May 27, 2010

2010 - First Quarter Review

Welcome to the new quarterly review, as is we have been so busy I have not taken the time to update the blog monthly. Hence the idea for the new Quarterly Review (got business on the brain). To begin things off Jessica turned 3 in January, it is still crazy how the time passes. However, we did have some fun amongst everything else. She has been on a train kick, so we took her and rode tracks uptown for a city hiking adventure. She loved it and had a total blast, even though it was a bit chilly. She had her backpack and got to ride on Dad’s back, it was a very great day!

She has also been doing great with using the potty, except at night. She still has some accidents within the first quarter; however, for a now a day update she is doing great and is getting better about not going at night. Now all Jessica wants to do is give hugs and kisses and help with whatever either of us is doing. As you see from the pics.

For the month of February I turned a whopping 29. To me this is just odd as Jessica is 3, Jesse will be 33 and with the 2 of them plus their ages together is 9. I may be nuts, but it just reassures me in my mind that Jesse and I are soul mates and just meant to be together and Jessica is the cherry on top!

Some funnies for February were we were at Lowe’s one day, working on fixing a plumbing issue and Jesse and I were looking at something and all of a sudden here this, “Hello?” and we both look over at Jessica holding a big PVC elbow to her ear and mouth just like a telephone, it was too funny. Then as she has been doing better with the potty and as we know she is very independent she now requires her own potty time and tells me to go away, shoo, shoo. She even tries this at public restrooms, she is such a character.

Then finally in March we took her to see Alice in Wonderland; however, she preferred the bathroom more than the movie so Jesse tricked her and we left early through one of the side doors. However, she did learn her lesson as we have taken her to another movie and she did great and sat through the whole thing, with just one potty break. We then got her a Jeep as a belated birthday present and somehow I don’t have any video of her driving it around, but she is really learning. It is quite a difficult thing to teach a 3 year old how to drive, but she is getting there. This one particular day she got her big thing of bubbles and drove them around the yard holding them with one arm just like a boyfriend and girlfriend.

Then unfortunately I broke my toe the end of March and after all these years and our many visits to the ER with Jesse, this was the first trip to the ER for me. It was a bit tough on Jesse. I wasn’t going to go, but after the day that it happened it looked much worse and due to Brittney’s foot issues I got super paranoid and so we trucked over to the ER just to make sure nothing was way out of whack. Luckily nothing was and after being a club foot for a month, I was back on my way with regular shoes.

Stay tuned for the Second Quarterly Review, hopefully around the first part of July) as we have moved the party!

Jessica Turns 3

March 9, 2010

12.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

Well, finally here is the monthly update for December. The business has continued, but we are still living, having fun and making progress. We did have a great Christmas with the families and we are so utterly grateful for everything that we do have.

As in preparing for the Santa visit this year, I started asking Jessica what she wanted for Christmas and she at first would say, bump, bump, bump (like a drum beat). So drums were it; however, once we got to Santa she wanted nothing do to with him at all. She ended up burying her face in my chest, so we weren’t even able to get a funny pic this year. But they did have a train this year and she has been on a train kick, so me and her rode the train and she absolutely loved it. We then did end up getting her some drums for Christmas and she is actually really good. She will play a little rift and then she will be done. So we have yet to get sick of the sound, amazingly so.

Our little funnies for the month (as the business is continuing onward, this will be brief). One morning we were all headed to drop off Jesse, so I could use the Jeep for the day. Well as usual we were running close to the clock and we get there and Jesse hops out, forgetting to put the car into park. He hurriedly jumped back in and put it into park and then opened the back door to give Jessica her hug and kiss goodbye. But she was back there just laughin and saying “Silly Dad!” over and over.

