Seven Years

Seven years ago, Jeff and I tied the knot! Well, actually our anniversary is tomorrow, July 31, but unfortunately I won't have time to post. I really have a hard time remembering what life was like before Jeff. When I look back at some of these pictures, it is clear it has been awhile! After all these years, Jefferson is still cracking me up. Just tonight he tried to convince me to put an eggplant that we didn't want on someone's doorstep. Don't worry, it didn't happen, but the thought of J ding dong ditching with an eggplant was enough to give me a good, long, laugh.

I made it through Jeff's chemical engineering degree at the U...we all know that was hard because it should have been the Y.

Jeff survived seven years of parent-teacher conferences, late night projects, early morning staff meetings, and endless elementary school teacher stories.

Somehow we managed to survive a hot, humid internship in Texas. We really have some great memories, but it only took one cockroach for me to decide that was probably not going to be our "forever home".

We have been fortunate enough to go on a few fun, memorable vacations and many, many hiking and camping adventures.

It took us a few years to start our family, but we have never been happier than we are now. We wanted Heidi to come to us much sooner than she did, but looking back, I think she came at the absolute perfect time. I wouldn't change a thing.

I love you J-diddy! Thank you for being an amazing husband and father! I can't wait to see what the next seven years will bring!

Walking?

Every single day I keep thinking Heidi is going to be walking all over the place. She has been balancing and walking 2 or 3 steps at a time for long time. Well, starting Sunday she started really going for it and it was so funny. She would take off in a full run for about 5 or 6 steps and face plant and then start laughing. It was definitely more than the usual few steps and not nearly as cautious. Well, yesterday she walked across her entire bedroom. Now today I can hardly get her to go three steps! Everybody keeps asking if she's walking yet, but I just can't consider what she's done walking...at least not consistently. BUT...the inevitable is definately going to happen. I am excited for her to enjoy the world of walking, but I am so sad at the realization that she is growing up way, way, way too fast. She is at the absolute best stage right now and I just want to hit the pause button. I put a whole bunch of clothes that she outgrew away and it was more emotional than I thought. We waited so long for this little lady to join our family and I hate feeling like it is just flying by. Sometimes I can't believe my heart is capable of loving this much. I cannot imagine how we ever lived a life without her. Stop growing Heids!

Eleven Months

Heidi turned 11-months on the 19th. Where did my little baby go? I cannot believe how much and how fast she has changed. What I really can't believe is that she will be a one-year old in a month. With everyday that passes we get to see and more and more of Heidi's personality and we are loving what we see. She is such a tease.







*She is sporting 7 teeth and appears to be working on at least one more.
*Will eat pretty much anything as long as it is the baby food jar consistency. Appears to be picky about texture. Unless of course she is eating off your plate, then she likes anything. If you take something off your plate and put it on her tray, well then, she doesn't want it.
*Absolutely loves to be chased around. If she even thinks you're getting on your hands and knees to crawl after she starts squealing like a crazy person. She laughs her pants off when you catch her.
*Books hold her attention the longest. We go to the library often so she always has new books to flip through. She loves turning pages.
*Shakes her right leg like crazy whenever she is excited or mad.
*Babbles all the time and often says "mama" and "dada", but the only word I think she actually know what she is saying is when she says, "hi". I am pretty sure she says, "ball" too, but it isn't as consistent as "hi".
*Understanding a ton of words! She looks up at the ceiling when you say, "fan", looks around for the ball, seems to understand "drink" and she definitely knows her name. I'm pretty sure she understands, "no", but she often chooses to ignore that one.
*Has a very, very high pitched squeal and chooses to uses at the most inappropriate times.
*Does pretty well at church for the first two hours. Usually we are in the hall for the third hour.
*She is still such an early bird!! The later she goes to bed, the earlier she is up. She generally still sleeps from 7pm-6am, but she tries to get up earlier sometimes. Those are not my favorite days because no matter what I do, she will not go back to sleep and then her naps are all thrown off, and then she is usually in bed by 6:15pm. Not kidding. I'm debating whether or not to move her bedtime to 6:30 because she still sleeps the same amount, but it just seems so early to go to bed...especially in the summer. Can't wait until the time change...that is going to go over well in our house!
*Loves our morning run. She usually squeals and babbles the whole time. If you tip the stroller back while you're going to reaches her arms up, shakes her right leg, and starts squealing.
*Starting to look a whole lot chubbier.
*Stands on her own and has taken one or two steps at a time.
*She seems to be kind of a scaredy cat. When she gets scared she starts shaking and has a death grip on your collar.
*Has an absolute fit if she thinks someone is going to take her from her mother or father. Once we are out of sight, she eventually calms down. We are hoping to fix that this year.
*Starting to throw tantrums if she thinks you're not going to do what she wants.
*Loves bouncing to music.
*Flails her arms back and forth like she's directing music.
*Does not like anything to be organized...she will quickly empty any basket, drawer, bookshelf, etc.
*Loves watching other kids.
*Loves to be outside.
*Gives big kisses, but so far mommy is the only recipient. It is the cutest, sweetest thing ever.
*Loves to be held and walked around. If she's tired or mad, she likes you to carry her around and she likes to have her cheek on your cheek.
*Doesn't really love to play alone. She wants someone to be sitting with her and then she is fine.
*Has a really, really hard time going to sleep if there is someone over, if there is a lot of noise, or if something is different than normal.

