Our Story....
I’m a very blessed mother of two amazing children: Brooklyn and Evan. Brooklyn will be five in April, and she has seemed to obtain all the qualities that I wanted her to have and then some. She is independent, imaginative, athletic, energetic, and downright “sassy”. Whether it’s putting her hands on her hips or yelling some made up song throughout the house or store, my parents just smile with joy to know that I have received exactly what I deserve. As for our new little one, Evan, who was born on January 27th, he brings a new kind of excitement to our home. He’s quite the character and represents everything “boy” that I haven’t yet experienced. He hates his diaper changed, getting dressed, and going to long without food, pretty much anything that makes him just a little uncomfortable. He is making his competitive mark in this family with a fight, as well as making his mom feel like a new parent all over again.
I have been very blessed over the years. I married a wonderful man named Greg, who possesses all the good qualities I don’t have. He challenges me everyday to be a better person, he is my best friend. The past few years have been filled with many sacrifices as I was trying to complete the nursing program, and after lots of hard work in June 2008, I finally graduated nursing school and began working as a critical care nurse in the Rogue Valley. Just as we thought of recovering from a life of chaos, my husband was offered a job in Washington, and off we went to embark on a new adventure.
As I look back at all we have accomplished, I’m proud of the sacrifices my family has made to enrich our lives. For now I’m enjoying staying home with the kiddos and treasuring every minute because I know that it won’t last forever. I feel thankful everyday for the family and friends in my life, and this year I look forward to developing new roots in a new town.
THE TIME IS FLYING. I can't believe our baby boy is four months already. With the return of work arriving (June 11th), I'm sad to think that my not so little guy is growing up all to fast. We go to the doctor for his well-baby check on June 5th, so we'll see how big Evan really is, but the scale at home says 15.9 pounds. He is giggling and talking like crazy. Lots a drooling and chewing on his hands, we change bibs a lot throughout the day. Watch out because he likes to spit up frequently, and I'm blessed with the smell of sour milk radiating off my clothing all day long. The joys of motherhood. He is out of the pack-in-play and sleeping in his crib, which doesn't provide any additional sleep for me, but I won't go backwards in that department. I'm just hoping that one day, hopefully sooner that later, he will decide to go back to his 6-8 hour sleeping stretches instead of blessing his mother with his cuteness every 3-4 hours. We are definitely sure that Evan is learning lots because he is seeing a lot of the world due to his greatest hobby, WALKING, WALKING, WALKING. He has a mission which doesn't involve sitting, swinging, bouncing, or resting. He is a boy ready to move, move, move, which of course we provide. I weigh: 14 pds 13oz. & 26 inches tall.
After much contemplation, we decided to go camping last minute with the Vetters' for Memorial Day. Due to being a popular camping weekend, Mindy found a KOA in Salem available for us to go to. After lots of comments and hesitation from me, we decided it would be fun. We could enjoy being outside as well as we could take the kiddos to the Enchanted Forest, which the Vetter boys loved so much. I have to say that the Salem KOA was surprisingly enjoyable. Not as great as the pond, which we missed so much, but are eagerly looking forward to camping there for the 4th of July, but it was still nice. The weather was great, the pool was warm, and the Enchanted Forest provided hours of great entertainment. Evan did wonderful on his first camping adventure. Thanks to Mindy and Doug who switched a few nights of RV sleeping for tent fun. Our backs are much appreciative. It was a relaxing weekend, but next time we'll be making sure to have a lot of firewood, so us girls' drinking won't be interrupted with a search for branches and fallen limbs in utter darkness. (Who knew green wood doesn't burn well) The things you learn while roughing it. HA HA.
Greg turned thirty today. After trying to grocery shop, make a nice dinner plus dessert, I realized that going out to eat may not be as meaningful, but it is sure a whole lot easier. After Brooklyn's T-ball practice, Greg and I managed to get the kiddos to bed and enjoy a quite evening together. Brooklyn was quite devastated today because she didn't understand where daddy's presents were, and I wasn't about to tell her that we're going on a trip (Vegas) without her. So, she went around the house and began wrapping lots of hidden treasures that Greg was thrilled to open.
Everyday in our home Brooklyn puts on a theatrical presentation. She goes to great length to make each new character just as unique as the last. If you enter our home during the day you'll find a trail of clothes that guide you to Brooklyn's room, as well as seeing makeup all strung out on the bathroom counter. Sometimes Evan and I are the extras in her plays, but we are often fired for not playing our part just the way the director sees fit. I love dress up time, but I do hope that her costumes are a thing of her childhood and not going to make a debut later in her teenage years.
Besides the morning, my favorite part of the day is when Daddy's home. Greg walks through that door and he is greeted with open arms. The kids smile with the first sound of his voice, and I smile with relief to know that I can finally take a shower. I can be at home all day long; walking and playing with the kiddos and not once throughout the day do I get shrieks of joy (sometimes from Evan) from the kiddos that let me know they are glad I'm home. But, Dad on the other hand, he is a celebrity. Dad may get the glory, but I'll get the memories of the little things they do that make me feel thankful for being home with them all day. I'm thankful to have the husband I do. He is the best daddy ever!!!
After attending the zoo with the Vetters' and the Gabbards', Brooklyn was very excited to show her father what he had missed while at work. So, we decided to go the the zoo the following week, so Brooklyn could give her daddy the grand tour. It was a beautiful day, about 70degrees, and we arrived at the zoo around eleven. It was packed. After trying to park for 40minutes and two screaming children later, we finally entered the zoo around noon. Brooklyn proceeded to show her dad Africa, the hippos, the elephants, and much more. She was so excited, running from one exhibit to another. The animals weren't as active today, but we enjoyed the day just the same. After a picnic on the grass and a delicious rainbow snow cone, we attempted to make our way home through Portland traffic. It's so nice to have Greg working four ten hour shift. His Fridays off, allow our family the opportunity to have more quality time together. We're looking forward to making more "Friday Fun Day" memories.
So, I ordered the GroBaby diaper from
http://www.kellyscloset.com/ and finally received it. I used it for the first time the other day, and I'm not sure what to think. I love the cover, it fits great and the inside meshing doesn't hold moisture, which allows the diaper to be used multiple times. However, the inside absorbency pad doesn't fit very well. It bunches in the middle, which makes poop easily escape. I'm hoping that with more washes, the inside pad becomes more absorbent and stretchy. I have to give the natural products company that develops GroBaby diapers an A+ on their customer service because I washed both diaper covers together and in one of them the elastic gusset became undone. I notified the company and they sent me another one with no questions asked in the mail the next day. You don't get that kind of customer service everyday. Go GroBaby.