She has now also discovered the womanly need to speak on the phone; however, through the month of December she thought that the phone she was holding could transmit images to the person on the other end and as she spoke she would be telling you stuff and then say “See” and point the phone at things. She is my little tekky already. She now also loves everything, from chocolate, to the Who (computer) she pronounces her love, stating “I luuuuuuvvvvvv …!” it is great! Well, I am working on getting the rest of the updates up to date, so hang in there and we hope all is well with everyone.

Featuring Jessica Belle, my little August Rush!

December 12, 2009

11.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

The busyness has continued in our lives; however, we hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We unfortunately have just been busy, busy this last month and have not made it out for much fun and excitement lately. However, with Jessica the fun and excitement is easy to find in a moment chillin at home. We have been playing a lot of indoor baseball this last month, no matter where you are at Jessica will find you and hand you a ball and glove and then get her bat for a impromptu game (thank goodness for blow-up bats and cuddly baseballs). She has hit the ball a few times and gets so excited when she does and she is getting pretty good at throwing the ball into the mitt.

We did manage to take a drive one weekend up one of the Cottonwood canyons to see the snow, because Jessica was sad that the snow had melted at our house. She had to take her backpack along for the ride and throughout the small venture she kept saying, “Hike, hike! Hike, hike!” She just loves to go, go all the time and when coming down the canyon she kept putting her hands in the air and going “WEEEEEE! WEEEEE! However, once we got back home she sadly said, “Snow, gone!”

For days, Jessica had been bugging me about her camera, because the batteries were dead. I kept telling her we needed to go to the store and buy more, but really was just putting it off as it takes a minute to change the batteries in those things (tools are required). Well, apparently the little stinker knew I was lying and she broke into my desk where the batteries were hidden and brought them to me one day while I was putting laundry away and said, “Batteries, please!”. She is just way too smart.

Well, that is about it for now. We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and though are lives are busy and hectic we are extremely thankful for them. We have the most wonderful little one we could ever have imagined and who knew it could be so fun.

11.2009

November 10, 2009

Upromise Guest Shopping for AMANDA

Upromise Guest Shopping for AMANDA

Help me! Save on my student loan debt. Click on the above link and get some deals shopping online or at some local places.

November 4, 2009

Happy Halloween!

This was Jessica’s first year of real Trick-or-Treating and we let her pick out her costume all by herself. I tried to show her costumes she was familiar with, Minnie Mouse, princess stuff, etc. She didn‘t seem interested in anything, until she found the one and only cowgirl costume they had there. Luckily, it was her size. After we bought it and I was putting her into her car seat I was telling her we needed to find her some pink boots. She proceeded to say, “Pink boots, alright!” over and over.

So in preparation of Halloween, we have been explaining to Jessica what you do and what you get and she did absolutely awesome out Trick-or-Treating. She at first was doing really well saying, “trick-treat”; however, toward the end when someone would open their door she would say “Boo!” and laugh. She was so much fun; however, once it hit 8:30 she was instantly done. She tuckered herself out with all her big steps in her pink boots and running to chase the other kids in the neighborhood. Our night was cut short; however, we had a blast non the less. We hope that everyone had a great and fun Halloween!

10.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

Well, I think that October has been the fastest month so far this year; however, I suspect the next few will fly as well. It is just too crazy how fast the time goes. However, we are having a blast and Jessica continues to amaze us. This month she has been fascinated with matching. Whether it be marker colors, socks or silverware; if there is a match she will find it and will be sure to tell you “match, match, match” until you acknowledge her accomplishment. She has also been doing really well with counting, colors, shapes and is now constantly reading letters whenever she sees them.

Her little funnies for the month. One day the power was out for a little bit at our house, and apparently Jessica decided this was a perfect time to play Mom. She picked up my work phone and started rambling. I asked her if she was working, as she never gets on my phone when the power is on. She looked at me so seriously and put her finger up to her mouth and said, “ssshhh”. It was just too funny. She has also been on this kick of trying to train Boston (aka Baa). She tells him to sit, she keeps trying to get him to shake hands with her and then one day she was trying to get him to twirl in circles. It was the funniest thing, she would say “Baa, Baa” and then twirl and then hold her hands out like okay it is your turn. She tried so hard to get him to twirl in circles; however, he is stubborn and just laid down in his dog bed. She then attempted to pick him up, while saying “I big, I strong!”.

