Three Months

A couple weeks ago, I was telling someone how old Johnny was. I asked what the date was and realized it was exactly his 3 month birthday. Sis teased, "Are you going to blog about it?" But my thoughts were taking me back three years, because it was on Peter's three month birthday that we first got to take him home from the hospital. These recent three months have pretty much blissfully flown by. In my most difficult moments with two, it can't even compare with the stress and challenge of bringing Peter home. I still can't wrap my brain around how different these three months have been. I'm so grateful I had the first first and the second second. It's remarkable to see Peter now, even with his current challenges, and think he once was that little babe that we worried over so much. It's wonderful to see him love Johnny. I am amazed how already Johnny lights up when Peter laughs, how they communicate with each other from their carseats as we drive, how Peter wants to be where Johnny is. They seem more similar in personality to me than different. I was not expecting this. I think they will be great friends. What a blessing these three months have been to me, and our family. I've never been happier.

I still marvel at him, his perfect little self, with all his perfect little features. I think my family is starting to tire of my enamored gushing.
He is such a happy baby, despite being very spitty, he doesn't seem to mind and is quick to respond to any look in his direction with a smile.
He likes to be held, just like his brother, which also surprised me, but is delightful. One of those things that I know I will miss terribly someday.
He is so content and mellow, but he does like to be near us. As long as he can watch me or Peter, he will be happy as can be.
Only stop growing so fast! Why can't this last longer? I will blink and you'll be 3 years old, just like Peter, and Peter will be in school. If I could just slow the clock...

Little Georgie Girl

Weber was special this year. Along with Johnny and Joannie, there was another baby at the cabin. A new little filly was born last spring, and named Little Georgie Girl after my Grandpa's dad, I think. Or maybe my grandpa. Can't remember, they were both George. At first I thought it was a silly name, naming a girl after a boy and all. But now I am in love with the name and the horse. So adorable! Fun to have a horse the exact age as Johnny too, and see as they grow.
We went for a little hike and picnic, and Laine loves to try to help carry Peter even though they are almost the same size.
Ben was in China, so we were just a threesome. It was great having everyone help carry my kids and stuff, and seriously, there wasn't anyone who didn't take a turn. Thanks guys.
I love this picture of Peter, there's another one that looks just like Rodin's Thinker. I thought I put it on, I'll put it on later.



And a typical moment of David. He is so fun. I'm walking the log behind him while holding Johnny, hoping I don't slip and get muddy.
Oh my gosh, this was so hilarious. Everyone was practicing various feats of strength, jumping up onto the barrel, walking on the rolling barrel, running jump onto the saddle etc. Peter was laughing so hard that it was making everyone else laugh. I got some great videos of all the silliness but they are so huge so I can't put much up. Here is the best shot of Georgie Girl, she's so big already, so sad that next year she'll be practically the same size as her mom already. Not to mention how adorable is Laine riding Mandy.A little ride with Peter. And more pictures with Georgie, Cath kept making fun of me that I wanted my picture taken with her, like she was a human. But these pictures don't do it justice, she was so loveable! Just hanging out and nursing every so often, in between times where we were riding and running up jumping on her patient mama.

Trek Part II: Crossing the Sweetwater

This is one of the most tender stories of the Mormon Pioneers, the boys who carried people across the freezing Sweetwater river. We reenacted the carrying and many of the men went back and forth with the handcart and then wives and children etc. Ben's ancestor was cut badly by the sharp ice during this river crossing and it became infected. He later recorded how a little girl brought him a poultice to put on his leg, as it was becoming very bad and difficult to walk on, but they had to walk. It was a miracle, he didn't know the girl and there was no reason for her to have known about his leg.
Both of these shots are so romantic! Even though I doubt if anyone felt any romance on the day they crossed this river. They were so broken down by then.




Gorgeous country. I feel at home in country like this. It is very nostalgic for me.

Trek!

Ben's ancestor, Thomas Durham came across the plains with the Martin Handcart Company. A man organized the descendents of this company, and their rescuers descendents, to do a family trek together. 30 of Ben's extended family turned out for this 2 day trip. It was pretty amazing, actually. Almost completely crazy, considering we took a 2 month old baby and a tube-fed toddler, but we made it, and we don't know how they did. It was very special to be with family. I love Ben's family as my own. Such inspiring, wonderful people.


Here's my little pioneer. I have almost no pictures of Johnny because it was soo windy that he was always completely covered in blankets etc. Nursing was a little challenging in all that wind. Our tents flapping in it made near deafening noise, scared Peter to death. So much for camping being fun!
The Virginia Reel. I LOVE this kind of dancing. But what kind of dancing don't I love. Ben was dancing with Peter and having a ball too. I could really get used to this being a regular social event. So sad that it's not.
Hiking up to Martin's Cove. It was such a trek to get back in there! I was surprised. I'm sure it was worth it considering the wind I felt, but it had to have been brutal to get them all there.
Isn't this the sweetest little picture of Andrew? Peter's little cousin buddy.
Heading over to the dance.
I loved walking with Markie. He's so funny and smart.
Most of the kids spent some time in the handcart. Peter was in pretty much all the time. I held Johnny most of the time, with a little break from Ben and Grandma.

This was the picture of Peter in the Church News. The first time he is spotlighted, NOT because of his medical issues.
What a sight seeing this train.
How adorable is Ben's mom? She is in her mid-fifties, and all I can say is it's something to aspire to! And cute Halle. She was so impressively tough. Her shoes were hurting her before we'd gone half a mile. She just took them off and spent pretty much the whole trip barefoot.
Ben and I pre-trek.
I was chosen to be a sick person who had to be put in the handcart. They had to push it up the hill with me and my baby in it, I felt so bad because they seriously seemed like they weren't going to make it.

"don't be such a beetle"

Through it all, I could never love anyone as I love my sisters. This was at Lainey's birthday party at the Lion House. She kept tradition alive, as we all had our party there for our eighth birthday.

Johnny's Blessing

We blessed Johnny on Sunday, which was also my mom's birthday. It was a great day. Here's a picture of most of the family that were there. Ben's blessing was the most beautiful I felt I'd ever heard. It is something truly special to bless a baby boy surrounded by ten men that I love and admire so much who also hold the priesthood. I feel so lucky so have two wonderful, loving families.


He just started smiling and I think I even got him to laugh yesterday. I'm amazed that I've already been able to capture it on camera!

Peter turned 3!

Peter has looked forward to his birthday for at least 2 months, talking about it, deciding what would be fun to do and get. It was really fun to see him excited about something like this for the first time. He had the best day ever. He knew it was about him and loved it. I loved it too. When he woke up, he was in our bed and I laid down beside him and sang "Happy Birthday" while I snuggled him. He just smiled and let it sink in. His day had finally arrived. :) We had the cousins come to a party at Wheeler farm. We fed the birds, and checked out all the animals.



Last time a goose bit him, this one almost did but I pushed him away. Peter wasn't scared, amazingly.


My dad is handy for a party! It was Peter's main request to have him blow balloons on his birthday. He made hats and swords for everyone.

I used the cake toppers that were on our birthday cakes growing up, they're pretty cute. He loved it.