Moved AGAIN

So we moved across the street into a bigger place, a townhome. It is great with lots more space and even a small backyard. Thank goodness my Mom was here to help with Josh or I am not sure how we would have done it. It was nice to get all our stuff from Utah. But as the boxes kept coming and coming we thought, "Why do we have so much stuff?" and "Do we really need it?" I guess the new baby will appreciate a bed and some toys. And it is nice to have my own couch, or really I should say it's nice for Ben to have a place to sit. (I was usually sprawled on our one couch and Ben was on the floor or crammed at the end under my feet...poor guy with a pregnant wife).

We moved in last Saturday and when we went to church on Sunday they announced our ward was being split and the whole stake reorganized. I panicked. We moved with the premise of staying in the ward so we wouldn't have to completely start over again. It has taken me 6 months to make a few friends and feel comfortable. Only a handful of people know about Cameron. So throughout the week I calmed thinking we will at least be with the handful of friends we've made that live so close to us.

Sunday, our Relief Society lesson was on "bearing one another's burdens". I sat with my heart pounding out of my chest and finally gave in to the prompting to bear my testimony. I spoke of Cameron and all the amazing friends and family who truly have helped to bear my burden. Then Sunday night Ben went to the fireside to find out the new ward boundaries. We had moved ourselves right out of the ward. But only the tiny pocket of our neighborhood is now in a different ward. Meaning the few friends, who live 5 minute walking distance, are no longer in my ward.

Maybe this seems silly to some of you, but here the ward really can be a source of friends and social interactions. It has been hard for me starting over and I felt overwhelmed at the prospect of doing it again. Especially with the irony that I, only that same day, had finally shared about Cameron. Life just feels like it is racing along and I am clinging to the bumper with no view or idea of what direction I am headed.

I feel better about it all today. And I hope I will still keep some friends from the other ward and hopefully make some new ones too!

I feel kind of scattered and emotional, and I have decided that August will probably always be an emotional month for me. Miss my little guy Cameron so much!

Always Something New

I guess I should post some updates. We have decided to stay in Virginia for at least another year. Ben will stay on with Pathways and hopefully help to get them up and running. We were able to defer school at BYU for one more year. We will see what happens, but we might be there next fall.

This has been a crazy and fast decision for us, but we feel it is the right one. We are excited for this opportunity and excited to be staying in one place for a little longer. Sorry to our friends and family in Utah who are really getting annoyed with us. We hope you can forgive us. And anyone who wants to come see DC we have room--come stay!

Little Fish

Fun Saturday

We had a fun filled Saturday. Josh and I have a season pass to the Water Mine. We have been about 5 times and Josh just loves it. It is a fun water park geared mostly for younger kids. So Saturday we decided to go as a family. This is how the normal trip to the water park goes....

Josh falls asleep in the car on the way there at about 10am. Then transfers to the stroller where he sleeps for about 30-45 minutes. It really is great because then he isn't so tired and we can stay a little longer. Plus my white legs get to see a little sun.

The Lazy River.

For some reason Saturday Josh was especially tired, and didn't show Dad his normal excitement for the pool. We even lapped a few times in the lazy river before he was ready for bigger and better things. And we are talking bigger and better things! Josh always wants me to take him down the big slides, I never thought about really doing it. But of course Dad did. Josh loved it, and wanted to go again and again...

And at the end of the day Josh was so tired he actually just sat still...

with this dazed expression on his face. Poor guy, we wore him right out.

Josh the Hero

I had to share this story. This morning I was cleaning up the house while Josh was watching Curious George. I realized it was garbage day so I quickly got all the trash together to run out to the curb. Josh was intently watching his show so I thought I would be safe leaving him and running outside for 2 seconds. I shut the door behind me without him even flinching, dumped the trash on the curb, and came back upstairs. When I went to open the door I realized it was locked! Josh was now inside calling my name and I was standing in my jam stained pajamas locked outside of my apartment. Aaaahh! Ben was at the temple and wouldn't be reachable or home for at least a few hours. My neighbor had his door open and I asked him for help. Did he think we could pick the lock? He said he could probably climb up onto my balcony from outside. (We live on the second story so this was probably doable). Josh does know how to open the door and since it wasn't deadbolted all he had to do was pull the handle. He hasn't done it for a long time. But I started knocking on the door.

"Josh can you open the door?"
"Tah"
"Josh open it, pull on the handle"
"tah"

Then tada my little 16 month old hero opened the door and saved me. Both my neighbor and I cheered and Josh started clapping for himself and giving my neighbor five.

All in all could have been a scary experience but was over in less than five minutes and turned out just fine. Thanks Josh!

Just like Dad

Josh is getting really good at mimicking. He especially likes to copy Dad.

Wearing Dad's hat.

He wouldn't let me take his picture, so he is crying in this one. But whenever Josh sees Ben's belt or watches him put one on he goes to the closet and pulls out a belt. Ben wraps it around him a few times and Josh wears it around. He looks like a little weighlifter or medieval guy.

Daddy's shoes

Where did it go?

I was trying to feed Josh lunch the other day. He wasn't very interested so he was eating fruit snacks in between bites of yogurt. I think he just swallowed the fruit snack whole. Because he then looked at me and said (by this I mean grunted and put his hands up by his shoulders) "where did it go?". I told him it went in his belly. So he then pulled up his shirt and was trying to find the fruit snack in his belly. The next fruit snack bypassed his mouth and he stuck it directly on his belly. I love how his little mind works!