I'm not Dead

I'm going to catch-up blogging in the next few days.

This Made Me Cry

I was at work when Robert texted me about the fire. I am so sad. The Fire Department became aware of the fire around 2:00 am Friday morning and were still battling flare-ups into Friday night.

I have attended many events in the tabernacle and have many fond memories of it. I'm so sad because in April Robert and I were graduating in this beautiful building.

I don't know where the law school will now hold convocation, but I feel privileged to have been the last class to graduate in the Provo Tabernacle. It's weird. I thought it would always be there with its uncomfortable benches, small bathrooms and beautiful architecture. Now it is little more than rubble and ashes.

(Pictures from the tabernacle are from the Daily Herald; www.heraldextra.com)

No Catchy Title

I've been MIA for awhile. Batman has been studying and Baby has been...busy. He's trying to walk, he wants to walk, and he's just about there. He can stand on his own for 30 seconds to a minute and he can control sitting down from a standing position (he squats down). He can walk all around the furniture and go from one piece to the next at will. He can turn on his own unsupported. He's starting to take a step while standing (he doesn't get very far) but we can all tell that he's just about figured it out. When he does, Heaven help us.



He has also discovered that he was a will of his own and he asserts it. So, now he's learning that he doesn't get what he wants just because he wants it (roaming the house, putting his fingers into plugs, feeding himself with a spoon, talking on the phone, refusing to nap), and we've put the kibosh on all the dangerous stuff he has tried; I say tried because he has not succeeded in being dangerous. He lets us know that he's not very happy when we tell him no (yes, he's already learned what that word means) and he's stubborn. But, I love being a mom (despite being head-butted this morning which resulted in a fat lip (he lunged for the remote when I took it away from him) and despite having Baby try to climb up my hair, I'm not Rapunzel). That little smile and giggle make it worth it.

He learned to feed himself cheerios and puffs. We can only give him two at a time because he will shove every puff or cheerio that we give him into his mouth. Yesterday he was too quick for me. As soon as I opened the container we keep his puffs in he grabbed it, dumped out the puffs, and started smashing them with the container, then he grabbed a handful and shoved them into his mouth; I then had to fish out half of them from his mouth. He loves the phone; when it rings he thinks it's for him and he wants to talk on speakerphone. He loves pounding on his highchair tray and on "The Great Wall." To keep him into the baby-proofed part of the house we put up a box that we have dubbed "The Great Wall." He loves pounding on it and has tried to climb up onto it to escape; he's not tall enough for that yet and has given up for now. However, he can climb on top of his toy box and the pillows around the furniture. He even tries to climb up people when they hold him. He wants to get higher to see better.

He has also discovered Rosie my grandparents' pet bird. He thinks Rosie is a toy so we let him look at Rosie but we don't let him touch Rosie. Luckily, Rosie is not easy for John to get near or reach. John has also picked a spot where he likes to poop. If he goes over there, we know to leave him alone and grab a diaper and wipes. He crawls back over and we change him. He's starting to say ma-ma to me and da-da to Batman. He could say them before but he's learning what they mean and it's awesome.

Batman is studying hard for the bar. It's hard to believe it will be over next week. Then I get to start studying for it and my blog will probably be full of ranting about the bar and studying. Pictures and video follow.

Standing on his own.
Playing with the groceries (supervised by me and great-grandma)

He loves playing on beds and we have each side surrounded when he does.


His new favorite toy (his cousins had one and it entertained him for hours).

John sees the tv is on and crawls over to it and climbs up on the pillow to touch it. He then sees that I have the camera (which he wants to play with) and crawls over to me, stands, then lunges for the camera and falls, then stands again. I then had to stop filming to save the camera. Also, I'm sorry that I held the camera at an angle.

I also have to post about our trip to see Batman's family and John's first pool trip so stay tuned.

I'm back and now a J.D.

Wow. So a lot has happened since my last post. Robert and I graduated from law school. We received our grades yesterday and we both passed - so we are now officially Juris Doctors. We have also moved to Arizona. I was really sad to leave Provo (who would have thought those words would ever come out of my mouth). We had a wonderful apartment and an ever more wonderful ward and friends. I really felt at home in Utah for the first time. I also miss my parents and siblings. We are staying with my grandparents until we get a place of our own. Robert is studying for the bar in July, and I will take the bar in February. This way, one of us gets to be with John.

John is huge! He is definitely his father's son. He is long and while he is solid he is not a chub or fat. He cut one tooth last week and another one yesterday. He also sat-up by himself for the first time at the cabin while my parents were watching him. He is also crawling. Yes, he learned to crawl last week. This week his mission is to pull himself up on whatever he can. So far he has used me, Robert, the brick fireplace, the couch, the leather chair, and he tried, but failed, to use the wipes box. He's not supposed to be doing this yet he's barely six months old! He gets mad when we don't let him crawl or pull himself up in not-so-safe places.

Playing with his toys.

My mom (grandma) got him some bath fish. He loves them but has not yet figured out how to get them. He kept turning in a circle chasing the fish.

Trying to grab the fish.

We finally got him a high chair. He loves it.

Our apartment.

Our room in our apartment.

John's room.

The bathroom.

The kitchen.

Our table and entrance.

Graduation. It was freezing and rained all day right up until graduation.

I'm being hooded and Robert is next in line.

Walking after being hooded.

