Shelly's Quiz

Shelly from The Cunningham Family in bush Alaska challenged her readers to take part in a quiz she made.  (Click HERE to read her original post.)  So, sit back and enjoy as I try to answer truthfully!

What is your biggest fear?

Right now, not being able to handle TWO little ones and 4 months later becoming the sole breadwinner while I put Paul through school.  This second baby has some great timing (as did the first) and is throwing us for a little loop!  When I think about where we are in life, moving back to a college town to be students again, having two kids and a mortgage, and me taking over the income responsibility for a few years, it scares me!  It makes me think of the song, Sounds Like Life to Me by Darryl Worley.  I'm sure Paul feels the same way!  HOW DO PEOPLE DO THIS?!?

And your smallest?

I have to agree with Shelly on this one...my "smallest" greatest fear is spiders.  The other day I found a spider crawling on our front door.  SO CREEPY.  I was way too much of a weenie to kill it with a tissue, so I devised a plan using what I had near me:  an aerosol can of sunscreen and matches.  Let's just say I fried that sucker. 

...The next day, I found a big, hairy, red, dead spider, and it was RIGHT NEXT TO MY FOOT! 

Kharma???

Any pet peeves?

Um.....yes.  Too many to count!  Please refer to my "It Bugs Me..." tab at the top of my blog.  It's a working list!  My biggest pet peeve is probably when someone pronounces a word wrong, and just keeps doing it.  Examples:

• "Suposably" instead of supposedly (Youtube wasn't allowing me to embed this video, but go watch it!  It's of Joey on Friends.  CLICK HERE.  SOOO funny.) 
• "Expecially" instead of especially
• "Expresso" instead of espresso

 I don't know why but...it just drives me nuts.  Am I insane?

If you had four more children (two boys and two girls) what would you name them?

Oh my goodness, FOUR MORE?!?  I can't even imagine having two total right now!  Alright, let's see...I think I'd want 1 girl and 3 boys.  Names:

• Olivia Taylor
• Emerson James
• ....?
• ....?

(I thought about it for 20 minutes and still have NO idea!)

What is something you regret?

Not planting a garden in our yard the summer before we moved to Colorado.  Living in an apartment, I realize how precious land is now!  I miss it.

What moment do you remember most of elementary school?

I think it was like on the last day of 6th grade...a few of my friends and I crossed over to the little kids' playground and got to play on their toys!  We had always wanted to do it...not sure why.  It was cool at the time.

This is the BEST picture I could find of my elementary (Marrion Elementary) on google.

Who is your longest friendship with? (excluding relatives)

Brittnee Thompson.  Our parents were friends, and then we just sort of grew up together.  Her grandma watched me occasionally (which I loved), and she spent the night at my house I don't know how many times.  One of the fun things I remember about our friendship early on were our matching outfits!  Our parents would get us matching dresses/sailor outfits, etc, and take us for pictures at the mall--I still have mine, but they are at home in Washington (otherwise, they would be on this blog!)

What is the weirdest spiritual/paranormal thing you ever witnessed? (ie miracles)

Probably watching Paul bless Hayden as a newborn during sacrament meeting at church.  I was a little nervous and on edge (being a new, tired mom), but Paul seemed to be just fine.  I asked him if he knew what he was going to say during the blessing, to which he replied, No.  This was about 15 minutes before the blessing.  I didn't think he would have written out what he was going to say, but I thought he would have been thinking about it and have some sort of idea.  He told me (I'm paraphrasing here and using my own words) that he didn't want his own ideas and wants for this baby to get in the way of listening to what the spirit would tell him during the blessing.  I was kind of taken aback by his answer, and then overcome by his trust in the Lord.  Hayden's baby blessing was so remarkable and specific to him--I came away grateful for a husband with such faith.

The church building in Rexburg, Idaho where Hayden was blessed.  (Again, this is not my picture...just the best one I could find on google!) 

March 20th, 2011(1.5 months old):  Hayden on his daddy's lap after being blessed.  I stayed up till midnight the night before finishing his "sleep sack" tie onezie for his special day.  My advice:  Don't do that, lol. 

