New Train Table and Playdough Set for Christmas

Alexander got an awesome train table for Christmas from Michael's family.

Aunt Catherine visited for Christmas break.  We miss you Catherine! Congrats to you and Gabe for your engagement!

Papa Williams and Isabella

Alexander regressed for a moment...

Papi and Mema Johnson gave Alexander a cool Playdough kitchen set for Christmas.  So yummy!

San Diego Zoo

We went to the San Diego Zoo the day after Christmas 2009 with Papi and Mema Johnson, Craig, Julie and kids (Maddy, Callie, Zachary).  It was a lot of fun.  The Zoo was super crowded and we got a good workout pushing strollers up and down the hills.  The sky tram was a lot of fun!

Isabella Noelle Williams- 8 months old

 Hi! Mommy!

 

I love to take pictures with you!

 

Okay Mommy... a few too many pictures...

I'm happy again!

 Don't you just want to give me loves!

Confessions of a Shopaholic!

Sale!  Just hearing the word stirs an emotion deep within my soul…  I recently watched Amy Adams in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic.  While her character was obsessed with high-end name-brand merchandise and overly priced scarves, my character would be more accurately obsessed with the sale of already low price items.  Amy Adams maxed out her credit cards- I pay mine off each month.  But the thrill of the shopping is understood.

This shopaholic’s greatest weakness is a sale.  Not just any sale mind you- the lowest price of the season sale!  Seriously people- how many seasons does Kohls know about?  I thought there were 4 (summer, fall, winter, and spring). Yet every ad I see from Kohls claims to have the lowest prices of the season.  Apparently that word is loosely interpreted.  I was building up my resistance to such advertisements until I received the coveted additional 30% off coupon in the mail.  Normally I would just get the 15 or 20% off and dismiss it.  But an additional 30% off already on sale items is hard to resist!

I felt myself being pulled by an invisible gravitational force into the welcoming doors at Kohls.  Automatically my feet are lead to the back of the store where the clearance racks in the children’s department call out to me.  My bag is filled with “essential” items like cute new outfits for my growing children.  The toy department is visited and future presents are stashed in my bag.  Mentally I add up the total.  If I just spend a few more dollars, I will get $10 Kohls Cash (it’s like getting paid to shop!).  That fabulous Kohls Cash inevitable brings me back to Kohls the next week to buy something else so I don’t lose my hard earned money.  In my mind I justify all of the money I am saving, while Michael is wondering how much I have spent.

I was strong this week.  I peeled off the magical sticker to reveal my 20% off coupon.  Into the trash went my ad, coupon attached.  Be strong!  Resist the urge to buy clothes for my kids for the next 2 years.

My challenge to myself for the rest of January 2010, is to only purchase essential food items (starting 1/14/10).  No internet or in store purchases by Robin is allowed.*  You are all my witnesses.  My home is already blessed with a year’s supply of food storage, clothes for each person, and a plethora of toys (my sister said it looked like a toy store in here!).  My goal is to resist the sale.  Just because it is on sale for an additional __% for this week only, is no reason to run out and buy non essentials (that is what I keep telling myself).

*Here’s the fine print- Michael’ car has a flat tire that has a nice 3” gash is it.  Unless it is under warranty still at Costco, then new tires may need to be purchased… 

 

Dishwasher 101

It has been said that we have 3 dishwashers in our home: Michael, Robin, and Kenmore .  Kenmore is my favorite of the three.  Well, actually Michael is by far my favorite, but I feel guilty when he is doing the dishes after a long day at work and I am struggling just to keep up with Thing 1 and Thing 2 (A.K.A. Alexander and Isabella).  I love to press the magical start button on Kenmore and sit back and let it do the work.

Throughout my life, I have learned that Kenmore needs a little help along the way.  Such as pre-washing the dishes and loading them properly.  My dad was an expert at both.  I often had to ask if the dishes were clean or dirty before loading my offering to Kenmore (they always looked clean).  Lectures on how to properly load the dishwasher were repeatedly given, as well as constant opportunities to watch my dad reload the dishwasher after my attempts failed. 

