Always know when I update this blog

Remember a few months back when I thought Google Reader would automatically update my blog even though it was private? Remember how I was wrong?

I have been a tad bit upset that my readership has waned since going private almost 2 years ago. My brilliant cousin-in-law Sarah had this great idea long ago to make a public blog that you can link to your private blog and get updates automatically. So, I am finally doing just that myself.

Add azuremarie2.blogspot.com to your reader and you won't have to manually check my blog anymore. Hurray!

Catch up: St. Augustine

We went on an impromptu trip down to St. Augustine on Mon. June 7th and only stayed one night. Besides it being ridiculously hot and humid we had a wonderful time. I LOVED St. Augustine! There's something about Florida that infatuates me in a way that Georgia... well, just doesn't. Don't get me wrong, Savannah is beautiful and I'm positive we'll miss it lots when we move next year but, I can't quite say "I'm in love with Savannah."
First off, we ate at Colombia's, which is not a Colombian restaurant (unfortunately b/c I love me some Colombian empanadas- haven't had any for years) but, a Spanish and Cuban restaurant. We were disappointed that they didn't have yucca. I went for my fave Spanish dish, Paella. While, Charlie had Cuban fare. Here I am with my Paella that actually tasted a little too seafoody for me. I'm not sure if it's one of my faves anymore :(
Next stop: downtown. Very delightful. Cute little shops in narrow little alleyways. Charles was ecstatic that they had a Pepper Palace with hundreds of hot sauce varieties. He is insanely crazy about hot sauce. We walked around Castillo de San Marcos, but didn't actually go inside. I think we've had our fill of historical forts for awhile :)





We checked into our hotel and then walked 1 block east to the beach. Since it was around 5pm or so, the sun wasn't directly above us and it wasn't too hot. Azure was the bravest we've seen her in a long time in the waves. I actually got some time alone to body surf and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Charles woke up the next morning before sunrise and ran on the beach. I slept in with the kids. After breakfast at the hotel, we went to the Fountain of Youth National Park. Pretty awesome. Could of been more awesome if it's wasn't 100 degrees w/ 100% humidity.

Drinking the water from the real fountain of youth folks. That's right, I will never age!

For the record, it did NOT taste very good.

After we came to our senses with the A/C blasting in our car for about 15 mins, we regained our strength and walked around Flagler College, and the Lightner Museum. We ate lunch in what was once a swimming pool in the famous Alcazar Hotel where I had some of the most tastiest salmon w/ fettuccine and lemon sauce. Oh my!

Then we feasted our eyes on the lovely Spanish architecture! I love Spanish architecture, especially Spanish style roofs. (So happy the temple we were married in is Spanish style :) I seriously get giddy just looking at all of these amazing buildings. I could have spent hours photographing them, however with temps and humidity percentage in the 100's, my motivation wanes just a tad.
If you ever have the chance to go to St. Augustine, go! I hope we can go back someday.

The party

We had a party on Azure's actual birthday (Monday, the 21st). I decided after much debate to have a swim party here in our complex. We're not supposed to have pool parties, so I planned to have the kids over to have snacks and play a bit in the house, go out to the pool to swim for an hour or so, and then come back again for cake and ice cream. That way it wasn't a "party" out at the pool, just part of our activity :) It all turned out great. It was a little crowed in our apartment, but I was glad that all of Azure's friends could make it.

I am especially proud of myself for making my first cutesy cake ever! I think it turned out fabulous and it tasted great too.
I saw this fun idea to put runt bananas on the cupcakes. For someone like me who isn't very creative or crafty, pulling this off makes me feel pretty dang awesome!
She received a little too many presents, so we think that next year we will have a no present or at least "small" present party.

Azure is 3!

Time seems to be going by pretty fast these days. Azure is growing up to be such a bright, articulate, and demanding :) little woman.

She is learning how to read! She is doing such a fantastic job sounding words out. We're so proud of her. This site has helped her so much.

