Happy 7th Anniversary Sweetheart

Today is Cory and my 7th anniversary. It is crazy that we've been married for 7 years. At times it seems like just yesterday that we made promises to love and cherish eachother for all eternity, but then at times I can't think of a time that I wasn't with this awesome guy. It just seems like all of my memories are with him.

This year has been a good one - one of the better ones I think. Mostly because now it's not just Cory and I with the dogs - but we have our little Gabe. We're officially considered a "family", and not just a couple. I loved being a couple (and sometimes wonder if we'll ever really be that again....) but being parents is pretty dang awesome too.

So as far as celebrating this year.....not doing much for the actual anniversary. Cory did make me a monsterous omlet for breakfast this morning (thanks sweetheart!) which I got to eat in bed. Then we had the normal church stuff. We had friends from the ward invite us over to dinner after church. It was fun to get together with their cute family. Now Gabe and Cory are asleep up on the couch, and I'm blogging away at the computer......

However - we are celebrating in a couple of weeks. On the 9th actually we're headed to Hawaii. We're super excited to go to Maui this time and see some fun new stuff. Gabe will be coming with us and my mom and sister are coming to help take care of him. We'll be there for 4 nights, and it will be great. Cory earned our trip through selling blinds - so that makes it even cooler :).

Well here's to 7 years, and I can't wait for the next 77!

Cheese!

First Haircut

Well I broke down and got Gabe's hair cut this morning. I kept saying I was going to do it - but I was afraid that I was going to be so sad once I did - so I kept putting it off. But it wasn't too bad. She didn't cut much of it, and it still sticks up all over the place. She said with all of his cowlick (honestly, I think he has like 4!) that his hair is quite simply just going to stick up. Oh well - I guess when he gets old enough we'll just have to buzz it :).

This week Gabe has really been super vocal. He has learned how to make the cutest little coos and noises. He tries to imitate noises we make - and it's so fun to get to "talk" with him. He also has found a love for books. I ask if he wants to read a story and his eyes light up and he smiles really big. He will even sit still most of the time for 2 or 3. Yesterday I even took him to the library. When we were checking out the librarian (who is in our ward) asked if I was already reading to him. I said yeah and he said, "That's great! We just went to a meeting today about reading to kids as little as him, and how it greatly improves their love for books, and their reading ability as they get older. " That made me excited. I'm also excited to return to the children's books I loved so much as I was growing up. I hope Gabe loves to read as much as I do!

Our Sweet Pea

Well here's our little sweet pea in his halloween costume. We don't plan on taking him out, other than to a couple of friend's houses, but we couldn't pass up dressing him up for his first big holiday!

Ignore this post....

Cutie Patootie

Enough said.....

If I'd only known....

You know, it's probably a good idea that while Cory and I were trying to start our family - that no one ever spilled the beans, and told me just how much I'd love to be a mom. I think if I had even the slightest glimpse of how awesome this would be that I would have been even more depressed about it taking so long.

I knew I would love to be a mom. I knew that someday I would be excited to hold my little one, and that I would have fun teaching my kids neat things about this world. However, I didn't know that my heart would be so full of gratitude and love each time I would gaze at Gabriel. I didn't know that my heart would melt each time he'd smile at me, or that I would cherish morning when all he wants to do is snuggle in my arms. And I had no idea that I would even enjoy days when he was fussy, or nights when he gets up several times in the night.

I remember crying to Cory when I was pregnant and being so worried about what kind of a mom I was going to be. I was worried that when the baby was born I wouldn't want to have anything to do with him, and I wondered if I would really be capable of taking care of someone who relied on me completely for everything. That freaked me out, and I worried that I couldn't do it - or worse even - that I wouldn't want to do it....I remember Cory would looked totally un-phased and that would make me so mad. I'd ask why he wasn't freaking out. He'd say, "I'm just not worried about it - you're going to be a great mom." That drove me nuts - how did he know?

Sure - there are still days when it scares me. But overall I LOVE being a mom. I love it! And without boasting....I kind of think I'm good at it. I have so much more patience than I had before, and somehow I have the energy to do it even when I'm exhausted. My worries and concerns now aren't about whether or not I can love him enough - but I worry more about loving him too much. Seriously - I've already decided that he can't move out when he goes to college, I'll just miss him too darn much :)

So the point I'm getting at is that when people say that you can't really know love until you have children of your own are right. There is something magical when your child is born - your capacity to love expands in ways you could not imagine possible - you are now a mom!

