I Won!

I won! I won something!

I've been trying for a long time to win something on Give Away Today. Today I finally won!

Hooray! (See the link at the bottom of my right column.)

Family Pictures

Laura posted some of the pictures from our family shoot. I am totally happy with them! You can see them on her photo blog here: Lola's Lens.

Smiling and Laughing

Zachary started smiling and laughing this past week. Like I said in the last post--his first laugh was for another lady at church last week. He didn't laugh again until Friday.

Friday, when Mark got home from work, I was talking to Zachary and he was smiling. And we were having a good time smiling back and forth and talking about Dad. Then he started laughing. It pretty much melted my heart. His laugh was just a "huh" sound, but he repeated it a couple times. And he was smiling so big.

Today was the next time I've been able to get a laugh out of him. Same type of situation. We were talking back and forth and smiling back and forth. I had tried to give him his binky, but he spit it out and was smiling instead--he was teasing me. So, I was talking to him about "teasing" me--and he started laughing. His smile was so big and beautiful, and his little tongue was just vibrating with his "huh" laughs.

I wish I could have had a video of it, but it was too precious to waste the time laughing together to take the time to grab the camera.

My baby melts my heart.

Four Weeks

Zachary is four weeks old today. I can't believe how fast this is flying by. Why doesn't pregnancy fly by this fast?

Our little Zachary is so cute. He has started smiling. But, the smiles are not commonplace quite yet. The first one I got from him was last Saturday. The next big one--which included a tiny laugh--came on Sunday after church. It was so cute! The only thing that wasn't cute about it was that it wasn't directed to me, it was directed to one of my friends from another ward!

He still coughs a lot. Meaning, he coughs and sputters. He's got reflux and sometimes it scares me. I've been trying to do what I can to help the problem, like keeping him upright for at least 20 minutes after feeding him and even keeping him semi upright when he's down for the night or for a nap. His geyser spitting-up still happens occasionally, but it doesn't freak me out like it originally did. I wish he could keep his food down all the time. It makes me sad that his reflux bothers him so much. He really tries to keep it down.

I love when he flares his fingers. He hasn't started looking at them yet, but he sure waves them around. It is so cute.

Zachary has blue eyes. Right now they are a navy blue. But, they'll be like his dad's eyes. I'm so pleased with that.

I have left Zachary with Mark twice while I've gone to do something. The first time was on Sunday evening when I went to a stake meeting. I was gone for an hour and a half. The second time was last night. I was gone for two hours. Sunday Zachary was good the whole time. In fact, too good. I came home and he was sleeping on Mark's lap. I said, "Wake that boy up! I want him to sleep better tonight and he won't sleep tonight if he's sleeping now!" Last night, however, Zachary wasn't as good. He started crying a half hour after I left. And, he got hungry before I got home. So Mark started giving him a bottle I prepared.

Much to my dad's displeasure, I give Zachary a binky. I wasn't sure I was going to let him have one, but I've decided it's okay considering how often he'll even take it. And, when he does take the binky, most of the time he spits it out or pulls it out himself. Yes--he pulls it out. Most often when that happens, he gets mad because I think he didn't want to pull it out.

Zachary does the PURPLE cry now. It started last week. It usually starts around 8:00 or 9:00 and goes for about an hour. Two nights ago, we were both trying to soothe him when Mark had it. Mark really gave it to Zachary--and Zachary responded. What did Mark do? "WHAH! WHAH! WHAH!" Mark "cried" louder than Zachary. It startled him and he stopped crying. Mark did it last night too and it worked then.

One of my friends and my mom suggested that when Zachary gets fussy in the evenings to give him a bath and then massage him. Doesn't work--at least, not yet. Zachary doesn't particularly like baths yet. And, he's usually crying when I want to massage him--so his body is writhing. It sure doesn't make it easy. In fact, the other night, I tried to give him a bath. He liked it for about two seconds. And then he cried even louder.

Another thing that totally makes me smile is when Zachary is hungry but not yet to the crying stage. His little tongue is lapping at the milk that has not yet reached his mouth. It’s so cute.

I actually have really enjoyed being home with Zachary. He is so sweet (other than the PURPLE crying). He looks at me and I can tell he recognizes me. Now that he's started smiling, it melts my heart when he gives that toothless grin for me. And I just love holding him when I know he wants me to cuddle him. *sigh*

I'm so blessed.

Random Updates

My Thumb
I hurt my thumb about three weeks before Zachary came. Actually, Mark hurt my thumb--but totally on accident. We were trying to wake up one morning. We were holding hands. Mark decided to turn over--so he did, and he pulled my thumb with him. It popped.

