The Jernigan Family

Whole Lota Sturgeon Going On

2011-07-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

My FISH !!!!!

So it has been a very rainy summer for us this year, but we still went sturgeon fishing. The first time out just me and my dad went, and we hooked a 7 foot oversized that took us almost 2 hours to land. While we were on board there was a camera crew filming for a show that will air on the Pursuit channel in January that we will be on. This last weekend I went down for a sturgeon invitational derby with the camera crew and shot some pictures for them and had a great time, landed over 20 sturgeon that day. It is kind of funny that I am the one fishing while Jeramy is at home. We took Sage fishing for the first time in the drift boat at the lake by our house. She finally got to use her 7 foot rod that lights up when you reel, while we were dinking around with the fish, I looked over my shoulder and saw a bald eagle just a couple feet away from us with it's talons out, I screamed and covered Sage, and the eagle took her fish...she kept screaming.."That bird took my fish." It took Jeramy and I a minute to recover from laughter to explain to her what just happened. Jeramy was so proud that she reeled the fish in all by herself.

We have also been going to music in the park on Tuesday's when it is not pouring down rain. The last one was the Tim Noah concert (I remember him from when I was a kid). Sage instantly went up to the stage and started dancing with a cute little boy. Much to Jeramy's chagrin, Sage is quite the flirt. While hanging out with Carter, they always do cute little things together, but this one day I heard Jeramy squeel and I looked over at Sage kissing Carter...it was SO cute...but Jeramy said.."It's time to go." LOL

Sage got a new swingset too. It took one afternoon, 9 people, 5 dogs, 1 rabbit and a LOT of parts and pieces but she was VERY happy to have her own park in her backyard. Now if only the weather would cooperate so she could use it more.

We are also getting ready to drive down to Disneyland next month with Jeramy's parents. While we were down at Lakefair this last week she had her hands over her ears the whole time because of the noise (she does this as a defense mechanism I think) so thankfully we have a couple more fairs before we go to Disneyland so hopefully she won't be totally overwhelmed.

Other than that, we are just hanging out, going outside when the weather allows us too. It has been such a frustrating summer as far as what to dress her in because it can be 80 one day and then pour down rain for 4 days straight. Hopefully California will have better weather for us!

Our New Farm Friends

2011-05-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Up the road from our house there is a little farm on the side of the road, which Sage calls the

"Baby Mama's". Grandma PJ always stops, so now every time she sees the road she HAS to stop. She recognizes the road and tells me to turn right. The other day when we were there, the owners were there, so we got to go in and play. She just LOVES going there. It is very close to the house, so I have a feeling we will be making multiple trips out there all summer! She was RUNNING the whole time, as always, so she really wore herself out!

Catching Up

2011-05-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to download all of the pictures I have taken, so I thought I'd do a catch up blog (there may be duplicate pictures from previous posts, but I am just going through all my pictures and picking my favorites). There are some pictures here from our favorite place..Lattin's Cider Mill...they put out 40,000 eggs and the kids picked them up within 2 minutes. Easter ended tragically with her throwing up for the first time and getting sick for about 3 weeks, so that wasn't much fun. We got to go with our best friends Joey and Michaela and their kids Ben and Annika. We always go clam digging with them too. We also got some time in to go clam digging with our other friends Robert and Emily and their daughter Ayla. It is funny because Sage has named her dolls Ayla and Annika. Jeramy and I have traveled to the beach, Seaside, and several weddings. We have been anxiously been awaiting the sun to make it's permanent apperance. Because I still can't drive after I had my seizure, Sage and I have been biking everywhere, which is great exercise, we are just waiting for the sun to stay for good.

Sage has grown up so much. She is going to be one of those kids who hangs out with the adults instead of other kids. She just grabbs her sippy cup and sits in right on the conversation, and believe me, she has ALOT to say. She is definatly stretching her arms as far as her limitations when it comes to the rules. It is amazing to see how her little mind works. We are still working on potty training but getting close. On Easter she threw up and had been sick for about 3 weeks. When we took her to the Dr and had her weighed with a big coat and her boots on she still only weighed 24 pounds. She is such a good helper, and because I can't drive and the weather has been jucky we have had a lot of Mommy and Me time, so I have been coming up with projects trying to keep her (and me sane) including ItsyBitsy Yoga, which I found is not too relaxing with both the dogs and a toddler jumping on me. But she still has her 3 year old quirks...trying to say No to us, spitting, tantrums etc. The other day Jeramy flushed one of the dead fish down the toilet in front of Sage, well when we tried to explain what happened she clearly wasn't getting it, so we said it was like Nemo and going to the ocean, well that backfired big time because then she was scared to sit on the potty, then we tried the truth telling her the fish died, and the tears came, and we said "oh for Pete's sake, just go get her a new fish" Jeramy and I are really trying to figure this whole parenting thing out too. Like when she had her underware on when we were in the car and kept asking if she had to go potty and she would say yes, and then asked if Dad should pull over and she'd say no, and then vice versa. We usually tell her to relax and go when we are at home, and she said she was going to relax, and Jeramy and I said...no no..you have to tighten up and hold it in, we looked at each other and just laughed because we were so clueless as to how to tell her without damaging or confusing her. Another funny example was when she had the handsanitizer in her room and we were trying to figure out if she had eaten any of it and explaining how although it looked like jelly (PBJ) she couldn't eat the hand sanitizer, she kept saying they looked the same how was she suppose to know...Jeramy and I looked at each other and just laughed trying to figure out how to explain that one, because she doesn't know any better, it is our job to teach her. I can see the benefit sometimes of having another child, so they can play together and learn from one another, but I honestly don't know how they do it. When Sage was throwing up, which was her first time ever, Jeramy ran 2 red lights and we were armed to the T's with puke buckets on both sides of our bed and were worried sick! We kept saying, how do people do this with more than one kid, because we were so worried. Then with the stop and go in the car potty training, we joked that if we had more, it would take us a week to go anywhere. This is just as much a learning process for us as it is hers. There has to be a pendelum of where she should know better vs we should know better and teach her, and we are teetering on that right now.

If you could call this our summer with 70 degrees one day and raining the next, we are really modifying some of the things we do. Sage is use to getting wet and dirty (thanks to Auntie Heather for teaching her how to make mud pies), but her new favorite thing is the pool. I didn't realize how important the pool was when vacationing. Everywhere we go, we have to make sure that there is a swimming pool. We went digging with mom and dad, then the next weekend the 3 of us went to Seaside(of which no trip would be complete with out riding the "round" she would give th guy a high 5 everytime she went around), then the next weekend we went to Ocean Shores with our friends and to my bestfriend since 4th grade's bachelorette party while we were there, we were suppose to go this weekend to my cousin's wedding but I was taken to the ER by ambulance again the day before. We have also gone to the Woodland Park Zoo with my parents, and of course Cabelas on a weekly basis (which I am not sure if it is her choice or Jeramy's). We go to Lattin's alot, and also to Auntie A's to feed their goats...she is so brave, sometimes it scares me. Her new defense mechinism is to cover both her ears..if something is loud, scarey or out of the norm, she covers her ears...hopefully this will pass. Unfortunately her pediatrician, who is the father of one of my really good friends is retireing after 32 years, so we are looking for a new pediatrician if his replacement isn't a good fit. We were wanting her to eventually go to a woman Doctor, so this might be a good thing.

Uncle Sagagi (Korean for SOB, but what Sage calls him) was Santa Clause at the Korean Church, we thought she might be afraid of Santa, but she RAN up to Cabelas Santa and then to Sagagi..I even got in on the action and asked "Santa" to make good on the promise he made when he lost a bet to me (who could name all of the States, and I won) his punishment was to change a diaper...he kept putting it off as long as he could, but then we got him...you'd think the expression on his face would suggest that it was aweful, but it was a totally dry diaper. Emo (AKA MoMo) and Sagagi took care of the baby ducklings that came into our yard...that is until they "flew off to find their Mommy"

Another, major milestone was getting her hair cut. Jeramy was adament about NOT letting her cut her hair because that was the hair she was born with..but because it was so long we decided it was time and took her to Jack and Jills. At first she was traumatized and both Jeramy and I had claw marks on our necks from her not letting go of us, but once we got a sucker and sat in the cool jeep, our baby finally got her hair cut, and we got a lock of it. It was pretty hard on Jeramy, but he made it through. Now whenever we drive by there, she points it out as the place where she got her hair cut. She likes to tell Daddy, "You need a haircut Daddy" and then pretends to do it herself, therefore, we have hidden all the scissors in the house. We call her Bossy Bessy because she likes to boss everyone around!

As for us...Jeramy has gotten the chance to go fishing a few times...not as much as he did before, but still some. He also got to go to the Oak Creek Feeding Station shed hunt with some of his friends and Uncle Dale and Dale's brother's. He didn't end up with any this year, but Dale got 5 or 6 really really nice ones and they had a great time. He has really had his hands full with her and me being sick all of the time. As for me, I have had to rely on everyone else for rides, but got to enjoy some girl time with my great friends Malea, Sara and Jessica to get ready for my good friend Kerry's wedding. I've also been enjoying riding my bike with Sage when the weather is nice, along with the yoga.

With all the craziness around the holidays, we decided to do a low key afair at Dirty Daves with immediate family, and then celebrate in the summer. I am thinking I will do it around Sand in the City, that way if people come from far away with their kids, we will have something fun to do...which reminds me, I better get on that!

We joined KinderMusik and did a few classes. Jeramy went with me and was the only husband there. He is such a good Daddy and Husband..he has been taking care of his girls really well. He laughs that he now has 2 girls telling him what to do.."Slow down Daddy, you are wearing that Daddy? Where are you taking me? Are we there yet?" But he handles it like a pro!

For mother's day, I just wanted to get away for the night at a hotel in town since I haven't been on my own since the seizure, it was a great place to recharge. We went to the zoo with my parents and she loved seeing all of the zebras and giraffes etc. Auntie Heather also taught her how to make mud pies (thank you for that) so she really likes getting dirty and playing in the mud. We have made several trips to the beach and she just RUNS! she chases the birds and loves jumping in mud puddles and heading out to the ocean. She has gotten very good at razor clam digging! She spots them, let's us dig them and then throws them in the bag. She is our outside girl! I can see the benefit of having more than one child at this age, so they could have someone to play with and learn from, but I am amazed as to how they do it, since one keeps us on our toes.

Well hopefully I will have time to download some more pictures, and hopefully this sunshine will decide to stay for good and I will have more exciting pictures to post!

Holy Easter

2011-04-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

"Want a ride on my tractor, it's a John Deere"

Hugs after falling down

Uncle Dale making sure their seatbelts were on

Carter has the whole reverse thing down

What a good Daddy, he could barely walk

Back from the barn with Auntie A

Mick (from Emily's Dog's litter) is taller than the kids!

Down to the barn they go

Matching Ralph Lauren of course, how cute are they?

Well our marathon Easter finally came to a disasterous end, it wouldn't be a Jernigan holiday without a crazy ending. It started on Saturday when we went to Lattin's, where they hid 40,000 eggs which after the sound of a siren were picked up by the kids in less than 2 minutes. Parents were not allowed pass the tape so the kids went at it alone..it was pretty funny, but it was our 1 nice day so all of the chocolate was melted. We did fun rides and games, and I won her a prize on frog flop (thanks to all my practice at Seaside) The day before a mama duck died flying into our backyard, but her baby ducks came through our fense, so we raised them for a few days before giving them to my cousin Scott. Hopefully Sage doesn't expect ducks each year. The ducks were quite popular, we had Heather, Nick and Grandma and Papa Jeff over, Kelsey and Tony, Sarah and Kayla, Shea and Greg, Joey Michela and Benjamin and Annika over. Then Sunday we did our hunt here at the house, and then had breakfast at my parents, and then went to Andrea and Dale's to have a hunt with Carter and ride on the John Deere tractor. At the end of that visit Sage threw up on Andrea's floor, then the whole ride home (Jeramy had to run 2 red lights), she continued to throw up until 3:30 in the morning, every half hour. She had never really thrown up before so it was a first for her and us. She didn't even eat any candy. The kids were so cute on the tractor...I love how Carter uses his arm to turn around in reverse. When it was Sage's turn to drive, Carter pushed the gas since Sage had never done it before, it was pretty cute! I absolutely LOVE the picture of him hanging on the tractor with his arm up and her running over to him like he was picking her up for a date....those two make cute playmates!! Then yesterday we did our final Easter with Jeramy's family, but Jeramy and I were so tired from being up all night with Sage, we didn't let her have ANY candy.

I have SO many pictures to put up from all of our vacations, we have pretty much been gone or had something going on every weekend from the last month and for another month. We have hit a few razor clam digs, went to Seaside, we are heading to Prosser for a bridal shower, and then next month have weddings every weekend.

Shame on Me

2011-03-01T15:58:00.001-08:00

I have been a horrible blogger lately, we have just had so much going on. I have had a few surgeries in the last 3 months, Jeramy is back at work so we are finally back on our way to normal. SO much has happened with Sage and there are so many pictures I will load when I had time, but what amazes me the most is what a little person she is becoming. She constantly makes me laugh at things I never thought she knew how to say. I can definatly see the benefit of having more than one child at this age to entertain each other because she wants our attention all of the time, which doesn't leave much time for me to clean etc. But I would gladly take a messy house over time with my daughter. She does things that scare me looking ahead...for example when I was chatting with the grocery clerk, I had already ran my card but was waiting to enter my pin as I was chatting away...then the clerk hands me $60, I had a quizative look on my face, Sage had entered my pin number and took $60 out...mind you she is THREE and knows my pin...we are in big trouble. She is just so polite, please, thank you, your welcome, becareful, sorry, and my favorite "No Worries" . There is no doubt about it she is a Daddy's girl, when he walks in from work she is stuck to him like white on rice, but really is there any other way?
I do want to thank my parents SO much for everything they have done for our family, the trips to the doctor, Seattle, watching Sage, there is no way any of it could have been done if they wouldn't have stepped up to help...there is no adequate way to thank them...I guess you are never to old to be a Daddy's girl and to need your Mommy.
Stay tuned, lots to update on..Sage turning 3, fun in the snow, her first haircut, the daunting journey that is potty training, and all her other sassyness which I don't know where she gets from...plus she is a "Bossy Bessy" this girl is use to getting her way.

Sage's Pink Polka Dot Potty Prize Purse

2011-01-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

Since she was 2 we have tried EVERYTHHING to try and potty train her/ The stickers on a chart, M&M's, Pretty Underware, Pull ups that turn cold when you go in them, training pants, cold turkey, putting a timer on, and through the whole thing she is so stubborn and will hold it in. So I decided to make a prize bag. So now if she tries she gets a sticker, but can only get a prize if she goes. I dressed the bag up all gaudy and put bells on it, and we make such a big deal if she goes. So tonight we sat her potty near the TV she was watching, and while we were making dinner, we heard her say "I did it" so we got "Sage's Pink Polka-Dot Prize Purse." and she got a big sucker. We were very proud of her so we called our parents and let her talk to them. So hopefully this will work for a while. We also let her pick out what pretty undi's she wanted to wear; Blues Clues. It is a bitter sweet thing, we'd like to have her potty trained, but until she is fully trained, it is going to be a bit of a sketchy time.

