Kneading Bread

I was unsure of what to get Mike for Christmas so I decided on something I knew he'd enjoy. Homemade bread & his moms rolls.  He can enjoy it whenever he would like.  

Well Aubree wanted attention so I let her stand in her high chair while I worked on the bread.  She was playing with a kitchen towel on the counter mimicking me kneading the bread.  Oh she SO loves to copy me! It's so cute! 

Without daddy

The past two weekends daddy has been out of town.  The first weekend was to get a new tractor for Mike.  It was in Oklahoma and he got a good deal on it so they drove there to go pick it up.  The second weekend was to go hunt for Elk. Come Sunday morning we hadn't head from the guys since the night they arrived.  We were starting to get a little nervous.  I thought Ry would check in a little more but when he got back informed me of his unplugged weekend plan.  Well it was nice to have our boys come back home safe and sound.  :-D. Unfortunately they didn't see any elk or wolf.  Bree had pointed at the pictures of daddy a few times over the weekend. It was cute.  We missed daddy. And it cute to know daddy missed us too.  I loved that gave Bree lots of love when he got home and wanted to cuddle with me all night :-D 

A new job

I recently started a job at a Day care in a athletic club.  I love it!  It has been a plus all around.  It's great for the extra cash, for me to be able to get out of the house, for Aubree to learn some great skills around other kids.  Aubree likes it sometimes and then is more clingy other times but she has been pretty great at letting me hold other kids/babies when they are hurt or need some extra attention.  She is beginning to take interest in babies.  When they are in there she keeps going back to look at them, and wants to touch them.  We recently had a three month old in there and just yesterday a three week old.  Wow I don't think I'd want to leave my own that age with a stranger with a bunch of other kids, but I love being the one to watch them.  I love holding the little babies!  

Daddy did good Yesterday.  He brought home a surprise dinner!  It was nice!  I love not having to make and clean up dinner every now and then and a surprise is even better :-D   And he even got home from work before me!  That is something I could get used to :-D


Aubree's stages recently!  She likes to be carried down the stairs.  Not sure why.  She'll just stand at the top till I grab her.  Now if I wasn't standing there I think she'd just come on down by herself.  She loves baby dolls, fisher price people, sitting on anything and everything (including dad's head if he's on the ground), purses, shoes.  Unloading the dishwasher!

Camping

You enjoyed your first camping trip.   We joined daddy on the youth camping trip.  You didn't walk around too much there since the ground was pretty uneven, but it still a lot of was fun.  We slept in the cabin basement while daddy slept outside between the girls and guys. 

Your first time in the lake. When we were getting ready to leave we left a little later then the rest of the group so we had to find everyone and that took a moment to find the trail.  Daddy was a little hesitant that we wouldn't find the trail but I'm glad we found it so that we could enjoy the view and then lake.  By the time we got there you had fallen asleep.  So we held you for a little bit but then you woke up to enjoy the water.  You didn't like the yellow floaty.  We let you play in cascade lake a little just walking in the shallow area until your started to shiver and turn purple.  We changed your clothes and bundled you back up.  Mom was so focused on making sure you got your sun block on you that she got a little sun burnt herself.

Organizing

I've been wanting to organize things more in my house.  I went to Lowes and got some help to find a way to hang up clothes in my laundry room.  This worked out perfectly. Now the temporary rod is not in the way when we go to the garage.   There is now lots more room in there. :-D 

One year!

I can't believe it's been a year already.  You have so much caricature, and personality.  When music is on we can often find you bouncing to it, bending and straightening your legs.

You love carrying anything around the house. You will pick things up and carry it until you find something else you like. You like little people or items that are about the size of your hands and you will carry them for a while. Moms purse is a new favorite of yours. You love shoes and get a little upset that you're unable to  put them on yourself.  You will still shred toilette paper if you get your hands on it.  

Sometimes you are still cuddly but it make me sad when you want to be independent and push away. Like you will cuddle with me sitting on my lap, tummy against tummy laying your head on my chest but you don't like my arms around you. I will often wait till your more sleepy before I wrap my arms around you. Just so I can cuddle you more. 

Smarty pants

Aubree has been signing "more" and "all done" here and there.  She knows what the toilet is for just doesn't know how to tell me when she needs to go just yet.  She can go up and down the stairs all by herself.   Then today she finds a small hand towel and starts rubbing it on her tummy. So funny. 

