Trying this Blog thing again.

My last post was from 2011! Its now 2018, closing in on 2019! We have welcomed 2 more growing boys since my last post; Isaac who is 5 and Owen who just turned 2 last week. I also now have a BSN in addition to my BS in Psychology and have recently been accepted into the DNP FNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practioner) at Bradley University. I start that craziness in January. So much to catch up on!
But for today I'll just share a little of what is going through my mind.
It's fall in Boise! I love the color changes that the trees go through, the oranges and reds. I love the cooler air in the morning and the warming up as the day progresses, but never getting past 70. Changes. As the seasons change, I reflect on how life is a constant changing process. And how we react to those changes can either hinder our own progression or enhance it. I'd like to think that I embrace change, but in reality I know that this is not always true. Starting my new career as a RN has been more difficult than I would have thought. And as I reflect on the feelings and struggles I have with it, I realize it's because I'm starting new. No experience with nursing, always asking questions on how to do new things, feeling inadequate and overwhelmed simply because I feel like I don't know enough. It's a new journey beginning with a lesson in humility. My prayer as I start every shift is simply to have the courage to ask for help when I need it and to keep my patients safe, feeling listened to and well cared for. I try to picture myself as a representative of Christ, offering care and succor for the physical body and by some small means, a lift for the spirit in their time of need. If I can keep that in mind, I feel like my inadequacies become less important. I may not know how to do everything but I know that with the help of the Spirit, I can care for those who need it.

Holy Cow, It's Been FOREVER!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated this!  Oh wait, yes I can...Life is crazy with these 3, yes I said 3, boys: Aaron, Evan and Travis. lol  Here are some newer pictures for your enjoyment!

Instant RECAP of Summer 2011 + a few extra months. :)

The Blessing of Evan Charles Clyde

James Clyde, Brandon Clyde, Nephi Dummar, Travis, Evan, Ryan Penfield, Grandpa Rowley, Richard Rowley

Yeah, Evan wasn't too happy by this time.  :(

Easter 

Look Mom, Dad's letting me play in colored water!

I wonder what it tastes like?

Evan watched intently the whole time

Finding the eggs hidden in the back yard

The Easter Bunny left multiple balls for Aaron.  He was in heaven!!!

The Yard Project

We decided to remove the hill that was in the middle of our backyard that was left by the previous occupants. The previous owner was a landscaper and the top of the hill that we removed earlier was full of old sod, so I was a little nervous to find out what the rest of the hill was.  Needless to say, it was quite the project and I can now say that I will seriously consider moving into a home that was owned by a landscaper. We found rock, gravel, sod and anything else imaginable in that stupid hill! Well, I guess at least it's gone.  Now we just have to fill some of the low spots that were left by the skitzer (not sure how you spell it!).

We cut and rolled this sod ourselves, from our backyard.  :)

The Youth Temple Trip

I took the opportunity to take a few family pictures while we were at the Boise Temple with the youth.

   

Family Reunion at Thompson Lakes

Sorry Grandpa, they both needed a nap!

The Baker crew (minus a few)

Colten loved Evan and Evan loved Colten!

Tara and Evan

The Wayne and Terri Baker crew minus Kim's kids (we missed you Kimmers!!) and Travis who was playing volleyball in the Big Sky Tournament.

Evan's First Days

Customize a scrapbook Playing around with Smilebox.  Not sure if I like it yet or not, but this turned our pretty cute!

Aaron's 1st haircut

Aaron's hair has been getting really long lately.  We tried cutting it ourselves a few months back but had a hard time because he wouldn't sit still.  I knew it was time to take him somewhere to have it cut since it was uneven and growing over his ears.  I was a little nervous taking him in considering how difficult he was when I tried to cut it. We decided today was the day.  He sat on Dad's lap in a cape with little ducks on it.  The young stylist brought out the clippers and had Aaron feel them.  He was mesmerized.  From that point on, he was eating out of her hand.  He sat relatively still for the next 15 minutes, a record for him.  It wasn't until she was almost finished that he started to get restless. But by that time it was only a snip here and there. He now looks like a little boy and not a baby. Which I have mixed feelings about...  Anyway, here are the pictures of my baby turned little boy.  :)

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Evan is 1 Month old Already?!?!?

