January Happenings

We have had some settling in after company was here during the Christmas holiday. It is almost like you need to detox after lots of company. We needed a break, that's for sure. It has almost been a month since anyone has visited. I think its almost a record. We do expect company though on president's weekend for Grant's birthday party.

There have been a few nice warm days where Grant and I were able to go on walks. And then we had a week of snow. It was good too because it didn't really stick on the streets but on the grass enough to play in it. Grant has also been really into drumming again. He always is but right now he just does it a lot more. He found some ear muffs that he thinks are headphones and he likes to wear them when he plays because he sees Perry wearing his headphones while recording. So its pretty funny when Grant puts them on cock-eyed. Anyway, a pretty laid back January and thats why I haven't posted much in the last month. Here are some photos and videos.

Whoops! Red eye.

Nursery Independence!

In our church we have 3 hours, each hour a different thing. After the first hour, which is Sacrament meeting, kids age 18 months to about 3 years old go to a class called Nursery. They basically get to play with toys, have a short singing time, lesson time, and a snack. Anyway, Grant loves nursery and basically always has. Today we had a funny experience.

One of the members of our church came to talk to Perry and me. Grant was sitting in the pew eating a fruit twist snack. Perry left to help the member find someone. When I went to the pew Grant was gone so I assumed he was with Perry. I grabbed our stuff and went to find Perry. I quickly realized Perry didn't have Grant; that Grant was with neither of us. I thought to myself that Grant had been talking about Nursery during Sacrament meeting as always and was probably headed to his class. Mind you Grant is still only 1, will be two next month, but he knows where his class is. I wasn't panicked at all because he is a very popular toddler in our ward and we trust everyone there, and right I was as I walked out of the Chapel. One of his babysitters somehow knew I was looking for him and said he was headed "thataway" (towards nursery). I briefly saw a child open a door for another but didn't see the child. I went into his class and there he was. I said "Hey, Grant!"  He shook his head saying, "Bye bye mommy, good night, see you later!" He was ready for me to be out of there.

So there you have it. It made me laugh a lot thinking about it during church. We have a funny little boy.

Dates!!

So I love going on days. Ever since Grant was born they have been few and far between due to laziness of finding a babysitter/slight anxiety about a non-family member watching him. I'm over it now...but we still need to figure out how to make it easier for a babysitter to put Grant down for bed..

Anyway, one of my resolutions or goals for the year is to go on one date a week. I love the idea of it of course so we are really trying to implement it. We are on week two of dates. Last week we went to the Temple and did Sealings, and then we had lunch at Panda Express and a lunch dessert at the Malt Shoppe.  It was good fun!

This week seemed more special and less expensive. First of all it was a beautiful day. We have these "starving student cards"that have a lot of free and discounted things. We have two cards so we took advantage and found a couple things we had never done before and chose one. We went and did some Archery practice. The place was definitely for avid hunters but it was fun and funny being the silly, unskilled couple on the side. I wish we could have taken pictures during this part of the date. We were against the far left wall target and shared the target. We made up a system of points and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My first two shots got stuck on a board on the side of the wall. Yeah....obviously not even close. But once we got the hang of things we sometimes hit the target board lol. We also had some healthy neck and neck competition and I won. Yay!

After archery we found a half off dinner thing at a mexican restaurant and shared the meal, and then got a buy one get one free ice cream at sub zero. Very rich delicious ice cream. We got way to much.  But I saved mine for later.  I was surprise to see they had other options like healthy stuff like soy milk, yogurt...among other alternatives. I went for the good stuff though. It was a great super long date. Grant was asleep the entire time while a friend from Perry's work sat and surfed the net the whole time.

Hears to dating! Weekly. I hope to report some other fun dates. Some time soon we may use our free range session at a guns and ammo shop. I have never shot a gun before. It could be interesting.

Pregnancy Victory!

So as you may know I was nauseous for about 2 weeks and I was miserable. I commend all the women out there that continue to forge through pregnancy feeling that way the entire time! I was very averted to any kind of meat, unless it was already cooked and not cooked in front of me. Today marks a victory in my own pregnancy aversions. I now feel okay about cooking a delicious dinner that involves preparing and cooking raw chicken. It will be a new recipe I found through Pinterest: here. If you didn't click on the link I am making crockpot orange chicken and rice for dinner, with steamed broccoli on the side.

