Kayzley's Blessing

We were supposed to bless Kayzley in June but thought we would wait.  My brother was going to have his baby girl blessed then.  It never happened.  So, we had Kayzley blessed today.

Instantly, I felt the spirit so strong.  That blessing moved me.  My husband holding my daughter giving her a blessing is so special.  The fact that he holds the priesthood and was able to do it is so wonderful and a blessing itself.  I love that her name is upon the records of the church now too.

I was kind of worried about blessing her not on a Fast Sunday.  It's good to hear people's testimonies.  I think it's good to see people not asked to but willing or wanting to bear their testimony.  I think that says a lot.  When we blessed Paxton, the talks were on Girls Camp.  That's not a horrible topic but it wasn't a spiritual topic.  It can be but in the instance it wasn't.  We had some inactive family come and wanted them to feel the spirit.  I hope it has a positive influence upon them even if it doesn't become anything for a long time.  You never know when someone will be touched...even if a little bit.

We had the best sacrament meeting today.  We had the sister missionaries share their conversion story.  It is amazing what kind of life they have and had to go through to get here; in Idaho Falls on a mission serving the Lord.  I was so touched by their sacrifices.  You never know what people are going through or what they have gone through to be who they are today.  I believe each experience defines us and helps to shape us.  This is one reason why we have trials in our life.

We had a musical number with Sis. Heywood playing the violin and Sis. Slater on the piano.  It was so beautiful.  I was also touched by this.  Quinn said that he felt so good after the piece.  My grandma said that she felt like she could literally hear a voice instead of music.

For some reason, I was kind of having a negative attitude about the whole blessing thing.  I wanted her blessed, don't get me wrong.  I didn't see the point of a luncheon.  Why can't we just have the blessing and that's it?  I got to thinking about it and realized it just makes sense.  People travel to come and everyone is already together.  Why not doing something and talk?  The luncheon really wasn't a big deal.  It wasn't stressful.  Everyone chipped in and helped.  I have some good family.

I loved everyone that came and thoroughly enjoyed everyone's company.  It makes me so glad I have the family I have.  I had to wait a little longer than most to get mine but seriously couldn't have asked for a better one.  They are all so strong and great examples to me.  They all have touched me positively somehow over the years.  I know I have a great support system and so does my own personal little family. 

What a wonderful and neat day!  I'm glad it's over but at the same time sad since it was so spiritual and special.  Thank you to all that helped share it with me.

Kayzley Lynn Rockwood

Kayzley has been here a while and I'm finally getting around to posting hospital pictures.  I did write out her birth story but didn't publish it.  I thought it was too awkward to have on the internet.  I used a lot of detail that most people wouldn't want to read about anyways (not that a lot of people look at the blog).

 

Here are her stats; 7 lbs. 11oz., 20.5 inches long, and born at 7:18 P.M on April 18, 2014. 

These pictures aren't very photogenic of me, but hey, I just got done having a baby.  I wanted a picture where I looked "natural".  It was hard work and for some reason wanted to remember it.  This is what I looked like right after having her.

Mike is trying to entertain Quinn so I don't become too overwhelmed with their visit.  They were running around and needed something to do.  Paxton later comes to sit on Daddy's lap.

This obviously wasn't taken at the hospital.  Here is day two of being home.

Christmas Morning/Day

Grandma and Grandpa Rockwood came over for Christmas morning. They're all ready for the day and as for us; well obviously am not.

This was Paxton's favorite toy.  It was one of the first opened.  He was not interested in opening anything else.  That was okay since Quinn was so eager to open everything and everyone else's gifts too.

 

Every time we went somewhere and they had these, Quinn would want to take them home.  He would throw a fit, cry, and whine.  As time went on he got better about it but was still disappointed that he didn't have any of his own.  This is one of the many things he chooses to sleep with, play with, to take to church or places, etc.  He had asked for these from Santa.  It looks like his request was granted.





