Sick, pregnant, and sick of being pregnant

So, this will be a short post, but I felt I needed to say something for the week, since this is also a family journal. Brett's been working like crazy at work, school, and his Thesis. He's putting a lot of time in now, so that things won't be as crazy later. I'm so grateful for all his hard work and can't wait till his load is lightened in April. Hyrum is as cute as ever. He's picking up some words lately, and we're so excited to get a better understanding of what's going on in his head. We think he's getting an idea that something is happening, because he's been getting a little extra clingy lately. We're really hoping he'll adjust well to having a baby brother. In other events; Brett was kind enough to pass his cold on to me and it feels like being sick magnifies my back pain somehow. Hopefully, it will be gone soon. Anyway, my 'list' is almost complete. I've been spreading it out further so that I don't overwork myself. Even though I'd love to not be pregnant right now everthing will be so much easier if he stays in for at least another week. We'll keep you updated on the happenings.

Check!

Updating the family pictures. Done. Yay! Yes, I know I'm due in a few weeks and will have to update them again, but it was one of those things that I felt like I couldn't have another baby until they were done. Thank you Kristen for your talent, eye, and time! Here are some of our favorites:

The list

For those of you who have experienced nesting you can understand the joy of checking things off 'the list'. I love lists and I love having lots of the boxes checked more than anything. I've been working off one list for a few weeks now and I'm almost done! The exciting thing is that once this list is complete I will only have one more list before I am ready to have the baby. Hyrum came early and unexpectedly (because of my scheduled C-section later). So, I've been feeling an extra push to get things done early. My goal is to have everything ready for Baby 2 (Noah) by the first of February, then after that all I'll need to do is keep up with housework. We'll see if I make it, but I'll keep you posted. Anway, Last night and tonight my project has been nursing covers. I couldn't choose between two fabrics, so I decided to make 2 nursing covers. They were a lot easier to make than I thought. With some of the extra fabric I also made a diaper carrier and a 'quick-trip' purse. Today, Hyrum and I got home from the grocery store and he was 'helping' me unload the bags. I thought he grabbed one of the apples. He proceded to take it to the couch and start eating it. When I finished putting things away I found him totally chowing on a tomato. Like mother, like son!! I was so proud. I just wish I was able to cut the stem out and take the sticker off before he ate it, but oh well.
Oh, and notice his little pink nose. It's COLD!!!

18 Months

Hyrum had his 18 month check up yesterday and it made me think. . . what all has happened in the last 18 months? Here's a few little calculations that made me think:

3 ear infections
2 instances of hand-foot-mouth disease
9 teeth
Newborn feedings
Calculated approximately 300 hours of lost sleep (that's all combined 38 nights awake)

Phases he's overcome:
Thumb sucking
Toe eating
Bottles
Head butting (for the most part)
Biting

We also figured that we've spent approximately $2,000 on diapers since July 5th, 2007

Why am I saying all this? Because, after figuring all this out I can't help but smile and think of how I would never in a million years trade who he is now and how he came to be our little Monkey Man. I recently read an article where a women said "Being a mother has expanded the depth of my heart." This is the best description I've ever heard of parenthood. Brett and I talked the other night about how much we love Hyrum and can't imagine a love being greater. We also talked about how with each new child a new expanse will be discovered in our hearts. When our hearts feel so full that there might be no more room, the Lord opens up a whole new 'ventricle'. We love Hyrum so much and can't wait for a new little brother to fill our hearts and home with a new little personality and friend to play with.

We love you HYRUM!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a . . . night

I hope everyone's having a great Christmas! We came down to Arizona about a week ago to spend the break with Brett's family. It has been great to get away and have Brett 'home' most of the time. We're staying with Brett's brother Chris, Cassi, and their two little girls. One great thing about staying with them is that Cassi is due in February too, so we can both be crazy pregnant women. Hyrum loves playing with the girls. . . well, mostly tackling them. But it's really fun and cute to watch them. My parents are also visiting Mesa to see us and my Brother Jeff, Jenn, and their daughter Lexi. So it's been a family Christmas on both sides. We've been having so much fun being down here, although Hyrum will most likely have 3 new teeth by the time we get back to Utah. . . which means we haven't been having the best sleep. Let's just hope Hyrum reaches my goal of all his teeth cut through before baby 2 is born. :) Doesn't hurt to wish. Anyway, Just before we left UT we went to Temple Square with the Partridges and I've been meaning to post those pictures. The pictures are the best part, so here you go, and Merry Christmas!

Ammendment

It's been an interesting week. Before I get to the ammendment I thought I would give a little background information. Brett's job with Oaisys has been an amazing opportunity for us and we've been very excited about moving down to Arizona in April and with a job for Brett to go to. Over the last few weeks Oaisys has been having a lot of computer issues (which, obviously, isn't effective for a programer). They also announced that their main client had a 40% reduction in work force in November. And when your main client is suffering that means you do too. Oaisys gave a subtle warning that there 'may' be changes (aka layoffs) at the beginning of the new year. It's not definite, but it sure made us feel a bit shaky, especially when you add that to the computer problems Brett's been having with the company. Not a week had passed after simmering on the new information when Brett got a call from Wally Marsden (Who, I have no idea who he is. But, I've learned he's a well known, successful businessman in the computer world) He's starting up a new project and offered Brett a position as employee #4 of a very promising startup company. Brett would be developing and creating the same kind of stuff he's been doing for his Thesis. So, it would be right up his ally and something he loves to do. Not very often do you actually get to find a job that you would be excited and happy to go to everyday. We feel that the Lord has led us to where we are today. When one door closes another, cooler, door opened for us and we've spent time discussing what this would mean for our future and our family. We've decided to take the plunge and go for it. Here comes the interesting part:

Amendment:

We recently sent out a Christmas card via email ( I know it was tacky, but we figured that was better than nothing) I also want to apologize to anyone who did not get one. We just mailed it out to whoever was in our address book. If you didn't get one and would like to see what I'm talking about CLICK HERE.

With the new job opportunity Brett received, we will NOT be moving to Arizona in April! The new company is based in American Fork, UT. Brett and I have never wanted to stay in Utah. We've never even looked at it as an option. Arizona is still our goal, and we want our kids to be able to grow up and go to school there, but that goal will be on hold for a few years. We'll be looking to buy a home here somewhere between AF and Draper. These are huge changed for us and we know that there will be things that we will miss out on by not moving to Arizona. We're sad to not be closer to our families and friends. But, we're confident that this is where we need to be right now and that we will be happy here and find new opportunities to make friends, and have experiences that we may not have otherwise. With that said: If ANY of you are in the Utah area after we get a house we would love your company!

Turkey Day, and Carmel Chicken

I LOVE breaks! We had such a wonderful weekend. It was great to be able to spend time together as a family and just relax. We drove up to Boise and spent Thanksgiving with my sister Angela and her family. Hyrum had so much fun with his cousins. He just loves playing with other kids. He was also great in the car. On the way back home we caught him having a very heart-felt conversation with his stuffed puppy. It was SOOO funny. I tried to get a picture of it, but it was hard in the car and with a pillow in the way. I think you had to be there.The weekend greatness continued with Lee, Jaclyn, and Bree coming to visit when we got back. It was great seeing friends. . . but kind of made us a little trunky for Arizona. Hopefully, Christmas break will tide us over for four more months. In other news: Hyrum has recently become obsessed with dipping his food. No pictures, but just imagine his most recent 'yummies': clementines dipped in his leftover barbecue sauce, and tonight; chicken nuggets dipped in carmel. Sounds good, huh? Peek-a-boo everyone!!!