If you were in therapy, what would you be discussing?

Probably the way that I and we (Paul and I as a team) discipline Hayden.  HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT?!?  What if I'm too harsh and scar him for life?  What if I'm being too lax and Hayden never has respect for authority?  So much to think about there.  

If you could learn more about any one thing what would it be?

Too many things!  I love to learn.  At the moment, I would say I'd want to learn more about being a better homemaker!  How do you stay organized, teach your children what's really important, give your husband the attention he needs, etc.  It's hard, people!  Awesome...but hard.

Top 3 favorite desserts?

1. Paul's Chocolate Chip Cookies
2. Cheesecake (my own is usually better than anything you can buy)
3. Jaciva's Seventh Heaven Cake ( so good...my mom always used to buy me this cake for my birthday)
4. HONORABLE MENTION:  I can't talk about desserts and not mention Paul's grandma's Chocolate Cake!  I just can't.  It's amazing.  Super moist, rich, and homemade chocolate frosting.  I will never ever want for another chocolate cake recipe.  It's that good.  (Message me and I'll share it with you.  If enough people want it, I'll put it up on the blog.)

Favorite nail polish?

• OPI Mrs. Oleary's BBQ
• Mary Kay's Lavish Sable
• Rimmel Clear (I NEVER put color on my fingernails.  I either use a few coats of clear topcoat, or do a french tip.)

Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro--I love this polish because the brush is kind of fat and coats my nail in one or two strokes.  Aaaaaand, because it's clear, I don't have to be too precise with it.  I love the consistency, too.

Mary Kay's Lavish Sable.  This color is SOOO rich.  I'll be sad when I run out--it was a limited edition color that came out last winter.

Mrs. OLeary's BBQ by OPI

Knowing what you do about my life in rural Alaska, what would you find most challenging about living here?

I think I'm with you Shelly!  I would have a hard time not having breaks from the kids.  We have Date Night without Hayden 3 times a month where Hayden gets to go to someone's house and play with children his age.  I would SOOOO miss that time with my husband. 

I think the isolation would also be really difficult.  And probably not really having a car.  That would just be strange!

Everyone says they wish they had twins… Why would YOU want them?

I've always been amazed by twins.  They have such a special bond---I've always wanted to witness that as a mother.  Twins run in my family, so you never know!  After having one child though, I don't know how you survived!  

Favorite ALL TIME (could read a hundred times) books?

I LOVE the classics--anything by:

Jane Austen

Oscar Wilde

The Bronte Sisters (this is Emily).

 There are more....maaaany more.

Thanks for the quiz, Shelly :)

 

 

How we KNOW we're having a girl...

Alright, so a lot of people lately have been asking if we know the sex of the baby yet.  Well, we don't.  Not officially at least.  I have an O.B. appointment TO-morrow morning.  It's my first time with this doctor (I had to switch...long story) and so I'm reeeeally not sure what exactly my appointment will entail.  I guess I'll be 15 weeks so they MIGHT do an ultrasound to determine the sex....or they might wait till my next appointment (when I'll be 19 weeks). 

Before I tell you how we know the sex, I'll tell  you what we want.  I really don't mind what we have either way.  If we have a boy, he'll be able to wear all of Hayden's clothes.  Everything will get passed down and worn in the exact same time that Hayden wore them (you know, because their birthdays will probably be 1-3 weeks apart).  Plus, having 2 little boys would make for some great play time once they get older!  Lots of great things about 2 little boys.  

Now, if we have a girl, that would be awesome too!  One of each, nothing wrong with that!  I'm sure they'd still make great play-mates, and that she would just be the biggest daddy's girl.  Paul has sort of been craving that :)  And there's also the fun dressing up and doing girly things together in the future.

So there you go.  Paul's shooting for a girl, and I could care less.  Just looking to love on this next baby!

Now, on to why I'm writing this post:  We're both kind of sure that I'm having a girl.  YUP!  A girl.  I know all pregnancies are different, but seriously it's been different!  

