{Father's Day}

Sunday was Father's Day. My dad insisted that all he wanted to do was watch golf all day and not be bothered (said with lots of love--hee, hee!) So, David and his dad, along with David's sister, Cynthia, the boys and me all went to Little America and enjoyed their Sunday brunch. They usually have a 'special' Father's Day brunch, but they are remodeling the area that it's usually held in, so we just had their regular weekend brunch. They have a lot of similar stuff, but we missed the crepes, crab legs and prime rib. Sad. David was a little disappointed because he had been looking forward to the crepes, and we didn't know until we got there that it wouldn't be the 'special' brunch that we have been to the past few years. The food is always great, though! Later that day the boys and I gave David some gifts. Isaac picked out a tie and some nice, dressy belts for daddy to wear to church. I gave him some golf balls, tees and some household and garden tools that he has needed. He was really excited for it all! Here are some pictures of the boys with David at Little America. There are a few pictures of Eli in there, too--just because he was so cute at brunch, trying new foods and all. Happy Father's Day to all of the daddy's out there. I hope your day was wonderful!

Daddy and Isaac

Daddy and Eli

Cute little Eli

Eli--trying cantaloupe for the first time. He wasn't a fan. Too cute.

{Happy 1st Birthday, Eli!}

I can't believe my little baby boy is 1 year old today. It seems like yesterday he was still in my tummy--pushing and kicking. I wasn't blogging until 5 or 6 months after he was born, so I'd like to take this opportunity to share our journey of bringing him into this world. It is a very long and boring story, so bear with me, please.

Most of you know that I had three miscarriages within an 8 month period of time just prior to conceiving Eli. It was a very difficult year. Losing my mom, and then the miscarriages. I just couldn't understand why this was happening to me. We finally figured out that the cause of the miscarriages was my body not producing the hormone, progesterone--in fact my numbers were so low that the nurses thought that I wasn't even ovulating, even though I was. So, I was given progesterone pills that I was to take twice a day from 3 days post-ovulation through my 13th week of pregnancy. Progesterone is what builds up the uterine lining allowing an egg to implant. If you don't have enough of a lining the egg will either not implant at all, or implant and then release because it didn't have enough to burrow into.

We conceived Eli right away. His original due date was July 9th--Jarrod's birthday. We didn't tell many people that I was pregnant at first, because of the previous miscarriages. We didn't want to get excited about the pregnancy if it wasn't going to last. I ended up with morning sickness during this pregnancy, unlike my pregnancy with Isaac, but it only lasted about 14 weeks--thankfully. When I was 20 weeks (on Valentine's Day) we found out that Eli was going to be a boy. I was so excited--a little brother for Isaac!

When I was 35 and a half weeks along, Isaac and I were rear-ended while driving to meet a friend for a play date. The whole trunk of the car was pushed forward and over $3600.00 damage was done. I was terrified that something would happen to the baby since I had been shoved forward forcefully against the seat belt. I felt a lot of tightening in my belly and I was worried that the baby was not okay. I ended up going in to see the Dr., and was given a non-stress test to measure the baby's movement and heart rate. Everything appeared to be okay, so I was sent home. Less than a week later, at just over 36 weeks, my water broke. It was so unexpected. I'd had my weekly check-up with the Dr. the day before and I was not dilated or effaced--it appeared that Eli was planning on staying in there for a while. My Dr. had told me that day that he would be out of town for the next week, so I'd better not go into labor just yet. I had been told during an ultrasound performed after the accident that Eli was going to be a big baby, like his older brother, and that I would most likely end up with another c-section. I had gone a week overdue with Isaac. My water never broke and I had never dilated or effaced, and it seemed that it would end up the same with Eli. So, when I got up at 5:30am to go potty and felt something unusual I seriously thought I'd had an 'accident' on the way to the bathroom. I was so embarrassed. I quickly figured out that it wasn't an accident, but that my water had broken. I was 4 weeks early, and hadn't packed a hospital bag or anything. David and I hadn't even discussed names for the baby yet--oops.

