Animal Planet

Definitely MY child! :)

2011-04-07T15:50:00.004-06:00

Chatter!

2011-03-29T21:29:00.009-06:00

So ever since Bea was about 18 months old, I began to notice that she didn't have a lot of words. I didn't think a whole lot of it, but as time went on I became more and more concerned. She was a chatter box, it was just hard to tell what she was saying. I would talk to Dave about it, and him being the "non-worrier" that he is would always say, "She's fine, she'll get it!". So I kept listening to him and although I have seen that she has made a lot of progress, she is still seemed a little behind. (Oh, and I AM a worrier! :)
I finally started to look into getting her tested around September or October of last year. Since she was about to turn 3, I was told that it needed to be with the school system. I had to fill out a big questionnaire and once I completed it, they told me that they probably wouldn't meet with her until the beginning of January. Nice and super frustrating. Waiting another 3 months seemed like a long time. So, finally at the end of January, she had a meeting with the early learning center here in Bountiful, and... she had NOTHING to do with it! She would not cooperate with any of the women, so they weren't able to determine her abilities. Therefore, they decided that they would have her meet with the speech therapist from Valley View Elementary (the school that Bea will go to when she goes to kindergarten) So, another 2 months go by and I finally had to call to see where we were with the whole process. Her paperwork had gotten lost in the shuffle and nothing had been done. Geez. So, finally, over the past month, Bea has met a couple of times with the therapist and she completed all of her testing. She loved it! She thought it was so much fun. She thought she was going to "school" and thought she was quite the big girl. Very cute. She actually ended up testing really well! Her scores were all in the "average" range. Obviously average is not what you usually aspire to and, although average doesn't sound totally great, I was very happy with the results. It tested articulation and word recognition. The problem is, she has more issues with sentence structure. The speech therapist recognized this and made a recommendation for her to be involved in a program called "Talking Time". It will be with 4 other children and their parents and I guess they are going to help us learn skills to improve her speech.
An additional part of this testing was getting her hearing testing. I took her yesterday and she scored low! I was in shock! The audiologist thought she had an ear infection because inside her ears was red. He recommended antibiotic therapy and then retesting a month or so after to see if it changes her results. He was 95% sure that would, so we will see!

Future SYTYCD Dancers!

2009-12-03T21:44:00.002-07:00

Happy Halloween!!

2009-11-17T16:38:00.010-07:00

Still behind, but couldn't leave these out!

On our way to trick-or-treat with Grandma and Grandpa Richards!

Getting the hang of it and super excited! (with dad and sister Clara)

Bea, Greta, Clara, Elle, Sam and Grandma!

The fun could only last so long...

Mama ain't a homemaker!

2009-11-12T13:48:00.012-07:00

So, here is what I am learning about myself. I am not a super mom. I cannot get myself to do these things that I see so many other mom's doing every day. I rarely blog, scrapbook, call people, make a good dinner, etc., unless I have checked the following off of my "to do" list and that is cleaning the house. I have to say it is my priority, and it never seems to be as clean as I want it to be!! And yet somehow it seems like those who are able to accomplish these tasks still seem to have a clean house! What am I doing wrong? I need help! :)

Therefore, this blog doesn't get a lot of attention!

I do, however, have a new wall unit/closet/whatever you want to call it in my bedroom. Dave has spent about the last 3 weeks building it and now I finally have decent storage in this house!! It has been life changing for me and Dave is probably going to be relieved to not hear me gripe about it all the time...

On the bright side, Sam and Bea are absolutely amazing! I feel so lucky to have them. Bea is becoming such a love bug and Sam always has a smile to give me. They wear me out and I am beginning to forget about how not so long ago I only had to worry about myself. Wouldn't change it for anything...

These aren't our latest pics, but it's what I have downloaded on the computer! More to come... I hope!

Smiley Sam!

First time in the bumbo seat

Trip to the fair with mom and Auntie Jill

Sam snuggling with Bern

Trying on mom's boots (the girl loves shoes)

Bea on her way to nursery - finally decided it's time for her to start...

Drooly boy!

Getting big!

Miracles Happen!

2009-09-13T18:30:00.009-06:00

Well, I may be going a bit overboard with that statement, but Sam slept for 8 hours last night! He went 5 hours the night before and besides that he has been awake and ready to eat every 3 hours in the night! I am hoping very hard that this is a trend developing. I realize he is only 7 weeks old, but I think he has been feeling guilty that I went back to work last week. He enjoys a happy, well-rested mom!

Some of our latest pics:

Sam and tummy time

Mom and her handsome dude

Hoping to stay looking young!

Loves going through the drawers!

Apparently I was supposed to be telling dad to look at the camera!

Cute kiddies!

Like Father, Like Son

2009-08-29T12:11:00.003-06:00

Bea loves Sam!

2009-08-18T14:55:00.012-06:00

Well, despite all of our worry, Bea loves Sam! She has shown lots of interest in him and I have not experienced the dreaded jealousy I was expecting from her! She's very cute with him it's such a relief that she isn't sad that he has joined our family! For the last six months of her life she has been a bit on the demanding side (to say the least :) and it's crazy, but she has become a lot more independent and grown up! Thanks, Bea, for making my life easier!

