One Year

Last year this beauty was ours...

...and now we have been down to one car for just over a year.

I don't think I'll ever forget the day when we walked outside and Matt's car was gone. Last August I was student teaching, very pregnant, and sick. I had been sick for a few weeks and the doctor wanted me to come in for an ultra sound to make sure everything was ok. Matt and I both had the morning off so I could go to the doctor. We went outside to where the Acura was parked, and it was gone, yes GONE! I about died! I had to be to the doctor's office in 10 minutes and our car was missing. Luckily I have a calm husband who told me to go to the doctor and he would call the police. I remember laying there during the ultrasound just crying. It had been a stressful month and I was now worried mainly about my baby, but the car pushed me over the top. The lady who did the ultrasound must have thought I was crazy. The police don't do much for stolen cars...write down a case number, say sorry, and that's about it. After a couple weeks someone found our car, but the damage was bad enough that it had to be totaled. Our insurance covered a rental car for a few weeks, and luckily I only had to student teach for a week and a half beyond that. We were grateful that my family had just moved back, and that Matt's grandparents & brother lived close, because they helped us a lot with rides.

Life with one car has not been easy, but we have made it work. Most days I take Matt to and from work, but a couple days a week he has the car all day. It has just become a part of our lifestyle, but there are days when schedules conflict and we wonder how we do it. It is amazing how much value a paid off car can have! Sometimes I think about the people who stole our car. I wonder if they had any idea what it would do to our life. Funny enough, I'm not really mad at them anymore, because we have made it through. Trials definitely do make you stronger. We have learned a lot from this experience, but there are definitely days when I really miss this car!

Commencement Speech

Yesterday I opened up the August Ensign to look for the visiting teaching message and found an article on Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Elder Christofferson spoke at my graduation commencement just over a year ago, so I decided to look up the speech he gave. His speech was entitled Greatness.

At such a milestone in our lives, Elder Christofferson encouraged us that greatness was achieved through our every day happenings and not on individual events. He quoted Howard W. Hunter saying, "True greatness is never a result of a chance occurrence or a one-time effort or achievemnt. . . It requires a multitude of correct decisions for the everyday choices between good and evil that Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke about when he said, 'Over the years these little choices will be bundled together and show clearly what we value.' Those choices will also show clearly what we are."

Today I was listening to the radio and Governor Jon Huntsman was talking about something, I am not sure what. But one thing he said stood out to me. To paraphrase it he said, there are not many things that people are remembered for after their deaths. We do not leave behind very many things. But one of the things that people can remember us by is how we treat our children. When he said children he meant the all the children, not just our own. What we do in our everyday life really does define us, and how we treat those around us really can make a difference in the world.

Perhaps my favorite part of Elder Christofferson's speech is when he quoted President Joseph F. Smith saying, "Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life. After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman. . . It is true that such secondary greatness may be added to that which we style common-place; but when such secondary greatness is not added to that which is fundamental, it is merely an empty honor, and fades away from the common and universal good in life, even though it may find a place in the desultory pages of history."

As I read this speech, I couldn't help but think about the past year of my life. I am grateful that Elder Christofferson spoke on this subject, because it really does define all of our lives. I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn more about this great man in the Ensign, and to reread his speech.

If you want to look up this speech, just go to speeches.byu.edu.

Road Trip

Last week we went on our first road trip with Sydney. We drove up to Oregon to visit Matt's family. Normally the drive to OR is about 12 1/2 hours and it took us 14, which isn't too bad because we had to stop so often to feed Sydney. Sydney actually surprised me with how good she was during the drive. Matt's younger brother Jeff rode up with us, so he sat in the back and entertained her which was nice.




Once we got to Oregon we enjoyed relaxing and just spending time together. I think that sometimes the best vacations are the ones where you don't have to do anything but relax. So it was nice to have a break from our every day worries. Sydney enjoyed spending time with her mom, dad, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She loved playing with all of the toys, and especially liked pulling herself up onto chairs. Because she kept crawling into the kitchen to pull herself up on a chair, we finally put one in the middle of the family room so she could play there.



We also went to a Scandinavian Festival, which is a Page family tradition. It was Sydney's and my first time going. It was fun to eat the yummy food, walk around the festival, and hear stories about Matt's family and the fun times they have had at the festival.





