Great talk on Motherhood

Daughters of God

by Elder M. Russell Ballard Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.

"I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being. In the words of the proclamation on the family, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

Preparing for winter

We've had an eventful past few days. I'm finally feeling better (emotionally and sick wise) and ready to move on to my old happy self.

Aaron has been getting his work situation here figured out at his current job, and we're excited to be most likely staying here and moving ahead with his current position. That being said, we're still not 100% sure what's happening and when, but it's more a matter of timing, not if. Shew.

I put on a "Skinny Turkey" triathlon at the club on Thanksgiving morning and had a good time doing it. Aaron ran it (his first one!) and came in close to an hour and 40 minutes later. I was impressed- he hasn't ran, biked, or swam for months (except for basketball). We woke up to a layer of white on the ground in the morning and it was a total surprise. We haven't had any snow here, and in fact, it's been very nice still. Aaron did the run outside (we gave everyone the option of doing it all indoors) and he came back red as ever. (I wish I would have taken pictures!)

We headed off after the triathlon to Steve and Ellie's for Thanksgiving dinner. I joke with them that their house is like an orphanage because they always have the most random people over for stuff- they tend to take in the family-less, single, transplanted New Mexicans. I like it- really fun, interesting people. Anyways, we ate with their family, a friend Barbara, Wick and had a delicious meal that was way different than other Thanksgiving meals we've had. We watched the ridiculous Dallas Cowboys game and watched Jaylen and the dogs run around. It was relaxing and fun.

Yesterday we went to the dollar theater across the street and took Jaylen to his first 3D movie, Despicable Me. It was funny- and Jaylen was more than happy wearing his glasses, munching on popcorn. He made it through a little over half and just wanted to play with some trains for the rest. It's fun to do family outings with our growing boy! We finished up some Christmas shopping, and Jaylen was very funny about picking things out. He wasn't happy about me getting some things for Lyndon and them not being for him to play with when we got home earlier this week, so he made sure to say, "These are for me, not Lyndon, right?!"

After the movie we came home to setup Christmas. I love pulling out our Christmas cds, putting the Snowberry scentsy on, and putting up the fun lights and decorations. Jaylen's really into it this year and couldn't contain his excitement. He loves the Christmas lights and helped put ornaments on our tiny Christmas tree that goes on the kitchen table. We made a chain linked countdown to Christmas, read a story on Christmas to Jaylen and put Jaylen to bed. It was a great day. I love the holidays and they are just getting more fun with Jaylen getting older. We're so excited to see family over Christmas- for me and Jaylen, it's been since everyone came down for graduation in May, so I'm more than excited to see some familiar family faces.

Here's some pictures of last night and the past week:

Aaron and Jaylen stapling together our Christmas countdown. Jaylen is constantly asking about Christmas, so hopefully this will be a way for him to track when it's coming!

They were so cute working together on this little project..


The finished, 29 strand Christmas chain!

I have sooo many pictures of Jaylen sleeping. It's just so adorable to me. Here's a couple of his naps recently:

Quality nap time

Jaylen is adorable.

I've decided I want to spend more quality time, really playing or reading to him on his level every day. He is a disaster when it comes to nap time usually, so I decided to lay in his bed with him and read him a book. Jaylen grabbed his Book of Mormon and crawled into bed, asking me to read it to him. It was so cute. So we read a few verses then read a new book we got, Funny Farm. He was so cute throughout the book, asking so many questions and making so many cute comments. For example, at the pictures of the diary cows he asked, "What's between their buns mom?!" After we finished the book, Jaylen turned to his side and put his nose on mine, and asked, "Can you just stay here to snuggle?" How could I resist?! So we laid there, smiling back and forth at each other. He started getting heavy eyed, but kept his arm around my neck, and started rubbing my head. Nothing is as sweet as an innocent little boy showing love. He finally feel asleep with his arm still wrapped around me and I just laid there watching him with tears in my eyes.

Jaylen has brought joy like I've never known- he shows love in such a cute way and it touches my heart like nothing else. Although, I take care of him in so many ways, he takes care of me in probably just as many ways- just differently and just what I need. He's often proof to me that Heavenly Father knows me and sent me a little boy that loves and takes care of me how I need. I'm especially grateful this Thanksgiving for my little boy. How lucky we are to have such a sweet, healthy boy to share our lives with!

Work in Progress

I've had a really stressful week with childcare issues at work, getting a cold, and planning/realizing things need to change with Aaron's work situation to make our transition to family of 4 work. Its just been an emotionally draining couple of weeks.

Yesterday in particular I had a long meeting about the childcare situation that was no fun, and had a busy day of training (starting at 5 am and ending at 8:30 pm) and an appointment. I got home from training at 8:30 pm, to find the house clean, and Jaylen anxious to show me a surprise. He opened the fridge and very excitedly showed me this cake he and Aaron made:

I'm so thankful for such cute, sweet boys who take care of me so good.

After the meeting, talking with Aaron and some family, and after the past couple weeks of thinking- I'm definitely a work in progress. Although I hate stressful situations, I'm realizing some priorities need to be reset and am in need of some simplification back to what's really important. I can only control what my actions are and need to let go of what I can't control. My family, raising these 2 little boys and enjoying and being present for them is invaluable. Hopefully we can get ourselves in a situation soon that help me be able to be concentrate more on our boys. Weird, boys. I can get used to that though. :)

Ugh

I am feeling the "when it rains, it pours" phrase in action. Pregnant, sick, work drama.. among other things giving me a headache right now. I'm tired, I'm depressed, I need a break. Who ever has me in voodoo doll form, leave me alone.

Wedgies, food and Jaylen's cuteness

Have you ever seen those pregnancy wedges that you use to sleep with?

