Reyna's birth story kinda

Ok so I don't remember doing this with Lynlee, but I think I should write down my memory of Reyna and the day she joined our family.

So I decided to get and induction which turned out to be my best option.  My body doesn't really progress so it needs help.  That was the same as Lynlee.  The doctor joked that I would be at 42 weeks pregnant and still not have made any progress haha.  Wasn't as funny on the day of induction.  I had dilated to about a 3 1/2, she had dropped enough and my cervix was at about 75% thinned.

We went in on the morning of January 19th filled out the paperwork and got settled into our room.  I got hooked up and told that I should get my epidural about two hours in at about 11 am.  I did and one of my legs went completely numb no feeling at all.  So that was fun.  Reyna's head was not facing the right way in the birth canal causing my cervix to thin completely on one side and not on the other.  With that I tried laying in a different position to try and get her facing the right way.  It worked and I was able to push.

Luckily the epidural had only worn off a little bit except for my one numb leg grrr.  That made pushing fun.  Matt and the nurse had to hold my legs to help me push.  I only had to push for 45 minutes this time and not an 1 1/2 hrs. :) She came out and the first thing that the doctor said was "you are going to surprised at how big she is"  I should tell you that in the weeks leading up he told me that she should be about the same size as her sister at 7lbs 9oz.  I was surprised to find out that she came out at 9lbs 2oz.  She was a chunker.  I was able to hold her for a little bit and then they took her to be cleaned and from that point I didn't get to hold her again for a long time.

Reyna was born with some fluid in her lungs and was not able to breath very well on her own (she had a 40% oxygen saturation or something) and so protocol took her to the NICU.  She was given antibiotics and put on a breathing machine.  I can't tell you how envious I was of every mother that had the opportunity to cuddle with their newborn.  I asked myself questions like "why she wasn't small or premie" "she came on her due date."

When I went to feed her in the NICU she was a monster compared to the other babies there.  Luckily the fluid cleared within two days, but she had to stay in there until her antibiotics dosage was through.  So our little big Reyna got to hangout in the NICU for a week.  I was told by the nurses that they knew it was her crying every time because she was ALWAYS hungry.  So she was given a few bottles while in the there. She is still the same.  You can never give her enough food haha.  It is fun to have our girls be at different ends of the spectrum.

Oh wow!!! I am so terrible about keeping up haha :)

So a lot has happened since the last post, but you know me if I don't think about it then it doesn't happen.  For some reason it popped in my head this morning and here I am.

Reyna is 10 months old today what!!!!??? I cannot believe time has flown by so fast.  Our little girl is the light of our life. She loves learning new things and being apart of everything.  She is a social butterfly girl for sure.  She has started the stranger danger part which is only a problem when she is hungry or tired, but most of the time she calms down pretty fast.  She loves to clap and has the cutest little wave that you ever did see :) She can say mama, dada, I think sometimes she says dog, and I am pretty sure she will start saying Hi and Bye really soon.  It already sound like she is says Hi and Bye :)
Her hair still has a red tint to it which we are loving :) The girls dressed as Anna and Elsa for Halloween (my very reaction when she was a newborn that it was going to happen).

She is crawling around and pulling herself up and will try and stand by herself and then fall and then cry and I will have to comfort her.

The biggest difference I have noticed between Lynlee and Reyna is that she is so much more focused then Lynlee.

We had to switch to formula bottles at 7 months because I stopped producing, but she loves her bottle and I think it was a great transition.  Yes I felt guilty because of all of the new trend naturalist mothers out there.  I have sense come to my own consensus that it doesn't matter she is getting the nutrients she needs and is growing just fine.

Lynlee is still our petite little girl, but is getting smarter and smarter everyday.  She LOVES being a big sister and every chance she gets she will tell people that Reyna is her little sister.  Reyna loves her too and is already getting into her stuff.

Lynlee was supposed to start preschool this year (so she would have two years of preschool).  We don't have money to pay anyone and she didn't get into the free option.  Maybe she will get in January.

She started Ballet and absolutely loves it.  She comes home and practices and last week her practice paid off; her teacher noticed and she had a smile from ear to ear.  She was so proud of herself.  I have secretly always wanted my little girls to be dancers and it is off to a great start.  She is getting really smart.  The other day she came to me and she had written the word mom and I melted just a little bit.  She can write her name, but I didn't know she could do anything else.

Her current favorite toy is barbies.  I know I know seems superficial, but she loves to dress them up in different outfits a million times a day and plays with them.  This is going to make christmas easy :) She loves putting on shows.  I don't think she will have stage fright, but I think it is too young to tell.  She loves preforming for people though whether it be singing or dancing or putting on a small play.  She always wants someone to play with her (insert guilt for not having her in preschool).

Matt started and finished his first semester of his Master of Science in Finance. Hopefully he will be able to graduate next December (crossing my fingers).  He is going to the University of Utah which we sometimes joke with my dad about (he is a BYU alum and every year we get something BYU related haha).  

He decided to stay working full-time and going to school part-time.  That has been tough on Lynlee the most.  She is a daddy's girl through and through.  I am adjusting to it just fine.

