Flying with Emma

That's right Emma takes her first flight this weekend! We are headed to Arizona to visit some friends from Hawaii and for a family reunion. As I am preparing for the journey I have done some research and talked to a few friends on how to fly with a baby. I still feel a little anxious as to how Emma is going to react to the sounds and feelings of flying. I am also anticipating the amount of luggage I am going to have and how much harder it is going to check-in, go through security, board, de-board, and get our luggage. And all by my self!!!! (Mark is taking a later flight)

This is where you come in. I am turning to you my blogging buddies. I need some help - and maybe a little encouragement! What experiences have you had with flying with a baby or what advice have you heard or used that might be helpful? Anything would be GREAT!

Here are a few details and things that I have already planned on:

1. Emma is 7 months old and will not have her own seat (does anyone buy a seat for children under 2?)

2. She is really active and vocal ( I am a little worried that her talking will bother others).

3. I am planning on checking in her car seat and base and just taking her stroller ( don't they let you just put it at the door of the plane before you board and then they give it to you after you land?)

4. We are flying out at 6:30 (she is normally up at 7) and we have a 2 hour layover in SLC, then we arrive at 11:30 (2 hours past her nap time) . I am just hoping she will nap or just be so curious about her surroundings that she will make it through :)

5. We are flying out of Medford so it's going to be a turbo-prop plane until we reach SLC.

Ok I think that's it.... HELP!

Then & Now

This first picture was taken right before Mark and I were married.

This second picture was taken yesterday nearly 3 years later in the same spot.

(please disregard that I am still wearing the same sweatshirt 3 years later - I need a wardrobe makeover!!! )

Besides our cute addition, we have grown so much these past few years. Life hasn't always been easy, and it doesn't always go according to our plan. We get thrown trials that we wish that we could just pick up and throw back, but we have been blessed more than we ever could have imagined.

I know that my Heavenly Father's hand is guiding me in everything I do. And where ever we may go in this life, he will always be there as he has promised.

I am feeling like i am the luckiest today as I see a loving husband and father playing with his daughter. I love him more today than ever!!

Let Freedom Ring

I know that it is nearly a week overdue but I can't get this song out of my head! So I guess I figured that meant I needed to share what we did on Independence Day. When you are in Southern Oregon on the 4th of July there is no greater entertainment then the Ashland Parade. It was a hot day but we weren't going to let Emma (or Mark) miss out on their first 4th of July....shall we say... "Cultural Experience"!

Poor Emma was so tired and Hot! She was a good trooper though, she loved watching all the floats and she kicked her legs to the music.

You also wouldn't believe who came out for the festivities

enough said!

We were happy to see shortly after, the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They sang "Called to Serve" as they walked through the streets of Ashland. I have to say this gave me goosebumps. It helped remind me how blessed I am as a member of the church to have religious freedom. I was proud to see the white shirts and black name tags.

Then if there is ever a place to protest something, this would be the venue. A HUGE group of people holding signs stopped in the middle of the road, faced the library, and proceded to bow before it! They were protesting the recent closure of all the Southern Oregon Libraries. Parade watches cheered with support! To read more about said closures click here.

What a great parade! We love Ashland and we love their parade!

I feel so blessed to live in a country where we are free. So if I can't get this song out of my head thats fine..... LET FREEDOM RING!!

My tough little girl!

I dread Well Baby Check-ups! Today was Emmas 6 month check-up which meant another round of shots. It has been harder and harder each time. As she gets older and more aware, I feel worse about subjecting her to pain. Even though I know it's for her benefit. I realize that this way of thinking is something that I have to look forward to the rest of my life, as it is part of motherhood and parenting. I just need to buck up and be tough like my little Emma was when she got her shots today. She did really well! When the nurse was done she cryed a little, then whimpered a little, and by the time we were out making her next appointment she was laughing at her Nana again. (Who, by the way, has been so great to come to all Emmas check-ups to lend her support). I was so proud of my tough little baby girl!

Just a tip: My sister Carrie said give Emma tylonol before her appointment to help with the pain and that has made such a difference. Although she is a little loopy when we take her in, it has been a life saver and Emma recovers SOO much faster.

p.s. please sign in on the guest book I just installed below! Super fun!

IT'S FINALLY HERE.....

That's right! Today was the first official day of summer. Emma and I just had to get outside and enjoy the day. Although, she was a little sleepy and wasn't in a real summer'y mood (it was probably the heat).

Even though she wasn't her chipper self, we (ok..I) sang our favorite summertime primary song as we walked around the track at the nearby elementary school.

Oh, what do you do in the sumertime, when all the world is green?Do you fish in the stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high? Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky? Is that what you do? So do I!

Well, we didn't do any of those things on this 1st day of summer but it's only just begun, Right?

What do you do in the summertime?

It's been awhile

My blog has been a little neglected these past two weeks. I am sorry for my absence and I will hopefully begin to make it up to you all with these.......

We went for a little picnic today and these are a few of the pictures we took.

If you haven't noticed, my blog looks a little different too! Well, I am making some changes but it's taking me a while. I will be done soon enough. So please come back!!!!

Out of touch

After recently reading my friends blogs and seeing there home makeovers and new hair cuts, I decided that it was time to reconnect myself with the world of fashion.

