Toddler Day

My family thinks my toddler is an angel, Is very mature for his age, and incredibly sweet.

Those things are not true today.

Bradley has had a morning cough for a week, and had crummy mornings for the last few days. Today he told Brian his ears hurt. So Brian suggested I try to get him in a dr's before the weekend. It was 6:30 am, no dr office opens till 8 or 8:30. Luckily I at least had a good lead on a good pediatrician.
I called and was lucky that they had a 9 am opening. By the time I got the appointment I would have 25 min to get out the door and over there. It is close so I wasn't too worried about the time. Right as I hung up they reminded me I would need my license and insurance card. I quickly threw on some clothes and a layer of make up and came out to gather Bradley and my purse. I did a quick double check to make sure I had my ID and insurance. The insurance card was gone. And it wasn't on the couch where I had been using it...
Our apartment isn't big, and we only have 4 or so surfaces where you can put anything. So after 10 minutes it was very clear that the card was not on/in the couch, not on the kitchen chairs/table, not on our bed and not on the floor. A quick prayer and another search revealed nothing. Again. Now it is 9 am and we are late. A little light went on and I angrily pulled the couch away from the wall to reveal the insurance card. Hmm I wonder what small child would put something behind the couch. He would never do that with the dog's balls or quarters, or anything important right?

The receptionists were very nice and helpful despite being late. This pediatrician's office had a little kid play corner, so Bradley went and played nicely for a few minutes. However not long enough for me to get through the new patient forms required for the receptionists to make a new patient folder. My sweet, dear, 2.5 year old decided it would be more fun to run around the office climbing on chairs, jumping off of end tables, turning the lights on and off, and screaming then throwing himself on the floor any time I asked him to stop. At least the office was empty except for the receptionists. Maybe being late was a blessing in disguise.. maybe.

Eventually we were called in. They opened the door and in Bradley ran in. Full speed around the corner and down the hall.

I feel so helpless in these situations. You know yelling won't affect your child at all, and in the process will make you look like a grumpy, mean mom. But you can't possibly catch him- if you try, you will fail and then you will look like a crazy, can't keep up mom. Currently, I'm very visibly pregnant, so it is extra fun to look and see what the belly mom is going to do with her wild, loud, toddler.

So I take the slowest, most patient route I possibly can. I walk over, grab his little elbow before he can run again and turn him around. (at least this way I look like a grumpy, in control mom) This of course is met with yelling and frustration on Bradley's behalf; But the nurses were so sweet and right on top of things and asked him to hop on the scale. Hopping is always a challenge Bradley will take on.
We only waited maybe five minutes to see the doctor. Of course nothing was really wrong. *sigh* During the visit Bradley thought the garbage was very fun, as was the floor, as was the dr's spinny stool (while the dr was sitting on it). The doctor was very nice, and understanding of a 2 year old's temperament. At least Bradley was good for his exam. But any attempt to seclude him to a chair or corner was not successful.

To compound the "funness" of my morning, when we got home we missed the FedEx man, again.. I don't know why Brian felt the urgency to order this life size erector set toy when we don't have any room to build or store big toys, and Bradley can't play with it on his own till his much older, but he did.

This pic is a week or so old. But yes, he equally that fast and crazy today. Picture this blur in the Dr's office. I thought it was a very fitting picture.
(Side note-The coffee table is not there any more. The tv now sits on the coffee table.)

At least Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is on.
In my book it is totally acceptable to watch cartoons all day when you are sick and can't go out. 
We are sooo eating pizza and tater tots for lunch.

Limbo Apartment

I am on my phone so this will be short. We found a reasonably acceptable apartment to stay in for a few months. Upon move in we only had a few suitcases, a few toys, some kitchen cook wear, and food. I raided the dollar store for basic kitchen needs, bought an aero bed- a pregnant girl inn her third trimester cannot get up off a low air mattress once a night for the next two months. Luckily aero beds are double high so I can easily get in and out. THEN I hit Ross for the remaining bed needs. (we borrowed an air mattress for brad.) Ps I love Ross for bedding. I am never disappointed with my bedding purchases. I guess after a night we figured we needed some other basics. Luckily, and I find the Lords timing in my life to be a little unsettling, we have also put an offer on a house. So we felt comfortable purchasing a few things for the house that would make our lives better now. New living room set new and a new tv and used table and chairs from Craig's list. I really am so so happy to have a place to sit my "little" bum. Last time we moved I didn't have a place to sit for a week or more and I actually thought I would go crazy sitting on the floor. So now we wait. Patiently. *sigh It will all work out.