My little man

Oh my goodness! They said that I needed to enjoy Gabe's baby days because he'd grow up faster than I could think. I though, "yeah, yeah, whatever - it will be exciting to see him get big and be able to do more". Now that's partially true. I do get a sense of excitement when he discovers something new, and I am excited to teach him more about his world. However, he's getting so big!!!! It just tears at my heart to see him grow up each and every day. He looks like a little man to me, and before I can even blink he will be a little man.

Speaking of learning new things - today he discovered that when he touched the little toys on his bouncy seat they would make noise, and make the lights flash. I don't know if he got the connection, or if he just realized that getting really excited, and making spastic movements (hands, arms, and feet flying all over) would produce sound. It was so funny to watch him and to see the excitement on his face.

He has also discovered sticking out his tounge. It started when we would smile at him, and he'd give us a great big gummy smile back. Then we started making faces at him, and started sticking our tounge out. Now he'll imitate us and stick his little tounge out at us. So cute!

What an exciting, colorful, amazing world it will be for Gabe to discover - and I am so grateful to be right along his side as he does it!

more pics

Here are some pics of Gabe in the car, and at Great Grandma Marilyn's house. She he really did have fun there :)

Pictures.....finally!

Ok - I have tried several times since we got home Friday night to post some pictures. For some reason I keep having computer issues. So hopefully I will be successful this time....

P.S. Gabe really did enjoy visiting with family - he just had a tough time showing it.....

Visiting Family

All week we've been gone. We left last Saturday, and got home late last night. Poor Gabe did great on the trip - but was certainly excited to be home, and will hopefully get back into a routine quickly. He gets overwhelmed so easily, but is still pretty stinking cute :).

Saturday - We drove from Cedar City to Rexburg. We went shopping in Idaho Falls and ran some errands - including getting Gabe some warmer clothes, since the weather was chilly. Stay at Jed and Laura's. We got to visit with Paul and Nicole for a while, and play with Alli too.

Sunday - Drive from Rexburg to Coeur D'Alene. We took several breaks to get out and move around. Gabe smiled a lot, and really seemed to enjoy being in the car. At least for the 1st half of the day....then he was ready to be out to wiggle around. We stayed at a condo and it was GORGEOUS! The weather was getting chilly, but the leaves were changing and it was beautiful.

Monday - We were done driving, but we had to start meetings for The Blind Guy. Gabe had realized that he was out of his element, and was not happy about it. I spent most of the day pacing the halls with him, or hidden away trying to feed him. It was a pretty miserable day. Then we had a dinner with the other owners of The Blind Guy franchises, and he cried most of that too. I guess it's a good thing that the franchises are really laid back and easy going.....a crying baby didn't seem to phase them too much.

Tuesday & Wednesday - More meetings, but Gabe did much better! I still spent time in the halls with him, but he was prety good for the most part.

Thursday - Drive from Coeur D'Alene to Logan. We stopped in Rexburg and saw Jed, Laura and Alli for a few minutes, visited with our friend Jesse, and stopped by Trent and Melissa's for a bit. Then we got to Logan late. We were pooped!

Friday - We got to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Ellis, and they enjoyed Gabe. It wasn't for too long, but at least they got to give him loves. Then it was back in the car. We headed to Salt Lake. We visited Grandma Marilyn first. We were lucky to see Sandra and Susan there. Gabe was tired, hot, and hungry - so he wasn't the best company. But it was still special to have him meet one of his great grandma's, and great aunts. Then we ran some other errands, and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Whislers (or Grandma Great's house). They loved giving the little guy loves too. And we got to see more of Sandra and Susan there too! Then it was back in the car, a stop at the new Cabela's store in Lehi and on to home. What a long day in the car!

I wish we had gotten more pictures with everyone....

New Friends

Last week Gabe had some new friends come to visit. We were so excited for Trent, Melissa, and Naia to meet Gabe. Naia was super excited to meet him too and would run around saying, "Baby Geeb" over and over again. She wanted to touch him "so soft" and hold him. We bought her a baby doll to take care of while she was visiting, and while she enjoyed it she sure loved the real thing.

We're grateful that they came to see us, and that they are a part our lives - we're lucky to be blessed with great family and friends!

Happy birthday Gabers!

