Shannon, Graduation and Stuff

Shannon turned 2 months old a few days ago.

She was born on January 4, 2010 at 6:30 pm. 8 lbs. 11 oz. and 19.5 inches long.

She refused to come out on her own so I was induced at 41 weeks. We made an appointment for the induction at 6 am but when we arrived at the hospital 4 other women had come in active labor. So I had to wait. I told the nurses, "You know, I had an appointment... these other bitches just walked in." They just gave me an odd look. (Dude, it was a joke!) I guess Labor and Delivery is one place where appointments don't take precedence over walk-ins.

Anyway, after walking around the hospital for an hour and skipping down the hall to try and encourage Shannon to arrive, my delivery room was ready. The doctor broke my water (which by the way is MUCH worse than labor pains, yuck) This is the point where I like to play a game. I call it The Delayed Gratification Game :) The point of the game is to wait as long as you possibly can before you get the epidural and see if you can make it to the point of no return. I lost :( I think I lasted about 4 hours before I gave in asked for the drugs. After that everything was all good. Labor is like a party after a good epidural.

See before and after pictures

Rick, my mom and my sisters where all present for the birth. I think that was perfect and am so happy to have the best support system in the world. Shannon came out nice and easy, after only three pushes she was in my arms.

Look how cute!

Shannon is such a good baby. She'll sleep through the night but only if you sleep with her. She smiled at 3 weeks old and Rick claims that she has laughed but I still haven't heard it so I don't believe him.

Ryen is a really good big sister and will go get diapers and wipes. Or give Shannon her binkie if she starts fussing. However sometimes she tries to help too much. Shannon started fussing when I was in the shower and since I couldn't get to her Ryen decided to pick her up and ended up dropping her off the bed (Damn, there goes my goal to prevent this one from getting brain damage... Ryen is already a lost cause, lol)

These two little girls have made my life perfect.

School

I'm supposed to graduate this may but I am still 9 credits behind. I've been arguing with the Prior Learning Assessment Center to count my TEFL Certificate as a Communication Arts Credit, but they won't accept it.

This is what I wrote to them tonight:

I apologize for being so adamant about this. Even with the definition you provided it seems that TEFL should fall under the Communication Arts Category.

I searched Communication Arts on the University of Phoenix website and found these courses with similar topics to Teaching English as a Foreign Language:

Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: English/Language Arts

Intercultural Communication

Communication Techniques for Educators and Administrators

Diversity Issues in Communication

Applied Linguistics

Contemperary Communication in a Diverse Society

With all that added up wouldn't TEFL be considered Communication Arts?

If that isn't enough, the instructor of the TEFL course is professor at the University of Utah. Would a letter from him help prove my case?

Please consider this my credit challenge, and thank you for your patience.

Do you think that will work? I hope so.

I've given up on trying to get credit for my massage license. Instead I'm just going to test out of Natural Science. Time to start cramming!

I've been recieving a lot of bad karma lately, so I could really use your good vibes to pass this test. I desperately need to simplify my life so crossing school of my list will be such a relief.

How's that for an update? Ha!

Merry Christmas!!

We were hoping to be celebrating Christmas with Shannon this year, but she just wasn't ready for us yet :(

Oh well, when she is ready, there is a baby blanket and doll waiting under the Christmas tree for her.

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A couple weeks ago Shaun and Kate came over to take Maternity Photos for me :) It was fun and I love the way the pictures turned out. Thank you so much Katie and Shaun!

Here is a few of the photos they took:

Shaun did an amazing job, you can see more of his work on the Oakhill Studios Website

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Ryen has been going through her terrible two's stage. It's kind of funny though. Rick has been encouraging her to do things for herself now, like dressing herself, buckling herself into the car, setting the table etc. She'll get frustrated when these simple tasks give her a hard time but she absolutely refuses any help. (Ericksons Second Stage of Child Development - Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt) She is definately picking up on the Autonomy. I can't believe how fast she's growing.

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Rick got an Xbox for Christmas as well as some Transformers Dolls (excuse me, "action figures"). He was as adorable as a 5 year old boy opening those presents, haha.

