Riding a bike

We were able to find a bike for just a few dollars at a yard sale earlier this year. Piper always wants to ride the neighbors bike when we are walking but she has always been to small. She likes her little three wheel trike but the pedals are so far in front that she can't reach them and thus had not learned how to use them. Frequently she will ask to ride her bike and will climb on the "big" bike but lose interest when Mom won't push her on it. In my current condition it gets difficult to bend for long periods of time:( Anyway, after a few minutes of sitting on the big bike she usually decides the small bike is better because she can move it herself. Well last week we were again outside riding bikes. She of course climbed on the big bike and I once again told her how to work the pedals and pushed her feet around a few times and she GOT it! she then spent about an hour riding her bike around. She had to ride over to the neighbors house and show them what she could do and then when we got back to our house she had to go knock on another neighbors door and tell him to come and see what she had learned. Later that day when Daddy got home from work she was so excited to show him that we again went outside and rode the bike while Daddy watched for a few minutes and then got distracted while talking on the phone. Here is the video of Piper riding her "big" bike. Enjoy!

Blessings

Wes has been looking for a different job for over a year. He has turned in countless applications/resumes with no response except a few post cards saying they appreciate the interest but have filled the position and will keep his information on file for 6 months. Every night he spent numerous hours on the computer looking at job openings and would ask me if he should apply for this or that job. My response was frequently the same, "Go for it, the worst thing they could do is not call you." So, since the most recent paycut he has had even more time to spend looking for a job. He has talked to people at Job Service as well as getting help with his resume at the LDS Employment center. He casually would talk to members of the credit union about their jobs, how they liked them... and if they had any openings. Last week he had a phone interview with a company he was referred to by a credit union member. He had a follow up interview on Wednesday and they told him to expect to hear back from them by the end of next week since the CEO was out of the office this week. On that same day he got a phone call for an interview with the local school district for the following day. He explained to them that he would love to come to an interview but his time constraint would be doing so during his lunch break and he works on the other side of town. They said no problem we can do it in that time. He was about 5 minutes late getting back to work from that interview and thankfully no one said anything about his tardiness. They have told him in the past that if he was ever late it could be reason for termination. This morning he got a phone call from the school district. They left a message to call them back a long with the office phone number and a cell phone number. Being optimistic we both felt this had to be good news due to the fact that I have gotten phone messages telling me they have chosen someone else. Wes came home for lunch to pick up some papers he forgot this morning. He called the district back while standing in the driveway and I was able to watch him literally jump for joy when they offered and he accepted a position to work in the district office. We have been praying for guidance for so long and are truly grateful that the interview were this week and he was able to leave the credit union during his lunch break. Normally he is not allowed to leave the building in case they get busy and need him to cut his break short.

A month of TRAINING

So school got out the 4th of June!!! I thought at the time that my summer was going to be very short. I was supposed to get a week break and then go back to summer school until the end of July. At the end of my week break I got a phone call from my supervisor saying the student I work with is not attending summer school so I was not needed. That was both great news and not so great. I had planned on the extra money to pay for the hospital bill that is coming and for something to keep me busy over the summer so it would go by faster. Oh, I also need to mention that in the week break my plan was to potty train Piper since my summer was to be spent at work. Anyway, now here it is July and I have spend the last month for the most part at home still trying to potty train Piper. She is doing pretty well! We told her at the beginning that when she was able to use the toilet and stay DRY for 3 days we would by her a bottle of nail polish. That is one of the many things so really likes right now. We painted a fingernail each time she used the potty without an accident. At the end of last week she she was wearing her pretty panties and keeping them dry during the day, as well as during naps! This carried on for about a week so last night we went to the store and she picked out her first bottle of polish! It is PURPLE! Piper also has recently gotten into watching movies. She loves being in our newly finished family room, playing with her toys and watching a movie. She loves Princess movies and Christmas movies. We have spent the last 3 days watching The Santa Clause movies. All 3 of them. EVERY DAY!

When Dad and Bonnie were here visiting I asked for assistance in moving my nice comfortable couches down stairs and the white wood ones up to the front room. They happily obliged with the assistance of Blake, Wes, and I it was done in about 1.5 hours one night after dinner. It is so nice to have enough seating for everyone and comfortable ones to watch a movie or sit and visit! the wood ones still have some work to do as far as finishing the cushion covers but that is supposed to motivate me to finish them. Since this time I usually have at least one day each week in re-arranging things in a room down stairs. The bonus is it stays cool during the hot summer days that have finally come. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and love them all!

Wes is still looking for another job, his current one gave him another reason for needing one a couple of weeks ago. They called him in and told him that due to the economic situation he was not longer on salary and that his hours would be no more than 30 per week. They also said if things are slow he might not even get that many hours. Due to this and the fact that I also got a pay cut as well as not working this summer we have decided to help my parents at the Shake Out every weekend possible. The good news, Wes has turned in numerous job applications visited both the LDS employment service and Job service. He got a call yesterday and had a phone interview and they said they would like to do an in person interview next week! We are very hopeful and optimistic of the possibility.

