Kiersten’s Blog

London has always loved books, so it didn’t surprise me at all today when I went to see what Ashton was up to and he was lying on the floor of his room just flipping through a book.  They both get that from their daddy.

London and Ashton love chasing each other around the house, but London’s new favorite game is grabbing onto Ashton’s foot while he crawls around.  He just pulls her right along while she laughs hysterically.  Funny kids.

Happy St. Patrick’s day!  We didn’t do a whole lot to celebrate because really, what are we celebrating anyway?  London, though, thinks holidays are the greatest thing in the world.  She was SO excited for St. Patrick’s day.  She was all about wearing green.  For dinner I made green shamrock pancakes and I discovered the best pancake topping ever: Nutella and bananas.  I think I could eat and eat those until I got sick.  They were SO good!

Last night I got crafty and threw together an appliqued onesie for Ashton to wear today.  I didn’t zigzag around the edge of the tie yet, so I better do that before his next wear.  I didn’t feel like pulling out the sewing machine.  He looked really cute, if I do say so myself.

After dinner, the kids and I had a fun time playing together.  London loves to walk around holding Ashton’s hands and helping him walk.  He thinks it’s pretty cool too.  She was also grabbing onto his foot when he was crawling around so that he could drag her across the floor.  Funny kids.  then London was “dressing up” using the tunnel as a princess costume.  She told me she was a character and that I needed to take a picture of her and hug her.

The last couple of pictures are Ashton’s “model” pose.  When he’s crawling around and wants to change direction or look at something else, he sits like this for a minute, then goes on his way.  It’s really tough to get a picture because as soon as he sees the camera, he starts crawling toward me.  I think my kids are pretty funny, no matter how much they annoy me sometimes.

I just couldn't resist this one. He looks so funny!

I think my kids are so funny.  They have started to play with each other lately and it’s so much fun to watch them.  They have been bathing together for the last couple of months.  It’s really a sight.  London is so particular about not getting water in her eyes or on her face and Ashton loves to splash around.  Today he was standing up in the tub and leaning over the side, when he fell out head first.  London started laughing hysterically and couldn’t stop.  She thought it was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

Yesterday we went to the park.  Things were great at first but London got mad at me because I wouldn’t help her climb on the “dragon.”  I did help her climb on it, but apparently I didn’t do it right so she started screaming at me.  So I left her to fend for herself while I played with Ashton.  She kept screaming at me and finally came over to play with us.  She didn’t stop her whining about not being able to climb on the dumb thing so I finally decided to leave.  She screamed all the way to the car and kept screaming as we were leaving that she wanted to get out.  The only reason I didn’t pull over to the side of the road, swat her, and leaver her there is that I was afraid somebody would see me and call CPS on me.  Finally I pulled into a parking lot and told her that if she wanted to get out, she could get out.  And I was going to keep driving.  She stopped screaming at that point.  Anyway, my whole point of the story was to show Ashton’s response.  As London was throwing the fit of the century, he was sitting in the back yelling at her.  He thought it was a game.  I thought it was hilarious and it was all I could do to stop myself from laughing.  I’m glad Ashton’s mellow enough to put up with his high strung sister.

On a better note, today I was able to clean the shower and then take a shower with both kids awake and playing together.  London can be such a good helper.  They both played happily (mostly) in her room while I worked.  I already have a little babysitter and she’s only four.

I’m sure anybody reading this knows that I’m on facebook.  It has been fun for me to re-connect with so many people that I have lost contact with through the years.  I think technology is a great thing.  I read blogs and get facebook updates and I feel like we’re still friends.  But that’s not really what I want to talk about.  I’ve connected with so many people from my past, that sometimes it makes me sad to see people the way they are now.  Let me explain.  I served a mission for my church back in 2000-2001.  I met so many wonderful people; people with strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and his gospel.  These people were inspirations to me on how I wanted to be.  I also went to Ricks College before my mission and BYU-Idaho after my mission where I also associated with wonderful people who had strong testimonies of the gospel.  My sadness comes when I see these people who were so strong and had such conviction, but now, are obviously not following those teachings anymore.  Sometimes it makes me wonder what happened.  How did they stray?  Then I think about the post I wrote last Sunday.  It could be so easy to just take a couple of steps in the wrong direction and forget that I once had a testimony.  I could get annoyed by my new ward and just not go anymore.  It wold be so easy.  I don’t know what happened to these “friends” of mine.  I just hope I don’t end up that way.  I hope that I keep doing the things that will strengthen my testimony and bring me closer to my Savior.

Ashton’s at the age now where he’s curious about EVERYTHING.  As soon as he’s up in the morning, all of the blinds that are low to the ground have to be pulled up and the strings have to be up and out of the way.  He loves to stand up at the security door and scratch it.  He thinks the mouse for the computer is the coolest thing ever.  If he sees that the gate is open at the top or the bottom of the stairs, he makes a beeline for it.  He can never get enough of playing on the stairs.  Opening and closing doors are definitely at the top of his priority list.  He found the baby plates and bowls and cups in the kitchen and he loves to push them all over the floor and bang them around.  One of his absolute favorite places is the bathroom.  He gets so excited to take baths in the mornings.  If the bathroom door is ever left open he’s in there before I know it.  This mostly causes problems when I’m helping London use the potty.  He wants to be part of the process.  I think it’s a little strange for London, but to me, it’s hilarious.  He’s so curious about what is going on inside that toilet.  I guess it’s time to use those baby-proofing items that I never had to use with London.