She asks to hold him and doesn't want to let him go! I think she is going to be a good big sister!

Introducing...

2009-07-24T19:05:00.005-06:00

...Samson Dewey Richards. Born July 23rd @ 3:55 pm. 8 lbs, 21 1/2 in. Pretty much the manliest baby ever born.

Sam

Moments after the big event.

New brother. Pretty excited.

New brother. Pretty excited??

Grandparents Richards welcome yet another one.

New cousin.

Happy mom.

First appearance...

Tick Tock

2009-07-13T20:36:00.010-06:00

I suppose the count down can begin. One more week until this baby comes (let's hope!).

I thought I would take a minute and focus on the cute little Beatrice. Oh, how I love her! I have been feeling a tiny bit of sadness that I am taking away her status as the "baby". In fact, I asked Dave the other day if we are still alright to call her a baby? I just hope this is an easy transition for her because it will make me so sad if she gets sad...

We have been trying not to put the pressure on her to be an "outdoor" girl, but we have been taking every chance we can to get her exposed to it. :)

In her backpack on a hike...

Wearing her hiking boots...

Yes, and a quick binkie break... :)

Waiting to watch Dad race his mountain bike at Snowbird

Sporting her "sunnies"...

And just hanging with her pal Bern...

(I don't see her losing interest in that binkie any time soon! :)

We are very excited to be adding a baby boy to the mix of this family! We feel very blessed and know that he, and Bea, will be the best of friends...

Hopefully.

Trip to Boise!

2009-06-22T16:22:00.009-06:00

This weekend we took at trip to Boise. Dave just had to do yet another triathlon - this one was in La Grande, Oregon. I decided to half support him by going to Boise to see my parents and he took an extra 2 1/2 hour drive to Oregon (for some reason being 8 months pregnant and camping with a toddler didn't appeal to me - call me crazy!).

I was super nervous to be going out of town though. I thought for sure I would go in to labor and have to have him in Boise. It wasn't that I was scared of the hospitals or doctors there, I just didn't want to pay double for the delivery!

We are learning that Bea is partial to men. This weekend she couldn't get enough of her Grandpa Brown. Any time he would enter the room she would light up and need to be with him. I also went to visit my best friend Becca while we were there. Bea didn't really acknowledge her, but as soon as her husband entered the room (who she doesn't really even know) she went up to him and wanted him to pick her up and carry her! What a goofy girl...

Grandpa and Bea...

Becca (32 weeks) and I (36 weeks)....

Bea not enjoying a rock wall at the park...

Is it a phase?

2009-06-11T19:10:00.003-06:00

I love my little diva. This girl keeps me on my toes... literally. I spent the first year of her life so grateful that I had this "easy" baby. Just spending the day taking care of her, all smiles, no cries. Wow, have things changed. This girl likes every ounce of attention I can give her - likes to be held, likes to be put down, likes to try to tell me what she wants (even though she doesn't even know what that is), plus she only has one word (mom) and spends the whole day, well, squawking. By the end of the day, I can hardly stand up, am exhausted, and wonder how this girl is going to fit a baby brother into her life. Regardless, I can't wait. I am so blessed to have Beatrice. She is an amazing girl and makes me so happy. How did I ever live without her? She has taught me so much about myself and what life is really about. She is going to be a wonderful big sister - I mostly think she has been spending each day trying to tell me how bored she is and how she needs him to come... NOW! :)

Things on my mind...

2009-06-07T20:54:00.000-06:00

1. Mere works really hard for our family. Sometimes I feel like a slacker.
2. Bea isn't a baby anymore. She hung out with me today while Mere worked. Pretty independent and, I'm realizing, I can't pretend she's not growing up anymore.
3. Can I handle these types of afternoons with Bea and her brother when he gets here? And three other girls? Hmmmm, should be interesting...
4. I ate too many carbs today: french toast, pizza and more pizza. Nice work, Dave.
5. I like a well manicured lawn. I didn't get to use the weed eater this weekend and I can't stand seeing those spots the mower couldn't get to.
6. I'm wishing there was a "good" sport to watch today. It's rainy outside and I'm craving some chocolate milk and a good game.

Baby update

2009-06-05T12:23:00.002-06:00

I went in for my follow up ultrasound today and everything looks great! My placenta has moved and I won't have to have a c-section! Yippee!

However... he is large! He measures at 36 weeks (I am only 33 weeks), weighs approximately 5 lbs 14 oz and is in the 96th percentile in size! Ouch! No wonder why I feel like I am carrying around a bowling ball! :)

Pretty Proud Papa

2009-05-29T14:00:00.000-06:00

Just look at this fam!

2009-05-26T14:17:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our blog! I am the first to say that this has been a chore for me to get up and going. I have been told my many how easy it is. Ha! Well, I am not the most computer savvy person, nor do I find myself setting aside time to do something like this. I have been meaning to get this started somewhere around the time Bea was born...

Stay tuned

2009-05-25T20:05:00.001-06:00