Party & Competition

Once again, I couldn't get the pics to come up... But this last weekend we went to Holden to our nephew's birthday/Swimming party! It was so much fun to swim in a warm indoor pool in the winter! Dawson loved it! It was so much fun!
Then on Saturday we drove to UVU to see the High school State Drill competition. it was so much fun to see all the dances! J.D. and I both enjoy going to the competitions. Especially when we have someone to watch-my niece Sari competed. She dances for Kanab High and they did a great job. Unfortunately they didn't get state, but they got 3rd! Millard (J.D.'s highschool) got 2nd. and South Sevier got 1st. AND for all the Cedar citians... Cedar High recieved 1st in every dance and won 1st at State... Canyon View recieved 2nd in all the dance categories and got 2nd overall. I don't know anyone who dances on either teams..but we live in cedar so thats cool. (Laci-I still think Bear River stood out more :) ) It's hard to judge the dances since it really almost comes down to what the judges like or prefer. All in all its an awesome experience.
After we saw my brother Choc at his work! It was good to see him! And J.D. got me this amazing smelling perfume from Charlotte Reusch-Refuge! it is one of my new favorites.
It was such a fun weekend. I will try to get pictures up soon when it works.

WHOOHOO for J.D.

This may not be as exciting as it sounds, but I'm so proud of J.D. He is doing so great this semester! and year too! He has put so much time into school. We definitely feel like this is the right time for us and him to apply. Last year we debated and he took the DAT.. He was working 56+ hours and got a 15. That's pretty amazing when you consider all that was going on in his life. This year he has been way more on top of things.

The exciting news... we've been trying to debate on who to write recommendation letters for him and Wednesday he was studying at the school and a professor walked up to him and just complimented him so much and THEN he offered to write a letter. That's 1 down! It's always nice when they offer and you don't have to ask cuz then you know its going to be a good one :) Anywho, he came home way excited not only for that, but also because the teacher wanted J.D. to help him with his research project this year. Which means more credits, and you have to have research to apply ... so all in all it helps us feel more confident in applying this year.
Things are just working out for the better. And I love to see him so excited about things like that. It's very rewarding for both of us.
So GOOD JOB HUNNERS!

My lovely Immune System

Well...here we are 3rd or 4th time this winter having the flu/fever again. Dawson is sick again as well. What a trooper he is! I am so blessed to have such a happy child. He is still so fun and smiling even when he's sick. It really makes an impact on my attitude that's for sure. I was watching him sleep and it got me thinkin about my childhood and sickness....

I definitely have plenty of memories waking up in the bathroom in the middle of the nights, or sleeping next to my parents door in the hallway just to have more comfort. I was born with a way too sensitive stomach (thats what my mother says) or a horrible immune system. My mom claims I was always the first to get sick, and then it would run through my family, and I would get it again. Lucky me right? She would say it would happen once a month at least. I remember not wanting to wake my mom up from not feeling well, so I'd sleep next to her door in the hallway, or go take a bath.
One night I fell asleep in the tub. I'm not sure how long I'd been in there. My dad drove truck and was usually gone all week, but would stop in once or twice in the middle of the week to shower and get a good meal. Well... I was very lucky that he choose to stop in this night. He was trying to wake me up in the tub, the water was pretty cool, and it's the first time I remember my dad actually being pretty stern with me and saying, "No more baths at night."
Now that I'm older, I thought maybe I'd become immune to all the flu's right.... Wrong. they still come often... I hate to say we are always sick, cuz I don't think we are. But I feel like we catch more than normal in the Stevens household...between me and Dawson anyways.
It's pretty sad for Dawson since he can't explain he's not feeling well.. If I don't get sick right away and he has been sick, I feel like a terrible mom in not being in-tune with his tummy. :) sounds funny, but I think I'm going to try more.
Also, I'm not very patient about it. When J.D. gets sick I honestly don't feel compationate enough. I realize it, but need to control it more. I start thinking, well i didn't get sleep and when I'm sick I deal with it and do things myself....Well, J.D. does do a lot more than I realize when I'm sick. anyways, it's a weak part of me that I intend to make stronger. I don't want to be that way when my kids are sick.
Another thing of being sick...it's working as the best birth control ever. It reminds me of being pregnant, and I'm extremely terrified to get pregnant again. I have had a huge scare this month with being sick and not having a period.(I've had one every month since Sept.-which isn't normal for me) I just cried and cried praying I wasn't pregnant. I feel like my body is just gettng back to its normal cycle though-which is 3-4 times a year. Yay for me. :) I'm definitely not pregnant. I love being a mom and I certainly want more children, but I don't know if I can handle it. I just don't have a strong enough mind set for now anyways. And I don't feel like its time. I guess the Lord knows us best right?

