Saturday, August 17th-- after we got back from our trip up to the Unitas we went to Melanie/Brandon's to celebrate Noah's birthday. They had a big water slide for the bigger kids and some little kiddie pools for the smaller kids. The hose water was a little cool so Steve went and got some warm water in the house and filled up the two kiddie pools. Nyles didn't really seem to mind though, he was just having fun in the water.
Nyles playing w/ Lynsie
Nyles, Lynsie and Conor
Just playing w/ his bucket ;)
Alexa trying to help
Ethan, Noah and Cameron warming up after doing down the slide
Monday, August 19th--Steve took Nyles in for his 1 year appointment. He weighed 18.63 lbs which is the 3 percentile, was 29.53 inches which is the 39 percentile, and his head circumference was 18.5 inches which is the 67 percentile. He's obviously pretty light for his age, but he was sick the week before so he might have lost weight, and he is just an active boy (just can't sit still for 2 seconds), the Dr wasn't too worried. He wanted to make sure he was still gaining weight though so he asked us to just come back in for a weight check in a couple weeks. So on September 4th Steve took him in to get weighed again. This time he weighed 19.78 lbs which is the 7 percentile, was 30.31 inches which is the 58 percentile, and his head circumference was the same at 18.5 inches which is the 63 percentile. The Dr said everything looked great and he's growing perfectly.
After Nyles' 1 year appointment the Dr told us we were ok to start him on whole milk now so we did. He said he could definitely use the extra calories and fat as well. So over those two weeks we switched him completely from straight breast milk to straight cows milk, whole. I was a little nervous that he either wouldn't like the cows milk or that he wouldn't like it cold because he was used to having milk warm. But ironically when we gave it to him we didn't have any problem at all. He drank it plain, cold and from his sippy cup. He didn't want a bottle anymore and he loved the taste of the whole milk. The Dr also said that Carnation Instant Breakfasts were also really good to give kids since they have a lot of nutrients and help them drink milk more so we did that as well. Nyles has tried some of my Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfasts that I have in the morning and loves them, so it was a hit! We now give him milk in the morning when he wakes up and a little before he goes to bed in the evening. I am really proud of how well he transitioned. At this same time he also started sleeping completely through the night on his own without waking or needing us to come in. He's been doing really well since we switched him to whole milk. I think he really was waking up hungry in the middle of the night when I was breastfeeding him. The whole milk is helping him gain weight and sleep better at night. Win, win!
I have to be honest it's been a relief not to have to breastfeed anymore, and especially to have to pump twice at day at work. Now don't get me wrong, it was definitely my choice to do so and I'm very glad I was able to and that Nyles was able to also, but I'm am also glad that we're past that phase now. Pumping really took up a lot of my time at work, let alone I had to bring the bag on and off the train in addition to my regular work bag. Then I had to store the milk, deal w/ others using the mother's room at work, bringing the milk back home, freezing it, then Steve had to thaw and warm it up each time to feed. It wasn't an easy process nor convenient that's for sure, but it definitely was cheaper than formula and more nutritious. I'm glad the Lord blessed me to be able to care of my child this way, especially since it allowed me to maintain that Mother/Child bond, even when I had to work and couldn't be home w/ him during the day. I truly feel blessed for that!
On Tuesday, August 20th Steve wanted to celebrate my bonus early, so we went out to eat at Red Robins. It was fun to get out and spend time w/ Steve and Nyles, especially before Steve started school again and will be gone every night except Friday.
Red Robins.............Yummm ;)
Sporting the bibs Grandma Hegerhorst made for him
Such a cool light
My silly boys looking at the funny light
Steve started school again on Wednesday, August 21st. He's taking a human biology class, bi-organic chemistry, bi-organic chemistry lab, and online psychology class. There are plenty of classes to still take as prereqs in order to apply for PA school. What makes it even more fun is that many of the schools wants different classes or some what a little more chemistry others want more biology or some even more in psychology. We're trying to get a little of each and hopefully apply by the end of Summer next year and then go from there. Again Steve is taking basically all night classes. Monday and Wednesday from 5-7pm (Joann comes and watches Nyles for 30-40 minutes until I come home since I get off at 4:30pm), then Tuesday from 7-10pm and Thursday lab from 7-9:20pm. It's a couple pretty late nights and it's not fun that we don't get to see each other as much, but we know it'll be worth it in the end. We make it work and still have time for each other.
Nyles loving his grilled cheese and Cheerios
Just enjoying a peach
I had two meetings that week also. On Wednesday, I had a Visiting/Home Teaching meeting to go over changes for the next month. Then on Thursday I had my counselors come over to our place for a meeting after I put Nyles to bed. Both meetings were productive and effective.
