Secretarial Shopping

I always have a list when I go to the grocery store (who doesn't?). In the past, Conni has asked for some paper so I will just tear of the bottom of my list. I also have a clear lip gloss that I keep in Conni's diaper bag. I don't much care for it as actually lip gloss - when I wear it I feel like I have pieces of sand on my lips - but Conni enjoys chewing on it and carrying it around like it is a pen.

Conni and I went to the grocery store today while Dave was at some training for work. So when Conni asked for her lip gloss, I figured she wanted to chew on something while we shopped. But then she also asked for some paper. Well, the sweet little thing decided that if I had my list then she needed hers. She would "scribble" out things on her list as we went through the store. She would jabber at me, then write something down. I loved it!

Conni also has started carrying around a pad of paper and a pen if we let her in the office to get it. I'm so proud of my little secretary! (Make sure you click on the pic if you can't see her expression. Its so cute!)

Unplugged

We have a simple CD player in Conni's room. She listens to classical music for naps and bedtime. The last two days or so, whenever I go in after she's been put to bed, I find her CD player unplugged from the wall.

This TERRIFIES me! Many of you know that my dear friend Renee's little boy Scott severely burned and damaged his hand when he was about two years old. He put one key in one side of the outlet and another key on the other side of his finger in the other side of the outlet (if that makes sense - Renee comment if I don't). This created a circuit with his finger in the middle and did terrible things to the poor guy's hand.

Luckily, Conni hasn't expressed any interest yet in putting things into the outlets. However, she obviously is noticing them if she is unplugging her CD player. We have worked very hard to cover all outlets. All open plugs have a cover in them of course.

So anyway, today found us at Sam's Club stocking up on C batteries to put in the CD player so the plug is removed. Hopefully this will be enough to distract her for a while and advert any potential crises. I love to see her little mind figure things out, but at the same time it can be a little scary!

Just like Mom used to make

I should be doing laundry. Instead, I decided to make a hair bow ribbon for all of Conni's hair bows. My mom had these for our hair bows when I was young, and she showed me how to make them last year to help out with a fundraiser for my niece.

I love that they are super easy. I just used stuff I had laying around my project room. I need to get more buttons and make another one though. I can't fit all the bows Conni already has, plus I think the Easter bunny is bringing her more!

Now I won't have to dig through the tupperware they were in to find a matching pair. And hopefully this will help them last longer as some of them are getting pretty thrashed. Thanks for inspiring me Mom!

Above is the ribbon full of bows. Below is what it looks like plain.

What a fool...

I used to be very self conscious at the store when my little sister Stephanie would start acting crazy. Then when she had her first child and I heard the stories of her shopping with her daughter, the craziness got worse. I was so embarrassed.

I realized the other day when Conni and I were shopping that I wasn't speaking in a hushed voice when I was being silly with her. I didn't care who heard, because I only cared about making her laugh and be happy. I NEVER could have seen myself doing this before.

Isn't it crazy how our kids change us for the better? And how we realize we would do anything for them? I love how relaxed I feel and that I am no longer self conscious. Whatever I need to do to make Conni smile. Let me just say that Stephanie would be so proud!

2 AM Routine

Conni is finally back to sleeping thru the night. She was sick, and then she got better, and then she started working on a molar. Since I am finally rested, I wanted to share with you our routine for our 2 AM meanderings.

Once I finally register that Conni is crying cause she's hungry and not going to go back to sleep (normally around 2:30 am when she's sick), I get up and fix her a bottle and get it warming. Then I go in and change her diaper. Then Conni gathers up her blanket and runs down the hall to the kitchen giggling thru her pacifier. The whole time I'm trying to keep her quiet enough not to wake Dave. I get her bottle and we go back to her room - she's still giggling. We close the door, and then we start her music. Conni waits by our chair for me to pick her up to cuddle while she drinks her bottle. I normally hold her and rock her to sleep. The last time I had to get up with her, she wouldn't fall asleep in my arms, so I laid her across my tummy like I did when she was an infant. She shifted, and she put her arms up and wrapped them around my neck and cuddled in a hug. Then she finally fell asleep.

At this point, I have also frequently fallen asleep. So at some point in the half hour after Conni falls asleep - depending on when I register she is asleep - I put her back in her bed and stumble off to my own.

When I think about it in the morning, its such a cute routine. Dave normally sleeps thru it thank goodness. The whole thing is in the dark so its kind of funny too. Just thought I'd share :)

Babysitting...

