It finally happened! Taylor formulated her first word this morning. I was changing her diaper and I hear dada. I thought that it was my mind playing tricks on me and just wanting her to actually formulate words, but she just kept on saying it. I immediately call Dustin and of course he puts me into voicemail. She is still saying it until the voicemail beeps and then of course she stops. I had to tell someone so I called my mom so that I had a witness. Taylor didn't disappoint and said it about 30 more times during our conversation.
I still wanted Dustin to hear it in person and when he got home, he finally did. When she was rolling around on the ground and then turned to look up at Dustin and said "DADuh" I think that his heart completely melted... (as if she doesn't already have her daddy wrapped around her finger). Then for the next 20 minutes she rolled around saying dadadadadadada. Granted, we are both fully aware that she is formulating words/sounds and doesn't know what she is saying, but next to her giggle, it's one of the sweetest things I've heard come out of her mouth. I must say, however, I am looking forward to the day when there is another male in the house. Maybe then I will finally understand what it feels like to be the most loved person in the house. Between Taylor and Quique, Dustin is definitely the favorite. But of course I'm not jealous or anything... :)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
A Day I'll Never Forget
My life pretty much revolves around Taylor, Dustin and Quique and although I will never forget the traumatic events (for me) of yesterday, in some ways it was nothing new from the last 7 months. Some of you will read this post and think I'm a total whack job where as others of you will read this and you would have done the exact same thing as me if you were in the same situation.
I know sometimes my posts can get long, but I think that I do need to preface this story. Taylor will always be my firstborn, the child that we prayed for for so long, my very first baby. However in some ways, Quique was my first baby. Dustin and I had always wanted a dog but with him getting his MBA and working long hours and with my demanding job at the time, it didn't make sense. When all of that changed, it was the perfect time and as I see it, we got the perfect dog. The dog was never meant to prepare us for a baby, but I guess in some ways Quique did. I cried the first time I had to leave her and she cried at me. I slept on the floor next to her crate when she would cry at night and (at that time) Dustin didn't let her sleep on the bed. I took her to the vet 4 or 5 times in the first 3 months we had her because I would get so paranoid. I came home for lunch from work every day for about 5 months to let Quique out of her kennel outside and to check on her. Quique has comforted me during some of the biggest struggles in my life over the past couple of years, she has made me laugh and Dustin and I have enjoyed every second we've been able to spend with her.
Yesterday we went to Tanner Park (as mentioned in the post below). This time I wasn't really thinking and we went further than we usually do this time of year. At the end of one of the trails is the beginning of the run off where kids in the summer will come and "shoot the tube". There is a big pool of water and the water right now is coming out incredibly strong. I wasn't really paying attention and not really thinking of just how powerful the current is in that pool and before I knew it, Quique was on her way to swim in there because she always does and how can a Lab resist another pool of water. I tried calling to her to come back because I started to get a little nervous, but once I saw her swimming, I figured she was fine. As Taylor and I made our way to her, I noticed that she had been in the same spot for awhile. That's when I started to get really nervous and calling (more like screaming) to her to come to the side but she wouldn't... more like she couldn't. Quique doesn't swim in one place so I knew something was wrong and she must have been stuck in some sort of eddy. Before I knew it, I was taking off the Baby Bjorn and placing Taylor on my backpack on the ground in between some rocks so that she would be safe and then with my jumpsuit, shoes, cell phone (didn't realize at the time) and all, I was making my way in the water. Even though I have been swimming my whole life, I didn't realize just how strong the water was pushing until I got in. I also hate cold water and can't even begin to explain the temperature of the water because I can't even remember. I finally made my way to Quique and couldn't really swim her over to the side because of the way the water was pushing and pulling so I tried pushing Quique over to the side. But as it looked like she was getting close, the current just sucked her right back in, actually it sucked both of us right back in. After we'd get sucked in, I would try pushing her again, but it was never enough. What felt like hundreds of prayers went through my heart and my mind, I think I even said a few out loud, but I still wasn’t able to get enough leverage to get Quique to the side where she could then pull herself out. I was able to stand on the ground for a little, but right where I needed that last piece of footing, it was a drop off and there was nowhere I could stand. I was starting to swallow water and I was getting really scared. I finally gave Quique another push and it was just enough to get her to the rocks so she could pull herself out. After Quique got out, it even took a few more minutes before I could get myself out. By that time I was exhausted and I think that my body was cramping from the cold so I know without a doubt that it wasn’t me who got my dog to the side and out of the water, I was definitely being watched over.
