5 Favorite Baby items so far...

1- Sleepy Wrap - Whenever she is in it she sleeps. She loves it and I can walk around hands free and she feels like she is being held. (BTW - I have it in Orange)

2- Baby Swing - Ryan refuses to wear the wrap and sometimes the baby swing is the next best thing when we need to get things done and she is awake. It rocks her to sleep.


3- My Little Tummy's gas drops- I don't know if they actually work but when she is crying and I can't figure out why and she won't take her binky, I give her gas drops and then pop her binky in and she sucks away and usually calms right down.

4- Starlight Gerber Nuk binkies - I haven't been able to find them in the past few years. When Kade was a baby they were my favorite because he wouldn't rip them out with his flailing hands and he could bury his face into my shoulder or when laying on his tummy he could move his head from side to side without the binky being ripped out of his mouth. Luckily I bought one right when Kade decided that he no longer wanted to use binkies and I kept it and now that is the one I use with Kamryn. For a while it was lost under the couch but luckily we found it again and I love it! I just found one online and they want $16.00 for it!


5- Medella Sterilizer bags - These came in great use in sterilizing binkies,bottles and pump accessories. Especially when Kamryn was in the NICU. I didn't trust washing my pump accessories with their hand soap in the sink in her hospital room. I then would go down to the parent's lounge and put them in the bags and microwave them. Then I knew they were nice and clean!

Something to Blog about!

Not a whole lot is going on lately, just keeping busy with the everyday things! So needless to say I don't have anything to blog about besides a little update on us. I have been back to work for two weeks now and it isn't all that bad. My sleep schedule is once again completely wacked out. I can stay up late but I have the urge to take naps and sleep in the daytime. Ryan is getting the hang of taking care of Kamryn and I am so glad or I would feel so awful the entire time I am at work.

Kade is up to no good. Just kidding he is a good helper but I can tell he is getting bored at home and is acting out for attention. He will knowingly be doing something wrong and call my name so I look at him. For example on Saturday he grabbed a marker (luckily it was a dry erase marker) and began drawing on the couch and glass coffee table. Luckily our couch is leather and it didn't hurt it. But in the past he has used pen and one time a permanent marker. Those are now put away but he has a dry erase marker that goes to a book to practice writing his letters. On the flip side he loves to talk to Kamryn and try to get her to smile. This morning he was singing Row Row Row your boat to her. He loves to hold her and feed and burp her. It's so funny he acts like a little Daddy and picks up alot of things from Ryan and I. He did pick up a few words from my Dad during our last visit, every once in a while he calls me or Kamryn "Sugar" and he refers to whatever he is drinking as "whisky" No my dad doesn't drink he is just a funny guy!

Karmyn is doing good. When we took her to her doctor's appointment last week they gave us samples of a very expensive formula to see if it helped with her colic and reflux. It seemed to work well in the beginning but really hasn't improved that much. And on top of it this formula costs way more than regular formula so I am trying a few other things first before I start paying $60 a week on formula.

1. I am currently trying Nestle Good Start. I have heard that those who had problems with Similac and Enfamil that switched to Good Start saw much improvement. I have not noticed a difference.
2. I am still using the Good Start right now, and with her last two feedings I have used cheap Gerber bottles instead of Avent bottles and have seen a little improvement. I have also given her gas drops when I go to burp her half way through her bottle. So we will see.
3. Today I am going to go get some Gripe Water. I think that is how it is spelled but it is supposed to help with colic, reflux, and upset stomach.
4. If the above things don't work I am going to talk to her doctor about medication for the reflux. I think it might have to do with more of the reflux than the type of formula.
Let me know if you have any other good ideas to try! So that is the plan. Hopefully we will find a remedy soon. I feel so bad when I see her so uncomfortable or when she spits up a lot.

As for me when I am not working Kade and Kamryn are keeping me busy and in the little spare time I have I have been:

Reading - I started The Time Travelers Wife this past weekend. It is soooo good and I can't wait to see the movie one day, probably when it comes out on DVD.

Jogging - I have started jogging(4 times a week). It has been 2 years since I last "worked out". I have NEVER had any desire to run/jog. But I have been inspired by many others. My goal is to be able to run in a 5k. I have noticed that I feel addicted to it already and I have only been doing it for just over a week. It makes me feel so much better throughout the day.