So, after dropping Isaac off at my parents house we headed to the hospital. We were checked in and put in a labor and delivery room. At this point, I was hoping that since Eli wasn't full-term and not as large as Isaac was, I might be able to deliver him without having to have a c-section. I was put on Pitocin--a drug to help me have contractions, but my body just didn't cooperate. Nearly 12 hours after my water had broken I was told that since my cervix hadn't dilated at all I would be having another c-section. I was bummed, but had kind of expected that this would be the outcome. So, off we went to the operating room. I was given a spinal that numbed me from the chest down and within a few minutes Eli was born. 6:17pm on June 18, 2008. He weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 20.5 inches long. He had a ton of dark hair, and the chubbiest cheeks I've ever seen. He ended up being jaundiced, and we had to have him on bilirubin lights at home for a day or so, but for being a month early he was amazingly healthy.

I can't tell you how much I love this little boy. He has brought so much joy into my life. He is so different from Isaac, and that amazes me. Isaac is a doer, and Eli is a watcher. I just love them both so much. Here are some pictures of us just prior to Eli being born and then right after.

Definitely not the best picture of me. Ugh!

David--just prior to walking with me to the operating room for the c-section.

Baby Eli. Look at those cheeks!

Mommy and Eli. Look at all of his dark hair.

{Flying High}

Last weekend, while David and I had a night to ourselves in celebration of our anniversary, Isaac spent the night at my dad and Rondi's house. Valerie watched Eli at our house so he would be in a familiar environment--thanks, Valerie. It made it a little easier for me to be away from him knowing that he would be home with his bed and toys. It was rough being away from them for even a night, but it was good for all of us.

Anyway, last Saturday was the end of Air Force Week at Hill Air Force Base. Since they had Isaac already, my dad and Rondi decided that it would be fun to take him and his cousin, Jonathan to see the air show. It started a little rough for them...they missed their turn and ended up having to park nearly two miles from the gates and had to walk with the two boys all the way there, but they ended up having a lot of fun. They had special VIP passes which allowed them to eat and rest under some tents and they were able to avoid the sun a little bit. Grandpa and grandma bought a T-shirt and hat for each of the boys and Isaac thought his were so awesome! I don't remember all of the details of their great day, but I do know that Isaac had a blast and talked about it for days after. So, here are a few pictures of the day (well, more than a few--sorry)! I don't know all of the details of each picture, but I'm gonna share them anyway.

This was right after their long walk. The boys had their heads down and were trying to avoid the sun while waiting in line to get food (I think).

Here they are in the tents where they ate lunch.

Grandma Rondi and the boys.

Don't they look so excited?

Isaac and Jonathan in the cockpit of a plane.

Grandpa Brad and the boys. Notice the plane in the background?

So excited!

Notice the Thunderbirds lined up in the background? Cool!

Thanks for such a wonderful and exciting day, Grandma and Grandpa!

{Day to Remember}

For Memorial Day weekend this year we went up to a cabin with my Dad and Rondi. We left on Saturday night after an open house to celebrate the sealing of my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and their two kids. We had so much fun up at the cabin! My dad had brought up their Wii and some really fun games. Isaac amazed us all with his skills, and the games were totally addicting. I think I need to get a Wii, and soon! Ha ha!

After we got home from the cabin we headed out to visit cemeteries. It is amazing how beautiful they are during this holiday--filled with so many beautiful flowers and tons of people. It's breathtaking. I took a few pictures of the day, but failed to take pictures up at the cabin. Oh, well.

Our first stop was at Bruce's grave at the Redwood Memorial Cemetery. For those of you who don't know--Bruce was Rondi's first husband who was a pilot in the Navy and passed away after his plane crashed during a training flight. In this picture you can see that Eli isn't a huge fan of grass. I don't think he put his arms down the entire time we were at this cemetery. He barely moved at all. So silly!

Eli and Isaac (and David's legs). Eli has a binky now, but is still in pretty much the same position as the previous picture. Ha, ha!

