Going West!

Our little family will be heading West in just about a week.
No, we're not moving, {shucks}
just headed west for a few weddings in the family, {Ryszard's brother Adrian on Sept 6, in Colorado; and my sister Tammy on Sept 16 in Utah} and some much needed R&R ~ especially for Ryszard who has been working super hard these days. Plus a few weeks of family bonding. {My sister Julie plans on coming from Georgia, so this will be the first time the whole family has been together since her wedding, 8 years ago. }
I like to be prepared, packed, and ready to go a few weeks in advance, with only the last minute items left such as: tooth brush, make up, etc. Seriously I make lists, and checklists and one more list just to be safe as t not to forget anything. But for some reason instead of getting things together right now, like I should be, I'm blogging instead. Reading blogs, writing new post, finding new blogs to read. {Don't worry I'll still be blogging from Utah!} I really should get a jump on it or I'll be doing things last minute like Ryszard, and he always forgets something. I really don't want to forget anything. Luckily for me I have a sister out in Utah whose baby boy is just shy of a year so she has all the things I might need {bath tub, bouncer seat, blankets, etc.} for Brock, which helps save room in the bag, and my sister in law Britani, is loaning us a crib for Brock. {we'll see how he adapts to that. I still have him in a portable crib here at the house. So this trip will be his first "crib" experience. } I really should set up his crib now, but I'm waiting for him to be in his own room.
For now I'll keep blogging. It's too much fun. Plus there's always tomorrow to start packing, Right?

Dollar Spot Finds

I don't know about you but I absolutely love Target's "Dollar Spot". I'm always finding great things there, and for some reason I like knowing that I got it from Target and not the Dollar Store. Brock and I made a little venture over to Target to see some of my friends and visit the dollar spot. I found some really cute books for Brock. {I have a goal to read at least 3 books to him everyday} We picked up 4 books today from Target's "Dollar Spot". These books were all about learning good behaviors such as: helping, sharing, obedience and good manners. So I knew I just had to get them. {plus where else can you get 4 books for $4?} When we got home Brock sat on my lap as I read our new books. He loved it! He sat so quietly and looked at all the pictures. He even tried reading some of the pages for himself.
~Brock's favorite books are: Hoppy Feet by Jocelyn Jamison, {I like this one too because the author has an awesome name :) }, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, and Leon Minds His Manners {one of our new books} I'm not sure who wrote this book but it is distributed by The Clever Factory, INC. {[Brock becomes very chatty when we read these books and so I consider them his favorites. Plus he love Hoppy Feet's illustrations we looked at it's pictures over and over again for about 25 minutes the other day.}
So if you're ever at Target check out their "Dollar Spot", you just might find something great!

A Happy 3 Months!

Brock turns 3 months old today! Can you believe it? I've gotta hold him tight in order to keep him from running away! {Brock has started leaning forward while he sits on my lap almost like he just wants to get up and run!} He is growing up so fast! I keep telling Brock that he can't grow anymore, because I want him to stay a baby, but he just won't listen... BOYS!

His minus mommy weight is : 17 pounds {that's Mommy and Brock on the scale minus Mommy's weight~ thanks to April for giving me the idea!}

Mommy and Daddy love you so much Brock! Wow! 3 months old! I still can't believe it!

Quote of the week

Here's a good one for all of us!....
If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?
~Milton Berle

Kolob Canyon.

Last night as I was talking to my Mom on the phone, she mentioned that on her way back, {or was it to?} St. George. She took a little side trip to show my brother Mark, Kolob Canyon.
What is Kolob Canyon you may ask?
There's a little town named New Harmony, located about 5 miles off of I-15 in Utah just before Cedar City, {That is if you are traveling south from Orem like my mom and brother were doing.} When you turn around you will not believe the view! A finger of Zion's Canyon can be seen from that little town, and like my mom says, it is breath taking. It is called Kolob Canyon.
The interesting thing is, as you approach the freeway, these mountains seem to sink until they are no longer in sight.
Most drivers never see this view and just drive right on by. I think the only reason my family even knows about this beautiful site is because of the story my Grandma Margaret told us about her grandfather settling New Harmony. I am so grateful to her for sharing that story {and many others} with my family. In part that's why I blog, to share my stories with others but mainly to have a record of my own that I hope will be passed down to my children and my children's children.

