tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84363386110727123772024-03-12T21:24:58.070-07:00The RomneysMaking Memories of UsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-35266359809089545592012-12-21T14:00:00.000-08:002012-12-21T14:01:31.727-08:00ChangesI know, I know. I basically haven't written in forever and ever--I haven't even kept up on READING other people's blogs. The reason is, life has been busy. And I know that everyone's is busy, but I just didn't find the time to do this, too. And probably won't find a ton of time even still. I have, however, gotten a new email address, and will be discontinuing the other. So, I think that many of you have my studette1372@juno.com on your private blog rolls. I have, in a sense, been forced to grow up and get a more "adult" email address, since I became Relief Society president. I don't want to post it on here for all to see (since it's been REALLY nice not getting all of the spam I used to get), so please email the studette1372 email and I will email you the new one so I can be added. I do enjoy being updated on everyone's lives, and I have been REALLY out of the loop lately. I hope this finds you well and Merry Christmas everyone! [Oh, and can I just say that I am REALLY diggin' the new blogger set-up. Makes a lot more sense!]<br />
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Just for good measure, my cute kiddos... (talk about CHEESE)<br />
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(and strong hubby)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130023947556488133noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-24512525529107948812012-12-12T13:10:00.000-08:002012-12-12T13:10:56.986-08:00Jadyn's Birth Story<br />
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I wrote this a couple of months ago, but haven't gotten around to posting. I am feeling the need to catch up on my personal life, though, so here goes:</div>
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I've had this on my list of things to do for ages, but just have never gotten to it. Luckily, I think I remember things pretty decently, I hope.</div>
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I had been dilated to a 2 for a couple of weeks and knew that I could possibly go anytime. My due date wasn't until June 15, but I had been hoping for her to be born on a Wednesday so that I could have the maximum number of days off before I had to get back to teaching piano lessons. My dad and Dallin were supposed to sing in their ward on June 10th. My dad had asked if I wanted to sing, but since my due date was so close to that, I didn't go for it because I just couldn't be sure I would be able to do it. But they asked me to accompany them. I told them I would as long as I didn't have the baby on the Friday or Saturday before they sang. We practice multiple times for the two weeks prior just in case.</div>
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On Monday, the 4th of June, we had some painters come from Devin's work to paint the house. I was due the 15th, but really figured I would come early. Still, I hoped and prayed that all would be complete with the painting before we had Jadyn. The other thing was, I prayed that we could have her on a Wednesday so that I could have the most time with just our little family before I had to go to work teaching piano again (I teach every Monday/Tuesday). They thought they could finish the painting on Monday and Tuesday, and I did all I could to ensure that happened, but they didn't have enough guys so it went into Wednesday. The house was just a disaster area, but I felt so much fluid leaking those days that I thought it wouldn't be too much longer before I went into labor. I also knew I had been overloaded working between the house being painted and piano lessons, and I just kept telling Devin to expect her to come Wednesday (that's why I was a bit disappointed when the house wasn't finished Tuesday). I felt like I had so much to do, and I didn't want Jadyn and our family to come to a house that was in disarray. I continued to practice with my Dad and Dallin just in case. Wednesday, some thing had gone wrong with the paint colors too, so Devin was running around that morning trying to get the colors changed. I was nervous, because I just didn't know if everything would get done. </div>
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I had been having a lot of Braxton Hick's contractions for several weeks. They weren't ever getting regular though, nor were they getting stronger, so I just continued about my business. Around lunch on Wednesday, I started moving some furniture back in the bonus room. I felt like the contractions were getting stronger, but they were just so sporadic, I didn't know what to think. Because of that, I continued to just think they were Braxton Hicks and worked forward. It was going to take a lot of work to get all of the furniture back and then get the house cleaned. And I remember telling the painter that I thought I was probably in labor, so not to think I was strange if I just stopped dead in my tracks or pulled weird faces. I was tired and worn out, but determined. I called my mom and JaNae to tell them that I thought I was probably in labor, but that I wasn't sure because the contractions would be 7 minutes apart, then 5, then 10, then 7 again. They just weren't getting any closer together that I could tell. And I just kept timing them, but thought maybe I was just confused and a little too hopeful. I called Devin as well and told him I thought it would be the night. He wasn't going to come home from work though unless I was ready to go to the hospital. The painters left around 3:15 after a mad rush to get as much of it done as possible (there was only a SMALL amount of trim work that needed to be done on Friday), and then I just continued cleaning. Devin came home from work around 5. He started helping me get the house together and got his stuff packed just in case. I had already had mine packed for quite some time, so I just kept cleaning.</div>
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Finally, the contractions were starting to get pretty strong. I would pause or have to move around. They still weren't regular, but I thought there was a pretty good chance she would be coming soon. I called JaNae to tell her to start to travel down (she takes pictures of the kiddos when they're born). At about 8, I got out of the shower, and realized that I couldn't walk much through the contractions. They were getting too strong and almost unbearable. We decided we'd better leave and deliver the kids to my mom. I still needed to clean a few things, so I finished the bathroom up and some laundry while Devin mopped the downstairs and vacuumed (I had literally moved all of the house back together AND deep cleaned the house during that entire day). Then we loaded Camden into the car to take him to my parents. I think we got there around 10 or so. He was getting excited to have "Baby Jadyn" come (and she has forever been known by that name since). He kept asking if Baby Jadyn was going to come out of my belly. He was anxious and really seemed to understand what was going on. He wanted to go to the hospital with us, but was content with staying at my parents.</div>
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We arrived at the hospital about 11:00. They checked me in and called the doctor to see if I should stay. My water sack was about ready to burst, they said. It took a while to get me back to a room (much longer than I remember anything taking at the hospital in Orem with Camden--there, they had my epidural given to me in 15 minutes there). I assumed it would be about the same at this hospital, but apparently their procedures are different. Even though the anesthesiologist was at the hospital, I had to wait for my blood to be drawn and analyzed to make sure I could get my epidural. It took like 2 more hours~!! I was in some SERIOUS pain at that point, but wasn't dilating any more than I had been at my last doctor appointment. With Camden, I had dilated MUCH more than this by the time I got to the hospital, AND my contractions NEVER got that painful. I had a lot of back labor with him,……and let me just tell you, I MUCH prefer the back labor! I was in so much pain I really thought I was going to be throwing up any minute. If I had to go through one more contraction, I probably would have. I was also starving. I hadn't eaten anything since lunch! Because I figured I was in labor, and my last nurse let me have a little bit of apple juice, I didn't think anything of it. But later, I realized that was the biggest mistake I made.</div>
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The epidural was finally administered at around 2:00am. Devin had been able to sleep the whole time I was contracting, but I hadn't slept since Tuesday night--not ONE little wink! I was exhausted. Because my blood pressure is so low, every time I am at the hospital and I start to fall asleep, it sends the machines into a beeping frenzy, so I still didn't get much sleep. The nurse came to check on me around 4am. I was dilating again (at an 8)! And so luckily, I wouldn't need any pitocin or anything to help move the labor along! I think the epidural helped me to relax enough to let me body do what it needed to do. She said she would call the doctor and he would arrive in about 2 hours. We called my parents and JaNae and told them the news. They showed up around 6. The nurse then came in and said she would call the doctor. But I was already at a ten. I knew Jadyn would be there soon because I was starting to feel the pressure that came with each contraction. I don't remember what time he showed up, but he said she was at a 3+ already when he checked me, so it was GO time! And it really was, because I gave two 10 second pushes (through one contraction) and she was THERE! First thing I asked the doctor was if I had torn (since I did SO BADLY with Camden). He said it was minimal. YAY! Devin did cut the cord this time with Jadyn….it didn't seem nearly as rushed. They took her and she weighed in at 8 lbs 6 ounces (a FULL pound and a half SMALLER than Camden!). I think she was like 20.5 inches long. They handed her to me after wiping her down and Devin was standing to my left. She cranked her head all the way around to look at him because she heard him talking. Talk about being a Daddy's Girl already :O). She wanted to see her dad. She also had a lot of pictures of her taken. She was very alert and just content as can be. She was even making faces at the camera by sticking her tongue out.</div>
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When I had Camden, I was kind of time sensitive as to when I needed to have him because I was working at Jean and Bay's and wanted the maximum time I possibly could to recuperate. It was roughly the same with Jadyn, too. Camden, I needed to have on a Friday and Jadyn needed to come on a Wednesday to get the maximum amount of time I wanted before working again. Luckily, the Lord answered my prayers both times. There is no reason but Divine Providence that it would happen that way…..I was so grateful to have that beautiful baby girl and have the maximum amount of time with her as I could.</div>
