Singing a Happy Song

I am so happy/grateful/relieved right now that I can't contain myself. I think I cried happy tears for about half an hour. Not like bawled. More like kept thinking about the miracle that happened and would just weep. So what happened?

Well, if you read my previous post, you know I was in a bit of a bind. The clock was ticking towards my classes starting and I didn't have anyone to watch E. After my brother read my post he felt sad for me and called. During our conversation he mentioned that since he'd read about what was going on, he'd kept thinking of the wife of the Bishop he'd served with at BYU. He couldn't remember if she worked, but said that even if she couldn't personally watch him, he'd whole-heartedly trust anyone she recommended. He offered to send me her email address so I could contact her.

This morning I sent her a glorious email that said something highly intelligent like, "I'm Scott Bean's little sister and you've never met me but..." Yup. It was by far my finest prose. I sent it to her and went to take my first final. When I got home I checked my email and she'd written me back. She was so gracious and said that her backyard neighbor and best friend ran a day care out of her home and she didn't know if she was taking more kids, but it was an option. She gave me her friend's name, we'll call her Sally since I haven't asked her if I could put her name on my blog, and phone number. I anxiously dialed and got to speak to her. She seemed very sweet, we talked about my schedule and E and she said she could do it. I asked what she charged and her rate was too perfect to be true. But it was true. I told her I'd need to talk to my husband and got off the phone relieved. A viable option. Whew.

After I got off the phone with her I called my mom to tell her about the latest development. I told mom how Scott had put me in touch with the Bishop's wife and in turn she put me in touch with your neighbor and friend Sally. At that point, my mom interrupted and said, "Sally Dogood?!?" and her tone already told me that she knew Sally. Apparently, my mom knows Sally from singles events and thinks she's "one of the greatest ladies.", but had no idea that she did daycare. My mom called Sally and they got a good laugh out of what a small world it is. I've been crying tears of joy and gratitude since.

A couple days ago, Travis found this video on YouTube. We think the song is catchy, fun and just so happy. Someone wrote a comment on it that said, "If my soul could sing, it would sound like this." I understand. Today, my soul is singing this happy song.

Vlogging & Asking for Help

I thought I should get some videos up of us doing our ordinary everyday stuff so that starting next week, when Travis misses me and E, he can watch us and pretend we're still here. The added benefit is that all of you who want to see some of the highlights of our extraordinary life can do so too!

Here's Ethan being cute and trying to get Travis to give him one of favorite things to eat: paper.

Next up is vertical video of Ethan jumping in his Johnny Jumper. He fell out of love with it for a while and we reintroduced him to it this past week. Well, absence must make the heart grow fonder because he's crazy about it again. (I took this video vertically and didn't have time to make it horizontal. Sorry)



Now you can see how Ethan crawls like a big boy now and really gets around. My favorite part is when he crawls to the window to look for dad. We, meaning me, E and Lex, like to wait by the window when he's due home.



This video is evidence of how helpful Ethan is. Almost 11 months old and already loving to unload the dishwasher. Is he a stud or what?



Last, but certainly not least, we have a video of what it's like when E wakes up from a nap. Or at least what it was like today.



In other news, Monday I had a feeling I should check my old email account. I did so and found an email from the sitter we'd found (through sittercity.com) that was going to tend E while I was in class. She's a stay-at-home with two little boys and Travis and I had driven down to meet her and her husband. They seemed like great people and we were relieved to have somewhere trustworthy E could go while I was in class. In any case, she said they've had some family situations arise and she can no longer watch E. She apologized a lot and I feel sorry for her and for whatever has happened with her family.

But now I feel beside myself with what to do with E. I've scanned the site for other sitters and didn't find anything promising. Plus, I really don't have the time to check references, do a background check and meet them in their home. I called just about every (I might have missed a couple) day care in Spanish Fork, Springville, Provo & Orem and they're all on waiting lists. I found one that wasn't and do you want to guess how much it is? $496 a week. That's right. A week. They don't do part-time care, so even though I only need him watched 4 hours a day, it's still $496 a week. We debated training Lexie to watch him, but I don't think I can rely on her.

