Platform 9 3/4

We all know about the mysterious platform nine and three quarters from Harry Potter. It's the number of the platform the students board the Hogwarts Express to get to the school. The non magical folk or "muggles" of course don't know it's there because the students have to run through a stone pillar in order to get to it. Hansen and I went for a walk the other day and I noticed these cool addresses on the doors in the mall. One can only imagine what's really hiding behind the stores that only us "muggles" can see. Perhaps a secret meeting place for witches and wizards or maybe a store full of magic doodads and magic candy. It's fun to wonder.

Working and Dreams

On May 1st I went back to my job I had before Hansen was born.  It is a really easy job and I don't have to think too hard or do any customer service, which is very stressful to me.  Then the next monday I started babysitting my niece for my brother.  I do that two days a week for 8 hours.  I work at my job for 5 hours two days a week.   I went from an everyday mom with just Hansen and I to a working mom who has to figure out how to get things done now that there is more stress on my time.  It keeps me busy and helps me remember that all things pass and one day I won't have to work.  I want to go to school and learn foreign languages.  I think other languages are so interesting and I think it would make me feel better about myself to have a skill like that.  Hans was so sweet on Mother's Day.  He got me two books.  One is called Horse Miracles, it has inspirational stories about horses and how they protect the people they love and who love them.  The other book is called Horsekeeping on a small acreage.  It was very thoughtful of him to get this book for me because it proves that he listens to me when I talk about what my dream in life is and that he wants me to be able to accomplish it one day.  I want to have horses of my own and possibly have a place where I can board horses for other people.  I feel like myself when I am with these majestic animals.  I feel so at peace when I can spend time with a being that is so nonjudgmental and who enjoys my company.  I also get this peaceful feeling when I am with family and good friends.  I want everyone that I know and love to remember that nothing, not even a horse could replace the love I feel from you.  I cherish our time together.  I just have this dream to be with horses too.  I think we all know that dreams are what keep us going in this sometimes monotonous and challenging life.  If we didn't have dreams then who would we be?  

Ogden sure is getting nicer

What once was an old run down train depot town is now starting to be a little more pleasing to the eye. I was lucky enough to ride the Front Runner to Ogden yesterday with Crystal and some of her friends. We took our kids and went to the Tree House Children's museum. We let our kids run around what really is a giant two story play room for 3 hours while we got to talk about a few other things besides our kids. It's always nice to get out and do something new that you most likely might not end up doing again. With no nap Hansen did have a little melt down. We went to the Subway at the train station before we went home and when I took him out of his stroller he started crying and collapsing to the floor. He wouldn't get up off the floor and one time when I picked him up off the floor there was a wilted piece of lettuce on his cheek. I thought that was pretty gross but he obviously didn't care. I decided to go outside with him to see if he would calm down. There was traffic and I think the loud sound of it drowned out his crying and he decided to stop. When we went back inside he ate almost a complete six inch by himself. I think he was hungry. He fell asleep on my lap on the way back home from Ogden. It's only supposed to take an hour but it takes 20 minutes longer than that. I guess they are still working out the kinks. I know there's got to be someone smart enough in that operation to get the problems solved. Good luck Front Runner staff! The train is a really smooth ride but is going to be kind of expensive to ride. We got to ride for free so that was cool, but from now on ya gotta fork over the money if you want to ride.

When he was still a baby

Well I finally figured out that I can post more than 5 pictures on one blog. You just have to do them 5 at a time. So this is Hansen from birth to one year and you all know how he looks now at 2 years because that is what the rest of the blog is full of. I know there are only 12 pictures and there should be 13 but I took his 10 month picture too close to when he was actually 11 months so I counted those as one.

Can you hear the Hallelujah chorus?

Well I hope that two nights in a row makes it official.  Hansen has gone to bed without any bottle or sippy cup, no crying, and I didn't have to check on him.  When I shut his door tonight I think I heard the Hallelujah chorus, it was fantastic.  The only twist is that today when he woke from his nap he got himself out of his crib for the first time ever.  So maybe that is my cue to get his big boy bed back out again.  I liked the fact that he couldn't get out of his bed because I got to choose when I got him out, but I guess there are always adjustments to make as kids get older.  He seems like such a big boy sometimes.  Where did my baby boy go?  I'm so proud of him.

A strange and hopeful happening

A few days ago when we put Hansen to bed he took one sip from his bottle and gave it back to me. This is very good because we are trying to break him of the habit. So after that I left the room and of course he started to cry. I read in my Parents magazine that a good way to get your kids to go to sleep on their own is to tell them you will be back to check on them in a minute, and then wait longer every night until they get bored of waiting and eventually go to sleep. Well I went back in and set his bottle by his side and told him it was time to go to sleep. He was quiet after that!! I was so excited but still wasn't sure how it was going to go. Now tonight he has a cold which I'm not happy or excited about but I knew he probably wouldn't want any milk so I just gave him his sippy cup with water in it. To explain the sippy, I have been giving him his bottle and sippy for the past few nights. It usually goes like this. We put him in bed, have prayer, tell him goodnight, then shut the door. He then cries and I wait for a minute. Then I go back in, give him his sippy , tell him it's time to go to sleep, and then I leave. It worked like a charm tonight so I'm hoping above all other things right now that this will continue to work. I don't think I will stop checking in on Hansen after the one minute because after I check on him he is usually fine even if he is still awake and playing in his crib. He goes to sleep eventually. Now the next step will be to get him into his big boy bed. The strangest thing about this whole thing is that I remember telling Hans a few months ago that I hoped Hansen would just not want his bottle anymore just like he kinda stopped breast feeding at 8 months. Well if this isn't quite the same I'm still alright with it, but it seems like it might kind of be the same. The other thing I left out is that every week I reduced the amount of milk I was giving him in his bottle. We started at 6 ounces and got down to 2. I guess he didn't really think it was worth it anymore. Thank goodness for the advice of others the world around.

Yesterday was cool...

In more ways than one. We had an appointment for Hansen in Bountiful yesterday at 8 am. I'm not normally even out of the shower by then. So my friend Crystal invited me to come over afterward. I was glad because I hadn't seen her and her boys in a while. Hans also had a day full of homework and he is much more productive when he has the house to himself. So I got to spend the day with Crystal and have some adult conversation and leave any worries I might have had at my house behind. So thank you Crystal. It also snowed. It seemed so crazy because it was 80 degrees the day before. I love Utah for its ever changing weather. Today on the other hand has been pretty uneventful. I drove to the library with Hansen then we stayed at home the rest of the day. He's been needing to sit on his "naughty mat" for letting milk dribble out of his mouth. I don't know why that is something he enjoys doing. Hopefully I can get him to stop doing it.