18 months is not a magic number

Lenayah turned 18 months last week and although it is bitter sweet to see her get big, I am loving this toddler stage. She has so much character and spunk.
In our church, once a child hits 18 months they are allowed into the nursery for the second and third hour meetings. In my head, Lenayah was going to have no problem leaving us and heading into nursery whenever I sent her. She loves to play with other kids! In reality, we have gone 3 times and it has been a big meltdown and Myles or myself had to be in there at all times or else there would be more than one person severely traumatized. She hates it in there! I can't decide if it's the lack of kids she knows, or the change in environment that scare her, but whatever it is, we won't be dropping her off and leaving any time soon.
I was feeling pretty discouraged about this whole situation yesterday and my wise friend said to me, "18 months is not a magic number". It really hit me that it's kind of okay that she still likes me enough to be sad when I leave. That won't happen forever! We will keep taking her, and keep trying to leave every so often, and when it works, it works.
In other advancements; Lenayah is a pretty darn good runner, she is super clumsy, she loves babies, falls asleep on her own and sleeps through about half the nights, she is a crazy tease and tortures her grizzly dog any chance she gets, she loves to read books, favors her daddy over me often, still a hefty little chunk, and makes us laugh with all the faces she has mastered.
She is getting 3 molars right now so days are a little rough, but we are surviving so far. Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas from the Maxey pad! Someday, hopefully next year, we will jump on the printed and mailed band wagon. I've been mulling on it for the last few years, but never executed on time to

actually do it without oodles of stress.

We are still in Logan, Utah and loving nearly every minute of it! It's a cute little town and we love the community we have within the school and our ward. Our house we bought last year is treating us well and slowly we are making home improvements to make it more functional and nice!

Myles is in his second year of his PhD program in Family, Consumer and Human Development. His area of focus has changed slightly this semester. His focus is a dual focus of development in adolescents with disabilities and the role of the family in their development. He has written a
curriculum for parents of adolescents with disabilities, which is what his dissertation will be now, where he will examine the impact on the family but also on the adolescent's psychosocial development. He works so hard with his schooling, it makes a wife proud. He also holds lot of part time jobs to assist in keeping us afloat and reaching our dreams of bigger better things in life. He taught his first solo upper level undergrad class this semester as part of his contract with the school. He really enjoys teaching so it has been a blessing. Next semester he will continue to teach the same class, along with being a teaching assistant for an online class. The most "real" job he holds is being a support coordinator for people with disabilities, contracting with the state. He is the middle man between the disability funding and the providers, ensuring that the supports they need are being given.  He keeps busy in his "free time" doing basketball and football officiating for the public school systems. Along with all that insanity, he also fulfills his calling in our local church congregation as the ward mission leader, not to mention that he is an excellent father and husband. Somehow he manages to balance it all out beautifully.

I stay busy enough being the support to Myles in his crazy life, but I also have my own activities. I have a part time job using my Massage Therapy License at a Chiropractic office. I love my arrangement there. As an independent contractor I have the freedom to control my schedule, allowing me to only work when Myles or Mariah (we love having auntie Mariah in Logan... For more than just the free childcare!) can be with Lenayah. I also like the structural work I get to do there, working with the Chiropractor. I stay really busy at work, too, which is a nice bonus! I lead the ward choir. That is a blessing and a curse. I constantly feel inadequate, but I do love the music so so much! My most important role right now is chasing after miss Lenayah. What a joy to be around! She certainly keeps me on my toes, learning new things every day, and laughing all the way... I, or Myles, tend my friends little girl a few hours a school day. That is an interesting adventure depending on the day little Raven and Lenayah don't get along quite so well. Good preparation for when our family grows, hopefully soon. Perhaps the most disguised blessing for me this year was the miscarriage we had in the end of October. It has taught me so much, although an immense trial to go through, I have learned to rely on my Savior so much more. I have truly felt His love this year.

