May Madness & Baby BOY!

This post is going to be quite the variety of things, just like the second half of May was! There is so much that happens in May, and I don't even have students in High School or finishing big classes. I'll start with talking about Mother's Day. Matthew helped me make dinner, which was sweet n' sour chicken. I loved the recipe that requires frying and baking and I usually never make it unless Matthew is around to help. He pulled through for me and we had an amazing dinner! I got myself some delicious ice cream and enjoyed brunch with the Relief Society at church. Matthew worked super hard to get the Primary staffed with all men so the Primary ladies could join us. It was very good of him to work all those logistics! I got a little home pottery kit and a headache compression thing. Matthew practiced saying Happy Mother's Day, and when they were supposed to tell me, he counted off. "1, 2, 3...." Hugh quickly chimed in, with great excitement, "FOUR!!!" We had a great laugh and it was very cute. I love being a mother and feel honored that Heavenly Father has entrusted me with three of his precious sons to be my sons and one to be my husband!

All about my Mom...My mom's name is Mommy. My mom is 2 years old. My mom cooks the best cookies. My mom's favorite food is cupcakes. My mom always says get in the van. My favorite thing to do with my mom is Hugh. My mom is really good at paint. I love my Mom because Hugh. 

Jay made this at school, and it was so sweet! You can see what the sign said above this. 

This will probably be the last time I can hold all three boys for a Mother's Day photo! 

I had a variety of appointments packed into a couple weeks and had to call on my small village of people who are willing to watch my boys to help me make all of the logistics work. Katey came down and watched the boys while I got my hair done. Janelle, my friend who did it, wasn't quite done when Katey had to leave, so she came to my house and finished during the boys naps. Grandma and Grandpa watched Hugh during a Developmental Pediatrician visit for Jay that was a couple hours, and then watched both boys for my dentist appointment. And, my friend Breeanne watched Hugh while we had our ultrasound appointment to find out the gender of our baby. I was so grateful for all these people who helped me!

Jay's developmental pediatrician visit was good. This doctor will follow Jay until he is an adult and specializes in helping kids with Autism and other developmental delays. Dr. Gurley was really good with Jay and he LOVED his time at the doctor. He emptied all of the little cones that are used to check inside your ears and played with the table most of the visit. He could make it recline, fold, and move up and down with the push of buttons. She brought in some toys that he was excited to take home, including playdoh, a pully tube, and a new hot wheels truck. He hardly played with them there. He also took home all the little ear cones and a set of disposable gloves. With input from Jay's preschool teacher, Dr. Gurley diagnosed Jay with ADHD. It's a diagnosis we've expected for a long time, but didn't know when it would happen. We are going to be starting the medicine journey soon to see if it can help him focus long enough to learn new skills and be less impulsive with physical contact. Dr. Gurley listened to all my questions and was so understanding and helpful. 

Our most exciting news of the month is we're having baby boy #3! We are so excited! I was hoping for a boy and Matthew was hoping for a girl, but is now really excited for a girl too. The baby looks healthy and he was moving and grooving inside. I love seeing the baby and being able to watch them move and wiggle. He's big, not surprising, and measuring above 90th percentile in every way, especially his head. We celebrated our third amigo by eating tacos for dinner and watching The Three Amigos, which Matthew had never seen. 

20 weeks!

Jay and Hugh

I've been enjoying morning walks with Breeanne Nead and Katie Dahl. We don't all go together, but I enjoy talking with them and spending my mornings outside. Hugh loves the time in the stroller or riding his strider bike. We sometimes walk and play outside the whole time of preschool. 

The boys love when we feed the Elders and were so excited when they came to dinner! The Elders are really good with the boys and even sat on our Family Home Evening blanket with us to teach their lesson. We've been using a blanket in our living room to designate a special place for us all to sit while we have a lesson. The boys love the tradition! Jay and Hugh currently request that we sing "Missionaries" which is "I Hope They Call me on a Mission" song every naptime and bedtime. Hugh will also pray for the missionaries, which is super sweet. 

Jay graduated from preschool on May 22, 2025! The teachers read his name first and he came out grinning, clapping, and said "woohoo" for himself! It was very cute and the graduation was super simple and sweet. They read the names of the kids, and then let them walk through the tunnel of families to sit with their own. Jay was happy to give Mrs. Tiffee and Mrs. Kim a hug goodbye. He loved them and they have been soooooo good with him! Mrs. Tiffee got him a suitcase so she will always be famous in Jay's eyes. And, Mrs. Kim always took Jay on errands in the school and let him help clean tables. I think Jay spent most of his day with Mrs. Kim. I am incredibly grateful for both of them and all their hard work, patience, and love they had with Jay. Matthew got to take graduation off and we celebrated with a quick trip to the park before he had to return to work. When Daddy comes to the park, it's an extra special treat! 

This was Jay's first day back to school in Sept 2024

Jay and Hugh, First Day photo

Jay and Hugh, last day!

Jay, Last Day!

Jay clapping for himself as Mrs. Tiffee hands the certificate. 

Jay got to see Fletcher the Fox and loved it!

