Jumping Fool

Anyone who knows Robyn, know that she LOVES to jump. She jumps sitting, standing, laying down..... jumps in the tub of water, jumps on the bed, in your lap....I even swear she jumps in her sleep.  She grew out of her Johnny jump up a while ago and now we have to hold her hands to help her jump.  I remembered that Tammy and Scott use to have a kids trampoline and asked if they still had it. Lucky for us they did! Now it's at our house. Check out my sweet girl jumping like a fool.

*******Santa******

The day I've dreaded the most has finally arrived.  Valley's Christmas party....which means Robyn sitting on Santa's lap!  The party was great, don't get me wrong, great food, great people, great bouncy houses for the kids....great that Robyn ran into the glass wall and screamed forever about it, it was a great night.  Robyn really did LOVE the bouncy house.  As everyone knows, she's a great bouncer.  Thanks Johnny-jump up!!  At the end of the night Santa comes for a visit with a present for each kid.  Robyn received a little people Elmo and The Count.  Robyn is really into Elmo right now.  It's Elmo this and Elmo that, I was hoping Elmo would help with the fear of Santa.  Not even close.  Here is the evidence of the night
I personally love the picture of Robyn sliding off Santa's lap....Merry freaking Christmas!

Who can't wait for Christmas?!?

ROBYN!

Although I would have to say me too.  The past couple of days I've been decorating our home for Christmas.  The village took me a day and now that Robyn can walk around, I have to put the houses in different areas this year.  Daris and I put the house lights up yesterday.  Took us forever to replace some of the bulbs that were dead.  We didn't add new lights this year....going for a fake Christmas tree!!  It's sad to see my neighbor's yard.  No lights up and it's so dark over there, I always looked forward to her lights.  It will be interesting to see what happens when Robyn goes to visit Santa this year.  I think there is going to be some major tears shedding......even walking around the mall and seeing Santa there gives her a scare.  It just must be built into kids to cry when they see him.  I have to say, I was one of those kids....must have passed it on.

The past three months......

If I have to sit here and blog about everything that has happened to our family these last three months it would takes hours and since I have a fourteen month old, that's not happening!  So here is a quick update.....

The month of August was great.  The sun was out and we all had some great weather and we had shorts on (which I'm dying for some of that right now)  My sister Lisa came for a visit back to Washington!!  She was here for Robyn's first birthday.  Had some other birthdays too!  My Grandma came for a visit and my cousin Kelcie moved to Seattle!!!!

September was a nice month......We had our seven year wedding anniversary, not that we did anything special.  Just stayed in our pj's the whole day.  We had some more birthdays (I swear, there is a birthday ever month in our families)

October is cooling down...... I joined a book club this month, I was tired of only reading Good Night Moon for the thousandth time.  We just finished Robinson Crusoe.  That was a great book!!  Nice reading it again.  Daris had a week long fire truck academy.  He worked nine to five for five days in a row.  Don't know how families do it.  We love our twenty-four hour break!  Halloween was a blast.  Robyn won cutest costume at our ward Halloween party.  On Halloween, I took Robyn to the mall ( when did I become one of those parents?)  and then later that night we attended the Carson's Halloween party.  Needless to say Robyn was a hit. 

November is freezing already.....  For book club this month, we are reading Marley and me.  It was my pick, you have to love a good dog story.  Daris's birthday is coming up.....( what to get him?)  and Tiff is coming into town for Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait and counting down the days...14 .

The best part of these three months, Robyn took her first steps!!!!!!  She started walking around and slipped on our hard wood floors and has never tried walking again.  She is walking everywhere on her knees, which is funny as it sounds.

Finally back after three months becuase of a stupid virus on my computer......thanks Dad!

Back to normal

These past few weeks our family has been trying to get back to normal!  We have all been sick and Robyn has been busting her two top teeth out!  So needless to say, we have all been crabby!  Robyn and I went to stay at the Gram's and Poppy's house for a few days.  Robyn loves their dogs now.  We've been working on planing Robyn's 1st birthday party.  Her great Aunt Gretchen is coming up from Oregon!  Can't wait to see her!  Here are some of the pictures of what we've been doing these past few weeks!