For those of you who really know me, you know one of my hobbies is cooking, baking...really just following any recipe and trying new recipes all the time. 90% of my recipes turn out and I will be the first to tell you if its gross. I just get embarrassed when I try a new recipe with guests and it ends up being one of the 10%  gone awry. Anyway, I'm really proud of myself and it shows me that I can still have fun with dinner recipes while pregnant. I had been baking things like muffins and cookies to still enjoy the recipes I found.

So anyway, this is basically a "yay for me" post, and it seemed noteworthy enough in my homemakerish life. Soon I will be posting about our ultrasound we got last week. I will just take a picture of the ultrasound since my scanner isn't working. Ta ta!

Holiday Pictures

Our "gingerbread" nativities. 

2 Months Prego

Opening Stockings

Grant really got the hang of opening presents and wanted to open all of ours.

Grant and Grandma Flora

Grant and Grandpa Stotts 

He face planted onto a basket. Notice his eye.

New Years kiss.... I won't show mine and Perry's

On the roof watching fireworks

Taiwanese face masks

Grand Milestone

Grant went poo in the potty. If you don't want any details you should stop reading now.

Just went poo!

He always asks to go to the potty but we just sit him there diaperless and he just chills. We never expect anything but a friendly relationship with the toilet. Today however he asked to use the potty. I wouldn't have let him except that I was going to change his diaper anyway for nap time. He sat there. I asked him if he was all done. He said "No all done mommy!" So I left and did something in the kitchen and came back and I heard "kerplop!" I was so ecstatic and shocked. He isn't potty trained and I'm not going to try (until mid may) except for always let him sit on the potty when he wants to to but it was awesome. He was so gratified and proud of himself! He then said "All done!" I had to stall him so I could get the proper toddler potty wipes to wipe him. It was quite better than changing a poopy diaper. It didn't smell and I only used two wipes instead of like 10. The rest of the story lies in the video below that Aunt Megan took.

Warning: You will see poo.

Happy New Year!

I didn't realize how much I love the "new year" holiday. There is just something about a day designated to start a whole new year and you feel like you can start fresh with habits and routines in a way (even though it is just like any other day). Its just that the excitement gives one a new energy and zest for life! My resolution is to treat my body better this year: Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise.  Now that I'm pregnant it feels even more important to do so. I'm starting the new year with a fetus the size of a grape and 9 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Its exciting to have new life in the new year. I have even been thinking it wouldn't be so bad if the baby was born on my birthday. I used to think that having that occur would suck but I would enjoy it maybe...

Well to update we had a lovely Christmas here in our home. My mom, dad, and Megan came to join us for the holiday. Of course when they come there is a lot of DIing and games. I was so excited for the food side of Christmas but about a week before it approached I had major nausea kick in. It almost put me in a panic. I was hungry always which made me nauseous always coupled with nothing sounding good. I can't meal plan at all. I don't like meat. Sugar makes me sick. Chocolate and a  few other things give me heart burn. Milk bothers my lactose intolerancy even more than it used to. I remembered loving being pregnant. I'm currently hating the symptoms but not the pregnancy of course. Its all for a good cause. I would do anything for Grant's happiness and comfort so why not give up myself completely to this new addition? Luckily the last 3 days or so it seems to have eased up or I have figured it all out or something. I feel a lot better than I did. I was super grouchy and tired and a bum. I'm still a bum sometimes but I feel more confident about being a housewife again when Megan leaves and Perry starts school. Megan has been so helpful with Grant and food and cleaning the kitchen. Perry has been making all the meals that my heart desires and has even been making a couple "pregnant" craving runs. He is very understanding and sympathetic.

Anyway, we had a good Sabbath Christmas. Things are somewhat of a blur but I remember enjoying my family's companionship. Then when my family left, except for Megan, Perry's family came to town. It was great to see them and reconnect with my in-laws. I love all of them. They are so energetic and fun! They have left now and Meg is still around. She leaves tomorrow. Perry goes back to work full-time tomorrow for two days and then back to the school-work schedule. I pray that I won't be in shock with out any one to hang with me all day. Then I have my first prenatal appointment on Tuesday morning. Perry wants to come. I hope to schedule an ultrasound and maybe they will let me do it the same day! That would be ideal!

To celebrate the new year, we worked on a puzzle, played killer bunnies, and did our very own countdown. Perry and Meg looked at their phones to watch the year change. Then we said "Happy New Year", I kissed Perry on the lips and Meg on the cheek. Then we got on the roof to check the several firework shows in every direction. It was simple and fun.

Happy New Year!