Mother's Day

My first official mother's day was here and gone. I thought it was the next weekend so I have yet to mail out my mothers and mother in laws gift. That is on the top of my to-do list. I'm not really into the random holidays. I don't really see the point. Its nice to have a reason to spend money I guess. BJ bought me an XBOX 360 with the Kinect and 2 games. It was more of a steal then a mothers day gift. And we are planning on selling the will to pay for it but I have enjoyed it.

When I was talking to my dad he asked how my day was. It was just like any other day. I think it will feel more like mothers day when Rylee can make me a card or give me something because she loves me. Then it will be a real mothers day.

I'm grateful for my own mother. BJ tells me all the time that I am my mom and I think that is the greatest thing anyone could tell me. As I do things for Rylee I ask BJ about his childhood. We grew up so differently. I love having his examples and trying new things. But I'm telling you my mom knew what she was doing, even if she didn't know what she was doing.

Being a Parents as Teacher Educator I have met many people and learned a lot about the research done about raising children. I have stopped being surprised at the things my mom and dad did for us that go along perfectly with what I'm suppose to teach my families. Granted I can't remember 1-4 years of my life and what went down but I'm grateful my parents raised me the way they did. I'm grateful BJ had wonderful parents and taught him many valuable lesson that he is passing on to Rylee. I am amazed everyday by who we are and that all goes back to our parents.

As much as I love my new game system I think the best gift I got for mothers day was

Being able to put Rylee's hair into pigtails for the first time!

I have waited almost an entire year for this day to happen! I got a bow in and everything! They lasted until sunday school which was amazing! 

She also amazed me later that day with showing off skills eating with a fork. Granted she stabbed the food then pulled it off to eat it, but its progress.

She even graced me with MAMA and not BJ.

Did I mention that BJ was trying to get her to say mama for about a week since she has said dad since she was like 6 months old. Well she says it, but it mostly means DAD. She will go around in circles calling for MAMA and when I answer she shakes her head and keeps searching for MAMA. BJ comes home, she yells MAMA and scoots as fast as her legs will let her. It is super cute and I really don't mind. Starting on Sunday she now has figured out that I am MAMA and DAD is DADDY. Glad we got that sorted out. =]

I started reading this girl's blog Spoiled Eggs back when  I was pregnant. She is infertile and has a blog telling all about it. Around the same time I had Rylee she adopted a cute little boy. They are about a week or 2 apart. I feel like she is one of my friends. I read her blog all the time and compare our kids. She wrote a poem that touched my heart! I feel the same way as her in this poem. She also says is so much better then I ever could.

A few thoughts I had tonight, formatted into a poem with no title:

Last year’s Mothers Day

Was very bitter sweet

We were 2 weeks out ‘til baby boy

And my heart was at my feet

Anything could’ve happened,

My mind was running wild.

The unknown so unsettling,

Yet we were so close to a child.

I celebrated Mothers Day

With precaution, hope, and joy.

It wasn’t sad like years before

Because we almost had our boy.

I wanted to enjoy it

For the first time as a wife.

So the day before, I worked and cleaned,

And pondered on my life.

As I scrubbed the bathroom,

I thought of motherhood,

And as I swept and mopped my floors

I dreamed of all things good.

I planned for perfect days to come

With toys and walks and fun.

And all the while I washed and scrubbed

‘Til my job was finally done.

I sat back and admired the house

I’d just spruced unto a home.

Then kicked back and waited patiently

For Mothers Day to come.

And it did, it came and went

With flowers, cards, and all.

But looking back on that day

There isn’t much that I recall.

I know my house was spotless

Everything put away.

But nothing else stands out to me

About that Mothers Day.

Fast forward one whole year to now,

My word, how life as changed.

We’ve moved across the country

My whole life’s been rearranged.

But perhaps the greatest change of all

Is sleeping in his bead.

With a lamb and blanket by his side

Sweet dreams filling his head.

I look at him with Mothers Day

Coming in the morn’,

And my the difference he has made

Just by being born.

