He's Da' Man

Today I was scheduled to speak in church. When I walked into the chapel, I noticed that both counselors were on the stand but my dad wasn't. I figured he was probably chatting or welcoming people before the meeting started.

Time passed and one of his counselors started to conduct the meeting. He announced that the bishop was stuck in surgery and would make it later in the day for tithing settlement meetings.

Although I knew that my dad was on call at the hospital, I was bummed that he wasn't going to show. I kept looking at the door the entire time before I got up to speak... hoping he might just walk in late. I waited... and waited. No show.

Announcements had been made, sacrament passed and after the second youth speaker sat down... I slowly got up to walk towards the stand. I looked at the door one more time, and there he was. He quickly walked in and took his seat on the stand. I knew he would come through!

Later, when I got home from church, I noticed I had a missed call from my dad and a voice message. The message was my dad calling from the OR, letting me know he might not make it and he was trying his hardest to get there in time to hear my talk. He wished me luck, told me to break a leg and said he loved me.

This is my dad. He is just amazing. I teared up when I listened to that message. I know my dad loves me so much. He didn't have to call and I would have understood if he hadn't made it. But he is always there and always has been. That's just my dad.

I am the luckiest daughter ever.

He's da' man!

The Secret

For my fellow bloggers out there, do you have that weighing accountability and bloggers guilt when you withhold happenings or posts you've been whipping up in your head for days... weeks? I do.

Finally clicking "PUBLISH POST" is fulfilling and a stress relief for some very odd reason.

Anyway, I can't keep it from you any longer. I must divulge my secret. Last week, when Andrew and I were away having our weekend reatreat, he was feeling really REALLY romantic... and did something I never thought he would do again. He pulled through the McD's drive-thru and got me a LARGE diet coke. Yes, that's right. It was beyond heavenly. I have no words to describe that first sip.

I had been off of DC for 6 weeks and I'm not going to lie, they were agonizing. I had imagined our split would make me feel lighter, more healthy and even rejuvenated. But, quite honestly- I felt the very opposite.

I know many of you have a LOT to say about diet coke and the endless cons of it's consumption. But, really? We're meant to be together. I'm sure I will try to quit again in this lifetime... but ultimately, diet coke makes me a better wife and mom. There. I said it.

Romantical Weekend for Two

Andrew and I have been looking forward to some much needed R & R that we had been planning on for months.

Last Friday dropped LJ off with Grandma Milne and Auntie Nell for the night. We knew she was in good hands because she could have cared less if we stayed or left. I could barely get my baby to kiss me goodbye!

Then we headed downtown to try out a new Korean restaurant. The delish Korean BBQ hit the spot! Then we went to ComedySportz, a comedy club that we first found in Provo and found out they have one here! It was hilarious and so fun! To end the evening, we were spoiled at the Benson Hotel, which is the hotel we stayed at right after we got married. The king sized bed and sleeping in until 9am was heavenly!

On Saturday, we took our time getting up and ready for the day. We had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Andrew had Smoked Salmon Hash and I had a Denver Omelette. So yummy!

After breakfast, we hopped in the car and went to the Portland Saturday's Market. We walked around and looked at all of the creativity that the local vendors had to offer and were tempted to make a few purchases. I love walking around downtown and people watching.

Spending time together... just us two, was a treat. I felt like we were dating again.

The R&R came and was gone far too quickly. But, I would be lying if I didn't say I was antsy to get back to our Londyn Joy.

Londyn Lately

Londyn is becoming such a big girl lately!

She loves to repeat what we say and is starting to connect two words together at a time.

Her most common words used are:

Mama

Dadda

Baba

Mah-ma (Grandma)

Papa (Grandpa)

Nana

Nell (Auntie Jenelle)

More

No-no

Yes

Jesus

Nun-dun (Londyn)

Keys

Dog

Up

Down

Ay yay yay

More than her vocab, it amazes me how much she understands! When I tell her to do something or go get something, she listens and usually does it... aside from her sassy moments.

Grandma Milne got Londyn a hot pink Hello Kitty purse about a week ago and now, she doesn't go anywhere without it! Clearly, she is my daughter! Today, she even wanted to eat her lunch while holding her purse.

I am loving her little pony tail! After barely-there-hair for 16 months, I am fully taking advantage of what hair she does have!

Rise & Shine!

