Thanksgiving 2009

We traveled through Louisiana until we arrived in...

Dallas, Texas where our FAVORITE Doctor lives. Enjoying the perfect weather before our Thanksgiving feast. Nick's pride and joy. Jamie's sweet potatoes are amazing. I have a new standard for Thanksgiving dinner.We have a Knight, a Sargent & a Cowboy to keep things in order.
Ruthie meets her Grandparents for the first time.

Carson Richard was baptized.

During the baptism program Ruth started crying. I rocked her in the hallway and silently sent a prayer to heaven asking her to stop crying so I can see Carson baptized. When I hear the baptism doors open she starts screaming. My prayer was not being answered the way I wanted, then I look up to see a sweet girl offering to hold Ruth so I can go in. I made it just in time to see Carson in the font. There is ALWAYS a moment right before the prayer starts when I feel the heavens open and the spirit is poured down. I love that moment. Carson is so special. Thank you Jessica for answering my prayer.

Celebration lunch We love our cousins!

I am Thankful for

love,

this stud,
suspicious babies,

and eating grapes on the stairs.

I wonder what she's dreaming about

I get by with a little help from my friends. -Lennon

The Yamniks came in town last weekend.


It was like old times. Paul got mad at Marianne (those two are like nitrogen and glycerine ), the kids climbed all over Patrick, we talked, we ate, we laughed and we cried when they left.

We love the Yamniks.

Sacred

The whole point of my blog is to print it. To have a copy for generations to come. I found this entry I wrote. What am I saving it for? To be printed and read by my children. To be a testimony of my thoughts and experiences as a young mother. For the sake of sharing a little bit of Cyndi:

May 7, 2009

Tonight at work I had an interesting conversation. I found it more sad than interesting. While rolling silverware Trey said to Mike, "could you ever date a Mormon?" (both knowing I was Mormon and including me in the conversation). Mike said "no", then he went on to say he has different beliefs. He likes to drink and I quote: "the whole pre-martial sex thing, I don't see what's wrong with that. Especially now since we have safe sex." Both guys went back and forth and I stepped in saying something to the effect of: "you're not looking at sex from the right point of view. Sex is the power to procreate, it is a wonderful gift that Heavenly Father has given us. It is the most intimate thing between a man and women. It is sacred. "

To that Trey responds: "Well, that's the thing. I don't consider sex sacred." I didn't have a come back. I guess I didn't need one. What more could I say? Then Mike referred to the fact that guys...HAVE to 'relieve the pressure'. If you're 24 years old w/o having sex you will start to twixt. I smiled and said, "my husband was 29 years old when we got married. It was important to him. He views his body as sacred and the power to procreate as sacred. It is possible".

The conversation was light and friendly. I wasn't going to get into a debate, especially when I knew they really didn't want to listen. They don't want to change. They don't WANT to find out if it's bad.

As I was driving home I thought of my children. I want Eden and David to know that Satan is the one who makes people think they can't control themselves. Satan turns sacred things into fun weekly activities. The Lord gives us commandments so we can control ourselves. The problem with this generation is their response to immediate gratification. To selfishness. If they want to...they do. There are no boundaries, no rules or guidelines...as long as it feels good. It makes me disappointed to hear people say that sex is not sacred. I am not surprised though. I am well aware of what my children will be faced with. It will only become worse. My children: Eden, David and baby girl: I want you to know that Heavenly Father knows who you are. You are created in His image. The choices you make do effect others and will effect you. It IS possible to remain worthily and pure and find someone who is too. The covenants and blessings of the temple ARE worth it. I love you and pray that you will gain a testimony of your eternal nature at a young age so you will stand tall and strong during the storms of temptation.

Hair she is

Ruth is 6 weeks old.

• The best thing about Ruthie : her hair

• Nicknames: "baby Woofie" (because that's the way the kids say it) and "Rufio" (from Hook...you know when they chant Rufio, Rufio, Ruf- e-oooo)

• What scares Ruth? Nothing, she fits right in and doesn't seem to mind all the noise.

She is a classic baby. Eats, burps, sleeps, poops, cries. She nurses and will also take a bottle. She grunts and makes elephant noises. The only unusual thing is her diaper rash. She has had a diaper rash for over a month.

Besides the obvious solutions (creams, change diaper often, blow dry bum, etc) does anyone have any suggestions?? It just stays the same...red & blistery. I haven't taken her to the doctor because it doesn't bother her; plus I don't want to catch swine flu in that office.

love, love, love her

*Her hair honestly does that...I did not poof it.

Oprah's fat

I spend a lot of time on the couch. Hugging the boppy with Ruth attached. What do you do? I tried reading...but hello when you are already tired that isn't effective. So I watch TV. I have been watching a little bit of Oprah. Thanks Oprah for that great Payless coupon.

Last Sunday was our primary program. I was all geared up to attend 3 hours of church. I had my outfit hung and pressed. Sunday morning was insane. I could NOT zip up my skirt. What? The skirt I wore 3 weeks ago now does not fit? Do I live in opposite world? I am gaining weight after child birth!

