Adult Goings On.

Sorry, this is a lame post w/ no pictures.

So, I see my husband even LESS now.

But it's all for a good cause!!

Jordan started school a couple of weeks ago, and he is getting acclimated to schoolwork and classes pretty nicely.  He is taking an Engineering class, a Computer Programming (JAVA, I think) class, and a math class.  Next semester he hopes to add one more, which would be a full load.

So, on Mondays and Wednesdays he is gone for 12 hours.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he is gone for 14 hours.  But Fridays, he only works (8 hours...but he always stays late!) and he has Saturday and Sundays off.

So I'm a single parent most of the week, but we get to see him on the weekends a lot, which is nice (if he'd stop working overtime on Saturdays!).  Except when he's home, he's studying a lot too, so really, it sucks.

He will be pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at the U after he gets as many classes done at the less-expensive, SLCC, which happens to be RIGHT by where he works.  So that's good.

I am also doing some studying.  There are a few photographers in my neighborhood, and they have inspired me to actually learn how to use my digital SLR.  Jordan is pretty good with it, and, I feel pretty confident in editing the shots, but I really need to learn how to use it, from a technical standpoint.  Basically, the artsy stuff I am better at, and the technical left-brain stuff--that's the harder part.  That is seriously the mantra of my life.

In fact, I tell my friends that when I was dating people, if the guy said that he wasn't good at math or science on a date, it was a complete turn-off.  What would I do when my kid was in like 3rd grade and had already exceeded my math abilities and needed help??????  I needed to find someone I could say "Go ask your Dad" about, and mean it!  So I'm glad I have Jordan.

But I digress.  So, instead of me taking a $300 seminar or expensive classes to learn how to use my camera, Jordan said "no way Jose" and downloaded a textbook for me to read.  So far, I'm learning a lot! When I have the chance to read, let's be honest.

I'm also working on getting better at design. Been working through a bunch (OK a bunch is a bit of an overestimation since I have limited time) of Photoshop and Illustrator tutorials.  I'm pretty good at Photoshop but Illustrator--I have a lot to learn.  MAN, I wish I'd majored in graphic design at school.  I just felt like I wasn't artistic enough or cool enough I guess.  At BYU it was very competitive.  But seriously, when I drive down the road and look at all the UGLY billboards and other advertisements, I realize I was wrong.  I could do way better than whoever designed that piece of crappiness :)  So, as a self-taught designer, I have been doing a few projects for my friends. It is so fun. I really love it.

So, the more I think about it, the more I realize that a mom with two kids really has a limited amount of things in which she can focus her attention.  There is house-cleaning, laundry, breaking up kid fights, cleaning some more, feeding them, and then maybe after they're in bed by 8 or 9p.m. you can do something you want to do. That's when I do my crafts, sewing projects, and read my textbook :)  And wait up for Jordan to get home.  At midnight...well, apparently. It's way past and he's still not here.  But it's all for a good cause!!!

OK, enough of my ramblings.
That's what's going on with us.
Until next time.

Pictures on a Sunday Afternoon...

So, it was pretty tough getting them to look at the camera...and not be crying too...





But they also got a good-ish (meaning good...of them mainly) one with Mommy...



Not before Claire did THIS on camera:

Yep, that's what we call: "The Look." I had to laugh. She's giving you "The Look" while possessively putting her hand on Anya's head. Classic.

*And now you can see how big my nose is.*





I have to say, Claire is a TOTAL Gollaher (that would be my maiden name) in this picture. Her look reminds me of my Daddy. Ahhh :) I miss him.

Soon Anya will look at the camera--probably about the time Claire will stop looking, let's be honest here.

What's Happening with...the Adults

Yes, Jordan and I are "the adults." Sometimes, at least. But since I seem to mainly post about my kids (Claire...Anya is still too little to make too many waves...it's not that she's the second...ah! I'm one of those mom's!!!) thought I'd post about what Jordan and I are doing!


First, Jordan. BIG NEWS. FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY, after waiting 2+ years, he is, as of this morning, on DAY SHIFT!! Yay! Goodbye to graves! I'm so excited that on his days off, I'll see him all day, instead of him sleeping all day to "keep his schedule." We're going to have so much fun, and hopefully Jordan won't get sick as much with a good consistent sleep schedule :)


Second, Jordan is also gearing up to begin school FULL-TIME next year. Yep. He is going to study Computer Engineering at the U. Right now, he's studying for some clep tests to be able to test out of some classes, like Calculus. Yuck. I'm glad I'm not the one in school!


