I realized I haven't posted about Jenna for a while so here is a little update.

Jenna is doing really well with her hearing. She is right on track. The hardest thing for others to understand is that she hears equivilant to a 3 month old baby. People will yell her name at her expecting her to respond, and she doesn't. The doctors know her chronilogical age (17 mos) and also her hearing age (3 mos.) She is hearing for sure, we are working on teaching her where the sound is coming from so that she will start to turn her head to the sound. She wears her implant pretty well, it is hard to keep it on her all the time. Mainly because she is not setting up yet. So when I am doing something she is sometimes on the floor, so the implant can fall off easier. Her favorite thing to do is to pull it off her head and use the magnet as a chew toy! Poor girl is getting a lot of teeth right now and will chew on anything, there are even bite marks on it:) That is one expensive teething toy!




Jenna has started to smile a ton lately. She likes to cheese it big time! It makes me laugh! She is also the worst picture taker ever! It's like she knows what you are doing so she does the exact opposite of what you want her to do! Makes me frustrated! Oh well, she is so stinkin cute I will let it go! Here is my attempt at her smiling!

Oh this boy just kills me! He is so hilarious lately! Sally gave me a snowman kit that was to be used on a real snowman. It had a scarf, hat, pipe, carrot nose, buttons and the whole nine yards. Well, Gavin loves it! Monday we weren't able to build a snowman because the snow is hard as ice. So Gavin decided to wear the attire. We went to get my hair cut and he had his hat (3 sizes to small) his scerf (scarf) and yes he had the pipe! Is it wrong for a 3 year old to have a pipe? He also added his goggles that came with his power tools. He wore it everywhere. He just cracks me up lately! I love him to pieces!

Goodbye 2010

Well, I am sure I am not the only one that has been reflecting on the last year. After the roller coaster ride I was on in 2009 I was really hoping for a mellow 2010. However, I think I must have bought a 2 for 1 ticket to the roller coaster, because 2010 has been just as crazy! We have had many ups and downs, but I am thankful for them all. I think we truly learn about our strengths as we go through trials. We learn about the depth and strength of our Faith and just how willing we are to accept things and try to move forward.

Jenna has had a pretty good year I would say. She is one tough chic. She had her eye muscle surgery that worked like a charm, and she also had her cochlear implant surgery. She is rolling over like crazy, she knows how to get where she wants. We are working so hard on her muscle strenght, the goal is to get her setting up as soon as possible. I can't carry that car seat any longer! She is smiling and laughing much more lately. She is the sweetest the little girl ever! Her implant was a success, and she is hearing new things every day. It is an amazing miracle for her to be able to hear. I am so happy that she was able to recieve this implant. We are looking forward to the next year with her and what new milestones she will hit.

Gavin is my precious boy. He turned 3 in August, but he seems bigger to me. He has such a tender heart and is so loving. He loves Jenna with all his heart and you can just see the love at he has for her. He is so gentle and kind to her. Gavin is going to be a Sunbeam on Sunday and is looking forward to it. He keeps telling me not to cry, but I will. He loves Micky and Toystory. He loves to watch movies and play with his toys. He is also excited to go to pre-school this fall. Once again I will cry!

I am excited to spend a new year with my family and hopefully strengthen my relationships with them. It has been a rough couple years and I think we are finally getting back on track. You know the poem "Footprints" the part when he looks down and sees only one set of Footprints and the Lord says " it was then that I carried you." I am pretty sure the Lord has carried me for the last two years. I have relied on Him so much, I sure am sorry if I took up all his time:) That is the great thing about our Savior, He is with us all! We just need to rely on him and be intune!

My goal this year is to just be present. Be here for my kids and family. I want them to be my main priority. Sure I would love to loose 20 pounds, but why set myself up for failure? I just want to be with those I love and be the best me that I can.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year!

Finally!!

Jenna has been teething I swear for like 6 months. I kept thinking any day there will be a tooth! And FINALLY her first tooth has broke through her gums!!! I am so happy for her! She just keeps getting bigger and bigger! We are so excited for Tuesday we can hardly stand it!!

Days 21-30

Well lets finish this bad boy up! Note to self NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!

Day 21

A picture of something that makes me happy



Zumba makes me very happy! I really love it! I have really enjoyed working out and having an hour to just focus on me! Moms need that!

Day 22

What makes you different from everyone else

I guess it is our personalities that really define who we are. I like to think of myself as a very strong person but very weak at the same time. I can be so tough when it comes to Jenna and her issues, but the littlest thing can make me crumble! I am typically a very happy person, and I like that. I enjoy life and I enjoy living my life to the fullest. My dad would probably say that I am tender hearted, which I am. I have a big heart and I enjoy loving!

Day 23

Something you crave



I love these little babies! I have consumed 3 boxes in the last week!! Good thing I go to Zumba huh? They are just perfect.....


