Memorial Day Weekend

Brent had both the Friday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend off work. And, amazingly enough, he actually did not work for 4 days straight. It really was a vacation! Woohoo! So, we crammed in all the fun we could get:

The drive out to Brenham, TX to visit the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory:

Note how the bottom of the sign says, "We eat all we can and we sell the rest." And it's a true motto. I saw multiple workers eating ice cream while on break. :-)

We couldn't take pictures on the tour, but it was fun. And very low key. Basically, we just got to see what was happening in each part of the factory, but we had plenty of time to watch, which we liked. Isaac kicked his legs excitedly. Could factory work be in his future? Or maybe just a lot of ice cream . . .  Either way, we definitely think he could be their new mascot: 

When we got home, we decided it was about time to take a swim in our pool-- especially since we've been enjoying swim whether for about 2 1/2 months now!

We haven't bought swim gear for Isaac yet, so he watched from his stroller with Emily:

But they blew bubbles: 

And it looks like Isaac tried to blow some of his own: 

Then we let him put his feet in the pool, and he loved it: 

Is there anything cutter than chubby, splashing feet? 

On Monday, he had his first real swim-- in a swimming diaper! He was a little unsure at first, but I think he enjoyed himself. 

And here's a picture of him sitting up on his own (the latest milestone!), at Lisa's request: 

Not sure what this face is about, but I had to throw this one in too: 

As you can see, life in Houston is pretty good. :-)

Brent's Birthday

We celebrated Brent's 27th birthday on the 18th-- and the two year anniversary of the day Brent proposed to me. :-) Unfortunately, even when you're the birthday boy, it's easy to be overshadowed by a baby's cuteness. So, sorry, Brent. I think you're only in one picture . . . 

We had a few friends over for some birthday grub:

Jeff showing us how it's done:

Emily and Andrew were a huge help when it came to preparing food, setting up, and running to the store for last-minute ingredients:

And one more of the un-birthday boy: 

Uncle Bryan

My little brother Bryan is pretty much the coolest teenager I know. He is friendly and honest, works hard as a student, and serves in the Church. He plays the trumpet-- as well as baseball, volleyball, tennis, and golf (not all at the same time). And he is a scout, a gardener (more like a botanist), an outdoors-man, a chef,  a scientist, an explorer, an artist, a swimmer, a net-flix addict, and an all-around fun and happy guy. There's no doubt about who is the favorite child in the family. And honestly, Bryan deserves the title. He's the most obedient and easy going-- compared to all his sisters. :-) And as the only boy in our family, I'm sure he is happy to have Isaac to play with now. Isaac just needs to grow up fast so he can join in on all of Bryan's adventures. 

No pressure, Isaac, but we hope you turn out to be at least a little bit like your Uncle Bryan. 

Grandparents

Aren't grandparents wonderful? It has been so fun to watch my parents become grandma and grandpa for the first time. And even though Brent's parents were already grandparents, it's been such a fun experience to see them be Baba and Jiji to our son.

In the last few weeks we have been able to see lots of grandparents and great-grandparents. And Isaac has received so much love!

Here are some of my favorite snap shots of Isaac with his grandparents:

My mom seeing Isaac for the first time since Februrary. She and KaRynn hopped in the back seat of our car as soon as they got to the temple (we were in Draper for my cousin Jackie's wedding). 

My mother-in-law playing peek-a-boo with Isaac. Yes, that is a ceramic platter that she was going to put away in the cupboard. We really hope she never does this again. We want you to stay in one piece, Okaasan! 

A four-generation shot with Great-Grandma Monson, or Bunga, as we affectionately call her. Brent was actually the one who gave her that name. It was his best attempt at "Grandma," and it was so cute, it stuck. 

Isaac's favorite exploring companion is definitely Jiji. Every day they went outside to find something new. The cherry blossoms were a especially fun. 

Another four-generation shot, this time with Great-Grandma Ogles--who we call Grandma O. I say that name is definitely sticking for the next generation. 

Isaac and Baba at Temple Square in Salt Lake. Baba is short for Obachan, which means grandmother in Japanese. 

Isaac and Grandpa! My dad had only been able to spend two short days with Isaac when he visited Houston, so it was fun to spend a week together. Isaac laughed and giggled for him. In fact, he laughs more readily for all of his grandparents than he ever does for us!

