Last month was Max's birthday. He turned 4. We got him a Monster's University dvd on black Friday really cheap and Jake said it was for Max......but I really think it was more for him. We never buy movies and most of the ones we own are tacky comedies from the 90's. So we got him the movie and he actually sat and watched the whole thing, which he rarely does. I am not a huge supporter of kids watching movies all the time. There are so many other things they have the energy to do and I don't want him obsessing about cartoon characters. We really try to limit the television viewing in our home for the kids and luckily Dexter seems very disinterested when Max is watching something so I couldn't be more thrilled.
Anyhow, we have watched Monster's U way too many times. I have the whole thing memorized. But Jake borrowed Monster's inc from his brother and that only upset Max. He wanted Monster's U! The kid doesn't like change. So last Sunday Jake popped in Monsters inc again and Max started watching it with us he made it through the whole thing and then something started at the end. When Sully has to say bye to Boo and tucks her into bed, Max began to cry. Jake and I both looked at him and he was embarrassed and didn't want us to see. These were real tears and real sobs. Not the fake ones he normally does. He began to tell us that he didn't want Sully to leave. I think he felt like he was Boo. It was weird and funny all at the same time. And for the most part Max isn't an extremely emotional kid. He was sad up until he fell asleep.
It's interesting to see your child grow up and change. Even something so dumb like crying during a movie reminds me once again what he comprehends and that's all apart of maturity and no longer being a baby. He's just not my baby anymore.........even though he still needs help wiping his butt!
The Brooks
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
A Year's End
It's still hard for me to believe that 2013 has already passed us by. Every year past 2000 makes me feel older and older. This year was a huge milestone for me because I turned 30. I feel the same but my body totally feels different. For the first time in my life besides when I'm pregnant I've had to wake up to go to the bathroom. That's the worse especially when your trying not to wake up your kids and it's 6 am and so close to their waking times. I found another wrinkle between my eye brows and it totally sucks!
Worst of all I had Epstein Barr this year which was awful just having but also made me hit a wall when it came to my baby weight loss. Once I was recovered by May I've been working out usually 5 times a week and haven't dropped a pound, except for the 2 I lost when I had the flu this fall. And it wasn't worth it, blah! But now I'm trying to watch what I eat and Jake got me a fitbit for Christmas this year which will help me more with that. I've been trying to pursue more hobbies this year than probably ever before. I'm no longer in school so I can't use the excuse that I'm too busy reading for classes that I don't have time to read anything else. I've been trying to read more articles and books. I've currently been reading L. Tom Perry's autobiography. I became interested in it when I saw it on the New Arrivals shelf at the library. He recently spoke at a regional conference held a few months ago here in Logan so I decided to read it. It's funny how these things work, but it's actually helped me a lot. I really was not looking forward to moving here, and it was a little tough at first and I was dreading the winter months. But reading about this apostles life hear and hearing about his families history and even the pioneer heritage of cache valley forced me to like Logan and all the aspects of it that I had overlooked before. There really is a rich history here and so many place to explore.
Jake and I were called as Temple Prep teachers. I taught last week since it's the beginning of the year and I'm a bit intimidated. The concepts are so basic but I'm not sure what people already know considering no one will answer any of my questions. We just all need to warm up to each other. I think treats will be involved next week. I can teach Sunday school, primary, and relief society but temple prep is my Achilles Heal. What if I can't answer a question? The classroom will be so small who will help me fill the time. Jake will be helping me, but sometimes I will be alone. It's moments like this when I think of my Dad and wish he were still around to advise me. Usually I would just call him and he would tell me how or what to say, so sometimes I have to just think what would Jim Giometta do in this situation? And it isn't just in church callings but anything in life. I wish I had asked myself that question when I got bangs in October. They were hideous! They've grown on me, but they just really aren't for everyone, including myself.
