A Weeks Of Milestones

I think it is safe to say that we reached a lot of milestones this week, Bubba. On Monday you turned 9 months old! How that is even possible is beyond me. It feels like it was just yesterday that you were born.

Monday was also Eclipse Day as it has come to be known. This particular eclipse traveled across the United States. We live about forty minutes away from the zone where you were able to see the eclipse in totality. From our house we could see 99.4% of the eclipse. You fell asleep right before the eclipse happened, so I watched it on our back porch by myself. Daddy watched it at work with his co-workers. We both noticed that the temperature changed, it got significantly colder outside. The lighting outside looked more like dusk than a sunshiny day. It was a really neat experience! If there is ever another eclipse while we live in Oregon, I think we will drive to the totality zone to watch it.

As I was watching the eclipse I couldn't help but think of God. Events like this are not happenstance they are works of the Master's hands. I'm so grateful that we have a loving Heavenly Father who creates such magnificent works of art for our enjoyment.

On Saturday we took you to the Oregon State Fair. This was your first time going to the Oregon State Fair and probably the last time we will take you-- there was a really disturbing booth at the fair, but we can talk more about that in another post.

The toughest Oregon State Trooper.

At the fair we looked at the art and horticulture exhibits-- Mommy and Daddy both really enjoyed that. And then we found the animals. The animals were your favorite part of the fair, Bubba. You enjoyed looking at the chickens, geese, sheep, goats, lamas, horses, ponies and pigs. We loved watching the excitement on your face each time you saw a new animal!

We cooled off outside in some mist.

The car ride home was a rough one! You were really tired and cried most of the way home.

Saturday also marked our first anniversary as homeowners. I can't even believe it has been a year already! We have made so many improvements to our home, but we have a long way to go yet. We have painted the entire inside of the house, we put sheet rock, insulation and shelving in the garage, we put in new light fixtures, we have scrubbed the inside and outside of the house from top to bottom. We have also put in some garden boxes, built a chicken coop, pruned the trees and worked on the overall landscaping. Someday, we will have everything the way we want it to be.

Sunday was 40 weeks and 6 days since you were born, little one. You spent 40 weeks and 6 days in my tummy, so I am counting that as a milestone too!

This week we decided it was time to start sleep training you. This decision was something we had been thinking about, but one night after getting only four hours of sleep we decided it was time. The last few days have been a little rough, but we are started to see some positive changes take place.

We love you so much little one! I know words on a page can't express the depth of our love for you, but I hope that as you grow older you will feel that love. Our lives wouldn't be complete without you!

Bubba At 9 Months

9 months! Has it really been 9 months already? Somehow I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that you are 9 months old. Where has the time gone? It feels like you have been a part of our family for forever, yet at the same time it feels like it was just yesterday that you were born. With each passing day it gets harder and harder to remember what life was like before you were born.

You're little grin isn't toothless anymore, it's a sign that you are growing up and it makes me kind of sad. When I look back at "baby" photos of you, so much has changed. Your hair has gotten thicker and darker. You've put on weight and gotten taller. You're eyes has changed color. You've gotten so good at using your hands! You roll all over the place, it is getting harder and harder to change your diapers. If things when your way, you'd be a naked baby. And you talk, we have heard you say: "Yeah Dad", "I guess", "Yeah", "Dad" and lots and lots of "Dada."

There's that first little tooth.

We love you so much little one, our lives wouldn't be complete without you! Please stay sweet.

Our First Tooth & Hiking Mount June

It's been quite the week, Bubba! Monday night you were up three times in one hour and then about every two hours after that-- it was rough.

Someone decided to feed Gandalf some strawberries.

Tuesday morning while I was feeding you, you bit me! That was a first.

We went to the library for story time. You really enjoyed interacting with another little girl, the two of you kept trying to touch each other-- it was super cute! I tried making friends with a few other mom's but they weren't interested in talking with me-- it made me feel really sad. I'm grateful that God put you in my life so that I always have someone who loves me by my side.

This is what we call Goku hair and I love it!