About 2 weeks ago she finally started showing more interest in wearing underwear to bed. During that time she has only had 2 accidents! She's gone from 95% to 99% potty trained.

Today I told her she needed to go get dressed. She replied with, "Hold on. I'm watching a movie right now."
"Okay, but we're leaving soon and you need to be dressed."
Hands go up in the air, eyebrows raise, head tilts.
"I'm watching a movie," she repeats. "When it's over I will get dressed. Okay mom?"
Let the 3 year old games begin :)

She really is a sweetie most of the time. She stills loves Vince and is very attentive to his cries or fussiness. Sometimes if he's fussing in the swing while I'm making dinner she will try to make him laugh so he'll stop. If that doesn't work, she runs into the kitchen and says, "Mommy, the boy's crying, will you please get him?"


She is usually very obedient (for a 3 yr old) and I've had other moms comment that they're impressed with her obedience.

She still hasn't shown much of an interest in Spanish. When we try to teach her words in Spanish she'll say things like "Beep Boop, Ga Ga" which is a little frustrating and hilarious at the same time. Charles has been very diligent and continues to pray with her in Spanish every night, though she is not very responsive. I frequently listen to Salsa and whenever it comes on she says, "Speakinspanish Mom!" and then of course starts dancing. Dora the Explorer has made her a little more interested lately but, still not much. Our tentative plan is to put her in a Spanish immersion school once she starts kindergarten but, of course that depends on where we move to.

She is an exceptional drawer. She loves to draw. Here's some of her masterpieces as of late:
She eats pretty much everything that we eat, even spinach and salad. It has to have dressing on it though. Of course, she has her moments when she is picky but, she usually eats a wide variety of foods.

2 of her best friends that recently moved away :(

Azure and her "children". If we refer to them as babies she is quick to correct us.

Nursing one of her "children"

Azure and her pediatrician had a wonderful time together on Tuesday at her 3 yr old well check. She had the Dr. laughing with her little personality as she quizzed Azure on colors and other developmental abilities. It was a fun exchange for me to watch and I really felt like Azure was growing up so much. The Dr. said that Azure's mental and social abilities are up to par with a 4.5 yr old. I'm not quite sure how she came up with that number but, Azure is very bright. I don't take too much credit, she came to us that way.

Quote of the Day

Me: "Azure are you eating that?"
A: "No, I'm just looking at it with my tongue."

Happy 3rd birthday to my little rascal. A post to come soon :)

Sunday

With Azure's 3rd birthday fast approaching, we've been discussing who she wants to invite to her party and what kind of cake she wants.

Today after church, she said, "Cinderella and President Monson can come to my birthday."

She loves Curious George, so I've decided to make this cake.I've never made any fancy cake like this before so, wish me luck and give me some cake decorating tips if you have any.

Also, follow up on my last post- I enjoyed teaching the Primary kids, "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home" today with all the fun hand motions. We'll be singing it in Sacrament next Sunday for Father's Day. However, my heart ached quite a bit when I saw the Young Women getting out of class. I wondered how their lesson went, what experiences were shared, and what the Spirit testified to them. This is proving to be more difficult than I thought :(

The end of a season

On Sunday I was released from my calling as Young Women's president. It's bittersweet. Just for the record, I feel more sad than relieved. I had served for almost exactly 2 years.

Victoria, Me, Jamie

It was so hard at first. It wasn't until about a year into my calling, last summer at Girls' Camp, that I felt like I was finally seeing some fruits of my labors. I was walking one of my laurels to her cabin when she stopped suddenly. I looked at her and she was crying. Then she threw her arms around me and said, "You have taught me so much Sis. Jensen, more than you know. Thank you!" Wow. This was a girl that I had wondered if I was truly reaching. I could go on and on about experiences like this.

