My New Hobby

About 6 weeks ago I was watching a program on TV that showed a lady sewing a pillowcase. For some strange reason I starting thinking "That looks like fun." Since I have never cared to sew before I tried to disregard the thought. It kept nagging at me over the next week so I told Dan's mom who is big into that kind of thing that I wanted her to teach me how. Due to scheduling issues we didn't find time to get together. Then we went up to Montana over labor day weekend. My sister in law, who had made me the most amazing burp cloths ever, had me stop by JoAnns Fabrics with her because she was going to be making some more for our cousin. I persuaded her to teach me how to make them, and the addiction began.

Since then I have been taking lessons from Nancy. I've mainly been having her teach me how to make things that people have made for me over the years. So far I've only done a few things as it has been a steep learning curve, but I am officially possessed. All I want to do is sew, and when I'm not, it's all I think about.

My poor husband is starting to wonder what happened to his wife. He figured hell would freeze over before I would ever be found sewing or ironing, and now they are a permanent fixture in our home.

Here are the burp cloths that Shannon taught me how to make.


Here is me getting a little creative with some leftover fabric I had.

And here is my masterpiece thus far. Most people have seen the amazing car seat cover that my friend Whitney Gardner made for me. I wanted to learn how to do it, so with Nancy's help we were able to replicate it pretty close. It is nowhere near as high quality as the one Whitney made for me, but I think it came out pretty well considering I'm a beginner. I gave this one to my neighbor who had a baby girl a few weeks before I had Eddie.

16 Weeks Old

Eddie is 16 weeks old today. He is growing like a weed! I can't wait to see how he measures in a couple of weeks at his 4 month doctors appointment. Everyone who sees him comments on what a healthy, big boy he is. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Last weekend Eddie went camping for his first time. We went up to Lake Alice, near Cokeville, Wyoming. The Cardall family has been going here for a good 40 years. It was on this camping trip last October that we told Dan's family we were pregnant. Crazy to think here we are a year later with a baby. ( Yes, those are pink gloves on his hands...)


We had to cut the trip short since we needed to be back to speak in our ward. The talks went well. We ended up sitting on the front row instead of being a huge distraction on the stand. The whole first half of sacrament Eddie kept looking up at the Bishopric and giggling. It was so cute.

Here he is dressed up ready for church...


Dan, against my wishes has started feeding Eddie food. The first time I caught him doing it was a couple weeks ago. Dan was eating oreos and occasionally letting Eddie lick at the frosting. Since then I have caught him feeding him banana and cheetos as well. At this rate our kid is doomed to have a major sweet tooth just like his dad.

Since the first time Eddie rolled over on his 3 month birthday, other than the day after he never did it again. I finally got him to on the 25th, proving that it wasn't just a fluke. Eddie now prefers to try to crawl. From the pictures below you can tell he's getting close.


Don't mind the major spit up stain on his shirt. It's a permanent thing most of the time.

One Happy Kid

Bouncers, Bumbos and Jumpers... Oh, my!

We have officially started our journey into the land of the toys. It has been quite the learning period for me. Did you know there is a difference between a bouncer, jumper, bumbo, exersaucer, walker and so on? And then almost each of these has a stationary, or a doorway, or a free-standing etc. They are almost impossible to keep straight!

Well we have decided to invest in a couple of them, others we have borrowed. Eddie just loves feeling like a big boy in these toys. Especially the ones where he can touch the ground and bounce or move himself in a circle. I think before too long we're going to need one with wheels so he can really get around.

Here you can see his feet don't quite touch the ground so we had to put something
under his little legs. He can get moving pretty good.

Eddie rolled over for his first time the day he turned 3 months. He did it 4 times that day, about another 6 times the next day, and he has never done it again since. Now when I put him on his stomach he just looks at me as if to say "I don't do tricks ya know."

This Bumbo seat may be the best thing yet. It is small and lightweight so it's easy to throw in the car to take with us places. He can sit on the floor, counter, table, about anywhere. I think he likes that he can see things from a different view. He gets to be right in the action now.

The New Normal

Since Eddie is almost 4 months old now, and I am starting to get back to "real" life, everyone has started asking me if I feel "back to normal". My response is always the same. No, I'm a new normal. I have come to realize that I will never be the person I was before having a child ever again. Not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I now bare the scars of a mother and I wear them with pride. I do not value my body because it looks good in a bikini, but because it was able to create life. I have no concerns over my future, only the future of my son. I do not worry over my spirituality, only over my ability to be worthy of being with my family for eternity. I do not view my husband as sexy because of his muscular biceps, but because of the spit-up stain left on his shirt after holding our child.