I have never really been known for my unique style or for being trendy or "in the know" when it comes to fashion. But I've always viewed myself as someone who is very observant and interested in what the latest trends are for those around me. In college I had roommates who were great examples of what to wear and where to shop. (although looking back at pictures I really should have taken a little more advice!) Then I moved to Hawaii where what you wear are mumus!

just kidding, (this is one of the only times I wore one) but really, you wear board shorts and t-shirts, and if you are wearing something nice you were most likely a "Summer Term Student" from Utah or Southern California who didn't understand the local style. (no offense)

When we moved back to the mainland I was pregnant and I couldn't fit into anything cute. Now here I am a (still out of shape, but working on it) mom who is too busy to think about what is cute to wear, and frankly goes days without wearing anything more than pj's with a pony tail holding back my recently, "unsuccessfully" highlighted, super long, washed if I am lucky, hair.

HELP!!!

I am taking suggestions on the following topics:

1. What should I do with my hair? (I have had it long since high school and I like it that way, I just need something different.)

this is what it has basically looked like for the past 10 years!

2. I know long tops are in style, but where do I get them, and what is a cute way to wear them?

3. I am in desperate need of a tan! What tanning products are good, or how can I get some sun without exposing Emma to the heat?

These are just a few things that have been on my mind, but I am
Open to Suggestions!

I would love to know what is in style!

I know I am in good hands!!

What have I done this week?

So I finally have a second to write something on my blog. What do I write about? I know, I will write about what I have done this week. Great Idea.......but what have I done this week?

I have killed 1 Giant Cricket:
I am sorry to admit that I am a bug killer. I hate admitting this, especially to my mother-in-law who is so kind to all living creatures. And I know that I should have compassion and just pick them up and move them outside to roam free but my fear gets the better of me and I have to take immediate action. Monday, as I was putting Emma down for her nap, I saw a HUGE bug on the recliner chair in her room. Not wanting it to get near Emma I quickly grabbed a shoe and slammed the shoe down on top of the creature. Now obviously I wasn't thinking clearly or I would have remembered that good ole' Newton teaches, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." And that reaction being that if you throw something down on something padded, it bownces! So as the shoe and cricket came flying towards me I screamed and I mean SCREAMED (like a little girl, as Mark would say). And then Emma screamed. And then I laughed. And then Emma didn't know what to do. Needless to say, the cricket passed and all is right again.

I took Emma to the Doctor to find she had gained 2 pounds:

Emma has had a little trouble gaining weight lately. In our series of doctors appointments a decision was finally made to start her on formula. A decision that was extremely difficult for me as I wanted to nurse her exclusively for a year. After a few days of formula Emmas mood changed dramatically. She has been happier, more socialable, and a lot easier to soothe. I have felt such a calming feeling that this change although very difficult for me was one that was necessary and most beneficial for Emma. When we went to her appointement this week the doctor came in and couldn't believe that she had gained 2 lbs in just one week. She insisted that the nurse re-weigh her. She is still (as our friend Roger Hall says) a "dainty girl" but now she's got a little meat on her.
I went to WINCO 3 times:

I don't know what my deal was this week with the grocery store but we have become very close. First, I walked from our house to the store for milk on Monday, then on Thursday I made two trips, once for cheese and once for bread. I really do need to get better about making a shopping list.

I gave Emma 4 baths:

I know there have been 5 days this week (according to my calender that starts on Monday), so yes she was a little stinky for a day. I have actually thought a lot about how much you are suppose to bathe your child. My mom thinks that a child shouldn't go a day without a bath and she faithful washed all her kids everyday. I on the other hand try very hard but somedays the forces are against me.

So for your blogging pleasure, those are a few things that I DID do this week.

You know, since Emma was born I have not been able to accomplish my usual daily tasks and therefore I have been defining my days as unproductive. But from now on I am going to try my darndest to take note of what has been done and remember to recognize the product of my labors no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time.

Let me explain...

I try very hard not to be the boastful type, but my expressive side that needs to explain everything in great detail sometimes gets in the way. So I am sorry if this sounds braggy but I feel like I should explain a few reasons why

I AM THE LUCKIEST,

I truely have been blessed in my life. This is our little family. We are few in numbers, but not in personality. (Although Emma has most of it!)

I'm lucky enough to be married to the most handsome, compassionate, adventurous,

did I mention HOT,

patient, kind, understanding, funny,

sweet, and devoted man.

He is a great husband and father

and I am the luckiest girl to be sealed to him for time and all eternity.

I get to be the mother of a happy, passionate, smart little girl who I am certain will be teaching me more than I could ever teach her.
She has many faces,

Happy

Curious

Serious

Mad

Silly

and just dang Cute!

Before you have a baby you hear many people say how hard motherhood is, but that it is even more rewarding. Well, by golly they are right! I couldn't have imagined the struggles, but I couldn't have imagined the joy that I feel when I squeeze her or hear her laugh. I am the luckiest because I get to wake up to this little girl every morning!

I use to live in Hawaii. HELLO! How lucky was I to live in paradise?

Not only did I have a tan year round for three years, man do I miss that, but Mark and I met there and I am and the luckiest that it will always be home to us.

I have travelled to many exciting places!

Cape Town, South Africa

London, England

Maui, Hawaii


Just to name a few! I am the luckiest to have had these opportunities of a lifetime.



I grew up in a loving home with parents who loved me and taught me the right way. And with siblings who were a great example to me.
(sorry this is the most recent and complete family pic I have)

I also grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In which I have been blessed to know who I am, where I came from and where I am going, it's a knowledge that blesses my life everyday!

I am the luckiest!