Uncategorized – Page 14

May 17, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

So this got on here late. But it needs to be here!
This is going to be a unique post. It is not written by Gidget, but by Kyle unbeknownst to her at this very point in time that I am posting it. It is an ode to her amazing mothering-ness. I thought it fitting to post it here, since this is a record of experiences from her point of view, I want to show how they may be affecting the ones she loves so fully on this special day. Although all of it cannot be truly captured by the low-tech blog media or my lack of expressive talent, I will try because she is truly an inspiration and most importantly the love of my life.

Mother’s Day is not contained within the limits of your own Mom, Grandma, Step-Mom, or whoever, but extends to the Moms, (sisters, aunts, motherships, baby-mamas, etc…) you see around you, and of course – more seriously; to women in general, because we can admire and praise the inherent qualities of nurture, love, and beauty that they have whatever their official Mom-status may be.

In light of all of this, I hope that people everywhere (especially us manly men) use our actions and words to show our gratitude, appreciation, and love for the wonderful women in our lives. And do so consistently too! To go a step further I wanted to take some liberties and provide some words for those individuals, or at least one individual that I know, who have or will have this respect and love I speak of, but can’t currently express it.

In other words let’s suspend some disbelief and say that this is a post:

To: Mom

From: Max

Dear Mama,

I first off want to thank you for carrying me in your belly for almost 10 months. That was legit! Oh, and thanks for eating well too, cause I loved me those nutrients. But the thanks you deserve begins well before that even, I need to thank you for doing a few things before I was even a complete thought. Those have played a huge role in making you the best mom ever too.

Thank you for learning, seeking out good things, and listening to your conscience. Thank you for all of the good, better, and best choices you made over the years to be an amazing person and someone I could look up to as an example of knowledge, love, and spirituality.

Thank you actually liking this guy…

…and for loving and marrying him too. Turns out he’s pretty alright.

Thanks for being a beautiful bride in white.

Now my opinion is extra biased on the next subject, but I think it is awesome that you chose to pray, listen heavenward, and really consider starting a family even at a young age. That takes faith and courage these days!

Thank you for graduating from UW with honors, thoughtfully considering, and then un-pursuing a sure spot in a Master’s degree program, all to have me instead. I feel worth it every day by the way you live true to that choice, and by the way that you love me unreservedly.

Next I should thank you for welcoming me into the world perfectly. I feel nothing short of the best gift you ever got.

Thank you for leading the way.

You show me the magic and fun in everyday life!

And you have great hair!

Just look at you…

Need I say more?

You make me feel like this every day:

you teach me all kinds of things all of the time.

How to be gentle and to love

You teach me about the world and the many new and exciting things around me.

You go into uncomfortable places and circumstances to expand my mind.

you protect me like a mama bear too.

Thank you for all of those.

Thank you for showing me ice-cream too. That’s definitely at the top of the list of favorites!

Thanks for going above and beyond too. What do I mean by that? Well, you will go the extra mile to make a day exciting for me, and for others too! You organize events, spend time setting up play-dates, music-groups, story-times, and whatever else you name it. You let me explore and enjoy many things.

That was way fun. Thanks for letting me be messy.

Thanks for cleaning me up too. Over and over again.

Even if I do this.

Thanks for putting up with me when it’s hard to.

Thank you for letting me crash in the most comfortable and secure arms in the world.

You even sit out of fun things for you to comfort me. Don’t think I didn’t notice that the broom-ball game of the century was on the line, but you sat out for most of it to keep me warm and happy… and then body-checked some fools!

It doesn’t go unnoticed. It doesn’t go unfelt. I love you.

Thanks for also letting me push sometimes. I don’t know why, but it’s way fun. Especially if it’s really inconvenient for you : )

You make me feel big and independent. But like your little boy at the same time.

Thanks for making me toast, showing me how to do new things, and always lifting me to see so much.

Oh, and to top it off… you do it all pregnant too!

Wow…

Thanks for bringing me a baby brother or sister soon too. Maybe on my birthday?

Thanks for playing games with me!

Well, I can’t say it all, but just know, especially on Mother’s Day, that I love you more than anything. Know that every little thing you do, though not completely noticed by society, or by acquaintances, friends, or even by family like me sometimes… You make the REAL difference in the world. My world. And in turn many other little worlds by proximity to your gentle power. It may be hard, frequently without visible reward, and straight up exhausting…

But I hope you know it’s worth it all. You are simply the best.

Thank you.

I love you,

Max

And I will second everything he said as if I said it myself : )

I love you Gina.

