Tender Mercies Tuesday: Family

I have thought about it all week what my next "Tender Mercy" should be...some things were just little, others were big. I realized I have every Tuesday so I'll knock out the big ones first. Also, with this weekends activities it's hard NOT to think about it!

This one falls under "loving-kindnesses and support" FAMILY, (need I say more?) I have an AWESOME family! Let me just take a minute to BRAGG about my side of the family as well as the SPENCE side. Both sides are fabulous! Both sets and sides of Grandparents, Parents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Siblings, In-laws, Nieces and Nephews. (Yes I am talking specifically about YOU) There isn't a single one of YOU that I could do with out. Everyone has helped me in different ways. If I sat down to list them all it would take the whole day and my list would be GINORMOUS! Each one of YOU have affected me and made me want to be better and do better. Isn't that what life is about? It's amazing too that I am just as comfortable and loved by my husbands side that I am with mine, how many people can say that! I think my Father in heaven knew what he was doing when he was organizing my family and I count all my family members (blood related or not) as blessings to me.

My mom used to tell me growing up that my siblings would be my best friends when I was older so I needed to be nice to them. I couldn't even comprehend at that age how true it would be! My siblings their spouses and my husbands siblings and their spouses truly are my best friends. I think about and pray for them constantly whether it be in my heart or out loud a prayer is said every day.

It would be VERY difficult not to feel loved and supported with my family. Whether it's kind words or little good deeds they are always happening. Whenever I think about how I get to be with all these people the rest of my life and beyond it puts a smile on my face. I think I am turning into my Grandma Coombs because when I think of this song I almost (and sometimes actually do) shed a little tear of JOY.

"I have a family here on earth,
They are so good to me,
I want to share my life with them,
Through all eternity.

Families can be together forever,
Through Heavenly Fathers plan,
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can,
The Lord has shown me how I can."

Thank you everyone, and Love to all!

P.S. Preston Welcome to the family... :)

Pure Syrup goodness...

Saturday: Will Preston Suzanne Matt Ty and I went to Solitude to Disc Golf, GORGEOUS DAY!

Sunday: Ty got his first hair cut and he finally kind of fits his church outfit my mom bought for him!

Two Thumbs Up

For Slacker.com "Movie Music/Themes" Try and guess the movies... it's great.

My Last few songs have been from Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Transformers, Back to the Future and Braveheart.

It's Official

I have wooted. My first time! For those of you who don't know woot.com is a website where they sell all sorts of stuff, one at a time, everyday. I check it often to read the commentary part which I think is funny most of the time. BUT my first purchase was to buy a wireless router (Normally 59.99 I got it for 19.99), Matt and I need one to hook our PC up to the Internet that is down stairs...Hooray for Woot.

It must be a sign part 2

Will posted on their blog yesterday about a funny sign at Seven Peaks... Here is my part 2.

This one is at "Liberty Land" ghetto place for sure. The sign says "If you are not a bumblebee, please keep your bum out of the garden"

I sure showed them!!

Tender Mercies Tuesday: First Edition

One of my "other moms" does a post every Tuesday about the Tender Mercies in her life. If you aren't familiar with "Tender Mercies" Elder David A. Bednar gave an address in conference a few years back about it. In this address he states "I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ." I always enjoy hearing about my "other moms" tender mercies, so I thought I would show you all the more thoughtful serious side of myself by doing the same every Tuesday. I doubt it will always be this mushy but none the less, here it goes Tender Mercies Tuesday: First Edition...