Max turned 4 a few weeks ago and he's become quite the little comedian. We went to the doctor the other day and he was saying the funniest things to him, he's never wanted to talk to a doctor before, he's always been too scared. Max also started school this year. It's preschool and only a few time a week. He still has to repeat it next year since he has a late birthday and won't be in kindergarten until 2015. It seems so far away but preschool has been great for him socially. He's starting to talk to other kids and he's been signing a lot. Which I have never been able to get him to do. The other day he told Jake while he was taking a bath, "I'm swimming under the sea in an octopuses garden", I guess you had to be there but it was funny since it was random and a Beatles song. He was really excited for any holiday or event this year. He talked about his birthday for weeks and couldn't wait until it was Christmas. He really is growing up so much and he's gotten really tall. I worry about him less and less. Being my first child always made it easy for me to watch and stress about every little thing he did. Studying speech pathology and human development educated me but always made me aware of anything that could go wrong with his development. But he's doing great! I think sometime this year we are going to start trying to teach him to read, but we'll just take baby steps at that.
Dexter had an eventful year as well. He started walking, talking, and had surgery on his finger. He's a bit more adventurous than Max was, ever. He is also my friendly child. He is constantly waving hi to random strangers at the store. Unfortunately, he's been a pain to take to church, he really just can't sit still, and I know you shouldn't wish that your kids will just grow up already, but I can't wait until he can sit with me and just read a book, but he's way too wiggly for that. He's been sleeping really well and still takes one nap a day. We kept putting off taking away his binky. With Max we took it at 12 months, I hatted the thought of him using it until he was two. But with Dexter something always came up so it made it hard to take it away, until we were in Salt Lake during Thanksgiving and he threw it on the ground somewhere on temple square. That was his only binky so we just decided that was it and it was time. He cried for a bit but now he's over it. Dexter's finger healed perfectly, it's a little stumpy looking and we really have to take care of the nail so that it doesn't pinch his skin, but there's a chance it could fall off as he gets older. Now our goal is just getting him conditioned for Nursery on Sundays and to not be so grumpy. He definitely does not like to be ignored and he lets me know it.
Jacob had a good year as well. We were talking about our favorite memories this year and I told him mine was when he graduated with his Bachelor's. It was a huge milestone for him and something he had been working on since we were married. He's currently working on his MBA which he will finish this June. It's hard to believe that we are already half way done. He got a job working as a T.A which has been really good for his schedule. I couldn't really look for a job since Jacob's schedule is so ridiculous and most days he never knows when he is coming home. We started looking for jobs so hopefully he will have one by this summer. We've been able to see Jacob's family a lot this year which has been really great for us and the kids. We're not too sure where we will end up when he graduates which could make it difficult for us to see them if it's far away.
My goal this year is to find a word and make it my focus. This woman does it on a blog I read every week. I'm just having a hard time coming up with a good word that could help improve my life. I'm giving myself until Friday to figure it out.
I will post pictures soon!
Worst of all I had Epstein Barr this year which was awful just having but also made me hit a wall when it came to my baby weight loss. Once I was recovered by May I've been working out usually 5 times a week and haven't dropped a pound, except for the 2 I lost when I had the flu this fall. And it wasn't worth it, blah! But now I'm trying to watch what I eat and Jake got me a fitbit for Christmas this year which will help me more with that. I've been trying to pursue more hobbies this year than probably ever before. I'm no longer in school so I can't use the excuse that I'm too busy reading for classes that I don't have time to read anything else. I've been trying to read more articles and books. I've currently been reading L. Tom Perry's autobiography. I became interested in it when I saw it on the New Arrivals shelf at the library. He recently spoke at a regional conference held a few months ago here in Logan so I decided to read it. It's funny how these things work, but it's actually helped me a lot. I really was not looking forward to moving here, and it was a little tough at first and I was dreading the winter months. But reading about this apostles life hear and hearing about his families history and even the pioneer heritage of cache valley forced me to like Logan and all the aspects of it that I had overlooked before. There really is a rich history here and so many place to explore.
