Family Picture and Luke's Blessing

When we went to take Luke's blessing pictures, we took some updated family pictures since we ere already going to be there

Brent gave Luke a name and a blessing on April 14th. It was a beautiful day. We were blessed to have my family and grandparents along with Brent's family and grandparents. It is so wonderful to see our children with their great-grandparents.

Brent blessed Luke that he would serve a mission and find a worthy companion to take to the temple to marry and to be a leader in the church.  It was a sweet moment that always makes me tear up. I love my sweet boy so much and I am so thankful Heavenly Father has blessed us with him in our home. I feel a very different responsibility with him. Being a Mother of a boy and knowing that he will one day be able to receive the Priesthood, I pray daily that I can teach him all I am suppose to.

Being a Mother, and the mantle that comes with it causes be to ponder daily If I am doing all I can to teach these children and raise them to be disciples of Christ. It is a tall order from our Father in Heaven. Blessing days become a great reflection for me.

Easter

Easter is by far my favorite holiday. While most people relish the Christmas season, I have always loved Easter Sunday.  I love reflecting on the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is because of him that we are able to have joy in this life. Through the Atonement we can find peace and joy in the darkest part of life. Easter brings with it Spring and new life. I love the symbolism. We took Genivieve to the Mesa Temple visitor center to look at all of the large paintings of Christ's life and talked about each one. It made my heard sing to hear her repeat words like crucifixion and resurrection. I know she is young, but I am amazed at how much she can understand. Her spirit knows the truth.

This Easter was Luke's first Sunday at church and it was great to be there as a family.We colored eggs on Saturday and I don't think I have been that stressed in my life! Next year it will be an outside on the grass event, not in the kitchen! We made it to 9am church (early!) and then home for lunch and naps. When had Easter Dinner with Brent's family and an Easter Egg hunt for his little sisters and G.

G loved dunking eggs

Easter basket tradition with Sunday clothes

 Changing her dolls diaper in nursery

1st Sunday at church

Eater Bunny left G a doll car seat. Now she can be just like us!

2013 Easter eggs

Egg hunt at Grandpa Chesley's House

First Month with Luke

It has been a month of great adjustment. Having a new baby and moving with a 3-day-old is a recipe for sheer insanity. I don't remember much, it seemed like each day rolled into the next and I am not sure where one stopped and another began. But someone we all survived and life gets better every day and I am slowly moving from survival mode to taking back the reins and resuming normal life.

The first two weeks with Luke were very rough. He was very fussy and screamed LOUD waking up Genivieve at night. I have never experienced that level of exhaustion. It took me a while to figure out he was gassy and after tweaking my diet and giving him gas drops and gripe water we now have a much happier little guy. Life with a fussy baby sure is stressful! So grateful we are mostly out of the woods with that one.

I am now getting out of the house more on my own with two kids. I still don't venture far, but we are all much happier out of the house. I think I'm starting to get the hang of this Mother of two business.

At Luke's one month check-up he weight 10lbs 14oz (75%) and 23in (90%) and his head was also in the 90% although I can't remember the exact measurement.

keeping warm at the doctors

dress up with cousin Autumn

walks around Tempe Town Lake

Luke's first visit to the temple grounds

G now loves trains

first band aids. skinned knees in the parking lots

Dad is very creative keeping the plug in

walking with her purse. SUCH a girly girl

my sweet babes!

finally napping on his own!