Deal or No Deal...

I have decided to go back to school! It's been a long process figuring everything out though...I spent many hours and days getting things ready to go to SUU, but after talking to a very RUDE advisor and a nice advisor who basically said the same things (in a nicer way) we came to the conclusion that there was no way I would be able to finish at SUU. they have some dumb requirements about specializing in an area along with a teaching degree. The advisors said quote, " The specialization is just to have more background in that area. It doesn't actually qualify you to teach just that subject." So I was trying to do Art...because I have some classes already taken...although it would take me 2 more semesters just to finish specializing then 2 1/2 years of the program and also 2 semesters in MORE pre-reqs. *by the way, I was ready to enter into the program at UVU...which only takes 1 1/2 plus student teaching. WE ARE IN THE SAME STATE AND GET THE SAME LICENSE....dont' you think they should have some of the same program at all the utah schools for teaching???? Well, they don't... 16 credits of elementary education classes from UVU would NOT transfer as education classes at SUU. I couldnt' believe it!

So after much confusion and frustration I called my lovely, and only sister in law who saved my life. She told me of the program she got her degree in and it looked like that was what I needed to do. It's at Western Governors University. It's an online program, but fully accredited. My sister in law finished in 1 1/2 with THREE CHILDREN! So I know I can do it if she did! It works so well for our situation of possibly/hopefully moving in 1 year, and I am going to be able to finish. It's totally up to me on how long it takes me.

On a side note, we have been debating on another baby...I'm not excited about being prego again, not in the least bit...but its mainly for Dawson. I want him to have siblings he can play with. If we get pregnant this year they will be 2 1/2 years apart... if we get pregnant next year they will be 3 1/2 years apart. I think over 4 years is too much.

So the deal J.D. and I made is....when I finish my schooling we will start trying again. Which is a huge motivator for me since I don't want our children being more than 4 years apart. As you can see I have to get my butt in gear to finish... and I will finish. I start May 1st! WHOOHOO! I am extremely excited to finish! A BIG THANK YOU TO JAMIE!

SMACK!

As some of you know, Dawson loves girls! He has quite a few little girls he plays with and is SUPER friendly with! It's amazing to see how much more gentle, and more willing to share with the girls over playing with the boys.
Yesterday we played with Laci and Nayvi! We went to Park Discovery and then came back to our home to have ice cream and play out of the wind. It was so much fun! Here's a little of what happened yesterday-I would like everyone to know that this isn't the first time he's smacked one on Nayvi :-)

We let them drive in a little play car at the park and Dawson put his arm around her while she drove! AND he had his arm around her waist trying to help her climb onto the end of a slide. It was adorable!
The first time he smacked one on Nayvi was at the Canyon park. He was playing on the little play gym and as soon as Laci set Nayvi up on it, Dawson immediately crawled over to her and SMACK! LOL! We couldn't believe it! He's a quick mover!
Thanks for playing with us Laci and Nayvi!

VISIT THIS SITE

Hey everyone! You know those signs with creative letters and cute frames that cost $200 in the airports...well my sister in law makes custom ones for WAY CHEAPER!!!
VISIT

http://loni-hiddenbeauty.blogspot.com

SHE IS AMAZING AND THIS SITE ONLY SHOWS A LITTLE OF WHAT SHE CAN DO!

Bra Story

As Dawson's mom I have come to find that he loves silky stuff, doing everything I do, and using everything I do. He is very observant and catches on SO FAST! Once I leave my bra lying around, he somehow finds it and tries to copy mom.... so here it is

He is so dang cute! He was so proud of himself, and in a weird way I was too because a bra is hard to figure out...at least it was for me and I didn't even need one til I was a sophomore-he's 18 months!
And for a quick update in other areas for Dawson, he recently got his front left tooth chipped, but it was fixed last monday. He officially hates the dentist. He tried to hit him after he was done. The filling only took 3-5 minutes TOPS, but thats all it took. :)
2 days later he went to his pediatrician and he is in the
87 percentile for height
62 percentile for head circumference
AND..drumroll....
he came UP in the the percentile for weight
He went from the 3rd to the 13th!! The doctor and I were super excited to see that!
I have been so concerned with his weight because he had a hard time transferring to solids, and has vomits quite often after eating or taking a bottle- he now only does this after crying super hard. I stopped his immunizations and vaccines because I just had a strong feeling that we needed to wait til he was ready physically.
J.D. and I are doing great! I am going back to school this summer and will finish by the end of next summer and finish my student teaching next fall. WHOOHOO! I'm very excited! J.D. will graduate next May but as said before he is studying all the time and getting ready to take the DAT which is MAY 28th! I am working on my tan and losing weight for our family cruise in 6 1/2 weeks! I have a new calling to be in charge of the Mothers Group in our ward. I really want to do a Mommy and Me workout alternating with going on a canyon walk every other week. If anyone has any ideas on exercises to do with your child please send them my way :)

Innocence, Learning, and Another horse ride

As you all know Dawson loves horses. This last weekend we went for a horse ride on my Uncle Danny's horses. My brother Matt tooks us around the outdoors of Kanab Ranchos. Dawson rode with J.D. and it was pretty windy and cold so since we didn't have a blanket we used a towel...By the end of the ride, Dawson pulled his hands out and they were BLUE! But he never cried or complained, he was a true cowboy. Dawson truly was in his glory. We did let him ride by himself a bit and he did good holding on the reins and horn of the saddle. He kicked the horse to go, and .. I think this picture explains how happy he is.

