Parenting Advice Desperately Needed!!!

So I am truly at a loss of what to do with my son Ridge. I always swore I would never have a momma's boy or a whiner and I have both in one little boy. He's mute when it comes to words, but he fails to mute the sounds he puts out constantly. He is CONSTANTLY crying, whining, wanting to be held, wanting something I can't figure out because he won't talk. I truly cannot take it anymore. He was a great baby but as he's gotten older and he is now 18 months old, he's getting worse and worse. I know a lot of the patience issues has to do with me being pregnant but even Curtis is done with the whole deal. The thing that baffles me is that I will get more upset with him than Curtis and yet he still chooses to come to me or want me over Curtis which I don't understand or even enjoy which I am sorry to say. We've tried putting him in his bed every time he starts to cry for absolutely no reason, but it doesn't seem to do anything. He comes out and within a few SECONDS, he's back to whining and crying again. It is the most draining and frustrating thing. I feel so bad for Cambree who is such a great girl who seems to be getting the short end of the stick. Mom and dad are sick of dealing with Ridge that she gets bothered parents and lack of attention. I just don't know what else to do. I have another baby coming in a couple months and it truly scares me to think I will have Ridge still acting like he does with a brand new baby that will truly need my full attention. I watch him at times and want to believe he's in pain or something is bothering him (he still only has 7 teeth so he could be teething), or he always wants to be held so I link that to being in pain but I can't figure it to be the cause for everything. I am hoping there is someone out there who reads this that can shed some light on what I can do to curb this attitude. So anyone with ANY advice even simple as it may seem, please let me know because I truly don't know if I can handle too much more of things the way they are. Thanks for any help. 

Runaway Truck Pics

So here is the pictures from the whole ordeal. I have some better pics on my phone but don't know how to upload them so these will have to do. Here Aaron is trying to pull the truck out with his prowler but you can see how deep the wheels are in the rocks. You can also see how far into the pit I got until I stopped. So yeah, very interesting and no we still haven't found out what may have caused it. 

Easter Pics

After my huge ordeal with my runaway truck and after I got to my parents house we were able to celebrate a little Easter celebration. Both sets of Grandma's and Grandpa came over to help us celebrate. We had a bar-b-que and a little Easter egg hunt for the kids.

Here is me with my Grandma McKnight and Grandma Meikle

Grandma McKnight with my mom...

I love this picture of my Grandpa Meikle with Ridge

Grandma and Grandpa Meikle with kids

My sweet Uncle Billy. He's been recently diagnosed with brittle diabetes and its been quite the road for my Grandma McKnight and my mom. He did so good at the party though. It was fun to have him there.

Here's the preschool Easter Party. They had an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard. Cute to see them running all around.

Kids making their Easter Baskets.

All cute in their Easter Bunny hats.

Overrall, everything went really good. I took pictures of our little Easter celebration but they won't upload so I'll try later. 

Runaway Truck

I have passed those emergency runaway truck ramps 1,000 times and have thought several times if people really need to use those.... well yesterday I got to answer my question with a huge YES!! With no preschool on Friday I decided to go to my parents for a few days and enjoy some Easter celebrating with them. We left Thatcher about 11:30. Well we got stopped for blasting outside of Globe for about 20 minutes and so our next leg of the trip was spent in a long line of cars heading into the Superior Mountains. This is when things got really scary.

I was literally coasting, following about 3 car lengths behind the car in front of me, when all of the sudden I lost my power steering and my brake pedal went out. I don't know if any of you have had either of those things happen to you, but its a very scary thing. My mind started going a mile a minute. We were heading into the cliffs of Superior which meant a downward slope and no control around teh curves. Things were flashing through my mind. Cambree was constantly asking me questions making things even more frantic. I tried down shifting, I tried turning off the car and turning it back on...nothing!! Luckily I was able to PULL and I mean literally PULL the steering wheel back and forth to maneuver the curves enough that we were ok. The brake situation, well I had my whole weight on it and it would slow me ever so slightly. I nearly hit the truck in front of me 3 times. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. We were some how able to get through the tunnel and I saw the emergency runaway truck ramp. I was weighing my options but in the end, that seemed to be safest thing to do. So I braced myself and headed towards it. We rolled quite a ways in there before ultimately coming to a stop. That's when I lost it and also when the kids got a little scared....mom was freaking out. I called Curtis and scared him I'm sure with my crying. I couldn't spit it out fast enough to ensure him everyone was fine just had a situation. We were now stuck outside of Superior in this gravel pit. I got out and check the damage and luckily nothing seemed damaged. I got the kids out and let them stretch while I starting figuring out the next play. We were there about 10 minutes and no one stopped to see if we were ok or if we needed help. Luckily my brother-in-law Aaron was heading home and saw us last minute and pulled off. Unfortunately he got stuck too. He had his Arctic cat on his truck so we tried a couple times to pull the truck out but broke two straps.

