On Saturday we went with my mom to the Christmas breakfast in her ward. (our old ward) We were excited to see old friends and of course SANTA. It is so much fun to have kids old enough to understand what is going on. Carson was so excited. He talks about Santa every day. Ian was a little nervous, but he didn't cry. Which is a step up from last year.
I started back to work about six weeks ago. Just in time for the holiday rush for the postal service. I was worried about leaving Braxton. I didn't know how he would react to his food source leaving for seven hours every couple of nights. He has done better than could be expected. Now that we are in the heat of Christmas mail I have had to work more than expected. The boys have adjusted well to the change. They love to spend time just with Kevin. He lets them get away with more than I do. Every morning Carson tells me that he wants Dad to stay home. I totally agree with him. Today as I was getting Carson dressed he looked at me very sincerely and said, "I don't like you." I know he is only three and doesn't really know what that means, and I know he just misses his dad, but still. I just looked at him, fought back the tears, tried not to get mad, and finished dressing him. I'm not ready for him to be a teenager that's for sure.
As the snow falls my mind turns to a dear friend of mine who has gone on. His name was Newman, my first car. The light blue '89 Mazda 626 was passed down to me when David went on his mission my sophomore year. He was a beater, but he was mine. Jed Nordfelt said he needed a name. Being the Seinfeld fan he is he named him Newman, and it stuck. Here are a few of my favorite memories:
-Climbing in the passengers door because the driver's door is frozen shut
-Trying to scrape off the ice at 5:30 in the morning but giving up after clearing a small hole to see through.
-The stinky heater that would work sometimes
-Sweating to death in the summer after practice (no air conditioning)
-Getting my first and only flat tire
-Parking in the staff lot. My dad got me a staff parking sticker for school. Most days I would abide and park with the students, but there was no way I was going to park on the range.
Newman broke down in the fall as we headed back to Ephraim. Luckily he hung in there until we got to school. It was a snowy day when they towed him away, and I didn't get to tell him good-bye. A few months later we were driving through Chester (a small town between Nephi and Ephraim) and I found him. There he sat in the local junk yard. I made Kev pull over so I could get a closer look. I ran to him and asked Kevin to take a picture of us. The owner of the yard came out wondering what we were doing. She was very nice and gave us a few moments alone to say our good-byes.
I never really loved Newman until he was gone. Wherever you are Newman, you are missed.
Last night Braxton woke up around 12:30 ready to eat. After feeding him I put him back in his bed so he could fall asleep on his own. Normally he does a good job, and I don't hear from him. A few minutes later I knew it was going to be a long night. I picked him up and settled in the rocking chair for the night. I put him on my chest with his head tucked under my chin (his favorite spot). Two seconds later his Binky shoots out of his mouth and he covers me in vomit. Great I think, just great. As I try to stand up the mess makes it's way down to my belly button. Even better. Not wanting to bother Kevin I put him in his bed and clean up. When I return to rock him he is sound asleep.
Then 4 o'clock rolls around and he is ready to eat again. I try to lay him down again, but it won't work. I foolishly stick him under my chin again, but lay in my bed this time. You guessed it, he chucked again. Now I'm stuck in my bed, Kevin's in the shower, and Braxton is fast asleep. Good thing I love the kid.
We bought this baby swing before Carson was born. In fact it was the first thing that we bought him. He hated it. Ian hated it. I was determined that our money would not be wasted, and that Braxton would love it. So far so it's worth it's weight in gold.
The Good:
I was so excited four months ago when Carson told me he wanted to use the potty. He did awesome without many accidents.
The Bad:
He wouldn't go number 2 in the potty. We tried everything and he would still ask for a diaper when he needed to go.
The Diapers:
I asked the pediatrician what I should do. She looked right at Carson and said, "Well I guess you have to wear diapers until you can go in the potty." Carson cried. He loves his undies. That was five days ago, now he doesn't care if he is in diapers or not. Great. I don't mind having three in diapers. I do mind paying for them.
