Simple Relaxation

Tonight after we finished our dinner tonight, we loaded up in the double stroller and set out for an evening saunter. The wind had picked up a little and the temperature was idyllic. We walked for about an hour and returned home in time to get Lucy in her jams and into bed. David had slept the entire trip and continued to sleep for another hour or so.

As I tinkered around in the garage, I thought how peaceful I felt. It was a simple thing to go for a walk and even though it lasted only an hour, the benefits continued for a long time afterwards.

Lucy, you make me laugh!

I was saying nursery rhymes with Lucy today and I would randomly stop to have her fill in the blank spots. This one made me laugh:

Mom: "Jack and Jill went up the . . ."
Lucy: "hill"
Mom: "To fetch a pail of . . ."
Lucy: "water"
Mom: "Jack fell down and broke his . . ."
Lucy: "head".

I couldn't even finish I was laughing so hard. She may be lacking in phonemic awareness, but I'd say her comprehension is superb!

Family Photo Shoot

We took some great photos from Each Moment Photography and now I need help in trying to decide which family portrait will be put on the wall. Any thoughts? I also added some great pics from the shoot below:

1)

2)

3)

Great pics of my cute family:

Lots of . . .

Lots of: exhaustion, crying, dirty diapers, juggling, laundry, gas, being housebound, sore nipples, dishes . . .

AND I'd still take it any day over being 9 months pregnant!

We also have LOTS of: wonderful coos, squeaks, sleeping faces, smiles, and love for our Little Man!

Dear David

I learned with Lucy that babies grow up way too fast. Will you please stop looking so old. I don't know where my newborn went and I am so in love with having a baby again. Thanks.

Love,
Mom

This was the mild one . . .

I didn't feel it was right to stop and take a picture of the times I walked in to see that Lucy had put her pajama pants on David's head or when she had climbed into this chair with him . . .

2 Must Haves . . .

Two items I didn't have with Lucy, but I am in love with now are:

1) Mobicam: It's a monitor that allows you to see and hear your baby. It has been worth the investment so far just for the entertainment of watching how Lucy falls asleep (she's a mover). Seriously though, the idea of being able to see my babies and know that they are ok is priceless. Also, both the camera and monitor are portable. I'd reccomend buying it from Amazon.


2) Mother's Touch Comfort Bath Sling: Having to fill up a baby bath tub, finding room to store it inbetween washings and finding a place to wash the baby was so annoying to me so we used the bath sponges for Lucy. This little item has all the conviences of the sponge AND it also sits up if you want it to and it will last far longer. It stores easily on a hook in our shower. I LOVE it (and so does David).

Happy Father's Day

To a Dad who wears a tie his toddler made him with pride and joy!
I'm fairly certain Marc had the most unique tie of all the High Councilmen on the stand today.
David had his tie on as well (he will know how to be a great Daddy someday from Marc's example)

Are we alone?

Marc and I were home one night and watched an episode of Whale Wars. I noticed it was on every Friday night at 9pm (on Animal Planet). I thought that was a terrible time for a show and who would be home to watch it. Well guess who has been . . . us! And we love this show. It is the only show we plan to watch. Heidi was over last night and pretty much thought we were crazy. Are we really the only ones into this show?

Last night . . .

As I was getting ready to lay David down at one in the morning (after he had been wide awake since 9pm) I found my exhausted body just had to stop and take a moment to hold him close to me a bit longer. I looked at him and my heart felt so complete. Any fear I had about having children this close in age had disappeared and I was so grateful for this season of my life. I know that the timing of every chapter in my life has been right and in this current time of sleepless nights, endless diapers, never ending laundry and dishes I am again finding myself so grateful to be enjoying the ride.

I find myself frequently reflecting on the following poem:

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Are his eyes opened yet?

When I was little we had puppies and as you know with puppies it takes a while before they open their eyes. With this knowledge, I went to a neighbor's house who had a new baby and asked, "Are his eyes opened yet?"

Well, I'm proud to announce, David's eyes are opened! Isn't he the cutest thing . . .

Daddy's Birthday

Now that is what I call a real man who wants a frying pan and gun case for the same birthday! AND can pull off wearing a Froot Loop necklace from his daughter . . .
A little Pin-the-tail on the Donkey (Jayna was the big winner)
Yummy cake and "Why Wait for Cake" (graham crackers and frosting)
Five Guys Burgers and Fries for lunch
And then some of this fun stuff . . .