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I wanted something to eat immediately after Jadyn was born; I was just SO famished. They said my breakfast was on the way. Then they moved me to recovery. Devin got his food, but mine never came and never came (kinda like the epidural--this happened BOTH mornings I was there). I didn't get to eat until about 10:00 AM! Ridiculous! I could've killed someone. And I was tired. I didn't get to see Jadyn again until around that time as well. There were lots of babies born that night, I guess.</div>
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Camden came the next day and LOVED her. We gave him a little book to tell him about having a sister. He brought her a blanket. Jadyn also had her grandparents and Uncle Dallin visit.</div>
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Recovery with Jadyn was a MILLION times easier than with Cam. I guess that pound and a half and minimal tearing made a HUGE difference. I also didn't get any intrauterine infections for the first several weeks, or recurring mastitis like I had with Cam. It was fabulous. I mean, not that I didn't have pain, but I now know that if all of my recoveries were normal like this one, I could have several babies. As tired as I was from the lack of sleep, it was still a dream compared to what I had been used to. I have even hoped to get pregnant again rather soon because it was SUCH a different experience than the last.</div>
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We are grateful to have Jadyn and Camden absolutely adores her EVERYDAY. He has never been disgruntled or angry to have her in our lives. On the contrary, I just can't get him to leave her alone he loves her TOO much! :O) He's going to be a great big brother to her and I hope he will always stay as kind to her and hope that she will continue to flash him the grinniest grins. They will be little buddies and I LOVE it!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-84746582674728053762012-04-16T13:23:00.002-07:002012-04-16T13:26:44.941-07:00Almost ready<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was getting a little nervous because I wasn't finding any little girl clothes while I've been out garage sale shopping. I literally had a handful of girl clothes, and all of them were too big for a newborn. This weekend, despite the rain, and my increasing desire for staying in my bed longer each day (getting WAY more tired), I went out to see if I could get my luck to change. I found all of this between 2-3 houses (plus some other small items) in a matter of an hour and wanted to share my spoils. We so could not afford to clothe our kids without garage sales, so I am grateful to finally have some clothes for Jadyn. These clothes range from 0-24 months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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-17 Pajamas<br />
-8 Shorts<br />
-26 Pants<br />
-18 Skirts<br />
-3 Leggings<br />
-8 Jeans<br />
-15 Dresses<br />
-2 Hats<br />
-2 mitten pairs<br />
-1 slipper pair<br />
-1 bib<br />
-9 diaper covers<br />
-1 sock pair<br />
-5 shoe pairs<br />
-5 swimsuits<br />
-14 jackets<br />
-38 tops/shirts<br />
-48 onesies<br />
-2 blanket<br />
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Total items: 223<br />
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Total cost: $57 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (If I would have bought even the shoes new, it would have cost me about this amount--JUST for the shoes)</span><br />
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Total cost per item: 25 cents<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">SOOO AWESOME!</span><br />
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We are *almost* ready!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">If you want to see more great deals and ideas, check out my sister-in-law's blog weekly at: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/">http://garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-26685218865333418982012-02-18T17:36:00.000-08:002012-02-18T17:36:43.260-08:00Follow-upCamden was accident free today! YAY! We have both gotten better at reading his body cues. He is happier, and each day I have backed off a little more to give him the chance to show he can hold it! And I just remind him occasionally that we need to go in to the bathroom. He doesn't always want to, because he doesn't like to stop what he's doing, but when I bring him in anyway, he knows now what he needs to do, and does it! <br />
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I think it will still be a bit of time before he is telling me he needs to go on his own, or even before he gets to a point where he can just go in and do it all himself without any aid or prompting from me, but I think he is making progress, so we are just going to keep it up! AND, he's been doing all of this with a 101 degree fever, so he's definitely a trooper! I actually think it's a bit helpful because he isn't as active, so we can take things slow.<br />
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The first day, we went to the potty every 15 minutes. The second day, we went every 30 (and on this day, I started showing him a movie while he was trying to go). The third, it was about every 40 minutes. And now, we just go in when he start giving his shifty cues and he is able to go right away, so we don't have to sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes each time. We still "take a break" at night, so he wears a diaper, but I am getting better at slowing his fluid intake a bit before he goes to bed, and I think that will help him to get control of himself at night. It's awesome that we can see measurable progress and that he is happy about it! Hopefully it will all keep up! :O)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-82618817003469415392012-02-16T13:31:00.000-08:002012-02-16T13:31:41.147-08:00On Potty TrainingYesterday, I wrote about Camden beginning his potty training process. He interest has been there in the past several months, as he likes to follow both parents into the bathroom and look in the toilet while we're doing our business, but I'm afraid that maybe I missed the "window-of-opportunity" with him. I am a believer that each child has certain time periods which are their optimal time to learn various things. <br />
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After yesterday, I really just thought we were going to have to wait until we got to the age of 3 to start potty training again, because we had 7 accidents (including one on the kitchen table), a TON of visits to the toilet, and only 1 time actually getting pee in the toilet. This only happened when his dad was home and set him on the toilet for a while. It seems a lot of things I try to teach Camden don't sink in until his dad (or a peer--already?!) suggests it as well. That's why I'm glad I have a spouse--I need the reinforcement; so I can have the emotional support for me as well as the teaching reinforcement for the children. I'm also SO very glad Camden at least went ONE time in the toilet! But because things went so badly overall, we just decided to quit the cold-turkey-from-diapers during the night and put a diaper on (Camden has NEVER, ever in a million--or I guess just 2.5--years woken up with a dry diaper, so I think it will be some time before we can get him fully potty trained at night). I had almost decided that maybe he wasn't ready to potty train yet, but I feel like I have to give everything 3 days before I can really know, so I think I will give it until Friday. If there is improvement made, we will just continue, but if it's just not happening at all, we'll wait until 3 YO, which is the age I've heard is USUALLY best for little boys, since they tend to train later anyway. Camden still isn't quite 2.5, but it would be nice to not purchase diapers for two children come June.<br />
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However, today, we have had NO accidents so far. On the other hand, the poor kid hasn't gone to the bathroom at all (and it is almost 1:00PM!!!!). I'm not really sure how he is maintaining himself. He has figured out that it makes mommy sad when pee ends up on the floor or in his underwear, but he hasn't figured out that it makes me HAPPY when pee ends up in the toilet. Poor guy! I know he is getting some of it at least. I have also backed off a lot today. He still gets rewards for doing what he's supposed to (for now, it's just going in to sit on the potty every 30 minutes or so--yesterday it was every 15 minutes), but yesterday may have been a little traumatizing for him because he REALLY DID NOT want to sit on the toilet; especially that many times. I also went to check on him at 2:00 this morning (I had just finished baking bread I've been pregnancy-craving. Usually, I don't do that, promise) and he had a fever of 101. So maybe yesterday was just an unusually difficult day anyway.<br />
<br />
And now, as I'm finishing up this post, I am proud to announce he has still had no accidents on my floor, but has FINALLY gone in the toilet today! WOOHOO! Let's see how this keeps up. Today is already a million and a half times better than yesterday, even though I have zero desire to clean the house, get myself ready, or even work on the other projects I have going on. Potty training takes enough of my mental and emotional energy I suppose. It has been, by far, my most aggravating parenting moment of Camden's existence. Overall, I never had the "sticker" shock with anything of being a parent (except health-related issues such as peanut allergies, hospital stays, and the normal worrying-about-a-fever concerns. Oh and don't read this as I've never had sticker shock with ANYTHING, just because I haven't had it with parenting, doesn't mean I haven't had other difficult things. I'm not claiming any sort of perfection here), but this could have (and still may) do me in.<br />
<br />
For you, Lindsay:<br />
We have an Elmo potty chair that I splurged on just for the occasion. It has the little dish they can pee in closer to the floor, but then it converts into a step stool so they can access a larger toilet or stand up at the sink, and the seat from the little potty can be moved (easily and quickly) to the big potty if you (or they) like it better. I like it because it seems to have the best of both worlds--the little potty they can get used to at first, and then the full ability to switch it to a BIG toilet. Don't know if it's helpful, but I think it cost us about $12 at Walmart (you're paying a little bit for the Sesame Street brand, of course, but Camden has always really liked Elmo, so it has helped us). There are other chairs there that probably do the same convertible thing as the Sesame Street one. Good luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-76886848890527523192012-02-15T13:10:00.000-08:002012-02-15T13:10:29.212-08:00It went through!The documentary, "Shamed," got enough funding to begin the project! I'm so thrilled! Keep your eyes out for it next year around this time!<br />
