Love being a mom...

For the past few months, I have been really busy sewing and selling dresses. When I initially started sewing dresses, it was because I loved making fun stuff for Reese. When people started asking me to make dresses for their daughters, I was excited that other people liked them as well. Before I knew it, I was spending every extra minute I had up in my sewing room, my house was a mess, I always felt like a horrible wife and mother, and what I did for fun in the beginning, became a job. I remember one time when I was making Reese a bow and she was pulling on my leg because she wanted me to play with her and I realized that Reese doesn't want a bow, she wants her mom.  As I was busy sewing and selling dresses, I kept getting promptings that this is not the most important thing I could be doing with my time. It was neat to me to feel how much Heavenly Father values motherhood and being a wife. Every little thing I do with Reese to try to teach her, nurture her, and love her is more valuable than money or anything else. I have waited too long to be a mother to just spend my time sewing.

It seems that a lot of moms feel a need to compare and show how crafty and how amazing their lives are through  facebook, blogging, craft blogs. I know I had previously been caught up in this. I love all those things as well, but I realized that I don't want to be so busy blogging and crafting that I can't have just have fun playing with Reese, even if the world doesn't see it. Being a mother is good enough for me and the most rewarding thing in my life. Now that I have stopped trying to keep up with crafting, blogging, and everything else, I have felt the spirit so much more in my life. Through this experience, my testimony of motherhood has grown so much. I have felt how much Heavenly Father loves mothers and wants us to feel how proud He is of everything we do. We may not be paid or get much praise, but watching Reese swim, saying "Amen" after prayers, and learning new things is the most rewarding thing in the world. 

This past week...

This week has not been the easiest week, but I have learned to be grateful for the little things in life. Monday and Tuesday, Reese was getting hot and not feeling well. Her temp was almost 102* and so her dr checked her out and she didn't have an ear infection or anything he could tell. She kept getting worse and worse and wanted me to hold her all the time. I was up with her on Tuesday night and she was laying down with me and I was trying to reach for something on the floor and strained some muscles in my back . In the morning, I could barely move. I couldn't pick up Reese, but she was bawling and reaching up for me so I would pick her up anyway. I didn't realize how many things you do in a day that involve your back until it hurts to do it ( getting her out of her crib, high chair, setting her on your lap, changing her diaper, pouring milk, loading dishwasher, laundry, vaccuming, making dinner, and so many other things.) It made me realize how much I enjoy being able to accomplish so many things in a day that requires a healthy body. By the time Ron got home, I couldn't even stand up straight and I had to hold onto something to walk. I am grateful for a brother-in-law that is a chiropractor and was nice enough to go into his office at 9:30pm to work on me. I wanted to cry the whole time and when I stood up after, I about collapsed because it hurt so bad. When we got home, Reese just wanted me to pick her up and she was crying, I was crying on the couch because I hurt so bad and I couldn't pick up my baby girl and felt guilty that Ron was trying to take care of both of us. I couldn't even lay down in bed without hurting. Ron 's dad came over to give Reese a blessing and gave me one too.  I am very grateful for the power of the priesthood in my home and a husband that loves us so much and takes good care of us. The next day was about the same as the day before, but, by the third day, I could walk and it was as if nothing happened, which was a miracle. Reese broke out in a rash all over her body and we found out that she had roseolla. So lots of cuddling time with my baby girl. I am very grateful for this experience which helped me to be grateful for the little things in life. I am grateful for my health that allows me to be a active mother and accomplish so many  things in a day. It feels so good to work and be able to comfort a crying child. So...........be grateful for the little things in life.

Reese is walking

I can't believe Reese is walking already. It was a week before she turned 13 months old that she started taking 2 steps, then 3, and in one week she was walking all over the place. She is so cute when she walks. She gets excited and starts clapping for herself. I love it! I hate that she is no longer my little baby, but I love holding her hand when we go on walks outside and when she talks to us. I am just loving being a mom. 

Goodbye Keiko

 We had to say goodbye to Keiko last week and it was so hard! She has been the best dog and we have loved her so much! She came as an unexpected blessing when I was struggling with infertility. She was so excited to see us when we got home and we loved taking her for walks all the time and throwing the football with her. With each failed adoption, I would be sitting on the ground crying and Keiko would come lay down on my lap and let me hug her. We got Sachi so that Keiko would have someone to play with, but they have not been getting along and Keiko has just seemed miserable since we moved into our new house and we cried when we realized that we needed to find her a new home. We had prayed and prayed that we could find a good home for Keiko where she would be happy and they would love her and take care of her. It seemed to take awhile, but finally this family called and it truly was a perfect match. They have older kids that love to play football and wrestle with dogs. They had previously had 2 female dogs that didn't get along so they understand that situation, and when they came to meet Keiko, she loved them and was having fun with them. Another thing that excited me was that the daughter that came to pick up Keiko was going to school to become a vet. We couldn't have asked for a better family and I am so excited that Keiko is happy and can run, and have lots of people to give her attention. We are so grateful for that Heavenly Father brought this family to us.