Almost one and a party

   This past Saturday we had a small family birthday party for Sawyer's first birthday! WOW...his first birthday! I am still shaking my head in disbelief.  It was a really fun day and Jeff and I are so grateful for all of the love and support from our family. The only thing missing were his cousins and aunts and uncles! We really wished they could have been there, but hopefully we will see them all soon!  I decided to go with a cookies and milk theme and loved how it turned out. Jono designed the invites and they were awesome!  It was hilarious to watch Sawyer play with his cake- he spent forever just rubbing his hands in the gel frosting I wrote on the top of the cake with. I finally cut a piece of cake off and handed it to him to eat...it didn't take long for him to dive in face first after he figured out what it was! He laughed the whole time-this kid loves attention!  He got some amazing gifts and has already played with all them and spewn them throughout the house :)  We love this little man more than words could express! He brings us so much joy and we are blessed to call him our son! xoxo

Down but not out

  The last two weeks have been a true whirlwind! A few Saturdays ago, Jeff, Sawyer and I went to the Long Beach Aquarium.  It was a beautiful day and a much needed family outing.  Sawyer was great and although I am sure we got more out of the trip than he did, he really seemed to like it when the brightly colored fish would pass by his face or the big sharks.  Unfortunately, that following Monday our little man came down with his first bought of the stomach flu.  It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen! Watching him barf and then dry heave for hours sucked! And the the diarrhea was not fun either!  I called my brother Jeff late that night (for him since he is in Pennsylvania) and he was so kind to answer my call and talk to me for awhile. He gave me wonderful advice and I appreciate the time he took to talk to me - he is a very busy guy!  With a blessing from his dad and a bit of rest he got better relatively quickly. Sawyer decided though, that sleeping on top of mom was the only way to go since I just held him while he was sick. I didn't want him throwing up and choking in his bed in the other room!  It has taken a few weeks to get him to sleep in his bed again - quite tiring for mom! But I truly wouldn't change it for anything. All too soon I know he will be too big for my arms and my cradling. It makes me sad. So no matter how tired it makes me, I usually indulge my guy.  Being a mother is worth any sacrifice for my son :)

10 months

   Sawyer is 10 months old! I have been taking pictures as often as I remember to so my forgetful self can have something to look back on years from now to hopefully jog my memory :).  My little man is pretty stinkin amazing if I do say so myself.  Jeff and I love watching him figure things out and I swear I can see the wheels turning in that brain of his. He walks around the furniture, crawls faster than I can almost catch him sometimes, and is figuring out more words all the time.  He is starting to let go of things when he stands up but hasn't quite got the hang of moving his feet. He just falls forward or backwards and then gets back up to do it again. He is also a big fan of opening and closing drawers, pulling everything out of them, and then slamming his fingers. He rarely cries when he gets hurts and is still as stubborn as ever. He has gotten into a better sleeping pattern at nite - usually going down between 8 and 8:30pm, waking up once between 1 and 3am, and then up for the day around 6 or 6:30am.  Some mornings I can get him to sleep til 7am when I bring him to bed with me. Those mornings are the best and I hope they don't disappear too soon. My boy is growing up too fast and I hate it! Oh, and today he cut two more top teeth bringing out total to four teeth on the bottom and four teeth on the top.
   I had a thought tonite as I watched my tenacious little man trying to plow his way through my legs as I blocked his path to the kitchen.  He tries so hard to push against things in his way. He lowers his head, grunts or yells, and pushes with all of his might trying to move his obstacles. He does this to Bumpa's legs when he blocks the bathroom or computer, he does it to Jeff when he won't let him rip cords out of the wall, he does it to chairs that are in his way...anywho, the thought that came to me tonite was this:  Too often I feel just like Sawyer. I close my eyes, put my head down, and push and yell with all my might against the obstacles and trials that have been in my way for years.  Most days I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle, the same redundant battle.  And then the Holy Ghost touched my heart and reminded me that I AM like Sawyer - pushing so hard against the legs of my Heavenly Father trying to get to something I want so bad. But the role of a parent is to teach and protect and to guide our children in the right direction and to keep them from harms way.  I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I wish I knew when my obstacles were going to be removed from my path but I do not. I know I need to trust Him, but I am going to throw it out there and say that that is a HARD thing to do.  Being a parent has taught me so many lessons already and made my testimony grow so much. Heavenly Father really did create a pretty perfect plan for growth here on earth. Life is hard, more often than its not I imagine. But it is good too. And I have learned that it can be difficult and joyful at the same time. I am blessed and I know I need to reflect more on what I have than what I don't have. I am grateful for that reminder tonite - xoxo

                       This kid loves egg rolls

                      Say cheese boys!

                  10 months old today!!

                Grubbin on noodles and tomato sauce

         That face brings me joy unmeasurable :)

Just for fun

For the family

   What a busy little man we have on our hands! Sawyer has gotten so quick and mobile within the last few weeks and months.  He is rapidly changing before our eyes and I struggle to remember it all. Tonight we got him on video saying MOM! He has been mumbling it for awhile but it is getting pretty clear. We are also teaching him how to give us "5." It is hilarious!  One of his favorite things to do is destroy the computer. He tries to rip the mouse, keyboard, and printer cords out all of the time. He loves to bang on the keyboard too.  He used to let me put hats and glasses on him, now there is no way.  He won't even leave the hoods on his sweatshirts on. He has feet like his mother- wider than they are long.  Poor kid. I already hate trying to shoe shop for him which is probably why he has no shoes yet!  Jeff and I are doing well...working and keeping busy with the day to day dealings of life.   We love you all sooo much!!

 

 

Welcome 2013!

   I can hardly believe another year has come and gone! 2012 proved to be one of the very best years of my life with the addition of Sawyer to our family. Words can't adequately describe all of the emotions and thoughts that accompany motherhood - I adore it!  Sawyer has truly been the best thing to happen to Jeff and I. Looking back on this past year, I stop and express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father. Sawyer is a fun, bright, and energetic little man. Jeff and I have grown so much in our personal lives and as a couple as we learn to parent and seek guidance from our Heavenly Father regarding our little family.  I must confess that things didn't always work out the way I had hoped or wanted them to this past year, but we have been looked after and always known that our path was being guided by the Holy Ghost.  I have come to greatly appreciate my husband's role as patriarch of our family and as our priesthood holder. I can't imagine trying to raise children in such trying times without the priesthood in our home! Jeff is always so ready and willing to give blessings, fast for inspiration, and pray for our family. He is pretty amazing!  I see many bright and wonderful things on the horizon for this upcoming year. I know as we continue to stay faithful and improve, all things will work out like they should.  Can't wait to see what happens! ;)

  

The park!

   Yesterday Jeff and I took Sawyer to the park to swing and slide for the first time. He seemed to love it!  He is becoming more and more like a little boy than a baby everyday. Lately he has figured out how to make "mad" faces - which are hilarious! He makes them when he is not getting his way of course, but he doesn't actually cry.  Maybe someday I will have a camera in my hand when he does it!  They crack me up :)  Another thing I love is that he loves to be covered up in blankets. He gets so excited when we wrap him up in fuzzy blankets to go on walks or cover him in his carseat. He rubs the soft blankets with his little fingers, which totally reminds me of myself! I love having all kinds of super soft blankets on my bed to wrap up in. 
   Christmas is quickly approaching and I must say I really haven't had time to enjoy it. Time has just crept up on me out of nowhere.  Hopefully after work finishes Thursday we can go do a few things as a little family like looking at lights.  Holidays definitely have new meaning now that we have Sawyer to share them with!!  :)