Free Spirit

Michael has entered a new stage: biting, slapping, screaming, and waking up in the middle of the night. I'm attributing his poor behavior to 4 canines making their way through his gums. Poor guy, can you blame him? Any advice on how to teach a 17 month old not to bite and hit other kids (more importantly his MOM)? We've started timeout, but we have to sit with him and hold him. I'm just hoping this stage is over by the time April 19th rolls around and he's in nursery. It's like one day he woke up and decided he was going to change his behavior.....so bizarre.

His new stage also includes a love for reading books, watching a few minutes of PBS kids, lifting up my shirt and patting (okay more like slapping) his new baby brother, giving closed mouth smooches, and always wanting to go outside. He's still our little fireball of energy that's for sure. One of my friends put it best this week, when she said, "I think Michael is just a free spirit."

Done Deal

It's official, Kyle got a new JOB! He will be working for Conover Insurance selling commercial insurance to businesses. We have had to be very patient with the process, but he was finally offered the job on Friday and signed the papers yesterday. His start date is April 1st, and for the first 9 months he will be getting licensed, taking courses and tests, and doing training. It will be a lot of work and is very different from his last job, but he's up for the challenge. We are relieved, and excited for the next phase. Michael and I are really going to miss having him home all the time. I just wish that it would have been during the summer, so we could have been at the pool the whole time, or maybe when we had the new baby! I have a new empathy for people who are laid off or looking for work now that we have been there, done that. It's a tough, tough market out there. Hopefully we've learned a little patience along the way too. Thanks everyone for your support, concern and prayers, we really appreciate it.

Inherited

This week we got a call from someone in our ward to see if we wanted a 1950 Plymouth. She was calling on behalf of her father who just moved in with her and her husband. Her dad, "Sanders" was the original owner, and since he had to move away from his farm, he wanted to find a place for his baby (the car). Nobody in his family wanted it, so they were turning to friends.

Never one to turn down a free deal, Kyle jumped on the chance, and today he drove 2 hours with "Sanders" the 80 something owner of the 1950 Plymouth to pick up his prize. We had NO idea what to expect, but we were told it had been parked in a garage for the last 30 years and hadn't been driven since then. Kyle rounded up a trailer, borrowed my parents Expedition, found some tie downs, and hit the road.

I think it has potential, but for now we're going to have to park it in my grandma's potato shed until we have somewhere to put it. (it will feel right at home with the mice)

Unbelievable

I have a fear of mice. A fear that goes back to my early childhood. Rats are a whole new level and not one I've had to confront often. Growing up on a farm, made my fear even worse because the encounters were more frequent. I hate mice with a passion. Actually, I'm deathly afraid of them.

Last night was mutual and we had a combined activity. I was cleaning up at the end, and walked back into the gym after being in the kitchen. There was a group of kids that I walked past to get my purse. Out of nowhere, one of the girls turns around and sticks a RAT in my face.....yes, a RAT! I immediately FREAKED! I screamed, left the gym, and had a panic attack in the hall. I could not stop the tears or the hyper ventilating. Luckily there were only three people to witness the worst of the worst. However, there was a meeting that was getting over in the chapel with stake and ward leaders. Lovely. My dad was at the meeting, and had a hanky handy. So embarrassing.

The girl felt bad, and obviously didn't know that I was going to have an extreme fear of the rodent she was showcasing. I guess the kids had it the whole time during mutual, but they had it crawling through their sweatshirts and hiding in their purses, so the leaders couldn't see it. I don't understand the concept of wanting to have a pet rat and then letting it crawl all over you. Soooo DISGUSTING, and soooooo wrong.

If I'd known there was a rat about to be put in front of my face, I would have been able to control myself a little better, but to be caught off guard like that..... let's just say, I did not sleep well last night.

Journaling

This came in the mail today for Kyle, from our niece Ariana. So sweet.

Here's the latest on Michael at 16 months:

He still sleeps 13 hours at night, and takes two good naps during the day. I keep wondering how long this will last for, and hope until I have this next baby! He loves to go outside, and today I told him we were going to go outside and I put his shoes on him. I got distracted with something, and the next thing I know, he comes out from my bedroom holding my tennis shoes (they matched), and he put them by my feet and was trying to get me to put them on.

We had the missionaries over for dinner last night, and Michael went up to one of the Elders and was pulling on his shirt, and kind of fussing. The Elder couldn't figure out what he wanted, but I soon realized he wanted to see his belly. I told him, he's trying to find your belly. So the Elder pulled up his sweater, revealing his white shirt and tie, and Michael starts laughing and says, "baby, baby, baby." Hilarious. Then a little while later he goes over to the other Elder and puckers up his lips and goes "mmmmmm." The Elder asked me what he wanted and I said, he wants a smooch on the lips. He told him he better just kiss the back of his hand.

We were doing our taxes on Tuesday night and a Hispanic couple came into the building. They didn't speak any English (they were using a translator). We were across the room, and letting Michael roam around. As soon as they came in and sat down, Michael was trying to get the guy to pick him up and play with him. The kid, has no reservations about strangers.

We took him to a lame park this week near our house, and he LOVED it. He cried the entire way home because he didn't want to leave. It's all about the fun with this guy.

For FHE a few weeks ago, I pointed to a picture of Christ on our wall, and said Michael, there's Jesus. So now, whenever I say, where's Jesus he points to the picture.

If I have a headband on, he will rip it off my head and put it on his head. It's quite annoying.

We have to get him out of bed at night (hope that he stays asleep) and clip his fingernails. Kyle uses a headlamp to do it. It's hilarious. Also if we want to cuddle with him, we have to get him out of bed. Reminds me of the book, "I'll Love You Forever." One of my favorites.

I'm dreading trying to keep Michael still for two hours straight on Sunday during Stake Conference. I think he'd be a lot happier if I locked him in the nursery room. Ha!