My Path to Motherhood: Nathan

*** We went to breakfast while we were in California, just as our little family. 

     The first thing the waiter said when he saw us was, "Wow, you guys haven't wasted any time!" Then, pointing to each kid, "Bam, bam, bam!"

     Because of comments from some people and stares from others, I thought it would be fun to take the time to share the story of how we decided to have each of our kids, starting with our first little blessing, Ellie. In sharing each of these stories, I hope to share my belief that when to have children and how many to have is a personal decision between a husband, wife, and the Lord. I have a very real testimony that the Lord does have a unique plan for each of His children, and often the Lord's plan for us is not what we may have imagined. And, most likely, His plan for you is not the same as His plan for me. And that's ok. ***

YOU CAN READ PART 1 HERE, PART 3 HERE, PART 4 HERE.

     When Ellie was about 6 months old, I started getting baby hungry again. I know it seems silly because I already had a baby, but if you've ever had the feeling, you know what I mean - you can't really explain it. One day as I was praying, I asked the Lord to help me stop feeling that way until He wanted us to have another baby. When I got up off of my knees, the feeling was gone - I was no longer baby hungry.

     I enjoyed being a mom to my little girl, and I started my second semester of nursing school in January without a single thought of another baby.

     As I got dressed one day at the beginning of February, the thought came to my mind, "I would like to have another baby." The thought took me by surprise because I had been so content with my life the way it was - and, honestly, my time was consumed with school work, clinicals, classes, and taking care of Ellie. So I decided to kneel down and ask the Lord if this was my answer. Was it time for us to invite another member to our family, or was I crazy? I had an overwhelming feeling that yes, this was my answer.

     I brought up the whole experience to Sam, who wasn't exactly sold on the idea. We were both set to graduate in December, (him with his Bachelors and me with my Associates) so he thought we should at least wait to try until the baby's due date would be after my graduation date. However, I felt strongly that we had received an answer, and we needed to follow the Lord's timing. Besides, it would probably take a while for me to get pregnant anyway.

     Well, at the beginning of March I got a positive result on the pregnancy test. The baby would be due a week before my graduation date. We were very excited and a little nervous, but above all we knew that we were following the Lord's plan for us.

     In July of 2012, Sam was offered a job as a Business Analyst at BYU-Idaho. We decided to accept the offer, which was a great blessing to our family, however there was one little issue: Sam wouldn't graduate until December, while he agreed to begin working full-time starting in September. So for those three months, he would be working 40 hours a week as well as tackling a full class load. (Did I mention what a hardworking man my husband is? He's amazing.) Oh, and we had a baby due in November. We had a bit of a crazy semester ahead of us!

     The semester was busy, but it was full of tender mercies for our family. I was blessed with a very understanding clinical instructor who helped me arrange my schedule to complete all of my hospital rotations before the baby was due and Sam was assigned to groups of students in his classes who catered to his busy schedule for study sessions and working on group projects.

     In November our sweet little Nathaniel was born via emergency c-section.

     Sam and I finished out the last two weeks of the semester - taking tests, giving presentations, and me preparing for the NCLEX. I look back on those two weeks and wonder how we did it, and I know the Lord strengthened us because we were doing His will. We could not have done it alone.

     Again, I testify of the blessing of the Lord's timing in sending Nathan to our family. Logically, it did not make sense to bring another baby into our family when we did - but the Lord knows more than we know. He loves us and wants the best for each of us. Sometimes it takes a little leap of faith to do what He asks, (and sometimes a big leap) but I know that when we follow His will, he will help us accomplish it, though that does not mean it will be easy.

     I am so grateful for this little blonde, blue-eyed boy, and the timing in which the Lord chose to send him to us. And I think Ellie would agree (on most days) that she loves having a little brother as her best friend.

My Path to Motherhood: Ellie

*** We went to breakfast while we were in California, just as our little family. 

     The first thing the waiter said when he saw us was, "Wow, you guys haven't wasted any time!" Then, pointing to each kid, "Bam, bam, bam!"

     Because of comments from some people and stares from others, I thought it would be fun to take the time to share the story of how we decided to have each of our kids, starting with our first little blessing, Ellie. In sharing each of these stories, I hope to share my belief that when to have children and how many to have is a personal decision between a husband, wife, and the Lord. I have a very real testimony that the Lord does have a unique plan for each of His children, and often the Lord's plan for us is not what we may have imagined. And, most likely, His plan for you is not the same as His plan for me. And that's ok. ***

PART 2 HERE, PART 3 HERE, PART 4 HERE.

     Sam and I were married in April 2010. When we got married we didn't plan to have children right away. We were both in school. I had applied for the Nursing program at BYU-Idaho, and was anxiously awaiting what I anticipated to be an acceptance letter in June so I could begin classes for my major that fall. And did I mention I was only nineteen? We knew we wanted kids, but we wanted to wait until after I graduated from nursing school to begin that part of our lives.

      In June I received a letter from the Department of Nursing: I was not accepted to the program. I was absolutely devastated. I had wanted to be a nurse for as long as I could remember, so I wasn't giving up. I planned classes for that fall, resolved to get perfect grades, and turned in my application for spring semester. That was it - I would start in the spring.

