The Riverwoods.....

So we decided to venture out into the cold to see some Christmas lights. It was freaking cold. ha. The Riverwoods in Provo has beautiful lights this time of year and they have a little house where santa comes. I figured we could kill 2 birds with 1 stone (lights-check. Santa-check). I'm not a sentimental person so I tend to only do things for the sake of my son.

yep I'm a grinchy becca.

I dragged Nat down to Provo with us (sucker).

Bryant was freaked. It was funny. He told santa he wanted a Lightning Mcqueen, santa asked him if he wanted Emily the train. Now that's all he will talk about. crap.

Cute Nat with the pretty lights :)

p.s. I'm liking these botanicals for my bedroom wall. Far bottom left is my favorite.

BIG NEWS: Travis just got accepted into the University of Utah's Professional MBA program. The next 2 years are going to be painful. I'm psyched. ha. We're hoping the $40,000 is worth it. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. sigh.

Spanksgiving......

Yes I need a tan. I'm so white. So we went to St. George for Thanksgiving. It was epic. We ate (yummy Bear Claw Cafe), went to movies (In Time & Breaking dawn), laughed our butts off in said movies. Bryant even played with his cousins. What more could I ask for? Thanks for letting us come hang out at your house mom & dad. We loved every second :) Next year we should go to a Chinese buffet and skip all that cooking (I'm serious mom. think about it.)

Nat you're a FREAK. HA

This is where Travis found these two after it was silent too long (silence =trouble with Bryant). They were pretend sleeping. adorable.

Cousins!!

In other news, Bryant's speech level was assessed. It turns out he has the receptive language skills of a 4 1/2 yr old and overall level of a 3 1/2 yr old. Thank goodness for early intervention. Isn't that cool? He is doing so much better with social situations too. He is such a sweet little boy, I feel so blessed to have him in my life. Even with all of the challenges they bring, it is so worth all of the heartache and anxiety to have a kid. (hint hint Nat). haha

Alright I'm off to go read a book or watch a show or eat something I shouldn't. :)

Baby Shower......

Travis is watching The Walking Dead, I'm freaked out so I decided to blog so I don't get sucked into the freakiness and have nightmares tonight.

So my sister-in-law Deb is having twins. I helped plan a shower for her. I love planning & decorating for parties. It's so dang fun.

Here are pictures that she had on her blog of my cupcakes (that my Mom, Nat , & Travis all worked on of course ha). Aren't they cute? I loved them.

The End

Everyone have a good week!

For Travis....

Here is the video of Bryant "30 day shredding it"

Hilarious (or at least to his mom & dad)

and the video below is Bryant's favorite video of all time. I've never seen a kid laugh so hard. I don't know why I chose to show this to him. haha. Bad parenting moment.

I know. Disgusting. :)

Becca's ramblings....

Apparently my blog is not the best place to ask for advice on a new dentist. haha.

So what have I been up to you ask?

Watching Vampire Diaries & Hart of Dixie late at night on hulu plus. Yes I realize that both of these shows are ridiculously lame, but it can't be helped. I'm addicted. I'm totally on team Damon and Team Wade. (have no idea what I'm talking about? Good for you. Seriously).

Meeting with social security people-which has the tendency to make me angry & bitter & say bad words.

Reading all of your wonderful blogs. Yes even though I never comment I'm probably number #1 on your stats for who reads your blog the most (no really. go check. It's totally true and creepy). This is also something I do late at night. (see a trend starting here?). Also, Kelly Bentley if you read this I still need to give you my email address before your blog goes private. I keep forgetting. ha.

I buy a lot of $1 teen fiction books off of amazon. It's embarrassing, yet somehow fulfilling. ha.

I'm starting the 30 day shred again. I got halfway through "level 2" today and had to stop. Bryant, on the other hand, mimicked the whole thing. It was hilarious. He calls it "yoga". "Do yoga mommy?". Glad someone is here to motivate me.