So...I started the South Beach Diet that day...no carbs, fruit or sugar for two weeks. I was going to loose 8-13 lbs (that's what the books saids :) ) YEAH RIGHT. I lasted about 14 hours. At 4am I laid in bed thinking about those homemade chocolate chip cookies from Jen. I forced myself to stay in bed. The next morning I was grouchy and really didn't care if I was skinny (I have no perspective).

Last night I decided I cannot be obsessed. The more concerned I am about my weight the more weight I gain. Does that make sense? It's a complicated issue I'm sure Freud can explain.

Plus, Oprah is fat. She is. She is the richest women in the world. She has a personal chief. She can BUY anything to replace refined sugar. Yet, somehow she is still fat and claims happiness.

What I have and Oprah doesn't:

-3 beautiful children (I'm sorry...dogs are not children)

-An awesome husband who doesn't care about Oprah.

-A 1980 condo that I can clean in 2 hours...and also be destroyed in 10 minutes.

-A sure knowledge of the plan of salvation.

*I know you are going to tell me to give myself a break. Ruth is barely 6 weeks old. I know, I know...but it still is hard when you don't fit into your clothes!

Happy Halloween

From the superhero ballerina, baby skelton and a boy who didn't want to wear anything but his spiderman shirt (so his costume is...a spiderman fan).

Let's take a closer look at this skelton...

compliments to Aunt Amber for her adorable baby legs and the cutest socks ever!

What it has been like with three children

Everyone wants to know how I am handling three children. I would also like to know! I don't feel like I am in my body. I can't remember if I am wearing my pj's or the outfit I choose for the day (they pretty much look the same). I feel squishy and sticky. I am constantly sweating...it's the nursing. Having a bundled newborn attached to you 8 hours a day is extremely hot. I think week 4 is harder than week 1. I start getting cabin fever...but it's still too soon to introduce Ruth to the big world. We have kept the children in and away from sickness. So far we have been extremely blessed with excellent health.

The kids LOVE each other. They ALWAYS want to get their picture taken with Ruth.

Aren't they adorable!

The biggest difference is INDEPENDENCE and MESSES. The kids have taken the liberty of helping themselves. This is a classic example. Before nursing Ruthie I cut some apples w/peanut butter for them to snack on. When I came back downstairs I found this:

-Popcorn popped (notice Eden even put them in separate bowls)

-Gummy worms

-Rootbeer (David broke the fridge lock)

-TV on watching Little Einsteins on their "couch kitchen"

All this leads to messes! Unsupervised kids make HUGE messes...especially mine.

Never mind that milk has been spilled on the floor 345,0543 times. Never mind that we no longer have anything glass in the house. Never mind that every basket gets emptied and transformed into a step stool. Never mind that David ripped the couch with a knife. Never mind their bedtime schedule has gone out the window.

Isn't she just too cute to care?

Cotton field

and

Look whose holding her head up (for at least a few seconds)! What a big girl.

3 weeks

It's over

All of our company is gone. My parents came two weekends ago. My dad and Paul went to the Ole Miss vs Alabama football game. One of the highlights was actually meeting James Meredith , the first African American to attend Ole Miss. A huge event in southern history.We had a fun weekend showing off our cute town and enjoyed the Southern hospitality.

Then we said good bye to Papa and hello to Aunt Amber! My mom and sister went to Huntsville, AL for a of couple days to attend their dear friend's wedding.
(aren't they beautiful?)
This is all I did while they were gone.

*photo courtesy of Eden We had great girl bonding time. I love being with my sister. She is so fun.

Ruth Paul & Eden went to the Ole Miss vs UAB football game . Eden came back talking about princesses, popcorn and pom-poms. It was homecoming, a perfect game for her to attend. I cannot separate these two.Just so we don't forget about David. He is still alive and very much part of this family.

My mom has been gone for 5 hours and this is the affair of our house.

I miss her. Thank you Mom for everything.

*p.s. she left it clean

It really is over. I am officially a mom of 3 on my own. Yes, Paul is here...but you mom's know what I mean. Paul will be in "over time" until December finishing up papers, taking tests, applications, projects, studying for tests and more tests...it just never stops.

Candy, cookies and cream oh my!

As I have mentioned before when I am pregnant I loose my appetite for refined sugar. Sure, I occasionally eat it (because my brain knows I love it and once they tasted so good to me). The moment that baby comes out my OBSESSION for refined sugar comes back. I literally had a dream about chocolate chip cookies in the hospital. The WHOLE dream was about the warm, gooey chocolate goodness that I stuffed in my face. I woke up with an insane craving and couldn't get it out of my mind.

This is how the story goes...for the first two weeks I stuff my face with all kinds of goodies. I am starving all the time. I will eat anything with sugar, chocolate or cream. Then after two weeks I get my act together and realize the fun is over. I set up a plan to attack this obsession and move on with my life.

