Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Intelligent Faith, Disciple Scholar, are they oxymorons?
Here is a great talk I highly recommend. It's from Elder Bruce C. Hafen talking about scholarship vs. faith and our discipleship.
http://farms.byu.edu/Elder_Hafen_Mar_21_2008/
http://farms.byu.edu/Elder_Hafen_Mar_21_2008/
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Stroller!
I can't believe myself sometimes, but life would be boring if we didn't do crazy things. What's so crazy you ask? Oh, you won't believe it either. I went and splurged BIG TIME on a new double stroller. It's not just any double stroller. It is a Phil & Ted's Sport Buggy with a doubles kit (and the name requires the "&" symbol and not the word "and"). I saw a woman at the mall walking with one and thought that it looked like the most convenient stroller. I didn't know the brand name or anything. It was obviously a jogger, which I consider a real need right now because I have a goal to run the 5k on the forth of July celebrations and I need to do some major preparations now and Adam is working full time. I'm recruiting Adam to join me and then we can run as a family! This stroller also looked so great because it wasn't super wide like most jogger double strollers which makes it hard to deal with in crowds and places like the mall where you would have to maneuver through clothes racks.
A few days later, at the doctors office, while waiting and reading a magazine I saw an ad for this stroller in a baby magazine and that is when the coveting bug bit me. I thought to myself, in a perfect world where everything worked out perfectly and everything I owned was perfect, I would have this perfect stroller and it would have the perfect price of really cheap as opposed to really really expensive. Funny enough, a few days after that, my sister in law Suzanne posted on her blog a chance to win this fabulous stroller off of some website. Great minds do think alike Suzanne. However, I was not the lucky winner. Bummer.
Well, to make an already long story end short. I bought it on e-bay. I got it for only about $30 cheaper than you can buy it in stores, but that's still $30. I will say though, it was Adam who told me to go ahead and just buy it. We sold this bike trailer we had that doubled as a stroller that we never used because it couldn't support babies who can't sit up on their own. We also used other funds like money Adam got for his books and such to add to the cost.
We got the blue one like in this picture. When Lucy is older, she will sit in the lower seat while Caleb is in the upper. That lower seat can be removed and the stroller can also be a single.
Or, as is shown in this picture, the top seat can lay flat for an infant, and the removable seat can be placed on top of that one accommodating a toddler.
We have used it quite a few times already and it is wonderful... as perfect as I dreamed. Who knew so much excitement and satisfaction could come from something like a double stroller.
A few days later, at the doctors office, while waiting and reading a magazine I saw an ad for this stroller in a baby magazine and that is when the coveting bug bit me. I thought to myself, in a perfect world where everything worked out perfectly and everything I owned was perfect, I would have this perfect stroller and it would have the perfect price of really cheap as opposed to really really expensive. Funny enough, a few days after that, my sister in law Suzanne posted on her blog a chance to win this fabulous stroller off of some website. Great minds do think alike Suzanne. However, I was not the lucky winner. Bummer.
Well, to make an already long story end short. I bought it on e-bay. I got it for only about $30 cheaper than you can buy it in stores, but that's still $30. I will say though, it was Adam who told me to go ahead and just buy it. We sold this bike trailer we had that doubled as a stroller that we never used because it couldn't support babies who can't sit up on their own. We also used other funds like money Adam got for his books and such to add to the cost.
We got the blue one like in this picture. When Lucy is older, she will sit in the lower seat while Caleb is in the upper. That lower seat can be removed and the stroller can also be a single.
Or, as is shown in this picture, the top seat can lay flat for an infant, and the removable seat can be placed on top of that one accommodating a toddler.
We have used it quite a few times already and it is wonderful... as perfect as I dreamed. Who knew so much excitement and satisfaction could come from something like a double stroller.
One Month
On May 10th, Lucy turned one month and is a smiler just like her older brother. Her dad can make her smile easier than anybody else.
We have bought a few bows because she is also following in Caleb's footsteps by going very bald very quickly only on top, imitating male patterned baldness. We don't want her to appear bald or like a male, so we cover. However, as of the last few days, her new hair is coming in very quickly and is much lighter than the hair with which she was born.
Other updates include that it is now officially hot and we can swim. Our niece, Jane, had her second birthday party today at Grandma and Grandpa Ellertson's pool. Unfortunately, Caleb came down with a sudden case of the runs and was therefore not permitted to go swimming and contaminate the pool. I don't know if any other locals remember last year but there was some serious problems with babies passing disease through their swim diapers in swimming pools. (gross) It was traumatic because he LOVES the water. A few weeks ago, Grandma Ellertson gave Caleb and Jane new swimming suits, each with their current obsession printed on the front. Jane got Ariel and Caleb got Nemo with the shark appearing on the shorts. Note how extremely long his swim trunks are, they are more like swim pants.
