I can't believe that summer is over already. It seems that it has just flown by. Time always seems to slip away and it is gone before we know it.

As fall has begun many new and exciting things have been taking place. Emilie has started school once again. This school year is very busy as she is attending to different schools. She attends one class at U of U in Salt Lake on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and another class at UVU in Orem on Monday and Wednesday nights. She is also taking an online Calculus class. All of this is in preparation to apply for the architectural program at the U of U.

Taylor has finally been able to get another week of vacation this week. He has been able to relax and spend time with his friends. This is a well deserved vacation. Taylor watches the girls Monday and Wednesday nights as well as every weekend when Emilie works. This tends to be very draining on him. It is good to see him be able to relax and decompress.

Bailey is fully potty trained (except for the very rare accident every now and again), so as per our agreement with Bailey she has been able to start dance class. She has been going for a little over a month now and she loves it. She attends dance class with her cousin Nandy. This has worked out great because this means that Bailey is able to car pool with Nandy.

Bailey continues to keep us on our toes. Every once and a while we will be having a conversation while driving and I will end up laughing from her clever comments. the other day we were driving and out of no she begins to yell at me "MOM! Mom, It's the Amegra flag!" I had to ask her a couple of time before I realized she was talking about the American flag that was flying over a restaurant. On other instances Bailey talks about "last morning" this could mean anything from yesterday to last Sunday. Any prior day then today.

Jada is learning more and more words everyday. It's crazy to think how fast she is growing up. Some of her favorite words and Ma, Da (of course), Baiyee (Bailey), shewsh (shoes), baa-oo (bottle), No! (it's always said in that fashion), baa (bath), were you (where are you) but mostly she just screams or cries until we figure out what she wants.

This picture is from one morning that when I went and got her out of bed. I went back into another room and then returned to find her sitting in the bottom drawer in the kitchen. I don't know what she was doing but she was so content. I was laugh so hard.

Viewer Discretion is Advised

It's crazy to think how fast our girls are growing up. Bailey is talking more fluently then ever. The other day we were cleaning up the girls room (a.k.a. I was cleaning up the girls room while the girls were playing and continuing to make messes), when Bailey pointed at a Leapfrog toy and said "Mom that's a planet". She was so confident and she was right too! I was amazed, it was a toy globe of the Earth.

We have recently put our foot down with potty training... (kind of). We have known that Bailey knows how to go "potty". However, she has never had to. Recently we have just put Bailey in big girl pants, period. We started with her wearing big girl pants for the weekends (as she goes to Daycare during the week, and I didn't want her to pee all over someone else floor). After she did good for a few weekends we sent her to Daycare in big girl pants. She is doing great. We had the hardest time getting her to go poo on the potty, but she has gradually gotten it down. The other day she actual went poo at Daycare!!! I was soo excited because this was a huge obstacle for her.

While Bailey is doing great at potty Jada's potty habits are a different story. Whenever Jada goes to sleep she wakes up completely naked. We have tried everything! We have dressed her in onsies, we have put onsies and jammies on, we have put on the tightest clothes we can find. One night when Jada had woken us up in the middle of the night, we walk in to find her naked (again) with a soaked bed (again). Taylor went out to the front room and pulls out the duct tape. We put on her diaper and taped it shut. When we woke up the next morning, to all of our amazement, she still had her diaper on. We thought we had it all figure out, but with Jada we have learned that when we think everything is going the way we think it should Jada has something else in mind. Jada woke me up this morning with her babbles and shrieks. When I walked in the room the smell of poo was undeniable. However, it was not until I truly woke up that I realized that Jada had half her diaper off and poo all over her bed. I am all out of ideas. Until we think of something better we will use diapers, duct tape, onsies, and whatever else we can find.

On a more positive note Jada is walking all over the place. Jada also is starting to learn and understand what we say. "Go get your shoes", Jada will return with the first shoe she can find "shush". It is crazy how fast they learn and grow. Truly every day I am amazed.

A Day to Remember and Make Memories

This Memorial Day I was filled with much gratitude and rememberance. Friday was the one year anniversery of Lucy's passing. For some reason all week I had been thinking about Lucy. I couldn't figure out why she was constantly in my thoughts. One day while I was driving to drop the girls off at daycare, I began to think about Lucy (I can't remember what exactly I was thinking) and began to feel the tears well up in my eyes. I had to fight them back. On Friday Molly and Vic invited us up to Lucy's grave to let go of some pink balloons. We did the same thing right after Lucy had passed away. It was so lovely.

