I know my blog seriously needs...

an update. Keep your eyes peeled (what a sick phrase)...one will follow shortly!

PS. Riley is 18 months old today! I can't believe he is growing up so fast...nor can I remember what I have done for the past year and a half...hmmmm

Our Favorite Teething Remedy!

A few Sundays ago we headed up to Jeff's parents for the usual Sunday dinner. All was going well and Riley was chowing down and ate pretty much all my food like normal, but he still wanted more. We had corn on the cob there and he had had corn before but never from the cob. We decided to let him try it.



He started out slow, but was liking the idea!




"Holy Cow this stuff tastes GREAT, and feels amazing on my teeth!"



The finished product :)

What an Adventure!

Last Saturday I left for Dallas, Texas for a Mary Kay Seminar. Crazy, I know. Anyway, I was gone from Saturday-Wednesday evening. When I landed Jeff told me Riley had been sick for the past 2 days and running a 102-ish temperature! I kind of freaked out as you can imagine. So Thursday morning he woke up and we brought him into our room and he proceeded to throw up all over me. Awesome. Jeff took our sheets off the bed while I hopped in the shower to remove the lovely scent off of my body. Well when I got out Riley just looked like crap. He was so lethargic, his eyes were red, he was crying, etc, etc. It was SAD! Jeff left and I brought Riley downstairs. We watched Sesame Street for a bit but 30 minutes later he was ready for a nap. He then proceeded to sleep for another 3 1/2 hours! A nap this early and this long was definitely uncharacteristic. When he woke up he was so weak he couldn't stand or walk. He was up for about 2 hours and during that time I could only manage to get 1/2 a graham cracker down him. So then he went down for another 3 hour nap and woke up crying. He was out of control. All he wanted all day was for me to hold him. He would be fine and then starting screaming and crying and flailing about. Although his 3 day fever had broken that morning I decided we needed to go to the doctor. I called and said I know this is beyond last minute but someone needs to see my son TONIGHT! I explained what was going on and they said just put him in the car and come over NOW. I called Jeff and he left work and met me at Davis Family Physicians. After waiting another hour they finally saw him and diagnosed him with a bi-lateral ear infection (both ears), a respiratory infection, AND a virus. Poor little man! Well the story doesn't end there. This morning when Riley woke up we brought him into our room and I noticed this:


I called the Dr. on call and he told me to stop the antibiotic (like I didn't already know that!) and to give Riley Benadryl. He has had 3 doses of the medicine so we are waiting to see if those 3 were enough. They want to wait til the rash, which also is all over his chest and stomach, disappears before the administer another antibiotic (if it is even needed). Anyway, it's been a whirlwind adventure and I just want my little man to get better!

The Fro

Some of you have been wondering where Riley gets his curls from? Well my hair is a bit wavy/curly as most of you know. However, most of you have not seen Jeff's amazing curly fro. I figured I'd treat you all to a few pictures.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

This post is better late than never! Jeff and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on July 7! It wasn't too much of an eventful day since Jeff and I both had to work. Our first year we went away to this cabin in North Ogden, then last year we didn't do much because we had just had Riley, and this year we honestly didn't do anything. I am really ok with it though! We had Taco Del Mar for dinner...so yummy! Afterward, I went to enrichment night. Overall it was really good and I am just grateful to be married to such an amazing guy, whom at times I don't deserve! Anyway, babe, I love you...thanks for 3 years and as my Dad said, "Just remember, you can't give her back!"

Growing Up!

Riley is officially off the bottle! Maybe it is horrible that until 2 days ago he still had a bottle morning, noon, and night. I mean he did use a sippy cup during the day, but we spoiled him with the bottle during those precious times. Well the other day I was like I wonder if it is bad my 15 month old still uses a bottle? I had heard people in the ward say their kids had been off of it for months. So then I felt like a crappy mom who was going to have a 5 year old still using a bottle with the worst case of buck teeth you have ever seen! So I told Jeff that’s it, bottle is done! The next day I didn’t give him one at all and life is pretty normal!!! I love it, but my little man is growing up :(

Addiction!