Crafts - I have made some bows recently and an acrylic scrapbook. I also just started Kamryn's Halloween costume, can't wait to see her in it! When I have completed some of my other projects I am going to start an Etsy store. Right now there will be mostly baby or scrapbook items and then eventually I hope to branch out to other things.

Ryan has been up to the usual work! When he isn't working he is busy with the kids while I am at work or playing Mafia Wars on facebook. I am not looking forward to the NFL season starting. Don't get me wrong I would love to go to a live Football game but just hate watching it on TV. Plus Fantasy Football is back and I hate it!

I am looking forward to some cooler fall weather and to Kade starting Soccer. Hopefully it goes better than T-ball did. Luckily I am not pregnant and Ryan will be home during Soccer time. When he did T-ball I had him signed up for Saturday mornings and I didn't read the details very well. Come to find out every parent is an assistant coach and has to be out on the field with their kids. I was pregnant, Ryan works Saturdays and Kade wasn't cooperating. I look forward to watching from the sidelines!

Kamryn's 2 months old!

So Kamryn turned two months old yesterday. Today we took her to her doctors appointment. She weighs 12 ibs 8oz and is 23 inches long! She is a growing girl! It was so sad she had to have 5 shots and 1 oral vaccine. Broke my heart when the nurse had to stick her with 5 needles and the first one the nurse really got her because she didn't realize how buff Kamryn's legs are....

I took her 2 month picture yesterday with the monkey...she was trying to eat it! She loves to eat, she eats 4-6oz every 3-4 hours. Sometimes she spits most of it back up and sometimes it all stays down. So the doctor gave us a gentler formula to try to see if it helps, if not we might have to put her on anti-acids. She is a spoiled little girl that loves to be held and loves to be in the sleepy wrap. Best 40 dollars I have spent on her! She loves it when Kade talks to her and loves to be outside even in the 110 degree heat(we don't stay out for long, but she smiles the whole time). She is cranky between 8 and 11pm. The longest she has slept without waking in her bassinet is 8 hours...wish she would do that every night!

She is such a sweet little girl and we are so lucky that she is apart of our family!

My Sister's Keeper

I am finally chapters away from finishing the book My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I started it before I had Kamryn and now two months later I am finally finishing it. Actually the only reason I have had time to finish it now is I am back to work and every once in a while there is a little down time. It is a great book but a newborn keeps me too busy to read.

Anyways there are a few lines in the book that just touch my heart. My favorite is this one...

I realize then that we never have children we receive them. And sometimes it is not for quite as long as we would have expected or hoped. But it is far better than never having those children at all.

I would go through the experience that I had with Kooper a thousand times over because he has made me who I am and the Mother I am today. I would rather have had him for only the time I did than not at all. I didn't get to spend much time with him but I am glad that I got that chance to give him a body and feel him kick around for a while.

school supplies

I am in love with back to school supplies! I don't know why but as soon as the school season starts to roll around I just can't resist walking down the school supplies isle. My husband thinks I am weird and goes along for the ride watching me drool over the latest trends of notebooks, crayons and markers! I am like a kid in a candy store. He has a good laugh and I talk myself out of buying supplies I don't need. I want to buy a new binder and pencil case and new pens, pencils, crayons and the list goes on and on. I haven't really gone back to school supplies shopping in 7 years, but as the school season starts to approach I just want to buy everything! I can't wait for next year, Kade will be starting Kindergarten and the back to school shopping begins!

I don't remember if I was obsessed with school supplies as a kid...I guess I will have to ask my mom.

I do remember when I went into first grade though. Mrs. Galloway was my teacher. When I walked into the classroom a pencil box was on each desk and a toothpick was sticking out of a hole that seemed to be made for the toothpick and then there was a little flag on the toothpick that had the names of all the kids in the class. Mine was pink. I will never forget it! Maybe that is when the obsession with school supplies started?!

Back to work

I can't believe it's already time for me to go back to work! I wish I could just be a stay at home mom, of course there are those days that I wish I was working and could escape or maybe I just wish I was independently wealthy and could afford to pay someone to come watch them while I go to the spa?!

