The Big Sister

Gwen was an only child for over a year and was used to being the center of our world. Then we had the nerve to bring home Ezra. At first Gwen wasn't too sure. She didn't know what this new addition meant or when it was going to go away. I think she has figured out that he is here to stay and that she might as well get used to it.

For the first time last Saturday we took Ezra with us to the dog park. I thought that once we got to the park Gwen would forget us completely, like she usually does. Instead, she would play with whatever dogs were closest to us. She would play for a few minutes and then come check in, checking to make sure Ezra was still in his stroller. We walked around the inside perimeter of the dog park (there is a cement path) for about an hour. Gwen continued to check in. After a while we sat down and I took Ezra out of the stroller. Several dogs (including a baby Great Dane) came by to say hello. Gwen continued to play but stuck fairly close by. A husky come over and began to smell Ezra and me. Apparently Gwen thought the Husky was smelling for too long because she came and very calmly, but with a definite "this is my baby" attitude, put her self between Ezra and the husky. Once the husky turned and left, Gwen trotted away and continued playing with the dogs. As much as she may miss being an only child, I think that as Ezra gets older  they are going to be best of friends .

Snuggle Bug

 Ezra is a little cuddle bug. He loves to sleep on Mommy or Daddy's chest.

The Many Faces of Ezra

This is what Ezra looks like most of the time.

If he isn't grinning, he is usually still pretty happy. 

Unless, he's not. 

But those moments are fleeting and then he is back to happy. (I've seen this smirk before... anyone else think that half smile looks like his Gramps'?) 

 Sometimes he is unsure...

Sometimes he is TOTALLY not impressed...

And sometimes he is hungry.

Surprised

Incredulous...

There is that smirk again...

 Annoyed...

Feelin' gansta... (Anyone else see the WTF in his face?)

But most of all, Ezra is a happy boy. 

Still Alive

 I keep promising that I will blog, and I will, just not today. But here is a picture or two to tide you over.

Some things never change :)

 I swear I did not teach him that...

My little family

Gwen thinks taking care of a baby is exhausting!

Memorial Park

A few weekends ago, while Miqui was visiting us on her way home from school, we headed up to Memorial Park in Salt Lake City. There are very few dog parks in the state of Utah so I was excited to find this off leash trail on the internet. It was actually even better than I imagined. Gwen had a blast playing in the water and having the freedom to run where ever she wanted and we had fun watching her.

Playing with some new doggie friends

Letting Dad check out the water first

Following Dad's lead

 

 

Gwen having the zoomies through the water

Playing with her new friends

One advantage of sitting around waiting for Ezra is that I have a lot of extra time on my hands. I happened to stumble upon this devotional talk through one of the blogs that I read. It is probably one of the best and most uplifting talks I have heard in a long time. It is long, about 30 minutes, but totally worth it.

Bro. Wilcox July 12th Devotional Talk

Update

Netty complains that I don't update my blog so here ya go Netty...

*We moved to a new state; I miss the old one.
*We have a back yard; Gwen likes that.
* Jordan started at BYU; Go UTES!
*Jordan got a job; Yay!
*Jordan has already earned a "Perfect Score" on the monitor leaving the testing center; it took me close to two years to get one!
*Ezra is still cooking; Boo!

That is about the extent of what is going on in our lives- now you see why I don't update on a more frequent basis :)

Using the broiler: a cautionary tale

So on Monday night Jessi was feeling under the weather, meaning that dinner was going to be my domain for the evening. After some deliberation and feeding her the instant mac n cheese she asked for, I decided to make myself some delicious nachos! I spread the chips out on a pan and spread grated cheese over the top. I even fried up some chorizo to liven it up. As I prepare my meal, I start to day dream...

Ezra is a toddler, and for undefined reasons, Mom is out for the night. So I, being the super cool Dad I am going to become, decide to make a fun, not especially nutritionally balanced meal. Ezra is naturally amazed at my cooking prowess and is very proud of himself as he helps to spread cheese over the nachos to be...

Outside of dreamworld, I slide the nachos under the broiler to melt the cheesy goodness. After a minute and a half I decide to check on my much anticipated masterpiece. I open the oven door and see the the edges of the chips are browning, but the cheese is melted. In that same instant, fresh oxygen is rushing into the oven. Apparently that was all that was needed to turn a culinary master piece into this:

My dreams literally went up in smoke as I tried to blow out the flames, setting off the fire alarm and running with the pan out to the porch to keep the smoke out of the house. Gwen, who had watched the whole procedure, looked at me as if to say "Dad, you REALLY messed up." By the looks of things, I think she was right:

In other news, the Jack in the Box crew really brought their "A game" that night.

Happy Birthday

http://blueberriescrapbook.blogspot.com/2011/03/guardian-angel.html

Razmatazz Meraz's Blog

Razmatazz is going to have his/her very own blog! Yay. If you are interested...

http://blueberriescrapbook.blogspot.com/

Recently Learned Life Lessons...

