I Hate My Tummy

Well, this phrase goes for both me AND Bruin but in this case I'm referring to the baby. I don't know what to do and am seeking advice. Bruin cries and cries when I put him on his tummy. I've tried propping things under him, giving him fun things to try to look at, and even laid him on my chest but nothing works. He just arches his back and lifts his arms and cries. Everything I read lately talks about how he should be able prop himself up and lift his head by now but he's not even close! To make the situation worse, he's developing a flat spot on the back of his head from where he sleeps and hangs out on his back. I'm starting to put him down in opposite ways in his crib and hold him sideways or prop him up to relieve pressure on his skull (those are the suggestions online) but I just feel sad like I've failed him as his mom :( Does anyone have any suggestions on how they helped their baby to like tummy time?

No Crust Please

I have never baked a pan of brownies that weren't heading for a destination simply because Phil is not a brownie lover and I'm too afraid of eating it all myself. Well, I decided one night that I was craving them too badly so I gave in a baked some brownies to keep around. I should have just cut them up and gave half away to the neighbors right then... But yes, I ate the entire pan in the next few days. The bad thing about it is that every time I was feeling hungry and would go into the kitchen to find food, I would eat a brownie instead... or two. This became brownies for lunch, brownies for dinner, brownies as a midnight snack, and yes, even brownies for breakfast occasionally. Where has this sweet tooth come from? I seriously have no clue but ever since I moved to Fresno I have had chocolate cravings like crazy and finally understand the whole "women need chocolate" thing... (which I always thought was lame before). Anyways, before I cleaned the pan I decided to take a pic of the way I eat brownies cuz I thought it was funny.



Why can't they design a pan that somehow eliminates crust? Look at all that wasted brownies because its crunchy! Mmmm I need to make more..... WHAT?!!

Mr. President?

If Barack Obama would apply for a job with the FBI or with
the Secret Service, he would be disqualified because of his
past association with William Ayers, a known terrorist.
For this same reason, the person who could be Commander
in Chief would be disqualified from joining the military he
wants to command.If he is elected President he would not
qualify to be his own body guard!


Oh, and how come the media never brings us pictures (un-doctored) like these, would it be negative if people actually knew he is a chain smoker? Why?
-Phil

My Rexburg

So, I'm feeling a little homesick for Rexburg today. I know, those of you living there probably couldn't possibly see why but once you leave I'm sure you'll miss it too. I lived there for 4 1/2 years and they were some of the funnest years of my life. The things about Rexburg I miss most are:
The married student wards- Everyone in the ward was in the same stage of life and you could relate with them. You really did feel like a part of a Relief Society of friends. Oh, and Visiting Teaching was great because it was always just a few doors down the way.

Grocery shopping was fun- You always see about twenty people you know in the store and everyone is happy and helpful.

Your neighbors aren't freaks- Ok, so there was the occasional freak in Rexburg. But for the most part, no one smoked, drank, stole from you, or made you nervous. You could go around knocking doors trying to borrow an egg and not think twice.

Feeling Safe- I loved that you could go jogging, take a walk, go to the park, and not worry. I'm kind of paranoid so I can't even take walks with Bruin unless I drive to my mom's neighborhood or if I'm with someone on a trail.

A Free Gym- The BYUI gym is well equipped and best of all, free! Everyone is dressed modestly and its fun to watch the single people try to get dates with each other :)

Wingers- Ok this one is lame, I know, but I LOVE sticky fingers and I miss them dearly.

Last but not least
The Abundance of Good Friends!- I loved our friends in Rexburg! We had so much fun every night playing games, eating dinner together, going out on dates.. Everyone was so conveniently close and living the same lives as you. Another fun thing was that at the start of each semester, Phil and I would kind of "stake out" the ward to find who we wanted to meet and then we'd "date" them. haha "Married Ward Dating" someone referred to it once. You ask them if they'd like to hang out, exchange numbers, then go out and later decide whether you think they are a good fit for both you and your spouse. Now in the real world its like, "oh there's another young couple in the ward. Let's be friends then."