All through out my pregnancy deep deep down I kept thinking, "what would I do if something happened to my baby Ty. How would I deal with it if something happened during delivery and he didn't make it, or shortly after something happened." I think everyone has those feelings while pregnant but I had a STRONG impression that something was going to happen and I should prepare for it. I kept thinking, how do I prepare for something like that? I had many nights lying awake thinking, crying and praying about it all. I knew if I shared my impressions with anyone else they would say "I have thought the same thing while pregnant, everything will be fine you are just playing the "what if" game." I knew I wasn't. So as the time got closer, I came to this conclusion... Matt and I are sealed to one another through the power of the priesthood when we got married in the temple. That means that our little Ty, if he makes it or not, would be sealed to us forever as a family. Whether I raise him or his Grandma Holly does, it make no difference, he is still my son. This was and still is a comforting thing to me.

I always used to freak out when I was younger about having a baby, I had never been to a hospital before or even had a shot in years and years. Yet when I got there to have Ty I was completely calm, when things started to get a bit shaky during delivery I was still fine, after Ty was born and my doctor was sucking all the mucus out and still no breathing I had the impression... this is it... this is what I knew was going to happen. When the nurses all rushed in, the Doctor was called to put Ty on life support, and they were giving him compressions I distinctly remember thinking. If he doesn't make it, I'll be okay. It's okay... with a quick prayer in my heart I realized, he's still my son this is not my will, but thy will be done. If my Father in Heaven chooses to let Matt and I raise him that is awesome and I'd love that chance, but if not, I know I'll see him again.

After the longest 2 minutes of my life and I heard him cry, instantly I knew that everything would be okay. I passed the test, everything that happens, happens for a reason and I am now blessed to have a son here. All the previous medical issues would clear up and Ty would be a healthy boy. I know this was an answer to my prayers and it was the spirit reassuring me on this. As testimony to that the nurses stated in their report that when Ty was born "he was floppy, limp and blue" and went from a "1 to a 9 in four minutes." (One meaning very close to death 10 meaning very healthy) They said that is almost unheard of.

The Tender Mercy I am thankful for today and everyday I look at my son is that of personal revelation and a mothers intuition. The Lord knew that with out prior warning I would have had a hard time with what was to come, so he let me know months in advance so I could deal with it and keep calm. Not only for myself but I believe to help Matt through the situation as well. I have always kept cool during intense situations but I don't believe that would have been the case here. I will be forever thankful for the spirit and that I was able to rely on the Lord for help through all of that.

Here is a quote that my Aunt and Uncle have on their blog by H. Burke Peterson, that I always loved and think about quite often. (I changed his use of her or she to him or he)

"I have often wondered what would happen if the method of introducing a father to his newborn child were different. Instead of a doctor coming out and saying, It’s another girl or It’s another boy, how would we react if each time a child was born our Father in heaven made this kind of introduction to the parents:

Thank you for preparing this little body for the spirit I have created. Now, I present him to you for a season to care for. Please teach him of me and of my Son. I so much want him back with me some day. It all depends on you. Remember this: He is loving. He will respond to teaching. He wants to learn. Please treat him with respect. The road will not be easy. Some of the time it will be most difficult. I want to help you raise him. Please call on me often for advice and counsel. Together we can help him fulfill his purpose in the earth.

I wonder how we might treat these little ones if they had this kind of introduction. Would it be different? "

Our introduction was definitely anything but normal but I am thankful for it and the opportunity and blessing it is to be his mom and raise him up to know the Lord and to know and fulfill his purpose here on earth.

Sunny Weekend!

It was one of the FIRST sunny weekends of the year, no rain on Friday or Saturday! But, as I type there is a HUGE storm coming in with tons of lightning and thunder. It's pretty cool to watch from inside :)

To enjoy the sun, we went to Seven Peaks on Friday evening and Ty went swimming with Matt for the first time! (Check out the balding, yeah he lost all his hair on top...hopefully it will come back soon he has one serious receding hairline issue) Okay really not swimming more like sitting in the water... but he didn't mind it and Jason and Sierra were SO excited that he came in the water with them! Both of them were good cousins and would come and check on him to see how he was liking the pool.
Today after church Ty had been sleeping all day so I woke him up to change his diaper... this is the face I got when I woke him up...
(He wakes up just like his mom ha ha)

I was wondering how much he weighed a few days ago because I am tired of buying newborn diapers. Hoping he was 10 pounds I had Matt weigh himself then hold Ty. We think he is about 9.5 lbs now so this is the last pack of newborns I am buying! Check out those cheeks, he is definitely getting chubbier! Cute little baby cheeks huh...

