Juicy Engagements

Last weekend (April 26) my one and only brother Sheridan got engaged to his darling lady Tiffany! To say we are ecstatic would be an understatement. They are perfect for each other and we couldn't be happier that Sheridan found Tiffany. She is also a perfect fit for our family. We love her!

Marlo loves her Tiffany! 

It was so fun to be here and celebrate with them. It was also Tiffany's birthday so we had a dinner for her on Sunday and then just played games. They are such a fun couple!

I borrowed a friends juicer to juice these oranges my parents brought us from AZ. (Confession - I didn't even end up using the juice. Long story.) And while I was at it, I whipped out the Nutribullet (which I LOVE) and blended up some green beans and sweet potatoes for Marlo. She doesn't love them because they lack a little flavor but I actually just consulted with a doctor and he said not to add any flavoring and that she will eventually come around. (NOTE: I did mix the sweet potatoes with some apple sauce the other day and that kind of worked.) 

Speaking of juicy...isn't she the yummiest!? I always know when the nap was long enough when she is so happy when she wakes up. I showed my Mom this picture and she was like, "Aren't you worried about her crawling over and jumping out?!" Nephi and I kinda scoffed at that because we thought there is NO WAY Marlo is strong enough to do that yet - I had to help her stand up in this picture. And lo and behold, Marlo literally started pulling herself up in her crib today. In fact, just right now as I am catching up on the blog and trying to get her to nap she keeps sitting up and pulling herself up. She can't quite get up all the way but she is close! Looks like we have to lower the crib.

Sore bodies

A few weeks ago we finally got to check off Skiing/Snowboarding in Idaho off our bucket list! To think I have lived here for 6+ years and have never been to a Ski resort is crazy! Finally I feel like Nephi and I joined an exclusive club...a club where we felt totally inadequate and idiotic, but we joined nonetheless.

We had planned to go up to Driggs to meet up with our good friends [the Henderson's] and go to the Jackson Aquatic Center. The day before we left, Sarah put together a plan to go skiing/snowboarding with the free passes they had so we made it work and we went!

Nephi and I were so nervous. He went snowboarding when he was 12 and I had been snowboarding once and then skiing a few times. (I actually can - or used to be able to - ski on water really well.) We weren't sure what to expect but I knew I didn't want to snowboard but Nephi was insistent so I borrowed skiis and he borrowed a board. I am happy to say that I didn't fall once and Nephi fell...oh...a handful of times (we will spare the number for his sake).

We stayed on the bunny hill the whole time - bless Sarah and Stephen. They were so patient with us. My boots fit but were a little tight on my ankles and left blisters that are still healing as I type this 3 weeks later. PS - Why is walking in ski boots harder than walking in snowboarding boots but skiing is so much easier than snowboarding? Nephi could barely grip the wheel of the car on the drive home and his legs were on fire most of the day. Needless to say - based on the title of this post - we were sore for the few says after that.

It was the day before the resort closed and we had a blast! So glad we got to go with such good friends. We needed the weekend to unwind from some stressful happenings at home and got to spend time with Nephi's parents as well. We even hit up the Corner Drug in Driggs for a Huckleberry shake, saw a buffalo have a miscarriage (craziest thing ever), and the babes (Marlo + June) got to play.

Rachies Graduation + Family

Rachel graduated from BYU-Idaho 2 weeks ago with her bachelors degree in journalism! It's been so nice having her in Idaho and although we are sad to see her go, we are really proud of her! I always get so excited for people to graduate from college. It's a big accomplishment and worth every minute and penny!

It was fun to have family in town. We went to frozen custard with my Dad (both his + my favorite), sat around and talked, and my Mom put Marlo to bed each night - which was so awesome because Marlo went down so easy for her. Often I find myself coveting people who have their family in town and Sunday dinners and all that support and babysitters - then I remember I DO have that! My parents visit us more than we visit them, and then I have siblings here. I feel pretty blessed.

Marlo has a fascination with Uncle Zach. She just stares at him when he plays with her, ha! So cute. 

Marlo and Great-Grandy. He is one of the best men I know and I am grateful to call him my "Grandy"!

