Wirth Every Minute

Private

2010-05-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So I'm making this blog private until I get things up and running on my new site. So if you're interested, shoot me an email and I'll add you! Thanks!

jenniwirth@yahoo.com

2010-04-26T16:09:00.001-07:00

I'm working on getting a new blog spot up and running. I'm fed up with the glitchy one you're looking at now. So until I have a little more time on my hands, please enjoy some adorable Natalie faces. Thanks Tiffany for taking the pictures!

Happy Birthday Natalie!

2010-04-01T20:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Beebes, B, Baaaaby, Baby Sister, Leelee...in other words Natalie. We love you!

Here are some pictures from her birthday party. I think she knew it was her day. She had so much fun playing with her brother and cousins. And by play I mean run around with them and share cake and strawberries.

What In The World???

2010-03-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Natalie has got to be the easiest baby in the history of babyhood. This past week, she has shocked the living daylights out of me by deciding that she isn't going to nurse anymore. This from a baby that wouldn't take a bottle or a binky. Ever. While I wasn't crazy about strictly nursing, she was such a fast, quiet, good nurser that it wasn't all that bad...I guess. So now I am no longer nursing! Yahoo! And to add to that.....SHE SLEEPS FOR 12 HOURS STRAIGHT!!! No more night-time feedings! Rest has been restored to the weary! All of these changes just happened one day. Like, snap! She was done nursing, and done waking up at night. This all really threw me for a loop and I walked around in a dazed stupor contemplating how she could change up our entire routine without any help from me, and that a baby of mine would be so...easy. Wow. I can't take credit for a single thing here. She did it all herself. So here's to easy babies! I wish one of these on all the future moms out there. May you all be blessed with a little Natalie.

No Pictures. Just Words. How Can You Read That?

2010-02-11T22:44:00.000-08:00

Avid reader and wannabe writer seeks outlet.
This is what outlet I have...for now. So this is what I have been thinking about a lot lately. Here goes: Running. Hoping I'll still be able to run after all this time. Hope it's like riding a bike. Riding a bike. Sleep. Potty training. Carpet cleaner. Avatar, that really awesome movie. Hunting for food. Cooking lessons. Sleep. School. Finding a good Pre-School. Pretty baby clothes for my pretty baby. Money to buy those pretty baby clothes. Egypt. King Tut exhibit. Sleep. Writing a blog about...something.
This may seem like a random post about random things, but to me it's about being a mom. A mom with very young kids. When you're a mom, you give up yourself. It has to be that way, at least for a little while. Because while you're in charge of making sure that another human being survives their first year of life without too much diaper rash, ear infections, swallowing something hazardous like plant food or marbles, learning how to walk and talk etc, it takes some serious time and dedication. Then come the two's. It's a four letter word. Tantrums, talking back, selective hearing, the word "no", potty training. Ok, it comes with some pretty serious perks too. Laughing, pretending, the words "I love you Mommy", sometimes sharing (hey, I'll take what little I can get on this subject), playing. But all of this leads to mom forgetting who she is for a while. At least this mom. It seems that for our entire lives, we are taught to think about what we want to do, who we want to become, how we want to look, where we want to work. Focusing so much time on "me". Then you have kids and me changes to we which then changes to them. So here's to me looking back at who I was and looking forward to who I want to be. It seems to me that this time of my life, and my children's lives, is when I get to simmer on the back burner waiting to turn into a seriously good soup. Or sauce. Then I could be "saucy". Anyway, so while I'm making plans about my life with, during, and enduring this journey that is motherhood, I hope that it brings back a new and improved...Me. Then I'll be able to really enjoy running, riding a bike, reading good books, testing out all my theories about who I am now that I've become a more rounded me. Because without my kids, I wouldn't be half the me that I am now.
More rested, but not complete.
This has become a serious mom blog, but I feel that purging myself of all this has helped. So now it's off to bed for a series of short naps, after which I'll wake up not rested in the least, but happily simmering while Lucas and Natalie laugh, share, have diaper rash, and try to swallow everything.

Yes, I Still Know How To Type.

2009-12-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

Our computer was busted. Ask Lucas. "It's busstttted!"
And that is why I haven't been on here in a long, long, long time.
Here are some pictures of my darling daughter. Anyone know a good agent? Natalie was meant to be in pictures! She let's me dress her up (although squirms to get away with such power you wouldn't imagine from such a tiny one) and smiles for the camera. Lucas is beautiful as well, however, the terrible two's were not meant to be photographed. Too much standing still is required. And don't even think about changing his clothes again. It was almost too much to get out of his pajamas. They have Buzz and Woody on them! I have to admit that if I had comfortable pajamas with my favorite things on them, I wouldn't want to change either. Now I just need to find pajamas with books, movies and popcorn, Vanilla Coke, and Friday nights alone with Jake on them and I'll be all set. However, if I wore those I don't know how excited Jake would be for those rare Friday nights alone.

