Life update

Well not a whole lot has changed for us these first few weeks of the new year. I am almost done with my first rotation of 8 week fieldwork, and just worked out the details of my second placement today. I am working at Jordan School District right now and it has been fun. I don't think I would particularly like to work at a school, maybe, but it is doing a lot of things like handwriting and helping kids with buttons and things like that, definetley the academic side of Occupational Therapy, I think I enjoy more of the medical side. I was able to go to a school in the district today that is for very severe kids with a variety of disabilities. I really enjoyed this school because it was more medical. Not one kid that I saw today could verbally communicate, they used a lot of signs or grunts. It was sad, but at the same time I'm glad that there are schools like that in some school districts so kids with more severe needs can get the professional attention they need every day from therapists, specialized teachers etc. My next fieldwork is working with the elderly and the last day of that fieldwork is actually on my due date so pray that this little man comes a little bit late! I really miss Linnea, this semester has been pretty hard for me since it is a full time job basically and sometimes with school I would be done within an hour or something like that, but I keep telling myself that it's only twelve more weeks and then I am done with school and hopefully will be able to take quite a break and be with my two kiddos at home which I honestly CANNOT wait to do. I had a day off last Friday and I don't feel any happier than when I can get my house looking how I want it and play dress up with Linnea or read books together and color pictures...it is wonderful!!

My pregnancy is going pretty good, I have ALOT more discomfort with this little guy with pressure and things like that, but the doctors basically told me it's going to get more and more uncomfortable with each kid that I have so super. We had a scare with him awhile ago, we thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid, but after some tests it all came back negative so things are good. We almost have the room finished for both of the kids. It is a monkey/jungle theme and we just need one more leaf canopy and the valance hung above the window and it is done...pictures to come!

Derek is still working about 50 hours a week and going to school busy busy guy, he may be looking at going to Weber State now instead of Utah State to pursue the Mechanical Engineering Technology degree, it is a lot like the regular engineering degree, but he would be able to do a little bit more hands on work with products instead of working on the computer so much so he's been doing some research and thinks that might be a better fit for him. I guess only time will tell!

We have been so blessed the last few months, we're busy and miss eachother, but we truly count our blessings that we have been able to attend school, that Linnea does so well playing with other kids and that she is watched by family, we are so grateful that Derek has such a good job that helps us have a savings and just what we need. I am excited to have school done and over with, but I am grateful I was able to finish even with being a mommy and everything!!!

What am I doing?!!! I'm in charge....right

Well a few months ago when Linnea was about 18 months old I thought the terrible twos had come early...boy was I wrong!!! Yesterday was one of the most, heartbreaking, frustrating, confusing motherhood days I have had. Linnea was acting like I remember acting as a headstrong, always right 16 year old who knew better than her parents and wanted nothing to do with them. She would as for something, like a piece of candy, I would say no not right now, maybe after lunch. Tears, screaming, and throwing herself down on the floor followed. So I stay calm and say, that is not the way we get things. She looks up at me and screams "No!!!!" Imagine your two year old shaking her finger at you with a teenage look on her face...it took me back a little bit. Yesterday every limit or every thing we told her to do such as safety things, or breaking rules, or treat and movie limits ended up with an emotional breakdown. Well we eventually decided to get out of the house as a family and go to the store together which Linnea generally loves to do, but we get to the store and she screamed because I put apples in the cart, or I didn't get the bananas fast enough...thank goodness Derek was there to help, he eventually just took her out to the car since it was all screams, not just crying, but disrespect (which I have an issue with at any age.) At this point I think both Derek and I were very confused at this new behavior and how to go about dealing with it. I feel that I should always explain at this point why we don't do things, calmly. So everytime she would yell at me, I would say "look at mom...you don't speak to me that way, we always speak nice." you know just simple things like that. I can hold her attention for a little while if I say to look at me so hopefully some things sink in. The real heartbreaker came later that night, she was screaming at Derek and he was trying to calm her down by holding her and she did the typical squirming and screaming to be let loose, well I walk in her room to help out and she looks at me and shakes her finger and yells, "No, Go!!!" Basically telling me to get out of her room two year old style....well that broke my heart, I actually went and cried a little. It was so hard for me since I have started my fieldwork and basically have a full time job so I don't see her that much during the day, so when I do have days with her I imagine us playing our games and having fun, and baking like we always do over breaks or days I am home, so to have my sweet girl tell me to leave was too much for me at that moment. So Derek put her in time out and with tears in my eyes that were noticeable I went out there and I said in my cracking voice, " You do not talk to me that way!!! Do you know your mommy loves you? That hurts me." Linnea's crying and screaming stopped the second she saw my red eyes and my tenderhearted girl came out again and she ran up and gave me the biggest hug and pat on the back. After that the night went pretty well. I could not believe though the attitude and the change of yesterday. She does have a stuffy nose, so she doesn't feel 100%, but that in my opinion no matter how old a child is does not mean you speak disrespectful to your parents or anyone. I need to be stronger and not let my kids see me break down like that, but yesterday took me completely off guard. I'm not afraid to let people see me cry, but I do realize that my kids will hurt me through life either with choices or stages they go through, but I hope that they never doubt they are loved and that we expect respect from them. Sorry to vent so much, today has been much better with not even a fraction of the screaming fits, she is pushing the limits, but at least she is listening to us when we tell her to stop a behavior. It is all part of life experiencing these different stages, I hope that we can instill the right principles of kindness in our kids by example and remaining calm and collected during freak outs :)

SNOW DAY!!!