 This is also something that he had asked from Santa; a helicopter transformer car.  Even though this is technically what he wanted and was happy to receive; it is one of his least favorite toys.  What?!?  After all this dreaming and hoping?  Whatever!  He always gives this one to Paxton to play with.  Silly boy!  What he really likes is the bumblebee car.  He also got Optimus Prime Semi-Truck that is only Semi-cool.



Look at how long my hair is getting!!!



I hope your morning was better than this!



I was trying to get Quinn and Paxton to model their new pajamas and bath robes. Despite what the picture depicts; they actually really loved them. Quinn would run all around the house saying, "Turbo Power." He thought he was the coolest ever. Since Quinn was doing it, Paxton had to do it too. These were a good choice!  This is the only picture I have of him in it; of him crying.  Oh well! 

Quinn got an electric train.  He thought it was cool but was disappointed that we didn't have a bigger spot to put it. We couldn't use all of the track because we ran out of room.  We went to the train show in October and he fell in love with an electric train similar to this one. 

Paxton would just sit there and watch it.  At first he was sitting closer but he would keep snatching the train as it passed.  Quinn would get mad.  When I moved him back he was still content and didn't really care.

 

After we opened presents we had a breakfast with Gma and Gpa.  They brought over a griddle and Gene made pancakes and sausage for us while I made eggs.  For some reason it seemed like there was more food but I can't think of what it is.  It doesn't matter.

 

We hung around the house and put the kids down at nap time.  I wanted happy kids on Christmas Day.  It was a long night so we were all tired.

 

After nap we went to Gma and Gpa Jenkins.  It was so weird to not have anyone there.  Usually the place is hopping.  We were the only family there.  We watched Ephraim's Courage (or something like that...it's the new church show that has recently come out).   I didn't get a lot out of it since I was helping Quinn with his puzzles and trying to keep them somewhat quiet so the parents could somewhat enjoy the show.

 

Overall, it was a good Christmas Day.

 

What I've learned; Quinn already thinks Christmas is about Santa and not about Christ.  I don't know if that is our fault or the world's.  I do know that it is my responsibility to teach him and I will have to do better next year.  Next year, he'll be a little older and will be able to understand more.

 

I think it will help if I put more emphasis on Christ.  That is a goal I have for this next coming Christmas season.

Halloween Party at Grandma Karen's house

Quinn is really funny about Halloween.  He says he wants to be Spiderman or Thomas the Train but when it's time to actually get dressed into his costume he doesn't want to wear it.  In a way, it's kind of frustrating.  How am I supposed to help a child when he himself doesn't even know what he wants?

We had a Halloween Party over at Grandma Karen's.  The plan was to be Thomas the Train but at the last minute he changed his mind and wanted to be Spiderman.  I couldn't get him to put it on.  I wasn't about to fight him over it.  It just wasn't worth.  I just brought them with us.  He put it on for about 2 seconds.

Karen had lots of games planned for the kids.  They had a ball with all of them.  They played fishing, the doughnut hole game, and frosting cookies.  I think there were more games but my mind is failing me now.

You have to know that during this time the boys were super sick.  I took them to the doctor and they were diagnosed with walking pneumonia.  I was so glad to have a diagnosis because looking at them they didn't seem that sick.  They would just run around like there was nothing wrong.  They would work themselves up and then just cough and cough.  Night time was the worst.  I was worried to take them out.  I didn't want to expose them to anything else while there immune system was down.  Uncle Wyatt and his Kirsten came to visit during this week.  I figured our house and Grandma's house was okay.

This was the week that Mike also had to student teach.  It was a busy busy week.  The week before and the week after wasn't all that bad.  Mike wasn't supposed to student teach until the next week.  That would have worked better for us since Wyatt wouldn't have been in town.  Hopefully by then the boys would feel better too. 

I remember staying up late so Mike could bounce ideas off of me for his lessons or so that he could practice.  A lot of times we wouldn't get home until way late.  I wanted him to do the best that he could.  We really want this.