In these past couple of months, Lucas has really started showing us who he is. Meaning, how he is incredibly intelligent, funny, messy, and well-spoken. His vocabulary is well beyond his 2 and a half years. He carries on meaningful conversations with us and his toys and pops out words that make us wonder how in the world he knew how to use it correctly. He is so observant! And his way of pronouncing things is incredibly sweet, like "Gwandmaw" and "kEEtchen". Until you hear "I wanna go in the kEEtchen" for the 90 time that morning. The kid sure can pack it away for such a skinny guy. He plays pretend all the time, and has a new-found love of talking on the phone. Still likes to dig in my utensil drawer for treasures though. Can't wait for him to move on from that. He gets more and more handsome every day. Handsome because he looks like a little boy now, not a sign of my baby left anywhere.
Natalie is walking! At 9 months old she started taking her first steps and loves loves loves to walk! She's almost a pro now, because the girl knows how to practice! No matter how many times she falls down, she's back up with a smile and can't wait to go again. And now that she isn't falling so much, she likes to talk while she walks. More like yell. But she is just as sweet and smiley as ever. Really, easiest baby in the world. She is teeny tiny and beautiful. Lucky girl! Scary for mommy and daddy looking into her future. Gonna have to beat the boys back, but I don't worry too much. Jake has a light saber and knows how to use it.
I have some pictures of my two darlings together, however they are not on this new and improved computer yet. So hopefully that will be coming soon. And if anyone still reads this, highly unlikely as it's been so long I think I'm a lost cause, check back for cute pictures of cute kids soon.

Hello. Is It Me You're Looking For?

2009-11-04T20:25:00.001-08:00

I know, I know. I haven't posted in a while. Ok, in a long time. But life just keeps on moving! Even though I wish on a star every night that for a few precious hours life would just halt and I could get some much needed sleep, it never does. Oh well. Such is Life! The capital L in Life is there for a reason. Now, Life is noun. Life pulls me in every direction. Life who cries in the middle of the night to be fed. Life who spills chocolate milk in the living room and oh so sweetly tells me "ah oh mommy, I spilled choccutt meelk". This is the Life that gives me the sweetest kisses in the whole world, that gives me the best hugs, the best smiles, the most love anyone could feel for another person. And while I sometimes feel like Life if walking me instead of the other way around, I love both of my little Life's -- whom I wouldn't trade for another life in a million years.

We went to San Diego with our family the first week of October, and had a blast! Both kids were awesome on all four, yes that's right, four airplanes. Lucas loved the beach so much he stills asks me if we can go on an airplane and go to the beach. He would walk around with a little shovel, scoop some sand, walk a few steps and scoop up some more. He loved to play in the ocean and could have lived there. Natalie was as perfect as ever. Truly, she was absolutely perfect. She never stopped smiling. Wherever we went, there was a wake of smiles and coos at the beautiful baby as we walked past. I never got tired of hearing flight attendants and strangers remark at how beautiful and well behaved my baby was. We went to the Wild Animal Park and Sea World, and both were really fun. But the beach is what will stay in all our minds and keep us longing to go back.

Insane or Something Like It

2009-08-31T22:28:00.000-07:00

Life has been insane lately. There isn't any other way to put it. Insane. I am going insane. With a new house, a new-ish baby, an actively destructive two year old, and other every-day stuff like cleaning, shopping, cooking...showering...I think that one of these days I will grow extra arms, purely out of necessity. Proving Darwin may have been right, a loving God has seen fit to help a poor woman out, or I actually found that vat of radioactive waste and did a swan dive in while crossing my fingers that I come out with retractable appendages.
Awww, it's not all that bad! I have a husband that does so much for me, family that lets me come over and sometimes just crash, and my kids are so cute that it's all worth it! And things just get easier and easier every day. So much that I'm actually thinking about unpacking my bedroom! Yeah, that still hasn't happened......

Happy Anniversary

2009-08-24T22:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Anniversary! 4 great years, 2 cute kids, 5 moves in 2 different states, and countless other life changing events, add up to 1 happy family. Life just gets better and better! And we thought things were pretty great to start with.
Here are some wedding pictures. Jake and Jenni back when we were fit, tan, and well rested.