I have started my own business.  LuLaRoe Nikki Shelton.  I sell the most comfortable clothing ever.   Something I thought I would do in a million billion years.  I started doing it mainly because people have told me I can't do it.  So right now I think my purpose in doing it is to prove to them that I can.  I can chase my dreams I don't have to listen to them.  Matt has been my biggest supporter and thinks that I can accomplish so many things.  What he thinks is the only thing that matters.  I have seen a change in Lynlee to with me doing this.  She thinks it is so much fun meeting new people and showing them how "cute" the clothes are.  She will go up to a piece and say "Oh I love this one it will look so good on you"  I love my sidekick in this adventure.

I have struggled with so many things starting this business because I am being forced to step out of my comfort zone.  The biggest lesson right now that I am learning is that I don't have to please everyone.  People won't like you and that is ok.  They may not love your clothing and support you, but I don't have to be bothered by that.  There are so many new people to meet in this journey and I can't wait to meet them and see how happy dressing in these clothes makes them feel.

Well, that is a short recap on the current big changes in our life.

No I'm Ducky

Ok Lynlee is growing up so so so fast.  Can you believe she is already 3 years old!!! She is incredibly excited about her new baby sister that is on her way.  She will kiss and hug my tummy and call her by the name we have chosen (which I will announce the day she is born because it may change) :) She is a talker and LOVES to dance around the house and sing and make up her own songs :) Loves singing her alphabet, I am a Child of God, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and her made up princess songs.  She loves learning new things and reading her books.  Her imagination is really fun to watch and listen too.  Even though she is really small (bottom of the charts in height and weight; her head is normal though) she startles people with how smart she is :)  She does have quite the little attitude though a little diva that wants her way all the time.  I suppose that is just the age though ha.

So during her nighttime routine she all of the sudden started calling herself Ducky and I wanted to document it.  I wish I had a recording, but for some reason if you call her Ducky she will go to the bathroom, brush her teeth, chose out her books to read and what songs to sing her to sleep.  She has always liked ducks maybe that is where it comes from.   We did get a book from the library called Duck to the rescue maybe that is where she gets it, but whatever it is, it is so funny that she loves being called ducky haha :)

Another little funny thing that she says is when we are driving the car, just her and I, she will make sure to tell me that daddy is not in the car and it is just her.  She does this during the day when we are playing.  She will tell me she is playing with me because daddy isn't home....What!?!?! I guess she really is a daddy's girl haha :) So the days that Matt works his other job or has other obligations I feel bad that she doesn't get her daddy time.  She loves him so much.

Here are some current pictures of our Lynlee.  I wish I could find a picture, but her hair is getting thicker yay :)

Doing her puzzle and singing her alphabet

Looking really cute.

It's a.......

Ok before I tell you the gender of the newest member of our family.  I am just going to brag a little bit about how AMAZING MountainStar Imaging Center is.  I have been to their clinic twice and the service given by the employees has been AMAZING.  Today the nurse couldn't stop talking about how great and hard working the OBGYN I chose is either.  It really made me feel comfortable with my decision with choosing him. I say this because with our insurance he wasn't the cheapest to go to (not most expensive one either), but the best location.

So Lynlee and Matt were able to join me on this visit. Yay :)  Matt I think really enjoyed how thorough the tech was in explaining everything she was looking for and so did I.  With Lynlee they didn't really talk to much about every specific thing.  Everything this lady looked at she gave a reasoning as to why she looks for it and then tied it to other things.  I really felt a lot more educated coming out of this. Anyways, Lynlee naturally didn't have a super long attention span for this, but the room was prepared with a toy to keep her entertained.  She really liked seeing the pictures on the big screen.  Here is my favorite picture we got.

Isn't it fun that she was able to get a high five picture.

This is another really cute picture

Hugging the placenta the entire time.  So cute.

So we went through everything and the nurse pointed out that I have a tilted Uterus and the baby was really liking pushing further back.  With that going against in seeing the gender the baby was also in a breech position so the bum and legs weren't in the best position.  Well with getting the babe to move and kick we were able to get it to show us.  And it is a girl.  Lynlee I am pretty sure has a sixth sense because every time we asked her what the baby is it was always a baby sister so we are really excited that she will get her little best friend.  For me I am slightly bummed, but still really excited :)  I was looking forward to having a boy.  You can never be really sure until the little one arrives though ;)  We are excited for this babe to join our family in January :)

Exciting news!!!!!

For those of you who do not know Matt and I found out we are expecting a new addition to the family in January back in May.  We announced after returning from Hawaii mid June

Lynlee is convinced that she will have a sister.  Every time you ask her no matter how many ways you word it she gets serious and says "I just want a girl"

After trying for over a year to conceive we are more than excited.  I have learned a lot about myself, changed the way I see things and felt like that whole process is something I needed.  I am growing up haha and I am 27.  That is one of the things that I have come to realize that I am not one of those LDS girls that get married young and have kids every 18 months to 2 years apart.  Every family is different and it is okay to have children further apart and it doesn't matter your age.

We are also really excited about this timing because this little one will have a cousin close on both sides.  Matt's brother is expecting a little boy in November and my brother is expecting their third the end of February :)  Maybe that is why it took us this long.  Isn't this a great reminder that everything happens on the Lord's timetable :)

Morning sickness was terrible for about 5 weeks (about Memorial Day weekend to the last week of June).  I am not as nauseated as I was the past couple of days and I am so incredibly happy about it.  I feel like Lynlee is getting her Mom back :) and everyone else doesn't have to deal with a really grumpy Nikki.

