Happy Fourth of July

Just because

Catching up, always catching up

        This blog is never up to date and I feel like all my posts are a failed attempt at relating our lives over the past several months.  But as I have looked at many others I realized I am not the only one who is not on top of things.  Life is really just the typical daily grind in our neck of the woods, work, dishes laundry, play and more play.  
        Seth is really into imaginative play which usually involves some sort of bad vs good guy.  This play is very scripted as in Seth tells you word for word what you are suppose to say as we are playing it.  Also how we are expected to die.  I really have no idea how he comes up with half of what he says but it keeps us laughing and on our toes.  Just tonight he is packing a bag to go to the Easter Bunnies home and we are going to need to take food so of course the top choices are apples, oranges, carrots and potatoes.  One of my new favorite and least favorite things he has discovered is drawing.  It means he actually sits still and is calm for a few minutes. His drawings consist of various line forms that represent different items but he loves it. However he only covers a small portion of the paper and then moves to the next and does not want any of them thrown away as they are, "special to me mom".  Seth turned 4 recently and I just didn't have the energy to do anything elaborate this year but I think I did okay anyway.  We had a Power Ranger Party where we played typical games like samurai samurai nylock(duck duck goose).  I also was lucky to find a boy in our neighborhood who is very good at karate. He came and taught the kids a few moves. They loved it and learned how to be good ninjas that only protect themselves. 
         Norah continues to improve on her gross motor skills and is cruising gaps, can get into standing from sitting in the middle of the room and is walking behind a push toy.  She loves it and is so proud of herself for everything that she does.  We are starting to do more gestural imitation such as pounding on things, making blubber noises with her fist at her mouth and recently did some waving.  She is stuck on the da da babbles despite my attempts at mama or even a buh buh sound. I also have found that I have become lazy and have not attempted any signs with Norah like I did with Seth.  For now I am not worried we will see what she does over the next few months.  Health wise we had Myringotomy tubes placed in the fall after she had four ear infections in two months and a long winter still ahead of us.  Then after a very tiresome December we discovered she had acid reflux.  We were up five times a night with a hard to console baby and if she was sleeping she was whimpering in her sleep.  She does not fit the mold at all for someone who would have reflux but after being on meds for a few weeks and taking her off again for a few days she is definitely happier and sleeping better on the medication.  She is starting to get her first tooth and I have to say I must have suppressed the memory of Seth teething because I have forgotten how grumpy they can be.  Overall though she continues to be such fun to have around. I love watching my two kids together. They are generally happy and Seth loves getting laughs out of Norah.  Can they always stay this way and we just skip the we hate each other phase? 
         Justin and I are both busy at our respective jobs and at home.  Justin is taking another computer programming class online and is looking into continuing with more school. He is also hard at work tiling our bathroom that we gutted last June.  After months of letting it sit we finally had a plumber come help us and then finished up some of the construction work.  I am excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel and have my bathroom back.  I was called into the Primary Presidency in December and have been busy learning my responsibilities for that and then carrying them out.  I work with a pretty amazing group of women and feel like I will learn a lot from them as well as the kids.  Overall most weeks I feel like I can barely keep up with my own life and I long for my weekends to try and catch up but I know that life overall is pretty good right now and I really have nothing to complain about.

Norah really did not care about Christmas she just wanted to do her own thing. I had to keep putting her back by her toys to get any pictures of her with them.  

Christmas was so much fun with Seth this year. He loved everything was so excited and was totally spoiled. 

Ninja Birthday Boy and Cousins with their instructor Tehl

6-7 MONTHS

I look back at this year and wonder where time went. I remember being a little kid and thinking the days on the calendar never seemed to move forward. Now I feel like it is just going by so fast.  Norah is almost seven months old and growing up so fast.  She is learning to do so many things as quickly or quicker than her brother. It is sad how his infancy already feels like a blur to me.  She started sitting at five months and by six months was on her hands and knees rocking. She is now an expert army crawler but is desperately still trying to figure out how to move her legs as well. She almost has moving back into sitting down just needs to figure out how to rotate her hip.  I love her squeals babbles and dadas.  She is just the happiest baby almost always has a smile on her face. Her favorite person in the world is Seth.  He only has to walk into the room and she just smiles. He does some of the silliest stuff and she just laughs and laughs. He loves her a lot as well and wants to hug and kiss her.  Wouldn't it be nice if this loving sibling relationship lasted through high school!  Learning to be a mom of two and a family of four has been more of an adjustment but I don't know what we would do without both of our kids.  They really do test you and try you however, they are the best reward at the end of the day as well.  I am excited for the holidays and to see all the excitement that comes with kids and this time of year.  