Daddy and me!

This is what Daris would look like if he was a girl!! Scary how they look so much a like now!

Family Vacation

We had our every two year Couch family reunion!  Here is our trip in a nutshell! 
July 1 - Crammed five people into our car. Started driving to Wyoming and only made it to Boise, ID.  Robyn was done being in her car seat for eight hours. We stayed in a hotel and even took Robyn swimming for the first time.  She didn't really enjoy herself and she didn't like it when Daddy jump in and made a big splash.
July 2 - Made it to Draper,UT, where my sister-in law lives.  Had our first In&Out Burger for lunch and enjoyed Cafe Rio for dinner!  Aunt Tiffy and Alex were excited to see all of us.
July 3 - Finally made it to Wyoming where we met the rest of the family at church to bless our new nephew Eli ( we share a birthday now )  Had a great get together with all of the Wyoming Conrad friends also a great firework show!
July 4 - Made it all the way to Idaho Falls and met the rest of the Conrad family!  We checked into a great hotel!  Joined the extended Couch family in the park to watch the fireworks and to eat a picnic dinner!  Had some great fun meeting everyone again and meeting the new family members.  I didn't last very long ( there was cotton wood everywhere and I was sneezing up and storm and Robyn was ready for bed)  We enjoyed the around the world firework show from the hotel bed
July 5 - Daris and I got up early and went to visit Robyn's great grandma for their first visit!  It was wonderful to see them getting to know each other.  Robyn didn't disappoint.....she put on a great smile and showed off her crawling skills!  Had lunch at a park and enjoyed the Couch family history tour of Idaho Falls.  Went back to the park for dinner and family pictures!  Later that night, Grandma offered to babysit so we could head out on a date.  We went to see Transformers 3 in 3D.  Fun movie!
July 6 - Daris and the boys went off for an all day rafting trip.  We took all the kids to the local zoo.  It was a good thing it was so small.  The kids were hungry and falling apart.  After lunch the kids calmed down and were having a blast at the pool where all the Dads joined us.  Had family dinner and some said their goodbyes.
July 7 - The reunion was coming to an end and Daris and some of the boys headed home.  They had a long drive but they made it!  I was hanging out for another couple of days.  We also went to the temple.  Realized I forgot my temple recommend.  They had to call my bishop.  Everything work out ok!  Idaho Falls has one of the most beautiful temples I have ever been inside of!
July 8 - We helped Great Grandma paint her backyard fence and her deck!  The work went fast because of the amount of people and the heat!  90ish degrees :)  Later that night, we all headed over to Brad and Roz's house to help bake cookies for Kate's wedding.  Had a wonderful time hanging out.  Back to Great Grandma's house around 130am, where Robyn was coughing and crying really hard and we ended up taking her to urgent care, where we found out she had a full blow ear infection going on ( just thought it was more teeth coming in )  Got home around 330am, where she cried for an hour or so.  I felt just rotten!  There was nothing I could do for her, she finally feel a sleep and at 730 woke with a smile on her face!!  Thanks for all the family members that pitched in, couldn't have done it without you!!
July 9 - Katie and Luke's wedding day!!!!   Went to the temple to see them be sealed to each other!  Almost cried!!  They had a great luncheon and a rocking reception!  Katie just looked SO beautiful!!!
July 10 - We all went to church but, we didn't make it all three hours!  Everyone was falling a sleep!  Had a great family lunch.  We packed up and made our way back to Utah.  Drove into a great thunder storm!  Went to In&Out a second time (Kathy lost a bet with Tiff about a rest stop, so she was buying)
July 11 - Kathy, Robyn and I headed to down town Salt Lake.  Use the trax system!  Wish Seattle had something like that!  Walked around Temple Square and visited some of the buildings, learned tons about church history!  Headed home and picked Tiff up from work where we later met up with Tiff's friend Tammy and headed out to a bar-b-q restaurant!  Great food!!  Great company!!  Packed up for Robyn's first airplane ride in the morning

