A Name and Blessing

Sunday we were privileged to be able to attend the Blessing of our newest nephew, Kim Ford Nelson.  He reminded me of Lilli during her blessing, he cried the whole time.  Lilli did the same thing, and I couldn't help but remember the rush of mixed feelings I had on her blessing day.  The feeling of being so happy you start crying, and not able to control your emotions.

The blessing was at 3pm so we didn't get to visit very long at all because we had to be in Nampa (40 miles away) by 4pm.  However, he was so precious and tiny, and looked like a cute little angel in his white outfit.  Babies truly are blessings from heaven.  You could tell that Brandon's sister, Karesa, is overjoyed by motherhood, she was beaming.

Garden Planted!

I was FINALLY able to get my garden planted today!  I enlisted the help of the master hoe operator!

The expert corn planter!

And even the cutest spectator.

 

Now, since my husband has VERY HIGH expectations for this garden, I really hope that I can first make everything we planted grow, and then be able to keep it alive until harvest.  Please pray for me!

Duke - 7 Months

Weight - 17.4 lbs

Duke has FINALLY decided to sit up alone!  I was beginning to think that he was just a happy camper being lazy.  His 4 teeth that have been trying to push through have decided that they don't want to make an appearance after all.  I have come to realize that all kids develop at different rates.  My other kids were sitting up at 5-6 months, rolling over at 2 weeks-1 month, crawling at 7-8 months, and had teeth no later than 2 months.  With Duke EVERYTHING has been different.  He has no teeth, didn't roll over until 3 months, sitting up at 7 months, but he did crawl a WHOLE lot earlier than them at 5.5 months.  I shouldn't compare, I just shouldn't, they are all unique and themselves, doing things are their own rate.

Eating solids has been a huge struggle.  He did pretty good for the first couple of days, but after that he REFUSED to even open his mouth when he saw a spoon.  However, just in the past couple days he is more willing to eat like a big boy, although he still wants NOTHING to do with green beans.  But he really just wants to nurse.  We have tried and tried to give him breast milk in a bottle but he refuses, but we did get him to take it from a cup one day.

I really need to pull out the next size of clothes because his toes are about to pop out of his jammies again.  He LOVES to give kisses and is a SUPER FAST crawler.  He has also become a fan of the outdoors.  I have been putting him in his bouncer in the doorway so he can enjoy the fresh air because he screams when we come inside.  He has started to sleep on his tummy and likes to have a blanket to suck on.  He also loves to play with his feet.

YW Manual 1 Lesson 14: Patriarchal Leadership in the Home

Dad's are great.  So great that I had each girl write her Father a "Thank You" note.  I'm lucky enough to live in a ward where all the girls have a Father in their home, so this was a good lesson.  I had made some cards that look like a men's shirt and tie and gave one to each girl.  I also collected them and delivered them myself.  I just remember myself at that age, had I been in charge of giving it to my dad myself, it never would have happened.  I wanted to make sure the father's got them, so that is why I collected them.  Here's a link to the shirt instructions and the link to the tie directions.  I also gave each girl one of these handouts for their quote books.

Download HERE

School's Out!

We are officially ready for summer!  To end Lilli's year she received 5 awards at the end of school assembly on Thursday.

1. Accelerated Reader of the Year
2. Honor Roll
3. Shape Up Across Oregon Award (for running 700 miles during the school year)
4. Elementary Class Rep for Student Council
5. $10 Walmart Gift Card for all A's & B's

 She also got 4 candy bars and a MP3 Player from the local store.  She has already uploaded music and wears it all the time.

Hoss had his last day of speech last Friday and he has been busy using this 4-wheeler for EVERYTHING.  It's remote control operated so he is always running over someone or something.  But he does put it to good use with the diapers and taking them to the trash. :)

 

We also got to attend the graduation of my niece Skyler.  She graduated from Centennial High School in Boise on Saturday and had a BBQ afterward.  She made out like a bandit with all the money she got.

Engagement!

Brandon's younger brother Shane got ENGAGED last night!  YAY!  We are so excited to have Katie in the family.  She's from the Vegas area so they are planning an August wedding in the Las Vegas Temple, on Brandon's birthday!  I'm so excited for them especially for choosing the Vegas Temple, I always wanted to get married there so I could say, "I got married in Vegas!".

** Update**
The wedding has been moved to Newport Beach California.  Which in my opinion is even better, because now we get to go see Megan again!!

11 Years Old

 It's birthday time around here!  Lilli turned 11 on the 23rd, the 2nd to last day of school!  She again, like last year, asked to take smores cups to share with her class.

When she got home she mentioned that she was tired, so I said, "Hey, it's your birthday take a nap!"  So she did.  Then we waited for Brandon to get home so we could open up her gifts.

 I asked her what she wanted to eat and she said she wanted to go to Fiesta Guadalajara, so we did.

Earlier in the week I asked what kind of cake she wanted, and she said a smores pie.  I googled for it and none of them looked good at all, but since that was what she wanted, I tried my hardest to make it yummy for her.  She said she liked it.  Hoss wouldn't even try it, Brandon only had an itty bitty sliver, and I don't like my marshmallows as burnt as she does, so I wasn't crazy about it either.

