Update

Time just continues to fly by. Each day seems to get faster than the one before!

So, the "Homer Simpson" look is gone. So far, there's not any further damage. Well, besides a little bit of a bigger chip in his tooth. But it hasn't started to change color or anything yet. I just keep counting our blessings there. We've been back to brushing teeth and everything for quite some time now. I know it's silly, but I'm so proud of him. He's learning to spit in the sink after brushing for a little while. We may move to actual toothpaste sometime too!

We are in a slump again as far as the potty training goes. It seems that as soon as daddy had to go out of town he lost interest. Maybe it's more that I don't have the energy to battle it. I ask him often if he needs to go "big boy potty" and he always says, "no." So I just don't fight it. I kinda figure that when the new baby arrives that he would regress anyway. So if we don't have Haden all the way trained, there won't be much regression! I'm sure James doesn't feel the same though.

As for me, big steps in life are occurring. Yes, I feel like I'm getting larger by the minute! I will be 35 weeks tomorrow! I find that I'm having a hard time getting comfortable to sleep. I crave ice water relentlessly, can't seem to get comfy in my clothes, have found that it's hard to stand or sit for long periods of time. . . blah, blah, blah. I sound pretty whiney! Well, I guess that's just what I get. James says that I was uncomfortable like this the last time. I remember not liking my clothes much, but for some reason don't remember the rest of it. I wonder if I was just so elated over the "first" baby that I didn't notice these things. Quite possible in my state!

But here's the good stuff!!! I'm really excited. We received our tax refunds this week and were able to pay off all our credit card debt! YEAH!!!! That was a goal we have been working toward for probably the last year and a half or so. We wanted it to be complete before we took any other drastic steps in our lives. With that done, it's a bit of weight off our shoulders. No sooner did we pay off the debt, I was able to get everything caught up at work. I managed to write up step by step procedures for my duties. With these two big things complete, I was able to turn in my 2 weeks notice at work on Friday! That's the biggest kicker of all! I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A STAY AT HOME MOMMY!!!! I'm still quite intimidated by the overall reality of it all. I know that with the support of my sweet husband and the faith that I have in my Savior that all will work out. I know that this will be a very humbling, trying experience for our family. But oh, the rewards! I look forward to them so much! I hope that Haden and I will have a good time together before the baby comes (and after, of course, too!) Mostly, I look forward to loving on my son and cherishing the newborn moments with my daughter. I loved Haden as a newborn, but was so set on getting him into a routine that would work with my work schedule that I feel like I forgot to stop and smell the roses. I tell you though, I'm going to smell the pieces out of our 2.5 year old and enjoy every moment that I can with our newborn! I may not be able to get that time back, but I can enjoy the current time and future with every fiber of my being!!!

Sporting the "Homer Simpson" Look

Being the crazy, active little man he is. . . Haden often finds himself in interesting predicaments. A few nights ago such an event occurred. It was right before bed. We had read scriptures and said our prayers. We've got a little step stool in the bathroom now that Haden likes to use to get to the potty and the sink. We were getting him ready to brush his teeth. H decided it wasn't quite time to settle down for the night and started crawling around like a baby. It was a very intense crawl which included a little bit of recklessness. He was on his way from his bedroom to the bathroom. When he made it to the bathroom he somehow slipped and took a face plant right into the tile! Oh, the blood & tears! It made me hurt for him. Daddy picked him up right away and we started to apply pressure to the bleeding area. After a little bit we got him to calm down and were able to assess the damage. He cut the inside of his lip, but not too deep, and chipped one of his front teeth a little bit more and probably bruised his two front teeth a bit as well. We gave him some ibuprofen to help with the pain and some benadryl to help him sleep. (Don't judge us! It helps every once in a blue moon!)

He's doing so well with it! He woke up the next day saying "Owie" and let us know each time it hurts. We asked him if he's like some medicine for it and each time he has said, "No." What a trooper! Check out the adorable Homer Simpson grill though!

He was actually smiling for us here!

I cannot get the picture to face the correct direction, but one can still see the damage.

Wow, so it has definitely been FOREVER!!! So much has happened since my last actual post. Just hard to keep up on it all. Things began happening and I thought, "I need to post" about that. Then another thing happened, and another, and another. Now I'm very behind, but hope to do much better.


