A Trip Down Memory Lane...

So, there was a little mind "dominoe affect" that led to this post. I saw a picture of a lake on a friend's blog, and that reminded me of how much I love "nature". Specifically, I love pictures of a nature scene that includes any form of water. That made me think of some of the amazing places I have seen and taken pictures of, which naturally led me to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico where I served my mission. I didn't have a digital camera on my mission, so I had to scan all these in and there were so many that I love, but these are what you get.
And while I was posting pictures of (me) in paradise, I just had to pay a tribute to my wonderful companions [that were such wonderful examples to me and helped me every step of the way from who I was before the mission, until arriving at who I became through my amazing journey]. I think I have a picture of all my companionships represented...

My MTC companion, Hermana Brown (this was actually at the Dominican Republic MTC, and the building in the background is the temple).


Luquillo PR; My trainer, Hermana Cruz (and a sea turtle who was busy laying eggs...and for all of you who are wondering - yes, it is the middle of the night. The father of a family the missionaries [including us] had been working with for some time was a marine biologist and invited us to this all night event and luckily our mission president gave us permission to participate. We were supposed to sleep in a tent because we were locked into the property all night, but the bugs were eating us alive, so we ended up sleeping the car instead. SO MUCH FUN!!


Luquillo PR; My trainee, Hermana Furness - I just LOVE this picture...all the lush vegetation in the background (I didn't think I had that kind of vocabulary in me...he he he.)


Moca PR; Hermana Ortiz

Corozal PR; A Trio for 1 transfer with Hermanas Devenberg and Lyman

Corozal PR; Hermana Lyman - isn't the water enticing??

Corozal PR; My last companion, Hermana Barnes - actually this was taken the day before going home.

Luquillo PR; Such a greenie :D

El Yunque (pronounced "June" - "K" ) is unbelievable!! This is definitely on my list of places to go when I make it back!

Lounging by a river before a district picnic on P-Day.

Isabela PR; El Pozo de Jacinto - a hole in the rock cliffs against the ocean...

"Supposedly El Pozo de Jacinto brings good luck, except for poor Jacinto. Legend tells us that Jacinto owned a cow who he kept tied to himself. While he was pasturing the herd, the cow got too close to the edge and fell in taking Jacinto with him. You get good luck, if you shout in the well, "Jacinto, dame la vaca"!" (Jacinto, give me the cow!")at the precise moment the spray comes up."

I think this might be my favorite picture because I'm actually in "missionary" attire, but out in the beauty of the island.

Luquillo PR; Funny story - the "tradition" for sister missionaries at their half-way mark (9 months) was to take a picture of themselves with a pillow under their shirt (to represent the 9 months of pregnancy). Well, I wasn't about to carry on THAT "tradition", so I decided to burn my shoes...ok, sandals. I had basically worn them every day except Sunday up until that very moment.

In my opinion, I saved the best for last. This place was pretty amazing. From where I was standing out to the point where you can see the tide rippling in, there was this awesome tide pool. You can see how the water is just glass, but the best part was that the bottom was all rock, so there was no way that anyone would walk through it and destroy the sea life there. It was all perfect, and I love the reflection in the pool. SO BEAUTIFUL!!

Sorry for the cheesiness, but that was really enjoyable for me so thanks for bearing with me. I can't wait to go back for a visit, and if any of you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico and want to head off the beaten path, I will tell you some awesome spots you won't want to miss in the areas I served in!

Thinks He's the Stuff!

Jack is pretty proud...he really enjoyed feeding himself last night. The funny part was that instead of handing the spoon back to Britton, he wanted Britton to take it out of his mouth.

Seriously?!!?

So, maybe there is some "How to be a Boy" manual out there that Jack read before he came to earth, because I don't know how he knows or picks up these fun little habits. In this video, for instance, pay close attention to the sound he is making (since I couldn't get him to face the camera and do it at the same time). He has learned how to SPIT! Where he learned it, I have NO clue...boys! Evidence that he is really spitting and not just making a sound is that when he picks his head up off of the seat, you can see all the spit he left behind that had been dribbling down his chin (because, gratefully, he hasn't mastered the technique yet).

Changes

In case you haven't noticed already...I have done some spring cleaning on my blog. There are some reasons that I can't make my blog private just yet, but I have gone through all my posts and deleted last names, addresses and any information that could give away my agenda or "whereabouts". I have already asked some of you to remove my last name from your blogs, so thank you for humoring me. You might also notice that I have removed time and place from the Girls Night Out section. Thanks! *Update: If you made a comment and left your email address, I have saved (your address) in my address book, but I deleted your comment. Also, I changed the web address too.

Jack's Tag

Jack's Favorite Things...

1) Kids - He LOVES to be around other kids, and I guess technically that would be older kids. I think this is when he is the happiest. I hope that he can learn to love younger kids just as much or the eventual transition to younger brothers/sisters will be a hard one.