Our second stop was at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Bountiful, near the beautiful Bountiful, Utah Temple. This is where both my mom and brother are buried. Here is David, Eli, Isaac and me behind my moms grave marker. I can't take credit for the beautiful set-up of flowers. Rondi and my dad are amazing at making them look wonderful! Thanks so much!

Here are my Dad and Rondi with us standing behind Jarrod's marker. So beautiful.

Jarrod's marker. In front of it is a pinwheel and a golf ball on a tee left by Branigan and Julie--along with some beautiful flowers.

A picture of both graves. Jarrod's on the bottom, my mom's on the top. It was a perfect day with perfect weather.

{Last Day of School}

Isaac has officially finished preschool for the year. He loved every minute of it. He will be turning 5 in August and we have decided to have him do another year of preschool rather than start Kindergarten in the fall. We would rather him not be the youngest in his class. Plus, he is a highly energetic boy and very easily distracted. I feel that giving him the extra year will get him where he needs to be with his ability to focus to begin elementary. I was the youngest in my class and I hated it. I always wished my parents had held me back a year, so I feel like we are making the right decision. Anyway, here are pictures of Isaac's first day of school, and one of his last day. They had a 'Circus Day' as their last and the picture is of Isaac and his teacher, Mrs. Seegmiller.

Isaac with his Little Einsteins Rocket toy. He took it to show-and-tell his first day.

In class, playing with the toys while waiting for the other kids to arrive.

Isaac and Mrs. Seegmiller on the last day of school.

{First Tooth}

Finally! Eli got his first tooth this week. I can't believe that he is 11 months old and only has one tiny tooth. I KNOW that he started teething when he was 5 months old. His poor little gums would get swollen, his cheeks red, runny little nose--but then NOTHING. Poor little guy has been miserable for 6 months. I tried to get a good picture of the tooth, but he wasn't interesting in cooperating. So, I got him saying da-da-da-da in between bites of his lunch, and quickly snapped the picture. They are funny pictures...his expression is pretty goofy, and his mouth is a little blurry because he was 'talking'.

The little white spot just to the right of center is his little tooth.

{Mother's Day}

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there! I can't think of anything more rewarding and amazing than being a mom. I have been blessed to have two of the most wonderful kids in the world. I would do anything for them. I can only hope that as they grow they will never doubt how much they mean to me and how much I love and adore them both.

I was able to go and visit my mom's grave this morning with my little brother, Caleb. It is always so difficult. I try so hard to prepare myself, but when I get there it hits me again that she is really gone. I miss her so much. It is so beautiful at the cemetery. It's up on the mountain in Bountiful. From her's and Jarrod's graves you can see the Bountiful Temple just a block away, and the entire valley spread out below. It is pretty incredible.

I thought I would share with you the wonderful Mother's Day card that Isaac made for me as part of a Primary activity this past Friday. It is something that I will always treasure. It is a little booklet with a beautiful poem on the front. It also has some questions and answers that were written exactly how Isaac said them. I am going to share it all with you.

This was the front page (above)





Second page

Q: How old is your mom? (he left it blank)

Q: How tall is your mom?
A: Tall

Q: What is your mom's favorite color?
A: Green (true)

Q: What is your favorite meal that your mom cooks?
A: Everything

Q: What color are your mom's eyes?
A: Green

Q: What makes your mom happy?
A: Being a good boy

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with your mom?
A: Sit by her on her bed (watching cartoons..hee, hee!)

Q:What does your mom do when you aren't around?
A: Calls me

Q: Why do we have moms?
A: So we can sit by her on her bed and in my booster seat

Q: How did Heavenly Father make moms?
A: So we can have fun with them

Q:What was you mom like when she was your age?
A: Just played with more little girls

Q:How do you know your mom loves you?
A: Because she's my mom

Q:What food does your mom make best?
A: Chicken nuggets
Recipe: Cooking it

Q: I love my Mother because...
A: She loves me!!!

Aw, I do love my precious Isaac. He brings so much joy into my life. I can't imagine anything better!