I am nervous to go back to work after being gone for 10 weeks. I am most nervous about leaving Kamryn alone all night with Ryan and I am pretty sure he is most nervous about that very same thing. I am worried that he will sleep right through her crying. As soon as she makes a peep I am awake or at least that's how it seems to be. For all I know she could have been grunting and making those sounds for 10 minutes. We will see how it goes, she may just learn to sleep through the night because Ryan doesn't wake up to her cry. Or maybe our husbands just trick us into thinking that they don't wake up to babies crying so us Mom's just take care of it!

The best part about me going back to work is that our kids won't be going to daycare. Ryan and I have it worked out so that when I am working he is off and when he works I am off. I worry about Kade a little bit. I hope to find a decently prices preschool that he can go to so that he doesn't forget everything he has learned at his daycare. I guess I will be "preschool" for now.

I remember almost a year ago when I first started this new job I posted about going back to work and being sad that I wouldn't have a baby to worry about. I have those feelings now but at least I don't have to worry about the daycare part!

New Vase

Kooper's vase has been replaced by a brand new vase which is the good news, the bad news is that the vase is a brown vase, it used to be grey. I know, I know who really cares right? Well I do! But right now I am not going to worry about it matching his headstone. Eventually when I save up enough money I am going to put in a PERMANENT vase that cannot just be replaced if the disrespectful grounds crew runs it over with there golf carts. I don't have enough money to purchase a nice bench, but soon there will be something more permanent.
Anyhow on a different note here are the pictures of his new flowers and the cute purple thing my mom brought to him along with his sign letting the whole world know that he is a big brother!

Happy Birthday Jenna

So I just wanted to wish my BFF Jenna the happiest birthday ever! She is a quarter of a century old! When I ask myself why the heck did I move to Arizona, why didn't I talk my husband into moving back to Utah? I tell myself because of the wonderful friends I have met.

When Ryan went back to work after we got back to AZ from our wedding he started a new job at Cox. In this department he met a new friend, his trainer actually, RD. RD just happened to get married just a little over a month prior to us getting married. He told his sweet wife about me and told her I was lonely and had no friends or family in AZ and Jenna with her sweet and kind heart came to the rescue. Ever since she has become such a wonderful friend. I don't think I would have lasted in Arizona as long as I have. Even her great family has treated me and my family as their own.

She has helped me become a better mom and better person. She has brought me out of my shy shell...a little bit...I still get shy sometimes. But I am more willing to speak my opinion and stand up for myself and others.

If we could, we would talk for hours on the phone because honestly I can never think of a time when there were silence there was always something to talk about. She is like a sister to me and I look forward to her being friends for the next quarter of a century.

I love to go shopping with her because there is no one better at finding great things at such a great price. It is funny how our styles are different and she could pick anything out that I would like and I can pick anything out that she would like.

She is always there for me when I needed a friend, she understood me at times when no one else did. We became such good friends while being pregnant together it almost felt like she were a second mother to my baby and I was to hers.

She is patient with me when we go to make bows to match outfits...she usually ends up making mine and encourages me that I can do it....and eventually I try but she is the bow pro!

She is such a generous, kind and loving person, and I am glad she is my friend!

Happy Birthday Jenna!

Happy Anniversary

Today marks 6 years of marriage and 4 years of being sealed for eternity together as a family.

I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful guy! When we first got married I never imagined the trials I would be faced with. I am so glad that during those times in need Ryan has been there for me. I am glad for all the good times and the bad, the bad help us become closer as a family.

So for those who don't know our story here is the short version:

I first saw Ryan at my friend Shandi's house. Her older brother was friends with Ryan. I first saw him looking out her peep hole in their front door. I saw Ryan, AKA Perry (which I never called him) bending down doing something to the wheels of his mustang. I yelled to my friend, "who's that?? He's cute" And that was how it all started. He was my secret boyfriend because what kind of parents would actually let their 14 year old daughter have a 17 year old boyfriend? I am sure they firgured it out, but I sure thought I was sneaky. We were good friends and he spent a lot of time at my house with me and my family and started going to church with us. We were together for 2 years before Ryan moved to Arizona to go to school. At that point we dated other people, and yes I was now 16 and legal to date. That lasted maybe 6 months. We were always jealous of each other dating other people and decided to do the whole long distance dating. So I graduated from high school and then that summer we were married and I moved to Phoenix, AZ!