Jordan has also gained 5 lbs. (since he went to the doctor last). Momentous. :)


Now onto me. No BIG NEWS like for Jordan, but I'll try to think of something interesting... Let's see. I am adjusting to having 2 KIDS. It is TOUGH! But at least now that Jordan's on days, I won't have to put Claire to bed with Anya in-my-arms-or-she'll-scream-the-whole-time and I can do the necessary bedtime "snuggles."


My house has been cleaner than EVER. Seriously. But with the two kids, you have to stay on top of things even more, and I think I've done that to the extreme in order to keep my sanity. SOMETHING has to be in order, right?


My goal has been to lose the baby weight MUCH faster this time. Last time It took me like 10 months to get it all off. So far, I've lost 31 lbs. 19 to go. Yes, I know that means I gained 50 LBS. Pathetic!! Oh well!! Losing it has been good, until Thanksgiving rolled around. I think I'm going to take a hiatis until January...let's be honest...who wants to diet during the holidays? Not I, said the lover-of-food. But I'm totally motivated for a January restart by the fact that I have nothing to wear.


Still teaching Gospel Doctrine. Love it. I hope I keep this calling for even more years. It's the best. One day I'll start "Soap Box Sunday" again. Too many demands!


Just finished Mockingjay (it took me SO LONG it was 2 weeks overdue at the library) and WHAT A DISSAPPOINTMENT. The whole book I was either bored or a little grossed out or depressed about the gory details. Happy about who Katniss ends up with at the end, but it was like one page long.... pathetic. If/when they do the movie, they really need to manipulate this last book a little--spend a little more time on the romance, a little less on the gory details of the war, and definitely less time on Katniss' pathetic and weak thoughts. OK, I could go on forever. It sucked.


OK, well that's what's going on! Now the next 5 posts will be about the kids again :)

Happy Halloweeeeeen!!!

This Halloween was pretty fun, because now, Claire knows the meaning of C-A-N-D-Y. And she dressed up like a COW, and definitely knows the meaning of that!

But first, I must showcase Jordan's exceptional pumpkin-carving skills :)



And, as I said, Claire was a cow. Her cousin, Lauren was a cow last year, so we just carried on the tradition (well, tradition of FREE costume too!). I also figured it would be maybe the only year that my daughter would be excited about dressing as a cow. Next year I bet it will be a fairy or a princess or something frilly like that.

Here she is getting her "makeup" on! Auntie Katie (aka, "Sexy Vampire") was the artist :)

And here she is, all ready to go!!



And here we are trick or treating together! (Let's be honest, it was cold and rainy. We went to a handful of houses...)



Then, we went back to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's house and Claire did what she does best: maul "baby sister."



By the way, isn't she cute? (yeah, she survived the mauling)



Poor Anya... she was really gassy that night...so Grandma Taylor had me make a pact with her to cut out soda and chocolate (my pediatrician said chocolate is a culprit? Who knows...) out of my diet, and she would do the same. The soda is really hard for her and the chocolate (surprise surprise) is really hard for ME!! Since that day, 3 days ago, I have lost 2 more pounds. LOL.

Started my diet again (took a short hiatis for Halloween)...need to fit back into my wardrobe or I'll be in PJ's all winter long! AH!

Anyway, was a fun Halloween!!

Going through the phone photos...roundup

Yep, some fun things have happened. I snapped some photos on my phone. Usually they just STAY on my phone. Not today. Here are some highlights of the last couple of months:

Claire being cute at the park!


I went to temple square with my mom recently, and saw the new diorama of the temple! So cool!


"Little Orfan Claire"
Ok, so it's not ALL Jordan's fault dressing her--it was she who wanted to put his socks on as "shoes." But all of the other business--that's ALL him. Yep, this is a typical "Daddy dressed me" outfit.


Got new eyeshadow...MAC's "Humid." It's the best!

Claire and I went to Discovery Gateway with Uncle Jay, Lauren, and Quinn! It was so fun! Sorry, Lauren didn't really want to look at the camera...ever...


The "Car Seat Potato." Yep, that's Claire's favorite seat... She is watching Diego, I think.


