Journaling

The journal must go on. My kids will want to know all the details of these years they won't remember - so it is up to me to provide the dialogue. I admit to understanding now, though, why my mother's journal entries about us were at times short and lacking in detail--- I AM SO TIRED all of the time. At the end of the day writing just seems like another task on the list that never ends..... Here's hoping I survive these young mom years ;). So lets cut to the topic matter:

Ben had a blast with his cousins this summer. He seems to prefer hanging out with the teenagers- as is evidenced with the scratches on poor Kobe's face ;)  Ben is very bright. He is very detailed. He likes to understand and he asks a lot of questions. Really I think he gets into so much trouble not for the attention but to test all the hypotheses he has rolling around in his brain.  "If I turn on this hose and fill up this bucket to the top-- how heavy will it be."  That isn't to say he doesn't do things for attention, because that very bucket experiment lead to Will and I being soaked with the hose later...

James just had his Tonsils and adenoids taken out and tubes put into his ears. It has been a MISERABLE week! Half the time he has just been drowsy and out of it and the other half he complained and looked like he was really feeling poorly! It broke my heart. I think/hope the worst is over though! Knock on wood. We will see if this all helps to improve his speech in the next two months because chronic fluid in the ears made him two times as likely to have a speech delay-- and I think we were definitely starting to see the fruits of the delay. He was really cute before the operation though- he ran up and down the halls with a red wagon and teddy bear saying hi to all the nurses and patients and drs. --- James doctor -- Dr. Richards -- said he wished all of his patients were like James.

Madison finally decided to walk! at 17 months!  I was worried she would rival James 18 month record. She is into everything and actually our first climber. She loves to climb up and down stairs and onto tables and couches. Her brothers never did that. We are also seeing hints of her personality. I am guessing she will have more of my personality than she does Will's-- which I feel like Ben and James are more like their dad.... Madison is dynamic and outspoken and smiley. She waves at everyone and everything- even trees.

Will is starting his next set of RHIA classes and we will hopefully be done with this certification by next spring. I am still working late into the night and early morning hours but am determined to switch around my schedule to wake up earlier and work instead of go to bed so late every night-- wish me luck!

Love,

Summer

Spring 2015

Lots on the update Blockette so lets get started

Ben got glasses. He can't see things close up... He has had them for a few days now so I don't have a determination yet as to if the glasses are helping his behavior- but word on the street is if kids need glasses that young usually their behavior is affected -- and it improves when they get glasses. So I'm crossing my finger there. As far as other pieces of Ben's puzzle- he starts swiming tomorrow - he loves the water but it has to be on his terms so it will be interesting to see how/if the swim teacher can get this kid to put his head under water or lie still enough to float on top of it. He kept things live at his preschool graduation by being the wiggliest kid in the room. But you could see he was really enjoying himself so I was overall pleased with his performance. Ben asks "why" all the time right now and insists on texting grandma or calling his aunts and uncles. He is sweet and has a generous heart always giving James the plate that he wants (even if it was intended for Ben) and always making sure Madison gets whatever food he gets. He is great at sharing and is very gracious with whatever he is given. I love him to the moon and back!

James is potty training-- but I have decided that really potty training is another word for months of accidents with a few wonderfully dry underpants days intermixed. (I'm sure any mom who has that train in a day or two experince will think me a bad trainer but I am happily horrible at potty training). Another thing about my little James is he has decided to for go pronouncing his words- enough so that his pediatrician reccomended speach therapy-- we are going in for an assesment this week.  James is still my baby- I wonder if he will always be- because Madison and him were so close in age I just see them as the same age sometimes :) Or if it is because he needs me- Ben doesn't seem to "need" me as much. James is always quick to grab my hand and to ask for help. Those blue eyes always seem to say-- 'but mom can you do it? I'm too tired to feed myself ;)"

Madison is my little star. My girl. I couldn't be more happy to have my own little princess. She is very bright and determined. Her brothers adore her and always want to share with her. First thing in the morning when we hear her the three of us (Ben and James and I) run into her room. I get her out and the boys proceed to smother her with hugs and kisses -every morning! It is soo cute! She isn't walking yet and she is pushing 15 months- so we will see when she decides to take off- she is close she takes one or two steps but then falls after that.

My husband is my everything of course. Last night he took me out to a fancy dinner and walked me around Farmington Station. I still feel so lucky to be married to him. I love him more everyday! As for his work-- he finally got the approval from them to continue with school - but on their dime. He should be able to finish up his Health Information Management Certificate in the next year. As for yours truly I'm feeling a little less crazy with my work/mom balance - it was pretty crazy right after Madison was born. I think that is the latest and greatest on us--

Below are the pictures of our latests and greatest adventures- including Ben at his preschool graduation.

Summer

I love my kiddies

I used to write so much more. More thoughts I guess. I don't have time for that now that I'm changing diapers and waiting for Ben to find his shoe. But I do still have thoughts and I think they are valuable. I might just have to ask for a do over someday so I can record some of the gems I'm learning about being a young mother.

