Slacking!

I know I know, 2 days without posting! What was I thinking! Actually I've just been trying to organize a few things. {Which is funny because as much as I do organize things, a few weeks later I find myself organizing again!}
In the early morning hours while feeding Brock I get a lot of thinking done. Becoming a mom was never scary to me. I always had an amazing example {thanks Mommy} I think all those years as a nanny probably helped too! Even in those late night hours when Brock just wants to be held as I walk up and down the hall, {he loves when I do this, I chalk it all up to my almost daily walks while I was pregnant. that will teach me.} When all I really want to do is crawl into to bed and sleep! But I pick him up, and do as "pioneer children" I sing as I walk and walk and walk ...and walk!
I remember my first year as a nanny with the Kleins. Ted always asked me, "How do yo do it?" Start each day happy and ready to go, without any stress pulling me down. I always just smiled and said a good nights sleep!
Is that really all it takes? It takes those daily prayers of strength and comfort. A willingness to give all you have, and then give just a little more. It takes patience! And lots of it! And I love the saying; "When life gets to hard to stand... Kneel!" I truly believe that the Lord, Our Heavenly Father will always be there to help and guide us through. But sometimes all you really need is a good nights sleep!

American Idol Fan.. or NOT!

Okay so yeah, I am so not an American Idol fan. In fact I doubt I've ever seen a full episode. The few times I have seen the show, I turn it fairly quickly because I just can't stand the "glorified karaoke" that they call talent! And the one's who actually can sing are always kicked off way too early. {And by the way , I really don't see why Simon Cowell is such a "visionary" for creating the show, anyone ever heard of a little show called Star Search?}
BUT ANYWAY...........

I have to admit that Chris Daughtry is one of my new faves. I just can't get enought of him, and he can actually sing!

Brock's first "Official" photo shoot!

Isn't he just the cutest thing ever! I had a coupon for some free birth announcements from Kiddie Kandids so I took Brock in for his first "official" photo shoot. This was the winning shot!

Brock was not liking being posed, although he didn't complain, just kept giving "the eye" to our camera girl. Here are some other shots from today.

Showing off his muscles! { just like his Daddy!}

A Few Black and White poses with Mommy!

And then this one, where he actually looked at the camera. Believe me it took many shots to get him to do this!

1 Month Old!

Can you believe how fast time flies! Today Brock turns one month old. Just thought I'd share a few pictures!

Brock and I both had doctors appointments today. I had my postpartum check up, and I'm doing GREAT!

Brock had his 1 month checkup. We were able to get his accurate weight yesterday, {11 lbs. 2.8 oz.}and he's between the 75-90% for weight. Getting an accurate length is somewhat difficult with his casts, so I'll have to do a length check next time we're at Shriner's. I don't remember what his head circumference was but it was in the 50th percentile range so no worries. And of course he's doing GREAT, as well.

Next month we'll be starting all the "fun" visits to the pediatrician, meaning shots.. ouch! We'll have to see how Brock takes that.

Big and Strong!

We were able to weigh Brock today between castings.
He is now 11 lbs. 2.8 oz.
Which means he's gaining just under a pound a week. {14 ounces a week to be exact} I don't know if we should credit that to his good eating habits or the weightlifting regimen he is on. But either way I've got a big strong baby on my hands! {And that's just the way Daddy wants it!}

Round Four!

This has become so routine! Every Wednesday like clock work!

Off with the old!


I just had to get this picture of Brock holding his Daddy's hand. Ryszard does this every week, while I work the camera.

Brock looks up at his Daddy!

And look how straight his feet are! {Can you believe it Nana? }

And yes, he still has his tattoos! they will be there for a while, but once were done with the casting process, we can give him a good washing and they will slowly fade.

I was able to clean off Brock's legs a bit today and get a good cleaning in between those little toes. Brock was kicking away, and I kept tickling his feet so he'd bend and straighten those little legs of his. I'm sure Brock thought it was really strange to finally be able to straighten his knees. We did this for a good 10 minutes, it was so nice to see him kicking away, before being placed into another cast. { I believe this will be his last cast for Abduction- turning the foot out, And next week we will be starting the Plantar Flexion-turning the foot up.}

So on with the show!

And today we really did have quite the show! For the first time Brock put up a fuss. Maybe it was from all that free time stretching that he just protested the new casts, or could it be that we're usually in and out in under an half hour and today, with all the "wait time" we were there for almost 2 hours. Add that to the fact that we were cutting into Brock's nap time. And you get this:

One really red, really tired and really protesting baby boy! I told Brock that is his was a really good boy he'd get a "milkshake" when we get home. That made him a little more happy, and it made the doctor's laugh! I mean what was I supposed to do? Brock was beginning to lose his reputation for calm and quiet. {the doctor's have nicknames for all the little babies that came in, and believe me Brock has the best!}

And the end result! 2 shinny new casts, {okay maybe not shinny, rather dull,} but nice and white!

And of course my baby got his yummy "milkshake"!

You've got mail!

