David came home

My brother got home last Wednesday after serving God for 2 years as Elder Money in the Dominican Republic. We've communicated only through a weekly email and spoke to him on the phone about 4 times. It was amazing to see him again. He's happy, mature, ready for life.

We had a great time picking him up from the airport. We had to do something awesome...

 (yes, yes, it says, "rebulic...")

my favorite things

about breastfeeding freddie:

-he crosses his ankles like he's so relaxed.
-his little blue eyes staring up at me
-when he gets a little bubble in his tummy this super cute worried expression comes over his face and he'll even make super worried noises, but still stay latched on. internal struggle??

-cute gulping noises

-the satisfaction of getting him to burp
-milk drunk when he's full. he truly acts intoxicated, hehe
-while he sleeps he's dreaming about it and makes little suckling noises, aw.

in talking news:

-when ever he cries or is sad/mad/worried/uncomfortable he says "na" "nay" or "nah"
-"a hoo" or "a woo" is a happy or satisfied word
-he added a new word "ma" the other day. I know it doesn't mean mama but its another positive one and its so darling to me.

Freddie is awake more these days so we get to talk a lot. I say "a woo" and "a hoo" and his face lights up with smiles like crazy. :) :) He also gets really happy and smiley and looks at the pages when I read books to him. Our/my favorite right now is On the day you were born. It talks about all the miracles that happen on the earth daily and how they are for each one of us. It references babe in the dark womb, tiny knees curled to chin, getting ready to come out.

My favorite part:
"With a push you slipped out of the dark quiet, where suddenly you could hear a circle of people singing with voices familiar and clear. 'Welcome to the spinning world,' the people sang as they washed your new tiny hands. 'Welcome to the green earth,' the people sang, as they wrapped your wet, slippery body. And as they held you close, they whispered into your open, curving ear, 'We are so glad you’ve come!'"
It reminds me of that night so much I can feel it!! Makes me so happy. It was so beautiful and peaceful.

He does NOT like it when he pees through his diaper. He LOVES it when i hold him and walk around...puts him to sleep in minutes. He's a very good cuddler. I love his arms and legs so much. 

He's gets to meet his uncle David in 5 hours.

I am so excited about this: Fall Festival


Cs is sick. We won't catch it though. I refuse.


So am I going to have to buy nursing pads for the next year? Will I ever stop leaking?


Maria Taylor of AZURE RAY, my favorite band of 8 or 9 years, is expecting a baby. I'm so so happy for her! Here's a link to her new album, Overlook. 


Speaking of a little bundle of joy, babe boy REALLY got me this morning. I mean, pooping and peeing on me is a regular occurance...I SWEAR, it's not my fault! HE WAITS till I'm changing his already soiled diaper! Even if I feel like I've waited till he's done...even if I hurry so fast....he gets me...but today...today was the MOTHER of all gettings...(so far). I even had him on a sheet protector pad thing. It SHOT OUT, all over ME, my legs, the blankets, everything....so badly that I had to go jump in the shower! LUCKILY Collin hadn't left for work yet and was able to help me. Oh man, haha. Look at im....

PS. He totally SMILES when he makes eye contact with me. Best thing ever and worth being covered in anything!!!

We went to the harvest festival at Joe's school Wed. My mom helped put it on...let's face it, she practically did the entire thing...and it was incredible. It was a GREAT alternative to the State Fair for us this year since A. my butt would hurt so badly I'd die if I rode lots of rides right now and B. Baby guy's brains would scramble so we'd have to switch off doing stuff. no thanks!! 


THE BIG FOOTBALL GAME is this Saturday. tomorrow.  I don't know if you are supposed to pray that your team will win but i'll be praying that we do our best AND that our best is going to Florida for nationals!!!!!! Wooohoooo! Everyone should come out to support! Or at least send positive vibes our way!


My hot husband and darling baby are asleep next to me and both lightly snoring hehe.


I love grammar and have been going back to my old grammar books to refresh.


David comes home in 6 daysssss. Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy.