I am 100% addicted to sewing. I sew for at least an hour a day. It is ridiculous but so much fun. It is totally rewarding! You can buy these car seat canopy things online for around $40-$50. I am going to sell them as well but only for $25-$30. There may be times when it is more expensive if I use really really expensive fabric. However, if you want one just let me know. You can pick out your own fabric (only an hourly charge for sewing applies) or I can use what I have. It typically only takes me a few hours (max) to make one so I can get it to you same day (this is especially great if you forget to buy a present for a baby shower and you are going that same day!) Leave me a comment if you want to purchase one! Here are some of my latest ones!

Calling All Pregnant Ladies!

My mother in law bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and it has sat in the box because I never knew what to do with it. Until now!!! One of my amazing dearest friends Liz and her husband just adopted a little tiny baby boy, Connor! I wanted to get them an awesome present but just wasn't sure what to do? Then I went to a baby shower the next weekend for another friend and I saw this and I just HAD to make one. Don't you just hate it when your blanket flies off of the car seat, or when the baby kicks it off, or even worse, when someone you don't know comes up at starts TOUCHING your child???? Well, this is the cute answer!!! It's a car seat blanket that straps on and protects your baby from the crazy Utah weather and from the creepster strangers!

Ok so it is impossible to line up these photos! The first is a front view with the cover on the car seat, the second is so you can see the front and back, the next is a side view, and the last is the close up of the fabric I used for this one! I am still tweaking it since I am not a professional and I am learning how to embelish them a little more! Let me know what you think about them!

Pool Time!!!

Here are two clips of today's fun action at the pool. Keep your comments about my white pasty skin to a minimum.

-Jeff

Riley's First Birthday

Dear Jeff...

Thank you for being an awesome parent who can deal with puke, and for cleaning up Riley's this morning as I dashed to the bathroom on my own account. UGH! It is horrible :( Thank you for caring about your little family and making sacrifices for us. With that you totally win brown points that you can dangle in front of my face the next time I get frusterated with you. Thank you for kissing my forehead and rubbing my back and saying cute prayers at night so I will get better.

I. LOVE. YOU.

Sooooooooooo Big!

Riley is starting to grow up!! He is not a little man anymore :( His unofficial weight at 14 months was 20.2 pounds! When I say unofficial it is because I didn't actually take him in to be weighed like I was supposed to, but rather Jeff's mom had an appointment on day when she was watching Riley and he was weighed then. Yesterday, Riley started saying "up" a lot. He totally knows what he is doing and loves to say it over and over. He also waves good-bye more consistently now. I asked him to wave good-bye to Sesame Street this morning when it is over and he did! So cute :) He is doing a ton better at sleeping. Last night we put him in his crib for bed and he rolled over and snuggled in the corner like normal. Well a few minutes later we heard this banging noise and couldn't tell where it was coming from. I cracked the door to his room and there he was laying sideways in his crib with his feet on the headboard kicking it. It was so funny! It was almost like "Hey I'm not tired enough yet to go to sleep so I am going to play around a little bit until I am!" He slept until 6:30 this morning...thank goodness! He loves to eat Lucky Charms for breakfast and I give them to him so he will gain weight. He will eat a full size bowl! He is getting funnier every day and I love nothing more in this life then being home with him. I started a new business as a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant and so far I am LOVING it! My goal is that I can eventually do this and leave the salon so I can be home every day and only work at night when Jeff comes home! I need to do 30 faces in 30 days so if you want to let me borrow your face that would be awesome...just let me know :)

New Plan Folks!

