A Good Laugh

Yesterday we went over to members of our wards home for a quick visit. We brought Bethany with us and she was VERY entertained with the almost two year old toddler that lives there. Her new little friend got her laughing and giggling so hard ~ it was the funniest thing. Ryan and I have never heard Bethany get her tickle box turned over so big. She was cracking up at everything this little girl did or said to her. We were laughing at her laughing. It really was the cutest thing.

As her parent I can't even get her to laugh that much. We can squeeze a small chuckle or little laugh out of Bethany once and a while but it takes a lot of work. This little toddler got her belly laughing! Leave it to kids to understand one another better. I wish I had it all on video . . . it would have made it into a contest or something . . . it was THAT funny!

We sure do love our silly, giggly, laughing girl ~ She is our sunshine!

Fun Of The Week

Bethany is just sitting back and relaxing in her colorful hat!



Bethany has finally "found her feet" . . . a little late if you ask me but she can frequently be seen with her legs straight up in the air for very long periods of time. Funny girl!

Bethany's Grandma Gloria got her a table and chairs set this week. Although it will be some time before she can use them, it was a deal that couldn't be passed up and they are darling! We will get back to you on that when Bethany can actually sit at a table unassisted. We have a while! Thanks Grandma G.

Old News I Forgot to Tell

So apparently I forgot to tell those interested in our welfare and Ryan's job hunt that he DID get gainful employment in Frisco ISD as Art teacher at Smith ES. We were going to be a little worried if we were moving there with no job for him, but alas all things have worked out and he finally got his TX teaching certification this week as well. It is all a go!

The most fun part of the new job is that Ryan will get to teach our three Dyer nieces art for the next few elementary years they have left. Smith ES is my sister Angie's neighborhood school. We actually have her to thank for the job thing as well . . . she passed Ryan's resume along to the principal and the rest is history. Angie dearest now has our beautiful home and Ryan's fantastic job checked on her list of GREAT favors! Thanks! We are really happy for how things are working out and can't wait to get to McKinney, TX come the first week of August! Yea! We are blessed to be sure!

Say Cheese!

Many, many thanks to Wendie for taking these amazing pictures of our baby girl. Bethany was such a great sport throughout the whole photo shoot. We are looking forward to some more pictures taken really soon. They turned out wonderfully and I can't wait to get some printed up and put up in our home. Aaahhhh! Isn't she beautiful!?!?!?!?

The Stats Are In for 6 Months

Bethany had her 6 month checkup this morning. She weighs in at a whopping 17 lbs 4 ozs and is 25 1/2 inches tall! She's growing so big and she did great with her shots - only cried for a minute. After her afternoon nap she was REALLY snugly and cuddly with me and she hasn't been so much lately. I enjoyed holding and rocking her but felt bad because I knew it was the shots that were making her not feel so great. She brings so much happiness and love into our home. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect baby girl.

A Fun Week of Family

Wow! We really have had a great week with some of Ryan's family visiting. His parents and sister came in from Colorado for a few days. Ryan's dad's birthday was this week so we celebrated a little by going "Vegas" and attending a musical-play down on the strip at the Wynn. Monty Python's Spamalot - hilarious! We all laughed so hard and it was very entertaining! Thanks to my friends Aubree and Josh for watching Bethany so we could enjoy a night out with the family!




Bethany is getting cuddles from her Grandma Sue. She gets lots of love and affection from all her grandparents. Bethany is so blessed to have so much LOVE!
























Bethany is the 16th great-grandchild on the Leavitt side. Here she is sitting pretty with Great Grandma Leavitt!
















Aunt Suzi got her fill of baby Bethany! She babysat for us a few hours one afternoon and got some special bonding and one on one time in. Many thanks to Aunt Suzi for helping so much . . . we really appreciate it!



We all went out for Grandpa Leavitt's birthday to celebrate some more last night. It was a busy week full of fun and family. We are extremely blessed to have such great families who love and support us! Can't wait to see you again!

Happy 6 Months!

Today is Bethany's six month mark in life. I can't believe how fast times goes. We celebrated by sleeping in, lounging around the house until noon, then spending the afternoon with Grandpa Leavitt. She is getting so big and doing so much each day. Recently she's been very interested in putting EVERYTHING into her mouth. I am just waiting any day now for that first tooth to appear. She gives big smiles and does her baby talk non-stop. Bethany smiles at everything and everyone. It is very entertaining to see what we can do to get these big expressions out of her . . . So much fun!