Yesterday we babysat my nephew Joseph for a couple of hours. Conni was very concerned about making sure he was happy and comfortable (for the first ten minutes or so). She had to stay with him and show him the toys.

Then after Joseph was done playing Conni of course had to take her own turn.

Singing

Conni wanted to sing today while we were finishing dinner. I had played "Popcorn Popping" on the piano earlier in the day and I thought I saw her doing the actions. So, to show Daddy, we sang it. When she did the actions it was just too cute not to record.

Thanks to Grandma Bonnie for singing this one with the grandkids all the time!

ps - please don't comment on my singing - I know its not the best!

Then Conni wanted to sing some more so we tried Itsy Bitsy Spider:

Hopefully that adds a smile to your day!

Dave got a new job!

My sweet hubby Dave got a new job last week! He will be working at the corporate offices of Mountain America Credit Union. Their building is in Jordan Landing! He will still be doing computer programming, and Dave said its more the style of programming that he likes. He will have flexible hours - and shouldn't be doing any more crazy overtime! If I understand the position correctly, he won't have to deal with project managers any more either.

He interviewed a while ago and didn't think anything would come of it. Then he got the job offer about a week ago. We went to the temple on Friday (btw - Oquirrh Mountain Temple was really neat!) - and we both felt good about it. Dave gave his two weeks notice this week. His last day at his current job will be March 19th.

We are both very excited with this opportunity. The guy who referred him is someone Dave used to work with, and highly recommended MACU. I am excited to have him so close to home! Dave is excited to get back to programming, and not daily exterminating (taking care of bugs!). From what we've been told, it sounds like there are lots of opportunities for advancement within the company too.

Thanks to all of you for your support! Especially Mom for dealing with us on those long late nights that Dave was stuck at work :)

Adoption

I just wanted to share with you my brother's profile for adoption. He and his wife are unable to have children due to a medical condition. They are the perfect candidates for adoption! They are great with kids and have so much love to offer. If you know of anyone considering placing for adoption, please share this profile with them:

https://itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/4983268/ourMessage.jsf

We pray for them all the time that they can have children in their home, and I would hope you pass this along if you know anyone.

Flying bears

Just one other cute video of Conni playing in her room. And I love at the end her sweet little voice asking "please" to see the camera!

Loving Her Bed

Conni is loving having her new toddler bed. However, she is not very conventional on how she gets in. After laughing for a bit at how she was doing it, we finally grabbed the camera to record some. Then there's just some fun video of her playing after that.

Not Where I Left You

Last Saturday morning, when it was time to get Conni up, Dave and I went in her room and just about tripped over her! We had heard her earlier that morning playing, but we left her alone cause it wasn't time to get up yet, and she settled down quickly. Well, here's a cute, short video of where we found her.

And yes, when I was little, I did sleep in the same position!

Retail Therapy

I have felt myself slipping into a little depression lately. Dave's had to work lots of long hours, and I feel like there is nothing new going on in our lives. And the fact that I'm female and have such "fun" hormones is such a helpful thing too. Luckily, I have the gospel and an amazing husband and an awesome mom who are very supportive of these times. I am very grateful that I started March Madness and have "had" to read the Book of Mormon the last couple of days. I think it has really helped keep my head above water. I also love that Conni knows when I'm having the worst days and will just be extra cuddly and come give me hugs and kisses. She was so patient with me yesterday and I love her more for it.

I also have had my sweet friend Renee on my mind a lot lately. I know that I never get to see her anymore and hardly get to talk to her, but I know she is there for me and I feel like I'm leaning on her anyway. I have other amazing friends too, but she's been the most on my mind. So thanks Renee!

But anyway - one of the funnest solutions for my depression days is Retail Therapy! It is less expensive than "real" therapy and so much more fun. It gets me out of the house, and often a new shirt will do the trick to pick my spirits up again, or even just some fun window shopping.

This weeks retail therapy has been shopping for Easter Basket treats. I'm loving wandering the isles and showing Conni different things to try to find some fun stuff for our family Easter celebrations. Conni enjoys shopping too and I'm starting to let her walk around more at the stores - as long as I can get her to stay with me! Conni loves to race along in the shopping cart and other fun things too. It breaks up our routine and lets us see new things. I feel like I'm getting something accomplished, and feel even better when I can find great deals. Its very effective when I get stuck in that rut.

I am so grateful that I have my family, the gospel, and my retail therapy. I know that there are rough days for all of us. I know this is something I will battle with all my life, but I also know I have many people I can lean on to get me through. If you have these days and haven't tried it - I would highly recommend giving Retail Therapy a shot! There's nothing quite like it!