I can say "Grandma!"

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Piggy Tails

So, I had to take lots of pictures of Sierra today because she had her hair up in pig-tails. Her daycare provider does her hair sometimes, and she always does it so perfectly. When I do Sierra's hair I can never find the part and she wiggles so much I never get all the hair up. When Chris does it, even while watching 5 other kids, she gets it perfect every time!

I bought Sierra a drum at the dollar store and I think she likes it more than all her expensive toys combined. She wanted to take it to bed with her the night I got it.

playing w/ mommy

Isn't that picture precious! I caught her playing with her refridgerator magnets and she was laughing and having a good time. I love it when I can make her laugh. We have this throaty noise we make to eachother, and whenever she does it I do it and so on. It makes her laugh so hard when I make that noise. I always do it when I want her to smile for the camera. Lately I've been a little nostalgic because Sierra is growing so fast. I can almost see her getting taller! She's learning new things everyday and she suprises me with her knowledge all the time. Sometimes I think she's learning too much. She's already got the personality of a teenager and now she's learning the words to go along with it. I can see now why they call it the "terrible two's." It's frustrating for a parent, ecspecially a single parent, trying to learn what discipline works and what doesn't. Also, trying to balance discipline with love and not go crazy. Sierra doesn't really respond to any sort of discipline that I've tried yet. The distraction technique still works pretty good with her. Anyway, it's hard. I love her to death, but it's hard. If anyone has some suggestions on how to deal with a defiant 2 year old, I'm open.

I'm aware that the last time I posted was 3 weeks ago and I wanted to let everyone know that by tomorrow morning there will be current pictures posted. Thank you for your patience.

LOVE,
Heidi and Sierra

Yesterday I got a fantastic phone call from Tammy, a manager with Hammack Management, and she informed me that I was hired as an apartment manager and would be starting on the 21st (today)!

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started this morning at 9 a.m. and worked until 6 p.m. I work with this really nice guy named Mark, he's the apartment manager there. I'll be his assistant until I'm completely trained. He is a member of the church, has a wife and two daughters, 2 years old and 1 month old. The job was really easy and I picked it up really fast. So far I really like it.

For a while there I thought it was hopeless and I would never find a job, but I kept on praying and asking others to pray. I noticed, durring my unemployment, how when I really needed something, it would come to me. Like yesterday, I was thinking about how low I am on food and wondering how I was going to make it through the month, when my ex-husband stopped by and started bringing up grocery bags of food! Just out of no where! He explained that he's leaving for Iraq soon and doesn't want anything to go to waste. He even had a package of diapers in the bags! It was amazing, and it was an answer to a silent prayer in my heart. When I would need some time to myself, a friend would call and ask if she/he could take Sierra for me. It seemed that I never had to ask anyone, except Heavonly Father, for anything, they just gave out of the goodness of their hearts. I know that Heavonly Father sent the Holy Ghost to my friends and family, and He silently whispered what I needed to them. Thank goodness I have such wonderful people in my life. Sierra and I wouldn't have made it without their help and kindness.

A special thanks to my parents for always believing in me and always being willing to help without expecting anything in return. I love you both!

Last night I put that pillow case on Sierra's pillow and tonight, when she went to bed, she looked at it and said, "nite nite daddy." Isn't that just the cutest!

Justin's squadron took individual pictures of all the troops leaving for Iraq, then they put them on these pillow cases for the troops to give to their families. Justin gave this pillow case to Sierra. When she saw the picture, she gave it a kiss and said "da da." I think it's a good idea, she'll see it everynight before bed and first thing every morning. So, she won't forget him.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sticker

Sierra got a some little stickers from her doctor after she bravely got 3 shots! She was a champ through the whole thing and didn't cry at all. Anyway, I put one of the stickers on her nose and she thought that was funny, so she put one on mine. Later on, she was watching Baby Einstien, I went in to check on her and she has the sticker on her nose. I laughed so hard!
That same night I took a picture of the way she places her legs, crossed, it's just so lady like.

update

Sorry, no pictures, but I promise to take a ton tomorrow and post them tomorrow night...anyway...

I just wanted to give everyone an update, still no job, but lots of prospects. It's wednesday and I've had 4 interviews this week and set up 2 more for next week, so that's pretty good. I guess things are looking up. Now I wait.

