Travelin' Fools

I know, I know, I missed this Wednesday's Confessional. I already feel guilty. But the post you're about to read is so amazing you'll forget all about it...
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Last weekend I took Emmett on his first REAL roadtrip. 10 hours. And Jared didn't even come (Poor guy had to stick around for class and a test). I was so brave!! Luckily I had my mom, my sister Kendall, and my little bro Caysen to help me. Emmett did incredibly well, and had a blast finally meeting my side of the family! I have been wanting to introduce him to his great grandparents for the past 9 months, so I finally bit the bullet and got it in before winter hits.
I am so happy I did because it was really nice being "home". It made me realize how grown up I've become while visiting my grandparents. Their homes hold so many memories, items of my past, and experiences I'll keep with me for the rest of my life. It's been a long time since I've visited their houses, and to return for a visit that was not for myself but for my son, really put things into perspective. I'm not the little grandbaby coming to visit anymore, I'm bringing over their great-grandbaby. It's a funny feeling, I felt more like their peer rather than the grandchild they were watching this trip, and we had a wonderful time.

Warning: Lots of Pictures to come, but I want them all in there for my own memories :-)



Great Grandma Roe



Great Grandpa Roe

Great Grandma Whittaker "Lola Whittaker"

Great Grandpa Whittaker "Lolo Whittaker"

While we were there we visited a Halloween store to get ideas...

...but none of these made the cut, believe it or not. Hahaha. I know, right? [Stay tuned to see the ADORABLE costume that won out for Emmett]

We enjoyed each others company...

Above with Great Grandpa Whittaker and Uncle Caysen, Aunt Kendall, (Great?)Aunt Erin, my cousins Mark, Matthew, and Alyssa, and (Great?)Uncle Todd

...Said Goodbye :-(

  

  ...And had two very tired little boys on the drive home



Thanks to all our family for giving us such a great weekend, and to my Mom, Kendall, and Caysen for putting up with a six month old baby [and his frazzled, sleep deprived mommy] on our first road trip adventure! It was quite the ride (a 6-year-old and a 6-month-old sitting next to eachother for 10+ hours = a little crazy), but we had so much fun!! We love you guys!



PS-I swear my mom was on the trip, but she has a way of hiding from the cameras...

Wednesday Confessional

#4 - I'm a Bookworm

Most people that know me well are already familiar with my book obsession. So it's not exactly news. But I recently started The Hunger Games series, and I am in love. It's so creative, gripping, suspenseful, and romantic (c'mon there's always got to be a little love story thrown in there). I'm hooked. As I was finishing the last 100 pages of book 1, I already began my frantic search for #2, knowing I had to have it on hand or I'd die waiting!

It's not my usual thought provoking, semi-dark, deeper novel but I was in the mood for something lighter and thoroughly entertaining. These hit the spot. Perfect for reading during the day while simultaneously caring for a 5 1/2 month old baby. Trying to read something too deep that requires a lot of concentration is usually unfruitful.

So there you have it. A short confessional, but it's been a busy day and my OCD prevents me from letting a Wednesday pass where I neglect to post. No one out there would probably even notice, but I would. And I'd probably lose sleep over it. Seriously. [Hey you just got a second confession within my confession!] So no complaints!

Wednesday Confessional

#3 - I Love Yard Sales (and other good second hand deals i.e. Craigslist, KSL)

I love getting good deals!! It's so fulfulling to me! Bargain hunting, no matter the place, knowing that I got something really nice that everyone else paid five times the price for. I just bought Emmett a practically new, beautiful Britax convertible carseat for $65 on KSL! I am so stoked about it! Those things can be anywhere from $200-$300! He has started trying it out already, and he feels pretty good about himself sitting up like a big boy!

I also love thrift stores and yard sales because I love finding one of a kind items. Rare, vintage items that are unique and have character. Ones that no one else could ever copy or imitate because there's no other ones for sale out there. Last weekend I hit up a book sale from a retiring elementary school teacher who was clearing out her collection of childrens books. I picked up this loot for $4 for everything! Lots of them are brand new condition (and my sister whos going into elem. ed helped me pick out the good ones they've talked about in class).

And to my surprise... turns out the booksale was also a Yard Sale of other items! Imagine my excitement when I found this totally cool antique lamp for $5!

The pictures don't really do it justice, but I love the detailed parts on the top and bottom! I might switch out the lamp shade, that huge 70's shade is slightly ghetto fabulous. But at the same time it has character.

The best part? You can choose to light up just the bottom, crystal part of the lamp, just the top, or both at the same time! Genuis! Do they still make lamps like this? haha. All I know is I have a new reading lamp!

Oh and if you haven't watched the videos yet from my last post, go there now - you won't regret it!!

This is what happiness looks like

Here's a peek into playtime with Daddy

                                                             and this is Mommys version

5 months

My little man is 5 months old today! (That's 8 months for those of you who are counting from his actual birth date). SO hard believe it has really been eight months! Really?!

I haven't done an update since 3 1/2 months, but I wanted to get them on an even schedule so I held out til 5. He's changed and grown so much  in that little amount of time. He now weighs 17 pounds, 14 ounces! He is in the fun, adorable, chunky, playful, happy (most of this time), perfect baby stage. I just want him to stay like this forever!!

