There is a robber in our midst

When Remington and I returned home last night I got this weird feeling that something wasn't right. We got in the house and everything seemed normal, but I kept having this weird feeling and kept hearing a noise that sounded like our blinds moving. But it was like 30 degrees yesterday so obviously we hadn't left a window open to make the blinds move. With cell phone in hand and 911 dialed on my phone (I just needed to press send) I got up the nerve to walk into the bedroom where I heard the noise. As i turned the corner a huge bird comes flying towards me (i.e. robber). We have no clue how the bird got into our bedroom all of our windows had been closed and we had been gone all day. After realizing that their wasn't a robber, but a spastic bird in my bedroom/bathroom I had to figure out how to get it out of the house.

I would expect that many of you know me well enough to know that I am not an animal person. I didn't grow up with animals and I have no affection for them. I don't want to hurt them, but cuddling up to an animal is not on my to-do list. The bird was so stinkin spastic it kept flying into my bathroom mirror and then flying back into the bathroom window (which was stuck and I couldn't get opened). So I called Michael and he thought it was hilarious, but told me I could call animal control and maybe they would come and get the bird. So I called but their office was closed and i didn't feel that a bird waranted calling the emergency number.

After a few minutes of manuvering around the bird in the bathroom I was able to coax it out the window. During the whole process Remington stood in my bathroom doorway laughing and pointing at the bird. he thought the bird was fabulous and loved having it fly spastically around the room. Looking back on it--Remington was having a blast watching his mommy make funny bird noises while I shooed the bird out. He kept pointing and saying a word that sound similar to bird.

With the bird out of the house it was now time to clean. I am a neat freak, I can't stand a mess and I especially can't stand knowing that an animal had free range to my entire house. I didn't want to start cleaning until Michael got home so he could keep Remington occupied, so i tried to pass time by cooking dinner. As soon as Michael was home I was on the phone with my mom trying to figure ou the best possible way to clean up after a bird. In my mind birds are dirty (yes I am a little OCD about cleaning). After about an hour of deep cleaning the bathroom, I moved onto my bedroom and Remington's pack-in-play that sits in the corner of our room. There was a bird feather on his blankets, so I picked it up to move to the laundry when I realized that there was a robin's egg nestled in his blankets. The darn bird gave birth to an egg in my child's crib!

We're Safe!

Yesterday my company laid off more than 50 of its employees as part of its "reduction in force" initative. Blah Blah Blah.... Needless to say it was very stressful--regardless of the fact that Michael and I had come up with another game plan for my career if I were to be let go. Even though I knew this day was coming I sat in a state of shock as one by one I watched folks that I have worked with for 2 1/2 years be tapped on the shoulder and asked to go speak with HR. By the time 10:30 rolled around I was told that my job is safe. My manager wasn't as lucky (a single mom with 2 kids and a loser of an ex-husband). Her daughter probably around age 11 had cancer last year and her son who is in high school is autistic. Knowing that she would be without a job was gut wrenching and really hard for me to swallow--I completely understand the decision, but it was still hard to realize. And there are many more stories--people that I dearly enjoyed working with. I will especially miss working with Linda--a lovely lady with the heart of gold. She was my little TV star and always did local mid-morning tv apperances for the company. She was fabulous and will be greatly missed and never replaced.

On a Happy Note!

I almost forgot, which is rare since I have an exceptional memory! Remington is venturing into the world of walking. This past weekend he took about 50-75 steps total, which was awesome. He is so cute!

In like a lion... Hopefully out like a lamb...

Wow the saying Spring comes in like a lion and out like a lamb has never had more signifigance in my life until this year. The month of March has been one heck of a month and can I tell you the lion is roaring at me it seems like.

The month started off with Remington's 1st birthday (see pictures and post below) it was a wonderful occassion, but unfortunatly very sad for me because my mother didn't get to attend due to issue at home. Exactly a week after Remington's birthday his Aunt Jill passed away from cancer. We had found out exactly two weeks prior that the doctors had given up hope that the treatments would work, thus my mom not coming out for the party. Two days after she passed away, Remington and I headed back East to be with family and help out with David (Jill's 1 1/2 yr. old son). During the trip Remington came down with an ear infection and so did David, David's was worse he also had a ruptured ear drum on top of the infection. And I came down with a sinus infection. Oh the joys of motherhood! After a week in North Carolina I came back to Utah and went back to work only to find out that the company announced that layoffs will occur by mid-April. Still no word on if I will be one of them.

Needless to say the month of March has been one heck of a month, it seems like there has been one bad thing after another. And I don't mention this for you to feel sorry for us--I mention this because I know alot of other people are having just as terrible of a time. This is why I pray that the rest of spring is a little more mellow and hopefully not as stressful!