<br />
<br />
On another note, today, we begin potty training. I had to bribe with Sesame Street to get him to wear the underwear the normal way (and not on his head) after many refusals to put them on at all. He is now happily watching the show dedicated to the letter 'R' and we try going to the potty every 16 minutes. Yes, 16. He gets an M&M each time he sits on the potty (for now) and will get two for actually going while on the potty (again, for now). If all goes well, I'm hoping we can start weaning him from that many M&M's in 2-3 days. If all doesn't go well, let's just say I have another full box of diapers waiting for us on the top shelf of his closet. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Before you judge me, there is nothing else that would have worked besides cookies, and one little m&m is much smaller than the cookies I make, so we're going that route)</span><br />
<br />
Yesterday, for Valentine's, I made Devin breakfast pizzas for lunch and from my Facebook post: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Our Valentine's dinner consisted of (everything homemade): Flat enchiladas, Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), feijao (black beans), and authentic Brazilian lemonade. For dessert: French crepes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">It was SO. so good! And we were absolutely stuffed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And just because I am terrible at taking video and pictures of Camden, I never include them, but whenever my sister is in town, she gets a few things. Here is one of her videos from about a month and a half ago. There are several songs that are never-ending in Camden's world. 'Follow the Prophet,' 'Clean-up,' 'Sing, Sing, Sing,' and this one: (He definitely LOVES songs and we regularly go through the primary songs while I'm playing the piano--one of our favorite things to do together).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqaedvMlQGGouBRFfvR_XO3uAOBASRB6pgx4ScxwOsYorFvUbThpIGe56PIyviLSqoMNfbv1YpGlXbsnoHFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span>Elder Romneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924255524624590727noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-53290532945546179282012-02-07T12:25:00.000-08:002012-02-07T12:39:11.525-08:00I promise!I know a lot of people aren't looking for places to donate money, but please go to this site <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/141091137/shamed-a-documentary-feature-film">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/141091137/shamed-a-documentary-feature-film</a> (it's important enough that I'm actually listing the WHOLE site) and view both videos (and while listening to the song on the first video, read the captions regarding various statistics and quotes regarding pornography and sexual addictions--as they often go hand-in-hand). As I am a mother, spouse, sister, friend, and child, there are so many unfortunate opportunities for this to affect my own life, and I know, unfortunately, it affects many of your lives (or will) in some way or another, as well--yes, even if you don't realize it. Please, consider making a small donation if at all possible. This is something I believe very strongly in, and realize that there are drastic changes that need to be made in our society to help those who struggle with such addictions. I cannot express to you enough how much I fear for our young ones who will be raised in a world where these behaviors are normalized and/or shamed; even much worse than the world in which we were brought up. But, if we are prepared, we shall not fear (D&C 38:30), and so, I hope we can put in the necessary means NOW (namely time, attention, money, spiritual and relationship uplifting activities, etc) that will catapult us into a prepared state when dealing with this issue. Even if you cannot donate, please spread the word to those who can so we can make sure this project gets funded (it only has 7 more days to be funded or else it is dropped). And when the documentary arrives, make sure you get out and see it! I promise, it will be enlightening and enabling if you make that effort.<br />
<br />
*Make sure you watch the videos! They aren't long and they give the information to you so much better than I ever could. I am just not very profound (as if that wasn't obvious).*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-87144212034420776272012-01-12T10:51:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:53:37.691-08:00100%<div style="text-align: center;">Well, so far, I'm 100% for guessing the gender of our babies. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We're halfway done with the pregnancy </div><div style="text-align: center;">for<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Miss Jadyn Marie</span>!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQqWhogDAwQH85eV0XfCSh5aZ8peP94ZU-btMK8SkNeaaXLBWA0G0HNPGfC68wzkxPeRfxdKyYpLxrQTr4zgqxzFwEdRwW1XeYTYtt9IezUVxR-CkeoAgjppmTXFpNPM_qlA8hmFgmkYQ/s1600/Jadyn-profile+and+female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQqWhogDAwQH85eV0XfCSh5aZ8peP94ZU-btMK8SkNeaaXLBWA0G0HNPGfC68wzkxPeRfxdKyYpLxrQTr4zgqxzFwEdRwW1XeYTYtt9IezUVxR-CkeoAgjppmTXFpNPM_qlA8hmFgmkYQ/s320/Jadyn-profile+and+female.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*Nicole, you are the winner!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-5126060009699669422012-01-11T21:22:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:38:59.075-08:004.5 carts laterI'm not your typical food storage type girl. I just don't like spending money on items I will not use (and will have to learn to use if, for some reason, we need to start living off of our food storage--wheat grinder, anyone?--Ok, I know there are some of you out there, but it's not me). I homemake pretty much everything, but I just can't/won't do certain foods--not until I have to, I guess.<br />
<br />
What I did yesterday, is a way I make up for my lack of zest in wheat-grinding and pasta-making (though I do that on occasion just because it's GOOD). And because we live primarily on one person's salary--Devin's-- I feel it's my job to spend as little money as possible (I work teaching 12 piano lessons weekly to pay for my health insurance--and I LOVE it-- and do an elderly couple's finances because we have been working for them for a few years and they are just so close to passing it would be so difficult for their family to take it on, but in essence, I am home taking care of the child(ren) and home). The hang up? Couponing takes me WAY to much time. And that's time that I don't want to put in when I work what I do and want to be a mommy the rest of the time.<br />
<br />
I started using <a href="http://www.dealstomeals.com/" target="_blank">this site</a> and<a href="http://hip2save.com/" target="_blank"> this site</a> to make my efforts worthwhile-->minimum time that yields the maximum results. And I mean VERY little minimum time...absolutely NO MORE, and probably significantly less, that what I would do anyway to plan out meals and a grocery list for the week (I shop once per week. That is my max. I will not go more than once to the store in a week--saves money AND time, as long as I plan well).<br />
<br />
Sorry, no pictures, but I left Smith's yesterday with 3 FULL TO THE BRIM carts (yes, they closed down an entire lane for me, and yes, they were super annoyed to have to be checking me out), and then added another from Food4Less and a half of one (which is actually a much larger cart in comparison) from Costco. I used no coupons, but bought 285 items for $369.05. That comes to roughly $1.30 per item. I am sure you have watched Extreme Couponers, and they have much better percentage savings than what you are probably calculating in your head (even though I estimated saving <i><u>at least</u></i> $130 from what I would have spent going to Walmart for those <u>same items</u>), but what I have found is that they don't count the money they spend in getting those coupons, the amount of time and work involved, and the fact that much of the stuff isn't always that usable (some of them have LIFETIME<u>S </u>of certain product just sitting in their garage)--at least for OUR FAMILY. Not to mention, I don't find nearly as many great coupons in the Western US as I have seen in the East.....but, like I said, I don't spend that much time on couponing.<br />
<br />
What you don't know is that despite the fact that my husband looks almost like a stick figure, he eats as much in one sitting as my ENTIRE immediate family did at a meal during my growing-up years. He just eats and eats....and eats. He is often referred to as the human garbage disposal (and rightly so). For that reason alone, we have to have SUBSTANTIAL meals to keep up with our family. We only have 3 of us, right now, and we better watch out if we have several boys that eat as much as him. He already eats 4+ meals per day. It could be exhausting to keep up with; not to mention, it would literally eat us out of house and home. We need to be able to stockpile, not wait for coupons and build up the pile over time.<br />
<br />
But last night, I bought enough pasta noodles, canned vegetables, sugar, canned fruit, canned beans, tuna, canned tomatoes, spices and seasonings, canned chicken, and deodorant to last us a year (until next year's case-lot sales). And enough quaker oatmeal, ramen, cheese, apples, rice, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, bananas (and I means TONS), ground beef, chicken breasts, milk, tortillas, cases of water, and butter to last us several weeks to several months (and I would have bought more of some of this stuff if I already had an additional freezer in the garage). <br />
<br />
These are all things I use (and can therefore rotate) in meals I make or meal recipes she offers on the website, which is also a HUGE time-saver. This also means I will have to shop for a LOT less throughout the year. I do these HUGE shopping trips, for certain items we use regularly, a couple times per year, and then only need to purchase our produce, dairy (though not even all of it once I get an additional freezer in my garage and can start freezing more of the things that freeze well--catching my hint, Dev :O)), bread (if I don't end up making it myself--this is something I DO NOT like eating after it's been frozen), some meats, and other perishables that we need for certain meals that week. But I plan the meals around the things with the best sales, so we continue to save money.<br />
<br />
I'm sure some of you are saying "well, I could do better than that," but it works for us, we end up having a food storage, I don't have a lot of anxiety over it, it's quick and simple, and for us, it just works!<br />
<br />
What things do you do to save you time and money? I am all about efficiency!<br />