R.I.P. Elmo

2009-08-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

We have taught our child well. He is so polite when asking us to cock his gun. The many things he has learned, and will yet learn, from his father. I blame him.

Moving Blues

2009-07-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

Moving stinks. Life has been thrown into boxes which are then thrown into a new house to be emptied and all contents thrown onto the floor when something is needed. Our life has been literally dumped on the floor.

I hate moving.
The End.

But I do really really love our new house!

Happy Birthday Lucas!

2009-06-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

The Many Adventures of Captain Destructo

2009-06-22T13:48:00.001-07:00

Jake and I have finally figured out Lucas' superpower. He's destructive. And proud of it! His superpower presents itself in many new and exciting ways. Such as when he knows that mommy needs the kitchen cleaned, his keen sense of destruction allows him the ability to foresee that what needs to be done most is the cabinets, and that the best way to do this is with a stick of butter. All over those darned dirty cabinets! And don't forget the hands! With his super senses of destructivity, it's on to the laundry. Folded laundry in piles, and...........TAADAAA! Unfolded! And on the floor! He knows just how much mommy loves loves loves to fold laundry. Blue pen on the cushions to teach that nasty couch a lesson! Toilet paper all over the floor to trap nasty bathroom boogeymen! Throwing everything he can find above his head to distract all evil-doers!
The adventures will never end. Thank you Captain Destructo!

Easy Cheese acts as war paint on his legs.

With his Side-Kick in training. Still working on sitting upright.

Making his getaway on the Destructomobile.

One Cute Superhero.

One of Natalie for good measure.

Ode to Joy. Otherwise known as a Good Book.

2009-05-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

Oh books, how I miss you. I miss the escape into the unknown that you offer every time I turn the page. I miss dreading the beginning of the last chapter of a great book. I miss living in another persons shoes for a couple of hours. I miss the drama, mystery, suspense, laughter...I could go on and on in this mushy tribute. One of these days, we'll meet again.

The point of all this. I MISS READING!!! But I'm so tired I can barely finish.............................................................................................................................................................

Ok. So when Natalie starts sleeping more at night, I'll start reading again. Then you'll all have to suffer through another tribute to books, and my triumphant return to reading in bed at night without drooling on the pages.

First Movie Post Baby

2009-05-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Jake and I love seeing movies, at the theater. As cliche as it sounds, our favorite dates are dinner and a movie. We used to get frustrated because there was nothing to see...because we had seen all the movies that were out! This was before we had Lucas, and it was a great trade. So now we are picky about the movies that we see at the theater. As we have been disappointed in the past, it's blog worthy that we got to see an awesome movie the first time we've ventured out since having a newborn. We went to see Star Trek with my family, in celebration of my moms birthday and James nomination as a mentor next school year and being on the Honor Roll. Congrats James! And Happy Birthday Mom! We love you both! And thanks for the great movie pick!

And yes, we all highly recommend this movie for everyone!

Beautiful Natalie Lynne

2009-05-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the pictures Tiffany took of our gorgeous baby girl. Can't tell we're proud parents, can you! Natalie is so sweet, we can tell already. She is a very good baby, hardly fusses and sleeps good at night...only wish she didn't need to eat every 2 to 3 hours in between the sleeping good. But that will get better. She's perfected the pout at an early age, and Daddy will be completely wrapped around her finger. Already is! She looks like me from some of my baby pictures, but she looks a lot like Lucas did, and he looked just like Jake. So she's a pretty good mix of all of us. We are glad to have this beautiful angel in our family.

Poster Boy

2009-05-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Ok. I had to post this beautiful picture of Lucas that Tiffany took. More to come later. Just love love LOVE this picture. Thanks Tiffany for being so patient with Lucas when all he wants to do is NOT look at the camera. Tiffany can attest to the fact that while Lucas is very photogenic, he is not going to be the Gap Baby any time soon. He would rather run around and do the exact opposite of posing for the camera. Oh well! It's a good thing Tiffany loves him, because she's such a good photographer we'll be using her a lot.

Our Cute Kids

2009-04-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post some pictures of our adorable kids.

Lucas loves to hold Natalie's hand. He holds her hand when I'm feeding her, changing her diaper, and pretty much any time her tiny fingers are available. I sure hope this lasts and that they will be good friends as they get older.

Isn't she beautiful!

This is Lucas taking care of his doggy. He wraps him in his blanket (a dish towel) and pushes him in the baby swing. Practice for when Natalie gets old enough to play with!

I love how babies are so peaceful when they're sleeping! Then they wake up, and things aren't peaceful for long.

Edible Fruit Flowers!