I will post photos of NC once I get them from Dustin, he has an awesome camera and of course I had to play with it while I was there. But on the otherhand it was way to advanced for me to figure out how to get the images off of it! :)

Swinging Into Toddlerville! Remington's 1st Birthday...

A year ago yesterday our little monkey made his grand apperance. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by already. Just for memory sake and the fact that this blog is going to one day become a journal for Remington, I thought I would recount some of the exciting, heartbreaking, stressful, glorious, suspenseful moments that have occured in his life this past year.

1. Remington you are super good at packing up your bottles and stuffed animals. In your first year of life you have had 5 different homes. That's right you move 5 times in 365 days and let me tell you it wasn't that fun but we did it and now it is something funny to look back on.

2. You stayed in your first hotel room when you were less than a week old, good ole' Boise!

3. You could hold your bottle when you were 3 months old, Mr. Independent!

4. Your favorite TV show is Wonder Pets, you watch it every morning after your bath.

5. You will poop all the way up your back just so you can take a bath. The excitement in your eyes when you know you have accomplished this disqusting task is priceless. I hope one day you realize that you can just keep the poop in your diaper and bath time will still happen at least once a day as planned.

6. Mr. Blue Eyes should be your nickname because you have amazing blue eyes just like your daddy. I thought they would end up turning brown, but NOPE--daddy won!

7. In the last few months you have started to sing, anytime we are in the car or you are playing by yourself you start to hum and it is adorable. But just like your mom you get shy when you realize someone is watching.

8. One day you may end up being a model. From day one you have loved to get your picture taken and of course you have to look at every shot to make sure you like it. You will fuss until we turn it for you to see. Good thing we have digital cameras, I do not know what we would do it everything was still done on film.

9. I know every mother and father thinks their kid is a genius. But Remington you truly are a smart little one, I hope you never loose your thirst for knowledge and your inquisitive nature. Even though most books say kids will start picking up sign language shortly after their first birthday--you have been kicking our trash with these skills since about 10 months. Bottles and more those are your favorites.

10. You will not sit still in church for a million dollars. Church is like a three ring circus these days with your daddy and I worn out by the end. I need to invest in flats for church because heels and a 30 pound kid do not work very well together.

11. By your 1st birthday you had two bottom and two top teeth and they are sharper than a razor. It is fun for you to bite daddy's butt as he lays on he stomach. Gross...

As you look through the photos you will notice my mom isn't in any of them. Unfortunatly she didn't get to come. We had planned for her to be with us, but my sister-in-law Jill (Kent's wife-oldest bro) is very sick and it just wasn't a good time to leave home and travel 3000 miles. But my mom was with us in spirit.

Marmelade and Remington along w/ his new monkey.

Grandpa Erb and Remington (This is Emilee Erb's dad and Remy's adopted grandpa)

Remington and Grayson(Stephanie's son) checking out the new Tonka truck given to Remington by the Erb's.

Jaw dropping gorgeous Zoey (step-sister Brandi's daughter)

Michael, Remington and Kenneth (my father)

My best friend in the whole wide world--Aunt Charlie (Emilee Erb) and Grayson

Cowboy Remington and his horse.

Sugar and messes--my favorite!


I will post more pictures when I have time.

My New Hang Out

Remington has to fallen in love with the refrigerator. I don't know why but he has to get in it when I am in the kitchen cooking. Tonight we caught him climbing the shelves inside to get to a leftover jar of baby food. Our little monkey is sure becoming a delightful handful.

On another note... Remington recieved his very first tie last weekend. We were at the mall and just couldn't resist the darling tie. He was such a stud with it on. I think he liked the fact that he looked like his daddy. (and yes the red on his face is eczema--gosh darn it)

Getting Crafty

The past two week have involved quite a bit of cardstock, glue and stamping. First it was for Remington's first birthday party invites--the theme was of course monkey and of course I couldn't support the Wal-Marts and Targets of the world and send semi pre-made invites. Remember I do for work a company that promotes giving handmade--the stuff that takes hours to make. Ha Ha

Since Wednesday of this week I have been creating bridal shower invitations for my college roomie Vanessa. Oh how I love Vanessa and her new squeeze isn't that bad either. Remington is already learning how to say Uncle Kevin.

If it were up to me I would have made invitations and included pictures of Vanessa in her lovely sheep pajamas that she always wore as my roomie, but instead I went with some of the colors from her wedding (Pink & Green).

I thought I had an extra bday announcement leftover to post, but I can't find it. So instead you will get to see 3 of the samples for the bridal shower, they are not finished yet. When they are done they will have a little photo of the couple on the front and then where the circle opening is at you will be able to pull out the invitation.