Another great afternoon :)

I have to say Patrick loves the park almost as much as I do.  Right now his favorite activity is being outside of the stroller and pushing it along the grass.  I have the cutest video but unfortunately my phone won't let me "share" it like I can with the pictures.  Maybe tomorrow I'll remember my camera.  

Patrick hated the feel of grass for awhile but now he thinks it's the greatest thing ever.  Especially when there's dandelions to eat.

As I was watching Patrick push along the stroller today(which he's perfectly content doing for a good 20 min.), I was reminded how much I love this little boy.

 I love that he starts clapping every time he hears music or every time we act excited over something he's done.

 I love that in the middle of play time, he'll take a break to just cuddle with me before going back to his toys.

I love that he has his own toothbrush and loves to brush his teeth with me every morning.

I love that we're best buds and he wants to be by my side all day long.  I'm starting to realize I'm going to dread the day he realizes mom isn't so cool anymore.

 I love his little laugh and I love that he smiles at everyone he meets.

 I love that he's so outgoing but acts shy and cuddles into me anytime someone shows him attention.

 I love how he tries to play with Max and Abby(mostly by taking away their toys and grabbing their fur)

I love that every morning I can hear him happily chatting away in our monitor when he wakes up and I love that when I go get him from his crib, he smiles at me like I'm his favorite person in the world.

This post wasn't meant to be mushy but lately I've just been thinking a lot about how everything is different with your first child.  Never again will I be able to devote so much time to one little person(no, I'm not pregnant).  Next time we have a baby, I'm going to be chasing Patrick around while trying to love another little baby.  I won't be able to do what I did with Patrick, just sitting in a rocking chair in his bedroom, singing him to sleep, having no other obligation in the world other than to care for this one child.  I feel like it takes all my energy to care for one child, I don't know how all of you care for multiple kids!  I guess I'll learn...in awhile.  Right now I'm content giving Patrick all the lovin' he could ever want.

Rexburg

In my last post, I mentioned that we might be in Rexburg forever because of Jon's new job.  One week down and Jon is really enjoying everything about the company.  Next week he starts on a big project and he's pretty excited about it.  I've made it no secret that I really want to move away from Rexburg, so while I was really excited for Jon, it's also a little hard for me to give up my dream of living in California...close to the coast...in San Diego with perfect weather...and palm trees...etc. ;)  That's just me dreaming because who's to say he would have found a job in California.  Anyway, I love being around family but I've always made it clear that it would be nice to experience life away from this little town for at least a couple years.  Honestly, I don't know if Jon will stay with this company forever or if he'll get another offer somewhere else in a few years, or make his millions developing apps(wouldn't that be nice ;)), but since I've had to think of being here awhile longer, I'm starting to appreciate things about Rexburg that I've always taken for granted.  Like, how great is it that I can walk to the park without the fear of getting mugged?  Or, how great is it that a temple is 5 min. away from our house?  And, how great is it that my son will grow up feeling safe and surrounded by people who love him?  I've even started noticing how great parts of Rexburg are starting to look.  This little town is growing, and some of the landscaping is really nice.  Jon and I will occasionally take drives up by the temple just to relax and enjoy how nice everything looks up there.  Sometimes we even dream about living in one of those crazy large houses, too. ;)  So, while I will always despise the cold temperatures(I really can't emphasize enough how much I hate this) for 9 months of the year, and while I still dream of traveling all over the place, Rexburg is starting to re-grow on me.  And who knows, maybe we will move someday but if not, I'm starting to be ok with that.

Our latest events

So, this post is just a mixture of random events happening in our life.

Firstly, this little cutie and I have started taking daily trips to the park.  One reason is because I love parks.  If I had to choose a  "happy place" in life, it would be at a park.  It's like being in nature without actually being out in nature.  It reminds me of favorite birthdays growing up, eating a picnic and playing games at the park.  Sandwiches never taste so good as they do at a park.  My second reason for going is because I go crazy being at home all day.  Never thought I would say that but I do.  Being a stay at home mom is so much harder than just being home, hanging out all day.  I love hanging out with this little man, but we often need a change of scenery, for more than one reason.