Happy Mother’s Day!*

* = !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.ginaprescott.com/2013/05/961/

Baby #2 Wishlist

May 6, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

Preparing for Baby #2 has been interesting. Not only am I reflecting on what I did/didn’t need with Max, I am also taking into account the fact that we will be living a very transient lifestyle. I have to be able to travel light, comfortable and easily and with two kids that is hard even if you are settled down.

I also learned that investing in quality pieces is crucial. I am all about a good deal and I thrift everything if possible, but some things cannot be thrifted and so my expensive taste comes out loud and clear.

1. Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag. This bag is wipe-able comes with straps to wear as a backpack, has a built in changing pad, plenty of room and is pretty darn cute. I know quite a few mommies who sing it’s praises and have used it for multiple children. A backpack diaper bag will be crucial for managing two little ones, I am going to need as many free hands as I can get!

2.Ergo Carrier. We have a baby Bjorn and I have tried out an ergo and the difference is quite distinct. Most people consider double strollers with Baby #2 but because of our adventure year, we have no space for a double stroller. My plan is bring the umbrella stroller for Max and carry the new bundle. The Ergo is comfortable, lasts, is easily moved and comes recommended from many mamas.

3.BumGenius Cloth Diapers. We did cloth with Max and have loved it. The gross factor is quickly overcome and they have saved us a TON of money. We have mostly used the Elemental style on Max but have since tried the 4.0 and fell in love even more! We just need more to fill our stash. I am not positive we will be able to use cloth wherever we go because I have no idea what our living situation is next year and whether or not we will even have a washer/dryer but my plan is to plan on using them and if I have to, I will adapt.

4.Medela Electric Breastpump. This is the most expensive and the least needed item on my wishlist. I plan to exclusively breastfeed again but it is nice to have a pump in case I want to go out on a date or go exercise or just have the freedom to know that I can go. I had a manual pump with Max and although it did the job, it was so incredibly annoying to use and took forever. An electric pump just makes things a little easier and quicker. It’s one of those I-could-live-without-but-would-be-nice-to-have items.

5.Chicco Lullaby LX Playard. Max has slept in a playard since he was born. We were living with my mother and there just wasn’t space for a full-sized crib. Then we moved and our crib was from when I was a baby and was hefty and we would have had to buy a mattress and the playard just seemed easier at the time. So we stuck with it and Max still sleeps in it. Our plan is to repeat this process with Baby #2 especially since we will be moving multiple times over the year and doing so with mainly our car (at least that is the plan).

So there is my wishlist for Baby #2. I call it a wishlist because it is exactly that, I don’t expect any of it but boy oh boy would it be lovely to have a wish come true.

Preparing the Big Brother

April 26, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

(Prefers Daddy’s hand to Mommy’s when walking and HAD to hold the water bottle on his own)

People have been asking me lately if I think Max knows/understands that he is going to be a big brother. Honestly I think he is starting to grasp it a bit more, maybe not the whole “big brother” bit but we talk about the baby everyday and point to my belly. I have made a purpose to hold babies in his presence which always concerns him first but then he moves closer and smiles at the baby. He points out babies wherever we go but really how much can you prepare an almost two year old who hardly grasps the concept of, “You may only watch one episode of Kipper.”?

Lately there have been little signs though, he is going through a bit of separation anxiety particularly around nap time and especially when visitors come. He nuzzles into the bit of space left I have and hides his face in my shoulder. I admit I love it. It reminds me how little he once was and how he use to spend his entire day resting upon my chest moving only to eat, coo and sleep. I used to be pretty stern about him going down for his naps and now I find myself swooping in to rescue him from his tears, I let him relax against me and I watch as his breathing immediately slows down until he is in a deep sleep. Perhaps I should be prepping him for more independence but the immense love I feel for him in those moments coupled with the pregnancy hormones is like a drug to me. It relaxes me too. It helps me cherish these moments I have with him and as he rests upon me I ponder on how I will really manage two kids, dividing me time and attention and making sure that each of my children feels loved.

Then there is the question of, “How could I love another child as much as this one?” I have thought about it but for some reason it doesn’t worry me. From talking and observing friends who have more than one child it clearly is not an issue. Plus I already feel a whole lot of love for this baby within me and I know my love for Max can’t diminish. From what I hear, your heart just grows. I have faith in those words.

On the flip side of those few moments of separation anxiety, Max is really starting to gain independence on his own terms. He enjoys exploring, playing by himself and wandering away from me even after instructions to stop. It is fascinating to watch him explore everything around him from bugs to books. He loves walking on his own and is starting to understand when he has to hold my hand (i.e. crossing the street, parking lots, etc.) The world of a toddler is a fascinating one, both for me and him.

