Four Corners

Thurm & I drove down through Four Corners and Monument Valley on Sunday. Four Corners is novel, but not worth repeating. Though I did get a really cool bracelet there!

Mesa Verde

Thurm & I took a 3 day trip to Mesa Verde in Colorado. It was ALOT of driving, but it was alot of fun. I was commissioned to take pictures of Flagstone Meadows Bed & Breakfast for their website and we stayed there for two nights. It was so nice. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone going to the area. It was 15 minutes from the park, beautiful location, clean & comfortable rooms. But the best part was Harris, the owner. He made our experience so great. He took us on a tour of the Mesa Verde. Everywhere he recommended to hike and eat was perfect. He was amazing at his job. He knew exactly how to make us comfortable and showed us a good time. These pictures are of the cliff dwellings in the Mesa Verde. It was so interesting and I didn't know anything about them previously.

Various Thoughts...

This is Thurm's beautiful dinner he made yesterday. He made a chicken satay with peanut sauce from Singapore and a beef and watercress salad from Vietnam. Delicious. He spent two hours making it, a bit too time consuming for me. But I was happy to eat it.


Quinn has been attached to his bunny and binky lately. He is completely content with them and without, very whiny. I think I've fostered the habit by making sure he always has them to go to sleep with, but now wants to take them with him out of the crib. He also likes to sit in things. Its especially funny when he tries to climb inside a regular size bowl. haha.

Quinn helping me pack by running off with the marker and tape.

Today in church the Young Women's presidency spoke in sacrament. They had the young women sing a song about staying close to Christ. It was really touching to see all the girls up there and know they really have testimonies of Christ. Thurm comes home from school and tells me about the girls and their morals. There are numerous pregnant teens. They are almost all sexually active in Jr. High. I just can't believe it! I know I had really good friends with my same moral standards, so I wasn't exposed to much. But its seriously shocking how few girls are virgins. And when I watched these ten girls in church today I was so happy, touched, proud, that they are moral girls that stand for truth and righteousness. And it gave me a ray of hope that my kids will be able to fight their way through all the sin in the world and live Christ-like lives. Thurm and I keep seeing more and more stubbornness from Quinn, but I actually think its a good thing. He is going to need to be strong and opinionated to stand up for his beliefs and morals.

Thurm has begun to notice an annoying habit of mine. I am continually putting things in a different place. Scissors? They could be in about five different places. Fingernail clippers? Have you checked the bathroom, basket, desk, kitchen drawer, my purse? Yesterday he was looking for the food processor. We found all the pieces in four different drawers. I promised him in our new home that everything will have a place and we will decide together where they will go.

We went to the pool yesterday! (yes, Wendover has a really nice, new pool, but no hospital. I think some one's priorities are messed up). The water was a bit chilly, especially for baby Quinn. He liked it and had fun, but he seemed a little subdued and wanted to be held alot--he was covered in goose bumps. You could tell it was our first time swimming with a baby. I didn't bring a change of clothes for anyone or an extra diaper. Quinn rode home diaper-less, but since its only a two minute drive there were no accidents.

Quinn is walking like a madman. I think walking has overcome crawling as the preferred method of transportation. He is also getting the hang of going down stairs. Which I'm SOO happy about because the only stairs he can climb are concrete. Quinn has decided he doesn't need to drink. Its been stressing us out the last few days because his liquid intake has dropped quite a bit. What used to be 6oz bottles are now 3oz bottles. I looked it up and he's getting enough, but its the minimum. He is SOO stubborn and won't be forced to drink. He actually fell asleep in Thurm's arms with the bottle in his mouth after crying and fighting drinking for 30 minutes. Stubborn.

Thurm has four more days of school and then we are off for a weekend in Colorado! We are leaving Quinn with Thurm's sister and it will be the first time he will be without us! I'm so sad for him! I'm sure he'll be fine, but I picture him sobbing all day long for his mommy. Inconsolable. Hopefully that's not the case and I'm just a narcissist.

Rupert, ID

Go to my photo blog to see pictures of our trip to Rupert

http://natalieheiner.blogspot.com


It is so beautiful this time of year!

