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Monday, April 4, 2011

February and March funnies

Feb 4--My sweet sisters-in-law, Laura and Aup, and my friend, Jody, were planning a baby shower for me and I said something about that to Ryn. With a confused look on her face, she asked, "But how do they get the water in your tummy?"

Feb 23--Eden was looking at a page in our illustrated scriptures that had pictures of all the latter-day prophets from Joseph Smith through Gordon B. Hinckley. I was totally surprised when she asked, "Where's President Monson?" She knew he wasn't there! Then she started playing a game with me, "Is that President Monson?" she would ask smiling and pointing to one of the past prophets. "Noooooo!" she'd answer herself, laughing.

Feb 24--Ryn needed some help wrapping things up in the bathroom and called for Kevin. He was busy, so I went instead. She protested, "I wanted Dad to do it because it's his birthday!" Happy birthday, hon :)

Feb 27--The girls couldn't get enough of our new baby and were watching his every move. Darren had the hiccups and Ryn exclaimed, "He's a chirper! Cause when he hiccups he chirps like a bird!" Later, he had his eyes open and head turned in Elle's direction and she cried, "Mom! He's checking me out!"

March 1--Elle had tied a rope to a kitchen chair and was holding it out straight a few inches above the ground. "Mom, can you come over here? You're going to trip over this and fall," she instructed. Somehow she thought I would be as thrilled as she was about that idea....:)

March 3--Elle picked up her sandwich and said, "It looks like bread and smells like bread....I think it is bread!"

March 5--After Ryn's soccer games they put their hands together in the middle of the circle to cheer for the other team. Ryn was trying to explain this to Elle..."we put our hands in the middle..." Elle broke in, "Oh! Like the Hokey Posey!" Ryn corrected her, "No, Elle, it's the Hokey Polly."

March 7--Eden sometimes dubs herself the resident bully. "I take this socky (sock) and I kill you!"

March 8--I suggested something fun for that day and Ryn was so excited. "Can we do that ?!!!" When I reassured her that we could, she said, "Don't forget to remember that." I guess I need to work on following through with things :).

March 13--We enjoyed going to our friend's missionary farewell and then over to their house after church, along with about 100 other well-wishers. We're always spoiled by the Lehnardts and love having them all to ourselves when we go to visit so Elle was pretty disappointed to have to share them with anyone else. She actually cried. "I don't like it when other people are here!"

March 21--Ryn and Elle were talking about the Tooth Fairy, discussing the kinds of things she probably likes to eat, etc. Then they stopped themselves, "What about the Tooth MOUSE? She's the Tooth Fairy's pet...." and they were off again. It is so beyond fun to listen to their imaginations in full swing.

March 22--I talked to my 94 year old Grandma Turtle on the phone and when we were talking about Darren she said, "Kiss his big feet for me." I just thought he might like to know what his great grandmother said about him one day :).

March 28--After Elle had done a string of mean things to Ryn, I warned her that she needed to shape up or no one would want to play with her. A few minutes later, we were talking about seeing our cousins that weekend and Ryn optimistically pointed out to Elle, "Your cousins will still play with you because they don't know all the bad things you did yet." Thank goodness for a fresh start!

That night at bedtime, Eden bit through the end of her pacifier. "It's bo-ken! (sad face)..... Don't worry, I fix it! (happy face)" I told her that we couldn't fix it--we'd just have to get a new one, but then she thought and said, "Jesus fix it!"

March 29--I was filling up the bathtub for Darren and when it was ready, I called out to him, "Come on, angel boy, let's get you clean." Eden was watching and looked at Darren, sitting in his bouncy seat, immobile. "He's not coming!" she tattled. "I know, he can't come by himself because he's just a baby." "No, he's a big girl."

the Key to Happiness

I've never experienced postpartum depression, but the combination of hormones that surely have been a little out of whack, no sleep, and all the stress/fatigue/never-ending to-do lists that come with moving have sometimes left me overwhelmed and unhappy over these past few weeks. Then having those feelings makes me feel guilty and ungrateful. How can I be unhappy when I am so extremely blessed?! How grateful I am to have the Book of Mormon and the Bible to remind me of the things I know to be true. Today I read in Alma 34 and found my answer in verse 38. (I even had already written "Key to HAPPINESS" in the margin next to it. :)) "That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." So, somewhere during these busy days I stopped living in thanksgiving and focused more on all that wasn't perfect or wasn't done yet. I gave into pride-- trying to do everything on my own and ending up discouraged, instead of humbly seeking the Lord's help. And I stopped listening to the help the Holy Ghost was trying to give me when he encouraged me to repent. Pretty sad state to be in. Thankfully, the scriptures, prayer, and a wonderful General Conference have helped me wake up again. :)