Mrs. Kim, Jay, and Mrs. Tiffee

Matthew, Jay, Hugh, and Me

Park play!

Memorial Day weekend was the first weekend out of school. Matthew was planning to take it off, but things have really turned to the south for one client and he's continued to work nights and Saturdays and even Memorial Day. We were so bummed to not have the time with him, but tried to make the most of it! We played at parks, including a cool new one, and enjoyed dinner at Jack's house on Memorial Day. Jack smoked some steak for the adults and cooked up burgers and dogs for the boys. Jay did amazing playing with cousins, as did Hugh. We had a great evening and it felt like a much needed break for me! The steaks were amazing, and HUGE, so I got to bring some home for Matthew and enjoyed even more throughout the week on salad and sandwiches. We've been trying to make the most of our Saturdays without Dad, so we've been going to parks and getting outside, our usual coping mechanism for when life is hard. We are grateful for coats, rain pants, bikes, and boys who love the outdoors as much as me!

This was a new park in the Reunion area.

Jay and Hugh thought it was fun to take their bikes up the stairs.

Hugh is getting really good at balancing. 

Jay nailed this bridge the first time he tried! 

The love to follow each other and this was so cute!

Since school is out, Jay and I have been hitting the roads early with walking to get out and moving. 

Hugh and Jay in their cars, we just got the little red one from a friend. 

Another new park that just opened down the road, we call it the butterfly park. 

The water is on at the pickleball park and Jay is soooo happy! 

This was our morning walk on Memorial day! Dense fog and very cool. 

I've been working on the dining room table and chairs, and other sewing projects every spare moment. I widened the legs of a couple pairs of maternity shorts. It was definitely a learning experience. One pair I love, and the other pair is better than it was, but still not awesome. I have painted all my dining room chairs and re-done the bench. I was never planning to re-do the chairs or the bench, but I got sucked up into changing everything when I saw how beautiful it would be if I left the natural wood on top. Everything is now painted and coated in polyurethane and I am waiting for it to cure so we can move it in! My other dining table is listed for sale. I also transplanted some of my starter plants, so I am really hoping they do well! 

This was the first pair I widened, I added the pink fabric on the sides. 

Second pair turned out much better! 

This is what the chairs will look like all put together! 

Painting the legs process began!

Finished.

Leaves completed. 

Bench, complete!

Last coat on the table top!

All the garden boxes full and planted.

My friend, Tabitha (Brown) Kesler, came into town the last day of the month. It was the perfect way to end May! I haven't seen her since we left Utah in 2020. She got married in 2021 and she has a sweet little boy who is one and is expecting their second. We had the best time visiting and catching up on all the things. We keep in contact fairly regularly through Marco Polo, which is an app where you can record videos and send them back and forth to each other. She's an amazing woman and it's fun to reconnect. I feel like I have very few friends who I can pick up without feeling like I missed a beat, and she is one of them! We hit the splashpad in the morning and then naptime in the afternoon at our house. The boys loved watching little Jeffrey, her son, and Jay wanted to help him with everything which was good and bad depending on the time. We had to dash out in the middle for the funeral of Jay's old daycare lady. She died suddenly a few weeks ago and was always still so kind and sweet to Jay! We rounded out that Saturday with a trip to In N Out and another new park!

Hugh and Jeffrey

Hugh eating his burger!

Family date night filled with giggles and joy!

Right after Memorial Day, Jay started ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. We now have a therapist, Shelby, with us every day from 9-12. She is supposed to integrate into our normal activities and be there to help Jay work on behaviors to improve his life and ours. She will be working on increasing positive behaviors and limited problematic ones. We are just getting to know her and she's really sweet with Jay. She's learning she has to be on her toes all the time, which isn't unusual for anyone who meets Jay. She worked under our friend, Katie Dahl, and we are so grateful to Katie on our therapist team to help Jay learn and grow! Jay loves having adult friends to play with and loves that they come to the park with us and do everything every day for a few hours. It has allowed me to do some things around the house that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. We were also able to check out the Outlet Park with all the cousins! The park is big and I never go because I'm afraid I'd love Jay, so with Shelby, we could go! Jay had the best time! 

Betty Jane, Kylee, Jay, Allen, and Kade

Hugh enjoying this spinning chair

He was so proud to be able to do this with a little help!

Betty Jane was Hugh's buddy a lot of the morning, and even took him up the big slide!

Betty Jane and Hugh climbing up the tower

She had to convince him it was okay to come down!

Betty Jane, Kylee, Hugh, and Jay

Jay climbing up!

And, down!

Jay and Hugh, wanting summer so bad in this 70 degree weather and rain water in the pool!

Hugh continues to love Jay's therapists just as much as he does. He loves to say, "I can do it myself" and most of the time will actually do it himself. He's learn the art of putting on his socks, although when they are funny, he gets very upset. He always chooses his own silverware and takes it to the table. He's mostly night potty trained and doesn't wear a diaper to bed! Woohoo! He had a couple nights with peeing in bed in the middle of the night, but other than that has done remarkably well! 

This happened a few days in a row. Playing near the pool, and always ending up in it, fully clothed. 

Hugh is mastering this arch at the playground in our area. I'm so impressed.