2) TV - He is addicted...as you can tell from my last post. I actually feel really bad about this. I think I have gotten him into a routine...I turn on the tv for him first thing in the morning, and when I am making dinner. And if I haven't gotten around to it, he does it himself. But the funny part is that if he turns it on and it's not on the right channel, I've just barely noticed (since I am normally looking around for the remote so I can turn it to a kids show for him) that he hits the screen until it's on the show he wants. He thinks he is changing the channel by hitting the screen, but I'm really the one doing it with the remote. I snickered to myself for a while when I finally realized that.


3) Food - Normally he has a "healthy" appetite. He likes all kinds of stuff; green beans, lima beans, (canned) carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, yogurt, cheese, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese (just about anything pasta really), graham cracker sticks, rice, turkey, ham, applesauce (when he likes it, he LOVES it, but can't stand it other times), peaches, pears, apples, fruit strips/snacks, grapes, bananas, and anything sweet. Even if it's a food he's never eaten before and Britton or I have it, he begs for a bite...he's such a social eater!


4) His Peekaboo book - He is really starting to be interested in books. I mean, he has always loved to carry them around and turn throught the pages, but is just recently interested in the story...but there is still a short attention span, so we only get to read about 2 sentances on each page. But he LOVES his Peekaboo book that he got from his Aunt Kristin. Within the last week, he has begged and screamed for me to "read" it to him over and over and over again. He NEVER tires of it.


5) His giraffe - He has a giraffe (that we for some reason kept calling a dinosaur when we first started giving it to him, don't know why) that he sleeps with. It is so cute to lay him down for a nap or at bed time and then watch him wrap his little arm around the giraffe's neck. SO adorable!


6) My nightstand drawers - Actually any drawers he can get open. He loves to go through my nightstand drawers and pull everything out and carry stuff around the house with him. It was a little annoying at first (so I had to take out a lot of stuff that he shouldn't really play with), but now I just think it's cute. Also, a month or two ago, he discovered the drawer under the oven (as I have posted about in the past). He likes to get the pot lids out, but now he also likes to take the magnet letters (or any other toy he's carrying around) and put them inside before he closes it. He also likes to get into the desk drawers in the office, but most recently he has discovered the bathroom drawers and these ones are still in the annoying phase because there really isn't anywhere else I can put the stuff in those drawers.


7) Buttons - Buttons on the tvs, on the dvd players, on remotes, on the exercise bike, on the phones, on daddy's shirts...he's not prejudiced, he loves them ALL! He is forever turning the tv on and off and then changing channels/volume. He screams for my phone when he sees it (so if any of you have received hang-up calls from me, I'm sorry!!) But now he is beginning to hold the phones (and other things too) up to his ear...well, actually it's like the back of his neck to pretend he is talking on it. It's so cute!


8) Sleeping - I'm not sure if I would say that sleeping is one of Jack's favorite things, but when it is time for bed (or a nap) he doesn't really fight it, so he must enjoy it to some degree...right? Once in a while he'll freak out but that's usually because he doesn't feel well, or if it's not his crib I'm trying to put him down in. Usually, he just lays there on the pillow and waits for me to put the blanket over him and give him his giraffe to hold.


9) His binki - I think I am going to have a lot more trouble getting rid of the binki than I will have getting rid of the bottle. [In fact, I think Jack got his last bottle two nights ago. He will just have to get his milk from a sippy cup from now on and I'm not going to warm it up any more. He's really not that attached to it, in fact, he's been less and less interested in it recently, so I don't think it's a big deal to put it away.] The binki on the other hand is like his security blanket. I mean, he can go without it just fine, but if he's feeling shy or sick (or woke up on the wrong side of the bed) or if he can see it, he wants it and will hunt to find it wherever you try to hide it.
*Update: So I already gave in...I warmed up his milk tonight, but he drank it from a sippy! I think he kept getting a brain freeze because he would only take a sip or two at a time, but was going strong after I warmed it.


10) Playing - He loves to play with his toys. He loves to be chased. He loves to play new games that his daddy invents. He loves playing hide and go seek (although we haven't been able to implement the counting or the 'staying in place until the person comes to find you' parts yet). He loves to be tickled. He loves This little piggy went to market. He loves it when I kiss his hands or his feet when I am lotioning him up after a bath. He LOVES playing in the bathtub. He loves playing peekaboo. He loves playing with bottles, but I think it's just because he likes to eat what's inside (or at least try to before Mom or Dad catch him and take it away)...lotion, desitin, soap, athlete's foot cream, orajel, medicine, etc.


031408-V005

Mommy Tag

Thanks for the tag, Janae!

1. Typically, what time do you wake up? Currently I wake up when Jack does, in between 8 and 9am, but I am working towards waking up before him so I can have some time to myself to get some things done before the "day begins".

