So Much To Be Thankful For

This past semester Brandon has had an assignment to teach a class once a month in Grand Junction. For the most part, we all went along for the ride and swam in the pool, played at the park, hung out with my brother Jon and his family, and walked around the mall while Brandon worked!

In November, the weekend to go was just before Thanksgiving. We decided since we were half way to Utah, we would just go the rest of the way and spend the Holiday with family. We were able to stay with my parents and spend time with my brother Greg, my brother Darren and his family, and even a little time with my sister Wendi and her family.

The boys loved seeing their cousins and playing with them, and even sledding at the park thanks to a HUGE snow storm! We did a family home evening while we were there about all of our blessings. Lincoln and Grant helped fill the turkey up with feathers. It was a fun Holiday time!

These 3 guys are some of the greatest blessings in my life.

I love how much they love and are already quite protective of each other...

...and help each other out

(Grant was watching something and wanted to hold Eli. Eli fell right asleep!)

Grant loved playing with his cousin Robbie. These 2 little guys decided to just help themselves to yummy Thanksgiving food. I think they followed each other into the kitchen, they were all alone and just started digging in!

Eli and Elizabeth...cute little cousins, just 2 weeks apart.

Grandma and her "Eli Eli" babies

The boys with Pop after a Thankgiving FHE. Everyone helped put feathers on the turkey by sharing something they were thankful for. We were able to give it lots of feathers!

Someone once said that Thanksgiving is the transitional holiday which brings us from the darkness (of Halloween) to the Light (of Christmas). I liked that thought because as we remember our blessings and the many things we have to be thankful for, we are happier and our lives are moved towards the Light. There are so many things to be thankful for, and as I think about our family's past year I am humbled by the blessings we have received individually and collectively. I am humbled by the service that has been rendered to us. I am humbled as I recognize the Lord's hand and his guidance in our life.

It's The Little Things

The other week it rained and rained. Lincoln and Grant thought the puddles looked like so much fun. I don't think I've ever let them jump in the puddles before, though Lincoln has asked numerous times...

I thought to myself - What little kid hasn't experienced the joy of jumping in puddles before? We pulled into the garage, I got them out of the car and told them to go jump!

Lincoln looked at me apprehensively. I told him again to go jump, that it was okay. He hesitated about a minute more and then took Grant and ran to the puddles. Within a few minutes he said, "I'm having so much fun!" Within a few more minutes they were wet and cold and ready to go inside for lunch and hot chocolate!

I need to remember more often that it's the little things that make for a happy childhood, and a happy family. Sometimes I get so caught up on the schedule of the day that I forget about the fun...and what would be fun to these little guys.

All Smiles

I love this sweet little baby's smiles and his happy calm personality. He brings so much joy to our family and our home. Everyone loves little Eli so much and he gives so much love back. He is really so patient and calm and just a happy baby! He is a little snuggler and loves to be held. I am so happy to have our 3rd little boy and am just so in love with him.

He just turned 2 months and had his check-up. He was born our smallest baby, but is growing so big so quickly....24 in (90%) and 12.3 lbs (75%)!

To Infinity And Beyond!

For a year Lincoln has been reminding me that he wanted to be "Woody" for Halloween and that Grant would be "Buzz" and the baby would be "Rex." Thankfully we were able to pull through!

The boys had so much fun dressing in their costumes for most of October and then finally Trick-or-Treating at our ward's annual Truck-or -Treat. It was fun to watch them play while they were in their costumes. They of course had to act the part and refer to each other as Woody and Buzz. They usually would try to save Jessie (Mommy) and ride Bullseye (the couch or Daddy). I think they make a pretty cute pair! They love Halloween and dressing up. Lincoln thought it was the greatest night ever!

Cute baby Eli as "Rex"

Checking out their loot before the Great Pumpkin comes!

Daddy.Grant.Lincoln

Mommy.Eli

Making Halloween sugar cookies...gotta LOVE dumping the sprinkles on!

Lincoln was so excited to make these...really he was probably mostly excited to eat them!

Pumpkin Carving night!

Moms Should Not Be Out Of Commission...

...but if they are, they should have an amazing husband, wonderful parents, and a supportive ward! With the c-section for Eli's birth, the doctor's orders have limited my daily activity quite a bit. No dishes, no cooking, no sweeping, no laundry, no bed making, no standing for longer than 15 minutes at a time, no picking up anything heavier than the baby!

