motherhood

My cousin's wife Katie had a great post on her blog. It is about a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland entitled "Because She is a Mother" from the May 1997 Ensign. Such a great talk. Click here to get to it. I am so thankful to have the gospel in my life. This is what Katie said: "I've reflected on this talk often through the past months. It's given me a boost when I can't imagine getting up one more time at night, as we bounced Grace for hours on end on the exercise ball, or when it gets a little lonely being at home. I love being a Mom. It's hard, but I wouldn't trade it for anything." I so agree.

And still on the topic of motherhood...
For one of our ongoing enrichment activities my ward made blankets and put together newborn kits to send to Peru. I was able to put together 5 kits - diapers, pins, socks, soap, a sleeper, a onesie, a touque, a burp cloth, and a blanket. I rounded up a bunch of extra clothes, sleepers, and onesies to send. My mom and I made cloth diapers. I made a bunch of blankets and sent extra ones I had been given for Roman that were never used, and I made burp clothes from the scrap material. In total I sent 14 blankets. All together our ward send around 25 baby kits and over 130 blankets.


I'm not sure exactly what area in Peru everything was sent, but I guess the mothers there have nothing for their babies. Some babies go home from the hospital wrapped in newspaper. Doesn't that just make your heart ache. And not just for the babies. How would you feel as one of these mothers. You feel such love and devotion for this baby and are consumed with the need to provide and protect this child, and yet you can not, on your own, provide a blanket for your baby. I'm not sure if this came out right, I don't mean for it to sound like I am blaming the mother - far from it. It is just that this is the first opportunity of this type I have had since I have become a mother and I have begun to look at it from a different perspective. I think I might feel like I had failed my child if I could not provide such necessities for him. But hopefully these women have a different perspective than me and they do not feel the same. And hopefully our gift will bring joy to them and their families. But all the same, it has been nice to be humbled and reminded of what is important in life. It has been nice to look in Roman's closet each day and feel guilt at the many choices of clothes but also feel thanks to the Lord for all I have been given.

my word

So Rhonda had this on her blog awhile ago...

"Thought a lot about something Ali Edwards wrote."
"Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities."

Rhonda's word is faith.
Lindsay's word is believe. And on the topic of goals Lins also had an excellent quote that I am going to borrow:
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." Joseph Campell.
Kinda a have goals but go with the flow don't be so set in your ways attitude for the new year.

So I have looked around and seen what some people have been using for their word, some good ones out there. I really took awhile to pick one. I just had too many swimming around in my head, too many directions I could go - and didn't have much sleep for awhile there! So I finally thought of a word that can bring together all the craziness. My word is LEARN. Some of the stuff this word will hopefully lead to: I am starting a new job at a new hospital in February after not working for a whole year - lots to learn; learn to be more proficient with photoshop; learn to make AND KEEP a budget; learn not be so worried about our student loan debt, learn to be happy with all I have and that the grass isn't always greener; learn to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend; learn to cook better and learn new things to cook instead of the same old stuff; learn more about my testimony; learn to believe in myself and my abilities; learn to have faith that Brad will get a teaching job in the future; learn that God does have a plan and I will have to learn to wait for Him... And anything else that comes up this year.
So much to look forward to this year, so much that could happen and so many ways it could go. We aren't just students anymore, it is scary that the year is so open, but I will learn to join the real world!

time flies... when your baby is teething

Where to start? The last week and a half have been a blur, Ro's top teeth are coming in - not really coming, more like inching along. And of course he has a cold at the same time, of course. So not much sleep going on at our house. But enough of that, let's jump back to Christmas. (seeing as everyone I know has done posts about Christmas except me) On Saturday the 23 all of Brad's side of the family was together. We made a whole day of it - we went bowling, then skating, then dinner and swimming. Sooo much fun. We are going to make a yearly thing out of it. We also spent Christmas eve day with Brad's family - lots and lots of fun, food, and presents.

Ro's favorite thing about bowling was the little thing that blows the air out where the balls sit.

He didn't love ice skating, but he didn't hate it either. He was just content to sit and watch the rest of the kids or go for a lap in his stroller.

Swimming is his new favorite thing. He LOVED it. Jumped up and down and couldn't wait to get in the pool - even though he had never been before, strange I know. He smiled and laughed and splashed and kicked for over an hour. All that body fat is good for something. Poor Lucy was purple and blue all over before Ro's lips even changed a shade! We have since been back to the pool and he still loves it, guess it is going to be a weekly thing now. I have to keep him liking the water so he has fun at the lake this summer.

We did Christmas morning with my family. Romes did better than we thought on Christmas morning. He actually pulled at the paper when he could see a bit of what was inside.



Ro had his first encounter with snow - touching it at least. He thought it was pretty funny and he likes to eat it.

Well I guess that's all for now. It was really strange to actually be here, sleeping in our own house and not living out of a suitcase, and not having a defined Christmas break. It didn't totally feel like Christmas, but I guess we'll get used to it. Still fun though. How can you not enjoy it - it's Christmas!