July 12 - Got up early and actually had to wake Robyn up.  Dropped off Tiff at work and headed to the airport.  Kathy got a guest pass to help me threw security and wait for the plane.  Salt Lake airport was great!  A security guard let us cut in line and helped out with going threw the metal detectors.  We let Robyn crawl around while waiting for the plane.  Said our goodbyes and Robyn and I boarded the plane!  Happy to say Robyn did GREAT on her first ride.  She slept the first half and just hung out the last half!  Scott picked us up at the airport and I about kissed my kitchen floor!  I was SO happy to be home and sleep in my own bed ( which is where I'm headed now)

Mae West

So on Tuesday I ended up having West put to sleep. She was only nine years old.  Her stroke hit her really bad and I was told there would be months of recovery and she would have personality changes.  I asked to see her at the vet and I knew I had to do what was right for my dog and my family.  It was one of the most heartbreaking things I ever had to do.  After seeing her at the vet, I knew.  She was still falling all over the place and she couldn't look me in the eyes.  I think she knew who I was but I can't be sure.  I always told Daris that when West would died, I would have to run out and get another dog.  I've changed my mind.  I need some time.  Although my floors are a mess.  No dog to clean up after Robyn!!  The good news..... Our trash can is on the ground where it belongs!  I came home from the vet and threw away everything of hers.  Daris said we should keep the kennel, for when it's time for a puppy.  During the day, it's like she's a sleep in the other room but at night is when it's the hardest!  I hear every little noise and I freak out.   I was SO scared the other night when it was just Robyn and I.  I mowed the lawn tonight and didn't have to worry about dog poop!  That was nice, now Robyn can crawl around the front yard!  Just wanted to say Thank you for all the well wishes and to the special person who brought me a blizzard.....that was the best and I really needed that visit!  Thank you!

Busy couple of days!

So here is some pictures of Robyn during the last few days.  It's been SO crazy.  Jury Duty ended with a not guilty verdict.  My dog West had a stroke the other morning and is still at the vet getting the best care possible.  It looks like she maybe coming home sometime tomorrow!  It's a good thing, my floors have Cheerios everywhere!  Robyn went to her first birthday party for her friend Ben.  He turned one the other day.  She had a great time and had some ice cream to celebrate!  Robyn is crawling everywhere.  Robyn's teeth are coming in like crazy!  She already has two bottom teeth!  Vacation is coming up fast!  Elven more days!  Then Idaho Falls here we come!  Every two years Daris's side of the family has a HUGE family reunion.  We are going to be traveling through Idaho, Utah, Wyoming.  IN & OUT Burger, here I come!

Off to the races!

Here is Robyn's new favorite pass time.  Follow the leader with the dog!  Wherever West goes, Robyn is right behind her.  As if it could get any sweeter, Robyn's crawl tops it all.  She looks like she is moving around like a worm.  Up, down, up, down!  Enjoy.......

YOGA!

Robyn is starting to crawl around the house like crazy......well it's really not crawling just yet, it's more like doing the worm. Up, down, up, down.  Anyways, she's having trouble gripping the hard wood floors with her knees.  Being the smartest person I know ;) I decided to put my yoga mat down for her and what do you know, it worked!  Now she just loves it! 

Jury duty is finally done.....nine LONG weeks.  Found out that I'm the alternate so I'm sort of on call I guess you could say, until they reach a verdict.  Day two and nothing so far.

 Daris ended up having a crappy day yesterday according to him.  Robyn was fighting going down for a nap and Daris just got her to sleep and was walking to her room to put her down.  Well the baby gate was up and he forgot to lift his leg all the way up and over it.  He tripped and banged his knee into the wall and almost landed on Robyn.  Needless to say she woke up screaming.  An hour later Daris put her to sleep again and was walking again to her room.  Didn't lift his leg all the way up again, although, he cut his other foot this time and almost fell on Robyn again.  He was done walking over the babygate and kicked it and broke it. He sure showed that baby gate!!  Personally I think the baby gate won..... cut on foot and bummed knee.

Nosey neighbor from next door.......

