Patrick's bottom teeth are finally here! Well, kinda. One has barely broken the surface and the other is thinking about making an appearance very soon. I was so excited to see the little white spot on Saturday, and then we finally heard it yesterday. He likes the sound of his new tooth on his spoons. I wasn't paying attention this morning, though, and he bit me! I won't let that happen again!
Patrick sure loves his big kid food. He will eat just about anything we have, except, of course, when he doesn't want to. And I'm never sure when that will be. He still sleeps super well. He usually goes to bed around 7pm and wakes up around 7am.
And . . . we have finally conquered the two-nap-a-day schedule. Hurray! He is happier, and mommy is happier that he now takes one nap in the morning and one in the afternoon, each 1 1/2 to 2 hours. This also helps him eat closer to the times that we eat, which I like as well.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Keep Your Fingers Crossed!
Reed has a second job interview tomorrow afternoon with DD Consultants. We are VERY excited about this and we hope and pray that he will be able to impress the director and secure this job. Needless to say, we are feeling anxious (but good at the say time, you know?). Unfortunately, the BIGGEST SNOW STORM OF THE YEAR is coming tomorrow, with the heaviest snow projected at the exact time he must drive to his interview. Maybe this is a good omen though. We had to drive through the only other big snow storm on the day that I got my job.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Primary
I teach the CTR 8 class (7 & 8 years-old) in Primary, and today we were in charge of sharing time. It was my first time doing sharing time, but I had a great time! I know the kids now and how our primary runs, so I wasn't nervous at all. This week's theme was: I can obey my parents. I told a story about a boy who learns to be obedient by wearing his helmet, and then I had my class sing "I am a Child of God," so we could learn that Heavenly Father has given us "parents, kind and dear" to give us rules for our safety and development. I thought I should teach the kids that parents have been commanded to love their children and give them rules for their own good, not just for fun. We played a memory-type game where they were supposed to match the rule with the reason why parents give that rule. Then we sang "Quickly I'll Obey," which they knew really well, and I bet their parents could hear it down the hall.
I had a fun time in primary today, and I feel really blessed that I was called to teach these kids. My class is large (8-10 each week), but they are really smart and well-behaved (mostly). Sometimes their answers are way out there, but they are enthusiastic and try really hard.
I had a fun time in primary today, and I feel really blessed that I was called to teach these kids. My class is large (8-10 each week), but they are really smart and well-behaved (mostly). Sometimes their answers are way out there, but they are enthusiastic and try really hard.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Killer Yard Sale
Saturday morning we got up to go to this big yard/consignment sale I read about in a local parenting magazine. An organization called Moms of Multiples (MOMS) holds a giant yard sale twice a year at the Douglas County Community Events Center in Castle Rock, which is down the road from us about 15 miles. We decided to all go and get out of the house. First of all, I had no idea how HUGE this was going to be. It said the doors opened at 10:30; we got there at 10:45 and there were probably 200 people in line (many with strollers and laundry baskets for shopping carts). We had to pay $1 to get in, which is why there was a line.
The line moved quickly though, and once we were in, there was no turning back. The entire center (which is the size of a large gym or auditorium) was packed, and even though it was frantic, it was quite organized. They had all things baby for sale (except for actual babies, of course). I passed the baby off to grandma and grandpa, and I dove right in. I wasn't looking for anything specific, but I thought I would look for older sizes, and then just browse for any good deals. And I found some killer deals. I got six pairs of jammies, 3 shorts, 2 pants, swimming trunks, a hat, and some misc stuff for about $40. My best deals were a dress shirt/sweater/tie for $2 and a brand new pair of dark-wash OshKosh overalls (tag said $15.99) for $4!
The line to check out was super long, but they passed out treats and the volunteers were super organized and helpful. Patrick was very patient, considering, and I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. I will definitely go in August when they have their next one, although I will probably leave Patrick home next time.
Here are a few pictures I took of Patrick when I got home and tried some stuff on. The last pictures are actually from this morning when we were getting ready for church. It isn't the new sweater I got, but he is still cute. I'm sorry that the pictures are blurry. My camera is too slow and my baby is too fast.
These are sunglasses that came with his swimming suit. He is dancing, so the picture is blurry.
This is going to be his "zoo hat" because it is big and he can't pull it off because of the string. Right now it looks like a sombrero.
This is the most common look we get from Patrick these days. Can you see the curiosity? He has to know what everyone is doing at all times.
Patrick is eating more and more table food. Today he had some of the pork tacos we ate for lunch. He had pork, rice, avocado and cheese. Even with no teeth, he is getting good at chewing. Unfortunately, he is also starting to refuse to nurse. I really need him to nurse somewhat for the next 4 months, so I am going to try and get him to nurse longer at night right before I go to bed when he is sleepy. He is just too busy to nurse. He has better things to do, I guess. He still has no desire to crawl though. He just sits and grunts at everything. I know he will figure things out eventually, but it is funny watching him stretch in the mean time.
