Faces of Molly

Haircuts, food, and more

I've finally decided to pay for the boys' haircuts too. I can do a buzz but my skills stop there. Spencer has patiently sat through my haircuts for the past 18 months, wondering if he would get a turn in the chair. The day came and he was SO excited!

Lunch date at Cora. Spencer's crepe with half a jar of Nutella on it. He was great lunch entertainment. 

His tricycle served as a grocery transport. He was so happy to help. 

Molly dislikes the bath. She's 6 weeks old and has only had a handful of them. I decided to try putting her in with the big kids. She was good for the picture but then cried. It was so much easier to wash her while Macy held her. Always good to learn a new trick. 

Story time...

We visited Costco yesterday. Sleeping baby, happy spencer with a full tummy, the crepe, smallish list, confident mom. 

15 minutes in, baby wakes and starts to fuss, then she poops and I'm almost positive it leaks out. Baby starts screaming. I still have several items to get. We get them quickly (except for the one item I forgot-which happened to be the main reason I went there) and proceed to checkout. I take baby out of car seat in hopes she'll stop screaming. No such luck. We check out. I'm holding baby in one arm, trying to manage the cart with the other, the huge and heavy Costco cart, with spencer pushing too. Baby still screaming. Trying to hurry to the van. A saint of a lady comes to the rescue as we exit. She pushes my cart, unloads my groceries while I attend to Molly's diaper and messy clothes. God bless that woman.

Molly needs to be fed so I start nursing. Spencer informs me that he has to go to the bathroom NOW. I satisfy Molly with one side, she's half dressed and we go back into Costco. The end. It was funny, even during the process. Good thing it was warm and sunny outside. 

What we do for fun in a small town

We visit this store too often. But it's usually fun. The kids are sad if I go without them. 

The newborn passport photo. It only took a few tries. She was pretty cooperative. 

Spencer's favorite thing to do to Molly is touch her cheek with his. He says it makes her feel better. 

His first haircut outside the home. She does so much better than we do. He's been begging to sit in her chair and have his turn. 

Two handsome boys with new haircuts. 

Potty training update

This post was from November or late October, not sure what happened. 

This seat has been a trick for his success. After two weeks of him choosing not to use the toilet and changing and cleaning himself, HE decided it was a good idea to begin the process. Since that decision only he could make, there have only been the normal ups and downs of the process. I'm so grateful he finally decided to do it and is doing so well. 

Life savers

Living in town has had some huge benefits!  One of them is this sweet cousin of Spencer's and his mom. Since the birth of Molly, they have had him over to play so many times. This has given me the opportunity to have a nap and not have to exert all my strength to keep him happy. 

You know you have a newborn if...

You get excited when the poo stays in the diaper and hasn't saturated the whole outfit

You sleep for more than two hours at a time

You have a shower but best of all, you actually do your hair(mostly only on Sundays for me, of the day I got my haircut because she did it for me)

Going to the grocery store feels like an accomplishment

Staying up past 10 o clock feels impossible

You wonder if you'll ever have alone time with your husband again

Anxious to exercise again but not knowing how that will fit into your life

You really enjoy the simple things in life; going to the park with the kids, fixing a meal for your family, a little time to yourself, getting your scriptures read...

It sure is a unique experience, precious but short lived. Grateful for Molly for joining us and for the other kids trying to adapt and being patient as I go through so much change. 

(They are laying on the heat vent)

Kub Kar Rally

This picture was the one that was taken that day. 

This was taken yesterday. 

Joel's Preparation for this year was quick. He had decided he wasn't going to participate then changed his mind at the last minute. The Saturday before the Tuesday event they haphazardly threw the car together. Some over zealous handiwork killed the car and they had to start again. But they didn't have another car. They got the new car Sunday and worked like crazy Monday night after family home evening. I was hoping he would learn a lesson about procrastination. But he didn't. He won 2nd place!! After he had been throwing up all night, due to stress. I didn't go. I was in early labor and not feeling well. 

Newborn pictures

A friend offered to take some newborn pictures of Molly.  I've never had them done before.  She did well, with the aid of the soother.  We were hoping for a few more with her cute mouth showing but it wasn't to be.  She captured some cuteness though.

