Good-Bye 2010

This year, for our family, has been filled with joy and heartache.

I started the year pregnant and sick! I was so tired.

In February, Cole started a fabulous job. It gave us the ability to move from the farm into our own place!!!

We spent March getting settled into our new home. Our apartment is perfect for our little family.

In April we learned that the little bundle of joy that I was carrying was another boy!

May...we were all sick in may and it seemed to last FOREVER!

In June Cole was let go from his job for no apparent reason. We were discouraged, shocked and confused. After about of week of not knowing where to go or where to turn Cole started milking the cow at the farm. This has now turned into a "permanent" thing and is providing for our family! CRAZY!

At the beginning of July Grandma Doris passed away! It came as quite a surprise and although I know she is much happier now...it has been very hard!

August brought the arrival of Joshua Scot. He has been such a blessing to our family.

September was spent recovering from Joshua's birth and coming to terms with the fact that I do have two kids now!

October started the countdown to Halloween, Cameron's birthday and Christmas!

Cameron's birthday was celebrated over the span of a week. He had 4 different parties and I swear I won't do that again next year! It's still hard to believe that he's 4 years old!

December is still a blur...way to many sweets....way to much family....and Fun all around!

I can't believe 2010 if gone! I'm excited to see what 2011 has in store for our family!

Resolution #1

One of my goals this new year is to be better organized. I ran across a blog offering and organization challenge. 21 days to organized sounded great to me! So excited to participate! Stay tuned for my posts!

Report

Can you tell I love my family?

I'm happy to report that I am finished with Cameron's Christmas gift shopping....He is done! Although Santa still needs to finish with the stocking stuffers.

I'm not happy to report that I have mastitis again!

Also not happy to report that Joshua is sick...today was day 10! Praying it stays in his head and doesn't settle in his chest!

Happy to report that Cameron, who was sick first is all better...so is daddy!

I love this time of year....cold weather, lots of yummy smells and hot cocoa....also snuggling with my babies under warm fuzzy blankets....THE BEST!

Thankful----in pictures!

I am thankful for my family!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm so thankful for...

My boys...all three of them!

My wonderful family...In-laws and all!

Warm clothes

our home!

The youth in our ward!

my great friends.

a good nights sleep.

our heater!

Snuggles with my boys!

What are you thankful for?

Answers to prayers?

During my pregnancy I prayed for several specific things...in fact their were times I was pleading! I asked for Joshua to have the same eyes as Cameron's....Cameron's eyes are beautiful! I couldn't imagine having one child with those lovely eyes and another without! I asked for Cameron to adjust well...he had been my only...he got what he wanted when he wanted and is quite spoiled! He is a mommas boy and I could not for the life of me wrap my mind around having to share myself with another....and how that might affect my first! I asked for a baby that would nurse. With Cameron I was only able to breastfeed for 8 weeks. By 8 weeks I was bone dry! It was very important to me that I try again! Yes it's good for baby, Yes, its good for baby and mom to bond, yeah your supposed to be able to lose the baby weight faster....Those things are great and all but when you are 7 months pregnant and your husband loses his job...your only income disappears you are no longer concerned about those things...you are now concerned about how you are going to be able to afford formula on top of everything else you can no longer afford!

Fast forward to 11 weeks after birth! I have a 4 year old that has adjusted beautifully to the arrival of his little brother! I have two sons with beautiful blue eyes. I have an 11 week old son who nurses like a champ...he has since he was 30 minutes old!

Have have learned a valuable lesson though.....Be careful what you ask for....The thing I wanted most was for Joshua to nurse. We have had to work hard....we have had our share of struggles with it....I quit consuming dairy for almost 2 months to ward off the his tummy troubles. I won't take a bottle...not even if it contains breast milk. I have had to fight my supply....too much water, not enough water....don't forget your vitamins...cant take that honey, I'm nursing! AHHHH....then the worst of it came this last weekend....I came down with MASTITS. I've heard the horror stories and having never been through it before listened with half an ear. I was sympathetic to those that had it but didn't really understand. How bad can breast pain be with flu like symptoms....I imagined it as engorgement right after birth while being sleep deprived....any one whose had kids has been there...it's pretty bad!

NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!! I literally thought I might die. Not from the breast pain....it was bad but manageable....It was the fever that would have killed me! Three days later and several doses of antibiotics I am on the mend. A big thank you to my doctor who came in to his office at 9pm on a Saturday night to start treating me.

Happy Birthday....

Happy Birthday to my favorite Four year-old.

Cameron, you are the cutest little guy I know. I can't believe how independent you are. You are so smart. You have the best expressions. You are so animated. You have made being a mommy so rewarding. I can't imagine my life with out you. Thank you for being such a great big brother and my first baby! I love you.