• Reason #1:  With Hayden, my skin was glowing and I only had 4 headaches/migraines (which is amazing because I'm a chronic migraine sufferer).  So far with baby #2, I've had too many to count.  Poor Paul has had to run to the convenience store many a time for a fountain Mt. Dew.  Oh yeah...it has to be a fountain drink.  Mt. Dew from a bottle for some reason isn't as effective at getting rid of my headaches.  It's probably all in my head (HA!  get it?!??!).  
• Reason #2:  Also, I'm having an acne breakout.  So glamorous.  I know.  With Hayden my skin was GLOWING.  Even Paul noticed.  Not this time!  
• Reason #3(The most important of all!):  Boy first, girl second seems to run in the Kirby gene pool.  Paul's brother Aaron came first, Emily second.  Aaron had Mr. Spencer first, and Anni (SP.?) second.  

So there you go!  I might have more news for you tomorrow depending on what happens at my appointment.  What do you guys think we're having?

18 month check up

Here are the stats I promised you from Hayden's 18 month visit to the doctor:

Stats:

• 32.5 inches tall--That's 3 inches in 3 months!  (50th %ile)
• 24.25 lbs--a gain of 2.35 lbs in 3 months. (25th %ile)
• 47.5 cm head circ.--gain of 1.5cm in 3 months.  (40th %ile, up from the 10th!)

Hayden with his infamous Quack-Quack.  He needed to have it at the park today...just in case.

I was sooooo relieved to see Hayden is finally making some progress physically!  I've noticed his 18 month shorts are FINALLY starting to sit on his hips correctly (they used to just barely hang on!), and they are short enough now because his legs have finally grown.  I've also noticed he's a lot heavier than he used to be.  I'm sure that that 2.35lbs he gained was pure muscle.  

Language:

Hayden has a few words (not a lot, but he is still able to communicate verbally/with sign, so it's all good).  He knows Wasss sat?, Alllll Duuuuuh, YAY!,  Uh ohhhhhhh, this, Issssahguh?  (which I think means, Is it good?  It's a question I'm constantly asking him, and I'm thinking he's copying me.  He'll say it all the time, but never really when it makes sense to use it).  Hi, HaaaaaaayDEN! Dad, disssses (kisses),and mmmmbob.  I think he's trying to say "mom".  Someday....

I couldn't get Hayden to stay near me at the park.  He kept running away!  Later on he took his shoes off and tried running away and took a tumble to the ground.  Poor guy scratched up his knees and elbows  :(  He was not a happy camper.

 He's also made up his own little language.  I swear it sounds like Chinese!  He swishes words on the end...if you speak Chinese, I guess you'd know what I mean, ha ha.  But he's made up little phrases in his own language that he repeats all the time.  So, you know that he knows what he's saying, you just can't understand it.  

Oh, and Hayden now whispers.  Last night we were getting Hayden ready for bed and he just started whispering to Paul!  He wasn't using real words, but it was pretty cute.  I don't know if he picked that up in nursery at church, or just decided to try it out on his own, but I like it.

Hayden and Kayden got to play together at the park today!  I walk with Kayden's mom 3 times a week, so after our walk we stop in at the park.  Hayden was trying to help Kayden have fun on this rocking horse.  So cute!

Physical Development:

He can climb just about anything he wants to.  His rocking chair, our bed, and the couches are no longer safe!  I used to be able to put my purse in the middle of my bed and he couldn't get to it.  Now I'll find him on my bed and he's pulled all the credit cards/I.D.'s out of my wallet.  Thanks kid. 

Counters are no longer safe as well.  This morning I asked him, for example, if he was ready for breakfast.  Usually he'll run to his high chair and wait for me to strap him in.  Today, he decided he could get breakfast himself.  He saw an open package of saltines on the counter, reached for it, and dumped them ALLLLL out.  he then picked up 2 crackers and proceeded to munch on them.  This was all before I could get over there.  You know that horrible feeling when you can see something happening, but it's over before you can even think about getting there?  Yeah, that was today.  