We have bought a few bows because she is also following in Caleb's footsteps by going very bald very quickly only on top, imitating male patterned baldness. We don't want her to appear bald or like a male, so we cover. However, as of the last few days, her new hair is coming in very quickly and is much lighter than the hair with which she was born.
Other updates include that it is now officially hot and we can swim. Our niece, Jane, had her second birthday party today at Grandma and Grandpa Ellertson's pool. Unfortunately, Caleb came down with a sudden case of the runs and was therefore not permitted to go swimming and contaminate the pool. I don't know if any other locals remember last year but there was some serious problems with babies passing disease through their swim diapers in swimming pools. (gross) It was traumatic because he LOVES the water. A few weeks ago, Grandma Ellertson gave Caleb and Jane new swimming suits, each with their current obsession printed on the front. Jane got Ariel and Caleb got Nemo with the shark appearing on the shorts. Note how extremely long his swim trunks are, they are more like swim pants.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Poor Caleb
My friend Sharee made me feel a little better about this transitioning time by saying that two kids was her hardest adjustment. So far, I feel very inadequate to provide enough attention for two, especially when both are quite needy.
The pinnacle of my lame attempts to handle two on my own was last week when I was trying to herd Caleb with my foot while holding Lucy. He started running for the kitchen (and if you haven't seen him lately, he is a fast runner) and I stuck out my foot trying to stop him, but I didn't get it quite high enough and I ended up tripping him, causing him to face plant onto our hard wood kitchen floor.
I didn't think it was that big of a bump. It wasn't that loud but he cried for a long time. I put Lucy down, gave him a hug and kissed his head followed by a very positive "all better" which usually works with him. He is surprisingly tolerant of pain. I put him down and he kept sobbing for a few minutes and saying "all better" as he walked down the hall, trying to convince himself, maybe, that it was all better. I felt so bad. It is his first goose-egg.
This was my biggest worry about having two kids close together. I knew it would be easy to pay lots of attention to new born, but I was worried that Caleb would feel left out. He has noticed the difference and has definitely been acting more whiny, but it is just with Adam and myself. He acts very loving towards Lucy and is good with other people (thank goodness). But if there are any suggestions on how to help a little boy learn how to not be the center of the universe without scarring him terribly, I would appreciate it.
The pinnacle of my lame attempts to handle two on my own was last week when I was trying to herd Caleb with my foot while holding Lucy. He started running for the kitchen (and if you haven't seen him lately, he is a fast runner) and I stuck out my foot trying to stop him, but I didn't get it quite high enough and I ended up tripping him, causing him to face plant onto our hard wood kitchen floor.
I didn't think it was that big of a bump. It wasn't that loud but he cried for a long time. I put Lucy down, gave him a hug and kissed his head followed by a very positive "all better" which usually works with him. He is surprisingly tolerant of pain. I put him down and he kept sobbing for a few minutes and saying "all better" as he walked down the hall, trying to convince himself, maybe, that it was all better. I felt so bad. It is his first goose-egg.
This was my biggest worry about having two kids close together. I knew it would be easy to pay lots of attention to new born, but I was worried that Caleb would feel left out. He has noticed the difference and has definitely been acting more whiny, but it is just with Adam and myself. He acts very loving towards Lucy and is good with other people (thank goodness). But if there are any suggestions on how to help a little boy learn how to not be the center of the universe without scarring him terribly, I would appreciate it.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Holy Cow!
Lucy Mills has finally arrived. She was born at 1:40 in the afternoon and has been a blessing ever since.
My title, however, is in reference to Lucy's dramatic entrance. I know that there are millions of women who have for years, centuries even, given birth naturally and many have techniques that make the whole experience easier and less painful. I have always deep down wanted to be able to go through labor without giving up and asking for an epidural, just to know how strong I am physically. But never in a million years did I think I could actually do it. It's like running a marathon. I really want to do it just to accomplish something that hard, but I know I'll just wuss out.
In this case, I had no choice. I planned on an epidural. After I was induced at 8 am I waited until about noon and then said I was ready for the epidural. The anesthesiologist had trouble getting the cathidar in correctly so they ended up sticking me in two vertebrae. After I was done I said to Adam, "Well I hope this works otherwise that was totally not worth it." It was really unpleasant to say the least.