3rd Annual Asparagus Hunting

We went to  Rupert over the weekend for Thurm's  annual trip to asparagus hunt. This year was Quinn's first experience. I hope Thurm taught him his golden rule of "where there is one, there MIGHT be two" so Quinn wasn't as disappointed as I was to learn how sparse they are. It really is a hunt.  This is Thurm on their canal bank hunting away. I have to say, I appreciate that his "hunting" doesn't involve guns... or blood for that matter. 

Quinn broke out in what I think is a sun rash yesterday. Thurm has this same condition (though he refuses to believe he has a "condition") I looked it up online today and it sounds exactly like what Thurm has. They break out in hives and or blisters when exposed to the sun in the spring. As the summer goes on and their skin gets used to it, it goes away. Poor little Quinn must have the same sun allergy. He also has my allergy to Strawberries. He broke out in horrible hives about a month ago over a tiny piece of strawberry. So it will be sun hats and sun screen for the rest of his life. Which is probably for the best anyway. 

We've made an offer on two houses, hopefully we find out today what's going on. We low-balled on the one we really want, but it needs alot of work. People keep saying to me "oh isn't it so fun to house hunt!" I am finding it sort of stressful. I guess if money wasn't an option it might be more fun.  And its just such a big commitment. And especially to two people who couldn't commit to getting married till their late 20's. I guess we will just know when we've found the right one, then the commitment won't be so hard : ) 

Thurm only has a few days left of teaching!! We are SOOO excited for summer!  Teaching has its drawbacks, but two months off for summer might just make up for them. Maybe.  We have a  week in Bear Lake, camping at Redfish Lake, and a week in Pocatello to look forward to in June. Last summer was spent agonizing over when Quinn was going to finally be born and then trying to sleep when I didn't have a baby attached to me.  

Showing off new haircuts (not very happily). Both my men were shorn this weekend. I tried to do Quinn's on my own. Big mistake! He ended up with choppy spots & 80's "steps" in the sides. So Thurm later helped hold his head still while I fixed it as best I could. I put on Baby Einstein and gave him a cracker, two things that normally would have kept his attention. But he screamed his head off while Thurm held his head still. He hates being restrained and has since he was born. In the NICU when the nurses held his legs to draw blood, he would freak out. Not that they were poking him with a needle, but that they were restraining his legs.

The Real Deal

This is my no-make-up, no-hair, 30 year old self. Just for the records.

It's like Clark Kent and Superman!

Escapee!

One of the things that Quinn thinks is hilarious is crawling away as fast as he can during a diaper change. Maybe he won't think its so funny when he sees this picture at 16 :)

"Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby"

I have had so many people talk to me about how Quinn is a super sleeper and I feel like the world needs to know!!!! You must read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby." It's not just another book on how to get your baby to sleep. Its THE book on how to get your baby to sleep. Seriously, I feel like I've found the truth and I need to spread the gospel. Every other woman I know who has read it swears by it too. You can tell that the doctor who wrote it isn't an author or a marketer. He needs to get on Opera so the whole world will see the light. Even if your kid is 2 years old, you could probably start now. I'm doing you a huge favor, read it!


PS Props to Deanna my sister-in-law, for introducing me to the book.

Quinn took a few steps on Saturday! Our baby is growing up. However, he doesn't seem very interested in walking. He has too much fun falling for walking. So I'm sure it will still be awhile before he is completely upright. Not too much news. I have been semi-busy taking photos for seniors and kids. One session a week keeps me busy, but not too busy that I can't enjoy my baby. I am still babysitting two other babies about 20 hours a week and will do so until we move. Its been fun for Quinn to have friends over occasionally. He is so cute and always hugs and kisses them. However, the other babies don't think its so cute. To them they are just getting mauled and pushed over and they usually cry. We have been teaching Quinn "soft and gentle." We found out Quinn is allergic to strawberries when his whole body broke out in hives over a tiny piece.