Anywho, enough ranting... I just felt like sharing. :)

Potty Training at 16 mo???

So the other day Dawson kept pointing at the potty saying
"pease!pease!peas!...."
I looked at him with curiosity and replied," You want to try use the potty?"
Dawson: "Ya. Ya. Ya." and nodding his head.
So, I took off his pants and diaper- he helped of course. He's very good at stripping his pants and diaper off now :). I set him on the toilet and he kept pushing. He didn't go for like 2 minutes, so I took him off. I went to put his diaper back on and he said boldly,
"No.No.No.No." pointing at the toilet,"pease. pease.pease."
So i put him back on and he WENT POTTY!!!! WHOOHOO! I had recently taught him how to flush, put the seat down, pull pants up, wash hands, and dry hands. I had placed him on the potty before just for fun, and to teach him the process..
So after he was done going potty, I got him off, he immediately turned around and flushed the toilet, put the seat down and laid down for me to put his diaper back on!!! NO JOKE! I put it on without difficulty from Dawson. Then we got up and we washed hands and dried them. He then walked out. WHAT A KID! I couldn't believe it!

So today, he came up and did the same exact thing!!! I'm not going to push him, I think i will just keep doing it his way. I've noticed lately he has been recognizing here and there that he's peeing, but I don't think he truly gets it all the way. That's why we're just going to stick with how he wants it done. lol!

GOOD JOB DAWSON! :)

Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Years

sorry for no pics...our computer wasn't working right..
so long post...
Thanksgiving was spent in Holden this year! We had a blast! It was so yummy! Then right after the last day of finals we drove to Kanab. J.D. worked on remodeling my parents home... Remodeling is an awful thing to have to do by the way. But it's starting to look better thats for sure. We finished decorating the Kanab house for Christmas. It turned out really fun to have my whole family there. We all drove to St. George that night to give meet my brother flying in from Missouri. We waited til they got there to give my parents there gift...which is A CRUISE to the EASTERN CARRIBBEAN!!! My parents and all siblings are going for 1 whole week in May! WHOOHOO! Right before Christmas my grandpa passed away, so Sunday we drove down to Mesa and went to the funeral on Monday, and drove back that night...Then we spent the day in St. George. My mom had all of her grandkids together so we got pictures done. We drove to Holden on Wednesday to spend New Years. We finally made it back to Cedar City after 4 long weeks of being away. While unpacking Dawson found a new love... sitting in front of the heater. lol! He is such a cutie!
Update on Dawson... He has 4 new molars and 1 other front bottom tooth. At 15 mo. old he is in the 3rd percentile for weight, 46th percentile for head circumference, and 94 percentile for heighth! He doesn't look skinny.. I think he's just built lighter. He is talking more and more. He can say
Hello/Hi
Bye
Thank you/please
Yes/No
Cheese (for the camera)
hat
bum
dog/woof
He knows ring around the rosies and loves to play it over and over and over again.
J.D. is studying like crazy and doing great! He is preparing mroe and more for the DAT and for his classes. He's staying very motivated.
I'm working on exercising to look good in a swim suit for the cruise ;) lol, and staying at home with Dawson. We have learned how to cook so many new things with our new recipe book from christmas. Also making sure J.D. stays motivated for the next 5 months.