March highlights

Isaac: "I strong! I three! I spiderman!" He will take one nap a month, only b/c he refuses to go to sleep at 8pm sometimes and will stay awake laughing/screaming with Austin 'til past 9pm. He then will go to time out b/c of some hideous meltdown, where he usually falls asleep. This month we found him on the stairs, or on the green chair. He continues to have a sweet smile, loves to run "fast," wash his hands "they're dirty" or wear his favorite red shorts.

Austin: Making really cute things at school, where I love to see what his mind makes up. He created a great giraffe page for the 1st graders Zoo book. He is SO smart with Lego's and built up a "Lego city" over Spring Break. It took hours of dedication (especially when his brothers would accidentally break them). I love to have him organize the yogurts in the fridge or baby food b/c I know he will do a great job of having them line up, in order and look perfect.

Wesley: participated in Pinewood derby, placed 4th overall. He and dad worked on it the morning of, so it was crunch time! He also helped out with the Surprise Day clean up and loves to wear his volunteer marroon shirt to bed every night.

Adrienne: best part of the year was Arianne Pearce's visit from San Antonio! My kids were thrilled to have her staying in our casita, and Wesley made a great sign for her. I loved her warmth, attention, caring and sweet heart that she shared with us. Lots of pancakes, homemade whipped cream and syrups spoiled my boys (even heart cakes!). We spent many nights with our girls Leslie Boley and April Ashton...it was exhausting and fantastic. We love her so much!

Jared: We enjoyed a visit from the McGrath's (El Paso, TX). We took them to some spring training games, celebrated a St. Patty's treasure hunt and breakfast at the park.

moving?

Lots of choices this week. An opportunity has come up to move to the Mesa/Gilbert location for Merrill Lynch. We want Jared to be closer to work, less commuting and more time with family!

Do we sell our home or rent it? We were not expecting a letter to arrive in the mail from a man who wants to BUY our home!?!? Is that an answer from God about what we should do?

Do we buy or rent a home in Gilbert? Where? Power Ranch? Can we even buy a home with a potential bankruptcy on the line? What about a possible settlement instead?

Where would we find ALL that we love about Surprise? Our beautiful home; backyard with grass and a firepit and BBQ. Marley Park with all the parks and pools. Riding bikes to school! Basha's for Daddy Donut Dates, Wal-Mart/Gym/Dr all off of Reems road! Friends!

Decisions to make. Good to have options.

Update: we are NOT moving. Jared transferred to an office here in Sun City, AZ.

Levi 8 months

Lots of slobber. Lots of tongue. Lots of bibs.

I really enjoy spoon feeding him. Seeing his tongue thrust out. His grunting of hunger.
From 5-7 months, he was ALWAYS on my hip. Now that he can sit up at 8 months, he can entertain himself on the floor with toys. One day he could barely hold his weight, and it seemed like the following day, he was sitting up!

He is also a side-winder with his slithering creepy crawl. He can slither over legs, toys and eventually get to where he wants...which is usually MOM!

Now I can have him on the shower floor with me while I shower, he can sit in his high chair with some life cereal or graham cracker and be patient while I fix dinner, or warm up his jarred food. this time around, we have free WIC food, so i don't make his food here at home. It sure is convenient to have that simplicity of a jar of baby food!

Kids love to tote him around, put him in the green papasan chair, make him giggle and just today Isaac was putting the blue toy bucket on his head for a laugh.

His dilations are now up to a size 11 and he arches his back and squeezes his butt cheeks every time I position him to change his diaper. Sometimes it is like hershey chocolate syrup squirting out at me (due to the 4 oz of prune juice he gets daily), or it's like squeezing orange carrot toothpaste out of his bum. Lots of prep as I have to gel up the thermometers, get all the extra diapers and wipes on hand in case he explodes on me, have extra clothing nearby and a towel on the carpet (learned that one the hard way).

He also has been getting daily treatments of DoTerra oils on his chest, feet and back for his congestion. He is excessively drooling, and now has the snot to go along with it. Appointment with the ENT has been made to see if this is all normal, or maybe he has something going on that makes him sound like a pug dog who snorts and sticks out their tongue.

Home sweet home

First impressions:
leaving the hospital like a free woman from jail
cool breeze, sun shining, muscles working to go up and down stairs
drive a car, start the engine, flow of traffic
lunchboxes on counter, unpacked with moldy grapes
levi's water bottle from a week ago?
no welcome home cards, get well or banner :(
"laundry" was all over the floor, what about my laundry?
fridge full of mystery food that I had never seen
papers, projects, all over table...asked me if I liked my clean house, I looked around, then he said
"the sink is clean." lol
backpacks full of papers from last weeks homework
10 towels hanging in the bathroom, really that many!

With Valentine's Day that same week, it was low key with heart shaped pancakes, a note for my hubby, and a single red rose for me. Tia Olga came from Mexico for a visit and I enjoyed her female presence and tender touch.