I am really happy about the due date that it is after the holidays.  If this little one is anything like Lynlee it will come a week late ha.

The past few months

So I am terrible at updating this, but ever since moving back to Utah and seeing family sometimes I feel like I see everyone that reads this blog regularly and they know what is going on in our lives.  Then I thought maybe there are a few old friends that follow and I feel guilty for not keeping them in the loop.

Well, since I last posted we went on our first family vacation just the three of us.  We chose go to Las Vegas because we had bought this time share thing back in January 2013 that we needed to use.  So lodging had already been paid for months before.  I have never been to the Strip and wanted that one time experience and i got it and I don't know if I will see as much as we did this trip.  We didn't stay on the strip which I think was perfect for us.  One of my favorite parts of the trip was taking Lynlee to the swimming pool. She LOVED it.  The water was perfect and I just loved every minute of it :) I love how Lynlee is the center of my world. Everything I did was to create a positive experience for her.  Her favorite park I think would be when we went to Circus Circus and she got to play the arcade games.  It was such a fun family trip and we even got to see Matt's mission companion Jed and his family.  We are thankful they watched miss Lynlee while we had to go to a presentation :( We then went to the awesome discover kids museum there and dinner at retainer park.

What else big happened haha (my memory is definitely staring to go).  There were birthdays we celebrated of her cousin Makenzie, Grandma Mendenhall, Grandpa Mendenhall and called Grandma Shelton on her birthday.  There was conference Lynlees half birthday.  The crazy spring weather of Utah that we are adjusting too.  I love it though I have missed this time of year.  There was Easter where Lynlee got a cute new dress and went on to many egg hunts (I think there were four).  She LOVED all the candy she got though.  We tried to teach her the meaning of the Holiday.  She does recognize Jesus in her prayers now though so I see that as a success :) We went to my extended family gathering at West Mountain.  I have not been there since before I was married.

Things about Lynlee.  She is incredibly smart I just can't believe that I can hold a conversation with her.  She has recently started saying her very own prayers. She can count pretty high, but with the numbers in order she counts to 11. She can sing the alphabet song mainly with the show Super Why.  She understands what her shows are saying to her.  She has started playing with the neighbor girl more and every time she sees there house she asks if she can play.  She loves playing with her friend Aidalyn.  We took them to the zoo the other day and they were really cute together.

I love this video.

Lynlee repeats everything we say Yay!!! :) She is slowly getting more hair I hope by her third birthday she we have more.  She loves digging in the dirt and riding her bike.  Loves being outside in general.  Anytime we get in the car she asks if we can go to a park.  She is still our petite little girl I weigh every once in a while to see what our scale says and currently she is about 25 lbs and about 33 inches.  She it into the stage of owies and asks for band-aid's anytime she falls, but most of the time we can kiss them better and she is happy again.

Matt has had some changes in management at work that he is handling with the increased work load and such.  He is enjoying working out.  I am going to brag about him for a second though.  So we decided to do this 21 day fix program to kick our butts into Hawaii shape.  Matt has lost 3 inches in his waste and has gone down two holes in his belt.  He says he has more energy and really enjoys working out. This make my heart happy really :)

For myself I am hoping to change some things. I have made it a new goal to not complain publicly about my feelings.  I will vent to Matt and other sources such as family and friends.  With this new goal and eating more healthy and exercising everyday I am more happy.  I don't get down as much.  We are getting so excited for our vacation just the two of us in Hawaii :)

Hindsight is 20/20

The saying of "hindsight is 20/20" is very well used and so very true.  I was thinking about this yesterday about all of the different choices I have made and got caught in the trap of "what if..."

I think the lessons I have learned these past couple of years have some of the biggest in my life.  I have grown as a person and learned to love and try new and different things.   I never would have done some of the stuff without my loving husband.  It is just funny to think that you can look back and see exactly what could have happened if the other choice was made.  Such as maybe you wouldn't have offended someone and your relationship with them wouldn't have suffered.

I write this post  because I keep trying to come to terms with the fact that we struggle with fertility and every time I hear how someone is expecting a new addition to their family I get bummed out all over again and   don't congratulate them and I automatically think negative thoughts.  Mostly about "Why can't I have my children two years apart like I wanted." "Why are they so lucky to have kids close together" "Lynlee is never going to have a close sibling (this one makes me really sad actually)" This fits in with this saying in that if I am genuinely excited for them will my circumstances be different.  Will I just find the peace I need to be the best mother I can to my little girl and potentially only child? Will I forget about having other children and get a surprise pregnancy?

I hate that I get stuck in the rut and I don't think Matt truly understands what I am going through.  I know there are other people out there that struggle with this and someday I will talk with them I am sure.  I just don't want to live in my mind of negativity every time I hear someone else's exciting news. I want to be able to look back and be excited for them and their life journey. I need to accept that maybe we do have a miracle baby and my life is not following the direction I wanted too.  For heaven sake I never wanted to live in a foreign country and I have and I look back and see what an amazing moment that was in my life.  My testimony grew in the gospel probably the most during that time.  I lived far away from my immediate family and I never wanted to do that and I met some amazing people because of it.

