Funny story (forgot in the last post)

Jamie has learned how to pray. If you say "Jamie, time for prayer!" he will sort of fold his arms and lower his head--it's the cutest thing.

Earlier, I did this when I was sitting in the living room, about to ask a blessing on my lunch, so Jason could see. Then I bowed my own head, closed my eyes, and started to pray aloud, so Jamie would understand more:

"Dear Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for my many blessings. I'm thankful for this food..."

Then I heard a rustling on my plate.

I peeked my eyes open, and Jamie had only been pretending to be religious so he could try to swipe some of my Cheez-Its while my eyes were closed!

What we've been up to lately, with lotsa pictures

A couple weeks ago, we went to our friend's 4th birthday party at Build-A-Bear, and though we told ourselves we would save money by keeping the bear plain, we got suckered by the Obi Won outfit.

(The birthday boy's and his cousin's bears were Darth Vader and a storm trooper, respectively, and Jason just couldn't deal with the thought of there not being any Jedi bears around to fight the dark side of the Force.)

Jason's parents visited us. Jamie had fun playing on the inflatable mattress they slept on...

...and going for a swim in the pool with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa. (I'm just terrible at actually getting pictures of everyone. I promise, we were all there!)

This is the beginning of the laundry-basket-on-the-head series from this past Sunday. I call this one "In Motion."

On his little superstar microphone.
I couldn't help it, they're all too cute to leave any out!

I finally bought a canner (marked down from $18 to $12 at Wal-Mart--WOO!), a Ball Blue Book, and some jars, and I've been having (hot, sweaty, tiring) fun with them ever since!

This is the batch I did today, just plain strawberry jam. Last week I also made strawberry lemon marmalade, and a batch of salsa.

On Saturday, Jason took Jamie to our friends' house to play for a good few hours after I told him I could really use some craft time. So sweet! And I finally got the ornament made for Jamie's first Christmas...only six months later. After I got this trim glued on, it occurred to me that it will sparkle next to the tree lights. That made me happy.

It's two-sided, obviously. And the cactus is to signify that he spent his first Christmas in the desert--literally.
I think it took so long to make it because that's the first time in that long that I had that many undisturbed hours at home alone, without having to worry about Jamie grabbing a hot glue gun or a project with still-wet paint.

Anyway, so that's what we've been up to, more or less. This weekend we're planning on driving to Jason's parents' house in So Cal for the Fourth of July--and keeping our Arizona-plated car in their garage, on the advice of a friend who actually watches the news, so it won't get vandalized.

Oh, and Jason lost his job, two weeks ago today.

I haven't wanted to say anything, for obvious reasons, and I apologize, but I don't plan on talking about any of the reasons it happened. I'm trying to just let go of things I can't control, and talking about it won't change anything, but might get me angry at his former boss yet again, which I'm trying to avoid.

It's hard, obviously, but we've both had impressions that the Lord had a hand in it and has something better in store for us.

Hopefully He sends it our way soon.

Prayers appreciated. XOXO

Jamie at 17 months

Not such a great picture, but it will do. That's a healthier version of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo on his head.

Jamie is 17 months today.

He had his first full day of nursery (which he loves) at church yesterday, thanks to a kind nursery president who didn't mind him being not "legal" yet, and to Mommy and Daddy shamelessly sneaking out when he wasn't looking.
(When Jason went back to pick him up, he said Jamie looked totally happy until he saw Daddy. Then he gave him the stinkeye, as Jason put it, like he was really offended to realize Daddy must have left at some point.)

Jamie loves to clap. He applauds whenever people on TV do, and after musical numbers and hymns in church.

He likes to wear shoes around the house.

Grandpa Noall taught him to smack his hand to his forehead when someone says "D'oh!"

He walks almost exclusively.

He is 31 1/2", 20 lbs 14 oz.
And apparently that's underweight. Eesh. So we're trying to fatten him up.

He knows where his nose is, but if you ask him where his ears or his eyes are, he'll grab his nose.
It must be his favorite.

He is currently wearing one shoe, a t-shirt, and a diaper, and standing in an empty laundry basket.