Jake and I were called as Temple Prep teachers. I taught last week since it's the beginning of the year and I'm a bit intimidated. The concepts are so basic but I'm not sure what people already know considering no one will answer any of my questions. We just all need to warm up to each other. I think treats will be involved next week. I can teach Sunday school, primary, and relief society but temple prep is my Achilles Heal. What if I can't answer a question? The classroom will be so small who will help me fill the time. Jake will be helping me, but sometimes I will be alone. It's moments like this when I think of my Dad and wish he were still around to advise me. Usually I would just call him and he would tell me how or what to say, so sometimes I have to just think what would Jim Giometta do in this situation? And it isn't just in church callings but anything in life. I wish I had asked myself that question when I got bangs in October. They were hideous! They've grown on me, but they just really aren't for everyone, including myself.
Max turned 4 a few weeks ago and he's become quite the little comedian. We went to the doctor the other day and he was saying the funniest things to him, he's never wanted to talk to a doctor before, he's always been too scared. Max also started school this year. It's preschool and only a few time a week. He still has to repeat it next year since he has a late birthday and won't be in kindergarten until 2015. It seems so far away but preschool has been great for him socially. He's starting to talk to other kids and he's been signing a lot. Which I have never been able to get him to do. The other day he told Jake while he was taking a bath, "I'm swimming under the sea in an octopuses garden", I guess you had to be there but it was funny since it was random and a Beatles song. He was really excited for any holiday or event this year. He talked about his birthday for weeks and couldn't wait until it was Christmas. He really is growing up so much and he's gotten really tall. I worry about him less and less. Being my first child always made it easy for me to watch and stress about every little thing he did. Studying speech pathology and human development educated me but always made me aware of anything that could go wrong with his development. But he's doing great! I think sometime this year we are going to start trying to teach him to read, but we'll just take baby steps at that.
Dexter had an eventful year as well. He started walking, talking, and had surgery on his finger. He's a bit more adventurous than Max was, ever. He is also my friendly child. He is constantly waving hi to random strangers at the store. Unfortunately, he's been a pain to take to church, he really just can't sit still, and I know you shouldn't wish that your kids will just grow up already, but I can't wait until he can sit with me and just read a book, but he's way too wiggly for that. He's been sleeping really well and still takes one nap a day. We kept putting off taking away his binky. With Max we took it at 12 months, I hatted the thought of him using it until he was two. But with Dexter something always came up so it made it hard to take it away, until we were in Salt Lake during Thanksgiving and he threw it on the ground somewhere on temple square. That was his only binky so we just decided that was it and it was time. He cried for a bit but now he's over it. Dexter's finger healed perfectly, it's a little stumpy looking and we really have to take care of the nail so that it doesn't pinch his skin, but there's a chance it could fall off as he gets older. Now our goal is just getting him conditioned for Nursery on Sundays and to not be so grumpy. He definitely does not like to be ignored and he lets me know it.
Jacob had a good year as well. We were talking about our favorite memories this year and I told him mine was when he graduated with his Bachelor's. It was a huge milestone for him and something he had been working on since we were married. He's currently working on his MBA which he will finish this June. It's hard to believe that we are already half way done. He got a job working as a T.A which has been really good for his schedule. I couldn't really look for a job since Jacob's schedule is so ridiculous and most days he never knows when he is coming home. We started looking for jobs so hopefully he will have one by this summer. We've been able to see Jacob's family a lot this year which has been really great for us and the kids. We're not too sure where we will end up when he graduates which could make it difficult for us to see them if it's far away.
My goal this year is to find a word and make it my focus. This woman does it on a blog I read every week. I'm just having a hard time coming up with a good word that could help improve my life. I'm giving myself until Friday to figure it out.
I will post pictures soon!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Fall
Jake just put dinner together and it's cooking in the oven. Max is playing a game on the touch pad and winding down from a Tuesday afternoon of preschool, which he is doing miraculously well at. Dexter is on the floor eating a cookie and shoving bites into Jake's mouth while he is on the floor reading the paper. I'm not going to lie, it's been a rough past couple of weeks. But quiet moments like that were everyone is content makes it all worth it.
