Captain Jack's Log: 4.5 months

Squeals. Thumb Sucking. Eating. Rolling. Giggles. Grabbing Toys. Eating Toys. Smiles. More Thumb Sucking. Naps. Jabbers. Grabbing Mom's Hair. More Eating. Peek-a-Boo. Sticking Tongue Out. More Rolling. Hiccups. More Jabbers. Kicking. More Smiles. And lets not forget explosive poops. . . That sums up Jack's day.

Jack is growing up too fast. I want to pickle him so he stays just like this! But then he starts doing something new and I realize the fun will continue. At his four month check up, Jack weighed 16.7 lbs (82 percentile) and was 26.25 inches long (90 percentile). He is a big boy. His smile matches his height and weight. I can't get enough of it! Jack puts everything in his mouth. He LOVES being on his belly. Bath time is full of kicking and giggles (good sign he is a natural swimmer). Dad's guitar playing and walks in the stroller can keep his attention for hours. We love you little munchkin!

Visit From My Aunties

About a month ago my aunts Julie (from Australia) and Jenny (from England) came to the States for a vacation together. They had some crazy adventures- skydiving in Vegas, four-wheeling in Moab, mountain biking, more skydiving, and getting invites to dinner from old men. I can't speak for them, but I think the most climatic part of their trip had to have been synchronized ice skating in Park City. We had an audience and even a volunteer coach. I'm sure it was quite the sight to see a group of women with an average age of 40 years, not so gracefully dancing on the ice. It was a blast! I have really cool aunties! (I'll get the video posted soon:)

                                       

It was such a treat to spend time with them. It was only about the third or forth time we've been around each other, but it definitely didn't feel that way for me. I felt a wonderful connection with them. I finally understood where my sisters and I inherited our silliness- the Kemp side of the family! Julie and Jenny shared some great stories. Julie's husband raises sheep. I was so glad to have the chance to talk about the joys and stresses of being a farmer's/rancher's wife with her. Jenny had some hilarious stories of her work as a vet- - operations on pet chickens?! One of the best parts of their visit was seeing my mom so happy with her sisters. They had such a good time together! There is something wonderful about sisters. My mom was in heaven. I know how that is too, I love my sisters- they are my best friends. 

Jack with his great-aunt Julie

Jack with his great-aunt Jenny

I'm grateful for such wonderful relatives. Spending a couple of days with Jamie, my mom, Jenny, and Julie reminded me the importance of sisters and family.

Don't be fooled, these are my aunts- not sisters!

Love you Jenny and Julie!

A New Found Hobby

After having surgeries on my knees two years ago I haven't been able to do very many of the things I love...at least not as intensely as I would like. No serious running- just short intervals of "waddling" as my mom calls it. Me riding a bike up a hill is quite the sight to see. Rock climbing would probably be close to impossible. Slalom water skiing or snowboarding are still out of the picture. I've felt like a little kid with 60 year old knees that can't keep up. Its been quite the challenge for me to not be as active as I want.

Before Jack was born I realized I needed to stop having a pity party and find something new I could enjoy  and easily do as a mommy. Finding a new hobby wasn't easy. Heath was hoping I would fall in love with correcting Spanish papers but that didn't happen. One day I walked into a fabric store with my mom last summer and I knew I had found it. Quilting- A hobby that matches the age of my knees! You wouldn't think quilting and running are similar, but they are. Give me a chance to explain...

I loved running because of the solitude I found on a trail, the challenge during a run, and the overwhelming feeling of triumph afterwards. Running up Logan canyon invigorated my senses. I was addicted to the crisp fresh air that filled my lungs. Hearing the rushing water of the river along side my favorite trail and seeing the beauties of nature put life in perspective for me. The rhythmic crunch of my Asics on the rocky trail created all the music a runner could need. My body felt a rush of adrenaline as I thought of the switch backs I would eventually reach. I eagerly anticipated the coming challenge. 

After a few miles the pain would slowly set in. My legs began to feel like they weighed twice as much, little aches would start to surface, and my lungs would burn. Then the mental battle would begin...should I just stop and walk for a bit? It feels as though each mile gets longer. Can I really finish? My form would get sloppy and my mental focus would waiver. Why did I want to run so many miles today? Motivation hit as I remembered the last race I competed in. Step after step the end gets closer. Soon I would feel the exhausted gratification that I couldn't get enough of. That sounds exactly like quilting doesn't it?

Quilting is like a mental retreat, a creative challenge, and another chance to conquer. The bell chimes as I open the door of the Cotton Shop. I am instantly energized by the sights and sounds. I see the clean vibrant colored fabrics line the walls of the store. There are too many prints and designs to choose from and my mind begins to race. Touching the crisp cottons and fuzzy fleece and hearing the humming of a sewing machine in the background sends me into a focused trance. It seems the standard music for any fabric store is the endless chatter of women. As I wander down each isle of fabrics I'm overcome with a giddy excitement as I envision my next project.

The real work begins as I carefully cut and sew each piece together. My fingers are tired of pinning, my foot is cramping from pressing the pedal, and my neck and back are developing knots from sitting in the same position for so long. The inner dispute begins...should I give this up for a few months? It seems like the rows are never-ending. Am I ever going to get this finished? My stitch is far from straight. Why did I decided to make a queen size?? Ambition returns as I admire blankets given to me by a few quilting experts. Piece after piece the quilt begins to come together. Soon I can wrap up in the finished product satisfied. 

Captain Jack's Pirate Blanket

This one is a rag quilt- not quite finished

Back of the Pirate Blanket

I started this quilt over a year ago.
I wanted to make a queen size quilt for
our bed. Eventually I'll get it done!

I had it professionally quilted-
I can't take credit for the swirls.

T-Shirt Quilt from all my HS Sports

House Hunting

A few months ago Heath and I were talking about how ridiculously expensive rent is. We did some researching and found we could have a cheaper house payment for a home than a two bedroom apartment. We are sick of dumping our money into a teeny tiny apartment we don't even like, I am beyond ready to have a second bedroom for the Captain because he is a bit of a noisy sleeper, and we really don't like living in the city...and so the house hunting began. Of course Heath needs to be close to his beloved cows, we both like small towns, but want to be close to Salt Lake for Heath's job so the search started in Stansbury Park.

I'm sure most people will agree searching for a house is stressful. There has been a huge learning curve for us. To keep a long story short- We've seen many houses and dislike nearly all of them. Finding the right house for the right price has been difficult, stressful, and frustrating. Options to build have come up, which have add to the stress.... One night I threw all the house papers we had away in frustration and vowed to give up the hunt. Heath just laughed and called me the next morning to see if I had pulled them out of the garbage yet. I've learned I'm not always a patient person. Thankfully I have a husband who is. Not only is he patient, but thorough. I have learned from him how important it is to make sure you understand it all, even the little things. Sometimes it drives me crazy how much he analyzes and re-analyzes, but I am so glad he does and that he includes the Lord in analyzing.

The hunt is still ongoing, but I'm dealing with it more patiently thanks to Heath. I know things will work out they way they should... after all "home" for me really is just being with my sweet husband and my Jack Jack.