2009-04-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Jake's work for the delicious and beautiful fruit flowers! Lucas couldn't get enough of it. We had to eventually cut him off. We all had it polished off in two days. This has become one of my favorite things to get as a gift. It's pretty like flowers, yet you get to pig out on fruit and chocolate covered strawberries! Thanks again Data Wise!

We have been blessed with a healthy eater in Lucas. He LOVES vegetables and fruit. He begs for corn and "berries" (any type of berry like strawberries, blue berries, and raspberries). In the summer, he picks tomatoes off the vine at my parents house. I'm sure he will ruin many meals this summer by eating his weight in tomatoes and raspberries. One thing you'll never hear Jake or me saying to this kid is "eat your vegetables or else..." I hope Natalie takes after her brother!

Lucas pushed this ball over and tried to stand on it to get to the fruit.

Swimming

2009-04-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

More pictures of Natalie coming soon! My sister-in-law Tiffany (who is incredibly creative/artistic) is going to take some pictures for us. So look forward to that.

This has been a long time coming. A couple of months ago, Jake and Lucas went swimming! Lucas wasn't too sure about it at first, but warmed up to it by the end. Lucas held on to Jake like a little monkey the whole time. We can't wait to take him swimming again when it's a little warmer.

Lucas had a good time playing with the ball, but still just wanted Jake to hold him.

We went on a weekday, so they had the whole pool to themselves.

Natalie Lynne Wirth

2009-04-07T20:35:00.001-07:00

Natalie Lynne ~ 6 lbs 4 oz 18 inches

After only a few hours of labor and the easiest delivery possible, Natalie Lynne joined our family on April 1st, at 2:07 am.

Lucas and Natalie.

Dad and Natalie in the hospital

Lucas LOVES to hold Natalie. He holds his arms out and makes little "gimmy" motions with his hands until we put her in his lap. Then he points out her facial features, "eyes, nose, ears, hair".

Lucas' Surgery - 6 Months Later

2009-03-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

It's been over 6 months since Lucas' surgery, and I've been procrastinating writing anything about it. Let's just say it was a...life altering event. I never want to have another child have to go through that again. But since Lucas will never remember it, I guess it's more appropriate to say that Jake and I never want to go through that again.
It would take a long time to write about everything that happened, so I'll just keep it short. Lucas had his tonsils and adenoids taken out because of his sleep apnea. Surgery was a difficult decision, but his apnea was waking him up about 11 times an hour. After seeing the ear nose and throat specialist, we knew that it was the best thing for Lucas. The day of surgery came and we took Lucas to Primary Children's Medical Center for the surgery, the best place we could have gone. After surgery, the doctor talked to us and said that it went very well, that his tonsils were huge and deep, especially for a baby his age, 15 months. Only one parent was allowed to go back to recovery where the children wake up, so I went alone. This was the hardest part, seeing Lucas come out of surgery. They had told us the anesthesia makes kids really upset when they wake up, and they were right. Lucas had pulled out his own breathing tube and pulled all his clothes off. Three nurses were trying to calm him down, and he was screaming in a way I've never heard before, and never want to hear again. His lips and nose were bleeding and swollen, and he had blood on his face. I had just walked into every mothers nightmare. I took him from the nurse and after about 5 minutes got him calmed down and sleeping fitfully. They moved us to an observation room where we would be for the next 24 hours. Our job was to keep him comfortable and get him drinking as much as possible. He slept most of the time because of the medication, but we got him to drink the minimum amount before they would let us leave.
We decided to leave the next morning thinking that he would do better once we got home, but he didn't. The next morning, he threw up some blood and we needed to go back to the hospital. Once we were there, they found that his throat was bleeding, and needed to watch him to be sure that he didn't need to go into surgery again. When they remove tonsils, they basically solder the area to make a scab, and that's what keeps it from bleeding. If that scab comes off, the bleeding can become very serious, and they need to create another scab. Luckily, we had the best doctors looking after Lucas, and they didn't jump into surgery again. Instead, the bleeding stopped on it's own. Jake and I were pretty much a mess after we had to check Lucas into the hospital again. It's agonizing to stand there while doctors put IVs into your screaming baby, and it was terrible to have him so incoherent because of painkillers (morphine). But two very very long days later, we left the hospital.
After about three weeks Lucas was pretty much back to normal, and sleeping better. He has recovered completely, he doesn't have apnea and sleeps through the night. We can tell a huge difference in him. He's happier when he wakes up and is a lot less fussy. Jake and I are less fussy because we've finally been able to sleep! After everything that happened, we would still have chosen to have the surgery...we just would have like to have been more prepared for what was going to happen, or what could have happened.
I'm so lucky that my son is healthy and happy. That this was a "minor" surgery. That my baby isn't there having surgeries all the time because of a birth defect or disease. As much as I hate that we had to go through this, it's made me more aware of how blessed we are.
We didn't take many pictues. Not the kind of thing that you really want to remember, but we were also really distracted.

