Happy 2nd Birthday Atreyu!

We had quite the weekend. We celebrated Atreyu's 2nd birthday (which I can't believe has already come and gone) and Jesse and I worked hard planting grass in the backyard. On Atreyu's birthday, we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, he watched a little Toy Story and then he and I went outside. I raked the backyard and in between playing he would come help me. When Jesse woke up, he took Atreyu for a four-wheeler ride and then Atreyu also got a ride with Papa. Papa also took him in the skid steer when he loaded hay. He was able to play outside almost all weekend and he loved it.

Atreyu opened a couple presents on his birthday and then the rest the next day when we had a mini party with Papa, Grandma, Josh and Kim. We gave him tractor bedding for a big boy bed (which he is now sleeping in pretty well), Jesse's old toy barn, a silo, tractors and farm animals. He loved it all!

He was so excited about his new toys that he hardly touched his cake. I made him a tractor cake which turned out pretty good but not the way I envisioned it. All he really cared about though were the tractors so everything worked out. Kim's birthday was the next day so the party was partly for her as well. Atreyu helped her open her gift.

Last week I ordered some fleece fabric to make Atreyu a tractor blanket that didn't have to stay on the bed. The fabric came today and I got the blanket all made. Atreyu was getting upset with me because he wanted to play with it before I was finished. Here he is enjoying his new blanket with some tractors.

We had a very busy weekend but it was so fun to celebrate our little boy's birthday. We love him so much and are so grateful he is a part of our family.

Reflections

My little baby boy will be 2 tomorrow. I don't know where the past two years have gone but on evenings like tonight when he is driving me crazy, I just have to remind myself how lucky we are that we even have him here. He really has been such a joy in my life and I have no idea what we would do without him. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father that he allowed us to have our sweet boy. Maybe we needed to have the experience we had when he was born so we would always be able to remember how blessed and lucky we are.


I don't think anyone could ever imagine the horror and pain a parent feels when they think they may have lost their child until they have experienced it personally. It is a feeling I hope to never have again. I feel I do appreciate him that much more because of it though. He is such a sweet, smart little boy. I truly feel blessed and honored to have the great opportunity of being his mother. I sometimes don't feel that I am worthy of such an honor but obviously our Heavenly Father sees something I don't. I wouldn't trade him for anything and I would do absolutely anything for him. I love my boy!

Steal of a Deal

Living in Bear Lake I don't use Craigslist too often because almost everything is too far away to pick up. The bassinet we used with Atreyu was Seth and Jenny's and since they are going to be using it I decided I would give Craigslist a look anyway. I found one that was in good condition in Pocatello. They wanted $20 obo so we offered them $16 and they took it. Our good, wonderful friend Josh was able to pick it up and bring it down here for us. I am really excited with how good it looks. Atreyu also likes it and wants to crawl in himself. Unfortunately for him, he's like 13 pounds too big for it.

Two Year Appointment

Atreyu went to the doctor yesterday for his two year check up. He's gaining weight and growing at a good rate. His height was in the 74th percentile, weight in the 73rd and head circumference in the 83rd. The doctor said that he is doing great and is a bit ahead of kids his age with his speech and understanding. I figured but now I have the doctor confirmation. Doctor said that we should start encouraging potty training (not forcing) but Atreyu doesn't seem too interested yet. We will keep encouraging him like we have been and see how things go. I can't believe we have already had our little boy for 2 years. I feel so blessed to have him in my life and I know I couldn't have asked for a better boy. I know I need to remember this on the days when he is pushing me to my breaking point. He really is a great kid!

22 Week Ultrasound and Some More Denver

I had my 22 week ultrasound last week and everything looks good. From what they can see, out little baby girl looks healthy. It's such a good feeling knowing that things are going so well. My doctor said that we will probably be able to do the c-section on July 31st. I just want one whole month of summer where I am not pregnant. It looked like our little girl was waving in the one picture, hence the "Hi Atreyu".

Here are just a few more photos from Denver that Kim uploaded for us. When we were at the dog park, Atreyu wanted to hold hands with me and John for part of the walk. The last one is of Kim with all the kids watching a movie on the little DVD player. It was pretty cute.

Easter 2012

Jesse and Eddie went to Arkansas this past week to pick up a drill for the farm. They drove there and back in 3 days. Ugh, I would hate it! They were back on Saturday and that's when we decided to do an Easter egg hunt for Atreyu. I hid about 30 eggs in Eddie and Bernie's yard and since Atreyu was the only kid there, he had free reign over the whole yard. He had so much fun finding all the eggs and occasionally opening one up to eat some candy.





Bernie had also just gotten back from Janell's house in Provo on Friday so we were really happy that everyone could be there for the egg hunt. When we went inside, I tried counting his eggs to make sure we got them all but Atreyu would have none of it. He thought I was trying to steal them. This was Atreyu's haul.

We also gave Atreyu his Easter basket after his nap on Saturday. He got this battery powered gun that blows bubbles and I think that was his favorite part of the basket (besides the few eggs with candy in them).

I am so thankful for this time of year where we are able to remember the Savior and his sacrifice for us. Everyday I am reminded of how imperfect I am and I am so grateful that Jesus loves me enough to have suffered those imperfections for me. A speaker in sacrament meeting challenged us to really sit down and study the atonement some time this year and I think I am going to try to take him up on it. I know that it will give me and even greater appreciation and love for my Savior.

Mommy Cute

While we were down in Denver I had the following short conversation with Atreyu.
A: Mommy cute.
M: Is mommy cute?
A: Yes.
I love that little boy! What a self esteem booster.

Denver

Last week we had the opportunity to go down to Denver to visit the Browers. We went down with Josh and Kim and then the Olsons and Rowes came down the next day. There were 10 adults and 6 children in the house together for like 5 days or so and I think everyone had a pretty good time. It was great being able to spend time with friends. The weather was beautiful! We were able to wear shorts and sandals almost every day and Atreyu loved being able to play outside all day long. On one of the first days, Annie, Kim and I took all the kids (minus the baby) to a park a few blocks away from Annie's house. All the kids seemed to have a fun time.

The following pictures are of Abby Rowe, Gage Brower, Atreyu and Izzy Rowe.





There were a few different evenings when Atreyu, Gage and Harrison Olson took baths together. They needed them almost everyday after all their hard playing outside.




One day, Annie took most of us to the dog park. It's this huge area where the dogs can run around and play with other dogs. There was a river/stream there that the kids loved playing in. Atreyu saw it and wanted to get in almost immediately. They played for a long time in the cold water. I'm thinking their feet and legs were probably numb and that's how they were able to stay in so long.





On our walk back from the river to the car, Atreyu had to walk without shoes and he and Gage held hands most of the way. They may be embarrassed when they are older and we bust out these pictures but aren't they cute?





On one of the last days, Annie and I were watching the kids while everyone else went out for a bit. Annie filled up this sandbox/pool thing with water and we got the kids undressed and let them play to their hearts content. It was so cute and they all loved it!




It was so nice to take a little vacation especially since the weather was so wonderful. It was kind of sad to come home to cold weather but the snow has melted here and spring is starting earlier than normal. I am so grateful to have such great friends that we love so much!