<br />
P.S. I spent about 45 minutes (with a toddler, so that makes it take longer) planning the grocery list and meal plan, 2.5 hours purchasing, loading, and unloading the items (again, with a toddler), and 1.5 hours organizing it all (AGAIN, with a toddler, and that will NORMALLY be MUCH less because I will eventually have a very set system in our house for where all the food goes. I just haven't done my large shopping spree yet since we've been in the new house and needed to figure out exactly what I wanted to do). Also, I do SOME coupon shopping at times using Hip2save and just by quickly going through the ads I get in the mail (we get many coupons for free in NV) to get coupons for items I buy regularly, like Silk, that never go on really good sales, and we have to have it for Camden's milk allergy.<br />
<br />
Also, see this interesting clip if you haven't yet: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15514795. Either way you do it, you're saving BIG!<br />
<br />
And see my sister-in-law's website for garage sale tips and ideas. I bought pretty much every item of furniture we have in that way and have saved THOUSANDS. I also buy clothes, shoes, toys, etc. Saving money is FUN! garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-2644355754646183262011-11-18T14:05:00.000-08:002011-11-18T14:05:39.296-08:00Happy 5 years!!So, basically, the last 5 years have been filled with their ups and downs, great days and bad, difficult and easy, but most of all, LOTS of change!<br />
<br />
In 5 years, we've......<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Upgraded from a 550 sq ft apartment, which we rented, to a 2460 sq ft house, which we own</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz7wojQ13bvHclBLm9zIA5hbOFC8MIAD5zLfP9r8YJe0a-gZrJ5U3bY8_jRyQBqAKlYtukCKHHD-1jLj7I4xA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMMe3mKRzFk-JwJ96lvB1hRvZTevQDpWcBacTE3WdhYXn9zVxnaU12YHRsmpw9CLckVWdNw8CbrC39RE3TCzbu4xupSMN1909DWymZCX89bqv-X2Q-NfAQYb2vv6d6tQPoQr0B-gZ9RO8/s1600/1115347_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMMe3mKRzFk-JwJ96lvB1hRvZTevQDpWcBacTE3WdhYXn9zVxnaU12YHRsmpw9CLckVWdNw8CbrC39RE3TCzbu4xupSMN1909DWymZCX89bqv-X2Q-NfAQYb2vv6d6tQPoQr0B-gZ9RO8/s320/1115347_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Moved 7 times</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Held approximately 15 callings between the two of us</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Had one child, and one on the way</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwyWtw6psmPmo1jRO8znI70OOcDyhEKCmIG54UYm9EkedfT7b0yxJ2C9Zx0XWmhlSXi1I50jjwIMpCVy2TcSz725xCshWiELVN-2t5bLAHq9GprDKrxDC4uCBE7RBfuegzBC5zCesAPRD/s1600/_MG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwyWtw6psmPmo1jRO8znI70OOcDyhEKCmIG54UYm9EkedfT7b0yxJ2C9Zx0XWmhlSXi1I50jjwIMpCVy2TcSz725xCshWiELVN-2t5bLAHq9GprDKrxDC4uCBE7RBfuegzBC5zCesAPRD/s320/_MG_0015.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgi3ox_6KKVlZy5RSbkRUqiT8v8cMxyg5z8ZQOkfG-yyQLEQVRHy7SAkcTizl0pczLnVFEcwoJsOpI1NGIyRm_U17bg9UBxTjJIPAMr0rEgIcHry7BJOAzItq1sIoax8nGtQWX-F5BcwP/s1600/New+Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgi3ox_6KKVlZy5RSbkRUqiT8v8cMxyg5z8ZQOkfG-yyQLEQVRHy7SAkcTizl0pczLnVFEcwoJsOpI1NGIyRm_U17bg9UBxTjJIPAMr0rEgIcHry7BJOAzItq1sIoax8nGtQWX-F5BcwP/s320/New+Baby.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>5. Graduated both of us from BYU<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWJGqsahwNclojkbi2XYpsLorSEMU6JuFXmxG9uLvWDPsj7q_tB3K0PEm1sZsBsWPPbCtrFKhCPo7BKEr4YDoVRjz0qVyWWIlP_jfAEr2ZYxaN_RJLqEjxM5frRbT-EQtq2ibnZ-Qm8e8/s1600/grad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWJGqsahwNclojkbi2XYpsLorSEMU6JuFXmxG9uLvWDPsj7q_tB3K0PEm1sZsBsWPPbCtrFKhCPo7BKEr4YDoVRjz0qVyWWIlP_jfAEr2ZYxaN_RJLqEjxM5frRbT-EQtq2ibnZ-Qm8e8/s320/grad1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Had 10 different jobs (again, between the two of us)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Learned to like football (Meg) and learned to play songs on the piano (Dev)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. Spent over 1200 hours doing dishes</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. Played A LOT of sports (and won one intramural soccer championship at BYU)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. Changed close to 3000 diapers (give or take 500)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">11. Gone on a cruise and to Monterrey, Mexico</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHudpb6kGNlN5Ra2rZZVqbEXw_a7MWcyxj-VeZq9b7wmLRbH1fAmxu88qpiKgEsbjDNkRFpc-VuW1UlsqTk-tIPGx06BleXjhaooQa3MpMNQcHW7y_jOP02lD6pPl10Tc_Kty3g67JBQVm/s1600/PICT1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHudpb6kGNlN5Ra2rZZVqbEXw_a7MWcyxj-VeZq9b7wmLRbH1fAmxu88qpiKgEsbjDNkRFpc-VuW1UlsqTk-tIPGx06BleXjhaooQa3MpMNQcHW7y_jOP02lD6pPl10Tc_Kty3g67JBQVm/s320/PICT1041.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">12. Gone from swearing we would never live in Vegas (Devin) to embracing it; almost moving to NEW Mexico</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">13. Gotten only 2-3 speeding tickets (this is GOOD for Devin) :O) and one accident (just today actually--not his fault, luckily!)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">14. Received two brothers and one sister home from a mission</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">15. Stayed in the hospital 3 times</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OVVPj40sRkpCv5PRnQXOxNoffoWZnPK5Q_uIOavbyoN0u2hkxYfBgBhmb4FK1veVwWdLdTCsb3X7s2JWOgr4VxgGzegCAni5Cbm_engyKGdRUFq-GQPDXY3b1C_Jr0q_Jm4SVrHV9ry2/s1600/PICT0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OVVPj40sRkpCv5PRnQXOxNoffoWZnPK5Q_uIOavbyoN0u2hkxYfBgBhmb4FK1veVwWdLdTCsb3X7s2JWOgr4VxgGzegCAni5Cbm_engyKGdRUFq-GQPDXY3b1C_Jr0q_Jm4SVrHV9ry2/s320/PICT0629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>16. Lived with, and took care of, an elderly couple who influenced many goals for our own future<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbfedsdK4ghtaLhsfiYwuVgpHIi0LqE6zs5YECZdOAJYKtFpG0pUVh9UW445eANNHN3x1gA4qwPApSTv46hHWGdD02NAs-b3u8eRavCll-1Aln-IprEkI19io9CUW_X9XkTwWxb3_82Je/s1600/PICT0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbfedsdK4ghtaLhsfiYwuVgpHIi0LqE6zs5YECZdOAJYKtFpG0pUVh9UW445eANNHN3x1gA4qwPApSTv46hHWGdD02NAs-b3u8eRavCll-1Aln-IprEkI19io9CUW_X9XkTwWxb3_82Je/s320/PICT0669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">17. Gone on at least 6 hikes together, and I can't even count how many apart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjD744C58j7yOb37eJehVpnp5kS0pCUbXQ19LNJhqzEvliSZxktz8Gk8I3HfyuwJTEpRjxe8Hqxj-llV5zYmJhNOlNawx8CrMtgX5-frAYaDEtmdpJ9u1kr9avr5x1lWbVSW5RRMe0nko/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjD744C58j7yOb37eJehVpnp5kS0pCUbXQ19LNJhqzEvliSZxktz8Gk8I3HfyuwJTEpRjxe8Hqxj-llV5zYmJhNOlNawx8CrMtgX5-frAYaDEtmdpJ9u1kr9avr5x1lWbVSW5RRMe0nko/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">18. Each had at least one very distressing <a href="http://nivandmegromney.blogspot.com/2008/11/family-funnies.html" target="_blank">hair cut</a>/<a href="http://nivandmegromney.blogspot.com/2008/07/remember-remember.html" target="_blank">color</a> mistake!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">19. Won our apartment door Christmas decorating contest with dollar store decorations (well worth the money because we got a good prize!)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmHKRf9L5S4RX5lt_8PjWWcKr3FBq9Vx_G_o4wkumh_ZF_UcZcOWvVGQXrUPk-CbOM3NYowg5o4nVXuj3f3fdySAj2FdAtImg5mka2cj1xYKj8UHw4pFe1wuWBMk6o6Z8pE9Z-GS9FnzR/s1600/PICT0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmHKRf9L5S4RX5lt_8PjWWcKr3FBq9Vx_G_o4wkumh_ZF_UcZcOWvVGQXrUPk-CbOM3NYowg5o4nVXuj3f3fdySAj2FdAtImg5mka2cj1xYKj8UHw4pFe1wuWBMk6o6Z8pE9Z-GS9FnzR/s320/PICT0216.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">AND</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">20. most of all, grown closer together and deeper in love!</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Among many, many other things)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8SepkD3-ytrkhxYB0PbTuTJXUFVmfEb5ox6I4fiO7OYaTZ5vBfjeTG6kYH_dnS-rAEPB3TAcH9dJcQSKb8IXdMNJL4uVWkqU9oPCC_Iv5mgouUCoMsd4WzO_1yDNd5Li0gJIJwqAPtvC/s1600/IMG_383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8SepkD3-ytrkhxYB0PbTuTJXUFVmfEb5ox6I4fiO7OYaTZ5vBfjeTG6kYH_dnS-rAEPB3TAcH9dJcQSKb8IXdMNJL4uVWkqU9oPCC_Iv5mgouUCoMsd4WzO_1yDNd5Li0gJIJwqAPtvC/s320/IMG_383.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love you Devin! Happy Eternity!!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-67427936530283636362011-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-12T09:00:04.866-08:00Girl or BoyI've basically had the next baby name picked out forever. (You know how you make those "Future Baby Name" lists in high school??) I tried to throw some new ones in the mix when we actually found out about this pregnancy, you know, for Devin to choose from, but it seems he loves these names as well. <br />
<br />
Note: We decided at Camd<u>en</u>'s birth that we would continue the Kev<u>in</u> and Kar<u>en</u> Romney tradition of the 'in', 'en', 'yn', 'an' ending sound in the names of our future posterity. You know, since my name fit (Megh<u>an</u>) and Dev<u>in</u>'s was obviously already a part of that tradition.<br />
<br />
So without further adieu, here are the names we have narrowed it down to (yes, I do this very early on in pregnancy. I like to feel like the baby is already a part of the family--I don't like to call it 'the baby' for very long.<br />
<br />
<u>Girl</u>--- <b>Jadyn Marie Romney </b>(probably call her Jade for short; and it's Mom and my middle name)...always, ALWAYS loved that name since the Jaded song by Aerosmith<br />
<u>Boy</u>-- <b>Landon Miles Romney</b> (Yes, because I LOVE 'A Walk to Remember'; now you're probably thinking I'm crazy because these names are based off of pop culture, but I have my own DEEPER reasoning) <u>OR</u> <b>Larson Dean Romney</b> (After my mother's maiden name/grandparents; Devin's dad's middle name. I'm still trying to convince Devin of this one--he seems to be scarred from a certain friend of his being shortened to LARS and he just can't bear the thought of his child being called that)<br />
<br />