Breaking Baby Habits

Babies are habitual. Especially our Marlo. I remember the nurses telling us that we should do whatever she wants us to do for the first 3 months and it won't create any bad habits ("You can't spoil them too much!") - I never believed it. I've always felt that Marlo has adapted to things quickly and can be flexible but she has like consistency from the beginning (like most babies). She has been pretty good at naps and sleeping in general but lately we have been trying to break her of the naps in the swing and it's been HARD. I really want her to sleep in her crib for naps but she cannot handle it! Yesterday I put her in the crib for her first nap and it took an hour of battling and crying before she finally fell asleep and she only slept for 1 hour! Ugh! So for the next nap I just put her in the swing - and BOOM - 3 hours. In fact, I had to wake her up because it was 5:30 and I wanted her to go to bed at 8. It was one of those days where I felt like I was trying to get her to sleep allllll day. I hate that feeling - I want to focus on playtime with her but I get very anxious when it comes to her sleeping schedule. I've always been scared of her just up and deciding to stop taking naps. I hear it happens, no matter how consistent you are with them.

She's been a good sleeper for a few months now and we have been very spoiled. But for the past 3-4 weeks she has been a nightmare to put down! We usually get her in bed between 7:30-8:00 and she battles sometimes until 8:30. She's rolling around so much and gets on her tummy (which she knows how to roll back over on her back) but she stays there and cries so we will come in. UGH! And then she has woken up 1-3 times a night crying and we just go in and put the binky back in - which we almost cut that habit of her sleeping with it until this all started - and then she falls back to sleep instantly. Sometimes it seems like she is having a nightmare but the doctor said she won't have nightmares until between ages 1-2, so that's ruled out. Oh, and she has been waking up between 5:45-6:30 to eat. Gahhh, really?

It really could be any of the following: Cough (it's been around for the past 3 weeks), Running/Stuffy Nose (also been around for the past 3 weeks - doctor said she's fine), Thrush (she got it from the eye drop antibiotics for the pink eye), or teething (she has something on the bottom that looks like it's coming in, but she isn't chewing on everything but she is drooling a lot more). WHAT IS IT!? I'm going crazy. What happened to my easy sleeping baby!? I guess I had my bliss and it's time to have the torture.

She is such a sweetie though and I appreciate her nature so much. She is kind and curious, social and sweet. She seems to have a lot of us in her, but I can't tell all too much yet. Nephi was telling me about a study that was done that explains personalities in children. They are something like 20% Mom, 20% Dad, and 60% their own self that came from heaven! And I believe that with Marlo. It makes sense because if we were all made up of exactly what our parents personalities are, then how would we be each be individuals like Heavenly Father claims? I am grateful and anxious to get to know Marlo's 60%!

H A W A I I

The first week of March we went to the island of Kauai on vacation. To say we had the best time ever would be an understatement! Now I know why everyone goes to Hawaii -- it is not an illusion, it really is the best place! And I say that having been to both Pacific and Atlantic oceans including the Bahamas. Also, Kauai is not like the other islands. There is basically 5 stop lights on the whole island and it is so low key. It's not super busy or really touristy. It wasn't our goal to see all the sights but rather to spend time together as a family.

Many people don't know this but my Dad has been battling a liver disease for the past 3 years. It's complicated, but he needs a liver transplant and in his current condition his quality of life is weak, however, not bad enough to get on the transplant list. This is very, very (can't even express) frustrating to my Dad, and to us. We have tons of questions and very little answers. We are trying to be patient.

He has lived such a beautiful life - I look up to him so much - and has always had a passion for traveling and like to invites us along when we can. So when we were leaving them at Christmas time to come back to Idaho, he whispered (laying in bed), "Let's go to Hawaii". Okay! So we scrounged up some money, budgeted tightly for 2 months, and we were off! If it was up to me, I would have waited till May (to save more money) but I am glad we went and every penny was worth it!

