Thomas' Milestones

As silly as this sounds, Thomas is growing up so fast! Last weekend was General Conference, so we stayed home all day Saturday and watched it on TV. I set Thomas on the couch next to Rob and he fell asleep sitting up. I thought it was the funniest thing! That is the second picture.

Thomas has been sleeping 5 to 7 hours every night for the past couple of weeks. Yes, amazing, but last night, he slept for 7 1/2 hours. The best part though, is that I slept that entire time too, I didn't even wake up once. It was so nice!

And finally, Thomas really giggled for the first time yesterday. His giggle is my favorite sound in the entire world! He is such a good little baby. How did I get so lucky?

Back to Normalcy

So, as most of you know, I am a terrible blogger. Now that Thomas is almost three months old, I feel like my life is getting back to normal. I'm finally feeling like myself again and establishing some order to my choatic life. Not that I'm complaining, I just didn't realize how much one child would turn my world upside down. It's definately an adjustment.

Thomas is the best baby. He is happy. He eats and sleeps and plays and talks and smiles. That is pretty much his life. Crying isn't in the top five list of things he does most often. Rob and I love being parents! It is so amazing to see this little person, that you created, learning and growing everyday. What a wonderful life!

I will try to do small posts more often. I am trying to learn how to be a stay at home mom and do it well. I'm still figuring out time management and priorities, so be patient with me. Not going to work means that I have to be self-disciplined and self-motivated. Being a SAHM is the hardest job I've ever had, but it's already been the most rewarding.

Another pregnancy update

Since I haven't blogged in a while, sorry, I thought that I would post some pictures and update you on the happenings at the Leavitt residence. I am now 37 weeks pregnant! I went to the doctor last Thursday, everything is still looking good. The doctor is still confident that my baby will be a little less than average size- average is about 7 1/2 pounds. I think that 7 pounds is just the right size. I have been having lots of contractions, but they don't seem to be helping things progress. I am not effaced or dialated even a little! Oh well, after Christmas is a better time for the baby to come anyway. I have another appointment tomorrow- I'm not sure that I'll even have the doctor see if I've made any progress in the last four days. It just doesn't seem worth the bother.

Rob finished finals last Wednesday. Woohoo! So, I am looking forward to spending some alone time with him the next couple of weeks while he is just working and we are waiting for the baby to come. It will be a nice change of pace to be able to actually spend some quality time together. This semester has been so crazy that we haven't had much of that. And, we are well aware that the next year or so we won't get much time together either. With work, school, church and, of course, a newborn we'll be lucky to have a few hours a week alone and awake. We are trying to cherish this time together because we know that we will never have it again.

Rob has been wonderful throughout my entire pregnancy. He will go get me anything at anytime from a heating pad to tater tots at Jack-in-the-Box. He is also been very gracious about me taking about 80% of the bed with my pillows and such trying to get comfortable. But all of that is still minimal compared to the fact that he has so sweetly put up with me- mood swings and all. I don't know that I could be as patient and understanding as he has been through the emotional roller coaster ride called pregnancy. I am just so grateful to be married to such an amazing man who loves me so much! We are both so excited to see and hold our little baby!

This is a view from the top. I have to lean forward in order to see my toes. They really do seem that small and far away at this point. I painted them last week when I was having lots of contractions. I thought that I may go into labor- those nails need to look pretty when that happens. :) I am going in for a pedicure on Friday- I am REALLY looking forward to that.

Here it is! That big belly of mine. And yes, my back is killing me! I hope that he isn't too big...

And me again. 37 weeks pregnant- technically full term, but the baby is still not due until January 11. With my luck, that will be the earliest that he will be born. Just pray that it is no later than the 12th. :)

Love, Limits and Latitude

Our ward had a parenting fireside last Sunday evening. Rob and I decided to go, it's never too early to learn and to hear from other parents. We talked about an article entitled "Love, Limits, and Latitude, " which was printed in the August 2008 Ensign. It was a very insightful meeting. I just wanted to share some of the highlights.

