It Takes A Village To Raise A Child

This week was tough, Jocelyn had her first cold but being the sweetheart she is you wouldn't have known it by her temperment! She was happy go lucky all the time and even went to work with my for two days and I was able to get all my stuff done with her there. It helps that I have AMAZING coworkers and a great boss that willing take her off my hands when they have a few moments!


Talking to a box of paperwork at my office


Watching ELMO with Amy!

Unfortunetly Jocelyn passed on her cooties to Jonathan and I and as a family we all got sick! To top it off, Jonathan is doing his two weeks with the Coast Guard and had to stay overnight at the Station for most of the week. Being a full time working mom, sick, with my husband away and a sick baby made for a tough week, but I made it through with a simple remedy . . . FRIENDS! Bringing me limeades from Sonic (my favorite), offering to pick stuff up at the store for me, offering to watch Jocelyn for me, actually watching Jocelyn for me while I was at work, offering to bring me dinner, watching Jocelyn for me while I napped or showered and just offering me endless support and help when I needed it the most!

This week I learned that the old African Proverb is so true, it does take a village to raise a child, and luckily my village is full of amazing women with giving hearts!

3 Months

The past three months have been a whirlwind. I was lucky and blessed enough to take 2 months off of work to spend with Jocelyn at home but for the past few weeks I have returned to work and boy has it been an adjustment. Luckily I don't have to worry about Jocelyn, she is in the care of Sarah who had her own little girl 6 days before me, so I know she is getting tons of interaction and loving care.

But I do get the best part of the day all to myself . . . the part where I get her up in the morning and see that adorable smile as if she says "hi there I was just thinking of you"! She lets me sing to her, while I'm getting her ready for the day as she patiently waits for her breakfast. I do share this part of the day with Jonathan on the weekends because its just to precious not to let him in on it!



What's she up to these days??
Well she loves her jumper even though we have to surround her with blankets because she is still so small.
She is sleeping in her own crib upstairs and gets about 10 1/2 hours of sleep, which is nice for Jonathan and I.
She is learning to grab and hold onto toys now and even reach out and bring a toy closer to her that she wants.
She is rolling over all over the place.
She loves to talk back and forth with whoever will listen to her.
She is so good when we go out, so we are still able to keep our date nights, girls night out or Jonathan's time out with the guys!
She puts up with the ridiculous bows or headbands that I make her, and sometimes even smiles when I put them on!

As for us, we are getting ready for tons of amazing changes. Jonathan only has a few more weeks left at his job, then he does a few weeks of Coast Guard and then he enters the Police Academy. We know that it is going to be a challenge but it has been something that he has wanted to do for so long so Jocelyn and I support him 100%. We are starting our hometeam / bible study group again this coming week and can't wait to see everyone again. I am also (trying) to train for a relay marathon race in my spare time, so wish me luck on that :)

Other then that, that's all that is going on in the Tidden household, just crazy busy as always and loving life! Wishing you all well!

Jumping Jellybean

Even though she is still a little too small, she is loving her new jumper! She especially is beginning to love her spinning frog and figuring out how to stretch her legs to touch the ground!

Slow down girl!

She started taking steps while we have been holding her during the past week, seems like she wants to take off and run sometimes!

Jocelyn and Daddy talking

Jocelyn loves to talk to her dad, and we finally got it on tape, the cutest was at 1:24, she made a cute new noise we have never heard before :)

Happy Valentines Day

Both Jonathan and I get really excited about giving gifts (sometimes more me) and we can't wait until the actual day gets here! So on Thursday both of our gifts came in and we couldn't wait, so he opened up his gift from Jocelyn, and she got him a new pair of dress boots that he had been asking for! He was very excited and loves breathing in the new boot smell :) Then I opened my gift from him and it was a 5lb gummi bear, for those of you who know me well, you know I love gummi bears and jelly beans, so my husband thought that if I loved one gummi bear I would really love a 5lb 12,000 calorie one :)



My gift came on Saturday night when I took him to see Wolfman (it's what he asked for) and got a sitter for Jocelyn so we could spend some time together out on the town (babies r us)!

Jocelyn was not without gifts, she received a valentines day outfit, 2 valentines stuffed puppies and a jumper! All of which she loved and just giggled in delight! She even got her first Valentines in the mail from a BOY! Yes Marek McClenny did good and actually put his picture in a card and sent it in the mail! Oh and she spoiled me too, she bought dinner for me Sunday night, Jonathan helped serve it, while I opened my remaining gifts from Jonathan surrounded by tons of stargazer lilies!

When Jocelyn was a few weeks old, I took out my VHS of the Little Mermaid (my favorite Disney movie) so that I could share it with her. To my horror, I found that whoever I let borrow it last, replaced it with the little mermaid recorded on a blank tape, the sound quality was horrible and I was very disappointed that I couldn't share it with Jocelyn


So Valentines day this year was fantastic and having a loving family to spend it with was even better. I hope that everyone enjoyed their valentines day as well! So what was your favorite part?

8 Weeks old

Jocelyn just turned 8 weeks yesterday and she has grown so much!
Here are some of the things that are going on with her now
- She is rolling over on occasion
- crying real tears (which can break your heart)
- took her first shower (and absolutely LOVED it)
- putting pressure on her feet when she stands up
- loves to sit in our lap big girl style
- smooshes her face next to yours (just like her daddy)
- sleeping through the night (thank you LORD)
- smiling more and more often throughout the day
- cooing up a storm, telling you all about her day!
- has more hair and when wet looks like it may have some curl (maybe like her mama)
- her eyes are turning brown :)
- and she is stealing our heart more and more every day
Enjoy a few pictures!