They have taught me so much! They are bombarded with evil everyday in the halls of their schools, but they diligently strive to stand for truth and righteousness. I have been to their sporting events and choir concerts and have stood with them in the baptismal font of the holy temple. I will miss being their leader! I told them that I expect to receive a temple wedding invitation from all of them and that I will try my best to attend their sealings, wherever they decide to get married, I will fly there.

I was released because the Bishopric felt inspired to call me to a new position: Primary Chorister! I feel it's a tender mercy to have this calling. I first went to church when I was 11 (just about to turn 12), and what made me want to keep going back was the pretty songs we sang in primary. (Since I loved to sing) The one I most remember was "Easter Hosanna", which I lovingly taught to Azure this last Easter. Now, every time she sees a palm she sings it. So, here I am 17 years later, teaching children how to sing the primary songs.

Like always, the Lord's timing is perfect. I have 2 small children and since I don't know many of the Primary songs myself, now is the perfect time to learn. I really do hope that I will be called to YW's again when Azure is in there. If any of you have been Primary Chorister before, please give me some ideas!

Audio Assaults

When Azure was just shy of 2 months old, we attended a Matisyahu concert.
Vince is within 1-2 degrees of freedom of 2 months, so we took him to a free concert at Forsyth Park. G Love and Special Sauce were the headliners and failed to keep things as sanitary as Matisyahu had previously in West Valley City many moons ago. Thus, we departed.

Now we must decide what concert child #3 (at some far future date) should attend in their infancy. Please cast your vote.

Charles

"I've got a crush on you sweetie pie...

...all the day and night-time hear me sigh. The world will pardon my mush, 'cause I got a crush, my baby on you!" (Name that tune :)

No surprise but, I've got a crush on this little sweetie who turned 4 months yesterday.

4 month facts

• Still sleeping about 11 hrs straight at night, haven't had to get up to pump for 4 wks now. (Though I still have random burning sensations under my left armpit. I think I have some permanent nerve damage there. Has this happened to anyone who's had mastitis?)

• He won't fall asleep for the night until about 10pm. 9pm is the earliest. His bedtime routine takes about 2 hrs. 30 mins of playing, 30 mins of bath and massage, and about an hr feeding; usually at least 2 times on each side.

• He's started reaching out to grab things more and more. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes he misses.

• Does this sound that sounds like he's gasping for air. Really can't describe it, but it's clearly his own. I haven't ever heard another baby do it. You can hear for yourself:

• Still squeaking in his sleep, though a little less than when he was a newborn. Today at his checkup the Dr. said that she thinks he has some excess tissues inside that cause the squeaks.
  
  
• Teething like crazy. When he's awake he has to have something in his mouth or his isn't too happy. He hasn't been drooling hardly at all though compared to Azure at this age.

• Looks like a sucker fish with his mouth open all day. I take advantage of the cute open mouth kisses as much as possible :)

• Watches me take a drink from a cup and squeals like he wants some.

• Weighs 14 lbs 8 oz and is 25 inches long.

• Is too big for the bassinet as of a week and a half ago so, we converted it to the pack and play. I'd really like him to be in the crib but, there's no way he'd get any sleep if he shared a room with Azure.
  

Azure is still so good with him and makes him smile and laugh constantly. Seeing these two play together warms my heart!

Spit bubbles

Okay so funny story: Vince's eczema had flared up so bad that it was oozing and looked like an open wound. I called the on-call nurse to see if I could put hydrocortisone on it. Because it has steroids in it I'm always afraid of using it too much. She wanted to make sure he didn't have an infection so she told me to take his temperature rectally. Now, at this point in my career as a mother I have never yet taken a temperature rectally. I never did it on Azure b/c I thought it was too gross and I thought it would hurt her and/or make her very uncomfortable. I asked Charles to do it. He asked me to hold his legs. He inserts the thermometer, and Vince lets out some air. We look at each other and chuckle a little and then this happened:
Sorry if this is too graphic or crude for some. But, we thought it was hilarious! No fever here!