Friday, January 30, 2009

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Happy Birthday Dad! In honor of your 55th birthday, I have compiled a list of 55 things that I love about you. I've been working on this list for a few months and saving it for today! Happy Birthday! I love you and I'm glad that you are my Dad!

1. He bought me a coat so I can be warm. (I think of you every time I wear it. And it is so warm!)
2. He plays guitar.
3. He plays piano.
4. He sounds like Paul McCartney when he sings.
5. He had us dance to Beatles records when we were little.
6. He has an awesome record collection.
7. He paid for me to have music lessons.
8. He tells stuff like it is: anyone who’s been in a family discussion knows what I mean.
9. He is tall.
10. He has very nice ears.
11. He brought me up in the church.
12. He is a bishop.
13. He is a fun grampa!
14. He decided to admit he was a grampa after all.
15. He finally came to terms with me not being 12 years old anymore.
16. He takes us out to the movies when he visits.
17. He takes us out to dinner when he visits.
18. He started a savings account for my kids.
19. He’s American.
20. He remembers every detail about his past, where he grew up, what song he was listening to when some event happened…
21. He took me for a bike ride in Chico.
22. He decided he liked my husband after all.
23. He taught us to read scriptures.
24. He had family “gospel time”.
25. He insisted on FHE (Family Home Evening), even if it turned into FHA (Family Home Argument).
26. He had us play round upon round of Uno for FHE.
27. He always made sure we had family prayer.
28. He came to 3 of my babies blessings, and almost did 4. (It’s the thought that counts, though I still wish you made it!)
29. He gave me a blessing before leaving me a lone mother of 4 (with a newborn and a husband at scout camp)
30. He sent Liah and Emily airplane crackers from a plane trip, and a note written on a napkin telling them to share.
31. He comes from a long line of Presbyterian preachers, and hasn’t skipped a beat in his preaching abilities.
32. He calls me for technical support on Outlook Express.
33. He taught us the importance of tithing.
34. “Murf’s surf shop”
35. “Mort’s mortuary, you stab ‘em, we slab ‘em”
36. “You can make your pathway bright, and eat everything in sight, when there’s cookies up your nose…” and other such lyrics.
37. Phrases like “That’s this reporters opinion”
38. “So, uh, why the long face?”
39. He was always so fun on family vacations.
40. He uses a walking stick when he goes walking.
41. He loves the Marx Brothers.
42. “Whatever it is, I’m against it” was sung in answer to many a question.
43. He has used the same little travel case thing since the beginning of time.
44. Paul Harvey, Good day!
45. He used to play his guitar or the piano sometimes after we were put to bed. I loved falling asleep listening to him play and sing.
46. He loves the Beatles.
47. He used to leave messages for “Sneeze” on my answering machine at college and thoroughly confuse all of my roommates.
48. He took me on walks around Gramma’s almond orchard in Durham.
49. “I'm on bacation!”
50. He goes to the temple every year on his birthday.
51. He used to dance with us when we were little, with us standing on his feet. He still will turn on music and dance when we come visit. He likes to have Emily dance with him now just like I used to.
52. He bought me a Thrifty ice cream cone just because I used to love it when I was little.
53. He paid for my shoes even though he didn’t have to.
54. He married my mom.
55. He is MY dad!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

My truck died.

This boy cracks me up. If any of you know about Jeremy's truck, you will appreciate this even more. Sean will drive his little cars around going "Late! Late!" So you can tell what he hears a lot... which is why this cracks me up so much.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The story of the still pregnant friend

