A Happy Birthday and a New Blog

Happy 29th Birthday to my big sister Candace. We are 15 months apart, and growing up I wanted to be JUST like Candace. Who wouldn't want to be 5'10, skinny, organized, and be able to sing?

She also can cook.....check her out at The Cook Next Door

Calling All Decorators, DIY'ers & Designers

I need some serious help here people! I've rearranged my living room a million times, and today I gashed my foot in doing so. Thus, I've decided to quit moving furniture until I get some advice on what looks best. Unfortunately the big wall has a window that is not centered, which complicates my furniture arranging. It looks best if the two couches are centered with each other, otherwise it looks off balance.

Did I mention I'm working on a budget. I've found all of our furniture on Craigslist so far, but I must have been extremely lucky because I've seen squat lately. If I lived in a big city this would be a lot easier. I need some drapes to tie things together (and offset the fact that I painted my room blue and then found blue couches) and I'm thinking some sort of bench underneath the window for seating? Maybe two chairs? Also, I'm trying to find some end tables that go with my furniture with some tall lamps. I'll probably move the brown circle table somewhere else, or at least change out the lamp.

I've mixed modern with classic....if you can't already tell since I have mid-century style couches paired with a classic settee.

Okay, here are some pictures of the room and the furniture. Kyle got me this clock for Christmas, and I'd like it to go in this room. I think it goes well with the black couch, no? Also, I have a piece of large artwork that I'll need to hang somewhere that has some gold, greens and blues in it, and I'm thinking a big family photo.

Okay....give me your opinions!

Peek Into My Week

Preston is eating solids like a champ. He pants, and pants, and pants whenever he wants more food. The first time I put cheerios on his highchair tray he immediately grabbed one and stuck it in his mouth like he'd been doing it his whole life. He is sitting up (not perfectly, but pretty good), and still not interested in rolling over too much. Michael was crawling at 6 months, but I won't complain....it's so nice to have him be chill.

Michael loves his "new" train set that his cousins passed down to him. Unfortunately the train whistle is his favorite feature.

We are always glad when Daddy comes home! If anyone needs any business insurance let us know. He can service businesses in other states too.

Michael loves taking his PJ's off each night. He used to take his diaper off sometimes too and make a mess, but now he just takes his PJ's off. Each night we go and put them back on. Sometimes in the morning I'll go in there and they are off again. Stinker! His crib tent got a hole in it, and he figured out how to reach his hand through the hole and unzip the tent. Stinker! The company is sending me a new replacement free of charge. Can I tell you how much I love the crib tent????!!!

I have to have carpel tunnel surgery on both of my hands in the next few weeks. They'll do my right hand first and then three weeks later do my left hand. It would be nice to have them done at the same time, but it wouldn't work having little kids. I think it's a pretty simple surgery, and I'm excited to have strength in my hands again and not have them go numb at night. I figure I might as well get it done before I have another baby because it will just get worse, and if you don't take care of it, you can have permanent nerve damage.

Christmas in 'The Couve.'

These pictures are completely backwards and out of order, but my computer won't let me move them. Annoying.

Kyle's entire family was in town minus one sister and her family. We missed you Keach family! Here we are "Skyping" Nanny in New Zealand on New Year's Eve till 2 in the morning. She is the best. We love you Nanny!!!!!

Nanny and Uncle Joel's cat on the computer. Hilarious.

Santa brought Michael a Tonka Truck. He LOVES getting presents and wants to open everyone elses gifts.

Here's a pic of Michael peeking over the balcony at his loot. We let him sleep in a little since he was under the weather.

Some of the nieces and nephews with Aunt Emily. We kept Preston in a onesie because of his fevers. New Year's midnight smooch. Very fitting that Preston is still awake at MIDNIGHT!!!! I went to bed at 2:30, since we were talking to Kyle's Grandma in New Zealand, and it was one of Preston's roughest nights. My mistake!

New Year's Eve we all went ice skating at the Lloyd Center. It was a lot of fun for everyone. Here's Michael being nebulized. Luckily Kyle's sister brought theirs to town since we forgot ours at home. We were able to use it on both of the boys.

The Dray family let us stay in their home for 9 DAYS! That's a long time to let anyone encroach on your space, but we appreciated it so much and our Christmas vacation was made easier because of their very helpful children.

We went to visit my uncle and his family in Portland and Grandma was there visiting.

Another shot of Preston with a fever
This sums up how Michael felt. Pretty cute though if I must say.
The boys at our ward Christmas party. I pumped up Santa so that Michael wouldn't be afraid of him this year. He was excited until it came time to sit on his lap. Funny how he can love someone, yet be freaked out of his mind of them at the same time.

Way Behind

I could write a huge, long post about how sick my kids were during Christmas break, but I'm sick of writing about my kids being sick! However, before I quit writing about it, I'll just say that Preston is finally feeling better besides a lingering cough, and Michael should start feeling better after today (took him in today because he had another BAD ear infection). Preston is also getting over an ear infection. Preston had some scary high fevers for 6 days while we were on vacation. Let's just say our Christmas break to Vancouver did NOT include sleeping. Michael's molars are coming in, and he's been battling ear and sinus infections. Not fun.

Christmas post coming soon.....

p.s. I hate posting without pictures, but don't worry, I'll be making up for it soon!

All Nighter

In college it seemed that the cool thing to do was to pull an "all nighter" studying. I wasn't in to being cool, so I never did it. Now that I'm a mom I don't have a choice. Before we moved into this house on Halloween, I could count on one hand how many times Preston had woke up more then one time in a night. He was my perfect sleeper since day one. He would wake up around 4:30 and go back to bed till around 8 or so. Since moving into this house, he wakes up three times a night, every single night. What gives? I've tried to let him cry it out but after 20 minutes, his dad can't take it anymore. Maybe he wants to be back on the floor in my closet rather then in his own room.

I suspected that Michael has had an ear infection too (7th one since getting tubes put in), and after tonight, I'll be making him another appointment with the ENT.

Here's how tonight's schedule has gone so far....
Preston: Asleep at 11
Michael: Awake at 11:15 asleep at 12:15 (hysterical crying, thrashing, etc)
Preston: Awake at 1:45 asleep at 2:30
Michael: Awake at 2:35 asleep TBD

Right now he's watching Bob the Builder and eating mandarin oranges. But really at 3:19 am???? Whenever he wakes up in the night he says in between sobs, "I watch Bob, I watch Bob." Or sometimes it's "I watch Elmo, I watch Elmo."

Michael bit a little girl in nursery today. Seriously I don't know what to do! I didn't find out until after I got home. I called the mom and made Michael apologize to her daughter (not that he understood, but at least it made me feel better). Just a warning to all little girls. If Michael is fighting over a toy with you, he may sink his teeth into your hand or arm. Maybe when you're a teenager you'll like vampires. (Maybe I should read those Twilight books to understand why he likes to bite)

My vampire is requesting another orange....

You'd Never Know

I took Preston to the doctor on Tuesday because I knew something was "off" with him. Even though he was still my sweet, happy baby, he wasn't sleeping like normal (hasn't been since we moved), and had his fussy moments. I suspected an ear infection along with a cold. Sure enough, double ear infection, sinus infection and an eye infection. Really, you'd never know.

Does anyone have a cure for a bad case of eczema under a babies neck (we think it's from drool)? The doctor told us to try Eucerin so he's been on that for a day. Poor guy has got a terrible rash.