Friday, October 10, 2014

Conference Weekend

We decided to go up to Salt Lake City to spend General Conference weekend with our friends Travis and Liz and their two kids. We went up Friday night to watch the BYU vs. Utah State game at their hotel. That was just sad. :(
He got us there safely! :)
Then on Saturday morning we went to Kneaders for french toast and then listened to General Conference on the lawn of Temple Square. It was a gorgeous day and it was actually nice to let the kids crawl around while we could "listen". We ate some Mexican street tacos (Tyler has me hooked! They are always so yummy!) and then we listened to more of conference in the hotel. We came back to Temple Square on Sunday to listen to conference and had a little picnic lunch with their families. It was fun to see them and their cute little girls!





Just chillin on Temple Square enjoying the wonderful sunshine! 

 Kennley LOVED playing with Jordy! :)


It was a little bright to try having him smile for pictures...


Enjoying conference in the best seat! :)


Awwww! :)
Tyler and Travis have been friends for a long time...and when they get together...that just spells trouble!

Thanks for letting us spend Conference weekend with you guys! 

We then went up to my mission reunion at my mission president's home in Bountiful after the Sunday afternoon session was over. I got to see the District Leader from my first area and good friend, Klleber! (I'm just sad I forgot Jordy's Brasil shirt!)






Thursday, October 2, 2014

9 months!

Jordy has now officially been held and kissed in our arms longer than he was inside kicking and punching me! :)

And what a 9 months it's been! Talk about a steep learning curve! And sleepless nights. And oh the dirty diapers. And the drool. And... THE SMILES AND GIGGLES! I'd be lying if I said it's been exactly how I thought it would be. Let's be honest: I didn't really know what to expect. :)
And even though I just asked my mom what her secret was to staying sane after having 7 kids-- I wouldn't trade 1 day that I've had with Jordy for anything in the world! :)

Jordy just went in for his 9 month check-up. *Interesting note about that: we saw Dr. Hacking- the same doctor that my mom took Rachel and Nicole to while they were in Provo...he's just a little older now...hahaha!
Here's how Jordy "weighed in":
Weight: 21.5 lbs! (that's right! 81st percentile)
Height: 29 in (76th percentile)
Head circumference: 18.75 in (98th percentile!!!!!!)

This is one BIG, yet happy and healthy boy!






Look at me standing up! 


Some Jordy updates:
- Within the last week Jordy has been going to sleep in his crib at bedtime (he doesn't even put up more than 10 min. of a fight) I swear he has some internal alarm clock though- because between 7:15-7:30 am, without fail, he is up and wanting to PLAY!
- Jordy eats little pieces of banana from his tray.
- He still really likes peaches and apples and prunes
- His favorite place in the house: THE BATHROOM! He likes to pull down the towels, bang on the scale, stand up at the tub, spill his bath toys all over the floor and crawl on the tile
- He can crawl SO fast! (Especially when we say "NO" to him - he turns and crawls even faster in the same direction or when Tyler is trying to change his diaper...haha)
- Is SUPER ticklish (poor guy...it's also really the only way we get to hear him laugh- so yes, he gets tickled a lot!)
- Has discovered waving!
- Likes playing: high-five and peek-a-boo and hide-and-go-seek
- Is quite the explorer. He seems to look for anyplace he can crawl through or under...sometimes he just doesn't know how to get out again
- LOVES playing with the cupboards and drawers and boxes
- Stands up at the couch and against the chairs and has started letting go with one hand
- Says "mama" and "dada" and "gaga" and "baba"
- LOVES having 100% of your attention. He does NOT like sharing it or feeling like we've left him alone (even when we're right next to him. He gets kind of "needy" sometimes...)
- Bath time is still his favorite!
- Still doesn't have any teeth. But he sure gnaws on EVERYTHING
- Sometimes crawls around with his tongue sticking out
- Just started making snorting noises...why?!
- Still makes "yurtle" faces with his lip :)
- Is aware of other babies and likes looking at them. As far as playing with them-- he just takes their toys away from them.
- Makes every day eventful!