Lenayah is almost old enough for nursery! Next month she hits the big 18.... 18 months that is! She is a hefty 30 lbs of absolute comedy! She is a total ham and she knows it! She can work the system, no matter what system it is! Emotion is an on/off switch for her. I don't know how she does it! She is learning more words, but her favorite might be "Gizz", her doggy Grizzly is one of her most favorite things. They are pretty darn cute together, too. Lenayah healed up nicely from her little accident this year. Its totally obvious she is the child of two very clumsy people. We are now about 8 weeks out from her first broken bone. Broke her collar bone falling off the stage at church. She handled it all very well. She is totally enamored by Christmas this year! We have caught her opening presents too early, at least 4 times. She even likes the things inside the paper. She doesn't

love to road trip, but she at least indulges her parents and her grandmas and tolerates the trips a few times a year.

This Christmas season has found us at my parents house for the first time since we got married! I feel so blessed to be here. Que the nostalgia! So many fun memories and traditions! I'm very glad to be able to share them with Myles and Lenayah.

God is good. We have seen so much growth in ourselves this year. The Atonement heals. It heals bones of babes, and hearts that hurt. Turn to him this season, if not during any other. Change is possible, through the miraculous birth of the savior. Merry Christmas to all!

Lenayah is 14 Months old!

Raven, totally disgusted with Lenayah

Somehow i missed a 13 month update... I'm not sure what we were doing but i don't remember it even crossing my mind!
This month we gained a full-time walker, a singer, a very loud kisser, and a mommy wanna be.

Walking: not quite the nightmare i thought it was going to be. She is fast and she knows where she wants to be, so the biggest adjustment I've had is making sure to close all the doors i don't want her to go through. Unfortunately there isn't a door at the top of the stairs so she just stands at the top and plays. Which of course, scares me half to death because gravity is still her only method of getting down. I think her favorite place to walk is out to the car before an errand.

Eating breakfast with her baby

She started singing with us and even though there is very little note change and she doesn't say any words is absolutely adorable. Even Better when she leads the music in sacrament meeting, too!
I recently posted a video on Facebook that you might see of her kissing her New dolly. "Ooooowahhh" is her kiss. That, too, is very cute. However we discovered on Sunday that giving kisses in church is somewhat disruptive... And hilarious.

Drinking the dog water!

This month we started watching my friends little girl a few hours a week. Lenayah is about 9 months older and can't imagine anything better than a little playmate. On the other hand, her playmate is totally mortified by her! Lenayah doesn't even have to touch her and the screams will ring out. Lenayah is always concerned when the baby cries and tries to comfort her. Pats her back, tries to give her a bottle, asks me for help, offers her own toys and binkies.

Dressed up and ready for church!

Nothing works because Lenayah is the reason the baby is crying! It's funny for a little while and then i have to intervene to maintain my sanity.

She still loves to play peek-a-boo. Especially with visitors. The problem is that she doesn't understand that she is supposed to hide behind something. She usually will just lean one way, and then the other while yelling "boo!" she does a similar thing while she squats. Down.... Up.... "Boo!"

She loves to be a helper, too! She unloads the sliverwear for me. Hands them up one by one for me to put in the drawer. She also is a master at putting clothes in the dryer. Hollers with everything she has got if I don't hand her a new something fast enough. Now if only she would enjoy putting her toys away where she got them from...

I am really enjoying this stage. She is a lot of fun! We have more to do together now because Lenayah is interested in more things. We color, read books, rough house, go on walks down the driveway, chores, mother her baby dolls, learn some sign language, cook, play with grizzly and so much more!

Loading into the car!

She is wearing a little of every size now! Mostly 18 and 24 months, but there are a few 12 month stragglers as well. Still as heavy as can be and totally adorable as a result. Thanks for tuning in! Please excuse strange sentences and the choppiness. I had to stop and go a bunch while being mommy this morning.