Jessica Making Music

October 9, 2009

October 8, 2009

09.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

School update, I passed another test (WOOHOO, so happy to report) and so now I am down to six classes to finish the BS in Business Management. Four of them I am trying to complete this term. So it will continue to be busy for the next six months, but the end is getting nearer and nearer (finally).

Well, toddler story time has finally started again this month at the library. So once a week we go hang out at the Library for an hour and have some fun. The first two weeks that we went Jessica hid behind me for the first ten minutes or so, proclaiming that she was scared and would shiver. However, after explaining to her that everyone was nice and friendly she would then sit on my lap and participate. Luckily, this was not an issue this week and she sat (which is not typical), listened and participated with the games and songs. I think it has been really good for her to be able to do some stuff with kids her own age. Plus, she loves books. She has started a habit of toting around a pile of books with her from room to room and at least one book (about animals) has to travel with us whenever we leave the house. Even during our walks.

We also made it out to the State Fair, where she rode in a helicopter, rode a horse, and saw a lot of animals. Which she really loved, but I forgot the camera. The mind these days, it is a shock I can function at times.

She has also been more involved in the kitchen and does not hesitate to get things out of the fridge. One particular day while I was working, she went in the kitchen after the Winder Dairy delivery, she got the eggs that I had put in the fridge earlier that morning and climb onto the cooler against the counter and had gotten an egg out. She was being awfully quite, so I finally asked her what she was doing and she said “Eggs! Eggs!” so I ran into the kitchen with her holding one egg in the air and ready to crack it. I made it just in time this time, another day we weren’t as quick and she poked her finger into three of the eggs and smashed one in between the stove and the counter, which was fun to clean up.

As everyone that meats Jessica knows she is a on the go kind of kid. She does not sit still for long; however, as her love of puzzles has continued this month. She quietly does puzzles several times a day. However, due to early potty training issues this month we had to throw two of her puzzles away. Thanks to reverse psychology she has been doing a ton better with potty training and if she does have an accident, she is finally coming to tell us that she had an accident.

We hope everyone is doing okay and enjoying the change in seasons. Jessica particularly loves the winter wear accessories. Have fun and enjoy!

Jessica in September

September 9, 2009

08.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

Well, officially Jesse and I have now been married for eight years, so no more lucky seven, but I am sure Eight will be Great!

Well, there aren’t many pictures this month and we did not get out an about much, as I having been craming for a big business test. Which, I unfortunately did not pass the first go around. However, I will continue to plug away and hope to pass the second time. I hope to have good news to report for next month’s update.

Jessica has really made a lot of progress this month with potty training; however, most of the time I am just letting her run naked from the bottom down and bribery is also working great. Then when she does pee in the potty, she becomes a little Italian girl for some reason and yells, “Mama, mama, mama. I peed!” This is the only time she ever calls me mama and I have no idea why, but it is way to funny. I still have to ask her a lot if she needs to go, but she is staying dry all day and even sometimes through the night and after nap time (if she takes a nap).

We did make it out to Layne and Britt’s for Layne’s B-Day, but I forgot my camera. Jessica however did remember hers and had a few pics of the wonderful exercise equipment, that she so wanted to play with. I managed to get a lot of exercise myself however, from chasing her from room to room and floor to floor. But we did manage to have some fun.

Jesse surprised us with a bike ride one Sunday morning, as around our house it is pretty boring to ride around and with all the construction we have not been out and about on our bikes this year. However, he got up and loaded our bikes and the trailer into the Jeep and off we went to the Legacy Parkway trail. It was great, we rode over nine miles and it was the most perfect day for a bike ride, Jessica loves puttin along behind in the trailer, plus we stopped at one of the neighborhoods and let her play at the little park. We all had a blast.