Max has been a bit physical with everyone, and still doesn't have any real friends around here. I'm feeling about the same in the friends department as well. But maybe I would be a bit more concerned about it if I knew we weren't leaving her next summer. I'm afraid for winter to come, for holiday weight gain which I've already been trying to prevent since I started Jillian's 30 day shred yesterday. I can fit into my prepregnancy jeans that I've had since before Max was born, but they are a bit snug and I can comfortably say that I am no longer satisfied with wearing skin tight jeans and shirts. I have come to the realization that going up a size isn't too awful of an idea, as long as it's not because of weight gain, just style satisfaction. My butt and hips are just huge now, and I don't think they will be shrinking in any way unless a knife and sutures are involved.
I no longer enjoy wearing low rise jeans and tight fitting shirts. I just want to be comfortable. I already feel "30". I squint a lot when I'm out in the sun and feel that I need to wear sunglasses all the time. I awake in the middle of the night to go pee, while I never had to before a few months ago. And I'm just sick of listening to people and not sticking up for myself when some random person I don't know says something to me or my husband that is just absurd. I guess I'm a grouch. But I"m going to embrace my 30's. Jake still has a year to go. But I reminded him that he could be graduated with two degrees, have found a profession, and even maybe own a home and have a 3rd kid before he turns 30. That's achievement to me.
Oh and Dexter said his first word today. "look" while pointing at a page in the book. It was the highlight of my day.
Max has been a bit physical with everyone, and still doesn't have any real friends around here. I'm feeling about the same in the friends department as well. But maybe I would be a bit more concerned about it if I knew we weren't leaving her next summer. I'm afraid for winter to come, for holiday weight gain which I've already been trying to prevent since I started Jillian's 30 day shred yesterday. I can fit into my prepregnancy jeans that I've had since before Max was born, but they are a bit snug and I can comfortably say that I am no longer satisfied with wearing skin tight jeans and shirts. I have come to the realization that going up a size isn't too awful of an idea, as long as it's not because of weight gain, just style satisfaction. My butt and hips are just huge now, and I don't think they will be shrinking in any way unless a knife and sutures are involved.
I no longer enjoy wearing low rise jeans and tight fitting shirts. I just want to be comfortable. I already feel "30". I squint a lot when I'm out in the sun and feel that I need to wear sunglasses all the time. I awake in the middle of the night to go pee, while I never had to before a few months ago. And I'm just sick of listening to people and not sticking up for myself when some random person I don't know says something to me or my husband that is just absurd. I guess I'm a grouch. But I"m going to embrace my 30's. Jake still has a year to go. But I reminded him that he could be graduated with two degrees, have found a profession, and even maybe own a home and have a 3rd kid before he turns 30. That's achievement to me.
Oh and Dexter said his first word today. "look" while pointing at a page in the book. It was the highlight of my day.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Logan.....Thus Far.
We have been in Logan for 3 weeks now. At least I have been in Logan for 3 weeks, Jake spent some time in SLC finishing up his old job. But the kids are use to it now, and I'm enjoying our carpeted apartment and space, so the kids aren't constantly running into each other and falling on hard tile. We've had more space that we had to go buy furniture to fill it out.
Jake started school yesterday and I can tell that he is totally loving it. It's been orientation this week so there has been a lot of team building, meals, guest lectures, and projects. He has one professor who asked him to interview to be his T.A. It would be so good for him to get that position, and it PAYS!
Unfortunately, we have had a few incidences since our arrival. First Dexter had to go to the ER last Friday. He had a minor fever from teething that turned into a fever of 102 during his nap and when we went into his room to check on him he was having small seizures acting very strange, and then started to puke. We ran him to the ER. Which was a block away....small town, go figure. We just didn't want to take any chances on a baby. He was furious, and tired the whole we were there. The only thing they could give him was dizzy medicine, and then the doctor thought he might have a middle ear infection, but it was too hard to tell because he was screaming so long his tympanic membrane could have been inflamed due to that. So they prescribed him amoxicillin anyways.