Later in the afternoon we went to visit Barbara and you bit my nose and it really hurt! Barbara said it could only mean one thing and she was right-- you started cutting your first tooth! You tooth was barely poking through your gums. I'm guessing that tooth is the reason you were up so much the night before.

Getting ready to go for a car ride.

On Wednesday I felt like I needed to get out of the house. I called up my friend Sarah and we got together to hike up the backside of Mt. Pisgah with her and her little boy, Ike. Ike rode in the stroller and eventually the trail got too rough to push the stroller so we ended up turning back. One of these days we will make it up the backside of the mountain.

Saturday morning we woke up and did some chores before heading out to climb Mt. June. The mountain was relatively close to our home, but the road to get there was super windy gravel road. I'm surprised that we made it to the trail head without getting a flat tire or high centering the car. We only saw two other vehicles while we were on this treacherous road.

On our journey we came across some huckleberries which was both a welcomed surprise and concerning. We love huckleberries and typically when people find them they don't share the location so we were surprised when we found them. We were concerned though because huckleberries also mean bears.

We started out hiking through a pretty wooded area. As soon as we started hiking I sensed darkness and it made me feel very uneasy. I said some silent prayers that we would be safe and immediately started singing. Whether the danger was seen or unseen I will never know, but I'm glad we were kept safe.

The trail was very pretty! There were rhododendrons, wild raspberries and ferns all along the path. At one point the trail became very steep, but it didn't stay steep for too long. I'm glad that Andy offered to carry you, Bubba.

The view from the top was pretty! There is a wildfire burning in one of neighboring towns and we could see it from the summit. When the smoke started blowing our direction we decided we better head down the mountain. 

Another "clown outfit" by Dad.

That face!

I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world! We are so fortunate that we don't have to travel very far to enjoy God's creations.

Is It I?

For the past week or so I have been struggling emotionally. I have felt incredibly lonely which in turn has caused me to feel depressed. I started reflecting on my life and I realized that all of my really good friends live out-of-state. Those people who live close to me that I thought were friends have really let me down.

Have you ever made plans with someone and then when it comes time to execute said plans they won't answer the phone or show up? Have you ever text or called someone and they never got back to you? This has happened to me more times recently than I would like to count.

While at the library this week for story time, I tried chatting it up with two other moms but the one made it very obvious that she didn't want to talk to me. I got in my car and was on the verge of tears, when I realized that Heavenly Father blessed me with a beautiful little boy who is always by my side.

Some days though I wish my sidekick could talk with me and say more than "Dada." Some days I wish I had a friend to hike with, laugh with and occasionally cry with. 

I started questioning myself- Is there something wrong with me that people don't want to be my friend? Do I smell bad? Do I have food in my teeth? Am I weird? I've been assured by those closest to me that there is nothing wrong with me that people are just flaky.

Needless to say, I am in need of some new friends. Hopefully I will cross paths with someone soon.

Relishing The Moments

My sweet little boy, I just love you! I look at photos of you on my phone and it makes me sad because you are growing up far too quickly. Before I know it you will be starting Kindergarten, going on a mission, getting married, graduating college and starting a family of your own. I can't believe how fast time seems to go by. Time is a funny thing-- my body has aged some but I don't feel much older than my 16 year old self. Someday you will understand. My hope for you is that you will savor and relish each day on this Earth. Each day we are given is truly a gift from God.

A cute little foot.

A tiny little hand.

This past week was fun! Our orthodontist rented out one of the miniature golf courses in town. We went and ate pizza and snow cones, played mini golf with our friend Cassie and her boys (Daddy won), I won a gift card in the raffle and we took photos in the photo booth. This was your first time playing mini golf and taking photos in a photo booth. You didn't mind mini golf, the photo booth was a bit of a challenge though-- don't worry though, we managed to get a few cute photos!

This photo is a little blurry, but it is one of my absolute favorites.

The next night we went swimming at the Amazon Pool thanks to our chiropractor, he rented the entire place out. The pool is outside and it got really cold really fast so we didn't stay too long, but you sure loved the water. We took you out of your float toy so you weren't half way in the water and half out of the water. You kicked and splashed and tried to put your face in the water. It was so much fun to watch you! I think we are going to have to sign you up for swimming lessons in the near future.