For now this is all you get. Having a child(ren) means you fall in love everyday. Deeply. Their pain is your pain their smile makes you smile. It makes you feel totally vunerable- what if something happens to them or what if I am saying something wrong or what if I am not saying enough. What if I spend too much time working or on my phone. What if I miss these years when they are so young and so innocent -- because I'm too busy being worried about how to keep that roof over their heads.

I'm not sure why part of the plan is for us to become mothers. Because that part is hard. and scary. but it is also so wonderful. I hope I can play well my part. I love my kids with everything I am.

No home, but thats ok

Hey all. Its that time again for a blog. We're a little sad that the hundred year old victorian house in Layton fell through but are happy where we are at and imagine the Layton home just wasn't meant to be. I'm thinking I'm anxious for our lives to keep coming together, but maybe I'm too anxious. Will has some great prospects at the job he is at to move up in the next year or two and we're hoping that all works out. Meanwhile, I long for the day that my work hours don't include wee hours of the morning 1 am or 2 am... I can't wait to ask my kids what they remember about their childhoods- I hope it isn't me sleeping away while they run around the house potty training themselves and Ben teaches himself to read.... really though I use those two examples because it seems like Ben really is teaching himself to read/write and James is potty training- and I"m hardly doing anything to get them there...

So lets talk about them- Ben is starting to grow into himself. Highly motivated, really serious, and still uber physical. He does really well in his preschool class. He just seems to pick up writing and his letters and sounds of the words pretty quickly. We've signed him up for soccer and I'm going to be his coach- We're going to go far with my expert soccer guidance I can just feel it ;)

James - so much to say about this little tyke. He loves stickers so the incentive of getting them everytime he goes potty is huge- he is doing well. We started him because he went poo in the toilet three days in a row by asking us to take him.  So since then we have switched over to underwear and here's hoping!  James is talking a lot more now and today he asked for a jelly bean and I told him he could only have one-- and he quickly shot back with "two" -- I didn't even think he could say the word two- let alone count. Way to go bro!

Madisons is the queen around these parts- She lets the boys know that all of the time and let me know it the other day. I went to take a shower and usually I let her wait outside the shower while I am in there-- this day I didn't -- I told her she had to stay out in the hall with the boys-- Let me tell you I was in TROUBLE! She banged her head against the ground and cried very loudly- by the time I got out the poor girl had bruises all over her head. Last time I deny her a request! She does the same to the boys and they quickly give her toys or run to get her whatever she is demanding. It is so cute!

We'll this is the end of todays edition of how the Blackhurst world turns. Stay tuned for the next episode...

Summer

Maddy's birthday and etc...

I'm way behind on blogging again but for a good reason. I was busy before I got the bright idea to try to buy a house and now I'm drowning!!! Work, kids, work, Will, Will's school, papers to sign, papers to sign, papers to sign, calls to make, work, kids, pre-school, meals, and the list goes on-- I didn't mention sleep cause I am way sleep deprived right now-- Lets just hope the studies aren't accurate about weight gain and sleep depreivation-- and if they are and you're noticing me put on a few extra pounds just give me a twinkie and move on ;)

Ben says the cutest things as of late-- when he has done something bad and I ask him for example "Why is James crying?" he says "I'm not telling."  THis kid can't lie - I love it. So instead of lieing he says "I'm not telling." And if he does do seomthing bad that needs immediate attention he runs in and tells me "I left the water running- and locked the bathroom door." 

James, James James. He is brother number two -- he is sort of a complainer. He knows if he lays out on the ground and cries loud enough I will run to the rescue. Which would be fine if he didn't lay out on the floor for less than important reaons like slipping on a sock. He loves to do everything Ben does. The other day Ben got off his bike and walked his bike across the street - so James got off his wiggle car and dragged it across the street. Also one last tid bit- this kid is potty training himself. For the last week whenever he needs to poo he says so and we put him on the toliet and off he goes. Since my sanity levels are a little lacking now becuase of trying to buy a home- I haven't put the effort into teaching him to go 1 and 2 consitently-- but I hope when I do it will be eaiser ;)

Madison. Today is her Birthday!!! And I am in sooo much pain from weaning her-- Everytime my boys even look my way I have my arms up so they don't cause more pain. She is my doll and my everything. We bought her her first doll and went dress shopping for her. Her cake was pink we had her wear a tiara-- I never knew I could be so girlie- but hey I have a GIRL!!!  She started crawling a few weeks ago - breaking the trend the boys started of scooting. And I"m thinking she will be walking sooner than them too. The other day she pulled herself up a stair and is starting to stand against furniture. 

Well I best be off. Its late and time for bed. We're good. Very busy as usual. Every minute I have with Will is a really good minute. For awhile there we were just passing in the night. With him having a break from school I'm in heaven. OK get ready for an onslaught of pictures and make sure to take a minute to comment and let me know how cute our kids are :)) Jk

 Don't mind the random pic of my brother's gum on my hand- but he must be implicated in his crime against humanity-- he is the one who put it there!!!!