I take Bryant to preschool twice a week. It sucks so hard. He cries all the way from Lehi to Provo and he cries so hard I feel like he might throw up. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. I have a mantra in my head that I say over and over "This is good for him. This is good for him." Hopefully one of these days he will realize that school is fun and other people are cool.

Someday. Someday.

Does anyone else think thanksgiving is overrated? I wish we could just skip it and move to Christmas. It's 7 hrs of cooking for a 20 min meal and then 2 hrs of cleaning up. What's up with that? I'm totally catering one day if I ever have money. Cooking is so lame.

Ok that's all. Over and Out.

Dentist......

Hi Friends,

I have a strange request.

So I don't want to admit this but I haven't been to the dentist in 4 yrs (gasp!). I used to go every 6 months like clockwork, and my teeth used to (almost) glow they were so white. ha. Travis & I didn't have dental insurance for a long time and then I got lazy and didn't want to go (when we did get dental insurance), but it's time to suck it up and get it done. Does anyone know of a good dentist in the Orem area who does free teeth whitening? I have to go during Bryant's preschool (which lasts 2 hrs in Orem).

Thanks friends! I really appreciate it!

Cutest video ever!!!

Have I ever told you that my sister is one of the coolest people I know? She's dabbled in Italian, German & French. Lived in Austria and performed opera...........has been to Europe TWICE (SIGH). Knows graphic design. Teaches voice lessons and can play the piano. Has awesome clothes (that I steal frequently). Yeah I think she is pretty darn cool. I'm seriously not half as cool.

Anywho, Travis and I went on our first date in 3 months a couple of weeks ago and Nat babysat for us. She taught Bry a french song from South Pacific. He won't stop singing it. It's hilarious. Here is a video she sent me. If this doesn't make you smile something is wrong with you. :)

Another post below on our Halloween :)

Super Why!!

We had a very Happy Halloween over here. Bryant actually loved his costume! We tried to get one that most resembled pajamas. ha. He even said "trick or treat" to complete strangers!

Wow it was a happy experience for me. The moment where he realized that this whole thing was about a bucket full of candy was hilarious to see on his face.

Thank freaking goodness that all of the practice "trick or treating" at his preschool and a social story I made for him about Halloween actually paid off in a positive experience. wahoo.

On the downside, somebody stole my ridiculously cute pumpkin (that I copied from pinterest). How rude. Travis laughed his head off. It was cuter in real life, and I got to use power tools! yes.

Here is a video of Bryant for the grandmas :) He was excited if you can't tell.

More posts coming soon....

Catch all post...

I wish I was one of those people who could do multiple posts and cover everything, but alas I'm lazy so I like to shove it all in to one. wahoo. We went to my cabin. It was awesome. Bryant even played with his cousins (after an intense play session of pretending we were all snakes he finally came around). He now talks about his cousin Ava all of the time, and calls her his "friend".

In other news, Travis has been gone for work all week. It has been one LONG week. I was thinking the other day how boring life (sometimes) becomes once you get married and have kids. I'm not even saying that in a negative way, it's just fact. ha. Sometimes I feel like I'm waiting for something exciting to hit. I just want to get on a plane and fly far far away. Maybe I just need a break, Bryant's occupational therapist pulled me aside in his class and said that I needed to leave Bryant with more family members. I think I look haggard or angry or bitter (ha), she was concerned about me. ha. Love it.

Pines Ranch in the fall is so beautiful!

I still think my husband is super sexy even after 4 yrs of marriage.

Cute. funny :)

Also, is anyone else obsessed with monochromatic outfits lately? I don't know if it's my obsession with Mad Men, or Emma's outfits off of glee, but I can't get enough. My mom surprised me with a teal pencil skirt and blouse from jcrew. It is seriously beautiful. What is it about jcrew's pencil skirts that are just so amazing? You just feel them and know that they are going to last forever. Thanks Mom for taking pity on your drab drab daughter and buying me some nice clothes. I know it's totally superficial but having something new to wear makes me feel better about myself.