My sweet little baby turned 6 months old yesterday! I can't believe it has already been that long. I also can't believe it has only been that long. I feel like he has been a part of me forever and I can't remember what it was like not having him. Maybe the story surrounding his birth isn't worth telling, but it is my story, I've been reflecting on it a lot, and this is my blog, so here it is.
A little over 7 months ago, I had my best friend over and I made her cookies and we played games. It was so fun. We got to talk about our baby boys we were both expecting and think about how much fun it would be to have 2 little boys the same age. We talked about all the things she had gotten at her baby shower the day before. It was all so exciting.
Then the next day I was sitting down to dinner with my family. The phone rang. It was my other friend. When I answered the phone I could tell she was very upset. She informed me that my friend's baby had just died. I was in shock. I felt like I was in a nightmare. I was certain I would wake up any second. I just sat there and all I could think was no way. no way. no way. She was just here yesterday and she was just fine! Then it finally hit me. I just bawled and bawled. So many thoughts running through my head. I felt so guilty that I still had my baby. I hurt so bad for her and how could I face her with my huge pregnant belly? It was a few days before she allowed me to see her. It was so hard. I felt ashamed walking into her house to see her with my stomach sticking out so far and my baby alive and kicking inside me. I could tell that the sight of me made her upset, but I stayed with her and made sure she knew I was there for her no matter what. But I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want her to hurt anymore than she had to. So I kept my distance and figured she knew she could call me if she wanted me. I'm sorry for that. I didn't know what else to do. I was so sick over what happened. I cried a lot and I even lost weight, which is not what you are supposed to do when you are pregnant.
One thing I do know is that what happened to her changed everything on how I viewed things. I would hear people complain about their pregnancies and how uncomfortable they were and how they got their induction times pushed back, and the hospital sent them away, etc., etc. All I could think was who cares??? You still have your baby! People would ask me how I was feeling. How could I complain about being uncomfortable or having constant piercing contractions, or nasty huge varicose veins that killed me to walk or not being able to sleep at night because I was so uncomfortable and had to get up to use the bathroom 500 times and never be able to go back to sleep. Not to mention take care of my 3 kids on top of all that all by myself because my husband was out of town so much? How could I complain about that when all of that meant that I still had my sweet little baby alive inside of me?
I went into labor about a month before I was due and I was so worried. All I could think was NO! I canNOT have a June baby. I. just. can't. Not when my friend just lost hers. So every year in June I'm celebrating the birth of my baby and she's mourning the loss of hers? No. I prayed a LOT. After 4 hours of painful labor, I fell asleep and it subsided. Over the next couple weeks I kept dilating and effacing and having painful contractions, but I didn't care. I was just so relieved I'd made it to July.
Finally the day came to be induced and I called the hospital and they told me I couldn't come in and needed to call the next day. I wasn't upset at all. I didn't tell anyone that I was going in that day except a different friend who so graciously watched my kids for me. The next day I went in with my mom and my husband and had my baby. No pain medication (though not by choice, after they broke my water, there was no stopping him). He was PERFECT. He was so beautiful. And he was healthy. This was my first delivery ever where no NICU was needed. It was such a relief. And here was my beautiful, healthy 9 pound, 20 1/2 inch long perfect baby boy. I was so happy, but it was bittersweet. I couldn't stop thinking about my friend and what she had gone through a little over a month before.

To my sweet Addison: I love you. I am so happy that I am your mother. Because of what happened, I have appreciated you so much more than I would have otherwise. I cherish every smile, every laugh, every touch, every bath, everything you do. I never complain or feel upset about getting up with you in the night or changing all of your diapers, even if I'm the only one that does it, because how could I? I'm just so happy I have you. I thank Heavenly Father for you everyday and every night I pray for another day with you. I hope I can live up to being the mother that you deserve. I love you.



Addison Tavish: 6 months old

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Stepping outside your comfort zone

Okay, so I can't believe I actually did this today. I sang a solo in church! In. Front. Of. Everyone. I have never been so nervous in all my life! And I really mean that. More nervous than the first day of school, more nervous than the day I got married, more nervous than right before I had my first baby. Wow. My friend Andrea played the piano, and I sang. (Thank you SOOOO much Andrea!!!) I'm so thankful to have a friend that can play the piano so well. I can't believe I agreed to do it, but I'm so glad I did. Hopefully it wasn't too bad! I promise I sound much better when my heart is not pounding in my throat. I got a lot of positive feedback, so it must not have been too bad. I just am always worried that I'm one of those people on American Idol that think they sound good and everyone else is like, seriously? You can't hear how bad you sound??? Well anyway, it was a good experience for me, especially now that it is over and I'm glad I did it.

