isn't available he quickly employs his thumb.</div><br />Max is such a GEM. I'm so happy he is my son!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-89500193583710799092012-01-13T13:29:00.005-07:002012-01-13T16:36:06.863-07:00Troy's Cross Country Ski TripTroy's family makes a yearly trip up to some yurts (similar to a tent, but a lot sturdier) near Evanston, WY each year. This year since I'm nursing Max, I stayed home, but Troy went.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-q3DRGgFGJvzHl1MuugjzbtnFwVtHI-EKKCCo5Zy8fuIfivCLbtR2arKk9Zrhf0XyEVDwUOw5fTOYY21JUSSaCxLfo88Uqk4IE-NJu2UBGq7QDeb1ssT1wOjnnSbSzGW5XfJE2iy4OPA/s1600/13-JAN+009.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697219141339026994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-q3DRGgFGJvzHl1MuugjzbtnFwVtHI-EKKCCo5Zy8fuIfivCLbtR2arKk9Zrhf0XyEVDwUOw5fTOYY21JUSSaCxLfo88Uqk4IE-NJu2UBGq7QDeb1ssT1wOjnnSbSzGW5XfJE2iy4OPA/s320/13-JAN+009.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The whole clan - you can see the yurt on the right<br /><br /></span></div>The trip requires a few mile trek to the yurts. Troy's family cross country skies. I'm sure you could snow shoe, but if you have tried both you know cross country skiing is much less work. Troy's family ALWAYS gets there in the dark so once they get to the yurt it is dinner, games, a little night skiing and then off to bed. The next day is the fun day where they find a nice hill and attempt over and over again to do a train with all that are attending. Usually they end in a tangled mess of skies, legs, and an occasional head.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TLlgLZhJZ3UmPXdJ0rCQpItlTX9tHXWtTiySpt3D9P4ZPADrcLVXy31Wnsvm1iVDA3CYRSG6RZCm8_D2lMATudOUXwK_G5jSwfo3RGw2dJnJ1V4Ql9GzwonfXLSKX3xtdM22l9c5gz8l/s1600/13-JAN+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697219146691460594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TLlgLZhJZ3UmPXdJ0rCQpItlTX9tHXWtTiySpt3D9P4ZPADrcLVXy31Wnsvm1iVDA3CYRSG6RZCm8_D2lMATudOUXwK_G5jSwfo3RGw2dJnJ1V4Ql9GzwonfXLSKX3xtdM22l9c5gz8l/s320/13-JAN+006.jpg" /></a><br />This year there wasn't much snow, but there was enough to enjoy the trip. The ironic part if it snowed the morning after Troy got home. It would have been so nice to have some fresh snow for the trip, but this is just another example of god's sense of humor.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-21250836003348532402012-01-04T21:05:00.000-07:002012-01-04T21:42:21.884-07:00Christmas 2011This Christmas was fun. We celebrated it out at Troy's parent's house. Due to some scheduling issues we ended going out to Troy's parents to celebrate everything one day earlier than usual. We had the spiritual Christmas on the 23rd. It was great as always. This year two of Troy's siblings lead the discussion. They did a great job, and made me think about two things: 1- What makes a gift special, and 2 - What everyday gifts have God given to me?<br /><br />They then had their traditional hockey game on the ice in their backyard. I choose to stay inside and finish wrapping gifts, and getting other things ready for Christmas. It would have been nice to go out, but I just felt like I had so much to do that I wouldn't have enjoyed it.<br /><br />The next morning (Dec 24th) was our Christmas. The tree was packed and family was abundant. Parker was fun this year, however he got tired of unwrapping present. We had to attack the pile in shifts. Next year the plan is one big gift (the goal is a swing set) and a few small things.