And.....She's walking....

Kira's prefered method of transportation is still crawling unless assisted by an adult holding her hands while she walks gracefully. But, she's beginning to walk more and more. And now, instead of just crawling when she falls, she will get up a lot and try again. What a big girl. :)

Dolls and the Dog Bowl

Kira's 2 favorite toys--these little plastic dolls, and the dog bowl. She pushes them around all day long. I know I should take the bowl away from her. But....sometimes I just laugh and let her play with it. Again, I don't get mother of the year award for it...but it makes me laugh.

Temper Tantrum

A temper tantrum occurs usually when I either take the remote from Kira, tell her she can't go up the stairs and remove her from them, she's exhausted, or I won't give her the food I'm eating because it's not something she can eat. The tears start....after she tries to hit a couple times...

But I know she's half faking it because when she realizes the camera comes out she pauses to cheese a smile.

Then the crying continues until I distract her with something else...or put her down for a nap.I had to take a picture of her sad little face. She really is so cute. I love her.

Helpful Husband

My helpful husband is assisting in carrying in the groceries. Okay, who am I kidding? When he comes with me he carries mostly all of them in. Well, this week he was especially speedy and helpful...coming in and flinging and armful of groceries onto the counter/stove. This speedy activity resulted in the stove being turned on by a bag that was immediately set on the stove, and began to melt and smoke. Now, he speedily returned with the next load of groceries in time to see it. Luckily this was not the bag that had my ben and jerry's ice cream. That would have been a sad sad thing.

Hangin' with Becca

I went to help Becca with her carmeled apples and pretzels, but this year I wasn't really all that much help. I mostly just kept her company and we talked all day long. And, I ate the broken pretzels so they didn't go to waste. ha!

Kira and I were there most of the day. I took her playpen for her to take a nap in when she was tired, but otherwise she wanted to be part of the fun. I didn't have a highchair, and she was getting heavy...so that's right....I tied her to the chair. :) Say what you want--but it worked.

Jenny's Rehearsal Dinner

I went to Jenny's rehearsal dinner on Friday night....it was at the Wight House up in Bountiful. It was a really cute place, and it was a lot of fun just to relax and laugh. It was pretty good food. And although we had a weirdo server, she was more entertaining than anything. Three key moments from the evening. 1. Don't make fun of people that work at walmart, even if you're 100% kidding--you may offend someone at your table. 2. Take note of how loud your voice capabilities are before you start discussing rasberry butter for the whole entire room to hear. 3. Take note of who the groom's parents are --they sit at the front table.... So when they are walking around meeting people you don't say "And you are....?"

Liz, Karen, Michelle, Liz, Becca, Jenny, Me (All of these girls do, or have lived in an awesome townhouse on Ellerby)

Jenny and Alan--the Happy couple

Kira all buckled up and headed home

The invitation did specify no kids allowed...and since Kenny was at a Jazz game I was lucky that Aunt McKayle could watch Kira while I was gone. I picked her up and she looked so cute all bundled up I had to take a pic...thanks Grandma Jackie...well, for this whole adorable outfit. :)

Thanksgiving

I was a slacker this year, and really didn't get out the camera that much on Thanksgiving. Kenny, Kira and I went to Aunt Bernice's and had a good time. It wasn't the whole family this year...it's the year everyone can go to their in-laws. But, we weren't going anywhere this year so we went. I'm glad we did. We finally met McKayle's "friend." lol. His name is Brian, and he seems really cool. After dinner we went to Grandma and Grandpa Hart's to visit for a while. Grandpa is sick, so he couldn't go up this year. Kira tried everything on the menu...and she liked it all. Especially the yams.

McKayle and Brian

McKayle and Kira...she's offering me her cookie

Kira waiting for her turkey

My awesome photography skills...taking a photo when no one is looking? yeah. I'll work on it.

Seriously.

Monday night after I pick up Kira from the babysitter. She's starts to fuss as I put her in the carseat, and then full on freaks out when I take the keys from her because I need to start my car. I'm not feeling well...
me: Kira, please stop crying.
Kira: No.
me: Kira, mom has a headache..please settle down.
Kira: No.
me: Kira, seriously...you're fine.
Kira: NO NO NO NO NO
Kira always goes to the stairs, and if the babygate isn't up she takes off up the stairs. Or if it is up she gets as high as she can on the first step and teeters on it until she falls. Whenever she would go to the steps I'd say "Kira, don't go up there."
Now, when she goes to the stairs...
me: Kira....
(before I can finish my sentence)
Kira: DON'T.
Yep...add those two very important words to her vocabulary. No, and Don't. She's making alot more noises and babbling a lot. But--those two words--are very distinct. And, she knows how to use them. Great.

