To My "Moms"

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

I can't believe that it has been 3 1/2 years since I was blessed as a mother. It is the best feeling in the world. Since Mother's Day is right around the corner, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my "Moms" who have helped mold me into who I am.

Alisha - Even though you are my sister, you had a lot to do with "raising" me. You were an example to us. You taught me new things. You played with me. And you continue to give me sound advice. I am amazed at your strength! Thank you!

Sharon - You gave me the opportunity to practice my "mothering" skills with your children. What were you thinking?! HAHA! You have amazing patience and I am in awe of how you juggle everything you do! Thank you!

Charilla - You have been the best mother-in-law I could ask for. You are so fun to be around. I feel like I can come to you with "problems" and you help me figure them out with ease. I am so glad to be apart of your family. You are such a fantastic Grandma to Zoe. Thank you!

Paula - You came into our lives after we were all grown up, but I feel like you have been apart of our lives forever! You are such a wonderful lady. You have an amazing knowledge of things and I feel like I learn something new everytime I visit with you. I am so happy that you are apart of our family! Zoe couldn't have asked for a better Nana! Thank you!

And last but not least...............

Mom - I don't know where to start. Throughout the years you have been my teacher and my friend. You have showed me how to love unconditionally. You showed me how to have patience and you have showed me kindness. You have showed me how to discipline with love. You have given me strength and shown me how to stand up for what I believe in. You have helped me time and time again and I know that you will continue to be there with your love and knowledge. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he sent me to you. You are my rock. I am so grateful that my daughter has you as her Grandmother. We love you so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

2010, We welcome you!!

Holy cow! I am really bad at this whole blogging thing! I can't believe that 2 and 1/2 months have gone by since Zoe turned 3. I feel time is going warp speed! Well, I guess that means everyone wants to know what the heck is going on with us.
Diana-
I was very fortunate to have been able to help out in the pharmacy at Albertsons (Savon) in October which led to a permanate job position as a Pharmacy Technician Trainee. I absolutly love working there! I am blessed with a wonderful boss and a nice raise! I am also getting full time hours (for now). I don't feel like I get enough time with Zoe sometimes, but I treasure the time I do get with her on my days off!
Zoe-
Other than being a very fun, spoiled, and inquizative (is that a word?) 3 year old, she had such a blast on Christmas! She must have been a good girl last year because Santa was very generous this year! She got her first bike! We are still trying to teach her to not watch herself peddle and look up. She also recieved a kitchen set along with ALL of the accessories to go with it! Let me tell you, we "eat" some very interesting food! She is constantly talking about going to school, and we are contemplating putting her in preschool soon. I think she would love it!
Zane (Preston)-
Zane must have been a good boy last year also because Santa (me!) brought him a basketball hoop almost a whole month early (Black Friday Sale)! He loves to go out back and shoot hoops (Zoe loves to shoot hoops with him)! He has had his frustrations with his job (cutbacks) lately, but is grateful he still has his job.
We have were very blessed in 2009 to have been surrounded by family, friends and good health. 2010 has started out great for us and we hope it ends great also! So, here is to a wonderful new year!
Oh yeah........GO CARDINALS!

Zoe is 3 Years Old!

On Saturday (Halloween) our little pumpkin turned 3 years old! We had a Pirate Party (that is what she wanted) at the park for her. She had such a great time with all of her friends!

After all of the party fun, we got ready to go trick- or- treating (or should I say trunk - or-treating). Zoe was a ...................... pirate! She was the cutest pirate EVER!!!

Lovable Locks!!!!

Last night, we had a storm pass over Havasu and with it brought some much needed rain! Zoe and I went outside and played in the rain for about 15 minutes. By the time we came back inside, Zoe was drenched! I decided to put curlers in her hair while it was still wet. She slept in them last night and I took them out when she woke up this morning. After some teasing and a little bit of hair product: I think her hair turned out adorable!

Daddy's Little Girl!!!!

We had a "lazy day" the other day. I mean it. We did absolutly nothing. It was fantastic! Towards the early afternoon, we laid down with Zoe for a nap. I left the room for a few minutes and came back to this beautiful image:

First Haircut

Yesterday I took Zoe to get her first haircut. She was born practically bald, so I have been holding off trying to let her hair grow long, but I finally gave in and let my good friend, Denise, trim her hair! I am so glad I did and yet a little sad that the small curls at the bottom of her hair are all gone.

Her hair before

The first cut

Zoe's beautiful locks!

Adventures in Motherhood!

Let me start by saying that Zoe loves, loves, loves her pacifier. She is only supposed to get it when she goes to sleep, but she will bring it into the living room by placing it right underneath her armpit and sneeking it in! (It is quite a funny thing to see!) Well, on Monday, Zane and I decided it was time to buckle down and get rid of her pacifiers once and for all!
We had Zoe gather up all of her pacifiers (all but one, but she doesn't know about that one!) and she threw them away in the trash. She said "Goodbye" to each one. She was really excited to throw them away, but I don't think she knew what she was doing because when it came time to go to bed, the realization hit and she freaked out a little. Zane sat down with her and told her that she was a big girl and that big girls don't need passies. He was so cute with her and even wiped a couple of tears out of her eyes. Then he told me that we should just give her pacifier back to her. What a softy! But, I held firm and told him that she would be fine without it. We had to lay her back down twice before she finally fell to sleep. She woke up at 3:30 in the morning completly upset. I broke down and gave it to her for the rest of the night and for her nap on Tuesday.
On Tuesday night, Zane went to play basketball with a friend. While he was gone, Zoe had a complete meltdown when I tried to put her to bed again without her pacifier. Zane had taken her pacifier and hid it. I had no idea where it was at! Zoe screamed more than I have ever heard her scream before. I laid her down 5 or 6 times. I sang to her. I laid with her on her bed. I rocked her. I talked to her. I sang to her some more. Finally, I laid with her on my bed until she fell asleep. Zane moved her to her own bed when he got home. She made it to 4:30 in the morning before waking up. I did not give in though! I brought her to our bed and let her sleep with us for the rest of the night.
Wednesday night, she went to bed the first time when Zane and I laid her down. (We told her that she could have some ice cream if she slept without her pacifier.) At 1 in the morning, she came to our room crying "I *sob* WANT *sob* ICE CREAM!" I calmed her down and let her sleep in our bed the rest of the night. We woke up and Zane said "Did she sleep with us?" UGH! MEN!
On Thursday afternoon, Zane went to play basketball at church. I tried to lay Zoe down for a nap, and she would not hear of it. Zane came home to me trying to rock her to sleep. He picked her up and told her it was time for "nigh-night". We laid her in her bed and she went to sleep. Then, I went to work until midnight. Zane said she went to bed at her normal time. She didn't cry at all. She even slept the whole night in bed!!! That makes 3 NIGHTS WITHOUT A PACIFIER!
Did you notice anything in this long drawn out story?
When Zane was around, Zoe went to sleep without any problem. When it is just me, it takes me hours to get her to sleep!
Now on to potty training (that is a story within itself! Maybe another day!) Ahhhhhh! - The joys of motherhood! I wouldn't trade it for the world!