I admit, it was kind of nice to take a break from the first few things...but not being able to pickup my bigger babies was quite challenging for me, and them as well. It was heart-breaking to hear Lincoln or Grant ask for me to hold them, and then I would just have to tell them I couldn't. Of course it was harder with Grant since he didn't really understand.

I am very grateful though for the out pouring of help to keep up with the house, help with meals, and with the boys. Brandon took care of everything especially during the first week or so. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, dishes, taking on the night duty with the bigger boys (they were almost sleeping worse than the newborn!), Brandon was amazing! He went about quietly taking care of everything and made sure I rested as much as possible. Through this, I think we were both able to understand each other a little better! Especially Brandon understanding my days a little better, and me understanding how frustrating it can feel to be "out of the loop" from the daily activities. I am so grateful for him and so lucky to have him. I couldn't make it though ordeals such as this without him.

During that time I felt like I was seeing him with new eyes. He was so patient and gentle with me and the boys. He usually is, but this was different. As I had the time to sit back and watch him, I fell more and more in love with him. He is amazing! While my boys are wrapped around my finger and I do love them so much...their daddy is wrapped around my heart and I am madly in love with him!

I am so glad that my parents were able to come and stay with us for a few days as well. I know there were some sacrifices on their part to be able to do so, and I am so thankful that they were willing and able to come. I am lucky to have such great parents. The boys absolutely loved having them here and the attention they received from them. It was wonderful to have their help, support, and to be able to spend time with them.

I was completely amazed by the help we received from our ward. From coming in the middle of the night when we went to the hospital (and then staying with the boys all day...even when they woke up for the day at 4:30am!), to stopping by to check on me and proceeding to do a load of laundry or the dishes, to bringing over so many yummy meals, to helping care for Lincoln and Grant. We were spoiled! We are so lucky to live in this ward at this time and for the amazing people in it. They are so welcoming and caring and Christ-like. I don't know that in all of our wards (and we've been in quite a few!) that there has been another quite like this. For now, this is where we belong!

I am really one lucky girl! I am recovering quickly, and doing well. Eli is a great blessing to have in our family. We are all adjusting to being a family of 5!

Welcome Home Baby Eli

I forgot to post some pictures about baby Eli's homecoming. Because of the c-section I had to stay in the hospital longer. By Tuesday morning I was very much ready to go home. As nice as the nurses were, and the time to relax and be with Eli, I was done with being checked constantly and having my sleep interrupted because of noise in the halls or a nurse needed to check my blood pressure. Unfortunately, I had to wait all morning long and even into the afternoon for the doctor to come and discharge me. I guess I needed to work on being patient!

Brandon stayed with Lincoln and Grant on Monday and Tuesday and apparently all Tuesday morning he was running around trying to get the house "perfect" and have balloons, flowers, and a fun banner hanging for us to come home to!

Baby Eli all ready to go home...

Mommy.Eli

On our way!

The big brothers brought balloons to the hospital...they were SO excited!

Home at last!

Precious Moments

We have loved having our little Eli in our home. He is such a sweet baby and is a great blessing to our whole family. It has melted my heart to see how loving both Lincoln and Grant are to their baby brother...they both love to hold him, talk to him, and give him hugs and kisses. Hopefully they will be the 3 musketeers! :)





This time around I have had to take things much slower and that's a bit hard for me, but at the same time, I have loved being able to slow down and enjoy every moment with Eli. Even though it was hard to be in the hospital for such a long time, it was nice to be able to hold him and love him without any other distractions. Now still at home, I always want him close to me as much as possible. Maybe it's because this is my third baby and I realize how quickly they grow up, but I just want to eat up every little precious moment with him and let him be little.


I was helping Lincoln get to sleep the other day and before I left the room I just stared at him wondering where the time has gone. I'm happy though that these last four years are filled with such fun memories of him learning and growing and discovering new things. I'm happy that I have been there with him and Grant though the precious moments they have already had. I realize these first moments with Eli...the midnight moments, the poopy moments, the uncomfortable recovery and starting nursing moments, are going to end all too soon. Each of these moments while not easy, are precious.

He's finally here!

Our little Eli was born 10.03.10 at 3:03am! We are so happy that he is here to love and hold. As I write this He is sleeping perfectly and peacefully next to me. I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I think of the events that led up to his arrival. I want to record them here and now while they are fresh in my mind. So the short version is the above opening 2 sentences....the long version is below...