--Spencer said today "Mom, the baby is breathing!"

Welcome to the world, Molly Guin

Here are the facts:

Natural labor inducing techniques don't work for me (I was not willing to try castor oil)

Labor began around 10 pm Tuesday night, March 17

Relaxation breathing during contractions really helped, as well as visualization

I woke Stan up around 4 am, to go to the hospital

9 cm dilated upon arrival

My doctor (who was also expecting a baby any time) was there and was an amazing help with the process

Molly Guin born around 7 am, 8 pounds 8 oz, 20.5 inches long

Felt amazing following the delivery

Happy to have reached this milestone

Anxious to get back home so I could sleep in my own bed

My mom came to help for almost a week, she is already missed

Book Review

I saw this book at the library in Otis Orchards, Washington while I was there for American Thanksgiving.  I knew immediately it was a book I would enjoy. It's a true story, it's about Washingtonians, it's about a sport, and it includes the Olympics. It also is history, which I love. What I couldn't have known was the way it would open my eyes to change that will help in my life. 

The author has a talent for weaving the sport of rowing with the lives of the men and the current political and economic situation of those years; the good times of the 1920s, the devastation of the Great Depression, the dust bowl era, widespread poverty, the rise of Adolf Hitler, World War II. 

A time period that those of us who didn't live through will never fully understand. We are so incredibly blessed to live now and to live in a free North American country, that is peaceful, prosperous, and we don't know what it means to be hungry or cold. 

Some thoughts as I read the book:

-"Where is the spiritual value of rowing?...The losing of self entirely to the cooperative effort of the crew as a whole."  This a true life principle, one that can and should be applied to family life, to life in the human family, to any group effort. Each of us has a part to play in our families, our friendships, our ward families, our communities, our work places. 

-exercising faith in our "team" takes trust, believing that our team members will help us when we fall short. Most importantly we can trust the savior will ALWAYS have our back and will always make up for what we lack. 

-strong relationships are so important to our souls as human beings. We really can't successfully live without them. Choose and work at creating good and positive relationships. It takes a lot of continual training and effort. 

Back in the game

This last month has been a little rough. Pregnancy hormones got the better of me and I was filled with too much anger. I had plenty of good times, but there was an underlying darkness and frustration. I've been trying all week to find the desire to repent and let go of what's bothering me, knowing that this has been blocking my ability to feel the spirit. We had a ward temple trip planned for last night and I didn't want to leave my kids. But I finally decided that even though I felt unworthy to be there, that was exactly where I needed to be. Elder Scott, an apostle, said in his last general conference talk, that we should seek the Savior at the temple and that we would better understand His atonement when we attend. So that was my goal for last night. The peace I felt was just what I needed. I am grateful and amazed that Heavenly Father loves me, despite my selfishness and pride, and that gives me strength to keep trying. 

Lunch

I have a friend that likes to come over, have lunch, work on projects, etc. 

this was yummy! Pho soup

A 3 year old

Potty training has been completely unsuccessful so far. And with it has emerged a much stronger willed boy. Tantrums are frequent, demands are many, and an unusual curiosity for attention has surfaced. It's so weird, all of it. 

His explanation for this little catastrophe was simply that he was trying to get Joel's candy and used the drawers as steps. Surprisingly he wasn't hurt but the dresser needs an operation. 

Who says 3 year olds need to be potty trained? Only the mom who is sick of doing the clean up job he is capable of doing himself!

Wow

We had some fun today. 

And while we waited for my awesome brothers in law to help us, spencer took some self portraits. 

The birthday boy

Spencer is a reason why I'm grateful I keep having kids. He stretched me beyond my limits much of his first year but he is such a joy to me and our family. He is sweet and kind, very sensitive and caring. He can play on his own now and is so fun to listen to and watch. 

Here's a reason

Part of why summer went by without my recording much is that I found out we are having a baby soon after school was out for the summer. So, the summer was all about survival. The kids kept me busy and out of the house so I couldn't dwell too much on how poorly I was feeling. I'm due in march, which is a great time to have a baby. 

Frank slide

After driving past frank slide Alberta for the past 11 years, we finally stopped at the interpretive center. It was amazing. We want to go back with Stan. 

Cousin fun