Hunter's Getting Big!

I just wanted to share this video with everyone because it brings me joy every time I watch it! My little boy is growing up and he is so smart. He knows when I say it's time for bed, to go to his room. He knows when he finds something on the ground that is garbage, to go put it in the garbage. When I tell him to pick up his toys, he does! He also absolutely loves to read books. He will sit by himself and open a book and just turn each page, one by one, talking out loud, just like he is reading it! It's awesome. This video happens to be the first time he did a somersault. He is so adorable!

Spring

I love this time of year! It's so beautiful outside. I can wake up at 6 am and it's already light and I have not wasted any part of the day. During the week, I wake up at 5 and it's almost light outside. I can't wait until it's completely light and I can wake up at 5 everyday. I know I am a little crazy, but I LOVE the mornings. It's the most breathtaking and fresh time of the day.
I have not been blogging as well as I should. My last blog was in March, so I guess I need to get it together! The good news is that there is only 5 weeks of school and then I can blog everyday for 6 weeks! I can't wait! Plus, we'll finally have time to visit Mimi and Papa, as well as Bob and Doris and Grandma Cordes. We haven't been up to Eagar in awhile, but I just haven't wanted to fight the cold and snow.
Hunter started walking and he is ALL OVER THE PLACE! I can barely catch him. He practically can run already. He loves to be outside. Sometimes we go for walks around the block and I let him walk the whole way. He is so active! He also has 2 more teeth, for a grand total of 8 teeth. He also can eat "normal" food now. We don't have to buy baby food anymore!!
Keith has been down in the back for the past week. He has been seeing a chiropractor and started spinal decompressions which have been helping him. He has been very busy with school and has to drive to Casa Grande every Saturday for his English class. He is going to be starting Prescott College in May and will be done with school by next May. That will be a relief for all of us!
I am doing good. I found out that I will be teaching 5th grade next year and I am so happy and relieved! That means I only will have 1 class and I will teach all subjects, which is what I am used to. This past year I have taught 6th grade Science to 6 different classes and it's been rough. That is alot of papers to grade and it takes an extremely organized person, which I will admit, I am not! So, 5th grade will be much better!
Well, we're all doing well, except for Keith's back, but it's healing. Hopefully, I'll get back to this blog sooner next time!

Update

I just wanted to update everyone on Lynn and Laura. They are both out of the hospital. Lynn was released on Friday, so Keith and I picked him up from the hospital on Friday evening. They came to stay at our house for the weekend so we could help them. Laura is doing fine, all but her sore back and ribs. Lynn still has 10 broken ribs altogether and 8 of them are completely detached. He will be on oxygen for awhile until he can breathe in enough oxygen on his own. Other than that, they will both be ok.
We have all learned a huge lesson from this. Accidents can happen to anyone! Always wear a helmet on the 4-wheeler. They were extremely lucky to not have any head injuries, but the next person this happens to might not be so lucky! We always need to be aware of our surroundings and what could happen.

Sad Weekend

Well, this weekend didn't go anything like we had planned. Saturday afternoon we got a call that Lynn and Laura (Keith's parents) were in a 4-wheeler accident. Tim called and was pretty scared. They were all out going for a ride to Lower Eagle Creek in Morenci. They went around a sharp corner and tried to get as far over to the side as they could, so that if another came around, they wouldn't get hit. The asphalt was slick and then the shoulder gave way underneath and it sucked them off of the road. They went off of an incredibly steep enbankment, almost like the edge of a cliff. When they hit bottom, the ATV almost landed on top of them. Tim called 911 immediately. 2 helicopters came and airvac'd both of them to University Medical Center in Tucson.
Laura has 2 fractured vertebrae and 3 broken ribs. Lynn has 5 broken, free floating ribs. Laura was released yesterday, but Lynn has to stay at the hospital until his pain subsides. He can barely breath at all. They both have road rash from head to toe. Even though they are hurt pretty bad, we all just thank Heavenly Father that it wasn't worse. Please keep Lynn and Laura in your prayers.

Weekend work

We had a weekend filled with work! Keith works so hard! He takes a lot of pride in our house and he always wants to fix it up. This weekend he built a shelf by the TV for an entertainment center. He also worked incredibly hard building shelves in our garage.
Our garage was a mess. We have to fit the boat in, the Rhino, plus all the rest of our stuff. Keith decided he would build shelves to create more room. He built 1 side of the garage with double shelves and the other side has one long shelf. It makes SO MUCH room in our garage! We can actually fit in it!
Hunter and I just stayed inside and played. I cleaned the house and went grocery shopping. It was a pretty good weekend. I love just spending time with my little family! :)

Hunter's Year

This is Hunter now

Here he is about 6 months old

The first time I saw him

What a beautiful boy!

Today is Hunter's Birthday. What happened to this whole year? It went by so fast, all the memories are just blurs! What a wonderful year it has been. Even though the year is just memories, I will remember every single moment, from the first time the nurses laid Hunter on my belly and I saw his beautiful face, to this moment.

Hunter was the most gorgeous baby I have ever seen. I'm sure every mother says that, but I really do believe that I've never seen a baby so perfect. Those few days after Hunter was born were miserable, but I knew in my heart they would pass. When they did, I realized again how amazing my son was. He only kept me up all night a handful of times. By the time he was 4 weeks old, he was sleeping through the night. He hardly ever cried. I am so lucky.

I'm so proud of him, already! When he first laughed, I was proud. When he first said Dada I was proud. Now all he says is, "Ma," and I'm even more proud! It took him awhile to learn how to roll over, but once he did, he learned to crawl like a maniac. He crawls faster than me. He was 8 months old when he got his first tooth. Then within the month, he got 5 more! Once he starts something, he just keeps going! I can't wait to see what he will become.

Hunter is 1 today. I can't believe it. I can't believe that I can love such a little person so much! I guess that is what kids do. They open up your heart. At least that is what Hunter has done for me.

Crazy Week

Last Monday, I woke up Hunter to find that he had thrown up all over in his bed, as well as down the wall next to his crib. So I stayed home and took him to the doctor. The doc said to make sure he doesn't get dehydrated and try giving him some Pedialyte. Well, Hunter hated it! So after that, he wouldn't drink anything!! On the way home from the doctor he threw up all over himself. When I got home and tried to put him in the bath, he developed diahrea. It was awful and it was like this ALL WEEK LONG! I took him back to the doctor on Wednesday and all he said was to give him Pedialyte or Gatorade. Thankfully, Hunter finally started drinking his regular formula. Poor little guy. It was awful. I felt so bad for him. He was a miserable little boy for a few days.
On Wednesday, Keith developed the nasty stomach flu also and had to stay home from work on Thursday. I had Hunter stay with my mom and dad on Friday because I couldn't miss work anymore. Now they both have it! I have not gotten it and I don't plan on getting it. I cannot take anymore days off of work this year! Even though I have only taken 3 days this entire year and I still have about 9 more days, I have a feeling I would be reprimanded for taking too many days. It's stupid, but that's the life of a teacher. Now it will be even worse, since the legislature just decided to make massive budget cuts in education. This has been an awful week!!