Introducing...Eli Daren Wilde!

I of course was expecting a labor and delivery similar to Lincoln and Grant's and greatly anticipating when our 3rd little guy would come. I went in for my last prenatal appointment on Thursday and was told nothing was really happening. The mid-wife also commented, "He must be tickling his head, I can feel his fingers." Friday I started to feel a little "different" and regardless of what I was told the previous day felt that things were starting to happen.

Throughout the day on Friday and into the night I was starting to get strong contractions, but nothing consistent. Saturday remained the same until about 11:30pm. The contractions weren't necessarily stronger, but quite consistent. At 1:00am I decided to wake Brandon, call my sweet RS president who said she would come and stay with the boys if we had to leave in the middle of the night. We got to the hospital at 1:30 and since the pain wasn't really intense we were excited and in good spirits. I was checked in and told I was definitely staying...I was dilated to a 7 or 8 I couldn't believe it! Then the nurse said, "I think I'm feeling feet!" She quickly went to get the ultra-sound machine and sure enough, our sweet baby had flipped himself around sometime between the last ultra-sound at 35 weeks and now! She had a second nurse come in to verify what she saw, but Brandon and I saw the little feet as well. My heart sank, I was terrified.

The nurses were suddenly running around contacting the doctor and preparing for my C-section! I was asking if there was anything else they could do, when was this all going to take place, who was performing it? Everything was different and scary for me. They told me for the baby's safety and mine this was the best and really only option. I was still very scared. There was a few brief moments that only Brandon and I were left in the room. He offered to give me a blessing. I was instantly comforted and knew everything would be fine. The nurses came back with the doctor, she explained the procedure and the nurses told me I was getting the best doctor and the best Anethesist. My nerves continued to be calmed, I knew I could and needed to go forward with faith.

Before long, I was laying in the operating room, still in unbelief that this was happening. Brandon came in and sat beside me holding my hand and reassuring me it would be all right. The doctor talked through everything she was doing even though I couldn't see anything. Soon Brandon smiled and said he sees two little feet, then the doctor reaffirmed our baby was a boy, then she told everyone to push harder! The baby's head was stuck! She says he was looking at my heart and couldn't get his head to bend down or come out. The doctor, 2 nurses, and Brandon had to push our little guy out! And there he was completely perfect. His first sounds started to come they quickly cleaned him and then laid him on me. He was beautiful!



While this wasn't the delivery I was anticipating, I am so thankful for our little miracle. At times I get frustrated and wonder why I nor my doctor knew ahead of time of his breech position. However, I realize that I can't dwell on that, it doesn't really matter. A C-section still may have been ordered. What was most important was that Eli's sweet life was preserved, as was mine.

I am thankful that the nurse who initially checked me thought to double check with an ultrasound and act quickly. I cannot even imagine what would have happened had we not known of the baby's position until even a half hour later. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who remained calm and knew he could help through the power of the priesthood. I am thankful for the health care providers and their knowledge of how to best help me and our baby. I am thankful for a kind and generous Heavenly Father who gives this great miracle of life. I am thankful for the atonement that allows me to be comforted and not suffer alone. I am thankful to be a mother to my 3 boys! I am thankful for our sweet little Eli.

One definition we found for the meaning of Eli is "God answers." That fits perfectly. We are so happy to have him in our family we love him oh so much!

These boys are mine?!

What can I say! I absolutely love these 2 little guys. I realize I may be a bit biased, but I think they are the cutest, funniest, smartest little guys out there! Sometimes I look at them during the day and am taken back.

Two thoughts usually come to mind...I look at them and think these boys are really mine? Even after 4 years of being a mommy, I am amazed that I have been blessed with these little guys and sometimes feel like an impostor! Do I really know what I am doing? And I am really responsible enough to keep these guys safe, happy, and learning what they are suppose to?

Then I wonder how in the world did they get so big. I guess it's normal for a mommy to want her babies to stay little but at the same time be so excited and proud of them for learning and growing each day. I am simply amazed by both of them.

I love being their mommy! I love that I get to be at home with them. I love the laughs and the fun we can share. Even with the challenges, the occasional screams and melt downs (from any 3 of us!) I hope they both know how much I love every minute with them.

They both are wrapped around my finger, and they probably know that!

My funny fellows...yes they are both wearing cargo shorts and cowboy boots!
What one does the other follows.