As I was just writing that last sentance, Sage came running around the corner screaming, I did it again I did it again! And she Did! So we called the Grandparents and are going to get prize buckets made for at their house, probably go to Party City and buy a bunch of random stuff. But I just told Jeramy, we have to be careful and no make her think she is going to get a prize everytime she goes, maybe we will move it just to #2, but for now, whatever works is what we are going with!!

More Fun Christmas Pictures

2010-12-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

Group Hug at one of our stops

One of your Christmas Dresses

You bossing Lola to put her head down which you thought

was really cool

You on your Icky Mouse Phone..you'd always grab the

weather monitor and use it as your phone or your

camera, so e-mom got you a phone and we got you

a camera

Auntie Heather helping you open up yet another present!

Ring around the Rosy

Ryan and Kelsey were such good sports!

You racing Dad on your new Wiggle Car

Quack Quack Moose

Napping with Lola after a long day of opening presents

Giving Uncle Nick the Monkey Kiss, you LOVE your

Uncle Nick, and still give him "The Face" the most

Our little Monkey Girl is growing up so fast!

Here are some more pictures from Christmas at E-Mom PJ's and Papa Jeff's. We have named you Bossy Bessy because you like to boss people (and dogs) into doing whatever you want, and most of the time people do whatever you say. Take for example playing Ring around the Rosy, or quack quack moose, pulling people with you and saying "Come on". You even got Lola to put her head down and got a kick out of it when she would listen. I mean who could say No to you, (except Mom) you even yelled up the stairs.."Papa Jeff, I need my popcorn". Your new favorite thing to do was give Monkey Kisses where you would puff up your cheeks and want whoever you were kissing to do the same thing...of course Uncle Nick was a prime example, you still do the face the best for him, but now will do it to ANYONE whenever asked. Auntie Heather got you to pull out your ears and open your eyes wide to look like a monkey, which was pretty funny. Halmoni taught you how to say Hello and Thank You in Korean and bow. It was so cute, you'd put both your hands on your belly button and bow your head to the floor. Every gift you opened you would run up and give the person a hug, a monkey kiss, and a bow. You are such a polite and sweet, and most of all funny little girl. Like when we went to Auntie Heather's work and you saw another kid, out of no where you said "Hi Big Guy". It is amazing to see what is going to come out of your mouth, and hard not to laugh sometimes at just how cute you are. Being the only child, grandchild on both sides, neice on both sides, and just about anything, you get alot of attention, which you love! But you are also a very caring little girl...if someone is hurt you kiss their boo boo's and tell them it will be ok, share pretty well for an only child, and are most importantly polite and say No Thank You, Thank You, May I, Please, and Your Welcome for everything you ask for or want in both english and Korean, and you bow, and for a 3 year old, that is a pretty big thing. You don't ever throw fit's, but around 7pm every night, you get your second wind and run around like a nut! You go to church and know to be very quiet and will sit through a whole service without a peep, which again for a 3 year old is a pretty good thing. You do have your moments, but we just have to give you a look, and you stop, or go sit in your timeout chair. You are very dainty and cautious, but also stubborn and persistant. We are so lucky to have such a well behaved (for the most part) beautiful, fun loving little girl who makes us laugh everyday!

Camo Santa

2010-12-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

You didn't like your slippery shoes

As usual you get your picture taken with Camo Santa. This year we were a little nervous how you would respond to Santa, but to our amazement, once you spotted him you ran straight for him (good thing there was no line) and jumped on his lap. Mommy and Daddy were shocked because usually you are scared of things like the Easter Bunny and the blow up yard ornaments. After you got off his lap, you made a run for it and got on the escalator at Cabelas and said, WEEE, so Mommy and Daddy had to call Santa and let you talk to him and he told you to listen to your parents, be good, don't whine, and always stay with your parents. Thank you Santa because now she does most of those things. Now if Santa would only Potty train you, that would be great! I have a lot more posts to put up, but we are recovering from our marathon Christmas, plus your birthday is in 3 days!

This Past Year

2010-12-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

Touch Down! Husky Cheerleader

Take That Cougs!!

You always watched the washing machine

when your blanket and toys were in there

and would say..my blankie...then when you'd

walk away you would always be dizzy..lol

August when I was pregnant with you

In Vegas at our Wedding Reception

At Heather and Nick's Wedding Rehersal when I was

Pregnant with you. Daddy took really good care of me

Watching a movie with E-Mom and Papa's famous

popcorn after you pulled your pigtails out

Papa Jeff's first deer

At Heather and Nick's Bachelor/ette party. I was designated

driver because I was pregnant with you

RIP Uncle Cyndi

The room I lived in for a month before you were born

We had it all decorated for Christmas. This was a foreign

exchange student PJ had

Aunt Cyndi who we lost this year to cancer at the age of 40

You REALLY wanted that bottle...lol

We lost Grandpa Cal too, along with his sister Mary and her

husband Jack

At our reception, we expect you to smash the cake in

your grooms face like we did, no cute bites, give him

all you've got..I had cake in my ear and nasal cavity

but it was sure fun!

Your Aunt Randi and Great Grandpa Jim

(Daddy's real Dad) She owns Potpourri Floral

I don't even know where to start, to talk about how much you have changed in just a short year. At the beginning of 2, you would talk gibberish, and then one day you started talking sentances out of nowhere. To our amazement you could count your whole ABC's and count up to 30 with very little instruction from us. You also developed a "Diva" attitude and sometimes when people would try to kiss you, you'd give them the cheek. You really kept your Mom and Dad on our toes. Mom had several surgeries this year, so Daddy stayed home to take care of us girls, and the two of you bonded very closely...sometimes it made Mommy sad to see how close the two of you were. We tried to put you in pre-school 2 days a week, and when we'd walk in the door the first thing you'd want were "Tob and Lam" your dogs, and you would cry the whole time...we were trying to expose you to different kids and get a little bit of the seperation anxiety under control. You only lasted a couple months and then we pulled you and signed you up for Kindermusik which you loved. This summer we spent alot of time with Tessa, who you called Seta and got to go to Lakefair, Thurston County Fair, Lattins, Chuck E Cheese, the Zoo, Shopping and some other fun places...plus we went to the Puyallup Fair with E-Mom and Papa. That was the other funny thing, we all wondered what you would call your grandparents, we never thought E-Mom would be what you would call your Grandma's. We have named you Bossy Bessy, and Sassy Sally because you try and call the shots all of the time, and you generally win.

We lost alot of loved ones this year including Grandpa Cal, his sister Mary and her husband Jack as well as Papa Jeff's dad, whom you got to visit in the hospital. We also lost our beloved Aunt Cyndi (E-Mom's Sister)to cancer at the age of 40. She left behind Jacey who is a teenager and Adrian who is older.

Again, some of the things I don't want to forget about this age are, and I am sure I will add to this list before the book is published:

1. How you would yell through the halls "Jeramy, get back here" at your Dad

2. How you were the pickiest eater ever, and a stubborn potty trainer

3. How you would tell Papa Ned and Mom, to go take a nap

4. How you would pet other kids on the head like you do with Toby and Lami

5. How we got Anna the Rabbit on our Anniversary

6. Where you'd learn things on TV and need things like your "wiggle wrench"

7. How when anyone had to dicipline you you'd either say "Daddy Coming" or "Emom Coming" 8.How you LOVED pickles

9. How infatuated you were with mirrors and looking at your reflection

10. You were very skiddish about alot of things, and would hang onto us like a Monkey

11. How you loved feeding the Goaps

12. How you'd always keep us to it, if we said maybe we can go feed the goats, you never forgot

13. How you liked to say Baby Carter and Baby Floyd, even though they were twice your size

14. You still did "the face" on command and "too close kiss" and "silly kiss"

15. You still slept in bed with your Dad and would always say your tummy hurt to get him to rub your back

16. You still used your "Bink" when you slept and your special blanket

17. Somehow you would always know what road we were on and what to look for like Heather and Nick's house

18. How you loved to Skype with people

19. How somehow every time you got on my computer you reprogramed it or got to the exact program you wanted, where I couldn't even figure it out

20. You still LOVED going to Cabelas with your Daddy and had the run of the place

21. Your favorite TV shows were, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Dora and Diego, Max and Ruby, Team Umi Zoomi, Curious George, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch, Franklin, Little Bear

22. When you would call Alvin and the Chipmunks the "Skunks" I want to watch the "Skunks"

23. How you knew Uncle Wayne, Uncle Dusty and Uncle Jared whenever they came over and always wanted to talk to them on the phone, and say, "What You Doin" Hunting? Did you get a big one?

24. How you adored your Uncle Sean and would climb on him like a jungle gym

25. Tonight when you had a blow out diaper up your back and Daddy was changing you you said, "Do you want to see it, Do you want to see my poopy Mommy" Daddy and I couldn't quit laughing.

26. When we put our Christmas tree up and had the Angel on top, you asked us why the tooth fairy was up there.

27. When we say "thanks for being such a good kid" you always said "no problem"

28. How you would hold your finger up and wiggle it and say "No No No" when we weren't singing the right song.

29. You loved singing itsy bitsy spider, twinkle twinkle, and running through the house screaming EIEIO

30. How when we tried to teach you duck duck goose, you decided "No No No" It is Quack Quack Moose, so that is what we went with.

Let it Snow

2010-12-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

These are the very skates that Jeramy learned to skate on.

She is actually quite good, way better than her mother.

Seta and Sage baked me a cake for my Birthday!

At the fair with E-Mom and Papa in her favorite
Bob Marley T-shirt, she ALWAYS asks for "Bob"
in the car, my little reggae baby

Trying to catch the snow with her tongue

This is the famous Fireplace picture we have done

since we were kids. It is kind of funny now that we are

adults and sitting on laps.

This picture was from Thanksgiving this year, with Scott

sitting in for Andrea

Making her first snow man with
Alexandria

This is for you Robin! :) This year we were so excited to wake up to snow. We bundled Sage up and went to Donna and Dave's because our cousin Casey and Scott who live in Hawaii were there for the holiday (talk about a temperature difference). I was so excited to have our family there and Sage loved playing with her cousin Floyd and outside with Alexandria! Every year since the 80's we have done this cousin photo where we sit in the same spot, and on laps and as we have gotten older it is getting funny. This year since Andrea wasn't there, Scott filled in the gap.

We took her to her 3 year well visit and everything seems fine. She weighed 25 pounds and was tall for her age. He said if you took 100 kids, she would be right in the middle, which surprised us since she is so skinny for almost 3 (most of my cousin's kids are 25 pounds before their first birthday. He also said the 2 biggest challenges this year will be her eating and potty training, and it is! We have tried everything, stickers, M&M's, prizes, potties in every room, pretty panties, pull ups, cold turkey (in which she refused to go and ended up REALLY constipated), setting a timer every 30 minutes, her watching me and how to do it, emphasizing how big girls do it...but she is so stubborn, we started around 2, and have slowly let her lead us. And that is one of the things the Doctor noticed, eating and potty training, she calls the shots, but we are easily manipulated by her, as is everyone else since she is the only baby over here, that everyone caves, and she knows it. All in all, except for the shots, things went great. I also got my biopsy back and it was negative for cancer..yeah...but if I would have waited longer, it would have turned into it, so I am glad I went when I did!

We are trying to get back into the groove of things...with Mommy being sick, she has TOTALLY become a Daddy's girl, almost to where it hurts my feelings. We signed us up for Kindermusik so her and I could bond...it is so funny because with her having 2 dogs and a rabbit, she always goes up to the kids and pets them...lol...we have to work on that one.

Some of the things I want to remember about this age: How she calls her Grandma's E-Mom, where she got that, I don't know...how duck duck goose became quack quack moose, she still does the face, and we have dubbed her bossy bessy or sassy sally because she thinks she rules the roost. This year when we asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she said a Big Tree, when we asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said, an Old Tree...lol..She is really into play cooking and dinosaur's for some reason, not dolls. Also, my Mom and I have been taking her to Saint Martin's church, and surprisingly she sits through the whole mass, even though there is no place for kids...she even does the "forehead, belly button, armpit, armpit" as she calls it. I even get to see some of my old monk professors which is kind of cool. Each monk usually has a job on campus like a mailman, barber, teacher etc. Well, there is one guy who is like 90 and his job is to cut and split wood, and as a punishment you would have to go down there and do it, and when I was in college I ended up down there a few times as punishment...and even sometimes just to help after that because I couldn't believe he could do it, because lifting an ax over your head when you are older, seems impossible.

On a sad note, we lost our beloved Aunt Cyndi on Monday to brain cancer (the same day the pathology report said I didn't have cancer) She was only 40 years old, and had 2 daughters, one in her teens. But she is in a better place now and not hurting anymore so that is a blessing! It is always harder for those left behind, but so much better for her, even though it is going to be tough, Jeramy has a strong family that will get through it!

I am saving alot of pictures that I haven't posted because I used alot of them for Christmas presents, so after XMAS and her birthday, I am sure there will be a flood of posts, since I usually turn this year's blog into a book for her so she can look back years from now and remember all of the things she did and we did growing up. 3 is going to be a hard age because we have to potty train, get rid of the night time binky, get her in her room, and not let her call the shots...it is just as much training her as it is training us, because we cave into her so much (and she knows it). Dr. says 4 will be much easier...we will see.

Pumpkins and Halloween

2010-11-01T18:53:00.001-07:00

Worried she is choking on candy

Thank goodness, I didn't get egged, I was sure I was going

to in that outfit..lol

Well we went on our annual pumpkin patch trip to Hunters. This year we decided just to get Sage her own little pumpkin to paint. We were trying to hustle and get through the looming rain cloud that we luckily just missed. Sage loves "Goaps" and while at first I use to be nervous with her feeding them, she is really good at it now. I swear even with this new camera I got she never looks at me when I take a picture, or she is frowning. Oh well, guess that is how 2.5 is. She really enjoyed going down the slide. She had to see one kid go down first so she wasn't scared, and then she couldn't get enough. Even Jeramy joined in on the fun!

We were originally going to go to Eastern Washington to our family's Halloween party at the winery, but I am still not 100% and had been drug through the ringer last week and Jeramy and Sage too, so we decided to stay home but were really bummed we had to miss it because we had really cool costumes, and she could have played with ALL of her cousins that are her age. I figure I only have maybe 1 more year of picking what she is for Halloween so I wanted it to be as embarassing as possible, so she was a giant hamburger, I was a hot dog and Jeramy was a bottle of catchup. I was just happy that I didn't get egged walking down the road in my outfit. I think this was the first year Sage really understood what it was all about, because after the first 2 familiar houses of our neighbors she would run to the next house, and always want to go in or if there were kids have the kids come outside to play. Jeramy (and me too) have always been very cautious of her choking on stuff and we have never given her Candy aside from M&M's as potty training prizes, so while allowing her a sucker, Jeramy got totally panicked and pried her mouth open to get it (which it turned out fine) which is the picture you see of him with her fingers in her mouth. He has given her the hymlic so many times now, better safe than sorry! So now we have all this candy and none of us eat it.

We signed Sage up for Kindermusik and she seems to be loving it. We had to miss last week because I was at the ER and of course it took like 9 hours to treat a migraine, but since my Doctor was out I had no options. So tomorrow we get to go again. Jeramy was the only dad in a room full of women and toddlers...gotta love a man willing to do anything for his girls. He has been really sweet, the other night he brought both of his girls out into the living room to dance to a song he found that said how much his girls meant to him and how we were his whole world. What a great Daddy! But I think E-Mom (Sage's word for Grandma) will be going with me to Kindermusik from now on!

