Clayton's Baby Blessing

We had Clayton's baby blessing last Sunday. It was great to have so many family members there, and we really missed those who couldn't be there. I am grateful to have a husband who is a wonderful, worthy priesthood holder.

Our little family:

Mom, Dad, and Baby Clayton

Those who were in the circle: Clayton's Uncle Drew, Great-Grandpa West, Dad, Clayton, Grandpa Shirts, Uncle Shawn, Uncle Don, (almost) Uncle Alan. Not pictured: Aaron Dennis

Days 10 and 11

oops, I missed yesterday. I guess I'll do 6 today.

1. Snuggly babies

I'm so glad my babies are cuddly. I love to snuggle with them. I'm glad Jackson still likes to cuddle, too...even if he sometimes tries to push Clayton off my lap so he can have a turn. It's all out of love, I'm sure. I just love to snuggle with these little boys of mine!

2. Online Tutorials

I've been looking at online tutorials for different craft projects lately and it has me wanting to do all sorts of different crafty things. I've even got materials for some and plans for others... the thing I am lacking, however, is uninterrupted time without little people. I've debated about doing it during nap time, but I've taken a nap myself instead. I think that's also a worthy cause. I especially like this blog lately.

3. Jackson's train track

It keeps him busy for a long time. He plays with it every day, multiple times a day. Of course he usually wants someone to play with him and to help him with it, but I'm glad he has a toy that he plays with so much.

4. Veterans

It's Veteran's day, after all. I really am grateful for all of those who have fought for our freedom. It is such a wonderful thing to have the rights, freedom, and security that we enjoy here.

5. My sewing machine

Jack gave it to me for Christmas 3 years ago and I've enjoyed using it for many projects. It sure beats sewing by hand! I finished binding Clayton's baby blanket that my mom made tonight. I'll be sewing some burp cloths that I just cut out. And I've got a couple other things on the go as well. See #2.

6. Spontaneous fun moments

Today as we were leaving play group, Jackson and I played in the leaves outside the church. We threw them at each other, kicked them around, and crunched them as we walked. Then we collected a few good ones and brought them home and I showed him how to put them under a piece of paper and rub it with a crayon. Maybe we'll go back and play in them again tomorrow if it's warm enough out.

Day 9

1. Wise and inspired church leaders

I read this quote in the Friend Magazine tonight:

“Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you; it is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.” -Harold B. Lee

2. Safety while driving

You know those moments when you're driving and there's either some crazy person on the road or you realize you weren't paying as close of attention as you should, and then realize things could have been bad but they weren't? And then you realize there is Someone watching out for you. Like tonight, I was at a stop sign and was starting to go forward when the crazy driver behind me pulled out and swerved around the left side of me and cut me off. What in the world?? That could have been messy, but it wasn't. And I sure am grateful.

3. Walmart price matching

I kind of go through phases of couponing, and right now is not really one of the super-couponer times in my life. If it is convenient, I'll use the coupon, but I'm not going crazy with it right now. I do, however, take full advantage of Walmart's price matching. Before I go shopping, I look through the grocery ads of several major grocery stores (I look them up online if I don't have them from the mail) and write down the items, prices, and which store for all the stuff I plan to get. I may not be using coupons, but by getting the sale prices on everything without having to go to 6 different grocery stores, I do save money. Tonight (after I barely made it to Walmart alive) I got 24 boxes of Quaker oatmeal for 98 cents each. At Walmart it was $2.98 each. That's saving $50. Jackson and I eat 2 or 3 packets of oatmeal for breakfast a couple of times a week, so we'll probably go through this supply within a few months.

Day 8

1. Friends

I have some great friends and I am very thankful. Today a friend called and invited me over for dinner and FHE because she knew Jack is out of town. She has also watched Jackson for me many times when I've had doctor's appointments and other things. Other friends have been great too. Even just the people who I don't necessarily get together with one-on-one, but who talk to me and befriend me. I'm grateful.

2. My new vacuum

A huge thanks to my mom & dad for an early Christmas present! We have some lovely (insert sarcasm here) navy blue carpet throughout most of our house. It shows every little crumb or piece of anything on it. When my mom was here she saw just how ineffective our vacuum was and then gave us an early Christmas present of a new (to us) Kirby vacuum! I'm really excited to have a vacuum that works and that will last us for many many years. Now if the vacuum could only prevent future dirt and crumbs from accumulating that would be great.