Her Activity Day Leader, and also our amazing neighbor, made her this YUMMY chocolate chip cookie!  Between her and Hoss they had the whole thing gone in a day and a half!

A few things about our newly crowned 11 year old.

• LOVES to read
• She's a great big sister
• Chews her nails, like crazy (just like her mother)
• Could wear a dress everyday and be happy
• Doesn't like to change diapers
• Enjoys helping in the kitchen
• Is a craftaholic (again like her mother)
• Has her first crush

May in Review

Lilli's at school, Hoss with Brandon and Duke is asleep, so I figure I better hurry and get everything updated while I got a few spare minutes.

To start off, no, I didn't call the mother's of the two boys that were making fun of Hoss.  Come to find out, a guy at church actually yelled at the boys themselves.  Hoss was giving a talk in Primary at church and two boys in the back were making fun of the way he talks. You know, his speech delay.  Anyway, I guess the "Momma Bear" in me kicked in and I was really hurt.  I was up with Hoss helping him and so it wasn't like I could do anything, which is probably best.  Anyway, the dad of the other little boy who gave a talk saw what was happening and, since I don't know who all reads this, I'll just say he "took care of things". 

Lilli had spirit week at school again.  Monday was Crazy Hair & Pajama day.

Tuesday was Sports Day.  THANKS Aunt DJ!

 Wednesday was Eldery Day.

 Then after a few dishonest choices she made, she wasn't allowed to participate in the rest of spirit week.  So, she missed out on Duct Tape Day and Red Day.

Hoss decided to make a "house" for Duke.

One day, Lilli and Hoss were playing outside and Hoss came running in asking for help to get his barbie car out of the weeds.  He drove it in and couldn't get it out. He then decided he could get it out by hooking a chain to the 4-wheeler.  They came around the corner looking like this.

That is not at all what I was expecting.  I was thinking they would be PULLING the barbie car BEHIND the 4-wheeler, not using the chain to put the jeep ON TOP of the 4-wheeler.  But hey, what do I know about towing things?

 

I was asked by one of my Laurels (Yes, I got a new calling, I am no longer the Mia Maid adviser, I'm the Laurel adviser.) at church to help her with some gifts she wanted to give to her friends that are graduating.  I did a total of 20 towels for her, I think they turned out so cute!

We have been busy pulling weeds.

Look at this - notice the mark on the back of Duke's head?

 Let's take a closer look shall we?

It's a RUG BURN!  Hoss got in big trouble for this!  He is ALWAYS dragging/pulling him around the house.

Hoss buried his bike in the grass clippings.

Brandon got my garden tilled-up, now to get it planted! I better hurry or I'm going to run out of time!  I'm not too excited that he pretty much tilled up the entire back yard!  That is going to be TONS of weeding!

  

 Mother's Day - at church the kids filled out a questionnaire about their moms.  Here's what Hoss said - I guess I spank too much and need to play the Wii more. :)

 Then Lilli seems to think that I never clean.  So I asked her about it and she said, "well, if you clean more, then I don't have to."  I keep telling myself that there will come a day when she will thank me for teaching her how to work, right?!?!?!

 Hoss REALLY enjoys feeding Duke.  I'm not sure which is more entertaining, watching Hoss and his facial expressions or watching Duke and his facial expressions with each bite.  It's a toss up!

 

We still have a busy month ahead of us.  Lilli's birthday, graduation(s), wedding(s), a baby blessing, end of school, and more.  I'm taking it day by day, and enjoying it all!

Sick, Sick, Sickies

Hoss, Duke and myself all got sick a while back.  Like really sick, well me at least.  Hoss and Duke both just had the common cold, runny noses and coughs, but I got it bad.  Well, a different kind of sick.  Brandon caught me as I was taking a picture and insisted that I shouldn't post it and wouldn't let me finish taking it.  I got mastitis.  I wasn't taking a picture of me, I was trying to take a picture of the bottle of milk.  4 ounces, 2 milk and 2 blood.  Brandon told me that a picture would be too inappropriate.

I could feel it coming on.....chills...hot and cold flashes...fever.....headaches...sore muscles...nausea.  I didn't want to admit it though or accept it.  I wanted to catch it before it hit too hard so I got out a rice sock and tossed it in the microwave and used it for the next few days.  It seemed to go away, but then came on full swing three days later.  I was out for two days, the pain is so severe I hope none of you have ever been through or will go through it.

I googled to find out what actually bring it on.  Here's what I found:

• Cracked nipples
• Engorgement
• Poor nutrition by Mother - this is totally me.  I've always leaned toward "quick 'n easy" instead of "healthy and nutritious".
  
• Poor latch
• Too tight of a Bra - this could be it too, better go shopping.
  
• Not fully emptying the breast during each feeding

Any of these could be it.  I also found out that if you have had it once, you will most likely get it again.  I did have it 4 times with Hoss, so I guess I'm just prone to it.  However, I was determined not to let it get me down and stop nursing.  I vowed to work through it.  I am happy to say that we are all back to normal again, eating, and pain free.

However, I would recommend NOT googling it.  Why is it that they only show you worst case scenarios?