It was a long walk back to the car and a very wet ride home, but I feel so blessed that we made it. The trauma of it all didn't really hit until the car ride home when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my two babies... the tears just kept flowing. I was also so proud of Quique. I'm sure she didn't have a clue as to what was going on, and she probably didn't understand why in the world I kept pushing her, but she was so strong swimming and she never gave up... not even for a second. She probably could have swam longer than I could have.
The retelling of the story doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what I felt, but physically and emotionally, it put me out of commission for the rest of the day and I thought it would help so that I didn't keep replaying the whole ordeal over and over in my head. The other night I was reading a book and there was a quote from Mother Teresa that said "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much". I think God knew without a doubt that I couldn't just watch my dog slip before my very own eyes knowing that it was all my fault so I am very grateful to Him that He knew I wasn't strong enough for that.
I know sometimes my posts can get long, but I think that I do need to preface this story. Taylor will always be my firstborn, the child that we prayed for for so long, my very first baby. However in some ways, Quique was my first baby. Dustin and I had always wanted a dog but with him getting his MBA and working long hours and with my demanding job at the time, it didn't make sense. When all of that changed, it was the perfect time and as I see it, we got the perfect dog. The dog was never meant to prepare us for a baby, but I guess in some ways Quique did. I cried the first time I had to leave her and she cried at me. I slept on the floor next to her crate when she would cry at night and (at that time) Dustin didn't let her sleep on the bed. I took her to the vet 4 or 5 times in the first 3 months we had her because I would get so paranoid. I came home for lunch from work every day for about 5 months to let Quique out of her kennel outside and to check on her. Quique has comforted me during some of the biggest struggles in my life over the past couple of years, she has made me laugh and Dustin and I have enjoyed every second we've been able to spend with her.
Yesterday we went to Tanner Park (as mentioned in the post below). This time I wasn't really thinking and we went further than we usually do this time of year. At the end of one of the trails is the beginning of the run off where kids in the summer will come and "shoot the tube". There is a big pool of water and the water right now is coming out incredibly strong. I wasn't really paying attention and not really thinking of just how powerful the current is in that pool and before I knew it, Quique was on her way to swim in there because she always does and how can a Lab resist another pool of water. I tried calling to her to come back because I started to get a little nervous, but once I saw her swimming, I figured she was fine. As Taylor and I made our way to her, I noticed that she had been in the same spot for awhile. That's when I started to get really nervous and calling (more like screaming) to her to come to the side but she wouldn't... more like she couldn't. Quique doesn't swim in one place so I knew something was wrong and she must have been stuck in some sort of eddy. Before I knew it, I was taking off the Baby Bjorn and placing Taylor on my backpack on the ground in between some rocks so that she would be safe and then with my jumpsuit, shoes, cell phone (didn't realize at the time) and all, I was making my way in the water. Even though I have been swimming my whole life, I didn't realize just how strong the water was pushing until I got in. I also hate cold water and can't even begin to explain the temperature of the water because I can't even remember. I finally made my way to Quique and couldn't really swim her over to the side because of the way the water was pushing and pulling so I tried pushing Quique over to the side. But as it looked like she was getting close, the current just sucked her right back in, actually it sucked both of us right back in. After we'd get sucked in, I would try pushing her again, but it was never enough. What felt like hundreds of prayers went through my heart and my mind, I think I even said a few out loud, but I still wasn’t able to get enough leverage to get Quique to the side where she could then pull herself out. I was able to stand on the ground for a little, but right where I needed that last piece of footing, it was a drop off and there was nowhere I could stand. I was starting to swallow water and I was getting really scared. I finally gave Quique another push and it was just enough to get her to the rocks so she could pull herself out. After Quique got out, it even took a few more minutes before I could get myself out. By that time I was exhausted and I think that my body was cramping from the cold so I know without a doubt that it wasn’t me who got my dog to the side and out of the water, I was definitely being watched over.
It was a long walk back to the car and a very wet ride home, but I feel so blessed that we made it. The trauma of it all didn't really hit until the car ride home when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my two babies... the tears just kept flowing. I was also so proud of Quique. I'm sure she didn't have a clue as to what was going on, and she probably didn't understand why in the world I kept pushing her, but she was so strong swimming and she never gave up... not even for a second. She probably could have swam longer than I could have.