Ruthie Toothy (I keep calling her that...maybe if I start now, when she gets to 3rd grade it won't sound so bad) or baby Woofie (as cousin Josie saids) is TWO weeks old. She has gained 1 lb and grown 2 inches! Her umbilical cord came off today, hooray! That hair gets greasy. I am excited to give her a real bath.

Other news:

I got a ticket yesterday for making a U-Turn (apparently they are illegal in Shelby county) on my way to pick up Aunt Amber from the airport. I don't know if Paul will let me drive again. Eden has been wearing her "fake" long hair that Gigi brought. Whenever you leave David will say "2 minutes", which translates into "come back soon".

Ruth's birth story

September 30th came. The day I was suppose to go into labor. My previous babies were exactly on time, so I truly expected to wake up that morning in labor. I went to the doctor at 9:30am. He announced I was still dilated at a 1. After a brief talk with him (who mentioned he would be out of town that weekend) I was given the choice to either be schedule for an induction that evening or next Wednesday. Isn’t it always about the doctor’s schedule? I decided today was as good as any. I had made it to my due date, why wait any longer? My three concerns were: 1. delivering a 10 lb baby. 2. Not having my doctor. 3. Scheduling a babysitter for the kids. All those concerns would be taken care of if I was induced. I went home and asked Paul if tonight he would like to have the baby. Tonight? He had a mini-meltdown and spent the next hour pouting saying, “I don’t want our lives to change”, “I’m not ready”, “I have so much to do”. I sent him away for some alone time (I think he went to Wal-Mart and got a soda). When he came back he was a new man ready to conqueror this challenge. I called my visiting teacher and other wonderful friends and set up babysitting for the kids. 6pm we all got in the car and headed for the hospital. I made Paul stop and get me a smoothie…just because I knew it was the last time I could use the excuse “I feel like one”. I waved good bye to my family and walked in ready to have this baby. By 8 pm Paul came to the hospital and I was given a medicated string “down there” to soften my cervix (I can’t remember the name of it). Paul was a trooper and camped out on the couch. I was cramping all night but it wasn’t unbearable…just annoying enough not to sleep. At 8am the doctor came in and broke my water. I immediately started to cry but nobody noticed except Paul. After everyone left he asked what was wrong. I said, “I wanted to walk around and empty my bladder that I have been holding all night!” I didn’t have much time to pout because heavy contractions started.

The next hour was miserable! My contractions were a minute apart. I kept my eyes closed the whole time. These were my thoughts, “I hate labor…I don’t want to do this anymore…ouch, ouch…my back is killing me…please just shoot me.” After an hour I was dilated to a 5. I asked/begged if I could have my epidural now. 15 minutes later the anesthesiologist was chatting to Paul about Utah. Asked if we were Mormon and stated how strange it was that “no matter how thirsty a Mormon is, they won’t drink sweet tea.” I was thinking about was that big needle, I just wanted that big needle to relieve my pain. My legs started tinkling and I knew I was home free. I laid down and almost giggled. The pain was gone. For the first time in months I was totally pain free. All I wanted to do was sleep. I was so comfortable; I didn’t care if I labored all day. Epidurals are awesome!

The nurse came in at 11:45am, had me push a few times and left to get the doctor. It was almost as if everyone was moving to music, dancing to a beat they had memorized. Smooth and calm. My bed was raised, legs hosted in the stir-ups. The doctor came in, I pushed a few times. Once her head was out they cleaned her nose and mouth, then one more push and she was out. She didn’t cry, just a wheezy breathing. They cleaned her nose and mouth out again. I heard the nurse say “8 lb 4 oz” I thought: “I am so glad I was induced, she could have been 9 lbs by next week.” They handed her to Paul, he started to walk over to me. Then he stopped and said…”umm, I don’t think she is breathing.” Again they sucked out her nose and mouth and then she was fine.

She was ghostly white with black hair. Paul held her for a few minutes while they finished up. The whole delivery felt calm and peaceful. It was special. I didn’t cry but I was surrounded by the spirit. I was relieved and so thankful she was healthy and finally here.

A couple of my thoughts right after the birth.

-She doesn’t look like a Ruth, she is too white with black hair! She looks like a witch.

-She is so big, she feels heavy to me.

-Her fingers and fingernails are super long.
-Looking at Paul wondering how I am so lucky. I love him. My other two births seem to be about me and the baby. This one I was focused on Paul. It was an experience that brought us closer.

* I love her and she is mine!

Blessing day

Today Paul gave Ruth a name and blessing in our church. Only 10 days old. Our Papa and Gigi are in town this weekend and we wanted to share this special day with family. Today was a super special day for three reasons:

1. Papa was able to participate in Ruth's blessing. Paul gave a very precious blessing. It was smooth and calm. The moment he started speaking I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace. A peace and warmth from the spirit. I am so thankful to be a mother.

2. Ruth wore MY blessing dress that my mom made for me. It fit her perfect, I am thrilled to be able to pass on this dress that means so much to me.

3. Today was the first Sunday back in our renovated building. We have a real Mormon church with a Relief Society room, a mother's room, cultural hall and more classrooms with windows!!