Last Week Was Hot

 So we went swimming. This is Bradley's most desired activity in life. For days he brought me his arm floaties. I figured when it got in the 80's it was time to go to the pool.

On Saturday the local outdoor airplane museum had their Cold War spy planes, the U-2 and SR-71, on open cockpit display commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Bay of Pigs. Um we were not going to pass up the chance to see the cockpit of the SR-71!

 

 One of the old SR-71 pilots was there, and so Brian sat there and asked him as many questions as possible while Bradley and I patiently waited.

 Then we had to go wander through the rest of the museum... of course. Even though it was verging on 90 degrees at this point.

 THEN we went to the Poppy Festival! (In 90 degree weather)

 Lots of fun.

On Sunday we went to yet another new ward, just for kicks, and then went hiking! 

I have to take a side note here and say that I love my religion. We have been living in a hotel now for at least a month and a half. Our little living room has a table with 2 chairs, a couch, a chair, and a tv. Our everyday, normal, is nothing compared to what it used to be, and some days this is harder than others. We sold our house on Friday, done deal, so for the first time we actually don't have a home anywhere. No address to our name. This was maybe a little sad for me this weekend.

So when we walked up to the new church building, late of course, and could hear the ward singing "How Firm a Foundation" from the outside of the building, I felt a sweet sense of "home" come over me. That song doesn't have any special meaning to me. But it was comforting to be in a place where I knew the words to the songs, I knew the people there loved me- even if they didn't know me, and I knew that the testimonies spoken that day would be as true as the ones I have heard many times in my own home ward.

Then we drove to the San Gabriel mountains and hiked on one of Brian's new trails. No, it was not one of those crazy hikes Brian occasionally takes us on.

Hiking is also one of our Sunday norms. It was so nice to have a normal day for once.

Toothpaste + Dog = water torture

Last week Bradley took the puppy into the other room and was quiet for a very very long time. Brian and I were reviewing the houses we had seen that morning and were frankly thankful for a few minutes of peace so we could talk and think clearly. Well, we paid for it. At least Portland did.

We opened the door to find the toothpaste in Bradley's hand, and our puppy patiently sitting for him as he spotted her back in toothpaste polka-dots. Sadly my pics of this are on the other camera. grr.

We quickly cleaned it all up as we giggled about the creativity of our son and didn't worry about it again. Well this week Portland seemed to be getting stickier and stickier. And the fur around her neck appeared as if it had frosting on it. So I decided it was time for a bath.

She was in complete dismay at this announcement. Bradley thought it was the coolest idea all week.

 Doesn't she look slightly upset?

 hahaha. Bradley water torture.

 As I delighted in the torture of my poor girl by taking pictures, Bradly poured a cupful of water on me. I guess it is only fair. I knew I was going to get wet, I just thought it would have happened at the end not the beginning.

He was such a good helper, and knew exactly what to do.

 She was a good girl, and stood where I told her to. She is very patient, and won't shake the water off till I tell her it is okay. She is very aware of how I feel.

We soaped her up together, and then I let Bradley continue slowly torturing the puppy one cupful at a time.

Good entertainment for an afternoon!

x vs y

In other news... We sold our house!! 

We have just a few weeks till we close and hand over the keys! YAY!!!

So my every waking second that isn't spent tending to Bradley or exercising the dog, is spent on finding houses to look at!

Yes it is fun looking for a new home, but it is still stressful too. Brian is working in Palmdale, CA and still working for Lockheed Martin. He loves it fyi. A great move for his happiness in his career, which makes me SO happy too. But now we need to figure out where to live.