We have a Walker

She has been walking for about the last two weeks. She makes about halfway across the room now before she goes back to a crawl.  

She loves stairs and can go up and down them by herself.  She still loves books and flipping through the pages.  

She also is great at using the potty.  She just doesn't know to tell me just yet.  So I sit her on it sometimes when I think she might go #2.  I gave her a book so she didn't get too squirmy. 

She has also been using her signs "more" and "all done" a little.  It's so cute.   She mostly does all done but the other day she did " more while on the couch asking for some food. :-D 

Walking

Aubree is on the verge of starting to walk.  She is great at free standing. She just needs the courage.  Well last night she gained the courage. She starting to work on taking those first steps.  She just gets so excited that she leans her body first before moving her feet. 

Here is a picture of Aubree playing in the kitchen cabinets. 

5 year Anni

This is Aubree in her first pair of tennis type of shoes.  Grandma Debbie got them for since she is on the verge of walking. They remind me of grandma Sanders favorite pair of shoes.  The Reebok's.  

I didn't know quiet yet what I wanted to do for our Anniversary gift for Ry.  I had been thinking about doing this for a bit.  So to save money on a gift I decided to do this the day of. It's in the hallway to our room. Now when we walk by it numerous times in the day we can see things that show our relationship with each other. 

Ear infection

She ended up with with ear infection. So she is taking Amoxicillin to get rid of it.  That stuff looks and smells familiar, but gosh it's got too much pink dye in it. I hope it doesn't stain anything (mostly her bibs) permanently.  

Also she is now ten months:  She loves to open cupboards, eat everything off the floors, shake things that make sounds. She will walk along everything she pulls herself up to but anytime you try to get her to come to you she plops right down.  Doesn't want to walk yet. She loves climbing the stairs but I've blocked them off for now. I've been working on teaching her to back down them but I can tell her brain isn't ready to process it yet. She will shake her hand at me to help her but accidentally starts going up until I start moving her legs. Once I start helping her she does it right.  I give he kisses all the time so she loves giving me them back.  Sometimes I'll be just holding her and she'll sneak one by swinging her neck down and around. SO cute.  Also if she is nonstop talking I know she is getting fussing.  She'll normally gibber jabber by taking breaks if she's just talking.  She loves to shred paper and especially toilet paper.  If I don't want her to put something in her mouth I'll just give her a binky and she's pretty good about keeping it in for a bit.  I've contemplated a couple of times to get rid of the binky at nap/bed time but then teething or sickness kicks in. Also often I'll put things on her head just playing with her and she actually does it to herself now. 

So sweet cuddle bug

Aubree has been struggling with sleep for the past month.  I think it's a combo of supplementing with formula (gassier), and teething. I have ended up falling asleep on the rocker at least part of every night. 

By five a.m. when she wakes up I'm tired and just feed her back to sleep. Most times in the rocker but the last few times in our bed. It's easier for me to get up and make Ry's lunch that way. 

Yesterday I climbed back in bed with her. She woke at about eight, like normal lately. She crawled around on our bed for a bit and then cuddled with me.  She laid her face against mine, cheek against cheek, faces facing the same way.  She laid there for a few minutes. It was just so precious.  Then she moved her head forward on to my pillow and went back to sleep.  This made the late nights and staying at home with her SO worth it. If I was working I'd never have gotten to enjoy sleeping in with her like that. :-D 

Memorial Day Fun!

We started off the day by going to the ward breakfast at the park.  We had pancakes and sausage. It was fun to see what the Kuna park off Main st. looked like up close after driving by it a few times. 

We decided to go with the Howe's to the Parade.  We missed it by a few weeks. This year they did it earlier. So we decided to go to Wahoos mini golf. That was a lot of fun. The girls were fun to watch.  Hannah got sprayed by water at the ending.  If you missed the last hole it sprayed you.  She didn't like it.  Then McKinley slipped on the water. We decided to go get their food.  We both got nacho grandes those were huge.  Neither of our families finished.  Aubree wanted same so I was feeding her Cheerios with my left hand while I ate with my right. 

We both were supposed to bring a side to the Burnhams that night but we partied all day and wouldn't have the time or energy so we went to Winco to buy some potato salad.  The girls thought it was funny that we were also at Winco with them.  

