Dear Boys

I had to write a paper for my Psychology class and this is the one I chose.  So I decided I better post it to the blog for future:

9.2 Dear Betty or Bob: A Letter to Your Future Child(ren).  Remember that your letter should be embedded in a paper format with introduction, conclusion, reflective writing.

I already have children and a blog so really I think I write to them often on my blog, but it is not really anything specific just a recap of the things we have done as a family and it is something that I print off yearly and keep it in book form for future generations or even just for my kids and maybe their wives and kids to see one day.  It also helps me remember how my kids were as babies, what they liked and didn’t like, and fun things we have done before.

But to write them a letter about why I chose to have them and how they changed my life would be different.  Dear Gavin, Greyson and future baby boy due in January.  Really first off I am glad to be your mom.  And I am sorry for all the bad parenting decisions I have already made with you or will make in the future.  You are only 4, 2 and not even here yet and so we have a long way to go with each other.  Also, I wish you would be nicer to each other.  I know that this is something that every parent wants for their kids and maybe eventually you will get there, but right now, the fighting is killing me.  We are all we have forever (besides Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles and that family), and also your future family, but we need to be good and nice to each other.  We have to spend eternity with each other so let’s start making the most of it now!

You all have changed my life in so many ways.  With you I feel like my heart is walking around with you outside my body and I hope and pray for you every day that you get the best that you need and deserve out of life every day.  I know I work full-time and am not always there for you, but you are making it and learning things every day, so really you aren’t struggling too much.  Before I had you we used to say that our kids would be perfect and never do anything wrong, (story of every parent’s life) but having you changed that ideal so much and I have grown more patient because of each of you and your unique lives and personalities you have brought to our family.  I wouldn’t change anything about any of you for anything.  I love you all the way you are and for what you are and who you will become.

I hope one day you grow up, and find someone to be with to share a family with.  I haven’t really thought much at all about becoming a grandparent because I am still carrying your baby brother, but I hope one day you get to experience parenthood and all the joys and heartbreaks that come with it, because there is no way to describe it other and living it and feeling it.  I hope that being a grandparent it a little bit sweeter than being a parent.  We need to be rewarded in some way for raising you 3 little guys.

I hope you boys know how much I love you and how much me working outside the home, and going to school is really for you boys.  I need to help with our family income and would like to better myself through school for you boys.  I am sacrificing now so we will be better off later.  I cherish the times we spend together and love the things we do together.  I love everything you tell me about your day and all the kisses, snuggles and loves.  I love you boys and hope you know I am always proud of you!  Love, Mom.

Reflective: This was an emotional paper.  While I have written letters to my boys before, I guess I tried to let it all out here.  I am planning on posting this to my blog so we can have it in the future for them and they can read it in the future.  Parenthood changes everything about everything.  You aren’t alone anymore and for some people that is what they always wanted.  Others don’t want that and that is their decision but I wouldn’t trade my decision for anything.  I can’t imagine my life without my kids.  I can’t wait to see them when I get home from work every day and we plan to do fun things together on the weekends so we can spend time together and we try to cherish our time we have together.  I look forward to the future and what it will be for us.

It's A...

BOY, if you haven't already seen Facebook, Instagram or talked to me or anyone in my family...besides Gavin, because he keeps telling everyone he is having a baby sister.  Crazy Kid.  So we had the ultrasound last week and it was interesting.  She (the ultrasound tech) did things like way backwards for what we are used to.  She went through the placenta, (which is up top by the way, so super excited to not have to worry about that this pregnancy) saw where the cord was attached the placenta and the baby bell button. We looked at his heart, head, spine, lips, hands, (two!) legs and feet, (again two!) his kidneys and diaphragm.  Finally Mike got to the point where he was like, um...is it a boy or girl.  So she poked, prodded, pushed, pulled and finally the baby moved and we saw that he was a boy! Baby boy #3!  So there you have it.  He looks healthy according to the ultrasound tech, and we don't have to worry about getting more ultrasounds because my placenta is up.  No cleft pallet, he looks good. So my 20 week appointment. with the Dr. will be tomorrow (at 21 weeks) and we will find out more then.  

Soccer

Gavin started soccer a couple weeks ago and loving it for the most part.  This is him before his first game in which he didn't play until I left to go to Young Women's :)  Silly kid.  Hopefully he will get the hang of it before the end of the season in a couple weeks!

Preschool 2013

Gavin had his first day of second year preschool today.  He of course loved it and can't wait to go back and for all the fun stuff they are going to do this year!

His favorite food is: Chicken Nuggets

His favorite color is: Red

When he grows up he wants to be: Daddy

Park City

In August we went to Park City to spend the day on Park City Mountain with Mary and the Boys.  We rode some rides down the mountain and played some golf and fun stuff like that.  By noon, we were eating lunch and the storm had moved in.  It rained like crazy, but it was a fun day to get out of the house and go do something fun.

Success 2013

A couple weeks ago, my work went to a retreat in Salt Lake called Success 2013.  Larry King and Rudy Giuliani were there among other motivational speakers.  It was a nice break from work and fun to see some celebs :)

Belly Shot

16 weeks 4 days

Plates

Yesterday I had to teach the Chastity talk at Church to the 12-13 year olds.  One of the talks I read while preparing my lesson was by Sister Dalton: Return to Virtue.  In the talk, she says she made herself a plate that says "You can do hard things" which is kind of my motto lately because I need to hear it all the time.  But then she was called to be the Young Women General President and wished the plate said "In the Strength of the Lord I can do All Things" so I decided to make a plate with Sharpies and seal them in the Oven for my lesson for the girls.  They turned out pretty good!

Baby Update

I am now 16 weeks, 2 days prego.  It feels like I am as huge as a whale.  I am starting to wear maternity pants now because everything else is just becoming too tight and uncomfortable.  After Gavin's Arm appointment yesterday, we did a baby check up.  The Dr. asked how I was feeling and I told him tired but good and I feel like I am hungry all the time with this pregnancy.  I haven't ever had this.  I have gained 15 pounds so far this pregnancy and am at the weight I started with at Greyson's pregnancy.  I will probably hit 153 like I did at the end with both my pregnancies.  The Dr. did an ultrasound to try to find the baby gender and he couldn't really see it but said that the 3 bright lines he saw usually indicate a girl, so we aren't for positive it is and will have to wait until our big ultrasound sometime the first week of September.  Baby's heartbeat was good, I am growing and everything else is good.  I will try to get a belly shot sometime and I need to start posting those :)

Broken

Gavin had his follow up doctor's appointment yesterday for his arm.  The Doctor looked at the x-ray, then at his hand and saw how the last 10 days in the splint wasn't holding up very well and said that he recommended we cast it.  He said it has been after the initial 5 days of swelling and the break was really a bad one, and the splint wasn't holding up, so we decided to cast his arm.  He chose red and it was really neat to watch the process of the cast being done.  It takes like 5 minutes and is all pliable at first then hardens.  He needed to be in it for 3 more weeks and then we can get it cut off and get another x-ray to see how it looks.  After we took the splint off he was kind of freaking out and saying it still hurt, but as soon as the cast was set, he was ready to go again and hasn't complained about it since.  What a little trooper he is.