At the time, it felt good. My wrists and hands were hurting from what I assumed was pregnancy-related carpal tunnel issues. I've had pains before from typing a lot. Reading pregnancy emails said that this pain would likely go away after delivery.

Most of my pregnancy pains and such have indeed gone away. But not this. My thumb has popped a lot, it has been weak, and it has been unreliable since then. I've started going to physical therapy for it. And, I get to wear this fancy brace.

Mark's New Calling
Mark got a new calling. We had to go visit with the Stake President together to receive this calling.

Mark was released as our ward's second counselor and is now our ward's first counselor. Hehehehe....

Why the change? Our previous first counselor moved out of the ward.

Now Mark gets to play with the pulpit during sacrament meeting. Maybe it will keep him awake more.

Girls' Night Out
Tonight I'm going to go out to dinner with some friends from my ward. Guess you could say this is my first Girls' Night Out since Zachary. It ought to be fun! Mark will be out doing bishopric visits, so it's a good night to go.

Latter-day Preparations: What We Learned at Conference

By Gary C. Lawrence

Remember (past) General Conferences when we were told to grow gardens, put in a supply of food, prepare 72-hour kits, get out of debt, and put our houses in order by preparing every needful thing?

The Church's instructions on provident living still stand, of course, and there are wonderful resources available to help us. But when was the last time such counsel received significant attention in General Conference?

As best I can recall, there was a turning point when President Hinckley, after an extensive sermon in a priesthood session on financial preparations, said, "Now that's all I'm going to say about that." It may have been the last time he mentioned physical preparations in a General Conference address.

During the five sessions of conference just completed, I attempted to write down every admonition, instruction, exhortation, suggestion or recommendation given by the speakers. I collected 430 items of counsel in all, but.

No one talked about food storage

No one advised putting together emergency kits

No one exhorted us to get out of debt

No one said to grow a garden

There were only three references to financial matters (Elder Watson, Bishop Burton and Elder Christofferson) and all of them were warnings against excesses and greed, not about preparations.

Many sense that things could soon break loose - that it wouldn't take much to put many prophesied events about the last days into motion. At this time of turmoil throughout the world, a roller coaster economy, crime, thugocracies, natural disasters, looming inflation and even nuclear threats, it would seem a natural time for our leaders to talk about nuts-and-bolts preparation - to tell us what we should do next.

Well, they did. But not in a direction some may have expected. (And the rumor du jour, that the call-out of Israel to flee to its tents was imminent, failed again - surprise, surprise.)

We've been hearing about food storage and other preparations since 1936. The way I see the talks this conference, those days are over. Members who haven't prepared physically are not very likely to start now simply because two or three more General Authorities plead with them.

This is not to suggest we'll never hear counsel about physical preparations again in General Conference, but rather it appears the emphasis is shifting from physical preparation to spiritual preparation - to build strength of heart, mind and spirit for whatever is coming, and especially to become more proficient at receiving personal revelation.

Those who watched conference hoping for a fish found that they instead were instructed how to fish. Of the 29 individuals who addressed us, 16 of them spoke about the Holy Ghost - how we can cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost, how to improve our sensitivity to promptings, how to purify our lives so we can hear gentle spiritual communications, and related counsel - in other words, how we can gain personal instruction to guide us through coming events from the Source that knows everything. In speaking order:

Elder Scott: Consistently strive to recognize and follow the feelings prompted by the Spirit.

Sister Matsumori: Help others become more familiar with promptings of the Spirit.

Elder Clayton: Be humble so you can hear the word of the Lord.

President Uchtdorf: Listen for the Father's voice for it leads to the ministration of the Holy Spirit.

Elder Oaks: Listen and feel of God's love.

Elder Hales: Yield to the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Elder Watson: Be temperate in all things as guided by the Holy Ghost.

Elder Anderson: Turn away from pride, anger and impure thoughts.

President Packer: The Holy Ghost communicates to our spirit with promptings and impressions.

President Eyring: Learn to follow inspiration.

President Monson: Refrain from anger so you will have the Spirit with you.

Elder Perry: Listen to the Spirit for guidance.

Bishop Burton: Let virtue garnish your thoughts.

Sister Dibb: Use the safety equipment of scriptures, prophets, and the Holy Ghost.

Elder Nelson: Cultivate spiritual discernment.

Elder Ringwood: Be sensitive to the Holy Ghost.