The line moved quickly though, and once we were in, there was no turning back. The entire center (which is the size of a large gym or auditorium) was packed, and even though it was frantic, it was quite organized. They had all things baby for sale (except for actual babies, of course). I passed the baby off to grandma and grandpa, and I dove right in. I wasn't looking for anything specific, but I thought I would look for older sizes, and then just browse for any good deals. And I found some killer deals. I got six pairs of jammies, 3 shorts, 2 pants, swimming trunks, a hat, and some misc stuff for about $40. My best deals were a dress shirt/sweater/tie for $2 and a brand new pair of dark-wash OshKosh overalls (tag said $15.99) for $4!
The line to check out was super long, but they passed out treats and the volunteers were super organized and helpful. Patrick was very patient, considering, and I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. I will definitely go in August when they have their next one, although I will probably leave Patrick home next time.
Here are a few pictures I took of Patrick when I got home and tried some stuff on. The last pictures are actually from this morning when we were getting ready for church. It isn't the new sweater I got, but he is still cute. I'm sorry that the pictures are blurry. My camera is too slow and my baby is too fast.
These are sunglasses that came with his swimming suit. He is dancing, so the picture is blurry.
This is going to be his "zoo hat" because it is big and he can't pull it off because of the string. Right now it looks like a sombrero.
This is the most common look we get from Patrick these days. Can you see the curiosity? He has to know what everyone is doing at all times.
Patrick is eating more and more table food. Today he had some of the pork tacos we ate for lunch. He had pork, rice, avocado and cheese. Even with no teeth, he is getting good at chewing. Unfortunately, he is also starting to refuse to nurse. I really need him to nurse somewhat for the next 4 months, so I am going to try and get him to nurse longer at night right before I go to bed when he is sleepy. He is just too busy to nurse. He has better things to do, I guess. He still has no desire to crawl though. He just sits and grunts at everything. I know he will figure things out eventually, but it is funny watching him stretch in the mean time.
Interviews!
Reed finally has two interviews tomorrow morning!!!!
We spent most of Monday applying to jobs, and we were very excited when he was contacted for two interviews tomorrow. We have prayed all week, we went to the temple on Friday, and we went to all of our meetings this weekend for stake conference. I really really have my fingers crossed that something will come of our hard work and prayers. My job is tiding us over, but we would really like to move on with our lives right now. Please keep Reed in your prayers tomorrow.
We spent most of Monday applying to jobs, and we were very excited when he was contacted for two interviews tomorrow. We have prayed all week, we went to the temple on Friday, and we went to all of our meetings this weekend for stake conference. I really really have my fingers crossed that something will come of our hard work and prayers. My job is tiding us over, but we would really like to move on with our lives right now. Please keep Reed in your prayers tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Eating Big Kid Food
On Sunday night, we made taco soup for dinner, and I thought I would try giving Patrick a few bites to see if he liked it. He ended up eating half a bowl full! I was a little surprised, and thankful it sat okay with his tummy. Patrick is starting to eat more and more food from the table, which is sometimes a funny experience. This morning he had pancakes and eggs with the rest of the family. He always begs grandma to give him some drink from her cup. He loves drinking out of grown up glasses, no matter what it is.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
This Week
We found out that the psych tech job Reed was hoping to start this week was not to be. There was a "miscommunication," and they said they didn't actually offer Reed a job. We both thought it sure sounded like he was offered a job, but apparently we were wrong. Oh well. The job didn't pay enough and was an hour away anyway. So, this week we are back online searching for more jobs to apply to. Reed has also signed up with a temp agency, and hopeful something will come of that.
I was able to make about $138 this week at my job, which doesn't sound like much, but it does pay our bills and it is decent for the small amount of time I work. Patrick is doing okay with my abandoning him each morning to work, and I try to work with his schedule as much as possible. Sometimes the job is frustrating because something with go wrong technology-wise, but usually everything goes just fine. I think this job will be good to give me a couple of years experience so I can eventually apply for different editing jobs.
This week I had Activity Days, and we made prayer pillows. I quickly made some small pillow forms (6" by 12") and got some pink fleece for them to cover it with. I wanted them to be quick and no-sew, so I cut the fleece so the girls could tie it in knots around the pillow. After that, they decorated their pillows with glitter, sequins, bows, buttons, etc. I think the girls had a really good time, and I had fun helping them with this craft. One of the girls was there for the very first time, and I could tell she was just thrilled to be at Activity Days. She is the first girl in my Primary class to turn eight, and I'm glad she is in Activity Days. I am having fun with this calling.