(pictures taken by TN Photography)

Swinging in a daze

When did my kids get so big?

Nine o'clock preschool is going to be a challenge for our late to bed late to rise son. But on the first morning he was pretty excited.  I swear yesterday he was my late talker all smiles and compliance. Now he is Mr. Independent and I have a reason to counter your reason.  It is good that he also seems to have a loving streak going because he also tells me very sincerely several times a day that he loves me.  I am learning that these years are going to be a great lesson in patience for both Justin and I.   

He wanted me to take his picture on the second day of preschool as well.  If you ask him what he did in class he says "nothing"  but if you listen closely he is singing new songs, talking about treating friends nicely and the rules of the classroom.  I have a feeling this is going to be a great thing for him.  Maybe I should come up with a jingle for the rules of the house. Then he might remember them a little better.  

Five months have gone by so quickly.  I feel like I am going to blink and she will be a little lady.  She is starting to develop a little personality and is doing all the same naughty things her brother did.  Started rolling at four months but then gets mad that she is on her stomach and lets you know.  She is also producing copious amounts of drool and bites everything that comes to her mouth.  I am not looking forward to the teething months.  She also started waking up at around three and six. Which I have not appreciated.  I am also falling into the same trap.  I am too tired to listen to her cry so we just take five minutes to feed her and we all go back to sleep.  However I know this is not the best for either of us.  One day I will learn how to get my children to sleep through the night.  At her last doctors appointment she weighed 15lbs and was 25+ in length.  75% for both.  Justin puts it best when he says that he cant not remember a time without either of our kids.  Despite all the struggles it somehow seems worth it when they are asleep or give you a giant grin.  

One Project Down

Before 2009

2013 after
changed deck color and design 

Added the sandbox/playset and some more cement

Added the drinking fountain 

Lovin life

He is all smiles going down the slides. 

Sitting in the kiddie pool is so much fun 

Happenings at our home

Over the last ten weeks we have not stopped. I had plans, well mostly plans for Justin and all the things I was  going to be able to get him to do while I was  home.  Some of my plans went by the wayside when he came home the weekend before the baby was born with a tractor and tilled up our backyard.  Two months later (thanks in large part to a wet April) we still have some unfinished projects back there but we finally have grass again, a huge sandbox, a drinking fountain and some cement in front of the shed.  Up next painting all the soffit and fascia and the deck.  The work is never done.  Well there would be a light except I wanted one of my projects so we now have a completely gutted master bath.  We are finally getting rid of the yellow tile and putting in something new.  I am not very good at this whole design thing so hopefully it comes together at least better than what it was.  The kids and I have tried to stay busy with play dates and typical house cleaning and  I am now starting the dreaded two week countdown before I go back to work.  I can not believe how quickly twelve weeks can go when you don't want it to. Life has been so much busier with two kids  and keeping up with Seth is always a chore. The kid has boundless energy and always wants a playmate.  Norah is such a sweet baby.  She cries when she is tired, hungry and wet.  Otherwise she is smiles and coos and loves to be talked to.  She loves her brother already and always has a smile when he comes around even if he is  not talking to her.  I am so grateful for these little kiddos and wish that my leave had two more months.  We still had so many plans for family outings that we were not able to do. 



Norah and Cousin Cache. 




We also had Seth in T-ball. His attention was not always  perfect but I think he enjoyed it. 



We managed to sneak in a quick camping trip to East Canyon.  Seth refused to join the family picture. 

Smiles are so much fun

Norah Mae

Introducing the newest member of the Bridge household,  Norah Mae Bridge. Weighing in at 9lbs 3oz and 22in long.  She has been so much fun and a really good baby so far.  We all love her so much and are blessed to have her in our home. 

Photo Book

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Merry Christmas

I feel like I never have enough time in the day to accomplish all that I want to do. That included making and sending Christmas Cards this year.  Today is my last day of work before a two week break and I am so excited to spend some more time with my family.  I hope that you are all enjoying the season with your families. May the spirit of the season last in our homes into the next year.  Love the Bridges. 

It is a.......