Memories and Signs

2010-10-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

The exact same dress you wore for your 1 year birthday

Same face you make when you want your Daddy

Same ride you went on at TC Fair, see pictures below

Mommy and Auntie Katy

Grandma Pat teaching Mommy Bubbles

Aunt Marlene with me, and Grandma with Katy I think

I think you inherited "THE FACE" from your Mom

Sorry...

More pictures of "THE FACE"

Caitlin, Andy and Me with Grandma in a pool

by Aunt Minnie's

On the farm in Prosser with Katy and Danny and

another kid I don't' know

Grandma teaching me how to swim

I have always said and I will say it again that I believe in signs. Even if it is a cat, dog or rabbit that has passed away or especially a person who was dear to your heart, they are always around you, you just have to look for the signs that they are there.

For example today...the whole way to get the lump in my breast checked out I sat in silence and gazed out the window thinking of Grandma and what she went through and my old boss Robin and was scared and nervous not knowing what to expect. When I arrived at South Sound Radiology I was greeted by a receptionist named Robin. When I sat in the waiting room an older gentleman, probably 85 asked if I was Mia Holman....I had worked with him 15 years ago and hadn't seen him since. My entire wait in the waiting room he told me all about Grandma, how she was the first girl he took to a dance, all about what she was like in highschool and middle school, even about my Grandpa. What are the odds of that. There are probably 2 remaining people in the world I know that knew my Grandma when and here sitting in the waiting room was one of them, with stories willing to share. Then when it was my turn to go in for a mamogram my technician's name was Marlene. I almost broke down and cried before the procedure, but I waited until afterwards. The fact that Robin was there to welcome and ease me, Mr. Puckett was there to keep my mind off of my worries by telling me stories of my Grandma, and then making me feel comfortable by having my Technician's name be Marlene, was just too much, too many coincidences not to believe that she wasn't there with me. It is times like these and when I tried on wedding dresses, graduated from college, and the times I needed her the most that I look around and see her all around me. You just have to look for the signs from within your heart and believe that she is there with you. For me it is my Grandma, but it could be anyone or anything, whatever brings you comfort. God of course is always with you and all around you, I look at Grandma more as my guardian angel sent over just to watch over me. Even during the scarey time when you were born, there were signs she was there and it is what got me through. Just look..and you will see

The FACE and a Thanks!

2010-10-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Uncle Nick's Birthday Card

Season's Greetings

Doesn't Sage look evil...lol

I have probably blogged about this before, but it is just too funny. Ever since

Sage was like 10 months old, she would do this face and we called it "The Face"...we'd always say give Uncle Nick "the face" and she would seem to always do it for Uncle Nick. But lately she has been doing it on command and especially with Uncle Sean who she calls Unca Bad name but sounds like hit)...I think I use to make a similar face when I was younger, like a popeye the sailor man face, so I will have to look.

I just wanted to make sure we got these photos on here before I print her yearly blog book. One of the other cute things she is doing these days is wanting to sing all the nursery rhymes. I've had to do some research on say ones like Pollywaddle dooddle all a day. I also taught her duck duck goose, but she points her fingers and waves them around like a musical cunductor and says "No No No Mommy like this....quack quack quack Moose. She is becoming little Miss Bossy pants..."Papa go take a nap" E-mom (her name for grandma) you go hide...and then of course her finger pointing , no no no, like she is conducting an orchestra. She NEVER throws a tantrum though which is nice, but everyone caters to whatever she wants, so why would she. We have to put the kibosh on that really soon! She keeps telling me, Mommy this is mine, and my response is, no honey everything is mine, but I will let you share if you ask...not quite sure if that is sinking in yet...because in actuallity, it is all hers anyways. She is finally gaining a bunch of weight and is probably about 25 pounds now going on her 3rd birthday. We have been giving her DHA Omega 3 organic Whole milk with the carnation breakfast chocolate milk, and I know that is helping because she really likes to drink it. Plus, she is getting better about how picky she is on food. It is so nice when they are old enough to tell you what they want instead of guessing on what they do or don't. But man she demands ALL of our attention and is contantly trying to get us to engage with her, which we normally do, not leaving much time for anything else. Since daycare/preschool didn't work out I need to find her one of these classes people keep mentioning (Thanks Stephanie) hopefully one inside where I won't have to run across town. But she is a little whimpy. When we were halloween shopping yesterday for an outfit I put on a giant hotdog costume to show her, and she TOTALLY freaked out, but I stuck with it until she realized it was her mommy, then she thought it was funny. Same with the ride at Puyallup fair where she was screaming and my parents were screaming at me for putting her on it, but once it started to go she was loving it. If she didn't I would have pulled her off. Right now my motto is until she tries something, even if she thinks she is scared I am going to push her through it so she sees it is ok. Like me in a giant hotdog outfit, yes I looked like a total idiot, but eventually she wasn't scared anymore.
Lastly, I would obviously like to thank my husband for taking care of me and our family after the surgery. I'd like to thank my cousin Andrea who has helped me through all of the ups and downs I have been experienced. But most importantly, I want to thank my parents who took time off of work to care for me and our daughter and to give Jeramy a well deserved break. They have sacraficed alot for our family and has helped us financially, that we could never repay them other to say Thank You, which doesn't hardly seem enough. Without them, I don't know where we would be. I am very blessed to have a family who loves me and will care for me at all odds. I love you all and thank you!

Newest Addition to the Family

2010-10-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

The day after my surgery was Jeramy and my 4th wedding anniversary. We had been planning on getting Sage a rabbit for a while now because she loves them so much (that and cat's but we weren't about to get a cat, not yet anywyas). After the trip to the Puyallup Fair where all she wanted to see were the bunny's, we were certain it was time. So we called our favorite cider mill, Lattin's and they had some Holland Lops that would be ready on October 1st, our anniversary. So after kicking around some names with Sage, and with Jeramy trying to get her to call it Dinner or Stew, we decided on Annnna because it was our 4th anniversary when we got her, and Sage kept calling her Annna. I guess it is good we didn't get the bunny on our 20th wedding anniversary then it would really have alot of N's in it's name. Annna is a sweet bunny. My dad bought it a really neat log cabin cage that we put outside the garge door so we always see it. Sage wakes up every morning and wants to see her "baby Annna" so we have snuggle time everyday, even I like to lay around cuddling with her too. Sage will pet her and say "I love you Sweetheart" it is really cute. We figured with Jeramy being gone for hunting, mommy on bedrest for surgery and the trauma of preschool, a bunny was a nice gift. Speaking of preschool, we gave it a little over a month and she pretty much cried the whole time, so we are not going to push her yet..her last day was the day Jeramy dropped her off and Sage was screaming and crying "Daddy please don't leave me, I love you Daddy, I want to go home with you Daddy...Daddy Daddy please...she did the same thing when my Dad dropped her off too, "Papa please don't go". and that about did it for preschool. If she would have been happy and could power through it we would have stuck with it longer, but her crying for over a month, we didn't want to push her, sometimes it just isn't the right time or the right fit, plus it was uber expensive. It was nice to be able to schedule Dr. appointments and get some me time while she was there, but we have plenty of family here that can help out. Our main concern was getting her to play with other kids, and not be so dependant on us. Guess we will have to try something else.

Surgery went well, they were able to do it laposcopically which will be a quicker recovery for me. My awesome family have been helping out tremendously and I don't know what I would do without them. I guess like my other organs, the right ovary was fused onto my bone again, so they really had to retch around in there so I am all bruised...Sage always says, Mommy has an owie and kisses it. They give you 2-4 weeks recovery, but I was up after about 3 days, I still won't be lifting Sage for some time, and have some bad days, but all in all, glad it is over. Now on to the next thing, which hopefully will turnout to be nothing at all/.

Elk and the Fair!

2010-09-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Way to Go Uncle Brian!!"

"Daddy, Where is Yours?"

Uncle D-Rail's Montana Elk

Giving Love to Papa Jeff

She hated the BIG horses, but loved riding

the little ones

Some random lady taking Sage's

picture, I just noticed...

The kind of Bunny she is getting next week

It will only get this big, just her size!

She would SCREAM when I would put her on

But would love it once she'd get going!

Riding the train with E-Mom (Grandma)

My parents and I took Sage to the Puyallup fair last weekend. The day before it was a downpour of rain so I dressed her like an eskimo, only it turned out to be hot. When we asked her what T-shirt she wanted to buy so she wouldn't be hot, she said "Bob" Bob Marley, which explains her outfit..lol..the ONLY thing she wanted to see over and over were the bunnies (bunnys??) anyways when she was in the petting area she got to see her 2 favorite things...Goaps as she calls them and pet a bunny. SO since Auntie A has Goaps, we are going to buy her a bunny like the one she is petting next Friday. We have been getting it's home ready, we have this little tiny house that matches our shed that has a half door that will be it's new home....oh boy. I got this really cool Ion watch that is suppose to help with stress, dextarity etc that I highly recommend.

Unfortunately we lost Papa Jeff's Dad (PapaPapa) but Sage got to see him right after we went to the fair since the hospital was across the street, and painted him a pretty picture.

Finally, Uncle Brian got a big elk and brought it over to show and wanted Sage to take her picture with it. She has been going deer hunting daily with Daddy and Uncle Jared here around town. She drives around in the car with them and when Daddy gets out with his bow, Uncle Jared holds her. She loves Uncle Jared and wanted to paint a picture for him and whenever they go to his house she goes right for their dog "Jackson"

For now we are just hanging out. Sage is still going to preschool 2 days a week for 5 hours each day and cries when we get to the parking lot. I have been driving different routes so she doesn't know where we are going. There are 3 other kids in there who have never gone to daycare/preschool before so when they cry, she cries. After my surgery and I am back at 100% I might pull her and try something else. I am going in for my full hystarectomy next Thursday so hopefully that will help with the pain...well unless I have to clean out the bunny cage...lol..I told Jeramy that it was his job, especially since we get to pick it up the day AFTER my surgery...good planning on my part if I do say so myself.

First Day of Pre-School

2010-09-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Sage has now gone to her new school "Mini Skool" 3 times. The first time she went it was just a trial run, but then the second time was the real deal. Typically she will be there Tuesday and Thursday from 10-3 (which costs us $117 a week). The first day of school when we drove into the parking lot she knew where she was and started crying for "Tob and Lam" her dogs, meaning she wanted to go home. She did pretty good that day, but didn't eat or nap. Today when I dropped her off, she was kicking and screaming and didn't want to go in, but my Dad and I showed up to pick her up and she was sitting around the table with her new friends eating her snack and I couldn't get her to leave. Her hair is all crazy because she just got up from trying to take her nap. She made a bunch of new friends Reece and Kaylin and Cole. Reece and her stayed up during naptime talking. She has done many new arts and crafts and is learning so many new things. They even made a welcome sign for Sage. Jeramy is hunting this week so he will be excited to pick her up and see her school too. This school will also be great for when I have my surgery at the end of the month! At first it was so hard for me to leave her there, but now she is sad at first but after today I know it is the right thing because she didn't want to leave, she is busy all day, and interacting with kids her own age. I did keep her in the 1-2 class (the monkey room which also seemed fitting) instead of the 2.5-4 class just so she get's use to being at school. Everyday she comes home with a daily report card that I put in a binder along with my "Mom Note" on how I thought it went that day, and we save all of her crafts in there to keep. She is growing up so quick. We tried her in a dance class were Seta goes, but I don't think she was into it yet, but maybe now that she is use to being without me and around other kids, we will give it another try. She is counting to 20 and can do her whole ABC's and sings a bunch of songs, and talks in sentances, a new one everyday...it is amazing how quickly she is growing up before our eyes!

"Baby Carter"

2010-08-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

We have been having playdate's with my cousin Andrea's, cousin Amanda's baby Carter.

Sage always calls him "Baby Carter" even though he is only 8 months younger than her. She does the same thing with "Baby Floyd." At first she was a little timid around him, but this last time at our house we got them to give each other hugs and it was the cutest thing ever!

Summer Happenings 2010

2010-08-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have had a very busy summer after our family reunion, and we also finally welcomed a boy to the Barnhart family. Little Levi. Paul and Jane were nice enough to Skype me in, so it was like I was there without having to drive. Other than that Jeramy was gone working in Montana for a month so we had Nanny Seta (Tessa) who Sage absolutely loved having around helping us. We also had his Aunt Cyndi and cousin Jacey with us too. Amongst everything we went to Lattin's Cider Mill, cruised downtown at Archibald Sisters, the Thurston County Fair where our friend Emma let us pet her horse Lace and Lake fair (where I saw Freddie from Deadliest Catch), Sage was too smal to ride most of the rides except for one (I have a feeling she will have this problem for a long time), the Pt. Defiance Zoo where Sage was really scared of the elephants (you can see her crying) guess that is why she doesn't like horton hears a hoo, Chuck E Cheese and to Forever 21 that opened in our mall which made me very excited, which was fun because Seta and Jacey took her on all of the games, but she wouldn't stray too far from me. Sage also had her very first slumber party with her cousins. We also took the girls camping at the Kalama in the RV, and of course no trip with Jeramy would be complete if we didn't take them to Cabelas, at least we took them to breakfast at the truck stop which has become a staple of our little town. We also took Sage with my parents on our annual Seaside/sturgeon fishing trip in Seaside. Sage get's so excited to see the "round" so I swear we must have gone on that thing 3 times a day. At first Sage wasn't too sure about going barefoot in sand, but once I told her that all volleyball players had to get use to the warm sand she warmed right up...infact I could hardly catch her as she ran up and down the beach, she loved it. We have also been going on bikerides, where I pull her in the cart, but once again we only do it when the weather is behaving. Sage has grown so much it is hard to believe. All of the sudden she started talking in full sentances and singing songs and even making her own up "I drink water, repeat". She can also do her whole ABC's by herself and count to 12 without asking her to. Everytime she puts the groceries on the convayer belt she counts them out, and all the clerks are totally surprised. She still has trouble with some words, for example she calls my mom E-Mom for Grandma we think. Her favorite things to say are. "whatch you doin" and "Sit down right here", "are you ok Mommy" and "come with me". She is still kind of skiddish around other kids so we are going to try and find a preschool she can go to, at least for a couple hours one or two times a week. We have been hanging out with Baby Carter who is 8 months younger than Sage and goes to daycare so he is uese to playing with other kids, but Sage still isn't quite sure. Plus Daddy has taught her no boys, so this may have something to do with it. Since none of my local friends have kids her age (with exception of Sara and Lindsey) it is hard to find someone who wants to go toddler play. Plus this weather has been so touch and go, it is really hard to plan for anything.

Plus after Seta goes back to school I will need some help. I am due to have another surgery that will take my last ovary out. The recovery time is 2 weeks if they do it laposcopically or 6-8 weeks if they have to cut into my c-section scar. Then I finally found a hospital dentistry that will put me under and fix all of my teeth. I have had the hardest time fining a dentist that will operate in the hospital because of all of my health issues and that the numming agent they use doesn't work on me. But finally up at UW they agreed to help me, since I already have a record on file from when I lived there for a month and a half when I had Sage.