When Daddy gets you dressed, you never know what you'll end up wearing.

As far as your development goes not too much changed this week. You still like to roll and sit up. You are starting to get into the crawling position, but haven't figured out how to move forward or backwards. You can turn in circles though on the hardwood floor.

Sweet Creek Falls

It was a busy week for us, Bubba. Sleeping in your own room has been hit and miss, but overall I think it has been a positive thing. You seem to sleep for longer durations of time in your own room and that is a plus for all of us.

The H.O.A. election took place on Wednesday evening (it was 107 degrees that day). All of my door knocking paid off, I won a spot on the Board of Directors and will now be serving as the Secretary. What made the election even better was the other people that I was hoping would make it onto the board did. Here's hoping we can make some great things take place!

Life has been so busy lately that we haven't been able to get out and hike as much as we would like to. This Saturday we decided that we could all use some time outdoors. It has been really smokey here in the valley so we decided to head out towards the coast. We hiked Sweet Creek Falls, this trail is a hidden gem.

The hike is approximately a mile and a half long and a gradual climb. The entire trail is in the woods and runs along the "creek" which is more like a river. There are pools of water the are scattered throughout the creek that you can swim in. The scenery is just breathtaking. This is probably the prettiest hike we have ever done!

As we were hiking along, Andy pointed out a bird's nest with baby birds in it. I had never seen a nest with little birds in it before, the whole scene was beautiful!

Bubba's first time waving and somehow we happened to catch it on camera.

We hope to go back and do this hike again. Next time we will be sure to bring out swimming suits and crawdad traps (we saw quite of few of them, they were orange in color).

As for you Bubba, you have really taken to this rolling thing. You have been rolling all over the place! I would not be surprised if you start crawling soon. You have also gotten a lot better at sitting up on your own. I am still afraid though that you will throw yourself backwards and hit your head on the ground-- I guess that's how you learn though. As much as I want to protect you from everything, I know I can't.

What Matters Most Is How You See Yourself

I have stolen two things in my life. The first was a piece of candy as a small child. The second was a picture our leaders hung in the bathroom at girls camp. When I first saw this picture at camp, it resonated with me. I looked at this picture every time I went into that bathroom that week. At the end of the week when we were cleaning up, I went into the bathroom and I swiped it. Its new home became my bedroom mirror, where I looked at that picture every day for years. This picture became my mantra and I lived by it.

You might be wondering what was so special about this picture that I stole. It was a picture of a chick looking into a mirror and seeing itself as a beautiful peacock. The phrase written beneath the image said, "What matters most is how you see yourself."

As a teenager, I was pretty carefree. I didn't care what anyone else thought of me. I was happy with who I was. I tried to be kind to everyone I came in contact with. Life was pretty good aside from the hardships and trials that are naturally a part of this earthly journey.

Somewhere in young adulthood I forgot about that picture that once hung on my mirror and I began to listen to the voices that echoed around me that I wasn't good enough, that I would never be good enough unless I conformed to some else's idea or standard of what "good enough" was. I was bullied and belittled to the point that I had to say, "Enough is enough. I'm done with this." I had to walk away from the bullies in my life. I closed that door and chapter in my life.

Rediscovering myself has been nothing short of a grand adventure! I have seen, done, tried and experienced so many wonderful things! I have grown as a person. I've become a better person. And I think I can safely say, I am genuinely happy. I am happy with myself and where I am in life.

This past week I have been thinking a lot about the phrase "What matters most is how you see yourself." Those words are so true! It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of you! The only thing that matters is how you see yourself and how God sees you.

I think it is safe to say that at some point in their lives most people will experience what it is like to be bullied. Bullies seem to be lurking everywhere. Bullies can be friends, family, neighbors or strangers. It doesn't matter who someone is, bullying is never okay and you don't need to put up with it or tolerate it. The mean things people say are a reflection of how they ultimately feel about themselves.

Remember, God loves you! He is cheering you on! Don't be so hard on yourself. What other people think of you doesn't matter.  "What matters most is how you see yourself." And when you love yourself, life is so much more enjoyable!