Hello Readers!
I decided that my last post was a bit dramatic and depressing. I apologize. I have decided to be more uplifting with my posts because who the heck wants to read something depressing. We want good stories like shower curtain hooks and feet, right? So anyway, I have decided that I need to be excited about all the jobs I applied for on Wednesday, all 10 of them, and that I am grateful there are opportunities out there! Anyway, I have something exciting to tell you. Riley is not only sleeping through the night again, he is NAPPING, in his crib now too. You see we have been on again off again with the whole sleeping through the night thing. It is rather annoying! I mean we'll go weeks with him sleeping and then one night he just wakes up and cries and won't go back to sleep unless he is in bed with us...not cool. Well, the other night (Tuesday) I decided we should try and put a fan in his room to see if it would help. HOLY COW! It was a freakin' miracle. He has not only slept through the night but that next day (Wednesday) I was home with him and said hey lets just try napping in the crib, and what do you know....it worked! I am JUMPING for joy here people!!! Both naps in his crib, so far we are 3/3 including today. It is so exciting for this to happen because he normally sleeps on our bed for nap time and I always go check on him to make sure he doesn't roll off. Now who the freak cares if he rolls around in his crib?!! I don't! He can't fall out!! Nap time is way more enjoyable for me and him now. THANK GOODNESS!!!

Welcome To My Life...

Here I am sitting on the computer while Riley sleeps applying for 50 million jobs...all of which I will probably be rejected from. I have applied for 15 jobs at the hospital and haven't had a single interview...I applied at the jail and they told me I don't have enough experience, I guess my Bachelor's degree in CJ doesn't count nor does the year of working in Fraud Detection. Jeff and I need new health insurance, and the only way we are going to get it is if I get a new job...I know the economy is crappy right now but come on people! I have a degree, I have an awesome past employment history, I am a hard worker, etc etc but we can't seem to catch a break. I guess it doesn't help that our house is on the market and we have had 19 showings to no-avail...I'm at the point wish people would stop wandering through my house, stop wasting my time please. Maybe if I didn't have so much to stress about I could leave some positive energy for the things in life that really matter...

1 Year Check-Up!

I brought Riley to the Dr. today for his one year visit...I failed to bring him in at 10 months like I was supposed to because it seemed like he was gaining weight...oops...wrong decision! Yet again my child is small! The dr. says he looks good so he isn't too worried...yet. We have to bring him back at 14 months to have him weighed...but today's results are as follows:

Head 46 inches
Height 29 1/2 inches (50th %)
Weight 18 lbs. 2 oz. *sigh* (0 %)

The dr. says just keep feeding him people food and move on to just milk and no formula. We'll see how things pan out. Oh well...at least he isn't fat right? :)

You've Had A Birthday Shout Hurray!

We want to sing to you today! One year older and wiser too...Haaaapy Birthday TO YOU! Happy 1st Birthday Riley! Let's be honest, your Dad and I are pretty proud of ourselves for not killing you in the first year. I mean we had no idea what we were doing (see circumcision post from about a year ago) and there were times we wanted to give you back because it was so stressful...but we love you more than anything in this world and would NEVER give you back! (And I don't think Dr's take the babies they deliver back after they have been delivered) Anyhoo, you're a champ and keep us laughing and smiling each day. You're our little buggaboo, Riley Bear, Little Man, Little Big Tooth, etc etc, the list goes on. Let's highlight a few of your milestones:

March 20, 2008 @ 4:48 PM...after only 6 hours of labor... You were born! How exciting?!

April 3, 2008: You held your little head up all by yourself!

April 12, 2008: You are already copying Daddy! How precious is this picture!

May 1, 2008: You went to Daddy's graduation!

May 10, 2008: You went to your first Real game!

My First Time Swimming...and I hated it!

July 25, 2008: My First Baseball Game with my Girlfriend Ambrie! Someday I hope she will be my wife...even though she roots for the wrong team!







October 31, 2008: I had my 1st Halloween...i hated wearing a costume but hey thats ok because I looked cute!









To be continued...

He Did It!!

My dad is an avid bowler...we've been bowling since we were like 6 years old. He started us kids out in the Mickey/Minnie league...I even had my own pink bowling ball. Well at the beginning of high school I decided bowling wasn't something I wanted to pursue so I stopped. I think deep down inside my dad wished I had continued...and to be honest there are times I wish I had too...not to be conceited, but I was pretty good. Anyway, my dad has continued to bowl and is wicked good! He had to stop while he was in his chemo treatments and it was sad for all of us not to see him be able to participate in something he loves so much! Well, anyway he started back this season and is bowling in a few leagues. Tonight, my mom called to tell me that he had bowled his first 300!!! That is so amazing...it is a perfect game...12 strikes in a row!!! Not a ton of people can say they have accomplished this. I am so proud of my dad!! Way to go Daddy!!!