I want my hindsight to be filled with more positive and not negative thoughts.  So here is to a brighter future that will bring my little family closer together.  I am excited for the fact that we are going on our first family vacation soon and I don't have to worry about a young newborn or being really pregnant and uncomfortable.  I get to probably live more of my dream out of going on more vacations and seeing the world more because I don't have lot's kids.  I know there are different ways to look at this and the joys of lots of children,but this is how I get to look at it positively.

Sorry for this vent/whiny post, but it has been on my mind lately and I want it out of me.

I just read this blog post and it fits perfectly.
http://natashametzler.com/2014/02/17/but-why-does-she-get-babies/

Lynlee Paints

So I will admit to you all right here and now.  I can be a really lazy mom.  There I said it :)  With that out there I have waited until my child was almost 2 and a half to introduce her to painting because 1. It is a messy ordeal and 2. I have had very little patience with her me myself stage.  So one day I whipped out the paints I had bought her for Christmas.  

She was sooooo excited.  I threw on her little apron and of course I had to wear one too.  We set down and began to paint.  She LOVED it and everyday since then she likes to ask me about painting again most of the time I am able to show her the video of her painting the first time and that satisfies her need.  I am not a very creative person hence why my degree is in accounting haha.  Anyways, I have a feeling I will need overcome my dislike for mess and try to help form a healthy creative side for Miss Lynlee.

She really does love it.  She put so much concentration into trying to do it.  I hope that I can keep up with her energy of wanting to try new things. Love this girl so miuch.

February 2014

Two months have past this year all ready, oh my goodness!!  Nothing really exciting happened.

Valentines was fun.  Lynlee and I woke up to some flowers, love notes, a chocolate treat, sparkling cider and she got a sock monkey. I made dinner and gave him some Milanos. We stayed in and watched a movie and just spent time with each other.  If you ask me that is the perfect way to spend Valentines day.  We don't need something fancy just each other :) I didn't take pictures because I forgot.

I attempted to take a picture to send out, but this was her mood so I didn't send anything out.

Matt sang in church and I played the piano (really overcoming my fear of playing in front of people).  It went really well.  We chose the song weeks before and it correlated perfectly with the talks given that day.  Inspiration in choosing that song I think :) We are really liking our ward.

Lynlee and I went on some walks with our friends Liz and Lilly and Leah and Aidalyn.  We have loved our little get-together's.  We were even able to go on some walks.  We are getting really excited for Spring to come. We are hoping since March came in like a lion that it will go out like a lamb haha.

We went to the zoo on Presidents Day

On this visit Lynlee being her I want to do things myself phase she tripped and face planted it into a the fence by the elephants and we left with a bruised cheek.  She had a blast and we got to hear the tiger roar and everything. 

Mitch and Lindsey came down from Idaho.  We celebrated Miss Alex's birthday and the next day we went up to PCMR and hit the slopes.  I had a blast.  It was fun to go with Mitch, Lindsey and Bryan.  Matt had gone on a business trip so I decided that we would spend the night at my parents place.  The next day took the girls ice skating for the first time.  Lynlee loved it 

 We took a video, but those take forever to load.

We went on a date to see "Walk off the earth" with "Parachute."  It was so much fun to get out and do something fun.  We met up with Matt's sister Jenny and husband Matthew at Jason's Deli.  I would upload a video, but once again that takes forever, but they are pretty awesome. 

Lynlee started doing better with potty training, but still doesn't want poop consistently.  The pediatrician warned us that would be really hard for her to master because of her constipation days.  She is getting better though.  She is eating more than she used too.  She is getting to be really smart.  She counts to 11 and knows her letter really well.  If you show her a letter she will tell you what it is.  She LOVES reading books like most toddlers.  She LOVES taking showers not baths, but that is ok with me.  Loves playing with friends.  I can't believe I have to start thinking about joy school and preschool here really soon.  My baby girl is growing up so fast.  

January 2014

Welcome to the new year.  The first month was a pretty great month.  It started out with some family time fixing up a leaking issue that we will finish addressing come spring.   I played music in a wedding which I was stressed out about for about the first two weeks.  They loved what I played and it really made me feel awesome.  We are loving our new ward.  I got a new calling I am now Relief Society secretary and Relief Society pianst and a member of the compassionate service committee.  I have never felt like I truly belonged in a ward until this one.  I know it is silly that holding a calling could create a sense of fellowship, but it does for me.  In our last ward it took them six months to place us in a calling and our ward now is just as big and just as transitory so I just feel that we haven't been overlooked.

Lynlee and I started doing a play group with two ladies in our ward.  It has been nice to get to know these ladies and their little girls.  The youngest is 8 months, the next is 16 months and then miss Lynlee (28 months).  This time with these little girls is teaching her so much and I am grateful for it :)

Matt and I were able to get out and go snowboarding.  I truly forgot how much I love this sport.  I love just getting out on the mountain and being in nature.  Maybe that should be a goal for this summer/spring/fall.  Get out and hike and camp more in nature.  It is such a stress relief.

