Life keeps moving...

I just did a big Levi update but here are some other things going on.

1) I'm still in school and loving it! I mean I don't always want to sit down and do homework (like right now) but I feel so good about myself and it seems the spirit is constantly giving me feelings of encouragement that this is exactly what I'm suppose to be doing. It's been hard to change my attitude a little and understand that what used to be my relaxation/TV time is now homework time. I've tried to change my thinking that homework is great "me" time because I'm putting time into making myself a better person which is way better then watching TV. I still find time to slip in a show every now and then. :]

2) I feel healthier than I've ever been. Which is funny because according to numbers, I'm not. My lung function is down (70%) and my weight is way down (117lbs). But I'm eating so much healthier, drinking 75oz a water a day, and exercising regularly. I think exercising and cutting out so much junk food (plus chasing Levi around) is making it hard for me to keep the weight on. I feel more energized and I'm on a much healthier schedule. 10pm is bedtime and I'm up with Levi around 7:30-8. I still need a good 8-9 hours of sleep a night but I don't feel sick all the time like I used to. Before I had Levi I couldn't even wake up before 9-10am without feeling like I was going to die. I feel amazing and it's incredible how much more the spirit can be with you and influence you when you have a clean healthy temple! Even with my low numbers I feel great about where I am right now.

Having a baby really helps motivate you to change physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally because you want to be the best person you can be for them. I can't believe how much I've changed in the last 5 years let along the last 16 months. It's incredible and I feel great.

3) We are moving!! Yep we're headed back to SD. Jarom got transferred because the new hire lives up here and a spot at San Marcos is opening up. It's a lot cheaper to transfer us instead of him and we feel really good about it. There was a lot that happened that led us to this point. Basically last year we had to pay a double mortgage for about 4 months because our renters kept leaving for various reasons. :/ We did not know what to do and the debt was pilling up. We thought we were good at finances before. We're great now. :] We cut back more then we ever thought we could (like becoming a one car family) and started applying some good skills. Even with all our work we were accumulating debt like crazy. We prayed a lot to know what to do. Find renters, sell, etc. Finally we talk to Jarom's boss here in southern California about what was going on and moving back. He didn't say much or seem to think much about it but as soon as we told him we were willing to move we found renters that week that were solid! Then when they found out the new hire lived in Fontana they talked to us again and put in an official transfer order. We really feel that we were suppose to talk to Scott (Jaroms boss) about moving back that first time because if we hadn't, they probably wouldn't have approached us about moving at all not knowing what was going on or how we really felt about leaving Rancho.

We'll move around the 1st of June. There's many pros and cons but like I said we feel good about it and now that we know we're moving down we just want to get down there already. We're happy to be back in a place that we own and have some more freedoms with plus it's a 2 bedroom and is even cheaper then the 1 bedroom apartment we're in right now!

I guess that's about it. Right now I'm going through all of our stuff and figuring out what's going with us and what's going to D.I. (church donations). I've also made drawings of our entire apartment and know exactly how I want it decorated and organized! :] Talk about something that relaxes me. Seriously! Nothing like turning on a good show and thinking about how everything we have here will fit there and making it look good and be efficient. Really... it makes me giddy. I love organizing! I have a million things pinned on pinterest that I want to do. We'll just have to go little by little and I'll definitely be posting some before and afters! :] Jarom is doing awesome with institute and his calling. He's an amazing hard worker and does a really good job at balancing calling, work, and home life which is really tricky. Him going to San Marcos will be a hard change for me. I'm so used to being close to the institute here and having him pop home during the afternoon before an evening class and it will be an adjustment having him so far and unreachable. :[ San Marcos is about 40 min away from our condo without traffic but unfortunately, he'll be right in the flow of rush hour traffic making it that much longer. We're thinking about getting an energy efficient car so he can ride in the car pool lanes but I guess you'll find out about that later too. :]

The point is Jarom is amazing, Levi is amazing, and we're all doing great. Life is really good right now and we are very blessed!

What else is there to life then Levi?

