February- The Month of Love 2015

February- Well it started out pretty rough. I am just going to vent about it for a minute- I had to have surgery- due to child birth. Never expected to go through something like that- nor do I ever want to again. Brooklyn is well worth anything and everything- so technically I would do it again and again just to have my Sweet baby girl...
Anyway, that was unpleasant- here is why:
 I was scheduled for surgery Monday morning Feb. 2nd - mind you Mitch had 4 TESTS that week AND my mom was sick with the flu AND they were planning on going out of town on Wednesday. When your mom is sick everything falls apart... Moms are so important and so needed. I hope every mother realizes that. Well, Beth saved my bacon and watched Brooklyn- then her kiddos got sick with throwing up stuff- Beth is such a saint. Then Marianne saved my bacon by watching Brooklyn the rest of Monday. My Dad and Mitch helped me at the hospital. Thank goodness for family. By the way Mitch and I have the best family members. Really we do. We are so blessed.  Also, because of the anesthesia I couldn't breast feed Brooklyn for 24 hours. It was just pretty difficult and emotional and hard... then the Lord really wanted to test our faith when the Stake President showed up are our doorstep on Tuesday evening Feb. 3rd, which is when he extended a calling to Mitch... Elders Quorum President of Rexburg Student Married 32nd Ward. Holy smokes... next thing I know I am puking my guts out due to the pain medication... I cried tears that night...honestly, I was very overwhelmed and felt horrible for causing so much added stress on everyone else- especially Mitch. So to get to the point of why  am even typing this experience down.. is for this reason- to remind me of sweet blessings when times are hard. The first  two weeks of  February we down right rough and even though they were rough,  I found out that my Savior was the one person who loves and understands me perfectly- because he too has felt my same emotions, physical pain, worries and concerns. February  truly means the love month this year from my family, from Mitch - not only for Valentine’s day- which I love, but because my Savior wrapped his arms around me and helped me get through some really challenging days.
I know that he is there to pick us up when we are down and to walk with us when we have really good days as well. He is always there- comforting us and bringing us peace.
For Valentine’s Day Mitch got me a beautiful rose and we shared some chocolate covered strawberries- went a delicious breakfast and then spent the day outside enjoying this crazy warm weather in February.
Brooklyn turned 4 months old.
She has eaten rice cereal and prunes! Yum!

February 2015- let’s finish off with turning 23 years old- embracing my age, loving my husband more fully and cherishing my precious baby girl each moment I have with her.

I love February. I love my Savior.

January - 2015

 

2014 was a great year. Honestly- the best one yet... a few highlights to reflect  upon.
Finding out we were expecting, going to Arizona for Quinn and Brittany's wedding, Me graduating BYU-Idaho with my bachelors degree in nursing, Going to Oregon for a fun family Willmore reunion, Mitch going to Texas for an optometry trip, having a baby- Brooklyn in October, celebrating Thanksgiving with the Merrills, Brooklyn's blessing day, Christmas with the Willmores and New Years with  just our little sweet family. 2015 seems to be an exciting year ahead, watching Brooklyn grow and develop. Mitch continuing his schooling and I get to spend my days with Brooklyn. Life really can't get any better then that.
I feel like our testimonies have grown in 2014, with our callings and with life's trials and adventures we have been able to depend upon our savior Jesus Christ.
I know that if we put the Lord first, our lives will be blessed. I am really hoping this semester goes well for Mitch. He works so hard and We both know that if we do the small and simple things we will be able to accomplish great things.

Brooklyn is 2 3/4 months old. She is smiling like crazy, babbling, almost on the edge of giggling. I am just waiting to hear that little giggle come. She is sleeping through the night- which is amazing. Her routine consists of a bath around 9:30pm, rubbed down in lotion, warm jammies on then she eats until about 10:15-10:30pm and I put to sleep around 10:45- she sleeps until 7 or 7:30am. It seriously is wonderful. She is very awake and alert during the day- only takes little cat naps, but will take a longer nap during the afternoon. She is a sweet sweet baby with such a innocent sweet spirit. I am so glad she has joined our family. I can't imagine life without her.