We spent lots of time with both sides of our family.  My cousin just got a job in North Phoenix literally down the road from where we lived.  I reminisced a little on how I missed that specific area and even thought of how fun it would be to move back and then laughed at myself because I remembered how much I dislike the summers there haha.

We went to the temple with the Shelton clan and did family names.  It was so fun to be part of the experience and to be able to share it with some of Matt's siblings.  In the past six months or so I have changed dramatically as a person.  I don't know what has changed, but I finally feel like I am in a place where I can be myself again and not battle with the thought of "keeping up with the Jones" or the new disease of pinterestite haha (not a word, but definitely a condition in my book).  I guess I came to realize that I don't need to be perfect haha (this will constantly be a battle).

Lynlee is speaking in full sentences which sometimes takes me off guard.  An example is that she will want to go somewhere, but she will turn to you and say "I am going..mumbled words(sometimes you understand a word like potty)....I will be right back" or "No way mom I don't want" or "Need my coat it is cooooolllllld (said in a shivery voice) outside." She is growing up soooo fast.

Also this past month I have come to the realization (thanks partly to being in this ward) that it is OK to have your children more than two years apart.  There are so many families that there kids and three years apart or they have three year olds and not a second child.  I really needed that conformation because conceiving another child for us has been not easy.

Matt is really enjoying his job. I am really liking the people he works with even though only one is an active member of the LDS church (there is only one that is inactive) in an office of about fifteen people.  Funny that he gets a job in Utah and there were less members in his office than his first job in Wilcox, AZ.

January has truly been a new beginning for our family.  I have set some personal resolutions and so far I am keeping to them.  Lets see what February has to offer :)

2013 in Review

This past year has been eventful for the Shelton fam :) and since we don't/didn't do a holiday card this is what happened :)

The year started out with the knowledge that Matt's current job in Scottsdale, AZ would be coming to the end in a few months (ended up being longer).  So we began the hunt for new employment played around with the idea of moving back to Utah.  We didn't want to get too serious because of our plans to take a family trip to Walt Disney World in May.

Lynlee and I enjoyed taking daily walks to the neighborhood park for play dates.  We went to the Phoenix zoo where Lynlee loved seeing all of the animals.  We would follow up those visits with going with Dad to lunch :)

After turning down a great offer for a company in Tempe we made the official decision that moving back to Utah was the path we are supposed to follow.  Matt applied to many jobs on ksl and through some contacts that he had.  We met with a recruiter and things were set in motion.

We went to Disney World in May to celebrate Mitch's graduation from Medical school and moving on to their next step of residency.  This trip was fantastic and we loved every moment of it.  We were there a day early and went to a natural spring followed by meeting everyone at the vacation home.  It was awesome this giant house included a pool and spa where we spent some fun quality time :)  We had a blast at all of the parks.  Sad that is had to come to an end, but left with awesome memories :)

Upon returning Matt had set up some interviews in the 'tah and we came up hoping for the best.  At that same time we put our house up on the market :) Being back in Arizona from our trip to Utah for one day Matt got an offer from a job that would push him in the direction he wanted his career to go. Two days later we got an offer on our house and it was all meant to be :) The Lord truly works in our lives.  

We moved within the next couple weeks into my Aunt and Uncle's house in Canyon Rim (Salt Lake).   Incredibly grateful for awesome family for letting us live with them while we found a place of our own.  The new job is in Park City, UT and the commute was best from their house. Since living in Park City was out of the question because I didn't want to work we started looking in Murray, Salt Lake, and surrounding communities to live.  We found a house and fell in love with it in Murray (even though our windows started leaking this past month).   Matt's commute is still about a half hour, but we live in Salt Lake because Matt is going to go get his Masters in Finance :) Let's hope he gets into the program with the U of U.

We had the Shelton reunion at Bear Lake this year and we put our anniversary together with it spending the night before in Logan at Anniversary Inn (we has a discount coupon yay!) We had a blast and met up with the family for a fun time.  We also had the opportunity to go to the Mendenhall Family cabin which we hadn't been too in three years.  This was such an awesome summer.

Our beautiful miss Lynlee turned two and she has embraced the terrible twos throwing horrible tantrums and crying every time she doesn't get her way. Potty training is actually going better than I thought it would (knock on wood).  She transitioned to a big girl bed without any problems.  We love her to pieces.

Our new ward is amazing and has opened us with open arms.  Matt and I both have callings (something that took six months living in Mesa to get).  We fill like we are part of the ward.

The holidays were crazy busy with family parties and trying to get everything ready.  We enjoyed seeing our families and are excited to see what the next year has in store for us :)  Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

Joys of owning a home

So Matt and I LOVE our new home.  Our favorite of the three we have owned.  This house though when we started having winter conditions problems started appearing :/ really frustrating I tell ya.  The first sign was a frozen pipe to just the basement toilet thankfully Matt has found the remedy for that :) Then there was a leaking window upstairs, but after drying up the mess the leaking stopped.  This happened right after the first snowstorm of the season.  So we didn't think much of it (I checked it periodically to see if there was a leak, but there wasn't).