The day after surgery, a couple of hours before we went home the first time.

Trying to recover, day 2 in the hospital (the second time around).

Momtendo

2009-02-23T20:56:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas, among many many many other awesome presents, Jake bought me a Nintendo DS. That I asked for. Yup, I'm like a 13 year old. And I have to admit that I love it so much! It's been the de-stressor that I hoped it would be. Recently, I have found that I'm not the lone mother in the garden of Nintendo. While shopping for baby stuff at Babies-R-Us, I found an entire display of Nintendo DS items. The advertisement above them was "I Play For Me" with a picture of a pretty woman, early thirties, obviously a mom. Among the games, there are cases for your Momtendo that come in various colors. Burgundy, Classic Black, Natural, and my favorite Black and White Snake Skin. Not kidding! The one I bought for my precious Nintendo is cream with a lovely leaf design, held together by leather straps. So when I pull it out of my purse at the doctors office, not everyone will know what it is.

Except for the mom sitting across from me that just beat the next level of Mystery Detectives on hers. I see that she chose the Burgundy case with matching stylus. A good choice.

Almost Done!

2009-02-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks, Jake and I have had our house in a pretty much constant state of "almost done-ness". And today, we got even more almost-doner. I have been so worried lately about what things have needed to get done before the baby gets here. I think this is my subconscious way of knowing that the last 4 weeks or so, I'm not going to be doing much. So when I lay down on the couch at night, I can't thoroughly enjoy my laziness if there are toys covering the entire floor in the living room, laundry that needs to be folded, or the downstairs bathroom needing to be cleaned. Not that I would get up and move off the couch, but I think about it! And thinking about it makes me unable to fully relish in my state of beached whale. But I digress. We have been moving things around and organizing like crazy. And today, we got so much done that I can sit here and think about what progress has been made and not feel guilty while I lay on the couch eating chips and salsa. And tums.
Oh, I would like to send a shout-out to the laundry fairy that made it possible for me to finish the last load with just the right amount of detergent dregs left in the bottle that it was funny, and possibly providential. No more laundry for me tonight!
And an even bigger thank you to Jake for putting up with me while I make him organize, scrub dishes because my back hurts, and generally live with me right now. You have no idea how much your coming home every night means to me!

I'm Now Guilty Of One Of My Pet Peeves

2009-02-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

This is really really late, and I debated for a while if it was even worth doing a post for it now. But the pictures are so cute, I just couldn't not do it. These are Christmas pictures. Over a month late. I'm one of those people that must take the Christmas decorations down the week, or even better, the day after New Years Day. Not that I don't love Christmas time, just ask my family. I plan for it months in advance. It's just that when it's over, it's over. And having the Christmas tree up for too long, or the lights still plugged in on the house weeks after it's over, is just plain old depressing....and infuriating. Take them down already!!! I'm yelling this in my head to the four (FOUR!) neighbors that still have their Christmas lights on. And sometimes I yell it out loud in my car and confuse poor Lucas. But here I go, it's Christmas in February.

Lucas waiting for a present to unwrap

Unwrapping with Uncle James. Who he calls Nee for some reason. His favorite person to play with, next to daddy.

Jake calls these his Kevin pajamas. As in Kevin from Home

Alone.

Drawing on his new Magna Doodle. Or Ghost Writer to Jake. He still loves to draw on this. I love it when toys don't get old. Lucas seems to figure them out then move on. But there are those few toys that get played with over and over again.

Christmas Sunday Outfit.

Even with a messy face, it's still cute!

Sorry So Long...and the Dinosaur Museum

2009-01-27T21:43:00.001-08:00

Ok. I know that I haven't posted anything in a long time. But I do have an excuse. I'm tired dang it! A lot more tired than I was when I was pregnant with Lucas. But I'm sure that's because I now HAVE Lucas and that means a lot of early mornings (he wakes up at 6:30 on the dot), playing trucks then blocks then bowling then reading then trucks then blocks...it's a vicious cycle so early in the morning...but I'm vowing now to change my ways. At least for the next couple of months until baby comes and I'll be doing the 6:30 wake up time along with waking up every three hours for feeding then playing trucks then changing diapers then playing blocks then feeding then bowling then..................I'm tired already!

I have a ton of pictures I will be posting soon. But here's some to start with!

