Hey

I did a little guest post on my friend Erika's bloggity blog. Click HERE to check it out if you want. 

In Utah, but not of Utah

Ok, I'm about to get real here.

Because basically, life has been getting real. Josh and I have recently come to terms with the fact that we will be in Utah for a good long while.

He loves his job, and it really is a great one. It's a wonderful thing to have a job that utilizes his skills and also his passion. It's fun because it's a job that I'm connected with too, and have a special place in my heart for. He works at a therapeutic boarding school for boys. He's been there since the school opened almost 2 years ago. I used to work at the girls school, which has been around for a lot longer. But his love for the job helped him to excel at it and now he's the Residential Director there and we couldn't be more happy. He loves those boys like his own and I feel so strongly this is SUCH a great job for him. So, needless to say, it's something worth sticking around for.

In realizing his love for the line of work and also his skill in communicating and relationshop building, he changed his major a couple months ago.. he's now in family studies and plans on being a therapist or something of the like. And since he works full time now, he's only going to school part-time. So along with that and changing his major, school is going to take a few more years. But Josh loves his classes now and that is soooo terrific. Utah is kind of a mecca for the therapeutic school scene, a scene that Josh's career might continue with, so yeah.. we'll most likely be here for some years to come.

So it seems like a long journey, but you know what? I feel like we're doing it right. Right for us. I'm glad Josh isn't scared to do what he truly wants to do- that's a trait I fiercely admire about him. His fearlessness. I've definitely never met anyone who has this trait and applies it to life in such a positive way.

I know I'm talking about that man of mine a lot, but it's pretty much the main "why" of us still being here, and our plans to remain here.

I have some mixed feelings and emotions about calling Utah home, and the likely possibility of raising our children here.
I DO love it out here in the smaller town we live in. The Provo/Orem area is sure not my favorite, and moving out of there was the best decision ever ever ever. I enjoyed my BYU days a ton, and Provo was great for that, but the traffic and general overpopulation of that small area made me feel claustrophobic. Plus, our apartment was straight up gross so that didn't really help.
Now we have a great apartment, and to tell you the truth I totally want to live out in the farmland boonies now. I love it. A girl can breath.
The area we're in now is gorgeous. Beautiful farmland and breathtaking mountains.

So there are a lot of positives about the place. Other biggies include some really great friends and cool places to go close by- outdoorsy, touristy, and churchy.

But if you know me, you know that I love Washington- Josh and I grew up there and always planned on going back and raising our kids there.
The main thing we miss about Washington is the people. (So not really a thing at all...). We have family and friends there who we love so, so dearly.

So I'm still somewhat grasping the concept of being a Utahan but it's seeming a little bit more real every day.

I DO have some fears and concerns though. And I think they are so legitimate, so hear me out.
Though I do apologize if they seem offensive or like I'm stereotyping. Cause I kind of am.

Here goes.

A.) I feel a little weird about the fact that I have a blog, am a young mom, and live in Utah. Like, I want to say "ew" to that. Not that I'm all about blogging or anything. But I feel like there is most definitely a Utah mom blogger scene- chevron and bubble necklaces mandatory.
I DO know those who break the mold here, and she (not to mention any names... cough, Erika, cough) is, in a word, awesome.

B.) What if Pearl walks in the room one day and her hair is all teased in the back, sporting the dreaded "Utah bump"? And has the make-up packed on? What if I someday think that looks good?! You wouldn't let me think that, right?

C.) What if I turn into one of the make your own clothes (ok I actually think that's kinda cool), no make-up, mega mom-hair, rural Utah types?
(this is probably the one I fear most... because I want to live in the boonies, learn how to can food and all that good crap, get into food storage, and also, I want to homeschool. Surprise. That's for a different post a different day.)

D.) What if my kids grow up to be kind of... weird? That's my biggest fear and yet I don't know what exactly I mean by weird. I think this is the one that I should dismiss the quickest though, because they have me and Josh, and we're super awesome... Plus, I've met some WAY legit people that have grown up around these parts. Seriously, when I say legit, I mean legit. I have met people that do have the Utah weirdness that I can't explain, but I've also met many who don't. I just want my kids to be able to find the legit, chill friends.

I think overall my fears are a little petty. What do you think?

Utah is a really wonderful state full of really wonderful people. I guess I'm just working on finding my place...

picture of the day

Juuuuust kidding, 8 pictures of the day!

I know, I'm getting annoying with the picture thing. Oh well. Embrace it?

It's been a shame it's so deathly cold outside lately. I havent gotten to take pictures with my new camera outside at aaaaall. Well there was a super quick snapshot of the family for a (late) Christmas card but that's it. And a basement apartment obviously doesn't have the lighting to do pictures justice. But today I noticed some soft sunlight through the window so I gave it a shot.
They turned out nice.
I hope you like my schnoz.

siiiiiix months!

What the what? I know. The lady is six months old.

Her appointment today was an adventure. 

Lets just say the boy Morgan himself is a walking, talking, adventure. There was throw up and tantrums and bonks on the head to be had this morning on our outing. 

Buuuuut this post is about Pearl. That lovely girl. 

She's still the petite thing she's always been- weighing in at only 14lbs 3oz. That's only the 16th percentile. She's 25.5 inches long, which is the 32nd percentile. 

Sidestory: The other day I was researching homemade baby food techniques and I came across some stuff on infant reflux. I looked into it and Pearl has just about every single symptom that goes along with this issue. The arching her back and unlatching and choking and coughing when she eats. The spit up and not gaining a lot of weight. I saw that there are medicines that can help babies when the problem is persistent, like Pearl's. So I was excited to talk to the doc about ways to get Pearly feeling better about her eating. I got her some meds and although I only started them today, I already feel like there is some improvement. Yay! I love love love breastfeeding her when she eats well. It really is some hardcore bonding. I'm glad I've stuck with it even though it's been tough sometimes with her being a somewhat fussy eater. Like really, I've almost given up a couple times. But I am proud that this lady has never had formula. (not that there's anything wrong with it- this was just a personal goal of mine.) I feel like it's empowering to be her main source of nutrition. 

So let's hope we can get a good handle on her reflux issues and she can keep doing better. 

Um, I got a new camera for Christmas. Like a really nice one. So... there's a lot of pitcure taking up in here. I'm not good (like at all), but I hope to get better. And I don't have photoshop or anything, so editing is way minimal. But my camera sure is fun... and my kids are mega fun, so it's like the best thing ever to take pictures of them.

And of course I had to do a little photoshoot of my six month girl...

I like the simplicity of the lace headband. But what do you think? Does is look weird?