So I guess all this is to say that we are getting ready for this new baby. It is still a few months off but I remember how quickly those months pass and before I know it there will be a new bundle in my arms. A new bundle to love and cuddle and take care of. Not with the same one-on-one attention that Max received but this baby gets the bonus of a big brother, and this baby’s big brother is awesome.

Happy Birthday Love.

April 18, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

My main man turns 26 today. He is not one for big parties or lots of presents. Just a simple night at home planned eating his birthday ribs and making peanut butter play-dough. I have made this boys BBQ ribs for his birthday ever since we first started dating and it’s a fun tradition to keep up. It reminds me of when we first fell and love. He has continued to charm me and sweep me off my feet again and again and we just keep falling in love. I feel so incredibly blessed to have found him and I feel even more blessed that I have the opportunity to spend forever with him.

Embracing Adventure

April 9, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

About a month ago we went on our first hike of the season. We chose a hike 30 minutes out that as promised as child-friendly. Child-friendly hikes are basically pretty flat and boring hikes, at least when the ground is still thawing and muddy from the seasons changing. We finished the hike quickly and decided that we would venture a little further. Looking at the cropped map in our borrowed library book it seemed as if we could follow the road the cars took to another hike that seemed a little more interesting. We guessed it would take another 30 minutes to get there. We set off an hour and a half later we realized we are wrongly guessed where the road was taking us. We looked at a larger picture of the map and realized we would need to walk about four more miles until we reached that other hiking spot, never mind that our car was still at the original starting point. Oh, also it was 4:30pm before daylight savings occurred so the sun was already setting. We made a plan and decided to cut across where there was no path. There was a creek/river/body of water that we hoped was dry enough at a point to walk across.

We could of panicked and yelled at each other, but instead we looked at each other and decided going off the beaten path would probably be more exciting anyways. I mean the general area we were in was not that large, and we new roughly where our car was. We still had plenty of food and water so off we trekked. The marshy water was still partly frozen at party and we got increasingly nervous that we might just have to get wet.

It all ended up being fine.

Miraculously and totally unplanned we ran into our original hike. It was easy to make it back to the car from there and this all occurred before the sun went down. We sat in the car and breathed a small sigh of relief and grinned from ear to ear. What started as a pretty boring hike turned into an all out adventure and usually I tend to freak out at unplanned adventures. They make me nervous and I try to avoid them and if they happen and I am not ready, I usually find someone to blame other than myself. But I didn’t. I think I was given the strength to stay calm and just enjoy the scenery. It wasn’t a dire situation so no need to make it one.

All of this is to say that next year will be one grand adventure. Kyle will have three ten week internships over the course of the year, which means that we will be moving every ten weeks to a new location with a toddler and an infant. At first it made my head hurt. A lot. The more I thought about it and tried to plan it, the more I could feel my anxiety rising. I prayed about it and received the inspiration to, “Embrace the Adventure.”

Next year will be an adventure and I can choose to plan and have anxiety over it all, or I can relish in unknown adventure ahead of me. I am sure it will be full of moments where I want to pull my hair out and scream at the top of my lungs but I will choose to let it stretch me and strengthen my character so that I can learn to live life with grace (divine help), humor, and no fear of the unknown.

Happy Easter!

March 31, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

(Max’s sweet duds courtesy of my uncle Patrick who wore them in the 1960s, also that’s leftover licorice on his lips)

I love Easter. It has such happy memories for me as a child and now as a parent and with a better understand of the true meaning of the day I love it even more. I was able to speak at church today on the topic of Easter and I thought a lot about what I knew about today. Here are my thoughts on Easter:

As most of you know, I am a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Let me fill in a few more details that illustrate why exactly I chose to be baptized and where it has taken me. I was baptized Catholic as an infant and we alternated as a family between Catholic masses and Episcopal services. We had bouts of activity but largely I remember only going on the holidays when I had a new dress and patent leather shoes to wear that would click upon the tile floor. I loved Easter because it heralded in Spring, flowers, the sun, green grass. I remember sitting on the hard benches in the Episcopal chapel which had beautiful floor to ceiling stained glass windows, about 6 on each side and the sun would project through them creating a rainbow effect in the entire room. It was beautiful, but it was not was Easter was about. The windows were beautiful but beyond that, I did not actually know much.