I'm betting it's a girl, Devin has no opinion on the matter yet, and my mom thinks I'm crazy for trying to guess at all. Well, there's a 50/50 shot! What are your guesses (yes, yes. It's a full 10 weeks away, but I'm giving you plenty of time to think about it)?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-49614677462192420682011-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:002011-11-11T11:17:05.722-08:00Ghost Candy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF42zq3gaswWEwM0NHEmmTyQR0r8GZahWR1qujpRRhNERZkN4069Y2UTmV76uWoupap0Z0ssyPKqQxTjP7udR0zR6JS9goNlh6KyRlatavlBsAg7VBBUAcJ1Qv8Cv9YnjTdhbBTq1YlLQy/s1600/Photo+on+11-11-11+at+11.09+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF42zq3gaswWEwM0NHEmmTyQR0r8GZahWR1qujpRRhNERZkN4069Y2UTmV76uWoupap0Z0ssyPKqQxTjP7udR0zR6JS9goNlh6KyRlatavlBsAg7VBBUAcJ1Qv8Cv9YnjTdhbBTq1YlLQy/s320/Photo+on+11-11-11+at+11.09+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a sucker that Camden found in his trick-or-treat candy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He calls him 'The Holy Ghost.'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have <u style="font-weight: bold;">no idea </u>where he got that. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(I'm even his nursery leader, so I know he didn't learn it there, and</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> I PROMISE I didn't even call it a ghost when he took it out of his bag in the first place)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Made me laugh!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-50904115625306774152011-11-06T22:20:00.000-08:002011-11-06T22:20:14.946-08:00Halloween pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5v1I18hROPm_wBggFqfHWtwoNpcJKbuLGSAsfx81ceekUMxkUPx1bADciAQk8qDNJyEDF1IWtl-1J0JhPTksUslVMJCS8AgQa-W4xx7Ha6Cgira_ZFHTqCCphw_PRpge8R0tHBt36e4t/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5v1I18hROPm_wBggFqfHWtwoNpcJKbuLGSAsfx81ceekUMxkUPx1bADciAQk8qDNJyEDF1IWtl-1J0JhPTksUslVMJCS8AgQa-W4xx7Ha6Cgira_ZFHTqCCphw_PRpge8R0tHBt36e4t/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Getting ready for the trunk or treat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5PvqPBQvAWC8Q01QdwfpEr5CTgk7HEC2crr_HtxWVvZfGC9UQWvte8I1JTpX0eYPcju_8tnHWZ5b4kVscIjmedTi_QSW_JrT8RC7dp3U_29X5JLQeeKxHl5mtXBVAa-GMeAkP9ND32Ns/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5PvqPBQvAWC8Q01QdwfpEr5CTgk7HEC2crr_HtxWVvZfGC9UQWvte8I1JTpX0eYPcju_8tnHWZ5b4kVscIjmedTi_QSW_JrT8RC7dp3U_29X5JLQeeKxHl5mtXBVAa-GMeAkP9ND32Ns/s320/IMG_1135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He kept saying scary, but just wanted to sit and stare at it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsg5ncCdffIu9QJ_aOgCXgE-HEtgEULiI3xjFSK1TbhVIDJ4sCw8vd7yaGD2VVLoawUUG9EbtQEqa2yyKKkqu1Egd1cLMOHj7dt3siUr4c2LDDOLLkrkNJsfh6j_iEqt2HOxbF9MsBYqP/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsg5ncCdffIu9QJ_aOgCXgE-HEtgEULiI3xjFSK1TbhVIDJ4sCw8vd7yaGD2VVLoawUUG9EbtQEqa2yyKKkqu1Egd1cLMOHj7dt3siUr4c2LDDOLLkrkNJsfh6j_iEqt2HOxbF9MsBYqP/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Our little dinosaur. Devin is goofy and I am an elephant</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyviAIjl58CL1nTi06GtzF7DMg8lmQ7MqyoJ8TQ9gw5skcADfsArOTjxOZuGg6lwIeyJIqQ6vcjKam8nFH41DIETvYPNupsP34O9b4HuoGR8nX0_pxwcs7LC4Nhq4DNK4_LC98SFAdP7bJ/s1600/IMG_1144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyviAIjl58CL1nTi06GtzF7DMg8lmQ7MqyoJ8TQ9gw5skcADfsArOTjxOZuGg6lwIeyJIqQ6vcjKam8nFH41DIETvYPNupsP34O9b4HuoGR8nX0_pxwcs7LC4Nhq4DNK4_LC98SFAdP7bJ/s320/IMG_1144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> LOVED seeing his grandma and trick or treating at her house!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-5RXW5Zl3kOKdvUR0eYe-NLUDw_KawczAflwbr96as0IwEqfciTd3d4UxhgJjn2QocTZGQQGrLfBBCiGGb6MGsm-mKjAZ-2eMJdNs6CZUvBt-b8kVUSL1nVheKRKhHKievG7M4rjAM7q/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-5RXW5Zl3kOKdvUR0eYe-NLUDw_KawczAflwbr96as0IwEqfciTd3d4UxhgJjn2QocTZGQQGrLfBBCiGGb6MGsm-mKjAZ-2eMJdNs6CZUvBt-b8kVUSL1nVheKRKhHKievG7M4rjAM7q/s320/IMG_1145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> But he has especially been obsessed with Grandma's pumpkins this year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MtEBQZzumA1Z_Gs9KNDVt05s9r7r9iK9a5lyIB1jNBjKTHbXCPdg5g_3kSoo-qFf7XnSH5SMhPvIthKdE6KN82n20ohPwLQIGc0WmSP-mT7iNHDFkGNYpriGQo9nI7MiIEfPezqO29nQ/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MtEBQZzumA1Z_Gs9KNDVt05s9r7r9iK9a5lyIB1jNBjKTHbXCPdg5g_3kSoo-qFf7XnSH5SMhPvIthKdE6KN82n20ohPwLQIGc0WmSP-mT7iNHDFkGNYpriGQo9nI7MiIEfPezqO29nQ/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Camden would not wear his hat unless I wore this one....I guess it's a good trade--I pick his costume, he picks mine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid5T7bFVT5-fbfzIUxLFMtjkt4YAWxsUih67s2VBhLGOAU3BkyvrH8zNn5F_3AKCxRwOKA0fkxqgAqZjuoVTmwg-J5hiTYp3lbQwj0dXQQagVeLg4Ale5-pvwocKnBGEuDGFmJVd-7m3d/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid5T7bFVT5-fbfzIUxLFMtjkt4YAWxsUih67s2VBhLGOAU3BkyvrH8zNn5F_3AKCxRwOKA0fkxqgAqZjuoVTmwg-J5hiTYp3lbQwj0dXQQagVeLg4Ale5-pvwocKnBGEuDGFmJVd-7m3d/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Halloween Day outfit. We went to my first baby Dr. appointment together on Halloween!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYrKedbNfT6jsSZj2n9-4owUS2aq8_YyBlbqL7h_RQ8-foOgdUiojrEl9M8HdI4trqtdzy0bkJi2aX3AH2RXWh8J2xRucNS-YrpNSEb26_T4b4IgcPCoTh9lqIM392SWpIOZxP_c6WDdA/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYrKedbNfT6jsSZj2n9-4owUS2aq8_YyBlbqL7h_RQ8-foOgdUiojrEl9M8HdI4trqtdzy0bkJi2aX3AH2RXWh8J2xRucNS-YrpNSEb26_T4b4IgcPCoTh9lqIM392SWpIOZxP_c6WDdA/s320/IMG_1171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting home--checking out the spoils!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-15876047501782689642011-10-20T22:58:00.000-07:002011-10-20T23:01:52.742-07:00All I can do<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"></span></b><br />
<div class="fsm fwn fcg" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: grey; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNJEfV4jhPAYt4vyY7HAS1XCPzQZA0i9diBiFkAoq3c4mG84PbYCfwOrrBOf-6jXL8Y1uud5-9u9GeWW3uB6GnPfNFHVd95ktdCFlu3NK1R-h4cUNLGU3rcKWRxh5RBPHS7KRYB15DzQF/s1600/311031_2052589630476_1116581580_31749088_878844972_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNJEfV4jhPAYt4vyY7HAS1XCPzQZA0i9diBiFkAoq3c4mG84PbYCfwOrrBOf-6jXL8Y1uud5-9u9GeWW3uB6GnPfNFHVd95ktdCFlu3NK1R-h4cUNLGU3rcKWRxh5RBPHS7KRYB15DzQF/s320/311031_2052589630476_1116581580_31749088_878844972_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This broke my heart today. I mean, it hit me HARD. And I'm not even entirely sure why. Part of it may be that these pregnancy hormones are affecting me a little crazier this time than the last (so I've definitely been more emotional/grumpy, but that's for another post), however some of it is for sure warranted. I mean, I know as well as anyone that media can put a huge spin on things. I know they can make you believe something that is a little (or a lot) off the truth and that we have to use our rational brains to pick apart and dissect what is real verses made up, however, the idea of this actually happening, if it is true, frankly sickens me. And that is my fear---that it IS true.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I mean, I look at that man, and he's about the age of my own father. I can't possibly imagine my dad being hungry. Not having anywhere to go. And then resorting to something he knew was wrong, feeling the pang of guilt, trying to do right by it, and then suffer the consequences to an outrageous degree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I continue trying to console myself by thinking about the possibilities going to jail MAY have (but probably not) offered this homeless man. Regular food, shelter, a chance for detox?, companionship?? But I also know how insane, scary, and downright dangerous prison can be. And my heart ACHES. I literally bawl my eyes out EVERY time I see this. I can't believe that a man who is starving, trying to change (perhaps??) his life, and then realizing a mistake and trying to recompense that mistake ends up in jail approximately 5 times longer than a man who probably affected the consequences for millions more in a painstaking and irrevocable way (I mean, c'mon. <b><u>THREE BILLION</u> </b>dollars!!), but it is a white collar crime....and it is not in Louisiana. I may be inferring and therefore implying too many things about that, but still, I can't help but feel our country is not where it needs to be--in many things--but especially in equality among all men. We still have a long way yet to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know the backgrounds of these men, and honestly, it doesn't matter to me from an issue point of view (it matters like crazy to me from a personal point of view). The punishment does not fit the crime, and men, women, REAL HUMAN BEINGS, cannot be left to be treated this way. Left starving and for want--I don't care what the reason, let God be his judge. I know there must be consequences to our actions, but I just can't believe this is the right outcome, and I fear for our world. True, I may not be as faithful as I should be, but this kind of story rests on my soul for quite a long time because I just don't know how it can be fixed. And I am, to a certain extent, an idealist. I want the world to be a better place. I want people to feel loved and to love. I want for people to have their bellies full and their hearts warm; a place to call home. I want all to have their loneliness satiated and their righteous desires fulfilled. And I know how that can be done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Atonement.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and our Hands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I continue to say, please Lord, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b>Courage [and will]</b> to change the things I can, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">And wisdom to know the difference."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: grey; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: grey; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">And for now, that's all I can do. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: grey; font-size: 11px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: grey; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(except, perhaps, continue to bawl my eyes out)</span></span></div><div class="uiAttachmentTitle" data-ft="{"type":11}" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; word-wrap: break-word;"><b><br />