I never had much of an opinion about neighbors until we bought our house.  It started when we were looking at our house to buy and the next door neighbor came by to talk with us.  She introduced herself as the nosey neighbor from the TV show Bewitched.....MRS. Kravits ( I think that is how you spell the name)  She told us everything there was to know about the house we were looking at and the home owners and everything about the neighborhood.  She would know........She has a pair of binoculars, that she would use to spy on the neighbors!  The day we were moving in she offered to help us. " Anything you need, it's yours"  That was her motto.  I was bugged at first.  Always checking up on us, sharing info on neighbors I didn't know.  Telling me about her family as I knew them.  Anytime we were outside, she'd run up to us and started talking and I mean TALKING.  She could talk FOREVER!  I finally started turning around when we ended up borrowing a rake to clean our yard.  I told her I didn't have one and I asked if I could borrow her rake.  " Anything you need, it's yours" There came the saying I'll never forget. The next day I came home from work and there was new rake standing up against the back door with a big red bow on it.   I one time asked her why she was always so nice and letting us borrow every known yard tool in the world.   She said when she first moved into her house, she had no yard tools to use and her neighbor let her borrow her things.  The only way she could think to repay her neighbor was to be nice to all of the neighbors that came and went.  That was the moment I started changing my mind about being bugged to enjoying seeing my neighbor every chance she got!  We became very good friends, switching keys to each other's homes, taking care of each other's dogs, sharing plants in our yards, keep up with the neighbor's lives, getting to know each other.  I one time needed a tray to use in the oven and my neighbor wasn't home....I just let myself in her house, went into the kitchen and got it myself.  Daris told me I was spending to much time over there if I knew where the baking trays where.  I call my neighbor to let her know what I did and she just laughed and said "Anything you need, it's yours".  We shared a love for Department 56 Christmas houses and we shared our religious views often.  She just loved when the missionaries would come to her house.  She would give them such a had time tell them the most outrageous things.  Onetime she told them that the world was going to end in two hours!!  We would laugh about it later and she asked if the missionaries believed her or not!  She was the most loving Christan women I had ever known.  She loved everyone and help anyone in need.  She has helped me in more ways than one.  She was my best friend.  I could ALWAYS run to her house to chat or to work out a problem.  She was the best cook.  I can't tell you how many times she made me dinner when Daris was working.  She always checked on me......more so now that I have Robyn.  She was such a mother hen.  Making sure Robyn was eating and growing.  Yelled at me once because I forgot to put suntan lotion on her!  Making sure we had enough food and that everything was going good in our lives.  She would help kill the spiders at my house and I would clean up the birds and rats her cats brought home.  We were the perfect pair of neighbors.  Everyone should have one like her! 
     I'll miss you terribly nosey neighbor!  I'll miss you talking about strangers as if I know them.  Miss talking about our neighborhood. Miss talking about different plants and our pets.  Miss talking about your favorite TV shows and how one day your kitchen table will be cleaned off.  Miss talking about your new craft your doing.  Miss you coming over and not caring if I'm in my pj's or if my house was a mess.  You brought a comfort to my life and my families.  I'll tell Robyn about you often and how you taught me all about my plants in my yard and how to treat strangers, neighbors and loved ones.  How to be a great mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and wife.  Thank you Judy Newcomer!  Now that you are gone from this world remember that we love you and will think of you often.  I'll see you again some day, my nosey neighbor and then we can talk and talk and talk and talk............Judith Newcomer died May 30th 2011

Baby came back!

I did it!!!!!
I must be a typical mom, Robyn came home and started to whine because she didn't have a very good nap in the afternoon and I wanted to send her back!  I missed her but I wanted to send her back!  Then I remembered why I missed her so much.......
Her laugh
Her smile
Watching her try to crawl
Watching her eat a sour blueberry
Seeing her try and pet West when she walks by
Giving hugs and kisses
Hearing her say Mama or Dada
Wave bye bye
Her cute naked butt!
Splashing in the tub
Cuddling before bed
The sound when she sucks on her uh oh
Can't forget the snorts in her sleep
I was unpacking her things and set her down to play on the floor and before I knew it, she had tipped over the sock basket and was throwing socks everywhere and laughing about it!  I just love her so much.  I also can't wait until she spends the night at her Grandma's again! ;)