One fine morning, Claire came to my bedside with her Dora undies on her head (Grandma Taylor bought her underwear when she was like a year old...yeah, potty training was/is still a little far out!) saying, "cute hat!"


Claire got her face painted (a dragonfly, if you can't tell) by Auntie Katie at a ward activity a few weeks ago. I just love this picture (Claire isn't smiling like a gremlin!)



The stork came by with a present :) One with chubby cheeks.

And this concludes the camera phone roundup. Yes, it's a camera phone, which is why some of the pictures look a little not very good quality...

The Story...

Due date was October 9th.
My doctor said he'd induce on the 4th though. (much to my happiness...NOT fun 3rd tri)
I really didn't want to wait that long, and it seems as though neither did Anya :) Besides, last
doctors' visit I was dilated at a 3 and effaced at 70%.

On September 28th, I was done being pregnant, and willed myself into labor. OK, fine, I didn't, but I went into labor and was very happy about it!

Since I was positive for Strep B (same with Claire), it was important for me to go to the hospital sooner than later because they need at least 3-4 hours of intravenous antibiotic in me before I deliver.

So I called my doctor. They said to come in. At this point, I had started feeling contractions in the early afternoon at Target, with my sister in law, Camille, and Claire. Because we were walking around and everything, it's not like I was timing them.

So they had me come in. My doctor said he was looking for signs that I was actually contracting because I seemed kind of fine, but don't worry, they hooked me up to the machine and the contractions were coming at 4 minutes apart. But since I'm totally brave, awesome, and strong, I could handle it... :) I was now dilated at a 5 and effaced at almost 80%. My doctor said that my membranes were so thin that my water could break at any time...so it's not like I wanted to go home and pack! Who would want to clean up a water breakage?

So I was sent to labor and delivery and was set to go. Jordan came with Claire in a little while and then some family came over to keep me company. Finally, I got the epidural (I held off as long as I could, not that I was planning on going AL NATURALE or anything!!) But, the epidural unfortunately slowed down the contractions quite a bit...

Claire passed the time a bit with Diego, one of her faves, and playing with band-aids :)


She kept saying "Mama, sick." And she was actually wanting to kiss me all the time...which is rare because she usually, when asked for a kiss, says "NO" in a really cheeky way.

Around 8pm I was done with the round of antibiotics and ready to go, so they gave me pitosin and we just waited....and waited.....and waited....

Me being a dork. While waiting. Jordan was bored too.

Poor doctor had to come in at like 2am. But he had another patient that late anyway, so it was OK.

Finally, my contractions became a lot stronger and she was ready to come. My doctor was really really good at telling me "how" to push this time, and she came out in 4 pushes!! They still had to clip me a little...sucky. Oh well. A few stitches aren't so bad, I guess. Fortunately, Anya didn't have meconium like Claire did, and they gave her to me right after she came out! I didn't even know what to do about that...she was gooey :)

So I just kissed her. Claire had the meconium, so I didn't get to hold her right away while they cleaned her out.


I just love my little girl!! The first pictures.

I didn't cry this time with the birth. I don't know why, but we have definitely bonded with our little angel.

Yep, 8 lbs. 3 oz.! No WONDER I was so ornery during my 3rd trimester. Seriously. It was the worst (but still not as bad as the first trimester). I will stay up with Anya all night long every day for 3 months rather than repeat the 3rd tri... Claire was only 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was a few days late, so it was definitely different! But Anya seems more like she is a couple of weeks old, not necessarily chubby, just some nice chubby cheeks :)


Claire loves her too...so far :) She always wants to hold and kiss "baby sister, Anya."

So far, she is SUCH a good baby!! She sleeps ALL the time, nurses like a PRO, seriously. I don't even need to focus on the special hold to get her to latch on or anything! She also isn't gassy (yet, at least?) and hardly ever cries. Bliss! And so far, Claire has been great with her. She has her moments, but definitely doing pretty well...just the "normal" tantrums :) haha

And mommy loves her too :)



*The End*

Happy Mother's Day to me :)

Jordan took these pictures of Claire and Mommy yesterday (we only had like 10 minutes...it was kinda cold) and then I Photoshopped. We're a team :) I can't believe it--we only had to delete like 1 picture..they all turned out cute--I think bc Claire had Daddy behind the camera making her laugh! I think we'll make Mommy/children photos a yearly Mother's Day tradition.

Family Pictures!