I get sad realizing there is no way we will live there again (What could possibly bring us back to Rexburg?). We have moved on passed college life and into the real world and now I must grow up. But I will still miss my Rexburg for a long time, just like my mom misses HER Rexburg from the Ricks College days...
I guess the only thing I don't miss is the weather!! It is still 85 degrees here and I'm very much enjoying it!

Sick Lame-O Mom

It is so hard to be good mom when you're sick. Well at least it is for me! Phil and I both came down with colds this week and it is no fun. Yesterday I had no energy and I think Bruin saw more of his swing and baby einsteins in his bouncer than ever before.. Poor little man.
I'm sorry! Fun mommy will be back soon

Despoiling

A few weeks ago my friend Joy talked about having to "de-spoil" her baby after a weekend visiting family. Turns out I'm now in the same position.. ughh. After a weekend of taking all his naps in vibrating planes, vibrating cars, and in the arms of someone walking around, Bruin refuses to nap alone in his crib. He will fall asleep for about 40 minutes but when he surfaces and realizes he is in his crib he cries and cries and won't go back to sleep. At first I thought that maybe he needed more wake time and maybe his naps were just becoming shorter because he was getting older... But yesterday after waking 40 minutes into his nap and listening to him cry for another 20 minutes I finally picked him up and tried rocking him back to sleep. He then slept for THREE HOURS in my arms (while I just put on a movie).. Grrr... Its such a predicament to be in because on one hand he needs to learn to nap in his crib again - but on the other hand I want him to get his sleep so he's not grumpy all day.... SO frustrating!





Anyways, on a more positive note.... :)
Phil and I got to Pasco on Friday night after a long day of travel. We had a 6 hour layover waiting for an open flight in Salt Lake but luckily we found out my sister was in town for the week visiting her in-laws so they picked us up! It was so fun to be able to hang out with my little nephews who are getting so big! My sister Kristen and her husband Bryan are such fun people and we were glad to be able to see them. We went to the fountains at the Gateway Mall and then celebrated my sister's birthday at her inlaws. It was a MUCH better way to spend a 6 hour layover!





Saturday we went to Phil's little sister's soccer game and then to his cousin's baptism and post-baptism family gathering. It was nice to see all the family and have them meet Bruin.

Sunday was Bruin's blessing and all went well. There were a few cries from him as they walked up to the front but then he was quiet.. its funny how nervous you get that he'll be crying the whole time.. why is that embarrassing? After the blessing we were Sunday school ditchers and hung out with friends in the cultural hall the rest of the meeting :) Thanks Josh and Jade for coming up to see us, it was so fun and Max is adorable!






With Grandpa

Getting home was an adventure. Sunday evening they had only one seat to give to us and so Phil and I split up and I left with the baby. It would have been fine had I not NAILED Bruin in the head with my fingernail right as we were sitting down. He howled and I could barely quiet him with some food (which I had to ask the guy next to me to fill the bottle with MY breastmilk.. haha poor guy) He finally fell asleep and did fine on the next flight to Fresno as well. We got home around 10pm and I just slept at my parents house because I was exhausted. In the meantime, Phil stayed behind and tried ALL DAY Monday to get home. Literally all day. He started at 3am and didn't get home until after midnight. He went from Pasco to Salt Lake to L.A. to Fresno. Poor guy. Thats why I'm not too bummed to be giving up my flight benefits soon. I'm so sick of standby! Especially now with a baby!

Prop 8

It is so important that prop 8 gets passed. I just saw this video and it makes me so mad. A guy was arrested because he wanted the school to notify him in the future when gay material was going to be taught. Crazy. Makes me want to fight people. -Phil
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1352578267/bctid1819819843

Baby Blessing

We just flew into Washington to spend the weekend in Basin City with Phil's family and to bless Bruin. To all those who live around here we would LOVE to see you on Sunday if you can make it! We will be blessing him in the Basin City 2nd Ward meeting at 9:30am.

