Wyatt (aka Dennis the Menace) might end up in Military School or the Penetentiary

Okay I am in the blogging mood tonight.  This is completely gross.  If you are even slightly the type to get sick to your stomach then stop reading right now, I warned you.  I have determined Wyatt is going to military school or possibly prison.  Kids who do the stuff he does don't end up anywhere else.  I know, he is not even 18 months old, right? I can already see this kid is going to have a rough road. 
Wyatt is sweet, don't get me wrong.  He is lovable, sweet and charming.  However he is also the one kid in the room who looks around thinking "what can I do to create maximum damage/chaos?"  You can SEE it in his eyes.  He has that glimmer, that mischevious look that you see in that kid in school right before someone gets hurt and sent to the principal.  That kid is Wyatt James, my heart and soul.  Every day he tortures his sister in ways I would not expect at his age!  If we tell him he can't have something or do something, he is instantly furious and throws whatever is in his hands or closest to him.  He will throw, hit, he pinches.  He is a holy terror.  Now this might seem normal to most moms of boys, but I have Taylor.  She never did this stuff!  So the night before I head to my first day at work this is what happened to solidify my belief that my sweet baby boy is headed for a rough future:) I say this all tongue in cheek, just so you can tell these words are dripping with sarcasm.
I hear Wyatt rustling from a nap.  He starts kicking his crib against the wall, he does this frequently.  He isn't crying, so I think I have a few more minutes to get some last minute chores done.  Finally he starts making some noise so I go in.  I walk in to the grossest scene yet in my days as his mom.  Wyatt had taken his diaper off, which had contained a poo.  The kicking I heard was him presumably kicking the diaper off.  At some point, kicking the poo onto the back of his crib and all over the matress.  Then he must have pushed himself over to stand up, so yes, it was all over him and his hands.  He was sobbing.  So I put this child in the bathtub right away.  About the time I get him cleaned up and in a diaper, and start to clean up the mess my Mom shows up.  I march her in and say "Look what your grandson has done".  She gasps as Wyatt watches her.  She looks at him and says "Wyatt that was very naughty, that is not good Wyatt."  To this Wyatt, giggles, points to the mess and starts laughing and sticks his tongue out. 

Kids who play with their feces end up in bad places.  It makes me think of mental institutions and prisons.  I know that it is pretty typical of many kids.  I just never thought mine would be one of THOSE kids.  Therefore I am researching military nursery schools.......;)

Working Again

So I made it through my first few days back in the working world.  It was a bit of a culture shock!  I have been mostly at home for the last four years and have enjoyed every second of it wholeheartedly.  It has been an amazing gift to be home with the kids since their births, playing with them and watching them grow.  We had planned on me staying at home or going back part time until Wyatt was at least two years old.  However this opportunity at American Express was a rare one that we felt was meant to be, and one I couldn't pass up.  I re-entered the work force, a little worried about how the kids and I would do.  We came through our first half week unscathed!  Wyatt did amazing, which was a feat of magnificent proportions.  He hasn't been the kid that is really comfortable with people other than Chris and I, and he is finally very comfortable with Uma and Papa.  I was very concerned he would be a disaster.  Just to prove that Mom's definitely don't know everything, he did marvelous.  He played both days he was at daycare wonderfully, ate and napped.  I was amazed.  I can watch him on a camera from my computer at work, so I got to check on he and Taylor both days.  We adjusted this last week fairly well, with lots of help from my Mom!  She watches the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  So Thursday we came home to a clean house, with dinner on the table.  WOW!!! 

While I miss the kids during the day, and I know I am missing  a lot, I also am excited to start this new adventure.  I have so much to learn at Amex, and there is tremedous growth potential if I just dig in and get to it.  My boss is an amazing woman who has really worked hard and made a great name for herself within the company, and maintains a low profile with humility and grace.  The campus is great, and I enjoyed a nice breakfast and coffee Friday morning with a co-worker-any stay at home mom knows what an amazing event that is!  I managed to go through the day without wiping anyone's nose (as my friend Nancy was afraid I might do), I didn't say I was going to "the potty", and I enjoyed lunch with a friend from high school!  I have real mixed feelings about my decreased face time with my kids.  I know they will grow in ways that were not possible staying with me all day, but I also know that no one takes care of them like I do, and certainly no one loves them like I do.  It is a struggle any mom goes through when making the choice to go back to work or stay home.  We made huge sacrifices for me to stay home, and I made personal sacrifices concerning my career and well EVERYTHING.  It was totally worth it, and I don't wish to take back a minute.  Kids are little for only a blink of the eye, and at least I got to be there for a lot of the beginning ALL of the time.  I feel pretty confident that this is the best choice for our family at this time.  It is good for me personally and professionally, it is good for us financially, and I think the kids are getting opportunities they would lack otherwise.  I know they miss the time we have every morning where we don't rush, and all of our fun adventures, but since the quantity of our time is decreased, I have to put huge effort into the quality of the time we have.  So if you hear less of me for a while, or see less of me for awhile, that would be why.  Don't take it personally, I still love you:) We are just making it through a big transition, and the only way I know how to do anything is to immerse myself completely.  So I am immersing myself completely into this new job and then at home.  Here is to new adventures, opportunities, and hopefully some trips back to Colorado/Wyoming to see those who we love!!!!