On Monday we all headed to Utah Lake to make some memories of our own. We had a picnic with plenty of food. However, Bailey and Jada were so mesmerized by the lake that they hardly ate anything. The nice weather stayed just long enough for us to have smores and get the jet skis running. It was so nice to be able to enjoy time together.

This last month has been VERY busy. However, it has also been very exciting.

Taylor has kept busy at work but he is beginning to get tired of the daily grind. In about a month he will get a week of vacation. He is counting down the days. About a month ago Taylor's friend Kieth moved down from Idaho. Kieth is like a brother to Taylor. They talk on the phone almost daily. Taylor is so excited to have a good friend living so close. Kieth is at our home when ever he has a free moment. Taylor and Kieth have have recently taken up "Guitar Hero". It's pretty funny to see them rock out in our living room.

I finished my semester at UVU about two weeks ago.  The weeks leading up to finals were crazy. There were final projects and studying. Then work and family. But I got through it. After everything was all over it was very exciting to know that I can now move on. The end of my schooling is getting closer and closer. I am so excited to get out into the "work force" and do something that I actually love to do. However, I still have at least three years of schooling left but the end is now in sight. I applied to the University of Utah shortly before my semester had ended. I have recently found out that I was accepted into the "U". I am going up to the U tomorrow for orientation. Orientation will be three hours long.

Bailey continues to keep us busy... and frustated, laughing, yelling, playing.... We are still trying to get potty training down. I know she knows how and when to go but for some reason she just won't. That's one thing that we have learned about Bailey; if there's nothing in it that benefits her then she won't do it. That's why bribing her has worked so well. 

Bailey has also recently become more attachted with mom. She doesn't want to be left any where without mom (i.e. Daycare, Aunt Amy's, Gammy's, Nana's...). Last week when I dropped off the girls at Daycare, I went to leave and Bailey tried to block the door. She pleaded with me "Please don't leave mommy. I don't want you to go!" It makes me feel so bad. I  just want to drop down, scoop her up and cuddle with her all day long. I know that she goes to a great Daycare and she is completely fine when I leave but I still feel awful. 

                                    

Jada is taking more and more steps everyday. She is becoming more confident on her feet. However, she will only walk when she is ready and willing. If we try to get her to walk when she is not in the mood to then she will fall to the floor or she will pick up in her legs in the sitting positions. Jada also has started imitating us more and more. She laughs, high-fives, claps, raises her arm(s),  and slashes water when ever she sees any one else do it. She also is not afraid to let us know when she wants something. She can't talk yet but she still lets us know through screams, shreaks, humms, giggles, and the accassional ohhhs and ahhhs. She also has recently learned to throw temper tantrums. It is hard not laugh at her falling to the ground, rolling from side to side while covering her face. As she peaks through of her hands, she looks to see if any one is watching the pain she is going through, then she lets out another wail as the crocodile tears fall down her round cheeks. I can only fight back my laughter as I refuse her that piece of chocolate cake. 

I think many of you may wonder what I do in the little spare time that I have. Well, my sister has some how always gotten me to agree to help out with some sort of decorating project. I think I have painted about 3 murals at her house. This was the latest one. I painted this when I was pregnant with Jada. This is the children's playroom under the stairs in the basement. There is a half barn door (child size), small window (to the right), and a working outside light. I plan to get together a portfolio soon of some of my work. So, perhaps I will post some more pictures of other things I have done.

Jada took 4 steps on Saturday. She took two steps toward me. She was already standing, I was eating my lunch and coaxing her to walk to me. She wanted what I had in my mouth. With an out stretched hand she took two small, stumbling baby steps toward me. I began to scream at Taylor (who was in the same room as us) to look but it was to late. When Jada had realized what she had done, she gracefully fell to the ground. I took another bite of my lunch and abnioxiously began to chew so that Jada could see me (I knew she wanted the food in my mouth). Wih Taylor looking on (and now coaxing as well) we stood her up again. It did not take long for her to try again for the food in my mouth. She took two more steps. We all started to scream and shout and clap. However, she has not tried to take any more steps since then. We are still very excited.

