A New Perspective

Maybe that's the wrong title. But I now have a new appreciation for single moms. Chopper has been in Virginia since Wednesday and won't be home until tomorrow late. Being a singe (yet thankfully temporarily) mom is hard. In fact, I hear her again -- she won't go to sleep and stay asleep but keeps waking up crying and I can't ask Chopper to take a turn!

I love my daughter but how in the world do people do this alone? Maybe that's why babies are so darn cute -- to lift our spirits when we're frustrated with their behavior. So here's a darn cute picture because I need it!

Oh Deer!

Ok I know I'm a big dork but this is what happens when you grow up in suburbia and your dad never takes you camping. I have been deprived. Our apartment complex is on the southern edge of Missoula and we have a gully and some hills that lead up to the mountains right behind us. Since we've moved here, there have been deer on the hills and in the gully. TOday they literally walked into our backyard. I had to go out and take a picture because wildlife fascinates me.

See how close they are? I thought it was pretty neat!

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Megan was too small for Easter egg hunts of course but we decided to dress her up for Easter pictures anyway . . .

. . . and as cute as she was (thank you Vickie for the beautiful dress!), she decided that she wasn't going to smile for pictures today. Perhaps she is upset that we didn't get her an Easter basket. Even the rabbit isn't new for Easter, its one from my childhood. Of course, she could just be tired of mom taking endless pictures! So after church I change her clothes and think -- I need some pictures of her chubbyness . . .

. . . and she starts smiling again! Oh well. This is a good picture too because you get a better shot of her hair. It's sticking around and its keeping its strawberry color! For a first Easter, it was fun to celebrate with her but I can't wait until she's older and we can do egg hunts and crafts and all of that good stuff. Happy Easter everyone! We love you and miss you and hope that your holiday is not only fun but spiritually renewing as well.

Side note, the Missoulian reported today that we won't have Easter this early again for 152 years. I can't say I'm sorry -- I like Easter to be a little more springy.

Job Title

We did our taxes today -- we got back more than we thought we would but of course missed out on the child credit until next year. Oh well -- so she has to pay her own way through college! Anyway, we always go to H&R Block (not a promotion) because we do too much weird stuff to make our taxes simple enough to accomplish on our own! They can pull up our info. from last year and just update it. This year, that included a change of status: Chopper went from student to employed: technician (yay!) and I went from teacher to homemaker. Interestingly, on the blogger profiles, "homemaker" is not an option so I've identified myself as Human Resources. I think that's the closest I could get. It's still kind've weird to tell people I don't work. Don't get me wrong -- I'm very excited about this new role -- it's just still different.

6 week mark

I had my 6 week appointment today and things have healed pretty well. Its hard to believe that that much time has gone by. I realized in the shower yesterday that if I were still working and just on maternity leave that I would probably be headed back into the classroom tomorrow. I don't think I could do it! I just look at Megan and I can't imagine leaving her in day care -- let alone miss all of the little things she does every day! Granted, I don't know anyone here and its probably easier when you have family to babysit or someone you know really well. I saw a video on Nancy Grace of a nanny mishandling a pair of twin preemies and it nearly broke my heart -- I couldn't watch the rest of it because it was very upsetting. I am really grateful that Chopper is working and I can stay home!


Sundays are now my favorite day of the week because I get to dress Megan up in the most adorable dresses ever! With next week being Easter, I'm trying to find ways to get her in an Easter basket!

Megan smiles again!

After seeing this, I fully expect Grandma and Grandpa to buy tickets to come back for a visit -- at least Grandma!

Dad's day off

Chopper had the day off today because he worked 18 hours straight yesterday and ADT doesn't like him accruing too much overtime. Its so rare that we have him home with us and he loves it just as much as we do but he had to take cute pictures of all of the things I've been talking about all week.


This is the week that Megan has really started to wake up. At 5 weeks she is holding her head up more with tummy time, smiling responsively, and cooing. Of course that one we knew wouldn't take long -- she already makes a ton of noise!


She's just adorable -- I hope ya'll aren't getting sick of random Megan pictures!


So why is it that on his day off dad gets to take a nap with Megan while mom finishes the laundry? Oh well -- its Friday so Chopper will stay up with Megan after she's eaten while I go to bed. She doesn't go down until at least 10 p.m.

Baby lessons

You learn so much when you have a baby! This past week I have learned how to wake a baby up!

1. Sit down and try to eat an actual meal (preparation doesn't work, you have to actually sit down to eat).
2. Get in the shower.
3. Go to the mall to walk a bit and stop to look at something in a store.
4. Try to go to bed early.
5. Try to accomplish a nightime feeding in less than 1/2 hour.

I love my darling but my lands! We are on different schedules!

Say cheese!

We finally caught her smiling! Sorry the pictures aren't the best -- when you sit with a camera for a half hour taking pictures every time it looks like something is going to happen you sacrifice quality!

Daddy's Girl

My Grandma Goodman sent me some pictures that she had of me from when I was a baby. And we thought the resemblance to Chopper was pretty good . . . she definately doesn't look like me! Of course I guess as she gets older -- but I'm ok with this because she sleeps like me, especially in the car -- mouth hanging wide open!

I consider today the first day of my stay-at-home motherhood simply because my own mom is gone and Chopper is at work and its just Megan and I. I know the day isn't quite over but its very different from what now feels like my former life. In some ways there is a lot of downtime -- at least when Megan is asleep. Otherwise, its doing things one-handed or not at all. Eat, change, and cuddle -- that is what we do! It will be nice when the weather warms up and we can go walking and stuff. As it is now, I think I might have to space out my errands to get out once a day.



Ok this picture is for Aunt Krista and fortunately for us, I don't think anyone in Missoula checks this blog since the whole city is fanatical about the University of Montana Grizzlies! Megan loves you!

There is always a funny picture when my family is involved.

Megan's Blessing Day

Today was wonderful! My mom and dad and three of my brothers (Mark, Danny -- and wife Denise, and James . . . Jeff is on his mission in Argentina) were able to come to Montana and be here on the day of Megan's blessing. If you're not familiar with that, a blessing is like a christening in other faiths. WIth a blessing, the father formally and officially gives the child a name that is entered on the records of the church and then usually blesses the child with whatever he feels inspired. There isn't any baptism involved since we do that at age 8. Chopper gave her a beautiful blessing and I, of course, cried through the whole thing. I am so grateful for all of the blessings that I have: to finally be a mom -- it didn't happen on my timeline but on the Lord's and that has been the perfect timeline and I couldn't be happier, my husband is good and loving and worthy -- I love watching him with Megan during "Daddy time". I am so excited because he is going to be a wonderful father! I am also grateful for my family and the support and love they give to us. And I am grateful for the Gospel and the knowledge that I can be with Chopper and Megan for eternity -- it seems like we've had her so long already and I don't really know what I would do if that was sudden taken away!

Anyway, Chopper liked to tease me that he would give her whatever name he wanted to but in the end he was good and said her name (I don't think he really would have done otherwise!). Megan wore the most beautiful crocheted gown that Chopper's mom (a.k.a. Grandma Whittacre) made for her before she was even on her way. She was so good! She started getting antsy before but was quiet for the whole blessing and even smiled a little at the end! Anyway, we have the most beautiful baby and a wonderful life. Our blessings are truly overwhelming!