New Blog

The new blog is still under construction. It's nothing fancy... it's really not at all different from this one! But I'm excited to make the switch. If you have a private blog, would you mind sending an invite to our new family email address?

scottandlindseyfamily[at]gmail[dot]com

And follow our family at:

scottandlindseyfamily.blogspot.com

Our adoption blog is about to get a nice facelift, so make sure to check back in a few weeks. 

scottandlindseyadopt.blogspot.com

Thanks friends!

Shifting the Operation

Apparently my blogger account is out of storage... which isn't a bad thing because I've been meaning to switch this whole operation to a different account anyway. I haven't figured out a way to get this blog off the dated hotmail account I've been using for so long. Scott and I have started a family address as well, especially for messages pertaining to our adoption process, so our blogs are now going to be products of the new family email:

scottandlindseyfamily[at]gmail[dot]com

We will still have our individual gmails as well, but our blog info will all go to the email above. If you have a private blog and we are blog friends, would you please send an invite to our new email so I can still see what you're up to?

So... you can follow our new family blog over at scottandlindseyfamily.blogspot.com (it looks pretty identical to the one we have now). 

And you can check out our new adoption blog over at scottandlindseyadopt.blogspot.com (this one is still in the works). 

Thanks friends!

Grandma and Mom... I'll come change the shortcut in your computer so you don't get confused!

The Do.

No 1st birthday party is complete without a rocking hair-do. Pretty stylish, Birthday Boy. 

Goofy Toothy

This picture is a little fuzzy... but I just can't get over Peter's goofy, toothy smile! This face makes our hearts feel like they're about to burst because we just can't stand the cuteness! This was Peter's first bubble bath the night before his birthday, and he loved it! The only thing he loves more than tubs (and the only thing that gets him out of the tub willingly) is his new big boy toothbrush for his six big boy teeth!

Peter is transitioning in to big boy one-dom quite well. He wanted to ride his bike ALL day today, go down the big slide over and over at our park, play with our neighbors in their fun yard, use some baby signs with us at dinner to ask for "more," and eat more of my butternut squash ravioli than I wanted to share. He loves his new birthday blocks and the mysterious creatures Aunt Kirsten made him. Our end table is his new walker, and our ipad his most coveted item (Grandpa Dave, DO NOT go out and get him one. Do you hear me?!).

Pictures For Daddy

We've been missing Scott a lot lately, and he's been missing Peter! The two of them are best buds and want to spend all the time they can together! Scott has texted me and called me several times from work asking me to post these pictures so he can see them at work. I think it's the first time he's checked my blog in months... and he was checking it several times a day. It's late, so these pictures are being posted with little commentary, but here they are for daddy (the guy who is so excited to watch Thor on the ipad now that Peter's asleep that he's holding the speaker up to his ear so he doesn't wake him). This was day five of Peter's bug, but he was happy as can be and so much fun. We followed each other around the house and made all kinds of discoveries. We had to get really creative, having been cooped up in the same small space for so long. This pictures crack me up because they capture his latest face. He scrunches his nose, shows all his teeth, and just giggles. He is a busy, goofy, adorable, and pleasant little guy. We don't want him to get any bigger! It's all happening too fast!

Scott is trying to attribute some merit to his movie and just informed me that Thor is a story about adoption. He says he's not sure if it's an adoption success story or not. To be honest, I stopped listening the instant he said, "ice giant."

Thank You Uncle Ollie and Auntie M!

Margy, it's been a week since we talked on the phone and I told you I'd post these cute pictures! Peter was so excited to get your special package on his birthday! I wish he'd spit the binkie out so you could see that cute smile behind it! He loved tearing the paper off the package, only to find more paper beneath it! (I'm kind of cheap and used you cute polka-dot paper to wrap his gift from us later that day!) 

I read Peter a very condensed version of the book and tried to keep him from eating the pages. It is such a cute story with a great message that will probably be very applicable to our family and will always remind us of you and Oliver! Thank you for remembering our special day and reaching out so lovingly! I'm sorry I wasn't on the ball with skype!