The retelling of the story doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what I felt, but physically and emotionally, it put me out of commission for the rest of the day and I thought it would help so that I didn't keep replaying the whole ordeal over and over in my head. The other night I was reading a book and there was a quote from Mother Teresa that said "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much". I think God knew without a doubt that I couldn't just watch my dog slip before my very own eyes knowing that it was all my fault so I am very grateful to Him that He knew I wasn't strong enough for that.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Spring Fever
Since growing up in Cali, I still struggle with winters here in Utah. I can usually handle it until about the beginning of January and then I am done. This tends to be a problem since we still see snow in April and sometimes even May! Dustin has always been a big lover of the 4 seasons, but I think the 4 seasons that I experienced in Northern California were just perfect. However it was funny a few weeks back when we had one of those just perfect evenings in the 70s and Dustin made some comment that he could live in that 365 days per year. I was in shock! Apparently my hubby has gone a little soft. Maybe I won't always have to live in snow???
Anyway, we enjoyed a great week with sunshine (until yesterday) so we made a few visits to Tanner Park aka Disneyland for Dogs. There is quite a run off from the mountains so the current was pretty strong in some of the streams. Sometimes it was like a swimming treadmill, but she did get pushed around a few times and I got a little nervous, but Quique really is an amazing swimmer... it must be in the genes :) We watched my two and four year old nephews play soccer or watched one of them not play soccer. I was thoroughly entertained. We were also able to meet up with some friends from the park, spend some time in the yard and just enjoy all of the Vitamin D that the sunshine had to offer! I can't wait until the cold rain and snow are gone for good!
The only time our Labrador Retriever will actually "retrieve" takes place when there is a stick and water for her to swim in.
Could my baby Quique be any cuter???
Off to retrieve a stick...
This is the view as we walked down one of the trails. You can see Quique off to the right. When we go to this park she never runs straight down the trails, she zig-zags back and forth across the trails.
She is such an awesome swimmer. She pretty much just floats on the water and her tail is like a rudder on a boat. It's amazing how natural swimming is for her.
Does it get more beautiful than that? (Well not me, but my two beautiful babies and the scenery as we start our way down the trail). And you are still looking at some bare trees that haven't bloomed yet!
Anyway, we enjoyed a great week with sunshine (until yesterday) so we made a few visits to Tanner Park aka Disneyland for Dogs. There is quite a run off from the mountains so the current was pretty strong in some of the streams. Sometimes it was like a swimming treadmill, but she did get pushed around a few times and I got a little nervous, but Quique really is an amazing swimmer... it must be in the genes :) We watched my two and four year old nephews play soccer or watched one of them not play soccer. I was thoroughly entertained. We were also able to meet up with some friends from the park, spend some time in the yard and just enjoy all of the Vitamin D that the sunshine had to offer! I can't wait until the cold rain and snow are gone for good!
The only time our Labrador Retriever will actually "retrieve" takes place when there is a stick and water for her to swim in.
Could my baby Quique be any cuter???
Off to retrieve a stick...
This is the view as we walked down one of the trails. You can see Quique off to the right. When we go to this park she never runs straight down the trails, she zig-zags back and forth across the trails.
She is such an awesome swimmer. She pretty much just floats on the water and her tail is like a rudder on a boat. It's amazing how natural swimming is for her.
Does it get more beautiful than that? (Well not me, but my two beautiful babies and the scenery as we start our way down the trail). And you are still looking at some bare trees that haven't bloomed yet!Monday, April 13, 2009
Happy Easter!
I hope that everyone had a Happy Easter! With weather like we had yesterday, it was definitely a Happy Easter for us! I really always have the best of intentions to update our blog, but sometimes the last thing at night I want to do is think and type on the computer so I just procrastinate since I seem to be really good at that.
