Chris is working at a local Sam's Club out here and just got promoted about 2 months ago and he loves his new management position. He'll only be working for Sam's for maybe another month though. Chris will be starting some online classes through BYU-Idaho at the end of this month and we've decided that since we're living with his parents we can afford for Chris to just totally focus on school. Chris has 2 semesters left plus an internship. We're hoping he can graduate in December of 2014 and we can move back to Seattle where we belong.
Brenden is so wonderful. He turned 2 in February and started potty training not too long after that. He is just growing way too fast and I don't like this part of being a mommy one bit. He is just growing way to fast and I feel like I'm missing so much. We've also been doing some homeschooling with Brenden and he is just so dang smart. It takes him no time to catch onto things. Brenden starts swimming lessons in a few weeks and he is so excited. He is so wonderful with his little sister. I'll attach some pictures, they're really cute together.
Aria is just the cutest and so loved. I couldn't imagine a sweeter little girl in our family and I can't even remember what our life was before she joined us. She's been having a few troubles since we've been here, but hopefully we can get some things resolved soon. Aria hasn't gained an ounce for the 6 months we've been here and she's started losing weight in the last couple weeks. She's lost a whole pound in the last two weeks and now she weights less than 13 lbs. She falls into the failure to thrive category so we're starting to worry about her, but I know that Heavenly Father has a plan in mind for her and will keep her safe. I feel good about her progress and she doesn't act like she's sick and looks a little skinny, but great. She likes to sit and stand, she's not crawling yet, but she'll get there. She didn't start eating purees until she was 7 months old and ate those for about a month before moving onto to solids. I'm truly amazed at how much she eats with out any teeth. She's so fun and she loves her big brother. Her face lights up every time she sees his smiling face. She's definitely got her own voice and isn't afraid to share her opinion. I love every minute that I get to spend with her. She has been such a special blessing to our family.
I've just been enjoying watching my little family grow.I love getting to be the mommy of these two little angels. I love being able to stay at home with them and be accountable of teaching them the things that they need to know. I love watching them learn new things. I love teaching Brenden how to pray, tie shoes, color, bake, and I just love spending time with them. After Aria was born I started training to get certified to become a birth doula. The coursework was so flexible that I kind of put it on the back burner until we arrived here. Since January I've studied through 3 textbooks, read 3 required books, studied for and taken 8 exams, audited a childbirth education class, and wrote an essay. I've got one more birth to attend before requesting certification and I couldn't be more excited. I'm basically a birth worker. I meet with the family mid-pregancy to try and get a feel for what the family is looking for, what their expecting out of the birth. I'll have a second and possibly a third meeting with the family before labor begins. Once labor begins I'll go to the families home to support mom and dad through out the labor process. The needs for each family change. Some families will want different things that others. I offer to be a support system through spending time to ease the burden, once at the hospital I can go back and forth between delivery and the waiting room to update family, provide massage techniques, use essential oils, be a gopher for the dad so he can stay by moms side, provide information to the families so they can make informed decision, the list is really endless.
Life here in D.C. has been so great for our family, but I miss family and friends and home so much. I really hope that Chris can get a job in Seattle and we can move back home.