Last week we went to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. It was so much fun! There's a lot of cool things to look at, and a lot of things for Lucas to do. He had a really fun time! He pointed at everything, saying "Oooohhhh" and "Heyyyy". He played for a long time at the erosion center, which is pretty much a sand box with water. Of course he loved it! We had such a good time that we're thinking about getting a yearly pass. So if anyone wants to go, let us know!

Lucas and Daddy in the sand pit

My cromagna man.

Shark? What shark? Actually, I think he was a little bit wary of it at first.

Playing in the dirt. Best when thrown.

Look at those eyes!

All tired out. Nice role reversal! It's usually me and Jake on the floor. Too bad I'm too big to be carried out to the car.

Let It Snow!!!

2008-12-22T11:16:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I love the snow. I especially love it at this time of year. It just doesn't feel like Christmas without snow. Right now, it's snowing like crazy outside with no sign of stopping, and I couldn't be happier! Lucas on the other hand, isn't too sure about the white stuff. When we go outside and it's snowing, he brushes it off saying "Ah Oh". Which is especially funny because this isn't a little boy who is afraid of getting dirty.

At the Zoo

2008-12-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago, and had a total blast! We went on a Friday afternoon, so hardly anyone was there. Lucas pretty much had the run of the place. I'm not sure which he enjoyed most, the animals or the freedom to walk around wherever he wanted.

Looking at the Tiger...or where the tiger would be if he was in the water.

This is a look I get a lot from Lucas. Especially when he really doesn't want to do what I'm telling him to. Like to look at the camera.

He was really interested in the turkeys. Probably because they were free to go where they wanted and right at his eye level. Or could it have been a premonition that they would be dinner in a couple of weeks?

This is my all time favorite picture of my boys. Beautiful. Oh, I mean HANDSOME!

Lucas. The wind in his face and the open road. The only question was where to go first.

Lucas had this look on his face for the whole train ride. But when it stopped, he didn't want to get off and I had to distract him from begging to get back on again. It was a fun ride once, but not worth another dollar each!

My monkey man. Though not as hairy.

This took a lot of guts for me to post. Not because I think pregnancy isn't beautiful, but because I look more "beautiful" than I feel I should. This is me at 20 weeks. With Lucas, I looked like this at about 30. Jake tells me I'm gorgeous. What a great guy!

Sunday in the Park

2008-12-03T21:43:00.001-08:00

We have three parks within three blocks of our house. Good ol' American Fork! Lucas loves to play in all of these, but I think his favorite is the park that's right behind our house, and would play there all day and night if we let him. He is his happiest when he's outside. He loves to dig and play in the dirt and basically have the freedom to roam. Poor kid, he's going to go berserk being stuck inside in the winter. Poor Mom and Dad, they are going to go berserk with Lucas being stuck inside in the winter. We will all be investing in some good snow gear.

We Beat The Odds

2008-11-19T17:36:00.000-08:00

It's a GIRL! And we couldn't be more excited! I honestly didn't think that we would ever have a girl. And I had made my peace with that! Boys are fun! And Lucas turned out pretty dang cute! Lucas is all boy, through and through. He loves to run, jump, throw things, play in the dirt...all the snails and puppy dog stuff that boys are made of. I love it! And that's not to say that our little girl won't love the same sort of things. But at least I can put her in a dress every once in a while! Oh, and the shopping will be so much easier!!! All you moms with boys know exactly what I'm talking about. The two racks of boy clothes to 30 for girls...gets pretty frustrating!

The Reading Gene

2008-11-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Maybe it is genetically possible to pass on the love of reading! Lucas loves to read in bed, much like his mother. He has to have a blanket, his pillow, and a book. Any book. He looks at the pictures, turns the pages, and sometimes laughs, at the appropriate time I'm sure. I don't think he got this from my example...the only time I get to read anything is after he's gone to bed. So I think that reading is just in the genes!

Pumpkin Land!

2008-10-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

Jake, Lucas, and I went to Pumpkin Land on one of Jake's precious few hours off work. Lucas loved it! There were animals to look and bark at, pumpkins to pound on like a drum, cool lights to see, and most important Daddy to play with! It's amazing how quickly Lucas is becoming a little boy. There isn't much of my baby left to him. He wants to do everything by himself, and he's VERY independent, especially when we're outside. He just wants to GO!

Tagged

2008-10-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by my cute sister-in-law Tiffany. And I loved reading about all her stuff. I'm terrible at this kind of thing. I'm never sure what to say, especially the facts about myself. I'm kind of boring. But it's ok! And it's fun!

