Author: runlittlejo

This week in particular I have been experiencing some "once in a life time" mom moments here on the battlefront.

I started the week off last Sunday morning snuggled up to Olivia in my bed. She had come in early morning for consolation and I pulled her onto my bed so I wouldn't upset my slumber. Along came 6 am – and I heard the starting signs of throwing up. I acted quickly and shot upright, scooped her up and it was too late. Stinky, chunky throw up right in my face and down the front of my shirt, over ALL of our bed covers, all over her clothes, in her hair – you get the picture don't you? NOT cool. I haven't ever, in my almost 14 years of being a mom, experienced throw up puddled on my face – Urine? Yes. Puke. No.  

Another first relating to throw up was 2 weeks prior. Olivia and JT were both camping out in our bed with us when Olivia started to "loose her cookies", immediately as if on cue – JT began to spew forth. I thought to myself…"synchronized throw up, now that is a first?"

Yesterday I was fixing my hair while JT was making a potty break in my bathroom. He sat there chatting and then he said, "Mom, we have a stinking dirty house. We need to clean our house."  He was saying this as he peered into the disgusting toilet. All the toilets in our house have been working over time with urgent vomiting attacks and they have met their match. They really were gross! So, today I decided to have JT help me get things cleaned up. We were in my bathroom once again, when he exclaimed, "Mom, I have really long teeth." I had my back turned to him as I was cleaning my sinks. I was on autopilot nodding my head, when I snapped out of it!  I turned around to see him brushing his teeth with my "old cleaning toothbrushes!" I freaked, lost it, screamed so loud I scared the little fella. He immediately began crying out of fear from my exclamations. I had Olivia go downstairs to retrieve his toothbrush. I brushed and scrubbed his teeth and tongue better than I ever have (several times) – I had him drink tons of water to try and flush out the germs. Even as I type I am shuddering and fearful of what can/could happen.

I tell you what, the adventures I'm experiencing right now are keeping me young as I'm beginning to get gray hair and wrinkles.

Comments:

Stacie said…

I feel your pain! Cooper has been in the same boat! He had it out both ends. Thank heavens for good diapers with elastic! He threw up in his own bed while I layed next to him. I managed to avoid the whole face thing! Nasty!
Sunday, May 22, 2011 10:39:30 PM

Anne said…

Um, sometimes being a mom can be yucky too, throw up in the face, yuck! Good thing the smiles, hugs, and “I love you’s” happen too!
Saturday, May 28, 2011 7:07:02 AM

me and my kiddos on mother’s day

This week I have a few things on my mind. Things that matter and make a difference to me. Things I want to write down to preserve.

First and foremost I would like to document that yesterday I enjoyed the sunshine! We have gone without sunshine for many days this spring and I can't tell you how good the sun felt to my skin! I celebrated by weeding my flower beds and helping Stephen transplant bushes in the flower beds. I am looking forward to a plentiful harvest from our new garden spot, and anticipate the annual Sugar flower sale next Saturday. 

As of two days ago, Stephen was officially offered (and he accepted the offer) a job at BYUI.  We have been mulling over and praying about it for 3 weeks! (Check out his blog for full details) I want to add here on how receiving a firm confirmation to an earnest prayer really helps you feel that Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of your current and future needs. And also give you the courage to have faith in His personal plan for you. 

Yesterday I was able to go to Idaho Falls with Diana and take a tour of her home that she is moving back to in a couple of weeks. It was fun to see and to chat with her a little more than we have in the past few busy months. We went to lunch at my favorite bakery there: Babe's Bakery, where they make the most delicious turkey avocado crescent sandwich. It made me reminiscent of my pregnant craving from 6 years ago. I am very grateful for the friendship of my "sister" friend. It is a blessing to have a friend that knows your life stories and personal weaknesses and likes you anyway. It has been a cherished treasure to learn from and get to know my friend. She is a remarkable person. From the words of one of my favorite songs, "I do believe I have been changed for the better….because I knew you."

Because of the void I have felt come upon me from knowing my "sister" friend is moving, I was happy to discover a new running buddy. Heidi is on the Stake Girls Camp Board with me and as we began talking decided to train for the Teton Dam Half Marathon together. I count this as a tender mercy and gift from Heavenly Father. It has been not only good to do this physically, but very healing emotionally as I was having sad thoughts of the Puzey family moving. Heidi has been so fun to get to know and I am inspired by her exercise work ethics. She even has a road bike, and I hope to get in on some long bike rides with her.