Great-Grandpa Sheranian sang Isaac his classic baby song, "Pony Boy" and played "Trot Little Horsey" with him too.  

Here is the four-generation Sheranian picture. We took this on a special bench dedicated to Great-Grandma Sheranian who passed away last year.

And, finally, another picture with Grandma in her library. Can you tell Isaac loves reading books?

Thank goodness for wonderful grandparents! BYU Magazine reports that "While many studies have shown that grandparents' involvement helps children develop 'prosocial' behaviors such as being kind, encouraging others, and giving service, the BYU study goes a step further. It shows statistically that even with very good parents, children get an extra benefit when grandparents are involved" (Spring 2012, pg. 24). The article continues to explain that grandparent's don't have to live nearby to have a positive effect. 

Even though we wish Isaac's grandparents were closer, we are glad they make efforts to stay connected.  FaceTime has made it possible for us to share many of his milestone's with them. It's fun to watch Isaac listen to their voices and see their faces. Even though he is young, he already knows his grandparents love him!

My Mother's Day

Brent, Isaac, and Emily  helped make Mother's Day so special for me this year. Emily thoughtfully gave me a dill and rosemary plant-- which I'm excited to use in my cooking! And because Brent and I had talked about focusing on practical gifts this year, Brent got me a toaster (the one we got for our wedding already broke-- ha!) and made a very clever and beautiful bouquet of roses for me out of . . . socks!! He used skewers and pipe cleaner for the stems and ankle socks for the flowers. I got such a big kick out of it, I didn't want to take it apart. But eventually it fell over, and socks went flying. 

The best part of Mother's Day was finding these two asleep on the bed. Isaac may have my coloring, but you can tell he looks like his daddy in this picture. What cuties!

5 Months: A Letter to Isaac

Dear Isaac,

You, my little chub, are 5 months old, and I just love, love, love being your mom! Aunt Jeanette told me Aiden was 5 months old when I held him for the first time. She said I told her, "Five months is the best age." I really didn't know what I was talking about then, but I'd have to say you are cuter than you've ever been-- if that's even possible. Your soft, baby-white skin, chubby cheeks, and wispy blondish hair make you look just like a little cherub-- especially when you only have your diaper on. (Oh boy, is this letter going to embarrass you in 15 years. Sorry, but I have to state the facts.) 

In past few weeks you have been working really hard on rolling from your back to your stomach. One night you tried so hard-- you grunted and stretched and rolled back and forth, trying to get momentum-- but you just couldn't quite make it. However, just a few days later, when we were in Utah visiting Baba and Jiji, and I was changing your diaper in the middle of the night, you did it. Just like that. And this past weekend, you have become a professional. In fact, yesterday you couldn't stop rolling over. This wouldn't be a problem except you don't like being on your tummy, and you haven't figured out how to roll from front to back yet. So about every 5 minutes, after I've let you complain for a while, you finally scream for help. And as soon as I turn you over, you are happy. But two seconds later, you roll over again.

Last weekend, you had your first bites of rice cereal, and you seemed to like it. I was surprised how well you opened your mouth for the spoon. Most of it ended up on your bib, but it was a very successful first "dinner." We called Grandma and Grandpa on FaceTime so they could watch, and you were so excited to hear their voices, and see the iPod in your face, and get food at the same time, that you started flapping your arms like a bird and opened your mouth, panting like a dog. You seem to like to do both these things a lot these days. And we think it's pretty hilarious. 

You also get excited when we read books to you. You love reading books on the floor with Dad or Emily, or on the couch with me. You love to look at the colorful pictures and like to babble. I guess you're just trying to tell the story yourself. 

While we were on vacation, you received so much love and attention from all your aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Everywhere we went, you were the guest of honor. Everyone wanted to hold you and kiss you and touch your soft skin. Its true: you are irresistible. When Uncle Callis held you at my cousin Jackie's wedding reception, he put your drooling mouth over the heads of each person sitting around one of the tables, playing a risky version of duck-duck goose . . . or drool on you. And I saw my Uncle David sneak a snuggle and kiss on your baby cheeks. And let's not even get started with all your aunts. Everyone loved you! 

