Getting ready to crawl!

Every day S rolls over from his front to back. He's got it down! Lately he has also started rotating his body in circles when on his belly as well as lifting his bottom in the air. I think he's getting ready to learn how to crawl!

Hairdo's

The first child is always an experiment. This week we are experimenting with his hair. It has more body than I thought. Usually I brush his hair in a neat little part, envisioning him as a missionary with that hairdo. By the end of the day, it's all moved to the front:

This Sunday after his shower, I curled his front with my finger:

And then yesterday, I just brushed it up with a towel after his shower. I think I like this one the most.

What do you think?

Snow and feet

So this morning I have been working from home due to the abundance of snow from last night.  I went to the grocery store to get a couple things last night (namely the cookies and muffins in the picture below) and cleared at least 8 inches of snow off of the car before I could get going.  On the way to the store, which is only about a quarter mile away, there were many abandoned vehicles, cars stuck in the snow - in intersections - and on the street right outside of our complex there was a mature pine tree about 30-40 feet tall that had fallen directly on a parked car in the street.  But all of that is irrelevant, because I'm writing this to just say that while I was working here on the couch I noticed that S wasn't playing with his toys, but watching my feet instead - very intently. When I noticed this I started wiggling my toes back and forth and he just stared at them for about 20 minutes.  I got a picture that captures the whole scene.



PS - And happy birthday to Mary - she's 19 today!

Update: house hunting

drum roll, please....

We chose option #2! Kind of.

I know lots of people said go with option #1, but we picked another unit in the option 2 community. We feel it is a perfect match. Here's why.

The rent is in the middle of the two earlier choices, but in the location and safer community we liked. The community was a deal breaker in the end. The ratings we read online about option 1 were huge red flags. Also, my gut said, "don't move here." Talking to people living in the area, many praised option 2 community, and one warned against option 1.

Bonuses: the carpet, fridge, stove, and dishwasher are brand new. We saw them in their boxes! (except the carpet. :) That was already put in place.) The walls were just painted. The floor plan is the same open one we saw in the other unit, just not as fancy, so the rent is lower. We are not too fancy and the price is right.

I like this unit also because very near to our building there is a tunnel under the main road that goes directly in to the shopping center across the street. There is a walking path right outside our door that connects to the W & OD Trails. Plus this unit is on the top (yet only second) floor where no one walks on our heads all day. We get a balcony instead of a patio. All good things! We found a real winner, with very personable, accommodating staff.

No pictures but there will be soon. We move next month. Thanks for your input.

Brigham Young University-Idaho

In honor of my now alma mater: Brigham Young University - Idaho.

I lived in Rexburg for three beautiful years, during which I earned and received my BSW, dated and fell in love with Jared, carried and birthed S, served and grew in leadership positions, and contributed to and lived the legacy of BYU-Idaho. I'm a better person for having loved, learned, and lived in Idaho.

Jared and I have family roots in Idaho. His parents are from Idaho Falls, and some family still lives there. My grandfather is from Preston, and my father earned money (and toned muscles) while moving pipes in the farmlands of Idaho as a young man. While serving as a branch president in Japan, my dad noticed (and later told me) that the most hard working missionaries came from Canada and Idaho. Lucky for me, Jared is part Canadian and part Idahoan.

My degree is the least of treasures I gained while in Rexburg. I could have received a degree anywhere. At this smaller university, I was allowed to lead, teach, mentor and follow. Consequently, I left BYU-Idaho with a diploma AND a full, crisp resume!

However, the love and growth I found came from the phenomenal souls that flock there. I met the dearest, best friends God could have given me. Even those who I may not keep in touch with, modeled a simple way of life that tempered my busyness. Living in a slow-paced, humble town gave me appreciation for both the excitement of my over-scheduled lifestyle, and the health that comes from stress-free simplicity. Just this afternoon, my former Bishop called to see how our travels and relocation went. After listening and recounting the few changes there, he reassured me we would stay in touch.

Above: My visiting teacher, co-counselor, babysitter, neighbor, dear friend, and heroine: Stephanie. Just one of the dozens of friends, leaders and mentors that have changed my life.

Thank you to all the professors, friends, leaders and associates that made my BYU-Idaho/Rexburg experience so outstanding. I miss you and will always remember you.

A special interview about a special place

Tongue Alert!

The guy's tongue almost always sticks out. I don't know why. It does elicit lots of comments though, from strangers and friends alike:

"Tasting the air, little guy?"

"What's wrong with his tongue?"

"Does his tongue dry out?"

"It will be fixed when he learns to eat solids."

"It will be fixed when his teeth come in."

"My daughter didn't keep her tongue in until she was in kindergarten."

Yikes! We'll find out when his tongue is "fixed" in the future.

We took this picture the day he received his baby blessing and a name in our church. We posed this way in honor of the man of the day!

House Hunting

S in his house-hunting apparel:

Today we went hunting again for a place to call home. We love what we have seen in Reston. What do you think of our 2 favorites?

