Bear's Baby Blessing

Bear was blessed this past Sunday at church by Andy. I love hearing the blessings pronounced upon my children's heads by their father and to glean a little bit about what our Father in Heaven has in store for them. I feel truly honored and blessed that Heavenly Father would entrust these special spirits to me. It is a privilege and a joy to be a mother.

When Andy blesses our children I try to record the audio, so I can type up the blessing for a boys so read when they are older. This time was no exception. The sound didn't record very well, so I am hoping I can decipher it.

Bear wore the same white outfit that Bubba did. He looked so cute! Andy took Bear up front and those we invited to participate (Andy, my father, Uncle Jared, cousin Cooper, Andy's father, Andy's grandfather, our good friend Kent and Dan and Brian a member of our bishopric) formed a circle around Bear while Andy pronounced the blessing. The spirit was very strong in that room.

The one thing that really stood out to both Andy and I was that Bear would be a peacemaker in our family. I also took note of the word "siblings", apparently we aren't done having kids yet.

As soon as the blessing was over, Andy sat down next to me and Bubba with Bear. A moment later Andy asked me if I wanted to change Bear's diaper, I was a little confused by this as I had just changed Bear's diaper before the blessing. Andy told me he had let out some really loud farts.

I took Bear to the mother's room to change his diaper and feed him. I was shocked by what I found-- the biggest blowout I have ever seen in my life. Poop was everywhere. His white blessing outfit was all kinds of poop yellow. It took awhile to get him changed.

When I went back into the chapel people looked at me a little funny. I later learned that people nearby could hear Bear when he pooped, not sure why I didn't hear it.

After the Sacrament Meeting was over, we went outside and took some family pictures and then went home for lunch.

Me, Bubba, Bear & Andy.

Me, Bear, Papa, Bubba, Nana & Uncle Nathan.

My side of the family: Nana, Me, Papa, Bear, Andy, Uncle Nathan, Bubba, Aunt Kimberly, Uncle Jared, Cousins: Emma, Samuel, Cooper & Natalie.

Andy's side: Bear, Andy, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Bubba & Uncle Shaun.

Andy's side of the family: Me, Bear, Andy, Grandpa, Grandma, Great Grandma, Great Grandpa, Aunt Ilene, Cousins: Aaron, Lynn, Ethan, Bubba &Uncle Shaun.

Grandma with Bear & Cousin Lynn.

I'm really grateful that so many of our family members were willing and able to make the trip out for the Bear's blessing. It meant a lot to have them here.

These photos were taken after I cleaned all the yellow poop out of the blessing outfit. Honestly, I can't believe I was able to get it all out.

An Update On Life

I sat down to work on my blog for a little bit tonight and realized that it has been awhile since I have sat down to really write. Life with two littles in very busy and I'm struggling to find a balance between being a full time wife and mother and taking some time for myself. I hoping in time that that balance will be restored.

I think it is safe to say that I have made it through the Postpartum Depression. I feel like myself and I am grateful that that chapter is over. I am currently going though physical therapy to address some of the issues that come with pregnancy/labor and delivery. I am not cleared to exercise beyond riding a stationary bicycle, this has been hard for me. I have some fitness goals that I would really like to tackle but they are on hold for the time being.

Andy is as busy as ever. He works 40+ hours a week at work. When he is not at work, Young Men's or helping with the boys he can often be found working on starting up his own company. His free time is next to none.

Bubba's vocabulary has taken off lately. He is learning lots of new words. We recently started helping him say prayers. He loves Jesus and enjoys going to Nursery at church. He loves all things chocolate. He likes watching Daniel Tiger and carrying around his Daniel Tiger toys. He loves trucks. He has taken a liking to coloring. I bought him some special markers that only color on special paper (so he can't color everything in the house). He will color on each page of his coloring book say, "All done", close the book, flip to the beginning and start all over again-- he will do this for hours. He won't let anybody else color with him either. It makes my Mommy heart happy to see him color. He is a fabulous big brother and is always looking out for Bear.

Bear is growing bigger each and every day. He loves when we interact with him. He enjoys his swing, kicking his legs and his stuffed hippo. He also enjoys sucking on his hands. I am grateful for his calm disposition. It feels like he has been apart of our family for ever. Our family wouldn't be complete without him.

