Expanding the family

August 6th, 2008 will always be a day that I will remember clearly. To anybody else it was probably just another day but to me it was the day that my prayers were answered. It was that day that we found out that I am pregnant!!! I have had all of my blood work done and everything looks really good and the baby seems nice and healthy (it looks like there is only one). Hopefully things will continue that way. I am just so grateful that we were blessed with this child. Alex has been really cute ever since I told him. He changes is mind everyday on what the sex of the baby is but really seems to be understanding what is happening with me and my body. Just today he was in my room as I was getting dressed and pointed to my belly and asked if it was getting bigger (nice way to help me feel good about my figure). Then he asked if that was were the baby was. I told him yes and that the baby would continue to grow in me until it was big enough to come out and let us all see it and hold it. He seemed to get it. Hopefully he does. So far things have been going pretty smooth . I have been incredibly tired and occasionally nauseated (especially in the evening) but nothing that is bad enough to make me throw up. I just keep praying that it will stay this way and that the baby will continue to grow healthy and strong. I will be praying and keeping my fingers crossed throughout the rest of the pregnancy that everything will go well.

House Guests

Last weekend I had a good friend of mine from high school (Tiffany) come and stay with me. Her and her husband came back to Utah to go to our 10 year high school reunion. Jackson and I graduated in the same class together but we weren't sure if we were going to attend the reunion until my friend Tiffany told me she was coming. They drove from California and arrived Thursday night. Friday night was the reunion. Our class officers decided to have the reunion at Wheeler Farm in the barn. It was big enough but it was really lame. They had BBQ and played some weird video from high school that had a lot the cheerleaders doing really strange things. (I didn't even recognize the video.) Anyway, the reunion was so not worth going to but it was really cool to see my friend again. She moved out to California right after high school and I haven't seen her since. I told her that even though the reunion was dumb it was worth it if it brought her out here. Alex really loved playing with them, especially Jeff, who is just like a kid himself. I love having house guest and these two were no exception. They were very respectful and a lot of fun to be with! We will not be going to any more reunions but we loved the company that we had. Hopefully there will be more in our future.

Thanks for All the Help

I am so grateful today for all of my friends and family that have helped as we are struggling to have another child. Yesterday, was a very difficult day for me. It is hard to put it into words but I just felt like the weight of everything we are struggling with was beating down on me. Through all of this, it was so amazing to see how that Lord made it clear that he was aware of my pain. As I went about my day (trying to keep myself occupied) I was bombarded with calls of love and concern for me. It came from my sisters, who have all showed their love and support in so many ways, and my mother, who I called just to ask a few questions. Then I had a dear friend in the neighborhood drop by just because she was driving by. It doesn't make the hurt go away, but it is nice to have people to share it with. Then the most important people to me, my husband and son, shared their love and concern for me. Jackson was very sweet and understanding about the struggles I have with this and Alex was so cute about it. Every time he saw me cry, he would walk over to me, put his little hands on my face and tell me not it cry. He told me everything was just fine. It was so sweet. A little simplistic but very cute. I know that it will all work out but it sure had given me a new perspective on what others I know have gone through. I am extremely grateful to those in my life who can sympathize with me because they have been here themselves. Most importantly, I can't imagine going through this without my Savior. I am well aware of his love and concern for me. Without that, I don't know how anyone makes it through this life!!! Thanks to all of you for you love and concern for me and my family and for listening to me even when I'm emotional and moody (stupid fertility drugs). I can't thank people enough for all that they do for me.

I Love Being an Aunt

On Thursday last week, my sister-in-law had her first baby. She is a beautiful little girl with a petite size frame. She only weighed 6lbs. 3oz and 19in. long. Her name is Eva Julie Chatelain. Nicole did really with the labor and delivery but I think that the pain afterwards surprised her. While I was at the hospital it got me reminiscing about all of my wonderful nieces and nephews and about my own labor and delivery with Alex. It has been quite awhile since we have had a newborn in our family that it was surprising to see how little they are. (It is amazing to me how you can forget things like that.) All of my sweet nephews and nieces are so beautiful and unique. It is so much fun to watch them grow and learn. It is almost as good as being a mom. I am so grateful that Alex has cousins that he can play with and develop those close bonds with. Jackson has always been really close with his cousins and it is something that we have always wanted for our children. Each of my little nieces and nephews hold such a special place in my heart. I hope that as they grow up they will know how much I love them!! Being and Aunt is awesome!!!

Where My Life has Gone

This is a tag from Candace that she did on her blog.