Instead of a picture perfect house

With nothing out of place,

Tonight the pile of laundry

Could reach to outer space.

And rather than a dish-rack full

Of sparkling silverware

My kitchen has exploded and

There are green beans in my hair.

The bathroom in and of itself

Is a special work of art.

The floor is wet, the counter and the sink,

Well I can’t tell them apart.

The family room’s another story

Strewn with books and toys.

I’ve tripped in there 5 times today

On a dumb toy that makes noise.

To sum it up, my house is gross

Nothing like last year.

But a filthy house means more to me,

Because it means that Nolan’s here.

Toys left out, train tracks around

And books left on the rug,

Means that we got to read and play today

Which means I got a hug.

Suds and water on the floor,

Of a bathroom filled with grime,

Means we splashed and laughed and made a mess,

And that’s worth all the slime.

And my dirty kitchen, though disturbing

Tells a story too, you know.

Of a full tummy, and a smiling face,

As he tastes some cookie dough.

So when I look back, one year ago

To a childless Mothers Day

And how I thought I’d done alright

Because my house looked fresh as day.

I get a tad bit jealous,

That my home had circumspection,

But all it takes, is one looks around

To know that this life is perfection.

I’d never trade a dusted shelf

For my play dates with my boy.

And between the two, a crisp made bed,

Is second to that noisy toy.

There’s more to life than ironed shirts,

And gourmet dinners in the oven.

There are games to play, books to read,

And an awful lot of lovin’.

So as I look around tonight

At my home in disarray,

I know that tomorrow, without a doubt,

Will be the best 1^st Mothers Day.

Her blog

 http://myspoiledeggs.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-wrote-poem-my-1st-official-mothers.html

Garden

The place we moved into has a section of the yard fenced off and a garden already dug and all the tools needed. I have been wanting to try my hand at gardening for a long time. I had one once growing up and didn't know what I was doing. I got like 3 one inch carrots out of it. BJ has been gardening his whole life. My mother in law has an amazing garden and always gets a good harvest.

I started my seedlings inside but I started way to late. They are still inside because the day I started getting them use to the outside sun it snowed. Go figure. So they are back inside trying to keep going. While looking for flowers for my flower bed we came across grown seedlings. SCORE! We planted those so we can at least try and get a real harvest. I'll plant my other seedlings in about a month. We will see which way is better, growing my own seedlings, or buying already grown seedlings.

We planted: a ton of tomatoes both regular and cherry, strawberries, cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and pumpkins.

I think my cucumbers have already died. They might not like the warm then cold weather. My strawberries already have little ones growing though. I really hope my pumpkin produces at least one good size pumpkin to carve come halloween.  My neighbor gave us one of her seedlings that was really strong so we planted that one already. I started another seedling that looks pretty good so I will plant that one soon as well. Arizona has pumpkin patches everywhere to get a pumpkin to carve but up here most people already have harvested by then so you have to go the store for one. That isn't as fun so we really hope we can grow our own from now on!

I love going and looking at it each day. I have noticed that birds pecking around so we need to find some metallic pinwheels to keep them away. We also have little kids come play in the yard everyday and we noticed they were playing around the garden. BJ was pretty upset about it so we bought some locks to keep them out.

Now that I know how to can have the supplies I hope all my tomatoes come in and I can start a real food storage from my own garden. The whole idea just makes me giddy!

Way over due

Since I have found out I got into Nursing I have been crazy busy. It is a pretty intense program. I am loving every minute of it. Some days it is hard because I feel torn in half. I want to be in class and love every single second but I also want to play with Rylee. I know this is what I was meant for this and it will benefit my family so I just have to stick out the hard days.

I missed my 10 month update so I'll start with that

Rylee at 10 months...

