Happenings

Porter has been pretty sick today.  He just has a cold, but it still puts me on edge.  The kid hasn't ate much all day and will hardly drink.  We have watched about four Daniel Tiger episodes. Not proud of it, but the poor kid just lays on the couch motionless.  Porter is never motionless. So I turn into a HUGE pushover when he is sick.   Trent got a Go Pro this last week.  His drone that he got for Christmas is basically a bust.  He has been super disappointed by it, and I have felt so bad.  About two weeks ago, Trent about lost it.  It has been so cold here for so long, and he tries his absolute best to take Porter out to different places.  But there are only so many places in Rexburg.  In the summer, it's not a big deal.  But during the winter, it can be confining. It takes a mental toll on you for sure.  Needless to say, We are getting a little antsy over here.  By the end of March, we should have a final plan.  But right now, we are at the point where we are just waiting to hear back from people.  And waiting is hard. But. On a positive note, I feel like I can see the light to a tunnel.  Things are starting to make sense now. I doubted myself SO many times when I went back to work.  The only two people who truly know the depth of those decisions is Trent and Heavenly Father.  Anyways, Heavenly Father has heard those prayers for the past two years because he truly has made up the difference. Porter is bright, kind, and determined.  Everything that I could hope for.  He knows about Jesus, loves his primary songs, and Trent really has put him first everyday.  There have also been two other tender mercies from working:  1.  I get paid all summer. Teachers only get paid 9 months of the year, but you can request for those paychecks to be distributed into 12 months which is what I did.  Worst case scenario: Everything falls through and we live off my income until August.  Best case scenario: Trent says yes to a job and we use my income to help with moving expenses, down payments, etc.  2.  If everything goes right, we will have all our student loans paid off during the summer. Hey. So. Student loans suck.  Trent and I didn't even take out a large loan.  It was the smallest you could take out.  But we will still be paying a few hundred every month for two years and that drains your paychecks! With some money that has been put away from my paychecks with work these past three years, we should be able to use it to pay off our student loan completely. So? What's next for the Thompsons?  Well, I am going to turn into the NEEDIEST person when I move to AZ.  I try to set up at least 2-3 play dates a week for Porter. It helps with my sanity and he loves playing with other children.  If we back to our hometowns, that wouldn't be a problem because we have tons of friends there. But Trent and I won't be going back that direction most likely.  We will either be more towards Phoenix or Tuscon.  I am really hoping Phoenix.  I have decided I want to live closer to city while my kids are little.  There are more events to participate in and places to explore.  But once they get older -- like 8 or older -- we are moving towards the outskirts of town and living that good ole country life I love so much. Basically, I am going to have to find some friends who love play dates as much as I do. For the first year, we are going to chill out and adjust.  I think we need to give ourselves and entire year to get use to that sort of change and situation.   But we both talk about getting our Masters (oh geez).  I told Trent today, "It's not a matter of if but when with me."  Trent turned around and said, "Well, me too."  So after a year, I am thinking about starting a Preschool.  Nothing crazy, I am thinking of only doing it two days a week for two hours in the morning.  Porter will be three by then and would LOVE learning with his friends.  Our little one will be one which is a fun age too.  I looked into ASU and think I could make enough a month to pay for my degree. I wouldn't be going full time.  I just want to take a class or two a semester, so it will take me a couple of years -- we will see if I can actually do it.  Going to school while having children is no small feat! It seems so overwhelming. I see it with SO many ladies in our ward. I don't know how they do it! Remember when I wanted to gain some new hobbies?  Well Trent and I have been watching WAAAAAY too much Fixer Upper.  It is Trent's dream to buy a home like that and then fix it.  Yikes. Definitely not my dream. But sometimes when your married, you adopt a dream and support each other. So I am absolutely fascinated with the program she uses on her show. Trent used it for one of his engineering classes and had it on his computer.  He kept urging me try it out and learn how to use it like she does. Well, after quitting like 8 times. I finally spent an ENTIRE day learning the program through YouTube videos and such. And after an ENTIRE day, this is what I came up with.  This is the front of the shed. You guys. This program is a beast.  And I am not naturally good and doing things to scale or being artsy so this literally took me forever. But I am so proud of it! When I think of how ling it took me though, I have to laugh.

And this is the back of the shed.  Mind you this is all done from scratch and drawn to scale. I should be able to hand it Trent with the measurements and he should be able to make it no problem.

Anyways, my next project is a house.  But when I think about it, it seems so daunting. Anyways. This is a really long mundane post.  But I hope one day Porter and his little brother will read it and think, "If Mom and Dad can do it, so can we."  I want them to see our progression. That when we finished one goal, we created another. However, we also gave ourselves time to adjust in between.  To end, let me just throw it out there that Trent graduates in five weeks.  #itsabigdeal