Day Two

I can do this, I can do this.......
Woke up this morning to my alarm clock and not to Robyn talking to herself or laughing at herself in her crib.  It was kinda weird.  I actually had time this morning to have breakfast, granted it was only a bowl of cereal and wasn't that hard to make.  Mom video chat with me before heading off to court.  Robyn just looked into the camera and wanted to get back to jumping in her johnny jump up.  It makes me so happy to know that she's having such a great time with her grandma and grandpa!  They kept updating me with pictures of her playing or napping!  I didn't realize how quite our life was BR!  Tonight was the night.  Daris and I went on our first date since Robyn was born.  Even though we were on a date, we still looked at baby girl clothes at the pumpkin patch!  We had a great time.  We went to the movies and dinner.  We were actually holding hands walking through the mall instead of pushing a stroller or trading off Robyn to each other.  I even forgot how good movie theater popcorn tasted!  We decided we shouldn't wait another nine months before we go on a date again!  Didn't do anything that I planned on doing, it was all about my marriage today.  It was needed very much and it did us wonders.  Tomorrow is the day to spring clean the house.  I think I can go another day without Robyn being around.  Daris asked if I wanted to go and pick her up early.  I said no.  Realizing we needed some time for us and ourselves.  Although, I think West is missing her highchair buddy!  Here is to another day of waking up to the alarm and cold cereal!

Day One

Today was the day.  We dropped off Robyn at my parent's house for three days.  We had to laugh on the way home. Daris was driving and he still would look in the rear view mirror to look at Robyn's empty car seat spot.  I just did the first check in with my Dad.  They survived with only one poopy diaper up the back.  My Mom rocked Robyn to sleep.........that is what I think I miss the most.  I love cuddling with Robyn at night.  I guess the dog will have to do or I can pull out my old stuffed bear named Papa Bear.  Walking in the door tonight I realized that Robyn's things are taking over the whole house.  She's not even crawling yet and there is still stuff everywhere.  She doesn't move anything, we move it for her.  I guess this would be a good time to "Spring clean" her room and maybe start changing out her clothes to larger sizes.  Well here is to a good night sleep and having time to have breakfast in the morning before court!!!

I still think I'll check her crib before I go to bed.

Robyn at 8 months old!

I love this picture of Robyn, even thought she'd been crying.  Her hair is getting so long and growing like a weed.  She still has baby blue eyes!

P.S.E.

Woke up this morning to a text from Daris saying PSE wanted to use or driveway to cut tree limbs down behind our house!  Well this is what it looks like.  The PSE guy is up and OVER or house.  Good thing our house is short!

Stuffy nose

Well apparently Robyn doesn't agree with the 9 to 5 work schedule.  She decided to get a cold to protest.  This hasn't happened in a long time but we were up with Robyn from 1 to 4 in the morning because of a stuffy nose and every time we went to put her back in her own bed, she started to cry again.  So we gave into our weak moment of sleepiness and let her stay in our bed.  Daris feel asleep and forgot Robyn was there between us and felt her kicking him and he thought it was ME kicking him.  Tonight we are going to stick to our guns........Robyn is sleeping in her own bed!................  We'll see how far we get with that! There is nothing worse than a baby with a stuffy nose.

Working 9 to 5

The next two weeks are going to be very interesting for our family.  Daris is going to a pump class for work and is working 9 to 5, Monday thur Friday!! I'm STILL doing jury duty, 8 to 4, Monday thur Thursday and working Saturdays at my normal job.  We are going to have normal work hours for the first time in our marriage. Also next week, Robyn is staying at my mother's house for three days! ..............

 Is our marriage going to survive this?!? Are we going to kill each other having to see one another every night?  Are we still going to eat at the dinner table? Am I going to miss my nightly breaks have the bed all to myself? Will Daris miss his "guy time" at work? Will we miss our little girl?  Will we enjoy sleeping in and staying up late?  Will our house be to quite with Robyn gone?  Will we find things to fill our time? Will we see a movie? Can Daris and I go back to our lives without Robyn for a couple of days or will we fail and have to pick her up early?  Will we miss our nightly "bath time" with Robyn?  Will we still check her crib at night?  Will we still rock back and forth, when holding an object?  Will we still look in the back of the car for the car seat?  Can we even enjoy the three days Robyn is gone?  I have all of these questions about going back to our lives before Robyn (BR)  All I can say is................... there is no going back to our lives BR.