Explorer Birthday!

I can't believe that Taylor is almost 4 years old!  She was born August 10th, 2006, and I thank God every day that I was so blessed to be chosen as her mother.  She has started preschool and has already changed in one short week of school.  Today we had her birthday party, and she chose to have a Dora the Explorer themed party.  Taylor is always in Dora mode.  Everywhere we go she says "Vamanos" or "Where are we going?" or my favorite "do we take the minga path or the singa path, minga path, RIGHT!" (Minga and Singa are her version of Spanish.  We planned a treasure hunt for the kids, complete with explorer hats!  Each stop had a clue, and at the end they got their goodie bags.  It was a fun time with pizza, homemade cupcakes that were a complete family effort (Thanks Uma for baking, Taylor helping me decorate and Mandi for bringing her own yummy additions!)  The kids all seemed to enjoy the treasure hunt, and Taylor made out like a bandit.  Her friend and family are overly generous, she is a blessed little girl to have such great friends!  Here are some pictures Aunt Mandi took.  We were missing Uncle Matt, Aunt Ivy and Maddy Grace today.  Just a couple days ago Taylor said "Mommy is Aunt Ivy coming to my birthday?" and I told her she was too far away this year.  She said "oh that makes me sad, I wish she could come because I love her".  AWWWWW!

Explorer Hats!

Will, Cheyenna, Taylor and Natalie enjoying some lunch

Ready to go on a treasure hunt?  Here we go!

I was trying to get the kiddos to calm down to go on the hunt, so "where are we going?" clap clap clap did the trick

Wyatt finally woke up and joined us

Taylor in her birthday dress Uma made on Friday!

Brooklynn giving Taylor a hand with her Alice in Wonderland  tea set!

Wyatt and I playing in the balloons

Blessings Abound!!!

I am walking on air today, and very grateful for wonderful blessings!  Most of you who know me well, know the last year has been hard and trying.   I have wondered many times if things would ever turn around!  I feel like I am finally seeing the turn around.  I interviewed for a great position last week and was offered the job today!  I am so excited that I didn't really hear what my now boss was telling me, I was shaking!  I will be the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Technology Transformation at American Express.  I have had great "intel" from some friends that this is a fabulous company to work for, and the vibe I got was amazing.  My boss is from the UK, and she has two small children.  She was so nice and emphasized that she is flexible and encourages growth within the company.  The assistant I will be replacing is being promoted and she lives close to us here in Surprise, hello carpooling!  There is an opportunity for me to "telecommute" or work from home at times which is really exciting as well.  I didn't think jobs like this existed, certainly not for me, and I am thrilled beyond words.  I truly am blessed, and can't wait to go back to work! Wyatt will be in the day care program at our church 3 days a week, while Taylor will stay in her current preschool schedule.  She will go home with a friend of ours on those afternoons, and both kids will stay with Uma Tuesdays and Thursdays for the first couple of months until they get used to this transition and will go to full time.  I toured the Amex campus on my interview and it is truly amazing!  It is a great company that really seems to value its employees and their families.  Anyway, this is a BIG change for me, but one I am ready for and so thankful.  I am excited to be back in the office doing much the same thing that I did for Senator Allard when I worked in Washington D.C. and who knows where this road may lead me next!  Everything happens for a reason, I don't question, just follow faithfully! 

Random Thoughts...