The little funnies for the month are:
This one day Jessica was wanting to play and I was sitting on the bed and told her “No, honey. Mom’s back is sore.” She got behind me on the bed and kissed my back and looked and me and said, “Better?” I about died. Then, long story short, Jessica stuffed little foam dinosaurs down the bathroom drain and Dad had to get into the crawler to fix it, the next day we walked into the laundry room and she saw Dad’s flashlight on the floor, she ran over to it and picked it up and hugged it and said “Love flashlight!” She is a nut, but oh so much fun. We have never laughed so much in our lives, I think; and we are just having a ton of fun. Now if I could just get through school, we could be having even more fun. Anyway, hope all is well with everyone and before you know it, it will be Christmas. Just a warning, hee hee. Loves!

August 5, 2009

Jessica's pics from her camera

07.2009 - MONTHLY UPDATE

Jessica is now (as of 07.30.2009) two and a half years old and she is weighin in at 30.5 lbs and is now 37.5 inches tall. So she has lost 2 lbs and gained 2 inches, since her second birthday check-up.

We have been having fun in the sun this month. We have taken her to various parks and even brought along her trike a few times. Now every time she gets in the Jeep, she checks to see if her trike is in the back. One of the parks we ventured to was Murray Park, where we saw 4 baby ducks trying to swim upstream with their mom, we attempted to get her to roll down a hill (however, she had more fun just running down it), she of course had to pick some flowers and she had her first snow cone. We then ate lunch and fed the seagulls our leftovers; which I think was her favorite part. She has got quite the arm on her for hurling food around.

This month she has learned to buckle herself into her highchair and stroller, then two weeks later she figured out how to unbuckle herself. Which once we get somewhere and she is ready to get out of her stroller she unbuckles herself and climbs out. However, she is doing pretty good with listening and jumps back in when I tell her we need to go. I get either an “alright” or “okay” from her.

She has also been doing a ton better with the potty and now when she goes she screams “I peed!” It is too funny, even people in other stalls have chuckled. Who knew going potty could be so exciting for multiple people.

Our little funnies for this month are one day Jesse was coming in the door and Jessica was sitting on my lap as I worked, she jumped down and said “hide”. So we hid and scared Dad with a Boo! Which this has also been a theme for this month, for anyone that will play (see the beginning of the Fourth of July video below, she is playin Boo with Chance, too cute) she will say “Boo” and anyone that screams “Ahh”, she will then do “Boo” again and this can continue back and forth, switching the Ahh’s and Boo’s amongst whomever is playing for as long as whomever is playing can take it.

Also, in our room she frequently will try to catch the sun as it streams in between the blinds in the evening; and a while back we got her a butterfly net. This one particular day she saw the sun coming in and ran out of our room into her room and came running back with her butterfly net. She then proceeded to swing her net and jump, to catch the sun. It was the cutest thing ever.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

August 4, 2009

FOURTH OF JULY

For the Fourth of July we went over to Mike and Lissa’s to play, they had the water slide up and after a bit Jessica finally ventured in and I slid her down the slide a few times. She then started playing with Chance and wanted him to help her up to the top of the slide. Which was pretty high, but Chance helped her up and me on the other side helped her down. She had a blast playin and havin fun with the family. So much so, that we missed making it over to Layne and Brit’s. Right before 10 we ran over to Grandma Linda’s to try and watch the West Jordan fireworks. However, after waiting for what seemed like forever we took off and missed the real fireworks by about five minutes. We did see a few illegal fireworks and Jessica liked them at least. Hope everyone had a good Fourth.

Pretty Princess Background

About Me

My photo
I have been happily married to Jesse, for eight years now. It is crazy to think that we have been together now for fourteen years. We have endured many struggles and nobody thought we would make it this far. However, we have prevailed and now we have our Jessica Belle, as well.

Radio