A Break

This week was spring break for my (Emilie) school. It seems like forever since I last had a "break". Although it's not a week vacation, I will take whatever break I can get. I will share my day with you because every other day is filled with stress, frustration, and yelling. It has been a great day.  It was so nice to sleep in until 7:30 this morning. After Bailey climbed in my bed this morning, we went to the kitchen and I made breakfast for Bailey and myself. Bailey loves eggs and could probably eat a whole dozen by herself. So, this morning we had scrambled eggs and toast. I love being able to sit down and eat breakfast with her. Probably because every other day is so hectic we are unable to sit down together. Also, because it's the only meal that I know Bailey will eat the whole thing. After breakfast, I went to Jada, as she was already awake and ready for me to come get her out of bed. Jada always greets me with a smile and a gleeful shreek. Her hair is matted to one side, her eyes are puffed and she jumps up with outstretched arms. I was able to give Jada and Bailey a bath while I was able to take the time to get myself ready for the day.

After their bath we got ready for another beautiful day. While I got Jada ready, Bailey ran around naked. When I went to get Bailey ready she conintued to run around naked. I finally caught and dressed her. After getting dressed I was able to to get started on the mound of dishes that always awaits me. While I was elbow deep in dish water, Bailey had gotten all the teddy bears out of her room (she has about 5-6, all different sizes), and into our front room. She loves to play pretend. "Mommy, you be the daddy and I be the mommy".  

I was about 75% done with the dishes before I ran out of steam and decided to work on one of the many other  cleanings that needed to be accomplished in our home (laundry, the girls room, our room, the bath room... you get the idea). A little while later my visiting teacher came over and we talked for about an hour or so. I love her. She is one of the nicest, non-pushy, real persons that I have met out here. She motivates me to do all that I can that is best for my children and family. 

After she left, I took the girls to daycare. I was supposed to come home and work on home work with any distraction. However, when I arrived back home the only thing I could think of doing was taking a good long cat-nap. I can't remember the last time I took a nap, I can't even remember the last time I slept through the night (yes, jada still wakes up at 3 in the morning). So I laid down in bed and fell fast asleep. No noise, No crying, No pokes or slaps in the face... a long, peaceful nap. 

Taylor came home and woke me up. After rolling out of bed, I left to pick up the girls. We spent the rest of the night like we typically do... getting dinner on the table, taking baths, and getting ready for bed (many fights in between, most involving Bailey). Overall it was a wonderful day.

One Year In The Making

It's hard to believe that Jada is almost 1 year old. Time seems to have flown by this last year. Jada has grown so much and has recently kept us on the move. As soon as Jada realized she could roll over she has never stopped moving. once she started rolling, it wasn't to much longer before she was crawling. First it was the army crawl. She got so fast at the army crawl that she almost moved faster then i did. However, they may have been why it took her so long to crawl on her knees. She was so fast at crawling on her belly, that it seemed like she felt it took to long to crawl on all four... eventually she got there though.
Just before she was crawling on all four she was sitting up. However, not long after she was crawling she was holding on to things and pulling herself up. I think it was the combination of sitting up and her constant couriosity that led to the fast transition to standing up (with help). She has just recently started standing up on her own. It's not that often that we can catch her standing on her own. If she sees that we are watching her stand on her own she will immediatley but gracefully fall to the ground. It's almost as if she can do a whole lot more then we know but chooses to keep it a secret.
Jada's attitude has always been one of much content. She if full of light and laughter. When we first brought Jada home i thought our lives would immediately be crazy and hectic... granted our lives are but that didn't come until later. Jada was a tiny bundle of peace in a chaotic world. Her sister, Bailey, was always wanting to help and hold her.
Jada would wake up in the middle of the night to eat and then go right back to sleep. Things were very much normal... for a few months. However, after 5 months of waking up in the middle of the night to feed her, I was begining to wonder if children actually slept through the night or if this was just a myth that I heard some where.
Like I mentioned before, Jada has a strong sense of curiosity. She constantly is following her older sister from room to room. They have discovered the game of tag. So our apartment is full of screams, shreeks, and laughter.
We have a constant eye on Jada. If you leave anything laying around she will be sure to get into it. Most often, if not always, unattended items will end up in her mouth. Some of her favorite items to put in her mouth are pennies, shoes, paper, socks, markers, remotes, phones... Well you get the idea, basically anything that can fit in her mouth ends up in her mouth.
In this last year Jada has learned so much. She has recently learned how to tickle and imitate her dad laughing. She continues to amaze us and keeps us laughing.
We would like to thank everyone that has been a part of Jada's life, as well as a part of our family. We would not be the people we are or where we are without all of those who support us. Thank you for being our foundation during our hard times and thank you for sharing in our best moments in life.