Levi you will be 16 months old in 4 days. Even though you are technically 2 months to young to be in nursery I took you in last week. I'm still primary chorister and ward conferences have started up. With dad being on the high council that means I have to try and watch you and lead the music which is a joke. The primary president told me to stick you in there and you did pretty good. Not that I was surprised because you get to play with toys the entire time and when toys are involved, you don't seem to miss me too much. You cried twice. The first time was because a kid pushed you down. I wasn't happy that you were pushed but I like my little sensitive boy. I know you won't always cry when you get pushed (which is good) but I feel like it's part of your nature to be sensitive to others. You're not one who's had a problem with hitting, pushing or biting others (you had a little biting problem but a couple times in time out took care of that) and you always want to be friends and play with anyone you meet!! I love this about you! I think in life you'll have great sympathy and empathy for your family, friends, and those around you. You have a very sweet spirit and I hope you always use it to help others who aren't as fortunate as you. 

The second time you cried was because it's your nap time. Church is at 11 and you go to sleep at 1 which means you are tired!! I came in both times you cried and comforted you and after the second time you had a snack and were fine until church got out. 

You've grown so much since I last wrote!! You're getting really strong and climbing up on everything you can. You've attempted to climb out of your crib but thankfully you aren't quite tall enough for that yet. You like to climb in your highchair and jump/fall off (when I put pillows down). You also love to climb a step stool we have in the kitchen so you can see what I'm doing while I'm making dinner. 

You're becoming more interested in TV but still not enough to sit down and watch an entire show, which is fine with me. When I turn something on to get my treatments done you usually run around half of the time (unless you're eating a snack in your chair.) 

You want to play all the time and would still spend all day at the park if I let you. When it comes to toys balls are your favorite (any size or type). Dogs and pretty much any type of animal gets you very excited. You do like to read but only if you can turn the pages 100 miles per second. I can barely get through whats on the page. 

You still only say mama and dada. You don't seem to be interested in talking at all but you understand pretty much everything I say and you have no problem telling me when you want something or to go somewhere whether is pointing or pulling on my clothes or hand. 

Although you really didn't understand anything about Christmas the past December you LOVED the lights! Both of our neighbors below us put lights on their balconies and when it got dark you would run to your window and point outside if they were on. You would get the biggest smile on your face and look at me and point to them and babble in your cute baby voice. It was precious! 

You are a pro eater. Well not so much what you eat (you're kinda picky) but how. About a month ago you saw me eating some pancakes with a fork and you reached for it. So I gave it to you and without a second thought you stabbed a pancake and stuck it in your mouth. I was impressed. You eat pretty well with a spoon but if it's anything like soup a lot of it ends up in your lap. Feeding time has been so nice for the past couple months. After we went to Utah for Cmas you refused gerber baby food and starting eating other foods and you only want to feed yourself. YES! I love it. 

You wave goodbye and slap hands (high 5). We're working on blowing kisses.

What do I always say? You get cuter and cuter every day and it's true!! You keep me active and healthy and life just wouldn't be as good without you in it! I love you my little munchkin

11 and 12 months!

Yes in 6 days you will be one years old!! Crazy crazy crazy!!! You are adorable (as always) and here's a little bit of what you've been doing.

- You were officially a walker (as in walking more then crawling) just before you turned 11 months. Within 2 weeks after that you never crawled.

- Around 10 months you figured out how to help me take off your clothes. So if I pulled your pants down you'd lift your leg out or if I was pulling a shirt over your head you would bring your head down while I pulled up. You'd also take your arm out of the sleeve if I was pulling on that. You'd also help me put on your clothes by stretching out your legs and making them super straight while I put your pants on. At 11 months it seemed like second nature to you. And just the other day you looked down at the velcro strap on your diaper and ripped it off. :/ Hmmm luckily it seems to be a one time thing so far. I'm not ready for the rip-the-diaper-off stage just yet. :]