Smiling big with Grandpa! She's a real charmer, that one!

LOVE the expression on Bethany's face here . . . as if to say "Mom, what happened to all your hair?" Yep, I got a massive hair revamping . . . my mom calls it a mommy hair cut. The gal cut about 7 or 8 inches off. It was LONG overdue and I am very pleased with the results. . . . and my husband says he loves it so that was a relief! Summer here we come.

Highlights of the Week

This week we had a ton of fun here around the Leavitt house. Bethany got a new booster/highchair and we started trying it out. She is doing great and eating her solids like a champ!

Just hanging out with Dad on the couch.

We tried the Ergo baby carrier a number of times with her on the front and she didn't like it much. Now she is big enough to go piggy-back and she likes that way much better. This baby carrier is supposed to carry a child up to 30 lbs. Cool thing! Hiking and camping here we come!

It Just Isn't Right!

Today's weather forecast . . .

Breaking records at 106 degrees with a heat warning! Tomorrow not much better with temps at 103!

Good thing is that the rest of the week is supposed to cool down into the 70's! THANK YOU!
Las Vegas is trying so hard to hang on to the few days of bearable weather left here before we reach 100++ and stay there until fall!

You May Wonder . . .

Some may wonder from my earlier post just how is it that I have my 5 and1/2 month old sleeping a peaceful 11 to 12 hours a night? She was actually sleeping around 7 to 8 hours at a time when she was just almost 4 months old.

It's a little thing I picked up called "On Becoming Baby Wise". The book can be found at any store that sells books and the authors are Gary Exzzo and Dr. Robert Buckman. There are also more books about toddlers, etc. I figure I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Here is a small excerpt from the preface of the book:

• Yes, one day people will stop you on the street, at the grocery store, and in church to comment, "Your baby is so content." Then they will insult you with the following statement: "You're so lucky to have such an easy baby. What? Sleeping through the night already? How old is she? You're really luck!"

So when people say those things to me I am not at all insulted . . . I just figure they have no idea that I worked VERY HARD to get Bethany to sleep all night! Of course I still believe that part of it lies in her sweet disposition, but part also is because I taught her the 'Baby Wise' program and how to have great sleep patterns. I do feel VERY sorry for any moms out there who have children over 1 yr who are still not sleeping the night through. So sad! I wouldn't be able to handle the sleep deprivation!

Bethany is a very happy, well rested, easy going, mellow baby for the most part. And now you all know why. I have personally witnessed the 'Baby Wise' program work for 9 of my nieces and nephews and they ALL have great sleeping habits to this day!

Now, I realize that this is not for every mom and baby, but if you are having a baby soon or plan to have more children in the future it couldn't hurt to check it out. It works for bottle fed or nursed babies. Thought I would pass it along. I plan to do 'Baby Wise' with all of my future babies!

Bethany is a sweetheart!

Good Night, Sleep Tight

ok . . . back to what I blog about best . . . my sweet baby girl!

Almost every night we do the four B's with Miss Bethany for bedtime. She is now sleeping ALL the way through the night (& has been for a while) from 7:00 pm to about 7:00 am. I get a complete, uninterrupted 12 hours. It is amazing. I would like to thank my supporters of "Baby Wise" for helping me along these past five months!

Bethany LOVES her bath!



Now it is time for her " num, nums" as I call them.

She is enjoying her books. She mostly just eats them.

Off to Bed!

:-)

Who Will We Be?

Enough Is Enough!

That is what I have to say to all the critical, cynical, sarcastic, pessimistic people out there. I am TIRED of reading, listening to and seeing all sorts of people I know (especially members of the church) let these sad attributes take over their personalities and lives! Now, I am not saying that on occasion I haven't been critical of someone or something or pessimistic about my circumstances in life, but COME ON . . . I usually don't let it stick around very long and let myself become those things. Sadly, some are allowing those words to unknowingly define who they are and unfortunately in return are showing their true colors.

This is just my opinion. Some people I know give their opinions liberally without much thought or regard to those who may be affected by them. I rarely get on a soap box about many issues but this one needed some attention.

Just a refresher in case you are wondering what kind of people we ought to BE.

President Hinckley said it best . . .


Be Grateful

Be Smart

Be Clean

Be True

Be Humble

Be Prayerful


. . . and I would add Be Positive, Forgiving, Charitable, Optimistic, Loving, Kind, Excited about Life, Energetic, and Enthusiastic! Those are also great qualities and attributes to desire. Don't you think?