List:
3 joys
3 fears

3 goals
3 current obsessions/collections
3 facts about yourself
Tag 3 people at the end of your post by leaving their names, then let them know they're tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

3 Joys

1- Jake and Lucas. I love watching them play together. I love my play time with just Lucas. I also love my play time with just Jake. We have so much fun as a family and laugh all the time, especially when Jake and Lucas are wrestling on the floor.

2- Reading a good book. I love to read, find books to recommend to other people who like to read, and to let the dishes sit for another night so that I finally finish the book I've been reading.

3- Chocolate. I have never loved chocolate as much as I do right now. I think it's a pregnant thing. I dream about it. It has never tasted so good in all my life. I like chocolate milk, chocolate covered cinnamon bears, and just pieces of regular old chocolate. It makes me happy. It better just be a pregnant thing or else I'm going to be one of those old women who have stashes of chocolate and crochet pillows with sayings like "hand over the chocolate and no one gets hurt".

3 Fears

1- BIG Spiders. I don't care about the little ones, or even the ones that are "average" sized. I can squash those with no problem. But when one comes around that is big and menacing, I freak out.

2- My car running out of gas. I don't know why. It's not like I push the limits of my gas tank or anything. Just whenever that needle gets low, I start watching the dial.

3- I don't mean to be morbid - Dying. I have never felt this way before I got married and became a mom. Suddenly I have people relying on me. The realization of what they mean to me and what I mean to them and what it would mean if I was gone....that's what it is. But honestly, I don't worry about it too much. Heavenly Father has a plan. All will be ok.

3 Goals

1- To start cooking again. I am actually excited to be able to cook dinners for my family. I like to cook, and think I'm pretty good at it. So as soon as the nausea goes away a little more, I'm going to start trying out all those dinners I've been watching Rachel Ray work so hard at.

2- To loose weight after I have this baby. Enough said.

3-Build up our food supply. Jake and I have been thinking about this for a long time. We have some things, but not as much as we need. It's been tough to know what to get our little family, and what to get when we don't have a permanent place to put the stuff. But at the end of this year, watch out Costco. We're hitting up the flour/wheat/spices aisle.

3 Current Obsessions/Collections

1- Does making sure Lucas is dressed warmly enough count? It should. I'm a little obsessed.

2- Watching Dancing with the Stars and Jon and Kate Plus Eight. This is a weird thing for me. I usually don't watch TV shows regularly. I love DWTS because...well, it's fun. And for those of you who have never seen an episode of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, watch one. If you don't like it after a full show, I will be shocked. It's about a couple who had twins, then wanted to have another baby, and got six. The kids are beautiful, fun, and normal. Jon and Kate are also interesting, too. It's just one of those shows that's fun to watch. If you couldn't tell, my recent requirements for shows to watch in my limited time are ones that are "fun".

3- BYU Football. It's that time of year again. When I start getting nervous for next weeks game as soon as this weeks game has started. Where I yell at the TV and don't understand why they can't just be perfect all the time!!! And where I'm optimistically pessimistic about their chances of actually going the whole season without losing and getting into a BCS bowl game.

3 Facts about Myself

1- I love to run. Whenever it's been too long, or in times like I've had recently when I haven't been able to run, I find myself craving it. I even have dreams about going on a long run and feeling really good. Those are the days that I chase after Lucas a little more, and go on longer walks. I can't wait to start up again.

2- When Jake and I lived in Washington D.C. I worked for The Washington Post in public relations. I was thrown into the world newspapers, politics, copyrights, kissing up, and putting together an amazing awards show. Because when you're in public relations, it has to be nothing short of amazing. And I loved it. Could this be a future career path?

3- Here comes the grade school "fact about Jennifer". My eyes change color from blue to green depending on the color of my shirt and sometimes the time of day. And I can shake my eyes from side to side really fast. OOOOhhhhhhh.

There you have it. Some things about me. So now I tag Kelcie, Emily, and Jenae.

Leaving Us A Message

2008-09-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

We've had a few people say that they can't leave messages on our blog. After trying unsuccessfully to figure out why.....I've just decided that it's the posting gods toying with my sanity.

If you click on the time that I published the post, that will allow you to post us a message.

I don't know why this is happening, it just is. I've decided to let it go!

So if you want to leave a message, please do! Just click on the time and it will work. If it doesn't, let me know. My email is jenniwirth@yahoo.com .

Thanks everyone!