</b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-83705983595977603962011-10-18T12:50:00.000-07:002011-10-18T12:50:00.884-07:00Shopping and Airplanes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is how we went shopping yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF4mtlqUvi7dpiKMd3vogFPDyTEXFusvCXaxdsf-npSWVz8NiXvDw9HBo8dKYGzD9y3ImjNasWGFpwJRcBWlpTWWUEwZgsJECNWnI5x21f9Ji0zozSx1_FGYVfjCblpgtoNSOwmCjuXw-/s1600/4040353548214_ORIG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUF4mtlqUvi7dpiKMd3vogFPDyTEXFusvCXaxdsf-npSWVz8NiXvDw9HBo8dKYGzD9y3ImjNasWGFpwJRcBWlpTWWUEwZgsJECNWnI5x21f9Ji0zozSx1_FGYVfjCblpgtoNSOwmCjuXw-/s320/4040353548214_ORIG.jpeg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> I'm still on my learning curve for the mac and trying to get pictures to work. You'll just have to look at it sideways I guess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItRpC2ln6s17gF20cR6YAxSs0zaP9PsQp26NmqR96_V1rouhy2lO0zImtLFQZuuc-UsrVttkdN6uzDH4xmZHcpV5XZyRpHEJLf2ntLk-RFieVVlpWXo0FYPFYVE7cUotoXm2PvDEQblvZ/s1600/3040353548147_ORIG.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItRpC2ln6s17gF20cR6YAxSs0zaP9PsQp26NmqR96_V1rouhy2lO0zImtLFQZuuc-UsrVttkdN6uzDH4xmZHcpV5XZyRpHEJLf2ntLk-RFieVVlpWXo0FYPFYVE7cUotoXm2PvDEQblvZ/s320/3040353548147_ORIG.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone was just in awe of the cute little boy doing some grocery shopping. Some people even stopped to take pictures! My mother-in-law found this little grocery cart at a garage sale, and he has been in love with it ever since. Though our shopping trip took a little bit longer, it was a great learning experience, a lot of fun, and a HUGE entertainment (it kept him SO involved with the shopping process!), so it was well worth the extra work involved. Everyone in the store was so nice to us; even when we got in their way, so I was grateful it turned out well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTM1IRjLuUcNNRh12egB1hQ23YxpOdeN5y7GwknKH9pPHcLAI1cAYOtpC_pLsMN8yEqYGdOGm6dwjEoYDfizxEgR86diR3iH1M8YkkN7sfmD1LWo9wx-39b-u4S2kp4NcC9qd6GjA5yfy/s1600/132216_490891875888_742375888_5958058_4519047_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTM1IRjLuUcNNRh12egB1hQ23YxpOdeN5y7GwknKH9pPHcLAI1cAYOtpC_pLsMN8yEqYGdOGm6dwjEoYDfizxEgR86diR3iH1M8YkkN7sfmD1LWo9wx-39b-u4S2kp4NcC9qd6GjA5yfy/s320/132216_490891875888_742375888_5958058_4519047_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were looking through some pictures on Facebook and Camden stopped me at this one because he saw his uncles. "Dallins....and Byrins. Temple! And clouds....but where da airplane go?" Anyway, if you know this place, it's Disneyland....NOT the temple, but I thought it was funny that he thought it was, and I was so glad that he recognizes his uncles still. Not to mention, he obviously thinks there is always an airplane in the sky (we live right by the airplane flight route in Vegas, so there kinda is), so it's funny that he would even recognize this sky does NOT have one. Anyway, he's just a cutie and we're glad to have him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-36859655605440106382011-10-13T22:08:00.000-07:002011-10-13T22:08:30.107-07:00The house<span id="goog_1671198446"></span><span id="goog_1671198447"></span>So, after finally finishing putting everything away from the move, and then tackling 7 loads of laundry I was behind on because of the move, I was/am exhausted. It took me a little while, because I started having pain in my lower abdomen and didn't feel like I could lift one.more.box up the stairs; even if it was a tiny or lightweight one. Devin was so busy with work, that it became a long and mundane process as I told him what I needed moved and to where (he hates when I tell him what to do and I had/have a LONG honey-do list) right when he got home from work, but it was just getting to a point where I knew if I kept lifting heavy things, we would be disappointed with the results. I have also been doing quite a bit of painting, so I think I've been pushing my body to the max. I probably went up and down the ladder approximately 80 times this weekend, along with all of my up and downs and all arounds with the paint roller, and the moving of furniture....it took quite a toll on this pregnant girl's body. But I am finished with the big stuff, and can now just worry about the painting and decorating. Still a lot of work, but at least our house is livable.<br />
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Here are the before pictures of our house though...and later, I'll post each individual room as I finish it. Which will probably take forever. But I'm working on it. And actually, most of the pictures are fuzzy. PRobably because I downloaded them off the internet (they are what it looked like with the previous owners stuff). I just didn't want to send you to the sight, because that would completely give away our address. And it may anyway for people smart enough to figure it out with the pictures, but I'm not computer savvy enough to fix that problem. Anyway, have a happy day!<br />
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On second note, every time I try (for days I've tried this, mind you) to load the pictures from my mac, a thumbnail pops up saying the server is down. Is there something I don't know? How do I upload my pictures on this computer??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-53248158664409726852011-10-06T17:15:00.000-07:002011-10-06T17:15:28.580-07:00We're BA--ack!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvH78dDOjch74SMPE383vzgo4zhcP7KnRBAUn1GiLo0FnlFNDCEgSBpGB6SiZAAgcqbhFdPKEfytd5Lw8xd7tceJFQJKe1i5h4lwVLPJ1K2SSLvpvKMacmVSlremwfqFWGkfF49CUDcbi/s1600/Photo+on+10-6-11+at+5.12+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvH78dDOjch74SMPE383vzgo4zhcP7KnRBAUn1GiLo0FnlFNDCEgSBpGB6SiZAAgcqbhFdPKEfytd5Lw8xd7tceJFQJKe1i5h4lwVLPJ1K2SSLvpvKMacmVSlremwfqFWGkfF49CUDcbi/s320/Photo+on+10-6-11+at+5.12+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>This ugly picture taken courtesy of my iMac in my brand new house; WITH the internet! We're back in business people! LOTS more to come--when I feel a little more settled. Hope you're awesome!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-89580303910031345292011-05-27T10:58:00.000-07:002011-05-27T11:14:58.778-07:00A Whole New World<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*I am fully aware that I fell out of the blogging world for like the last 2 months. For several reasons. We haven't had internet at my house since we moved to Vegas, so blogging isn't my first concern in the precious few moments when I DO have the internet. Also, I haven't been as into it. See below.*</i></span><br />
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I used to love that song when I was little. I literally tried to live my life in the movies (still do) because they are so romantic, and I am truly one of those.<br />
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Now, I really am living in a whole new world though. And it's not easy. It's not awful either. I have so many people who surround me with whom I share a deep love. There has been so much support and my family has truly rescued me often.<br />
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I know I have mentioned health issues I've had before, but recently, they have been much worse. Not really because I can't deal with the pain or sorrow that comes along with feeling like you can't take care of your husband or child or family or friends well enough, but the kind that comes when the doctors can't figure out what's wrong with you and you wonder if it will ever pass--if you will EVER be able to take care of your husband or child or family or friends well enough or if you will always be at their mercy. I had a lot of dreams about the kind of wife and mother I would be back when I had lots of energy. A year and a half ago that all changed. Don't get me wrong--I don't feel like I'm a terrible mother. Camden is such a good, good child though that he allows for some of my physical inabilities. He can keep himself quite entertained when I do not have the energy to get up. He cuddles next to me in bed when he wants to be held (some of my FAVORITE moments!!). And luckily, I do not ALWAYS have to be in bed, so overall, it works.<br />
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At least it is comforting to know that I have so much support and love. The last couple weeks when I have been in the ER, my parents have taken over! They took Camden and cared for him the first time for the LONG 14 hour wait to get into the ER so Devin could be there with me. When Devin had to go to work, my dad switched him out so I would not be alone. Devin sacrificed many hours of sleep and they all drove me around while I was on heavy pain killers. They have held me up when I literally couldn't stand on my own. My sweet brothers have cared so well for Camden by playing with him and getting him and me things needed while Mom was finishing her last week of college. (<u>YAY Mom</u>! Sorry again that I couldn't be there!) Not ONCE did I have to worry or have to figure out anything on my own. My mom has taken me to countless hours of Dr's appointments and ER visits and my mother-in-law has been willing to watch Camden when there wasn't anyone else who could. I am truly grateful for each of their service.<br />
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I have no question that a loving Heavenly Father is watching out for us. There isn't a reason in this world we should have ended up in Las Vegas--not with the economy the way it is; and especially with Devin's career options. But we did. And there couldn't have been a greater blessing than to be here now at this time. As hard as things could have been, they really haven't been for, "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">my yoke is easy, and my burden is light</span></i>" (Matthew 11:30). Truly His yoke <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">is</span></b> easy, and because of that, those moments that make for us a whole new world don't become so overwhelming to bear.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*An update for those who have been wondering--I have bilateral mild to moderate hydronephrosis in my kidneys (the right being worse than the left--among other symptoms which would probably be TMI). They still do not know what is causing it. Originally, it was concluded that I had possible kidney stones, but after CT scans, those were not found and problems and pain are still occurring. I appreciate all of you who have kept us in your prayers and put my name in the temple. I have felt the spiritual, emotional, and physical blessings the Lord offers through the Atonement, faith, prayer, and priesthood power. Thank you, thank you!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-71299294486907370162011-03-25T22:55:00.000-07:002011-03-25T23:02:41.675-07:00I want, pretty please, and thank youI want one of these:<br />
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<a href="http://www.wicycle.com/showcase/premium_double_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wicycle.com/showcase/premium_double_thumb.jpg" /></a>February Sale Price $449.00<br />
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And the only thing stopping me is:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGO8on80QaUwUAy6Sgp_mc34OuK3PS2KMOrLLgO9tWJuz-idz8fJ-tsjrwCWwAl5l3XDWsjIP0FAV2Fqan6xSWeyADi6XdWW56Oh6M4SZnQW0qpBHYb2Fsn9OwSS6qFgi-8re-XznwYmU/s1600/PICT0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGO8on80QaUwUAy6Sgp_mc34OuK3PS2KMOrLLgO9tWJuz-idz8fJ-tsjrwCWwAl5l3XDWsjIP0FAV2Fqan6xSWeyADi6XdWW56Oh6M4SZnQW0qpBHYb2Fsn9OwSS6qFgi-8re-XznwYmU/s400/PICT0196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(no, not the mountains and hills, the person.....oh, and probably the price tag) :O)</span></div><br />