Our second bundle of joy is due in about 10 weeks! I have the crib ready and waiting for him, it just needed the side put back on since Piper got her new toddler bed for her birthday. We have made one purchase for him and you will all see that outfit later. It is the one he is to wear home from the hospital. Time seems to go by so SLOW waiting for him to come but every time I think 10 weeks makes it sound quite soon as well.We are almost into single digits.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! May you all have an enjoyable summer and stay cool!

Family Photo shoot

Last weekend we went to Utah for Wes' cousin Randi's wedding. We were able to stay with Uncle Garrin and Aunt Stefanie. On Sunday we went to their ward with them. Thanks so much for letting us stay with you guys!!! Saturday was the wedding in Manti. While the photographer was trying to take pictures with her large camera and hold the sun screen Wes noticed she was struggling a bit and volunteered to help her. He spent the next hour watching, learning, and helping. We followed from a distance and took our own pictures. Then as they finished up Wes asked his Dad to take a family picture for us. the photographer turned around and said she would take one for us. Here are the ones we took.

Baby # 2

I have been waiting for Wes to do this post, he is very excited about the new baby. At the ultra sound I told him it was his job to update the blog and let everyone know of our decision. Sorry no pics for now since the scanner is hooked up to his computer. Anyway, we found that our little guy is a very calm serene baby who is perfectly content to stay in one position that he is comfortable in no matter how much the tech pushed and talked to him. Hopefully that will be a good thing with his very loud and playful older sister. Even with him not moving we were able to see everything that was needed and found out that we are having a very healthy baby boy. He takes after his Dad in that he thus far has a big head and short legs. Wes got that from his grandfather Kerbs. Over all he is measuring right on track and average size. We are all very excited about our new addition to the family and are now preparing for the next step, exchanging baby girls blothes for boy! So far i have found some newborn 0-3 month out fits that will work and will have to find bigger clothes as he grows.

Stats

So we spent a couple of our spring break days at doctors appointments. Piper had hers and everything looks great! She is still on the small/short side but the doctor is not worried about that. Since she is healthy he just said she is taking a break from growing and will get another growth spurt eventually. It was the first time in a year that we have gone in and NOT had an ear infection!!!
Her current stats are:
weight - 22.1 ounces 3%
height - 31.25 inches 3%
head circumfrence - 18 inches 10 %
She was really good about getting her shots, just a few minutes of crying and no reactions! Then a finger poke to check iron levels and for lead paint. The blood test came back with slightly low level of iron but everything else looked good.
Then a few days later I had a doctors appointment to check out how peanut is doing. At 16 weeks peanuts heart rate was found almost right away and 155 beats per minute. My naeusia has pretty much gone but still throwing up most lunch and dinner meals. My doctor is not concerned about this since it is concidered normal and I had the same thing during the entire pregnancy with Piper. My ultra sound was scheduled and then re-scheduled since my doctor is taking vacation for 2 weeks and will not be in the office. I was given the option to push it back to when she is back or see another doctor in the office. I would really like to see her after her vacation but also want to see peanut and make sure things are good and healthy as soon as possible. With that being said I am scheduled for the ultra sound April 26th and then to see a different doctor the following day. :( We have talked about finding out if peanut is male or female at the ultra sound or waiting to be surprised in Sept. That discussion is still on going so check back to see the decision later.

Happy Birthday to my big girl!

I think Piper enjoyed the icing more than the cake, she certainly liked licking her fingers.

The adorable cabbage patch doll given to Piper from her Uncle Blake.

Piper loves bubbles and glasses, so got both! As we started opening the gifts there was a wide space for Piper to work, slowly with each gift the kids closed in on us and soon she was on top of me trying to get space from the other kids.

After she blew out the candles she took a swipe at the icing, for the second time that day :)

Piper is now 2 years old! It is hard to believe she is growing up so fast. We converted the crib into a toddler bed around the middle of February, then for her birthday Grandma Ellen bought her a toddler bed. She loves her new bed, it is low enough to the ground that she can get in and out by herself. She still falls out about once a week but is doing really well. Some nights she will climb into bed and go to sleep on her own, other nights she wants rocked and Daddy is good and rocks her to sleep!

We had a private party on Wed. with just us, a dinner at home, presents from Grandpa Joe, Grandma Bonnie, Mom, Dad, and Great Grandma and Grandpa Waters, then a soak in Grandma Ellen's hot tub. On Saturday we had the big party with some family and friend attending. After the everyone left we counted up how many people had come, the grand total was ... 35! We had a great turnout and I think fun was had by all. We served chicken enchilladas made by Branden Harrison, the addorable ladybug cake was made by my old roommate Heather Harrison.