18 months!

I have been trying to post some cute videos, but it is not working, so maybe in a few weeks we can post something. We have been crazy this past week trying to get everything packed to move tomorrow. We also decided to just post our place on Craig's List just to see what kind of interest there was. In about 3 days I had 15 contacts of people interested. So I am happy to say we have found someone to rent it which will really help and is very surprising.

James had is 18 month check up yesterday. Probably one of the worst trips to the doctors we have had. He has been sick so everything sends him into a major tantrum. We had thought he was evening out a little (height and weight) but he shot up three inches, now 35 in tall, and only gained 1 pound, now weighs 24lbs 1 oz. So I guess he is just going to be tall and skinny.

H got to go to nursery for the first and last time in our ward last week, and loved it! But we never thought it would be otherwise. He actually cried when Doug came to pick him up because he wanted to stay.

James the Fish

James has been having so much fun in Florida. He seems to have conquered his fear of the Ocean and now loves it. The past two days he has been able to walk pretty far out, almost to where the waves are breaking, on his own. Every time a wave comes he runs toward it and laughs when it hits him. After we spend hours at the ocean James has to play with the hose at home for awhile while we are washing off. Then he goes and gets in the swimming pool with whoever will take him, then finishes off with a nice warm shower. I think he would live in the water if he could.

Big News!

We made it to Florida with only a little drama. The flight to Chicago was perfect. The layover wasn't too awful. They rushed us onto the plane to make up for some lost time. Then we sat there for an hour so they could fix the bathroom. When they finally got the bathroom fixed they decided that we needed more fuel so we sat longer. Finally about 30 minutes before we landed James started screaming and we could not calm him down, this is the result of only having two VERY short naps. Finally we landed and got off the plane to find they had left our stroller in Chicago. I was so tired and upset by this time, not to mention that it was past 11:00 Florida time.

We have been having fun, James loves to chase the dog around, and she tolerates it as well as a small dog can tolerate a small child. James also loves to swim. Even though the water is a little cold it is hard to get him out of the pool. He doesn't love the ocean however. When we went there to play yesterday he walked up the walkway stopped, looked at the ocean, said "No" and turned around and walked back to the car! I was laughing pretty hard and we did get him to play in the sand far away from the waves.

The big news is...we're moving! On Tuesday Doug talked to his boss and they asked if he would be willing to go work in Rexburg, Idaho for a year to replace a project engineer on a job there. This is somewhat of a blessing because we didn't think they would have another job for Doug for awhile and he would just be working out of the office. So even though it is not another Temple it will be a great experience and a blessing for our family. Yesterday when Doug talked to his boss they had it approved to go and wanted him up there as soon as possible. Doug said he needed two weeks to finish up his work on the Draper Temple then he would be ready to go. Now it just has to be approved by the school and it is official. So I am house hunting from here and as soon as we get home Doug will be leaving for Idaho while I try to pack up our entire house as quickly as possible. Hopefully we will also be able to find someone to rent our place in Utah. So while we are having so much fun in Florida I keep thinking about all that has to get done once we get home!

Traumatized for Life?

Due to Doug's very "traumatic" childhood there are certain things he is very picky about with James. For example: Doug's mother made him change into his swimsuit in front of the entire swim class and their parents. Who knew a 3-year-old would have such a great fear of public nudity. As a result all bathtub pictures (if allowed at all) are censored, and there is no possible way James will ever be changed in a public setting. I had to fight pretty hard to be able to take a picture of James during his first bath. Another example: Doug remembers being zipped up in his blanket sleeper. So now I have had extensive training on the proper way to zip up a blanket sleeper, and any other zipper that is close to James' body.

So my question today is have I just traumatized James for life? Is he going to remember this event for the rest of his life. And will his wife suffer because of it?
I was starting to pack for our trip and James was playing in his room. I could hear him playing with this basket which for some reason is one of his favorite toys. Suddenly he starts crying so I go in his room to see what happened. I couldn't help but start laughing. James had put first his blanket then himself in this basket and was stuck. He wasn't hurt, just frustrated that he couldn't get out. I thought that it was so funny that instead of getting him out of the basket I took a picture first. So I wonder when the day will come when James tells me how I care more about a cute picture then his safety and well being. And I think it is safe to say Doug will back him up on this!

Plane Trip

James and I are getting ready for the long trip to Florida! We are so excited to visit Grammy and Grandad, but we are a little nervous about the flight. We have a 3 hour flight to Chicago, then a 4 hour layover, then another 3 hour flight to Ft. Lauderdale. We're not sure if the Benydryl will work so we are bringing reinforcements. Sometimes I feel like there is more to carry on then there is in our suitcase. We've got, books, movies, a portable DVD player, cars, a magnadoodle, and a few surprise toys he has never seen along with his blanket, monkey and favorite snacks. If anyone has any suggestions we would love to hear them.

Big Helper

James loves to copy Mom and Dad. It has been a lot of fun to watch him try to do things that we are doing. For example in the morning when I am brushing my teeth James come in and "asks" to get on the counter, then, after refusing his toothbrush, he grabs Dad's and starts brushing his teeth. I think it's pretty cute.



Some other things James loves to do are:

• "Talk" on the phone, so if you have ever gotten a call from me in the middle of day and no one is there it was James.
• Play Wii
• Help make dinner
• Take a shower
• Drink out of a cup
• Read books
• Type on the computer
• Wear Mom or Dad's shoes
• Help with chores: he loves to wash windows, helf do the laundry, and sweep or mop the floor. Chores have started becoming harder and harder.

I loved how his faced looks. He is watching Dad throw a ball high up in the air. Of course when Dad was done he had to try himself. He was not very successful!

Where's James

Today James was playing in his room with a friend. He was getting a little grumpy so I threw his blanket over his head to distract him and he started walking around. I didn't think he could see but he was walking really well so I thought he had to be able to see, then he ran into a wall, turned and ran into another wall. So of course I ran to get my camera and when I got back he had already taken the blanket off. Lucky for me he thought it was really fun and asked me to put the blanket on again, he does this by handing me the blanket then backing up into me. So I put the blanket on again and got a great video of James walking around with a blanket on his head.

And for more viewing pleasure here is a picture of James reading to Loa. note: this picture was not set up in any way. James asked to sit on the couch, then he got a book, and Loa being the jealous dog she is couldn't let James have all the couch, or any of it.

And for those of you who haven't seen, we got James' pictures taken a few weeks ago. They turned out really cute!