*Jaden's first and hopefully last hospital visit*

Last Saturday being the 8th of January Jaden started throwing up, and continued to do so after he drank or ate anything. So on Tuesday I made an appointment to see the doctor for that day. We went in and I told the doctor what was going on.

Now a little history behind this is that Jaden has always been a spit up baby and I thought it was a result of acid reflux, however he had never been tested just put on the medicine for it when he was around 6 months. I took him off of it after a few months because it seemed to be getting better. So when all this started happening again (10x worse) I thought the acid reflux was coming back with a vengeance, and that it also might be the reason he rejects solid foods so much.

So the doctor was very concerned w/ all of what I was telling him and decided that Jaden should be admitted into the hospital for testing. So I'm thinking OK he will go to the hospital and get some tests done and go home. Yeah I was definitely wrong! We ended up being there overnight because the doctors wanted to keep him for observation and when your inpatient you also get priority testing done, otherwise if we would of left they apparently couldn't do the tests till weeks later. So we spent what seemed to be the longest day, night, and another day at the hospital. Poor Jaden was poked at, x-rayed, held down, and barley slept at all because of the trauma of it all.

In a nut shell all the tests came back normal and he has minor acid reflux. So yeah I feel like we went a little overboard with the hospital thing but I guess you can never be too cautious when it comes to your baby. He does however still have this horrible cough that seems like it has come off and on for a long time now. So we will be back to the doctor soon for his 15 month checkup and also to see if we can get rid of his nasty cough. On top of all this going on my poor husband got sick and still remains sick, so needless to say it hasn't been the best start to a new year.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of Jaden in his little hospital gown...such a cute little patient!

*Late Christmas/Dunes 2011 Post*

Sorry this is such a late post, I wish I could of actually done this in 2011 because now my blog book will be a little off..oh well life happens (which is a whole different post that will follow). Anyways, Christmas was wonderful this year! We spent two wonderful weeks in Arizona with both of our families for Christmas, Jaden of course was spoiled with lots of toys from both sides and had so much fun spending time with his grandparents,aunts and uncles. This Christmas we did Christmas morning with Josh's family and went to church with them. We then ventured over to my house and did Christmas night and dinner with my family. So the first set of pictures will be Christmas w/ Josh's family and the second set will be with mine.

Christmas Eve we went to see the Mesa, AZ Temple lights with my family, needless to say Jaden loved all the pretty lights!


Jaden also met his cousin Brityn for the first time, which he was so gentle with her and it made me happy that he will be a good big brother someday!


From Josh's parent's Jaden and Brityn got super cute outfits to wear to church on Christmas Day!

Next was all the fun present opening..I think the pictures say it all!








My favorite gift was from Josh...he got me my very own brand new sewing machine!!! I'm not a good sewer yet, but I really hope to become good now that I have my own machine.

Josh holding his baby niece Brityn for the first time!



Now we go to later that day and have Christmas with my family!



Jaden in a pile of presents from grammy and grandpa!





So that's the end of Christmas 2011! We had so much fun sharing the holidays with our families and our so grateful for them and all they do for us.

For New Years we went to the Sand Dunes where I got to wear my awesome pink helmet,gloves,socks,shirt and goggles (thanks to my father in-law) hahah I was very pink and loved it! Jaden had so much fun at the dunes because he could walk around and play in the dirt all day, he was so dirty and I could barely stand it haha but he loved it! All the kids at camp loved to play with him too..I think Jaden is the most social little toddler I know.






Note: In the picture of Jaden with the Dr. Pepper can there is nothing in there, lol I don't give my child caffeine.

So yeah, all in all we had a wonderful Christmas/New Years and are now back in Washington. As much as I miss our family and Arizona it's good to get back to a routine and not living out of a suitcase. Also I need to loose holiday weight so back to dieting again which sucks. So to all I hope you have a wonderful New Year and I'm excited to see what this year has in store for us. Moving in to our house is something I can't wait for this new year and also if I can wrap my head around it trying for another baby lol but that is in the distant future still!

*Reflections*

I don't really have anything specific to blog about, just thought I would post some cute pictures and reflect on this past year. 2011 has a been a wonderful year full of lots of changes for our little family. We moved back to Arizona in January, then 5 months later moved temporarily to WA for Josh's work. We bought a beautiful house in Gilbert, AZ (which I can't WAIT to move into and do all the upgrades that I want to it, and make it our sweet home!). We then decided we were going to stay in WA a little longer which is soooooo bitter/sweet and a hard decision to make, but in the end was for the best.