Now that we're home, you still get lots of love and attention from your Dad and Aunt Emily. As soon as Dad comes home, he practically runs to wash his hands so he can hold you. Whenever we talk on the phone, he asks about you. You really are the happiest thing in his life (besides me). 

Auntie Em helps take care of you a lot so I can get things done around the house. You love watching whatever she is doing. And really you love watching anyone. We've found that you are the happiest when you are in a room full of people casually talking, and you like to join the conversation by sucking on your fist and babbling loudly. 

I would say you are perfect, but you still haven't figured out how to sleep in long stretches at night. Often you will wake up screaming for seemingly no reason and won't stop until I help you wake up enough to open your eyes. Then you are back to your normal, angel self. You love your pacifier, but it's becoming a problem because if you wake up and it's not in your mouth you get really upset. So, it seems like I'm up about every 1.5-2 hours during the night, either putting your pacifier in or feeding you or turning you over because you are stuck on your tummy. (In fact, immediately after I wrote that last sentence I heard you crying and found you in your crib on your stomach with your pacifier out. Way to back up my letter with evidence!) It's a really good night if you sleep for 4 hours together at once at least one time. Thankfully, you let me sleep in a little in the mornings. I bring you in bed with me, where you fall back asleep. It's so wonderful to wake up to your bright eyes and happy voice.  

I love you more and more with each passing month. Being your mom has been even better than I thought it would be. You are my treasure. 

Love, 

Mom

Mother's Day Through New Eyes

On this Mother's Day, I am especially grateful for my mother. I now have just a beginning taste of what motherhood is like-- but those tastes of morning sickness, carrying a baby for 9 months, nursing, waking up night after night after night. . . after night, snuggling with a tiny newborn, kissing soft baby cheeks and thighs, smelling clean baby hair, and lying next to a sweet baby with bright morning eyes cooing in your ear . . . are more than enough tastes for me to know how wonderful and challenging it is. 

I'm grateful I had a mother who loved motherhood and who didn't complain (at least to us) about the hard parts even though I think she'd be quick to admit she had her fair share of them. She has always loved babies and children and really does have a special way with them. 

This picture was taken in the elementary school library where she works. Can you tell she loves being a grandma?

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me by example how to nurture and love. I'm already learning from you how to be a good grandma too!! Love, Sarah

Not Forgotten

A few weeks ago, while we were visiting our families in Utah, we spent an afternoon at Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival. It was a warm, sunny, breezy day. The perfect kind of day for taking a walk through a beautiful garden. If the bright colors and varieties of tulips were impressive, the sheer number was more so.

But out of all the pictures of flowers I took that day, this one is my favorite. Low to the ground and minute in size, these flowers could have been easily overlooked. In fact, I don't think I would have even noticed them except my mother-in-law, who is an avid gardener, pointed them out. No wonder they are called forget-me-nots.

I instantly thought of President Uchtorf's talk at the last General Relief Society meeting. To be honest, I don't think I fully appreciated his metaphor because I didn't have any experience with forget-me-nots. But now that I know for myself how incredibly small, yet beautiful they are, this quote means so much more to me. I hope I can remember the five symbols of this little flower:

"Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you."  --President Uctdorf


Truly, none of us are forgotten. The Savior himself beautifully expressed these words, which have pierced my soul ever since I became a mother: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have engraven thee on the palms of my hands . . . " (Isaiah 49: 15,16).

Yea, they may forget. But how could I forget? Even if I were in my most thoughtless state and accidentally left home without Isaac (which for the life of me I can't imagine ever doing), my body wouldn't let me go for more than a few hours without pointedly reminding me that I am a nursing mother. And so I feel I could never forget. Yet, the Lord says, "yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee." And why? "Behold, I have engraven thee on the palms of my hand."

Even though my suffering through pregnancy and giving birth was great, it pales in comparison to the suffering and sacrifice of the Savior. He suffered so much emotional and physical pain that blood was pressed from his body through his pores. Not only was this pain infinite, but it was individual--meaning he suffered it for each one of us, one at a time. And so even more than a mother who suffers greatly to bring  each one of her children into the world, the Savior suffered the guilt, pains, and weakness and afflictions of each one of us. So, how could he forget you? He couldn't. It's physically impossible for him to.

I know that the Savior lives. He patiently waits for each of us to come to Him so that we can find the peace he already paid for. And what does he ask in return? That we remember Him.