Happy Birthday Kays!

"Dogs nap so much because the love so hard."

My Kaysley-puppy is four years old! (I'm not sure of the exact date of her birth, but I know it is at the end of June.) She was such a cute little furball! Now she is a cute BIG furball. I feel bad for her because she has been neglected a little since Jax was born. She is no longer an only "child". She is used to being the princess and now she is no longer in charge. But we love her and she is an important member of our family.

Goodbye Grandma

This past weekend we had a funeral for my Grandma May (I like to think of it as a celebration of the wonderful life she lived). Luckily, both of my sisters were able to make it up to Jackson so we could all be together. Leisel, Lacey, and I wrote and gave my Grandma's eulogy. Her funeral was beautiful but much harder than I thought it would be.

It was also good to see some of my Dad's extended family.

Jaxon got to meet his Great-Grandpa May!

Even though it was a very hard weekend, it was great to be with my family. Jaxon had a wonderful time with his grandparents and cousins!

I'm still having a hard time missing my Grandma and "the ranch" and it was hard to say goodbye to my Grandpa, but I know my Grandma is happy and with her family. I love you, Grandma!

"God Be With You Til We Meet Again . . ."

My Grandma May died today. It has been pretty devastating for me because I was very close to her. She lived in Jackson all through my growing-up years so I got to spend a lot of time on the ranch with her. She was a wonderful, sweet person and I love her tons. Fortunately, she was 90 years old and had a lived a great life. I know she is in a better place and is very happy but she will be very missed. The hardest part for me is that my little Jaxon and my other (future) children will not get to know what an extremely special person she was. But hopefully she is in heaven right now watching out for my little babies until they get here.

I love you tons, Grandma and will miss you dearly!

9 Months Old

This post is extremely late in coming since Memorial Day was almost 2 weeks ago. But we had a nice little vacation. We spent the weekend up in Jackson Hole with my parents. We did some hiking, ate tons of great food, and just hung out. Of course, Grandma and Grandpa May spoiled Jaxon rotten. They bought him this cute little fire truck. He can push it all by himself!

Thanks for spoiling all of us, Grandma and Grandpa!

Also, over Memorial Day weekend, Jaxon turned 9 months old. So, in honor of that, here is a list of Jaxon's 9 favorite things:

9. Cheetos. He loves to eat the new Natural White Cheddar Cheetos. He sticks the end in his mouth and sucks on them!

8. Watching Baby Einstein. (Mommy really likes this one too because I can actually get something done while he watches it.) His favorite one is Baby Monet. He smiles and giggles when the puppets come on.

7. Tools (or anything that is not one of his toys!) I actually just figured this one out. His Grandma and Grandpa May were in Logan helping work on our house and he loved playing with Grandpa May's tools, like a wrench and the tape measure.

6. Being naked. (He is such a boy!) He has always liked it best when I take off his clothes and he whines when I put them back on.

5. Doggies! Jaxon loves to watch Kaysley and my parents' 2 collie dogs. He is so fascinated with them. And if they get close enough, he pulls their fur and whiskers!

4. Swimming. He loved swim lessons and especially likes being in the pool outdoors.

3. Blankies. He loves to get all snuggled in his blankies. His favorite blankie is actually the one that Mommy sleeps with!

2. Being outside! He loves just being outside whether we are walking, swimming, or just sitting in the backyard.

1. Mommy! This kid loves his Mommy (for now anyway!) He always wants me to hold him and cries if I leave the room without him. I'm glad that he likes me so much but he is a little clingy!

I can't belive he is already 9 months old! I love my big boy!

4 Years and Counting . . .

Happy anniversary Shane! I can't believe we have already been married for 4 years! And we have known each other for 5. (We got married exactly a year after we met!)

It has been a wonderful 5 years and I can't wait to spend 50 more with my best friend!! I love you babe!

Motherhood

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

-Elizabeth Stone

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers in my life!

Most importantly, I want to wish my own mother a happy Mother's Day. I don't think you ever fully appreciate all the hard work that your mother has done for you until you become a mother yourself. My mom always made being a mother look so easy and since I have become a mom I can tell you that it is definitely NOT easy! It is the hardest job in the world and my mom set such a great example for me to follow. I don't know how I would have survived that last 8 1/2 months of being a mother without my mom there for me. She was such a great support and always seemed to know exactly what to do. So, thanks Mom for always being there for me and for being such an incredible grandma as well!

I also want to wish my "second Mom", my mother-in-law, a happy Mother's Day. She is also an incredible mother and I am so grateful to her for raising such an incredible son.

And to all the other mothers in my life: my Grandma May, for being such a wonderful grandma to me growing up, and my sister, for being a great example of motherhood . . .

But the thing that I am most grateful for on this Mother's Day is my own opportunity to be a mother. Being Jaxon's mom is the most precious gift in the world. I can't believe Heavenly Father trusted me enough to send me such an incredible little spirit to be a mother to. I love everything about him--the color of his eyes, how he smells after getting a bath, his hands and his fascination with them, the expression on his face when he is trying to figure something out, and most of all, his smile that lights up my whole world! He is the light of my life and the greatest blessing I could ever ask for!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Thanks for being such a good Daddy to me even when I am a pill! I love you tons!