Later at the Burnhams we had dinner and then played a game. You had to have a run or a set of three like in phase ten but you play with face cards.  The number of cards you had was the number that was a wild that round. You can only lay down on the first person to lay outs cards. When they lay down you only have one more round to lay down or get rid of your highest cards. You don't want points in this game. If you win you deduct 5 points if you lay out and get rid of your cards you have 0 points Ace's are worth 14, and jokers none. 

While we were playing Aubree was playing with Sawyer on the ground, and we were joking that he was trying to impress her.  "Check out these push ups,  check out my guns." It had me laughing so hard it was hilarious. 

It was a great day off with Ryan.  I hope we can have more fun days like this on his days off :-D

The Gift of Hearing

I heard about the mothers gift giveaway on the radio.  I didn't think I'd get them but with how expensive hearing aides are I figured it was worth a try. 

I had Alisha enter me cause she would know what I struggle with most. She wrote something and it had some good pointers but not all truth for me.  Some was true for her amount of loss so we worked on it a little together and then she submitted it.  She got a call and informed me to call them back. I took a hearing test and they got to see me personally.  They decided to reward two of us.  I was kind of glad because then that means I didn't take them from the other lady.  So excited that I got them. 

Aubree is crawling

Since we got back from our Vegas trip (5/1/13) she has been all for crawling.  First with one knee and one foot but now she is better at two knees except for on the linoleum kitchen floor.  That's when she likes to bear/froggy crawl. 

Ashley's wedding weekend

We flew in using the companies fly miles. It cost us $200 dollars in gas last time we drove the Jetta so we asked mom if they had the fly miles and if we could use them.  She let us.  We extended our stay.  We flew in late Thursday.  Since mom wanted us to visit friends during the day I meet up with Chandree a HS friends for breakfast. Then mom came back from work early to hang out. We visited with family.  Ryan ran off with the guys a few times to outdoor stores which he enjoyed. Aubree got in the jacuzzi with me and liked it.  I took family pictures Saturday night. 

Sunday we visited our old El Camino Ward.  They adored Aubree. Monday we visited Ry's old workers, grandma Simpson, and David Wadsworth.  Got Canes and visited with mom and Dad.  

Day of the wedding. We slept in. Then I realized all I needed to do.  I got mom and Alisha helping me.  With their help we got the dress ironed, nails painted and tanned my legs. Once I got there they were running behind too.  I'm surprised Ashley wanted a hand in my makeup.  Brennan curled my hair. After the girls were ready we headed to the chapel.  Things were a little unorganized in my opinion so everything was running behind. We didn't get to the reception until after it started and had to take bridal party pictures there in the dark. 

It was funny Aubree kept looking at me.  I could tell she noticed a difference in my makeup. She is very attentive and notices the small details.  It's kind of fun. 

The next morning we boarded the plan and went home.  Both times Aubree did pretty good on the plan until about when the plan landed. 

A more uplifting spirit

So I've been watching some episodes of the TV show "Once Upon a Time". It's been fun watching and is kind of addicting. Well it may be a fluke but last night in the middle of the night I was up with Aubree and the LED night light in the hall was flickering. Ry just a few days ago said LED lights don't go out so it was pretty trippy. I was praying for peace cause I get scared of things easily at night. I jumped back in bed bringing Aubree with me. I didn't want to be near that light. While I laid there trying to fall back asleep I thought of how can I be better at bringing the spirit of Christ in our home to help me not be scared like that. I decided to stop watching the show. It has a intriging story line but it has some creepy magic and evilness parts in it. I don't want to be bringing that kind of spirit into our home so I last night I decided I can live without it.

Wonder oven, garden, busy bag exchange.

Lasagna dinner in the wonder oven! It turned out perfect! I put lasagna in two jars, bread in one jar, corn in another (I'd do frozen next time or add some flavor. Canned was too bland even with butter.) and then brownies in the last one. This was the only one that didn't work, but that's my fault it was a microwave recipe. I just put it in the microwave and then it was great served with ice cream. Yum!

For the lasagna I greased it with Crisco. I mixed my sauce, cottage cheese and grate cheese in another bowl. Then I filled the jar 1/3 - 1/2 full with uncooked mini bow tie pasta (any small pasta should work). Then I mixed in the sauce mix up to about 2/3rds full.  I wanted to give the pasta some room to grow.

Aubree put herself to sleep holding her lovey bear.

Broccoli has sprouted.

Aubree being silly with her toys. She is SO entertaining.

And lastly the pizza is my contribution to the busy bag exchange. A few ladies in the ward got together and traded little busy bags we made. We made 11 extra to give to the others. We all ended up with some awesome games for our kids.