And what do you know, IT DIDN'T WORK! Not even a little bit. When I realized that there was no hope for pain relief, I became really scared. I felt completely unprepared and was terrified of what lay in wait for me. They would have given me another one, but I was moving so fast, the nurses said that it was too late to try again. I am very grateful that I did move as quickly as I did. It was extremely painful and I don't know how long I could have lasted. I say that now, but you know, one big lesson I have learned from this is that I can handle a lot more than I think I can.
All in all, it was really a life changing experience. It's kind of cool to be able to say I did it, although I also say I don't think I would really want to do it again. If I had a guarantee that it would go that fast, maybe I would.
She is a sweet baby. Caleb likes to show how soft he can be with her but he also gets jealous of this little thing that steels all the attention. Sometimes he wants to take her away from us and carry her off like she's a toy (which we don't let him do obviously). I am so happy she's here and look forward to learning how to balance two little ones so that all their needs are met.
My title, however, is in reference to Lucy's dramatic entrance. I know that there are millions of women who have for years, centuries even, given birth naturally and many have techniques that make the whole experience easier and less painful. I have always deep down wanted to be able to go through labor without giving up and asking for an epidural, just to know how strong I am physically. But never in a million years did I think I could actually do it. It's like running a marathon. I really want to do it just to accomplish something that hard, but I know I'll just wuss out.
In this case, I had no choice. I planned on an epidural. After I was induced at 8 am I waited until about noon and then said I was ready for the epidural. The anesthesiologist had trouble getting the cathidar in correctly so they ended up sticking me in two vertebrae. After I was done I said to Adam, "Well I hope this works otherwise that was totally not worth it." It was really unpleasant to say the least.
And what do you know, IT DIDN'T WORK! Not even a little bit. When I realized that there was no hope for pain relief, I became really scared. I felt completely unprepared and was terrified of what lay in wait for me. They would have given me another one, but I was moving so fast, the nurses said that it was too late to try again. I am very grateful that I did move as quickly as I did. It was extremely painful and I don't know how long I could have lasted. I say that now, but you know, one big lesson I have learned from this is that I can handle a lot more than I think I can.
All in all, it was really a life changing experience. It's kind of cool to be able to say I did it, although I also say I don't think I would really want to do it again. If I had a guarantee that it would go that fast, maybe I would.
She is a sweet baby. Caleb likes to show how soft he can be with her but he also gets jealous of this little thing that steels all the attention. Sometimes he wants to take her away from us and carry her off like she's a toy (which we don't let him do obviously). I am so happy she's here and look forward to learning how to balance two little ones so that all their needs are met.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Still not yet... but soon
I was due last Sunday, the 6th, but still no baby. I'm going to be induced tomorrow so I figure I would write one last time on here before I'm super busy. I was hoping to not be induced, but I just go so late and I'm REALLY done being pregnant. I'm not even close to going into labor so I figure it's either induce now or induce later. I choose now. Here is a belly shot from about three weeks ago at the Springville Art Museum. Notice the little man in the background who didn't have the patience to wait for Dad to take the picture.
Along with stuff to get done before the baby comes, it seems that many of my friends are having big changes in their lives too. I was able to hang out with mission companion Natalie for a little while before the move to Seattle. We had a good time just chilling in our back yard with the toys. Her girls are so cute! It was great to see you Natalie!
We are also having some major backyard improvements. My brother installed a super cool swing. It's attatched to a really high branch that he climbed up to reach.
The long ropes allow for a really big swing that Caleb and his cousins LOVE! I wish I could fit. It looks so fun. Here is Caleb with his aunt Jessie.
Adam, my super duper fix it man, is redoing the deck. It is a pretty crummy deck but he is making it look so nice. I'm going to have to post some final pictures later, but here are some of his demolition shots. I love a man who is good with his hands.
Along with stuff to get done before the baby comes, it seems that many of my friends are having big changes in their lives too. I was able to hang out with mission companion Natalie for a little while before the move to Seattle. We had a good time just chilling in our back yard with the toys. Her girls are so cute! It was great to see you Natalie!
We are also having some major backyard improvements. My brother installed a super cool swing. It's attatched to a really high branch that he climbed up to reach.
The long ropes allow for a really big swing that Caleb and his cousins LOVE! I wish I could fit. It looks so fun. Here is Caleb with his aunt Jessie.
Adam, my super duper fix it man, is redoing the deck. It is a pretty crummy deck but he is making it look so nice. I'm going to have to post some final pictures later, but here are some of his demolition shots. I love a man who is good with his hands.
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