This past Sunday our Pastor tackled the not so fun topic of prophecy.  Mostly we delved into staying positive about prophecy.  I am the first one to admit, I really try to avoid this whole topic altogether.  It is scary, yucky, sad and in my heart I know it is coming.  How can one stay positive about prophecy?  Pastor Lee focused on the amazing gift that God has given us, and that is time.  Time to make sure you are right in your heart and mind so that you can make it to the "big house".  Now I understand that sounds great, but I still get sad about the whole mess.  I get sad about the state of the world, of humankind.  There are some really great things about the world we live in today, but there is also so much evil and desperation.  I guess I am conflicted.  I want God to clean house, literally.  Like Pastor Lee said, in not so many words, this is not heaven!  It is a place fulling of hating, sinning, killing, starving...and the list goes on an on.  So in that way, I welcome and am happy about the extensive "cleaning" that needs to go on.  However, I am sad about it too.  I love living, and I love people.  I love waking up every morning knowing that anything can happen.  What saddens me is that this would end.  Not just for me, I know where I am going :) but for mankind.  I become sad thinking about the desperate times ahead for the rest of the world, and that eventually it will cease.  I know that as a Christian staying positive is my role, it IS in my heart, because I know I'll join God in heaven.  But I also get sad for the end.  I find myself thinking "things will change, things will get better"...when in reality that probably isn't reality without "the end."  At this point, I try to clear the fear from my heart and head, especially when I look at the world around me and realize...all of the prophecies are complete, except the end game.  That sends chills down my spine, both good and bad!  I want it to happen, and yet...I don't.  I can't help hoping the depravity and sickness our country and the world is suffering will turn itself around.  For the sake of my children and their children.  This is a bit rambling, a bit ranting, but it has been on my mind since Sunday, and strangely it was something I was thinking about even before the service.  God always speaks right to my heart, when I am humble enough to listen.  This was a dark topic, with a lot of golden and silver light illuminating it, if that makes sense.  I don't know if anyone else thinks about this, or if everyone else just tries to avoid it, denying it because it isn't so fun to think about.  I see the validity of being positive, but I have great empathy for those who will suffer and are suffering right now.  I guess I am positive and hopeful for myself, but so sad that at some point it has to end.  While I know many non-Christians probably read this and say "Christians have been saying this stuff for years" and many will think I am nuts, I am putting this out there.  If you have a response, send it my way!
"I am the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End. To all who thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge" Revelation 21:6

Ready or not.....

Wyatt loves to play hide and seek, so much so, that he goes and hides without us knowing that we are playing!  He is not afraid of the dark and will hide in a closet with the door shut for quite awhile waiting for someone to find him.  We generally know he is hiding because it is the only time he is quiet when he isn't sleeping, so we know to go "find" him.  This evening he was hiding, and was more than delighted when we found him.  He is such a cute little man, and he recently has started saying "Uma"!  We love to hear him babble and he gets so excited when he can communicate.  His attention span is finally getting long enough that he can sit through some books, and he especially loves a few in particular.  Wyatt has found belly buttons to be fascinating.  He pulls up EVERYONE'S shirts in order to give them a poke, and really loves Papa's.  He is a busy boy who is most happy torturing his big sister, and getting into everything he is not supposed to.

Tiny Dancer

Here is our tiny dancer, our little ballerina!  Taylor has been taking ballet from the Arizona Ballet Academy and has loved every second of it.  They do a lot of "acting" and she is learning the basics of ballet too.  Her final performance is August 17th, and I can't wait to see her.  She is lovely to watch, a true Leo, the sign of the actress/performer.  She loves to be on stage and she charmed us like crazy on parent observation day. 

Doula Time!