- You've learned how to scream. We went through a screaming phase for about 2 weeks and I thought I might lose my mind. Literally! One day I had a break down because dad had been at work for pretty much 2 days straight (leaving before you got up and coming home after you were in bed) and for those two days you were super frustratingly clingy (you'd just follow me around the house and cry if I wasn't holding you) and to get your way you'd scream until you gagged or threw up. :( I was so tired and frustrated that one time while you were following me around and I just sat on the couch and cried. Luckily dad was home by that point and took over the parenting for a little while. :] This experience taught me 2 things about myself and parenting:

1) For the most part I can be really strong and not break down when I have to. I felt fine the 2 days dad was at work but after he was home I just let all this pent up emotion go because I knew he could take over. Poor guy... he didn't really know what to do. He asked if I wanted to leave for a couple weeks. Whaaaaaat? It wasn't that bad. Maybe just for an hour or two. :]

2) New phases are really hard for me. You still love to scream but now I feel more equipped to handle it. I just need a few days to process what's going on, how I feel about it, and how I want to handle it. There's something about a new situation that unnerves me... well maybe I should say a negative situation. Yes, your screaming was negative even if you liked it. :]

So like I said you still do it but it's better because you've calmed down a little and I've had some time to learn how to handle it.

- You love cheerios (in fact I think you might turn into one) but...

- You've become a little picky with your eating habits. I think it's more texture then taste. You like gerber veggies better then homemade ($$$) but you'll still eat the homemade pureed fruit I make. You don't like any type of meat or cheese (unless pureed.) You pretty much love any type or processed or junk foods. :] Well you love watermelon and for the month of October (so for the last 6 days) I've made juice every morning (carrots, celery, ginger, cucumber, apples, pears) and you down that stuff! Yay! We're slowly getting you off formula. You'll probably be on it for a little longer because days when I only give you one bottle (even if I give you water or milk in a sippy cup) you barely pee at all and that worries me. Maybe I just need to make sure you're getting more liquids through a sippy?.

- You adore music. You're favorite move was the "Lorax." I'm pretty sure you still like it but I needed a break so we haven't watched it for a while. Now you're really into "Prince of Egypt." You love these movies because there is so much music. Any other show I have on you don't really care about. If I need to do treatments or get something done I put one of these movies on and you're happily content to watch it.

- You love to bite things, including me and your dad. I think we pretty much have it under control. It took 2 bad bites with the consequences of a hard tap on the mouth, a forceful "no biting" and a 1 min time out before you realized this was something you don't want to do. You understood time out pretty fast also. The first time you didn't get it at all. You just cried and screamed and didn't understand why you couldn't get up. By the second time you sat there and cried but you stayed in your seat. I was impressed... even with bite marks in my arm. :] So biting people is a rarity but you still like to bite things and then rip them out from in between your teeth. After you just laugh. I don't know if it feel funny or what but as long as you're not biting people I'm ok. Well for right now... I mean you are still in the teething phase.

- You HATE diaper changes. It feels like you think I'm doing it for fun to torture you. Like I'm thinking "I'm bored... what should I do that would be amusing. Oh yeah, change my 1 year olds diaper while he rolls over to try and stand up, kicks his legs, screams, and tries to grab his poopy private parts." :[ Obviously you don't understand this is the least favorite part of my day or the fact that if you would stay still you would be done a lot faster. And it doesn't really matter what I do. I try to feed you, sing to you, watch T.V, play with toys, etc. The only thing that works is when I give you a bottle but I'm not desperate enough to make up a bottle every time I need to change your diaper... at least not yet anyway.

- Part of the hard diaper changes recently (in the last few days) is the dry season is here and your eczema has totally flared up again (you had it bad right after you born at the time.) And you get it in your crotch area. :/ It's really sad. I have to be really good about changing your diaper regularly other wise you get these awful rashes in between your legs and your scrotum gets fiery red and swells. You also get really dry patches all over your legs and arms. I'm lotion-ing you up like crazy! You also get it around your eyes which is hard because then you want to rub them which only makes things worse. I love this time of year but this has been the worst part of it so far. As long as I stay on top of it, it's not to bad.

