My adorable 6 month old...

who is actually closer to 7 months now that I've taken so long to post pictures and an update on her.

Maggie had her 6 month well-check about 3 weeks ago and her stats were:

Heigth: 90%
Weight: 20%
Head: 50%

She is basically following the same trajectory since her birth...tall and skinny. Lets pray that continues through her life. ;) I don't remember all the numbers exactly but she weighed in somewhere around 14 lbs.

Eddie just took this clip of Maggie this morning at breakfast...It combines two of her favorite things. Eating and Talking.


Maggie is such a joy in our lives. The boys adore her, Eddie is in love with her and I couldn't do my life without her. She gives me such joy and happiness and calmness. She still hasn't rolled over yet or sat up by herself, but we're working on it. She loves to put anything in to her mouth and lights up when you pay attention to her. She's a PRO when it comes to putting her own paci in her mouth, but still prefers to suck on her pointer and middle fingers.

We love you Mags!

A Letter from my cousin

So my cousin Bryan is coming home from his mission this week and he sent home his final letter. His words have been on my mind all week as I've pondered exactly what my "sights" are set on. I think his letter is very indicative of the great missionary he was and the amazing man he's become. It fills me with excitement (and a little bit of dread) at the thought of my children leaving me to go on their own mission and coming back grown, mature men. I know that as we follow the Savior and do His will, our lives will be overflowing with happiness and joy and peace. And as hard as it will be to see my boys go, I can't wait to see them follow in their second cousin's footsteps. Here is a part of the letter that really touched me and made me ponder:

This has truly been the greatest blessing in my life. I have learned so much these last two years and I'm grateful to the Lord for allowing me to have these experiences. I just wish that it didn't have to end. It reminds me of the story in the tenth chapter of Mark. In this story (verses 46-52) blind Bartimaeus is begging by the wayside and he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is coming by. So he calls out, "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Those around him tried to stop him from yelling, but he persisted and cried louder, "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Finally, Christ, as he always does, came mercifully near and asked him, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" Bartimaeus' response was so perfect the Lord could not refuse him: "Lord, that I might receive my sight." Christ responded, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." The story beautifully concludes, "And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." To me this is a story about us all. We, like blind Bartimaeus, are crying out for mercy because we have become blinded to the things that are most important. And Christ, as he always will, comes tenderly near to hear our plea. But, to be sure we are ready, he asks, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" or in common speak, "What do you want?" And our response must be like the blind man's: "Lord, that I might receive my sight. Please help me to see things as they really are: Thee, myself, the world. Help me to see what's really important." And with a response like that the Lord can't refuse and he will help us see. I feel as though I am in the position of blind Bartimaeus. I have been granted the gift of sight over these two years. Right now, despite my imperfections, I feel that I see things--God, myself, and the world--more clearly than I have ever seen them before. I'm scared to come home because I'm worried the vision I have may become clouded and filled with things that are unimportant. It has been an honor to "follow Jesus in the way" over these last two years. It has forever changed my life. Please be patient with me as I come home and realize that, although I am coming home to many things that I love, I am leaving behind a work, a calling, and a people that I love with all my heart. I am so grateful to have good family like all of you who have showed me all the love and support that I could ask for. I am grateful for the Savior and I know that the only way that we will truly "see" is by living according to His teachings and staying close to His mercy. The Restoration is real and this is not just a church that we belong to, but it is in fact the Kingdom of God on the earth. What a blessing. What a tremendous honor it is to represent the Savior, if only in our small ways.

Welcome home Bud!

The difference between Nate and Drew

Well one difference of many...

Tonight for their personal prayers Andrew's went something like this:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank for Daddy, and Mommy, and Dahlia (a friend from church), for Maggie, for Daddy, for my pillow, and blanket and thank for Daddy, and Maggie, and Daddy to be home to play with me and Nate. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

Nate's went like this:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and this food. Thank you for big ideas and big imaginations. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

My motivation

And this is why I will keep going.

I'm in awe...

I'm in awe of my son Drew. It's been what, a week, and he's totally potty trained. He's pooped on the potty twice now and has had no accidents in three days.

I'm in awe of my sweet husband who gives so much to the kids and to me. Thank you sweetheart for everything you do. And thank you for Lisa. ;)

I'm in awe of a working body. I may be overweight, but my body can still do hard exercise and it feels wonderful. (Sidenote: I've decided to start chronicling this weight loss journey and if anyone is interested in seeing my really boring, probably no point but for me blog, just let me know...)

I'm in awe of Maggie who slept 13 hours the other night and then the next two nights got up twice to eat. ;)

I'm in awe of a Savior who loves me unconditionally and hasn't give up on me yet.

Big Boy Drew

What have we been up to you ask? Well...




We've been working on helping Drew be a big boy. And I have to say, despite going stir crazy being at home all day, every day, it's been worth it. Drew is doing really, really well. We're so proud of you big boy!

Senator's bear testimony at Congress

So my brother sent me the coolest email EVER! Here is some of the text from the email, but if you are interested in seeing the amazing pictures that go with it, I'll forward it to you; just leave a comment with your email address.


If you had happened into the Cannon House Office Building on Washington DC’s Capitol Hill a few days before Christmas, you would have heard something amazing and most unusual.

There, echoing down the halls and reverberating up the marbled stairs of the rotunda, wafting into the offices where laws are formulated and the heavy lifting of government is done, were the booming voices of missionaries, singing at the top of their lungs, “We are all enlisted ‘til the conflict is o’er. Happy are we. Happy are
we.”

The missionaries didn’t mean to be singing for all to hear, but the doors were flung open to the elegant Cannon Caucus Room, and they were gathered for what most surely would be the most unusual Christmas gathering of missionaries held this year. Most
mission Christmas gatherings are held in chapels and cultural halls, and an
inspirational speaker may be chosen to address the elders and sisters.

They are warm and uplifting gatherings and the missionaries anticipate them for
many weeks. But taking advantage of their location in the Washington DC South Mission, President and Sister Mark and Karyn Albright held their Christmas gathering this year in this House office building and, instead of having an inspirational speaker or two, the LDS members of Congress came to address the missionaries and bear their testimonies.

Bill and Tammy Nixon, who sponsored the event, said that no matter how pressed the senators and congressmen were in their schedules, they all were pleased and eager to come to address the missionaries at Christmas time. “They wanted to come,” said President Nixon, who presides over the Mount Vernon Stake.

Slipping in to address the missionaries, between votes on the floor of Congress, were Senators Orrin Hatch (UT), Robert Bennett (UT) , Harry Reid (NV), and Representatives Buck McKeon (CA), Wally Herger (CA) , Jason Chaffetz (UT), Rob Bishop (UT), Jeff Flake (AZ); and Dean Heller (NV). Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, the delegate from American Samoa, emceed the program, including singing a Polynesian version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with his own ukulele accompaniment.

The missionaries were given models of powerful people in the very highest
seat of government, who nonetheless, put their testimonies and their commitment to God first.

Each one obviously relished the chance to change modes for a few minutes and
talk about the laws of the gospel rather than the laws of the nation.