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The "loot" before the madness began</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBNS-LlEAimCTKRIxKi9BaTsr3cUhJHtUp7KGKABzf74DHwVXrFTu63GU6ErLeJKO50_BwqRSljFyxOBut6-uxYqt5Y44e9_GidnssFJ8XcuFgucN8w2icAE1uF_8ouu8bYU6lyRISsyx/s1600/04-JAN+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBNS-LlEAimCTKRIxKi9BaTsr3cUhJHtUp7KGKABzf74DHwVXrFTu63GU6ErLeJKO50_BwqRSljFyxOBut6-uxYqt5Y44e9_GidnssFJ8XcuFgucN8w2icAE1uF_8ouu8bYU6lyRISsyx/s320/04-JAN+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693997018549302258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Max with his stocking (no he didn't get a flashlight, but it did work great as a teething toy)</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPipQmeFbW5kOvTCIVoPa1UJ5Z5yrRXjycmau1MgjkzntjzuwpW3wFuyFCH2f_OIJ5cioBvc-9_Dg_A5q1AGguzdui2oWjQ8keLgfPytvB8NnIMcrQ3SovdwndipgXRYD42W-lJBfuCiL6/s1600/04-JAN+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPipQmeFbW5kOvTCIVoPa1UJ5Z5yrRXjycmau1MgjkzntjzuwpW3wFuyFCH2f_OIJ5cioBvc-9_Dg_A5q1AGguzdui2oWjQ8keLgfPytvB8NnIMcrQ3SovdwndipgXRYD42W-lJBfuCiL6/s320/04-JAN+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693997027726598834" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Parker with his stocking</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbApZ3Zhdi4RcYOo3kpxCWEScHwLVqOunxUTQSOdup_Gru7Yd0kL_OQCE9llpcTpoc-GHMJGF4jqkwzFwDbwiGIDLNmWK35N3X0LGBj6sdgXzdYTb95kqi7fS2xwhVXGg0HIsOgoSJT1x/s1600/04-JAN+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbApZ3Zhdi4RcYOo3kpxCWEScHwLVqOunxUTQSOdup_Gru7Yd0kL_OQCE9llpcTpoc-GHMJGF4jqkwzFwDbwiGIDLNmWK35N3X0LGBj6sdgXzdYTb95kqi7fS2xwhVXGg0HIsOgoSJT1x/s320/04-JAN+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693997022626258194" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Parker had a Mater Teeth sucker in his stocking</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11k-uFM2wybF6vS8RDUK1UTQIwELLsq5MEcDpXITgAE7kUFRywikQwo388CrO9lNMl2Haa820DjkTUe7f-UFXXSpatF0o3LBJrPfYIbRynOEJDN5OHudchDVIgD-cZodQvTqZK-nr82SO/s1600/04-JAN+034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11k-uFM2wybF6vS8RDUK1UTQIwELLsq5MEcDpXITgAE7kUFRywikQwo388CrO9lNMl2Haa820DjkTUe7f-UFXXSpatF0o3LBJrPfYIbRynOEJDN5OHudchDVIgD-cZodQvTqZK-nr82SO/s320/04-JAN+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693998658696469922" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Some of Parker's top picks</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Bright Builders (Shhh - - Santa found these at the thrift store)</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzgu3DvhD_YMpoRDdmJy77mXHcLywwtVW1HezVTvfBHqeMxn3F6AaKZrRy17ysbfjb4SQQsNW7O4EzXydf1Wfm_XJaXDil5D8XafQwtjGbUGZas57jxfpa3MsX9Cto6uLaDl0vp_sW8MG/s1600/04-JAN+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzgu3DvhD_YMpoRDdmJy77mXHcLywwtVW1HezVTvfBHqeMxn3F6AaKZrRy17ysbfjb4SQQsNW7O4EzXydf1Wfm_XJaXDil5D8XafQwtjGbUGZas57jxfpa3MsX9Cto6uLaDl0vp_sW8MG/s320/04-JAN+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693997035666969890" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Curious George DVD</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8AupSiWaIQvRKzqoBfVlKRsg3kS7dAgz4LuVK3O61eqwxJqgGMjMHxqJOEMZxXqc2iQXJjcagZI_H5LGkIOPId1T4ZWcHe5wKV9Mnt5vZp7KicKkXfu2Z6elgG5UqyDI_4OBjl_sm89T/s1600/04-JAN+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8AupSiWaIQvRKzqoBfVlKRsg3kS7dAgz4LuVK3O61eqwxJqgGMjMHxqJOEMZxXqc2iQXJjcagZI_H5LGkIOPId1T4ZWcHe5wKV9Mnt5vZp7KicKkXfu2Z6elgG5UqyDI_4OBjl_sm89T/s320/04-JAN+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693997043215574946" border="0" /></a>Max was as cute as usual, and just sat on the couch and watch all the action while sucking on his Binky. I was surprised he was so content, because I didn't nurse him when he woke up, but I guess with everything going on (and his Binky) he was content.