Disclaimer

Katie here, so I was reading other peoples' blogs and thinking how fun and put together their lives are (yes-I was comparing). I thought things like:"Wow their baby always look so happy" or "They are so great to always come up with wonderful things to do" and "I think they just love being a Mom so much-every minute of it" etc, etc. Then I realized that if you only saw my life through the lens of my blog you could very well think the same thing about me. Well, I am here to tell you we are not all roses over here.

YES, life is wonderful and I feel EXTREMELY blessed to have the family I have. And, YES, life is also full of challenges. There are times that being a Mom is hard. Times I wish I were more patient and kind. And there are just times I wish I were better.

So although I will most likely continue to report on the upbeat exciting times from our family-I thought it would be nice to let you know we are just one sweet small family trying to do our best and sometimes our best doesn't look quite as pretty as most of the posts on our blog.

Did this all happen in one weekend?

This Memorial Day weekend had a lot of the traditional pieces to it. For example, I helped Mommy put the flag out and we all wore our red, white and blue outfits . . .
We decorated my Great Grandpa's grave . . . (I wanted to get him pretty pink flowers, but Mommy said he would probably enjoy an American flag a little bit more).
And remember that hiking thing we did last week? Well we did it again!
This time we went to one of Mommy and Daddys' favorite hikes, Stewart Falls in Sundance-it was so pretty.
You need to be sure you stay well hydrated while hiking.
There were parts of the trail that were a bit obstructed. Mommy would try to clear a path for me and then Daddy would be so strong and careful with me as we'd pass through.
We also had a fun time at my Great Grandma's house for her birthday. She is 85!

So these things were quite normal, BUT then things got quite different. We got a call that my Grandpa had rolled an ATV onto himself and was in the hospital!
We rushed out to see him and everyone kept saying he was pretty lucky all things considered. He broke some ribs and his ankle (which the doctor had to do surgery on). He had to sleep at the hospital for one night, but now he is home. He is in a lot of pain, but doing better each day. I did a good job of visiting him and helping him to smile. He should be all better in about 6 weeks.

We were supposed to go camp out in my other Grandpa's backyard, but with things being a little crazy, my Mom and Dad decided it would be fun to sleep in our own front room in a tent! This was amazing!
I slept up by my parents' heads and I was a good little camper. I thought we should leave the tent up always to play in it, but Mommy said no. She did let me play with the camping pads though.
We did finally make it over to my other Grandma and Grandpas' house for breakfast. This is my cousin, Sienna-I love it when she sings to me.
Anyway, I really didn't get very much sleep with everything going on so my parents decided they would help me out and take me off-roading where the roads are nice and bumpy. It sure did the trick, I went right to sleep although I did stir a few times from hearing them laugh. It sure was nice of them to take the time to let me sleep. They are so selfless ;)
Now we are back to "normal" and I slept for 4 hours straight this morning when I normally only sleep for about an hour. I guess all the excitement wore me out!

What?!

I just learned that David Cook won American Idol! I thought he was a better arranger than Archuleta, but I liked the younger David's soothing crooning.

Congratulations to both Davids!

New Wheels

Or at least they're new to us! We have converted to Subarus and have been pleased so far. Mommy struggled a little bit with not buying American made, but she quickly got over it. Anyone who wants to come take a drive with me should come on over!

Mommy had a meeting . . .

So this was how Daddy kept me entertained while she was gone. He did such a good job, I was fast asleep when Mommy got home!

BRIAN GOT MARRIED!!! (and we went to St. George)

This is our good friend, Brian with his wife, Lisa. They got married on Saturday in St. George and we were so happy for them!
You have to get all dressed up when someone gets married! (Daryl, do you like my curlers?)
We had to drive a long ways to get there . . .
At the luncheon there were lots of pretty places to take pictures. We took A LOT of pictures while we were there. I also got to sit on grass for the first time without a blanket.
I didn't like it . . .
This was Mommy's favorite picture that we took.
St. George just opened an In-N-Out so we ate some yummy good food there-Daddy was so excited!
Then I went on my first hike! Mommy and Daddy said I have been born into a hiking family and that I am really going to love all the adventures we will go on (they said the fun times even outweigh having to put all that yucky white cream all over your body).
Those Red Cliffs sure are pretty. Daddy did a good job carrying me.
Then I got pretty tired after the long trip.
So this is how we ended the hike (I fell asleep as soon as Mommy put me back in my car-seat).
The drive home was nice. I slept most of the way, but occasionally I liked to read my books or sing with Mommy and Daddy (sometimes I cried too).
We stopped in Filmore at the State's original Capitol Building. It was a cool building, but I mostly enjoyed the park by it and the chance to get out of my car-seat.
So our first road-trip was a success-Mommy and Daddy say there will be many more to come! I am excited, but for now I am really enjoying being back in my own home with the things that I know (Mommy said it's always nice to come home).

Sleepy

This is what I do to let my Mommy and Daddy know I am tired. Mommy said it is one of her favorite things.

New Toy

Does your Daddy have this fun toy too? I'm completely fascinated by it!

I Love Lucy

Mother's Day 2008

What a wonderful day to celebrate the divine calling of women. As I look at this picture of me with my Mother and daughter, I am literally in awe at the awesome blessing it is to be a woman and a Mom.

