Do They Have Lots Of Bugs In Utah?

Do they? What about Sun? Lots of sun in Utah?

Anyone? Anyone?

Why do I ask? What is the big deal about Utah and bugs and sun?

Well, the lovely Amanda at My Remodeled Life is a Utahnian, or Utahican, or maybe it is Utahnese...anyway, you get what I mean... she is from the state of Utah and is the winner of the Cozy Sun And Bug Cover from the contest in this post. I totally was going to pick a random comment from that post, but decided that since she came pretty close in her guess of what the mechanic found in Timmy's car the other day, I had to give her props and make her the WINNER!

Congrats, Amanda!
And if you are wondering what she is doing with that gun and if she is ready to pop any minute with their first little boy, then you need to go check out her blog. Love you, girl, and I will send you the cover, just in time for your little man's arrival, as soon as you email me here. And, not to spoil the surprise or anything, but if you happen to be my SIL, and are pregnant, you can probably, most likely, almost for certain, expect to get one of these as a baby shower gift, deal ;0)?

So, what was Amanda's guess? What was in Timmy's car?

Amanda K said...
I say they found a mouse... Yucky guess but I have heard of it happening before. When we had a mouse in our garage I refused to park in there because I didn't want it in my car! All your pictures are so cute! I love the one of all the boys and the first black and white one! So cute!

Well, Amanda, you were pretty close. They didn't find a mouse, but that was close enough for me. What they found was a rodent's nest... so, that could mean a number of different nasty, slimy, disease infested things, and I would prefer to not try and guess. Gross! Thankfully, Timmy's car is all cleaned out now, but the mechanic said that the nest was near the vent, so he had been breathing that stuff for who knows how long.

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Not to change the subject or anything, but since I have your attention... (I do have your attention, right? Oh, just humor me) here are some things my boys said that had me cracking up this week:

Zack's the comedian in the family..so, pretty much everything he does, he is trying to get a laugh.
Zack's funny:

Tim poured Zack cold milk in his 'Zachary' mug and Zack went to sit down on his little table in the kitchen. Tim caught him blowing bubbles in his milk and told him to stop.

Zack blows bubbles again and says: Now my milk tastes just like soda!!!!

Guess you had to be there. The kids are not allowed to drink soda, so Zack figured if he blew bubbles in it, soda it became. Trust me, it was funny at the time.


Walker is our little serious/brainiac man, so what I consider funny from him, is probably not meant to be funny at all.
Walker's funny:

We were walking through Walmart talking about how to sew something together.

Walker: Gramita knows how to do it. (Gramita is what the kids call my Mom)

Me: How do you know?

Walker: Because Gramita is Mexican.

Me: Walker, do you even know what a Mexican is?

Walker: Yeah, someone born in Mexico.

Me: What does being Mexican have to do with it, though?

Walker: Well, Mexicans know everything. You are only 1/2 Mexican (actually, I am of full Mexican blood, but since I wasn't born in Mexico, Walker does not see it that way.)so, you almost know everything. Gramita is full Mexican so she knows EVERYTHING!

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One last, but very important thing to add, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING FOR ME! I totally felt so loved and encouraged that you were praying for me, and that you took the time to comment. You guys are such a blessing! Isabella had a good day today, and I was able to get a pedicure, breastfeeding free and have lunch with the girls while she sat, oh so prettily, on my lap. She sure is a doll.



"ME? A doll? You think?"



"Mom, get my good side."



"How's this for sugar and spice and everything nice?!!"



It was interesting to read all the different ways you mother, ladies, and I was touched at how you all shared. However, I must say I felt like Cassie-Ann over at Cassie-Ann's Life was lurking around in my brain last night, because I had been thinking the same thing and I was so relieved to know that someone out there (although, most of you said you have been there and done that), understood me! It sure is nice to know I am not alone. And even though I have done this a million times, it seems, each child totally is different, right Chris?

I want the cry it out mom's to know that I was totally not offended, and thought it so sweet for you to share your lives with me. But, as lots of you know, I tried the cry it out with my first (Mexican's are big at 'crying it out', and my inlaws really pushed that on me) and I had never, and still have not, experienced such a heart wrenching time in my life. I would sit outside the bedroom door, listening to this sweet, little infant, crying his head off, needing me, as I needed him and just BAWLING my eyes out, longing to hold him. But, I listened to "let him cry it out...it's good for his lungs."

I am SO NOT discounting that this could totally be true, but for my emotional health, I could just never go down that route again. So, I decided to take my Mom's wise advice (Why is it that we choose to listen to everyone else before listening to our loving, want the best for us only, Mother's?) My Mom said that when she had me, at a young 19, totally new at the mommy thing, she was also told to let me cry, to not hold me because it would 'spoil me', etc., She just did not feel right about it. So, she decided that she would do what felt instinctually right and that was to hold me at every opportunity. Even if it meant that family would give her grief over it. To cuddle me whether I was happy, sad, full, hungry. To just be the Mom that God was molding her to be. To trust her mama's heart.

So, after letting my firstborn cry it out a few times and feeling like I was going to die, honest, it hurt that much, I have never let my kiddos cry, if I could help it. So, yep, I am one of those baby wearing, never cry it out, demand nursing, in my bed through the night, at my breast for comfort, mother's and I wouldn't change it for anything. It works for me. I know you are thinking, 'really, it works? Your last post didn't make it sound that way', but every mother goes through difficulties.

I would love to talk to the mother that has not had a single moment of difficulty, because you are obviously from another planet and I don't believe in aliens, so you could be the thing that would change my mind.

I nurse my baby more so for selfish reasons. Honest. It makes me feel empowered. It makes me feel needed. It makes me feel loved. It makes me feel beautiful. It makes me feel closer to God. It isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

So, now I am returning the same sentiment to the mommies that don't necessarily adhere to my mama philosophy and ask that you, too, not be offended. They grow so fast and well, Isabella has been sleeping through the night, pretty much, since we brought her home from the NICU. 3 out of 3 sleeping through the night by 8 weeks, that's not bad. So, sleeping through the night is not the problem here. She just loves her mama to pieces...nipple pieces. Sorry, I had to add that in.

As for the little guys, all whom nursed a lot at night... I just relished those quiet times with you. They are some of my most treasured memories and I thank God for those sleepless nights, because I had you in my arms.
Psalm 22:9 (New International Version)

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.
(Thought this was appropriate, again.)




SO, I LOVE YOU ALL, YOU ALL HAVE SUCH TENDER MAMA's HEARTS!!!!
-Natalie
-Ashley
-Jessica
-Cassie-Ann
-Stacie
-Jennifer W.
-Susan
-Amanda
-Chris
-Dani Joy
-Carrie at the mommies
-and all of you that prayed for me without de-lurking!