Sadly, I must confess that I have not yet mastered how to properly load our dear friend Kenmore after 20+ years of trying.  Now it is my husband, Michael, who gets to fix my failed attempts.  A few days ago, I dutifully cleaned the kitchen and loaded and washed the dishes all by myself, while Michael was at work.  After he came home, (while I was not in the room), he opened the dishwasher, assumed from the chaos that it was dirty, reorganized the entire dishwasher to be proper and neat, then added the dirty dishes from the sink.  I went to unload Kenmore , and he stopped me saying it still needed to be run.  I hadn’t realized that my attempt at doing the dishes independently was so sad that it had to be redone!  After the previously cleaned dishes were cleaned again, I took a picture of the proper way to load the dishwasher so I can study it for the future!  Fun times in the Williams household…

Oh! Such a pretty dishwasher!

Death of the Swaddizzly...

Morning came early in the Williams household today.  4:44am to be exact.  It is 5am as I write this entry.  Isabella decided sleepy time was over, and playtime was afoot.  Just this week she has discovered that she can roll over onto her stomach with proficiency while in her crib.  She deftly unswaddles her arms and takes the momentous leap of faith and rotates onto her belly.  With victory gleaming in her eyes, she grins ear to ear and starts to explore her crib. 

She has been found most commonly wedged at the bottom of her sloped crib with a good portion of her body covered by the quilted blanket that keeps her warm at night.  Her toys are often left out of reach at the top of the crib.  While she has mastered rolling over both ways, crawling has proved an elusive task to our 7 ½ month old.  She scoots backwards comfortably, and can handle a 360 degree turn.  But her forward range of motion is limited.  So, we find her chillin' at the bottom of the crib on many of her middle of the night calls for food or attention.

Mommy dutifully comes to her rescue each time she arouses at these peaceful hours of the night, and follows the same routine.  Re-swaddle, binky-ize, music, mobile (hanging toy with music), and make a swift escape (occasionally Mommy is talked into a midnight feeding session).  Normally this method proves successful.  Isabella may fuss for a little, but the dream land overcomes her and the Williams household is peaceful once more. 

Speaking of the swaddle… most moms/ onlookers are amazed that I have the audacity to still swaddle my 7 month old!  My goal is to swaddle until the baby lets me swaddle no more.  It is instantly comforting to Isabella (as it was to Alexander), and it helps her sleep longer.  No flailing arms to distract her.  When the swaddle fails, we find a bigger blanket and try again.  We are already maximizing use of the biggest blanket fabric will give us without the hassle of sewing a larger one (we are practical- we buy a large square of fabric and call it a baby blanket- Michael’s mom finishes the edges for us so we don’t look ghetto).  I am a proud swaddler.

However, this morning at 4:44am , I faithfully did my re-swaddle, fed Isabella, and left her to return to a peaceful slumber, and a few minutes later, the party had begun.  She was cooing and telling a grand story.  I wasn’t too surprised.  When I attempted my swaddle, Isabella was in a crawling position on her back and tried to kick out of it before I could get out of the room.  Not wanting little one to wake up bigger one (Alexander), I resigned to let her win this round and take her downstairs.  When I went to rescue her, Isabella was yet again proudly on her belly, peering at me from over the crib rail, and grinning ear to ear.  In her hand was her binky and once again her two toys were just out of her reach.  Her beautiful swaddle was destroyed.  Not even her legs were wrapped up in warmth and love.  The death of the swaddlizy is possibly occurring before my eyes this very morning.  A sad day indeed…  Point Isabella (just in case you are keeping score!).

“It’s a neurological problem, hang up and call 911 and take him to the emergency room!” – Don’t Worry! It was just severe constipation

On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 , Alexander was behaving strangely.  In the morning he would randomly dance around gingerly on his toes and say “It hurts, it hurts.”  His body was shaky as this was happening.  He would get extremely clingy and sob and cry as I would hold him.  Then moments later he would appear happy and normal.  I assumed he had stepped on something and had a sore foot.  Alexander has speech delays and was unable to fully articulate what hurt.  He also had woken up every hour the night before, so I thought he was excessively tired, which has made him a little shaky in the past.  I put him down for a nap.  He went down easily (very abnormal for him- he is anti nap now that he is a big 2yr old), but only slept for less than 1hr (a good nap is 2-3hrs.).  He woke up in loud tears and I rushed to his room to see what was wrong.  He staggered from his bed, hobbled painfully on his toes, said, “It hurts, it hurts” repeatedly, and climbed into my arms. 