What I have learned in these past 6 months has moved me to utter humility for the role that each woman takes on when she becomes a Mother. Although I could not begin to list them all, here are a few things I am just beginning to comprehend:
-I did not realize before I had my own child that every thought I had would be dominated first by what was best for my baby (could this be why my Mom always asked me so many questions?)
-I did not know I would learn so quickly when my daughter's tears would be best remedied by a song or a story or by counting to ten or by going outside or by simply going to sleep (this should not surprise me since my Mother still knows how to best calm my fears)
-I did not know I would wake up in the night and have to check on my baby to make sure she was ok (what a new found gratitude I have for the many nights my Mother has spent worrying for me)
-I did not know I could awake with less than 3 hours of sleep and be completely overjoyed to see my little Lucy's smile (Perhaps this is why my Mom always seemed so excited to do things with me amidst all her other callings. Could I have possibly brought her even a fraction of the happiness my little girl brings to me?)
-I did not know that I would watch the news and feel sick to my stomach and wonder how I will even begin to protect my daughter (I now appreciate why my Mom has sent me all the countless emails regarding my imminent danger).
-I simply did not know a piece of my heart would forever belong to another being (I should have realized this, since I can feel my Mother's heart with me every where I go).
-When Lucy was born; Marc, my Mom & Dad and Mother-in-law were all there. Lucy needed a little help with her oxygen at first and was taken to the NICU. When it came time that Marc could take the grandparents in to see her, my Mom didn't go. At first I was puzzled why she wouldn't want to see her granddaughter. Then as the room cleared and my Mom and I were the only ones left in there as I was still recovering-I KNEW. My Mom would have loved to have seen this new baby-but she was not going to leave her other baby alone in her time of need. We never stop being or needing a Mom. How grateful I am that Motherhood is divinely mine to hold for eternity.
On a lighter note, Marc and Lucy got me this beautiful YELLOW DAISY TREE (who knew they even existed)! Does my husband know me or what! I LOVE it!
We (Marc) planted it for me on Saturday
Above is how big it will get someday
We enjoyed a lovely picnic and then had yummy dessert at Marc's parent's where the men favored us with Oatmeal cake mmmmmmmm

Show Me the Money

I heard this on the radio this morning and thought it post-worthy:

NPR Morning Edition, May 9, 2008 · If stay-at-home moms made a salary, one study estimates that it would be $117,000 — and most of the paycheck would come from overtime. A mom works nearly 100 hours a week. Even without the salary, there are benefits — like a heartfelt "thank you" this Mother's Day.

Click here to run the salary calculator used in the study to put a dollar amount to the work a Mom does.

I love you, Katie!

Watch Me Grow . . .

As you can see, the scriptures still don't excite me too much . . . Mom and Dad hope that will change soon ;)

Six Months

Dear Lucy-

It's been so enjoyable to watch you become more interactive with people and your environment...I love it! Some of your favorite things are: your keys, pulling of my glasses, pulling Mom's hair, and watching a music video ("New Soul," by Yael Naïm).

Here are ten things that come to my mind as I reflect on the past month:

1) Your hair holds a curl.
2) You like turn and see who is holding you, which can surprise the person who is holding you!
3) Sitting in a high chair is exciting when you can play with a frozen burrito.
4) When I go through the mail, you're my best helper, especially with envelopes that have that clear plastic address window.
5) It's cool to see your face light up when you reach for things.
6) Your abs must be getting stronger because you pull up your feet to your mouth...without using your hands!
7) Rice cereal is not your favorite thing. Nope, not even close.
8) You have become an expert Baby Björn traveler.
9) I watch you for a few minutes as you are sleeping when I leave for work in the morning.
10) Your arms and legs flap when you're excited.

Love,

Dad

Rice Cereal Attempts #1 and #2

Ummmm, she didn't really like it . . .
She cried or spit it out or tried to console herself by sucking on her tray . . .

Attempt #1


Attempt #2


Any Suggestions?

6 Months Ago I Did Not Know . . .

1) I would come running from another room to hear a news story about baby swim diapers.
2) How much a baby could physically move around without rolling over, crawling or walking.
3) I would give in so easily to my baby's tears (my background is in behaviorism and I taught special ed for years-I know how to put my foot down, BUT Lucy knows how to get me to give right in).
4) I would find great joy in talking about a new diaper bag.
5) An entire date night with Marc and me would revolve around conversations about our baby.
6) How much I would love hearing people refer to me as, "Lucy's Mom".
7) I could memorize so many songs, children's books and nursery rhymes.
8) How exciting it would be to watch my baby play with a toy.
9) How fun it would be to listen to my baby make all kinds of crazy sounds.
10) I would not be able to get my daughter off my mind-Lucy completely owns a LARGE piece of my heart!

Happy 6 Months My Little Peanut!

My Big Girl Bed!

Mommy forgot to tell you that for the past 2 weeks I have not been sleeping in the little bassinet next to their bed but in my big girl bed in my very own room! Daddy and I adjusted very well to it, but Mommy cried the first night because it is hard for her to see me get so big.

"Chew With Your Mouth Closed"

Bless his heart . . .

Feet, What a Great Thing!

My new favorite thing to do is to grab my little piggies. Sometimes I hold them and quickly release them (this is especially fun in the tub when it creates a splash on my Mommy and Daddy as they bathe me), sometimes I like to grab them and stick them in my mouth and sometimes I just like to grab them and sing a little song to them. My feet make me so happy!

My 1st Photo Shoot

This is My Daryl. He makes this amazing magazine all about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary days of life. Mommy and Daddy can't wait for their subscription to come in just a few days.
My Daryl decided I would be a great model for his next issue along with my Mommy and Daddy so I got to experience my first ever photo shoot. Below is Daryl really liking one of my shots.
Here is the link to his magazine: http://seeingmagazine.com We think you will really enjoy it!