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ucgVPXMt-OrSeTHaCLdo6sDVbspkQffSF2VLkG9F9zxi8puUZUZzBkSaYJkG1D18sXGi5022clwx3z8TfGJnExRr64QVIBInLJXaAJFcBg2kfK4nXPT3xp-bfmV0e-XE9Yx6pEsRTN4f/s1600/04-JAN+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ucgVPXMt-OrSeTHaCLdo6sDVbspkQffSF2VLkG9F9zxi8puUZUZzBkSaYJkG1D18sXGi5022clwx3z8TfGJnExRr64QVIBInLJXaAJFcBg2kfK4nXPT3xp-bfmV0e-XE9Yx6pEsRTN4f/s320/04-JAN+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693998630736859122" border="0" /></a><br />After a fun day out at Troy's parents we returned home. Christmas morning we woke up and treated like any other morning. We went to church and then went to my family's Christmas party that night.<br /><br />This year was the year of big gifts for me so. Which made it nice, because then I was able to help the kids with their gifts. I did have a little to open on Christmas, but my biggest gift came a few days after Christmas. We have been wanting a upright freezer for a while, and I had saved a little money for one, but was still short so we decided to spend some of our Christmas money making up the difference and bought one.<br /><br />In the end the wrapping and the packaging were a hit. One of Parker's gift was actually just a box filled with packaging pillows. He loved every minute of popping the pillows.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwNBA-icPSPCJErtZ7RxqYstgGt4ck4LVbLZcNvKAPrlQYb2jM0GbN72q-78NEI0NqjEZuscQB49NOzkRgj8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Parker insisted on climbing in this box. It is hard to see, but it was only about 3 inches wide.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_zJkqufe5YF-pP1tZPUKzEx41vEEVM8RZpxjg1wwnmgPAKguPTGNfRgfLEdY-JWMPqB-uVcbFjkcR6ioukgFxUZdTsZ2UdBm5-wC6Scp93L4j2qrlpMFT6mvfB7LW-IPHKSHzivbRsTn/s1600/04-JAN+026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_zJkqufe5YF-pP1tZPUKzEx41vEEVM8RZpxjg1wwnmgPAKguPTGNfRgfLEdY-JWMPqB-uVcbFjkcR6ioukgFxUZdTsZ2UdBm5-wC6Scp93L4j2qrlpMFT6mvfB7LW-IPHKSHzivbRsTn/s320/04-JAN+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693998642689472258" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Max enjoying the wrapping paper</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SQkTeWEKiKTSmzv7UhY07XlYXmlhY-dc7cJC67LtC-zVcrH4F4BGhXRYELQbVaFe7Sa7LJJQA9etFMHtfIbhpQe0z3z3oFfSqP1oNWxkljlG9Yal6QQqd0ZiFcMcIKVMthfSabsaZOTa/s1600/04-JAN+025.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SQkTeWEKiKTSmzv7UhY07XlYXmlhY-dc7cJC67LtC-zVcrH4F4BGhXRYELQbVaFe7Sa7LJJQA9etFMHtfIbhpQe0z3z3oFfSqP1oNWxkljlG9Yal6QQqd0ZiFcMcIKVMthfSabsaZOTa/s320/04-JAN+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693998635441236562" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Max crawled under the tree. I thought it was a fitting place as he is the GREATEST gift I was give this year.</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WuEbHnLgDRLIRHC0Y0VeMb6oR57IUmXqSIRMZHyN9Q9kuVO4t80jg2f2T82y_X7s4dhQT6nP9IqQRNQbDXL-lNYa-eyAtF2lQpLeJdIwq8JbESmyMGhcz42rMieR9lLIPaOaEt7nbcku/s1600/04-JAN+029.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WuEbHnLgDRLIRHC0Y0VeMb6oR57IUmXqSIRMZHyN9Q9kuVO4t80jg2f2T82y_X7s4dhQT6nP9IqQRNQbDXL-lNYa-eyAtF2lQpLeJdIwq8JbESmyMGhcz42rMieR9lLIPaOaEt7nbcku/s320/04-JAN+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693998655374436002" border="0" /></a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-69024681336565206932011-12-28T13:49:00.008-07:002011-12-28T17:33:41.875-07:00Max at 4, 5, 6 and 7MonthsCatch-up time . . . not only am I out of school for a few weeks, but I also recently moved the boys into the same room, which has resulted in them napping at the same time, and has left our office without a crib in it so now during nap time I can update the blog.