Catching Up

Well, I was doing better at keeping this up to date, but this past month was busy. Here is a re-cap of what went on:
1. Brad's birthday was on March 7th! Happy Birthday Brad! His birthday wish was for Ryan and me to join him and Mallory at Brighton to snowboard. So I went snowboarding! I have been once before, but I don't think you could technically call what I did that first time snowboarding. It was more like scooting down the mountain dragging my hands behind me. This time, however, I snowboarded. Ryan was an excellent teacher, and Brad and Mallory were patient enough to wait while I learned. Then we conquered the mountain. (OK, I actually only went down the big mountain once, but I was tired. Can you blame me?) We had a great time and went to IHOP for hot chocolate afterwards.
2. Ryan, Dainen, and I took a trip to California to find a place to live when Ryan starts medical school. We found a couple of places we liked, and have since negotiated terms with an older couple who owns a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo. It is located right down the street from another couple our age who are also going to the school Ryan will be attending. They are also in the ward. We got to spend time with them while we were down there and we are excited to get to know them better. (YAY Matt and Chelsea!) We also got to spend time with Jennilyn and Brandon and their kids. They are so fun and we can't wait to be closer to them. Dainen had a lot of fun playing with his cousins. Nonna and Papa didn't get to see him much, but are counting down the days until we are closer.
3. Ryan started a new job working for his uncle. He is developing a door to door sales program for a computer support/anti-identity theft product. He is really busy meeting with the CEO of this company and a board of other employees trying to come up with a working program, and also taking ti door to door to see if the program works. It has been time consuming, but he has enjoyed it.
4. We are trying to sell our house and have "showings" once or twice a week, so I'm busy keeping up with the cleaning, and chasing after our kid. I've also tried to do a little packing now and then so that when the time comes, it won't be so stressful. Have I mentioned how much I loathe packing and moving? I lay awake at night trying to figure out what we can do without for the next month or so, what needs to stay out until we actually leave, and where we're going to put it when it is packed up. I also get rteally excited thinking about where it's all going to go in the condo in Cali. :) But one step at a time.
So, as you can see, it has been a busy month. Also, by way of excuse, Ryan has been taking the computer to school a lot so I haven't had access to blog. But, here is a funny story to try to make up for it...
Last week, Dainen and I got up early to take a friend to the airport. When we returned, I emptied out my pockets, put the diaper bag away, put Dainen's jacket in the closet, and got him some milk. As I was in the kitchen getting the milk, I looked in our backyard and noticed that some plastic bottles that we have in a bag to recycle were scattered due to the wind. So I went out to clean them up, shutting the door behind me so Dainen wouldn't come out, and because it was really cold. (I made sure it wasn't locked.) I cleaned up all the bottles and went to walk back in the house but the doorknob wouldn't turn. Dainen was standing by the door. I was suddenly struck by the realization that Dainen had locked the door. Frantically, I tried to get Dainen to unlock the door and let me in. I could see him and he could see me, so he wasn't freaking out, and I knew he was ok. I kept telling him to unlock the door until finally, I could turn the doorknob. But the door still wouldn't open. He locked the dead bolt!! Now, on our door, when the deadbolt is straight up and down, it is unlocked, and when it is horizontal it is locked. Apparently, he couldn't get the leverage he needed to get it back vertical. He started climbing up the door, but I was afraid he would fall and hit his head on the floor and I would have to break the window to get in and then call 911 and that just wasn't looking good. So I told him I was ok and that he should go watch a movie, I would be back in a minute. So I watched him run into the living room and heard the TV turn on and then I ran over to my visiting teachers house. Fortunately she lives right across the street from me. I called Ryan, who was at school, just about to start class, and told him he had to come home now because Dainen had locked me out. With a hug from Ruby (Thanks Ruby!) I ran back home to the back yard where I could watch Dainen. We played Peek-a-boo, he stacked boxes of Macaroni, asked me repeatedly to come in and make him some food and to turn on "Boo" (Monsters, Inc.), and he kept trying to unlock the door. When I still wouldn't come in, he got frustrated and said, "Uh-mon, Mommy! Uh-mon!" And then he threw himself on the floor and gave me the pouty face. That broke my heart. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, Ryan got home and let me in. He saved the day!
Oh, I love my little 2 year old!