 This is basically how they treated Wyatt the whole time he was here; as their personal punching bag.  Wyatt was really patient with them and seemed to enjoy playing with them.  These little boys are so full of energy so it was so nice to have Wyatt there to help them get it out.

The Train Show

 

Quinn absolutely loves trains.  Of course, we had to go to the train show.  I told Quinn about it and he kept track of when it was on his own.  He would look at the calendar every day in anticipation.  The morning of the train show he woke me at 5:00 saying it was time to go.  I told him to go back to bed since it didn't even open until 9:00.  He waited outside my door until I got out of bed.  He called this our date.  He would say, "Mom, do you want to go on a date with me?" 

I wanted to take Quinn alone without Paxton.  I knew Quinn could stay all day if I let him.  Paxton would tire and get bored easily.  Grandma Karen met us there.  She took Paxton and Quinn and I was able to stay till a little past nap time.  He agreed to not have stories read to him so he could stay a little longer.  It was a good thing I packed us a lunch or else we would have been starving.

Last year he just loved watching the trains go round and around.  He would run with them to keep up with them.  He was so cute about his excitement.  He had a few people engrossed in watching him because of his enthusiasm.  This year was a little bit different.  He thought the trains were cool and enjoyed looking at them.  He didn't have near the energy that he had last year.  He found a table where they sold electric trains.  They had one set up and they let kids try them out.  Once he learned of this and figured out how to run it; he was in love.  He would not move from that station no matter what.  He spent hours there.  Of course there were other kids that were interested in it too.  They would come and go.  I told him when there were other people he had to move and let them try it and then he could go right back to it.  He was very good and obedient about it.  It was a good thing I made friends with those at the booth.  They had a bench so I sat there with him and waited.  I knew he loved it so much that I didn't mind sitting there.  The whole day was for him anyways.

To get Quinn out the door I told him he could go ride the train.  He was super ecstatic about that.  I put Paxton in and he was okay with it until the train started to move.  He cried the whole time.  I didn't dare take him out just in case something would happen.  I don't think they wanted me to anyways.  He had to endure the ride.  Paxton went home right after this.  Quinn was a lucky duck and they let him ride the train twice.

Leo's Birthday Celebration

Mike and I had decided that we wanted to use Quinn's birthday card from Leo's. They give you a free kid's meal, 10 tokens to play the games, and free admission to the play area. We thought we'd just invite family.  We didn't know how many would come and we don't have a lot of room in our house.  So, we thought this would be a good solution. 

These pictures are kind of out of order.  We were all over the place that night.

Quinn got a Legos Mack Truck.

Quinn blowing out his candles.

Grandma Karen with Paxton

Paxton kept scooting all over the place. I have never gotten a picture of his scoot.

Joy riding the motorcycle with Paxton.  Let's just say she was a little bit big for it.  She kept banging her knee.

So true!

I saw this on facebook and it is so true.  I read it and by the end I had tears in my eyes.  I have never regretted having my two boys.  They have made me better in so many ways.  I have learned so many things.  The only way to learn them and to experience these new joys of life is to become a mom. 

So, here it is... The author is unknown.

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefull...y keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her
baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming
children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.

I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.

I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.

I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

 

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year. I don't know who was more excited; me or Quinn. I admit I had a hard time going to sleep starting two nights before Christmas.  I knew what Quinn was getting and was so excited for him to have it.  He's been asking for a long time and finally the time has come that he can have it.  Honestly, I felt bad that he had to wait so long.  There were times I wanted to give his present to him early but I knew that would ruin Christmas.

Everytime someone would ask Quinn what he was getting he would quickly respond "trains."  He knew.  He didn't understand what was taking so long.  I tried to the Christmas ring countdown but that just got him more anxious.

We had a nice Christmas with family.  Christmas Eve was dedicated to Mike's family.  They have more of their family traditions Christmas Eve as opposed to Christmas Day. 