Starting Seed Indoors

Cherry, and best boy tomateos and also broccoli. On a heating pad for warmth. These few plants need to be started about this time of year to get produce before it freezes next winter, but it still is too cold for them here at night time. Some of the others can be started later directly into the ground.

I put a little potting soil in each cup and then the seeds just barely beneath the surface. There are two seeds in each cup to make sure that each cup has a plant that germanates. Once germanated then I will pull out the extra one. Then water them gently so as to not stir the seeds.

Concocting

I've really been enjoying taking a recipe and switching it up a little to make it easier or more what I want.

I've learned the trick to making muffins fluffly. Then also I change up the recipe so that I've made blueberry, raspberry, corn, and chocolate muffins from a poppyseed recipe I've found. So now I can split this large recipe and make half one and the other half another. I love freezing them too. I can fit a ton in the freezer and pull out two in a sandwich flip bag to send with Ryan for a quick breakfast.

Next I want to try making a whole meal in the wonder oven. I'll do that by putting the sides and dinner rolls in mason jars in the boiling pot so everything is done at the same time and I don't have to worry about watching them all at once.

Also I want to see if I can make my own version of Shirly J pizza sauce. Tara brought up some the weekend of Aubree's baby blessing. It looks like it has mostly thyme and a few other things. I might can get thyme cheap at cash and carry :-D. I like doing the 8 oz tomato sauces so that I'm not putting the excess back in the fridge.

Also I'm working trying to bake and cook more to save us more money but not only that but so that I'm better at rotating our food storage and were eating helthier by doing so. Along with that I'm hoping to be better and knowing when something is. Good deal and when to stock up.

Six months & Teeth

You got both your bottom front teeth in one day, three days before you turned 6 months. I should have known your cold was part of teething case you were pulling at your ears.

I've been putting you up on your hands and knees and you have been doing really good at staying there.

You have been doing great at going backwards. In your walker and by lifting yourself on your arms and bag down again. Those are the next step to going forward!

Also I've noticed that you click your heals together when your happy and also when your nursing. It's so cute.

Steam room

Little Bree has been congested the last two days. We are spending some time in a steamy bathroom until we can get her a humidifier from grandma Debbie.

She's been having fun playing with herself in the mirror and bashing (gently) her head on it. lol She is a funny entertaing character.

Five months

You love to put your fingers in moms mouth. When you have painful burps you often claw at and scratch mom. Also you like to suck on or bite moms chin if you loose your binky. Biting is when you have a burp. It helps mom to know that you are in pain from burps and not just cranky and sleepy. You love to grab at everything and shove it in your mouth. You love scratching everything that makes a sound, the changing pad, couch, etc. I think you like the feel and sound. You like to chew on your binky (it's all rubber) in funny ways backwards, upsidedown, etc.

When sitting up it's funny to watch you because you sit up, lean forward, sit up, lean forward. So cute!

You LOVE your daddy! You get excited whenever he walks into the room or you here his voice when he comes home or around the corner. We know this because you do this whole body squirm, panting like a dog, and a big smile. It's so fun.

You are getting pickier about who holds you and it's even worse when you aren't content. If you have a burp or are slightly sleepy.

Walker & reflux

You were to small to reach the ground at Christmas time in your walker. Today you had your foot flat on the ground and were pushing yourself backwards on the floor in the bathroom.

You have had the symptoms of acid reflux for a while but with you being my first little one I haven't noticed what is normal. The last of your older cousins that I've really been around before you were born a few years older than you. I knew you had trouble with burps taking forever to get all of them out. I'd lay you down for a nap and you'd usually wake not long after. I got a prescription for your reflux but it didn't seem to help as much as I thought it would. It seems to help with the arching of your back but not your spit up or sleep. Today I tried to feed you my milk via bottle to see if that helped. You didn't spit up today but you seemed to cough a little. I'm guessing it's because you aren't used to keeping all the milk fat down.

Sitting up at four months

Your pretty good at sitting up on your own if mom positions your feet right and lets you stable yourself before letting go. 

Mom also is getting to thinking that you most like likely have some kind of reflux.  You always arch your back, fuss, squeal and moan, when mom tries burping you.  You also moan when you spit up. 

When you get hungry your make a fake coughing sound it's quite funny.

Mom is also trying out some cloth diapers that she bought for your 72 hr / emergency bag.