So here's how it all is.......

* James is now a traveling man. He accepted a position in the Service Depart at S&S. Now he travels all over the world installing and servicing rides. So far he really has just traveled to China. He started in Beijing and has been doing a lot of work in Shenzhen. In 2011 he spent 150 days in China!!!! Crazy, huh? He's been in this position officially since about mid June. He's a trooper to do all this traveling and be away from us so much. But it will definitely pay off with some benefits!

*Haden continues to grow like a weed. He's so much fun to be with. He's nearing 2.5 now! He's such a smart little boy. Well, more of a technology nerd really. He enjoys playing with Mommy & Daddy's iPad to play his "Cars" game, or anything that has to do with "choo-choo's" and "fishes." He gives us perfectly sweet hugs and kisses all the time. His vocabulary is continually increasing and he is having a good time trying to go big boy potty.

*Now to Susi. Of course it's super easy to talk about myself! After just over 4 years of service in the Relief Society Presidency, I've been released. I'm now a leader with the Activity Days girls. It's so much fun, and a lot less work! I'm still working part time, for now. We are expecting our second child in April and I will move into a new position of stay at home mommy after the little one is born. That's news! I'm pregnant. . . 30 weeks already! Super crazy! This last summer I took a couple of cake decorating classes. I look forward to making fun and exciting cakes for special occasions for my family as well as a little bit of an at home business on the side. So far I've done one wedding cake and one birthday cake for commission!


I've decided that it's much easier to Facebook than it is to blog. So, one of my personal goals this year is to do more blogging. I can write my feelings here and use it as more of a journal. So, here's to more blogging and a little less Facebooking! I will also try to update with some posts from the time that we've missed. It's been a good eight or so months and so much has happened, so I will try to do some fun catch up posts.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Work in Progress

Seriously, I'm gonna figure this out one day and get back to blogging!!!

Plain and Simple. . .

I MISS MY HUSBAND!

18 Months!

Wow Mr. Haden! 18 months already! You've been so much fun, think we'll keep you around!

I got to take Haden to the doctor for his well visit yesterday. Boy was that entertaining! He really like to play with Thomas the Train before we even get to see the doctor. They've also got a little "treehouse" in their waiting area. He likes to go in there and do the dishes. Yesterday the faucet fell into the sink and scared him though! Once we got back to the room, he went straight for the toy cupboard and drawers! He knows right where they are. (THAT'S A SIGN THAT WE VISIT TOO OFTEN!) The nurse and I were barely able to round him up for his vitals. He did really good though. I think he's very shocked by the stethoscope. He's always very quiet when they use that on him.

As soon as the vitals were complete and the nurse had left the room, it was a FREE FOR ALL!!! This curious little tyke is. . . well a curious little tyke! He had most of the toys out. He was checking out the exam table. He was knocking on the door with hopes that someone would knock back! This little man can open the doors whit the "push down handle." That is EXACTLY what they have at the doctor's office! I have to stand watch at the door so he doesn't escape! Kinda funny. . . one of the knots in the door had fallen out and one can see right through. Well that's if you're Haden's height. He sure got a kick out of it!

The doctor did his exam. All is going well and great. 21.2 pounds and 33 inches tall! K, the kid is tall - ish. He's in the 40th percentile there, but is in the "less than" third percentile as far as his weight goes. He eats, I promise! He must just have a very high metabolism. I don't know where all the food he eats goes. Even though he weighs so little, he is right on target. He isn't loosing weight, and he isn't at a standstill. The doctor says it's just great.

I also learned the power of potential sugar. Haden had two shots this time, one in each thigh. It has GOT to be intimidating. The nurses (yes that's plural!) say, "Mom, hold each of his hands in yours. and we will get his legs." What? I have to take part in this? I'm not supposed to be the mean guy! So I hold him as I'm told and give him loving praise. I like that there are two nurses and they do the shots at the same time. Quite a quick process. Well, my little man still doesn't like it. It HURTS! So he cried. I held him. One of the nurses asked if he could have a sucker. . . well he sure can! She brought one in and gave it to him, wrapper still on. The crying stopped immediately. We dressed him again and were on our way. Don't worry, not without seeing the suckers on the counter and getting one for the other hand too! Both still wrapped by the time we got to the car. He did really well getting into the carseat, so I unwrapped one sucker for him. Silly, the other one is for me. It's butterscotch. . . my fav!