Nephi and I have loved traveling together and have saved our money to go on a few trips - that's just one of the things we like to do together! It's something we want for our future family as well. Every family is different I am learning. We had a few snarky comments from people, "Oh, Hawaii??" or "Oh, are your parents paying for it?" Or people who would say nothing at all when we would tell them (awkward silence). I only say this because I want to remember the reason we went - not to justify anything. We were going to go to Hawaii this year one way or another (it was on our list of goals - we set them and MAKE them) and I am so glad we went!

A few pics from our trip!

Marlo loved the sun and we avoided sunburns with lots of sunscreen. 

Welcome to Hawaii Baby Marlo! 

Best friends. I can't compete. 

The tacos there...yum! 

Went kayaking to a hike that lead up to a waterfall! It wasn't super magical but it was a fun hike!

Thanks Nama for the cute hat and swimsuit! 

I actually got in the water and boogie boarded! That is really saying something. 

My favorite beach day was this day! 

No make-up all week and time with these 2 was amazing. 

This swimsuit and hat is HEART EYES. 

The view from our house.

This resort was right next to our house and their beach front was incredible!

Marlo literally started siting up the day we got there. Miracle!

Aren't Pediatricians the Best?

Poor Marlo got pink eye this week! We were planning on taking her to the doctor on Friday for her 6 month shots but we discovered the pink eye on Wednesday so we moved the appointment up. I was so nervous because Nephi wasn't going to be able to make it because he was working and it was a last minute change in schedule that he didn't plan on. But we met with the doctor and right before the nurse came back for the shots, Nephi walked in (his office in 50 yards away from the pediatricians office)! Whew!

Marlo always surprises me. She got 2 shots this time and cried for like 30 seconds and then stopped and didn't cry about it again the rest of the day! We came home, I gave her a nice bath to relax her leggos and clean off the germs from pink eye, and then she took a good nap. No tylenol necessary! Hoping the rest of her shots go this way...?? So, just some drops for Marlo and her eyes are already looking great. We caught it early and that's what is important. Although, now I think we are dealing with thrush because of the antibiotic...ugh. I'll be calling the nurses line first thing in the AM!

The doctor said she is perfect! He was so impressed by her sitting up and how she held herself when standing. She was 69% for height, and 17% for weight (which is a 12% increase in a months time!). I have to say that having a pediatrician has given me hope for the world in medical care. He has been so wonderful with Marlo and especially with me. He never interrupts me when I'm talking, allows time and makes me feel comfortable to ask a million questions, doesn't roll his eyes at me when I say that "When I googled it, it said...", has given me great advice when it comes to breastfeeding/supplementing, makes Marlo smile, and is always telling me that he is not worried about her and that she is a perfectly healthy baby!

Since Marlo is smaller for her age (you don't have to tell me - but I am sure you will) I have always been worried the doctor would tell me I am not feeding her enough. But considering that fact that she drinks 8 oz bottles and that we are now on full formula and she is still small, he reassures me that she is just perfect. Better yet, he reminds me by telling me that his son is small like that too and that he is perfectly healthy. I mean, really. That's all I need to hear. He has never once pointed out that she is small - it's always been me bringing it up - and that means the world to me. When people are daily telling you how tiny your baby is (and you want to attack Mean Girls style) to have someone tell you that your baby is healthy and perfect (who isn't your Mom) is such a blessing. I am so impressed.

Marlo's bath after her shots - 3/25/15

[Marlo - 6 months]

Our sweet Marlo girl is like no other!

 She has a tiny frame and lips like her Mother. 

She loves to sit up and laugh and play. Cuddling is certainly not her forte. 

She needs to be in the know 24/7. She makes everyone feel special with smiles from heaven. 

She is like kindness wrapped in a blanket. 

It's hard to explain but we know God nailed it. 

And now at 6 months Marlo is growing bigger. She flaps her arms with gusto and vigor!

She grabs anything and everything within her grasp. Blowing bubbles with her mouth is a daily task. 

 She growls and she grunts and she squeels and she cries. 

She is my clockwork baby and hits her grow-spurts almost on the dime. 

She is starting solids and always grabs at the spoon. 

She can hold her own bottle and we are over the moon! 

She has no preference to which parent she favors. She an independent baby and never wavers.