Also Matt plays with Ty all the time and Ty will smile for Matt. I have YET to get him to smile for ME. I tried to get the camera really quickly to catch a smile for everyone but he stopped smiling right as soon as the camera started rolling.

As far as the hives go I have been getting them on and off since my last post. Mainly on the soles of my feet and palms of my hands as well as where my clothes rub my skin the most. They show up here and there then go away. I have stopped taking Benedryl though it just makes me so tired and loopy that I can't function. If they get REALLY bad then I'll take it but otherwise I just live with them. I have decided that I do think they are from stress. I took a few minutes earlier today to think what would possibly be stressing me out to the point where I would be breaking out in hives and I thought of about 5 good reasons why... Even though in my head I don't think I am, my body knows I am. I have tried to relax a little more and not think about everything so much these last few days in an effort to have them go away. Not sure if that is how it's supposed to work but hopefully it will. Oh and YES everyone I know the stubborn weight will come off someday. The thing is I actually like to exercise and that is about the amount I exercised before I got pregnant so I figured I could do the same amount after. It's actually a nice release for me to go for a long run or walk helps me to prioritize my day and relax a little. :)

Return of the...

HIVES. Yes I got hives again last night on my legs and they started crawling up my body. I took a 1/2 dosage of Benedryl hoping that would do the trick but it didn't.. so I took another. My mom and Matt can both attest when I have Benedryl in me I am way tired and loopy! Last night Matt said it took him FOREVER to wake me up to take my next dosage. He gave me some water and some more and I was out again. I am still way groggy and tired from it but the good news is I haven't taken any more Benedryl and the hives haven't come back yet. So weird the things that happen to your body after you've had a baby...

These days

Here is Ty this morning... my little buddy.

We have officially entered into Parenthood, every day is the same and they all mush together. Don't worry I am not depressed by this at all and don't take it as the "baby blues". Each day comes with a new challenge but they seem to all have the same feel to them.

Typical day~
Wake up at 6:30 a.m. or so to Ty getting fussy. I pull him out of his bassinet and lie with him in our bed until 7 at which point I feed him. At about 7:30 I get up and get some breakfast, after breakfast Ty is usually back asleep or just hanging out while I check the blogs, e-mail, and other daily sites. If Ty is a little fussy, or just because I want to we go for about a 2 mile walk to calm him down. After this is when I usually begin working. As I wait for people to get back to me I am changing diapers, straightening the house, doing dishes or laundry and taking care of Ty. I feed Ty again at 11:00 which is most likely when I enter a little depressive time known as, getting dressed. Up until then I have pajamas on... I don't wear maternity clothes anymore (sheesh it's been 5 weeks) but all my other clothes are tighter then I like and let me just say this muffin top has GOT TO GO. Anyways after trying on a few different outfits I pick one and stick with it begrudgingly. I usually get a bit of lunch and get down to real work business at this point and put in a good 2-3 hours of straight work. After that time I feed Ty again at 3 and then think about what to do for dinner while I change OUT of my horribly snug outfit into more comfortable exercise wear. I finish the laundry, dishes, and whatever else I started in the morning then by 5 or so I start exercising. I do a 50 minute post pregnancy workout DVD by Tracy Anderson (I think it's working? I only have 2 more inches to go before I am back to my normal waistline) then start dinner. After dinner I'll feed Ty at 7 p.m. then go for a run outside if it's not too hot or go to the clubhouse. I like to run about 2-3 miles every time. I have been working on increasing my speed. I run about 12 minute miles now, I'd like to get to 10 minute miles very soon. After finishing my exercise I come home and catch a 30 minute to hour episode of some junk that's on T.V. and at about 9- 9:30 Matt is home... That's when Matt hangs out with Ty while I shower and get those P.J's back on...