We are also trying to tackle the wonderful world of potty training. It is a lesson that both of us are trying to learn. I said to her one day that if she went potty she could have an M&M so she peed right then and there on my foot....I had to give her the candy because technically she did what I said, but I learned that next time I need to be more specific...lol...She is still a little peanut and weighs less than 25lbs...but she is getting there. She is a pretty self sufficent kid and very low maintenance, but when she wants something, she says it over and over "I want to feed the goaps (goats)" I want to see oogan (Grandma's dog Morgan).

Right now we are just watching in amazement at all of the things she is saying, and trying to scramble to come up with an age appropriate answer.

More Reunion Pictures and Such

2010-07-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

More to come later........

Eddy Family Reunion

2010-07-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

So since our family is SO huge, we tried to organize a family reunion at our family's winery. We had so much fun and got to see alot of people we don't see very often, however, we didn't even make a dent in how many family members were there. Last time we had a reunion like this, I was about 8. I remember we had a squirt gun war and then a bunch of people went skinny dipping in the pond, to which us younger kids threw their clothes in the tree, which we rubbed in every chance we got. The difference this year was that we were the parents. It is so cool that in our generation, we are so close in age, anywhere from 3 to 4 years older or younger and have always remained very close. Now our kids are the same age difference, if not closer. For example, Sage is 9 months younger than Avery and then 9 or so monts older than Eli. At this reunion, we had about 20 kids under the age of 8, ranging from 14 months to 8 years old, and then Uncle Charlie who is 10. They are so close in age, that they will grow up just like we did, which I think is so great! I told my cousin Andy (whose clothes ended up in the tree) that the view is a little different when you are the parent, and he totally agreed. The people who were parents at the last reunion are the grandparents now and loving it, letting their grandkids have whatever they want!

It is so important to me that our family stay close throughout the years and that our kids maintain a relationship like we did growing up. Aunt Marlene is the last remaining sibling, making this reunion all of the more special. I just wish more people could come. We won't wait this long to have the next reunion next time. I hadn't seen most of my cousins who came from South Carolina in a really long time, so it was great to spend time and bond with them. All in all the kids, parents and grandparents had a great time. I took most of the pictures so aren't in alot of them, and I didn't post all of them on here because there are over 180 of them, so if anyone at the reunion wants a disk let us know. Katy and Becky have copies of the disk to copy for their family and I have one for my family and one I am going to send to Bob and Karen. If anyone has any other pictures please email them to me at miajernigan@hotmail.com

Until next time, love you all!

Seaside 2010

2010-07-08T10:35:00.001-07:00

Fish Cam

Feeding the Seals

Paying the Bills

Her new favorite thing is to stuff herself in small spaces

Wow it has been a while, I am not quite sure where to start. Let's see, we did our annual trip to Seaside at the beginning of June with my parents for our sturgeon trip. Turns out not so much the "sturgeon fishing trip" as it was the "take Sage on the Merry Go Round multiple times a day" trip. She just loved the "ROUND". Hettie and Scott came down for a few days and we were able to go to the aquarium to feed the seals and go shopping and fly kites. Jeramy, Scott and I went on the bumper cars. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Jeramy decided to tell everyone, "That is my wife...get her" and since I was the only girl, they did.

When we first went down to the beach and took of Sage's shoes she didn't want to touch the sand. Then out of no where she took off like a bolt in a Zig Zag pattern and headed straight for the ocean. She proceeded to jump in every tiny puddle there was. Since Jeramy wasn't with us for the entire week, Mom was on chasing duty, but I just let her run wild...she was fearless and headed right into the ocean. Boy was I exhausted at the end of that day.

Well this is a start, I have so much to catch up on, like our family reunion and 4th of July celebration! But now we are going to go outside and enjoy the sunshine while it is out...FINALLY!

Rain Rain Go Away

2010-06-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

CHEEEZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

With all this nasty rain (in June!) we have been trying hard to come up with stuff to do in the house. Being an only child with 2 dogs, she has been dressing them up lately. Poor Toby had a few t-shrits, sweatshirts and even some underware I think (that I had just folded and put in the laundry basket) on and then Sage unloaded my kitchen towel drawer to dress Lami. They just looked at me with a sad look on their face, and played along.

We also have her tent set up in the living room, as well as 2 slides. Anything we can think of, because she really wants to go "outside", so we have brought as much of the outside into our other living room.

Then Jeramy decided to scale this tree with a rusted old hand saw, limb it and then saw it down so we can put up a swingset for Sage. The funny thing is he didn't use a ladder, just his scaffolding monkey skills. He does these things when I am asleep so I can't say anything, he learned fast..lol.. The pictures of him and Sage are him trying to get the root of the tree out which Sage thought was very cool. When we were trying to get her to say Cheese you can see one of the pictures her looking really irritated looking at Jeramy and saying CHEEEEEZZZZEEEE!

Weekend Projects

2010-05-23T20:13:00.001-07:00

While Jeramy went fishing this weekend, Sage and I did some shopping. First we got her a pop up Dora tent for 99cents that is really cool. And she has a Dora bed that fits in there perfectly. She loves hanging out in there with Lami and Toby and Mom too. It is in our living room (well actually Sage's living room since there is a tent and 2 slides). Our other project was to carpet the Den...or the Man room which we call it because of all of Jeramy's Sheds and Elk skulls in there. It is right off the kitchen and seems to be where everyone hands out. It had tile and I hated it because if Sage fell she could really smack her head or chip a tooth, plus it was a pain to keep clean and we had 2 piece rugs that were also a pain. I am LOVING the carpet in here, and would love to do something different in the kitchen to get rid of the tile in there. Finally, my new obsession is hairbows for Sage. Her hair is so long, so this weekend my Mom bought her a TON of new bows from Gymboree that are really cute. So I hung ribbon from the wall to clip them on so I can see them easily when I am getting her dressed to see which ones match, and then took a toilet paper tube for the cute rubber bands. I have a feeling as she gets older this entire wall will eventually be filled with hairbows. I am so happy I had a little girl!!

Remembering the NICU

2010-05-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

So I was watching a documentary on the Duggars and their 19th child that was in the NICU for 3 months. As I was watching it, your Dad came in and saw tears streaming down my face. He asked me what was wrong, and I told him I was just reliving our experiences with you.

When you were born, I saw you for a split second, was told you were a girl and ok, and then watched you be whisked away from me, and your dad too. I was taken to a recovery room where I was told that I could only see you after I could feel my feet (which took about 5 hours). I have never tried so hard at something as I did at trying to move my feet. Your dad kept bringing video of you and the first thing I noticed was that your arms were flailing around, so I worried about that and demanded to know what it was caused by. We later learned that one of my medications gave you that reaction, but it was going to go away. We figured out if we swaddled you tightly it got better and within a few days it went away completely.

When I was finally able to be wheeled into the NICU to see you, I was still in my bed so they rolled me in there, and they put you on my chest. This was the first time I got to feel you, and it is a moment I will never forget. You immediatly started breast feeding. Most parents that have a regular delivery have that immediate connection with the baby that I missed out on. Sometimes I wonder if that is why you are so close to your Daddy since you got that connection with him, he held you first, bathed you first, changed you first, fed you first, he did everything first while I was on the recovery floor. I am thankful he was there and that you were fine, but I do feel like I missed out on that portion of pregnancy...it felt like I did all these things to keep you safe for 9 months and then you were ripped away from me. A few months after you were born I had to have a hystarectamy because my uterus was fused onto my c-section scar and my left ovary was fused onto my pelvic bone causing me alot of pain, so we aren't able to have another child. This was ok, because that was the plan, to have you and spoil you rotten, and there is no way that I would go through what I went through with you again because I would never put you in the position where I was sick and not able to care for you. Both you and I had a 15% chance of death and that is something I would never risk now, you growing up without a Mom. You are our miracle and all we could ever dream of in life is in your eyes. You are my heart now, walking outside of my body. One of my rules was that No One other than Jeramy was allowed to see you in the NICU before me. Hopefully that was upheld. Your dad was so funny, everytime he had to run up the breast milk, he would literally sprint to get the vile up to you. The nurses said it was amazing how much colostrum I was able to produce since it was liquid gold and would help you out alot, so Daddy sprinted to make sure you got every last drop. After I got discharged it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do to leave you in the hospital. I do not know what I would have done if my parents hadn't gotten a condo near the hospital for the last couple of weeks. Without them, I can't even think how hard it would have been since we were more than an hour away from home. Since I went on unsuspected hospital bedrest I hadn't been home in over a month. When I got discharged from the hospital at 2 o'clock in the morning, I had 3 suitcases and a Christmas tree and gifts to unload since that hospital was my home for almost 2 months. Ma and Pa supported me and you so much and there is no real way to ever repay them for what they did for us. Ma even made me eat Seaweed soup which is a Korean tradition after giving birth. They love us both so much and would do anything for us. But just the fact that I had to leave you there and not take you home with me, ripped my heart out. I would pump and take you your milk every couple of hours. We were very lucky with you because you did not need any oxygen or feeding tubes or anything. They just had you hooked up to an IV to administer anything they needed to administer. It is SO hard as a parent not to watch the monitors that watch your oxygen level, heartrate, and BP because every little beep or hicup or if your number was below where it was suppose to be we would freak out. It was hard to learn not to watch those monitors, and after a while, for our own sanity we tried to tune them out. Every parent was allowed to do rounds with the doctors on each patient, but we chose not to, because we would have freaked out over something we didn't really know what the medical reason was...we figured that if there was something important enough to tell us the doctor would, there was no sense worrying ourselves over nothing. We really lucked out...the only thing that happened was that your belly was distended at one point so they called me to the hospital. I have never been more scared in my life I cried so hard and felt so guilty for not being there when it happened...I almost fainted...when we got to the hospital they told me that it was just gas. Once I new you were ok, I broke down in a screaming cry because I was so scared for you. While we were lucky, there were several parents that we got to know and some that we didn't that weren't as lucky. While Mom was on bedrest I made really good friends with a girl named Ashley and her soon to be daughter Colbie and also Lydia and her soon to be daughter Hailey. Statistically, something bad would happen to one of the 3 of us, and it did. Colbie passed away shortly after her birth. Ashley was devistated and so were we, we had become so close while we stayed in the hospital and went through everything together, that it broke my heart as well. Hailey was born one day after you. While she did ok, she was in the NICU for over a month, where as you were there for less than 10 days because nothing was wrong. Your circumstance could have been alot worse, but it wasn't and we thank the Lord everyday for that. Like all premies in order to leave you had to pass a few tests. 1. You had to consistently gain and hold weight 2. You had to hold your temperature 3. your O2 stats couldn't drop, and you had to pass your carseat test showing that you were able to successfully manage the trip home. You passed all with flying colors, and that is why you were in the NICU for a few days to make sure you could pass these tests. You were one of the smallest premies they ever sent home (3pounds 12 oz) but there was nothing wrong with you and they couldn't justify keeping you. The reason I was crying while watching that show was because I was remembering all of the monitors, all the questions, uncertainty, the fear, and the joy when you were given a clean bill of health. It was quite an emotional process, but since you were our first baby, it was the only experience we have ever known. Even if you were a 10 pound newborn I would probably still be a neurotic mother, at least now I can play the premie card when I am acting overly protective! When we first brought you home only a select group of people were allowed into the house. There was hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE, and they had to have a lesson on how to hold you because you were so small and if your neck dropped you might have a hard time breathing...to us it was second nature to hold you, but to most people it was scarey because you were so small. Pa didn't hold you for a while because you were too small. You didn't weigh 9 pounds until you were almost 4 months old. Most babies are born around 9 pounds. Even now as a 2 year old, you just barely weigh 20 pounds. Other people who came by to see you only got to look through the window of the screen door and were not allowed in. The entire house was steralized and everything you ate or drank was organic or of the highest quality. After you couldn't breast feed anymore (around 3 months) because of Mommy's blood pressure you drank the liquid (not the inexpensive powder) Similac formula (until you were a year old), which would cost us $8 a day! So just for 1 month it would cost us $240 just on formula or $2,160 for the 9 months you were on that formula. You wore Premie diapers that were $20 for 2 days worth for about 2 months (about $600 for 2 months worth), and then you were in newborn diapers until you were almost 5 months old, the newborn diapers didn't come in bulk sizes because most babies only wear them for about a week, so these were very expensive too and didn't last long since there weren't that many in the package. But you were worth every penny! Auntie Ashley was actually the first person to watch you without one of us there because Mom had to run to the Doctor's office and that was no place for you. If Mom or Dad were sick, we had to wear a mask and we were quarintined in the spare bedroom so we didn't expose you to any germs. Daddy was so obsessed with you choking on your spit up (which you often did) that we had about 50 bulbs around the house, 3 in your carseat, 10 by the bed and in the rocking chair or couch, 5 in the car, 5 in the diaperbag, and a couple in our pockets just to be safe. You did not leave the house (except for Dr visits, where they would immediately take you back to a room to keep you away from kids) for 2 months after you came home because of all the germs you could get exposed to. It was flu season and this year a new flu called Swine Flu had already killed a few people, so it was a nationwide crisis to get vaccinated. Anyone who would be around you alot (Mom and Dad and Ma and Pa also got additional vaccinations just to be around you such as the flu shot, swine flu (H1N1) shot, and whopping cough shot) just to be safe. In fact you didn't get your first cold/fever until you were 2 years old. Your first trip was to Cabelas with your Daddy. I look at you now playing with your Dad, and I see him in your NICU cubby feeding you and changing your little diaper through all of your wires, totally unphased by any of it. And now you are kicking the ball around the back yard and gardening and riding on his shoulders at a parade. You have come so far, and so have we! Everyday I look into your eyes and remember the journey we went through together. It may be totally different than most journey's that term baby's families go through...but it is our journey and we made it!

Lacey Spring Fun Fair 2010

2010-05-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

It is Hard Being an Only Child....

We got to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and go to Mom's Alma Mater, St. Martin's for the Lacey Spring Fun Fair. This year, while we were waiting in line for the train we got to watch the parade. While we were waiting in line next to the fish pond, there were 2 boys your age that you went right up to and gave a big hug to, then you watched one boy lift his shirt up and you did the same thing, until Daddy said..Ah Sage...no no...then looked at me and said "we are in trouble, she is already hugging boys." You sat on Daddy's shoulders the whole time and were so good. You liked the bands and cheerleaders and Mom said.."no way is Sage doing that...she will probably be the smallest one that they throw up in the air...you are going to play sports (fingers crossed)" It is usually REALLY hot, but this year wasn't as bad as the year's past. Mom must have a target on her back because I got asked 2 times from different people.."You look like a Mom who has everything...do you have..." We also bought you this really cute hat (that is the one thing Mom forgot, even though you usually pull them right off) and you actually wore it the whole time, and when you got home wanted to wear it and look in the mirror at yourself (your favorite thing to do). What a great way to spend the weekend.

The last picture just cracks me up of you. You look so tuckered out being so spoiled...and the only princess. I am so happy I had a little girl, because I get to dress you up in tutu's and tiaras, and cute hairbows and hats...but then also can dress you in cute pink camo and fishing gear like we did when we went to Friday Harbor. Frilly and Rugged, you can't do those with boys...

Daddy's Little Helper

2010-05-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Since the weather was so great today, we went and got the rest of the stuff for the garden. This year we are doing lettuce, corn, peas, peppers, jalepenos, potatoes, zuchini, pumpkins and strawberrys. Sage LOVES this time with her Daddy, watering the garden. This year she helped plant too. To top off the beautiful day we got the bikes out and ready and went for an evening ride!