I love the way my Mom said it when she stated: "I wonder what other beauties we miss in life because we just drive by or can't see it because obstacles are in our way."
I hope I will always remember to take the time, and perhaps a little side step, to share and enjoy the beautiful things this world has to offer, with my children. {Thanks Mommy for sharing your story with me, and for the great pictures!}

Talking to Daddy!

Almost on a daily basis Brock and I call Ryszard on the phone to chat, {and find out when he's planning on being home.} Brock loves hearing his Daddy's voice. I decided to take some pictures the other day while they were chatting.

Check-Up and Tummy Time!

Brock and I went to Shriner's Hospital for Children today for a quick check on his feet. The Physician Assistant Dr.Fahlin came in took off Brock's shoes and socks and put a little pressure on his heels by pressing the palm of her hand to the bottom of his foot and slowly bending his ankle to flex his heel cord. She says that everything looks great! Brock will continue to wear his brace full time for another 6 weeks when we will go back for another check up.
Every time I need to readjust his shoes I give him a quick foot massage and exercise his legs. He still has a little bit of a sore from wear his skin had been folded inside the cast, so I put a little bit of Desitin clear on that as well. I still can't believe how far his feet have come, and how different they look. I am anticipating our trip to Utah so I can show Nana what a difference it really is. {Pictures can only "say" so much} Brock also has a little bit of "tummy time" without his Brace on {usually at night when Daddy can play with us} and he's even started scooting around a bit. He also becomes very chatty, which is so cute. It makes me wonder what kind of stories he is trying to tell to us.

My little Newsie!

I loved the movie newsies when I was younger {okay, okay I still love it!} Yesterday when Brock and I were running a few errands I went into H&M real fast to see if they had anything fun for Brock. I tried this little newsboy cap on him and thought it looked totally cute!I decided not to get it just yet until Ryszard looks at these pics. {I'm sure I'll be back in the store this week to snatch one up.} How could you not love the way my little newsie looks?

Wake up & Smile!

Just one of the many cute mornings I have with Brock!

Quote of the Week

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.
~Walt Streightiff

Wake up little sleepy head!

Brock is such a sweetie! Lately when I come into the room to check on him while he's napping, I find him like this:

Not crying to be picked up. Just laying there looking around sucking away! When he does realize that I'm standing there looking at him, he starts to play !

What a sweetie! I just love him to pieces!

Brock's first bath!

Now, it's not like I haven't bathed my baby in 2 months. But with Brock being in casts we had to sponge bath him so last week we were finally able to give him his first real bath. I was a little worried that he wouldn't take to sitting in the water very well, but he did great! Brock loved it! He was so smiley and even splashed a little bit. {These pictures aren't from his actual first bath, more like his 4, but I wanted to share our milestone moment with all of you!}

Qoute of the Week

"The joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."
-M. Russell Ballard

You can't blog!

Ryszard bet me that I couldn't blog for a whole week!........GASP!............ I guess he won, but really how can you expect me not to blog when I have such an adorable boy to blog about, no not Ryszard... BROCK! oh well, guess Ryszard won the bet. Now I have to pay up! What was it I had to do again?????

too cute for words!

enough said!

For Nana

Mom, I just wanted to show you some pictures of Brock's feet.

the swelling is still going down from when he was inside his casts. But wow! right?
And just so you know he loves this blanket. He stares at it all the time!

Quote of the week

How cute is this quote?
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Suess-

The Great Escape

Houdini~ David Blaine~ Cris Angel~



Brock Logan !

Brock has just become the youngest escape artist!

I really have no idea how he does it. But somehow, no matter how tight I put his shoes on he wiggles his way out. and then smiles real big as if to say HA HA HA!

I went to Shriner's AGAIN today because Brock does not want to stay inside those shoes. And there's gotta be a better way then having to constantly put him back into them. So after talking with a few of the doctors there we decided to try a different kind of shoe, that {hopefully} will STAY ON, and that Brock will not be able to wiggle out of.

But who knows maybe every time he was doing this:
He's not just playing with his hands. He's figuring out a new way to escape and proclaim to the world {or at least his Mommy} I Will Not Conform!

