Ode to a Loyal Pair of Shoes

 

Born in 2001 and semi-retired in 2011

The New Rookies

My mother bought me these shoes when I was a junior in high school and I thought they were weird shoes that I would never wear.  I found them in my closet some time later and decided to just try them out since I couldn't find my tennis shoes that day...thus began a love that has never died.  These shoes had everything a tennis shoe should have but they had one extra trait that made all the difference - the slip on element.  I have never loved a shoe so much in my life!  They have been everywhere from my being a summer camp counselor in Maine to my semester in Nauvoo to my mission in England to all through my pregnancy being the only shoe that my swollen feet would feel comfortable in.  They are beaten and ugly, but the comfort and sweet memories cannot let me ever throw them away.  My mother and sister have attempted to sway my affections for another pair of shoes that slip on...which, I must say, they are a sweet pair of shoes, but I don't know if I can ever let the old ones go.  So this is my ode to them in their semi-retirement.  Cheers to the shoes of a decade!

Housewifing

Ross in his cute pajamas his grandma got him - he's a candycane!

Haha - can't resist the bug eyes.  He's got the nickname Bugsy.  Love those cheeks!

Cute boy - getting over a little baby acne.  He's taking it like a champ though!

I broke out my new sewing machine and made a baby sling! 

Ross seems to find it suitable. :)

Our little Ross is a whole month old now!  I can't believe how the time is flying.  Of course it does with a newborn - the days all just blend into each other.  If you catch a few hours of sleep in between you're lucky.  I wish I were more used to only having a few hours of sleep - it never seems to get any easier!  Ross sure is growing.  He is 9lbs. 9 oz. now and chubbing up.  I just love chubby babies so I can't wait for the rolls to come.  He's already got some cute ones on his legs.  His cheeks are puffing up too.  He is more of a talker - even in his sleep!  We've caught him laughing and talking a little more too.  I even got my own smile finally today!  Steve is finishing up his finals and our fingers are crossed that he doesn't need to do any more classes this summer so we can just enjoy our little family.  It's always better having Steve home - he brings out the humor in everything which I need! 
I've been attempting to be a housewife and I'm finding I am so not as good at it as I thought I would be.  Our house is usually a wreck with laundry half done, dishes half done, cleaning half done, and me half dressed!  So...I think I'm a half-housewife right now.  I'll be working on becoming a whole one someday.  It's funny how you picture yourself in situations, and then find how unprepared you are when you're actually in them.  That's the fun in it though right?  Fun, fun, fun!  
I've broken in my new sewing machine and made a baby sling.  I tried Ross out in it and he immediately fell asleep - genius!  I did happen to make it too big though and had to improvise to shorten it.  Oh well.  When I went into the sewing shop to buy some material and a pattern (note - it's been about a million years since I've really been sewing) I felt like I stepped into a Japanese speaking country.  I've forgotten all the lingo and terminology for sewing - so I looked like a total dorkface asking obvious questions.  I even took my sewing machine back in saying there were tension problems when I just was threading it wrong.  At least I'm not afraid to admit I'm a total beginner! 
Steve will be graduating tomorrow which is SO exciting.  He can't wait to be done.  I can't wait for him to be done.  It's been a long semester that needs to end.  Hooray for him graduating!  We'll be celebrating all weekend! 

Life as Parents

Sleeping on the job of burping - the both of them!

Okay - I might have been sleeping too.

So I have never thought being a parent could make you feel so exhausted, thrilled, worn out, heart melting, helpless, worried, peaceful, softened, incompetent...hmmm - there are about a billion more words to describe it.  No wonder it ends up being so rewarding in the end - you put so much into being a good parent, you can't help but feel intensely about your children.  I'm starting to get somewhat used to getting up multiple times in the night, smelling like spit up, doing things one handed, and having a few weeping sessions a week when exhaustion seems to roll over me like a giant wave.  I can't believe the support we've gotten though as well.  I've been so grateful to have my family close by.  I do believe my mother and mother-in-law have been my personal lifesavers over these few weeks.  Much needed naps have been allowed, dishes washed, dinner brought - the works.  
On Saturday Steve and I went on our first official date since having Ross.  I had the realization that I will never have a completely worry free date again.  I was wondering how Ross was doing the entire time!  He was happy as a clam at my in-laws being coddled by his aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  He seems to be a complete attention seeker (not surprising!).  Steve was romantic and brought me flowers before we left (not roses, because he has to be unique) :)  We went to see The King's Speech which was phenomenal and then Steve took me to Magleby's.  It was a nice break.  Ross even slept really well that night.  Wahoo!
Steve should be done with school next week which neither of us can wait for.  I can't wait to have him home with me not worrying about assignments or tests.  I really don't want to go back to work.  I know those 4 weeks are going to be really tricky.  Hopefully Ross will be on a bit of a schedule by then.  Being a teacher - I'm very schedule oriented - it's been a rude awakening having such an unpredictable baby.  I'm learning though - that's what being a parent is all about right??  Summer will be a lot of fun - Steve and I will be able to focus most of it just on Ross and us before we move to Oregon.  It's crazy how quickly things change.  Ready or not though - we're in the midst of it!
 