By the way, Patrick took his first step yesterday!  So, by 9 1/2 months Patrick can now take a few steps, wave hi and bye, give kisses, clap(he mostly does this when we say, Ya!) and he says mama and dada.  He's started copying hi and bye but I can't really say he means to.  Soon enough though.  The kisses he actually started a few weeks ago but I forgot to record in his 8 month post.  



Second event: we celebrated Derek's birthday.  Happy Birthday to my awesome brother!  Unfortunately, we won't see as much of him starting this fall because he's going to go get his master's degree.  So Derek, we'll miss you but I know you'll rock the program and be a great teacher to all of this little freshman college students!

Thirdly, it was Mother's Day this weekend.  Oh, I so love being a mom to this cute guy.  Never has anything been so frustrating and so rewarding.  I've always wanted to be a mom but once Patrick came I realized just how emotionally and physically exhausting it can be.  At the same time, I would do anything for this little boy and I wouldn't change this role for anything.  Also, I just want to give a shout out to my own mother.  I was soo lucky to have a great example to look up to growing up and I know she would do anything for her kids. It's nice to know that I can go to her for anything and she'll always listen and be understanding.  I'm also lucky to have a great mother-in-law who raised such great kids. ;)  Patrick's lucky to have such great examples.

Lastly.....................................................Jon got a new job!!!  Goodbye Broulims.  While we appreciate the employment for the last 3 1/2 years, we're also excited that Jon gets to leave.  As of tomorrow, Jon starts at AMX International.  We're excited because 1) it pays better, 2) the hours are during the day, 3) Jon will be one of their computer programmers, which is what his degree is in, 4) there's lots of room to grow within the company, especially after he graduates.  I could probably name more reasons why we're excited about this but I'll stop there.  I'm just super proud of my smart hubby and I'm so excited that these people saw his talents.  He's applied at other places and they were quite flaky and this one just...fell into place.  They were really impressed with his programming skills and he was hired within a couple days.  I guess this means we'll probably be in Rexburg for....maybe forever.  We'll see. :)

26

Jon turned 26 this last Thursday.  26.  When did we grow up?

Happy Birthday, Jon.  We love you.

Sometimes I try to run

So, I don't write much on here about physical fitness stuff but I just thought I would share that I hit a milestone tonight.  I realized I can actually run 30 min. straight and complete a 5K.  For all you runners out there, laugh at me all you want since it's nothing to some people, but I'm proud.  Also, I know running on a treadmill is easier than on a road but it's progress.  Someday I'll be good at this running thing. ;)

9 months

9 months.  I can't believe my baby is 9 months and acts more like a toddler than a baby.  Patrick had his doctor's appointment today and apparently he's slimmed down, due to all of his mobility.

Height-30"(90th percentile)
Weight-almost 23 pounds(75th percentile)

Developments from this month:

*Saying mama and dada more frequently, although still not perfect.
*Holding his own bottle up
*Walking along furniture
*Climbing on/up everything.
*His babbling sounds more like he's trying to form words and tell stories
*Standing without support for a few seconds
*2 new teeth broke through making the total 4
*Patrick's eating quite the diverse diet and actually likes beans and peaches now.  We've fed him various fruits and vegetables, raw onions, seaweed, mushrooms, baby yogurts, peppers, etc. and he likes it all.  Except for mangos.  Really bud.  That's what you choose complain about?  Mangos?


 I can't really think of too many things because most of these he's been doing for a few weeks already.  He's a determined little man, though, and I'm afraid he'll be walking sooner than I'm ready for.  Also, just a cute, random fact about Patrick: he has to have something in each hand and it has to be two things that are similar.  If he's done playing with one type of toy, he'll drop them, pick up what he wants and then look around till he finds something like it to hold in his other hand.