January is already filled with Mitch's 24th birthday and Kristin's 29th birthday. Let the birthdays commence for the year. It is also Corinne Brodericks birthday tomorrow- the 7th! We will be throwing Maddie Stevens a Baby shower, then one for Lexi Mancera in Feb. Did I mention they are both having girls? It should be fun. They are both due around the same time Trish and Jenna are due! So 4 new babies to join this world. It will be fun to have all this buddies close to Brooklyn's age. Lots and lots of friends and memories to be made.
January is a fun new fresh start. It is a great month.

Here is too a great New Year of 2015!

Family Goals-
1- Put the Lord first ( scripture study, and prayers, tithing and fast offerings)
2-Have a family outing once a month
3- Temple attendance 1/month
4- Learn about Taxes
5-Exercise 4/week
6- Budget money well.
7- Blog 1/month with pictures included.
8- Laugh about something every single day.
9- Serve someone daily.
10- Make our home a place of peace and comfort.

November 2014 - December 2014

Brooklyn @ her newborn appointment was  6 pounds 9 ounces
Brooklyn @ her two week appointment weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces
Brooklyn @ her 2 month appointment was 11 pounds 2 ounces, 23 inches long.
She is growing so quickly!!! I can't handle it!


Motherhood has taught me a variety of things I never thought I would learn-
For instance as a new mother you have to learn not to take things personally when people make comments about your baby. My mama bear instincts set in on day one with Brooklyn.
Also your exhaustion kicks in the moment you get settled in to your home with your new baby. Sleep deprivation is a real thing. I now understand why my Grandma kept saying, "sleep when the baby sleeps". It is a lot easier said then done, with company and trying to eat yourself it is hard to sleep.
Breastfeeding has also a learning experience and it takes patience, with yourself and with your new sweet baby. I am so lucky I have been able to supply nutrients for Brooklyn, it is a demanding, but rewarding experience to feed your baby.

I have found that your love your spouse even deeper as you become a family of 3.
Mitch has been a great Dad. He was definitely a transition with his classes and working and a new baby and not sleeping. I love him more for all that he has done for Brooklyn and I.
I also see now, why a child needs a mother and a father. Mitch loves Brooklyn just as much as me, but he shows her differently and interacts differently then I do. Brooklyn loves her Daddy.
Brooklyn is smiling now, sleeping through the night much better and continually is adding joy to our lives.


We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Merrills. We celebrated Thanksgiving Thursday, did a surprise party for Bree on Friday along with temple sealing as a family. Saturday we celebrated Christmas since we will all be with the side of the family for Christmas. Then Sunday we blessed Brooklyn, so it was definitely an eventful weekend and a very special one at that. Here are some pictures..



I will head back to work in January, just working Thursday Mornings, taking call and working the Saturday rotation.

We celebrated our 2 year anniversary on the 15th of December. Mitch got me some beautiful flowers and surprised me with gator jacks lunch. I got him  a wallet and symphony bar :) We got to go to Jackson Hole and spend the night in at Miller Park Lodge. It was a beautiful sight- all the snow and Christmas lights. It was fun to get away from Rexburg- Mitch was also so happy to be done with the semester. Here are a few pictures of the fun trip!

We also moved this semester- which was insane, but glad we have a bigger apartment and a washer and dyer!


Christmas is just 2 days away! We will be spending it with the Willmore family and I am really excited to go spend sometime with my family. I have learned how the Savior is aware of us, every day- especially when you are a new mom and are trying really hard and trying to be the best mom you can be. He gives you strength to accomplish the most important thing- being a mother. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I am so grateful that he knows what I am going through. The Holy Ghost- has also been a huge blessing in my life and given me important promptings as Mitch and I have begun parenthood.