This last storm that came with freezing rain followed by 4-5 inches of fluffy stuff resurfaced the problem.  The night the storm hit I was awoken by dripping water and yes the window was leaking once again and hasn't stopped.  I have found where the water is dripping (from the roof under the gutter) and understand why it is dripping through the window (bad seal/installation of the window) into the house (not to excited about how much it will cost when we see the full damage).  Then today the basement window below the second story window started leaking and since that window is more accessible I found it is the same as the upper window.

Now we just need to figure why the roof is leaking: do we need a new roof, is there some air thing happening in the attic caused by vents like the internet suggests, or is is just ice building up between the gutter and roof and melting down the house and causing ice to form on the window and melting and ruining the seal.

Is it bad that I stress about things like this? I feel that I should because if I don't when will it be fixed.  It is hard to fix things in the winter too ugh and the official day of winter starts tomorrow.

I am hoping by venting here that I will be able to level my emotions out and have a rational head on. I am frugal and when problems occur I get stressed on the money side of things.  I know that we are still safe and that we will survive, but how much is it going to cost to fix.  The older I get I am surprised more and more by how the level of our finances affects me.

Sorry for another vent post, but I really want to fix this problem, but I only have the resource of the internet and the prayer for patience to wait for help.  

Feelings lately

Ok so this might be a downer post, but I need to get how I feel right now out into the world without offending anyone or just feel like I am offending them.

So last January I had this strong feeling like we should have another child and ever since then we have been trying to conceive really pushing for it after our trip to Disney World in May.  Month after month I have been disappointed I wanted my children to be close to two years apart.  I know that I have had some really early miscarriages because I never cramp with my periods and when one comes a week or so late with cramping (along with symptoms a pregnancy preceding) and heavy bleeding I just know that is what is happening.  I take a long time to show the hcg hormone just fyi. It is difficult to get onto facebook and see all of these people declaring there pregnancy of their second or third child.  Announcing their gender and so forth.  I am sure God has a different plan for us, but it is so hard when people ask how old Lynlee is and then proceed to ask have you thought about another?  It is also always the worst when someone says they got pregnant on accident (it bothers me sooooo bad). I know I am related (in matt's family) to people that have had this issue and used other methods for conceiving.  I know there is nothing wrong with me unless something changed when Lynlee was born.

I know this is just me feeling insecure, but I know we can conceive or else we wouldn't have our beautiful daughter Lynlee. What about that feeling I had about having another child was that just smoke and I was completely conjuring that up? Ugh I am just frustrated.  I was sure this month would be the one I had symptoms, but aunt flow made an early appearance this month just to say nope not this time.

On a brighter note we went to a Chinese restaurant Saturday and my fortune said that I would get some good news in three months haha.  Matt and I joked that was when we would find out the gender of our child (not the case anymore).  Maybe that is when we will find out that we are expecting.  Also if anyone knows me knows that I hate talking about this topic to anyone besides my husband I feel awkward when I do.  When things are really personal to me it is hard to trust them with my emotions.

Sorry for this blabber post, but i had to get this out of my system.

Lynlee turns 2

Oh wow I can't believe I have a two year old :) I just love Lynlee with everything I have.  She is learning and growing everyday.  We love that she is talking in sentences now because we can understand more of what she says :)
Things she is saying (she says A LOT I won't put everything on the list):

• Current favorite thing to say is "I no want" or "I want down."  
• I love that fact that when she wants something to eat she simply says "eat". 
• When she needs to go to the bathroom (or when she needs a diaper change - still not quite ready for potty training) she says "potty" and sits on her own potty and then asks for a "piece" which means she wants a piece of tp.
• "my games"
• "book"
• "I love you....Mom, Dad, trixie, etc."
• "Grandma" and "Grandpa"
• "Elyse"
• "Jammies"
• "I want walk"
• "Come on" - said while pulling on your hand to follow her somewhere
• "sit" - said most when she wants you to sit next to her to read a book or play a game
• "balls"
• "Yes", "Uh uh"
• "more"
• "again"
• "What is that" 
• "draw"
• "Mom"
• "Dad"
• "mine", "Lynlee's"
• "bye" - said everytime she leaves a cashier at any store or leaving anywhere in general.

She says a lot to much to list all of her sayings.  She can say the alphabet.  If you sing it to her she will tell you the next letter by saying its sound.  She can count to two sometimes three.  She likes the head, shoulders, knees and toes song and LOVES to point out that she knows where her knees and toes are haha.

Went to the doctor for her two year check up.  This doctor was really cute with her.  She didn't cry when he touched her with the stethoscope or looked in her ears.  He is really good with kids; being a pediatrician is definitely his calling in life.  Anyways, she cried when the nurse measured her haha silly girl.  No surprise though she is still on the small petite side.  She weighs 22lbs 8oz (5 percentile she is moving up the chart a little bit). 32 1/2 inches long (10 percentile, moving up) and her head is still at the 50 percentile.  The doctor looked directly at me and said that is normal.  That is the first doctor that said it is ok for her being small.  Man moving to Utah was such a good decision :)  She still has very little blonde hair, but I can put it in a little piggy/pony tail and she won't rip it out like the cute flower headbands.

We had a party for her the weekend Mitch and Lindsey came down from Idaho so that she could have as many cousins there to help celebrate (there were nine there).  I will do another post for her party. 