Cute little Ross asleep.  I crocheted this blanket a few weeks after we found out Ross was coming.

Having a snuggle.

I fell in love with this cute sweater that my brother's girlfriend gave us.  I just had to dress him in it and take some pictures.

Cutest baby shoes ever!

Our BYU fan when we watched the last BYU basketball game of the season.

00" />

This is our little green jellybean.  He likes being swaddled in it.  I like to call it his straight jacket.  It keeps his hands from scratching his face!

Ross's hair can go somewhat wavy after his bath.  I was trying to get a good picture of it.

Haha - this one is hilarious! 

Grandpa Stan who can't get enough of his little grandson.  Ross seems to know he has him wrapped around his little finger.  They just get along like peas and carrots.

A snuggle with Granny Joanney.  (She hates that title - we love it!)

Some weirdos messin' around with hats after some cleaning and moving.

The gorgeous flowers Steve got for me just before our first official date after having little Ross.

Isn't he a heartbreaker?! :)

2 Weeks Old!

Wow - I now have a two week old baby...and I have never felt so clueless in my life about how to take care of him.  Give me 6 month olds, give me first graders, I'm good to go...give me a newborn and I am all thumbs!  I've heard of all of this exhaustion throughout my whole pregnancy, but there really is no way to describe it when you get it.  I will say breastfeeding is not only physically draining but emotionally too when you're starting out.  I had no idea how to go about it.  Thankfully, my friend recommended the book Babywise which gives you a clue on how to start with your baby.  I wish I would have read it before I had my little guy so he wouldn't have the bad habits I've already instilled in him!  We're in training though...it's rough, but let's hope it ends up being worth it.  I didn't think I would be one of those moms who's heart breaks whenever her little baby cries out....I totally am.  I can be as hard as nails with other people's kids, but I've become mush with my own son!  

Wouldn't it be great if men could breastfeed too?  Haha - I think that all the time in the middle of the night when I am the one getting up.  

I must say though - there is nothing like realizing this beautiful little baby came from you and is so tiny and dependent on you.  Ross is the most beautiful baby.  He and I have been having some serious getting to know each other time and he's a fun little guy to get to know - just his facial expressions alone get me!  Wahoo for being a mom and openly admitting I have no idea what I'm doing.  Hopefully he'll turn out!

 

So he kind of looks like the Gerber baby with his big eyes.  Adorable!

There's nothing like baby feet!

This is a better family picture.  We love little Ross.

Baby Ross Comes to Join the Fam

Wow - what a roller coaster!  Baby Ross is now a whole week old!  I'm amazed I've survived!  Last Thursday I was scheduled to be induced.  However, my doctor called and told me that labor and delivery was packed and that we'd just schedule it for the next day.  I was bummed, but resigned to just deal with it.  After relaxing on the couch for a while I got up to make one of my many runs to the loo, upon which, after standing up to go, I felt that burst of my water breaking!  Seems as though when someone tells Ross what to do, he does the opposite!  When he found out he couldn't come till the next day he decided "Like heck I will!"  I called Steve who had just left for school, and he had to just turn around and come back (not before asking me if I had just wet my pants though).  We got to the hospital around 2 that afternoon and I was in labor all by myself - no inducing needed!  My blood pressure had been high however so they kept checking on me to see if they needed to put me on magnesium sulphate.  Thankfully, after the epidural (my best friend) it got under control.  I was going really fast.  I got to 7 cm within about 6-7 hours after my water breaking.  And then...I stayed at 7 cm...for five hours.  I ended up having a c-section unfortunately.  Little Ross was sunny side up and tilted weird so he couldn't make it through properly.  i didn't realize how out of it you feel having a c-section.  I just wanted to go to sleep the whole time and stop shivering!  Things went smoothly - though Steve was a little too excited to watch the c-section.  I wanted to smack him when he was happily putting on his uniform.  He was a good support though.  He held my hand like a good husband should.  Ross Charles White was born at 1:30 AM Friday morning, March 18th, 2011.  He is the most beautiful boy - 8lbs. 10 oz!  20 inches long and with a head of hair!  He looks just like Steve when he was born.  He was perfectly healthy and still is now a week later!  After the surgery, my blood pressure went back up - they had to put me on the horrible magnesium sulphate which made me feel like a weak slug the whole time.  The hospital stay was amazing - the nurses were wonderful, the room comfortable, and the food was incredible!  It was like a cruise - anything we wanted and it was all delicious.  We stayed 4 days and my first day home was a bit traumatizing.  I was so exhausted that first night.  Each day gets better though - or maybe I'm just getting more used to being tired.  
I look at little Ross and just want to cry sometimes because he is so beautiful and perfect.  He is the sweetest little thing I have ever seen in my life.  His grandparents - on both sides of our family - adore him to death.  He will be spoiled rotten for sure.  He already is!  Anyway - we finally got our little man and have a cute little family.  I've never been so happy in my life.  Each day just gets better. :)