For the drive home we decided to break the drive up over 2 days, and we drove home a different way, through Reno. The drive through Reno is longer than the drive through Boise, but it was nice to stop and spend the night in a hotel and sight see along the way a little bit. We stopped at Crater Lake in Oregon. It was beautiful! It is one of those sights that just takes your breath away. Crater Lake is a natural lake that was created when a volcano erupted and collapsed into itself 7,700 years ago. It is 5 miles wide and ringed by cliffs almost 2,000 feet high. After the collapse of the volcano the lake formed by filling with rain and melted snow. At 1,943 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the United States and is one of the deepest in the world. It's known for it's intense blue water. The pictures do not do it justice.





We stayed in Reno for the night, which was Sydney's first hotel. She slept better than I imagined in the hotel crib. We stayed in a Casino, ate at the buffet for dinner, and had fun watching t.v. (the Olympics) in bed! Sydney loved looking at all of the lights and things in the casino. It was fun to include this short stop as part of our trip, and do something that was just with our little family of 3.

Matt & Sydney in front of a fountain

Sydney playing in the hotel crib

The drive from Reno to Salt Lake was actually the shortest amount of time, but it felt like some of the longest part of the overall drive. Much of the drive is just desert. Every time we would drive through a little town I couldn't help but think about the people and farmers that live there. I couldn't imagine living in such a secluded place. I drove most of the drive this time, but Matt drove the whole drive from Salt Lake to Oregon, and from Oregon to Reno. I actually kind of liked driving because it was not quite as boring.





We made a special stop on the way home in Elko Nevada! I used to live in Elko when I was little, so we found our old house and ate lunch in Elko. The city has grown a lot since we lived there, and from what little I can remember, is very different. It was so fun to be able to see our house. When we got home we showed the picture to my brothers and sister and it was fun for them to see where we used to live.

Sydney & me in front of our old house!

The drive from Elko to home is about 3 1/2 hours. As I drove it I was shocked that my mom used to drive that far by herself with her kids, just to go to the doctor. When we lived in Elko my mom was pregnant with Tim, and had to come all the way to Salt Lake to go to the doctor. Matt sat in the back with Sydney for a lot of the drive and played with her, because she was having a much harder time at this point. Here are a few pictures of the last part of our drive...


Sydney LOVES playing peek-a-boo! She kept playing with Matt while he was sitting in the back seat with her. It was so fun to listen to her laugh and laugh (instead of cry). Sydney's laugh is my favorite sound in the world!


Cruising along...

Two things that made the drive so long... construction & being stuck behind big trucks!

Even though most of the drive was desert, there were still a lot of beautiful sights. When we got to the Salt Flats we knew we were almost home!!!

No matter how enjoyable a vacation is, it is always nice to be home! Sydney was so excited to get back to her normal surroundings and out of the car seat. She crawled around the house laughing and talking as happy as can be!

Smile!

Pretty soon this adorable toothless smile of Sydney's will have a new tooth.

I discovered Sydney's tooth growing in the other day when I felt her gums. You still can't see the tooth, but it is coming! Sydney has been having a tough time with teething and it is hard to make her happy. She follows me around all day climbing onto my legs and crying at my feet. The worst part is that she does not sleep through the night anymore. It is sad to see her not feeling up to her normal happy self! I have been hoping that Sydney would teethe late mainly because I did and I have excellent teeth, (Not to brag but I've only had one cavity ever) and Matt's teeth are not quite as excellent. I didn't get teeth until I was about a year old, so when people started telling me that Sydney was teething at 3 months, because she drooled a lot, I was a little concerned. Luckily she made it to 9 months, which has been nice for nursing and hopefully will mean she has more characteristics of my teeth and not Matt's.

It is a little bitter-sweet that she is going to have her first tooth. It will be fun to see her smile transform, but it makes me sad that she is growing up so fast. It is amazing that she learns something new everyday! It feels like just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital and yet here she is crawling and getting teeth!


P.S. Cutest Baby Contest! We entered Sydney in a "cutest baby contest" at our bank. We will win a trip to California if she wins, so vote for Sydney! You can vote every day at this website: www.jordan-cu.org and the link is the Cutest Baby banner, just select Sydney at the Pool picture and vote.

I am a Mother!

I just finished reading this book, which I actually got for Mother's Day. It just goes to show that I am busy enough with being a mother that it took me a couple months to read a 127 page book. This actually is the first book that I have read for enjoyment since I finished school. I was so busy with reading when I was in school that I haven't read just for pleasure in a long time. So it was really fun for me to read this book, even though most times I could only get a couple pages or paragraphs in.