Yep that's about it... so fun huh! I mean the order is changed a bit every day but you get the basic feel. A lot of household chores, taking care of Ty, exercising and work. Pretty sure this is how life will be for a while to come, ahhh the joys of motherhood :)

Here is a random video from last Saturday, Matt then Preston on the waterslide at Seven Peaks.

Back In Business

Do you want pretty glitter toes that will last all summer long? (Unless you are my mom who ends up screwing hers up in a week)

I just ordered MORE gel for glitter toes and should have it by the end of the week, if you want your toesies done shoot me an e-mail or leave me a comment and we'll figure out a time and place... Matt says that donations will be excepted graciously :)

Here is some of my more recent work... Here are all the colors that I have... except don't choose the white one. Michaela and I learned the hard way that it goes on clear not white... I can also mix any colors you want as well. :)

Pictures

Our little Ty had a photo shoot a couple weeks ago.. yeah I can't believe how much bigger he is now. ANYWAYS the photos were taken by an old co-workers wife who does an AWESOME job with newborns. Check out http://lindsayrossphotography.blogspot.com/ to see more of his pictures. :) P.S. Grandparents, we will develop a few and send them your way.

Swim time

We went down to seven peaks yesterday evening to get a little sun and swim... (yes Kelly a little sun but we did wear sunscreen ;)

I got Ty all ready to go with his shorts, swim shirt and flip flops, which are all 0-3 months and still too big...

Then when we got there he slept in the car seat the entire time... Oh well we'll have to see how he does on Saturday when we go back again.

Oh and sad news BYU isn't holding their annual Women's football clinic this year, total bummer I look forward to it at the beginning of every season! I guess we'll have to just stick with the cougar kickoff then... boooooo no cool shirt to have signed.

4th of July FUN!

Wow it was a busy weekend! I'll just do bullet points and post pictures... that's all anyone cares about anyways.

Friday:

~The girls helped Suzanne get ready for her Bridal pictures while Matt went Golfing with H.D. Preston and my Dad. ( Happy Birthday to Nate!)

Saturday:

~In the early morning my mom, Preston, Suzanne, Will, Matt and I went on our Freedom run venture. It was fun, Suzanne and I ran a 1 mile (hind sight says I would have been good to go for the 5k next time I'll know) and Preston Matt Will and my mom ran the 5k. Matt was first followed closely by Preston and Will then my mom bringing up the end. All of them ran great and a few were a bit sore later :)

~Kneaders for our French Toast breakfast :)

~Disc Golfing for the boys
~Later that afternoon Matt and I picked up Steve (Matt's Dad) at the airport then we headed down to my aunt and uncles for Suzanne and Preston's wedding shower and a big 4Th of July BBQ Bash

Sunday:

~I got a new calling at church... no wait its the same one they just moved me from teaching every 4Th Sunday to every 2ND Sunday... ha ha

~We blessed our little baby Ty (He was starving in this picture so he is GRUMPY and wouldn't hold still, it was the best close up I got :) Everybody that cameAll the boys that helped with the blessing (We missed you Colton, Jordan and Nate) Steve, Matt and Ty

~After church everyone came over to our little house for Tacos and Quesadilla's (thanks again Sharon for bringing the Quesadilla makers!)

~We went for a walk that evening.

WHEW and that's everything... well most everything besides lots of naps, feedings for Ty, changing diapers, running errands, hanging out and chatting with tons of Family. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone that helped Matt and I with Ty this weekend. :) ( Especially Jason, he has become quite protective of his little baby Ty)

It was a great Weekend!!!

P.S. A Happy Birthday shout out to Michaela! Hope you have a HAPPY HAPPY Day!