Monday, January 12, 2009

A bit of a shock...

Don't freak out Lorie! She begged me to do it! Lisa's post inspired me to let it happen. Back in August I cut my hair and donated it to Locks of Love. At the time, Liah begged me and begged me to cut her hair short too, so she could donate it, too. But I couldn't part with it! (no pun intended, although fitting...) On Saturday I decided she at least needed a trim because her hair was getting pretty scraggly (I don't know if that's a real word, but I use it a lot). So I got out the scissors, and she begged and begged for it to be short.

"But mom, it will grow back!"

Okay!!! So I got out the ruler, measured exactly 10 inches (I measured this at least 10 times to convince myself I could live with it that short), put it into a ponytail, and cut! Oh I almost cried!!! But she is SO ridiculously excited about it, she floats and glides and bobs her head everywhere she goes, and she does look really cute with her short hair!

Before:
After! Sunday:
What little girl would not love this hair?? It's so pretty! Sleeping Beauty hair, as my sister calls it.
But like Liah told Jeremy the second he walked through the door, "It will grow back!"

Oh, I am counting on it.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Oh, what fun!

Stay tuned for a surprise at the end....

On Monday, Addison had his first baby food! He's been showing interest in our food for a couple weeks now. He is so cute! I gave him his pears that Santa brought him. He loved them. His bib says "spoil me". With a face like his, it's hard not to!

And ready for the surprise???

Liah got her ears pierced!!! I had always said she could have it done when she turned 7, simply because that's how old I was. But most of all, I wanted it to be her decision, and I would never pressure her into doing it. So, knowing her tolerance for pain, more her fear of pain, I assumed it would never happen in this world or the world to come. But on Monday, we were in Wal-mart looking at earrings and out of no where, she says

"Does it hurt to get your ears pierced?"

"Yes, but only for a minute."

"Mom? Can I get my ears pierced TODAY??? Please???"

Of course I assumed that one look at what they use to do it would send her running for the hills, so I said, "Well, why don't we have the girl show you what they do it with". So the girls shows her, and Liah says

"Oh, that's okay"

So I said she could do it if she wanted to. Then she says "Actually, I'm just not sure. I think I want to wait until after my birthday".

"Okay, sweetie, you don't have to".

So we went and did more shopping, and she says "Mommy, I've been thinking and thinking and thinking about it, and I want to do it".

Okay, so over to the jewelry section we go, Liah sits down on the chair all giddy and requests Dad to hold her hand. So he does, the girl cleans off her ears "Oh, that tickles!" She marks with a marker where the holes will go, then gets the thing ready and does the first ear.

"Ow!!! That really hurts!"

No crying, but what I was afraid might happen, does. There is NO WAY the girl is going near that second ear. So I told her she didn't have to do it if she didn't want to. We walked around the jewelry section looking at all the earring/necklace sets for a good 20 minutes. I picked out a heart necklace with a matching set of pink earrings for Liah. I told her she could have it if she would finish her second ear. She eventually came to the conclusion on her own that it would be pretty silly to leave only one ear pierced, and let the girl do the second one. She let Liah sit on my lap while she did it. The first thing Liah wanted to do after she got it done was call aunt Lorie and tell her all about it. Which she did. Yeah, Liah! I'm so proud of you!

For the record, Emily has declined ear piercings at this time. No question.

p.s. The picture shows the second ear. I couldn't see both ears from straight on. They are sapphire earrings... her birthstone!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Home again and nothing to do....


My Grandma MacGregor gave me this comic a year and a half ago. It hangs on my refrigerator. It is SO true! You can tell what I'll be doing all weekend...
We are finally home from our trip to CA. SO many delays at the airports yesterday. My poor kids. But still far better than a 2 day drive. I looked at the nice 25ยบ temperature reading and all the snow when I got into town last night and I am already missing the warmth of California! We had such a great trip, but it is good to be back!
Happy New Year everyone!