Catching Up

A lot has happened the last few weeks. This is our last week of classes, then we have two weeks of finals. Several papers and presentations were due and are now completed. John had his four month check-up last week. He is 16 pounds 11 ounces and 25.5 inches long. He is 75 percentile for weight and height. The doctor was surprised at some of the things he can do already. He is healthy and the doctor has no concerns. John has started on solid food. He loves rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and apple sauce. If I don't feed him apple sauce fast enough he lets me know! We started him a little early but he was always hungry and would wake in the middle of the night having wet through everything because he drank so much formula; the doctor was not surprised and said it was fine. Each baby is different.

I got another cold and then Robert was not well for a few days. We went to the cabin for Conference and Easter and worked on homework. John also had his first walk a couple of weeks ago. The weather was warm so we took him out in the stroller. He didn't quite know what to think about it and eventually fell asleep. We've only been on one walk since then because it has snowed last week and this week. I guess mother nature didn't get the memo that it is Spring.

We are in crunch time until graduation is over.

Getting ready to eat rice cereal for the first time.
Mulling over whether he likes it or not.

He wants more after all.

In his swing right before eating. He wondered why he was in a bib.

Playing.

Right after his walk (he pulled his socks of right after we got home. He managed to get one off during the walk - we put it back on.

Ready for church.

Sleeping.

Random Ramblings of a 3L

I've had an eventful couple of weeks. My substantial writing requirement is turned in. The. Final. Paper. Is. Turned. In. Yea!! I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders this morning when I hit the "send" button. Poor professor Thomas now has to read twelve of these monsters. Professor Thomas is retiring after this year. I have been in three of his classes. He is kind and knowledgeable. Many professors have not practiced much and teach more theory than practical knowledge. Professor Thomas has practical experience and teaches both. It is a sad day for the law school. Professor Wood is another awesome professor that is retiring this year as well. I know the students will miss them. It is starting to dawn on Robert and me that we are leaving this year as well.

Law School has had its ups and downs. I have grown so much through this experience and met some truly amazing people. A part of me thought this day would never come. But here I am staring at my graduation announcements and ordering my cap and gown. I entered law school as a scared 1L (first year law student). I was single and thought I would remain single for some time. I had started to make plans for my life. Then, I met Robert. I started my 2L year as a newlywed; I never thought I would have a child when I graduated. Yet, I started my 3L year six months pregnant. I took one set of finals while throwing up from morning sickness, and another set of finals recovering from giving birth. I learned through this experience that I can do more than I thought I could. I also learned that the Lord does prepare a way for you to accomplish what he commands, even when it seems impossible.

Yet, things are difficult. I never really rested after having John. I had classes to attend less than two weeks after his birth. Then, I had finals and the holidays. While I had two weeks to rest over Christmas, it was not enough. Soon, I started another semester and went back to work. I'm not suffering from anything huge, just several little annoyances that will not go away. I feel like I'm only functioning at 60%. But, as of last week I no longer have a job. My good friend Elizabeth hired me last year as an editor and I loved that job. After a busy day writing my paper and taking care of a very fussy John, I had had it. After John finally went to bed Robert noticed that Elizabeth had called us both repeatedly. Sure enough she had left five voice messages on my phone. I knew then that it was not good news. Robert called her and she and her husband wanted to come over (it was 9:00). Elizabeth and her husband are our classmates and our good friends. Elizabeth told me that most of the company, including herself, had been laid off earlier that day. I know that must have been hard for her to have to do.

I am sad and a little scared, our summer plan was for me to work while Robert took the July bar; he would then, hopefully, get a legal job and I would take the February bar. Now, we do not know what our plans are (other than Robert is taking the July bar). Once again I had made plans for my life but my life is going in a different, unknown direction. With this added stress came the stomach issues and the flare up of my TMJ (inflamed jaw due to overuse). When I'm stressed I clench and grind my teeth which causes my jaw joints to swell and protest in pain; I do this in my sleep as well. I have not a flare-up this bad since High School. Usually, I have a mild flare-up every couple of years. I take some advil for a day and then I'm fine for another couple of years. My jaw has hurt so bad this week I could barely talk (but I finished "that paper" in spite of it). I guess the point of all this rambling is that life never turns out how you expect it to. There will be times of great stress and distress but, hopefully, things work out and you make it through.

That's My Roly Poly

John learned how to roll from his back to his tummy on Monday. It is his new favorite trick and he does it all the time. Poopy diaper change = attempt to roll over; getting clothes changed = attempt to roll over; put down on his back = will roll over. Robert had to go into the other room. John was on his back. When Robert came back (maybe 30 seconds later) John was on his tummy. We kept missing him roll because he would do it in the 2 seconds we turned our heads. Finally, we were able to see him.

The video was hard to get. Every time I would have it ready he would stop turning to see what this camera was, or he would turn before I could hit "record." Luckily, I caught this one just as he started his turn.

He still is not a huge fan of tummy time so when he rolls he is all proud and then realizes "wait, I'm on my tummy!" Then he cries. When he gets really going we roll him onto his back. Two seconds later, he rolls back to his tummy. Sigh. He attempted to roll over in his crib the other night but got stuck when he rolled onto the edge of the crib. His hand-eye coordination is really good now. If he wants something he can usually grab it if it is within his reach - up, down, side, etc. He still giggles and squeals. He loves Robert's voice; whenever he talks John smiles and giggles. Wow, a semi-mobile baby. Now the fun starts!