- One of your favorite games is going into you room and closing the door. Then you wait for me to come and find you. I open the door and say "where's Levi... there he is" (in what is probably the creepiest mommy sounding voice ever) and you get so excited. The other night I was in the room with you and you closed the door. You just stood there and then reached up and pulled on the handle and opened the door. :o I was so surprised. I'm not sure I'm ready for the opening door phase either although like the diaper incident, I think for now it's a one time thing. You haven't done it since.

- You know (on and off) 3 words. You don't say these words regularly or on cue but multiple times you have looked at you dad and said "dada," looked at me and said "mama" and looked at a dog and said "dah." Although there have been times when you've seen all of these things and said nothing and sometimes when you're babbling you say "dadadadadadada" or "mamamamamama" but not looking for us. I wouldn't say you're on the verge of talking by any means but I can see you understanding a lot. I talk to you all the time and tell you what we're going to do or where we're going to go and I think it's making a difference. Actually after taking my child development class I know it is but I love to watch you trying to think through things!

- You just want to be outside all the time. A lot of times when we come home you cry. I think our apartment is just to little :/ ... which is scary because we're going to be in here for another year.

Alright enough about you. Other things that have happened.

- It was mine and Jaroms 5th anniversary. :] One of his co-workers lives out in the mountains and loves to shoot, ride horses, etc. So we went out and went shooting and had dinner with them. It was nice (and cheap) and grandma (Abernathy) came out and watched you for the day which was awesome! I didn't worry about you at all.

- I'm going to school. I took the child development class over the summer and now am taking a math class. I hope to take more then one class a semester otherwise it will take me 10+ years to get a bachelors! :/ Oh well... I'm just plugging away at what I can. I really love it. I feel like it's helped change me and my perspective on life. It's helped raise my self esteem as I focus on my own physical and spiritual well being and I felt that I've really grown and I'm using my time more wisely. I like school a lot. I love to learn new things. It makes me feel more competent and I feel like I can be a better person and mom by getting an education.

- I'm also trying to take better care of myself (something else that I feel has been motivated by going back to school.) I'm trying to work out a couple times a week plus, like I mentioned earlier, I'm trying to juice every morning in October and cut out some of my more addictive candy. Yes, there is candy that I crave so much somedays I feel I will go crazy if I don't get it into my body. No more!

- We still live in a one bedroom but now Levi has his own room because he sleeps better in his own space. Plus if he was still in the living room I'd have to stay in the bedroom while he napped and he's getting to big for the pack n' play. He just doesn't sleep well in it. So Jarom and I are in the dining room. It's like living in a studio. It's not to bad except family dinners would be nicer at a table and the bathroom is connected to the bedroom which can make things difficult with a sleeping baby. He's a pretty light sleeper.

-We're a one car family. Jaroms jeep died and at this point we just don't have the money to keep repairing it or have it on the insurance. Luckily we live in an area where this isn't to hard. I have Target, Ralphs, and parks all in close proximity.

That's it for now. It's 11:50pm and you dad is asleep on the bed next to me. I still have a few things to do before I can go to bed and I need to sleep to keep up with you Levi! :] <3 p="">

10 months old!

Well here we are again... a little late but you are still cuter then EVER. In fact I'm pretty sure with every milli-inch you grow, the more you grow in cuteness. I just want to gobble you up!

At 10 months you are:

WALKING... a little. :] Let's just say you can walk but you don't prefer it. You walk the most between the recliner and couch (which is 4-5 steps) but you like knowing if you're going to fall, you'll probably be able to catch yourself. You can still crawl way faster then you can walk so you still crawl everywhere but you really like walking if you're holding onto my hands. You just laugh the whole time, especially when I start going really fast. You think that's fun.

You have 2 more teeth. One on the upper left and bottom right. Which means you are eating more adult foods! YAY!

You love to take showers (yes you didn't read that wrong... showers.) You still love baths but a lot of times when dad or I need to shower we'll just sit you in the tub and you play with your toys while water falls all over you. You love anything to do with water. You still enjoy swimming also!

You constantly want to play with my phone or this laptop (which makes it hard to do school!) I have to do school when you're asleep or dad will take you out.

The park is your new favorite place. Actually just being outside in general. Anytime dad leaves for work you cry but not really because you miss him (although that's what he thinks :]). You're just angry that you can't go outside. You love love love it!