3. Rain

It didn't snow today, and I'm glad. I like the way that the rain makes everything look more vibrant. The blanket of colorful leaves on the ground, the buildings and cars, even the black of the asphalt, are all more vibrant and colorful when it's rainy out. I like the smell of rain. And I love lightning and thunder (though there wasn't any today). We'll probably wake up to snow, and I guess that'll be ok. It is very pretty too.

Day 7

1. An extra hour

Daylight Savings Time confuses me. I can never remember which is which or keep track of whether we are gaining or losing an hour and I can't remember which switch I'm supposed to like better. But this morning I got an extra hour of sleep, and I'm glad.

2. The beautiful weather today

It was so nice out today! We walked to church and stopped to play in the leaves on the way home. Word is that it is supposed to snow tomorrow. Bummer.

3. Cell phones

I'm glad I can talk to Jack even when he is across the country.

Day 6

1. Baptism

We went to two of Jack's cousins' daughters' baptisms today. We told Jackson where we were going and why and then the whole way there and back he was saying, "I want baptized in water." Give it 6 years, buddy boy. But it is a great thing though :)


2. Soup

I like soup. It is easy to make, it is warm and filling, and it is yummy. I guess you can eat it year-round, but I definitely tend to make it more in the fall and winter. Tonight was creamy broccoli cheese soup.


3. Airplanes

They get Jack to & from where he needs to be much more quickly. Well, I guess it gets everyone to and from places more quickly, but I am glad that his travel time is relatively short so that he can be with us more.

Day 5

1. MBASA

The MBA Spouse Association has been such a blessing to me as we've gone through the MBA program. It is an amazing group of women (well, mostly women) who are all going through the same thing with our husbands in school. Most have young kids too. MBASA has activities all the time and I love being able to go be with friends who are at the same place in life as I am. We do some really fun activities, projects, and service things. It has made this MBA experience such a great one for me!

2. Jordan

Jordan went with me to a lunch for wives of the Marriott School today, since Shawn is doing the MPA. It is so nice to live so close to her and to be able to see each other as much as we want. She stops by after work frequently since she works pretty close by. And she's a great babysitter for Jackson :) It's fun to be able to hang out so much and I'm sad for that to change when we graduate and move away.

3. Fall leaves

I've inherited this one from my mom, who inherited it from her mother. I love fall leaves. It just makes me so happy and excited to see the beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges on the trees and ground. There are lots of pretty trees right now and I love to look at them as we drive around. The one down side to the beautiful fall leaves: it means winter is coming. But spring comes again too.

Day 4

1. Job interviews.

Jack flew to Cincinnati this morning for interviews tomorrow and then goes to New York for interviews on Monday & Tuesday next week. They're both second-round interviews and are with great companies. I'm hopeful :)

2. Cleaning moods.

I wish they'd strike more often, but I really like it when I get in the mood to clean. It just makes me feel so good...not only does the house get clean, but I feel like I accomplish something and there is something to show for it (even if it doesn't last long). I think about being motivated frequently, but all too often, that's as far as I get. I just have to kick myself and start, and then I'm good. Now I need to have someone come over to enjoy my clean living room with me. Just don't go into my bedroom...haven't gotten to that yet.

3. Relief Society

We had a Relief Society meeting this evening. It was really nice to be there. Since having Clayton I haven't gone to much stuff, and since I am in Primary I don't get to go to Relief Society on Sundays anyway, even before he was born. It was wonderful to go tonight and to be there with the other ladies. There were 3o women there, and 5 of us were under the age 55, but it doesn't matter. There is just a sisterhood and love that is shared and I'm glad I got to be a part of that tonight. I needed it.

Day 3

Today I am thankful for:

1. Jack's willingness to help with our kids.

Jackson has been a little (ok, a lot) less than his usual happy self lately. And I don't like it. He really tests my patience and makes me question my sanity several times a day. If it weren't for Jack stepping in to help our when he is home, I'm pretty sure you'd find me either in the crazy house or in prison.

2. Flushing toilets

Thanks for the idea, Chelsea. But yes, I am very grateful for these. And grateful that ours is almost fixed. When we moved in here, our toilet would run every time you flushed it unless ya jiggled the handle. They fixed that, but then the handle would fall off every time you flushed. Annoying. Dude sort of fixed that today, so I'm glad. But in general, flushing toilets are great.