Doesn't it feel like just yesterday, when we would all get so excited to turn on our computers and hear those 3 little words?
Move over email. Make way for my new obsession..... BLOGGING!
I really don't know how I became so obsessed! I started this thing for my family back in Utah, and I think it's slowly taking over my life! Okay not my life, but maybe those precious minutes I used to spend {waste} catching up on old episodes of One Tree Hill! Plus it doesn't help that for a while there I was just posting any random thought that came to my brain, in order to avoid having Ryszard look at the site later that day and tell me that I needed to "update" my blog. Funny thing is I think he's more addicted to this thing then I am, or maybe we are equally addicted! I think we both have to check things out daily, and I mean DAILY!
One I love posting new little tidbits of my life, but more importantly I love the fact that I can snoop into other peoples lives as well! Hey it's on a blog, they have to expect that someones gonna read it right! Besides sometimes that's the only way I have to know what's going on. Oh and I love to leave comments, get comments, read comments. Comments are a good thing! {as Martha Stewart would say}
So move on over "You've Got Mail" cause I've got Blogging Fever! And isn't it such a great way to "waste" away the day?

Can One Hour Change Your Life?

I'm think about that very question a lot.
My life completely changed the minute I met Ryszard 4 1/2 years ago. It started with a simple IM, and then a phone call, and then finally meeting him. But could I really fall for someone in just one hour?
My life changed again the moment we looked at each other over the altar in the San Diego LDS Temple. When we were sealed for Time and ALL Eternity.
It was in that moment that I knew things could never be so perfect. Even now with our precious baby Brock. I know that he wouldn't be as perfect, if it were not for that moment spent kneeling at an altar, making an everlasting covenant not only to my husband, but with God. It is through that decision to be sealed together that made our eternal family possible. One that will be "Together Forever". {And it all took place in just about 1 hour}

I contemplate that now as my brother Matthew, and his family, are at this moment preparing to kneel down together, at that sacred altar. To make a special covenant, that will create their Eternal family. A family that will be "Together Forever"
I want them to know how proud and happy I am for them. For the steps they've taken to get here. I hope they know how much I wish I could be there with them.

So I ask the question again, Can one hour change your life?

Mouth Piece?

Ryszard's brother Adrian gave us a Patirots pacifier for Brock. {Which little Brock loves} And ever since we started using it Ryszard has been calling it a "mouth piece" {starting in on the football lingo already!} I also have this really cute football pacifier clip from Sweet Baby Beads . Here's to you my little Football baby! 4 weeks old today! I can't believe how fast time flies!

To my sister April

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Just a little shout out to my sister April on her birthday! Hope your having a great one! WE love you!

My Little Wonder

Today I let some light in the window and decided to take a quick little photo shoot with Brock while he was sleeping. Then the words from Rob Thomas' song "Little Wonders" came to mind.

Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder. Don't you know the hardest part is over. Let it in, let your clarity define you. In the end you will only just remember how it feels.

Our lives are made in these small hours. These little wonders. These twists and turns of fate Time falls away, But these small hours These small hours still remain

Let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you. Let it shine, till you feel it all around you. And I don't mind, if it's me you need to turn to. We'll get by, it's the heart that really matters in the end.

Our lives are made In these small hours. These little wonders. These twists and turns of fate. Time falls away, but these small hours. These small hours, still remain.

All of my regret will wash away somehow. But I cannot forget the way I feel right now. In these small hours These little wonders These twists and turns of fate.

Yeah, these twisted turns of fate. Time falls away Yeah, but these small hours, These small hours still remain

What I would give for a nice quite walk on the beach. Just my guys and me. Toes sining in the sand, and waves crashing along the shore. top it off with a beautiful sunset on the horizon. Oh, what Joy!

Casting #3

Today we went to Shriner's Hospital for Brock's third casting session.
The process starts with Daddy, talking to Brock while I get pictures. {I need to document these things right!} Here Brock is still pretty much asleep. Let's see what happens when the saw turns on!

Don't worry guys, It doesn't hurt, and the saw doesn't cut skin, just makes a loud sound,

Although Brock doesn't seem to mind!

Off with the casts!

After sawing down one side of the cast and then the other, We need to pry the plaster cast apart with this cool looking tool

Oh the Freedom!

We had a good 10 minutes or so between casts to stretch and bend Brock's legs.

Look at my Feet! can you see the difference between this picture and this one?

This picture was taken at the hospital a few hours after he was born. {I don't think we could get Brock to interlock his toes like this anymore, even if we tried!}

Look at my new TATTOOS! {Sorry Nana!}

It's really just the marker they use to locate Brock's bones before they cast as a point of reference for the Research Tech, Beth Roscoe. {Who will be using Brock's casts for Bracing research.}

Okay enough with the pictures already! As you can see he's not the least bit fazed.
Here we go AGAIN!

Dr. Mack holds Brock's foot in position.

While Dana, our "casting guy" wraps the ankle and leg.

And Daddy holds Brock's hand and gives him kisses.

{can I tell you just how awesome Ryszard is with Brock. He keeps him so calm during the whole casting process. Constantly talking to Brock through the whole thing.}

My baby Brock is such a tough little guy! He didn't wiggle or make a peep the entire time. {Until I started changing his outfit and cleaning him up, he sure doesn't like being naked. What a modest little boy I have! I hope that lasts}

Almost done!

And there you have it, Brock's new casts!

Nana Marilyn {my Mom} wanted me to get lots of pictures so if it feels like over load, well tough!