2. On a good night, what time are you kids in bed? He normally goes down around 8pm (sometimes I try to keep him up a little later so Britton can see him when he gets home from school).

3. How long have you been a mommy? A little over a year.

4. How old were you when you became a mommy? 26

5. What is your favorite kids tv show? Although I don't necessarily "like" kids tv shows, I find myself following what is on when Jack is watching. He has shown an interest in a variety of shows...Blue's Clues, The Backyardigans, Wonder Pets, Dragon Tales, Word World, Super Why, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, and even Barney. But I think his favorite is (and my Mom says that it was my favorite when I was little also) Sesame Street. Maybe that's why he probably watches it every day...and if we miss the 1pm showing, I'll get it from On Demand for him. Most of the time he likes a show for background noise, but not Sesame Street...he's glued for just about the entire hour.

6. What is your least favorite kids tv show? Out of the shows I listed above, Barney is my least favorite...and if you ask me I'll probably tell you I can't stand it, but I'm not sure that's entirely true. I don't mind letting Jack watch it because he likes it and it teaches good principles of friendship, manners, and the preschool basics. What I don't like is how extremely cheesy it is.

7. What is your favorite chore? How about least favorite...dishes!

8. What is your favorite meal to cook? I think it might just be spaghetti (see dilemma below).

9. What meal do you cook most often? Lately, it has been (Puerto Rican) beans and rice.

10. What is your kids favorite meal? I think it is any kind of pasta with a tomato sauce...spaghetti being the easiest. Although Britton doesn't mind eating it, that is his least favorite so I don't make it that often. :(

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids? Bathtime, playing with Jack...especially when he makes up fun new games. You can see the joy written all over his face when he plays with "Dad".

12. What are 5 things that make you smile when you're being a mom?
#1) When I can hear Jack just chillin' in his crib...kicking the walls, "singing", jabbering, etc.
#2) [Now that he is learning to talk...] When he "talks" to me (or Britton).
#3) When Jack has accomplished something he has been working on and then wants me to see what he's done...the pride and excitement on his face are enough to make me burst.
#4) His silent laugh is hilarious! He squeezes his eyes shut, lifts his top lip so you can see his teeth as he scrunches his nose up and lets his bottom lip hang down so his mouth is wide open. The he ducks his head a little and rounds his shoulders and then bobs his whole body as if he is nodding his head "yes".
#5) Imagining that one day he will (hopefully) be proud of me.

13. If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be? Everywhere...I want to show my kids how fun life can be, and I want to see and learn new things about new places and I want them to experience it right along with me.

14. When was the last time you went out without your kids? On Saturday we decided to take a drive as a family. A little silly, but we had fun. We packed a lunch and just drove around. Poor Jack, I guess we didn't really go "out".

15. What is your favorite past time/activity to do with your kids? Since we've only been at this for about a year, there hasn't been much time to delegate a favorite activity, but something I am grateful for (and hope it continues as steady as it has been for the last little while) is reading the scriptures nightly. Even though Jack doesn't understand what we are doing, he is as much a part of the ritual as Britton or I are.

16. Name one thing you said you would never do as a mom? I'm sure I have at least one of these, but my mind is blank right now.

17. Name one thing you do, that your own mom did? We share a dislike of shopping...actually I am enjoying it more now but most of the time it is the biggest chore.

18. What is your favorite quality your mom has? Unconditional love for me (and everything that goes along with it).

19. What is your favorite kids book? When I was little, it was The Diggingest Dog.

20. What is your advice for new moms? Figure out what works for you and do it...and don't get too hung up on those people that insist they know how to do it better than you do (or will do) because they are wrong! :)

21. What is the most heartbreaking/scariest moment as a mom? He recently began crying when I leave him (go out the door and shut it behind me). It's heartbreaking for just a second until I tell myself he will be just fine and happy in less than a minute. My scariest moment as a mom was Jack's first time in a restaurant (at about 7 months). I was a little frustrated and anxious because Jack had just learned how to yell to get his way. I gave him cracker to eat and he started choking (the first time that had ever happened). I don't remember if it was me or Britton that got him out of the high chair, turned him upside down, and banged on his back, but he was fine and it all happened in less than one minute. I was so tightly wound I got a to-go box and we left as soon as we could pay.

22. What is your most joyful moment being a mom? When Jack comes to me on his own accord for a cuddle. It is the BEST! (Not to mention few and far between.)

23. When was the last time you were told "I love you" by one of your kids? Jack is learning to talk right now, so I have to be creative with what I think I hear, but I haven't really heard "I love you" yet...I think I just want to wait until he really says it - and I can't wait.

24. When was the last time you told one of your kids "I love you"? Just a few minutes ago when I laid him down for a nap...but it's like every minute when he's awake.

I tag: Christy, Esther, Jessica, Layce, and Tracie (If you'd like to do it :P)