     However, plans changed in July. I don't remember what I was doing exactly, but the thought came to my mind that we should have a baby. I shook it off - we had only been married three months, and I was going to nursing school first. A few days later, I had the feeling again. And again the next day. So I sheepishly brought it up to Sam. I don't remember him being shocked, but he did suggest that we spend a few days praying about it separately, then we would go to the temple seeking answers, and finally we would kneel down together and pray about it. I still remember where I was sitting in the Idaho Falls Temple when I received my definite answer. The next day was a Sunday, and we came together to discuss our thoughts. After a bit of cajoling, I told him about my experience. And, wouldn't you know, his experience was similar. After our discussion Sam offered a prayer, and when it was over we were in agreement - we needed to have a baby.

     At the end of August I took a pregnancy test in the Wal-Mart bathroom, (that's a story for another day) and it was positive. We were ecstatic.

     From the moment we announced my pregnancy a couple of months later, people asked us, "Was it a surprise?" People we knew, people we didn't - they all seemed to feel the need to ask the same question, especially those who knew that we were planning to wait until we were finished with school.

     In January I received another letter from the Department of Nursing - again, I was not accepted. This time I was relieved since our little girl was due in May, and Spring semester started in April, but I was not deterred from my goal. I turned in my application for fall. I was still going to be a nurse.

     Ellie was born in May 2011, less than a month after our first anniversary.

     While we were in the hospital, Ellie and I were cared for by a BYU-Idaho Nursing student and her instructor. I mentioned to them that I was applying for the fall semester, and the instructor gave me some pointers on applying. This was a reminder that the Lord has a plan for me, and that He is mindful of my goals and aspirations. As I followed the Lord's will in choosing to become a mom first, He then provided opportunities for my education.

     In June I received the letter I had been waiting for - I was accepted to the Nursing program! I started in September.

     Sam and I were both in school, and we tried to arrange our schedules so that one of us would be home with Ellie while the other was at school, but it didn't always work out. It was so hard for me to leave my baby with someone else while I went to class. I even missed Ellie's first laugh. Sam took a video for me, and when he showed it to me when I got home, I cried.

     Ellie came with me to study groups, watched me as I practiced my skills on mannequins in the nursing lab, and even acted as "patient" when my classmates and I had to document a pediatric assessment.

     The Lord's plan was different from the one I had made for myself, and boy am I glad. Ellie is our little ray of sunshine.

     "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord."
            - Isaiah 55:8

     I am so grateful for the Lord's timing in providing me the privilege of being "Mommy" to such a sweet, contagiously happy, bubbly little girl.

A Little Bit of Catch-up

Sam came home!!! It is so good to be back together again. We picked him up at the airport in Idaho Falls, and of course we had to go get him a hamburger.

He brought Ellie some bracelets, rings and necklaces, and she was completely in heaven. It was funny to watch her walk around with them on - she felt so beautiful.

Sam came home on Wednesday, Thursday consisted of doing laundry and packing, and on Friday we left for a family reunion in California. Our flight left Salt Lake at 11:30 on Saturday, so we found a hotel in downtown Salt Lake that had a free parking garage and a shuttle to the airport and stayed there Friday night.

While we were there, we decided to take the kids to see the temple, the tabernacle, and the visitor's centers. I am amazed at how much Ellie picks up and remembers. She loved to see the smaller replica of the temple, the pictures of the prophets, the wax statues of Book of Mormon prophets, and she especially loved the Cristus. Sam said as soon as Ellie saw the statue she said "It's Jesus! Let's go touch Him!" Ellie and Nathan went to the base of the statue and looked at Him and talked to Him. It was so sweet to hear their excitement.

We had a great time feeling the Spirit and spending time together. The kids were so glad to have their daddy back.

Then we flew to California the next day. We were quite the circus getting through the airport, but we made it.

The family reunion was in Newport, California with my dad's side of the family. My grandparents have a timeshare, and they cashed in all of their points so they could bring the entire family to this resort for a week. Wow.

We spent a week swimming in the pool and at the beach, playing games, eating way too much, and just spending time with family. Sam's parents and Ben, Melissa and Peter even came down one day. It was a blast.

Nathan loved the beach, Ellie hated it, I learned to boogie board, and Sam got the funniest-looking/most painful-looking sunburn of his life. Apparently you shouldn't let my dad spray your sunscreen because you will come out with tiger stripes.

We were all completely exhausted.

Awkward selfie, but I had to document the cute moment. My little guy is growing up, and the snuggles are getting to be few and far between.

How adorable is this picture? Dad's pushing their kids. We traveled on the same flight as Tucker, Karli, and their cute new baby Annie. She's so sweet and perfect. And, surprisingly, the kids all did well on the flights and in the airports. Well, aside from the huge amount of goldfish crackers that Nathan smashed into the carpet at the airport... Sigh. 

Nathan kept finding new ways to sit in the stroller. He's a funny little guy.