{side note} Uncle Adrain bought this cake the other day in celebration for Brock's cast freedom. {very yummy!} Brock must have got the idea that if he continued to find his way out of something , he'd get another cake. Silly Boy!

SHOES for Brock!

I meant to get on here yesterday after our visit to Shriner's. Brock had fallen asleep and I thought I'd have plenty of time to get a post done. I guess Brock had other plans, because right after I got the pictures onto the computer from my camera he woke up, and was not very happy with his new situation. I suppose I should back up and start from the beginning...
Ryszard, Brock, and I made our way over to Shriner's Hospital for our 8:15am appointment to remove Brock's casts. Everything was going well. After they removed his casts, I gave him a quick cleaning. {Be glad you were not there to smell what fun that was, yucko!} Dr. Mack came in and we check Brock's progress to see if he was ready for his shoes. {Please, Please, PLEASE! I kept on saying to myself, because really, I am so done with those casts!} Dr. Mack gave us the okay and we headed over to prosthetics, where they fitted Brock for his shoes and measured him for his bar {Ponseti Orthosis }. Ryszard and I were hungry by this time so we decided to grab some lunch in the cafeteria. then around 1:15pm we headed out to the car. I placed Brock in his car seat and started to buckle him in, when he gave one good kick, and slipped right out of his shoes! {We were told that if he did slip out to come back in and they would adjust the shoes a bit. So we headed back into the Hospital.} They added some more padding, and we were finally ready to get going.
Brock was not too happy about us taking away his freedom and around 2:30pm he "Houdinied" his way out, AGAIN! I called up Shriner's and we went back to try something else. This time we added a bit more padding to the ankle area and changed the degree at which his shoes were at. {So instead of a 70 degree angle, they're at a 55-60 degree. We will slowly be rotating those towards 70 degrees throughout the week.} By the time all was said and done, it was already around 5:00pm.
We then decided to head over to Babies R' Us, to pick up a bathtub for Brock. {Finally he gets to take a real bath!} While walking through the store somehow Brock again got out of those shoes. {little bugger!} So we left them off for a little bit until we got home and then the tough love came! We told Brock that he needs to wear his shoes to make him big and strong. {Boy did he protest!} But I told him that if he kicks them off I was going to put them right back on. Needless to say Brock did not have a good night. He's been sleeping 9 hours at night for about 3 weeks now, but last night he was waking up every hour on the hour. Every time he tried to move he'd call out for help. As if his crying wasn't hard enough to handle, now I had to see his little face, so sad, wanting to get out of those shoes and kick and play, and me sitting there not willing to budge at his request. {I know how hard is that when all you want to do is make your baby happy.}
Well, we made it through the night and I went to change him this morning and, he did it again, he "Mr. Harry Houdinied "right on out of those shoes! {Boy oh boy, what did I get myself into!} So I talked him through it again, "These are going to make you big and strong and teach you how to jump up so high!"
So far so good, he's escaped a few other times but I think I'm starting to wear him down, by putting them right back on. {I know there's this whole adjustment period, but seriously I hate taking away that freedom he has found. But I'll continue to put him back in those shoes until he doesn't fuss anymore. He'll learn.... Right?}
So there's the story, now for some pictures!

Brock on the way to Shriner's


Freedom, Freedom, Freedom!

A couple of pictures to see the difference in his feet.

Measuring Brock's feet for his New Shoes!

Waiting while they build his orthosis. {Brock was so excited can't you tell!}

Lacing up for the Big Game!

All set to go!

Came back in for some more waiting time!

Lacing up again!

Finally set to go! {Hopefully}

On other news: Brock'S official weight is 15 pounds 2 ounces and is 23 inches long. We also went for Brock's shots this morning {after postponing them a week because of the casts} He did really well. I gave him some Tylenol before we went in and he screamed with the first shot and then went completely quiet, {almost expecting the other two to come} and then just did a little ahh with the next two. I picked him up and told him, "That these medicines would keep him healthy so he could grow up to be big and strong like his Daddy," he smiled at that. {The shots kind of made him stop wiggling his legs so much too, and that's really been helping him adjust to his new shoes. No pain no gain right! But if you all would just keep little Brock in your prayers this week, we would be very grateful!
Oh, and mom... Ryszard got tickets today so we will see you Sept 7th! WAHOO! {Hopefully Brock has adjusted by then, for all of our sakes!}