(DISCLAIMER: This will be a bit of a longer post)
Alice Walker once said that “Time moves slowly, but passes quietly”. So quietly, in fact, that if you aren’t careful, before you know it, years will have passed!
That describes perfectly what’s happened to us over the last 11 months. Life has been so busy, and so exciting, that we haven’t taken the time to stop and reflect on all that has happened. And so much has changed over the last 11 months. A principle that has proven to be true is that times change, people change, situations change, relationships change! The only thing constant is CHANGE.
So, bear with us as we try to catch you up on all the change that’s happened to us. And because you’ve only heard from us once since Paisley’s birth (even though 99% of you are connected to us via social media), most of this will be focused on her.
Paisley:
Where to begin! In our last blog we recounted the eventful and beautiful story of her birth! She taught us in that moment that she was sent to this world to change our lives, to make them even more bright (as if that was even possible), and to prove to us that love can be multiplied! And since that moment, she continues to teach us that same, valuable lesson. She wakes up every morning with the biggest, most beautiful smile on her face that lights up the room.
Her brothers absolutely adore her…yes, even Channing! He tries to put off the persona that he doesn’t care, but when he thinks nobody is watching, he gets down and plays with her. He giggles with her, puts her binky in her mouth for her, and even kisses her. Paxtin can’t get enough of her. He is always asking if she can play with him, or trying to carry her ‘here’ or ‘there’. And every morning when he first sees her, he says “good mornin’ beautiful, what you doin?”.
Paisley is busy! Oh boy is she busy! So much so, that I think she is busier than both of her brothers were put together! She LOVES walking everywhere, and it makes me sad to see how fast she is growing, yet so happy to see her learning new things! She started walking at 9 months old, the soonest out of any of our children. She loves to follow her brothers into their room and play with trucks, play food, their toy cell phones, and anything else she can get her hands on. For Christmas she got a ride-on/push walker hippo that she loves to push everywhere or ride on as brothers push her. (funny enough, her brothers like it as much as she does).
Paisley absolutely adores me. When ever she gets a boo-boo or is sad, she says “mama, mama”! She will be perfectly content playing with the twins or with Dusty, and as soon as I walk in, she crawls or walks (nearly runs) as quickly as she can over to me. When I’m in the kitchen preparing dinner, or in the bathroom getting ready for the day, she’ll hold on to my legs and walk with me wherever I go.
She has been our only child who has slept with us in our bed. She is a big time snuggler, and loves to wake up in the night to make sure we’re still there, and then flop over right on top of me. Dusty also loves when she tends to stroke his beard as she falls asleep. We are slowly breaking her of sleeping with us, as she generally sleeps much better in her own bed where she doesn’t get too hot by our body heat or stirred by us tossing.
She has her daddy absolutely wrapped around her finger. Anything she wants, she gets if Dusty is around. When she gets old enough to realize the power she has over him, I have a feeling our bank account is going to be hurting! LOL.
She loves to eat anything and everything. Channing is a very picky eater, and Paxtin not nearly so. But she is even less picky of an eater than Paxtin is. She especially loves pasta, mashed potatoes, and anything with sugar. On that note, she is our most petite child, which I love. Although she is 11 months old, she still fits into most 6-9 month clothes.
One thing her brothers did quicker that she has is get their teeth in. Paisley only has two teeth right now, and her poor gums are always so sore. She is always trying to find anything and everything to gnaw on. Hopefully the rest of her teeth break through soon, but at the same time I love the two-teether smile!
She is a brave little soul, always trying to dive off the bed or couches. She has fallen off the bed several times already and you’d think she’d learn, but it doesn’t phase her. She loves to be scared. Whenever Dusty or I say “boo” and make her jump, she just giggles and giggles. And she loves the thrill of being tossed in the air, she gets the love of that from Channing!
Channing:
Channing has been making some HUGE improvements. He and Paxtin started pre-school in September and so far they are loving it. Mixed with his therapy at school, the progress he made in TLC, and what we work with him on at home…he is flourishing. When he is in the mood, he will try to say just about any word you ask him to. Along with that, he enjoys playing with other kids more than he used to, although he still loves to do his own thing and dance to the beat of his own drums, which is something we absolutely love about him.
His preschool tells us that he needs to see an eye doctor as he failed his vision test at school. We attempted to take him to Costco, but he wasn’t having that no-way, no-how! Therefore, we are still looking for a good pediatric eye doctor to get him in to.
He is has the biggest and softest heart out of anybody…and a smile that you can see from a mile away! Along with starting pre-school, Channing and Paxtin have recently moved into primary at church. We were a bit worried that Channing wouldn’t remain seated in primary, but his teachers tell us that he does great. He is not potty trained yet, but all things in their own time, right! However, I am tired of changing adult sized diapers as I’m trying to breathe through a dirty diaper change that can make a grown man stench smell good. Seriously, this kid could kill a man with his bowels.
Channing loves the iPad. We try to limit the amount of time they are on the iPad, but it has proven to be a great learning tool for Channing. With his low registry, it’s difficult for him to focus when we try to teach him letters (which he now knows all of) or numbers or what have you, but being able to hold the iPad and control it by himself captivates him (which is great in his situation) and helps him focus on what he is watching or learning.
We have enrolled Channing in a kindergarten-preparedness program that he’ll start this fall. That, along with everything else we’ve been doing with him, will hopefully get him ready to go to kindergarten when the time comes.