And Baby Makes Four

2008-09-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. We're expecting our new addition to join us the beginning of April. End of March if the doctor is merciful and will induce a couple of weeks early. Right now, I'm sick sick sick sick sick. Sick. And I'm very grateful for all the help that our parents are giving us. Poor Lucas is minus his Momma right now. But it will get better. I do remember that from the first time. So Lucas will just have some play time with the grandparents and Uncle James and I'll get reacquainted with being nauseated with smells, the sight of food, and even the thought of food. All you other moms out there totally understand what I'm saying.

We're very excited, and blessed, to be having this baby and can't wait to meet him. Yes, I said him. Because in the Wirth family, it's pretty much a guarantee that it will be a boy. We'll make that official in about another 10 weeks when the ultrasound confirms it!

The Latest On Lucas

2008-08-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, our little Lucas has never actually slept through the night. After mom and dad intuition, a sleep test, and a visit to an ear nose and throat doctor, it's been determined that Lucas will be having surgery on September 19th to have his tonsils and adenoids removed.

Lucas has severe sleep apnea that wakes him up a minimum of 11 times an hour because he can't breathe. Poor kid! And I have to admit, that I had been thinking "poor mom" a lot until I realized that he's probably a lot more tired than I am! The surgery will be done at Primary Children's and we have a great doctor to go to. He helped us feel very confident in the decision to put Lucas through this, and told us that we'll most likely be keeping Lucas down after the surgery. This really is a low risk kind of surgery and the doctor is very cautious and will keep Lucas in the hospital for 24 hours after the surgery.

We're taking every ones prayers and thoughts as we get ready for this. We know it's best for Lucas. We're still scared, it's surgery for heaven sakes! But it's a good thing.

Here are some pictures of Lucas after the sleep test. The things on his head are from the monitors that made him look like the son of Medusa. He was so happy to be done, and that the nurse wasn't in the room anymore. That was the worst part of the whole thing. He was so scared of the lady putting all that goopy stuff on him!

Ode to Twilight

2008-08-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

So I'm a total nerd. I went to one of the Twilight parties with my sister-in-law Tiffany. And it was a total blast! It was so much fun to read every ones shirts (we made shirts too, so don't laugh), listen to the trivia, and just enjoy the general....Twilight Splendor.

I'm even more of a nerd that I've already finished the book and now I'm in mourning over the loss of such a fun series. I already had to say goodbye to Harry Potter last year! There's only so much an avid reader like me can take! So goodbye Twilight. You will be missed. Until the next series comes along.

And I'll go to that party too.

We're Leaving Our Heart In Orem

2008-08-04T10:32:00.001-07:00

Jake and I are preparing to leave for Seattle bright and early on Wednesday morning. And I'm getting pretty darn nervous! I don't want to leave my baby!!! Lucas will be staying with my family, and he will have so much fun there, he won't even miss me. But I'm about ready to call the whole thing off! Not really, I love Seattle and know that we will have a great time with our family. But still...Sigh. The joys of parenthood.

My Boys in Red

2008-07-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to the Ford Family Reunion! Lucas got dirty and Mom and Dad got really tired! But it was a lot of fun. All of us who are related to Leo wore red on Saturday.

Lucas, the First Year

2008-07-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Lucas!

2008-07-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Lucas turned 1 on June 25! Yeah!

What a year it has been! Lucas is the joy and love of our lives! He is such a happy boy. He loves loves loves being outside, and would spend all day and night outside if we let him. He likes to bark at dogs, cats, cows, ducks...pretty much any animal. He likes to play with cars and trucks, books, and walk around dragging anything he can. But his daddy is his absolute favorite toy! He loves to go for walks with Grandpa Cox, and will go to him over anyone else. Now that he has mastered stairs, he's working on running. He is so smart and ahead of the curve in many ways. He keeps us on our toes at all times! We are so proud of him and love him!

FINALLY!

2008-07-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

I'm FINALLY adding another post! A lot has been going on these past couple of months. We FINALLY moved to a townhouse in American Fork, Lucas FINALLY turned 1 on June 25, we FINALLY dared to go camping, I got the dishes done after Lucas FINALLY went to sleep!

Here Goes Nothing!

2008-05-23T21:22:00.001-07:00

So here we go.

Jake did an AWESOME job of blogging our time in Washington D.C. and I haven't dared to try one for us now, as it will most likely be me doing the typing, and I'm not nearly as creative as Jake is. You can see what I mean and check out jjwirth.blogspot.com.

So...our life has really changed since we left Washington D.C. Jake graduated as the Valedictorian of his class and Summa Cum Laude from BYU and started working for a Public Opinion Firm in South Jordan. And I brought home a souvenir for the both of us that we later named Jacob Lucas Wirth. He is the best present ever! And as you will soon find out we love him a lot and take way too many pictures!