This weeks update

Just a quick update...

Brian is still out of work. He is able to get some hours in at the theater to help keep us a float. He usually only works 2 shifts a week. He does enjoy his time there, but he still wants a good paying day job.

Brian is doing well in his classes. He is currently enrolled in 4 classes. The titles and the subjects are beyond me (databases and other type things). He is enjoying them and is doing very well. He may be dropping a class but it has more to do with a disagreement with the professor on some items.

I am enrolled in one class; hopefully the last university type class for a long time (if not EVER). It is my logic class. I only need one class left to graduate and this is it. I am trying my hardest to stay focused, attentive and above all, on the same page as everyone else. Brian is a fantastic help. He should just take the class with me and get credit for all the help he is giving. Most nights I read the textbook out loud and have him translate what I just read. He then helps me with the exercises. What a great guy that Brian is! So smart and willing to help me get it.

I have been working part time at a day care center with Brian's sister Lorraine. Even though I don't want to work this is by far the most ideal working situation I could find. I work as a substitute. And when I get called I can take Aidan with me to work. Aidan gets the benefit of seeing other faces and playing with new friends and I get the benefit of helping out a little with finances (not to mention some adult conversation). Aidan is in Lorraine class so that helps me feel better about the transition. Aidan loves his time at the day care. I don't think I will be able to just get another job and just drop him off, but it is working fabulously now.

Aidan is learning so much. I think a lot of it has to do with the day care but what do I know. He has been learning new words. He is like a little sponge and he is so good at listening. He doesn't always do what he is asked or told to do but at least I can tell it is registering in his little mind. He is saying words like 'pumpkin', 'people', 'broken', 'bottle', 'car', 'book', 'ball' amongst a few others.

We are still working on getting Aidan on a schedule for sleeping. He gets tired about 8pm and then we bath and put him to bed. He generally does a good job but he does wake up oft in the middle of the night. He doesn't want me, he wants Brian. And all he wants Brian to do is walk him back to his bed. I am convinced he sleep walks because he doesn't cry, he just wanders into find Brian. Tonight we are performing an experiment, I hope all goes well. We put his bed back into a crib. It was a toddler bed, but I am hoping the side being back on the bed will help with his midnight wanderings.

That is all for now. What's up with you?

You tell me...

Aidan is quite the little boy. Both Aidan and Brian have been getting up around 7 AM and going downstairs to play and watch television (in Brian's case fall back asleep). This morning I woke to an empty bed. So I decided to get the laundry ready and I headed downstairs to do it. As I wandered the upstairs for laundry I could hear Aidan talking, oh so softly, I smiled to myself. I love him I do. He really can be such a delight. And then I found him on the stairs. He was sitting next to his diaper with his shirt off, talking. I asked him what he was doing and he said "dirty" and pointed to the wet diaper sitting adjacent to him. I then instructed him to come up stairs with me. I went and found a diaper and waited patiently for the pitter patter of his feet across the kitchen floor. He then found me and grabbed my finger and took me to the bathroom. I was planning on doing this anyway, so I found it encouraging. I lifted his naked little body up to the toilet and said "if you don't wear diapers anymore this is how you go to the bathroom." At which time he peed, not a lot just a little bit and then told me he was done. I put a new diaper on him and he tried to take it off. I haven't any thing else right now; no pull ups, no underwear, just diapers.

So my question to the outside world... the world of more experienced mothers and sisters and grandmothers (anyone with any knowledge on the subject). What is going on? Is it really that time? I was always told to wait, don't rush the potty training issue. Boys are difficult to train, don't force the issue. But here is what I see, as Aidan's mom.

--during bath time, if he has to go to the bathroom, he will either point to the toilet wanting to relieve himself there. Or he will stand, grab hold of his "hose" and aim it all around the tub as he relieves himself.

-- he will sometimes bring us a diaper before anything happens.

--become extremely ornery if we haven't realized his plight and take care of it immediately.

--take toilet paper off the role and pretend to wipe (diaper still on)

--wake up in the middle of the night for a diaper change, then go right back to sleep.

I need some input from the more knowledgeable world. Please advise. What would you do in this situation? Is it time? Think he can handle it? Do you think that these experiences make him a cognizant little boy? Cognizant enough to handle potty training? Aidan is only 19 months old...

Rain Rain Rain Whoa!