Our sweet little Jaden has blossomed into the cutest toddler EVER! He talks all the time saying: "uh ooh", waves bye bye and says it too, "Da Da","Ma Ma", and "Pa Pa" (short for grandpa). He is learning so much so fast, WALKING everywhere AWWW I love it!! I also decided to give up on taking away his bottle, I'll do it when I feel he is ready, but that is not now, and I have no idea when it will be. I have learned with Jaden that he will do things when he is ready, and I'll just go with my motherly instincts on what I think is best and not to worry so much about the little things (like him being a fussy solid eater, which is getting better). Being a mommy is the BEST and HARDEST job ever and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This past year I think I have grown a lot as a mother and wife, learning that not ever day is going to be perfect or easy, but that I can get through it with the love and support of my wonderful hubby and my Father in Heaven. I don't think I have ever prayed as much in my life then I have since I became a mommy, and know that I need my Heavenly Father in order to get through life successfully!

So yeah that's pretty much all I have to say till my Christmas post, so here are some cute pictures because what's a post without pictures?!






I found Jaden sleeping like this and couldn't resist taking a picture!

Jaden hasn't always been a snuggler but he has started to grow into it which I LOVE!!


While I was doing this post, I hear some commotion going on in the kitchen, and loan and behold Jaden is sitting in the dishwasher taking out all the silverware hahah so cute!

*Brityn Raelynn Lamb*

My first niece was born last night December 1, 2011 at 9:09 p.m. weighing in at 7lbs 11 oz and 21 inches long. She is the prettiest little girl and I'm already in love with her.


The proud parents!!
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*Frustrated*

I'm a frustrated mommy. Jaden is not a good solid eater, really only wants a bottle and I really want to try and get him off the bottle and to rely on solids. Pretty much every time I put him in his highchair he will throw his food on the floor or spit it out. I have anxiety leaving him with anyone because I know he probably won't eat good for them.
I feel like I have tried everything and nothing is working, and on top of that because of not eating a lot of solids he will wake up at night around 3 AM and want a bottle. I seriously can't even think of having another child until I get this one to start eating good. Anyone have the same problem? Any suggestions would be great except for telling me the obvious of going to my doctor haha because I have done that. Or am I being worried for nothing? He is a happy little guy and the joy of my life, I just want him to grow up strong and healthy.

*Thanksgiving 2011 and Update*

This Thanksgiving was a little bitter/sweet this year. First off the actual holiday was lots of fun, we had dinner at my relatives house and took family pictures. Jaden was also a huge hit and social butterfly with all my relatives so that made this Thanksgiving lot's of fun too. The reason it's bitter/sweet is that we will be staying in Washington a little longer than planned.

Josh was offered to help with another project up there, which was a financially smart decision and will help further his career. Unfortunately we will not be moving into our beautiful house right away, it will just sit there waiting for us till we get back sometime hopefully in May. The up side is that when I get back to Arizona, I can do all the upgrades and furnishings to my new house that I want, so that makes this living in Washington business bearable haha.So for now I will just be traveling back and forth like usual between Washington and Arizona, but hey I'm racking up those Southwest rewards points so that's another positive.

I will also be in Arizona for the entire month of December so that makes me happy as well. The only down part is Josh has to go back to WA to work for a few weeks, but will be back right before Christmas, and then it's SAND DUNES for New Years..SO EXCITED for that!!!

The whole family!


My siblings!


Our little family!



My aunt had a Santa Clause come to her house for the kids on Thanksgiving. As a parent you look forward to these moments when your little one get's to sit on Santa's lap. As you can see Jaden was not enjoying himself hahha but it's the classic crying picture and I LOVE IT!

*Our last ride*

Our time in Washington is slowly but surely coming to an end here soon, so we wanted to make sure and get one last bike ride in. We headed to West Seattle on Saturday and just did a short little bike ride because it was really cold out (thank goodness for getting back to warm AZ!) Time spent here has been fun, but we truly miss our family sooooooooooo much and can't wait to settle down our roots in AZ.

This picture is so funny, Jaden kept sticking his feet out and getting his socks stuck on the velcro..silly boy.


Us!


This is my new favorite picture! It's my sweet hubby and little boy loading the dishwasher for mommy...does life get any sweeter?