Riley, Nana Jean and Pigeons....

Riley is almost a year now!! Can you believe it?! The past year has gone by WAYYYY too fast and we are sad to see our little man growing up? He FINALLY is getting teeth :) He cut 2 yesterday and has 4 more on the way...it is so exciting, especially with all my dental issues and lack of teeth :) Riley is such a joy in our lives and sometimes when I get home from work at night I tell Jeff I want to wake Riley up so I can play and cuddle with him...of course I don't because I would regret it, but at the time it sounds fun!

Well my dad's mom has suddenly become very ill. She has had ongoing health issues for the last year or so, but in the past week things have taken a turn for the worst. They found her about a week and a half ago pretty much unconscious at her house and hours from death. They nursed her back to health in the ICU and then transferred her over to a regular hospital room after a few days. Well they told her she would be able to go home a few days after that but then she came down with pneumonia. Things are getting worse and not better. She is not producing any white blood cells, and do to her previous illness, there is no way she will be able to. She is having blood transfusions like crazy because her red count is down as well, but the transfusions aren't doing anything either...it's an uphill climb at the moment. They don't expect her to make it much longer...the Dr. said it could be 2 hours, 2 days, but no more than 2 weeks. I don't want to dwell on the fact that she isn't going to be around much longer. I want to remember the good times with her! I remember going shopping with her when my brother and I would visit and she would buy me a whole package of Werther's Originals...it was awesome! Every time I eat one I totally think of her. I used to show off my new dance moves in her den and do performances. I would visit the old lady across the street with dogs and she would give me treats. I remember her bringing back food from Pennsylvania and making shoo-fly pie. I remember the Thanksgiving when she brought a pie to dinner and there was a dead mouse in the box and I FREAKED out and wouldn't eat any of the pie even though the mouse didn't touch it. I remember her being such an amazing wonderful grandmother and such a joy to be around. These are the things I want to remember...so here's to you Nana Jean!!! I love you :)

Lastly, today my worst nightmare came true. I dropped Riley off with Jeff's mom on Thursday's like I always do so I could go to work. Well, I got back in my car and headed off towards the salon. I had been driving about 2 minutes when I was getting back on Hwy 89 and going under an overpass. I noticed the pavement move and thought that was wierd. I was NOT prepared for what would happen next. A bird flew up and SMACK...hit my windshield. I am SOOOOOOO afraid of birds...almost to the point of hysteria. Anyway, it hits my windshield, I close my eyes, scream, and then open them again. I am now driving in the breakdown lane towards the barrier. I quickly get back on the road and look at my windshield...thankfully it is not broken, however, it IS smeared with bird. I used my windshield wipers a few times and call my mom. She has a good laugh, but then I get serious. "Mom, I think it's on the roof of my car." "Carrie it is NOT on the roof of your car...I promise!" "I'm not so sure about that...I think it is waiting for me so when I get out it can attack." "Carrie, the bird is dead." "How do you know?" "Carrie, it was smeared on your windshield." "Mom, I don't believe you, can you please stay on the phone until I get to work so if it attacks me you can call 911?" "(Laughing) Yes, I'll stay on the phone." Ok...so she wins. It wasn't on the roof...but I was sure it was. I hate birds...it was horrible. I wanted to throw up and cry a lot. But I was strong :) I'm still not sure why God made birds though.

Riley Walking Around With His New Best Friend

Feeling Lucky????

Feeling Lucky??

My friend Shelby had this posted on her blog and it sounded fun!! The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It'll be done this year. (Hopefully sooner than later)

4. You have no clue what it's going to be. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange :)

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

*Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Riley's New Favorite Toy!