Eventually my father-in-law also stopped as he was on his way to the valley as well. We ended up that he took my kids to Phoenix to meet my parents while I stayed with Aaron to wait for the truck to get towed out and to get the vehicles are traded out. So I didn't get to my ultimate destination till after 7:00.

I still have no clue as to what happened in that car. I have explained it to several people and they are all so confused by the steering and brakes went out. I wasn't distracted by anything, I wasn't on the phone (there is no service in the mountains to begin with), the kids were behaving, so I was focused completely on the road. (I hate driving the Superior Mountains to begin with). I am trying to recall little details to hopefully be able to shed some light as to what exactly happened but things were so frantic that truly the sequence of events is all a little jumbled. After stopping in the gravel pit, we turned to the truck off and back on and what do you know, everything works just fine. Makes me feel like the biggest idiot alive. I know there are people out there that thinks I did something to cause it but I truly know it is all a mechanical error of some sort. Curtis is taking in the truck today to get it looked at. In a way I am hoping they come back saying they found a reason, so I don't look so crazy but we'll see. I am just glad everyone is ok and it wasn't worse than it really could have been. We are very lucky that I didn't hit anyone else. I have pictures but am currently at my parents house so I can't upload them yet so I will do that soon. Just had to share that experience. Not fun!! But now I know what those ramps are for. :)

Food Storage!! "I told thee so!"

I as many out there are really pushing food storage right now. Tonight I went to one of our mini classes for enrichment that happened to be on food storage and they shared this story that I just had to pass along. I think many, if not all, can relate to it. It's a little long but worth it I promise....its funny too :)

It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark

Book of Gomer Parable

These are the generations of Gomer, son of Homer, son of Omer. And in the days of Gomer, Noah the Prophet went unto the people saying, "Prepare ye for the flood which is to come, yea, build yourselves a boat, that ye may not perish."

Now, Gomer was a member of the church, and taught Sunday School and played, yea, even on the ward softball team. And Gomer's wife said unto him, "Come, let us build unto ourselves a boat as the Prophet commandeth, that we may not perish in the flood." But behold, Gomer said unto him wife, "Worry not, dear wife, for if the flood comes the government will provide boats for us."

And Gomer did not build a boat.  And Gomer's wife went unto Noah and she returned saying, "Behold, Honey, the Prophet saith unto us, "Build a boat, that we may preserve ourselves, for the government pays men not to grow trees, wherefore the government hath not the lumber to build you a boat."

And Gomer answered saying "Fear not, oh wife, for am I not the star pitcher on the ward softball team? Wherefore, the Church will provide for us a boat, that we will perish not."

And Gomer's wfie went again unto Noah, and she returned to Gomer, saying, "Behold, mine husband, the Prophet said that the Church hath not enough lumber to build a boat for everyone, wherefore, mine husband, build for us a boat that we might not perish in the flood." And Gomer answered her saying, "Behold, if we build a boat, when the flood cometh, will not our neighbors overpower us and take from us our boats, wherefore, what doth it profit a man to build a boat?"

And Gomer's wife went again unto Noah and she returned, saying, "Behold, the Prophet saith, build unto yourselves a boat, and have faith, for if ye do the Lord's bidding. H will preserve your boat for you. "But Gomer answered his wfie saying, "Behold, with this inflation, the price of wood has gone sky high, and if we wait awhile, perhaps the price will go down again. And then I will build for us a boat."

And Gomer's wife went again unto Noah, and she returned saying, "Thus saith the Prophet, build for yourselves a boat RIGHT NOW, for the price of wood will not go down, but will continue to go up. Wherefore, oh husband, build for ourselves a boat, that we may perish not." But Gomer answered his wife saying. "Behold for 120 years Noah hath told us to build a boat, to preserve us from the flood, but hath the flood come? Yea, I say nay. Wherefore, perhaps the flood will not come for another hundred and twenty years.