So I haven't been active as a Doula or Childbirth Educator since Wyatt was born.  We haven't stayed put long enough in one place for me to really make any connections!  Through a friend, I served as a Doula for a family that delivered yesterday!  While I probably won't be serving as a Doula regularly anytime soon, it was absolutely exhilirating.  It is work I truly love.  Being witness to a woman as she goes through the process of birthing a baby is an experience that I don't tire of, and being able to serve her during that time is an honor.  Working with this mother was quite different than my previous birth experiences because it was on a "pro bono" basis, and distance made it difficult for us to meet and do much preparation together.  I certainly missed that deep connection I have shared with clients in the past.  I also really missed being familiar with the hospital, staff and of course having my midwife there.  I worked with my midwife who delivered both of our children, and we became a great sort of team.  I learned invaluable skills and gained powerful knowledge by working with Marie.  She is the inspiration that drove me to birth work.  In spite of these missing pieces it was an incredible journey, and a short one!  I left mother and her new little work of God early yesterday evening, feeling renewed and really just happy!  While I will say that at this moment in time we are done having any more children, I recalled the feeling of unadulterated happiness on the days of both of my children's births.  Each was such a different experience, but that natural high of holding your child for the first time is one without compare.  At one point in her completely natural and exhaustive labor, the mother said "I just want a nap, when he gets here I want a nap".  I smiled and nodded.  I knew that while she said that in that moment of complete exhaustion, once she held her little baby she would be filled with such adrenaline and love that there would be no sleeping for a long while.  I recalled after Taylor's birth, I had been in labor for the entire day, and all of the night with no sleep, no drugs to relieve my pain or exhaustion.  I was so tired that at the end when the contractions would pile one after the other, giving me no more than 30 seconds between each, I was able to fall into a deep sleep in one or two seconds!  So tired!  Once she was born at 3:43 a.m. I was suddenly awake like I had slept all night!  A little orange juice and breakfast, holding my newborn I was so alive.  The same was true of Wyatt, I was in labor throughout the day and night, he was finally delivered via C-Section at 11:44 p.m. and although I was exhausted and groggy from the medication I took a brief nap with him in my arms and didn't put him down for the next 3 days.  Ask the NCMC nurses, they will tell you they couldn't get me to put him down for anything!  Watching the new mother with her tiny son at her breast yesterday evening filled me with remembrance of those first precious days with both of my babies and the wonderful bonds we share.  I love working as a Doula, and it gives me such appreciation for the art of MOTHERING.  Mothers are amazing.  We go through pain and discomfort that really in unfathomable, and once we lay eyes on our child the pain is suddenly a distant memory.  Our biggest concern is their safety, their comfort, their health and happiness.  We would do anything for them, and we do.  I really believe that birthing a child is such strong and hard work because it gives mothers the knowledge and confidence that they have overcome something that may have seemed insurmountable, and they did it!  Birthing is the ultimate confidence builder in a new or "repeat" mom, and she will need that confidence in the days ahead.  It just gets more complicated after that!  While I certainly am quite content with my two children, I had a teensy weensy bit of envy as I watched mom nurse her new baby.  Like I said, those first few moments and days are like none other and pass so quickly.  What a great day it was, and I feel like it was the start to some really great things happening.  They are a great family, and that little baby boy is one lucky guy because his mother and father love him so deeply, that was evident throughout the afternoon.  Anyway, it was a great day and I wanted to share some thoughts I had! 

In the Army now...

We are in the midst of 115 degree days, so our afternoons are spent either in the water or air conditioning!  It is not as bad as I thought it would be though, and is definitely more tolerable than 6 months of cold winter, blizzards and howling winds.  In another couple of months things will start to cool off again, and for that we will be thankful!

Chris is back in the United States Army again!  After some heart wrenching discussions, and meetings with different branches, he is back as a Military Police Officer as an Army Reservist!  Some might question this, he has a good job and has been out of the Army for almost a decade.  Over the last couple of years his desire to serve has been growing, and this was finally the choice that made the most sense to him.  I guess once a soldier, always a soldier.  He will admit that he probably should have stayed in for life, he has missed the Army, and the pride and work that comes with it.  Distance probably makes the heart grow fonder!  Regardless, I am extremely proud of him.  He loves his country, and has a profound sense of duty that was not necessarily being fulfilled by his regular job.  He will be helping to train soldiers on terrorist investigations, basic criminal investigations, his many years of service and training in law enforcement will be of great benefit to the unit he is attached to.  Chris is a great role model to our children, and while I am nervous about future deployments, I also know he is doing this for our children, and the future of our country.  He basically put his money where his mouth is, so to speak.  He has always said that every many who can serve, should.  Since he is still able bodied, and has skills to offer, he really believes in serving his country this way!  The benefits of retiring from the Army are also good, and hopefully being a weekend warrior will satisfy the inner warrior within him!

I may have more news to share in the next couple of weeks, and I can't wait for new and exciting changes.  I have learned something over the last year.  I keep saying I don't like change, and things keep changing.  So guess what....I am learning to embrace change! HA!

My loves

"The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed." - Billy Graham

Summertime in Arizona, but it is a DRY HEAT!

Sea Turtle! I love the surprised face and Wyatt's cheesy grin!!

Clowning Around-He never stops moving!

It has been so hard for me to sit down and blog lately.  I am so tired at the end of the day that I hardly can keep my eyes open.  It has been too long though so here goes!  The summer has been great, even in 112 degree weather.  I would much prefer this over the cold, and it really doesn't last this long.  We have found that it is much more tolerable when playing either at the Surprise Aquatic Center or at my parents pool.  Taylor and Wyatt love to swim, and are both getting quite proficient at floating and Taylor can get across the pool quick!  I will say that I have seen asphalt turn into a liquid form though, a little warm.  There are definite adjustments to deal with the heat, and that involves lots of water, misters, and going to the park earlier and earlier.  We may be there by 7:00 a.m. here soon. 