Rick has been on paternity leave from Knight for the past couple weeks, waiting for Shannon to come. I think we jumped the gun, but it's been nice having him home for more than a few days. He may just take local runs for a while so he doesn't have to be away from home for 3 weeks at a time.

That's about all the new news for now. We're just waiting for something exciting to happen *hint hint Shannon*

I haven't posted a blog in forever and have nothing to say, so I'll upload a video of Ryen instead.

As most of the family saw on Thranksgiving, Ryen loves to sing and really enjoys the praise she gets from singing.

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Shannon Taylor Moore should be arriving any day now. Our hope was that she would be born on the 12th of December, but that was yesterday so.... I guess we have nothing to do but wait patiently.

Ryen has no idea what's coming, all she knows is that "Mommy has a big belly! {so does daddy :)}"

I think she'll make a good big sister, after she gets over the shock of having to share attention.

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About the massage studio, business has begun picking up but I'm having troubles finding therapists to work there now! What I'd like to do eventually is to make the studio a home-like place where the public can go to get more than just a generic massage. I'd like to add options like Hot Stone Massage, Prenatal Massage, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Raindrop Therapy and Aromatherapy.

I'd also like to provide opportunities to learn in my studio. I'm currently getting my license through an apprenticeship and would like to provide the same opportunity for others so that they can make money while learning instead of spending $12,000 to go to school. If I can get 2 or 3 LMT's with experience I can help them create a curriculum to submit to the Board of Licensing for Massage. Then we can have 4-6 apprentices on board earning while they are learning.

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SCHOOL!
Yay, graduation is just around the corner! I have 3 CLEP tests to take and 2 classes to double up on my already busy schedule. But after completing that and just surviving through Mental Health and Crisis Intervention, Working With Groups, and my Internship I will officially be a holder of a Bachelors Degree in Human Services. Whoopdeedoo!

My momma warned me not to go into Social Work but I didn't listen... I'm now reconsidering my career route.

If possible I'd like to go to the Midwives College of Utah. Yes, yes it's quite a direction change and you may think I'm only doing this because I'm pregnant, but ever since I took Anatomy and Physiology in high school and got to touch a real placenta I wanted to be an Obstetrician. I think I'd like to continue schooling and become a Midwife Nurse Practitioner.

I think I'll start by getting my massage therapy license and specializing in Prenatal Massage, then get Certification to become a Doula (midwife's assistant), then continue in school to get a Masters degree from MCU and become a Nurse Practitioner. By the time I'm 33(ten years form now) I hope to have enough experience to open my own Prenatal Clinic for expectant mothers.

My Prenatal Clinic will have a massage room too, because right now I have Sciatica and I KNOW how much that hurts!

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Wow, for starting out with nothing to say I sure blabbed a lot!

Anyway, I feel like my life has been so busy lately that unless you are friends with me on Facebook I've neglected the relationships between my family and friends. I miss you guys. I'll be better at staying in contact.

Yummy Yummy

Our favorite new dish:

1 chuck roast
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can French Onion soup
Dash of Pepper

Cook in slow cooker overnight (about 10-12 hours) on medium.

For lunch the next day...

In a tortilla place the following ingredients
Roast beef (squeeze the juice out otherwise it gets really soggy/messy, but leave a little in for moisture)
Lettuce
Tomato
Shredded Cheese (we use chedder or colby jack)
Sliced Olives
Ranch Dressing

Roll it all up and yummy yummy :D

It also leaves a fair amount of leftovers for the next couple days.

Ryens first haircut

Ryen got her first hair cut this past monday.

She saw her beautiful new doo in the mirror and started blowing kisses too herself.

Ryen and George are turning 1!

Cousins Ryen and George are turning 1!!!
You are invited to come celebrate with us at our Mad Hatter Tea Party.

When: Thursday, July 10
Where: “Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.”
Village 2 Clubhouse
4155 S 2700 W
Taylorsville, Utah
Time: 5:00-8:00 PM


The invitations have not been sent like they should have. So if you are family or a friend, please assume that you are invited because you probably are.

It'll be fun!

New videos

Ryen scrunches her nose and snorts, what a weirdo. We went out to eat and she snorted at the waiter.

Ryen says "dada" we're still working on "mama"