First family pic - I am out of it!

8lbs. 10 oz!  big baby

Perfect baby Ross

Steve's baby picture - Ross looks just like him!

My cute boys

Arguing over who's big toe Ross got.  Steve's on the left, my dad's on the right.

First bath - wahoo!

First time family meets Ross. :)

Ross is a ton of fun to have.  He doesn't like his feet being cold ( just like mom ), he loves to just lay and observe everything around him.  When he sneezes, he sneezes at least 4 times in a row. He gets the hiccups a lot, and he loves to snuggle.  He is the greatest blessing to our family!  We love getting to know him. :)

Weddings

So one of my all time favorite companions from the mish got married over the weekend.  It was incredibly weird to think that we were companions 5 years ago...it makes me feel so old.  I have a feeling that the more time passes, the older I'm going to feel.  I was having a conversation the other day with a friend about how I always feel like I'm 17 and still so immature, but then when I run into high school kids who are actually 17 - I feel ancient!  How does time pass so quickly?  Anyway, so my dear Sister Sheenabean James got married to a sweet guy named Jamar.  She was my greenie in Wales.  I had just come from BEING a greenie too.  We both learned a lot together and had a great time livin' it up in Barry.  I just adore her.  It was a beautiful sealing.  She was glowing and so happy.  It brought back that glowy feel I felt when I got married.  It was also fun, because she was sealed in the same room Steve and I were sealed.  I just love sealings!  They are one of the most beautiful experiences to have in this life.  I got to see my mission president too, who I haven't seen since I was a missionary IN England.  Again - time goes by so very fast. 

Sister James (or Knox I should say) and I at her wedding dinner.  She's so happy!  I'm due two days later in this pic.

Me, Sister James, and another FAVE companion Sister Cotter (Casey) who served with my in Nottingham - we had the craziest adventures together!

Steve's awesome acceptance to Pacific University!  Wahoo!  We've got a grad student on our hands now.

Playing the Waiting Game...

I took this week off of work to actually have some time to get more ready for this baby to come.  I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off for the last few weeks so I was looking forward to some down time.  I won't lie - it has been nice in some ways - and totally not in others!  Having more time on my hands means more time to realize how ridiculously pregnant I am and how this baby still isn't showing any signs of coming.  I was almost surprised when on Monday I wasn't going into labor - it just made sense now that I actually felt ready for Rosco to come that he would mind his mom...obviously he could care less what his mom wants right now...this gives me that eery feeling we're going to have a little independent rebel on our hands...just like his dad!  Ah - those ones are the fun ones though aren't they.  They make life interesting.  

I haven't minded people asking me how I'm feeling or when the baby's due up until about a week ago when I got all this time to dwell on the fact that he's still not here.  I am so grateful to be pregnant and have a healthy little baby growing inside me...but I won't lie - the questions and comments are starting to wear on me.  If I'm told I'm quite huge or asked if I'm carrying multiples one more time, I may just go haywire!  Haha - I do feel like a ticking time bomb though, wondering what my body will actually feel like when the time finally comes.  I've managed to get all the baby stuff put together, the clothes washed, the bags packed - we'll just have to wait until his royal highness decides to make an entrance.  I just have to say - the waiting game is one of the worst games ever invented!