They are quite funny, but very helpful. Aaron is adorable with it. My sister gave it to me when I was pregnant with Jaylen and Aaron took it upon himself to make sure my "wedgie," as he lovingly calls it, was firmly beneath my belly whenever I went to bed. I'd wake up to him actually stuffing it under my belly if it fell out. It's cute. Well, when we found I was pregnant again, he pulled it out and put it up in his side of the closet, excited to take on his role as "wedgie" placer again when I needed to use it. I've been using it for the past month now and Aaron diligently tends to his nightly duty of making sure my belly is resting comfortably on my "wedgie." What a sweet hubby I have. He's such a sweetheart.

I am crazy addicted to salads of late. I'm happy it's actually something healthy, but I just can't get enough of Cobb salad and Jenae's green salad with lemon dressing (both at allithinkaboutisfood.blogspot.com). I've had the later salad for the past 4 meals now. The dressing is to DIE for. Seriously food, why do you occupy my thoughts every second of the day?!

Jaylen is such a hoot.
We played hide and go seek in the dark tonight and after he found me and I scared him, he said, "Oh mommy, I peed in my pants!!" Poor kid peed all down his leg. (I officially HATE potty training- FYI).

His prayers are the best. Tonight at dinner he said, "Please bless that we can help people." Aaron and I can hardly hold it together when he says cute things like this. He gets this high little tone when he says prayers, and the things he says are so random and so adorable. He is such a sweet, loving kid. Right now I'm listening to him peek in our room (supposed to be sleeping), saying "Love you! Thank you for trains, thank you for hide and seek. Love you, bye, bye! Night, night."

We had a checkup for Jaylen and he was in the 100% for height and the 54% for weight. Tall skinny man!

Jaylen is crazy about my wallet, so Aaron gave him an old wallet of his and helped him cut out coupons and such to put in his own little wallet. Jaylen loves it. He's been carrying it around all day talking about going to the bank, buying treats, and pulling out his coupons and pennies.

Really, how can we love another one like we love Jaylen? Its so hard to fathom that we're about to have 2- and that we'll love the 2nd anywhere close to as much as Jaylen is hard to believe right now. I know it happens and that we'll fall in love with our new little guy like with Jaylen, but how?! It'll definitely be a new chapter in our lives. We're excited!

Jaylen's bedtime prayer

Jaylen's bedtime prayer tonight:

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for last night.
Thank you for cooking.
Thank you for family.
Thank you for Jesus.
Thank you for my pull-ups.
Thank you for Scripture Scouts.
Thank you for treats.
Thank you for balloons.
Thank you for Daddy playing.
Thank you for hugs.
Thank you for blessings.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

So fun to hear what goes through his brain!

33 Months Old- but who's counting?!?

Jaylen's crazy active side is totally evened out by his incredible sweet side.

Here's what our newly 33 month old is doing:

Bed time:
Jaylen will come out from his room, stand in our doorway and say, "Thank you so much for ___ (whatever we did that day)." For example, "Thank you so much for playing trains, Daddy. Thank you so much for yummy dinner, Mommy. Bluuuubbb bluuu (love you!)!" He does it to stall going to sleep and does it over and over, but it's cute and adorable none the less.

He also begs Aaron to rock him to sleep at night. "Daddy, can you please rock me?!" He says it in the sweetest, most desperate way Aaron can hardly resist.

Here's our skinny little 33 month old!

While I was gone training and Aaron was taking a shower- this is what Jaylen got into: tooth paste.

See the patch missing in his hair line? Our first gum cutout.

Does a sleeping child ever get old? Jaylen loves to wear my beads around.

Aaron helping really scrub Jaylen's teeth.


This seems somewhat ridiculous- but our new kitchen table (after not having one for years!). We love it, and eating time is much better.

Jaylen still has to smother us in kisses and hugs if either of us leaves (childcare, home or nursery). He's a very snuggly little guy- he loves to cuddle up.

Jaylen grabbed my phone this morning and very sternly said, "I NEED to talk to Grandma today." We love that he loves and thinks about his family, even though he doesn't see them very often.

Jaylen came into bed a few mornings ago and I could tell he was on the cold side. He quickly seized the opportunity to wedge both his hands into my boob cleavage. I'm sorry if that is WAY too much info, but we couldn't stop laughing about it. Boys, boys, boys.

Jaylen loves to pretend like he's going to the hospital. It sounds odd, but I guess the hospital means seeing baby and good things right now. It's rather funny being out and about and having Jaylen declare his desire to go to the hospital.

Jaylen is more than excited about Christmas. He keeps asking if I want to "go to Christmas" with him. He recites all the fun people he'll see, and what all we'll have to do. I'm going to make a count down paper train here soon so he'll be able to see how far until Christmas. We're excited to see all Aaron's side of the family in Moab!

Aaron was getting rather frustrated with Jaylen after asking him to do something at least 10 times. Jaylen told Aaron, "Dad, don't you get fussy!!"

I know I'm missing stories. We are loving his stage right now. He is so sweet, adorable and just so silly. I'll keep adding stories as I remember to write them down!

We have not really gotten too far with names for baby boy #2. A friend from church will ask me how "the Hoff" is doing and it really makes me laugh (maiden name: Westhoff). I did have the thought that if we named Jaylen after Aaron's dad, Scott, and he looks just like Aaron- how ironic it would be to have this boy look like me and be named after my Dad. It'll be fun to see. Although, I would love to have him look just like Aaron- he is adorable!

By the way, I have the best husband ever. Today he's coming home early from work, for the 2nd time, to watch 5 kids, so my 2 girl friends and I can go out for a birthday lunch kid-less. How cool is that? I love how supportive and thoughtful he is. He didn't even hesitate when I asked him- he just said he could go in early to make up the time missed. What a guy!