One time my friend Lindsay told me that she'd never know we have a kid except for the fact that she DOES know...I guess I really don't blog enough about him. There is way too much that happens that I can't just pick one thing...and as you can all tell I have been horrible at blogging lately. Anyway, today I had to run to Wal-Mart to get a few things. While there I was in the card/scrapbooking section and Riley saw the balloons. I could tell he REALLY REALLY wanted one...so I gave him one. That kid held on to the balloon for dear life! I mean total death grip. Well it was a little chillier in there than I expected so we went over to the baby section to see what he could find to keep him warm. I saw this way cute hoodie so I took it off the hanger and put it on one arm and then took the balloon out of his hand to put it on the other arm. He started to scream bloody murder like someone was taking him!!! He wanted that balloon and didn't ever want to let go. So I got the hoodie on quick and gave him the balloon back and he stopped crying! What a little stinker! He hasn't let go once since we've been home except to take a bath. He loves bathtime too so he was kind of ok with it but wanted it back first thing when he was out of the tub!! Anyway here are so pictures of him in his cute hoodie and with his balloon :)

I thought I'd Help out!

Ok, so some of you might think I am selfish after reading this post. And that's ok, because I'm not, so if you think I am then maybe we shouldn't be friends :) Anyway, Jeff and I had a talk the other night about being romantic and buying cute gifts and doing little surprises for each other. Since we have been married this has been pretty much non-existant...on either end. However, this stuff is a lot easier for me to figure out than it is for Jeff. I mean for Christmas and his birthday I always think really hard about something he would really really like to have and that has meaning. Me on the other hand, well I just go buy myself something and then say you can give this to me for whatever occassion is up next. So I can't really blame Jeff for not knowing what to get me because I steal all the ideas. Anyway, I figured if I made a post with pictures he'd be covered for all the holidays for the next year! I don't NEED anything, but if he decides he'd LIKE to buy me something I'd be ok with that :) Ok so here's the list! (And it's really not in any order except #1)

1. An iPhone...I LOVE LOVE LOVE my iPod touch and it would be so nice to have that combined with a phone so I don't have to carry both electronic devices everywhere I go. Now, I know this is a pretty unrealistic gift I'm hoping for...but Jeff is a smart guy, I'm sure he can figure something out right :)2. Jeff's mom got me a Juicy Couture charm bracelet for Christmas...except it did not come with any charms on it...thats ok, because I am pretty sure Jeff can get that one covered :)

3. Flowers....I am not going to be crazy and expect them on Valentines Day because as we all know they are WAY over priced then...I mean he can buy me a single rose or something from Walmart that day...but not a huge bouquet or anything...but if he came home randomly one day with flowers or had them delivered to my work that would be neat! He can pick out the ones he likes the best...I'm not too picky about it :)

4. Right now my OBSESSION is bumbles watches. We sell them at the salon and I love love love them. I have a few already but they are coming out with new ones all the time. Right now these are my favorite that I'd love to have:

It is kind of hard to see the detail but the first one is called Moab, the middle Bumbles Jumble, and the last one Jungle Feaver.

5. This last one is a little bit of wishful thinking on my part. I don't know that I really want to invest in this because once you buy the machine you have to buy all the cartriges. Anyway. I'll put in on here incase one day we get a lot of money! It is a Cricut expression and you can make all these awesome things for scrapbooking with it. Lately scrapbooking has been one of my escapes...but I really don't know that I want to invest in this yet.
I look like a snob now, I know...but it's ok because I don't expect all of these at once. And it's ok if I don't get them. I just thought I'd be a nice wife and help out Jeff. :)

Captain Hook

WARNING: This post is a bit graphic and contains graphic pictures.

