So. I have been noticeably horrible about updating this blog. Not because we never do stuff. We do lots of things...I am just behind...way behind.
What's new with us?
-Facebook post from Albert: "
So, for the last two years I have been doing cancer research with Dr. Kim O'Neil here at BYU and I have been accepted to present my research at an international conference called the AACR "American Association of Cancer Research" in Washington D.C. I will be presenting along with Post Doc's, PHD, and the leading researchers in Cancer right now. I'm so excited!!"
When they sent Albert the e-mail telling him that he was accepted, they called him 'Dr. Helsing' because, really, it's basically just people with PHD's that get accepted to present at the AACR conference. :) Another reason we're excited for this is because there will be a lot of heads of admittance boards for Med schools there! GREAT opportunities!
So, Albert left Johnathan and I the week of General Conference and presented.
He got an award for his posters and talked with a few people of influence in the Medical school world...One such person was a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He said he wanted Albert to do an internship with him this summer with cancer research. Albert of course called me almost right away and I told him "DUH! even if we're NOT going to end up going to Johns Hopkins in the long run, it'll still look GREAT on your resume"
after several long weeks of waiting and e-mailing back and forth, it is completely official! He was offered the internship. Unfortunately, due to strenuous monetary circumstances and the fact that the guy only got to Albert about what the school would be paying for YESTERDAY (5/20), Albert will not be taking the internship and will still get to spend the summer with Johnathan and I (due to the not-so-great job economy out here in UT and the fact that I'd more than likely not have a job when I got back if I quit, I was going to bravely stay here in UT with Johnathan so you can imagine how happy I am for this not to happen) however, when Albert told the professor his reasons for declining this AMAZING opportunity, the professor said "ok well, i'll just hold a spot for you for next summer" which is PERFECT because more than likely I'd be having to quit my job at the library anyways and the school would be paying for our flights out, housing, food, etc. yeah...perfect situation for apartment hunting. :)
-Albert took the MCAT last weekend. He's not sure how he did...but then again the MCAT isn't designed for you to leave feeling like you aced it. I'm just glad he's done. :)
-We have now begun the process of applying to medical schools...and it's more expensive than I thought it was...thanks heavens for friends who have been through it before and who have been giving us tips. <3
-Johnathan is always learning and copying us. He often cracks me up with his little antics. Today I caught him cradling one of his toys and humming to it. *heart melting*
-Recently he's starting singing a LOT more...and it makes me SO happy...usually it's more humming than singing, but still. it makes me happy.
-His favorite movie is Cars2. We discovered that we can turn it on when he's on another level of the house and he'll come running (and tripping) to watch it. :) This means that 'poor' Albert has probably watched it fifty bajillion times because he likes to turn it on so that he can get homework done.
-He is still quite pigeon-toed...and honestly it kind of worries me. We talked to Johnathan's original doctor about it and the doctor said "yeah, you know which nationality has a big risk of being pigeon-toed? the Navajos " and then later "we used to have kids wear braces on their feet to correct it, but I haven't done that in years....he should grow out of it by the time he's nine." only...Albert DID have corrective shoes...and it took those corrective shoes to get anywhere...for a long time we just put his shoes on the wrong feet and prayed it helped. however, recently we took Johnathan to a new doctor (I got sick of the old (literally) doctor being so condescending towards me any time I came in with my sick child. Yes, I worry. I'm a parent, it's my job to worry when my son's cough isn't getting better after a week and a half whether it's a "common cold" or not.) Anyways, so the new doctor said that it looked worse than it should and recommended us to Shriners Hospital for Children and we officially have and appointment for an Orthopedic doctor to look at Johnathan's legs/feet near the end of June. YAY!!
More of John-boy's favorite things:
-his "ke-ket" (blanket)-- any time I hold it up he comes running to be snuggled in it.
-cuddling with daddy --it's one of the few times that I get pushed away.
-his "ba-bu" (sippy cup)
-blowing dandelion fluffs -- true sometimes he practically EATS the fluff, but he still loves it
-sitting on the windowsill above our couches in the family room -- the blinds on that window are completely destroyed.
-cookies! -- these always make his day...and he asks for them almost as often as Albert does haha!
-balls --he loves kick, chase after, and "frow!" them. needless to say, we've been browsing the ball section of D.I. a lot recently. :)
-"tu-time!" (tub time) --he hears the water going and he scrambles to get to the bathroom.
-dogs -- this has been a favorite for some time. These days though he likes to bark back at them. :)
-talking on the phone --I recently handed him my phone after an alarm went off and he instantly started talking. "'lo? k. *laughter* *pause* *more laughter* yeah! luh-lu bye!" and it made me so happy that apparently I laugh a lot when I'm on the phone. it means I talk to people who make me happy. :D
-cuddles and puppy stories --every night when I'm putting him to bed, I try to tell him a story about an adventure he and his puppy had. It always ends with his puppy licking him and saying that he loves John. and then, while cuddling, I sing him the spanglish lullaby that I made up for him. Usually this routine is well received...every now and again he interrupts me. "Mama!" "what?" "buh-bye!"
-"chasing mommy" --there have been times when we've played chase for at least half an hour at a time...this means that when I try to sit on the couch, he pulls me back up and then pushes me ahead of him. :)
Things that are new with me?
-I try to go to the park with Johnathan almost every day now...it's a lot easier now that we found friends to go with. :)
-I've been trying to do something creative at least once a week...last week I made crepes...this week...I'm going to fix Albert's scrubs.
-I'm also going to be trying to be ok with just posting random posts with a picture...and updating this when I update facebook (which I don't do half as much as I did when I first started on fb thank heavens haha!)
And now a bunch of random pictures of us
So needs toys when they have boxes?
Clam chowder. Ugh. :P
He organizes his tub toys lol
He puts food in his hair on purpose...I have a video of it
He got moved up to a toddler bed...and it only took a few days to train him. :)
He loves to help sweep.
And pull his wagon to the park
Talking with daddy on FaceTime
When Albert was in DC we went to the zoo with Albert's mom and sisters
Muah!
He LOVED the merry-go-round
Oh! Stickers! Another favorite.
In the car waiting to pick daddy up from the airport....he dumped his snacks all over his lap
Every now and again he doesn't quite make it all the way into his bed before he falls asleep.
He likes eating like a big boy
And stealing my pillow.
Sometimes I teach him habits like drinking the milk right from the cereal bowl....no that's not just his bowl...we shared.
And that's us! I'll post again soon!