Friday Harbor, San Juan Island & Mother's Day

2010-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sage's First Boat Ride on Uncle Andy's Boat

Watching T-Ball and Hanging with Alexandria

Playing on the Beach

Halibut

Not sure about taking a picture next

to a fish that is as big as she is...

I guess it is ok as long as Dad is there

and I keep my eye on it

2 Bald Eagles eating the remaining Halibut

on the beach in front of the house

Waiting for Dad to come back from fishing

Talking to Ma and Pa on the phone

Driving onto the Ferry

We went up to Friday Harbor to visit our family. Sage and I got to hang out with her cousin's Floyd and Alexandria and Auntie Carol, while the boys went out halibut fishing. We had a couple successful days and ended up with 4 halibut. Sage had such a good time with her cousins. She kept calling Floyd "BABY" and would say NO NO BABY, but then at the end of the trip learned how to share better. I was amazed at how many new words she learned this weekend...she is growing up before our eyes. She loved cuddling and hanging out with Alexandria too when she wasn't at school, and she cheered for her at her T-Ball game. Sage also got to go out on Uncle Andy's boat. We were very happy to see that she instantly had her sea legs and LOVED the boat. We lucked out with very beautiful weather and sunsets and got some really good pictures.

I woke up to a nice bouquet of tulips on Mother's Day and then got to go shopping at the Seattle Outlet Mall on the way home.

We had an amazing family vacation, but now back to reality and unpacking, I am thinking about leaving the bag packed for our next trip!

10 Things I Want to Remember, Things I Want You to Remember

2010-04-27T12:24:00.001-07:00

I wanted to do a post for you Sage of ten things I want to always remember, and the things I want you to remember as you grow up (which has been so fast lately). I am sure this will be the first of many posts like this:

The Things I Remember:
1. When your Daddy said "we have a daughter" and the look on his face after I asked who you looked like and he said "Me" with such a look of pride on his face, at that moment you were your Daddy's girl!
2. What an amazingly good baby you were, you slept through the night, never fussed, and even at 3 pounds 11 ounces didn't get your first cold until you were 2 and a half. Except you were an extremely picky eater, and like your mom liked fast food. I would secretly blend in vegitables into your pancakes just so you could eat them, and you never noticed because you loved your "Pan Pan's"
3. How whenever I was in the bathroom you would lay by the door and stick your fingers underneath and say "Are you ok Mommy"
4. How every morning, you would be in my face and say "Hi Mama" and I would say "Hi Sissy Bug"
5. How you remembered every movement of the movie Madagascar and would copy it.
6. How you would say Baggoooon everytime you saw a balloon.
7. How you would talk on the phone and say Hi to whoever you were talking to and then walk around with the phone making hand gestures whenever you would talk. You would somehow dial people without me knowing, I would walk around the corner and you had dialed Daddy and Ma..I still don't know how you did it...but you loved talking on the phone to Auntie A and Uncle Nick especially.
8. How everytime I would pull out of the driveway in the opposite direction of Pa and Ma's you would moan and cry and say...ahhhh Pa.
9. When I had the stomach flu you would come in and rub my back and say..okay Mama
10. When you were in time out you would babble and argue your case with your hands to why you should not be put in time out (Just like your Mommy). You have the makings of a good lawyer I think.
11. Your Pee Wee Herman laugh whenever you got so excited. Everyone would always chuckle at your laugh, it was so sweet.
12. When you would inhale the dandilion instead of blowing it out to make a wish.
13. How I would always ask if you wanted Milk or Juice and I think you thought it was one word because you would say I want "Milkajuice."
14. How Ma made you special water out of beans and you would always call it Bean Wa.
15. When ever anyone would toot, you'd say.."Pa go Boom" or whoever did it, "Sage go Boom" and you would cover your nose and laugh.
16. How you LOVED looking at yourself in the mirror or reflection, and would Belly laugh so hard when we would do the airplane with you.
17. How because you were the only neice, grandbaby, baby of friends you were so spoiled by everyone! All of Daddy's friends, your Uncles always say how sorry they feel for the boys you try and bring home someday, because they will not get past all of your Uncles!

Things I Want You to Remember:
1. Always take pride in who you are and where you came from and above all else in life, cherish your family and never lose sight of how important family is.
2. Never do things because you expect things in return, do them because it makes you feel good to help others. When you look for the reward of doing something, you lose sight of why you are doing them.
3. Never fight with your fists, always with your mouth and your brain. But never feel like you can't stand up for yourself, your family or anyone else who needs help. However, talk and act like a lady. Never use foul language or point out the flaws in others, honor their diversity.
4. It is absolutely not an option for you to NOT go to College. You can study whatever you choose but you WILL go to college, even if I have to drag you to class myself. And always proof read! And have someone else proof read. Ask questions because there is no such thing as a dumb question only if you chose not to ask it.
5. Like your mother, you will NOT get your ears pierced until you are 21 and get your first pair of diamond earrings from me or your Grandma. My Grandma gave me my first diamond earrings and they are the only ones I wear. You may think this is unfair and silly but I still value this fact and the holes in my ears to prove it. Also, I wish I would have listened to my mother and not died my hair...I had beautiful hair before I died it, now I wish i would have listened to my mother.
6. If you are debating which sport to play, my vote is Volleyball and Basketball, and if you are considering playing an instrument, I would be ok with the violin and piano.
7. Think for yourself and never let anyone ever tell you what you think is wrong. If you don't know the answer, ask or look it up. Argue your point with facts, be precise even if it is to me or a teacher etc. But be prepared also to be told you are wrong, and handle it with grace. And always respect that someone will have the opposite opinion as you, and sometimes, that doesn't make them wrong.
8. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS respect, listen, and value your elders. Learn from them. Value their opinions, beliefs etc, just as you would want them to value yours.
9. Never sit by while other people are doing the work, offer to help. Be polite and always be the bigger person. You may lose some battles but handle them with grace and learn a lesson from it.
10. You are going to get your heartbroken (or at least you think it is) and that it is the end of the world, but be strong in who you are, never settle, and the right person will be there when you least expect it, but I am not going to lie, there are going to be plenty of tears and bumps in the road, it is how you pick yourself up from them that matters. Never let anyone else define you, you define yourself...know what makes you happy first and foremost.
11. I know at times it will seem like we are being unfair, or that we don't know what we are talking about (I think every kid thinks that about their parents until they become one) but always remember that our only concern is for your health and happiness and as your parents our job is to take care of you and love you for the rest of our lives. I call you my "Golden Egg" because I can't have anymore kids, so if I am too fragile with you that is why. I will admit right now that we are helicopter parents, always hovering above you, but it is because you are our one shot, and we want all the best for you. Even if that means you disagree with us or get mad at us, we can get you therapy later...lol.
12. Trust is something that you earn! Once someone loses trust in you, they will always think the worst is going to happen. Make sure you live your life to be a truthful, honest, and honorable person. Love is a choice you have to make, you chose to love someone, and chose to do things to show that person that you love them. Love is a choice and not an emotion. Choose Love.
13. Be grateful and gracious to any gift you ever receive. Even if you already have one, it wasn't what you wanted, or you hate it, you always show appreciation in the fact that someone thought of you. There are people that don't have basic necessities, so do your part, no matter what in showing that you appreciate the gesture...hey you can always take it back later.
14. Don't be shocked when you go to date or go to dances etc. if your Daddy and Uncles are a little over protective of you, it is only because they love you!
15. Live everyday to the fullest, never limit yourself. If you don't succeed that is ok, because you can always try again...learn from your mistakes and fix them, don't look to others to tell you how to be happy, you need to decide that for yourself.
16. Don't just go through the motions of life and what is expected of you, carve out your own path, be your own person and always strive to be the best at everything you do.
17. Do not lie, unless it is necissary to protect someone else...however instead of lying, manipulate your words so they are not lies, but rather alternate truths for the better good. But never lie to us. If you feel like you can't come to us for anything please go to your grandparents, or Aunt Andrea or someone for help...and never be ashamed to ask for help.

I will do these posts often as I want you to have these in your book so we can look back on them one day.

Love,
Mama

Long Beach 2010

2010-04-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago we stayed in one of Mom and Dad's 3 bedroom condos. Katy and Mike and Gracie and Cole joined us and we had so much fun. The first day was pretty windy, but considering it was POURING down rain here, we got pretty lucky because it didn't rain on us too much. I walked about 300 yards from the rest of the group and noticed them all heading in. When I walked to the cars I said "I only have 9" and the rest of the group only had 1 or maybe 2, so I did pretty good that day. The next day, Mike got 4 limits in about 45 minutes. Dad, Jeramy and I drove up the beach and after we heard how well Mike did, we went out in front of the hotel. It took us a little it longer, and I was the last one to get my limit. We generally like digging near Ocean Shores, and don't ever really dig Long Beach. There is another tide with a big big minus (-1.8) so while Jeramy and his friends are shed hunting, I might go clamming. Jeramy bought me a cute pink gun, so I bought him a blue one. Sunday was beautiful and we actually dug in our t-shirts. The new Long Beach condos are beautiful (except for the part where Sage peed on the carpet.. lol ) and we had an ocean view, so thank you mom and dad!

Sage had a great time with Gracie and Cole, and always asks "where is Cole". I bought some high heeled rubber boots so Cole made me a purse pancake to go with them it was very cute! Can't wait to go again and to see everyone in July, We should make this an annual clamming trip!!

FootLoose and other Fun Stuff

2010-04-23T20:20:00.001-07:00

So we have been busy since our trip back from Long Beach where we went with myy parents and met up with Mike, Katy, Gracie and Cole. The first day we didn't do too well as the weatherh was pretty windy. I think me and my Uncle Dan got the most, while everyone else got 1 maybe 2. The next day Mike got 4 limits in under 45 minutes on a beautiful day! Since Jeramy bought me a pink gun, I got him a blue gun so now we have a his and her set. While we were down there Jeramy bought me a pair of high heels rubber boots, so my 6 year old nephew made me a pancake purse to go with my shoes. It turned out really good! He is a great little cook and helper.

Jeramy didn't have to work today so we went down to the farmers market and bought some green peppers, jalepenos and other peppers, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and we will get some more later. So while Jeramy tilled the garden, I was inside putting our new bedset together. I was so excited about this. For a king set, this is normally $250 but I got it for $39 and beause the bag was open I got them to give it to me for $30. It is so soft and looks really cute! While I was making the bed, our little girl put on her Obama shirt..way to go girl, she is a chip off the old block! After all of the shirts she could have picked she wanted that one..I was so proud! I got that shirt in Hawaii and he is giving the hang loose sign.

Finally, now that we are in for the evening, we decided to watch Foot Loose, so in honor of the movie, I busted out my old leg warmers. Wouldn't be an 80's movie without leg warmers!

Happy Friday Everyone!

How Sage Got Her Name

2010-04-22T14:36:00.001-07:00

We knew when we first got pregnant that we wanted to name our baby after important and influential people in our lives. I always use to say that I would have to know before hand if it was a boy or girl during the ultrasound, but when I was pregnant we saw the value of waiting until Sage was born. After all, it is the one true surprise you get in life and the only thing the Daddy gets to do, like when Jeramy went out into a packed waiting room to announce for the very first time that we have a daughter. In fact the doctor's let him announce the sex of the baby in the OR, and when he said we had a daughter, I said, "Are you sure" because for some reason both of us were convinced we were having a boy. In fact Dr Ali Lewis (who knew we were having a girl, but heard us calling the baby him) really wanted to deliver the baby so she could say "I told you so" but she had worked too many hours, so the Seahawks head coach, Mike Holmgren's daughter delivered us on a Seahawk Sunday near Husky Stadium. Dr Lewis did come find us in the NICU to rub it in a little bit. I can't imagine finding the sex out before hand, Jeramy was a little hesitant at first, but now tries to talk everyone into it because it was so special, so thank you to my cousin's who pioneered this road before me, because I would never trade it for the world. I have seen too many people who want a boy so bad that when the ultrasound says it is a girl they are disapointed. There is no way you are disapointed when you lay eyes on your baby for the first time. I always laugh when people say, "How do you plan and buy stuff" and I always say it is easy, just buy neutral colors, and that you'd be surprised how much pink floods in after you have the baby. Again, I wouldn't trade that moment for anything and will remember Jeramy's voice and face when he told us that we now had a daughter and that she looked like him, and the pictures of all the people in the waiting room on their toes waiting to hear, because unlike most hospitals that put pink or blue hats on the babies, Sage had a khaki colored one on with Green and Red ribbon for Christmas.
For some reason, and we had no real reason why, we thought we were going to have a boy, and because we wanted our names to be family related we came up with Jackson Lee Jernigan. Jack follows the J pattern on Jeramy's Side (Jim, Jimmy, Jeramy, Josh) and Lee is Jeramy's middle name as well as his dads. It also is the middle name of Andrea and last name of my nephews Marcus and Lucas so it served many purposes.

Here are the reasons and pictures of how we came up with Sage Donna Patricia Jernigan. For such a little girl, she really has a long name..lol

This little girl's name was Sage. About a month after we met we drove down to California with Jeramy's family to get on a Mexican Rivera cruise. This is where we met 4 year old Sage from California. One day she was sitting bellied up at the bar, so Jeramy went up and bought her a shirley temple with a cherry on top, and sattled up next to her at the bar. So for the rest of the trip whenever we would bump up to her she would scream..Jeramy, Jeramy and go run up to him and give him a giant hug. Her parents told us that she couldn't stop talking about him. It was very sweet. Since this trip was the moment when we realized that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together and that we loved each other so much, we said if we ever had a daughter we would name her Sage after this little girl, as a way to remember where we fell in love.

Donna, Sage's first middle name is after Jeramy's Dad's Mom, Donna Jernigan. She died of altztimers and diabetes when Jeramy was about 15 years old. Jeramy was very close to his grandma and would spend memorable 4th of July's, Christmas and Birthday's together with his Grandma Donna and Grandpa Jim who lived over on Century Ct in Olympia. Since Jeramy was their first grandkid, he was spoiled rotten. He still to this day loves Taffy Cookies and Ginger Snaps that she got him hooked on. She made such an impact on his life and she was so incredibly special to him that he had to have her name be apart of our daughter as a way to always remember her and honor her.

Patricia, is her second middle name after my Grandma, who died of cancer when I was about 22 years old. There are no words to explain what an impact she had on my life, even to this day. She taught me everything I know and instilled an important sense of family in me. I idolized and looked up to her for so much. There isn't anything she wouldn't do for her family. She was proud and supportive of us no matter what. I know she is always with me because when I was graduating from college and was crying because she wasn't there, I looked up at all of my family and the only light in the whole building was shining on them which told me she was there. 2 weeks after she died and my Aunt died and we had the funeral at the same place, I had a hard time going into the building, I attempted a few times and failed, and on my final attempt I walked in and her favorite song was playing telling me she was there with me ane it was going to be alright. When I was trying on my wedding dress and kept crying that I wished my Grandma was here, right when I found "the dress" the wedding march went on the radio when no music was playing before and Andrea told me, "see Grandma is telling you this is the dress" I cried so much I couldn't breathe. And when I walked out of the room when Jeramy's Grandpa died, there were Christmas stockings that were hung outside his room and one of them read Pat H, another sign telling me she was there with me and everything would be ok and that she was watching out for me and always with me. Finally, the birth of my daughter. With everything that could have gone wrong with my hard pregnancy...it didn't. Since neither one of us was willing to give up the names of the women who had made such an impact on us, our little 3 pound 11 ounce baby who was 16 inches long had a name that was bigger than she was. But even though her name is long, it is strong and filled with love from people who we miss grately, but are now with us everytime we look into our little girls eyes.
With love to our Grandma's, thank you for giving us such a beautiful little girl who reminds us everyday of the love and memories we have with you!