This year was a little different.  We had our famous Christmas dinner made by Karen and others.  We visited and all of a sudden we had a special visitor.  Yep, It's Santa, It's Santa. 

Greg played Santa.  Geoffrey looked out the window and his immediate response was "Daddy."  There's no fooling that guy. 

Quinn was so excited but hesitant to sit on Santa's lap.  We had explained to Quinn about Santa.  He didn't want to chance not asking Santa for trains in fear of not getting any.  With the help of his dad he was able to sit on Santa's lap.

Christmas Day was so awesome.  I was the first one awake.  I'm so glad that Quinn got up minutes after.  Then we woke Dad and Paxton naturally woke with the commotion. 

 

I yelled to Quinn, "Santa came, Santa came! Let's go see what he brought."  Quinn said, "Train" and ran into the living room.  He was bummed when I told him he had to wait for Dad.  Quinn went and literally pounced on him.  Good thing because that got him moving.  

 

Quinn was so cute.  Every present he opened he hollared, "Choo, Choo."  He loved Christmas.

 

Let's go back to why I couldn't wait for Christmas.  Everything was about trains with Quinn.  He wanted one so bad and that is the only thing he ever thought about.  He wouldn't do something unless I involved  a train somehow.  For example, I'd ask Quinn to eat his sandwich.  He'd say no.  Then I'd say not even a train sandwich.  Then he'd proceed to eat. 

 

In the middle of the night he dreams about trains.  He has to...ise sleep talk is about trains.  He yells for trains.  If he can't find them he won't go back to sleep until he does.  Sometimes, those nights were so long.  I'd search for anything to replace his trains but nothing would do.  His trains were bath toys or things he turned into trains...not actual trains.  That's why I felt so bad making him wait for his present.  I first bought it in October.  That is a long time to wait.

 

As a reward, I would take Quinn to Barnes and Noble to play with the train table they have in the kids department.  He could stay there all day.  I would bring a book and just watch him.  I didn't really mind.  It was kind of relaxing..until another little kid would come.  Then it was a brawl match.  Quinn got pretty good at sharing (with some coaxing).  That's good for him especially since we were dealing with trains.

 

When we go the library, Quinn is like a hound.  He can sniff out those train books.  Every book was about trains or had a train in it.  i don't know how he did it.  The librians found him so cute that they helped him.  He fell in love right there.  Someone helping him with his quest to find trains...he'll take it.

 

There are hundreds of things like this.  Yes, Quinn is my little obsessed one.  I love it.  It's him.  Trains will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

Now onto Paxton...Paxton was sick during Christmas and had a hard time sleeping at night.  When we went over to Gene and Karen's Christmas Eve, he fell asleep in the car.  I had tried all day to put him down and he wouldn't.  I was so excited and relieved for him to be sleeping that I didn't dare take him inside for all of the noise.  I stayed in the car and relaxed.  We were there for 45 minutes.  It was nice though.  I was so exhausted myself.  I almost wish I had stayed home becuase I felt bad for dragging Paxton out with him being sick.  I didn't want to miss out on the fun.  We stayed too late and Paxton was grumpy on the way home. 

 

For that reason, we stayed home all morning to rest.  We went to my mom's that night.  We didn't stay long there.  We wanted to make an appearance.  Since we went later we had missed some of the family.  Oh well, we can't win them all.

 

I think next year will be better just in the sense that Paxton and Quinn will be older.  Naps schedules will be different.  Hopefully no one will be sick.  It's a hard time of year for that reason.

Wyatt got married!!!

Congratulations Wyatt and Kirsten!

I wasn't able to go the wedding in Oklahoma.  Mike went leaving me and the kids behind.  It would have been too hard for us all to go and probably expensive too.

This is the longest that we have away from each other.  I was ready for the challenge and wanted Mike to go and be with his family.  I handled well while he was away.

However, when he returned the kids seemed jealous and somewhat possessive of me. This seemed to cause problems in which the kids were hard to handle.  Fortunately, we are back on track and things are going well for us.