Watching my kids grow up is bittersweet. I have been recognizing the sweet parts of it recently from soccer games to decorating teacher doors, personal progress progression (Lex will get her Medalion by her birthday!), Impending camps (girls, scout, cedar badge, soccer), Dare graduation, listening to funny comments and even anticipating a zoo field trip. It is so good to be a mom. I LOVE it. I feel happy and content being able to stay home with them to listen and learn and sometimes teach.

Recently, I have taken notice of how nice it is to have chosen the simple road. This year I have helped at the school only as needed – I didn't bring extra things in. I've found that just being a room mom keeps me involved enough! And I only did that because they called and asked me to do it. Otherwise I have been flying under the radar. As far as church stuff is concerned: I get to teach the lesson in RS once a month. Great! Recently I have been helping with girls camp and it is fun and a little busy, but I have noticed a difference in not having to worry about planning sharing times, activity days, conducting, scout stuff, nursery stuff, etc. It has been so amazing to have a time in my life to be (somewhat) still. I have noticed how awesome it is to take time to act upon ideas or thoughts that come in quiet moments. To give a friend a call that I've been thinking about, to write a note, to use my time to really study the scriptures more.  I am writing all of this and remembering that in 2 weeks the storm will come, with school out and the demands of 5 kids at home all day kicks in…..I am going to brace myself!

But really it has all been lovely.

I just love this boy!		Little date with the Kirkham girls to Orange Leaf
For one of Lexi’s last value projects she put a youth choir together. They performed the song by Jennie Phillips,	Cute sisters	Met up with Puzey girls @ Sugar Jr. Miss
3 generations		lexi’s spring club soccer team
lex in action	Jt being silly	Liv getting her legs warm
Lily and I decorated her teacher’s door for teacher appreciation week	Lily ran the mile in 9:26!	Stephen was there to run with and encourage not only Lily but ALL of the kids in her class!
Alexis especially loved the mock eclairs I made for dinner	Look what I found when I went this week to put up the sugar soccer posters at the JHS!	Am I biased or is she just the cutest?
Mason at Dare graduation… he is such a good boy!	Santa Lily	eating and breathing bubbles
	tub fun

I went out shopping in the metropolis of Rexburg. While my usual store to visit is Walmart, I remembered a cute navy blue vest JT's size on a rare visit I made to Kmart a month ago. I decided to go pick it up because it would match the new bow tie I had just made for JT. As I was walking through the aisles of Kmart I noticed a rack of ties in the men's section with the sign 30% off. I strolled by and found 2 acceptable ties that would work for Mason and Stephen. I thought of the comment Stephen made when I showed him the fabric I had used to cut out the ties for him and Mason with – he said, "those are bright." I was nervous that they would feel too "noticed" in the ties I was about to create, and when I saw these ties and the price of $6.99 next to them, it sealed the deal. It would be No Go for the home made Easter ties this year! I still plan on making the "bright" ties up for the future, maybe Mason will be brave enough to wear them both?!

Comments:

Steve Baldwin said…

Great pictures! Great Family! Thanks.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 9:26:40 AM

Ri Ri said…

you have a cute family
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:19:45 PM

Magan said…

Cute kids! The dresses turned out so cute. My favorite is Lily’s.
Sunday, May 01, 2011 7:56:30 PM

I've been wondering what I could do for the boys at my house to give them a little piece of me for Easter. I have almost finished making all of my girl's something special so my focus is shifting to da boyz. You can imagine my delight when I came across this pattern for ties! And it is free!!!! Here is the link in case anyone else has a hankering to make a tie.

http://www.purlbee.com/fathers-day-ties/2009/5/21/mollys-sketchbook-fathers-day-tie.html?printerFriendly=true

I'm finding out that the older I get the better I can understand/learn certain aspects of this mortal existence; yet on the other hand, with that understanding, I discover just how much more there is to know – and so it goes.