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Travis is finally home tonight so I'm pawning Bryant off on him and am going to go see a movie. Any recommendations? Footloose? That movie with Brad Pitt? The lion king 3D? ha I crack myself up.

Busy dizzy

Hi there (if anyone is still reading this) so we have been crazy busy around here with Bryant's therapy starting. I'm in a constant state of thinking about the best ways to improve his speech, how to help him learn that other people are nice and that he shouldn't cry every time he makes eye contact with someone new, and how to encourage him to make friends. It's mentally and emotionally exhausting. I hope that I am doing the right things for him. Anywho, we do manage to sneak away and squeeze some fun in every once in a while. Here are some pics :)

I needed a carmel apple fix the other night. Bryant just wanted the apple (sans carmel).

So weird.

I had to sneak this in. Bryant's teacher sent this to me and he is ACTUALLY sitting and playing with other kids in his class. She said that he has been doing slightly better. wahoo.

Bryant's school was cancelled a day so we went to farm country with my friend Mary and her son Issac. I think Bryant could ride horses all day long.

I love this picture :) Bryant and his cousin Simon in the tub tub.They are so cute.

Here I am learning how to can tomatoes at my parents house. I got the crappy job of blanching them. Nat, of course, was sitting and cutting them up after. She always gets the easy job :)

Well I'm off to another class on how to play with Bryant the "right" way. haha

Also, I'm going to my cabin this weekend. I can't wait. It's my peaceful happy place, I wish I could take you all with me so you could experience it.

Have a good weekend!

Fall in Utah...

It wouldn't be fall in Utah without chopping off my bangs & channeling my inner Zooey deschanel (is that how you spell her name?...... whatever). I even tried out the whole "bun on top of the head" trend. I'm digging it.

(excuse the awkward smiling in this picture).

I made a super duper delicious pasta that was really simple to put together (I HATE cooking). Seriously if you enjoy fresh basil & tomatoes covered in salt/pepper and cheese you will love this. Try it You'll like it (yes that's from Yo Gabba Gabba).

Go Here for the recipe.

My son just bolted out the door. gotta go.......

Pictures...

Life lately according to my phone :)

He's pretty awesome at blowing bubbles these days

We finally have grass in our backyard! wahooo!

While I was upstairs doing laundry Bryant got out the ice cream and a spoon and went to town. This is how I found him. ha. We ended up eating it for lunch. mmmmm.

Caught red handed

Travis gave me such pretty flowers for my anniversary!! They are unfortunately deader than dead now, but they will forever live on my blog.

In other news, while trying to put an antenna for our bedroom tv up in the attic, Travis accidentally stepped through the ceiling. It was a rather large 3 ft hole in our closet, with insulation all over our clothes. Good times. $200 & about 10 loads of laundry later and it's now fixed.

Our life lately is rather humorous.

I'm now waiting for our car to break down or our house to suddenly combust into flames. :)

Anyway, doesn't it feel like fall lately? I love it so much! Bring on the beautiful fall clothes & boots.

Thank you!!

Hi friends. I just wanted to say thank you for all of your encouraging comments, advice and phone calls. I have such amazing friends & family! Thank you Thank you Thank you. It has meant so much to me.

We are doing better around here. I'm still stressed out about getting Bryant into some serious-hard-to-get-into-programs and I'm always worried that I'm not doing enough for him (especially since there is an ever-growing list of things to work on) but hopefully everything will work out the way it should (even if it isn't necessarily the way I want it to). I'm working on being content with what I am capable of doing & letting the rest go.

I keep telling myself that it will all be alright no matter what. It's my new positive thinking effort. ha. :)

My son is so amazingly sweet & loving. I love him so much, and I am so grateful to have him in my life. He is seriously the bomb.com (throw back to junior high right now). What a lucky girl I am to have such a wonderful son & supportive husband in my life. I am very very blessed.

Anyway, Thanks again everyone!!