You're not saying anything yet but the other day we were at the park and a dog walked by. You pointed to the dog and said "dg." It really was just a d sound and g sound with no vowel. I got all excited and said "dog?" And you said it (dg) again. I've wanted to test it and get you around another dog but we're in the middle of a heat wave (with it being about 100 every day and not cooling off at night) so we haven't gone out a lot or seen any dogs since then. It's killing me though. Is "dg" your first word? :]

I love love LOVE you little man. You are absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me! Don't forget that. Xoxoxo

Disneyland

A couple months ago we went to Disneyland with Nathan and the kids (Colleen stayed home with Jacob because she wasn't feeling well.) It was so fun. Just wanted to share some pictures.

Utah Family Reunion

The first week of July was the Utah family reunion. The first official family reunion for just Rahn, Sue, and their kids. It was really nice to be with everyone. The only downside was families share everything, including illness. We all got really sick and it was hard to recover being at someone else's home. Levi wasn't sleeping well in the pack n' play (which meant we weren't sleeping well) plus on top of having a cold he had 4 teeth come in. Poor guy!

Anyway we tried to have some fun while we were up there...

Watching a little morning TV with the cousins (and uncle)

At the water park

Lake day

Climbing the stairs

4th of July water games and fireworks

Playing the piano with grandma

We went to Salt Lake for the day but we were all feeling pretty lousy and it was so hot. We were all feeling a little blah.

When we got home we had two weeks worth of mail that you loved to play with.

I forgot to mention that on the way up we stopped at some model homes with was perfect for you. It was nice and col plus you could crawl around. 

8 and 9 months...

And still as cute as can be. I can't believe how long it has been. We did go on vacation to Utah for 2 weeks and my laptop died (the charger stopped working) which didn't help anything. So I have quite a bit of catching up to do.

- It didn't take long after my last post before you were crawling around everywhere. You were a pro crawler by 8 months for sure! You love to follow me around everywhere and get into everything. I love it though. I love being in the kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom and seeing your little head pop around the corner.

-Soon after you really started crawling we were at Grandma Daisy's and she has too little steps that go from the living from to the dining room. You didn't even hesitate! You just scooted right up them. I don't know if that's normal but I was surprised. You're not around stairs at all and it was the first time you've ever been around them. You even got down but only after a couple attempts. :]

- You eat anything and everything (I hope it lasts.) I started making you baby food and it doesn't matter what fruit or veggie it is you eat it. You also drink the juice that dad makes which is carrots, cucumber, ginger, apples, oranges,  and a lime. We just stick it in a bottle and you love it (and I love that you love it.)

-You try to stand up without holding onto the couch. You're getting pretty good but you're still cautious.

Nine Months

-You had 4 teeth come in while we were in Utah! Two on the top and two on the bottom.

-You also took 4 steps while we were in Utah. It was kind of a fluke but I'm sure you'll be walking in no time. My cousin Rachel had you and I held out my arms. You took a couple steps, started to wobble, caught yourself, and then took two more steps and were in my arms. :] You haven't really done it since but sometimes you'll walk from our couch to the recliner. Although I can hardly call it walking since it's about one step but you're getting more brave to let go of the furniture

- You've started clapping but just a little bit. You don't understand the concept of when to clap or why but you mimic me doing it and you like it.

And here are lots of pictures!! :]

I just thought you looked so cute and proper drinking the bottle with you legs crossed. :]

We've started making you "cry it out" when we put you down so your nap times have been a little irregular because I never want to make you cry if you're not tired. So I usually wait to put you down until I know you're at a point of exhaustion. Which has lead to the next 2 incidents...

This is the funniest. I was actually going to the bathroom and you came and just laid down next to me. So I started stroking your head and within a minute you were out.

I was cleaning the kitchen and left you to eat some snacks and watch a movie. A few minutes later I came out to find this. <3 p="">

You love to play at the park and are finally old enough to do so. This is you with daddy.

 I also took these at the park. Xoxoxoxo

This picture cracks me up. You hate being thrown in the air like this and you are so stiff when dad does it to you. 