So Ryan, this is for you, this is why the house hasn't gotten cleaned and it seems like while you have been at work I haven't done much.....I've been working on this:
(Due to Youtube not dowloading the music push play on the playlist below, it takes a minute to load the song for some reason and then push play on the youtube slideshow as soon as the song starts.)

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Happy Anniversary

Kooper's Tribute Video

I just got back from visiting great friends. We always enjoy hanging out with the Burninghams! I especially love to watch SaraJane grow. I just imagined how Kooper and SaraJane would play together and what his personality would have been like.

On the way home we were listening to the radio and the song by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole' - Somewhere Over The Rainbow came on the radio made me think of when I used to look up Youtube tributes to kids with Cystic Fibrosis. Going to school in Respiratory Therapy and also being told that I carry the CF gene I was really worried that I might have kids with CF. Ryan hadn't been tested and I remember one of my first OB appointments when I was pregnant with Kooper requesting Ryan get the test done so that we would know for sure whether or not to expect a 1 in 4 possibility of having a child with CF. I worried and worried and the results came back negative for Ryan not being a carrier of the gene. I remember being so relieved and happy, little did I know I would have bigger and worse things to worry about.

This year on Kooper's birthday Jenna made this beautiful video for Kooper that I wanted to share. Just click on his name.

I also wanted to post this letter that she wrote to him last year. I love it! You can also view the whole post by clicking here. I am so lucky to have such a sweet friend!


Dear Kooper,
I want to start off by telling you that I love you. Its amazing the feelings that I have for you. I miss you, I think about you all the time. I remember daily that 2am phone call and the 3am drive to the hospital. I couldn't even cry it hurt so bad.It was a beautiful day, July 11, 2008- a bit raining. There was so much love in that room, I could feel it all around me like a hug. While we waited to meet your sweet body-your mom, your dad and I, all talked about you. How sad we were that we weren't going to be able to see you grow. But how excited we were to see you. The room was filled with a mix of crying, sobbing, talking, praying and even laughter.I remember just after you were born and while you were on your moms tummy. I said, "It's amazing how much you can love and miss someone, that you've never met". But I was wrong-I have met you and I do know you, and me and my whole family-LOVE YOU.It was so fun being pregnant with your mommy at the same time, we planned it you know. Some how your mommy and me convinced your daddy and RyanDavid to let us have babies at the same time. We were thrilled. When we found out we were actually pregnant and only due 3 days apart we were over the moon. I was a miracle we thought, and still do.I had so much planning and throwing your baby shower. Your mom knew you would always be her little monkey, so that was her theme. She spent hours making the invites and we spyed on your registry. Making sure you would have everything you needed and wanted. You and SaraJane had 3 matching outfits before you were even born.Heck you and SaraJane hungout a ton. We talked about the two of you almost everyday. I got so close to your mommy during that time. I even dreamed about you.I miss you. I miss not hearing your mom complaining about getting up with you or how Kade steals your toys. I miss not being able to take all those matching outfit pictures we planned. I miss not posing you and SaraJane holding hands and kissing. And although I got to hold and kiss you, I am sad you haven't drooled or spit up on me. I am sad I can't watch you grow right now.You need to know that you were so loved by your wonderful parents. Your mommy is a faithful beautiful woman. When speaking with her you can feel her love for the Lord and his gospel. She always lifts those around her and is constantly worried about others. She loved to talk about all the crazy tricks you did in her tummy (she never even complained about the stretch marks you gave her). She would happily tell anyone all about you and how excited she was for you to join her family. Your dad is a good man, honest, hard working and he really loves your mommy. He loved to show ultrasounds at work and he could not wait for you to come play. He was ready to make a sports team with you and Kade.I hope that you are doing well and know how much I care for you. The pain is still so real- but so is the joy. If I could ask you a favor...Work hard and bless all those around you, spread the gospel, take care of your siblings that mommy and daddy have not met yet, and blow mom a kiss or whisper I love you when you can tell she's down (she is a great woman and she misses immensely).
I love you Kooper,
Jenna XOXO- Until we meet again.

Thanks Jenna for always being there...and by the way I didn't spend hours making the invites...I wish I was that talented, but thanks for the credit:)

Love and miss you little monkey!

Turn that frown upside down!

