It's so strange

to see Ary doing real "people" things. Not that babies aren't people too, but they don't do anything without help from an adult. I keep telling myself I'm not old enough to have a little girl with an attitude yet. I still *am* the little girl with an attitude so how can there be another one? She's not even two yet so it's only just beginning I'm sure. Lately Ary is into doing everything herself, no matter how long it takes or how frustrating it is for me. She puts on her own jacket (backwards), feeds herself (mostly her shirt not her mouth), puts on her own shoes (on the wrong feet), etc...

For Christmas this year we did snowboots and a bike, and they are still her very favorite things even with the newness all worn off. Santa must have done well!



The potty seat around her waist is just an accessory I guess, I sit her on it on the toilet all the time but we've had very few successes. I was hoping that by introducing it now she might get the hang of it a little bit early. Oh well, my kid isn't as advanced as I tell her she is;).

The pink boots are another favorite accessory; they have just enough room to pull on and off easily and heavy enough to clomp around in. They have only been worn in the snow a few times though, it's funner to wear them instead of pants in the house.


Other things of interest right now:
-putting diapers on her baby
-eating toddler toothpaste
-Handy Manny (cutest show on Disney)
-chocolate - she can distinguish it from other treats and even asks for it by name. Surely she didn't get that from me;)

Jed is doing a good job juggling work/school/young men's. I still get stress bumps on my hands and feet worrying about it all, but he's taking it in stride so far. I just hope he can keep it up so I don't have to start taking horse tranquilizers...

The only time my underwear will be on the internet...

Good thing I don't have any naughty lingerie:).

You hear it all the time

but if you're like me, unless it pertains to you or is relevant enough to your life, the generalized statements we hear every day just go in one ear and out the other. Comments like, "Time flies", "Kids grow up too fast", etc... used to be simply conversation filler with moms at work. I'd nod and smile and say how I can't believe how big little Sally is getting, blah blah blah; never taking any of it heavily enough to think twice on.
Well now these are the kinds of things I really DO think about without my brain turning off or glazing over. I can actually relate to those women now and understand that when they talk about their kids the way they do it's because their whole life revolves around the little stinkers!

Lately:
-November 24th marked 18 months and Ary is definitely a little kid, not a baby anymore. Yes, it's sad to not sit around and cuddle, but it's so fun to be able to communicate with her. She says lots of words and is starting to put words together too.
-She wears stuff on her head like a "HAAAT".
-Thinks Jed is the funnest person she knows.

-Loves her baby. I love this too cause it's so cute; Ary will share a bottle, give her kisses, tuck her in with a blankie...
(hehe, the baby stroller is right behind her, but the box of diapers we just opened was obviously a funner ride! I seem to get lots of pics without pants. Maybe I'll change my blog title to that, PICS WITHOUT PANTS).

-Learned to hold on for piggybacks.
And of course likes to do things herself without help.


Ary is old enough for nursery now and I don't even take her in there; all I would think about is how germy and snotty everything is. Jed goes with her for the first hour while I teach, then she goes with him to priesthood. She still cries when she realizes her dad is gone, which I am fine with since I can't sanitize all the toys and other kids.
Jed and I are the same as ever. He's jumping through all the hoops for nursing school. I didn't realize how involved the process is- drug test, background check, you name it he's done it! Hopefully we can keep good attitudes through the rest of it now:).
Christmas will be more fun this year with Ary at this age. Last year she was too tiny to even care so I'm excited to see how she reacts to a stocking and opening presents. Mitz and I watched the Christmas devotional while she stamped my toenails and it made me want to teach Ary about the real joy of Christmas as early and often as I can. And I love Deiter F. Uchtdorf :)

I am thankful

for a few things I have taken for granted lately. In honor of the upcoming holiday I want to just quickly write down the things that I am especially grateful for right now.

-Jed has been accepted to UVU's nursing school. I am thankful for a husband who wants to better himself. (even when I bug him about his Spanish Fark grammar) We (mostly me I admit) are SOOO hoping his Qwest job to allow him a flexible schedule so that he can stay employed. More debt, no health insurance, me finding another job, etc. makes me sweat just thinking about it.

-We live in our own house. As mentioned, there is a good possibility we won't be able to pay the mortgage anymore and it made me grateful to have a home of my own at least for now. I do Tae-Bo in my underwear, we are allowed to let Schroeder be where he wants, I pull my own weeds and mow my own lawn, you name it, really. I am grateful to be independant and able to take care of the needs of my home and little family.

-I am healthy. The treadmill we got six years ago died and we're not going to buy another motor. I am grateful that my knee and joint problems have been able to be fixed and I feel good enough to jog and take walks, even if it has to be with clothes on outside now:). On the same note I am grateful for modern medicine and competant doctors.

-Ary has both sets of grandparents close by. We have lots of support and love from both families and it will be fun for her to know her grandparents growing up. Jed's mom gave my mom the cutest book for her birthday.
It is so great that not only do Jed and I both like our in-laws, but the in-laws like each other too! What a great thing to feel like you fit in and are loved by your spouse's family.

There are of course many more things on my thankful list, but these are the ones that have been on my mind lately and want to especially enjoy right now. 'Tis the season, Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Break

Pretty low key this year, we went to the pumkin patch with cousins


then came home and drank the whole tub.

I need some good ideas to keep a 16 month old entertained indoors. I'm getting a little apprehensive about winter being right around the corner. Ary lalalalooooves to be outside. Last year she was still tiny and I was working full time, so neither one of us got cabin fever. This year is going to be different and I want to be prepared.
What are your cold weather toddler tips?

First hair cut

My sister Mckenzi the residential stylist helped me cut Ary's baby-mullet off:




It's funny how just a teeny trim off the back makes it look like she actually has a style of some sort!

Huh?

September brought some funny things around here. One morning while Ary and I were eating breakfast Schroeder started to come unglued at the sliding door. He discovered these in our backyard:
The neighbors two doors down have chickens. Yes we live in Spanish Fork, but our neighborhood is definitely not farmland. That wall in the background is the only thing separating us from Highway 6. Ary was fascinated but I thought the dog might give himself a heart attack.

Bradley has made an unlikely friend with Bandit:
He is lots bigger and hairier than any of the other dogs that have lived with us, but he is a lover and an excellent walking and four-wheeling partner. Ary gets along with him well too and is not afraid of him.

I wonder if the dogs have rubbed off on her a little too much though:
Sometimes a fork is too tricky and little fingers just don't cut it anymore.

Other random things:
-Ary does summersaults on the bed. She started out just poking her little bum up in the air like a stink bug, then we would give her a little nudge over the top to tease her, but she liked it so now she rolls over on her own. Mostly she doesn't get quite over the top but more sideways, but she definitely knows what she is doing.
-September 24th marked 16 months old. At this age I think she's still pretty top-heavy making it fun to tumble on the bed.
-I am really enjoying being with her more. I wouldn't say it's any easier than getting up and going to work every day, but I really do feel more fulfilled. When I first went back to work I somehow thought I had it harder than the stay at home moms I envied. Well, I stand corrected now. I get just and worn out at the end of the day now and lots of times there's not anything to show for it. I haven't learned how to pay full attention to my daughter and be somewhat domesticated at the same time. I don't want to just sit her in front of the tv while I try to go about cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc..
-I'm slowly working my way back onto the treadmill. I get frustrated when my knees hurt so soon after I start jogging but I try to remind myself that it's not even been three months since surgery. It's getting easier little by little though. I've even had my first experience with the "runner's runs". Oh man, if Jed didn't think I was disgusting before he sure does now! Maybe if I could not eat so much crap that would help? I'll have to work on that...