Great-Grandpa Holman

2010-04-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

I remember that when Sage was born some people said that she looked like Grandpa Jack. Infact, if Sage were born a boy, since we wanted to be surprised on the sex of the baby, her name was going to be Jack, middle name was going to be Lee (Dad and Grandpa Jernigan's, and Andrea's middle name, and Marcus and Lucas last name). For some reason we were certain we were having a boy, that one of our Doctor's who peeked on one of the ultrasounds and knew we were going to have a girl, would always chuckle when we would call Sage, Jack...now we know why.

This picture, Dad says was taken at Aunt Minnie's on the Hamersly Inlet. For as long as I can remember Aunt Minnie lived downstairs from my Grandma at her Carpenter Road house. Uncle Dave is on Grandpa's lap, Uncle Dan is in the middle, and my Dad is on my Grandma's lap.

He died when I was pretty young, so I don't have too many memories of him, but got to know alot about him when I went to go visit Aunt Marlene last (see story below).

Anyways, thought I would share this picture because I was looking at it today and thought that Sage does resemble my Grandpa a lot.

Who....Lil Ol Me?

2010-04-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last night we were just getting ready for bed when we got a knock at the door. That is strange because usually people come through the garage. When Jeramy answered there was a plain clothed guy around 23 asking for a Jerry (which is weird that the Sheriff sent a plain clothed guy in first with a weird name, when obviously they knew my name since it is on the phone bill) Then the Thurston County Sheriff walked up and said that they got a 911 call from our address and tried calling back but the line was busy. As I was standing there in my robe, Sage came bombing around the corner and the Sheriff laughed and said "That must be the culrpit...I should have guessed with all these toys" (we had just moved a couple of her big outside climbing toys into the living room)

Sage had apparently dialed 911, hung up, and then left the phone off the hook. Since she has lost every cordless phone we have, we only had 1 landline phone, until yesterday when I put one in our bedroom. I looked at the phone she disconnected and noticed it took 25 minutes before someone responded...hopefully if there is a real emergency they will get there faster than that, I guess I am thankful we didn't get fined etc. She has reprogramed my phone, bought ringtones, rebooted my computer. But last night was definatly a first! LOL

Today she has been running around the house SCREAMING "Aloha" which means she wants to watch the video that Uncle Saggagi put together of our Hawaii trip...guess I picked a good theme when I decorated her room in Hawaiian. Whenever she sees my Dad on the video she says..Thatsa my Pa..then runs to the door saying..I wanna see my Pa. I wonder if her name for my Dad isn't PA but MyPa.

She got her first cut yesterday when she fell on the concrete. It is the tiniest little thing you have ever seen, like a papercut, but both Jeramy and I FREAKED out. We immediatly got the neosporan cleaner out and foamed up her hand..then tried in vain to find a bandaid that would fit in that spot on her hand that she wouldn't take off...no such luck..

Finally, I think I have deemed Tuesdays.."Terrible Toddler Day", Sage decided to empty our silverware drawer yet again and when I told her No..she chucked 3 big spoons at my head and they hit me pretty hard from a pretty close distance since I was squatted down. She got in big trouble for that.
Oh the fun never ends!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone! Here is a picture of Sage and the Easter Bunny. That was a pretty interesting event. First she had the death grip on Jeramy before we put her on his lap. Then when she was on his lap she would go limp and slide down the bunny. The first few pictures were pretty funny because she was sliding down his lap. This one she is still trying to get away but it turned out pretty cute! She is wearing a cute little dress my mom got her, and we have a white pea coat from my Chicago Emo Katherine, so she looked like a little Jackie O.

She wasn't really too impressed with egg hunting yet. Until I put M&M's inside the eggs. This was the first time she has had chocolate or candy of any kind so she was pretty impressed! I will have to not give them to her and use them as rewards for potty training, which we need to get going on. She did ok at first but then she got scared of sitting on the big toilet and just screams, so I may have to find one of the portable ones, even though, I really don't want to clean them. She really likes sitting in front of a mirror and watching herself dance and do other things, so maybe I will get a mirror so she can watch herself...lol...Any other potty training ideas, if you have already tried the little seat on the adult potty and now she hates it? We would do it first thing in the morning or anytime she woke up and give her something to drink while we ran water and give her a sticker etc., and she was doing really good, now she won't even sit on it...so I guess I will try a portable one and see how that goes. I am kind of waiting for the weather to get nice so she can run around without a dipaer outside etc. I am not a big advocate of pull ups since they are like diapers, but I may try the ones that get cold if they get wet. We will see...she is still so little (20 pounds) that it is hard for her to get up on things even with a stool. Wish us luck, hopefully the M&M's will help!

What's New With Us!

2010-03-30T14:40:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say hello to everyone and give a quick update...nothing really going on. Pa got Sage her first big girl bed in an attempt to get her to sleep in her own room. Note to anyone who goes out to buy a mattress, really barter with them. My Dad got them to go from $1,400 to $500 for a Queen with a 10 year warranty. Everyone asks (even the delivery guys) why a 2 year old needs a queen size bed, and we say...well they don't come in Princess size and she gets anything she wants. So last night was our first night in the new bed...I laid in there with her and shut the door and she cried...I want my Daddy...I am pretty sure that Jeramy slept on the floor outside of her room. Her other Grandparents just got back from Australia and Disneyland and brought her this huge Mickey sourdough bread. We finally put Grandpa Cal's chair in the living room and she and Jeramy snuggle on it every night. Lami too. Sage thinks she can sit on Lami and ride her like a horse like she does with Toby, Lami is great, she puts up with it.

We all just got over a nasty cold over here. It was actually Sage's first cold and fever. She HATED the bubble gum medicine, and it was interesting trying to get her to take it...I finally just buckled down pinched her cheeks and clamped her mouth shut. When we went to the doctor she weighed 22 pounds on with clothes, a big jacket, heavy shoes and the nurses hand, so I am guessing she is still around 20 pounds. She may be small but let me tell you she had a BIG attitude! Whenever you try and tell her not to do something she says..."Mom" in a really condisending way and tries to reason her way out of it. I wonder where she learned that.

I went on my first trip away from her since she was born and went clam digging with Jeramy and some friends...but mainly I slept the whole time, I wasn't digging. Jeramy was so sweet he bought me my very own pink clam gun! I ended up out digging him both days, guess it was my new pink gun...lol...We are planning another trip in April to meet up with Katy and Mike like we did last year so that should be really fun!

The first picture of her is her new thing, running around with no shirt on. And she LOVES playing with Jeramy's bino's so he took 2 orange juice bottles and red duct tape and made her very own bino's, which she loves, she runs around the house saying...I see you.

To Sage from Daddy

2010-03-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Daddy's turn to tell you a few things about him like Mom did in your first Blog Book.....

1. Likes hiking near St. Helens in the mountains with his friends.
2. Likes to fish with friends and family.
3. Loves to spend time with family at the beach clam digging (even though mom can out dig him) 4. Even though mom didn't like too, Dad got her to camp because he loves it, and you were 7 months the first time you went.
5. Daddy use to race Moto-Cross, his number was 4. He can't wait to get you your first motorcycle with training wheels.
6. Hates computers, and is yelling at mommy now for making him do this.
7. Has a green thumb in the garden and has the best green peppers!
8. Had to go to Disneyland every summer with your Grandma and Grandpa, liked Space Mountain...Mommy and Daddy went with everyone when we first met, but Mom doesn't like rides and she held all the purses.
9. Everybody calls Daddy, Junior because he works with his Dad...but your cousins call him Uncle Norris from the night Avery was born.
10. Favorite ice cream is chocolate chip mint.
11. Right now Daddy has 10 tattoos including your foot prints from when you were a baby, Mommy's name and Mommy's name in Korean on his ring finger.
12. First concert he ever went to was New Kids on the Block, Mommy's first concert was No Doubt and Weezer.
13. Use to play roller hockey.
14. Was the guy who put out the speed cones at Skateland, Mommy can't skate and after seeing Daddy skate for the first time realized..."I married the speed cone guy"
15. One of Daddy's best friends Robert, who Mommy went to school with, introduced us because Robert and Mommy were neighbors.
16. Has gone to Tahsis 2 times with Andy and the Holmans.
17. Has built scaffolding for 11 years.
18. Loves getting our "group hugs" from wife and daughter.
19. Toby is very much Mommy's dog, while Lami who is very obnoxious is Daddy's dog, even though he will tell you otherwise.
20. Went to Lydia Hawk Elementary, Tumwater Middle and High School.
21. Got a Fish Craft drift boat shortly after meeting Mommy, and you loved going to play in the boat. We also have a jet sled that we have never used since we bought it.
22. Mommy and Daddy's first house was on 58th Ct near our current house on Alder Glen Drive. 23. Daddy's first car was a tan Chevy Monza, who he got from Uncle Dusty's Grandpa.
24. Favorite food is elk backstrap, which Mommy hates!
25. Favorite color are blue and green (the color of your and Daddy's eyes).
26. Has been friends with Uncle Dusty for 24 years, they met when they were 6 years old when they were neighbors on the East Side.
27. Kareoked "Family Tradition" at our reception.
28. Daddy's middle name is Lee, like his Dad...and his first name starts with a J like his Dad and Grandpa Jernigan.
29. Wanted to find out the sex of the baby, but was really glad we didn't so that Daddy could tell everyone in the waiting room It's A Girl!
30. Shot a porcupine in Shelton and it is stuffed in our garage.
31. Played the trumpet in the 5th grade, while Mommy played the violin.
32. Won $5,000 in the largest black mouth tournament in the world with Uncle Andy and Uncle James.
33. The first year Daddy and Mommy were together he shot a 4x6 on Mom's birthday.
34. You got your Daddy's adventourus spirit, and are a dare devil, where Mom is a sissy.
35. Daddy was always worried about you choking on stuff and took 2 Infant CPR classes, and always insisted we have a nose bulb thing with us incase you choked, and gave you the hymlic last Christmas. Everyone was always impressed with how hands on Daddy was. He fed you first, changed you first, and gave you your first bath, because Mommy couldn't because of her c-section and you being in the NICU.
36. Is really good buddies with Uncle Dan, and is on the phone with him right now, and he went clam digging with us a few weekends ago. Daddy fit right in with Mom's family who also bow hunted and loved to fish.
37. Played football for the Lacey Sirens when he was little.
38. Mommy and Daddy called you Peanut, and Sis.
39. Daddy's first job was at Skateland.
40. His favorite cereal is Life Cereal.
41. If he could live anywhere in the world it would be in Alaska, while Mommy prefers Hawaii.
42. Your middle name is Donna after Daddy's Grandma Donna Jernigan who he was very close to.
43. Loves to play in the snow, especially the hill at Lydia Hawk. He can't wait to take you sledding when you are bigger!
44. You and Daddy sleep in the master bedroom, because Mommy can't sleep through all of your kicking and moving, so she got kicked out to the guest room.
45. Likes to feed the squirels and watch Lami try to get them..he use to have a pet squirel when he was little.
46. His first dog's name was Spotty, who was a chihuaha.
47. Favorite pizza is a Meat Lovers Pizza.
48. Was the only Daddy at the meeting Mommy had to go to when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in a room full of pregnant women. When we got home, Daddy made little snack packs for Mommy and you that we could eat. He would count out the exact amount of chips etc and put them in baggies so we could eat them.
49. Daddy never thought he wanted to be married or have kids, but now that he is, he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
50. Always says to Mommy every day, "Have I told you how much I love you today." Without fail, every day he says it to Mommy for as long as we have been together.

A Weekend to Remember in Prosser

2010-03-10T22:48:00.000-08:00

This last weekend since Jeramy was going fishing with buddies on the Grande Ronde River, I got the chance to spend some time with my cousins East of the mountains. First stop was to Katy's where not only her 4 kids were there, but Emily's 3...soon to be 4 (as she was in Las Vegas) and my 1. So 8 kids in total. I do not know how Katy did it all week...what a stud..I almost broke down the couple of times that I was left alone with them for short periods of time.

After Katy's I got a chance to go visit my Aunt Marlene who is my Grandma's sister and learn more about my grandma that I never thought to ask when she was alive. Such as where she was born...Pacific Beach and that Aunt Marlene was the only one who wasn't born at home. That she went to Olympia Highschool until she dropped out to go work for the telephone company, I learned about her 2 best friends, Dorothy Darcunans and Ruth Jackson, who took her to a dance where she met my Grandpa, He had just returned from the war and recovery from an injury he sustained in his hand. So he went out and bought a fancy suit, but then got in a fight at the dance either over Grandma or about his hand...at any rate Grandma ended up taking him home lol. My Grandma would always tease Aunt Marlene when she was little and upset by saying "Rip A Tip A Now" and would occassionally do so as adults because they were so close. I learned out of all of my Grandma's siblings there were 3 that went by their middle names, Albert "Gene", Helen "Patricia" and Alice "Marlene." And Uncle Buster got his first name because when he was born he didn't cry and the doctor patted him on the butt and said, "come on Buster cry," Grandpa Duncan use to call Thelma "Bill" most likely from his desire to have a boy and his friend Bill. She later drown whe she was only 13. The family moved around alot but Duncan Eddy still holds the world record for the amount of shingles sawed in an 8 hour period..that has still not broken to this day.

It was just really nice to spend this time with Aunt Marlene and learn about not only her and Uncle Roy as well as numerous questions I never thought to ask about my grandma until it was too late.. It dawned on me that I didn't know much about my Grandma until it was too late, so I am fortunate to get a front row seat to the show.

I would encourage all of you to find out as much as you can about the people you care about so that someday you can pass those memories off to the ones you love.

I was so busy this weekend I didn't think to take any pictures, hopefully Auntie Katy took some she can send. But here are some pictures of pictures with my Grandma in them.

Let's see other than that things are going great. Jeramy is working more, and Sage is trying to work us over more, and for the most part getting away with it. It is really hard sometimes to keep a straigh face when she argues with you when she is in trouble. Also, when she was little I was so OCD about anti bacterializing everythingn she would touch...even public toys such as at Chuck E Cheese, I'd always always wash her hand with the countless hand sanitizer I would have on me...never EVER let anything go in her mouth...now, not so much :o) I guess we are all growing up....now I just need to reclaim my spot in my bedroom from her because she (and he) likes to cuddle with his daddy.

Enjoying the Sunshine

2010-02-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

While the sun made a brief apperance, even though it was freezing, we decided to take advantage. First we went to Skateland with Jeramy's family (Uncle Sean, Cousins Andrew, Tessa, Alex, Anessa and Great Grandma Yvonne) Sage loves going around in her stroller with her Dad, as Mom refuses to put skates on. Sage also put on her first pair of skates...they were so tiny...she is a much better skater than her Mom!! She didn't want anyone to help her.

Pa and Ma and us went to the zoo. It was so much fun...Sage LOVED the walrus' and did her Pee Wee Herman laugh whenever they would surface. She hated the octopus, but who blames her, those things are gross.