Oh Patrick, you make everything in life so much sweeter.   You've developed this need to cuddle with me all the time and I have to admit, my arms get tired and my patience wears thin some days, but I love it.  I love that you love your mama. :)  We really do love you more than we can say.



 On a totally unrelated topic, I got glasses.  Yep, I've joined all you nerds. ;)  Actually, I can still see fine but my eyes have to work harder to get the focus they need which causes lots of headaches.  I felt like I was grumpy all the time because I always had a headache.  So these are my see at night-watch t.v.-need to focus on things, glasses.  Small confession, I think the right glasses can be cute and I used to tell Jon I wish I needed some because then I could have some cute glasses to wear with certain outfits.  Lame, I know.  He told me to just be happy that I could see since he's blind as a bat.

 Jon got some new ones too, he's just not here for me to take a picture.  I think men are sexy in glasses...if they pick the right kind.  I think Jon's slowly converting to my style. ;)

Cute nakedness

Sorry Patrick, your bum is too cute not to share. 

 Ever since Patrick learned to crawl, diaper changes have been...less than desirable.  This is him wanting to play a game in the middle of his diaper change.  He likes to "run" along the couch and when we catch him and tickle him, he starts laughing like it's the greatest thing on earth.   

The other night, Jon was helping me bathe Patrick.  I went to go get something and when I came back, Jon and Patrick(meaning, Jon) had spelled out that saying on the wall.  I love my boys. 

FYI-On a totally unrelated topic, we sold our bronco!  Moment of silence.  Yes, Jon and I had our first date  driving that car...9 years ago.  Our first kiss(my first kiss ever) happened by that car, drive-ins, mud bogging(what hicks we are),  it was our first married car, etc.  In other words, lots of memories.  Good bye Bronco.  We sure loved you and I hope your new owner knows what a great car you are...despite the fact that you have no air-conditioning or heat, your engine makes lots of loud noises, and fumes come through your vent...(yes, we told them the problems before selling it)

3 whole years

I've been lazy and haven't updated for a whole week(somehow it feels longer than that) but I just thought I would mention that Jon and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary! (Thank you Erika for reminding me what the date was while we were in Utah)  Going to Utah was sort of our anniversary so we didn't do a lot on the actual day, but we spent it swimming at the pool and driving back to Rexburg.  I just have to say I'm incredibly lucky that Jon felt like he could put up with me for eternity and that life together seems to get better every year.  I think we now qualify as an old married couple. Oh yeah, and next year I'm going to make Jon write our anniversary post describing how great  I am to put up with him. ;)

Busy-ness

I love everything about Easter.  Candy, Easter outfits, spring weather(most of the time), and of course, celebrating/remembering the whole reason behind Easter.

We, as always, celebrated at both parent's houses.  However, I forgot the memory card in my computer on Sunday so I didn't get any pictures from Sunday's events.

First Easter egg hunt!

Jon has his break between semesters this week so we decided to go to Utah!  Our first stop: Ben and Erika's house.  Patrick loved them.  It was nice to catch up and I wish we lived closer!  Maybe someday...  thanks again for letting us stay, Ben and Erika!

On tuesday we hung out in Salt Lake and then met up with our friends, Braden and Kari, later that night.  Jon and I have been friends with Braden for quite awhile but we haven't seen him or his wife much in the last few years so it was nice to hang out.

  I have an unhealthy love of staying in hotels so we decided to stay in one that night.  And, of course, we took advantage of the pool!  Sooo fun.

Lastly, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Blackburn's house but unfortunately I didn't get pictures.  They are such great people and it was nice to just catch up.  We're glad to be home now but I have to say it's nice to get out of Rexburg once in awhile.  Once a month would be preferable but I'll take what I can get. ;)

A little outing

Nothing beats a warm day and a lunch date to the park with people you're kinda crazy about.

Something to be noted: this is the first time ever that I personally have curled my hair and gone out in public.  Yeah, I'm finally trying to learn how to do my hair and it's only taken me...25 years.