3. Cameras

I'm so glad I can capture images of my kids and other things that happen in my life so I can preserve the memories. I'm working on getting all out pictures from old computers and from cd's and dvd's copied to our external hard drive and it is fun to look through those.

One Month Old

I can hardly believe one month has gone by already! It's flown by, but at the same time it seems like Baby Clayton has been a part of our family forever. I think back on this time of life when Jackson was a wee little baby and I wonder why I thought it was hard or that I was busy back then. He was the only little person I was taking care of...when he slept during the day, I could sleep or clean or make dinner or do whatever. That sounds grand now. This time around, any down time with baby is filled with Jackson. I'm sure next time I have a new baby and have two older kids too, I'll wonder why I thought I was busy now. Guess that's life!

Clayton:

-Is wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes.

-Eats every 2 to 4 hours, and has put on several pounds. I don't know exactly how many but I'm guessing 4ish. He's getting more plump all over.

-Sleeps great...during the day. Well, really he sleeps well as long as he's being held. He does NOT sleep in his bassinet. That's a problem.

-Is skilled at shooting milk out his nose. He spits up after almost every feeding. I'm learning to be prepared!

-Is very alert when he's awake. He loves to look at faces and at the black picture frames on the white wall.

-Is just barely starting to be a little more expressive. I think I've gotten a real smile once or twice.

-Gets a little fussy/unsettled in the evenings around 7 or 8. I'm hoping that doesn't turn into a couple of hours of screaming every night like it did for Jackson.

-Receives a lot of love & attention (usually positive attention) from Jackson. I just have to be sure to be on guard to make sure it isn't too rough :)

I think we're all doing a pretty good job of adjusting to our new life. There are times when it gets a little tricky to juggle two little people, but over all, it's been a pretty smooth transition so far. It keeps me busy all the time, but it's a good thing.

We love this little baby and are so happy to have him in our family!

October 4th, Grama West and big brother Jackson

October 9, with Great Grandpa and Grandma West

October 13

October 6

October 15, with Great Grandpa Rushton, Daddy, and JacksonOctober 18, chilling with Jackson in Jackson's cribthen napping in Mommy's bed...because that's where we all nap.

November 1

Thankful, day 2

1. Good napping days for Jackson. These are becoming more rare and neither of us are ready for him to give up naps. After at least three days of no nap, he took a great one today and slept from about 2:45 til 6:30. Yes, that is going down later than normal and he went to bed later because 6:30 is late to wake up from a nap, but he napped! And so did I. Clayton also cooperated and slept for most of that time. I think I fed him some time in there, but that's to be expected. But Jackson took a nap. We both needed it.

2. The right to vote.

Admittedly, I am not the most politically informed person...in fact, I'm pretty uninformed and uninvolved. But I did vote today (Jack filled me in on who to vote for) and I am grateful to live in a country where we can vote for our own leaders.

3. Cereal

It is definitely a staple in my life. I eat at least one bowl of cereal a day. Right now, Honey Bunches of Oats is a favorite. It was 98 cents a box last week so I got a case of 12. Probably should have gotten more.

A month of Thanksgiving

I can't believe it is November already, but it is. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm going to post something every day that I'm thankful for. When I start to think of all the things I can list, I wonder if I should list 5 or 10 things a day. One a day means 30 things. I can think of way more than that. Ok, so I'll do three a day.

Things I'm thankful for:

1.

My little family.

They really are my world. Even though the days can get kind of monotonous (wow, that word looks funny typed) and I have moments of frustration almost daily, there is nothing else I'd rather be doing. They are the best!

2.

My health.

I just learned today that a fellow MBA wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor yesterday and will have an emergency surgery in the morning. She has three little kids. I can't imagine facing that. Life can change so quickly!

3.

Blankets

I love being snug and cozy under a warm blanket when the air is crisp and cool. Blankets have memories...like the Mickey Mouse fuzzy blanket I had growing up. That was my blanket for movie watching. Or the waffley blue and green receiving blankets that Jackson had to be swaddled in to sleep at night when he was a baby. And of course, my baby blankets...both the original that my grama made that I had to retire because it was threadbare, and the replacement my mom made for me about 5 years ago that I still sleep with every night.