Video of Everett playing the drums

Here is a link to Everett playing the drums at my sister Heidi's house. He is so cute and we have so much fun with this little guy. This video was taken on 9/10/11. I don't know how to post a video on the blog.

The link to this youtube video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TDNFpA0GMI

2 Years

No, it has not been two years since I have blogged (though I do think it has been a year or a bit more), and Everett is not 2 yet. It was 2 years ago that my sister Heather passed away on Aug 31st. I did well, no crying and not really thinking about it. I was up all night with Everett the night before so I was so exhausted and busy taking care of him as he has a cold. It was probably a good thing he kept me so busy. But today I went to a routine physical exam since I have not had one in 5 years or more. It was a new doctor for me and I waited a bit to be seen. She finally came in and said she was sorry she was late but she was reading my entire history and all my past visits etc and it took awhile. She then apologized for every thing I have been through with my sister's death and said she was sorry that I now have to see so many specialists and do all these tests every year. She asked me how I was doing with it all and I told her it had been 2 years ago yesterday that she died. I got teary eyed. Why could I have not gotten it out yesterday so I did not have to cry at the doctor's in front of a person I don't even know.

I just wanted to write on my blog for journal purposes that I have really learned a lot in the last 2 years. I have been a lot stronger than I ever thought I could be. That is because heavenly father new I needed Everett to save my life when Heather passed away. When we found out that the cancer spread to Heather's brain and we new things were not going to end well (Feb 2009)I remember lying in bed next to Tristan one night and crying so hard. All I could say was I am never going to be the same again. I truly thought that I would never enjoy my life as much or be as happy, and that a huge part of me would die with her and I would be so different. Well, a huge part of me did die with her, but having Everett born a few months after she passed brought me back to life. I still have a hole in my heart, but it is no longer broken. I still miss Heather like crazy. There are days I cry on and off all day, days I cry just once, days I don't cry at all. It goes in phases. Good for a month or a week, then a few weeks of sadness and lots of crying. Over all though I am glad to say that I am so happy. My life went on after she died, I am happier, and I still enjoy things even though she is gone. Everett was a surprise baby, we did not want to have a baby for another 6 months or so. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for sending him to us when he did. We found out that I was pregnant about 6 weeks after we found out Heather's cancer spread to her brain. I did not know at that time how much I would need Everett in my life. My sweet little boy as saved me and I was able to move on because of him. Just another reminder that Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves, and that he has a plan for each one of us. I have learned these teachings again first hand. I am so glad that I know this life is not the end and that families are forever, knowing that gets me through the rough times.

I have a new lap top and hopefully that means I can update more regularly and post pictures.I have been using an old lap top that has no battery and only lasts plugged in for about 5 minutes with the cord taped in place.

Everett at 8 months

Everett turned 8 months on July 25th. He is a very active and daring little boy. What has happened over the last few months since I have blogged?

Turned 6 months while we were on a road trip to utah and idaho. Starting sitting up well by himself at 6 months. Started doing his own version of crawling. Loves to go swimming and take baths. He has always loved his baths, but now with splashing in the tub and swimming pool, he has found a whole new love. In fact, Ev does not care if his face or eyes get wet. He actually tries to lean over and put his face in the water. I can wash his hair and not worry about avoiding his eyes. He just wipes them and laughs. I hope he is my little fish!

Two bottom teeth in the same week at 7 months. Crawls like a master the right way. Pulls self up to anything and everything.

At 8 months decided to climb up the stairs for the first time. So I let him and he went all the way to the second story without stopping on his first climbing attempt. He did this just a couple days after turning 8 months. He also cruises now and goes from piece of furniture to piece of furniture. He stands on his own for a few seconds and now does not even hold on when standing he just leans his chest against whatever he pulled himself up on and plays with toys in his other 2 hands.

He pulled himself up in the bath tub last night (almost killed his mother via a heart attack) and proceeded to bend down and stick his tongue out into the CLEAN bath water and lap it up like a dog. I thought it was cute until he decided to take a big swallow.

Here is the link to the video of Ev climbing up the stairs. He is so cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaAJe5cuYg4

Just copy and paste it. I don't know how to get the link to work, and I am hungry so I would rather eat than figure it out.

To suffice you until I post all the pictures

Here is a side picture of Everett. We were at target running some errands.I love his little sweater he has on. I will post more on monday when I have time. We have a wedding today, then Sunday I work. So it will be a few days til they all get up.