While I was pregnant, I had two friends that both lost their babies. One lost her little girl at 9 days old, and the other at 7 days old. During their pregnancies, their babies were diagnosed with a heart condition that the doctors told them the babies would be lucky to make it to full term, much less survive delivery. Little Logan and Oliver were truly miracles for what short time they were able to be on this earth.

From the moment I found out I was expecting, I prayed for a healthy baby. I prayed my child would have 10 fingers and 10 toes. That he would be free of any mental or physical disabilities. That he would be happy and strong. However, when i found out about what these mothers (Carrie and Story) were going through, I had a hard time praying anymore. I felt so selfish to pray for these things when they were going to lose their children at any moment. I realized my prayers were so petty because I didn't really care if Eddie had 10 toes or only 7. I didn't care if he was going to be mentally or physically challenged in some way, I would only love him more. I realized all I cared about was how much time I was going to have with him here on this earth. Whether that was going to be a breath, or a lifetime, I wasn't going to take a second of it for granted. And so every night I pray for one more day, and every morning that I wake up to his smiling face, I know my prayer was answered once again. I will be forever indebted to the Bostrom's and the Mendez's for sharing their stories with me and so many others. It is because of their trial that I have become a new and improved me.

So this is officially (for better or for crazier:) my "new" normal. As Dr. Laura says it best...I am my kid's mom.

Bull S#*t

So the joke within the family has always been that Eddie's first words will be Bull S#*t. After an incident the other night I think this might be more true than I want to believe. We were over at Trent and Kate's house for dinner and games. I was sitting at the table holding Eddie on my lap as Trent was telling us a story. I don't recall what the story was about but it ended with Trent saying "b-o-o-l s#*t. That spells bull s#*t!" To which Eddie let out (totally unprovoked) the biggest belly laugh we have heard yet. It left us all just rolling with laughter, and with me feeling a little worried that for better or worse, Eddie has taken after his father once again.

All New Baby Overnight

Eddie turned 14 weeks old yesterday and he has gone from newborn to infant in just the last week. Overnight, he decided he could finally hold up that big noggin of his, hold onto toys, stand up mostly unassisted and grab for anything within reach. I'm so looking forward to this next stage of discovery and learning.
One of Eddie's new favorite things is this jumper. He decided the swing is not much fun anymore when he can use his legs to bounce instead. This one we borrowed from a friend to see if he would even like it. The first time I set him in it and stepped away he got a huge grin on his face and started giggling as if to say "Look at me! I'm standing up and you're not holding me!" We had to put something under his feet so he could touch, but he seems to really enjoy it. He can't do much yet other than bounce a little and grab at some toys, but I think it will bring hours of future entertainment. This being the case, I have one ordered!

Trip to Montana

We went up to visit Eddie's Grandma and Grandpa Mergenthaler in Montana over Labor Day Weekend. We had such a wonderful time getting to spend the weekend together. The trip up there and back is always way to long at 6.5 hours each way. Eddie did pretty good on the way up other than crying the last 45 minutes which made it seem like forever. And by the time we were on your way home, Eddie had officially decided he hated his car seat. This, plus horrible holiday traffic made for a grueling 8 hour trip home.
But Eddie enjoyed every minute with his grandma, grandpa, aunt and uncles. We even had his aunt Shannon take his 3 month old pictures along with some family pictures. I am so excited to see how they came out. It takes some definite time and talent to photograph babies, but I think Shannon pulled it off.

Dan figured out the other day that Eddie is ticklish. We actually got a few full on laughs out of him. Even today I was tickling his belly and he laughed a few times. I just love to see that smile!


This is Eddie's muscle man pose he was doing in the bath at Grandma and Grandpa Merg's this past weekend. He is such a stud, just like his daddy.


And here is Eddie playing with Grandpa Merg. They were just 2 peas in a pod as they were both having a wonderful time with the new bouncer from Grandma.

Just one of my favorite things...

This video is of one of my favorite things that happens in a day. Eddie waking up from a nap. I just love when he wakes up smiling, and stretching and so excited to see me. Just one of the many things I look forward to during a day.

3 Months Old and Rolling Over!

12 Weeks Old

Eddie is 3 months old today. I can hardly believe it! We'll be celebrating his first birthday in no time, then he'll be graduating from high school. At least that's what it feels like.

Eddie had his first official laugh Tuesday night. Just one quick, adorable giggle escaped. I haven't been able to make him do it again, but I'm sure he will be laughing in no time.

To celebrate Eddie turning 3 months, I decided to recreate Dan's 3 month old picture. My mother-in-law, Nancy, saved the outfit that she made for Dan when he had his 3 month old pictures taken. Eddie barely fit in the overalls, and I could barely get his toes in the shoes so we had to go without those. But I think they came out pretty cute.

Dan at 3 months old...
Eddie at 3 months old...