Hayden though that Quack-Quack should take a ride on the swings.  Kind of funny because Hayden himself HATES the swings.  He lasts literally about 8 seconds and then cries.  :-/

Hayden's fine motor skills are really starting to progress, thank goodness!  I bought Hayden some Mega Blocks at Walgreens (of all places) right after he turned one.  They were on a HUGE sale and I couldn't pass them up ($5 for a huge box of them marked down from $20) !  They are rated for 1 year olds, but Hayden didn't really understand them at the time.  Banging them together or dumping them out of the box and then cleaning them up again were his favorite activities to do with them.  Last night (seriously, just last night) he figured out how to STACK them!  He does it perfectly and it's like all of a sudden, it just made sense to him.  We were so proud!  I thought Paul was going to cry, he was so excited!  Ok, maybe not, but he was super proud.

Problem Solving/Following Direction:

Hayden is really started to get better at listening to my directions and solving problems.  Last night we were cleaning up toys before bed, and he decided to pick up one of his big Mega Blocks and put it back in it's box.  Then he walked away.  Daddy told him there were more that he could pick up and asked if he could get them and put them in the box too.  Soooo, one by one, he picked up each block and put it back in the box.  AWESOME!  He's self cleaning.  Now if only my oven was....

Did I mention Hayden has a slight fetish with shoes?  Tonight was the first time he tried our shoes on.  Here he's trying to get into his daddy's work shoes.  Oh, and his other new thing is pointing.  He thinks it's so funny!

Oh, Hayden's also obsessed with our garbage can.  He'll literally put anything in it--even his beloved binkies!  I know the garbage can for him is so exciting, so if I have something I need to throw away, I tell Hayden and he knows exactly what to do with it.  I'm hoping this will help curb his appetite to throw things away when he's not asked to do it.  We shall see.

Colors:  

We haven't done much with color, but we talk about the color red ALL THE TIME.  I've decided it's Hayden's favorite.  Playing with blocks however, I can tell Hayden has a quiet intelligence on the matter.  This morning he was building a tower.  I looked over at it only to find that he had picked out all the black blocks to use in his tower.  NEVER have I encouraged him to pick out certain colors...but he just told me that he's ready.  

Emotional:

We have finally, successfully, weaned Hayden to  his binkie for just naps and bed time.  He used to suck on his thumb if he didn't have his binkie, but that is no more!  I have noticed, however, that he is becoming attached to other things.  He loves carrying blankets around.  It doesn't have to be a certain one--any blanket will do.  He also has a duck that Aunty Mandy gave him that he is in love with!  We call him "Quack Quack" because "Duckie" sounds to much like "binkie".  It's always in the room with him.  He carries it around the house and gives it loves and kisses!  Paul thinks it's gross, but hey, it's washable and good for emotional development.  SO THERE!

Hayden also knows about "kissing" now.  If I ask for kisses, he'll usually lean in (mouth open, of course) and plant one on me.  Then he'll run over to daddy to give kisses. 

Social: 

You should see the progress Hayden has made socially!  It still takes him 5-10 minutes to warm up to a crowd of people, but once he does, he plays like a champ!  When we have the boys over for date night babysitting, (1 Friday/month), he's rough-housing and holding his own!  All the boys are older than him--they're all 2 but some are getting close to 3.  Hayden pillow fights with the boys, doggie piles, and jumps up and down on the couch.  That's actually not my favorite thing, but I let them do it supervised for a few minutes.  Even if Hayden gets clocked in the head with a pillow, he just laughs it off.  I'm so glad he has some slightly older boys to play with and learn from!

Isn't Hayden's wagon a-DOR-able?  I love it.  Best purchase EVER.  And he's finally figured out how to use if the correct way.  He piled his mega blocks into the back like he was on a mission, and then wheeled it around like a pro!

