LOTS to report

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY EMERSON!!

Emerson turned one and we can't understand where the year has gone! She is so big and sweet! She is cuddly and loving and this results in her getting away with a lot of naughty stuff... I suppose that is a baby's job though! We LOVE her so much and she is a HUGE part of our family! We love watching her learn new things and play with Tatem! Now we are fresh out of babies and only have toddlers! WOW!

Also, at Emerson's birthday party, we announced some exciting news...

Our family has been praying about expanding and adding giving these two some more siblings. In doing so, we have had some spiritual experiences that have lead us to begin the process of adoption through Utah Foster Care. We have begun the process of taking classes and becoming licensed to be foster parents. We hope to be placed with a child in need of a loving home who feels happy here and fits in with us. We know that this is likely going to be a tough road with a lot of unknowns but we feel very strongly that this is what we are supposed to do at this time. Adoption has always been near and dear to our hearts and something that we have considered, but we never expected it to be at this time in our lives. However, the more we pursue and pray about the decision, we feel peace and great excitement to embark on this adventure!

Also, I am sad to report that my dad's dad, Grandpa Larry Haddon passed away this morning after a short bought with brain cancer. His quirky sense of humor and fun, warming personality will be greatly missed, but we feel blessed to have had the time we did learning, loving and laughing with Grandpa Larry. We hope we can carry on his legacy and what it is to be a Haddon.

We love you Grandpa

A Puppy For A Day

Well, our week has been pretty darn exciting too I must say. So a few weeks ago, I've been thinking of ways and praying for ways to try to help Tatem with his speech and all of that good stuff and I heard on the news that dogs have been shown to help kids feel less anxious because they have a constant companion and dogs are able to sense how your feeling and react so if the child is nervous the dog can sense it and comfort him. So Tanner and I decided we'd look into getting a small dog like Shadow who didn't shed and was potty trained and all of that for Tatem. (and you must know that I DID NOT want a dog, so I must really want to help Tate!) So we found out that all of the Petco's in Utah were doing a pet adoption weekend this weekend so we decided we'd go see what dogs were there. So we loaded up the kids (and Mom) and headed to the first petco and right as we walked in we saw the cutest little gray dog that was about 8" off the ground and super cute. We all were drawn to her right away. She was a Schnouser (like aunt nancy always had, and I've never liked how they look) but this one didn't have a beard and was SUPER cute! So we walked her and Emerson loved her, Tatey loved her and she loved us. She was so sweet and never barked or anything just a really sweet, sweet doggy, even mom yes mom liked her. So we told the lady that we'd like to adopt her and so she said that she was scheduled to be groomed and then we could take her so if we wanted to leave to buy supplies and come back we could. So we left and went to go get things for her. We came back a couple hours later and as Tanner walked in (I was feeding Emy in the car) the lady said, Oh a foster family want to foster care her for a week or so, sorry. they come first. We were so Mad and Tanner was more grumpy than I've ever seen him be before! He was so mad that they promised this dog to us and we really liked her and then they let someone call in and change their minds while we were gone.

So we went to a few more petcos trying to find more dogs and nothing came up so we went home sad about the whole thing. When we got to mom's hunter found this cute little shitzue/poodle dog. It was super cute and potty trained and everything. So tanner called and set up a time to get her. Mom, Raegan, Ry, Hunter and I went and met the people selling her. She was such a nice dog and we really liked her so I bought her and brought her home. When we got home Tate and Emerson LOVED her and she never barked, she was potty trained, the perfect size and everything. Tate started playing with her right away. Then, we noticed his eyes swelled shut and he couldn't breath. Come to find out, he is allergic to all dogs....VERY BADLY ALLERGIC even the dogs that are suppose to be hypoallergenic. So, sadly, Tanner Took her back today after church. Tate cried and said no no daddy while he left with her but the poor little boy can't see, or breath and breaks out in hives around all dogs. :( He did with the first dog at the store too but we thought it was because he had touched other dogs that day. Guess not. So it was sad because she was so sweet and she fit right in. :( but lesson learned I guess.

Pepper



It's finally warm! Thank goodness!

This is the Little Mater Tatem got for Christmas! He loves it but until now he's only been able to ride it in the basement! Here's some footage of our first outdoors adventure!

 

 

Getting Big

All of the children around this house are getting WAY too big! They are so much fun, but they just keep growing! Emerson has two teeth now, and Tatem is finally starting talk a little bit more so it's helped out a lot! Here are some fun pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Easter

Hi, I'm so busy blogging for the Elders and Sisters in the family, I never update my own blog!

Things are going well for this little Ricks family, we're just doing the same old same old.

Tanner was gone for 2 weeks in March for his annual training for the National Guard, he was only in Harriman, but it felt like he was SO FAR away and that he would NEVER be back home! We really missed him! My kiddos are getting SO big and I keep telling them to stop growing because it makes me sad to think that this phase will be over so soon.

Tatem started speech therapy last week and sadly, it didn't go well. He got hysterical and cried his heart out and he is so embarrassed he can't talk. It really breaks my heart and I just wish I could take this trial away from him. He's only 2 and I wish life could just be easy for someone that little. I am just starting to change my prayers from asking Heavenly Father to help him talk, to comforting him and helping to lift the burdon, he'll learn at his own pace. He's very smart, and makes me laugh all of the time. He's my little buddy and I feel VERY lucky and blessed to be his momma. He brings a light to our home no one else could.

Emerson is a big blessing herself. We love her SO MUCH! She is my baby rolling pin, and instead of crawling where she wants to go, she just rolls there. She loves playing with cords, which is dangerous, but it's her one true love. So Daddy provides supervised cord time which is pretty cute. She is 7 months old and so big. It is a lot of fun to watch my blue eyed angel grow.

Other than that, not much is happening in the Ricks home, we're just happy where we are and feel blessed to have so much fun together!



Valentines Week

Hello everyone! Here's a quick update on the Ricks family...

 

Tatem is still struggling with his speech but we're continuing to get him help and work with him. Right now, we're working with Primary Children's Rehab to start speech therapy and we have switched helpers through DDI Vantage to see if a different personality works better with him. Other than that, he's our same old busy Tatem. He switched nursery leaders at church and he LOVES his new leaders. He can't wait to leave sacrament meeting to go to nursery and his leaders are so loving and patient with him. We're so grateful to have such good leaders for him, for us nursery is one of the most important callings in the church.

 

Emerson is getting so big and doing so well. She's a champ at eating her baby food and can sit up all by herself. What's funny is she can sit and roll from her tummy to her back but when she tries to roll back over onto her tummy from her back she just spins in circles so we're working on it! She's just as chatty as Tatem, they might just learn how to talk together. She's an excellent sleeper, kisser and little sister. She makes sure to pester Tatem as much as she can! She touches his toy Mater, she pulls his hair and she splashes him in the tub! Gotta love sisterly love.

 

Tanner and I are great too! Tanner's still working on school and enjoying his job, and I'm enjoying being with the kiddos and looking into ways to start teaching parenting classes a little bit to have some mommy time, and keep up to date with my degree!

Overall, all is good here at the Ricks home!

 Tatem loved Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.

 

Sorry it's sideways, here's a video of Tatem playing with is favorite thing at Discovery Gateway, it showed how wind works and it was so fun to him!