New House # 3

We have been in our new place just over a week and I am loving it.  It is the largest house we have ever owned so hopefully we stay here for awhile :)

On Saturday the 29th was the big day luckily we didn't have a lot to move in.  We sold a bunch of our furniture when we moved from AZ like our couches, beds, and washer and dryer.  When we found our house we started looking for furniture on KSL (I have missed this classified so much better than my craigslist experience).  We got an almost brand new couch for a great deal and a 2 year old washer and dryer set with a steam option :) Very pleased with our purchases.

We found our new bed and spent a little more money on that because I didn't want to buy a used mattress, but I am in LOVE with it.  I sleep so well on it.  With our new bed we decided to purchase a bedding set from tjmax.  It was the color we were looking for, but when we got home and took everything out and slept in it for one night it started to unthread.  It was at that point I took it back and we went to ross and bought a comforter and some decorative pillows and a sheet set from Big Lots all cheaper than what we got from tjmax and I love our decision.

Anyways, in the process it was little Miss Lynlee's second birthday.  I am glad it was her second birthday because I am able to throw her a party two weeks later and she won't even know the difference.  I did take her up to Park City to have lunch with dad and this AMAZING Mexican restaurant and bought her a Minnie Mouse shirt.

And before any of my readers start thinking oh she is two isn't about time she have a brother or sister.  Well, that is one question I hate and am actually bothered by.  It is fine to have kids farther apart in age.  The next child will come when the time is right.  We don't use protection so that is truly what I believe.

I am in love with our new house (not so much having to pay a mortgage again haha) and can't wait to start building memories here.

Camping

Ever since moving to Arizona 3 1/2 years ago I haven't been able to go our family cabin so when we found out that we would be moving back to Utah this summer that was on my to do list for sure.  Labor day weekend we made it up to one of my favorite places ever :) I got to introduce Lynlee to the mountains for the first time.  It wasn't real camping, but it made it more enjoyable when it started to rain. We hung out with family and played games :)

Not a picture from this trip, but this is up at the Family Cabin and Fall is coming and I am getting excited :)

 Picture of the Cabin above ours.  Ours is down the hill, but the view truly is amazing

The next weekend we wanted to make it just a camping trip with my immediate family in tents at a campground.  Our plan was to head up American Fork canyon and camp for the weekend.  When we got up there we were too late and all of the camping sites were taken (it was on a first come first serve bases since it was after Labor Day).  We were bummed and headed down the mountain to my parents backyard and set up camp there.  It was really fun.  We sat around the campfire and roasted marshmallows and had s'mores ...mmm delicious :)

The next morning Nate ended up having to go into work and so we packed up the tents.  Elyse, Tara, Matt and myself decided to head up to Park City resort to ride the Alpine side, Alpine Coaster and other activities.  We have free coupons for guests for these summer activities since Matt works for the company that owns the resort.  Matt, Lynlee and I have season passes :)  It was a BLAST we had so much fun.  We ended our time there playing miniature golf just as the intense rainstorms hit.  We drove home and made it back just in time for the delayed BYU football game to start.

Even though we didn't have our real camping in tents in the wilderness experience this year I was really happy with the way everything turned out.  Maybe next year we can go camping in tents :)

The Job, The Move

Sorry for not posting the rest about Disneyworld, but I have forgotten so much and would only have pictures to show.  All you need to know is that is was an AWESOME vacation (I love to go on vacation though).

So the month of June was a very eventful month for us.  At the beginning of the month/end of May, Matt had a few interviews by phone and in phoenix (which we decided not to pursue because it didn't match up with our future plans).  We put our house up for sale so put our foot forward to moving to Utah.

Well, we decided to go to Utah to see one of my closest cousins bless her cute little baby boy Marshall. Matt was able to set up an interview with a recruiter the Monday after the baby blessing and right after that he flew back to Phoenix to work leaving Lynlee and me in Utah for my cousins wedding.  During the two week break from each other he applied for a bunch of jobs through the ksl classifieds. He landed an interview for the Monday before we were to drive back to Arizona.  His recruiter was able to set up a couple interviews for him on the same day.

Matt's favorite interview/job description also happened to be one that called back on Friday with an offer. We accepted the offer and on the same day we accepted an offer on our house.  Everything was falling into place.  Matt put his two weeks in at work and we moved 4th of July weekend to Utah.

So the job he accepted happened to be in Park City, Utah therefore living with his parents in North Ogden would be a really long commute.  So we considered my parents, but his commute would still be an hour plus to and from each day.  We then realized my Aunt and Uncle live at the mouth of Parley's canyon and would give him the perfect commute.  We asked them if we could stay with them until we found a place of our own and the generously said yes.  They only have one kid staying and home and their youngest just left on a mission to Chile so there is be room for us. Yes we are paying them rent money, but much much less than what it costs to live on the east Salt Lake bench; we felt really blessed.. I am incredibly grateful for such wonderful family.  Matt really likes that his commute that is only a half hour (the shortest he has ever had).

Our house in Mesa closed on July 25th making it official that we can start looking at places to live here.  We are realizing how expensive it is to live in east Salt Lake City or Park City(cost and arm and a leg to live there).  We are considering our options and hopefully we chose a real estate agent that can find us the best deal there is out there.  We don't want to rent if we don't have too.

