10 Things I'm Loving About You In November

I love that your favorite "toy" for the month has been your basket of shoes.

I love that you've learned how to scoot backwards

I love that during bath time you hold your fish in your hand, put your feet in the air, cross them and then rest them against the bathtub wall. You do this over and over again it's so funny to watch.

I love that when I change your diaper you try to kick off your pants every time. It's almost like you think we're playing a game. You try to get your pants off before I'm ready to pull them back up, you usually win.

I love that I can get you to laugh just by looking at you and laughing.

I love that you retaught me the true meaning of Thanksgiving

I love that you said "dada" and "mama" this month. Both around the same time you sure know how to play it safe.

I love that you pat everything and anything.

I love that you've learned how to move your walker.

I love that your showing your first signs of crawling. I know it's only a matter of time till you get those knee's figured out.

Getting our Christmas tree

Brianna (Jaxson's cousin), Jaxson, and Grandma

Thankful...

What I'm THANKFUL for this year:
I'm thankful that I could become a mother
I'm thankful that God trusted us with Jaxson.
I'm thankful for Jaxson's smile, laughter, voice, pats, snuggles and sloppy kisses
I'm thankful that I was able to carry Jaxson to 36 weeks,that his lung were healthy & for csections.
I'm thankful that we were able to bring him home when I left the hospital
I'm thankful for Brett and his love and strength.
I'm thankful I'm getting to stay home and do the stay at home mom thing.
I'm thankful for family and their great support.
I'm thankful for great friends new ones I've met this year and ones I've had for a while.
I'm thankful for my beliefs, Christ, the atonement, the Holy Ghost and the power of prayer
I'm thankful for the newborn screening test
I'm thankful for modern medicine
I'm thankful that PKU has to come from both parents
I'm thankful that I survived February and March
I'm thankful for the PKUers that came before Jaxson and paved the way
I'm thankful that I could drop my pregnancy weight and then some
I'm thankful for blogs
I'm thankful that I've found a hair do I really love
I'm thankful for nap time
I'm thankful that Brett's such a big help with Jaxson
I'm thankful that I'm organized
I'm thankful for uplifting scriptures, talks, quotes, "words of wisdom", etc.

I'm so thankful for all of the things I mentioned but probably the thing I feel most gratitude towards this year is the miracle that Jaxson 's low protein diet grants us.Without it Jaxson couldn't ever be his true self and we would not have the great privilege of knowing him the same way. Not a day goes by that I don't look at him and remember this miracle and my heart fills with thankfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Side

A few months ago I was visiting with Brett's Aunt Robin. We were talking about being a parent. She said something that stuck with me she said, your children will bring out sides of you you never knew existed. Good sides and unfortunately bad sides.

Yesterday I saw a side I never knew I had or thought I would have. Jaxson has been getting over a cold and a terrible cough. We were in our living room sitting on our rug playing with toys when he started coughing. I could see the possibility with this cough that he might spit up a little bit so I put my hand under his mouth. Well he didn't spit up he pucked. The poor little guy pucked three times. My hand only caught the vomit long enough for it to spill over and get on myself, Jaxson, the toys that were around him, his clothes and our living room rug.

I gave him a bath (which he thought was great a bath in the middle of the day), changed his clothes and cleaned up the toys and rug. When that was all done I all of a sudden realized that I had handled pucking like a pro. I was so proud. You see as a teacher I found myself in a few pucking experiences and seriously would run the other way as the child was pucking. I then would take my class either outside of the room till it was cleaned up or we would go to the farthest place away from the vomit. I know no one loves vomit but I just can't deal with it.

It's amazing what you can do and put up with when it comes to your own child.


I also have to post that last night my nice sweet husband took me to Twilight....LOVED IT! It was well worth the wait.

8's

8 TV Shows I love to watch:
1. John and Kate Plus 8
2. One Tree Hill
3. The Biggest Loser
4. Ugly Betty
5. Oprah
6. Good Things Utah
7. Ghost Whisper
8. Reality TV (I’m a BIG reality TV gunky) Survivor, America’s Next Top Model, The Hills, etc… If I watch one episode I have to watch the rest to see how it ends

8 Restaurants I love:
1. Rumbi’s (it’s my new favorite place)
2. Olive Garden
3. Wendy’s
4. Chili’s
5. Firehouse Pizza--I know crazy for me since I don’t like pizza but they have the yummiest/different pastas I’ve ever seen at a restaurant and their house specialty dessert pazookies (a little under baked cookie with ice cream and toppings) are to die for—Firehouse Pizza is in Logan)
6. Cold Stone (I know it’s not a restaurant but I wouldn’t mind one bit eating there for lunch or dinner I LOVE Cold Stone)
7. Hamiltons (in Logan)
8. Royal Express (in Logan)

I could just go to Logan to eat. I also love Iron Gate Grill (they have the best pull apart bread and coconut salmon) No wonder I gained a few unwanted pounds while getting my degree. Maybe it’s a good thing we live in Vernal and there really isn’t any place that makes my mouth water.