Kira and Cookie Dough

I know, I know...why am I feeding her cookie dough...but can you tell she likes it? :)

It's been a long week...

Well, this is me. This is me in my new office. I haven't arranged or decorated or done anything yet. I'm just trying to swallow everything that's been handed to me. I've got so much to learn. So much to do. So many people to remember. Well...overwhelming. Then, to top it off....I have been sick. And, not just head cold sick...like fever, chills, please someone save me sick. It's been terrible. So, today is my third day going to get an IV with fluids and antibiotics to try and get rid of my fever. My first day of work was great. Overwhelming, but great. That night I didn't feel well. The next few days I was SO annoyed because I felt like I was going nuts. I was freezing--teeth chattering freezing, or sweating to death. I thought for sure someone was messing with the temperature...I guess the chills were just my fever. I finally went to Urgent care on Thursday after I called my mom...I couldn't take it anymore. My temperature was crazy, they gave me an IV, and I still have the catheter in my arm. I'm hoping when I go today they take it out. I had to call in sick on Friday...I hated doing it. My first week, and I called in sick. UGH.

This is what has been on my wrist the past few days. It's the catheter right on the top of my arm above my wrist. It's wrapped up, of course, to keep it protected. But, it's annoying. I can't get it wet..and hello...it's hard to keep dry. :( Hopefully they take it out today....but I'm not sure...I still don't feel well, and I'm just getting frustrated.

Eating/Playtime is exhausting...

Kira dialing on her phone

Laughing....

What?

Zonked.

Depending on what she's eating, Kira feeds herself, or mom helps. If she feeds herself it's always a mess, but it's always entertaining. This night she played, and ate, and made a mess, and fell asleep...awhhh.

My last day at the jail...

So my last day at jail was really kind of hard...but not as hard as I thought it would be. I actually cried a lot more before that last day. I think I didn't cry my last day AS much because I knew I really couldn't go back on my decision. That was it. My stuff was turned in...peace out. We had a little gathering...we ordered from the soup kitchen--which is devine by the way--and had cake and well.... a few laughs, a few tears...but it was mostly just a chance to say goodbye to everyone. I took lots of pictures, but I promised several they would not be posted on my blog (see, I kept my promise)--so I'm just posting one of myself with cake. That's what this post is about...me, right? So, yeah...it was a sad sad day for me...but it was time for a change. No more uniform. No more 4:30am wake up. But...I miss everyone already.

Editor's Note

Yes, it's true. This has been my focus. Not my blog. But, this chocolate chunk cookie dough in A BUCKET. Why? S.T.R.E.S.S. No excuse. I know it. But, really....leaving my job after 5 years....it's thrown me for a loop. I know, I know...it's the right decision and it's what's best. But, I can't seem to focus on anything...including my blog, or eating remotely healthy, or working out, or....I don't know. I've just really been focused on this BUCKET. Okay, so not really...I just got it yesterday from some fundraiser for a coworker's kid. But, really...the stress has been a little hard to handle. Thanks for my family and friends who are being patient with me...and to those who aren't...knock it off. :) I've missed blogging. I've backdated things...and almost caught up....I'm just focusing on breathing and getting through the week. Then I'll have the stress of a new job. Sweet. Actually...I think things are settling down and I can keep everyone up to date on sweet little Kira....and my super thrilling life!! I apologize to those who were going through withdrawls. :)

She's getting so Big!!!

Kira now does the following...and every single thing is so adorable:

