Tyler James

Also known as Ty, munchkin, Thor, peanut, squeaker, squirt, buddy, cutie... The poor kid is going to be really confused when he gets to Kindergarten.
I now understand what mothers mean when they talk about not thinking your heart could contain so much love. Tyler came into the world on December 15 weighing 6 lb and 3 oz and was 18 3/4 inches long. He is itty bitty and the cutest little thing ever!Within an hour of birth he was already lifting his head up, pulling his hat over his eyes to block the light, and finding and sucking his fist and fingers. Pretty big feats for such a little guy.
My mom tells me I'm really lucky and that he is such a good little baby. We had to work a bit at nursing but he picked it up pretty good and is now a pro. He cries when he is hungry or cold or getting his diaper changed, but other than that he just sits there and looks around, when he's not sleeping. Even when he cries they're just little cries usually, though he's starting to get more vocal now he's 2 weeks old. He's had very little spit up and usually burps himself.
As I said he is now getting very vocal including lots of squeaks, thus the name squeaker. He squeaks while sleeping, eating, fussing, crying, all the time. He also gets really bad hiccups, the poor kid, that make his entire little body shake, and they last forever.He's also starting to smile, which is so cute. Basically we have the cutest, most loved and spoiled baby. His mom and dad love to hold him and do everything they can to make him happy. He's such a sweet little angel, and we love him so much!

Baby Shower

Sat Nov 15th Steph, KaLee and Lisa helped put together a great shower for me.
I had such a good time seeing familiar, supportive faces and talking pregnancy. It helps me to hear other's stories about pregnancy and what not.


I also got awsome gifts and some really nice scrapbooking pages out of the deal. On the whole, it rocked! Little baby "Thor" and I were spoiled!

Beautiful Arizona Sunset

For a cheap night out, Jared and I stole our friend Steph for some photography moments at Freestone Park at Sunset. It was a perfect night, and I must say, Arizona gets the best sunsets anywhere!!

Baby Pictures!!

I had my last Ultra sound today (they were a little worried because he was so small, usually you don't have so many) My other ones I didn't post because the pictures didn't turn out so well, but these ones turned out really well! At the moment he is 4 pounds 7 ounces, showing great growth and everything so far points to a very healthy pregnancy and baby, which made for a very happy and relieved mommy!!

Portraits, $2 ea

Pictures by Jared.

Sedona

A couple friends (okay Stephanie and Brandon, many of you know them) took a trip to Sedona to take pictures and we got to tag along. It was a lot of fun, but tiring after so much hiking. The area was beautiful and together we probably took close to 1000 pictures. Jared also got to practice his portrait taking skills and I'd say they turned out pretty good!

Baby's first campout

I can't be certain of couse but I'm pretty sure baby liked his first camp out. (Especially his honorary aunt KaLee posing as a jackalope) He better because he has many camp outs to come!

Camping

So I went camping at 7 months pregnant and was a little worried I was crazy, but it was actually really fun! It was so nice being outdoors and with Jared and friends. We went to 4 peaks and had an outstanding view of Lake Roosevelt. The weather was perfect! Not too cold, just nice and cool. The only hard part for me was the 20 miles of dirt road to get there.

Warning, strong opinions ahead!!

So I've forgotten how much of a feminist I can be, but the recent election got me way fired up the other day. I'm am irritated out of my mind the way the media has been able to destroy Governor Palin!! And it wouldn't irritate me so much if it wasn't so successful. Over the few days before and after the election I cannot tell you how many WOMEN I hear saying they didn't like Palin for the most stupid and petty reasons!! The first argument was that she spent too much money on her clothes and always stayed in 4 star hotels. Excuse Me? Have you taken a look at the budget or habits of any of the other candidates, including Obama? What makes her the exception, except for the media playing it up because they can't find any legitimate reasons to squash her. Then, my favorite, one of my collegues said that she doesn't think we can have a "good looking women for President." Uh, okay, that makes all kinds of sense. It just goes to show how successful the media has been to make all good looking women seem petty and stupid!! Just because she was a beauty queen suddenly she is too stupid to hold office. Actually I think politics and beauty contests are about as alligned as two things can be. It's all about appearances and the quest for "world peace". No but really, how is it that these are the arguments are so successful in standing in the way of a Governor who has one of the top approval ratings in the Nation, and who actually gets stuff accomplished as opposed to just talking.
Obviously for all this monumentus change and acceptance happening in our country, accepting a women is still last to come, just as it was with voting. With such rediculous excuses for arguments against Gov. Palin, apperantly we aren't ready for a women president, let alone a competent president in America. Unfortunately we are a spoonfed generation and accept whatever spoonfuls of garbage the media feeds us, and it's really depressing!