Saturday, March 5, 2011

so, so happy....Darren Thomas Linkous is here at last :)

Born February 21, 2011 at 3:38pm, weighing 9lbs 6oz and measuring 20.25 inches long. The labor and delivery were.... an experience. We'll just say that I will not be encouraging anyone to go for the natural childbirth experience, but we both survived and all is well :). Darren is another angel baby. Sleeping and eating well, content just to be here. The only time we hear him cry is when we have to change his diaper or clothes. The girls adore him and constantly want to hold him, kiss his head, sing to him, tell him how cute he is, etc. Elle is especially enamored and spends hours brushing his hair, holding him, musing about what he must be thinking, and admiring him. "Oh, he's so CUTE!!!" "I think he wants to say, 'you're beautiful--you must be my mommy.'"

I know there is no excuse for not posting pictures here sooner....except that Kevin did post some on Facebook, I am still recovering, we knew our dear Michelle would take pictures that would make us cry (I'm crying right now), we closed on our first house yesterday, we've been packing up our stuff, I have 3 angel girls who need my attention now more than ever, and I want to breathe in every second of this delicious and way-too-short newborn phase of Darren's life. So each night, when the girls are finally asleep and I'm done packing for the day, instead of posting something here, I've been snuggling with this tiny piece of heaven and thanking Heavenly Father over and over again that I get to be a mother. (Is that an OK excuse? :) )

And here is the link to Michelle's post, full of more pictures and love, that made me cry:

http://scenesfromthewild.blogspot.com/2011/03/darren.html

Friday, February 18, 2011

MONDAY my prince will come :)

Yep, the induction is set for Monday, Feb 21, unless he decides to come before then.
YIPPEEEEE!

Today is my Grandpa Ellis' birthday and I thought how neat that would have been for Darren to share that with such a great man. Stephen Briggs Ellis. The only boy in a family of 10 children. His father died when he was nine, leaving his mother alone to raise their family. They moved from a farm in Idaho down to Logan where she could take in college students as boarders. To make more room for extra income, Grandpa slept in the tiny "attic" above their detached garage. No insulation made for many extremely cold winter nights. He said he would pile on so many blankets that he literally could not even turn over. His mother was amazing. She did raise all of those children, stayed faithful, and served in the Logan temple for 40 years.

Grandpa went to college, met my grandmother while working for the border patrol in Texas, joined the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot in the Pacific during WWII, was shot down once, came home after the war and started ranching in Idaho with his brother-in-law, raised 6 sons and a daughter on a strict diet of hard work and home cooking, loved his wife so completely that it made me cry, served and lifted all who knew him, never took himself too seriously, showed his love through his actions, lived the gospel in such a practical way that missionary work was second nature to him, silently and consistently gave generously to those in need, and inspired me to try and be better in every way. How I love that man. I'm so thankful for the time I had to spend with him and Grandma while I was at BYU. I'm thankful for the great heritage of faith, humility, love, obedience and hard work that they have left me.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Someday my prince will come....

I was hoping he'd come today and be my little Valentine, but no go. I guess he wants to be closer to his dad in every way (Kev's bday is the 24th), but I REALLY hope he doesn't wait that long.

Patience and faith

Patience and faith

Patience and faith :)

I just can't wait to have one more little person to love!!!!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Goodly parents

Thinking about my parents today and how much they do, and have always done, for me... I remembered Elder Holland's wonderful talk in conference about the great sacrifices his parents had made during and after his mission so he could serve without worrying and then get started on his dreams when he got home.

"To you, Mom and Dad, and to all the moms and dads and families and faithful people everywhere, I thank you for sacrificing for your children (and for other people's children!), for wanting so much to give them advantages you never had, for wanting so much to give them the happiest life you could provide...."

Saying 'thank you' seems so insignificant, so insufficient. But I'll say it anyway. Thank you. I'm so thankful I get to be a parent so I can hopefully do and give my all to these children in the same way. I hope my entire life will show my gratitude to you and to Heavenly Father for giving me the chance to be your daughter.

Mom and Dad, "...seeing your example, I pledge anew my determination to be better, to be more faithful--more kind and devoted, more charitable and true as our Heavenly Father is and as...you already are."

I love you.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Two?!

Can she really be 2? As we walked out of our house this morning on our way to church, I thought of how much today was just like the day Eden was born. Chilly, but beautiful. Blue skies to match her eyes--our first blue-eyed baby. Snow dusted mountains....perfect--just like she was. She was another "alien baby", as Joy refers to our kids when they're newborns--happy, content to sit and watch everything around them, good sleepers, etc. Now she is as fiesty as they come :). Still happy, still enjoying the world around her--especially every move her sisters make, not as great of a sleeper, but such a JOY. She literally lights up the world.