No where have I EVER found that we should BE Critical, Pessimistic, Cynical or Sarcastic about life and the world around us !!!! So quit your belly aching, moaning, complaining and griping and GET HAPPY! Or if you must do those things . . . just remember the old saying . . . 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything AT ALL!' Please, please save those around you from your misery. It really is no fun.


I think we can all take a lesson in this. I know I need to try harder and do better than my best to shake off the yucky and embrace the wonderful. So if you are in need . . . get yourself an attitude adjustment.


:-)

What It Means To Me

Mother's Day

(these are pictures from before and after church)

I officially became a mother last November. The first phone conversation I had with my mom that afternoon went something like this . . . "Mom! I'm a mommy!" Those simple words will always ring true in my heart. I can't describe all the gratitude, appreciation and love I have for my mom and her selfless ways. She comforts, she supports, she forgives, she teaches and she loves. I can only hope to be all those things in all those ways as my years of mothering progresses.

This is one of my recent favorites . . . I took an excerpt from her talk last fall.
"A Mother Heart" By: Julie B. Beck


I was recently at a park where I met a group of women with mother hearts. They were young, covenant-keeping women. They were bright and had obtained advanced degrees from respected universities. Now they were devoting their considerable gifts to planning dinner that evening and sharing housekeeping ideas. They were teaching two-year-olds to be kind to one another. They were soothing babies, kissing bruised knees, and wiping tears. I asked one of those mothers how it came about that she could transfer her talents so cheerfully into the role of motherhood. She replied, “I know who I am, and I know what I am supposed to do. The rest just follows.” That young mother will build faith and character in the next generation one family prayer at a time, one scripture study session, one book read aloud, one song, one family meal after another. She is involved in a great work. She knows that “children are an heritage of the Lord” and “happy is the [woman] that hath [a] quiver full of them” (Ps. 127:3, 5). She knows that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man. She has the vision that, if worthy, she has the potential to be blessed as Rebekah of old to be “the mother of thousands of millions” (Gen. 24:60).


So HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the women I know and love who have a mother heart. You don't have to have children to know how to love them. You don't have to have children to know how to teach them. It is inside us all no matter what.

I LOVE being a mother & I LOVE my mom!

A special note to my loving husband for making me feel special and loved on my very first mother's day. You are the best Ryan! You help me be the mother I want to be. Thank you.

This Week In Blog

This week they actually started framing in our house! We are so excited! They will probably have it completely framed out by early next week. This is a front view of the house with the garage bay/doors on the right of the picture. Our house is one of only two or three going up on our end of the street right now so we are going to endure endless construction all around us for a long while after we move in. Sigh!









Grandpa came into town again this week and took us out to yet another yummy Las Vegas buffet. This is the look of satisfaction and a full tummy . . . YUM-O!

VOTE FOR JOE!

He's my daddy dear so of course I am rooting for him to win the school board election tomorrow. Many of you have met my dad or have known him through the years . . . he's the best and I hope that the good voters of Vidor, TX will do the right thing and vote him in! My dad was assistant superintendent and then superintendent all through my public school experience in Vidor, TX. He knows a thing or two about school district politics. I remember in high school that I would just write my own excuse notes for when I was absent because I knew that if the high school administration questioned anything about me they could just call the boss!

This is the sign that is apparently displayed all over town. He has been on the campaign trail for a few months with newpaper adds and personal visits to community businesses, etc. We wish you all the luck in the world Dad and we love you! Bethany sends a special squeal and smile of luck to her Grandpappy! Go get 'em!

Here, There and Everywhere . . .

From Thursday through Saturday, Ryan was gone to Frisco/McKinney, TX for some job interviews and to take care of some business with our home. All went well and the trip was great! We (Bethany & I) missed him terribly even though it was only two little days. Ryan and I haven't been apart at all for almost two years! Not one day until now ~ it is nice to have him home. I know I am a nerd - what can I say . . . I love my husband!

Anyway, while he was there he actually got to see the foundation being poured for our house! How exciting . . . he got tons of great pictures. He says that if he had planned better he would have brought one of his Red Sox jerseys to lay into the foundation. Silly man! They are susposed to start framing it in early this week - by Tuesday or something. Hooray!

So far so good. We feel really blessed with all that has come our way.

:-)