I can honestly say that I learned a lot from this book. The transition into motherhood is not always an easy one. I went from being extremely busy with school and never being home, to being stuck in a 2 bedroom apartment all day with seemingly nothing to do. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty to do, it is just that most of it seems meaningless, like laundry, ironing, cleaning, etc. Needless to say, it has been hard for me to not have people to socialize with. It has been hard for me to not have Matt around much. And it has been hard to be a mom.

One of the hardest things for me has been the pressure I feel from others, including family members, to be working. Matt works so hard, goes to school, and is so busy, that sometimes I let the pressures from other people get to me. I start to feel guilty that Matt is doing so much, and I am at home all day. But, I truly believe that I am doing the right thing. I know that in our situation right now I do not NEED to work. I am willing to give things up so that I can be at home and raise our beautiful daughter. Even though I know all of this, it has been hard for me to answer all of the questions of when I will start teaching, or what do I do all day. I find myself saying, "oh I am just staying home for now." People seem to think that I am wasting my education. I am so grateful for my education; I am grateful that my parents provided it for me, and I do not think I am wasting it. I learned so many things that I use every day, and if I ever do NEED to teach, then I have the ability to.

The most important thing this book taught me, is to not be ashamed of being a mom. Being a mom is probably the most important thing I will ever do in my entire life. I should be proud of it, and not meekly tell people that I am "just staying home for now." So, one of my goals is to let my testimony shine, and to be proud of my choice to stay home with Sydney, and to declare to the world that I am a mother!

If you have not read this book, I recommend it. Even if you don't have children, it really emphasizes that we are all mothers. Sheri Dew wrote the forward, and Jane Clayson Johnson, the author, quoted her in the book saying, "Every time we build the faith or reinforce the nobility of a young woman or man, every time we love or lead anyone even one small step along the path, we are true to our endowment and calling as mothers and in the process we build the kingdom of God. No woman who understands the gospel would ever think that any other work is more important or would ever say, 'I am just a mother,' for mothers heal the souls of men."

So, here I am to tell you, that I am a mother! I love being a mother. I am grateful to Matt for providing for our family so that I can stay home and be a mother. Being a mother is the most fulfilling thing of my life, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it. There are times, when I haven't even showered for the day, and I've cleaned up the same mess 3 times, and the house looks like a mess, when I feel like I have not accomplished anything. But, when I look at Sydney I know that it is all worth it! Being a mom is the best thing in the whole world. So, thank you to everyone who has influenced my life and been a "mother" to me. It is so neat that we can all be mothers to each other and influence each others lives for the better, and I am so grateful for it.

New Adventures

CHANGES:

In the past couple weeks our lives have changed dramatically. It all began when Sydney started crawling. I mean really all out, hands and knees, across the house kind of crawling. She crawls to different objects throughout the apartment and pulls herself up to stand, she gets into things, behind things, and to places that I would have never even thought of. It is interesting to see through the eyes of a baby. Let me tell you…you think the floor is spotless, and she’ll find something! She is like a human vacuum cleaner.

CRAWLING:
Going in to the crawling stage I would have thought that Sydney would just wear herself out crawling around all day and be nice and ready for bed at night. However this has not been the case. She is so full of energy I don't know what to do with her. She will not take naps, and will not go to bed. The small naps she does have take place when we are in the car or she is in the stroller. It has really taken its toll on me and my laundry and housework. I have decided that since she has been crawling a whole new world has opened up to her, and she is so curious that she just does not want to sleep ever. She does not want to miss out on anything!

BEDTIME:
We have been trying to get Sydney into a night time routine to try and help with the "not going to bed" stage she seems to be in. We give her a bath, with bedtime soothing bath & lotion, which is supposed to calm her down. (Doesn't she look so relaxed in this picture? She'll get the whole bathroom wet from splashing. I don't know why but she loves to sit like this in the bath- with her feet up high...)
Then we wrap her up tight, feed her, and lay her down to sleep. The second she is in her crib she begins screaming her little lungs out. I have tried rocking her to sleep in the rocking chair, which she won’t have…she does not like to cuddle. I have tried standing next to her crib for countless amounts of time, which won’t work because she plays with my hands. And I have tried letting her yell for any amount of time up to an hour. I hate listening to her cry in her crib…yelling “mama” and I usually break down, but I have been told several times that the best thing to do is let them cry themselves to sleep. Most nights I will go and get her after a half hour or so and let her crawl around the house some more until Matt and I go to bed. Then when we go to bed, we bring her with us, lay her down in between us, and when she is finally asleep we put her in her crib. Usually we begin the process of putting her to bed around 9:45 and we end the process sometime after midnight. It has made our nights awful!