Comments:

Ri Ri said…

I am so grateful for time. We all have it, so use it wisely.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:46:02 PM

Stacie said…

That is exactly what I am going to look like at 90!
Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:54:14 PM

I am kind of done with everyone complaining about the weather. It feels like it's been the same conversation for 3 months! BUT really, today is spring break and we woke up to a blanket of snow all over our yard. I guess to look at the glass half full I could consider how green all of this "moisture" will make my grass? When spring actually springs we will appreciate it soo much more this year.  Happy Break to us all. 🙂

Amy, Me, Mom, & Michelle

At this time of year I feel it necessary to identify a feeling I am hearing in my heart – "I am sooo glad that I'm not building a house this year!"  I would probably be telling the truth if I told you I think that thought at least 3-4 times a month and also every single year around this time. Building houses has been one of the most stressful times in my life, but I will admit it is very satisfying and rewarding when the journey ends.  I left town the past weekend for a Baldwin Girl retreat with my family. While there I went running with a few sisters. We ran past a house being built and I could smell the wet wood blowing my direction. It was a nostalgic smell. A smell that represents mixed emotions in my nostrils. I am grateful to an ambitious and hard working husband who built my house with his two hands. I am not sentimental about too many things in life, but I am about my houses. It could be a one room, no bathroom house and I would love it if my man built it for me. I am just grateful it isn't a one bedroom, no bathroom house and also grateful that (crossed fingers) this could be the last house I might have to help build. Notice I can't sound too convincing because I have eaten my words 4 times previously. 🙂

I had a fun time this weekend at the Baldwin Girl retreat in Boise, IDAHO. My brother Eric and his wife, Magan, have a beautiful home, two great kids, and also a ninja cat named, "Bootsy". It was cold but didn't matter much because we were crafting and shopping inside. We made cute pillows (thanks to my Parker Sister in Law's idea, Stephanie) and painted cake stands that my dad hand crafted for us each. Over the weekend we came to the consensus that the Baldwin siblings don't appreciate or care for toenail clippings, that dry shampoo would be a good idea to try, and that my niece Ashley leads a dream life and should date Jimmer – the BYU Basketball star. It was a diverse group of girls and a mom which are each experiencing life in different ways and on different journeys, but each infused with pieces of common Baldwin threads binding us together as sisters. Good times, great laughs, and wonderful memories.

A few of the cake stands finished

Me & Magan with our felt flower pillows

Comments:

Magan said…

Thanks Jodi, it was a good time.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:07:38 PM

Patricia said…

Great week-end! Thanks everyone. Thanks to Eric, Magan, Grant and Grace for sharing their house and all of the great food. Thanks to everyone for all of the treats, projects and entertainment that made for a super fun week-end!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:08:38 PM

Anne said…

Looks fun! Love the crafts you did, and YES I love dry shampoo!
Thursday, March 31, 2011 6:48:06 PM

I think the little robins are confused as they jump across my backyard and feel the snow fall upon their heads. I am confused too. Is it spring or not?

Today I woke up at 6:45, exercised at 10:45 inside on my treadmill, and just finished getting ready for the day – it's noon. I am happy. I am content. I am at peace. I feel calm.

I still love my day from Monday and the feelings brought on.  What I'm learning about myself is that I can be flexible. (WOW! If only it were this way with other things in my life. 🙂 )A perfect world for me, is early outside running half of the week and sleep in with a more relaxed approach the other days of the week. On Sunday I love to eat a big old gooey chocolate brownie with ice cream to motivate me for Monday. And so the cycle goes.

I've discovered that when I exercise, it's good to go with what I'm in the mood for. My exercise mood seems to be as bipolar as the weather. Maybe the weather has mood fluctuations too?

Welcome Spring! The day of rebirth. Today I woke up at 5:15 and went running outside just like the days from my past. I have a new physical goal in mind. I am motivated. I am excited. I feel ambitious. I am optimistic. I feel like I can be organized in life. I also had good company. I was even able to be dressed and ready for the day at 6:45 – just like my old self from a few years ago. Don't know if I'll feel this way at 3 o'clock this afternoon when my tired self will kick in, and also at about 8:30pm – bedtime for the little kiddos, so I thought I'd record the moment for future reference! Hopefully I can stay patient too…but for this moment, I feel like the person I used to be – and it feels really good!

Comments:

John said…

Way to be ambitious-I would love it to rub off on me! You are a great example.
Monday, March 21, 2011 8:21:43 AM

Anne said…

Good job and good luck :)! Just make sure to give yourself credit even if it is every other day :).
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 11:36:10 AM