Best homemade NO KNEAD bread, and extremely easy:

3 C. hot water
1 ½ T. granulated yeast
1 ½ T. kosher or sea salt 
6 ½ C. 
Cornmeal 

Elder Money alive and well

So I haven't had internet the past week or so, and I get this text last week sometime saying that the person is praying for our missionary in the DR and that 5000 have been evacuated. I'm like, WHAT? What happened? I try texting my mom and dad, who hardly respond. (minutes are out on phone for the month, so I had to stick to texting.) My mom writes back to check the internet. Later, I find out that there are crazy hurricanes on their way to Santo Domingo and that David's town, Barahona, has been evacuated. In the meantime, we've heard nothing from David or from his mission president, so we're all worried. We all include David in our fasts and prayers. I'm thinking he could be dead.

Here's his email from this past Monday:

So for pday today we got into the back of a truck in barahona and shipped up to the mountains. Like tons of people packed in there. And driving up forever. But it was the sickest view of the town of barahona and just the ocean right there. So awesome!! We got up to this unfinished house and got on top of it, and it was just the sickest most awesome view ever. It was awesome! we had to be packed in the back of a truck for forever to get there. Numb legs and everything, but it ended up being way worth it. Some member had a house way up there, so we made hotdogs in his house, then went out to the great view and then came back. The pictures really cannot do it justice, like always. But it was still cool. I just have no time to write now. 

Well I really have no time, I love you all. I am doing good, I will write more next week I promise. We are having success, even a family in church and two more men, It was way good. I will tell you more next week.

Elder Money

Mom - Dont worry I was way safe the whole time and having a ton of fun. Love you. See you in 3 months. By the way, I hit 21 months on thursday hahah. 

Pictures:

haha, looks like they had fun.

So basically, never listen to other people because they will just freak you out. 

Barahona, DR

I can't sleep, so here are some recent photos of Elder Money.

He's in Barahona, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

And he comes home at the beginning of NOVEMBER!

With Mission BFF, Elder Carter. They served together months ago, and are now in the same area again and see each other often. :)

Apparently he has a sailboat tie collection, ha!

July 4th.

I love this picture.

Classic David

Making horchata! COOL!

David loves the beach. And it's right there. He can't get in, but at least he gets to look at it.

ELder Money News

This is David's new cmopanion, Elder Carter. He is is all three High School Musicals!!! He is the one in the chef hat below. Now, I couldn't tell ya his character's name on the show because I don't know much about it, but COOL!

hahahahha!

Moving on, Elder Money is wonderful. We got to talk to him on Christmas day, so fun. It was sort of crazy too though because we've consistently emailed every week--so there wasn't a whole lot to catch up on. But it was so fun to hear his voice. We 3-way called--David in the DR, Mom Dad AJ Joe in Phx, and Smiths in Kentucky. I love technology. Can you imagine the old days when you really sent your missionary off to hardly hear from him or her for 2 years? 

So grateful I'm alive during these times. A friend just reminded me that just as the world is getting worse, the good things and people are getting better. We are more blessed than ever. There are more opportunities to serve. More are educated, excepting, outgoing, inclusive, and Christ's love is as strong as it's ever been.

Temple. Life. Best friends. Kitten. Love. Happiness.

We went to the visitor's center at the DC Temple on Sunday after church

(Visitor's Center is across from our chapel)

I love his heart

Lover/best friend/sealed forever

What hott stuff

Don't judge me too harshly. We leave for church at 8am and this time I woke up at 7:55.

But I made it, right?? And I wore my Christmas outfit.

Collin and our friend, Yi

Elder Lo, me, Collin, Yi, Elder Kirby, Elder Hung

Life is Beautiful. It has meaning. We have purpose here on this earth. The purpose is to love each other, and to learn. We are in families and friendships that will not end after death, but will go on forever. That makes me so happy. And my kitties will be there, too!

Shout out to dear friend, Natalie and her brand new baby girl today!!! I love you.

To celebrate: TONIGHT IS AZURE RAY!!!!!!!!! How much happier can I be, do you ask??? Well this weekend I get to see best friends and then 

Monday, we're going to DISNEYLAND AND Collin and I will have made it to 2 years of marriage!

Party! Pizza Party!!!

O. M. GOSH. Buffalo Chicken Pizza. The BEST THING ON THE PLANET!

Looks like brains, but my homemade Blueberry Sorbet!!!!! So GOOD! (Thanks Erin H for lending me the ice cream maker.)