20 Years ago.
I was 9 years old living in Lenexa, Kansas. Was going to Rhein Beninghoven Elementary School and loved playing barbies with my sisters.
10 Years ago.
I was 19 and had just started my second year of cosmetology school at Salt Lake Community College. I had my first new car, a Plymouth Neon that I loved and was actively involved at the local Institute.
5 Years ago.
I had been married for a little over a year, was living a 2 bedroom apartment in West Jordan. I was working at Beneficial Life and as a hairstylist at Hair Talk. Jackson was busy going to school at UVSC and working too.
3 Years ago
I had been married for 3 years, and was only working as a hairstylist at Hair Talk in Sandy. We lived in 2 bedroom condo that we had bought 1 year ago and Alex was a new born baby. Jackson was just starting at L-3 Communications (his current employer).
1 Year ago
We bought our first house and moved out to Syracuse. We decided to start trying to have another baby.
Today
I have cleaned the house and Jackson has been working on the yard, this is his Friday off. We will then go to the grocery store and I will make a meal to take to neighbor. Alex has been playing with his dinosaurs and Poke'mon cards.
Tomorrow
I will go to work at the salon, Dynamix Family Salon. Then I will come home and have a Father's Day party and Birthday party (for my grandpa) at my house.
In the next year
I hope to be able to stop working and that we have another child by then. I also want to take Alex to Disneyland or Disney World.
I would like to tag anyone that would like to participate!

Family Campout

These are some pictures from our camp out with the Lund family. We went to Capital Reef, which is in Southern Utah. Out first day there, we spent time with just Julie and Rod. It was nice for Alex to have some one on one time with them. We all went on a 2 mile hike into the canyons (which is where most of these pictures were taken). Alex seemed to love it and so did we, other then the heat.
So cute, he was posing in the rock.
Now he was just trying to tear Dad's hat off.
Alex pointed out the numbers on all of the postings. Here was number 3.
Just being cute.
Us before we started the hike (and before we got tired and hot).

Rod carrying Alex because he got tired of walking and tired of Dad.
It was so nice down there and also to get away from it all. We had a large group sized camp ground all to our selves. Alex had some of Jackson's cousin's children to play with. He even did really well going potty (and yes we did have running water). Holly loved the trip because we had nice bathrooms right on our camp spot.

-By J R Lund

My Sister's Tag

1- Typically, what time do you wake up?Whoever wakes up first. Somewhere between 8 and 9.
2- On a good night, what time are your kids in bed?Alex almost always in bed by 9.
3-How long have you been a mommy?31/2 years.
4- How old were you when you became a mom?25
5- What is your favorite kids TV show?Anything educational. Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Sesame Street.
6- What is your least favorite kids TV show?Sponge Bob is the worst but I also hate Poke'mon however Alex loves it. It is still better than Sponge Bob though.
7- What is your favorite chore?Making dinner for my family.
8- What is your favorite meal to cook?I love to cook so I am always trying new things. I love my Orange Cashew Chicken with Broccoli, Mini Meatloafs or my Homemade Fettucine Alfredo.
9- What meal do you cook most often?We all love pasta so I make pasta at least once a week. It is filling and hearty and I have tons of different recipes for it.
10- What is your kids favorite meal?Alex's all time favorite and most requested in macaroni and cheese.
11- What's your favorite thing your husband does with your kids?He is a great hands on dad. It doesn't matter what needs to be done he will never shirk away from it. He is also exceptionally loving towards Alex.
12- What are 5 things that make you smile when you're being a mom?I love it when Alex sees me come home from work and his whole face lights up and he runs to hug me. There is nothing better than see that somebody what you there and that they rely on you.
13-If you could take your kids anywhere, where would it be?Disneyworld or Disneyland. We are hoping to go in a couple of years.
14- When was the last time you went out without your kids?Two weekends ago we went camping at Capital Reef with Jackson's family and on Monday we went shopping with Alex.
15- What is your favorite activity to do with your kids?Read to him, sing songs and tickle him.
16- Name one thing you said you'd never say as a mother. I thought that I would never nag my kids to do something. I hated when my family would nag me but now I find that I do it too.
17- Name something you do that your own mom did. We both love to cuddle, give lots of kisses and constantly tell our kids that we love them.
18- What is your favorite quality your mom has? She is very patient and loves to read.
19- What is your favorite kids book? All of the Sandra Boynton books.
20- What is your favorite advice for new moms? Try not stress too much. Remember that when you are struggling, take to the Lord in prayer and he will guide you.
21- What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom? When I have to leave him. I hate to be away from him. I also hate to see him cry when he is hurt.
22- What is your most joyful moment as a mom? Anytime that his learning something new and when he tells me that he loves me.
23- When is the last time you told one of your kids you loved them? 5 minutes ago.
24- When was the last time you were told, "I love you" by your kids? 5 minutes ago.
tag all moms!