Then on Sunday, Jeramy took us up to Mt St. Helens. Along the way we stopped at resturants we haven't gone to for breakfast and lunch which was fun. Sage spotted a playground while we were there and had so much fun going down the slide, it was hard to get her to leave the slide and Jeramy away from the bino's looking at the hundreds of elk in the valley. On the way out we stopped at one of the center's and enjoyed the view. I have to laugh at Sage in our new Ergo on Jeramy's back...she looked like a frog stuck on his back.

All in all a GREAT weekend, now comes the rain, so we can't wait for summer to be here for good! This weekend we are off to the beach for the clam tides!

Winter Olympics 2010

2010-02-12T19:21:00.001-08:00

Now that I am doing these posts as a tangible thing for Sage to have when she grows up, I want her to have as much information as possible.

My dad got her this Vancover Olympics hat when he was up there for work. We are about to watch the opening games. I have been lucky enough to see 2 Olympic Stadiums in the world in Seoul Korea and Barcelona Spain, I look forward to taking Sage to see her first Olympic Stadium in Canada someday. I think I heard that Canada has never won a winter medal before and just heard that there are more people in California than in all of Canada, and that 90% of their population is next to the American border. Although it is off to a bad start with the death of a 21 year old luge'er from the country of Georgia, during practice. There has been much speculation on this course as being the fastest in the world with dangerously steep turns that many deemed as unsafe and questions were even raised before training even began...the last death at a Winter Olympics was in 1992..even the gold medal favorite has crashed during training..many are saying they are being treated as crash test dummies. On the bright side we are realizing how many Olympian's are from Washington and think it is pretty cool. And that Apollo Ono could become the winningest Winter Olympics medalist if he gets 2 medals on the speed skating short track. One to tie, two to hold the record. Plus he won the discoball trophy on Dancing With the Stars, and I believe he is also from Washington. So that is pretty neat!

Sage's vocabulary has been growing so much every day. She is doing her ABC's and will try and say any word you ask her to. She put her shoes on today for the first time. She is becoming quite the helper with giving the dogs their dog food and 9 o'clock treats, helping me with laundry (well taking out the folded laundry I put in the basket) and the dishes (well taking the spoons out of the drawer after I unload the dishwasher and hides them in various places around the house like my pillow case). She is funny too...she has this PeeWee Herman laugh that is hilarious, I will get a post up of a video of her doing that. She is constantly asking questions.."What's That?" and is very inquisitive. You can't really read a book to her, because she grabs it from you and starts reading aloud to herself. She loves going to the park, and I can finally sit on the bench and just let her go, because she climbs up and slides down all by herself...but she cries and cries when she has to come home. We really need to get her in some children's groups as she does not like the gym anymore and cries the whole time, and is very clingy when we go to the Children's Museum. We are still working on getting her into her own room, potty training, and ditching the pacifier...I was so happy to find extras of her favorite blanket at an outlet mall that I bought every one they had so I could substitute while I wash one, and save some if she uses them for a while, even though we tried really hard for her not to have a security item. And of course like every 2 year old, really tests us lately and spends alot of time on her time out turtle. But we are having fun! You really realize how fast all of this goes, I can't believe how big she is getting and how fast is has gone by. I need to remember to blog all of these things so she (and we) can look back and see how far she has come. My friend has a really sick child and knock on wood, and praise God that we have been so lucky so far because I think it is going to be so hard on me that I will probably fall to pieces, but then I think, we made it through the NICU, and bringing home a baby that weighed less than 4 pounds...and like my cousins have told me, the challenges don't end with age, they just change...I can't wait...but Jeramy and I are the very definition of a Helicopter Parent, who constantly hover over her...I call her my Golden Egg since we can't have any more kids, and we fought so hard to get her here safely...that of course we are HUGELY overprotective. Even though when she was a baby we didn't let her out of the house for 2 months, selective people could see her, and we were compulsive on hand sanitizer when she was so small, but now, I saw her sucking on her shoe, eating stuff off the ground, playing in dog food and I am now like...ehhh...but I still issued a shellfish warning the other night and sent her with benedryl, and every other medicine we had like incase she skinned her knee, got stung by a bee, needed mosquito repellant, had tooth or stomach pain. LOL

TuTu

2010-02-04T10:43:00.001-08:00

Today we played dress up, and unlike my husband's camo print request, Mommy dressed her in her little tutu. When she had it on she went flying towards the mirror to say "Side to Side" and twirled. She really likes looking at herself in the mirror lol...

Then in the last picture I asked her to show me "The Face" and here it is...she scrunches up her little face and lips...and lately she will do the face and cross her arms across her chest in a grand gesture that starts above her head and then slams into her chest and says "Hmpp". Some times a big, "NOOOOOOO" comes out...Boy are we in trouble or what? Timeout Turtle has been getting alot of use these days...I dont' know where she gets this from (wink wink).

Lazy Dayz With The Jernigans

2010-02-03T15:08:00.000-08:00

Today was a very lazy day at the Jernigan household (for some)...and tho I thought she was done taking naps, Daddy came to the rescue and got her to sleep. He has always been great at getting her to go to sleep...me not so much...I took advantage of Jeramy and Sage falling asleep before 9pm and got a bunch of stuff done, so much that I forgot to go to bed! Then I utilized Jeramy being home to catch up on everything while he entertained her. My washer and dryer have not stopped since yesterday morning. Still have not gone to bed yet, but Jeramy keeps laughing at me as I type this saying "your eyes aren't even open" Lol...between not sleeping since Monday night, and doing a marathon laundry, housecleaning sprint while I had someone to help with Sage...I am officially exhausted,

By the looks of it so are Lami and Sage...Lami always has to be right next too Sage no matter where she is, she has always been like that, and it is very sweet. Also, in the mornings Sage's new thing is running back and forth yelling "Mom and Dad" and giving us great big hugs on our legs...Then she gives great big bear hugs to Toby and her buddy Lami..

Ok I am off to take a nap!

Greetings from my sick bed

2010-01-27T10:16:00.001-08:00

Sage after eating her lunch

Jeramy went back to work a couple of weeks ago, which has taken us a bit to get back into our grove. So needless to say the timing of my illness wasn't the greatest. The back of my throat was all white and I was sick and felt like my brain was floating...yuck...Jeramy luckily didn't have work yesterday so I have been quarintined in the sick room all weekend. He didn't make it without any fun though...he made me this happy face lunch for me...what a sweetheart!

Other than that, just being a stay at home mom to a very fiesty 2 year old. They weren't kidding when they say a switch goes off at 2. Any other ages I should be aware of?

Also, I sent away to make my blog posts into a book (thank you Julie and blog2print.com). I took all of my posts and hardbound it like a yearbook. There are over 100 pages and I think it only cost me around $87. It is going to be such a great thing for Sage to have when she grows up, or we are not around. I plan on doing it every year. You should check it out. You never know how long this blog thing will be up for, and I wanted to make sure I had a hard copy.

2 Years Old!

2010-01-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe our baby girl is now 2 (well not really as we are experiences the terrible two's)! Harder yet to belive is that at her UW appointment and Dr's Apointment she weighed 21 pounds with a diaper on, So she finally passed the 20 pound mark! Everything went well. Of course she is not on the percentile charts for her weight, but is in the 50% percentile for height (can't complain for being tall and skinny) and has a bigger head and feet than most premies. During the psychologicall evaluation, she passed all of the tests and exceeded some as well. She just needs to work on her verbs. I was surprised, she even hugged the doctor...I think the doctor was taken aback as she said "no kid has ever hugged me before." After that we got special attention!

But probably the biggest milestone she has mastered is that she went to the bathroom 3 times on her big potty! If you would have told me 5 years ago this news would excite me beyond anything else you could have told me, I wouldn't have believed you, but no words can explain the way you feel. (sorry to my non-parent friends as I know we talk about poop and pee alot lol)

She cried the ENTIRE time during this shoot. We brought the bearsskin rug and sheds, and of course Mommy had to throw in a tutu, but I kept telling the photographer to keep shooting, if she was crying that is ok because we wanted to capture the 2 year old moment and I think we got it!

Christmas, Birthday's and Some Pretty Ugly Sweaters

2010-01-04T20:58:00.000-08:00

The spoiled 20 pound Birthday Girl

Her train village set from Halmoni and Paw;
She also wanted lots of tonka dump trucks
but no dolls...hmm

My Girls and our Memorable Poses from THS
and this year's sweater competiton

All of the ugly sweaters and all of the good

sports who played along..and the winner was

Uncle Nick, with Auntie Malea a close 2nd. Auntie Jessica

bought Sage her first purse, which ironically

matched her sweater perfectly!

Sage on her podeum, being Little Miss Priss

Chuck E Cheese aint got nothing on our living

room!

Sage waiting for her guests to arrive, eating her

favorite...PIZZA

So since Sage's birthday is on Dec 30th we really had a marathon Christmas and Birthday Parties for her...We did 4 different houses for Christmas and then turned around and hosted another 3 birthday parties for Sage. She LOVED all of the gifts from everyone, but I am sure she got a little overwhelmed with all of her great gifts! She even got up during opening presents and stood up on the table and shh'd the kids, and then half way through she decided to enjoy a movie in her room..lol.. One of her favorite gifts was the trainset my parents got for her on it's own table and it is like a village, she spends hours in there playing with that. So I am going to do a half birthday in the summer maybe the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of June every year (if it doesn't interrupt Sturgeon season) so that we can space it out, and have a BBQ or something and enjoy being outside, and going to the park by our house or our backyard. Plus with the dates set for the same week every year, hopefully it will provide a good excuse to get together with family I don't usually get to see during the holiday's because of the weather and Mountain Pass. Also, fitting 35 people including 15 kids was a little much in our house the way it is laid out, plus all of the toys, it made it seem like Chuck E Cheese. Aside from our usual Christmas stops, we also hosted 2 different birthday's for her. The one at our house was Dora for the kids, and ugly Christmas sweaters for the adults! Everyone was such a good sport and Uncle Nick won the award with his disasterous sweater that came with finger warmers...it honestly looked better inside out...lol. I have been lucky enough to have the same core of girlfriends since elementary, middle and high school, and I can always count on them to participate in themed parties. I actually dug out a bunch of our old highschool dance pictures and we recreated one with our most embarassing poses...such as underware showing, tounge out, and Jessica and my favorite slumpy big butt picture...LOL. We get togetether alot for girlsnights and now husband and kids nights, which is always fun!

All in all we had a wonderful holiday/birthday season with family and friends. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives and knowing that you love our daughter so much. Incase we didn't get a chance to thank everyone for all of their great gifts, we really appreciate them and you all. One thing we learned to tell "Santa" next year is to assemble before hand out of the box so you can deal with all of the annoying twistie ties, or the plastic that you need a chainsaw to get through, and to make sure we have all of the necissary batteries!

Hope you and your families had a wonderful holiday season, I can't believe our baby girl is 2 (well I get reminders when she throws a fit or does her "terrible twos" outbursts. lol). I will post some more pictures soon!

For (Great) Grandpa

2009-12-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Jeramy's Grandpa, who had been an Olympia Fireman for 30 years, passed away surrounded by family. The night before he died the Christmas Santa Firetruck passed our house and we were able to show Grandpa the video which he loved. This is also a video of them at the zoo a few years ago, and of Jeramy, Sage, and his Mom and Dad putting up ornaments. When I walked out of the room at the hospital I saw a stocking that said Pat H (my Grandma). It is the signs, the firetruck, the stocking, that lets us know they are always with us. We love you!!

Potty Time!

2009-12-16T11:53:00.001-08:00

This is what I found while stumbling into the kitchen. While we have not officially started potty training yet as we are still tring to win the crib wars, we moved her potty seat into the livingroom or kitchen so she can sit on it and get use to it with no pressure. Guess this is her idea of using the potty!

Santa from Cabelas and THE FACE

2009-12-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

So of course we did our Santa pictures at Cabelas again this year. I was a little fearful going in that Sage would freak out, but her and Santa bonded over their matching outfits and she did great, no tears or anything. In fact she kept going back to talk to him while we were waiting for our picture. Here is a picture of her dress and hat that my mom got her, as well as her Seahawks cheerleading outfit that she wears on Sundays, because we all know they could use the help. She wore her Husky's cheerleading outfit (because you know she is a born Husky) during Apple Cup and to all of my Cougar friends and family, we all know that that did the trick...lol

Also, lately she has been doing this thing we call "the face" it is SO funny and if you ask her to do the face she will do it to anyone. Last night she had the nurses laughing. It really is super funny, I think we are in trouble. lol

Thanks to everyone for their prayers for Gpa Cal..he is out of ICU and on a hospital floor now. He is a stubborn old man and I think that is what keeps getting him through...now we just have to work on shutting him up so he keeps his oxygen levels down. He is such a proud grandpa, great grandpa and dad that he wants to tell anyone who will listen how great his family is. I am just glad he is out of the ICU and Sage finally got to see him, she was in her santa suit so I think it made him happy!

Future CEO

2009-12-06T22:21:00.000-08:00

"What do you need now? Can't you see I am busy"

"No No No, that isn't how you do it"

"UGG I will just do it myself!"

These pictures crack me up...she brought her little laptop and play phone to her table and was talking on the phone while playing with the mouse and computer like she was working. She was very animated at whom ever she was talking to, and aparantly was late for a meeting since the last picture she looks pretty aggitated, or the phone call didn't go the way she wanted it to. Look out for Sage Super CEO someday! She means business!

Oh Christmas Tree

2009-12-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

So instead of a real tree we have 2 fake ones. The one I had in the hospital when I had her and another one. On this tree we only have meaningful ornaments that we have made a tradition to buy each year, such as, happy engagement, wedding, bought our first house, expectant parent, baby's first Christmas etc. MOST IMPORTANT ORNAMENT IS THE HUSKY FOOTBALL!!Plus the angel from Grandma's tree. We also have 2 hunting shacks that light up to go with some of our hunting and fishing ornaments. The black blanket is the blanket Grandma knitted me right before she died. We also have our stockings hung on an Elk Rack lol...

We installed a security camera in this room so when we are in the other room we can see her, and put the other wireless camera in her room since we are making her sleep in her own room. Today was hard, she cried for 2 straight hours. Also, at the gym I only got a 30 minute workout (which is the most I have gotten) because Lil Miss Sage was crying and didn't want to play with the 12 other kids exactly her age....so I sat in there for 30 minutes to make her comfortable and I noticed she played all by herself. I don't want her to get the only child syndrome and cry when I take her to preschool and kindergarden, so we are going to go to the gym everyday even if I have to hide in the room and not work out. Wish us luck

Bah Hum Bug

2009-12-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

So anyone that has been to our house knows that there are about 30 dead antlers and mounts from deer and moose in our garage. Once you step inside there are 3 European mount Elk and a TON of elk an deer sheds...then when you step out our back porch there are about 10 European buck mounts. Aside from our 2 boats on the side of the house, it looks like a bunch of savages live here.

So naturally our outside Christmas lights had to reflect our inside decor. So we have this Gigantic blow up hunter holding a rifle and 3 deer. Jeramy wanted to put a pool of blood down, but I put a river and water down. It actuallity it looks pretty cool. So as long as we don't have PETA breathing down our neck, we should be fine...lol..except when we have to put it all away, which is one of the reasons I didn't want to do it.