Happy Halloween Festivities

October seemed to fly by quickly.  It was full of Justins Birthday, Our friend Halloween Party and Halloween.  The party was so much fun. Thanks for everyone that came.  We had a great time eating, playing BINGO and the Doughnut game.  Everyones costumes were great.  Seth had a great time trick or treating. That kid can go forever when there is cousins to follow and candy involved. He is so independent these days and that included wanting to carve his own pumpkin.  Thankfully he let me do hand over hand. We also went up to ride the Heber Creeper were he wanted nothing to do with the fall activities. He just kept saying "all aboard"  hoping that would mean the train ride would start soon.  Life seems to be flying by so quickly I fill like I am just trying to jump on and hopefully remember some of what we do.  And if you read all the way to here. Yes my costume is an oven and yes that is an ultrasound taped to it.  I am currently 19 weeks.  Baby due March 30th.  We are excited for this next phase of our life.  Stay tuned for the gender announcement. 

Family Pictures from Noorlander Photography

Seth was not very happy at this point he did great for the extended pictures but must have used his smile all up.  

Something New

We bought a new car!! A Subaru Outback.  Yes, I have joined the wagon driving, granola loving clan that is associated with this brand.  I love it. I have the bigger space for passengers and of course Ares.  I also get good gas mileage for my daily driving.  The decision came with much anxiety mostly from me, since I start hyperventelating at the thought of spending large amounts of money.  The Hyundai was just well loved and making too many funny noises to trust with my daily commute to and during work.  Getting new things is so much fun. 

Potty training

Picture a three day weekend trapped in a small room just you your son and a frog potty. This was the scene I created trying to follow a mix of a one day and three day method for potty training. The first day there was a lot of playing and not caring a bit about the toilet, asking for a diaper and questioning my sanity. The second day was another rough morning but we had a better afternoon and more motivation to push through. Sunday proved to be better but also a set back when he pooped all over grandmas floor before I could finish blinking. At this point I knew Justin was questioning my decision to try this but we had made enough progress I was convinced to stick with it. It has been almost a month now and while the first two weeks came with their fair share of accidents I am happy to say we are fully potty trained. He still has some two year old potty dance moments but typically he tells you he has to go and wants to do it completely independently. We must have done a lot of clapping early on because he also applauds himself when he goes. It has been really nice not changing diapers and it is just one more thing to make me realize how big Seth is. He is definitely not my baby anymore.

Second Birthday Weekend

We celebrated Seth's Second birthday on January 15th by extending it for three days of celebration. We had lunch and cake with cousins and family at Mcdonalds. Yes Mcdonalds. I know not a lot of thought but super easy and all the kids were entertained. Grandma Diane made the Buzz cake and did an awesome job. He was so cute and kept asking to blow the candle out over and over again. That night we spent it with family celebrating Great Grandma Thompsons 93rd birthday. I have a lot of memories with grandma and it can be really hard to see her sometimes but it was great that the whole family was there. Seth was also willing to give her kisses which made my day. Seths actual birthday was more laid back and spent with the grandpas for dinner and cake. Monday being a holiday we took advantage of the time to play in the snow a little and go swimming at the nearby rec center. Seth of course loves the water and did not want to leave. He loved going around the lazy river portion and floating all by himself. I think swim lessons will definately be needed this summer. It is hard to believe that two years have come and gone and our little baby has turned into an adorable monster who you regularly alternate between wanting to scream at and smothering him with hugs. I proably exagerated his lack of communication skills last post he is actually doing some really good things just not as advanced as all the other moms blogs I get to look at. In a way I think it has really helped me sympathize more with the moms I work with. He is using between 50-100 unclear words to express his wants and needs. Pretty much the kid is the epitome of doing every age appropriate articulation error you can make. (water= badin, fish=dish, stop=bop come= num etc.)He can do two word phrases but has not made it a regular thing. He is super smart and loves to help dad with any building that needs to be done and mom in the kitchen. He has fiqured out where each of the four grandparents homes and his two great grandmas keep their candy and is not afraid to ask. He is really in to hot wheels cars, trains, buzz and the movie Rio right now. I am hesitant to say but he has also shown an interest in potty training and is going everytime we put him on the toilet. I am hoping to really push it this weekend and see how he does. Hopefully it doesn't backfire and push us backwards. Seth is definately our little monster but we are so gratefuly that he is here and are looking forward to what the next two years will bring.