Ben and I were invited to attend the "Marriage and Family" Sunday School class in our ward a few weeks ago. It has been the most enjoyable class I've attended. Last Sunday we talked about our destinies. We had to write what we thought our spouses "destiny" is while here on Earth. This is what I came up with for Ben:
To be a leader and example for good, both in family and work. To bring others to the gospel thorough his laid back and accepting attitude. To magnify his Priesthood.
After we were done, I thought how it would be great to do this for each member of the family and frame it. How often do we think of what our destiny is? I guess this means I have a new project to do once we move into the new house.
What's your destiny?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Ava's Favorite Things
Ava, you are getting so big. We are noticing you have preferences for certain things. Mommy wants to help you remember what you loved when you were two. Here are some of your favorites:
Favorite song: "Here We Are Together" (we change the words a bit. "Here we are together, together, together. Here we are together in our family. There's Daddy, and Beckham, and Mommy, and Ava, oh here we are together in our family")
Favorite food: Oh-nill (Oatmeal) or Faffle (waffles) for breakfast, Nuh-neets (Nuggets) for lunch, and apples (applesauce) with cinnamon in it.
Favorite color: This is a hard one. We started out with black and orange being the only colors you actually recognized (I have a Halloween lover!!!), but lately I think it's blue.
Favorite person: Daddy. Beckham is a close second.
Favorite toy: the blue baby doll and stroller you got for your birthday, but the iPad and phone are faves, too.
Favorite movie: "Tangled" ("punzel")
Favorite TV show: Backyardigans ("ah-gans") took over Sesame Street about a month ago
Favorite activity: swimming and dancing.
Other things you like to do include taking walks, singing, and playing Mommy to Beckham. You are just as grown up as I let you be. I love that you don't crawl out of your big girl bed, but you wait for us to come get you every morning. You are very well behaved and smart. You've been able to recognize all the letters of the alphabet since you were 18 months old. You also know your numbers up to 20 (by sight). We are so lucky to have you in our family. You are a blessing to all of us.
Favorite song: "Here We Are Together" (we change the words a bit. "Here we are together, together, together. Here we are together in our family. There's Daddy, and Beckham, and Mommy, and Ava, oh here we are together in our family")
Favorite food: Oh-nill (Oatmeal) or Faffle (waffles) for breakfast, Nuh-neets (Nuggets) for lunch, and apples (applesauce) with cinnamon in it.
Favorite color: This is a hard one. We started out with black and orange being the only colors you actually recognized (I have a Halloween lover!!!), but lately I think it's blue.
Favorite person: Daddy. Beckham is a close second.
Favorite toy: the blue baby doll and stroller you got for your birthday, but the iPad and phone are faves, too.
Favorite movie: "Tangled" ("punzel")
Favorite TV show: Backyardigans ("ah-gans") took over Sesame Street about a month ago
Favorite activity: swimming and dancing.
Other things you like to do include taking walks, singing, and playing Mommy to Beckham. You are just as grown up as I let you be. I love that you don't crawl out of your big girl bed, but you wait for us to come get you every morning. You are very well behaved and smart. You've been able to recognize all the letters of the alphabet since you were 18 months old. You also know your numbers up to 20 (by sight). We are so lucky to have you in our family. You are a blessing to all of us.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Ava is "2tu!"
Ava. You're 2. Where did the time go? How did you get so big? I'm not sure I can take much more of this growing up thing. Let's just have you stay young forever.