1. Cinnabon cereal does NOT taste like a real cinnabon. (Is it a normal reaction to cry about something like that?)
2. El Pollo Loco actually makes a kickin' fish taco. This is huge considering I hate fish.
3. Target has AWESOME clearance sales on baby clothes.
4. Even kids you were sure didn't have a soul are well behaved after watching their teacher have projectile vomit in front of the class.
5. Strawberry gum is great for cleaning one's breath after throwing up, especially when mint makes you throw up.
6. Nutella is better going down than going up.
7. Taxes suck.
8. Tax returns rock.
9. It is possible to shower, do your hair, put on your make up and be ready for work in less than 20 minutes.
10. Getting your Great Dane up in the morning takes much longer than 20 minutes.
11. Staying home from work to just lay on the couch all day is actually incredibly boring.
12. Having an awesome husband like Jordan makes life a million, gazillion times easier.

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum...

Life changes and it often changes unexpectedly. Things you take as truth or "that's the way it is going to be" sometimes change right before your eyes.  Sometimes change is bad, sometimes it is neutral, and other times it leaves you so happy and bewildered you can't believe it is your life. We've had a lot of that recently, the "so happy and bewildered" type of change.


Let me back up a little bit.

I was in college when I found out that parts of my body hated me and might make it difficult for me to ever get pregnant. Doctors weren't optimistic about my chances so I wasn't going to hold my breath for it to happen.

Fast forward to November 8th, 2008. Jordan and I got married. :) Happy day.  We made our life plans and figured that we would start the adoption process after Jordan graduated from college. Jordan and I were content and happy with the idea of adoption (more than happy, adoption is fabulous!) . We prayed about it and life was good. I had a plan and I like plans- preferably a 10 year plan with each month carefully planned out. (I think it might be genetic.)


As life continued for the next two years we made small adjustments to the plan, mostly related to schooling but one thing staying constant. We would start the long, hard, often heartbreaking  (but oh so worth it!) process of adopting a child when Jordan was done with school.

Fast forward again to the beginning of November. Remember this blog post? Jordan and I just laughed thinking if that lady only knew that we were infertile she might change her tune a little. Maybe she was sent to help us get ready for the upcoming news...

Thanksgiving 2010. Jordan and I just stared at the little white stick as we tried to wrap our minds around what the little + meant. Our life had just been turned on its head.  Every plan suddenly went flying out the window. To be honest I was more scared than I have ever been in my entire life. Both Jordan and I were terrified that we would lose the baby and it would turn out to be a some sick joke of God's.

Even though I had become pregnant my body wasn't sure what it was supposed to do next so it had to be helped along by doctors and medications. I had about a 50/50 chance of making it to 10 weeks.
Thankfully, modern medicine (and God) has kept this pregnancy going. I have had more ultrasounds already than most people have after having had multiple children.  I know all of the  phlebotomist's names at quest diagnostics. They call me a "frequent flier" and know my name when I walk in the door. (Here's a hint: ALWAYS make friends with your nurses, front desk staff and phlebotomist's - they are the ones that really run the show!)

Now, after 14 weeks my body has started taking over the pregnancy. For the time being my pregnancy is just like everyone else's.  Yesterday, Jordan and  I saw our little one's arms and legs. She (we think it is a girl) was twirling and dancing and waving at us. We got to hear her heartbeat- 167 beats per minute. It sounds a lot like a choo choo train. It was the most surreal moment of my life.

I don't know why God decided to change the game plan for us. Maybe he didn't. Some woman with PCOS have no problem getting pregnant the first time but are never able to again. Maybe I will beat the odds and be a fertile myrtle. Who knows. I guess this was his plan all along. I'd be lying to say I wasn't worried anymore. I still am. Something could go horribly wrong tomorrow.But regardless of what happens I know a few things. 1) God loves us. 2) He has a plan for us. 3) If I have Jordan by my side everything will be okay. It may not be easy, but it will be okay.

For now, all I can do is sit back, enjoy the ride and make some minor adjustments (okay, MAJOR adjustments) to my 10 year plan.

Oh, and happy 24th birthday to me!!! :)

Netty, this is for you.

Dear slightly crazy lady from our ward,
It has come to our attention that you are only slightly crazy and we apologize for thinking you were completely and totally off your rocker crazy.
 Please accept our apologizes.
Thank you,
Jordan and Jessica

Something we all need to hear...

 “In whatever country you live, however young or inadequate you feel, or however aged or limited you see yourself as being, I testify you are individually loved of God, you are central to the meaning of His work, and you are cherished and prayed for by the presiding officers of His Church. The personal value, the sacred splendor of every one of you, is the very reason there is a plan for salvation and exaltation.”


Elder Holland
October GC address

Weekly Menu

Monday: Chicken Cordon Blue, Rice and Salad

Tuesday: Crock Pot Chili and rolls

Wednesday: Crock Pot Garlic Chicken, mashed potatoes, jello, green beans and baked apples for dessert.
(With left over chicken make taquitos to freeze for next week)

Thursday: Pork Chops, Rice-a-roni, salad

Friday: Super duper burgers, potato chips, carrot sticks and celery.

Saturday:,  Seafood Alfredo (chicken for Jessica), breadsticks, salad

Sunday (Last day of vacation...sad day): Daddy's Meatloaf

Gwenevere's First Snow