Raw Milk

I bought Raw Milk today. That's right. I said raw milk, straight from the cow's teet.

And, I know what you are thinking, "Seriously, she's chosen death by milk?"

At least that is sort of what I thought when I signed the waiver that more or less said I was aware drinking this milk could kill me, but I was willing.

On the package there was this cute warning on the label that said something like BE AWARE: WE TRY REALLY HARD TO MAKE CLEAN MILK BUT THIS MILK COULD STILL KILL YOU. And I thought to myself, huh, sounds like state regulation to me, and that friends is how I know that I will pass the bar, because today, I looked state legislated death in the face...and I laughed.

Drink up. Milk mustaches all around :-)

Getting to YES!

In law school-dom, there is a pretty famous book called, "Getting to Maybe." Because law school is really all about how in law, especially starting out, we are too apt to say Yes or No, when in reality the best answers are Maybe and then explain why in both directions. I read the book. So far, I wouldn't say that I am very good about getting to maybe, at least my grades wouldn't suggest that I am.

But, I was thinking about how in real life, I am the queen of maybe. I don't like it. I have decided that I need to get over all my maybes, all my feelings that I need to explain why I can't say a complete yes or no, but honestly, it isn't healthy. I was at the doctor yesterday, and he asked me a number of questions relating to my birth and breastfeeding of Atticus. Neither or these things have gone as I expected them to, and I have had to work through trying not to feel sad about it. Breastfeeding has been particularly difficult for me to get past.

I sat there answering his questions, following every unconfident yes or no up with some huge explanation about what happened. The doctor was very kind, and he listened to what I said, but before I launched into my breastfeeding defense, he said, "I can already hear in your voice that you felt like you failed... you didn't fail." Whelp, I am trying to see it from his point of view, but as I left, I realized that I seriously need to get to Yes. I want to be confident enough that when asked, I can simply say Yes or No without feeling the overwhelming need to follow that up with a giant explanation.

So,

Do you breastfeed? Yes.

Do you formula feed? Yes.

Did you get an epidural? Yes.

Was your labor natural? Yes.

Were you induced? Yes.

Most importantly, do you feel like a success? Yes.

I am getting there folks. Coming to terms with getting over what my expectations were and what the realities are, and still feeling successful.

Atticus: 8 months

A Crib of Gratitude

Seldom a day goes by, that I don't think of the incredible generosity of some loving soul out there who dropped this beautiful crib on our door step leaving neither name or number or trace of accreditation. 

Gazing at my sleeping son in this beautiful crib fills my heart with gratitude for the kindness of souls unnamed. It kindles the desire within me to pay forward such kindness. This beautiful crib will be treasured by me forever.

'Tis the Season

"For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words -- they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels."  1 Nephi  19:7

Tis the Season to remember Christ and at the very least, to remember his teachings of love and service and faith and hope. A very Merry Christmas to everyone.

4 Months!

It is amazing how quickly time is going, and that my newborn is a baby and will soon be a little boy. He is so darling. Loves jumping. Oh my, does he love jumping. Loves sucking his thumb. Loves smiling, and laughing. He is such a darling little thing.

Here are Atticus and his cousin Jackson, just playing, holding hands, looking at the camera, becoming friends! 

 It would appear that Atticus doesn't LOVE being a pumpkin, but we are going to give it another go soon.

 He does however LOVE to get things stuck on his head: blankets, bras, pants (as in his), you name it, he has probably at least tried to get it up to his head.

 We went with some friends to St. George a few weekends ago, and this little fellow was a perfect hiker.

 This is generally how he wakes up, just ever so glad to see us.

 This is generally how he goes to sleep, thumb ALWAYS firmly lodged in his sweet little mouth.

 My parents came to town for a cousin's wedding, and here is Atticus having some fun with Grandpa. Are those Atticus' pajamas? Why yes, yes they are. I believe that whole day he wore them. Nothing high brow about our household. Comfort is the necessity.

A's just growing and growing

Here is Sir Atticus. He is all sorts of fun. I suppose that I should cover some of his latest accomplishments. He will be four months on October 8...but he loves to role on his side to sleep, suck his thumb, read books, play under his play gym. Laugh. Scream. Diaper changes. And people, he really loves to babble and talk to people. He does not like: pacifiers, eating, and missing the party for nap time.

Milestones: He can roll from front to back and back to front. He is starting to get his bottom teeth. He is talking around the clock. Smiling. Laughing. Controlling his head.

So far, I love being a mom. I think he is just about the best thing to happen in my life, and Parker feels the same. The only thing more fun than being a mom is seeing other people that you love and care about also enjoy the delightful personality of your sweet little baby!

Here are some update photos and even a video.

He is so cute that even with a massive zit on his nose, he is a heart breaker.

We don't actually put him on side. He always starts on his back, but he loves this position. He also loved this position while in the womb. And usually, there is a thumb in that mouth too. Little Rebel.

We share the same left cheek dimple. Faces people. We are talking about faces!

Summer time swimming. 

Some awesome cousin time in the pool! Here is Lucy (3) and Brighton (18 mos) playing with cousin Atticus! 

Pacifiers happen so in frequently that we try very hard to catch it on camera every time it does, so that we can pretend we have a child that will take a pacifier like other normal children. 

We went to dinner with Kamilla. Parker met her on his mission in Norway. She was in town for a visit from Oslo. She was truly delightful. 

Just two guys spending some time looking at electronica. I think this was probably two seconds before I  body slammed the i-pad because I know babies aren't supposed to look at electronica too much, but come on, is that the cutest? I think so. 

And here is what was being viewed. Apparently, Parker was in a political mood this day...an uncommon mood for my husband, so I guess I am lucky to have caught it on camera. 

Just last week, Atticus got his first cousin on the Wightman side. Her name is Ellen Wightman, and she is darling. Atticus was quite taken with her. 

Here he is with his play gym. He favors Mr. Frog there, and if you look hard, you can tell he is focused completely on hitting that dangling green reptile. Are frogs reptiles? We are going to say yes. 

Unintentionally made him look like a gnome. We try to add diversity to our son's life by making him be the many things that add diversity rather than just learning about htem. 

G-pa Randy and Atticus were rocking the same outfit this day. Look at that love. 

Here are Atticus and Ellie again. She is so new. He was really trying to decide whether his new cousin or the awesome ladybug design on her blanket was more interesting. I am going to say that the ladybugs won out this day...but in time, I think it will be Ellie 100%. 

Also, you may have noticed his rather prominent birth mark on his forehead. A funny story regarding that. We have a neighbor whose wife is expecting a baby in November. As a result, he is rather excited about babies in general, and loves to hold and play with Atticus. While at a neighborhood bbq a few weeks ago, this neighbor had Atticus sitting with his body being supported by his own on the grass. Parker called over to this neighbor, stealing his attention. We are fairly certain that this neighbor didn't realize Atticus couldn't sit up all by himself quite yet, so when he turned to respond to Parker, Atticus face-planted in the grass. More than likely, this startled him more than hurt him, but he isn't quiet about his discomfort. So, pretty much everyone at the bbq soon realized something had happened to Atticus, and of course, our neighbor friend felt terrible. Several hours later, while holding Atticus and talking to another neighbor, she looked at Atticus and said... looking at his birth mark..., "Wow, he took quite fall." We assured her this was in fact not a bruise, but it still struck us as funny. So there you have it! I like to think of him as our very own Gorbachev, and I believe that Parker looks at it as an awesome Harry Potter-esque attribute. So, though most people say it will lighten with time, I think we would be fine either way.