Avanese:
Ava: "Ah-ye," Octopus: "Ah-plus," One more: "Mah Mah?" Octagon: "Ah-gone" I love you: "luh you"
Popsicle: "cull" Garbage "gah gage" Cheerios: "Che-woes"
Monday, May 2, 2011
Refiner's Fire
Well, it's 4 AM, and I've already been up for 2 hours. For some reason I'm having a hard time sleeping tonight. For the past 10 weeks our family has experienced some trials relating to illness. It's not a huge thing, but since Beckham has been born, we've had at LEAST one person sick every single day (right now we're batting 3 out of 4, and 2 of us have multiple things going on). It's becoming more normal than not. I had a blessing about a week ago, and was told to look for things I can learn from all of this. That's been on my mind a lot. So has the conference talk from Elder D. Todd Christofferson. To refresh, he says that we should be grateful for our trials, because those whom the Lord loves, he chastens. So what am I reluctantly learning? First, patience. Not because I am amazing, but because this is now my "normal" way of life. I guess that means it's not patience as much as it's just that I've consigned myself to this lifestyle. Second, I'm learning more about my need to be a better mother. Since Beckham was born, I've slacked on my scripture regimen. I feel like I'm always trying to "beat the clock" when the kids go to sleep, so I can either nap with them or clean. I don't take time out to read my scriptures when I'm awake... I usually try and read a chapter before I fall asleep at night, but I feel like I'm just giving the Lord my "leftovers." In the mornings, either Ava or Beckham is waking me up, so I hurry to get them going, and usually fore-go morning personal prayers because of it. I keep thinking things will calm down when we're all feeling better, but that's just not happening, so I need to adjust. I feel like part of the reason we are having these issues for so long is because my kids need a certain type of mom, and I'm not there yet. So, I've decided a few things. First, I will (hopefully) be tag-teaming initiatories at the temple this week with a sister I visit teach. Second, I'm going to start studying my scriptures for 10 minutes a day. It doesn't seem like a very lofty goal, but it's a huge step from what I've been doing. I also realize that the Lord must be sustaining me through all of this, because I haven't had a nervous breakdown yet, and I know me well enough to recognize that I should have had one by now. I AM grateful that the Lord loves me enough to chasten me, I just wish I could learn what I need to quickly so we could just move on....
In other notable news, Beckham had his baby blessing today (yesterday by now). He did great. Not one whimper or complaint came out of his little body. I worry, because of a few personal reasons, that he is in for a life of challenges and sacrifice. I hope against all hope that I'm wrong, but I know he will be strong enough to handle whatever he is given. We were honored to have many of Ben's family, as well as a close neighbor, attend his blessing. Pictures to come.
In other notable news, Beckham had his baby blessing today (yesterday by now). He did great. Not one whimper or complaint came out of his little body. I worry, because of a few personal reasons, that he is in for a life of challenges and sacrifice. I hope against all hope that I'm wrong, but I know he will be strong enough to handle whatever he is given. We were honored to have many of Ben's family, as well as a close neighbor, attend his blessing. Pictures to come.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
2 Months
Beckham had his two month appointment today, and here are his stats:
Weight: 13 lbs 12 1/2 oz (92%)
Height: 24 inches (85%)
Head Circumference: 16 inches (73%)
The doctor said that anyone looking at Beckham would just assume he's a 4 month old. Why do my kids always have to be so big?? I love it and hate it at the same time. He's just growing up so fast, and if this is my last baby, I want him to stay a baby for a while. He's a cute little chunk, though. Here are some things he's doing for us:
Smiling
Cooing
Self soothing
Sleeping- he sleeps from about 7 at night until 2:30 in the morning, eats, and then goes back to sleep until 6:30
He doesn't cry very much for me (he does a little more for Ben, but once Ben gets the swaddling thing down, he'll be just fine).
Weight: 13 lbs 12 1/2 oz (92%)
Height: 24 inches (85%)
Head Circumference: 16 inches (73%)
The doctor said that anyone looking at Beckham would just assume he's a 4 month old. Why do my kids always have to be so big?? I love it and hate it at the same time. He's just growing up so fast, and if this is my last baby, I want him to stay a baby for a while. He's a cute little chunk, though. Here are some things he's doing for us:
Smiling
Cooing
Self soothing
Sleeping- he sleeps from about 7 at night until 2:30 in the morning, eats, and then goes back to sleep until 6:30
He doesn't cry very much for me (he does a little more for Ben, but once Ben gets the swaddling thing down, he'll be just fine).
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Easter Fun
Yesterday as I was running out of Albertsons with some honey so I could cook all day (more on that later), I saw some workers putting balloons in the front patio area of the store. I found out they were doing a little Easter egg hunt and cookie decorating booth. I ran home and grabbed everyone else and back we headed. We were too late to have Ava participate in her age group (8:30... really??!?), but we made it by 8:40, so they let Ava in with the 3 and 4 year olds at 9. The workers were so sweet with her! One lady even put some eggs out specifically for Ava and then asked us how many she found, just to make sure she got enough. We really appreciated it. Here are a few of the pictures I snapped:
I'm so glad we were able to let Ava do this! She had a lot more fun than last year, that's for sure!
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| Becks just hanging out |
I'm so glad we were able to let Ava do this! She had a lot more fun than last year, that's for sure!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Keeping Busy
It seems like the days are just flying by. I think I'm still keeping afloat, but it doesn't take much to start me drowning. I hope this is normal for adjusting to a second child. Beckham is doing much better at self soothing and sleeping at night. He's really only waking up once a night, twice a night every once in a while. When he gives me 5-6 hour stretches at a time I can get much more accomplished the next day. If not, we all end up back in jammies right after we get out of the shower. If we're not going anywhere, what's the point, right? Poor Ben.