Patrick is starting to turn into a busy body. He will wiggle all around on my lap, but as soon as I put him on the floor, he stays put! He is really close to crawling, but he hasn't figured out how to get on his hands and knees yet, and when I put him there, he just cries like I am being mean to him. This week he figured out how to wave goodnight/goodbye. His cough is still persistent and deep in his chest, but he doesn't have any other symptoms, so I think he is okay.
Patrick has suddenly turned picky. Some of the foods he used to eat just fine he is turning his nose up to. I know he loves the sweet stuff like bananas, peaches, and applesauce, and he used to like squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes just fine, but now he is not so willing. He eats more and more from the table now, and he eats a whole other breakfast after he nurses in the mornings.
This afternoon I was sitting on the floor working on my lesson for Primary tomorrow. I was writing on some paper with markers. When I got the markers out, Patrick looked at them and started grunting, so I gave him a marker to hold. He watched me for a few minutes, and then he started hitting my paper with the marker that was in his hand. I swear he was trying to tell me that he wanted to write too! I can't believe how smart he is getting for barely 8 months old!
I was able to make about $138 this week at my job, which doesn't sound like much, but it does pay our bills and it is decent for the small amount of time I work. Patrick is doing okay with my abandoning him each morning to work, and I try to work with his schedule as much as possible. Sometimes the job is frustrating because something with go wrong technology-wise, but usually everything goes just fine. I think this job will be good to give me a couple of years experience so I can eventually apply for different editing jobs.
This week I had Activity Days, and we made prayer pillows. I quickly made some small pillow forms (6" by 12") and got some pink fleece for them to cover it with. I wanted them to be quick and no-sew, so I cut the fleece so the girls could tie it in knots around the pillow. After that, they decorated their pillows with glitter, sequins, bows, buttons, etc. I think the girls had a really good time, and I had fun helping them with this craft. One of the girls was there for the very first time, and I could tell she was just thrilled to be at Activity Days. She is the first girl in my Primary class to turn eight, and I'm glad she is in Activity Days. I am having fun with this calling.
Patrick is starting to turn into a busy body. He will wiggle all around on my lap, but as soon as I put him on the floor, he stays put! He is really close to crawling, but he hasn't figured out how to get on his hands and knees yet, and when I put him there, he just cries like I am being mean to him. This week he figured out how to wave goodnight/goodbye. His cough is still persistent and deep in his chest, but he doesn't have any other symptoms, so I think he is okay.
Patrick has suddenly turned picky. Some of the foods he used to eat just fine he is turning his nose up to. I know he loves the sweet stuff like bananas, peaches, and applesauce, and he used to like squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes just fine, but now he is not so willing. He eats more and more from the table now, and he eats a whole other breakfast after he nurses in the mornings.
This afternoon I was sitting on the floor working on my lesson for Primary tomorrow. I was writing on some paper with markers. When I got the markers out, Patrick looked at them and started grunting, so I gave him a marker to hold. He watched me for a few minutes, and then he started hitting my paper with the marker that was in his hand. I swear he was trying to tell me that he wanted to write too! I can't believe how smart he is getting for barely 8 months old!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
I've Been Tagged
My friend Jenna tagged me with this post, and I thought I would be a fun sport and do it. It is about Reed and I as a couple.
1. What are your middle names? Noelle and Michael
1. What are your middle names? Noelle and Michael
2. How long have you been together? about 4 years.
3. How long did you know each other before you started dating? About 8 months
4. Who asked whom out? It sort of all just happened. I thought Reed asked me out, but I guess everyone else in the "group date" just "bailed out" so we went on a single date.
5. How old are you? Reed is 28, I am 22
6. Whose siblings do you see the most? We see Reed's sister Amy frequently (now), but we used to see my siblings every few months. And I get to see them on the web cam each week.
7. Do you have any children together? Yes. Patrick is 7 1/2 months
8. Pets? Nope
9. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Right now it is money and trying to find a job and not going crazy living with our parents.
10. Did you go to the same school? Yes, BYU-Idaho
11. Are you from the same town? No. I am from Nampa, ID and Reed would probably still say he was from Modesto, CA. I don't know if either one of us would say that is where we are from now though.
12. Who is the smartest? I think Reed is incredibly intelligent, but he always says that I am smarter. I do have more book smarts, but he has everything else.
13. Who is the most sensitive? Me.
14. Where do you eat out most as a couple? We love Wendy's dollar menu. Other than that, I'm not sure, because we really like to try new places since we have moved to a new area.
15. Where is the farthest you have traveled as a couple? We went to San Francisco about two years ago for a friend's wedding.