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful man to ever enter my life!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

You are always our number ONE invite!

Some Firsts . . .

First tie (hopefully my reaction is not a sign of things to come).
First bath at home (my Daddy takes such good care of me).
First time being bundled up like a sack of potatoes (my Mommy loves this outfit).
First time hearing my sister play the piano (she likes to turn around and play it with her bum too).
First trip into the big city (SLC for Annette's reception).
First Four-generation picture with Great Grandma Sampson (she's 85).

Life has really been an adventure these past 12 days!

This face means . . .

get a fresh diaper ready!

Some great pictures of our little man . . .

The Day David Andrew Entered Our Family . . .

Dear David,

Dr. Nance had told us back in January that he would plan to deliver you via c-section on May 31st at 7:30am so there wasn't too much surprise that day. We had to be at the hospital by 5:30am so Heidi stayed with Lucy while she slept as Daddy and I left to meet our son.
We played some Dominoes to help pass the time. Daddy was so good to tell me stories and keep me calm. (notice the iphone on my "shelf")
Here we're just about to go into the delivery room. Daddy got to wear a special suit .
Your Grandpas and Grandmas waited in the room right next to the operating room. They were so excited to meet you. Grandpa Sampson was really excited to be getting a new fishing buddy.

They're just about to do the surgery. Mommy got an epidural with you and a spinal block with Lucy. She liked the spinal block much more.
Then you were born. I knew the moment they were bringing you out of me that you were being sent to us straight from the presence your Heavenly Father. The feelings of anticipation, joy and love filled the room.

The doctors said, "Whoa lots of hair." and "That's a big head." Then they asked me how much Lucy weighed when she was born. I replied, "7 pounds 11 ounces." To which the doctor said, "This kid weighs that much in his shoulders".

When the nurses showed you to me, I said, "Oh I love him". To which the nurse responded, "Look at his hands". You were a big boy! Then the nurse came back to me and said you received an Apgar score of 9 and 10 (out of 10). She said that was very rare to get such a high score and that you were very healthy.

We named you David after several good men in our family with that name. Your Grandpa, my brother and Your Great-Great Grandpa Hellewell being some of them. You share the same middle name as your Father. I wanted you to carry the name of the man I wanted you to most emulate in this life.
After you were born, they were having a hard time getting my heart rate under control and I felt awful. The nurse then brought you by my side and put your cheek next to mine. My heart rate instantly was fine. David, you already control my heart.
This moment of you on one side of me and Daddy on the other was one of the most heavenly and most soothing moments of my life.
Then I got to hold you for the first time. My love for you was instant.
Your sister Lucy joined in the fun. She was so excited to see her brother, David. She kept saying, "brother" and "David". It was so sweet. She likes to pat your back and say, "Pat, pat David".
Such a happy family and such an incredible blessing to have you as our son and brother. We love you always.

Love,
Mom

Big Girl

Everyone kept saying how much older Lucy would seem once the new baby came. Boy were they right! She is so much older and I have no idea when it happened. Her latest accomplishment is that she said her first prayer and it was adorable. It went something like this (with her arms folded):

Mom: Heavenly Father
Lucy: Heavenly Father

Mom: Thanks for brother
Lucy: Thanks brother

Mom: Bless Hailey and Melia
Lucy: Bless Hailey Melia

Mom: Amen
Lucy: Name?

Mom: Oh, yeah name of Jesus
Lucy: name Jesus

Mom: Christ
Lucy: Christ

Mom: Amen
Lucy: Amen

It was so tender. My favorite part was that in my attempt to keep it simple for her and just say, "Amen", she reminded me of the importance of saying Jesus' name at the end.

Tonight she blessed our food at dinner. Oh what a piece of Heaven she is!

Dear Karissa

You went private and didn't invite me. What's up with that?

-Katie

The Difference . . .

Lucy weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long while David weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and was 21 1/12 inches long. That's right, more than a pound bigger and I certainly felt the difference between my two pregnancies.

I just had to post the comparison of them in the same car seat:

Lucy coming home from the hospital November 2007

David coming home from the hospital June 2009