Current Affairs

In my opinion, my kids are growing up way too fast! I love watching their discovery, development and growth, but it makes me SO sad to see them grow up so quickly. No fair. Having said that, here are some fun new updates on the kids.


Ronan is changing crazy fast. It kind of trips me out how much he learns and grows every day. First of all, he has a tooth that is barely through or barely not through. Hard to tell. He really, really wants to eat the same things we are eating. He has added yet another food to his diet just this week. I made him some green beans. He still isn't quite sure what to think of them. He makes a funny face with every bite, but then always wants more. I think my strategy with this kid is going to be to keep giving him a food until he decides he likes it; only then will I let him try a new food. My thinking on this is that he will learn to like all the foods I give him. (Ellie was a pretty fickle eater.) We'll see. Oh, he's also been drinking from a sippy cup.

Ronan drinking from his sippy cup -- he loves it!

This week Ronan also figured out how to go from all fours to sitting up all by himself! Wow. Pretty smooth. Imagine my surprise when I looked up and saw him just sitting there on the floor with a big smile on his face. He's been very fascinated recently with Ellie's dolls. It's pretty cute. Donovan and I were trying to figure out whether or not he realized they looked like little people. Let's see... Oh yeah, we think he says "dada" and means it for daddy. It's happened several times now -- it could be a coincidence, but I don't think so... He has become very vocal -- I love it when he babbles (LOTS of different intonations: he has his sleep song, his happy jibber jabber, his mad babble, etc.). Ellie is his idol and he follows her all around the house. He gets more and more playful everyday and is just an all-around happy kid. Always wants to be happy.

Doing this funny thing he often does when on all fours -- he'll just raise up one
leg as high as he can get it and keep it there. Funny kid.

Ellie is the cutest little punk I ever knew and so full of curiosity and life. Her favorite new phrases are "why?", "why not?" and "that's disgusting!" Another thing she says that totally cracks me up is, "can I get an Aaa-men?!!" (and she waits for you to respond "amen!") I'm not sure where she picked that up, but it is hilarious! She's becoming quite the "brother's keeper" and knows very well what Ronan should and shouldn't be doing or around. She is very sweet and gentle with him and when she sees him headed for things or places in the house he isn't supposed to be she will guide him away from them, long before he gets to them. (Or say, "No, no buddy!) She is finally becoming a good eater and is actually eating a lot (and growing a lot too! She's finally mostly in 2T clothes -- she's caught up!!!). Ellie is really into climbing (EVERYTHING) and playing in the water.

Climbing her swing set. She does it in no time flat!

As always, she's really into pretending -- she LOVES pretending (with anything and everything); if Ellie wants something that she can't have I just tell her to pretend and she's totally cool with that. Ellie loves reading books (always has). I think she just may teach herself to read in the near future. She recognizes most of the letters, most of the time, and now she has started to say the corresponding sound when she sees the letter. (FYI: I don't sit down with her and pound things into her head; she has a curiosity about things and wants to know, so I tell her, and she just remembers.) Ellie loves to help and we can get her to do just about anything if we tell her it would help us out.


I recently gave the family (except Ronan) haircuts. I always cut Ellie's and Donovan's hair, but this is the first time I've cut my own hair. I had two bad haircuts in a row and was feeling pretty frustrated. I knew how I wanted my hair cut, but didn't know how to explain it to the person cutting my hair. So one day I just didn't want to look at my ugly hair anymore (and maybe I was a feeling a little restless...) and I figured, what the heck? At the worst I could pay someone to fix it, right? So with Ronan in one arm, I dug in. I surprised myself with the haircut I've been wanting. Maybe I'll cut my own hair every time...?!?

Ellie's new 'do.

My new 'do.

It was actually a pretty liberating feeling. I've also been getting to do some transcription work for USU Special Collections and Archives. It's been really cool. I enjoy doing transcription, believe it or not, especially oral history stuff (which this is). I'm working on the Logan Canyon Land Use Management oral history project. Really interesting stuff. It's also been a nice break from my daily grind. Really stoked on the folks at Spec Coll for thinking of me (thanks Randy!) and giving me the opportunity to do the work!