Lately, I've also noticed that Hayden likes to love on girls!  One of the girls we watch for date night (she's 4 close to 5) loves to play with Hayden.  He'll run up to her and give her a hug and she hugs him right back.  He also loves to love on Mary, a 17 month old friend.  We actually caught him giving kisses!  Later on Mary decided to return the favor and tried to give Hayden some hugs.  By then he was not interested and pushed her away!  This thoroughly confused Mary.  Someday she'll learn...boys don't know how to show their emotions, lol!!

Happy Half-Birthday!

Today is Hayden's half-birthday...he's one and-a-half!  Just thought I'd do a little update post focusing on Hayden and what he's up to at this point.

Words:

Da-da

Ga-ga

Zeee

Buh-Buh

Awwwww duu (all done)

mmmmmbob (mom...I think)

Grrrrrr (grunting noise)

Wassss sat? (what's that)

Fears:

Birthday Candles (see video below!)

Packing Tape

Garbage Trucks

The Blender

Favorites:

Red

Oranges (cuties especially)

MILK

CHOCOLATE (he doesn't get it much)

Peanut Butter...sound like his mom?

Blankets (not one in particular, but he likes to have one handy)

What's he's doing right now:

Resting his head on mommie's tummy

Banging two objects together to hear the sound they produce

Dancing ONLY during the end credits of movies or tv shows

Cuddling with mom and dad in bed on Saturday/Sunday mornings

Trying to climb in/out of his crib

Reaching to pull items off of the cabinets and table (knives, food, etc)

Physical Stats (he doesn't have his dr. checkup till Aug. 20):

24lbs

Tall enough to reach a CUPCAKE on our counter-height table!

6 teeth with 2 more about half-way through

A video from tonight ( I have another that won't load.  I'll try to load it to facebook):

My Ikea Purchase!

Remember when I told everyone I had received a $100 gift card from Ikea for using my Ikea Family Card?  I asked my friends on Facebook what I should get with the card.  Well, we actually went to Ikea and bought something, but I couldn't tell anyone what it was!  Here's the big reveal:

The Sundvik Crib in Gray/Brown.  The crib retails for $119 and with tax it came to $127.  That means we paid $27 for it!  I was surprised by how sturdy the Ikea cribs are.  Everyone has only good things to say about them!  In person, the crib  is gorgeous!  I personally think that we're having another boy (which would be nice because we could use all of Hayden's clothes for the baby in the same seasons he used them.  YES!).  Paul thinks we're having a girl.  (Same as last time!)  This crib is great because it's perfect for a boy, but I think it could suit a little girl very well!  I can totally see a gorgeous, soft coral pink and soft turquoise with it, or a sort of mustardy yellow.  Let me show you what I mean:


Here's the yellow:

I'm in love with the yellow curtains and crib.  Not in love with her accessories!  This picture is from  the blog "Chezerbey".  

Here's some coral/turquoise action:  

I like this Moroccan stencil, but I think I would want it to be bigger.  Also, I would want more of a turquoise than this blue color.  

Refreshing.  Visit the creator's blog here.  

If baby #2 is a girl, I'd probably go with a watered down version of this picture and the previous.  What does everyone think?  Comments.  Please, lol.  


Also...I don't know what I would do for the nursery if we had a boy.  Are there any pictures of nurseries you've seen and loved?  I would love for you to share them with me!  Let the planning commence.  

Upcoming Adventures

So this is a crazy post for me to write, but the Kirby family is going through a lot of changes this year!  For one, I've decided to quit the Mary Kay business.  It's been such a fun adventure and I've made a lot of friends through it, but it's time.  With all of our upcoming events, I know that my business will be put on the back burner and will be neglected.  


Secondly, I'm going to be going back to school in September!  I'm taking two classes online through BYU Independent Study to finish my degree.  When all is said and done, I'll graduate from Brigham Young University-Idaho with my Bachelor of Science degree in English with an Emphasis on Professional Writing, and a Minor in Child Development.  WHEW!  That's a lot.  I can't wait for it to be over---my education has been drawn on waaaaay too long!  Another thing to cross off my list.  