What about you? You have a want right now, you can't have?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-70413108945625183332011-03-22T23:37:00.000-07:002011-03-22T23:42:02.123-07:00A few Camden funnies!<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">Camden HATES that I sat him on the toilet today when he started farting and saying "poo poo." Unfortunately, it didn't scare the crap outta him, but it did scare the living daylight out. He was screaming bloody murder! I never knew kids were TRULY scared of the toilet!</span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">I was scrolling quickly through facebook one day. Camden was sitting on my lap because we had just done some ABC songs on youtube (he loves to watch but will, unfortunately, never join in on singing along). As I was moving down through the pictures, Cam pointed at one and declared, "Jasu!" (which is how he says Jesus). When I took a closer look, it was a picture of a Muslim. I guess he just assumes any pictures of a man with a beard are Jesus! </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">Camden is obsessed with balls. He calls a basketball 'bakasu.' The other day, there was a basketball game playing on the computer (we don't have television) and I could hear him saying "shoot! shoot! Go! Go! Oh, shoot! Bakasu shoot!" It was darn near the cutest thing! </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">If Cam wants to go outside, he doesn't whine at me or the back door. He just helps himself through the doggie door and enjoys some time in the great wide world. The other day, while at my in-laws, he brought me some dog poop back in. Thanks Cam. That was a joy... </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">*Cam still loves Elmo, telephones, and remote controls. He is starting to really enjoy jumping off of things, as well as turning on and off all the lights (mostly ON since that is his favorite word right now--besides bakasu). He's quite the daredevil and is apparently not afraid of anything but the toilet. </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small;"><br style="font-weight: normal;" /><span style="font-weight: normal;">On a separate note, my husband came home from playing basketball tonight and said he has shot well from 3 point range for the last two weeks. I'd say he knows how to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAUVV8BXwlI">Jimmer</a>. or perhaps he's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E3rC8p2wq0">intruding on someone else's court</a>.</span></span></span></h6>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-88531803385664679562011-03-12T13:47:00.000-08:002011-03-12T13:47:29.967-08:00Something you can learn about me....I LOOOOOOOVE March madness! Don't ask me why for sure, but I have always enjoyed the competition and rivalries, the comradery and unified feeling of watching a game in a community. And certainly, Jimmer Fredette's superhuman abilities are contributing to my extra special feelings toward my alma mater (did you <a href="http://search.espn.go.com/jimmer-fredette/video/6">WATCH last night's game</a>?!?!). For me, there is just that innate desire for people to come together and be unified in a single purpose. And sports isn't a bad place for that to happen. Though, I'm not as big a football fan (as my husband), I do feel that sports can contribute to disciplining, uniting, and adding a sense of enjoyment for many people--though, I would much prefer basketball/soccer to any other (I don't at all like golf). Not to mention, I have seen the great amount of bonding shared between my husband and his siblings through playing sports, as well as the fun I have had with my own family, so I certainly see their use. I also LOOOOVED intramurals at BYU (I really just loved BYU period). I miss them terribly! It was such a good form of exercise and social fulfillment for me. It's was just so nice to get off my butt and go DO something with the body Heavenly Father gave me. Sports are fun family outings that are little to no money, which is always a priority for us.<br />
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I HAAAAAAAATE sewing! I really thought it was just because I was in a small apartment for the last several years. But nope. I really just don't like sewing. At all. I even have a sewing machine and all the accessories. My mother-in-law paid me to fix a whole pile of clothes several weeks ago. Luckily, I got paid, because I have decided that short of earning money, I will not be sewing for fun. Between the broken needles, rethreading bobbins, cleaning up tiny pieces of thread and fabric that make themselves comfortable around the entire house for weeks, wasting of thread, and just my utter distaste for the whole process (it is NOT relaxing for me....therefore=not fun), I have decided it's just not worth it to do on a regular basis. Sure, I love the finished product, but the process to get there is hardly ever worth it to me. I much prefer repurposing furniture and such to sewing (P.S. Watch for it--the old fashioned table and chairs I bought recently are about to get a makeover---Okay, perhaps AFTER we move to the new home we will hopefully get {made an offer MONDAY; now just waiting for bank approval. Could still be months}). That is what I enjoy.<br />
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I DOOOOOOONNNN'T like taking pictures. I like being in pictures just fine, but I will never have the desire to make my picture taking skills equate to a photographer's. It just isn't in me. SOOOOO glad I have my sissy poo,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/LoveLee-Photography/127292810676413"> JaNae</a>, to take care of that department for me. Please, move closer to me ASAP! (Otherwise, we may just be missing a big chunk of Camden's life--and perhaps several more children to come). I just can't get in that good of a habit, unfortunately. I did long for the habit of being able to take ANY pictures (that being separate from taking any GOOD pictures), but maybe that will still occur one day.<br />
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I will NEEEEEEEVER make time to paint my nails. Not fun, smelly, and I peal off my fingernails anyway, so that would just draw attention to things undesirable to look at. Further, if nails are short, I think they look goofy painted. I am just not able to grow out my nails--piano playing (and nervous habits of pealing prior to playing in front of people) will do that to a person.<br />
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I am EEEEEEEECCCCCSTATIC to be teaching piano again! My students are doing FABULOUSLY! I just got so lucky to have obtained some naturally talented young ones, and we are just having SO.MUCH.FUN! A nice bonus, is that I can get paid to do what I love, and Camden has luckily done very well with it so far. I can control my hours and how much I work at it, too, so all around just a positive experience! I can't wait until we get to the point of doing recitals! They are AWESOME! I have missed my intimate relationship with music. Having music in my home is very important for my family. It is one of the priorities of priorities for me and will certainly bring the Spirit into our home.<br />
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I LOOOOOVE cooking/baking, but only if I have my own kitchen stuff and I know where everything is. I spend a great deal of time planning my meals for each week, as well as the grocery shopping I need to do (I keep my grocery shopping to a max of once per week and sometimes try to do it more like every other week). I have been staying with my brothers-in-law this week and cooking has been more challenging because I don't have the kitchen items I am used to, but it is just so satisfying when people can sit together, eat dinner/lunch/brunch/breakfast, chat and be satisfied. Plus, baking is the way I have decided to gift people for their birthdays, mother's days, etc. lately because it's an inexpensive way to give a gift, while still putting effort into it; especially when you're dealing with people who already have everything they need. (Plus, I REALLY don't like Bath & Body works kinds of things as gifts and that seems to be the alternative. It's just an expensive cop out in my opinion.) Anyway, I don't really like eating a lot of food, but I sure do like feeding other people a lot!! :O)<br />
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I THRIIIIIVE off of writing in my journal and reading the Ensign. During my last 3 years of high school, and my first few years of college, I wrote in my journal every single day. I never missed a day and I ended up having several books full of records. When I got married, I kinda lost that everyday habit. Journal entries became few and far between. I have started to get back into the habit and it really does wonders for my disposition and happiness. It is something I truly enjoy--it's just making the time to do it! The Ensign has had some wonderful, wonderful articles (as usual) and I just love to read all of the stories and prophecies given by our church leaders. It is a wonderful blessing to have that magazine! There have been some articles lately that have specifically helped me during our house search. It has been a real blessing to receive the inspiration while going through the experience. I am grateful the Lord watches out for me personally.<br />
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A few updates:<br />
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-Camden is going to nursery now. He has definitely needed an adjustment period. We're not there yet....<br />
He also says a lot lot lot of words, but tries to combine them and it doesn't quite come out right. He will be quite the talker though, when it all comes together for him. He LOVES being in Las Vegas with his grandparents and some uncles. <br />
-I have been spending a lot of time working on things. My mom is now paying me to clean her house twice per month, piano lessons, and watching my down syndrome brother-in-law, Calvin. Camden has a blast with all of this because he loves to be at Grandma's house, wants to learn the piano, and enjoys the fun sounds Calvin makes at him (as well as all the TOYS Uncle Calvin has!). <br />
-Devin is doing well at work. He enjoys his job and the hours are certainly nice for him. He has been doing a great job and the company is keeping regular work, so we are grateful and happy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-20564145735899535892011-02-23T15:12:00.000-08:002011-02-23T15:12:36.264-08:00Who knew? Today I'm grateful for...My mom wrote<a href="http://jeanniemwaters.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/a-need-to-suffer/"> this post </a>today on her blog and it really got me thinking.<br />
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Many don't know this history, and it's actually quite relieving to see so much joy entering my mother's life as she begins to open up and share her life (and what an amazing life it is). What a blessing the internet can be that way. <br />