missing California

Every now and then I get in these moods where I miss the ocean. I guess it's the result of many fun family trips to the San Diego area all growing up. But I miss the feel, the smell, the people there, everything. Well I was watching Bob Ross this morning (very exciting morning you can tell, I guess that's what happens when pregnancy doesn't let you sleep in any more) and he was painting an ocean scene and it got me all lonely for the beach. I tried talking Jared into going but it's unfortunately not in the cards now. So I'll post some pictures from past Cali trips and decorate my ocean themed nursery a bit and see if that will do for now. At least until November when we get to go for Tristan's baptism.

Over the hump.

I've past the half way mark. I'm now at 25 weeks out of 40 and am already feeling huge. I'm sure I have much to look forward to as far as that goes though. I feel him kicking me all the time and his kicks are getting stronger. I'm also starting to notice patterns of times he often wakes up and starts moving around. Last night was the first time I've had a hard time sleeping because he wouldn't settle down. Jared is starting to be able to feel his kicks now, though "Thor" likes to play a game called move all around until daddy tries to feel. As soon as Jared puts his hand on my belly he's nice and still. He has felt him a couple times though and Jared's cousin Andrea even got to feel him kick. It's a bit of a pain being pregnant but I'm also enjoying feeling this life grow inside me and looking forward to getting to hold him and baby him. I'm getting a bit baby hungry!
Being a music teacher is getting a little harder. Trying to do movements with the kids, moving heavy instruments and sitting on the floor like I used to is becoming less and less of an option. My students are very supportive of me, however, and very willing to help (too much sometimes). I feel blessed at how this year is going so far, there are, of course, challenges but on the whole I have a good relationship with my students (all 800 or so) and they are being great. The rest of life is proving stressful, trying to keep up with inflation, schooling for Jared and a tumbling market in the construction area, which is where Jared makes his living. We also have an unpaid maternity leave to look forward to and plan for. But life goes on and we're trying to take it one step at a time. On the whole, we're healthy and happy and life is good.

Reunion Update

I haven't had many people get back to me about the reunion, so I'm just going to go down to Pima and visiting Andy and Michelle. If anyone would like to join us, let me know.

It is a...

It's a healthy, energetic, and very hungry (all the time) BOY!!!!












Apparently he likes to blow bubbles.





We also got 3D ultrasounds. The whole thing was so cool! It's amazing the things they can do and see now!

Back to School

Well, this was my first week back to school, though the students don't come back until Monday. My schedule is pretty crazy. I teach 6, 5, 4, 2, 1, and then 3rd all in a row and then I have lunch. Then I have a half hour of Kindergarten and I'm done for the day. Then on Tuesday's I start the morning at a different school where I teach two 2nds and a 3rd. Then I eat and Speed back to Holmes to teach a 1st 2nd and 3rd all in a row with NO breaks in between. I'm not sure that one is going to work. I may have to cut my lunch short and see if I can start early. So far the bathroom right by my room and I have spent a lot of time together, which drives me crazy because I'm used to not having to use the bathroom that often. Fortunately it's right next to my room so I can run there and stuff food down my mouth in the five minutes I have between my classes (except on Tuesday) All I have to say is make sure your kids appreciate all their music teacher does for them. It's not easy!

Reunion

Okay, I'm thinking Saturday around 11:00am in Mesa either Aug 30th or Sept 6th. Labor Day is the First and that may effect things. Let me know which you prefer and if you think you can make one or the other.

EAC REUNION!!!

It's been a long time since all the EA crew got together and I would like that to be corrected. KaLee and I keep running into ea people and they all say the same thing. Sooo! There is to be an EA reunion, but I need your input on when and where. Email my blog to those of the EA crew and let's find out a Saturday afternoon and a location that will work best. Woo hoo! I'm excited to reconnect!

Trip to Seattle

So, for my birthday I got a brand new camera from my wonderful hubby! Jared gave it to me early so I could take it on our big trip to Seattle, WA and Victoria, Canada. I think I took nearly 900 pictures. We stayed in this super cute vacation home right on the Puget Sound and visited my grandparents, Seattle, my Aunt and Uncle in Paulsbou (I hope I spelled that right), a quick tour of Port Angeles with lots of talk to Becca and Shannen about the book "Twilight," and Victoria, British Colombia, Canada which was probably my favorite.

I've decided to become a blogger

So I'm hopping on the band wagon and beginning my own blog. I have no idea what I am doing so don't expect anything too fantastic, but hey, it's a start.