Our Big 3-0

As per tradition, our birthday celebrations this year spanned several days. We lucked out quite a bit, given how short a time we've been in Albuquerque, to be able to go on TWO dates and have at least two other people offer to babysit as well. Huzzah! We went out to dinner on Tuesday night and we saw the third Hobbit movie on the dollar theater on Wednesday night. Let me tell you, it was fabulous getting out just the two of us for the first time since we moved here.

Also a tradition, I purchased St. Patrick's Day shirts and forced encouraged everyone to wear them on my birthday. Pretty sure I will inflict this on them throughout their childhoods, including when they're teenagers. We switched it up a bit this wear with a mix of green and white.

We had a meeting at Audrey's school that afternoon, for which Chris left work early. It was the first time we had everyone all together...and Simon had a nasty blowout right when I pulled him out of his car seat (and I didn't have any extra clothes in the diaper bag other than a onesie...). At least I got all the kids together before that.

While some portions of birthdays as an adult are decidedly less exciting than birthdays were as a kid, we still celebrated well. A wonderful sister in my ward dropped off this surprise cake and the kids got free balloons from Old Navy.

My gifts this year included a new Aggie license plate frame (my old one snapped in half in Georgia), a Dr Who/Stargate t-shirt (BEST SHIRT EVER), and pictures and a fan from the kids. Oh, and my totally awesome sweatshirt that says "I may live in New Mexico but I Graduated from Utah State."

I have fewer pictures from Chris's presents because...well, I forgot to take any. He opened one present from the kids in the morning--an Avengers lanyard. They were super excited to give it to him because he wears a lanyard to work everyday, and this one has his favorite superhero on it, Iron Man.

They were so enthralled watching him open it.

He also got a copy of the book The Power of Everday Missionaries, which he's been talking about for a while now, and a 1000 piece puzzle of Family Rules. He had a really good day at work, too, with Duke City doughnuts and winning several games of Bughouse.

Even without Old Spaghetti Factory or Egg Harbor Cafe, we had good birthdays.

To a New Decade

I laid awake for a long time last night, thinking about today and wondering how I actually feel about it...I'm 30 today! Who does that? I feel like it should be really significant...or something...that I should be mourning the loss of my youth or some such declaration of despondency. Instead, I'm going out to dinner tonight and to a movie tomorrow and rocking the Rice Krispie treats, my annual most favoritest birthday tradition.

While I'm cool with, you know, being old, let's be honest, we rocked the 20s. In honor of it all, here are twenty things I accomplished in my twenties, in roughly chronological order.

1. I learned to drive a stick with Todd, my beloved 1989 Ford Probe.

2. I married the man of my dreams.

3. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah State University.

4. I gave birth to Audrey Jane.

5. I taught 5th grade for three years.

6. I gave birth to Megan Leigh.

7. We bought a house.

8. We rocked every roller coaster in Disneyland.

 

9. I gave birth to Benjamin Ryan.

10. I survived traumatic birth, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and three miscarriages, and came out stronger on the other side.

11. I carried TWO children up to Delicate Arch.

 

12. I jumped out of an airplane.

13. I walked on burning hot coals and my feet remained in perfect condition.

14.We sold our house and moved to Albuquerque.

15. I became a certified life coach and started my own business.

16. I wrote a book.

17. We moved to Atlanta.

18. I learned to play the violin again.

19. I gave birth to Simon Edward.

20. I built a magnificent personal library.

Happy Birthday to me!

Our Not-So-Little Littlest

I am currently choosing to ignore the fact that I haven't updated my blog in nearly six months. Someday, I'll catch up. For now, here's now.

Simon Edward is six months old! I know all babies grow fast, but I feel like he's changed by leaps and bounds to the point that he almost doesn't even look like the same baby.

One Day

9 lbs 15 oz 

98th percentile

 

21 1/4 in

93rd percentile

Six Months 

18 lbs 

50th percentile

 

28 1/2 in

93rd percentile

Simon has been scooting around the house for two months now--he doesn't crawl, but he's definitely mobile and everywhere. It's not uncommon that I leave the room and come back a few minutes later to find him stuck under the piano bench or hiding behind the couch.

At his six month check-up, the nurse went through the list of questions regarding large motor skills. She asked if he pulls his head up like he's going to sit--I answer that he can sit.

She asked if he'll push up on his arms like he's going to crawl. I said he gets up on his hands and toes all the time, and he climbs stairs.

She asked if he'll support his weight on his legs. I involuntarily laughed when she asked that, because he's had that skill since he was two weeks old. Now if you hold his hands, he walks.

He certainly wants to keep up with everybody else.