The other day while I was getting ready, I left the bathroom for less than 1 minute and came back to this... yes, they are tampax all over!! He just looks so innocent when he looked at me, I couldn't help but laugh and grab the camera!

Also, when we have tacos for dinner, Dawson loves the tortilla, but when J.D. and I start eating he has to use all the same things we do. J.D. loves tobasco sauce on his, so Dawson just threw a fit until we gave it to him. I decided it wasn't worth the fight and let him find out on his own...Well, he put quite a bit on his tortilla and took a bite...I did have the camera ready so this is his face....

Hope it was worth it Dawson! LOL! He kept spitting and trying to get it off...but he didn't learn because we had them again and he wanted more.

Fun-time Inflatables!

A couple weeks ago we went to a place called Fun-Time Inflatables! It was seriously the funnest place to go to! Our friends, The Chlarson's, went with us and Dawson and their little girl Nayvi had a blast! Here is J.D. and Dawson at the top of one slide :)

Here is my good friend Laci going down the fastest slide there!
It was so steep!!

Here is J.D. going down the same slide!
He looks so happy to have more thrill than Dawson and I in his life....

Here's Nayvi and Dawson FLYING down the slide! It was SO cute!!

Here is our friends Clint and Laci taking it out in the ring! lol!
It was so funny to see them take eachother out!
And for the record- Laci WON! :)

It was so much fun for everyone!
Thanks for going with us Clint, Laci, and Nayvi!

The cutest little man ever!

Well, there has been so much that has gone on the past couple of months, there is not way except pictures to explain. :) As you can see, Dawson truly is the pride and JOY in our lives. There is not a day that goes by he doesn't make us laugh. I can't believe how much he has grown and come to understand. So here we go....

One thing Dawson has started is opening the fridge and saying..."UUUUMMMMM???"
Then he picks out what he wants to eat. Today was Top Ramen, and he runs to his chair, and loves to not have help and feed himself. This is what he concluded with after many tries of keeping the noodles on the fork...

LOOK MOM! NO HANDS!
(Safety first! Helmet and knee guards. He insists!)

We took Dawson bowling with us last Friday night with our friends. He was hilarious! He's got the game down. He actually was a good luck charm-he helped me get a strike! He loved watching the balls come back up and out of the machine.

At the bowling alley he was super happy! We would tell him to say CHEESE for the camera and this was his reply

As you followers of this blog you probably know that Dawson loves animals-especially dogs and horses. Uncle Matt brought his horse to the house in Kanab and Dawson couldn't get enough. He kept loving him, kissing him... and....

He got to ride him! He did NOT want to get off! He would hold the reins and say" Go. Go!" He would also lean forward to give the horse a hug. He's so sweet!

The week before I put the mattress up against the couch to have room to play and Dawson loved sliding down it. This special day he decided to slide down the wrong side...lol! He went in-between the sheet and mattress!

The week before we made some cream cheese brownies! They were pretty good! So as a good mother I gave him the sweet part instead of eating it myself (It was hard...) Dawson just loved it!

The week before that we had cousin Carson come stay at our house for a week. They play SO GOOD together! It's so much fun to play and watch them. Here is one of the many bath times! They both love them! must be a Shelley thing :-)

For christmas they both got little cute sleeping bags. So each night we'd roll them out and they would have a sleepover. They actually comforted eachother in the night and slept so good! It's like they both feel to make sure someone is there and then go back to sleep.

Other than that we have been so good, and so busy! I would like it to slow down...but it never does and we just keep going :) I really believe the Lord knows us best because I think I have patience, more than I used too...but its testy. If Dawson wasnt' so smart and didn't understand or talk the way he does I can't imagine how I'd be.
AND!! for 2 nights he has slept all the way through the night in his crib. We didn't do anything, it was all Dawson's decision. He wanted it one night and he does for naps, and each night now. Of course there will be bad nights here and there, but its a start. He is so much happier when he gets his sleep, mom too!
J.D. is doing so good! He is studying a lot! We don't see him much, but we know its for a good reason. It makes us both feel so good when he studies hard and does well in school. I'm very lucky to have him :)
I'm still trying to get my swim suit body ready for our cruise this summer-sometimes it's so hard, especially when you have a husband who loves you the way you are. lol! Cleaning, cooking and taking care of most things so J.D. can focus on school. And, I find myself spending more time playing with Dawson and teaching him things since he helps me with all of the responsibilities. He's a good little exerciser! (spelling?)
Until next time, We hope everyone is doing well!