We got home at 2:30 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning, so we were really tired on Sunday of course. Nathan fell asleep in the car on the way home from church, and Sam thought it would be funny to draw a mustache on Nathan............ Yeah, no comment from me. And Ellie was quite upset about it - she kept telling Sam that we don't color on people, only paper. Ya think she's heard that once or twice in her life? :) After we got these pictures, Ellie rubbed the mustache off, and that was that. (Good thing Sam used a dry erase marker)

While we were in California Jonah started waking up in the night to eat again, so I started giving him a little bit of cereal before bed. He is eating it really well, and I'm hoping he will start sleeping through the night again soon. He sure spoiled me by being a good sleeper so early!

We took him in for his 4-month check-up yesterday, and he weighs 14.7 lbs (42%), is 25.3 in. tall (60%), and his head is 16.8 in. (55%). He doesn't have the "huge head little body" thing that my other two have.

When the doctor walked into the room yesterday, (he's a really big guy) Ellie said, not so quietly, "Why him has a big bum?" Aye aye aye.........

We had a fun vacation, but it is great to be home.

While Daddy's Away: Day 23

Today was our last day without Sam. He's coming home tomorrow afternoon, and we can't wait! Hooray!

I'll give you one try to guess who did this to Jonah:

That same girl asked me to take this picture of her:

Since we are home now, Jonah is back to the pink bumbo. He loves for me to set him right in the middle of the floor where Ellie and Nathan are so he can watch them. It's so funny to watch his head turning back and forth watching them. He always smiles at them, and occasionally he will get really excited and wave his arms and legs around like crazy to get in on the action.

Jonah genuinely enjoys when his siblings play with him. My initial reaction is to protect him by telling them to leave him alone, but he always has a smile on his face when they're around... Except for the time yesterday when Ellie accidentally hit him in the head with her princess wand...

This time was no different: I almost told Ellie to stop touching his face, but then I realized he liked it.

And this little guy is turning into more of a boy every day. He loves to explore and get into everything he's not supposed to. I went to find him today, and he had plugged the bath tub and was filling it up... In his clothes with his shoes on. He was quite proud of himself. Now I know I need to be more vigilant about closing my bathroom door!

While Daddy's Away: Day 22

Ellie came in again this morning and snuggled with Jonah after I fed him.

And she was quite proud that she got to stir the juice all by herself.

The kids share a room at night, but I usually put them in separate rooms at nap time. Today, however, they requested the same room. I figured why not, so I got them in their beds and all set. They talked and played for quite awhile, but I decided not to let it bother me. When I went in to check on them because they were quiet, I saw this:

I did laundry today from our trip to Arizona, and my swim suit has to be hung to dry. I came out from helping Nathan get to bed, and Ellie had grabbed it and put it on - it made me laugh.

Since we have been home Ellie and Nathan have both been asking about Daddy a lot. I think now that we are back in our normal routine they miss him even more. 

One more full day until he gets home! We can't wait!

While Daddy's Away: Day 21

Ellie came in around 5 this morning. She didn't say a word - she just plopped down next to me in bed and fell asleep.

I definitely didn't mind that.

And once Jonah got up, she insisted on holding him. He's almost too big and wiggly for her to hold, but not quite.

And Ben went home this afternoon. He's awesome. I was sad to see him go.

While Daddy's Away: Day 20

We made it home to Rexburg safe and sound. I am so glad to be home! We left this morning at 4:30 (Arizona time), and got home just before 9 (Idaho time). We made pretty good time, I think!

The kids were so good considering how long we were in the car. I really can't believe how well-behaved they were for such a long drive. It was definitely a tender mercy for me since I was really stressed out about the trip.

Some things we did to help the time pass by were movies for the kids (I am an unashamed advocate of letting the kids watch movies in the car on long trips. I can't read very many books to them before I get carsick, so if it keeps them entertained and keeps them from fighting, it's alright with me. I'm sure my opinion will change a little when they get older and can do more things for themselves, but for now it works.) I also bought a few dollar store toys/books and put them in paper bags, then every once in awhile when the kids got restless I would let them open a surprise. (It was my mom's idea, and it was absolutely worth it.)

One surprise was a coloring book with stickers and crayons. The stickers didn't actually end up in the book though. :)

The biggest hits were the slinkies. They played with them for quite awhile. We won't mention what they looked like by the time we got home though... Let's just say they can't be untangled.

We found that if we let the kids out for about two minutes each time we got gas - enough time for a potty break but not enough time to get used to being out of the car - they were refreshed and ok with getting back into their car seats. Nathan just wanted to be held when we let him out, and I definitely didn't mind snuggling him.

One of the biggest helps was that my brother Ben drove with me. I really couldn't have done it without him. He took half of the driving and helped the kids while I drove.

We stopped in Tremonton so I could feed Jonah and Ben played with the kids. 

I didn't get any good pictures, but they were in heaven. I'm so grateful for that brother of mine. (And my three other brothers too, of course :))

Jonah hardly made a peep the entire time. He cried a little when he got hungry, but other than that he slept and just looked around. He is such a pleasant baby.

And of course there was a fair amount of crying from the older two, but that is to be expected on a long road trip with three tiny kiddos! We are all grateful to be out of the car and in our beds tonight!