Sunday Reflections

While Eliza dozed off in my arms last night I was reflecting on my love for her and how I am so grateful Heavenly Father gave her to us. I am so grateful to have the chance to be her mother. I love wearing throw-up, spit-up on my clothes, I love changing those diapers, wiping away tears, suctioning out the boggery nose, washing poopey clothes, feeling her sweat collect as she lays in my arms on the warm summer days. Better yet I love the smiles, the squeals, the laughs, the times she wants to cuddle, the times she just stares at me while I sing to her, watching her reach her milestones. I love it all!

This quote sums up the way I feel about mommyhood perfectly. I will add that I want to arrive to heaven with spit-up and sticky finger prints from little hands on my shirt (as well as everything Sister Hinckley said) so the Lord knows I have raised the child He blessed me with with love and in happiness. So He knows I have played with her, feed her, taught her, nurtured her, loved her. I may arrive there tired too so hopefully there is a nice huge fluffy bed waiting for me! JK

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” Marjorie Peay Hinckley

4 years

Colin & I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on Thursday. Most years I try to plan something amazing and memorable but this year I didn't plan anything and it still ended up being amazing and memorable. We flew by the seat of our pants and our anniversary turned out so wonderful (sans crazy people trying to feed my baby ice cream and others offering to hold her so I can eat my meal). Colin got off work early & we headed to Park City to stroll Main Street & pick a nice place to eat.

Dessert before dinner. We stumbled upon Sugar Buzz, a very upscale Park City swank candy boutique. It was very cute and only $3.00 for 1/4 lb. of candy, you read that right. So we tried a few small items and got out of there only spending $7, which for Colin in a candy shop is pretty amazing.

Then we went to Cafe Tregio for dinner. Yum! Great food and the ambiance was so nice - quiet, shaded patio, beautiful trees, overlooking the activities of Main St. Perfect for people watching. Worth every penny (and a pretty penny it was, but when in PC do as the PCers do, right?) Yes we brought Eliza & it was wonderful. She just hung out, played with her toys contentedly while Colin & I talked.

Colin even brought me a bouquet of gorgeous lilies, roses and other pretty flowers. Amazingly enough I wasn't even expecting flowers so it was such a pleasant surprise.

I am so glad I married Colin! He is an amazing, loving, person who supports me 100% in everything. He listens to me, lets me cry my eyes out, lets me be somewhat insane, loves our baby and puts us first always!

Sorry we didn't have our camera.

4 months

Eliza had her 4 month check-up yesterday. She is 11 lbs 4.6 oz (5th % for weight) & 24 1/2 in long (75th% for height). She is a little string bean even though she looks chunky to me. The doctor said its time to start rice-cereal just to see if that helps her gain a little more weight. She was so cute when the doctor was examining her. She was all smiles and when she checked for a clicking in her hip Eliza was laughing hysterically and the doctor just melted at how cute she was being. She got her first round of immunizations and was a champ. The fussiness didn't hit until later in the afternoon and she just had a several hour meltdown. Thankfully she slept 10 hours last night and woke up a happy girl, although she still is a bit more fussy today than normal. But she is allowed to be since she got blindsided by 2 shots in the thigh yesterday, poor girl.

At 4 months Eliza is better and more consistent at rolling over, LOVES her feet and always wants to suck and chew on her toes, is reaching for things, loves touching mommy & daddy's face, likes looking in the mirror, doesn't want her pacifier very much, laughs more & more, enjoys storytime because she can touch the pages now, plays with her ears while nursing, and is still all smiles. She really is a happy girl.

summer outing list

Our summer theme this year (not that we've ever had one before) is exploring our own backyard. There are so many fun things to do in Utah and I've never done a lot of them. So I have compiled a list of places I want to go on the Saturdays I don't work.
1. Cascade Springs
2. Timpanogas Cave
3. Lavender Festival in Mona, UT & lunch at the Red Barn *I've heard they have really good lavender ice cream
4. Thanksgiving Point
5. Hogle Zoo
6. ride the Heber Valley Railroad train through Provo canyon
7. explore some of the parks in Provo Canyon; Canon View, Vivian, Upper Falls
8. Deer Valley Music Festival
9. farmers market in Heber & Park City
10. Wasatch County Fair
11. visit California - see Em & her baby, visit Colin's grandma, go to Napa & San Fran
12. Swiss Days in Midway

To start off the summer we spent Memorial Day in Oak City, UT for a family reunion on my dad's side. Eliza got to spend her morning at a cemetery where she heard her first gun shot (as I was clamouring to cover her ears) when the Veteran's did their special ceremony. She got to spend time at the park with mommy, aunt Kacy, cousin Noey, daddy & Jonas. The rest of the time she visited with some of her grandpa Atkin's cousins. When we got home Taylor, Reagan & Colton came to visit. He is 7 weeks old & Eliza is 4 1/2 months old, they look almost the same size.





Last Saturday we visited Cascade Springs (cross that off the list). Google maps took us the longest possible way to get there & Colin had to deal with a cranky wife who just worked a night shift and got a short nap before we headed to the springs. A tip for anyone who lives in Heber who wants to visit Cascade Springs - go through Midway, it takes 20-30 minutes compared to the 90 minutes it took us going through Provo Canyon. It is a cool place. The waters are shallow and clear so you can see all the trout swimming around, there are little waterfalls and a nice walking trail weaving around the springs. It was beautiful & serene, worth the long drive. It's a good, fun, FREE family activity.

things I'm liking for baby

I don't know how this compares to other similar products besides the stuff we use at the hospital but this is a great product. If Eliza even looks slighlty red I use this and by the next diaper change the redness is gone. Its amazing. I love their lavender soap & lotion for babies too.Eliza has found her feet & plays with them all the time. I put these rattle slippers on & it entertains her for a long time. She loves these.

This is my FAVORITE book to read to Eliza! It is so sweet (okay I tear up whenever I read it to her).

What are some things you mamas like?