17 months old!

    Things have been busy! Nights have been rough, lately.  Perhaps Ellie is cutting her incisors, but we have had some rough tearful nights lately. Currently it is 2:49 am, I checked on her, she's fine, just awake and fussing. I gave her some Tylenol, in hopes that will help.  But lately that has been the trend.  I have read so many books to not get babies out of bed, and let them cry it out, that they will put themselves back to sleep, self soothe... and that it should only take a few nights for them to understand that it is bed time and not time to wake up. Well, Ellie must have missed that memo! I sure hope that it is just her teeth cutting and that she will get over this soon.  I will admit, I was part of the problem. If she would fuss, I would give her a bottle, and both her and I went back to sleep.  But that was a bad habit, that needed to be cut.  I just love for her to be happy and asleep, and that was easy insurance.... until one night I gave her a bottle, and she drank it down, and then kept on. The lovely part is we share a wall, her bed is next to the wall that our bed is next to.... so there is no real ignoring it.  She puts up a good protest.  It seemed like we had finally had it figured out and for the past week if she woke up, it would only be a few hollers in the air and then back to sleep. But then there is tonight?!  The worry is too, I have a little weekend trip planned, is it going to mess everything up with the sleeping progress.... if I can say there is progress... last night I would have said yes, we have made progress, yet here we are! Ugh! But really, enough of this rant! Ha! It is just my current circumstance and I don't usually blog this time of day, so my mind flow is a little focused on the fuss.
    But! we do have some news....... Ellie took her first steps!  September 28 she took her first steps.  Now I can't say she has taken many more since then, I think she just liked the check mark, and has decided it isn't for her! Ha! But we keep pushing her and encouraging her to do it.  Ellie was good about it, all of us were there in the kitchen when she did it, and with as much hooting and hollering and cheering we did, you would have thought she had flown to the moon and back.  But all our cheering must have swiftly been erased from her memory.  I just have to realize her personality is, if I want to do it, I will.... don't push me.  In my life, you would think by now I would have learned some amount of patience.... but darn it, I apparently haven't learned enough of it.   ( She hasn't made a peep for the last 5 minutes, maybe I can return to bed!!!!?)  But really, there is no big hurry. She is making progress, every day she is moving and strengthening her body. When she is good and ready, she will just get up and start walking, and I am good with that.  She is also babbling more, trying to talk.  The best is when we have prayer, whenever and where ever, she recognizes a prayer.  She will look all around and each person, seeing their heads bowed and eyes closed, and she sometimes tries to see if we will break out of it with a little holler, or usually has something to say about it at the end, her own little 'amen'. It is adorable. (still no peep, I really ought to go back to bed).

These two! <3

I love Addie's writings! They are so adorable

When you find a book he just can't put down!

and oh hey, I am standing mom, look at me!

Our dear Sister Duncan passed away. Addie drew this during the funeral. She was a wonderful pianist and played for the primary children.  The primary children sang "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus", it was precious.

At a baptism, looking adorable, and Ellie looks super cute too! ha!

Ellie likes to help with the piano during Relief Society

I hope it doesn't bother anyone else, because I think it is adorable. But maybe I am "that Mom" that is flabbergasting people! Ha!

Our new house is coming along.  The new house blog.... not so much! 

The addition

Addie made this sign for the girl's room! 

Her hair is pretty darn long, but the length is hidden in her curls!

"I had a rough night"  One morning she woke up and she had taken all her clothes off at some point during the night?!  I didn't know she knew how to do that!  We have stuck to the zippered pjs since!

And now we have a series of pictures, of an unfortunate event! The butt paste saga.  I was in a rush, you know how it goes, get everything ready and in the car, sparing only a moment to be at the place you need to be. I called down the hall, Ellie was being a little quiet, but she usually rushes out in her crawl when she hears me call.  She didn't make any noise, which worried me for a moment, until I heard her giggle a little.  I walked down the hall to find this!!  She had found the butt paste. Both hands were plunged deep into it, squeezing it between her hands.  She was COMPLETELY covered! And COMPLETELY proud of herself.  I was a little beside myself, because I had no time, and no idea how to get this stuff off!! It is very waterproof!!!  I finally took a few dry towels and scraped what I could off her arms and legs and face, and it just smeared deeper into her hair. I put her in the bath and washed and washed and washed.  It didn't come all out, but enough for me to get to the appointment I was headed for.  She stunk like an SOS pad all day! Hahah. Little stinker.... quite literally!  I should have taken a video of her, she just laughed and laughed, and took a few bites!

So so so pleased with herself!

Maybe that a twinge of regret on her face... underneath all the butt paste?!

I swear every time she wears this outfit she either has a blow out or something! 

I love this picture Addie drew, Originally it said I was 20 and Thomas is 60! hahahahah!!!!

Who would have thought a boat on the grass was just as much fun as a boat in the water?!  The kids are always playing in this canoe at the new house. 

She is growing up so fast!

I think it is good luck to grab the swimmers head before they race?! Great news too! Porter will be going to the South Half Swim meet for relays.  He didn't qualify for an individual swim, but he has had a great 1st year of High school swim team as a 7th grader!!  And to go to South Half is a pretty big deal, I think!  Go Porter!