The kids are both doing so wonderful!  Wyatt is my big boy and he is all boy.  He is drawn to every kind of ball and actually knows what to do with them!  He won't watch a cartoon to save his life, but if golf or baseball or even NASCAR are on the television he stops cold in his tracks and will watch.  That's my BOY!  He really doesn't say much, which is quite different from Taylor but he definitely communicates and understands everything we say.  He does enough grunting that I am convinced he is a neanderthal.    Taylor is also doing great, but is gettin antsy to get back to school.  She is in ballet right now through the Arizona Ballet Company and will start T-Ball and Soccer next month.  She has made a great little friend through school and church, and they inform me regularly they "are bff's"! HA!  They get along really well and put on shows for the parents at every chance they get.  We adore the Parker family, and their cute kids that are the same ages as ours.  Taylor has informed me she is going to be a doctor "to get the babies out" as well as a "soldier who protects the country".  I love it!  They both bring me infinite joy each day, even when they are trying my patience and nerves.  That is parenting.

We have found a great home in Radiant Church here in Surprise.  It is an amazing gift to look forward to Sunday morning so that we can all go to listen to Pastor Lee teach us about God's word.  Chris and I have really enjoyed all aspects of the church from the amazing music, the kids program is awesome and we really love listening to our Pastor.  We are becoming more involved in the church and I am excited about the new relationships and opportunities to serve others and God that I know are coming our way!  Taylor has blossomed at Radiant (she also attend the pre-school there during the school year).  Hearing her sing about Jesus and God, and the time we pray together before she goes to sleep are among my favorite during the day.  Children really are extraordinary in their wisdom and faith-let me love like a child!  We were blessed to have found this church.

The summer has been busy, I try to keep the kids really busy during the hottest part of the day if we aren't at the pool.  There have been trips to a museum and there are more to come!  Once things cool off we are looking forward to more outside time that doesn't involve a swimsuit.  Here are some pictures of the Schultz kids that show what a great time we have!  They keep us laughing, cringing, and Chris and I are so grateful that we have been blessed with these two little people.

He loves his baby

They love the 4-wheeler

Loving on each other

Read to me!

Reading his favorite book-he loves the firetruck

Smiling Pretty

The Dinosaur Bones

The Dinosaur Guy at the Arizona Natural History Museum

The Green Room!

Patriotic Playroom-I am very proud to say that Taylor was saying the pledge of Allegiance at about 18 months, and she still will stop on a walk when she sees a flag and put her hand on her heart to recite it!  She makes her Daddy SO proud.  She has even adopted the phrase "HOOAH" when she does something good.  Thanks to Daddy and GI Joe. All joking aside, Happy Fourth of July!  Let us honor our amazing veterans and our active and reservists.  They have given so much so that we are free, we should never take it for granted.  Let us honor our founding fathers, and their dream.  While I try not to get political, I will get a bit PATRIOTIC!  :)  I feel we are so far from the dream right now, but that as all things American - we learn the hard way!  I believe in the dream, and that we have strayed too far from that dream.  I believe Americans are starting to realize that right now and become scared.  Fear is a good motivator.  I have a lot of fear for our security, both financial and physical.  However, I have great hope and love for this country.  I know we as Americans don't always get it right, who does?  But the intention is there, and that intention has always come from a good place where freedom is everything.  Really what else are we if we are not free?  So please, honor our veterans and this great country.  If you see an old or even a young guy with some sort of military hat or clothing, stop and thank them.  I do, and it is the least I can do to show my gratitude for what they have sacrificed.  I will be thinking of those distant grandfathers of mine who were part of the Revolutionary, Spanish American, and Civil Wars.  I will be honoring my late Grandfather who was part of the D-Day invasion as a Seabee as were all of his brothers.  My Great Uncle who served during the Korean War, and my late Great Uncle who brought the dead home from war.  I will be honoring my father, and my husband!  He is such a great patriot that after being out of the Army for several years, still has the desire to serve!  What an amazing role model for our children!  We will be grilling and swimming with some friends and family this holiday weekend, watching some baseball and fireworks and thanking our lucky red white and blue stars that we were born in the USA!  Hooah!

Memorial Day Weekend

We are honoring those we have lost and those serving our great country this weekend.  We started the weekend off with the Surprise Memorial Day Parade.  It was a lot of fun, great patriotism, and some neat floats.  Wyatt was so happy to see the firetrucks and police cars, and he waved at everyone.  Taylor also enjoyed all the sirens and emergency vehicles.  Chris has to work the immigration protest in Phoenix so he couldn't go with us (GRRRR).  Here are some pictures of the kids, Taylor with her friend-Rebecca.  Wyatt in all his diaper glory, looking straight and handsome!  We got news from Children's Hospital finally on his x-ray in March.  His curve is at 10 degrees (down from 30 a year ago) YAY!  No x-rays for 9 more months!  What a champion he is!