Our Little Pal

Porter is at such a fun age.  I am loving this 18 months - 2 years stage.  We do fun activities all the time and he has become a little parrot.  Trent use to say the word "suck" if something unpleasant happened. Well, Porter slipped on the ice while we were walking and said, "Suck!" Trent and I whipped our heads at each other and Trent busted out laughing.  I was not so amused.  We had a talk that night.  
During the sacrament every Sunday, I explain to Porter that we eat the bread/drink the water and then think about Jesus.  Then after he takes the sacrament, I sing him a song about Jesus.  It use to be "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam", but then he started talking and screams "BEAM" every time.  So we are on to more reverent songs.  Anyways, Porter was getting very impatient that it was taking so long for it to be his turn.  At first, he said, "Wait. Wait. Wait" in his cute little voice. But eventually he started yelling, "COME ON!" at the men passing the sacrament.  
Also, he does not get his baby thing.  We have taught him multiple times that the baby is in my tummy for MONTHS now.  But still, he persistently points to my chest and says BABY!  I then point to my stomach and say, "Porter the baby is in my tummy."  Nope. Will not believe me.
I love that when he doesn't want to do something {getting his diaper changed, putting away his toys, etc.} he will start to cry and say, "No way! No way! NO WAY!"  I seriously don't know where he got that from?  I keep thinking, Do I say that to him? No way.
Porter has a seriously love for McDonalds.  He always asks for their nuggets and french fries.  I wonder where he gets that addiction from? {Trent}.  His other obsession is Daniel Tiger. He will not watch any other show.  He does like Mickey Mouse, but will only watch it for like 5-15 minutes.  Daniel Tiger is the ONLY show he will sit and watch the entire episode.  He also asks for the Nae Nae on a daily basis and can sing the song. He says, "Ooo watch me, watch me," and "Nae Nae."
Basically Porter is our entire world.  He is busy, energetic, driven, and soon to be the best big brother. Love my little! 

What's in a Name?

By this time last pregnancy, we already had little Porter's name picked out, I think?   But we are struggling with this one.     I really, REALLY hate picking out boy names. I have had my girl name picked out since the time Porter was conceived.  Taylee Jane Thompson.  She can go by Taylee. She can go by Janie.  I don't really care. I just love every part of her name. {And watch, I will NEVER get a girl!}   But boy names. I can't figure out a style.  I didn't even like the name Porter for the looongest time, but Trent wore me down.  I hate abstract boy names. I hate boy names that are too popular. And I hate boy names that are too plain. So where does that leave me? With no names.  Anyways, here is what we have so far as a list and why I can't commit to any of them.
Wyatt: This is Trent's number one name.  He wants our kid to be named after the famous wild cowboy Wyatt Herp. No thank you.  It is not an awful name, but Wyatt Duke Thompson sounds a little too rough for me.
Levi:  I am half committed to this one  I like reason of why we would name him Levi, but not so much the actual name. We got the name from Levi Savage.  Since Porter is named from Porter Rockwell, we thought we would continue with a tradition of unsung heroes from the early restoration of the church.  The men who might not be as famous like Joseph Smith, but were still influential men of God.   Cooper:  I love the name Cooper for a little kid.  It just gets me every time.  But when I think of a businessman/adult filling out paperwork and resumes with the name Cooper, I can't see it.  I still picture this little kid.   Jett:  Trent wants to name him Jeeter {as in Derek Jeeter the athlete -NEVER} but then call him Jett.  We will never NEVER name him Jeeter.  But.  I do like the name Jett.  I have a little boy in my class named Jett right now.  And I struggle with that.  He is a super cute little boy, but I don't like using names of kids that I have taught - so there goes 65 names out the window.   Brooks: This is my favorite. I love the name Brooks.  I heard is somewhere when we were naming Porter and liked it.  But I was just reacquainted with it while searching for baby names on a western site.  When I started saying the name as a possibility -- everyone started mentioning Brooks from the Bachelor. I. HATE. THE. BACHELOR. Which jogged my memory that Brooks was the mission companion of Chad, who told me that name the first time with Porter.  So I am a little disheartened.  Brooks Duke Thompson sounds cute to me, but they are all kinda last names.
So.  If I had to make a decision right now, I think we would go with Jett.  Trent and I both like it, so it's a good compromise.  But I still might fight for Brooks?     PEOPLE WHO READ THIS BLOG PLEASE HELP ME!  Thoughts? Suggestions?

   

 

The Little Things Right Now

Well. This week was awful.  I had work, parent teacher conferences all week after work, and was super sick on top of all of it. Needless to say, my students had a very, very grumpy teacher. Poor kids. 
I also officially signed my resignation letter for next year.  I cried while I was filling it out.  There are so many emotions that come with leaving that job.  I'll save that for another day.
Time feels so incredibly slow right now. This week felt like two wrapped into one. So throughout the day I have been trying to remember the little things that I love about now.
- Porter has had a word explosion! He can repeat anything we say and is putting two words together better than ever.  
- Trent being home, like all the time.  Trent has a lot of time on his hands.  And he is going crazy.  The problem is when you are watching babies, you can't really go build something or work on other projects.  Porter is a full-time gig. But it is SO nice having him home and his schedule so flexible.  My parent teacher conference schedule was CRAZY, and that was okay because he could be here whenever.  
- Lots of family time.  Because Trent has a more relaxed schedule, when I get home at 3:30, we have time to be together in the afternoons.  Maybe not every day, but definitely more than before.
- All the blessings.  Trent didn't go to the BYU Career Fair for a few reasons, and I was seriously doubting his decision.  But the day of the career fair, Trent heard he might have an interview with a friend's company. That was a HUGE blessing, and we are excited about it!
- It's getting warmer!!! It was 40 degrees yesterday and the heater was off in my classroom and I was still sweating! We didn't even wear sweaters yesterday, just long sleeve shirts. And everything was melting and there were huge water puddles everywhere.  This was the most snow I have experienced in Rexburg. It's been awful.  So please bring on the warm temperatures!
Alright. That's all I got.  Tomorrow an apostle is coming to speak to us.  I believe it is Elder Rasband.  It will be a treat to have him with us on Valentines Day.  Tonight is a Valentines' Day Dance for our stake.  Porter will go to nursery while Trent and I enjoy a dinner and dancing.  I had planned to buy Trent 12 presents and have him open them up each hour of the day, but we had a lot of unexpected expenses this month.  Yeah. That really sucked for us and our savings account.  So we are keeping it simple this year.  I bought us a card game and Trent got me chocolate covered strawberries. In perspective, it is absolutely perfect for us.  That's our entire relationship -- food and card games.
To the little things that make life meaningful!