Paxtin:
Along with Channing, Paxtin is loving preschool. He comes home every time from preschool telling us what he learned, what he ate, what his friends names are, and everything that happened. We’ve said this before, and it’s only reconfirmed every day and every week, but we swear he has an eidetic memory. Things he says or remember just baffles us. The other day he had a toy elephant that blows air out the trunk and was blowing it in my hair, and said “mommy, you’re at the salon”. I have no idea how he knew what a salon even was, let alone the machines they have in the salon. That is just one example of something he saw on TV once (most likely Bubble Guppies) and still remembers..
Paxtin also failed his eye exam at preschool, although he did let the eye doctor at Costco examine him and he now sports a cute pair of red framed glasses (they HAD to be red). He looks like such a cute little stud in them, and we’re sure Channing will be just as handsome if he ends up needing glasses too. Although Channing might not be as caring for his.
Paxtin is now fully potty trained (it took him a little longer to learn his bedtime bathroom habit) and has been for nearly 10 months. He loves “being a big boy” and is very picky about his restroom habits. The door has to be closed, and he doesn’t want anybody to be in there with him unless he needs help. I won’t go into details about what this is, but we just found out that he has Meatal Stenosis, and we will be taking him to the urologist to see what needs to be done to help him better empty his bladder. So that’ll be something fun to look forward to (not).
Paxtin is very helpful around the house. He's great at helping make his bed, do laundry, help with sissy, help cook dinner, but he hates cleaning up his toys. It's a constant battle, like most kids, to clean up toys when it's time! Aside from that, Paxtin is very independent. He likes to do everything himself and will burst into tears if you forget it was “his turn” to close the Jeep door. He loves to watch movies and is constantly hungry and wants in the “panfry” so he and Channing can get a snack.
Paxtin also is great at including Channing in everything. It’s not “Mom, I want a cookie”, it’s “Mom, Channing and me want a cookie”. I constantly find him helping Channing with his speech telling Channing to say certain colors, numbers, letters, and words in which Channing repeats everything Pax tells him to say. Then Pax will say “good job buddy” after each correct word. I love seeing him helping Channing progress and always including him whether Channing wants to be included or not.
Paxtin and Channing got a power wheels dune buggy to share for Christmas, Santa spoiled them. Channing loves riding passenger, as does Paisley, and Paxtin takes them for a spin around the block. They would drive that thing for hours if the battery and I allowed them to. They’re both always begging to go outside and play. Now that the weather is warming up, all 3 kids have been loving spending time outside riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the playhouse, and swinging on the swingset. I just wish the 70 degree weather lasted longer, I’m not looking forward to 100+ degree weather.
Katie:
Well I have been so very busy! On top of doing the day-to-day things of being a mommy which you all know about and experience on your own, I started my own business selling LuLaRoe clothing. This is something I’ve wanted to do for years, but we never had the space or extra money to start it up. I’ve always wanted something for ‘myself’, and to feel like I contribute to our financial needs in some form. Dusty always tells me that I do more than enough by keeping our house in order and tending to the kids, but I wanted something more.
So far it has been a great experience, and so fun. Thank you all who have supported me by joining my VIP group and buying clothes from me. I hope you love them as much as I do. I have loved every second of it, and my kids get just as excited as I do when a new box of inventory arrives at our door.
On top of running my LuLaRoe business and being a maid, nurse, chauffeur, chef, and all the other “jobs” that come with being mother, I also have to keep Dusty in check (which is almost a full time job by itself, lol).
Dusty:
In September of 2016, Dusty left his job of 8 years at Wilson Electronics and now works for SureCall. The nice thing about SureCall is that he gets to do the same thing he did at Wilson, but for a better company. Also, SureCall is headquartered in the area he served his mission in so he gets to travel back to that area from time to time. He works with several employees he worked with at Wilson Electronics too, which makes it a nice environment for him. I have also noticed since Dusty switched jobs that he comes home happier, not as tired and drained, and altogether less stressed and feels worthy of his job. SureCall has been so great thus far, and loves having Dusty a part of their team.
Dusty also loves to watch weird shows on Netflix or play his guitar, but he’s also great at sitting with me and being involved in watching “The Bachelor”, “Dancing with the Stars”, or a ‘sappy’ chick flick. He is so patient with my craziness, my yelling, my complaints, my tears, and my faults. He goes above and beyond for our family, and even though there are moments I want to wring his neck, I love him and wouldn’t want anyone else by my side through this crazy journey called life!
Our Family:
At the end of 2015 we started the process of building a new home. And shortly after Paisley was born, we were moving into our new home. We now live in the Little Valley area of St. George and we love it. The neighborhood is so much more fitting for a family, and we have amazing neighbors all the way around, including a couple Paxtin and Channing call Grandpa Scott and Grandma Judie (their 3rd set of grandparents).
We love our new area, and we love our new home that is perfect for our little family. It gives the kids more room to run around and play outside, a bigger yard, and it gives me a place to keep my LuLaRoe inventory.
This last winter brought on some illness to our family that we are so glad we are past. I had a cold that seemed to have lasted for a month, and so did the kids. On top of that, they all came down with RSV. Overall, however, we are so blessed and thank God every day for the blessings and miracles He pours down upon us. We are all healthy and we have amazing family and wonderful friends! It always amazes me that when one door seemingly closes before YOU are ready for it to close, there is always another, better, door opening soon after.
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