8 Things I Have Done Today:
1. Our morning routine –feed Jaxson a bottle, get breakfast for myself, get Jaxson dressed, get my bed and his crib made, workout, get dress, and tidy up the house (if I get all of this done before 11 and Jaxson first nap I’m feeling pretty proud)
2. Make formula, calculate what baby food and how much Jaxson will eat to get his 60 mg of phe for the day, and since it’s Friday I have to write down everything that goes into his mouth, how much and at what time. We have to document his food intake for three day prior to taking his blood which we do every Sunday.
3. Dropped off my bridal cape to my visiting teacher her sister in getting married in Jan and she wanted to check it out.
4. Went to Wal-Mart with my mom. She convinced me to let Jaxson sit in the cart, a first for him, and he loved it.
5. Went to Maurices to try on pants. I tried on 12 pairs and didn’t find one that I wanted to buy. =( I did try on a pair that I had to go clear down to a size 0 to fit I almost got those just because of the tag. Let me do a little bit of clarifying because I’m no size 0 these pants were just running really big and were stretchy but boy was trying on those pants a self esteem booster.=)
6. Cooked dinner and cleaned up---nothing too exciting just Sloppy Joes, salad, and oranges.
7. Made a grocery list and dinner menus for the week. I was in hopes of going grocery shopping tonight but time got away from us so we’ll put it off till tomorrow. We’ve been putting it off for three days hopefully tomorrow we get to it because I’m almost all out of milk.
8. Looked at sites for ideas for Jaxson 1st birthday (Yeah I know his birthday is the end of February and it’s November but what can I say I’m a big time planner.)

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:
1. I’m looking forward to getting a home
2. I’m looking forward to having our nations health care change and really be there and benefit those that need it for a cost that’s reasonable.
3. I’m looking forward to having the knowledge and capability to cook meal after meal for my son.
4. I’m looking forward to the FDA approves a hand held device for checking blood phe levels- similar to what diabetics use to check blood sugar
5. I’m looking forward to hearing Jaxson talk and to having a conversation with him.
6. I’m looking forward to Christmas and all the great feelings and fun times that come with it.
7. I’m looking forward to my items that I’ve ordered arriving in my mailbox.
8. I’m looking forward to seeing Twilight.

Thanks for the tag Stephanie….now I tag…..Elizabeth,Raquel and Megan

My Little Man Dressed Up

I wanted to share these pictures because I think they are so adorable and completely blog worthy. Monday was my Grandma Olsen's funeral. It was wonderful ,well as wonderful as a funeral can be. All of my Grandma's son's, grandkids, and great grandkids were able to attend. That was a total of 52 people talk about...all because two people fell in love. It was a blast seeing everyone. We searched SLC over the weekend for the perfect outfit for Jaxson to wear and I had to share some pictures of him. Brett and I both love dressing our little man!

Brett getting Jaxson ready. Talk about a daddy/son moment. I'm so glad I was able to captured this moment!

The boy knows how to pull off a suit

PKU Breakfast

So it's been a very BUSY time for our little family. On Friday we packed our bags and headed out to SLC to spend time with our PKU community. Once a year the metabolic clinic puts together a breakfast for all the PKU kids and their families. We were soooo excited to go. It was held at Discovery Gateway and boy was that a fun place. Discovery Gateway for those of you who don't know is a hands on play place for children at the Gateway mall. Jaxson loved the ball area (of coarse) and the water area was a big hit as well. Before we played we had breakfast and talked with companies that sale low protein items. We sampled lots of low protein breakfast foods our favorite was the Maddy Blueberry muffin. We talked and met new families and families we already knew. I loved being surrounded by PKUers and mom's who are "walking in my shoes" . It was a great time and we can't wait for next year's breakfast.This is Jaxson's doctors: Dr. Longo (in the yellow) and Dr. Botto. We typically see Dr. Longo every time we go out to clinic. We LOVE Dr. Longo he's a really wonderful doctor. He always makes us feel like we are doing such a great job with Jaxson and he is so sweet with Jaxson.

This is the lady with the knowledge, Sharon. Sharon is our dietitian. I talk with her weekly. When I think of Sharon I think of the saying: To the world you just might be one person but to one person you might just be the world. She is FABULOUS! We appreciate all the work and effort she devotes to our son.This is Sara with her son Jackson. Jackson was the first PKU baby (other then our own Jaxson) that we met in person. He is 5 months older then Jaxson. Sara is fun to visit with since she is just a little ways ahead of us. I hope Jackson and Jaxson will be great buddies someday.

Playing in the water area

Playing with the balls. Jaxson would have loved to have stayed here and played all day.

Leaving the PKU breakfast. Look at that face can you tell he had a blast or what. Our clinic is so great. I am always so impressed with the service and care the clinic provides for us. Go Primary Children's Metabolic Clinic....YOU ROCK!

My Grandma

Heaven received a beautiful spirit last night, my Grandma. I was truly blessed to have my grandma in my life for 26 years. She was a GRAND mother. Growing up with her two house from ours I am lucky to have many memories of her. I will miss her more then words can express. I am thankful that I was able to see her last night and express my love and appreciation for all that she has and will continue to mean to me

My grandma had a real soft spot for Jaxson. She adored him and even at times thought he was hers. She thought his lips were so tiny and cute (she loved little things). I will forever look at his lips and think of my grandma. I know that she will be on the other side helping me raise him.

How grateful I am today for eternal families and the plan of salvation!