Through hymns, the scriptures, a few Sunday school classes, and two years at a private catholic middle school I learned about the Savior’s life, a lot about His death, and briefly about His resurrection. I never really doubted His existence and that He did all that was written about Him, but I definitely didn’t understand it; the magnitude of His life, the importance of His death, the pure joy of His resurrection.

I learned that slowly but it started with a moment that is forever etched in my mind. I was meeting with the missionaries before my baptism and as we sat in a plain room at the Institute, they told me we were going to watch a video. It was a video of Gordon B. Hinckley testifying of the Savior. He stood in front of a gleaming white Christus, and told me that the Savior’s life was an important life. He testified that the Savior really did live a perfect life and completely fulfilled His Father in Heaven’s mission for Him. He finalized His mission on Earth through His triumph over death, resurrecting from the tomb He stood as a glorious and perfect being. I listened and took in the words but it wasn’t until a missionary asked me a simple question, “What do you think about what he just said?” I was used to these questions and I always wanted to answer them sincerely and with depth, so I thought about it and then I felt and recognized the Holy Ghost for the first time, signaling to me the truth of the words that were spoken by a prophet of God. I believe the lesson was intended to teach about the reality of prophets on the Earth today and it certainly taught me that point, but mostly it kick started my testimony of the Savior. For the first time I realized that the Savior’s life meant something, it wasn’t just a story of a really good man. It was a record of the Son of God.

I definitely did not grasp everything immediately, only through continued learning and studying and desiring to know more have I grown in my understanding. Today I would like to share with you three simple but significant principles that I know concerning the Savior and why they are important for all of us to know.

1. His entire life is an example and lesson.

As we read about the miracles He performed, the parables He told, and the acts he completed I hope that you see them for what they really are. They are constant lessons to us, lessons that teach us about charity, diligence, our strengths, our weaknesses, and our infirmities. We may not bear the physical mark of leprosy or be blind, but when the Savior said, “be thou clean” to a leper (mark 1), “man, thy sins are forgiven thee” to a man with palsy (luke 5), and “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; Go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (mark 5) to the woman with an issue of blood; He was not only healing that person at that time, but promising that He can do the same for us. We have pains of the body and pains of the heart and I have learned that each miracle and each parable is about me. It’s about you too. You are the prodigal son, you are the widow, sometimes you are the disciple who doubted or the one that denied Him three times but mostly you are why He chose to live His life perfectly and complete the Atonement.

2. He really did suffer all.

Elder Holland spoke in general conference in 2009 about all the Savior went through from being condemned to resurrected, the most significant to me was when he said:

Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required, indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

To know that the Savior knows what I have felt, what I will feel and everything that anyone could possible ever feel is humbling but for him to feel that loneliness means the most to me. Before I truly understood why He lived, I felt that loneliness, I wasn’t completely aware of it but looking back I realize that my sixteen-year old self was lost. I know this because I realize I hadn’t a care in the world, I lived day to day with no real idea of my purpose and no real sense of my future. To not know these things is to be truly lost, to not understand and feel God’s love for you is true loneliness and the Savior experienced even that. To know he suffered is to know He loves you, to know he understands, to know that we are not alone in anything we experience.

3. He really did triumph over death and lives today.

This one is harder to explain how I know except that it started with that moment listening to a prophet of God testify of Christ and deciding to exercise my faith and be baptized. As an eighteen year old getting baptized even then I did not fully understand the commitment I was making. I was acting on faith. But when I emerged from the water I felt so much gratitude for the ordinance, as I went to the locker room I knelt down in my wet clothes in only what I can describe as pure and utter joy. I felt that newness of life. I felt such extreme joy I thought I could burst. The past version of myself was buried in that water and I came out a new person. Because I have felt that I know that the Savior’s resurrection was real. If it was not, I could not have felt that triumph. We all have the opportunity to feel that triumph each Sunday was we renew those covenants and because of His resurrection, because the tomb was empty, “ye might ^bbelieve that Jesus is the^cChrist, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have ^dlife through his ^ename.” – John 20:31

I know that Jesus Christ really and truly is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, and the King of Israel. I know that He lived a perfect life, a life that is an example of how I should strive to live. I know that I cannot be perfect without the divine assistance of the Atonement, the ultimate gift the Savior has given to all of us. I know that His Atonement covers my sins, my mistakes and my weaknesses as I come unto Him and seek the mercy of His arms and the grace that He is so willing to give. I know that He knows every pain I have felt and will ever feel and I know that His triumph over death was real and that He lives today. His reality gives me hope and joy through all that I experience.

