Generations

I Love To See The Temple

Tonight for our Young Women's activity, we went to Temple Square where our Stake had planned a Standards Night. I have to be honest and say that I wasn't that thrilled to be going. First of all, I didn't want to leave Amelia for that long, and second because we had tickets to a play that I had been looking forward to for a few months. I really struggled, but in the end I decided to try and fulfill my calling - happily or not. But this was one of those times where I was so glad I went once I got there. The Stake leaders put a lot of effort in planning it, and many of them took turns throughout the night to talk to the youth about this years theme. They divided all the youth up in their age groups and sent us off with the sister missionaries who took us around different locations on Temple Square and shared different stories and experiences. We ended at the Christus in the North visitors center and then went into the small theater where there was a short program prepared. The sister missionaries did an absolutely beautiful version of Abide With Me which brought me to tears. There is something so sweet and honest about sister missionaries. Our Stake President then spoke and it was brief, but so powerful. It brought the Spirit so strong and I couldn't imagine missing this experience. The youth responded so well to it and I know that anytime they can be at the Temple, their testimonies are strengthened. I know mine was tonight, much more than it would have been had I chose to go to a play, or to just simply stay home. And, not that I was surprised, but Amelia was completely fine being at home with Mark! Turns out she doesn't need her Mommy 24-7!

One Month And Counting

Sunday marked 4 weeks since Amelia was born! Boy how time is flying. The whole concept of time for me has changed. My days are now my nights, and my nights are now my days. Hopefully that doesn't last much longer! And the thought of her being here for only 4 weeks is so crazy. It really feels like she has been in our lives forever. Now I have this little person that is so dependant on me for her every need, and it feels like that is how life has always been, or at least how it's always meant to be. If one month flew by, I can't imagine how the rest of her life is going to go. I'm certainly eating up every minute of it! She continues to grow and change every day. Her birth weight was 8 pounds 8 ounces...at her 2 week appointment she was 9 pounds 4 ounces...and we had her weighed yesterday at Lactation Station and she was 10 pounds 7 ounces! Needless to say she isn't struggling with eating! And just like the chub on her cheeks growing every day, my love for her grows every day too! So again, here are a bunch of pics...forgive me for the quantity!


Case in point of how fast time goes by: This is my nephew Sam who is just turning 16. I was just turning 16 when HE was born and now we are sitting there with my baby on his 16th birthday. I VIVIDLY remember the day he was born and it doesn't feel like that long ago!

Surprise Surprise!

Last Friday night, Mark and I were just relaxing with the baby, watching a movie downstairs. Around 10pm my phone rang and it was my friend Natalie who lives in Las Vegas. I thought to myself that it was a little strange that she was calling to just chat so late on a Friday night, but whatever. We made small talk for a minute and then she said, "Well come open your front door because I'm in your driveway!" Holy cow! I didn't really care that I hadn't taken a shower that day, or that I didn't have make-up on, or that the baby wasn't in the cutest outfit. My best friend was here! She was in Salt Lake for a very short visit, but found time to come see my little Amelia. They hit it off and snuggled and visited for about an hour and a half. We can't wait until we see her again. There really is nothing like being with old friends. We love you Aunt Nat!

The Journey of Motherhood Begins

People always say, "You won't know what it's like until you are a Mother yourself." And I always shrugged that idea off...until now! I thought since I was so old and so experienced with kids that I would have no problem adjusting to life with a newborn. Man, I'm eating my words now! Indeed it has been an adjustment, but Amelia is almost 3 weeks old and I think we have the hang of things. I wouldn't trade any minute of it so far. She is the biggest blessing I have ever received and my heart swells every time I look at her. And now I can't imagine my life without her in it. It feels as if she has always been here...always been a part of me. So forgive me for so many pictures, but I couldn't just pick a few. They tell the story on their own, from birth until just today, so I won't comment on each of them. It is a journey, and one that I'm honored to take with my little Amelia.

A Look Back...

So I thought I would start this lovely little thing called a blog by showing the transformation from being a thirty-something, to a pregnant thirty-something. After all, my whole rationale behind starting this is to show off my beautiful little girl. For those of you who don't know, we had to do about 20 months of fertility before we got pregnant. Had it been 10 years ago, the Doctors never would have known how to treat my specific problem. How blessed we are to live in an age of modern medicine!


9 Weeks. Ironically, Holli (my friend in the pic) was pregnant at the same time but didn't know it yet!


Running the Bear Lake Half Marathon, also around 9 weeks. Running pretty much stopped for me after that...no fun to hold my chest as I run!


Fetal Fotos at 15 1/2 Weeks. It's a Girl!!


My cute Mom already had the house decorated by the time we got home from Fetal Fotos.


September 2009. Our 2 Year Anniversary, with a nice little belly starting to pop out!



We thought it would be fun to give Amelia her first Halloween costume. My nieces had a blast painting my belly!


November 2009. Oh boy, the belly was getting big!


Fetal Fotos again at 29 weeks. Couldn't wait any longer to see her little face!



Our last Christmas with no kids! So strange.


7 weeks to go!


6 weeks to go!


My ward baby shower. Looks like a basketball under my shirt! Sitting anywhere for more than 5 minutes at this point was SO uncomfortable.


My friend Nat who suckered my in to starting a blog. So fun that she was in town for one of my baby showers!



One day to go...technically. My Mother-In-Law tried to use pressure points and massage to induce labor! I was SO ready to be done!


February 18. My very last appointment and she is 4 days late. Strange to think that the next time I would go to the hospital, I would leave with a baby!! Even more strange for me to know that I actually survived being pregnant. What a trip!