A few of my favorite things!

I am loving most things about this toddler stage with Lenayah! There are a few tantrums that we are learning to manage together, but over all, She is a hoot!

Here is a list of things I can't get enough of!

- When there is a tantrum, maybe one time a day, she knows that the best way for her to calm down is to spend some quiet time alone. Often she will tell me it's time to have some space and take me to her room to sit on her bed for a few minutes. When she is feeling better she calls out to me to come get her. We then talk about whatever caused the outburst, although her side is mostly in gibberish.

 

- I love to watch her language develop! My favorite thing she picked up recently is calling myself and Myles, "babe". She says, "bye, babe!" or covers her face to play hide and seek and does a Marco polo type thing yelling, "babe!" until someone responds. I can't help but laugh!

 

- She. Loves. Babies. Baby dolls or real babies, she loves them all! She wants to hold them, pat them, make them fell better if they're sad. It is the sweetest thing. At the same time we are going to have to teach her boundaries when baby brother gets here. She doesn't know when to back off and give space.

 

- She picks up after herself when I ask her. It helps if I stay involved and direct her to which toys she
should pick up. She always does best when bribed by sugar... Haha call me what you will, I'm too tired by the end of the day to fight about it.

 

- Lenayah is the selfie queen! I Can't Take a picture with her in it without doing it in selfie mode. She has even started to strike a pose on que.

- She is a great eater! One of the things I struggle with is that she loves tomatoes! Problem is I'm 85% sure she is intolerant to them. Her tummy gets very upset and has trouble digesting them properly... It's a real shame because I don't have very many regular menu items that don't involve tomatoes. So all in all, she eats almost everything offered, She likes snacks most of all, though.

This is a REALLY fun age! I love the personality. It helps that Lenayah is a totally ham!

10 things about being a mom for 20 months

Firstly, how do I have a 20 month old?? In four short months I'll have a two year old! In no way do these numbers make sense, but none the less, becoming a mother had changed me in more ways than I could have dreamed. I'm sure there are more than just 10, but this feels like a challenge right now, so I'm going to stick to this! In no particular order, here they are...

Reading a book to her baby

1 - I still don't think I'm very patient in some aspects of my life, however, I have learned that I can happily do the same thing over and over to indulge whatever Lenayahs current game is. Just as I'm writing this I have stopped at least ten times to help her put the baby doll swing back together after she takes it apart. There are some days when this repetition gets old, but mostly it cracks me up that Lenayah can be so easily entertained.

2 - My sleep patterns have changed drastically. Although I do still value my sleep greatly, I do not go to bed at a decent hour (before 11 pm) very many times during the week. I would estimate 3 out of 7 days. This is something I am working to change since chronic migraines are starting to occur and after all, I council people to evaluate their sleep habits if massage alone isn't fixing the problem! I would also give anything to be sleeping through most nights by now...

3 - I have a stronger ability to feel love for someone at first sight. What I mean to say is the first moment I put my eyes on Lenayah I felt so much love for her. But now I understand better what it means to feel the love of Jesus Christ for those I come in contact with.

4 - I recognize my need for personal space. Lately Lenayah does not understand the concept. If she wants to be near me, that means literally on top, in my face, shoving, kicking and climbing to get where she wants to be. This is a very hard lesson for both of us to learn, especially after I've come from a long, physical day at work.

5 - I see and attempt to fill the need for greater compassion in this world. So many things about my first weeks as a mother sparked this. We had so much love and kindness given. From meals, to coming home to a freshly cleaned house, our physical, and sometimes spiritual needs were met. Our recent miscarriage in October only made this fire burn brighter. There is little to be said or done to help parents through a loss, but those who came to our aid must have been guided by the spirit of the Lord to ease our breaking hearts. On the other hand, there are many in the world without a good idea for what to say (or not say) while someone is struggling. We experienced some of this as well.

6 - Dates without Lenayah are gold! Date night before we became parents was fun, but now it's essential. We get to go out at least once every month without a toddler in tow and its great! The other weeks get filled with family dates. Those almost always involve food. What can I say? We are a family that loves to eat, and I am a mom who doesn't always have to cook! Myles and I should do better at trying to not talk parenting while we are out. Connecting on a deeper intellectual level is a luxury now and we should take advantage of it, but alas, Lenayah is our whole world!

7 - My body is nothing like it was before. It's mostly better and the parts I don't like don't matter. I can change some and I can't even touch others. My stretch marks are amazing to me. Because of the rate at which my belly grew and the size I achieved along with my genetics, I have plenty to show for Lenayah. There came a point where the skin across the middle of my bump was numb. I could feel with my hand that I was touching my belly, but it's strange not to have the belly communicating back. One of my favorite things about it all is that I have a freckle on my side that appears to have smeared because I have a stretch mark that comes right up to it. The pounds I have put on and been "unable" to get off since starting this journey is the down side. I am making an effort to combat this by getting to the gym 3 times a week. I have not seen much change in numbers, but my endurance is much better!

8 - I have a much larger scale of emotion. I am running out of steam in my list here and asked Myles for input. This was the comment he made with a smirk on his face, "you're much more emotional?" And that I am! On both ends of emotion! I laugh so much more with Lenayah around! Let's be honest, she is hilarious! She knows what will make us laugh, too. I can also tend to be very weepy. I remember the first strange moment of emotion when I was pregnant with Lenayah. I was sitting at the first basketball game of the season, where Myles was officiating. We all stood for the national anthem as tears ran down my cheeks. I still cannot hear it without welling up.

9 - I have learned that I can trust my gut most of the time. For health and parenting concerns! I was not raised going to the doctor for this or that illness. Heck, I don't even remember going to well child visits! It's nice to have a knowledge of the body to be confident in the way we heal through injury or illness. In parenting, I of course get lots from my own upbringing, but I have also found great resources in my other relatives and like minded friends. Pinterest is also life saver here! I just peruse until I find something that feels right. After trying it I know if I felt correctly! My bedtime routine came from Pinterest and it works wonders! We have mostly stress free bed times. On the other hand, my mom suggested I motivate Lenayah with food to teach get to clean up after herself. It totally works! My kid will do anything for a snack or end of day treat! Plus my house has fewer things to trip on, generally.

10 - Most importantly of all, I have drawn closer to my Heavenly Father more in the last 20 months than ever before. I foolishly try to do things on my own, but becoming a mother brings to light the reality that I really cannot do it all without the support of my a Savior. Both in happy and sad times I have learned to turn to Him. I wouldn't say I'm good at it in any way, but I know try as I might, there is no success that He doesn't have a hand in. He knows it all, I just have to give my will to Him and get to work. I try and teach Lenayah this lesson, and even in her busy stage of life she knows we should pray before we eat and she loves to hold hands across the table. We also pray when she is sad, or when we find something that was lost. I want her to know that God is ready to hear what she has to say, no matter the circumstance.

If nothing else, she's a ham!

Working her life away with dad

Becoming mom has turned me into a new person with a stronger resolve to do right and finish hard things. I know there is so much more growth ahead of me. And I can't wait to see Lenayah grow with me!

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!