16. Who has the craziest exes? Definitely Reed.
17. Who has the worst temper? We are both pretty even tempered actually. No yelling.
18. Who does the cooking? Right now, mom does most of the cooking, but usually I do. Reed will when I let him. :)
19. Who is more social? Reed is more social most of the time, unless I am in a situation where I feel very comfortable.
20. Who is the neat freak? We are probably equally slobby/neat.
21. Who is more stubborn? I am more stubborn I think.
22. Who hogs the bed? I do. Or so he says.
23. Who wakes up earlier? I do.
24. Where was your first date? That is yet to be determined. We can't really decided when we had our first "date." Probably it was Ramirez food in Reed's apartment watching Real Genius.
25. Who has the bigger family? Reed
26. Do you get flowers often? No, which makes it more special when I do, and that is usually on my anniversary.
27. How do you spend the holidays? It depends on the holiday! There is always lots of food, I can tell you that much! We are starting our own traditions, though.
28. Who is more jealous? Neither.
29. How long did it take to get serious? About 2 months I guess. It is already starting to get blurry. Is that sad?
30. Who eats more? Uhhh . . . that's a toss up. I really need to watch what I eat though because of my diabetes.
31. Who does the laundry? I usually do, but since Reed is home a lot right now, he has been doing it more.
32 Who is better with the computer? Neither.
33. Who drives when you are together? Reed
I will tag Stacy Sorensen, Shantel Harmon, Hayley Cook, and Anna Cordner
I will tag Stacy Sorensen, Shantel Harmon, Hayley Cook, and Anna Cordner
Friday, February 20, 2009
Jobs
Well, a few things have happened in the last month. I have a job with a company here called Caption Colorado. They do captioning for financial conference calls, and I edit these calls. This job isn't going to pull in the big bucks, but it will help with bills. I am hoping to do this for a year or two so I can get the experience to get a different editing job that is a little more flexible for my schedule (well, let's face it--Patrick's schedule).
Reed has been spending several hours each days looking for a job, but this just isn't a good time right now. He has a job at a psychiatric residential treatment center that will start in March, but it doesn't pay enough for us to move out on our own, so he will work there and continue looking for something else. We are just keeping our fingers crossed and trying to figure out each day what the Lord would have us do. The way the economy is right now is making life frustrating for many people, and we are trying to be very patient, along with everyone else.
Patrick is just the happy-go-lucky kid he always is. He is trying really hard to cut teeth, but they are still being shy. He sits well now, but still doesn't have the motivation yet to move. He like orange foods, but I make him eat the yucky green ones so he doesn't turn orange. He likes to practice feeding himself, even though he makes a big mess. Patrick laughs and laughs and laughs and sometimes it makes me wonder if he knows something I don't.
Reed has been spending several hours each days looking for a job, but this just isn't a good time right now. He has a job at a psychiatric residential treatment center that will start in March, but it doesn't pay enough for us to move out on our own, so he will work there and continue looking for something else. We are just keeping our fingers crossed and trying to figure out each day what the Lord would have us do. The way the economy is right now is making life frustrating for many people, and we are trying to be very patient, along with everyone else.
Patrick is just the happy-go-lucky kid he always is. He is trying really hard to cut teeth, but they are still being shy. He sits well now, but still doesn't have the motivation yet to move. He like orange foods, but I make him eat the yucky green ones so he doesn't turn orange. He likes to practice feeding himself, even though he makes a big mess. Patrick laughs and laughs and laughs and sometimes it makes me wonder if he knows something I don't.
Trip to Idaho
Last week we took a trip to Idaho to visit family and friends. My cousin Luke is leaving next month for his mission, so that was a nice excuse to drive to Idaho. The drive was long, about 14 hours, but Patrick was very patient. We stayed with our friends Jordan and Bethany, and it was super fun to be able to hang out with our friends again. It made me want to move back to Idaho (for about 5 minutes) and then I realized that there was two feet of snow on the ground and it felt like 5 degrees outside. We even got to stay two extra days because of a snow storm that closed part of the freeway in Wyoming.
Patrick had a good time playing with Coralie. At first he was a little intimidated because he isn't around babies very often right now, but he quickly got used to Coralie running circles around him and accidentally trying to sit on his head. It was fun watching them take baths together, play together, and cry when the other baby started crying. My family also loved seeing Patrick. It was fun to have all the family together and see all the babies. We had all age ranges there, and all the babies were passed around.
Our trip to Idaho was nice, but I have to admit that I'm not itching to drive back any time soon. Patrick is really good in the car, but that doesn't make the road trip any more fun.
Patrick had a good time playing with Coralie. At first he was a little intimidated because he isn't around babies very often right now, but he quickly got used to Coralie running circles around him and accidentally trying to sit on his head. It was fun watching them take baths together, play together, and cry when the other baby started crying. My family also loved seeing Patrick. It was fun to have all the family together and see all the babies. We had all age ranges there, and all the babies were passed around.
Our trip to Idaho was nice, but I have to admit that I'm not itching to drive back any time soon. Patrick is really good in the car, but that doesn't make the road trip any more fun.
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