Happy Birthday Stephanie

My niece, Stephanie is 8 years old today. And I can't wait to see her and her brother in November. She is such a sweet girl and so special. I can't believe that she is in second grade. My sister's family is Catholic and last May Stephanie had her first communion. Where she became a member of their congregation. I'm so proud of her. She had to memorize all the saints and Catholic prayers (there are a lot of them).

Home Home to Braddock Road!!

Okay so we are going to be in VA for Thanksgiving this year. Iain and I fly out of Colorado on the 18th and are staying till the 30th. Brian fly's out on the 24th til the 30th. I'm so excited. My family and friends are going to met Iain for the first time. Yeah Yeah. Do the happy dance. It's Iain first Thanksgiving and his first plane ride. And the first time his is meeting my siblings, grandparents, and mommy's friends that are more like family. I can't wait for the holiday season to be here. This year is going to be so much fun. But I've never traveled alone with a baby before so this is my first time to do that. And this is also my first Thanksgiving as a mommy (so exciting) and Brian's as a daddy.

What will this month hold for us

Iain is 5months old as of yesterday. And he learned so much the last 4months that I'm excited to see what happens next. I'm also hoping that this next month brings so changes for Brian and I. We're hoping that these things happen:

• Brian finds a job
• He finishes the basement
• Brian gets his range back for vocal, horn, and french horn (so he can audition for the Army band the first week of November)
• Iain sleep for more than 3 hours at night

So just a few things we are praying for. And we could use your prayers as well. Thank you. Things we are thankful for:

• Family
• The gospel
• The Temple
• Eternal marriage
• Heavenly Father's plan
• Our new ward here in Colorado
• Each other
• Our son
• grandparents that take the baby so we can have alone time
• Our car
• and for the love we have for each other and the love that Heavenly Father shows us each and every day

So I'm quite thankful for our blessings.

Temples

I'm so grateful for temples. They truly are the house of the Lord. Being able to go to the temple and to know I'm worthy to enter the Lord's house and help with His work, is just amazing. I'm also thankful for eternal marriage. Not growing up being sealed to an eternal family wasn't always the easiest. Because I knew my family would be slit up after we passed from this life. So, when Brian asked me to marry him I was so excited because I know it would be for eternity. Now that we have a son we are adding to that eternal bond that Brian's family began so long ago. I hope that one day I will be able to seal my ancestors together, so that both sides of our families can be together forever.

Learning new things

Iain is sitting up all by himself, pushing himself all over the floors in his walker,sticking his tongue out at me and everyone else, he's even sucking on his bottom lip, and is totally loving sucking on his toes. Iain eats like a champ (only 4oz bottles he doesn't want any more or any less). So during the day he eats every 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours but at night he eats every 3 (so that means I get very little sleep at night). Oh yeah, Iain loves his rice cereal (only once a day and normally he gets that right before bed). I marvel at this little boy and how much he is learning/discovering daily. He is still quite depended on Brian and I for all his daily needs/wants but I would die for him. He is just so special. And I'm looking forward to the day that he learns to talk and to say mama.I'm so glad that he has chosen to be part of our eternal family.

I'm so bored....Marriage Tag

1. How Long have we been Married? almost 2 years
2. How old is your husband? 26years, 9months, and 5days
3. Who eats more? He does
4. Who said "I Love You" first? He did back in April of 2007
5. Who is taller? He is
6. Who sings better? He does
7. Who is smarter? Depends on the subject matter
8. Who controls the T.V. ? We watch the same shows and we take turns being in control of the remote
9. Whose temper is worse? Mine (I think)
10. Who does the dishes? We take turns
11. Who sleeps on the right? I do
12. Who cooks? We take turns (but I do it most of the time)
13. Who is more stubborn? We're about equal
14. Who admits they are wrong first? I do
15. Whose parents do you see more? His
16. Who has more siblings? I do
17. Who has more friends? I keep in touch with more of my friends than he does.
18. Who wears the pants? We both do equally, decisions are made together when they concern our family.

I tag Maryellen, Mer, Abby, Juliana and Britney

My Sister Jennifer

Okay I said I would pick one person close to my family to write about...and this week I've picked my older sister, Jennifer Lynn Nee Bartoletti. I met Jenn when I moved into her parents house in 1998, I had been placed there as a foster child. The first time I went to their house was just to met them, to see if their home was a good placement for me. Big Jenn was there and she liked at Dad and asked him if the three of us wanted to take the dogs (Lincoln and Charlie) for a walk around Royal Lake. I wasn't wearing tennis shoes, so she let me borrow a pair of hers. I guess since I don't have a great relationship with my biological sister, I was looking for that older sister that I could look up to and go to for advice. I was comfortable around Jenn and her parents, so much so that I was/am able to call them my family. And that I asked Jenn to be a brides maid in my wedding because I knew that she would always support and be there for me and my growing family. Am so glad that I can call Jenn my sister.