As for inside...I would rather get a fake tree that you just pull out of the box...so this is our tree...this is the one Andrea got me when we were in the hospital waiting for Sage. I suppose when she is a little bigger and won't bother the tree we will get a real one like Jeramy wants. As for me, I am happy to pull one out of the box. As for now, this is the only decoration inside.

I got my Christmas cards in the mail and aside from hanging stockings and doing minimul shopping I am DONE!!

More Hawaii Pictures

2009-11-15T23:43:00.000-08:00

My cousins Eugene and Jinny surfing

Daddy trying to get Sage to like the beach

International Market, where they put a bird

on Jeramy's head which Sage thought was coo

Sage finally warming up to the beach with me

Grandma, and Emo Sunny

Here are a couple more pictures from our trip. I also included a picture of Jeramy's new tattoo. He got my name in Korean on his wedding ring finger, now that is love! He already has my name branded down his arm, but at least now this way he can't lose his wedding ring. He also got a cutplug done on his arm too. And I found this picture of me and my grandma so I put it into Sage's scrapbook to show her who she is named after....this is my favorite picture of her, I miss her a whole bunch!

Hawaii Part 1, More to Come!

2009-11-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sage passed out after a long day!

Sorry it has taken me so long to do a blog, we have been kind of busy. Right after our Hawaii trip we have all of Jeramy's family here. We had a blast in Hawaii. Jeramy who was a little bahhumbug at first loved it and said he would go back. His favorite part was the snorkling, and him and my cousin Eugene rented mopeds, we went to a luau, and he went fishing twice in one day. Sage did not like the beach at first which was surprising, but after a while she figured out the sand and made a mess. Thank god for my parents because Jeramy and I were able to swim way out into the ocean, the funny part was trying to get back...I kept saying, "Am I moving" Unfotunately Sage did not like the Luau either, but it started really late and she never assimilated to Hawaii time. It was hard organizing 16 people, but I just woke up early and laid in the sun while everyone was still sleeping and got a great tan, and that is all I wanted. Sage got to go to the aquarium with my mom and dad and she loved it. She did great on the ride there, but on the way back for about 3 hours was a bit antsy, but all in all she did great. Poor Poor Uncle Sagagi, dislocated his knee on stage at Germane's Luau in a coconut bra and grass skirt, and while being wheeled off stage, rubbed his cocunuts...I think he won...lol...I will post LOTS more pictures once I have more time as we have a bunch of Jeramy's family here now too!

Pumpkins,Perry's, and Potty's

2009-10-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Jeramy carved the big pumpkin, while I opted to spray paint the little pumpkin with silver spray paint and use my scrapbooking stuff to decorate. Sage didn't seem too interested. We got her a spider outfit for Halloween and she wore it to the beach when we went Razor Clam digging and everyone loved her and called her spider girl all weekend and she soaked up the attention. Speaking of soaked, Friday we got drenched and after about an hour got all of our limits. Our friends Joey and Michaela and their kids were there too, and Uncle Dan and Uncle Dave and Aunt Donna. Dan got his limit that day in like 28 minutes. The next day was better weather and a bigger tide so I was able to dig my limit in like 7 minutes, which I am now regretting. After a surgery like mine, clam digging probably wasn't the best idea, but my dad got 120 of his favorite Razor Clams.

Before we left, we went up to visit the newest member to Robert and Emily's family, little baby Ayla. Superstar Emily had straight contractions for a few days and delivered a beautiful baby girl naturally. At first I thought she looked like Robert, but then I see Emily in her. Robert was such a proud Papa, and we even got to witness his first diaper change. Jeramy was giving him pointers, it was pretty cute. They have been so great to us Robert is the one who introduced us and they even flew to Las Vegas for our wedding and visited Sage in the NICU. They even got us the outfit we took Sage home from the hospital in. We can't wait to get the girls together and I am sure Robert and Jeramy will take their girls hiking and fishing, claming and all of it. I think every daddy needs a little girl.

Finally, we are going to start potty training after Hawaii in a couple of weeks, but I thought this was a funny picture of Sage sitting on her potty seat reading a magazine.

Hunter's Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-10T15:00:00.001-07:00

We went on our annual pumpkin patch trip with our dear friends Michaela and Joey and their kids Benjamin and Annika. Sage was actually big enough to go on some rides this year so she went down the slide with her mom and dad, and went on the train with Ben which was so cute. She also went down the kids slide by herself, even tough she went all cadywompus, mom caught her and she said WEE the whole time. She also shared her wagon with Annika which the girls loved! We let her pick her pumpkin out and I don't know if you can hear in the picture her grunting to try and lift them up but it was pretty funny. We went the weekend before with my parents just to ride the ponies and go down the slide that she loves...what a lucky girl. We have so much fun with our friends, I am glad we have made this a tradition...I think this was the 3rd year we went!!

Next weekend fishing and razor clam digging and I think Joey and Michaela and the kids are coming too.

Here is last year's post Attacked by elk, pumpkins and more

Pudding and Potatoes

2009-10-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

Oh boy the pudding...ya, we just decided to let her go at it and clean it up at the end. Why do all Kid Cuisines have pudding in them? At least I thought about taking her shirt off first. LOL...what a mess, but at least it was fun, and DIRECTLY into the bathtub she went, where she soaked Jeramy with water so bad he had to change too!

Finally a picture of Sage and her Dad in their garden plucking potatoes. She sure loves to garden.

Anniversary and New EASY recipies

2009-10-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jeramy and I both woke up totally unaware that today was our anniversary until we both said..."Wait...is today the first." We both laughed and said Happy Anniversary and the I love you's and the I Can't believe we've been married for 3 years already.' On the big agenda today was grocery shopping and I said I thought paper was the customary 3rd anniversary gift so we could just have them put it in paper bags instead of plastic...lol....

Also tried out a couple of quick new recipies I thought you other mom's might enjoy because they are SO easy.

First is TACO MACORONNI

-Make 2 boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese

-Ground Beef, add taco seasoning

-Add on can of Rotell to beef

-Combine with Mac and Cheese

Second, CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST

-Combine eggs, chocolate milk, a dash of vanilla extract and some cinnamon

-Coat wheat bread in mixture and make in skillet like french toast

-At the end sprinkle more cinnamon and cocoa on

(I used the left over eggs and made chocolate cinnamon scrambled eggs Sage seemed to enjoy)

Puyallup Fair

2009-09-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

We went to the Puyallup Fair yesterday and had a blast! Sage went down the giagantic slide with her dad and the video cracks me up, she is spread eagle and then the picture afterwards, she wanted to go again. And of course we had to go on the pony rides, and Jeramy being the great dad he is walked with her, but she loved it. In the video she keeps saying WEEE. The whole time we were there she was laughing like Pee Wee Herman because she was so excited at everything to look at. She loved the ducks and hated the clidesdale butts, but who can blame her those things are huge! It was a little hard on me doing all that walking, but the best part about it was watching the Mutton Busting. There were 3 year olds holding on for dear life on these lambs. I was belly laughing and crying so hard, we had to leave soon after that because my stomach from my surgery hurt so much from the walking and lauging. Jeramy is so excited for next year for her to do it, I on the other hand am not so sure. Joey and Avery and Ethan and Hayden would kick butt, any kid can sign up no matter what. Doesn't Liam do this? He might be the pro Mutton Buster! Jeramy wants to strap Sage onto our big lab Toby for practice..lol

On our way home we stopped at our dear friend Joey and Michaela's house to visit with them and thier kids Annika and Ben. We haven't seen them in a while, but we always go to the pumpkin patch every year and sometimes to the Zoo and North West Trek. Jeramy and Joey want to go to NW Trek because the elk are in rut (not for the kids..lol) It is fun having traditions with great friends. Speaking of great friends, we are having a dinner that was once called girls night but since most of us are married with kids, the guys wanted a new name, so I guess reunion night at my friend Kerry's house, we have been friends since 4th grade, so I am looking forward to spending time with my friends this weekend too.,

Group Hug

2009-09-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

Group Hug, her new favorite thing

He still owes mem that diaper change so I

Made him a melted baby ruth one

So in an effort to get back in shape, my parents bought me a new bike and trailer to haul Sage around and she loves it!

Her new favorite thing is to smush our faces together in a "group hug" and she just laughs and laughs and laughs, and then we kiss her and she just thinks it is hysterical.

As you see my birthday hat is now on Scott's head as we celebrated his brithday. We got him a Hawaiian survival kit including water wings, aloe for his inevitable sun burn, little mermaid sun block, snorkle, and 2 Hawaiian shirts and a Corona in a Corona bag. And since he still owes me a diaper change, every year on his birthday I give him a poopy chocolate diaper with a warning, "The older they get the worse it gets" Fun Fun Fun

www.blog2print.com

2009-09-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

I have always said, I wish there was a way to capture this information for Sage so she can read it when she grows up, because by all accounts it is a chronological account of her life with pictures. Then I saw that a friend of mine who is married to Chris who I went to college with and is soon to deliver baby number 3, so she will have 3 boys under the age of 3 I think it was.
Anyways, there is this thing called www.blog2print.com where you can create a book of your blog in soft back or hardback. I think it is like 24.95 for a hardback and the first 20 pages and 32 cents after that. You can choose to do different posts or all of them.
I am so excited about this and I plan on doing a hardcopy of every blog after we come back from Hawaii and her 2nd birthday and then every year after that, so Sage has a great collection of her life!
Thought I would share, hope everyone is well. I am doing much better and actually bought a bike trailer and have been taking Sage on bike rides which she loves!!

Well this is what 30 feels like huh??

2009-09-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

Avery smushing Sage's cheeks for a kiss

Sage in her party dress and hat with my mom

Scott and Mal in his um...kangaroo pouch

Auntie A and Avery

Layla loved Marcus

While Avery loved Lucas

Lucas looks a little scared

Getting the hang of it

After getting pestered all night about when they

were going to have babies from Scott......

Becareful what you wish for....

It just might come true

As I lay here watching the clock tick until I am officially 30, I find myself grateful for my wonderful family. I mean how many people out there have family who would pick up and drive 4 hours with a 2.5 year old and (2) 8 month old twins to come and take care of me, my house and my daughter for a week? I am so extremely grateful to my cousin Emily who has been taking care of me this week while Jeramy has been gone. Thank you Em from the bottom of my heart!

She got to celebrate my birthday dinner tonight. Everyone had a great time getting their hands on all of the kids, which we aren't use to over here! Scott has been pestering Marcus and Lucas for grandkids, and I think he got a taste of what it is going to be like...lol...(notice commentary above). Thank you everyone for giving me a great bday and to my mom and dad for the yummy dinner!

Surgery Update Sage's 19 Month Update

2009-08-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Talk Alot (Above) Andy and Floyd (Below)

Before I get into everything with my surgery I just wanted to tell you about Sage's 19 month well baby visit and share a gabber jaw video of Sage (she is so takative) She still is only 20 pounds..lol...still not on the %ile chart, but she is in the 50th percentile for her height and head. And the doctor said she has huge feet, so it looks like she got the curse of the big feet like her mommy and my grandma and other members of my family..lol..and everything looks great! We finally got to meet Andy' baby Floyd last weekend. I didn't get any picture of them together, but here is one of him and Andy that Carol sent. He is SO cute and at 4 months he weighs probably 18-19 pounds, so almost as much as Sage at 19 months. He is going to be a big baby! He is so good and just sort of hangs out, I totally miss that age! They are going fishing in Nasselle for the week, so it was really good to see them while they passed through and Cait came down also, and Ashley too who has moved up to Seattle, so I got to see all of them who I haven't' seen in a while!!

So everything went fine with my surgery. Dr Sears had to bring in another surgeon to help her with my left ovary because if was embedded in my pelvis where there alot of nerve endings and blood vessesl, but while she was in there she looked at my right ovary and said it looked in good condition and thinks that it will hold up for many years so I don't have to have it removed and go into early menopause since that would be a disaster with my high blood pressure and the hormones I would have to take. I did have to get a shot of insulin because my blood sugar was too high and so we kept monitoring that, and also I had unusually low blood pressure 110/54 when my bottom number is usally in the 90's or 100's, so we are keeping a close eye on this now too.

The first day of surgery I was pretty out of it all day, and was in a lot of pain because the morphine push button just wasn't enough for my high tollerance. For some reason, even though never in my life have I liked vanilla yougurt and granola, I am now obsessed with it and have been eating a ton of it.

There wasn't without some drama. A few days before my surgery a man carrying 3 guns came into the ER and started shooting people before the secuity shot and took him out. While talking to my nurse she said that if I heard "Code Black" or "Code Gray" it was usually not good...black meaning threat with weapon, gray meaing threat with no weapon to nurses etc. So while I was in the hospital we had a code black on the 4th floor (I was on the 7th). We had a code red (fire) where they locked us in our room, and we had a code Grey on my floor at 2am and I could hear a guy screaming yelling and the nurses trying to contain him. It sounded like in the room right next to me and outside my hallway so I hid in my bathroom...

The good news is that so far the healing has been good. I have a little redness and brusing that the doctor thinks might be the start of an infection. I am able to get up and walk around some when my husband isn't yelling at me to get back to bed. As I said I am eating a ton of yogurt and granola. Thank goodness for my awesome parents who have been taking care of Sage. Jeramy as always has been GREAT! He is such a good husband and care taker. I am also so lucky to have such a supportive extended family of cousins and aunts and uncles on the otherside of the mountain and beyond, who I love so much and who I know love me. Emily is even going to come help take care of me...how lucky I am to be surrounded by such amazingly loving people who loves me and my family enough to drop everything and come to help us. But the cool thing is, she knows I would do the same in a heartbeat, because that is what family does! And I am so glad that we have such an amazing family!

Thank you again to everyone who prayed for my health and recovery! I appreciate the love so much and I know that is why I am doing so well now. So after this whole 6 to 8 week recovery, I should have a totally new, pain free life that I am anxiously anticipating!

Happy Birthday!

2009-08-15T00:27:00.000-07:00

The other Birthday Boy Wilson

Jeramy's Uncle Billy, Aunt Chika and their kids Mia and Wilson came to visit from California, so we went to Round Table Pizza to celebrate Wilson and Jeramy's 30th birthday. It is always confusing for me when Mia comes to visit so I am "big" Mia and she is "little" Mia, but I find myself saying "I didn't do it" alot..lol..It was fun, and for some reason Sage liked wearing Jeramy's glasses..lol...she also loved playing the driving video game with her Grandpa Jeff as you can see, and talking on Auntie Heather's phone.

We are a Go for Surgery!!

2009-08-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Pizza Face...lol..

It is funny when you threaten to get a lawyer how fast the insurance company changed their tune. Within 15 minutes of me saying I was getting a lawyer, I got a phone call from the insurance company saying I had been approved to have my surgery! Thank God!! I started crying because that had been such a huge stress on me. But now knowing it is next Tuesday I am at peace and ready to get going and get on the mend to feeling better. My sugery is in the morning of the 18th and I will stay for 2-3 days at St Peter's hospital in Olympia, and then it is a 6-8 week recovery. I have spoken to a few people who have had the surgery and they said it was an aweful recovery, but after eveything was back to normal they were painfree and finally felt great! I am so excited to finally have hope to feeling better. Now we just have to get the house in order, pack me and Sage who is staying with my mom. I have a wonderfully supportive husband too who is an ace when it comes to taking care of his girls. Thank you to everyone who prayed for this insurance mess to resolve! Love you all!