Today has been one of those days where you are scared to even leave your house because you have had such a horrible day. You think it will only get worse. But I finally decided that I needed to get out of the house and visit my favorite store that I haven't been to in over 2 weeks...TARGET! It turned my day around. On the way home Kade and Kamryn fell asleep and they are sleeping as I type. I also got to do a digital scrapbook page which was some good therapy for me. Kamryn kept making a little noise every once in a while when I was doing this page, but I think her big brother Kooper knew that I needed a little mommy time and helped her stay asleep. All day all she has wanted was to be held. It doesn't bother me because that was all I wanted a year ago, was to hold a sweet baby in my arms. The only problem with that is that I can't get a whole lot done with the princess in my arms...the sleepy wrap helps though!

I feel much better now. Not because I went to Target, but because when I get to scrapbook about Kooper or talk about him, or just have thoughts without interruption about him, I feel like that is the way I can show him how much I love and miss him. It is my way of spending time with him. It was just what I needed to turn my sad frown upside down!

Long drive home

The care ride home wasn't as horrible as I expected. Karmryn did awesome and slept most of the time. The worst part of the ride home was crossing Hoover Dam. The dam traffic was backed up and it took an hour due to the dam tourists trying to take dam pictures while they were driving!

busy boy playing his DS!

As soon as we got past the dam Kade mentions he has to go potty. Well for anyone that has driven from Kingman to Hoover Dam you know there really isn't a potty especially as you get further from Kingman and closer to the dam. Kade refused to go on the side of the road so as we passed many road construction areas I searched for a port-a -potty! And we found one. I just had to take a picture of it. If I were a boy I think I would have rather went in the bushes than the port-a-potty!

Sunflowers

On Kooper’s birthday my mom told me about some sunflowers she planted earlier in the spring for Kooper. She didn’t tell me about them in fear that all the rain had ruined them and they woulnd’t turn out. She mentioned to me that probably by the time I got there they would be blossoming. They hadn’t blossomed when I got there but on our last day there I remembered the sunflowers and walked over to them and much to my surprise one was starting to blossom and right next to the blossoming one there was a big ladybug. They say ladybugs are lucky. I am glad I got to see the first sunflower starting to blossom. At Kooper’s funeral the flowers we got were sunflowers so whenever I see sunflowers I always think of him. I miss him so much. I am always wondering what he would be doing now or what he would look like.

Motorcycle boys!

Kade got to take a short ride around the block on Grandpa’s Harley he was so excited!

My little sister is married!

I am so happy for my little sister! On Saturday August 1, 2009 she married Jared Mora. Welcome to the family Jared! It was such a beautiful wedding. The week before was busy and stressful filled with a few unexpected surprises (not necessarily good) but in the end everything turned out great. I am glad that I was able to be a part of her special day and I wouldn’t miss it for the world! She looked so beautiful!
Luckily Kamryn slept through the wedding and dinner! Kade was a ring boy. He did good for the most part. He ended up having a small rest and sat next to grandpa for a small part of the ceremony.
Kade found a new girlfriend that happens to be Jared’s neice Jasmine. He first met her at the rehearsal . He kept asking her to dance with him. She pretty much ignored him. Then at the reception he followed her and continually asked her to dance and didn’t get discouraged when she shook her head no. They were playing with each other on these two big rocks dancing and jumping back and forth. Jasmine jumped onto the same rock as Kade and grabbed his hand. Kade had a smile from ear to ear!
So congrats Ashley and Jared Mora!

I will post more pictures later. I didn't have my camera with me. But now that she is married I can post the digital scrapbook pages I did using her bridal pictures!

Catch up!

We are home. We made it back from the beautiful Utah weather to be welcomed by 110+! Thank you ARIZONA! Ryan had a "wonderful" idea of turning the A/C off while we were gone! I came home to a dead plant and a 98 degree house...which then took almost 6 hours to get down to 75 degrees! I don't know how anyone deals with a 4 year old and a 7 week old in a hot house! I have alot of posts to catch up on. Hopefully between unpacking and cleaning the house I will find the time to get it done before it doesn't happen at all! To top it all off my phone broke...and this time it wasn't my fault!

Kade keeps asking me when we are going to go far far away to Grandpa's house again....

I wish it were sooner than later. By the time we make it back up there snow will be covering the ground.