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >4 Months</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Max went from sleeping through the night to waking up ever 4 or so hours. I figured it was because he was either teething or hungry. I would just nurse him and then put him back to sleep. Around this same time I started another class for the semester so it was hard having to get up a few times during the night, and then function in school.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEFNZPr3xmDb60Jcwfkc7kaKt3VGcxtKc8pzVjA6RimWQPkIh7evb7DEOFOCg5_Sgnvrgsz0guBzjizFAcQK28Lab7n22uqpqb4jPpPDvrUTIttgLOZDyQsTKHAXw6p6d3yuHXtJIf9JV/s1600/15-sept+017+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEFNZPr3xmDb60Jcwfkc7kaKt3VGcxtKc8pzVjA6RimWQPkIh7evb7DEOFOCg5_Sgnvrgsz0guBzjizFAcQK28Lab7n22uqpqb4jPpPDvrUTIttgLOZDyQsTKHAXw6p6d3yuHXtJIf9JV/s320/15-sept+017+%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691294342517451650" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">He was quite the droller</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUnApwhBzy-2rz9CfTNGptpUk1El3GI6_jZEt6g5ueVLXqTTCBjnl2ZpD5DGwG5wTsoxd827XFkT-rExQmxG6UzNkQCDG3WtqlLo96A370hdR3ZJg40uNMncgeAlgK10zCo4cwUjDlcRQ/s1600/15-SEPT+010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUnApwhBzy-2rz9CfTNGptpUk1El3GI6_jZEt6g5ueVLXqTTCBjnl2ZpD5DGwG5wTsoxd827XFkT-rExQmxG6UzNkQCDG3WtqlLo96A370hdR3ZJg40uNMncgeAlgK10zCo4cwUjDlcRQ/s320/15-SEPT+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691294352352314882" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Happy boy!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >5 Months</span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Max's sleeping pattern was still less than desirable however it was still better than Parker's was at the same age. Max would wake up about two times a night, and take about 2-3 naps during the day. Still drooling, but no teeth yet. For Halloween Max wore the same pumpkin costume we used for Parker when he was about the same age. Max is a little weightier than Parker was so it fit great. (If you are curious look for a Halloween post . . .I'll date it 10/31/11)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8k3sbtSW4fY0_7Ceti9rKBfxOHdfFySLQ-UCZNZAIn38wNX6jeP4V4K_YHJb-mpuMSlO8uhCWCUDzhYC1jX9rNSDgnH1Nnkwl9HOW0RizrzXsv57wdojyZDmYOZXADt8XR_hv-w3pQTud/s1600/24-NOV+076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8k3sbtSW4fY0_7Ceti9rKBfxOHdfFySLQ-UCZNZAIn38wNX6jeP4V4K_YHJb-mpuMSlO8uhCWCUDzhYC1jX9rNSDgnH1Nnkwl9HOW0RizrzXsv57wdojyZDmYOZXADt8XR_hv-w3pQTud/s320/24-NOV+076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691294325523838642" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Our sweet pumpkin</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >6 Months</span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Max's was still waking a few times during the night. A few days before he hit the 6 month mark I decided to start feeding him cereal. I was hoping this would help him sleep longer, but I think he got in the habit of waking up during the night, because it didn't change a darn thing. He didn't seem to like the food, and practically shivered with every bite. (If you are more curious look for a Feeding Time post . . .I'll date it 12/15/11)<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtz_Py79I_NH3-mmgdYsHPvnn4YyTWqeHiPiLAH__gFoBk_1PPk7PH5sA4Zt2J9RtZ_8kcyyc83C6wnUhc4ktz3EceF5lmJUQbKbO5gn8QLCN6GFLpe2hlGwojIQ0bN-aKUjY_P8ybhNN/s1600/24-NOV+113.