- She loves to yell DAD whenever BJ is at work.
- She will only say Mom when she is tired and just wants me
- She has been sicky this week so we have taken turns sleeping with her in the rocking chair at night
- She is still a great sleeper and now takes real naps during the day. Like 2naps for 2 hours each.
- She has learned to pull the tub stopper up so bath time can be short some days
- We are working on potty training and she has gone in her potty twice now
- She loves getting peoples attention by fake laughing until they look at her. Then she gives them her dimply simile which makes them want to make her smile more. She is such a ham
- Laughs at everything. Always a happy girl
- Loves going for walks. I figured out a new way to use my Phil and Ted so she is even happier with it now
- Shares so well! Always gives her toys to people. If she picks anything up she will hand it to me
- Has to take off her socks as soon as I put them on and hand them back to me
- Still will eat anything and everything
- Loves drinking out of a cup. If we take a drink and don't offer her any she gets pretty upset
- Favorite thing is water. Will drink juice but not very much of it
- She can pull herself up onto her knees but still working on getting to her feet
- She can scoot but goes pretty slow. Still cries if I leave the room and will not  come after me.
- Daddy bought her some fish and she loves feeding them and watching them swim
-Can say shoe and fish. I swear she says "what's that?"
- Knows where her books are and loves to read them
- Can moo like a cow and gets excited when she sees any animals
- Loves to figure out how to do something and does it until she can master it
-She will show that she needs help but if I don't help her she will keep trying
-Knows where her belly is and toes

11 months seems like she is a whole new person. Things have clicked for her and she is doing so many new things

- Says duck, shoe, sock, mama, dad, whats that, fish
- Understands just about anything we say
- Signs more now!!
- She can now scoot super fast, pull herself up to her feet, sit up on her own, lay down on her back, lay down on her tummy, and get up on her own.
- Chases us down now when we leave
- Doesn't chew on much unless she is teething.
- Grew one top tooth so far and waiting for the second one
- Loves saying mama and calls us both that now
- Loves being outside
- Eats pretty much anything we give her but wants a variety each day
- Drinks mostly bottles now but once or twice a day will nurse
- Gives the best scowl face ever
- Has the best old man smile around
- Will wave hi and good bye every time
- Learned some new dance moves. She likes throwing her hands up and bouncing
-Will put things away if asked or if I am doing it too
- Always looks to me before doing something
- Barks like a dog and moos like a cow
- Not interested in TV unless there is a dog on it
- Loves music
- Gets super goofy right before bed time
- Loves to play on mom and dads bed.
- Loves being naked
- Tries to dress herself and helps when getting dressed
- Got her first baby doll
-Knows where her head and hair are
-When you ask her where her toes are she will chew on them
- Grinds her one top tooth on her bottom two


I'm sure there are more its just hard to think of when I'm sitting here.

Now picture overload

She loved boxes when we were packing

While taking a stroll inside one night she found a new way to sit.

She wasn't a fan

Cheesy smiles are her forte

She likes to fake being sweet to get things (but she really is sweet she just knows how to fake it)

Loves her fish tank

The double sit in the front makes her see the world more and she loves it that way

She got in a phase where she would dump everything out of a bag

Then she ate most of my cinnamon sugar chips

Father like daughter. Same face. She is her daddy! 

I find her sleeping in all kinds of positions... just like me growing up

Loves to wear her sun glasses

This is what happens when your child learns how to unzip your back pack.

Such a good helper with everything!

Loves play time on our bed! 

Easter 2012

Loves to give kisses and will give one to just about anyone if they ask and wait for 

mom to have one first

Nurse Krystal

source

I am fulfilling my dream to become a nurse!

I found out on Friday that I could pick up my letter to see if I got rejected or accepted into the BYU-I Nursing program. I didn't get to the office before it closed. I had a whole weekend of what ifs!

Everyone thought the nursing ship had sailed away when I got rejected last year. I thought it had too but it wasn't a real rejection. I didn't meet most of the requirements so it was more of please try again and this time have everything done.

This time around I had finished all the classes I needed and had a 3.9 GPA. (stupid A- ugh)

I had a very serious talk with Heavenly Father about doing the nursing program when I applied back in December. I knew I was a pretty good contender this time around so I left it all up to Him. If I was going to get in, it was because being a nurse is what would be best for my family and what I need to do. 