• Everytime he sees you his face lights up with a smile.
• Still has blue eyes and light hair - I think they're here to stay!
• He loves to laugh, and if Jared and I are telling a funny story to each other and cracking up - he always joins in laughing like he understands. lol.
• He can sit up by himself for little bits at a time
• He has rolling over from his tummy to his back down, but still working out the kinks from back to tummy (he can't quite get that arm out of the way yet)
• LOVES his stroller now that he rides in it like a big boy. We could spend all day out walking and he'd be content...and a lot of times we do.
• Likes to hang out in his exersaucer, but usually for only 10 minute increments. By that time he has worked himself up into a pretty bad mood that he can't pull off the toys that are attached to the tray and stick them in his mouth. The other day I "grounded" him from one of the toys that makes him especially angry and took it off the tray before I stuck him in. He spent the ten minutes sticking his hands into the empty hole and screaming in anger and confusion. HAHA. So sad.... and yet so funny and the same time!
• I call him my "Sous Chef". He loves sitting up on the kitchen counter in his bumbo and watching while I cook. He gives his opinions, and sometimes gets lucky and gets to hold the spoon or spatula for me.
• He is the most opinionated, demanding 5 month old I've ever seen in my life. He literally knows exactly what he wants, and already throws tantrums if he doesn't get it. I'm not exaggerating. It's hilarious.
• Started eating "solids". Eating Oatmeal cereal for now, and will get Stage 1 baby foods in about a week! 
• Likes to lay and watch the Playhouse Disney shows in the morning when we get up
• Still talks ALL the time. Usually fits into two categories: excited squeals, shrieks, babble, and giggles while he kicks his feet and throws out his arms out OR angry sounding babble or screams, frustrated lectures, and accompanying mad facial expressions.
• Can do detailed tasks with his hands now such as spin things, sometimes flips pages, occasionally presses the buttons on his interactive toys etc.
• Always sucking his thumb
• Not so interested in his swing anymore (sad day for Mom), and decided he doesn't want to be patient anymore during my showers.
• Somehow has learned to associate me with play and Dad with sleep because I can barely get him to nap for me during the day, but he ONLY sleeps when Dad babysits. It can be a bit of a problem. Especially when I come home at 9pm and find out he's been asleep for the past 3 hours
• Little cuddlebug - always wants to be in mommy's arms (which occasionally can be a bit trying, but most of the time is wonderful!)
• Digs his toes into the carpet and scootches himself forward (tiny amounts) while laying on his tummy.
• Still loves his baths, and always cracks up when I clean his cheeks and chin with the washcloth

Wednesday Confessional

#2 - I have Psoriasis

Some of you already know this, but there's probably a lot who don't. Psoriasis.org describes the condition as "a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious."

I often get asked the same question: "What happened to your arm?" Because of its appearance and location near my elbow, it can look like I took a spill and got some road rash. Sometimes when I was younger, I would be embarrassed and reply "I fell", brushing it off really quickly. It may seem like a little thing, but it has such a huge impact on my everyday life. I unconciously will plan outfits around covering it, rarely wear my hair back in ponytails (which I love) because I'm afraid it will expose patches around my ears/neckline and wearing a swimsuit becomes dreadsome. It can affect your entire personality and confidence when you are so self-conscious of it. It doesn't bother me as much now, and being married to someone that accepts it and isn't bothered by it makes a huge difference. I was always stressed about what people would think while I was dating.



If you look closely at the left picture you can see it on my left elbow and upper right arm

Before getting pregnant with Emmett, I gave myself Enbrel shots once a week that cleared my skin of it. I stopped during pregnancy to protect Emmett, and as a result it is pretty much back as bad as it's ever been. I am in the process of trying to start back up on the Enbrel. I have always considered Psoriasis to be my "curse", but a few weeks ago Jared's Aunt said something that made me see it in a whole new perspective. She said, "That Psoriasis was the thing that saved your life, right?" She was right. I am part of a study they are doing on Psoriasis up at the University of Utah, and the day before I was admitted to the hospital, I had a Psoriasis study follow-up in Salt Lake. While doing the routine vital checks, they noticed my blood pressure was slightly high. That caused my to keep a close watch on my pressures for the next 24 hours, and I was able to miraculously catch the Pre-Eclampsia setting in. Because there are no real symptoms, chances are we wouldn't have known something was wrong until I either went into a seizure or stroked.  Although I still hate it, and can't wait for it to clear up.... I can now look at Psoriasis as my blessing.

*I have talked to Doctors and Psoriasis specialists, and my Pre-eclampsia had no correlation to Psoriasis (just in case anyone was wondering)

Emmett's Blessing

August 29th was a very special day for our family. We finally had a chance to bless Emmett in sacrament. It was also the first time he'd ever attended church!

~The Outfit~

~Church~

~The Breakfast~

Our spread included Cinnamon Rolls, Sour Cream Blueberry muffins, Zucchini Bread, 2 different types of Quiche, and Fruit. YUM!

~Family~

Emmett with both his Grandpas                         Me and my little stud                         4 Generations of Erickson Men!

Our Erickson Family                                                                             Our Whittaker Family

* Great Grandma Erickson and Great Grandma and Grandpa Flamm were also there, but I didn't have them in any pictures :-(

I've always known what a special, strong spirit Emmett is, and I couldn't help but tear up with joy over all the wonderful blessings he has in store. The bishop said it well when he stood up after the blessing and said, "All babies are miracles, but this one especially - and he let us know he was alive and strong today" (Emmett let out a few good screams during the blessing of course).

We felt so blessed to have our loving, supportive families there to share the special day with us. It is one we will cherish forever.