This boy

March 22, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

Can I just tell you how much I love this little boy?

I do.

I was able to capture this picture the other day while we were looking outside after a rainstorm. He has decided to start making this face that cracks me up and I was trying to get it on camera. I got this picture instead. Although it would have been hilarious and cute if I had captured his new favorite face, this picture captivates me.

It reminds me that this little human has a deep soul. I look into those beautiful eyes and realize he is going to a grown adult someday. He is my little toddler now acting crazy and opinionated and learning something new and showing it off every day. But it won’t be that way forever, someday I will recognize these eyes in a grown man. They will probably always melt my heart. Children have a way of doing that.

There’s really a baby in there!

March 19, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

We finally had our ultrasound after a few scheduling mishaps. Of course I wanted Kyle there and his schedule really limits our options and then the tech got sick and so we had to reschedule but it finally happened. We finally got to make sure that it was actually a real live human life in there. I have learned that if you get an ultrasound you should try to get the last appointment of the day. They will take their time with you and print a million bajillion pictures on one long strip and there will be no rush, no hurry and you will get to be in that surreal moment of parental bliss at seeing feet kick and hands move and yawn over and over again.

When we had our ultrasound with Max is was short and quick and we got about 5 pictures including a full frontal face shot that showed a skeleton and two large hollowed out spaces for eyes. It was kinda freaky looking so we endearingly named our unborn child skeletor, because we are awesome parents. This time we even got 3D imaging which was super trippy and basically this child looks like Max’s twin.

Still don’t know the gender, to be honest we were tempted but the reality is that we truly enjoy not knowing. No I don’t wonder constantly, but of course I wonder. It gives me something tangible to wonder about with this child. There are a host of other things that can bring anxiety like whether Max will be ready or how we are going to manage 3 ten week interships with a newborn and toddlers next year but wondering boy or girl is a lot easier on my mind. Plus, we just LOVE the surprise.

Evolving Style

March 6, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

I mostly write pretty deep, reflective, serious posts. I thought I would lighten things up a bit by talking about clothes. Yes, clothes. I love clothes and I know I am delusional because my belly is currently turning into a basketball but let’s pretend like it’s not, or that at least I shouldn’t have to sacrifice style just because I am pregnant.

I don’t know about you, but I think about my personal style WAY too much. At a young age I started thrift shopping at the local Goodwill that was just down the street from my home, my friend and I started by sifting through the boys section for unique t-shirts that you couldn’t find at American Eagle or Old Navy. As I grew older and far too big to snag those 99 cent shirts in the boys aisle I realized I could find some pretty nice name brand items. To this day my best finds are a sherbert orange Jcrew pencil skirt, an emerald Shabby Apple dress, and pair of Joes Jeans wide legged pants that were clearly never worn. I started going for the thrill of the find rather than need or finding something that would fill a hole in my style wardrobe.

After having a baby I felt like my style totally changed, I had to consider practicality WAY more than I wanted to. Babies make messes and need to be nursed often. Machine washable, breathable, comfortable clothing became my hunt.

Then I felt like I was sacrificing what I wanted to wear for what was “practical.” Where was the balance? In my mind I want to look simple, classic, comfortably chic. Now I don’t have the budget currently to revamp my entire wardrobe but I do have pieces there that I love and feel they fit the bill. This makes me happy. But a girl can dream bigger still right? So my dream wardrobe is comprised of beautiful, wearable dresses, skirts jeans, t-shirts, and button downs. Let me show you what I mean.

But most of all, I want Boden dresses. Have you heard of Boden? They sell amazing, easy, beautiful, simple dresses (and lots of other great stuff too!). They are everything I want to wear but while we are in grad school the dresses will have to wait (unless I find one at a thrift store…) Here are my favorites from their new summer line. Can’t you imagine not having to think about your outfit and just throwing one of these on? A girl can dream and this girl plans on achieving her dream when her husband graduates.

Sigh.

Bump

March 4, 2013 Filed Under: Uncategorized

I have not been keeping track of this growing bump of mine but I realized this Sunday that the light through our living room window made for a cool back-lit effect. So much to Kyle’s annoyance we took some pictures. I am 19 weeks along and my belly button is already popping out. It’s pretty much ridiculous but the same thing happened with Max.

Pregnancy is a funny thing. You can read every book, every bit of information but it’s quite indescribable feeling something moving within you. I consider it a blessing and a privilege to be able to carry children and although I may moan and complain to my husband (and anyone who will listen really) I am trying to remember this as a blessing, something sacred and holy. Helping me see there really is no reason to complain.