Monkey Girl

I don't know what has happened, but all of a sudden Jordyn has realized she can climb.  She is always up on our tall chairs and table.  The other day she climbed the railing overlooking our family room, just the way a money climbs a tree.  I have been watching her try to climb out of bed for a while now, but figured she was far from succeeding.  She succeeded.  She ran into our room this morning and woke us up.  My first thought was that someone was in our house and got her out.  Then my more rational brain woke up and I realized she did it.  She broke free.  I put her back in her crib and watched her climb out again.  We put her down for nap, and the same thing.  She climbed right out.  It is scary to watch cause she is just so little, and she just drops.

We bit the bullet and put up the toddler bed.  I really didn't want to.  I know naps and bedtime are going to be hard.  But she is not just going stop climbing out.  So I figured we might as well try to prevent injury and set up the toddler railing. 

I am not going to lie, a little part of me died taking down the crib.  The part of me that never wants her to grow up.  I looked at Jordyn and asked her why she could not just stay my baby forever.  She said "baby" and ran and got me her baby doll.  Then there is the part of me that so cherishes naptime! Oh naptime!  What will I do when it ends!  Jordyn on the other hand was exstatic about the whole thing.  Which is obvious!

What's New

There is really not much new in the Barton house.  Same old, same old.  Just living life day by day.  And in case you are wondering, here is what that is like...

Jordyn:
She is a sweetheart, but she is definitely coming on to two.  The fits are becoming louder and more frequent.   We are figuring out how to discipline, and it sucks!  We suck!  But with all the practice we are getting, I am sure we will get the hang of it.  Jordyn is talking all over the place.  New phrases come along every day.  My favorite lately is when she comes to me with her fake cry and holds up a finger or points to her toes and lets out a pathetic little "owie".  I give it a quick kiss and she shrugs her shoulders and says "all better"!  It makes me giggle every time.

Here are some 4th of July pics...  On a side note, Chad bought her this little golf caddy.  She is obsessed!  I know when to pick my battles, and I did not want a crying picture so I just let her hold on to the caddy.

This is her "cheese" face.

Chad:
Chad is really liking his job.  It is weird to think he has now been working for Microsoft for a year.  He has 5 accounts now.  He has one global account, which means he has conversations with people in New Zealand and UK quite a bit.  It is just kind of funny when he has a call with them on Thursday at 2 pm here, and it is already something like 8 am Friday there. But as much as he likes his job, he likes to golf even more.  He tries to go about once a week.  There were a couple weeks there he had to skip cause he broke a window of a nearby house.  Unfortunately he had to pay to have it replaced, so he took a couple weeks off.  Not his best game!

Mandi:
Staying at home has been a lot better for me the past few months.  I am doing some reading groups with kids in the ward and neighborhood and I love it!  When I started the process, I told myself I would be satisfied if I had 12 students.  I ended up having 14 students in June and 9 in July.  I have had some parents ask me if I will continue during the school year, so I am trying to figure that out and just how I want to run things for an after-school program.  I am also really enjoying Junebug Jane.  I average about one sale a week, which is just enough to keep my hands busy.  I don't make a ton of money, but enough for us to play with a little bit. 

That's all I have to report.  I hope everyone is enjoying summer, cause it is flying by!