A few days ago I made some more swim bags (waterproof bags that hold wet swimsuits). I gave all the ones we made away, but I'd like to get some more material and make Ava another one. I really enjoyed how the flip flop ones worked out.
It just looks so summer-y and fun! It's funny, because I get a lot of people that tell me they wanted to buy something like this. Maybe this will be my etsy shop idea?
Last night I went with some girls to see the new "Jane Eyre." I really liked it. It doesn't hold a candle to the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice," but does anything, really? It's hard to compete with Colin Firth. I had forgotten how depressing the plot is, and I wish they had extended the ending a bit, but it was still really enjoyable. The best part was the company!! Ben stayed home with the kids, and I think he slightly regretted it. Ava has gotten fairly particular about how she likes her blanket, and Ben couldn't understand what she wanted. As soon as we got to the theater, I got a text asking what a "gigit" was. Supposedly Ava kept saying it and pointing to her feet and crying. At the time I couldn't figure out what he was talking about, but it rang a bell once I got home. Between that and Beckham wanting cuddles all night, I think Ben was reconsidering me ever being able to have a GNO again, but I had a blast. It was so therapeutic. Thanks, honey!
A few days ago I made some more swim bags (waterproof bags that hold wet swimsuits). I gave all the ones we made away, but I'd like to get some more material and make Ava another one. I really enjoyed how the flip flop ones worked out.
It just looks so summer-y and fun! It's funny, because I get a lot of people that tell me they wanted to buy something like this. Maybe this will be my etsy shop idea?
Last night I went with some girls to see the new "Jane Eyre." I really liked it. It doesn't hold a candle to the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice," but does anything, really? It's hard to compete with Colin Firth. I had forgotten how depressing the plot is, and I wish they had extended the ending a bit, but it was still really enjoyable. The best part was the company!! Ben stayed home with the kids, and I think he slightly regretted it. Ava has gotten fairly particular about how she likes her blanket, and Ben couldn't understand what she wanted. As soon as we got to the theater, I got a text asking what a "gigit" was. Supposedly Ava kept saying it and pointing to her feet and crying. At the time I couldn't figure out what he was talking about, but it rang a bell once I got home. Between that and Beckham wanting cuddles all night, I think Ben was reconsidering me ever being able to have a GNO again, but I had a blast. It was so therapeutic. Thanks, honey!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Our Crazy Weekend
... and by weekend I mean from Wednesday on. I won't go into detail about Wednesday, but that's really where the craziness began. Thursday, Beckham got Ava's cold, so now I had two unhealthy babies to take care of, and then Friday Ben got LASIK surgery, so I ended up with THREE unhealthy "kids" to take care of. Ben's suregery went pretty well, but his vision was really blurry for the first day, so he couldn't see to do anything. He was supposed to rest anyway, but when Ava is supposed to be napping and instead is jumping on her bed and Beckham is crying because he's starving, it's a little bit of an inconvenience to have to help Ben, too. (I love you, Ben! I was just overwhelmed!) After about 20 minutes things settled down, and we were all able to rest for a while.
When everyone got up from our naps, I took Ava downstairs and we made a fort. I wanted to watch Tangled, and this was the best way to get Ava to watch with me!
I still had to bribe her to sit with me in the fort with a LOT of snacks, but it was worth it. That night we played "Where's Ava" again.....
As you can see, she isn't picky about where she sleeps. My biggest concern is that I'll walk in to check on her and I'll step on her by accident.
Saturday and Sunday brought General Conference, and it was really nice to be able to sit and listen to the speakers. I think it's just what I needed to refill my spiritual tank. We made another "Conference Fort," and had fun spending time together.
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| Before... |
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| After. What an improvement!! :) |
When everyone got up from our naps, I took Ava downstairs and we made a fort. I wanted to watch Tangled, and this was the best way to get Ava to watch with me!
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| The view as you come into the room from the door |
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| Where the little stinker was sleeping... |
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| The night before |
As you can see, she isn't picky about where she sleeps. My biggest concern is that I'll walk in to check on her and I'll step on her by accident.
Saturday and Sunday brought General Conference, and it was really nice to be able to sit and listen to the speakers. I think it's just what I needed to refill my spiritual tank. We made another "Conference Fort," and had fun spending time together.
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