Ellie adores Porter!  

Oh, how this little beauty has changed our lives for the better. I can't even begin to explain just how grateful I am for the blessing of Ellie into our family.

Eating lunch with Addie at school

One morning Thomas opened the front door, he felt a bird flap around over his head, but then it flew out the door. When he closed the door, he notice a splash of bird poop on the wall. He wondered if maybe there was a second bird that didn't make it out. I walked into the living room and found a bird perched on the blinds.   After a lot of trying to catch it and getting it down the hall, away from the vaulted ceilings, little bird was tired, and Addie was brave enough to scoop it up and take it outside, even though it was squawking at her. She washed her hands 7 times after holding it she told me!

Addie really thrives on doing all her work and trying to be the most helpful!  This is the second time she received this award, and it is kind of a big deal! Go Addie!  

Worries and Overcoming

Let's just get right to it!

  It's been an interesting few weeks.  First, Ellie has been having these weird poops, **warning, pictures below**,  **warning, graphic descriptions of poop ahead**, they have been pale yellow and creamy, a lot of times with un-digested food, or paper! (She is always trying to eat paper, tissues and receipts)  I thought maybe it was just introducing cow's milk fully and being done with formula.  It just bothered me that it was lasting a few weeks.  And I am super paranoid.  She was premature and so I am always waiting for the bottom to drop out, which I really really need to stop! But, I was paranoid about poop issues with Addie, so I got this poop thing! ha. Well, if you start worrying about poop and googling it, you will get yourself into total hysteria and worry. You will start assuming she has celiac disease or a blocked bile duct in her liver. And that will require a whole life style change for the family or it will require surgery.  Both of which are NOT the end of the world, and so many other people have harder things in their life.  But I worry and worry.  And when she poops in the night, which she usually doesn't, that worries me.  So, over the labor day weekend I had too many nights where I woke up, got to thinking and googling about it and losing a lot of sleep over it. So, then I get drastic! First, I do know she was drinking too much milk. Whole milk is delicious, and she whole heartedly agreed!  I am sure her formula was nothing in comparison.  Whenever she was upset, she would say baba, baba, baba, wanting the comfort and the taste. And she wasn't really wanting foods, just milk. So, I thought, maybe all the yellow is from all this milk.  So, Sunday, I cut back the milk.... she wasn't happy about it, but I watered it down and offered water.  Then I thought, well maybe it is lactose intolerance?!  And me watering down the milk still isn't helping. So Monday I switched her to almond milk.... which she tolerated. She gagged a little before drinking it, but would drink it.  And I incorporated juice, and really make meal time a time for her to eat and not just graze.  Still no change in her poop, after 48 hours. I called the nurse and she said if it doesn't change after my almond milk attempt, bring her in.  So, today, luckily she provided a nice stool sample, to over flowing, and I took her into the doctor.  She hasn't lost any weight, and she has no other symptoms.  He thought it could be a virus or some strand of bacteria. They are going to do a stool culture, and we should know the results in 24 hours.  He didn't feel a need to do a blood test, because of her lack of symptoms.  I am just a paranoid MOM!!! ACK!  But, for me, it is worth the stool culture, whatever that might cost! yikes!  And the peace of mind that I took her in and feel a little relief.  I need to stay off google when I am worried!  But then, she also grew a mole on her leg, like overnight!  A big mole.  I had thought it was a bug bite that she had irritated by scratching, but when I looked closer, I realized it is a mole.  The doctor looked at it and said it wasn't raised, so it was ok.  I am just a little hormonal at this particular time of the month, I have stress and hormonal zits on my face and I have acquired a cold..... all this combination probably isn't helping my paranoia, probably a result of it!  But I do feel relieved that it is probably nothing.  But tomorrow I will find out the results of the stool culture.  This girl! I love her, and I just want her to be healthy and strong and happy !  She just turned 16 months on the 4th, and is currently weighing 27 pounds!

Ellie and her Selfies

This girl is always ready to work out

1st High School swim meet of the year

Ellie's weird poop. Deviled eggs anyone?!

Just Growing moles! 

For a little humor that made me smile.  I was picking Porter up  from school, and him and his friend had decided they wanted to try out for the High School tennis team.  Porter's math teacher is the coach, and the coach is also friends with Thomas's cousin.... not that has any bearing on Porter's tennis abilities.  But, I said great, go on and try out.  Then they mentioned the try  outs were in 30 minutes. Oh! Ok, let's get you over there.  I knew Porter's friend had played tennis some, his family does.  But as for Porter, I really got to wondering, so I asked.  "Porter, have you ever played tennis before"  He looked at me, real confident, and said "Yeah, on Wii Sports".  I seriously laughed out loud! Alright, I am excited to see how his limited training on wii sports would help him in this try out!! Hahahhahah!!   I had to drop them off, and then go drop off another child home.  When I got back to the high school, i was able to watch Porter trying out.  And, you could imagine he was playing about as good as someone who had only ever played tennis on wii sports.  But I will give it too him, he was brave enough to go try out! Overcoming fears! Ha!  We find out Friday if he made it!?   He might just need to stick to swimming!  THere were only  3 7th graders trying out, so who knows?! It might make for an even better story if he makes it!   But it causes you to worry about that generation!!  "What possessed you to fly that plane son?!?"  "Oh, I fly a plane all the time in video games!" haha! oh my goodness!!