Well, we have all made the adjustment to living in Utah.  I am so happy to be back my heart feels at home again :)  During the month of July we also celebrated our 4 year anniversary and had the Shelton Family Reunion they both deserve their own posts though.

Disney adventures!!!! part 2

After the first day we went to Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios the next two days.  We spent a whole day at Animal Kingdom and split half and half with HS and Epcot.

At the Animal Kingdom we started out by going straight back to get on the safari ride; while Matt ran across the park to get fast pass tickets to the Expedition Everest.  After riding the Everest ride I got slightly sick (dramamine must not of kicked in fast enough).  We had some lunch after and then went on the river rapids ride which was fun :) I love rides like that.  We then walked around the nature trails and saw some animals.  We wanted to ride the dinosaur Primeval Whirl, but the line was too long for us so this is where we split up to go our own ways the rest of the day.

Mitch and Lindsey took their girls to the dino playground which I heard was awesome.  Sad I missed it, but Lynlee was grumpy and needed a nap so we took to walking around.

We went with my parents and did the bird show in which the local birds proved that all the training in the world natural instincts take over.  That means the local birds interfered with show and the birds weren't doing what they were taught haha :) I thought this was more interesting because it was natural.  After that Lynlee was snoozing so we headed over the bugs life show which Matt stayed out with Lynlee (such an awesome husband).  I think it would have scared Lynlee a little :)  After that we walked over and caught the Lion King show that was awesome.

After that everyone was ready to go back to the house and swim.  I didn't get pictures of the day, but I think Matt got one and I did.  Here they are.

Matt saw this guy on the way getting the fast pass tickets.

Took this on our way out of the park.  

Oh man I wish I could go back I feel like I missed so much at this park.

Next post will be on Hollywood Studios and Epcot.  I actually took more pictures that day :)

Disney adventures!!!! Part 1

So I love Disney or just being on vacation it is hard to tell sometimes haha :) So the first day was the Magic Kingdom.

There is a picture with all the grandkids, their parents, and Bryan, but I think Lindsey has it.  This is us walking into the park.  I loved that stroller; might have to get one for our next child.  Anyways,  the day was kind of chaotic (with Tara being sick and all), but we went on some rides together at the beginning and had people get fast passes to other rides.  We then split up and went our own way until lunchtime. We went on It's a Small World which Lynlee loved.  Matt and I ran into Mitch, Lindsey, Nate, Melis and their kids at the Belle experience. 

We ended the afternoon riding Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain.  I was really excited because last time I went to Disneyland I was 6 months pregnant and couldn't ride them.  We got the famous Pineapple Dole Whip drink (Lindsey, Elyse and I actually went back Friday to get ours).  During that time Lindsey and I took Makenzie and Lynlee to see Tinkerbell. (Lynlee got to see Belle, Tinkerbell, Woody and Jesse, and I Barney at Walt Disney World).  Lynlee is very stranger shy and was scared to meet everyone of them.  It wasn't surprising though that is how she is with anyone besides Mom and Dad.  

That night Mom and Dad, Lindsey, Elyse and I stayed and watched the electric parade.  We were even able (the three girls) to connect arms and skip down main street.  I thought it was very fitting.  During that time Matt went with Lynlee home and the other cousins and took a cousin bath. 

The first day was a blast and I would go into great detail, but I am afraid I wouldn't do it justice.   

DisneyWorld!!!!!! The start.

Okay I admit it.  I am a HORRIBLE blogger....oh well :)

So in May my family decided to join Mitch and Lindsey on their medical school finishing Disney World vacation.  I love disney and had the best time.  It was fun to have Lynlee be old enough to ride rides and actually enjoy them :)  I would go back in a heartbeat, but maybe Disneyland will be our next disney adventure.  So here is the run down of what happened (or what I can remember).

On Saturday May 11th we headed to the airport where Lynlee was really cute when it came to board the plane.  She would say bye to the people leaving around us as they went to board the plane.  Funny story actually; because there was this one guy and his daughter boarding, and she was focused on saying bye to them, and on the flight home they were on the exact same flight haha. He remembered because she said bye to everyone getting off the plane.  The flight there with her was not bad she didn't cry.  It was her first flight being over an hour and a half (it was 4hrs) so I was very pleased.  We got to our hotel for the night.  We got a nice place because Elyse, Tara, and Bryan were flying in around midnight.  Then we walked around the corner for the best Denny's dinner I have ever had.  Lynlee even ate almost all of her Mac and Cheese and grapes (if you know her she doesn't eat very well).

The vaca was off to a GREAT start.  Next morning we woke up to Tara having the flu : ( poor girl (only lasted 36 hours or so).  We planned to go to Wekiwa Springs (there are cooler ones, but this one was only a half hour drive) and meet up with one of Elyse's friends Broc who was there training for summer sales.  Tara was a trooper and would just have us stop the car for her to relieve herself on the side of the rode : (.  The springs were really cool, but I didn't get any pictures lame I know.  Tara the sick one did and so she will give me some :).   After the springs Broc came with us to the vacation house where we met up with everyone else.  Mom and Dad flew in with Grandma and Grandpa that afternoon and Mitch, Lindsey, Nate and Melis all drove.

I will do another post for the Disney and Universal adventures.