THE BEST Husband EVER

I just have to say that I have THE BEST husband ever. I know you might be thinking, or saying aloud, that your husband is the best, and I'm sure your husband is a good husband...but my husband is THE BEST EVER! Here's why:
I went to the doctor yesterday morning, urgent care in fact. They told me what I already knew, that I had a bad sinus infection. As if the pounding headache, sinus pressure, stuffy/runny nose, and sore throat didn't tip me off. I got antibiotics and a decongestant and went to pick up Dainen at Lesley's, who was kind enough to watch him for me. When we finally got home, Dainen threw a fit and threw his body against the front door repeatedly telling me he wanted to go. I took my medicine, regathered our stuff, and packed him in the car. Once inside the car, he proceeded to thrash around in his car seat telling me he wanted to watch cars. I went to get him out of his seat and he cried and told me to go. Anyone who has a two year old will know how I was feeling at that point, but add to it the sinus infection and we can just say I was less than happy. I decided to take him for a drive in hopes that he would just fall asleep. No such luck. (I'm sure you're wondering what this has to do with Ryan and what makes him THE BEST husband EVER. Just hang on.) After 10-15 minutes of driving around listening to him scream and thrash his body around, I called Ryan, desperately hoping that he would answer his phone. I knew he had classes all day, but I hoped maybe I would catch him on a break. Just when I thought his voice mail was going to pick up, he actually answered!! I told him, through almost sobs, what was going on knowing he wouldn't be able to do anything about it, but just needing to talk to him anyway. Without hesitation he told me to meet him on campus and that he would take Dainen. It turns out he had a 3 hour break and was just heading to the library to study for a test. So I went to campus. As soon as I pulled up, Ryan took Dainen, packed a diaper and the wipes in his backpack, grabbed Dainen's cup of milk, kissed me through the window and told me to go home and sleep. For the nest three hours, instead of studying for his test and doing his homework, Ryan tackled our two year old. And I went home. Ryan and Dainen had a fun filled afternoon of playing with salt and pepper shakers, playing skee ball, bowling, and watching Aladdin in an empty classroom. When I went back and picked up Dainen, he was so tired, he fell asleep on the way home and slept for the next two hours. By the time he woke up, Ryan was home for the night.
I am truly blessed to have such an amazing husband!

Dainen's Birthday Party

We had Dainen's birthday party with some of his friends last Saturday. This is the first time I've had the computer so I decided to put up the pictures while I had the chance. We had a lot of fun! YAY Dainen!

Here are Dainen, Chloe, and Braeden coloring Toy Story characters


We played Pin the Sheriff's Badge on Woody. Here is Dainen taking his turn


Braeden had fun spinning


Dainen blew out his candles all by himself


Close-up of the cake. Are you noticing a theme?


Dainen got some Toy Story figures from Braeden and Chloe, in addition to the ones on the cake. He LOVES Toy Story!


He also got a shirt and pants from Braeden and Chloe. The shirt has a monster on it that says "NOISY". It's so Dainen.


Play-Doh from Nonna and Papa. We think he learned this face from Ratatouille. So funny!


Nonna and Papa also gave Dainen a little bowling set. Braeden was really excited to throw the balls at the frog-shape pins.


Buzz Lightyear and his evil nemesis Emperor Zurg! The outfit is from Nonna and Papa.


Have I mentioned Dainen loves Toy Story? Specifically Buzz. Emily and Mike and their kids got Dainen footy pj's that look like Buzz Lightyear. He loves them!


Thank you so much everyone, for making this a great birthday for Dainen. And thanks to all those who sent cards, it meant a lot. We love our TWO YEAR OLD BOY!

Birthday Pictures

So when Dainen woke up this morning, Ryan and I went to get him from his crib and we sang the Happy Birthday song as we did so. As soon as we started singing, Dainen got this huge, ear to ear grin on his face and started jumping up and down in his crib. We got him out and were still singing when he started clapping and saying, "Yay! Yay!" It was so cute and so fun to see him excited about his birthday. We're not sure he really understands what was going on today, but he was getting everyone's attention and people were singing to him all day long, so he wasn't complaining. :) It was a good day.

Here are some pictures from Dainen's birthday:

This first one is Dianen talking on the phone with his cousins, Kali and Maci. They were singing Happy Birthday, hence the big huge smile.

Brad and Mallory gave Dainen an M&M dispenser.

Dainen loves Grandpa Gardner, affectionately called "Papa".

Daddy helped him blow out his candles. They were shaped in a "2".

Grandma and Grandpa Juchau sent Dainen some balloons with a card.


Thank you everyone for making this such a great day for him! He had so much fun and is so excited to be two!! We love you all!

All grown up

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAINEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAINEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAINEN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAINEN!
I can't believe my baby is two years old today!! He is getting so big! I love him so much and can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Happy birthday little man!

