Kelton is 8 and a half

Kelton has now accomplished 3 nights sleeping in his own bed! I am so proud of him. I don't know if me saying "you are 8 and a half now, you are big enough to sleep in your own bed", or if he just REALLY wants the baseball/football comforter I promised to get him after 14 nights of sleeping down there, OR if the threat that he can't play on the computer or do xbox after school has made him realize it is ok to sleep in his own darn bed. I have spent hours and hours cleaning out the "dungeon" to make it a more welcoming place to be. I have to say I am quite proud of myself. It will never be perfect, but for crying out loud this house was built in 1930, need I say more.
Tonight we have the blue and gold banquet for scouts and he is getting 2 beltloops for football and soccer, and he is pretty excited about that. I remember mom speding hours with the boys doing scout stuff and I honestly can't believe I am now a scout mom. However, I am not spending the hours doing it like she did.
My sunbeams are getting better every week. I have found a way to get them to listen for almost five whole minutes...candy. Candy always works. I have learned to tie in candy to my lesson. Last week on the Holy Ghost I gave them suckers with happy and sad faces on each side and they had to show me the happy side for good things they could do, and sad side for sad things that will make them feel bad (thank you Shayleen!). After that little excercise I let them eat their suckers while I told a story. It worked like a charm. I am starting to enjoy it more every week. I come home tired, but feeling pretty darn happy.
Sam is doing great, he is getting better and better at eating. I have got him to eat his peas with water and extra rice cereal mixed in. We have a routine of 20 minute naps every 2 hours or so throughout the day, it may not be much, but it is pretty consistant.
Last note, I just want to express my love for my family. Not just the one I live with everyday, but my brothers and sister. I know I picked them before I came here, but for them to allow me to be a part of their family is beyond me. My big sister Michelle is a great example to me,(and great shopper), Ben is always there when needed and so fantastic with his kids, Matt (who I really miss) is so great to talk to when you need a good laugh (and dental advice). And finally, my little brother Dave, is an example of what a true man really is. He is a humble, gentle guy, who would do anything for anyone, I only wish I was as strong of a person he is. Mom and Dad thank you for letting me be your daughter. Of course I wouldn't be complete without the Johnson side too, I am so grateful for all they do for us and for the love I get from them.

Happy Valentines Day! I got flowers! Shad brought me home roses last night, and I was totally surprised. He hasn't ever done anything for Valentines for me before. Last year I got flowers too, but then I found out Sarinah bought them and called him to come to their house to get them. I know, it's the thought that counts. I told him I would be just as happy with a sticki note telling me how wonderful I am. I guess it's easier to get flowers.

I have had the pleasure of watching my sweet niece Addie the last couple days. She is so good and so gooey. Yesterday the two just kept staring at each other and smiling. Here are a couple pictures. Hope everyone has a good day.

Boys

The Dr. said on Wednesday that Sam can have fruits and vegies now so we have had fun the last few days. He said to stay with the same fruit or vegie for 4-5 days before switching to something new and to only give him a tablespoon or two at a time. We started with pears and he absolutely attacked the spoon. I was surprised at how well he kept it in his mouth. After I gave him about half the container I put everything away and got him out of the highchair, he started screaming bloody murder. I made him a bottle and he wouldn't have anything to do with it for a good 20 min. I think he was hoping for some more pears. Today we tried the peas. As most babies are, he hated them. He even gagged. Shad said he is already like his mother, and my mom said that I had to have coached him on that one, but we all know now that it is a REFLUX to gag when something is disgusting-such as peas.

Kelton learned how to use chopsticks in scouts this past week and had to eat a meal with them to pass off something towards his wolf. He can manuver those things way better than I can. Shad and I both think we would starve if we had to always eat with those, unless you can stab your food with it, they are useless.

We had parent teacher conferences this week and once again I am so proud Kelton. He is testing at a 4.1 reading level and doing great in math. Miss LeeMaster said that he is such a good, quiet kid and all the kids love him. I know he is a good kid, and I love him, but why in the world does he do ALL the things the teacher asks, but at home it takes at least 10 times before he follows any of my "advice"? I think I am way too lax on the punishment thing. I need to work on that.

de-junking, puke, new food, excema, eye bugers

Another round with Kelton about sleeping in his OWN bed. This time the excuse is the room is too baby. We spent a few hours this weekend cleaning out his room and getting rid of all the "baby stuff". We got 3 bags for DI, 2 for the garbage, and a bunch of stuff for grandma and grandpa Wall's house. We are putting in a different bed for him (so it's not a girly white headboard) and new blankets. It looks like a totally different room. When we are finished I will post a picture. I should have taken a before photo, but it would be too embarrassing.

Last year when Kelton was in first grade he had to go to the office because he was sick. He told his teacher he felt like he was going to throw up and she sent him to the office. He layed in the nurses station "for hours" and when it was recess time he got to leave. My son just told me about this a few weeks ago. So, I was happy that he expressed his sickness to me last Sunday night. I was just falling back to sleep after feeding Sam, when Kelton starting shaking my arm saying he was going to puke. Thank goodness he didn't, but was sick all day Monday feeling fluee. He stayed home from school on Monday and was feeling better Monday night. Tuesday morning he woke up and walked into the kitchen to get a drink and then took off around the corner to the bathroom and started banging on the door. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the "popcorn/puke" bowl and he proceeded to puke his guts out in it. It was so gross. Obviously. He stayed home again from school Tuesday and went on Wed. There was no school on Friday, so he only had Wed. to do all his spelling homework for the test. I was the proudest mom of all time when he brought it home with 100%! It was a hard one! To top it off, he got student of the day 2 weeks ago. They pick 1 student of the school once a week and announce it over the intercom. He received some really nice comments, and some free kids meals. WAY TO GO KELTON!

Sam had his 4 month check up today and proudly weighs in at 14lbs. 2 oz. Exactly double his birth weight. He is now 25 1/2 inches long and falls right in the 50% mark. His head is a little smaller than the "norm", so the dr. will monitor that. I don't know what that is supposed to mean. Does that mean he is going to be slower? I thought he was supposed to get my brains since he looks like Shad so much. Just kidding Shad. I got the ok to give him cereal, fruits, and vegies, which is a good thing since i have already been giving him rice cereal. I tried for the first time with a spoon on Monday and he was attacking it. It was hilarious. This morning I noticed his eye was a little gooey, so the dr. appt. came at a good time. We have little eyedrops to give him the next few days, and also some cream for his excema on his forehead. It will be nice to have his head soft like a normal little baby and maybe I can start using the pink j&j lotion so he can smell all yummy. He has been drooling like mad lately and chewing on everything in sight. Maybe teething already?

I continue to work from home and only go to Sandy on Tuesdays. The last couple times up there I realize how much I miss the patients and being around adults. I love being a mom, but I never thought in a million years I would miss working with people. I feel like I am not accomplishing much being home all day. I was wondering what in the world I do at home, so I kept a log last week and I was pleasantly surprised how much I actually do. I know that sounds weird, but I needed to see that I was actually getting things done besides staring at a baby all day. Not that it isn't important, but you know what I mean. I found out that I spend about 5 hours in 12 feeding and staring, and playing. I am so thankful that I can be home and spend so much time with Sam. I love being able to pick up Kelton from school everyday and asking how his day was while I make an after school treat. I love being able to make dinner every night, and noticing that Shad needs more B.O juice before he tells me. Being able to do those little things have been so important to me, and I have wanted to do this all my life. I love my family, and I love being a wife and mom. I couldn't ask for anything more. (except for a bigger kitchen, a bed on the floor, a garage, and an 8 year old that will actually sleep in his bed.)