Trip to WI- part 1

My parents were very generous and offered to fly Jordy and I to MN/WI this summer so they could see him again, he could meet his MN cousins, and I could hopefully get some work done on my thesis and study for the PRAXIS test I needed to take for national certification.

Unfortunately, the Monday before we were going to leave, Jordy got pink eye, again :( I was also feeling kind of stressed leaving for 3 1/2 weeks. I haven't ever been gone that long from Tyler and I didn't know if he'd make it living off of cereal for that long (like his single days!) I also was just finishing working with a client for my thesis collecting data, AND, our condo had been on the market for a few months and I was still worried it would sell while we were gone and Tyler would be stuck moving us all alone. But after we got some eye drops for Jordy and I made a few things to stick in the freezer for Tyler...we were OFF! 

I had been nervous to fly alone with Jordy (especially when he wasn't feeling the best), but he did GREAT! We should have gotten a picture of me and all our luggage...we were quite a sight! I had Jordy strapped to my front, a huge backpack on, and then had an overflowing diaper bag (after checking a bag as well! And yes, it was just the two of us :) But in my defense, I didn't know what we might need!) But we made it through security and on board just fine. It was a late flight, so we had the whole row to ourselves! 

Saying goodbye to Dad for a few weeks! 

Who wouldn't want to travel with this sweet boy?! 

We flew into MN and Rachel picked us up just before midnight. Jordy greeted his Aunt Rachel (who he was meeting in person for the first time) with his best "Jordy-kiss" :)

We then spent the next day with Rachel and her kids. Jordy had fun playing with his cousins! Rachel had told her kids to be careful and wash their hands after playing with Jordy so they wouldn't get pink eye, and they were VERY obedient. They kept reminding each other to go wash their hands or use lots of sanitizer or would yell "Oh no, Jordy just touched me!" It was kind of funny...poor Jordy- first time meeting his cousins and they thought he had the plague :) But he got better in a few days and luckily, no one else got it, so they weren't "afraid" of him for long! 

 The next day I was watching the kids as Rachel was packing their bags so we could drive over to WI (her kids were doing swimming lessons in WI for 2 weeks). It was kind of funny- Jordy and Marshall kept diving in opposite directions, so they kept me busy trying to keep track of both of them! Marshall was 14 months old, but Jordy was almost just as big!

The day before had been 13 years since Nicole passed away. We went over to the cemetery when we got to WI to release balloons. It's always a little funny to see the kids' reactions when we give them a balloon to then let go of  a few minutes later! 

Grandma and Grandpa Hyatt were so excited when we finally made it! They had a true WI meal ready for us: brats and potato salad and lots of cheese! :) They also had new pajamas for each of the kids. Trying to get a picture of the kiddos was quite the challenge...

So then Grandma and Grandpa tried to help out...

As good as we were going to get! 

Enough with the pictures! Story time with Grandma now! :) 

Jordy sat in a highchair for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa's! 

He seemed to like it...and was quite good at getting messy already!

Grandpa set up the tent in the backyard and was daring enough to sleep in it with Cade and Lydia! But Marshall and Jordy had to say goodnight to those camping out as well!

Going on a walk...

So tiring! :) 

And then playing on the equipment at Franklin school 

Having so much fun! 

Some other pictures while we were in WI:

Shopping

Eating toes

Getting into Grandpa's things...

Getting into Grandma's things...

What a face! 

Cade connected all the baby toys so they'd be easy to clean up! 

Yurtle-the-Turtle went to church! 

Taking a nap with Grandpa!

...and everyone wants to sleep with Grandma!

Visiting my Grandma Hanson

Jordy and Grandpa in their scouting uniforms! 

7 months

**Haha- I'm only a month behind! It's been a CRAZY month (more on that in another post), so this is going to be a short list (just what I started writing before all the CRAZINESS happened)!

Jordy at 7 months:
-Jordy doesn't seem to really like peas, green beans, or squash. However, true to his Idahoan-blood, he did seem to like sweet potatoes!
-Started gnawing on rice wafers
-He always tries drinking from my water bottle- so I thought we'd try a sippy cup for him- but he still just wants my water bottle! :)
- He can tolerate being on his tummy now! In fact- he tries reaching for things while laying down, but he ends up moving backwards more than forward and then he gets frustrated.
- HE HAS SOME HAIR!!! Before it just was noticeable in some lighting...but now- stuff actually sticks up!
- Still no teeth but lots and LOTS of drool!
- Still likes to eat his feet when he gets the chance
- Likes to fall asleep as my mom calls it: "Helen-Kellering" our face! (Feeling our face and mouth and neck)
- Makes lots of "Yurtle-the-Turtle" faces (biting on his lower lip)
- Still prefers cuddling to sleeping on his own, but he will sleep in his bed if he's really tired!
- Loves crinkling and ripping paper
- LOVES the water. However, every time he went to the pool with his cousins during their swimming lessons, he fell asleep! I guess the water can be both fun and relaxing! :) He loves splashing and kicking during bath time!
- Has gotten a little "shy" when others are talking or smiling at him (he'll bury his head into me- then he lifts it and smiles right back...so he's also a little bit of a flirt!)
- Is as happy as ever! :)

WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

The best part about being a mom: We've been around a lot of family recently. Jordy has loved all the attention from his grandmas and grandpas and aunts, uncles and cousins. He has been spoiled having people "dibbing" the next turn to hold him! Usually, he was really good with going from person to person. However, there were some times that he would get upset so he'd get "returned" to me and eventually he'd calm down and snuggle into me. I can't believe that I'm THAT person-- that gets the crying baby handed back to them because they are supposedly the only person that can calm them down! I was always eager to be able to hand back the crying baby to someone else...now I am the "end of the line!" As daunting as that seems- it's also kind of a "fun"/unique feeling: I don't know what I'm doing- I wish I had some magic trick that "worked every time"- but, it is nice to be able to hold him close and try to make him feel safe and loved. I can at least do that! :)

Another great thing about being a mom: Seeing my mom in action! I always knew there was something special about grandmas...and my mom is definitely in Grandma Mode! :) I was too young to remember her holding babies when my siblings were that young- so it is neat to see her "in action" as she shows me her "magic touch"! I would just watch her as she played with Jordy thinking: how does she make it look so EASY?! It is humbling to realize how much patience she had with 7 kids...when I can feel at my wit's end after a few hours with 1!! She woke up with me one night when Jordy and I were visiting in WI when Jordy had gotten a little cold and was having a hard time sleeping with a stuffy nose. I was so tired- and I can only imagine how tired SHE was after being the favorite all day to 3 other grandkids...yet she offered to stay up with Jordy so I could get a few hours of sleep. THAT is a mother's TRUE love. It makes me realize once again how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman as my mother! I love her so much and am just more and more amazed with what she did for each of us as we were growing up-- and what she STILL is doing.
* I also watched her with her mom (my Grandma Hanson) as she's taken over the mother-role with her --caring for her and reassuring her and making her feel safe and loved. Again, just an amazing example of her unconditional and limitless love and sacrifice. She is ALWAYS putting the needs of others before her own. I love you so much, MOM!

Mother's Day Video

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