Valentine's Day Weekend

For Valentine’s Day weekend, Ryan, his brother Jordan, his cousin David, Dainen, and I went to Albuquerque, New Mexico to visit Ryan’s family. We had a fun and… interesting time, filled with moments we aren’t likely to ever forget. ;)

Memory 1: Going to church with Ryan’s grandparents. We were looking forward to spending quality time with them one on one, and then we would go to their house afterwards. Good plan in theory, choppy in the execution. We got to the building, were about halfway through the first hour, the first speaker was up giving her talk, and I see Dainen sitting on Ryan’s lap puking his little guts out… all over Ryan, his phone, the pew, and the chapel floor. I grab him to take him to the bathroom and he proceeds to puke all over me. I won’t gross you out with more details, but needless to say, we didn’t stay long. We cleaned up the mess after everyone left the chapel and went back to Ryan’s cousin’s house. Happy Valentine’s Day to us!!

Memory 2: Having a relaxing dinner with the family at Dan and Lindsey’s house. It had been crazy and they wanted us to just relax and enjoy a good meal. Who knew we’d get a water show spectacular to go with it? After dinner we were all sitting around talking, watching the Olympics, when water started POURING from the recessed lights in their kitchen. Come to find out, pretty quickly I might add, the upstairs bathroom toilet had flooded and the water had drained into the floor vent that goes between the two stories and the only place it had to escape was through the lights. Alex, Dan and Lindsey’s oldest son, was ecstatic to have a waterfall in his kitchen and thought it was so cool! Lol. (As it turns out, it seems the damage wasn’t as bad as it looked and won’t be too bad to repair. YAY!)

Memory 3: Driving home, sitting behind the wheel, looking in the rearview mirror and seeing Dainen choking on a mouthful of peanuts. Dainen has this weird tendency to not swallow carrots and peanuts once he has chewed them. He always asks for them and wants to eat them, but he will not swallow them. Instead he usually ends up keeping them stored in his mouth for awhile and then spitting them out in my hand. Well, because I was driving and Ryan was in the passenger seat, we had no way of knowing that he was eating peanuts and not swallowing them. Ryan’s brother and cousin had no way of knowing about Dainen’s weird tendency, so he just got more and more peanuts. All it took was one cough and suddenly he was choking on peanuts. With one hand on the wheel, I reached my other hand back, shoved it in his mouth and scraped out all the peanuts I could, until Ryan realized what was going on and took over so I wouldn’t crash. (Wait until you’re a Mom, and then you’ll understand my priorities.) It took some coaxing, but they were finally able to get Dainen to spit out all the remaining peanuts and he was ok.

Despite all of these wonderful memories, we really did have a good time. Lol! :) Ryan and I got to spend a night out just the two of us, which doesn’t happen very often anymore. We got to spend a lot of time with family that we haven’t seen in a long time. We got to go to the aquarium, and Ryan got to snowboard with his cousins. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun!!

(I tried to post pictures and videos, but for some reason, my computer is having a hard time doing it. So….pictures and videos to come. Sorry!)

Resolution

So I have to say I'm probably one of the worst bloggers on the net. And it makes me sad that I haven't chronicled any of our doings this past year. SO! With a renewed sense of... something, I have decided to give it another go. :)
This past year has been really great! We stayed home, here in Utah, for the summer. YAY no summer sales! Ryan took classes, shadowed doctors, and did research for one of his professors. He also took the MCAT, and did really well. We bought a new car, a Honda FIT, that we absolutely LOVE!! Ryan applied to Medical schools and D.O. schools (Doctor of Osteopathy), and we recently found out, after interviewing, that he was accepted to Touro University in Vallejo, CA. It is a DO school that also offers a dual degree program, so he can get a Masters in Public Health along with his Doctor of Osteopathy. He still has an interview scheduled with a school in Arizona, so we haven't made any final decisions, but we are really really excited about this school and the possibility of living so close to my family. Not to mention that it is just an awesome school with a great program!
Dainen is now almost TWO years old!! He loves to jump around the house, literally, and climb and jump off of things. It scares his mommy to death, but he has a lot of fun. His favorite game to play is tackling daddy. He runs as fast as he can across the living room and tackles Ryan at full force. He doesn't even slow down. He loves wrestling and playing with his daddy. He also loves movies, talking on the phone, and playing on the computer. He isn't quite talking in complete sentences, but he is trying. I understand about 90% of what he says, and the rest he makes up. We have a lot of fun playing together.
I am currently just a stay at home mom, and loving it. I have been working on a lot of projects around the house. Recovering the couch, making curtains for the kitchen (thank you Mallory for your sewing machine), decorating Dainen's room with vinyl lettering (thank you Lesley for your Cricut), rearranging the furniture in the living room, getting rid of old furniture and replacing it with new stuff, going through closets and getting rid of old clothes, organizing and cleaning... etc etc. Have you ever gone through a "nesting stage" when you weren't actually pregnant?? Weird. But it feels really good to be getting things in order.
So that's pretty much what has been going on with us lately. I'll update again soon.... I promise!! With pictures. :)