A Look Back part 7

Okay hopefully I can finally finish writing about Iain's birth and first few days with us. We'll see I depends on how sleepy I get. Well where was I... Oh yeah I remember.

• I was taken to my postpartum room after delivery. Shortly after arriving to my room Iain decided that he wanted to eat, so he was brought to my room. Where I nursed him. Brian and I made the decision that Iain would sleep in the Nursery, one door down from my room, so that well we were at the hospital we would be able to get a little sleep. (Yeah right, sleep. Iain wanted to eat every hour and half and I mean EVERY hour and a half. He was and is a little piggy).
• While in the hospital we signed up for Healthy Beginnings (a free lactation service for nursing moms at the hospital I delivered at). We started working with a lady named Becky, who is a lactation consulted while we were still at the hospital(nursing is hard, who ever said it was easy must have never done it) and are still working with her (though I'm no longer nursing because Iain decided that he had had enough. He was 6 and half weeks old). As a couple, Brian and I decided to pump (until I got to the point that I just wasn't enjoying feeding my son (by this point I had been pumping for 13weeks (Brian and I decided to continue for a few more months).

Okay so back to Iain's first few days.

• Friday the 24th of April was a very slow day. Iain got his first dose of Hep B, was circumcised, had his blood drawn, and a hearing test all in one day. The hospital photographer wanted to take his new born pictures but I said that he had had a long day with everything he had been through that Saturday was a better day for pictures. I got up and walked down to the nursery and back for the first time (man can I tell you that I was wabbly and a little numb from the day/night before.
• I got to talk to my mom and dad for a few minutes on the phone.
• Brian went home to take a shower and get some clean clothes. He also picked up some things that I had forgotten to pack in my bag.
• Brian's dad and younger brother came to visit again and to take pictures of Iain. We also talked to Leslie, Chris, Julie, and Brian's mom who were in VA when Iain was born. (Because Leslie had had her baby on the 12th of April).
• The guys who were remolding the master bathroom sent me some very pretty flowers and balloons.
• Iain slept in the Nursery again, so we could get some sleep.

That brings us to Saturday the 25th of April, the day we got to take Iain home.

• That morning my doctor came into check me and proscribe me pain meds. She said that she wanted to keep me in the hospital till Monday but that there had been so many deliveries the night before and that morning, she had been over ruled and Iain and I were being released. (She wanted to make sure I wasn't going to have any complications from all the fluids that were pumped into me during labor and delivery).
• Brian and I went to the discharge class (Becky was teaching it). During the class we were told how much weight we were able to carry (10lbs), Becky turns to me and says "except for you, that's only the baby." the other women being discharged turn to me and all of them say "your the woman who had that chubby baby boy, he is so cute and he doesn't cry." Brian and I sign all the papers that we needed to sign and than went back to my room.
• Shortly after getting back to my room, the photographer was waiting for us to take Iain's picture. We asked her if she could come back in about an hour so that we could get the baby dressed and I could take a shower.
• I get cleaned up and we call the nursery to have Iain brought to our room. I feed him and Brian gets him dressed for his pictures. The photographer comes back to take his picture. They turned out so cute.
• After the photographer leaves Brian starts to pack up all of our stuff and takes some of it to the car. When he gets back to my room with the car sit so we can put Iain into it. The nurse makes sure we are putting the baby into it and than she walks with us the round about in front of the hospital.

• We all get into the car to go home.
• The drive home was murder on my healing body (I HATE speed humps/bumbs whatever you want to call them).
• When we got to the house, we took Iain up stairs and went into our room for a little bit.
• Brian and I changed Iain's outfit and took a nap. (It sure was hard for me to get into our bed for the next few days.
• After we woke up and changed his diaper and fed him we went out into the loft to get Iain some sunshine and to watch T.V. for a little bit. Darrell and Mark made us lunch and brought it up stairs to Brian and I. (Because I wasn't allowed to go up and down stairs more than once or twice during the day. And frankly, I wasn't going to be moving from the couch till I had to).

Ok so I'm kinda tired tonight I'll finish this at another date.

I said I would never be like those women

Growing up I didn't understand when women with small babies would want another baby so soon. And I always said that I wasn't okay to even think about having my children so close together (seriously I'm NOT pregnant just ranting and dreaming). But I totally get why moms would say that they wanted another one. Babies just grow up to dang fast and before you know it they aren't the little cuddle bugs that they were when they were born but these little people with a mind of their very own. They are trying to take your drinking glass out of your hands and though they still can't talk they are very opinionated and quite vocal about everything. Moving all over the place and never slowing down. So though I want another little baby to add to our small family, I think I'll wait a year or so. Because Iain is the center of my world (along with his handsome daddy). I like the fact that it is just the three of us. (Because frankly getting one baby ready to go out is hard enough). Before we add to our small family...I want to lose all (and I mean ALL) the weight I gained with Iain and I would like to travel a little more with Brian. After all is said and done I still think those women are nuts but I understand what they are thinking now that I have a baby.