2 days later he had an allergic reaction and I took him to insta-care. Turns out he did not have an ear infection at all, and he has been better ever since Saturday afternoon. I realize the doctors were just trying to help him and thought his ears were giving him a lot of pain, but I think it was just the five teeth he was cutting that were giving him grief. I didn't think I would ever have to take my child to the ER for teething.
The worst part of my week was the disappearance of my 3 year old. I was at the bottom of the stairs painting while max sat at the top eating a snack. He must of wandered off the stairs when my back was turned and left the housing complex and wandered down the street. When I noticed he was gone I ran inside thinking he just went back inside.....but he was gone. I wandered around the complex 10 times thinking there was no way he would have wandered down the street by himself without and adult! But sometimes I forget that Max marches to the beat of his own drum.
I started to panic, I ran down to the complex next door asking if they had seen a little boy. They were doing additions to their building and I thought if there was construction going on then he had to be there. They replied that they hadn't seen him but started to look as well. I ran down to the church and looked by the creek and didn't see him, only imagining that he could have fallen in and had already drowned. I ran back up the hill and started to have a minor panic attack and couldn't breathe, but I had to keep looking for him. I was up a few blocks and then decided to run home to get my car and drive around until I found him. My neighbors were looking as well. When I came outside a police officer had asked if we were missing a little boy. Joy had come to my eyes that someone had found him, but then fear since it was the police! Did I have neglectful mother written all over my face? Max isn't allowed to go outside without me and yet I still lose him. I was worried they were going to take me in! Then I saw Max, happy as a clam walking home with a police officer. I was crying and trying to hold back the tears, thinking how could you do this to me? He made some real distance and since school started there was a lot of traffic on the streets around us. A retired police officer had seen him and followed him for awhile to make sure it looked like he was lost.
They took my name and info. I wondered if they were going to turn me into child services. But it was to keep track if Max was going to make a habit out of this. I'm still getting use to our living surroundings and what my kids are capable of, I thanked the lord for watching over my little boy and for protecting him from anyone wanting to take him.
On a more positive note, Max has found 2 bigger and better basketball hoops right outside our house that he can practice on. That kid is going to go pro.
Jake started school yesterday and I can tell that he is totally loving it. It's been orientation this week so there has been a lot of team building, meals, guest lectures, and projects. He has one professor who asked him to interview to be his T.A. It would be so good for him to get that position, and it PAYS!
Unfortunately, we have had a few incidences since our arrival. First Dexter had to go to the ER last Friday. He had a minor fever from teething that turned into a fever of 102 during his nap and when we went into his room to check on him he was having small seizures acting very strange, and then started to puke. We ran him to the ER. Which was a block away....small town, go figure. We just didn't want to take any chances on a baby. He was furious, and tired the whole we were there. The only thing they could give him was dizzy medicine, and then the doctor thought he might have a middle ear infection, but it was too hard to tell because he was screaming so long his tympanic membrane could have been inflamed due to that. So they prescribed him amoxicillin anyways.
 |
| Happy Camper, for the most part. |
The worst part of my week was the disappearance of my 3 year old. I was at the bottom of the stairs painting while max sat at the top eating a snack. He must of wandered off the stairs when my back was turned and left the housing complex and wandered down the street. When I noticed he was gone I ran inside thinking he just went back inside.....but he was gone. I wandered around the complex 10 times thinking there was no way he would have wandered down the street by himself without and adult! But sometimes I forget that Max marches to the beat of his own drum.
I started to panic, I ran down to the complex next door asking if they had seen a little boy. They were doing additions to their building and I thought if there was construction going on then he had to be there. They replied that they hadn't seen him but started to look as well. I ran down to the church and looked by the creek and didn't see him, only imagining that he could have fallen in and had already drowned. I ran back up the hill and started to have a minor panic attack and couldn't breathe, but I had to keep looking for him. I was up a few blocks and then decided to run home to get my car and drive around until I found him. My neighbors were looking as well. When I came outside a police officer had asked if we were missing a little boy. Joy had come to my eyes that someone had found him, but then fear since it was the police! Did I have neglectful mother written all over my face? Max isn't allowed to go outside without me and yet I still lose him. I was worried they were going to take me in! Then I saw Max, happy as a clam walking home with a police officer. I was crying and trying to hold back the tears, thinking how could you do this to me? He made some real distance and since school started there was a lot of traffic on the streets around us. A retired police officer had seen him and followed him for awhile to make sure it looked like he was lost.