1. Parenting is a fluid, dynamic process, it can take time to see the results of our efforts.

2. "Child rearing is so individualistic...what works with one child may not work with another." -President James E Faust. President Brigham Young counseled us to "study children's dispositions and their temperaments, and deal with them accordingly."

3. Lead with love. "Kind looks, kind actions, kind words, and a lovely, holy deportment towards our children will bind them to us with bands that cannot be easily broken." -Pres Brigham Young. Invite obedience rather than demand it.

4. Set clear limits for children's behavior that match each child's level of maturity. Calmly and consistently enforce boundaries with reasonable consequences. The best consequences are generally related to the breach of rules and are designed to help the child achieve the hoped-for outcome.

5. Grant autonomy or latitude, it allows children to express their individuality and helps them learn to make good choices. Let them make choices according to their level of maturity.

6. Seek to view our children as the Savior does, as we do so, we will be filled with charity toward them. Moroni 8:17 "And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love all children with a perfect love;"

Here is the link to the article http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6b8de97864a6b110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Pregnancy Update

Now that I have "binge blogged" and you are up to date on everything, I will blog in real time. Today I am 29 weeks, 3 days- only 10 1/2 weeks to go! I went to the doctor last week for my routine check up. I stepped on the scale and was in disbelief when I saw that I had gained 8 pounds in one month! No wonder my back is hurting and it's getting harder to be comfortable enough to sleep at night. I didn't realize that I had such a ferocious appetite! All my measurements are right on though and the baby's heartbeat was 145. He is very active and I'm starting to feel like a human punching bag. It's so amazing to feel how strong he is getting! I go back to the doctor next week- already time to start going every two weeks. I am surprised at how fast the time has gone by. Before I know it, it will be January and I'll be rushing to get everything just perfect for our new arrival.

28 weeks and growing!


Rob always laughs because the minute that he gets out of bed (which is well before it's light outside), I make myself incredibly comfortable. I steal his pillows and lay right in the middle of the bed. What is under that mess of blankets is a cluster of pillows; there's one supporting my belly, one between my knees, one behind my back and, of course, my favorite feather pillow that I rest my head on. The best two hours of sleep that I get everyday :)

Rob's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Rob!



Here is the cake that Rob's mom made- Spooky!

Mmmm- delicious!

It was a pretty relaxed day. I made Rob German pancakes for breakfast- just so you know eggbeaters don't work because they don't get poofy like a German Pancake should. It was a very interesting mix of flour, eggs and milk. Rob said it was very similar to french toast and ate it all gone- what a sweet guy. I thought it tasted more like scrambled eggs with a touch of flour, drenched in syrup and powdered sugar, not exactly to my liking. We watched a little college football and Rob took a short nap. Later in the afternoon, we did some clothes/shoe shopping then we went to Goodwood for dinner and had some delicious BBQ. We made it home in time to watch the Boise State game on TV. They beat Southern Mississippi. That is Rob's idea of a near perfect birthday. On Sunday, we went to his parent's house for dinner and birthday cake. All in all, I think that it was a good birthday. Maybe next year we can actually have a party.

Rob relaxing, watching football. As happy as a clam.

Zwetschgenknodel

Zwetschgenknodel= plum dumplings!

Rob's family is good friends with the family across the street from them. The dad in the family, Gunter, is from Austria. Gunter and his wife, Gloria grow plums in their backyard. Every year when the fruit is ready they make Knodel. I didn't know that it was so delicious! Let me describe it for you: it is a ripe plum baked inside of a doughy dumpling, you roll it in toasted bread crumbs, then top with sugar! Everytime you cut into one, the plum juice squirts out and you mop up your juicy plate with bread crumbs sugar and more Knodel! Wash all that down with a glass of milk and you have the perfect German meal!!!
This is Zwetschgenknodel. I just couldn't get enough. I didn't think that I even liked plums. I look forward to next fall when I get to partake in this tradition again. Nothing like getting in touch with my good old German roots.