Well due to all the snow I figured it was time to put all of Linnea's snow clothes to good use. We have tons of snow piles since they have been plowing the parking lot like three times a day :) She really liked the snow, a little bit better than last time we played in it. She kept falling down since she was so bundled and the snow was so hard and she would just crack up every time. We made a little snow slide on one of the snow drifts. We didn't last too long since it was so cold, but we came in, had some hot chocolate enjoyed the morning!!! Some of my favorite memories are playing in the snow and sleding then always finishing with hot chocolate....I love having a kid now that I get to play with and see how much they love doing those things too!

She loves having a scarf on....I don't know why

Loving life!!!!

Christmas

Well we had a fun Christmas this year. We went down to St. George to spend Christmas with Derek's parents. We don't have too many picutres we mostly filmed so sorry not a whole lot of pictures. My sister-in-law and I decided we wanted to make the Christmas Dinner that they do on Christmas Eve so my mother-in-law could just enjoy the grandkids. We had a yummy dinner, and for future reference if you want a good ham, go to honey baked ham...they even cook it for you...they are pricey but worth it. Linnea got to ride the horses ALOT. She loved the horses...one time though I'm pretty sure my nephew and her jumped into a puddle of horse pee...I think her boots may be ruined. Derek and I did a program for everyone on Christmas Eve, we let the kids color these nativity pictures and read a child version of the nativity since Linnea was the oldest kid there we figured they would lose interest if we busted out the scriptures. Then we read Christmas Oranges, we love that story and I tied ribbons around some clementines and had a little saying about charity and the savior that we gave to everyone. Derek's side is a lot more mellow I guess you could say than my family parties so some years it takes some getting used to all the quiet story reading, but it was very nice to see St. George and the Childs' side again. Christmas day we woke up and opened presents. Derek spoiled me so much, he had these beautiful picutures made for me (a picture will come soon) he blew up our favorite wedding picture and had for time and all eternity written on it along with a beautiful picture of the Salt Lake Temple. I have been saying since we got married that I wanted a picture of the temple, like a big one. He had these made months ago! It made me cry a little bit, Derek is the best gift giver. He really does listen to little things that I'll just say I want and then he plans and makes this awesome gift! I love him :) He got a computer that he had to get on black friday so on Christmas I just had some small gifts for him like DVDs and stuff like that. Linnea got spoiled. She got a leap pad with four books to go along with it, other books, a little people Noah's Ark, a my little pony car with mom and baby, coloring books, the Princess and the Frog DVD puzzles and one of the favorite toys of the season...Buzz Lightyear. He is the same size as he would have been in the movie he says soooo much stuff has his wings that light up karate chop action! She loves buzz and has to carry him everywhere! She got buzz a little early since we opened presents with my family before hand so they could see her open her stuff so in St. George all her boy cousins wanted to play with buzz and kept saying it was a boy toy, but she actually was a great sharer. It's funny because she always carries buzz in one hand and her doll from her birthday in the other...funny girl. We had a great Christmas I hope you all did too. I love this time of year, but it comes and goes too quickly.

2 years

Our sweet girl turned two on Tuesday, I can 't believe how fast the time is going. She is such a joy to have in our family. We had a birthday party on Saturday with family and friends, she got her first fish (which she almost killed just like Darla on finding Nemo), she got a stick horse, babies, a kitchen set and so many fun things. We decided this little girl is spoiled and loved to pieces.

Some fun things about Linnea:

She loves horses-

She loves cows

She loves to ask "whats that?"

She loves to show us every trick she does, and yells "watch mama, watch"

She loves coins and money

She loves Mary Poppins, and Belle (beauty and the beast)

She loves to have her blankies wrapped around her from her head to her toes so she can have a "at" (hat)

She loves her shoes

She loves her play jewelry especially her earrings

She loves to pat our faces and ask for "ugs" (hugs)

She loves to read her mouse book and baa book, and basically any book

She loves to help me with chores

She loves to color

She loves to play in her playroom especially when mom and dad come and play too after she says "mock, mama, mock dada" Mock is translated into come on :)

Linnea is such a sweet girl. She is sassy and loves to give the stubborn attitude, but I wouldn't take her any other way. She has such a tender heart and loves to show affection and be with her family. She is going to be such a good big sister in a few months, we love her so very much!!

Potty!!!!

Ok so we finally got Linnea a click on toilet seat since she has shown absoulutely no interest in the big toilet, I'm hoping this helps. I got her to sit on the seat three times now and we have a little kid "going to the potty" book. I don't think Linnea knows what peeing is to tell you the truth. She still doesn't really seem like she wants to go potty, but since I'll be on Christmas break for a few weeks I was kind of hoping to maybe start trying because I won't be able to try again until I graduate (since I don't feel like a babysitter should potty train my kid) and at that time we're going to have a newborn...but whatever we'll try it. I have NO idea what I'm doing though. I gave her a little treat for sitting on the toilet for two minutes, I'm not sure how to teach her what peeing is though. I've thought of buying panties and just letting her wear those so when she had an accident I could tell her that is pee and hopefully she would want to go to the bathroom, or should I get pull ups....what....so mommies or anyone who has insight I would love to learn how to potty train. I understand that it will be pointless if she has no desire, but we are really trying to introduce her to the bathroom so hopefully since she gets rewards maybe it'll be some motivation, but tips will be welcome!!!

Drum roll please......

Well today was the day we were able to find out what our little nugget is and presenting in April 2011 our

BABY BOY!!!!!!!!

we are so excited, honestly I think both Derek and I thought it was going to be a girl so it was such a fun surprise. The cute little guy is super shy, he did not want to show us anything, and actually we still didn't get to see his face because the stubborn little guy refused to move his hands. He seems very mellow, he looked super comfortable and sleepy and didn't seemed to thrilled that we were poking and proding to peek at him!! Once he moved his legs though there was no doubt. We are super excited and can't wait to meet him, now I have to work on making their bedroom generic and loading up on baby boy clothes :)