Sad Day

Yesterday was a sad day for Bruin.. We had his 2 Month Well-Baby Checkup and first round of shots. He was all smiles for the doctor and thought it was fun until the nurse pulled out the needles and jabbed him... They really do just stick them in their legs like babies don't have feelings or something :( Ok maybe its just the mom in me but Bruin screamed until I was able to nurse him and it was so sad cuz he was just wimpering the whole time he nursed. He fell asleep on the way home and I decided to call Phil and go get some In N Out with him for lunch. Mmmm!
When we got done I was driving home and Bruin started howling louder than ever and when I finally got him calmed down at home he crashed for a few hours (and so did I). When he woke up he was sad again and only wanted to be held, so I held my little man and rocked him for sooo long until my arms felt like they would fall off. Everytime I tried to set him down he'd start crying again (which is soo not like him!). Phil got home from work and was able to give me a break by holding him for awhile. Then by about 7pm he seemed to feel better and was laughing and talking to us again.



I do hate those doctors appointments and am not looking forward to the next in two more months, even though it was really sweet to hold him and sing to him and be his mommy.


He is all smiles now and it is getting really fun!

Pumpkin Patch Failure

My sister April flew in on Wednesday with my nephew Gavin to hang out for a week and its been so fun! After taking a 2 mile stroll down the Clovis walking trail we stopped by a pumpkin patch to take some pictures. We tried to get a pic of the kids together but it just wasn't happening... Bruin couldn't sit up in the pumpkins very well and Gavin was determined to get to the baby and nothing else! So we might try again next week :)

He Did It!

After FOUR long nights of Bruin crying it out, our little man is finally sleeping through the night and we are getting sleep again! Wooohoo! We started last Wednesday by reducing the amount he was getting at each night feeding until there was none. That took two nights. Then it took him two more nights of waking up and crying every half hour or so from 1:30am until 5am when I'd feed him. Finally, Sunday he slept all the way from 8:00pm to 4:30am, and he's been doing it every night since! I think its safe to say he's learned how to sleep now and we are thrilled!

Now I just put him down around 7:30pm and then feed him before I go to bed around 10 (he doesn't even open his eyes, just drinks!) Then I get up and feed him around 4:30 or 5 and then he sleeps until around 7am! Thank you SO much for everyone who gave me advice on the matter. I took it ALL into consideration and even went to the library and checked out some of the books recommended! Thanks especially to Jande who put up with ALL of my questions, you were a lot of help!
I was a little nervous about trying to do it too early but when he got weighed last week he was over 12 lbs and in the 84th percentile so I figured it was okay! Six pounds in two months, that little chunker! Maybe I'm making cream I don't know!

Anyways, sleep is now entering back into my life and now I feel like I can start exercising and working off the extra baby weight! I've got about 12 pounds to lose to be back to my old weight so wish me luck!

Here is Phil in between sessions of General Conference



After this picture was taken I looked down and noticed some blood on the burp rag he was leaning on... The little guy had cut himself with his fingernails inside his mouth and was still sucking his fists like no big deal. I was so sad for him! Its soo hard to cut those nails short enough but I really try.



Just some more random pics of our little man for the grandparents

Random

Phil won't change the channel from his lame baseball game, so being bored, I decided to follow my sister's lead and post a random blog.

Random Things Most People Don't Know About Me

-I hate sponges and refuse to touch them.
-In elementary school I was a state-wide free-throw contest champion.
-My least favorite household chore is mopping.
-I almost died from Spinal Meningitis when I was 2 months old.
-I love the smell of gasoline.
-I have seen Robin Hood Prince of Thieves at least 30 times and can probably rehearse it start to finish.
-I LOVE blueberry muffin batter and always leave a little in the mixing bowl to wipe up with my fingers
-I've cracked my head open falling off of a bunk bed.
-I've climbed Half Dome in Yosemite, twice.
-I love peeling my skin off after a bad sunburn (I know... gross)
-I haven't seen my natural hair since I was in 8th grade.
-It drives me NUTS when people forget and leave their blinkers on
-I was the school Fire Marshall in 4th grade and got to pull the fire alarms for drills... so exciting!
-My first job was working on a Christmas tree lot.. where I worked every season for about 8 years... selling trees, cashiering, watering, tying them ontop of cars..
-I am scared of windows at night and I compulsively close my blinds every evening as soon as it starts getting dark.
-I hate snowmobiling... and most snow activities for that matter.. I just hate being cold!

If I think of any more I'll edit this post :) Time for me to go to bed. I hope Bruin sleeps well tonight!