Some things that happened in the last month:

- I've been working with clinic clients and thesis clients, as well as working for another professor on campus doing behavior/language intervention with his research participants- so that's been keeping me running around and Jordy gets to spend some time with Uncle Ben almost daily. (Ben- you've been amazing and we can't thank you enough for all your patience and willingness to work Jordy into your busy schedule. We love you so so much!) I am also doing the Wed. night orchestra, which is nice to be able to keep playing (even if it is just once a week). And my thesis...hmmm...no new news on that...
- Tyler has been doing well at Nuvi finding good leads for the sales team and had his first deal close on the first of the month. He's also been waking up early to study for the GMAT (he's taking that in early November) and then will be working on his applications/personal statement(s).

-My friend Kendra and her baby Alice visited us!



-We went to a Brazilian Festival in SLC (it ended up just having Tucanos food and loud music- not really what we were hoping for- but it was at the Gateway Mall so we let Jordy go through the splash pad there)

Oh- if only some of the Brasilians from my mission could meet Jordy...they'd just eat him up! 







- Some other pictures from the month:



Oh so tired! 

What are overalls for? EATING!



Last day at the Provo splash pad!
*Hard to believe that was just a few weeks ago. Since then it's been rainy and kind of cold :(

Ha! Baby toy! Look how big I am now!


The best part about being a mom:
Even though he keeps me busy chasing him around during the day- it is fun to see Jordy exploring and discovering and doing things by himself! I love watching him grow each day- even though it's sometimes a little bitter-sweet packing away his "baby" things. It is incredible to think how much our lives have changed this last year! He keeps me humbled as I realize every day how little I know- so I feel like I'm learning as much as he is daily. He has helped me value the importance of learning and trying new things-- I mean - if he's expected to learn about eating and moving and playing and communicating during the day, can't I try learning SOMETHING too?!

You can learn anything

You're gonna miss this

Interesting perspective...

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

End of summer 2014

Can it really already be time for school again?! Yikes! Let's just say it's time for FOOTBALL!







Oh Packers! If you only knew you had Jordy cheering you on, you might have actually showed up ready to play!

Tyler seems to be liking his new job (after a week!) He was pretty excited to tell me some of his co-workers were big-time BYU athletes! He is also planning on taking the GMAT again as he is working on his applications for MBA programs (he's looking at applying in the midwest in WI/MN and here at BYU and the U of U). I am working on scheduling my clients and am trying to find the motivation to work on my thesis this fall. In January I have one class to take while also working part-time with the Provo Early Intervention Program. Then I have 2 classes to finish Spring term, and then we/I (depending on if Tyler is still working or accepted into a program) are planning on going to WI for a summer internship at a Skilled Nursing Facility there. After that- it's just up to me when I can defend my thesis! Oh- there just may be light at the end of this tunnel! :)

In the meantime- we are just trying to make the most of our situation now- half student life/half "grown-up" life :) We were able to go to Seven Peaks a few times this summer so Jordy could float in the lazy river. We also went to the Provo splash pad a few times. Jordy wasn't exactly sure what to think of it...but I think he still had fun! 







We couldn't start the semester and Ty start a new job without getting at least one hike in for the summer! So we started Labor Day off with some yummy breakfast from Kneaders (using Tyler's blood money-- literally- he went and donated plasma that morning) then we drove through Provo Canyon up past Sundance and Aspen Grove to hike to Stewart Falls. I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS! It is always so breathtaking driving up there...and I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when the leaves have changed color. There were SO many people on the trail though- we had to keep stopping to let people going the other way pass. Jordy got to ride in his hiking carrier for the first time...at first he wasn't sure what to think about it, but then he got pretty used to it...and was so comfortable, he was even able to take a little nap! He missed seeing the falls, but we had a fun hike!







What tiring work riding on the back of dad! 

Jordy "talking" to the other hikers we were passing on our way back (he was probably trying to tell them not to bother going all the way- he saw the same stuff before and after his nap!)


It's been quite the summer...and even though it's the end of one season...a new season is definitely starting for us (literally!)

Jordy saying goodbye to our old condo
Now our new place is within walking distance to Target! We went on a little adventure one day when Jordy was needing to get out. Note to self: if Jordy needs to take a nap- take him for a walk first! :)