So yesterday afternoon, I put Riley in his high chair in front of the TV in our bedroom to watch Baby Einstein so I could take a shower. I turned the shower on, threw my cell phone on the bed and got in. Well the shower was uneventful, like most peoples, but what followed could quite possibly the strangest story you have ever heard. Well when I opened the shower curtain the rod fell off the wall. So I dried off and then took the curtain off the rod and set it on the floor. I then took the rod, stood on the side of the tub and attempted to put the rod back up. The walls were wet from the shower I just took so I was unable to get the rod back on so I jumped, and by jumped I mean I literally jumped off the side of the tub onto the floor. Not such a big deal right? WRONG! Apparently I landed on one of the curtain hooks that was still attached to the shower curtain. My foot was hurting and looked down and the hook is HALF WAY into my foot. I started screaming and freaking out. I am BUTT NAKED and there is no way to get clothes on, my hair is soaking wet and I need to get someone to help me. So I gathered up the shower curtain and with my leg bent at a 90 degree angle I hopped to the bed and called 911. When the operator answered I was screaming so loud he couldn't understand me. I finally got through to him what happened and that I needed help. However, every time he asked me a question, like my address for example, I would say it is 3920 W. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH and then not finish. There was snot running down my face and I was balling. Ok so this guy now has my name, phone number, address, code to my garage so they can get into my house and he knows I am butt naked and have a baby with me. I asked him to call Jeff so he could meet me at the hospital. I give him Jeff's cell phone number and the guy comes back and says, "Ma'am there was no answer. It went straight to voicemail." Which means, Jeff IGNORED the call. Figures...he doesn't answer calls when he doesn't know the number. So I give him Jeff's desk # and explain if he doesn't answer it will go to the receptionist and she can track him down. So the guy comes back a few minutes later and tells me my husband is on the way to the hospital. Ok so my next freak out is where the heck are the people responding to this call. I am in so much freakin' pain and I just want them to come help me. So he double checks and says they are just around the corner. I hear the garage open and I am like ooo ooo they are here I heard the garage. So these like 6 EMT/Sheriff's walk around the corner and I blurt out "I am NAKED and you are in my ward!!!" This one firefighter is like yes I am in your ward...WOW talk about embarassing! So these guys come over and cover me with blankets and look at me and say, "What the HECK is that and how did you do it?" So I attempt to explain the story again but I am still freaking out and screaming and using some choice words. I keep begging them to just help me becase it hurts so bad. Well the cut the shower curtain off the hook so I only have one hook in my foot and not the whole shower curtain hanging off of me. (This probably takes a good 20 min) They keep telling me to breath because I guess I am screaming and yelling so much I am hyperventalating. So they bring in this chair thing and strap me to it and wheel me out of the house. Pretty much the whole neighborhood is outside waiting to see what has happened. They put me on a stretcher and I yell out again I am butt naked because the only thing I have on is a hospital gown and everyone is standing there watching me. So you think the story ends there right? WRONG again. They put me in the ambulance, my sister in law Angie shows up and takes Riley, and we head off to the hospital. I still have NO pain meds. The guy in the back with me tells me that he is going to try and get an IV in so they can start feeding me meds. Well let me just tell you after 2 UNSUCCESSFUL attempts he is like we are almost there I'll just let them do it. Ok so this thing has been in my foot for like an hour and a half by now and I am in excruciating pain. Don't worry I am still screaming in the ambulance, and am yelling at the guy to drive faster. We finally make it there and the nurses are waiting for me. They get me put in a room, Jeff shows up like a minute later, and then his mom, and sister with Riley and his niece. The nurse gets an IV started, the Dr. comes in and talks to me. I am like are you going to numb me before you take this out because it hurts so bad, they inform me they are going to put me to sleep to take it out! Halalujea!! This has to be the best news of the day and possibly my life at this moment. So they drug me up with Morphine and tell me the Dr. just needs to get everything ready and then they will take it out. All these nurses keep walking by and asking me if they can look because they have never seen anything like it before. So big surprise, I am the freak show of the hospital. Well the Dr. finally comes in, gives me this white medicine that puts me to sleep for like 5 min. I wake up and it's out, still hurts like crazy but it's out! So finally after 4 hours of craziness I am allowed to go home. I've got my foot wrapped. I'm NOT allowed to put ANY weight on it and I have to go see a podiatrist on Monday at 3. Crazy, huh? I am pretty sure I am the only person in the world to have a shower curtain hook go through my foot...