I love the look on both of their faces. He looks like he's trying to wipe her.

London has a new favorite game.  It’s called “Where’s London.”  She constantly says to me, “Mom, I’m going to hide and you say, where’s London.”  I have to walk around the room, pretending I have no idea where she is.  Usually the giggles give her away.  One of her favorite places to hide is behind the music stand.  For some reason, she doesn’t think we can see her when she’s there because her head is behind the desk part and she can’t see us.  She thinks it’s especially funny when Ashton plays and tries to find her.  She’s a pretty funny girl.

I rode the trolley downtown today.  Sometimes I wish that I had some sort of camera attached to my eyes permanently so that I could take pictures of things that I see without being noticed.  Riding the trolley gives a person lots of opportunity to people watch.  Today was no exception.  In my observations, I have compiled a list of ways to fit in better on the trolley and to look like a seasoned rider, instead of a tourist.

1. If you are a man and have lost the hair on the top of your head, definitely grow out the rest and put it in a ponytail.  But don’t forget to put a ribbon around the ponytail before leaving home.

2. It’s always a good idea to carry strange objects onto the train, such as a large handful of wire hangers, a small dog in your jacket, or a bag of bottles or cans.

3. If you must sit down, make sure that there’s nobody sitting next to you or across from you facing you, so that you have your clean air and bench.  And don’t forget to wipe the seat off before sitting down.

4. Switch seats at every stop.  Again, don’t forget to wipe the seat off.

5. Whistling and conducting music in your head is okay to do.

6. It’s okay to wear all black (beanie, dark glasses, sweatshirt, pants, boots) as long as you have your American flag cape.

7. Since you can’t smoke on the train, put your cigarette out right before stepping inside, but keep it in your mouth, ready to go so as soon as you step off the train at your stop, you don’t miss a breath.

There you have it.  Don’t forget to HAVE FUN!

I spent the day today volunteering for CPR Saturday here in San Diego where over 2000 people were trained in CPR.  I left the kids home with Taylor and spent the day downtown.  I definitely got more out of it than I put in.  I heard about it through the Hands on Network, which is working with Disney this year to provide volunteer opportunities to people to receive their free Disney day.  I planned on doing this for a free ticket to Disneyland.  I kind of felt weird about it though.  I guess I felt a little sheepish saying that the only reason I was volunteering was to get a free ticket to Disneyland.  But let’s face it, most people were in the same boat as me.  It was such a worthwhile way for me to spend my Saturday that I don’t feel like I should get anything out of it.  Instead, I get a free ticket to the happiest place on earth and I’m now CPR certified.  That’s one thing I’ve wanted to do for a long time.  It’s nice to finally have it done.

I came home to a clean house and sleeping children.  I think I need to leave for the day more often.

We paid a visit to the pediatrician today.  We’ve had the same insurance and same PCP for over a year now and I have never met my own.  Honestly, I don’t even know my doctor’s name.  In fact, I’ve never even met my OBGYN and I had a baby less than a year ago.  Sure, I know my certified nurse midwife well, but no doctor.  That said, I know many pediatricians.  Not only have we visited our kids’ PCP many times, but we’ve also visited a number of other pediatricians, just to get a same day appointment in the case of illness.  I think it’s funny how many times I have been to the doctor with my kids, but I myself haven’t ever visited my doctor.  I take that back.  I went once to get my ears cleaned out by a nurse.  Anyway, I took London to the doctor today.  It was a waste of time and gas and 10 bucks.  I should have just stayed home and let her nap (exactly what she’s doing now) but I was worried about her.  She’s had a nasty cough for two weeks now, and this week she has started throwing up.  I know it’s better that the doctor thinks it’s nothing and I guess that makes me worry less.  It’s just annoying.  And it’s not like I wanted to get her on antibiotics or anything.  I just wanted to know what was wrong and what I can do to fix it.  Nothing.  I just have to wait it out.  We just have to wait it out.  I could have diagnosed that myself.

I can’t believe how fast my baby is growing up!  He’s 11 months today.  He has been learning and growing so much.  The kid is HUGE!  I did notice today, however, that he looks like he’s starting to thin out a big.  One lady in church said to me today, “He’s just so cute!  I don’t know how you keep from kissing him up and down all the time!”  I thought that was a nice comment!  I think he’s adorable too.  He has such a personality.  A couple of days ago, he started to dance.  London was listening to some music and Ashton just started bouncing up and down.  Since then, he dances all the time when he hears music.  He also loves to play the piano.  What a cool toy that is for a baby!  He also does a lot of boy things, like playing with cars.  He drives them back and forth while buzzing his lips.  I guess things like that are just engrained in little boys.  Recently he’s also started waving and clapping.  I have also been working on teaching him to sign, “more,” which he now does as he says, “ma, ma.”  While signing, he has a HUGE smile on his face.  He’s so proud of himself!

Ashton has some favorite things to get into.  If we leave the gate off the bottom or top of the stairs, he makes a beeline for it.  He can climb the stairs pretty fast now, but going down is another thing.  He hasn’t quite figured out that he needs to go down backwards.  When he notices me coming after him, he goes even faster.  He also loves to play with the blinds.  We have quite a few windows that are low to the ground.  He stands up by them and pulls on the blinds all the time.  I’m constantly opening them up and tying the strings up high so that he can’t get to them.  He still hasn’t figured out walking yet, but he’s cruising around furniture really well and standing on his own for a few seconds at a time that I’m sure it won’t be long before he figures it out.  He is such a fun little boy to have around and so pleasant and happy most of the time.