1. She hugs. Like, the wrap her arms around your neck hug. It's cute, but it's also hard because when I go to put her in bed if she's not happy...she clings. But, secretly I love it. Except when I'm tired. Then it's frustrating.
2. She can take a couple steps. She chooses to crawl, but she loves when you hold her hand and walk around with her.
3. She freaks out when it's time to get out of the bath. She wants to stay in there all night. She clocked me in the eyeball the other day when I took her out and she was mad.
4. She walks around furniture, or she will walk leaning up against the wall a little bit. Any day now she's going to be cruising around.
5. She tries really hard to copy what we're saying. Like, she really focuses on your mouth and you can see her thinking about how to copy. Her latest that cracks me up is when I say "WOW....." and she says...."OOOOWWWWW." It's SOOOO cute!
6. Maybe it's every kid? But she hates wearing her shoes and socks. She always takes them off..especially in the car.
7. She understands what we're saying to her. Like, the other day I was taking a toy out of her hand, and she started to get mad. So, I said, "Kira, do you want your toy, or do you want your bottle?" She handed me back the toy and sat until I got her bottle. Smart, huh?
8. She gets into everything. Her favorite thing to do is take the laundry from the basket that (gasp) isn't folded and throw it on the floor. Hilarious. Not really. But, kind of.
9. She likes books. She likes to open and shut them, and point to things. She'll be reading soon enough I hope.
10. She likes to crawl in circles really fast. Like, in the middle of the family room she will crawl around in a circle until she's out of breath and tips over. And then she'll do it again and again. I maybe should stop her but it cracks me up.
11. Kira has a really cute giggle....when you tickle her, etc. But, she's also got like a fake laugh. When any of us are laughing...she copies the laugh. She's a faker. But, again...hilarious.

Tough weekend....

While I realize that this picture isn't the most flattering of my child. Normally she is dressed, and her eyes are open....and this weekend I couldn't keep her runny nose from running!!!! Anyways, I'm posting it because she's standing up on her own now. She's taking tiny steps and then plopping back down. But, this night cracked me up because she was SO cranky until she had some tylenol. Kenny was in Vegas this weekend with his friends, and it happens to be the weekend that her molars were coming in. NOT FUN. But, she really did handle it well. And, thank goodness that's really the only time she's ever terribly cranky.

Kira went and got the tylenol and handed it to me. I'm not sure if it's because she likes the grape taste, or she knows it makes her feel better. I bet it's just because of the taste...but I'll pretend she's smart. For 2 days straight she carried the tylenol around and chewed on the rubber part at the top. It must have made her teeth feel better. She's so cute.

Oh brother....

"Okay Kira....Smile!!!!"

"Okay Kira...let's try again...Smile!!"

"Kira--Okay, Smile...Keep your eyes OPEN"

"Okay...one more time...let's try it...SMILE!"

Well people, I tried. Apparently I've turned my child into...I don't know. I love that she smiles as soon as she sees the camera....but I can't get her to keep her eyes open. I taught her well...but I just have to fine tune her camera style. She's got the cheese grin down. Now I just have to work on keeping her eyes open. Baby steps. Baby steps. :)

Kira's New Hang out

Yep, the cutting board drawer

Apparently it's really cool. You should try it.

Soda?

We went to see Grandpa Hart...he's been sick and in the hospital. Someone (not me) gave Kira soda...she was thirsty.. I bet she turns out just like her mom....and addict. Well, hopefully not...but she's a big girl and can drink out of a cup with a little help. :)awwh....

And..... She's Finally Getting Out of Jail....

So, it's official folks. The time has come. I'm leaving the jail. I've turned in my resignation, so it's safe to announce. I know, I know...It's not like I was tied down to this place, or stuck inside with no way out. But, as most of you know I've worked with the Sheriff's Office for almost 5 years now...and I am sadly saying goodbye.
I started as a clerk 5 years ago...had a good time, and made lots of friends. I was promoted to a Supervisor 2 years ago, and have really loved every part of it. I love my job, and I love my staff. And, I've always said that.
But, an opportunity came to apply for a new position as Officer Supervisor in Family Health with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department. It's higher pay, weekends and holidays off, and my own way nice office. It's trading my uniform for business attire. It's a chance to learn more, develop new skills, and have an opportunity to grow.
Change has always been hard for me. Especially when the change is coming because I know that's a good thing for me to do in a professional sense, and for my family...but my comfort zone is what usually comes first. Not this time. I am leaving what I've known and what I've done for the past 5 years and taking the risk that it was a smart move on my part. Let's hope that it was.
I'm stepping into a position--supervising people I don't know, dealing with a subject matter that is not familiar, working in fast paced enviroment with busy, busy people...and having to just do my best and hope it all works out.
So...for those at the jail....gosh it'll be hard to leave my friends and co-workers and I've loved working with you all. And for my family and friends....guess what? I won't miss anymore family parties because I'll have weekends off and never work afternoons again....!!! :)
On a side note--I am aware that I've lacked slightly in the blogging...I mean, it has been almost a week....but with me stressing over my interview, etc....I neglected the blog. I'll be back on track though!! :)