Ps. I need to redo the colors on my blog. I'm waiting to get hit with inspiration. It will come :)

Autism....

So I'm not sure how to begin. Travis & I have noticed some odd behavior with Bryant (his lack of social skills, anxiety, repetitive obsession with cars, etc.) and decided we should take him to a child psychologist to see what she had to say. The initial assessment is that Bryant has Aspergers with sensory processing disorder. What a whirlwind it has been around here. I have felt so alone, sad, stressed, and worried about Bryant's future to the point of getting no sleep and crying on my closet floor for several days (pretty pathetic I know). It's pretty devastating. I have researched for hours and hours just trying to figure out the best way to go about treating him and giving him the best chance of having a successful happy life.

It costs $1500 to go through the process of getting an official diagnosis for autism, and therapies range from $150-$3,000 a WEEK depending on how much therapy Bryant will need. Isn't that astounding? What is more crazy is that our insurance won't cover any of it. I feel like I'm so scared of what to do and how to pay for this if he needs a lot of therapy. I mean how does anyone begin to pay for this? She said a lot of people skip the official diagnosis and move right on to treatment, because treatment is the same either way, but I have no idea what to do. We are doing Early intervention through the State, but they only meet with him once or twice a month, which doesn't seem like nearly enough time.

I love my little boy so much, and am so afraid that people won't treat him like he is "normal" the second they learn about this. I want him to have friends! I want him to grow up and be able to get married, have kids, and a job. Hopefully with therapy and early intervention it will all be a reality.

Anyway, I have been torn on whether or not to post this, but figured it was probably time for friends to find out about what is going on. Hopefully the next time I post I will have everything figured out and be very optimistic about the future :)

Life Lately...

Bryant is loving this warm weather! We are busy going to the park, the dinosaur museum, eating ridiculous amounts of popsicles or hitting up the children's garden all week long. He even has little tan lines from his sandals (which Travis is very proud of for some reason). We have discovered that Bryant LOVES splashing in water with his new friend Issac, who is the same age and who he adores.

Life is good!

Ps. We just got back from a weekend at my cabin. It was SO MUCH FUN. It's strangely awesome how the girls in my family can analyze reality t.v. shows for hours on end. ha. Thank goodness for the Bachelorette and it's ridiculous drama. :) Go J.P. or Ben!

Also, I need a new header (Bryant is about 12 mths in all of those pictures.). Dearest sister NATALIE, think you want to design me a cool new header with your mad graphic design skills?? think about it.

Happy 4th...

We all have the flu today and Travis has to work tonight (right when the fireworks start). Happy freaking fourth :)

At least Bryant and I got a kick out of watching "the world's largest fireworks" on youtube this morning. haha.

I hope everyone has a great day with family & friends!! (We'll be here hanging out on the toilet).

ps. check out my new anthropology birthday dress. Cute huh? Thanks Mom & dad Barnes :) Yes I know it's crazy blurry, but you get the idea right? good times.

Sunny Seattle......

Seattle was wonderful. It was sunny and beautiful while we were there too! wahoooooo. In fact, it was so wonderful that I might have had the post-vacation blues the last few days, especially with Bryant waking up at 6 am. sigh. :)

Thanks to everyone's awesome advice we bought ourselves a city pass and went to the Space needle, a harbor cruise, the underground tour, Seattle aquarium, Experience music project, Pikes market, went SHOPPING, and ate way too much food. It was heavenly. Thanks Travis for taking off work to watch Bryant for 4 days without one complaint (and sending me with money to shop with). My husband is pretty darn cool.

Now here's an explosion of way too many pictures.


It's obviously very windy on the space needle ha

sleepy becca

modeling new shoes in our only full length mirror (above the tub ha).

Yes we are obviously tourists. ha

salumi's makes the best sandwich I have ever eaten. yummy.

Pikes market with my beautiful momma

EMP

Thanks Mom and Nat for a very lovely time. Let's do it all over again next year in D.C. :)