Day 24

A letter to your parents

Well this could take hours to write the right way:) So here is my short version

Dear Mom and Dad-

I hope you know that I love you! I miss you more than ever now that you have moved! I really thought that I would be okay with you moving, but about a week after you left I realized I wasn't. I took for granted you being so close to me. I have wonderful memories, but I am selfish and want my mommy and daddy back:)

You have shown me that correct way to live my life by your examples. You have always given me SO much and I truly appreciate it! I am who I am today by your wonderful examples of compassion, love, honesty, trust, and companionship and so much more.

Thank you for raising me in the church. Another thing that so many of us take for granted. I value the times you "made" me go to church, because even if I thought I wasn't listening luckily some of it stuck with me. I am so appreciative of your examples! I feel so blessed to know my family is eternal!

Thank you for loving my children. I love that my kids know and love their grandparents. It is so neat to see the relationships they have formed with you.

Dad, thank you for being such a hard worker. You work so hard for your family, and we appreciate it. You haven't always had it easy and your attitude and love for life is amazing. I feel so blessed to have you as my father!

Mom, thank you for always being there for me. You have been there for me so much over the last two years, thanks just isn't enough. I love spending time with you and all your little quirks:) I love that you love life and being right in the middle of any activity! You are always so willing to help me and I am forever grateful for that!

Thank you for just being you. I love you so much!

Love

Tara
(your favorite)

Day 25

What you would find in my bag

1. my wallet
2. a billion insurance cards
3. chapstick
4. all the pens I have stolen from various places
5. floss
6. my planner


Day 26

What do you think about your friends

I think the world of my friends! They are great examples to me and I look up to them so much. I couldn't get through a week without most of them!

Day 27

Why are you doing this

Who knows why I started this! I know one thing I wont be doing it again!

Day 28

Picture of you from last year and one from now

last year


This year (I am not home, best I could do)



Day 29

What have you learned the past month

Life can be hard. I knew it was hard, just not as hard as it has been sometimes. I have learned that when we face a trial we need to rely on our Heavenly Father to help pull us through. I have learned a lot about the Atonement and what it means to me. I think so many of us take that for granted or don't really understand it. I have learned that my Father in Heaven WANTS me to succeed in life and is forever on my side. What a wonderful thing to know.

I also learned that if you love somebody, you can get through anything! Love really can conquer all! I have learned a lot about myself and who I have become over the last few years. I hope to keep my heart and mind open to learning new things.


Day 30

My favorite song

Butterfly Kisses

I just love this song. It makes me think of my Dad and the love he has for each of his daughters. He is such a great man and father! Now that I am married it has new meaning to me also, it makes me think of Kurt and Jenna and his unconditional love for her. There is just something so amazing about the bond between a dad and his daughter.

Gavin goes to the dentist...

Gavin had his first official trip to the dentist. He was SO good!! I was so impressed with him I about cried! He jumped right in the chair and was good to go. He was able to take front x-rays and get his teeth cleaned. He wasn't scared one bit. I think he kind of like it:) I am so happy that he likes the dentist.

Day 14-20

Day 14- A picture of my family



There is also a picture of my little family on the side of my blog:) We are getting a new one next week sometime!

Day 15- Put my IPOD on shuffle and what are the first 10 songs

Easy, I don't have an IPOD!

Day 16- Another picture of me (at work and I dont have one)

Day 17- Someone that I would switch lives with for one day

Well I do love my life and all, but for just one day I would switch lives with Ellen. Wouldn't it be great to be that hilarious and do so much good for people? I always have to watch her show, because no matter my mood for that hour I am happy! She makes me laugh, she makes Gavin dance and she makes us both smile! She is such a giver and I think it would be so wonderful to have money and be able to just give it away to deserving people.

PS. I would keep my husband.

Day 18 Plans/dreams/goals

Well all I have planned out right now is my current month. I am typically quite the dreamer and always have big plans for myself. I have found though that life is much easier and happier if we just go a day at a time.

My goals. I do like goals, but usually they don't end up working out:)

My main priority is to get Jenna hearing and up to where she should be developmentally. She gets her ear activated December 7th and I am so excited for that day. We will be doing a lot of verbal therapy after that.

I would like to lose another 10 pounds. I have been working so hard and I go to the gym a lot and I actually enjoy it. I have lost 20 pounds thus far and I am so close to where I want to be.

I want to be happy. I believe I deserve to be too. I am not a depressed person and can not function if I am not happy. So my goal is to be happy, life is what it is and I WILL make the best of it.

Day 19 Nickname I have been given and why

When I was little these were my nicknames

Tiny, Princess, Nikki, 3 names, Tarajet (dad still calls me that) and good ole Tara.

Most of these my father gave me: Tiny, Tarajet, and Princess. Not really sure how the first two came about, but pretty sure I was called Princess because I am one:)

3 names came from Larry Shaheen- He taught me primary when I was younger and never really knew what to call me. Tara Nichole or Nikki. So he went ahead and called me 3 names:) For most my childhood I was Nichole and most people shortened that to Nikki and then one day I just changed it to Tara. Not sure why??

Day 20 Who I can see myself marrying and spending the future with

Funny question since I am already married.

I know Kurt and I are meant for each other, I always have. I love him and we have proven that we can get through just about anything life throughs at us. We have our struggles, but we love each other and that gets us through!