My alarm went off at 6 o'clock this morning and after a few nudges from the husband to silence the alarm, I begrudgingly rolled out of bed with shut eyes and somehow ended up in the shower. After waking up with Londyn once in the middle of the night, followed by restless sleep, the last thing I wanted to do was get up and go to work.

As I was standing in the shower, half awake... I started to think about how this day was going to go. The first thought was, why did I ever quit Diet Coke (a daily thought lately)? My second thought was, how much I didn't want to go to work. I wasn't reluctant because of my co-workers or the actual work itself, but just simply having to get up and get going... drop Londyn off and sit in morning traffic. Then I started to think about how this day COULD go... and it donned on me that my prior thoughts were totally unacceptable and I should be ashamed for even thinking them.

I am lucky enough to be in the situation that I am. I have a great boss and a fabulous job that is only 5 minutes away with opportunities to pick up extra hours. I only work two half days each week, with free babysitters that I can honestly trust to love and care for my child.

Today I worked an extra half day in our Portland office, which I will be doing for the following two weeks. I am so blessed to have work because without the extra hours, it would have been difficult to have anything under the Christmas tree for little Miss Londie Lou this year.

Recently I have been working on technique with Liberty dance team in Hillsboro. I get to spend one hour per week for 7 weeks with their awesome team. The girls are so sweet and eager to learn! I love dabbling in dance again and being able to share what I know with these young girls. Not only is it fun, but I am saving the compensation for our trip to Michigan next Summer for an Armitage family reunion. This opportunity is such a blessing as we almost weren't going to be able to make the trip if it weren't for this extra help!

"The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one."

{Oscar Wilde}

So as you can see, I have nothing to complain about! During these harsh economic times, it is a blessing to have a warm home, food to feed my family and lots of loved ones near.

Happy 235th Birthday Marines!

Last night, Andrew and I attended the 235th Marine Corps Birthday Ball! Andrew has had a long weekend with the Marine Corps, driving back and forth from Portland and as I type, he is headed out the door to go back to drill right now. Since he was in the ceremony this year, he had to go to a couple rehearsals to practice for the big night. I was looking forward to the ball because you get to dress up and be baby free for a night! Andrew was pretty worn out and not looking forward to standing in the same position, looking at the same spot on the wall for a good hour, but the ceremony was beautiful and he made it through.

The food is always a hit or miss, and this year it was actually pretty tasty! The salad was a little strange but for the main course, we had yummy chicken with rice and string beans, and chocolate cake for dessert!

For me, the best part of the entire night was when the ceremony was over and I got to spend some time with my husband. Although I wasn't feeling so good and Andrew was pretty beat, it was nice to be just the two of us for a change.

Of course, on the way home I was missing LJ and couldn't wait to get home. I knew she would be in bed already, but it's just nice knowing that I'm there if she needs me.

Happy Birthday Marines!

ZZZZs & Grub. What's that?

For the past... almost three weeks, Londyn hasn't been sleeping. We thought it was due to her first molars coming in, but now I'm not so sure.

Londyn has always been an amazing sleeper and eater! She has always eaten anything and everything! As for sleep, she was sleeping 11 hours at night with 2 naps during the day. AMAZING, right?! All that is history now, because she is barely eating ANYTHING except for her "ba-ba" (sippy cup with milk) and occasionally a couple bites of whatever I feed her for meals. I can tell she is hungry because she walks around signing "eat", which she never does unless she is hungry. But then when I put her in her high chair, she protests anything edible. This refusal of food includes unhealthy food too! She'll humor me by eating a little bread or a couple bites of yogurt but that's about it.

As for sleep... ay yay yay. Where do I start? I put her down at her normal bedtime, which is between 7 and 7:30pm. She sleeps for a good block of time but then wakes up in the middle of the night, anywhere from 2 to 6 times. She has always been pretty good about crying herself back to sleep (which I am a huge advocate of doing) but now when she wakes up, she sounds like she is in pain and totally miserable. I am testing out only giving her one nap a day, ranging from 45 minutes to an hour. By nighttime, she is exhausted but yet still wakes up constantly.

Today I bought some toddler formula to put in her milk, so at least she's getting some extra calories. I have noticed that she is thinning out a bit and it's making me nervous!

If things don't get better by next week, we will be heading into our pediatrician. What is it with Londyn not being able to go a month without seeing a doctor?

Londyn interpreted "quiet play time" in her room as nap time on the floor. Poor thing.