The emphasis on these basic principles suggests that we haven't been following them as we should. Which brings to mind the well-known story of Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. Every season, even after the Packers had won two Super Bowls, Lombardi would address his players and start with the basics: "Gentlemen, this is a football." (And Max McGee, the team's star receiver who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, would say, "Not so fast, coach, not so fast.")

There wasn't a player who didn't already know what Lombardi would say - blocking, tackling, mental alertness. But he said it over and over because they fell short on execution. Our leaders are obviously telling us it's time to execute the basics better and bulk up our spiritual preparations to match whatever we've prepared for our physical survival.

Having a house full of wheat, beans and rice will be insufficient if we are not strong in spirit and mind as we face prophesied events.

Three Weeks

Zachary hit three weeks yesterday. He's been such a good baby. I've been so happy to be his mom.

He's spit up quite a bit--a few times gushing. It's scared me simply because I don't want him to be spitting up too much. I've received a lot of advice from a lot of people. So, hopefully I can figure it out before it actually becomes a real problem.

Zachary hasn't smiled yet, at least, not while he's awake and doing it on purpose. Don't worry--I haven't expected it. He has the cutest smile, though. We've seen it while he's sleeping.

P.S. There are more cute pictures of the kid on our SmugMug account.

Not Much Going On

It's been a while since we've posted. True. But, I wouldn't say there is much going on. I’m still adjusting to not going to work every day—and to waking up in the middle of the night.

The first week of Zachary's life my mom stayed with us. I am so incredibly grateful for my mom. She is an amazing angel. Seriously—an angel. And I have no idea how Mom was able to take care of FOUR children ages four and under when she was a new mom. She said it was all about scheduling. But, how do you schedule a newborn? Anyway........


Mark's mom came for one night this week too. She'll be back tomorrow morning. Zachary has some pretty great grandparents.

When the hospital discharged us that Saturday, the pediatrician sent us home with orders to put Zachary on bili lights: he had a slight case of jaundice. We had to take Zachary in to have his bilirubin checked on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. That means a lab technician poked his little foot to draw a small vial of blood. He slept through the blood drawing the first two times—when Mark took him back. But, he was wide awake and unhappy the third time—the time I took him back. Poor kid.

We were asked to keep Zachary on the bili bed not just at night, but also during the day. That meant we got to hold him less than we really wanted. But, he’s better now and we sent the light bed back to its company.


We took Zachary to his two-week check up on Thursday. Mark went with me. I'm glad he did. Mark is seriously such a good daddy already. (I think I'm the luckiest girl ever.)

Zachary has decided to not eat like a little oinker. Instead, he's eating regular meals. Which is good. So, he was almost exactly his birth weight: 8 pounds 11.5 ounces. (75th percentile.)

Zachary is growing good. He's already put on a good 1.25 inches. Now he is 22.25 inches. Woot! Grow boy! Grow! (95th percentile.)

And, Zachary's head is pretty good even with the two big old bumps. (75th percentile.) What big old bumps? Well, Zachary had to have some help with a vacuum coming through the birth canal. The one bump is where the vacuum was actually attached. The other bump is a result of his scalp being pulled up. The two bumps are finally starting to go away, though it still could be more than a month before he has a normal round baby head.

The first week of life we had Zachary in disposable diapers. Why? Because we were given so many. I'm totally up for free diapers. But, now we're using cloth diapers and saving the rest of the disposables for trips. I've already discovered that I want more diaper covers, but I have plenty of the actual diapers. So, I'm good with that.

Mark can calm Zachary better than me. For that I am thankful, except when Mark is at work and I'm alone with Zachary.


Zachary continues to be good at holding his head up. He’s been doing that since the delivery room—seriously. And I swear he has more control over his muscles than I ever imagined a newborn would have. It’s kind of amazing to me.

The dot on Zach’s head keeps moving. Mark and I both swear that sometimes it is smack dab in the center of his eyebrows and other times it is to the right. Maybe we’re delusional. But, it sure makes both of us giggle.


This morning we had a friend (see the link on the bottom right side of our blog) come this morning and take some pictures of the three of us. I can't wait to see these pictures.

We finished Zachary's bedroom after he came home. Mom made us the crib stuff, curtains, and a pillow case for the chair in his room. And I made the monkeys we put on the wall. We couldn't get them to stick very well (they are laminated). I finally stapled them to the walls. I also framed a picture of the temple and a picture of Jesus.


We put our little cougar in his awesome BYU onesie for one of the BYU games. Doesn’t he look GREAT?


Zachary has been such a good baby. We are so blessed and happy to have him in our lives.