Today was so much fun for me... and the day isn't even over yet. Aidan and I went and played at the park with Megan, Zoe and Lincoln. Aidan is a little dare devil. He would run around the big toy and then run right off onto a slide and then gravity would make him fall off of his feet onto his bottom and he would slide the rest of the way down the slide. Little stinker. Then after about an hour he decided it was time to go home. He kept saying Go Go. After lunch and a nap....it started to rain. I love the rain. Some of my fondest memories of my dad are when I was little and we would sit on the porch and just relax to the sounds of rain and thunder and watch the lightning. Well Brian, Aidan and I decided to take advantage of our covered patio. Aidan played in the rain and we sat back and relaxed a bit. Listening and enjoying the rain. Another sound that I found delightful was the sound of Aidan after every roll of thunder he would look to the sky and say....whoa....and giggle (because he got rain in his face). I am so happy that Aidan can enjoy the rain and thunder as much as us.

On a side note I ran in the house to start his bath water....mud and a toddler...what fun! I looked out the kitchen window to tell Brian that Aidan could be brought in the house and I noticed a scene that touched my heart. Aidan had moved his little camp chair in front of Brian (also sitting in a camp chair) and they were doing Itsy Bitsy Spider together....and Aidan was just a laughing! How sweet huh!

Any way...I love the rain...bring it on!

Pudding, Pizzas and Elmo!

Yesterday we had the McFadden's over for some fun activities. Aidan has been playing on the computer lately. When Brian plays his video games Aidan likes to watch his shows on the internet too. Sprout online has saved us so much lately. It gives us a moments peace. I love that Aidan can watch Barney and other preschool type shows and he feels big and independent. Also on Sprout are recipes and games and other type of things. We have been looking through the recipes and found a fun one. Personal pizzas made to look like Elmo. Aidan loves Elmo and got so excited when he saw the pictures.

I also saw on Jon and Kate plus 8 where she let the kids use pudding like body paint and they loved it. So we decided to give it a try.

Aidan and mommy playing in the pudding. Aidan was very confused by it but after a while he started to enjoy it...at least he enjoyed the fact that I enjoyed it.

Aidan and me making some pizzas.
One of Aidan's best buddies...Zoe Kay and her pizzas.

Looking good Zoe...
Aidan and mom with pizzas before they went into the oven.

Aidan loves Zoe. Sounds like Zoe loves Aidan. We are so happy that these two can play together. Aidan is so social and loves to be with others. Thanks to the McFaddens for coming over and playing with us...we all had a blast!

Freak or squirmish....don't read if quesy

Tonight was an interesting night. For the last couple of days (almost two weeks) I have had a bump on my stomach. I think its a zit possibly a bug bite. I have ruled out a sarcoma...it was raised. But tonight I had had enough of it. I wanted it gone. So Brian suggested I lance it with a needle. So to make a long story short I did...it didn't work out so well and then I needed Brian to help me with the mini operation. He was distraught. He said I did it all wrong and didn't understand why it didn't hurt and it made him very disturbed. I wasn't able to make it gone either...surgery aborted.

Question is....am I a freak for attacking it myself in such a primitive way....or is Brian just too squirmish?

PS I am fine I cleaned it out....I wont die from stupity mom...I promise...you know how I am....impatient and ridiculous.

PSS This is only on here because we both find it gross, unnerving and oddly funny and memorable...he always said he hated needles and the like...tonight I found out that it is SO true. funny how even after two and half years of marriage we can still laugh at our ridiculous-ness.

Happy Birthday Mom!

This is a happy birthday post to my mom! I love her to death! So is amazing and wonderful and I hope that she has the best birthday ever!