Bear At 3 Months

It's hard to believe it has been three months already! Time is passing by far too quickly for my liking. My babies are growing up and it makes me kinda sad.

At three months old Bear weighs 13 pounds and 8 ounces. He currently wears size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes.

Bear is a pretty chill baby most of the time. He lets you know though when he has a dirty diaper, burp or is ready for a nap. He is usually a pretty good napper. Sleep is hit and miss though at night.

Bear loves to look in the mirror, at lights and the ceiling fan. He enjoys laying on his changing pad and kicking his legs-- his changing pad is his safe place.

He enjoys being strapped to my chest and going on walks. Car rides are a different story, he hates them.

He recently made his first visit to the Emergency Room but that is a story for another day.

And you can't take photos of Bear without getting a few of Bubba.

Check out Bubba's black eye.

A Bubba Story

This story requires a little bit of background information. Bubba used to love bubbles, until he discovered that bubbles from adult shampoo can hurt your eyes. So now he hates bubbles.

Recently Andy took Bubba to the park to play. Oregon doesn't get a lot of sun in the winter, but the sun was shining on this particular day. Bubba looked towards the sun and quickly looked away covering his eyes and said, "Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles!" He didn't like the sun shining in his eyes. Andy thought it was hilarious!

Valentine's Day

I feel so incredibly happy today because today is a day we get to celebrate love! I made purple colored oatmeal for breakfast-- it had cherries in it. Then the boys and I bundled up and headed out to deliver Valentine's to the elderly ladies who live in our neighborhood. Those who were home were really glad to be remembered.

Throughout the day we read books and sang songs that had to do with love.

We ended the day with heart shaped pizza-- that's a family tradition that started when I was growing up.

The Young Women left us some love notes and a plate of goodies.

Bear's feet.

When brother comes to your rescue.

So grateful for this little family of mine and the love we have for one another.

Bear At 2 Months

Has it been two months already? I can hardly believe it! These past two months have flown by quickly.

At two months old Bear's personality is starting to come out. This past week he started cooing and interacting with us. We've even heard him laugh a few times.

Some of my friends wrote messages on a package of diapers for me. Love reading the messages!

Bear is growing like a weed. He is currently wearing size 2 diapers and is ready to move out of his 3 month clothes and into 3-6 month clothes. We aren't sure what his exact weight is but we do know he weighs over 12 pounds.

He enjoys chewing on his fist.

We have also caught Bear rolling onto his side a few times already. Uh oh! He will be rolling over before we know it.

Bubba loves his little brother and goes running to his aid when he cries out. He will put the binky back in Bear's mouth, pat his head, help with diaper changes, he even tries to pick his brother up. He has recently tried driving his toy cars on Bear. When we read books together he points to all of the different cars and names them: Mommy, Daddy, Baby-- you can sure tell he loves his little brother. We love Bear too! Our family wouldn't be complete without him! We are so grateful he is a part of our little family!

Bubba wanted his picture taken too!

The proud big brother!

Valentine's

Several years ago when I was living in Utah, I received some handmade Valentine's in the mail from my Mom and my little sister. The two of them decided to make a bunch of Valentine's for some sort of non-profit group and they decided to send a few to me. I loved these Valentine's! I hung them up on the wall of my cubicle at work, so I would see them every single day and be reminded that I was loved.

Fast forward a few years to 2018. I made a bunch of Valentine's for Bubba and we mailed them out to some of the little kids in the extended family.

I wanted to make Valentine's again this year for both of the boys to send out. I knew if I was going to do it that I had to start early. Back in September I started gathering my supplies and around Christmas I started making Valentine's.

Initially I planned to just send them out to the kids again. And then I started feeling ambitious and decided to send them to all of Andy's extended family, my immediate family, some of our close friends and the elderly ladies in the neighborhood who live alone. I made more Valentine's than I would like to admit. I wanted to show the important people in our lives that we care and they are loved, I hope we accomplished that.

Bubba helped me stuff the envelopes and he tried to eat the glue stick on more than one occasion. Maybe next year he will be big enough that he can help me some more. He loved putting Valentine's in the mailbox with me and would say, "Mail" each time we would go drop them off.

Two people sent Bubba and Bear Valentine's in return. Bubba was so excited! He loved getting mail! (He's been known to cry when there isn't any mail in the mailbox).