And Gomer's wife went again unto Noah and returned saying. "The Prophet saith, he knows it has been 120 years, but nevertheless, the flood will come, wherefore, build unto yourselves a boat."

And Gomer answered her saying. "Wherewith shall we get the money to build ourselves a boat, for are we not now making monthly payments on our snazzy new four horsepower chariot? Wherefore, when our payments end, perhaps we shall build ourselves a boat."

And Gomer's wife went again unto Noah and returned saying "Behold the Prophet saith that we should cut down on our recreation, and our vacations, and even give each other lumber for Christmas, that we might thereby get enough lumber to build a boat."

But Gomer saith unto her, "What a drag! Are we to cease enjoying life, just because we must build a boat?"

Wherefore, Gomer did not build a boat. But behold, one afternoon Gomer heard thunder in the sky, and he feared exceedingly, and he ran, yea, even to the lumber yard to buy lumber. But behold, the lumber store was crowded with great multitudes, all seeking to buy lumber, and there was not enough lumber to be found for the multitudes. 

And on the same day were all the fountains of the deep opened, and the windows of heaven were broken up, and the floods came- and, behold, Gomer had no boat. And as the water rose above Gomer's waist, his wife saith unto him, "Behold, Honey, I told thee so!"

I found this story to be so relevant to right now. I think we all find ourselves relating to Gomer at one point or another. I just loved it. So I am really excited about keeping our food storage growing. Just a hint for many of you- foodstoragemadeeasy.net is an awesome site to get your going and makes it all attainable. Anyways, just had to share. 

22 1/2 weeks pregnant

I cannot believe I am already 22 1/2 weeks pregnant. Time is flying by. I forget all the time that I am pregnant actually. It helps that I stay busy with 2 little kids and a preschool to run :) Here's my first belly pic. I am trying so hard this time round to not gain a lot of weight. With Cambree I gained close to 50 pounds and of course with Ridge I didn't have enough time to take it off before I started to gain even more, so I am hoping to really keep my weight gain to a minimum. I am still attending my aerobics class and working out as often as I can but we'll see how much longer I can keep that up. Running is getting harder, but I must say I feel great still.

That said, I have had one of those weeks. Its been really hard to stay upbeat and positive. I know I am not the most perfect wife, mother but I am trying. I hate to cook but consistently make the effort of cooking things, just to have my kids not even want to take a bite or for the food to turn out just plain disgusting. I work hard on our fence, just to have the stink'n wind pick up enough to not allow us to finish. This house, as much as I appreciate it, is small so the tiniest of messes make this house feel like a wreck and is just overwhelming. I feel like I am always cleaning. Then to top it all off, I feel much pressure as I am trying to get my preschool ready for next semester. I posted posters all over the valley this week and hope to get my registration filled soon, but its hard to keep my hopes up when there are so many other great people doing preschools as well. My goal is to be 100% planned and set for the first 5 months of preschool due to the fact that I am due 3 weeks prior to school starting. Anyways, so I have been feeling overwhelmed and stressed to say the least. Well Curtis had to go on a scout camp out this weekend, but he could tell I was discouraged, so before he left, he had 1/2 dozed roses delivered to me. For those that know Curtis, know this is a huge deal. I really appreciate the gesture and it really helps me feel better. I just need to relax and let things happen as they will and not stress so much (easier said than done for me :) Anyways, just had to get some of this out. 

Ridge is 18 months old!!

I cannot believe Ridge is 18 months old today!! He has changed so much in a short of a time. Just creating this post with all the pictures, just overwhelms me with emotion. He's such a joy and blessing in our lives. He's definitely a crucial piece in our growing family. Just some fun things about Ridge:

He loves plans, tractors and LIVING outside

He loves his daddy and helps him put on and take off his boots everyday.

He WILL NOT talk, but communicates so well :)

He loves to copy his sister Cambree in everything she does.

He's all boy in that he gets hurt daily, loves to be dirty, and loves to outdoors.

He gets to start nursery this Sunday (I'm doing a little celebratory dance :)

I am so lucky to have a beautiful little boy. I love him so much!!! Here are some fun pics of him over the past 18 months. They are in no order but they are still fun to look through.