 You do this a lot lately. Well lean over the side of your highchair. I'm not really sure why but you certainly like it.

I love love LOVE you little wrinkled baby toes when you get out of the bath. 

I loved the smile. You really only did it for your eighth month and then you stopped but it was my favorite. I'm sad you don't do it anymore.

Look at those thighs! Love them. You are so chunky.

I can never sit you in front of the TV for long periods of time. You like it for a few minutes and then you'd rather play but sometimes you just have to see what's on. :]

This was one of those moments I was talking about earlier where you just pop out of no where. I love them. This time I was laying on the bed and then there you were... peeking at me from over the bed. 

Here are some family pictures that we got at the reunion. I love your face. All you aunts, uncles and cousins were yelling at you from behind the camera and making funny faces so you'd smile. Instead you just look like you're wondering what all those crazy people are doing behind the camera. 

I like this one of you better but I think daddy looks more handsome in the one above so I put both.

And this isn't about you but it is our family blog. So I thought I would post the picture of my hair. I chopped it off while we were in Utah. I loved my long hair but it was such a hassle with you. Plus I'm always having a inward battle about whether I should keep it long or cut it short. 

Before:

 After

7 Month and Other Stuff

I haven't updated in so long. Mainly because everything revolves around you and so I usually just do your monthly post but I'm also on facebook and instagram so any little picture I just post on there.

Well you are over 7 months old. You are growing like a weed but you're not changing so much when it comes to tricks. These are your new things:

~ Crawling. You're not full force crawling yet. You get up on your hands and knees and then take a couple "steps" and then fall forward but you're so long and quick that you move fast. You also pull the carpet to help you get forward.

~ You love to stand and when you're in a good position you can get up pretty good but you're still pretty wobbly and fall over a lot. Although that doesn't stop you because you love to do it!! Even if you fall on your face over and over and over! 

~ You love to jump...and jump... and jump but only while I'm holding you and helping you so I've been getting a good work out!

~ You still have no teeth so it's been hard to feed you anything you have to chew. And we've completely weaned you which was bitter-sweet. You do formula, baby cereal, and pureed baby foods. In fact I just got a book from Amazon that has a bunch of all natural recipes. :]

~ We sold the Ellen Origami stroller and got a Graco Jogger which we both love more. I've been walking so much more with you and you love it also. 

~ About a week ago you fell off the bed (you're just to mobile) so we set up the Pack n' Play in our room. You take naps in there and fall asleep and night and then we transfer you. 

Living in a one bedroom is so fun... or not. 

Alright well I haven't had a lot to post like I said because of Instagram and Facebook but I do have a bunch of photos that I put on Instagram that I'll do here:

May is CF awareness month and you've been great at helping me with my treatments... kind of. Usually you get into everything so I stick you in the exersaucer and put on the "Lorax" (oh which is your favorite show... you love the music) while I finish.

I registered for school. I finished Pathways a year ago and became a full fledged BYU-I student. I finally signed up for my first classes and I'm super nervous! I'm going to have to be really dedicated and not lazy at all. :/ Hmmm not a strong suit with me!

You went to the bay for the first time and loved it and if you can tell from the upper left picture Dallen came home!! YAY. We love having Uncle Dallen back from his mission

Random but I NEVER take pictures of me and I liked how these turned out plus there is a  reason why I took these. I've decided to wear my hair all natural. Yep I shower at night, scrunch it, and let it dry while I sleep. It saves SO much time which is what I was looking for. I just don't want to spend a bunch of time on my hair instead of with you (or cleaning, eating, treatments, relaxing, or soon to be doing school.) I've had such a hard time debating between long and short hair. I'm going to try this for a while.

Remember how I said you love to stand. Well you love to do it most when I'm trying to put you in your car seat because you don't like to sit in it. As soon as I try to put you in you wiggle out of my arms so you can stand up and look around.

And last everyone says you look like Jarom. I think you're a pretty good mix but this is a picture of me and Dallen. I definitley think you have some Abernathy genes in you but you still have your own look. You're just Levi. :]