...and he just reminded me, he can make a "teh" sound, like the letter "T."

Sometimes he'll blow kisses, but often he accidentally grabs his nose and then gets distracted by that favorite organ.

He's all boy, through and through. Loves to throw things, growl, playing in the dirt, and almost never sits still. And he's sweet, smiley, and fairly easy-going if he's rested and fed.

That's all I can think of for now. :)

This showed up just when I needed it.

I've been thinking about this talk by my favorite apostle for the last few days, telling myself I needed to find it. Then I was on the Church website just now, and it has been used as the latest Mormon Message. It's amazing how the Lord provides us with tender mercies.

We all need a pep talk once in awhile.

a small triumph

I know, you guys are getting sick of me, right? But it helps when you're having a hard time to celebrate the small accomplishments, so here goes:

I had a chance to weigh myself on my friends' scale earlier this week, and if it's accurate, which they say it is...

I have reached my pre-pregnancy weight!!

...MINUS 2!

I'm two pounds less than I was when I got pregnant with Jamie!!! All of the sweaty, daily 3-mile walks have apparently paid off! Three more pounds and I'll be at my target weight!








I suppose part of it might have been puking my guts up all night and then barely eating for three days a couple weeks ago. But we're not talking about that. :P

Ta-da!

I know it's not as detailed as some of the tutorials out there, but y'all are no dummies. I'm not showing you how. I'm showing off. ;)
With the chair and the vinyl to recover the arms (with leftovers, though I have no idea what I'll use it for), altogether this cost about $11.

Boo-yah!

"You are not alooooone..." -Michael Jackson

You guys are so sweet. I was surprised and touched to see all the empathetic comments. (The one I deleted was by request, because she gave me her phone number so I can call when I'm going bonkers!) Is it a bad thing, that it's nice to know I'm not the only one?

Maybe it's because I'm bored lately that I've been more in the mood to blog, but I just wanted to brag about the deals I got going garage sailing and to Big Lots with Jina on Saturday.

Desk chair I'm sitting in: not real leather, but feels nice, high back, arm rests, good support, rolls, and the arms just need to be recovered: $8
(Before we were using a plastic $4 Ikea bucket chair, which we had to remove and take to the table if we wanted to eat a meal together, as we only have two.)

Pasta container (for holding spaghetti noodles, usually like $15 freakin' dollars new--I would know because I'd been trying to find a cheap one):
$0.25

Long tube-tent thing for Jamie to play in, which he loves, especially when Daddy joins in:
$2

Two baby toys that make lots of sounds and have lots of fun buttons to push (one is Bob the Builder and apparently has games--saving it for later)
$0.50 each

Two VHS movies that we like:
$0.10 each

And I "bought" a bookcase that matches ours, which we really need, for $7, but since I didn't pay the guy up front he apparently found another buyer and just never showed up or called about delivering it like we agreed. Nice.

And I got a really pretty painting on a canvas at Big Lots for $10. It has lilies and the colors go well with what little color scheme we have going in the living room.

I also made a little sleeve for my new iPod with the same fabric I used on the GPS case I made. I even made it close with a button and buttonhole, which I'm pathetically proud of. :D Pics later, because I've wasted most of naptime playing around on here and I should try to go get a shower. (If I try to get on here while Jamie's awake, he'll come over and grab the mouse, the keyboard, the mousepad, press the power button on the tower, etc. It's just not worth it.)

But real quick, good news! I swallowed my pride and got myself and Jamie a playdate with friends in a couple hours. She has to pick us up, hence the pride, but we'll get out of the house and have some interaction and new scenery.

Thanks again, you guys. Your comments and kindness really mean a lot.

May I just say...

...that I'm wondering how on EARTH I'm going to get through the next few months--and who knows how long after that, since there's no set deadline--without a car. Nowhere to go (hardly anywhere to walk to, and too hot to do so anyway), nothing to do, no one to see, all day every day, and a toddler who gets very upset if I try to do anything that doesn't directly involve him. Same apartment, same room, same furniture, same toys, same watching of the same clock for the hours to pass until Jason gets home, hoping he will make it all better--day after day.