Choice #1: 2 bed/ 2 bath

Pro's

Freshly painted, new detailed stone flooring and beautiful dimming light fixtures

Beautiful tile details in bathrooms & wood details in bedrooms

Huge wood closet in master bed

Dropped rent, Includes all utilities in rent payment

Two reserved parking spaces

Very convenient to Reston amenities including the Town Center

Woods, lots of trees, open back yard

Stacked washer & dryer in small closet

Parks close by

Con's

No warm carpets, just stone and tile (carpets are important to Jared)

Not so open layout, have to walk through kitchen

No linen closet. a shallow, large "medicine" closet instead, in main hall

Broken, but easily fixed shelf in coat closet

Lots of teens in that community, but the one we talked to was very polite

Racing another VERY interested renter to get this place

Choice #2: 2 bed/1 bath

Pros:

Walk to Reston Town Center & Lake Anne

Inviting condo complex, nicer than choice #1

Granite countertop, maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile floor in kitchen

Wood burning fireplace

Carpets & tile

Full washer & dryer in a large closet/tiny room

Large master bedroom with walk-in closet

Walk out patio

Club house, pool in summer & exercise room

Con's:

Second bedroom is off living room (Stu would be far from master bed and close to visitor noise)

Carpeted dining room - Jared pointed out

Utilities not included and higher rent

What do you think? Any suggestions for house-hunting renters like us?

Welcome "Home"

We've arrived. Here we are in our temporary, corporate housing in Virginia. Some descriptions I've heard from others on our place are "posh" and "slinky." I sure like it. Especially since Jared and the little man are with me.

The progression of our housing is so funny. We lived in ID in a 425 square foot attic with maybe 3 right angles in the whole triangular unit. We thought anything in DC would be a step up. Then we move here for a short while:

2 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

walk-in closets

2 floors

3 televisions! (we've never even had one)

electric fireplace

wide open spaces

balcony deck in the back

full washer & dryer

I know we can't keep up this standard of living out of our own pocket, so after living here for 2 months, we'll "downgrade" again. No matter where our permanent home ends up, I know it will be more comfortable than our beloved attic. No matter: I'm very grateful for each step of this exciting journey.

Thumb sucking

This past Tuesday, the guy found his thumb. He is so adorable sucking on it, but one day I might be upset that he likes it so much. So might he when the orthodontist asks, "Did you suck your thumb as a child?"

Gingerbread Men

.... and women. We have had a lot of fun the last 2 weekends making and decorating gingerbread men and sharing them with various friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Jared wanted to make them (and both times he did; I just cut and decorated) because of an Ondricek family tradition he grew up doing. His family always makes gingerbread men at the beginning of December and then wraps them in a long strand of plastic wrap, each one separated by a bow. They drape the long strand of plastic wrap with all the gingerbread over the front door, inside their home. When a visitor comes by, they cut off one cookie in the plastic wrap for the visitor to take home with them. That is a beautiful family tradition we have begun to adopt. Thanks Mom and Dad O.! That embodies the family memories and friendly giving that makes December special. I love the goodness of that tradition, both good tasting and good spirited. :)

Thanks to the Perry's for joining us. They are so much fun!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving yesterday! Jared, the guy and I had the privilege of spending it with the Ondricek side of the family, getting to know some folks we don't know very well. It was a neat day of food, family, photos, and football! I especially enjoyed looking through Ondricek family photo albums and learning some family history.

Below: S's shirt says "Baby's First Thanksgiving"

The Ondricek clan we enjoyed: Jared's aunts, uncle, cousin, gma, and us!

The clever turkey my visiting teacher made for me.

S's Thanksgiving art project. Those are his tiny fingertips that he used as paint brushes.

New favorite toy

S loves this toy. He recognizes and smiles at himself. He talks to himself and reaches up at the toys. It makes changing time more fun for him. Thanks, Dara, for giving it to us!

First Snow

It snowed last week. I was so excited to take S out for pictures of his first snow experience. I enjoyed it, but it will be more fun when he knows what to do with snow one day. :)

Thanks, Stephanie, for getting out so early in the morning and taking pictures of us! We love you.

Thank you, Marcia and Kye, for lending us the cozy hat and gloves! I was thinking of Kye when he was this size. He grew up so fast!

So handsome.

Our little house. That top window is ours. We live in a tiny attic, but it has been so good to us.

Like Father Like Son

I love this onesie. It is true. I hoped and hoped my whole pregnancy that our little boy would look like his daddy and be as good looking as him. Be careful what you wish for.

Roll over, boy!

I sound like an idiot mother, but to my credit this "Parentese" language we speak to babies is actually very good for their development. We tend to use a higher pitch, many more facial expressions, and much more inflection in our voices. The short, simple phrases spoken help baby learn to communicate. (Parents As Teachers handout)

Anyway, he's been rolling over like this since he was 5 days old. Seriously. My mom put him on his tummy and he rolled over several times. Thanks for challenging him early on, mom! We're so proud of his growing set of skills.