Palmdale is the edge of the Mojave desert. It has gorgeous hills to the west and mountains in the distance to the north and south. It is at least an hour an a half from Anaheim or the beach. I couldn't say that it is a small town because each block is a mile long, and you go 50 mph on all those streets. So it extends a good ways out, but the further east you go, the crappier it gets. But the snug suburbia between the freeway and the west hills is all families, stucco mansions (okay not mansions all the way around, but the average is probably 5 bedrooms per house), and all the popular shopping you could imagine.

Forty minutes over the hills to the west is Santa Clarita, a family city nestled into the hills north east of LA. It feels like California with out all the California prices. However, still spendy. People from all over the world come to live here though because it has the best schools. You drive by some of the high schools and they have sayings like, "creating the leaders of the future" on the walls of the school. The shopping is spread out, but man way cute and the kind of fun areas you want go visit because it is just fun. For those in Oregon, picture Bridgeport everywhere. For those in Georgia it is like the fun Perimeter areas. Who wouldn't want to live there right??

Arge it is just hard to choose. Beautiful affordable home in Palmdale, close to Brian's work, and family friendly? Or fun, trendy Santa Clarita with super schools, but small expensive houses and 1.5 hrs of commute time every day for Brian? Both are beautiful but in different ways. Both are family friendly. Both are still near LA and the fun stuff to do there.

However there is a significant difference in home price.
Can you guess which home $100,000 less than the other??

Yea. The top. See, Palmdale mansion vs Santa Clarita golden oldie. Grrr. Decisions, decisions.
I'm not exaggerating the price difference at all, the top one is exactly $100,000 less than the bottom one. It is just in Palmdale vs Santa Clarita. Shocking I know.

Today I look at more Palmdale homes. I'm really waiting to walk into a house and have it feel like home. That is how I would describe my last home purchase experience. It is the only home we lingered in to chat. It was comfortable right away. I hope I find that soon. ... I'm due in 4 months! We had better find something soon!!

Oh what do you do for 8 weeks in a Residence Inn??

Well we've been in our little room in the residence inn for 5 weeks. We spent two of those in Oregon visiting family - a much needed break! But now we are back in Cali with 3 weeks to go. I thought I'd share some of our thrilling activities of the last few weeks.

Bradley sleeps on the fold out couch in the living area. (We do have a door that separates our bed from the kitchen/living area.) He loves it. We brought some of his fave blankets and buddies so he feels right at home in a big boy bed.

Breakfast begins promptly when Bradley wakes up and loudly proclaims "nack!" which is bradley talk for Snack or Breakfast. So we get up and walk out to forage for breakfast. Usually waffles or bagels. I convinced him of cereal one morning, but now he knows better.

Night time is story time. We found a few new books at the good will down the street because we could only bring 3. He quickly tired of the same 3 books for nap and night time.

Occasionally we dawn our swimmers and hop in the pool for an hour or so. Brad believes we are going to do this any time he finds his swimmers, so they are well hidden.

Then there is the occasional disneyland trip. Always helpful in ending a long week.

Easter was a new challenge. So I decided to get crafty, even in a hotel, and we made those starch yarn eggs out of balloons and string and elmers glue.

They turned out rather well... till Bradley sat on them... several times. So we don't have an after pic other than Bradley's satisfied face. I was surprised at how proud he was of our eggs, even after they were fairly flat. He still points to them and reminds me how fun it was to get messy and make eggs together. I am encouraged in doing more crafty projects in our room.

We have multi colored string, scissors, and elmers glue. Any ideas?

So 3 more weeks. Then who knows. Probably a furnished apartment. Then a house? Then a new baby? You could definitely say my life is a little uncertain, maybe unstable, and definitely unpredictable. But when you know it is where the Lord wants you to be, ya just gotta keep going with faith in His plan.

Freckles.. mmm tasty

Sometimes I question my mothering instincts.

Earlier in the day I congratulated myself for discovering a new freckle/mole behind Bradley's ear. How observant I am. Really.

Later in the day when the freckle came off I wondered how long the chocolate spec had been there. Surely not before Easter right? I hope...

I promise I really do clean behind his ears!