Sigh. It will work out, before I snap...right? There are worse things. I would take this over going back to Valley Medical Shoppe in Rexburg. (Yes, that's right, I was SPECIFIC! VALLEY MEDICAL SHOPPE, WHERE I HATED, HATED, HATED WORKING! I don't work for you anymore, so I can say that you are TERRIBLE to work for and what are you going to do about it? Fire me? NO! HA! The days when you could tell me what I could and could not write on my blog are over!)

Lol. I remember going to church on Sundays when I was working at VMS, seeing the moms, and thinking how nice their lives must be, not having to work, getting to be home with their babies all day. It's just like I said last time. No matter where you are (physically or chronologically), life can be hard.



...Anyone giving away free cars?

Wherever you are, life can be hard

I've been a little down the past few days. I got sick as a dog with the stomach flu Friday night, so my birthday weekend didn't turn out like it was supposed to. My much-anticipated chance to have dinner and a movie with Jason was obviously not going to happen, but I did get some nice presents, including a new iPod from Jason. (We sold my old one on Craigslist last night to help make up the cost.)

Jamie seems to be starting the terrible twos early; he gets whiny at the drop of a hat and...well, does other baby things that can drive me crazy. Plus the weather is supposed to hit triple digits this week, so our morning walks are even in jeopardy, because by 9 a.m. it's already uncomfortably warm. And that flu really took a lot out of me; it's going to take awhile to work back up to where I was physically a week ago.

Jason is gone all day; I don't have anywhere to go, or much of anything to do. We're not sure we can pay all our bills this month without going into debt, due to a few unexpected things, like my not putting a tracking number on software I sold on Amazon--I'm pretty sure the girl lied about it not arriving so she wouldn't have to pay for it. I had to refund her what I made, plus the commission Amazon took, plus the shipping I fruitlessly paid for, plus I no longer have the software to sell. So we lost $250, in essence, for my stupidity and her dishonesty, though I hinted during our exchange that I'm a SAHM trying to make a few extra dollars, trying to give her some guilt. Either didn't work or the post office really stinks. I'm betting on the first.

Why are some women blessed with a natural talent for looking after children with patience and gentleness? Sometimes I wonder whether I should have more than one or two more children, because I don't think I understand them very well. I love Jamie to death, and he loves me, but I spend too much time regretting the latest instance in which I've lost my temper with him, vowing and praying to do better, and later being mad at myself for failing again and again.


Sigh.

And now, to break up my pity party with some happy thoughts, because I don't think there's anything wrong with throwing one once in awhile, but I need to try to get my head on straight:

1) I may not get to see my husband all day, but he's happy to see me when he comes home. He's not perfect, but he's wonderful and I'm incredibly blessed to have him.
2) My baby can drive me nuts, but he's also given me the sweetest moments of my life. He's healthy, loving, and a joy to have in my life. His poops and whining I could do without, though, if we could find a way around that...
3) Yeah, we're having to really, REALLY pinch the pennies this month (Jason bought my new iPod before these other things hit, btw), but at least we're making them steadily. It was a lot worse when things kept coming up and Jason still hadn't found a job. A LOT more worrisome.
4) I have the gospel. The more I see of the world, the more grateful I am to know there is a living prophet and that I am a member of Jesus Christ's own church. Seriously, I'm so glad there are people to let us know what's worth it in this world and what should be left alone because it will just mess up your life! (drugs, pornography, sleeping around, etc., in case that wasn't clear)

Thumping overhead. And I just realized I do have the baby monitor on, so Jamie is apparently still sleeping and it must have been the neighbors. There's another small but appreciated blessing.

I was thinking of not publishing this, to "accentuate the positive" as President Hinckley used to say. But I think I will in case there are others who might feel at times like everyone else's lives are going just right, everyone else has enough money and a flat screen TV, and they're the only ones who have a hard time raising children or whatever. I think there's a balance between accentuating the positive and still being realistic, and I would love it if someone took comfort in knowing they're not the only one.