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtz_Py79I_NH3-mmgdYsHPvnn4YyTWqeHiPiLAH__gFoBk_1PPk7PH5sA4Zt2J9RtZ_8kcyyc83C6wnUhc4ktz3EceF5lmJUQbKbO5gn8QLCN6GFLpe2hlGwojIQ0bN-aKUjY_P8ybhNN/s320/24-NOV+113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691294336865221026" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg-XRZm4jPq9f3WPV3U02jRkEcpFj_9cZpzNTR5ItHPmbTHOb2t3gORSvLBDukAmtW3Zg8iLn7igHJ1L_phR3jslB3shDezP8AUtW8l_1H9l5ugZq1i3aL7tNgn3MK4AGdV6Ya532YPe5/s1600/24-NOV+110.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg-XRZm4jPq9f3WPV3U02jRkEcpFj_9cZpzNTR5ItHPmbTHOb2t3gORSvLBDukAmtW3Zg8iLn7igHJ1L_phR3jslB3shDezP8AUtW8l_1H9l5ugZq1i3aL7tNgn3MK4AGdV6Ya532YPe5/s320/24-NOV+110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691294333435402354" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >7 Months</span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Max FINALLY started sleeping better at night. I started feeding him two times a day with more substantial foods like fruits and veggies and that helped, but I also STOPPED nursing him during the night. I would just hold him and let him suck on a Binky until he fell back asleep. I knew he could self sooth, because he would do it during the day. But at night he grew accustom to me nursing him. A few times of me NOT nursing him led to him sleeping better through the night. Also he finally had a tooth break through the gums shortly after he turned 6 months. I also broke down and bought teething gel.<br /><br />He is starting to love to stand. He can't do it by himself, but with just a little help he can. He is still SUPER happy . . . he doesn't cry much, and if he does there is usually a GOOD reason for it. . .like Parker growling at him or something. He does startle easily though and Parker's growling is just enough to set him off. He's getting really good with eating he is now eating pieces of food . . .like bananas, bread, pears, etc. He has also started rolling to get from place to place. He doesn't roll a lot unless there is something he wants then he gets there just fine and in no time at all.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGaRJ9hOLwanfS4PnPUPd8JWLhfapmXL0Xhg1HpmAPzeDIzRnQbZ2nMc0DSH6qetOA0PmDviUeWP23PeF8ELdbCrHHf22V4UJJQ6_KKnZm9lAXJr5sp9V7lKJ0P5WS9ADVN2FWNL2BfVD/s1600/22-DEC+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGaRJ9hOLwanfS4PnPUPd8JWLhfapmXL0Xhg1HpmAPzeDIzRnQbZ2nMc0DSH6qetOA0PmDviUeWP23PeF8ELdbCrHHf22V4UJJQ6_KKnZm9lAXJr5sp9V7lKJ0P5WS9ADVN2FWNL2BfVD/s320/22-DEC+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691303817474666290" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><div style="text-align: center;">BROTHER'S<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVbeTdlb5N6NCTmgvaQYz-p9H9v3goePP_yJFGmD6R7W5AFEeqNwMX8hqhJDOth4UHu0T2QNPIsxMQmMpp8a7eZKuyA44q5y_yXQY_AboEPuEKHicpEzbclbMc7mmkemW8kh5wKxKout0/s1600/22-DEC+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVbeTdlb5N6NCTmgvaQYz-p9H9v3goePP_yJFGmD6R7W5AFEeqNwMX8hqhJDOth4UHu0T2QNPIsxMQmMpp8a7eZKuyA44q5y_yXQY_AboEPuEKHicpEzbclbMc7mmkemW8kh5wKxKout0/s320/22-DEC+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691302352684969122" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Max standing . . . with the help of Big Brother Parker.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxIPDK0ZMw0hzdV81X0ZXKIJO35QX3SAZcQZNeiUqA5sfhrZGtnZWAiFfOaBVLDRazmhACAh7L_QHbRNV6zcFpNyrZEoLauGIWoBeIQBxyK6EWXAKg78hp3mNbIe4dd6mb9RsOYKODkC4/s1600/22-DEC+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxIPDK0ZMw0hzdV81X0ZXKIJO35QX3SAZcQZNeiUqA5sfhrZGtnZWAiFfOaBVLDRazmhACAh7L_QHbRNV6zcFpNyrZEoLauGIWoBeIQBxyK6EWXAKg78hp3mNbIe4dd6mb9RsOYKODkC4/s320/22-DEC+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691302360162806690" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >I can't believe how fast time has gone since we had him. I