Yes we are alive

People keep asking me if I am alive and ok. We are alive and I am doing much better. I can't believe Everett is 5 months and a week and the last pictures on here are of him around 9 weeks. I had really good intentions to keep blogging,but once I returned to work there was just no time. We have a crazy schedule, but Tristan and I are managing to have one of us with Everett each day. There is one to two days a month where we are both gone (he school and me at work). So Oma (my mom)pitches in and adds one more kid to here day. Here is how we have worked it out. Tristan is in school for 13 hours Two days a week, so I have Everett all by myself the entire day. Then I go to work 2-3 days a week. I do 12.5 hour shifts, but I commute far so it is a 15 hour day for me. I work two days one week then three days the next then back to two. I am waiting for a part time position to open up so I will only be gone two days a week. The days I am at work Tristan has Everett for those 15 hours. He does a wonderful job. I don't know how many dads could be alone without help taking care of a colicky baby for 15 hours straight. Tristan has really impressed me and I am so grateful that he is the most helpful husband ever. It is a group effort to ensure that Everett is with a parent each day. So Tristan and I have 2 days together which Tristan spends studying the entire day since he does not get any studying done while watching Everett. So far it is working out well. I had a lot of sleeping problems but I am taking some sleeping medicine and it has really helped. I feel so much better. I had a lot of anxiety about leaving Everett and going back to work. I was so worried Tristan would not be able to take care of him for 15 hours. I would panic. But that has now resolved and things are looking up. Tristan graduates in 3 weeks. We are so excited.

We can't wait to go to Utah and Idaho to celebrate his graduation and take a little vacation before he starts working. We are going to go to rexburg Idaho to see Sarah's new little baby boy. Everett loves babies so it will be fun. Sarah and I have been best of friends since we were 14. We got married within 6 months of each other and have had baby boys within 5 months of each other. Too bad we live so far from each other. I can't wait to hold a little baby again.

All about me

My baby is asleep in the swing. It is almost 7pm and he is still taking his afternoon nap. Why? Because he did not go down until 5 something. He has trouble staying asleep. I so needed to lie down. I did not sleep at all last night. I had horrible dreams/nightmares. I was so upset that Everett would not stay asleep this afternoon. I finally nursed him again and he knocked out. I read blogs while I nurse since there is no time for it at any other part of the day. I held him and read. I usually don't hold him while he sleeps cause he needs to be swaddled to stay down. He always wakes himself up with his hands even when held. I held him tonight for 2 hours in the dark. Loving my child, reading blogs of young mother's who have recently lost or almost lost their little ones. Crying and squeezing my little one for 2 hours. Dreading going back to work in 2 weeks and leaving him. Feeling guilt that breaks my heart. Wondering why I did not wait a few more years to have kids when I can finally stay home (oh yeah I am old!). Then feeling guilty that thought ever crossed my mind. Wishing Heather was here to tell me how she worked for so long leaving her kids. Even working with 2 little ones and battling cancer. Understanding the tears she shed for so many years. Wondering how many times I will cry at work the first day. Wondering how long it will take til Everett just wants a bottle and not me. Feeling sad over the thought of not nursing him anymore. I will be starting to wean him this week as I need to have a mammogram. My sister Heidi went in for her yearly check up and they ordered a breast MRI. Turns out she has 2 lumps. The first was biopsied and is negative. Then they biopsied the second on and we are waiting to hear about that. So I have decided that my plan to defy my doctor and keep nursing is not the way to go. I need to get checked too. It kills me to stop. I did not anticipate to enjoy that aspect of motherhood like I do. But let's face it. Everett has not matched up to anything I thought motherhood would be like. I thought he would love to cuddle and be held. WRONG! I thought he would sleep a lot WRONG! I thought he would be a chunk. WRONG! I was convinced I would have a not very cute baby based off mine and Tristan's looks. WRONG (he is so adorable)! Everett has not been anything like I thought. I never stop moving, I never stop bouncing or singing or entertaining. I can now endure an entire 45 minute car ride of screaming without batting an eye. I anticipate changing both of our clothing about 5 times a day and doing laundry a couple times a day. Motherhood with Everett is wonderful, it is better than I thought. But it is definitely different than I ever imagined. And I love him more than I ever thought possible. Thanks mom and dad for loving me the way only a parent can. I understand it now.

More Pictures of Everett

These are just some random pictures of Everett between 6 and 9 weeks old. We have not taken very many. Infact when we put these pics on the computer we noticed that the last picture was taken Jan. 26th. Ooops. We do a lot of video, not a lot of picture taking. We need to be better about that.

Yes I know his head is crazy, but when he is totally out that is what he does. I put it back straight and he goes limp again. Looks super uncomfortable.


Tristan and Everett with our friend Tom and his son Porter. Porter is only 3 weeks younger than Everett.

Porter and Everett together.




Us chatting after he is done nursing.


These next two pictures show how you will find us at night. Everett knocked out after his night feeding. While mommy holds him upright for his 30 minutes I watch tv or a movie with Tristan.





Those last two pictures are at almost 9 weeks old. He got his shots that day. Still a cutie. We have no pictures from the last two weeks. So the next time you see a picture of Everett he will be 12 weeks old. Crazy!