In my arms he was in the fetal position with his stomach practically on my shoulder and his legs up on my chest.  I walked around with him to sooth him, but to no avail.  I called his pediatrician to try to take him in that afternoon (it was around 1pm when I called).  They said they were busy and couldn’t see him until tomorrow.  I asked to be transferred to urgent care.  When I described his strange behavior, the lady immediately replied, “What you are describing is a neurological problem.  Hang up and call 911 and take him to the emergency room!” 

Okay- so this totally started to freak me out.  Alexander was born with a difficult delivery which resulted in subgaleal and subarrachneal hemorrhaging (bleeding in his head and brain), and we had consulted with Neurosurgeons and had a couple MRIs during his first month of life.  That comment struck a nerve.  I thought that his complications at birth were catching up with him.

I was uncomfortable calling 911, so I called Redlands Community Hospital Emergency Room directly and talked to the admitting nurse.  She agreed that I should bring him in right away.  After a couple failed attempts to contact someone from church to come over and watch my sleeping baby (Isabella- I couldn’t hold both kids at the same time in the ER), I got ahold of Darlene through MOMS club of Cherry Valley and Beaumont .  Within minutes she came over with her 4yr old daughter, ready to help- thank you Darlene!  You are a life saver!

Just before they arrived, I wanted to lay Alexander on the ground to check to see if I could see what was troubling him.  He cried louder and held tightly onto me.  He continued to sob and cling to me.  After Darlene arrived, I was about to leave with Alexander to the hospital, and I had the prompting to check his diaper before I left.  It didn’t stink to me (impressive, considering it was in front of my face…). 

The diaper was poopy and appeared to have been very difficult to fill (I will spare the details).  Alexander was happy as can be after being able to fill his diaper.  He played with Darlene’s daughter for a while, and we decided that he was just very constipated and in pain.  Increased hydration and more fiber in his diet was our prescription to avoid this problem and scare in the future.  That prompting saved me a trip to the ER and a $100 deductible.  Yeah for Alexander successfully pooping in his pants just before we left!

Cereal Puffs… and other Tasty Tidbits

Isabella is now 7 months old!  She is bound and determined to succeed in getting a cereal puff into her little mouth on her own.  She just started finger foods a week or so ago, so this is uncharted territory.  Normally, her loyal Mommy or noble brother, Alexander, would place an edible delight (suitable for infants, of course) into her open and expectant mouth.  But today Mommy is taunting her with the charming delicacy we call Sweet Potato Cereal Puffs.  They are sprinkled liberally within her reach and left for her temptation.  I watch as she grasps at each little puff with her moist hands (from fresh drool and teething- or perhaps just the anticipation of the yummy morsel making it into her eager mouth), and she quickly makes a fist to halt any possibility that her treats may escape. 

Then the quandary presents itself.  Isabella thinks, “How do I get this yummy goodness into me?”  She brings her fist to her mouth and tries to nibble on the side of the cereal puff that sticks out ever so slightly… but alas, no luck this time.  Again.  Again she attempts to put the puff on her moistened tongue.  She empties her hand on the rug and tries again.  Uh oh!  This time she grabs the blanket and misses the puff of food.  That appeared to be a suitable chew toy for a moment. 

Isabella’s thoughts: “What’s this!?  The wet cereal puff has attached itself to my new favorite blankie?!  Victory!  The puff is in my mouth… yummy and satisfying sweet potato…” The drool increases and another treat is desired. 

Mommy puts out a freeze dried yogurt melt next to Isabella’s waiting hand.  It is quickly picked up and the fist is closed.  Several attempts are made.  Mommy comes to check the progress.  There is a balled up pink morsel squished in Isabella’s left palm.  It never made it into her mouth.  It partially dissolved in her moist hand.  Mommy helped put it into Isabella’s mouth.  She soon figured out by trial and error that she needs to release her grasp on the food in her hand just before reaching her mouth.  Yeah for yummy finger foods!