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It also got me thinking about the answer to her question....why does God allow suffering? Such a difficult, overbearing type of question to answer; especially when I feel so inadequate to share my own thoughts. Often, I look at my life and wonder to myself, "when is the despair going to hit? When will <i>I </i>have to suffer <a href="http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/2008/06/pray-for-camille.html">like 'her'</a>?" I hope I never have to, because really, my life has been so great. For me, however, there <i>have</i> been difficult things--things I'd wish on no one, but do wish more had a real understanding. <br />
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Though my griefs are not mine to share, so never will I open up this way in such a public way. The last few weeks, however I have found just that--some understanding. The supposed ailment/problem/painful annoyance of TMJ, turned into a great, great blessing as I have been able to go to the DENTIST <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(yes, you read that right) </i></span>for relief from not only my physical pain, but also some of my spiritual aching. And it has helped tremendously to have new found friends/cheerleaders in my journey. <br />
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So, sometimes, I think God allows us to experience aching in order to create an opportunity for us to find healing. Sometimes, He allows it to create more gratitude for our lives as they were or will be...or even <i>as they are</i>. Sometimes, He allows it so that we will turn to Him more fully (as we do that, our lives will be increasingly blessed). And sometimes, He allows it, so others can learn these things <a href="http://www.sheyerosemeyerphotography.com/blog/2011/02/immeasurable/">vicariously through others experiences </a>and find the beauty-full in our own just a little bit more each day.<br />
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This perspective keeps me moving some days. So today, I'm grateful for the dentist.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-38581125516751236812011-02-18T16:05:00.000-08:002011-02-18T16:12:25.639-08:00How toHow to eat pizza:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhluTHH1u930ukoCQRnHZEC6mFV6jyOO6BcOVK3TTmjvWfqOTU46rGr0P7OlApqy3TkoB12aJKBtFZazpb6Ojkma-11m1mC9ppIxLGBwhvvPZgYcxgJisPk4w646gWGZ6WpnNT7Hd0a8oX/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhluTHH1u930ukoCQRnHZEC6mFV6jyOO6BcOVK3TTmjvWfqOTU46rGr0P7OlApqy3TkoB12aJKBtFZazpb6Ojkma-11m1mC9ppIxLGBwhvvPZgYcxgJisPk4w646gWGZ6WpnNT7Hd0a8oX/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Suck on it. Just suck and suck until you can't suck anymore. That way, you burn calories WHILE you eat, and you get so tired of sucking, you won't finish it anyway--it just takes TOO long. This is how I prevent myself from gaining any weight <u>at</u> <u>all</u>. But, mommy can sometimes convince me to chew if she breaks my food into small enough pieces--then again, I still want to wait until <u>I</u> am in the mood to chew. Sometimes, I just swallow pieces whole. In fact, this eating process can make me so exhausted, I fall asleep in the shower. Mom then takes embarrassing pictures of me in a doggie towel (which I love, but won't admit to anyone). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4hLgRaR0paDgTw3AdqBS12LEt4Cuc4xEtLUrA6BTa822stFbEg-TxH7GzE2_cHKOgZC2bIkG-8JqVwUos8ZJFLcGAz0GRQm7hYONKwL-ezzGiiVYtAr8kklpBuTCfCXyHKbhSiSZyT03/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4hLgRaR0paDgTw3AdqBS12LEt4Cuc4xEtLUrA6BTa822stFbEg-TxH7GzE2_cHKOgZC2bIkG-8JqVwUos8ZJFLcGAz0GRQm7hYONKwL-ezzGiiVYtAr8kklpBuTCfCXyHKbhSiSZyT03/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpDtCmOJlNh6iBXD9sXKNJh7AaZubYJfS-ubCKau9sU77zLQvqIKLf5H6_j1bEc2QrNtj4siSbvFD5PVpQmfttZ9vjz_jcukZqs1nZ4mDxDKBTzkAt9ukoLc57drtSTRMaKFXKAk-lsK8/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpDtCmOJlNh6iBXD9sXKNJh7AaZubYJfS-ubCKau9sU77zLQvqIKLf5H6_j1bEc2QrNtj4siSbvFD5PVpQmfttZ9vjz_jcukZqs1nZ4mDxDKBTzkAt9ukoLc57drtSTRMaKFXKAk-lsK8/s320/IMG_0797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-36676520007284415562011-02-13T22:43:00.000-08:002011-02-13T22:48:17.588-08:00A lip or tu<div>I woke up from my *lovely* Sunday nap to these beauties.</div><div></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrc6iftX_xaFXuM5gkaN26exd3C7iM7-1eYqZImxfsJNLRgNC71zxFWJizPFfUFubnwv8WQ09hh_OWe_tWoNmxvlezzUGEuVuAYdkePuc39kMVKbMyXCvN8gZfUgRNhNhJ_ajxZXpc7J/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrc6iftX_xaFXuM5gkaN26exd3C7iM7-1eYqZImxfsJNLRgNC71zxFWJizPFfUFubnwv8WQ09hh_OWe_tWoNmxvlezzUGEuVuAYdkePuc39kMVKbMyXCvN8gZfUgRNhNhJ_ajxZXpc7J/s320/IMG_0828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U6YpFOf5nyPkej5IOSXrgWINu920dacf466dX2lf23dp7G-KDNjQ_oFpz5UbaNwIzFJye07Yz1qD3g_h8UCnZsHKO0JK2YpqZisQAeV-DMrYkpvYXj1DxEedmm82MKS5s3x11L1OsJV3/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U6YpFOf5nyPkej5IOSXrgWINu920dacf466dX2lf23dp7G-KDNjQ_oFpz5UbaNwIzFJye07Yz1qD3g_h8UCnZsHKO0JK2YpqZisQAeV-DMrYkpvYXj1DxEedmm82MKS5s3x11L1OsJV3/s320/IMG_0829.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(yes, flowers for the day before Valentine's Day, because I asked to not receive flowers on Valentine's Day this year)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Tulips, of course! There's a story behind them. You see, when I first entered Young Women, we had a new beginnings program in which the parents of every new beehive were to share a flower that reminds them of their daughter. Most of the flowers chosen were extremely heartfelt and sentimental. One friend received a rose from her parents because of her exquisite beauty inside and out. Another, a lily for similar reasons and virtue and grace. Perhaps a daisy because of how much sunshine 'she' brought into the lives of others.<br />
<div></div><div>For me, my mother chose tulips. Why? To remind me to always keep my "two-lips" clean and pure. Apparently I wasn't excessively dainty, exquisite, beautiful, virtuous, or graceful, because my mother basically called me the biggest flirt alive, right in front of everyone. If you know my mother, she's a jokester, so I would never have put this past her, however, I realized while she was talking (and she even said) that she had no idea she was to choose a flower that really "fit" me as a person, but rather, just choose a flower for me period. She figured most girls would receive a rose (as most did) and wanted me to be a little different. As is her way, she was able to create a very effective teaching moment through her humor, and it has certainly stuck with me.</div><div></div><div>Continuing through the years, the tulip became my favorite flower for more reasons than just this anecdote implies. Not only can I realize the magnificent beauty of this flower, but I also realize something priceless. These flowers stay open and REACH toward the sun. I hope I can do that--always remain stretched toward the Son.</div><div></div><div>Now, I also realize that the tulip tends to describe me a bit as a PERSON. <a href="http://gregandlori.com/wordpress/2009/02/tulips-as-a-metaphor/">This blog </a>may say it best, "You think that when you see a tulip wrapped tight, just admiring the outside of it, you’ve seen the best that tulip has to offer. After all, when you think of tulips, you think of them with their petals closed. I was thrilled when this purple beauty opened to show there is always more beauty on the inside. Same is true with most every person I know."</div><div></div><div>What a great reminder for me, and for everyone, I suppose. You can find true beauty deep within people, and yourself, as you and they open up to show it. Now, I'm just grateful that my husband can share in my love for tulips as well. You see, although he often can't remember my birthday, or my middle name for that matter, he does and will always remember that tulips are my favorite flower of them all. So, I guess my mother continues to make an impact in all the little facets of my life.</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to the LOVES of my life!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZigs4hM_IhG96A8SlgKVv7nMJn2MKX95gaVHi2BrQL6A2mOCGe3lTJdM9FLmxXMA02ldxfRoll5wKMCOmUOtTCvZr3osGgQZDN0twe3eSXS0liijgwQ6j_-LF1svQOrD_qcoYH4qN_Gi/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZigs4hM_IhG96A8SlgKVv7nMJn2MKX95gaVHi2BrQL6A2mOCGe3lTJdM9FLmxXMA02ldxfRoll5wKMCOmUOtTCvZr3osGgQZDN0twe3eSXS0liijgwQ6j_-LF1svQOrD_qcoYH4qN_Gi/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tZLJZ7OHdpcdRtDQmTfJDZElCzGnnTTt-HLQlpxNUODpofGGk0tDlxK8lR1zCwtVqlPhAwB2ahMRQW4eiT-fPRdJhtpMlPPMZgy4v4hxSLrMd-uTHcMWUGlnEKT1490gKvzvIjmCLoCT/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tZLJZ7OHdpcdRtDQmTfJDZElCzGnnTTt-HLQlpxNUODpofGGk0tDlxK8lR1zCwtVqlPhAwB2ahMRQW4eiT-fPRdJhtpMlPPMZgy4v4hxSLrMd-uTHcMWUGlnEKT1490gKvzvIjmCLoCT/s320/IMG_0838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">And just because he's getting to be the biggest cheese ball...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDszJsbmD05b_MSt-rvbC5Dag5iddblzONE60MVEvGBzRQ1lINTzBU4l4tT7tK_k3mVYNypsH8dOLtYmc5C0L7oF0g_uaPdIhCHHTwcn4l9NRLNQZRMWCjX1Hx5eP6Ci6GsrkzlPL3Rixl/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDszJsbmD05b_MSt-rvbC5Dag5iddblzONE60MVEvGBzRQ1lINTzBU4l4tT7tK_k3mVYNypsH8dOLtYmc5C0L7oF0g_uaPdIhCHHTwcn4l9NRLNQZRMWCjX1Hx5eP6Ci6GsrkzlPL3Rixl/s320/IMG_0839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiVZH2R92zCWnGPHwvbsYSg4IcfZnSSVOIEp6YVKXsZ6vIuKCNQRAIfiRLbZ7nTBiFM3Ptr4VNFhC2yFkdKHQl9isOKuY-0uIWY2JjRgBkHnxYFsSfr4JH_EVbeAblTXLTWgbqKoDZbqK/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiVZH2R92zCWnGPHwvbsYSg4IcfZnSSVOIEp6YVKXsZ6vIuKCNQRAIfiRLbZ7nTBiFM3Ptr4VNFhC2yFkdKHQl9isOKuY-0uIWY2JjRgBkHnxYFsSfr4JH_EVbeAblTXLTWgbqKoDZbqK/s320/IMG_0840.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">What a dream...</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436338611072712377.post-21164054158876977322011-02-10T15:08:00.000-08:002011-02-10T15:10:45.505-08:00Normally, I've been pretty anti-girl....as in, I don't really want to have one*. I'm not a flowery, too-big-of-a-bow-for-the-top-of-THAT-little-girl's-head type of person, but today, I had second thoughts. Not that I'm going to convert to the bows, but perhaps it would be good for my husband to have the same experience I've seen many of my other male friends having with their daughters--being ABSOLUTELY smitten and wrapped around a little girl's finger must just be that priceless. It is probably good for all men to have that experience--the experience of having a precious, virtuous, fragile daughter of God that sort-of belongs to him. That he doesn't have to raise to be "a protector" but rather, "a nurturer." That is his forever to maintain and protect and spoil rotten. And the true desire to never see another man hurt her at all; under any condition, ever. I think it does something for a daddy's heart that perhaps a boy might not be able to do. Yes, I do think that every man should have that glorious opportunity after all.<br />
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*As an editor's note, I must add that never, under any condition whatsoever, ever, EVER, would I love or desire a daughter any less, I've just normally secretly hoped I had all boys.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4