Just a quick post to say that I haven't taken any pictures recently and therefore have nothing to post about. Besides, I am still (after 3 months) looking for a job and I'm starting to freak out! I'm grateful that I still have a roof over my head and food to eat, but who knows how long I can sustain that. Well, I don't want to be a downer, so I'll stop here. I'll post some pictures soon.

The Children's Museum

While in Utah, we headed to the Tree House Museum in Ogden. The kids had so much fun! At first I had Sierra's child-leash on her, but since the place was built for children, I took it off and let her run free. (Me running after her, of course.) There was so much for the kids to play with. All the areas had a them, like the music room, the building room, the reading room, the hospital room, there was even a room that looked like a miniature of the oval office. Sierra had a great time!

Liam in the "hospital nursery" playing doctor.

Grandma Vinson with a fish puppet on her head.

Sierra and Grandma Vinson in the "music room."

Sierra in the "building room."

My little princess in the "castle room."

Sierra making a clay beehive with Grandma Vinson.

If I'm ever in Ogden again, I'm definately going to take Sierra back to this museum, it was a blast!

I don't have any pictures to share and I'm sorry. But, as always, Sierra did something cute today. I was feeling a bit tired and down today and I was laying on the couch being lazy when Sierra handed me a dirty, stinky diaper and said "die" (meaning diaper). I told her to put the "die" in the trash please. She walked to the kitchen and I heard her trying to open the lid then I heard a bang, so I assumed that she had thrown the diaper away. She came back past me with a triumphant smile and I said thank you. Later on, like 3 or 4 hours later, I started to notice a poopy smell. Which isn't that wierd because we dump the diapers in our normal trash can, but usually the lid keeps the smell in pretty good. Well, I didn't think to much of it and continued making dinner. I opened the lower cupboard to grab a pan and noticed the diaper neatly stacked on the pans. I couldn't help but laugh because I could just see the picture of her struggling with the trash lid then giving up and deciding to put the diaper in the cupboard. But, because she's my girl, my OCD child, she had to stack the diaper on the pans nice and neat. What a good helper!

She just cracks me up sometimes. Tony makes me smile to. I just started to notice that he is always watching over Sierra. He's always around her, in the same room or just outside the room that she's in. He even likes to sleep in her room and he tries to sneak in there when I'm putting her to bed. He doesn't really snuggle up with her or anything, but it's cute how he's like her little daddy. He gets this perturbed looked on his face when she hugs him or lays with him, but he doesn't try to get away. He's just patient, like a dad, and just lets her have her fun. Today, she was swatting at his stomach and he didn't move. He would just make a biting motion towards her hand, but when he got close he would stop. Then he would look at her in this stern way, like he was saying, "no no baby, that's not nice." She, of course, continued to swat him and then laugh out loud. He finally nipped her, she whined, and then he got up and moved two inches to the left. Just enough for her to not be able to reach him. I watched this and just giggled to myself. They are so funny! Those darn kids!

Birthday for Alexis

Alexis and Sierra playing outside...

Monday Sierra and I went over to the daycare to celebrate Alexis's 2nd birthday. Alexis is Sierra's best friend at daycare. They love eachother, they hug and kiss and read books together.

Eating strawberry shortcake...

Alexis, opening her presents... (Chris, the daycare provider, makes sure that all the kids get something, she is a sweetheart).




I really appreciate Chris, the daycare provider, she is just a wonderful person and she really cares for all the children. I'm really lucky to have found such a great daycare where I know that my daughter is safe, loved, and happy. Chris makes the kids feel special and loved. She throws them birthday parties and not only makes the birthday child feel good, but goes out of her way to make the other kids feel good to. She bought Sierra and Christy purses with bracelets and necklaces. Thanks Chris! You are the best!

A Day in the Life of Tony

As the day begins Tony is excited and runs to the window to greet the sun and watch the people as they go to their cars.

Soon the little hairless one wakes up and tries to snuggle. There's not much to be done but to lay here and enjoy the attention, she's not so bad anyway.
The day is ending and soon the sun will be down. Oddly repelled by the light and completely nocturnal, venturing outside has to wait until darkness has arrived.
Okay, dark enough, now the real day begins...good night.
That ends the "A Day in the Life of Tony," now here is a cute picture of Sierra having breakfast in the bed....so spoiled!
The end.