Nursery and Aidan

Today was the day. We were going to make it happen. We all woke up and showered and got ready for church. We even left early enough to make it on time to Sacrament meeting. Aidan did better than normal, which isn't saying much because there is so much room for improvement. Well after sacrament I took Aidan up the steep staircase to the nursery. Brian filled out some paper work and gave the bishop our tithing. (so hard to pay tithing when we are both unemployed and know that it would pay so many bills....here's to faith!) Once we climbed the staircase and ran over to play with the kids. One little boy even shared his toy car with Aidan and they played together. Well after about 10 minutes of realizing that Aidan didn't even realize I was there or not...I quietly left. I went and found Brian and then we went to Gospel Principles class. Nice lesson...for all 10 minutes we were in there. Then on our way to find Priesthood and Relief Society we decided to sneak back up to check on him (the door has a glass panel)...on our way up the stairs we heard him....crying....louder and louder and sadder and sadder. We opened the door and there he was full of big tears and everything. I went and picked him up and gave him a big hug and he held on for dear life. At first I thought "oh no...my big little boy got into a fight with one of the other kids." How horrible of me to think that! I asked what happened and apparently the teacher gathered all the little ones around in a circle for singing time. No issue, Aidan sat down and sang with everyone. Then they sang a song about mommies and daddies and then.....he looked around for us. And when he couldn't find mommy or daddy he melted. He realized we had abandoned him and freaked. Poor baby boy! I think that we went to check on him just in time. After that Brian and I stayed and visited with him for the greater part of the next hour. (We did leave a little early because I got attacked by the other kids to read and I started to need a drink...so we left so that I could go and get some water.)

All in all not a bad Sunday. Hopefully next week will be just a little bit better.

LOL.....sorry

I am so excited. It looks amazing. That is all I can say and I am sorry I can't say more. It is referring to a Christmas present. I just hope that the recipient agrees with me.

On another note. Today I picked my first three cucumbers. I love them. So yummy. I put some in vinegar and can't wait to eat them tomorrow for lunch. I absolutely am enjoying this thing about reaping the benefits from my own efforts...my own garden. It is weird it is like a high. Strange. I am already excited for next year. I am planting EVERYTHING.

On a side note. Tomorrow I am going to tie a levi quilt. I have been working on this quilt for about a year and I am so excited to finish it off and use it. Anyone who wants to come and play....come on over. Call or text me... any helpers would be awesome!

Can't sleep....dumping my thoughts....

Late nights and thoughts are not necessarily a good thing. My mind wanders in circles and I can never get out. So I shall enlighten all of those around me with such silliness.

My garden is so fruitful. I planted so late in the year that I decided to just plant cucumbers and zucchini. I am an absolute novice and usually have to figure things out on my own (I can't just accept advice and caution as what it is....caution). I wanted to make sure that I had zucchini this year for my holiday baking. I remember very fondly of mom making zucchini bread around Christmas time and even though she probably only did it once or twice, I feel that Christmas isn't right until I make zucchini bread. So when we bought our house I knew that I would plant something...especially zucchini. We moved in and before I even unpacked most of the boxes...I planted. I wanted to make sure that I got something so I planted four zucchini plants. I was told that the spread and are very fruitful but I wanted to just be sure. Oh My! So much zucchini! If any one wants any...please come get some!

My cucumber plants have just started bearing fruit (or vegetables). I have three that are nearly ready to be picked and ate. I have A LOT of buds and starts of cucumbers...I think I will be doing some pickling this season. I have never done any kind of pickling or canning or jarring. So if you have a good recipe or expertise in this field, please share. I don't want anything to go to waste.

Another thought floating in my head. I saw part of Julie/Julia (or vice versa) tonight...it was just an okay movie...I think it is because I walked in an hour late (originally went to see District 9 with Brian, Keira, and Nate....I hated it...walked out..yuck!). The movie is about this woman who wants to do something meaningful. So she decides that she make every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking (520 recipes) in one year. All the while blogging about it. I thought about this and her task. What an ambitious task! Not only because some of those recipes are hard but think of all of the time, money, energy and sanity put into such a task. And then I think of my own ambitions and what I want to do. I have always wanted to do something amazing. I know that I still have time in my life....but I need a vision. I lack an idea, something that would compel me through everything to continue and succeed. I have thought about my schooling....13 years and something like 20,000 dollars would count. But I want it to me more of a creative idea. Who knows maybe soon I will think of something.

I have learned something new about myself in the last couple of days. I never thought I had a creative side. I was never a crafty person. I was never able to use colors or see the abstract in anything. I have recently found the joy...absolute bliss...is using a sewing machine. How strange this thought is! A sewing machine. Maybe its because I used to be so busy with life and now everything is busy...just in a different way. I am constantly planning and sewing in my head. I have found myself taking apart articles of clothes in my head and sewing them back together. Brian encourages this insanity. What a wonderful guy! When I can't figure it out...he always helps me through the thinking process.

So many thoughts....but finally I think the sleep will win.....good night.