I feel beside myself. For the first time ever, yesterday I was driving home from an errand and thought, "Right now, I don't even care about finishing school. To heck with it all. I want to buy flowers and plant a garden and live a normal life." (I was driving by a nursery when this thought occurred, hence all the plants involved.) My mom is checking with people she knows to see if anyone would be interested in watching E. Nonetheless, I don't want someone to watch him that will feel put out by it. I want someone who genuinely wants to care for him.

This probably sounds really gripey and whiney and I'm sorry for that. At the end of the day, I know that God will take care of everything. But it's a little unnerving to know that my classes start in 6 days and I don't know what I'm going to do with E. If you know anyone who is a sane, trustworthy individual that would be interested I'd love to know. If not, words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated at this point in time.

Another Picture Post

As the title suggests, we have a working camera! We're trying out a new camera to see if we like it, so I'm going to need some feedback. I tried to take a bunch of different pictures and test it out in different settings. I'm not going to tell you the brand, or the mega pixels, or anything. I just want your honest opinions. (While you keep in mind that we're on the lower end of the budget for new digital cameras) Thanks!

E in the car around dusk on Saturday, right after we bought the camera.
I love his goober smile and the double chin in this photo!

Me and E in the kitchen with all the lights on and the camera flash.
The lighting on this picture is not very promising, though I do love E hamming it up.

Further proof of weird lighting. Is this a weak flash issue?

Sunday morning after the bath when E's church clothes were still clean.

Sunday morning before Travis' meetings.
Note the sadness on Lexie's face that Travis has to leave.

E finishing up the excess phyllo dough (we had spanikopita with dinner).
You may have to enlarge this one, but it seems slightly fuzzy to me.
Which is odd considering it was essentially a still.

Photo Essay: "How My Son Lost His Finger".

Monday morning when E helped me unload the dishwasher.
I love this picture because I caught the smile he's been doing lately.
It absolutely cracks me up.
Sing: Cause he's got...uh...PERSONALITY!

These tulips from my yard are for Anne for three reasons:

1. I didn't call you on your birthday. I woke up dizzy sick and ran to the bathroom to throw up. Travis had to go to work late because I literally couldn't function. (No, I'm not pregnant. I'm 99% confident it was food poisoning.) I was out of commission all day and totally forgot.
2. It looks like a flower Scott would pick for you and proceed to give you a detailed lecture of why this flower is special that would include several hand gestures and "uber"s.
   
3. It's my favorite flower that grows in my yard and I hope you'll accept it and forgive my mistake.

Well, thanks for checking out the pictures and since I know several of you have far more picture/camera know-how than I do, I really value your opinion and advice.

In other news, we're trucking along. Only two more weeks till my classes begin at BYU. I'm really struggling with leaving E to be in class. I keep reminding myself of how blessed I am to be a stay-at-home mom and that it'll only be for 3 1/2 months, but it's still hard. If I really think about it, it makes me cry.
E is having a phenomenal development period! The quick stats are:

• He's in the 90th percentile for his height and the 10th percentile for his weight.
• He's begun pulling himself up onto things.
• He's now climbing onto the things he pulls himself up onto (think baby in the dishwasher).
• He had his first ear infection.
• Crawling the way you picture a baby crawling.
• Going up and down (still a little sketchy on the down) the stairs.
  
• Chasing after Lexie.

Travis has started his new job in R&D and things are going slow right now. Anything is an improvement over the monotony of his previous job, but I still keep hoping and praying that he'll actually feel a little fulfillment at work.
Sorry it's short, but my statistics homework is calling! If I get enough homework done tonight, I'll post a recipe during E's nap tomorrow morning.