I think the only one who is going to enjoy this is the dog!

Growing up!

Robyn is growing up way to fast!  One minute I'm feeding her with a spoon, the next she wants to feed herself!  Where does the time go?!?

Movin' and groovin'

The other night Daris and I went to check on Robyn before we went to bed and this is what we found!

When lunch attacks!

Robyn was really proud of trying to feed herself peas and chucks of bread.  This was the result.......

Next time, I'm taking off her shirt and letting West clean her up. ;)

The Easter Bunny!!!

Check out our cute little bunny we got for Easter!

Happy Spring!

Check out the cutest picture of our little girl!  They were doing spring pictures at Sam's Club and we thought we'd give it a try.  They turned out great. Thanks Sam's!

The beginning of my day!

So this is the beginning of my day!  I had to go to court today at 9.  I was going to drop Robyn off at the sitters house around 830.  That didn't happen.  Went to wake Robyn up around 730.  She had peed through her overnight diaper, through her pjs, on to the bed sheets.  It soaked all the way through her comforter and stuffed giraffe and her quilt.  That wasn't a big deal, just started the day off bad.   Just as We were getting ready to leave the house, Robyn poops!  Not only does she poop, she POOPS up her back and all the way to her neck!  Trying to take a shirt and a undershirt off without getting more poop on Robyn,  impossible!!  Needless to say, she had poop in her hair too.  Poop on the changing pad and jeans and socks ( Just because she decided to kick the poop filled diaper for fun).  Once I got the diaper dealt with, took Robyn to the shower and rinsed her off.  She didn't like that to much!  Looked at the clock and it was already 830!  Threw the clothes and changing pad cover in the wash, ran out the door, got to the sitters house at 845.  Dropped Robyn off and had 15min to get to Kent court house, find parking a block away at the show center, wait for the cross walk sign, run to the building,  go through the security line (which is usually out the door) and I ran up four flights of stairs.  I arrived 5 mins late but, the best part of the day?!? Someone in the court house bought us all donuts!  After my crazy morning, I had two.

Just like Daddy!

Robyn and I went to visit Daris at work the other day and we got some pictures of her driving the fire truck just like Dad!

The Zoo!

How did Robyn spend her first time at the zoo?!? SLEEPING! :)  She was awake some of the time.  She really liked watching the fish in the tank.  We didn't end on a good note, Robyn fell off the bench.  That was SO my bad.  She was ok, just scared.  We also found out some bad news about our dog, West.  She has a low blood platelet count which means, she either has an autoimmune disease, in which case she would have to take steroids for the rest of her life or she has bone marrow cancer.  We should find out in three weeks when she goes in for another blood test.  On Thursday, I also found out that I'm serving on a jury until June.  Monday thur Thursday!  So as you can see that last couple of days have been busy, which is the reason I haven't up dated in a few days.  Hopefully things calm down soon!!

Best babysitter EVER!

Robyn is starting to feel better, so we decided to go to Gran's and Grap's house for some lovin for Robyn!  Check out who was babysitting Robyn!  Shawn just can't wait for Robyn to grow up and play with him!!

Easter Dress

Here is Robyn in her Easter dress!  The blue in her dress REALLY shows off her blue eyes!  I just love it!

Who is ready for Spring?

Robyn is!!

Daddy's Hat!

Last night we went out to dinner and there were six patrol officers in the restaurant and they gave Robyn a junior hywy patrol sicker!  It was so funny. Robyn wanted the sicker off of her chest in the worst way! Daris put his firefighter baseball hat on her head as a joke to stop her from crying and we thought these pictures were so cute, that we just had to share!

My Buddy!

Robyn and her best friend!

Cute Bum!

Robyn's favortie new way to sleep.  Her butt in the air!

Why is the dog so funny?

Robyn loves West!  She thinks West is funny and laughs anytime she sees her.

"Mr. T"

Robyn has started making the "Mr. T" face.  I use to make that face as a baby too!  She makes this face all the time!

We finally made it!

We're on the internet. Finally!!! so here is a picture of Robyn for everyone! She finished eatting applesauce and rubbed her face in it!