THE OTHER NIGHT...
Matt and I had to speak in church on Sunday, and I also had to play the piano in sacrament because the primary kids were singing (I am the primary pianist). Needless to say, Saturday night was a very busy night for us. I was SO nervous! I haven't spoken in church since the first week of my freshman year in college -and there were 4 speakers so I didn't have to speak very long. This time, Matt and I were the only speakers, and it has been almost 5 years since I have spoken in church. So because I am the kind of person who stresses out pretty easily- I was stressed out on Saturday night. I decided that I was, no matter what, putting Sydney to bed so I could work on my talk. And I stuck to it! I did not go get her out, and she cried and cried. Around 11:30 I finished my talk and was practicing giving it to Matt, when we heard Sydney's cries getting louder and louder. All of a sudden, we heard her at her bedroom door. We rushed to the door, and Matt had to squish her fingers to open it because Sydney was right next to the door with her fingers under it. She had fallen out of her crib! I started crying because I felt so bad and guilty, and I was afraid that she was hurt. But the second we got in there and turned on the light, we had a happy baby. She crawled around the house for another half hour and talked away. Apparently, all she wanted was to crawl around. Thankfully Sydney was not hurt! We immediately moved the mattress down in her crib. So we were up very late that night, and had to get up for 9:00 church and speak. Our talks actually went well, and I am glad I got speaking over with.

Sydney's crib before we moved the mattress down...

How Sydney used to lay in her crib before she started crawling...

Sydney after falling out of her crib...waiting for Mom & Dad to come to bed, happy as can be...and waving!

Sydney playing in her crib after we moved the mattress down, for some reason she really liked it, probably because it was "new"

More playing...

Standing in the lowered crib...at least she can't fall out!

How Sydney lays in her crib now that she crawls...oh wait, she doesn't lay! We solved the falling out of the crib problem, but still have not figured out how to get her to sleep!

Not only did crawling indirectly bring about the crib incident, it brought Sydney's first bruise. She hit her head on a low table at my parent's house and actually got 2 bruises! Crawling also brings along all of the injuries. We are now very familiar with Sydney's "hurt cry." You can kind of see the two bruises on her forehead in this picture...

Lagoon

Friday was my family's Stake Lagoon Day. Last minute Matt and I decided it would be a fun change of pace to join them in the activities, so we packed up two diaper bags and joined in on the fun. It has been a long time since either of us had been to Lagoon- actually the last time we went was before we were engaged- so there were a few new rides and attractions to see. Sydney actually loved the whole day. She loves being outside and going for walks in her stroller, so it was very fun for her. I decided to not get a pass, but just buy tickets for a few rides, to save a little money, so I went on Rattlesnake Rapids, the Swings, and the Train and Merry-Go-Round with Sydney. Matt went on all the big, scary roller coasters- including Wicked- and the Skycoaster! It was a fun day!

Sydney thinks she is big like us when we let her "drink" from a cup. Somehow she loves it, even though she doesn't even get anything!

Rattlesnake Rapids! You pretty much don't get wet the whole ride until the waterfall at the end...this is just before the waterfall.

This is after the waterfall.

Taking a nap...

Sydney and Allie

Just hanging out

Tilt-a-Whirl...I skipped out on this ride, even though it is wimpy it makes me sick!

Sydney with the fish my mom won for her. She played the "Guess Your Age" game, and walked up with Sydney in the stroller and Allie next to her. The employee guessed her to be 28 years old! If they are within 2 years they win the game...needless to say my mom won, she is 46!

Matt and Tim walking to their death...the Skycoaster!

Flying on the Skycoaster!

They lived to tell the tale!

Waiting to ride the Wild Kingdom Train

Riding the train...Sydney loved it, but I don't think she even saw the animals we drove past. She enjoyed looking at the red bars on the train.

Waving to Daddy on the Merry-Go-Round!

Holding on tight!

We topped the night off with ice cream! Sydney always enjoys ice cream a little too much! We try to be careful with how much we give her, but she always begs...it is hard not to give in to her cute little face!

Sleeping in the stroller after a long day...everyone was still going on rides!