Friday August 23rd--After work, dinner and getting Nyles to bed we had the couple we home teach come over for games and a lesson. I found this article on lds.org website and actually suggested it to my 2nd counselor for her topic for 1st Sunday Lesson (over Labor Day since I'd be gone). It's from the October 2006 General Conference. I don't remember much from it when it was actually given, probably because I was fairly new on the mission and probably overwhelmed still, but it's a GREAT message. They put together a great video about the first part of his talk here. The full text can be found here also. The talk is titled "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness." Anyway, we watched the video together for our lesson then talked about it. We then played a couple games and had brownies and ice cream. It was a fun evening.
Nyles' little fingers trying to reach me in the bathroom, he gets a little impatient sometimes
The next morning, Saturday, August 24th, at about 5am Steve left to go up to the cabin to go call a coyote, then help his dad stain the deck. They went out and Steve actually shot a coyote, but it got up and moved so they couldn't find it to bring back and get money for it.
Phill, Steve and Dave going out to call a coyote
After they got back from calling the coyote, the deck still wasn't dry so they decided that they should just go fishing instead :) I wasn't planning to go up to the cabin, but Steve convinced me that it was perfect weather up there so I packed up Nyles and some snacks and we left. Since Steve had already drove the Corolla up and we'd have to bring it back anyway, he decided to meet me in Heber at Smith's. Nyles fell asleep on the way up so Steve just jumped in the Edge and we headed up the rest of the way.
What's up with the weather huh?
Pouty face
It was about lunch time when we got there so we just warmed up our leftover pizza I brought w/ me, then put a couple Papa Murphy's in the oven for Dave and Stacie/Phill. They were out on the boat w/ the kids fishing, but were coming in for lunch as well. We were just going to grab a quick bite to eat and then go back out, but Joann was about here, so we waited for her to come in as well. Unfortunately by this time the weather turned and it was pretty windy, but we decided to go out anyway. Though the weather wasn't ideal, it was still fun to get out on the boat for a little while.
Steve and Nyles out on the boat
Oh hey mom!
Nyles helping Steve drive the boat
Dave showing us the fish he caught
Nyles just keeping himself entertained while on the boat
Conor and Nyles playing w/ the table/lamp at the cabin
Sunday, August 25th--I had PEC in the morning like normal, then we had our home teachers over shortly after church.
My cute boys ready for church ;)
Monday, August 26th--Nyles just enjoying his time w/ dad and his toys.
Nyles first time trying popcorn.
He's definitely a fan! Fits right in the family :)
Nyles enjoying some lunch.
Nyles found my nursing pads in my bag. He the unwrapped it, took off the covering for the sticker and it somehow ended up on his head. I couldn't stop laughing when Steve text me this while at work. Silly boy :)
Wednesday, August 28th--My work had a recognition event for those who were in the top 10% of our last campaign. This time they gave us paid time off to go to Boondocks in Draper. Since it's way more fun to go w/ Steve and Nyles, I had him pick me up from work then we headed down there. I had made a Dr appt in the afternoon so we wanted to get there just a little early in order to get round of mini golf in. It was a lot of fun just hanging out together on a Wednesday afternoon.
Steve and Nyles playing mini golf
Nyles thought it was so fun to hold the golf club
After we played a round of mini golf, we headed to a Dr appt for my left wrist. It has been bothering me the past week or two, so I've been wearing a brace most of the day. When it's on and I don't bend my wrist, of course it doesn't hurt, but without it and I'd try to do simple things like pick up Nyles it would really hurt. So Steve got me into see a hand specialist. After looking at it and figuring out where it was hurting me, he determined that I had a cyst on my wrist. He said a lot of time just applying a Cortisone shot would help most people get rid of the pain. Since this is easier than surgery we decided to try it. He gave me a shot right there in his office. It was still a little sore that week, but now it hardly even bothers me now. I hope it works long term ;)
Thursday, August 29th--After work I started getting things packed up and ready to head to Bear Lake the next day. Since Steve was at class, Nyles and I went for a walk w/ the stroller to the church to get a few things ready for my counselor for Sunday. As we were headed out of the church to walk home, I felt the Spirit whisper to me again that Nyles is blessed w/ patience in order to help me fulfill my calling as Relief Society President at this time. With all the meetings and visits that I am asked to go to, I truly feel this is how the Lord has made it work for us at this time in our lives. We had been praying a LOT about when would be the right time to have a child, and though it wasn't easy and we didn't know how it would work out, we knew that the time was right and we definitely have been blessed along the way. I can honestly tell the Lord has been helping us this whole time in order to make this work. We are so thankful for our cute little Nyles and the love and joy he brings into our family!
Nyles getting anxious to go on a hike and go to Bear Lake
Friday, August 30th--And we're headed to Bear Lake!