I know it's been a few days.  We've had the flu!  For the first time, everyone was sick at the same time.  Absolutely HORRIBLE!  I had good intentions of taking pictures to send to family and friends for Valentine's Day but with Aaron still puking, I succumbed to the reality that it was just not meant to be this year.  So I settled for pictures of Evan and a few of Aaron and Evan together since Evan turned 1 month on Saturday.  I can't believe how quickly time flies!!!  Enjoy

Aaron was done holding Evan, trying to push him off his lap.  :)

Giving kisses.

They were both done with each other at this point.

Did someone say ice cream????

Today was day 3 of trying it out alone during the day. And thankfully it was only a half day. (Thanks honey!) When Travis got home, we all went to run a few errands and decided to stop and get dinner as well. As usual Aaron flirted with all of the cute waitresses and they loved it. Everything was great until Travis tried to feed Aaron mashed potatoes that he hadn't cooled down. Aaron immediately started crying and now has a nice little burn on his cheek. Hopefully a lesson learned... To make up for the little accident we stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream. Aaron got his first very own ice cream cone. He wouldn't take it from me at first. He wanted me to feed it to him. I finally convinced him to hold it and he LOVED it! It was so fun watching him lick it and giggle.

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Updates

Since our 2nd child, Evan, has joined our family, I've had all these funny stories that I've wanted to share. Not wanting to post them to Facebook all the time (I'd be changing my status posting every 2 minutes), I decided to try this blog thing. And since my phone is more handy these days than my actual computer, I downloaded the app in hopes of saving these memories somewhere other than my mind, which seems to lose things quite frequently. :)

Let's see if I can update this blog a bit. Evan turned 3 weeks yesterday, yes, he's still a newborn. Having him in the house has been quite the adjustment for Aaron who will be 14 months on the 9th of this month. Yes, crazy I know. I'm still unsure how it's all going to work out without Mom completely losing her sanity. Today was the 2nd day that it was me, Aaron and Evan at home by ourselves while Travis was at work. Yesterday, the 1st day of this kind, was extremely interesting to say the least. I'm not sure how single moms do it... Aaron was on his best behavior, which is pretty good. He's had to grow up quite a bit since Evan came along. He only had a couple of melt downs, which included throwing himself on the floor and screaming/crying at the top of his lungs. Checking every few seconds to make sure I was watching him, he acted out a very good drama, screaming louder if I was watching and slowly calming down when he realized Mom wasn't running to pick him up. He's learning, hopefully, that he doesn't always get what he wants, a tough lesson for a one-year old.

Today was much of the same. I'm seeing the entertainer/comedian come out in him. He loves to be the center of attention and is learning that he gets more if he is funny. He loves to dance! Today, while I was pumping, he started dancing the the rythm of the pump. That made Mom laugh so he got a bit more animated. I wish I would have gotten it on tape. His dancing to his favorite cartoon, The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, will have to do for now.

As for Evan, his activities are eating, sleeping and pooping. I'm still trying to figure out what his personality is. But for now, i know he's a cuddler. He doesn't sleep well without someone close enough to touch and won't sleep at all in his crib. Still trying to figure out how to break him of that one. He also poops when he's under stress. One of the first days he was home, Travis was helping me change his diaper by holding his legs for me. Well, Evan, like most babies, doesn't enjoy being changed (the stressor). He shot poop across the room. I don't think I've ever seen Travis jump so quickly! Lol What a kid, Aaron was a pee'er and Evan is a pooper.  :) The joys of Parenthood. 'Night!

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