Thurm has had track meets once a week for the last few months. His last meet is next weekend! YAY! He has around 20 days of school left. I am often thankful I don't have Thurm's job. And I'm also thankful that he actually likes teaching. Last summer we moved to Pocatello for a few months and had a baby. And this summer we are moving towns and buying a house. So Thurm is going to try to find a summer job and fit that it, but we'll see what happens. We have no idea when we will close on a house and will be able to move. We are going to look again this Friday and hope to find our dream house : )

I am turning 30 on May 9th. When a friend turned 30 and complained about being old, I wisely and zen-like told her to just accept her age and love the stage you are at in life. Don't tell her this, but I might not turn 30 as gracefully as I'd like to think I will. I haven't thought much about it. It's just an age. And I LOVE, LOVE the stage I'm at in life. I don't think it gets much better than "in-love---fairly-newly-married---with-a-sweet-baby" stage. Ever since Thurm & I got married I've told him "its only down hill from here." But its only gotten better and better (well, if we don't take into consideration weight gain). I hope that trend continues. However, the phrase "I'm 30 years old" doesn't roll off the tongue very nicely : (

Summer Fun!

Nap Hair

He might need another haircut soon.

Sewing Projects

I made these a little while ago. I am getting a little better at sewing, which means, I can sew in a straight line...sometimes.
I love the toy box/bag. Its big, can be shoved on the side of the couch. I think I do best with no patterns to follow. Everything I've made, I've just made up. But last fall I tried making a skirt to a pattern, no good. Its still sitting in my closet, unfinished.

Quinn has been so happy and fun lately! Its always hard to catch it with the camera though because he sees it and gets serious.

SLC Marathon 2009

So we did it! I ran a 5k and Thurm ran a half marathon. However, not without some blood and tears. The blood was from Thurm's nipples. You can see he's trying to cover it with a creamcicle. Tears on behalf of sweet baby Quinn. Poor little guy got woken up at 5am and didn't go back to sleep till a mile left in the race around 8 am for about 30 minutes. He was screaming to the top of his lungs for 2 hours straight. The other racers looked on with pity and judgement. I just thought he was so tired he was beyond the point. However, when we got home at 2pm after hours of crying and whining, I took off his shoe to find his big toe was folded over and totally flat. It then swelled up, turned red, and blistered. No wonder he cried all day! I would too. I felt so bad. My poor baby : (

Standing!

Quinn thinks standing on his own is the most fun thing ever. He tried it for the first time a couple days ago and now standing is his favorite thing to do.


And of course falling is the best part!

The scrunchy nose

I'm not sure who started the scrunchy nose, if Quinn was imitating Thurm or if Thurm was imitating Quinn. But they both look so cute when they scrunch their noses.

Jammin'

This was so adorable- we have a Coldplay fan!

This is Grandma, Aunt Roberta, and my mom taken at grandma's house on her great couch and with the coolest wallpaper ever. I love this wallpaper. I found some similar at Home Depot. I just have to decide if I want the gold or a more modern black & white version. I'm leaning toward B&W. I'll have to see what our house looks like before I buy it.

Quinn got puked on. Really, really gross, I know. His little friend Ginny, that I babysit just finished eating and was crying so I picked her up and she puked right on top of Quinn's head. Quinn looked at me and felt his puke covered head and gave a little whine. It was pretty funny, but too gross for me to laugh at in the moment.

We have 2 weeks till we run our respective races in SLC. Thurm has to run 13 miles and the most he has run so far is four. I have to run 3 and have run 1.5. So I think I'm in the better situation here. However, we discovered a Mexican bakery just a block from our apartment two weeks ago and all training has been put on hold. Ruben's Bakery has the BEST baked goods I've ever had. Not just in Wendover, EVER ANYWHERE! Chocolate chip cookies, coconut cookies, sweet bread, cake, tres leches, sugar cookies. Oh we've tried it all. The problem in this senario is that my husband who normally runs and doesn't eat alot of sweets has been very UNmotivated to run and has decided a daily trip to the bakery is a great idea. The other problem is he eats a bit of what he buys and then I eat the rest of it. Thurm's Runner's World magazine just showed up today and I'm hoping it will inspire me.

I don't know that I've written about this on my blog, but we are moving to Tooele this summer! YAY! Thurm put in for a transfer to the high school in Stansbury. We are very excited. Tooele was a dumpy, dinky, far away town when we lived in SLC. But since living here, our perspective has changed and we can't wait to move to our new paradise that grows green things, just 30 minutes away from the big city with a Walmart and Home Depot! We are looking for homes and that has been pretty fun. Quinn is excited to have a yard and carpet that doesn't have pet urine on it! Thurm is excited to have students who bring pencils and paper to class. And I am excited to have more than one option for grocery stores.