Other news, we are working on the house a lot! I haven't really updated the other blog....shocker! Since I struggle keeping this one updated monthly!  But the addition is built and ready to be bricked!  It is nice to finally be putting the house back together!  It'll be pretty amazing, if we ever finish! haha!

Addie is going good, loving first grade! Thank HEavens! No meltdowns going to school! Hallelujah! We are looking for an activity for her to do, I am thinking she might like some kind of martial arts?!?  It is worth a shot.  I really think she would enjoy cheer-leading, but she is so hot and cold with wanting to perform, so we will see!

Well there is our update! See you next month... I hope!

Ring the bell, school's in sucka

(name that song title!! make a comment with the answer! impress me)


So... back to life, back to reality.... and no, that's not the same song!   School is in, and you would think routine was getting down. Not entirely.  But hopefully eventually. (haha, what a horrible sentence)  Porter started swim practice, which is 4 days a week at 6am-7am.  Luckily, Thomas has agreed to take him, and since practice is at the YMCA, he will work out while Porter is swimming. A bit of a win win, in my book.  But it does cause for a mad dash when they get home at 7, and I need him to shower, eat and get ready in a matter of minutes in order to beat the beginning of school traffic madness. It is madness. I don't exaggerate.  If you leave just 5 minutes later then you normally do, it can tack on an extra 15 minutes to your whole school drop off experience.  And people get crazy. Pull desperate stunts.  And people have phones, and film it, and post it on the city's facebook page, and show the person's license plate.  And when the person gets caught the next morning, celebratory photos are also posted on said facebook page!  Hahaha, it is madness.   (And No, it wasn't me pulling the desperate stunt.... I sit patiently in my car, cursing out loud how ridiculous the traffic is, in my own passive aggressive way. And don't you dare think I am going to let the joker get a head of me, yeah the one that 'accidentally' didn't get in the right line and is desperate with their blinker.  It's a dog eat dog world in car rider line)

Porter earned one of the Coach's award for the summer swim team this year!  Such an honor!! Way to Go P!

Addie turned 7!!! I wish these kiddos would slow down on the whole growing up thing!! Sheesh! We had a great and fun swim party for her and all her friends! She got totally spoiled!

Ellie turned 15 months!  She is crawling like a boss. Pulling up like a champ! Standing and balancing like a rock star!  And she recently stood up on her own without pulling herself up!!! Walking it on the horizon.  She mostly just says "baba" for her bottle. We are finally off all formula and she drinks whole milk! woot woot!  She likes to eat and try everything. But if you put it in her mouth, she will spit it out, look at it, and then try it for herself.... very independent! She likes to pretend everything is a phone. She puts it to her ear and says "hi Dada"  She sure loves Daddy!  I wish she would say Mama, as much as she says Dada.  But, I know she loves me best! ha!  We finally got her to love the child watch room at the gym! That's a huge deal!  I hate dropping a kid of screaming anywhere. So her going willingly and having fun, makes me very happy!  Everything still goes into her mouth. Her favorite thing to do is attempt to eat any receipt I get from the store, rips it up and tries to eat it if I don't stop her! 

We are all super busy, it is hard to slow down to keep notes! But I am doing my best!!  

Addie got a new mountain bike. Except she is scared to ride it, so hopefully one day it will get some use! 

I love to see her sleeping!

The big 7!!!

Almost got one with everyone happy! ha

Drunk on frosting! ;)

Cute Afton! Ellie's bff!

Present opening!

OH, and this girl turned 15 months on the same day Addie turned 7!

Addie got chalk hair stuff for her birthday, pretty hip! 

This is always a fun Sunday morning....

to wake up to sweet smiles.....and....

poop!

Lots of poop!!

Even on her face.... probably in her mouth  *dry heave*

It was seriously EVERYWHERE!! I feel like I can still smell it, just thinking about it!

So a really sad thing happened!  The Kelley's moved to Utah!! Our Kelley's! Thomas's sister just took her family and they left!  We just bought the house down the street and whamo, they go and head off to Utah. I am excited for their new adventure, jealous where they went..... and still kind of mad that they left us!! 

First day of 1st Grade!

First Day of 7th Grade!!!

Addie and her teacher!

No kicking and screaming..... so far! whew!

I have a kid in Jr High?!

My school kids!

This is a great shirt for the boys in Jr High, but I still am not sure if I was in Jr high if I would really appreciate this shirt and where the hands are?!

Porter at Meet the Arrows! He is so excited to be on the High School swim team!

She fell asleep in my lap... which hardly happens, but it was so cute

Everyone needs friends that they can eat messy wings with!! hahah! They will kill me if they see this!

Ellie is really into yoga now....

Her downward dog is impressive

eclipse!!!!?

This girl<3