I was happy with my degree of Early Childhood Development because I found PAT and working with PAT is something I have really wanted to do all along. If He said no to nursing I had my field of study and a way to use it and was okay with that.

There were parts of me that didn't want to get it. It is going to be HARD! I am worried I wont be smart enough a fail out of it. I then have to pass the NCLEX after all the classes. I will spend a ton more time studying then I ever had before. If I make it through then I have to start working and how will that work with Rylee? I felt it better to not have to think about it and not getting in would solve that.

I do however really want to be a nurse. I want the knowledge. I want to help those in need. I want to be able to support my husband while he struggles through school. I want Rylee to see that her mom does things for others and cares for people around us. I also want to feel like being in school was worth the knowledge I have gained. I want to prove to all the dumb statistics that a girl from a low income neighborhood can succeed and did become more that what the numbers show. I want to prove to myself that I have been given talents and that I can utilize them in my life. 

This next year and half is going to be crazy. This semester has already been nuts but we are all doing just fine. I know I married BJ because he will and can support me in everything I do. I know Rylee came to us because she was meant to be in our family and will thrive with me in school and working. 

I'm sure there will days when I don't think I will make it. For now I am working on getting all my paper work in and finishing this semester. I am going to take it one day at a time and before I know it I will be writing about how I am an official RN. 

I am so totally excited once I stop worrying about all the details!

Who knew that I would ever become a NURSE?! So not in my plans as a child! For now just an RN is fine but I am going to work towards being in the maternity ward and help deliver babies. That is like the best job in the world. Maybe someday after Rylee and if other siblings come our way are in school I would love to become a midwife. That is in the way future though so I'll just work on becoming an RN.

Rylee update

I haven't done a Rylee update in a while so I thought it would write down some stuff I want to remember

Rylee 8 1/2 months old

• Loves to give kisses. She has to grab your face and with open mouth on your mouth or noise then holds it for at least 10 seconds. 
• Now says Uh-oh when she drops something.. or throws something over the edge
• Has to always be jumping. Now in her hair chair she can scoot it forward because she is jumping around so much
• Wiggles so much its hard to hold on to her
• Loves peas. She laughs the whole time she eats them. I guess it's funny to catch it and eat it
• Understands sign for more and eat but isn't close to doing them
• Laughs when you bark like a dog
• Loves "Down on grandpa's farm" and "Old McDonald" and "Bingo"and "Baby Beluga" when played on youtube
• Loves her puzzle book with farm animals
• Loves going on walks at night
• Not a fan of baby food. She wants to feed herself
• Eats bananas, yams, green beans, bread, yum yums, peas, anything really
• Loves to drink water hates juice
• Fake laughs to get peoples attention
• Has to have everyone look at her 
• Knows how to make people smile
• Finally has hair to put bows in and leaves them in
• "talks" like crazy
• Growls at us.. don't know where that came from
• Thinks Daddy is sooo funny no matter what
• Happiest when both mom and dad are home
• Still sleeps through the night
• Gets slap happy at night and laughs like crazy
• Found her toes and will eat them
• Has to have a diaper in her hands when we change her
• Loves bath time or taking a shower. Washes her own hair. Drinks the water out of her wash cloth
• Hates getting dressed
• Hates her car seat
• Will snuggle when tired
• Pushes her lips out and makes angry faces
• Will imitate any noise we make
• Copied us blowing on hot food and will blow on her food sometimes
• HATES Tummy time 
• Still not mobile
• Now rolls over again when put on tummy
• Trying to pull self up but hasn't yet
• Loves her magnets 
• Loves pulling the books of her shelf
• Understands ledges and will scoot to get over or throw something off
• When she is done eating will pull her food a part into small pieces and throw it off her high chair
• Loves cords and yarn balls
• Has 2 bottom teeth
• Shakes her head all the time
• Loves to pull stuff out of the diaper bag or toy box
• Just started putting things back into bag or box
• Pretty much happy all the time. Only cries when tired and thirsty 