have to keep reminding myself he isn't a newborn anymore. </span><br /></div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-49935773180931223922011-12-20T15:27:00.004-07:002011-12-20T20:03:51.791-07:00Another Semester DownI just finished another semester, and when meeting with my advisor found out I only have 1 more class to complete before I'll have a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">emphasis</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Cellular</span> and Molecular Biology. I also qualify for a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Chemistry</span> minor. <br /><br />I am so glad to be almost done. This last semester was really hard on Parker. I had class 5 days of the week, two of those days I had labs that meant I was away for around 6 hours. Not to mention the many nights I would lock the kids downstairs with Troy while I studied upstairs. There were days I would tell Parker I had to leave to school, and he would start crying. I wanted to cry right along with him, but kept my composure for him.<br /><br />I contemplated whether I should take a lighter load then usual this semester because I had just had Max, and I wasn't sure how I was going to juggle the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">responsibilities</span> of two kids, and two classes that both had a lab component. After the fact, I'm so glad I didn't. Max has been such an easy going baby that it made it possible for me to keep my sanity while juggling family, church, and school <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">responsibilities</span>. He is starting to get more mobile, and needs more attention so now next semester will be possible, because I'll only have the one class.<br /><br />Many people have asked me what my plans are once I'm done. Well . . . for right now it will just make me a mom with options. I feel my time will be best spent at home raising my kids, but I find relieve knowing if something happened to Troy I have a degree. After my kids don't need me as much in the home I may choose to go get a teaching certificate and go teach secondary education biology, but that is still a few years away.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5141520752590356034.post-3079020224300680392011-12-15T14:29:00.000-07:002012-01-04T15:04:47.210-07:00Feeding Time<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>I have to admit starting Max on solids caused me some emotional distress. First how in the world did he get so big so fast, and second it meant I now had to think about what to feed him and when. Before this I would just nurse him when he complained, and it appeared he was hungry.<br /><br />Max seems to be a lot different at eating compared to Parker. Parker would eat everything and anything, and very quickly. I couldn't shovel it in quick enough. Max started out a lot more picky and is a slower eater.<br /><br />Here is Max's first try at solids:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzCXPRSd6Lno6YBNVGfIiRtqGsQOVdCmBcKlN-D3iQttMDs9Kub6tUlFJM23JYyJ7clmk1WVMXfJK9tGis5vQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />See what Max thinks of peas:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyUBLLaSdsqoH9uESXQfMK4zbtN_TT4C88_VXfywKF-iE_MUOqbdOqRcRY9H-EhvIYSh4wBD8sz2jTKVA-uDA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Here is Parker feeding Max:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyc1gEeGvqLeMAc020VMv1BavQYc3T2eZ1D-FoJv37mF7vWTclza75wewVH3wvlcDU9AN3MTqLnij4PZ6zokw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />isn't he so helpful . . .Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05984834919443574758noreply@blogger.com0