Has it really been five months already

4months 2weeks and 1day with his daddy's baseball mitt and the Boston Red Sox hat his Grandma Anne gave him

4months 2weeks and 1day with his daddy's baseball mitt and ball and the Boston Red Sox hat his Grandma Anne gave him

At four months and two weeks old.

At 2.5 months.

He is 11 weeks old in this one

Again Iain is 8 days old.

He is 8 days old.

He is 5 days old in this one.

Okay, I know this is a bit early seeing as Iain will be 5 months old next Wednesday. But I can't believe how fast time has flown by. He isn't the same baby boy we brought home from the hospital in April. Iain is learning all kinds of things and doing so much more. I can't let him nap on the couch anymore because he rolls in his sleep. He is such an active little boy now and getting to be so big. I'm consistently amazed about everything he is doing. Babies just grow up too fast. Don't they know they have all eternity to be grown up.

Our pictures are in....Yeah!

So on Friday Brian and I went to Olan Mills to see if our family pictures were in...and they were. Didn't it turn out great? I'm so excited that we went and had these taken. I also wanted pictures taken of each of us with Iain. I think they ca.me out great. I didn't really like any of the pictures of Iain and I, this was the only one that came out half way decent.

New tricks for baby

Ok, Iain is almost 19lbs and still 25 1/2 inches long. Iain is now sitting up and making a clicking sound with his tongue. My boy is so smart, gotta love it. I so lucky to be this sweet boy's mother and am looking forward to the day the we have more children (no I'm not expecting) and I get to see him in all his big brother glory.

Watching the Wright kids...

Ok, so on Friday a friend of mine form church, who I work out with asked me if I could watch her girls till Monday morning. The person that she had asked first had a death in the family and wouldn't be able to take them till Monday morning. I said that it wouldn't be a problem. So, Saturday night Brian and I (with Iain along for the ride) we went over to dinner at their house so that we could get the meet the older girls and to ask some questions about their routine. The Wright girls are 14, 12, 5, and 2 years old. The next morning very very early ( oh-dark-hundred, we're talking even earlier than seminary), Brian, Iain, and I get ready to go over to the Wright's house. Where we get them up and ready for church. (Which we were actually on time for this week. It's really hard to get up when you have a new baby and are still not sleeping at night). But we did it. But by the end of church (all three hours of it) I was ready for a nap. My routine with Iain is Sunday after church he and I go up to my room (or the recliner) and we take a nap together. It was kinda hard doing that at someone else house where a 2 year old lives. (Two year old girls are quite the noise makers). We got them to bed by their bed times and we were able to sit and relax and watch some TV and talk. ( Which is quite nice I love spending time with my sweet husband). By this morning we were ready to leave and go back to our routine. I'm so glad we got this opportunity to see what it may be like when we have more children. But I'm glad that for right now we only have Iain.

Iain has found a friend

Iain has now reached a new mile stone.... He has found himself in the mirror (well he thinks that its a different baby). He gets a big kick out of seeing his face. Big smile and laughing at the mirror. And he'll get mad if I turn hi m away from the mirror. Just thought I would share.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Yesterday after I gave Iain his bath, I asked Brian to get on the scale so that we could check and see how much Iain weighs. Well, after Brian weighed himself I handed Iain to him and low an' behold Iain weighs 18lbs. (No wonder my back hurts by the end of the day). We have a big boy, who is almost five months old. (Holy moly, whatever will we do). Brian and I have been talking about what direction we should be taking in our life together. We have made it a matter of prayer and we fill that the US Army is the right place for us, well at this point in our lives (well for our little family anyways). So it looks like January Brian is going to be at basic. But I'm glad that this limbo we've been in is going to be over. Maybe now Brian and I can start thinking of adding to our family...I'm thinking a kitten. Anyone agree with me? Well, I still need to finish A Look Back...Maybe later. But I will finish that.

Iain is 4 months old

At Iain's four month well baby check up, he weighed 16lbs and was 25 1/2 inches long (and his head was 17inches). I have a very healthy boy. He is doing so well, that his doctor said that we can give him some rice cereal and juice. He seems to like rice cereal. But I'm too chicken to try the juice. So far Motherhood has been a very enjoyable ride so far. I love being a mommy and Brian loves being a daddy. Iain is just a joy to be around. And he is just all giggles and smiles the last two months. He has started to really babble and sing all the time, he even rolls over (he never stops rolling). He is so full of energy. Iain adores his mommy and daddy, and his grandparents. His whole face lights up when any of us come into his line of vision. I'll try and post more of the a look back. I know that section is long but I really want to document the beginning of Iain life (well the first few weeks of it any way).