What memories we make, 'eh?

Parenting. . .

Well folks, this has been quite a long week! James and I, myself in particular, are really learning how to be parents. James has been a pro at this since day one. I think I doubt myself too much. I'm sure I'm a good parent, I just haven't experienced life like this yet.

We doggie sat for Bear last weekend. Daren and Ash had some obligations in Salt Lake that took them from home Friday though Monday. Bear did pretty good. This is a little glimpse of what we caught Saturday morning.



Super cute! Anyway, by Saturday night, life had turned from super cute to almost nightmare-ish. Haden came down with a fever of 104 around 7:30 pm. Bring on the TYLENOL!!! He didn't want to eat and just really seamed miserable. Heck! I would have been miserable too. So we got his sippy filled with milk and went to put him to bed. He pretty well drank all of it and was lying comfortably in my arms. . . when to my duress, he began to cough and thew up!! All over himself, me, the rocker and the floor! This was a first for him. He's never really thrown up before. I felt awful. WE got ourselves all cleaned up and blankets and gross items into the washer. we gave him some water instead of milk and we just cuddled for a bit. He was able to get to sleep by about 10:30.

Don't worry though! More to come! By midnight he was awake again, screaming. With a screaming fever of 103!!! It was back already!!! So began the IBUPROFEN/TYLENOL trade off. James woke up with us and we had some really sweet family time. We cuddled Haden and James gave him a blessing. Then we just laid him on our legs and sang to him while resting a cool washcloth on his forehead and neck. I think we got back to bed around 1 or 1:30 am. He woke a couple more times that night. He also woke early Sunday morning. James got up with him and tried to give him another milk sippy. NOT a good idea. Round two of throw up!! Poor kid was just inconsolable. I had to go to church to teach my Relief Society lesson. So I was able to get Haden down for a nap and James too. They were both so exhausted. When I got home it was more cuddle time. At family dinner that night, we were able to join with all the other priesthood holders in the family and gave Haden another blessing.

After another restless night Monday brought another trip to the doctor. Isn't it crazy that when something wrong is found, we celebrate? Makes me feel somewhat guilty as a parent, but at least we know that he's acting like this for a reason! Turns out he has a lingering ear infection with a nasty sinus infection to top it off! Get new meds, go home, try to help him rest, try to rest ourselves. Doesn't work. Still inconsolable. Just do your best!

Tuesday/Wednesday. . . still unhappy. Will there ever be light at the end of the tunnel? How can I help this poor restless child? Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle, cry with him, cuddle, cuddle, cuddle, MEGAMIND!!!!!! I've lost count how many times we've watched this movie, but it's worth it. He just melts into my arms and pleasantly passes the time with his new favorite movie!

Haden was still pretty unhappy Wednesday night when I returned from my meetings. I decided it would be most appropriate to just take one for Team Tibbitts and stay home with him the rest of the week. I'm so grateful for a job that allows me this kind of flexibility. Granted, I'm working part time anyway. It would be more difficult if I was a full time employee. But we have a good team and will do whatever it takes to help one another out.

Haden started to feel better on Thursday. It wasn't as bad as it has been the rest of the week, but still brought new challenges. DIARRHEA. . . DIAPER RASH!!! He's starting to be more lively, but is just so overwhelming!

It's now Saturday. Haden seems to have a happy disposition. He still has diarrhea, but his rash is clearing up a good bit. He's smiling and playing with the dog again. My little boy is on his way back! We will go in for his 18 month checkup with the doctor on Monday. Hopefully he will be able to tell us if this getting all cleared up up. I just want him to be better. We watched the movie "Life As We Know It" last night. I thought it was going to be really funny. Turns out it just portrayed real life raising a child. I cried a few times. I know, I'm crazy. It's just that this week is so fresh in my mind! The frustrations of not knowing how to help him are real. He's not really talking yet, so can't tell me what he wants. But, maybe I'm not too big of a mess. I'm a parent. We all make mistakes. Though this week has been trying, I feel as I've been blessed to be able to stay home with Haden. I can't make the pain go away. I can cuddle his fears and hurts though! I can shower him with kisses. I can tell him how much I love him. I can pray for him. I get to be the mom, and this week, nothing matters more than that!