I just wrote up a long post about how Gabe's now 2 months old - but then somehow it disappeared before I published it. GRRR......

Anyway, it's Gabe's 2 month birthday today! He is now 10 lbs 12 oz, and 23 inches long. It's funny though because some of our 0-3 month clothes are still too big on him :).

We're getting ready to leave tomorrow morning for a week long trip. It will involve seeing some family, and a training seminar for work in Coeur D'Alene. It will be a LOT of driving, and we're hoping that things go somewhat smoothly....wish us luck!

Here are a couple of pictures from right before Gabe's bath tonight. It's his very favorite time of night - something he looks forward to all day long. He is so cute once he gets in the warm water!

BYU Football

Well it's only 1/2 time, but BYU isn't doing too great in their football game vs San Diego State. But Gabe, Cory and Sadie are enjying themselves anyway. We're not real big on watching sports in our family, but for BYU football we can make an exception. Go Cougars!

Cheese!

I was lucky to catch a few of Gabe's adoreable grins. What a cheese!

Watch it or your eyes will stick like that!

Gabe's started doing a new thing the last couple of days - and at first it freaked Cory out. He seems to like to cross his eyes.....I've read up on it, (getting a bit worried myself) - and I guess it's normal for a baby whose eyes are developing. So for now we'll smile about it - but if it lasts much longer I'll have to start giving him the lecture that he needs to be careful or his eyes will stick like that :)

Growing Gabe

The last few days with Gabe have been awesome. He has really started to discover how to smile. He will sit and play with me, smiling when I smile at him. It's so awesome to communicate, and to see such a cute reaction. He has also loved playing in his bouncy seat and swing this week. He's starting to really pay attention to the lights and sounds on the bouncy seat and gets upset when the music turns off on his swing before he's ready for it to be over.

I know I'll continually be in awe as he learns and grows. In ways it's sad because these milestones mean he's growing out of the tingy baby stage - but at the same time it's awesome to see your child change in a good way.

Joy

Yesterday I was driving into town with Gabe to do some grocery shopping. I was singing along to the music in the car and felt absolutely happy. It dawned on me that I hadn't felt this happy in a long time - I can't even remember how long it's been. I grinned from ear to ear and realized that I wasn't just happy - I was bursting with joy.

Definition of JOY: Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness.

The rest of the day I just floated around full of smiles, and feeling like I was on cloud 9.

There are other times in my life I know I've been happy - the day we found out we were expecting Gabe, the day I got married, the day Gabe was born, when I graduated from college, and other times like Christmas, and other great times with family. But yesterday it was different. It wasn't an event, it wasn't something big that happened, but it was just being happy with where I am in life, what I'm doing, and who I am. And today I woke up with the same feelings. I am exactly where I want to be, and the person I want to be. Sure - I have a lot of shortcomings, and a lot of room for improvement. But I'm on my way, and I'm content with how it's going. It's been a long time since I've felt that way, and it feels good!

Smiley Guy

This morning Gabe was just grinning away. It was so cute to watch his expressions, and to play with him on the blanket. We were having so much fun that by the time it dawned on me to take some pictures - some of of the biggest grins had past. But here he is - our little smiley guy.

(Don't mind the silly hair....he really needs a haircut, but I can't bear to do it....)

Being a mom

Yesterday I had my own little version of a light bulb moment. Or maybe it was just a moment that has been a long time coming...I don't know what it was, but I feel different.

Gabe was asleep at the moment and I was folding a load of his little clothes. All of a sudden as I was folding a sleeper I looked at the laundry and I said outloud - "I'm a mom!" It was like it hit me all of a sudden. Tears came to my eyes and I realized that after so many years of trying, crying, and pleading with the Lord - I was actually a mom!

Now I had thought about it a few times previously when I'd be holding sweet Gabe, or even when I was pregnant with him. But somehow as I folded that small load of laundry I actually felt like a mother!

So will things be different now that I have this role of a mom? I think so - I feel like I've increased my capacity to love. I never really knew what love was until this little spirit joined our home. Now I understand the meaning of true love. I think my patience has actually increased. I don't need as much sleep, and it really doesn't matter if my house is super clean. A crying baby doesn't bother me now like it used to - I actually love to comfort his cries - it makes me feel loved and needed.

So thank you Gabe for changing my life and for helping me to realize my new amazing and exciting role of a mother!