Por fin!

Remember back in March 2009 when I posted about Paul getting a saw so that he could build us a dinner table? Well, after three attempts and 18 months, it's finally done (he actually started this model in May 2010 while I was in Iowa...being in med school doesn't spare too much time for hobbies). Looks pretty good, eh? We made it nice and wide so that we can actually serve our food on the table instead of in the kitchen, and so that we can play board games comfortably...such a step up from two card tables smashed together. Now we just need some chairs that aren't folding chairs. That'll take another 18 months :)

Look who is crawling!

Finally! At 12 1/2 months, she is crawling!

White sock chick

When I was about 14, I got eczema. Mostly just on my hands but occasionally it flares up in other places. I've seen a number of doctors, researched different treatments, and tried almost everything to help keep it under control. And in general, I do. I wear gloves whenever I do the dishes or disinfect something. I rarely wash my hands (sorry if that's gross) and never use hand sanitizer. The only thing I could do to improve it would be to shower with gloves on (which I used to do regularly) and change diapers with gloves. Summary: I've learned to live with it and it's not too horrible.

But try to teach that to a three year old. Yup, poor little Hattie has eczema on her finger tips. Gratefully it doesn't itch too badly, but it'll crack and bleed. I put Aquaphor and Bag Balm on, but of course it gets wiped off almost immediately. So finally today we went to the doctor. He recommended this treatment:

Two of Paul's sock taped to her arms, with her hands lathered in Aquaphor and medication. We got her really excited about it, so she thinks it's fun instead of torture. When I was a kid, I tried sleeping with gloves on (and was nicknamed the White Glove Chick) and it was horrible. It actually made my hands worse because of the tightness of the gloves. So hopefully the socks are an improvement.

While there we did Anna's 12 month appointment: 75th percentile for weight, 25th percentile for height (I think her shortness makes her appear chubbier), and off the charts for head circumference. Awesome. Hattie is in the 87th for weight and 7th for height...another shorty. Looks like they'll take after me.

Help!

For the last 3 weeks, Hattie has woken in the middle of the night with nightmares. Not every night, but probably half. It's starting to get old. At first, we brought her to bed with us, but of course, we didn't get any sleep after that, even though she usually when right back to sleep. Our queen-size just isn't big enough for three people. Lately, I've been going in to calm her down, and then end up laying next to her crib (yup, she still LOVES her crib and refuses to sleep in the toddler bed). I eventually sneak out and go back to bed. Does anyone have tips or advice about getting over nightmares? I'm even starting to think that now it's not always a nightmare...her screaming has become less frantic and more whiny. So perhaps now she knows that we'll come if she simply wakes up in the night and cries loud enough. Please HELP!

Surprise!

About four months ago, I had a dream about my friend Tina and her husband Ben. Tina had been a roommate at BYU. We met in Spanish 101, took Spanish 102 together, and then decided to be roommates. We only lived together for the first semester of my junior year (I left for my mission after that), but she was one of my greatest friends at BYU. She was engaged during the semester we lived together, but she and Ben were more than willing to let me hang out with them. I was a constant 3rd wheel :) They really helped me out when I was going through a tough time and deciding whether or not to serve a mission. We kept in touch until I was pregnant with Hattie. I knew she had moved to Minneapolis, but I had lost touch with her. So after my dream, I tried to find her again...with no luck. BYU Alumni directory only had their physical address, not a phone number or email. And she wasn't on facebook. So she has been on the back of mind for the last few months.

Then on Monday I got a phone call from a number in Lubbock and it was Tina! Apparently Ben's parents live in Lubbock (I even know her MIL a little) and they remembered from our Christmas card 2 years ago that we were living in Lubbock. It made my week! We went out to dinner Tuesday, then the kids and I went to swim on Wednesday. It was great to catch up and remember all the good times we had together. I hope they come back to Lubbock again before we move!

Color!

I recently painted our master bathroom, family room, and kitchen. The only unpainted rooms are now the bedrooms...who knows if I'll get to those or not. It's been fun having more color in the house; all gray was getting dull. And I find I really like painting. It's addicting. I just don't like picking the color.

Bathroom before

Bathroom after - color Grassland from Sherwin Williams (hard to see...no natural light in the bathroom)

Kitchen before

Kitchen after - color Chocolate Cherry from Lowes

Family room before

Family room after - color Row House Tan from Sherwin Williams

Thanks to Kristen for watching my kids, Jessie for picking the color, and Kristina for helping me paint!

Where did June and July go?

Alas, August started yesterday, and I have nothing to show for the first half of the summer. I just sorted through the pictures I have and I hardly took any. You would think they were uneventful months, but they were quite busy.

June: Paul studied. All the time. He studied in our bedroom closet, surfacing for food every few hours. I tried to stay busy, painting the family room and kitchen and having play dates with two great friends who recently moved. At the end of the month he took Step 1, the exam that directly affects what residency he will get in a few years. We're glad it's over.

Can you tell I am indecisive? It took 15 paint samples to pick the color of my family room. After that fiasco, I had my mother-in-law come help me pick the color of the kitchen. With her help, I think I only bought 4 samples...thanks Jessie! Pictures soon to come...

Hattie still asks to play with Callie on a regular basis...she thinks Idaho is close by I guess!

We spent a week in Dallas, and didn't do much since it RAINED the entire time, canceling trips to Six Flags and waterparks. No pictures. Relaxing, quiet week. On the 4th of July I flew to Boise with the girls. It was a long travel day...don't want to travel again soon. I spent two weeks at my parents. Paul stayed behind to start his 3rd year rotations. I think I only took 15 picture on the whole trip. Sad. That's what happens when you travel alone...I was too busy to think about pictures.

Gratefully we did have a family picture with everyone in the family, minus Spencer on his mission, Paul at school, and uncle Aaron at work.

Watching the fireworks with the kids

Hattie and Jonas though the water jugs were fun to play with

One day at the Eastons, Myra and Natali decided to have a cookie/Kool-aid stand. It was hilarious watching them try to stop all the 3 year olds from snitching too many cookies and drinks. And a few neighbor kids joined in the fun...and of course demanded their share of the money when it was over :)

And my mom pulled out this music that I grew up dancing to...good memories and the kids loved it!

Hattie was glad to get back home. The first thing she did was grab all of her stuffed animals and line them up on the couch. They are probably her favorite toy to play with. She is constantly carting ALL of them from her bed, to the couch, to Anna's room, to our bathroom.

Paul and Hattie in their scrubs

Anna turned one! Crazy to think that it was only a year ago that I was hospitalized for a week, worrying about a premmie baby. She's definitely not tiny anymore! She still isn't crawling, but has finally started bearing weight on her legs. We were so excited when she started standing that now Hattie squeals with delight every time she sees Anna standing. I think she weighs about 23 lbs. She is definitely more snuggly than Hattie, more content to watch and observe, loves to eat fruit, cheese, and ice cream, is happy whenever outside, and is sporting 6 little teeth. Happy Birthday Anna!