The biggest change we'll be making will be happening around Valentine's Day...Hayden will be a big brother!  I am 9 weeks, 6 days.  I have been hiding my morning sickness from friends, fellow church members, and family now for some time... SURPRISE!  

This pregnancy kind of feels like deja vu for us.  We found out we were pregnant with Hayden June 9th, 2010, and he was to be due February 12th, 2011.  With this baby, we found out we were pregnant on June 20th, and he is expected February 14th, 2013.  WEIRD.  We couldn't have PLANNED it this way!  I'm guessing baby will be early (Hayden himself arrived Jan 31st--almost 2 weeks early), so there is a possibility they COULD share a birthday.  Winters are just awesome for our family!  Paul's birthday is 11/5, then there's Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday (12/30), New Years, Hayden's birthday, and then the baby's. All within 2 months.  I swear we don't plan things this way! 


I did go have an ultrasound today, but they didn't give me a picture of the baby.  LAME, I know.  My doctor sent me to this place because he doesn't do ultrasounds in his office.  This place is not really equipped for pregnancy ultrasounds.  They are a breast cancer type of facility, so they do a lot of mammograms and things.  It was super awkward and the technician almost forgot to actually show me the baby, and take the baby's heart rate.  I love my doctor, so I'll be talking to him about going somewhere else for ultrasounds.  I was not impressed.  So anyways, that's why I don't have a picture for you. 

Hayden goes to the zoo...aaaaand other places, too!

Auntie Angela and cousin Emily came to visit Hayden last week.  I got to keep Emily overnight and have some fun with her---see the pictures!

Notice the binkie in his mouth AND hand.

Before Emily came over, Hayden decided he needed his shoes on.  It's been 100 degrees on average here, so he's just been roaming around the house in his diaper.  Hayden now has some sort of shoe fetish where he HAS to have shoes on.  I couldn't find his Adidas soccer slides on this particular day, so Puma tennis shoes it was!

Emily, Hayden and I went to the park early in the morning.  Our cinnamon rolls that we were going to have for breakfast weren't going to be ready for about 45 minutes, so we had some time to kill.

Emily LOVED climbing through this thing.  No idea what it's called, but she loved it.  I made her hold her position at the end so that I could get a picture...she almost fell on her face!  Whoops.

Then I had her climb the spider web for me.  She was loving it.

My little man 

Hayden started shaking these things like crazy--he thought they were the coolest thing in the whole world!

Here's my boy with the slides.  He used to be so afraid of them, but now he'll whine to get on them!  I'm working on the whining, but this is such a huge step.

Emily on the monkey bars.  Some lady was at the park with her kids.  Her oldest asked, "Mom, why are they called monkey bars?"  I was SHOCKED by her answer.  "When we get home we can google it, honey,".  REALLY?!?  Serious?  Take a look at this picture and there should only be one reason behind the name of the monkey bars.  

Ang bought Hayden a roll of Color Wonder paper and markers.  I was so happy about it because he needs work on his fine motor skills, but at the same time, I don't want to have a HUGE mess on my hands every time we work on it.  So the solution...these mess free markers and paper.  Emily helped him color.  Later on,  Hayden bit off one of the heads of the markers.  Wamp waaaaaaaamp :-/

Later on we went to the zoo.  It was about Hayden's nap time and he fell asleep in the car.  Hayden NEVER sleeps in the car.  EVER.  Not since he was like...8 months.  It was good because the zoo proved to be a little overwhelming for him.  

Hayden loved seeing the animals--I think the zebras, hippos, and giraffes were his favorites.  Near the end ouf our time though, he was hot, tired, and ready to go home!

Just some peacocks we saw along the way.

There are more pictures of the zoo....somewhere....


I think I'll end with a video of our shenanigans of tonight.  Hayden and Paul were playing with the pillows and  hitting each other with them.  Hayden was going CRAZY!  He was having so much fun so after a while I finally grabbed my camera to film the fun.  Unfortunately, by the time I got the camera, the fun was starting to wind down.  Enjoy anyway!