We LOVE being Rylee's parents. We had one night where we think her ear hurt. She wouldn't lay down at all and kept touching her ear. I fed her and fell asleep around 10-12 with BJ playing with her. Woke up to her crying and I tried putting her to sleep but she was not happy. We gave her some meds but she just wanted to snuggle. I walked around the house (SOO happy to have a house I can walk around in!) for an hour. I passed her off to BJ to sit down for a minute but she just wanted me. I sent BJ to bed at 2 turned on Beauty and the Beast. She isn't into TV but loves music now. She fell asleep snuggling me so I slept in my rocking chair. She woke up crying every 45 minutes and I would walk around with her until she fell back asleep. She woke up around 6 happy and wide awake. I woke up BJ and passed her off and fell asleep until 9:30. I woke  up to them asleep in the rocking chair. It was a long night but not that bad. 

We love watching her learn new things and we laugh all day long at funny things she does. She is such a ham these days and always fun to be around. 

Project Table

I sanded down my table. That took a long time. I did it all by hand. 

I think it turned out good. I didn't take a close up of the table because it isn't done yet. My sister Kim said to try stain to make it the color I want. We haven't found the right stain yet. Hopefully our next trip into IF I will be able to finish it. I think it is fun having a bright spot in my dining room. I love how my chair turned out too. 

This is where I got my idea from. My sister Kim sent me the Ball picture for Christmas. I loved the color of it so thats why I painted my table blue. My mom also gave me a blue tinted Ball jar for my wedding that I have always loved. I love my dining room. Now I just need to do something with the rest of the place!

New place

Our living room is HUGE! It is about the size of my old living room, dining room, and kitchen put together!!! I love the fireplace, which we can't use for some reason, and built ins. The heat comes from the ceiling. I guess there are a bunch of coils that heat up and send it down into the room. It feels like the sun shining down on you. I just hope it doesn't cost too much to use!

Our stuff looks so tiny in this huge room! I also found drapes at the thrift store for my big window. The table is not in this room we were just moving stuff around.

Our dining room. I love how big it is! The built in china cabinet is awesome! I got a ton of white serving dishes when we got married so now I can display them! We also put our desk in this room. Its nice to have a place for the printer now.

My kitchen is already amazing! It didn't have a dishwasher so we sold our old snow tires and got a portable one. Its nice because I can push it off to the side and fill it up then bring it to the sink and turn it on. It also acts like an island for extra space when cooking.

This is 3rd bedroom space. It doesn't have a heater so we just use it as our storage/ pantry room. I'm going to set up my sewing machine in here too.

The laundry room is shared and downstairs but it is large and nice to have.

The backyard isn't fenced but there is a ton of space. We are hoping the lady lets us put in a garden this spring.

I have my linen closet! Our room is about the same size as our last place but Rylee's room is bigger. We finally tracked down 2 dressers to use. Why do they have to cost so much?!? Thankfully we found great deals at D.I. and other thrift stores.

The tub is bigger than the last place and has cool little shelves too. 

I found these gems at the thrift store. I'm painting my table blue so these will be perfect to add some color to my china cabinet! $5 for a set of 6. You can't go wrong with that!

We bought new chairs because we broke 2 of our chairs that go with the table. I upholstered the seats to match my table.

BJ found this fabric and I was so excited. It reminds me of things I see on HGTV.

In the process of sanding and painting. So far the blue I picked is brighter than I wanted so I'm trying to find ways to mute it a little. I still think it will be an awesome pop of color though.

All in all we love this new place. Rylee adjusted really quick. She loves that she can play with her toys in the living room and still see me in the kitchen and vise versa. We have already had our neighbors come visit us too. An older lady lives under us in the basement and she is kind of crazy but we rarely see her. Unless of course we park on her side. She will come tell us to move every single time. If you want our new address let me know!