Last week we had two beautiful days at the beginning of the week so Taylor and I were able to get outside for at least a few minutes to start cleaning up the backyard. With everything that went on last summer with in vitro attempts and trying to get adoption paperwork together, the yard was quite neglected so we have to make up for two years now. The first day, I wasn't thinking and as I was taking out the plants from my garden from last summer, I put Taylor in the bumbo chair as I worked. Taylor quickly figured out she could just lean over a little bit and pick grass. Of course at this age, anything that she grabs goes directly in the mouth, so I am glad to say that she is still doing all right after eating grass and dirt last week. I learned by day #2 and since she is really starting to sit up well, I put her on a blanket on the grass and she just watched me work and played with her toys. She LOVES being outside which may be the reason that when it was stormy the rest of the week, she wasn't the most pleasant little girl to be around. That and the fact that she is fighting taking two naps even though she is rubbing her eyes and so tired!
Yesterday we went to church in the morning and the Easter service was definitely one of the best I've been to. Some of the musical numbers just gave me chills up and down my entire body. It was a great way to start out Easter. Then we went over to Dustin's family's house for a late lunch/early dinner and we were able to get some pics of the girl cousins together now that Steve, Savanna, Bo and Mia have officially moved back to UT. We're so excited about that!
Taylor in her Easter dress
Grandma TT with Allie, Mia and Taylor - Sidenote: Now that Mia's hair is starting to turn slightly red, Taylor now has 2 redheaded cousins. What are the chances of that?
The three girls Allie (4months) Taylor (7 months) and Mia (9 months) almost to the day since Allie and Mia were both born on the 2nd and Taylor on the 3rd. Poor little Mia has a strong dislike for grass.
Taylor Allie and Mia in their cute Easter dresses from Grandma TT and Papa
Our little family!
Last week we had two beautiful days at the beginning of the week so Taylor and I were able to get outside for at least a few minutes to start cleaning up the backyard. With everything that went on last summer with in vitro attempts and trying to get adoption paperwork together, the yard was quite neglected so we have to make up for two years now. The first day, I wasn't thinking and as I was taking out the plants from my garden from last summer, I put Taylor in the bumbo chair as I worked. Taylor quickly figured out she could just lean over a little bit and pick grass. Of course at this age, anything that she grabs goes directly in the mouth, so I am glad to say that she is still doing all right after eating grass and dirt last week. I learned by day #2 and since she is really starting to sit up well, I put her on a blanket on the grass and she just watched me work and played with her toys. She LOVES being outside which may be the reason that when it was stormy the rest of the week, she wasn't the most pleasant little girl to be around. That and the fact that she is fighting taking two naps even though she is rubbing her eyes and so tired!
Yesterday we went to church in the morning and the Easter service was definitely one of the best I've been to. Some of the musical numbers just gave me chills up and down my entire body. It was a great way to start out Easter. Then we went over to Dustin's family's house for a late lunch/early dinner and we were able to get some pics of the girl cousins together now that Steve, Savanna, Bo and Mia have officially moved back to UT. We're so excited about that!
Taylor in her Easter dress
Grandma TT with Allie, Mia and Taylor - Sidenote: Now that Mia's hair is starting to turn slightly red, Taylor now has 2 redheaded cousins. What are the chances of that?
The three girls Allie (4months) Taylor (7 months) and Mia (9 months) almost to the day since Allie and Mia were both born on the 2nd and Taylor on the 3rd. Poor little Mia has a strong dislike for grass.
Taylor Allie and Mia in their cute Easter dresses from Grandma TT and PapaOur little family! Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
Last night Dustin and I watched Slumdog Millionaire. In my "older" age, I haven't been as big of a fan of the rated "R" movies. I think that I'm just a little weaker and can't handle the violence, the language or other things (that will remain nameless so that I don't get any weird hits on my blog). Anyway, to my point, I'm more selective of the movies I do watch and I don't usually rely on the Academy Awards to dictate what I do and don't watch. Anyway, Dustin got home from a business trip a week or so ago and watched this movie on the plane and couldn't stop raving about it, so we decided to buy it yesterday. It was phenomenal. It is easily one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. I loved the story line, I loved learning about the cultural parts of India and I loved the acting, especially of the children (I have always had this obsession with little kids speaking a foreign language). I think it's the cutest thing in the whole world! The movie was heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. One of Dustin's business associates in Belize is from India and said that it really is a real depiction of the slums of India which is so crazy to see. I'm honestly not 100% sure as to the R rating, probably just the reality of the poverty, a little bit of language and some of the situations, but I loved it! At the end of the movie, it was similar as to how I felt after watching Wicked, I just wanted to hit rewind and watch it again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)