We just love, love, love this little girl! We love watching her funny expressions and hearing all her new sounds, and watching her grow and change before our eyes. We are so grateful to have a happy, healthy, cuddly little girl and cannot imagine life without her!

Changes

To the three of you who read my blog: get excited. There will be a post today and another in the very near future because this little lady is turning 11 months old tomorrow.

This picture has nothing to do with the post, but how can a post not have a picture of Heidi? She absolutely loves these little notebooks. She will sit and turn the pages for quite a long time...nice distraction at church.

Anyway, the real reason I am blogging is, as always, to update our "family journal". Next year will be different for our little family. I was given the opportunity to go back to work next year. I applied for a part-time job at the school I taught at last year and was lucky enough to land it without even an interview. It is part-time working in Title I with math. The best part is that it is even less than half time. It is 1/3 time, certified teacher. I am not thrilled about leaving my little "baby" (though clearly she is not much of a baby anymore), but due to the circumstances, it won't be for too many days, or for too long. I don't know all the details yet. The reason I even considered this job was because Jeff and I really feel strongly that we need to pay off our land as soon as we can and this will help make a dent in it. Plus, it will help me keep up my license. The biggest reason of course is that since Jeff is doing shiftwork right now, and since it is only 1/3 time I only need to find a place for Heidi 4-8 times per month and only for 3-4 hours. Oh, and did I mention, it is a ONE-YEAR ONLY position?! How awesome is that? I mean, maybe at the end of the year I will wish it was for another year, but let's be honest, one school year is nothing.

I am thrilled to be in an elementary school again and especially working with math, but I am very, very nervous about leaving my little pal. Oh how I wish I had family here. I know she will have a really hard time at first, but in the long run I think it will be good for her because she is very, very attached to her mama and daddy. So the real question is, does anyone know someone that would like to make some money watching a darling, funny little gal 4-8 times/month, for 3-4 hours?? She loves to give hugs and kisses and she would even sleep for a chunk of that time! Come on...look at that face...but seriously, if you know anyone, give me a shout!

Chatterbox

This little girl has become such a chatterbox lately. I really think she thinks she is having a full conversation. She is starting to make the funniest little consonant blends and she usually raises her eyebrows repeatedly while chattering.
The absolute funniest thing she has started doing is talking Chinese. I know, she is totally gifted. No, but seriously. She does the funniest thing that I am not sure how to explain. I have tried to get it on video to no avail. She started doing it at church and the lady next to me was busting a gut. She starts talking while rolling her tongue all around and of course raising her eyebrows. It sounds so funny. You'll just have take my word for it.
As I have mentioned before, Heidi loves books. The best part is that she is SO careful with them. She will take chapter books off the shelf and just carefully turn the pages. It often looks like she is trying to read them. So far I haven't had to worry about her ripping pages (now magazines are a different story...those pages just start flying out left and right). She especially loves to look through daddy's maps. He has been trying to plan a backpacking trip and she is loving the big map books. It is so funny to watch her carefully turn the pages while babbling up a storm.

Hiking

Between company and girls' camp I haven't had much time to post, so pardon all the recent posts. Last week Jeff was on his long change (hooray for long change when Jeff is home for a whole week each month!) we took Heidi to the Uintas for a hike. The trails were quite soggy due to the wet season, but Heidi didn't seem to mind. She was loving the hike and loving being strapped to her best pal...aka daddy. She definitely likes the pouch better than her stroller and we like it because she hasn't figured out how to get herself free yet.


We l-o-v-e to hike so this will definitely not be her last hike of the season. The hardest part now is just scheduling these fun activities around naps. We love living near fun camping and hiking spots and Jeff can't wait to take Heidi for her first camp out. I am a little more concerned about the details of this camping trip, but it should be fun and I have no doubt Heidi will enjoy crawling around in the dirt.

"Hi"

For the last two weeks Heidi's new thing is to wave and say, "hi". It is so cute. Whenever Jeff mows the lawn she has to go stand at the front door and watch. Then they wave to each other each and every time he passes. It never gets old. This girl loves her daddy and boy does he love her. She always starts shaking her right leg when he gets close because she is so excited. Then she gets a huge grin and starts waving. It is all the cuter now that she says "hi" along with her wave. The first time she did it, I thought maybe it was a fluke, but she apparently seems to know what she saying because she has been doing it for over two weeks now.

Cousins

My brother, his wife, and their three boys came to visit from Kentucky last week. My brother was only here for a day and a half, but his wife and kids stayed for almost a week and a half. Our house was definitely busier and far louder than it is used to! Thank goodness there are so many awesome parks to keep everyone entertained! Heidi enjoyed meeting her cousins and is especially fond of her cousin Jack. He was sooo sweet with her and she even let him hold her.

This is the only picture I got all week of all the cousins...yes, it was that crazy! Really we just weren't home a whole lot unless someone was taking a nap! Either way, this picture cracks me up because it is so right on. Hugh...the typical two year old who had a tantrum right before this picture was taken and wouldn't sit with the others, Tommy, the almost 8 year old who was in his own little world and would not sit up for a picture, and Jackson, the 6 year old with a heart of gold who was the perfect little helper and always wanting to be with Heidi. When they left Jack was crying because he was going to miss his "best cousin, Heidi". Seeing that tugged at my heart strings to say the least. We had a good time, but I must take my hat off to anyone and everyone with 4 + kids!