They took my name and info. I wondered if they were going to turn me into child services. But it was to keep track if Max was going to make a habit out of this. I'm still getting use to our living surroundings and what my kids are capable of, I thanked the lord for watching over my little boy and for protecting him from anyone wanting to take him.
On a more positive note, Max has found 2 bigger and better basketball hoops right outside our house that he can practice on. That kid is going to go pro.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Dexter's 1!
The kids are way excited about all the boxes that are laying around the house in preparation for our move. I had to take a few pictures.
Dexter wasn't really allowed to dig into his cake because we didn't want him to get frosting all over his wrapped up hand. But he's doing better. Now just has to wear a band-aid, as long as he doesn't pull it off. He's obsessed with sticking his wound into his mouth any chance he can get.
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| Dexter was excited for all the commotion! |
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| Cake didn't turn out exactly how I wanted. |
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| Dexter didn't seem to mind that the cake didn't look perfect. |
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| Cousin Jack was there. |
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| Max painted a picture for Dexter's birthday. |
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Graduation & an Amputation
The past few months have been a bit hectic. First, Jacob graduated. Finally. It was a good feeling and his timing to receive his degree was fairly on schedule, considering he transferred. So the big question is what is next? I feel like we've been planning for the next year for a while. Applying to schools and taking the GRE were so exhausting for all of us. Finding a place to live wasn't too difficult, it just took the right timing. Now we are preparing for the big move, which I am not looking forward to, but it's inevitable.
My little baby turned 1 year old yesterday. He's not going to be my little baby too much longer. He's really trying to walk, I think he's just looking for an alternative way to keep up with his big bro even though he crawls fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we were all tested when we had to take Dexter to the emergency room 2 1/2 weeks ago. The tip of Dexter's finger was cut off in the hinge side of the door. Max didn't know his finger was in it and he shut the door completely and it came right off. They sewed it back on, so now we are just trying to avoid infection. He had to take antibiotics because the bone fractured. I have moments were I feel confident that his finger will be fine, but then I have doubts, so the whole situation has been stressful all over the tip of a little baby finger.
A lot will be changing soon. I'm sad to leave our dear friends we've made over the period of our time spent in Salt Lake. Leaving my Mother will be hard too, I'm comforted knowing that my other siblings live here but nobody can replace having a Grandma close by, but I think Max will miss her balcony more where he can watch all the construction going on outside of her townhouse. Although the past 5 years has had some huge adjustments for Jacob and I, I think moving to Logan will be the biggest change we've experienced thus far.
My little baby turned 1 year old yesterday. He's not going to be my little baby too much longer. He's really trying to walk, I think he's just looking for an alternative way to keep up with his big bro even though he crawls fairly quickly. Unfortunately, we were all tested when we had to take Dexter to the emergency room 2 1/2 weeks ago. The tip of Dexter's finger was cut off in the hinge side of the door. Max didn't know his finger was in it and he shut the door completely and it came right off. They sewed it back on, so now we are just trying to avoid infection. He had to take antibiotics because the bone fractured. I have moments were I feel confident that his finger will be fine, but then I have doubts, so the whole situation has been stressful all over the tip of a little baby finger.
A lot will be changing soon. I'm sad to leave our dear friends we've made over the period of our time spent in Salt Lake. Leaving my Mother will be hard too, I'm comforted knowing that my other siblings live here but nobody can replace having a Grandma close by, but I think Max will miss her balcony more where he can watch all the construction going on outside of her townhouse. Although the past 5 years has had some huge adjustments for Jacob and I, I think moving to Logan will be the biggest change we've experienced thus far.
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