2009 Christmas Letter to Family and Friends

“All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!” This is the song Isabella, 7 months old, is singing this Christmas. Her front two bottom teeth officially cut through at the beginning of December when she was 6 months old. Isabella is finally enjoying tummy time. She can roll over, but is not yet crawling. She has a huge open mouth smile that lights up the room and warms our hearts.

Alexander is 2 years old and loves Thomas the Tank Engine! He can spend hours building his train tracks and playing with Thomas and his friends. He finally learned how to say Mommy! Yeah! He loves to give hugs and kisses to his family and friends. Alexander has had a lot of success working with his parents and speech therapist weekly to improve his oral communication skills. He talks nonstop and is using the American Sign Language he learned from Mommy and Signing Time!

Robin is busy as a stay at home mom with her two little ones (both of which are off the charts in height- not so little any more). She enjoys going to Jazzercise a few times a week, and is busy with Moms Club in the community. Robin is on the Enrichment Committee in Relief Society and leads a Mommy and Me group for church.

Michael is teaching 10th and 11th graders in US and World History as a second year teacher at Beaumont High School. His students continue to excel in their assessments. Michael takes his wife to the Redlands Temple monthly, and loves to come home and play with Alexander and Isabella. Michael is the Teachers Quorum Advisor.

We purchased a new construction home in this summer (4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a loft, and an enormous master bedroom with retreat!) and moved in July 2009. We have been very blessed this year and look forward to raising our family is a small town atmosphere by the beautiful mountains. We hope your family is well this Christmas season. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

The Williams Family Blog 2010

My best friend Juana has awakened the little blogger in me. She showed me a published hard back copy of the blog she has kept for her family. She had two separate nice hard cover books for the past two years. Each book was around 100 pages long. They were full of fabulous color pictures of herself, her husband Duane, and their three children, Kaylin, Evan, and Kyle. Now if Jennifer can keep up her adorable blog with three kids, I can attempt to catch up my blog with my two kids.

As I write this, my two and a half year old, Alexander is dutifully hovering over my shoulder watching each keystroke as I type on my laptop from college. The hum of the broken fan in my computer reminds me of late nights trying to finish a term paper to turn in the next day in college. This has been a loyal laptop, which my husband, Michael teases me about because it is now considered to be ancient in technological terms. Granted, it was a gift from my parents when I went to BYU more than 10 years ago. I will now utilize the laptop for its word processing skills, and not speed of the internet connection.

When I attempt to work on the desktop upstairs, Alexander has a melt down for being abandoned, or gets actively involved in trying to sabotage my feeble attempts to check my email. I sit in amazement now, as he has yet to touch the keys on my stalwart keyboard. Luckily he has moved onto his new train table set he got as a Christmas present from Michael’s parents Ed and Teresa, sister Courtney, and Grandma and Grandpa Shea. He loves his trains, and has a particular adoration for his best friend Thomas the Tank Engine.

I have avoided the start of writing my blog. When I saw Juana’s final printed book, it inspired me to actually write on my blog, and not just throw up photos I have taken of my kids on a monthly (or every few months) basis. Her blog book then intimidated me with the finality of having my words published for all time. Where do I start? I have left so much behind! I would love to say it is all written in perfect detail in my personal or our family journal that I write in weekly… But that would be a lie. My personal journals are somewhere special, and I only write in them a few times a year. My family journal has yet to be started. I have kept records of major life events on our calendar. As you can imagine, a calendar can only fit so many details. So, my New Year’s Resolution is to step up to the plate and record my family’s history (our day to day activities and milestones) on this blog, with the intent to publish it in my own pretty hardback book to cherish for years to come.

Writing in my blog held little appeal to me before. Who, if anyone, would take the time to read my musings? When would I find time to actually type more than a sentence or two? Then I saw her published blog, and decided I don’t care if anyone reads it online- this is a potential recorded history and journal for my growing family. Everyone tells me how fast time flies and how they want to remember these early years. Now I will use my blog to record the fun details of life and remember them twenty years from now when my kids are in college and on their own.

In conclusion, thank you Jennifer for inspiring the little blogger in me! This blog is dedicated to you!