Now for a general mini-update (which usually means I'm announcing the need for an update, but I'm postponing until I have more time). I have some fun pictures from Peter's 1st birthday party and spending time around the house that I will post when I have a chance (Scott and I share a computer these days). We have spent a lot of time at home since his birthday... practically every day, actually. It's a shame with the beautiful weather outside, but we've had a sick little boy. I don't know if it was his shots, whole milk, or just a bug, but we had a rough week. Peter's a champ, though, and has been so cheerful even when his tummy hurt.

This rough week for Peter coincided with one of the busiest weeks Scott has ever had at work and school. We've hardly seen him at all this week, which has been rough, but I know it won't be like this forever. My car broke down this week, and Scott has been taking his to work so he doesn't have to ride his bike home in the dark... so we've been housebound and relying on my mom for Pedialyte and extra-sensitive wipes (Thank you, mom!). I have been pretty tired getting up with little man at night and putting in a lot of extra effort during the day for my sick little guy, but taking care of little man is the best part of the job, so I'm doing alright (I'm reverting to newborn rules and trying to nap when he naps... why shower when we're not really going anywhere, right?) I know life will slow down at some point, and then I'm going to wish that it didn't, so I'm doing my best to enjoy the every day moments.

It's fun to have a one year-old. I'm figuring out his language while he's trying to learn ours. I love spending all my time with Peter. I'm so grateful, especially this week, for a loving husband who provides the opportunity for me to be home to care for Peter. When he's sick, I want to be the one to help him feel better, and no job I've ever had is so involved or rewarding.

Peter's Labor Day

My baby is one. I can't figure out how that happened. I know everybody says that, and everybody means it. For me it is especially surreal. One year ago. One year ago I experienced my most undeniable blessings and miracles alongside my greatest trials. I fought with my loved ones to keep our family together. I fought hard to be here every day for my boys and do all the ordinary things I always took for granted. It has solidified my testimony and trust in my Savior. It has increased my appreciation and gratitude for all that he gives me. It has sharpened my perspective on what really deserves value and attention. It has cheered me, calmed me, oriented me, and saved me. 

 I get tired... all the time. I have to take it slow and watch my lungs and heart. I get anxious. I still have bad dreams sometimes. I can't carry laundry up the stairs. I only sit through feel-good movies so my heart doesn't beat too quickly. I go to bed at nine. If these are my biggest scars, I am the most blessed. No scar stands out among my blessings.

I am so grateful for what we went through...every painful part of it. I am so grateful to remember so I can re-learn the lessons, re-appreciate my loved ones, re-marvel at my baby, and re-feel the confidence I have in my faith. I felt the love and instruction of the Lord through it all. I have felt it ever since.

Labor Day will always be a new January. It will always be a time we look back and look near and see how far we've come. But September 4th will always be a day we celebrate Peter for the calm and determined spirit that he is (thank you for that description, Margy) and always has been. He came straight from our Father's arms with the strength and knowledge to teach us all about the bigger picture. He continues to help me stay my faith in the plan. 

Peter had a fantastic first birthday filled with the love of so many. We received loving notes from friends. Uncle Ollie and Auntie M sent him a fun package in the mail. Uncle Doug called to talk to Peter from New York. Uncle Johnny and Peter's NEW Aunt Alyssa called from their new apartment in Provo. Andrew, Ben, and SJ left him a happy birthday message that makes Peter smile when I play it back. Great-Grandma Joan and Great-Grandpa George sent Peter their love. We are having his birthday party at their house tomorrow! Grandma Teri and Grandpa Dave helped us purchase a new big boy car seat and took us to dinner. Peter sat on Grandpa's lap the whole time. I think they're mutually obsessed with each other, and I love it!

 Peter, you are loved and treasured. You are affectionately known in our extended family as "The Million Dollar Baby," "The Miracle Boy," "Angel" and are constantly called "amazing!" Anyone who knows you takes every opportunity to be near you as much as they can. You are our greatest example and light. 

You love your dad; he still gets your biggest smiles and giggles. You love your mom; the two of you spend all day, every day, making up games and finding tickle spots (you make my job so easy!) You love your grandparents, uncles, and aunts, especially Grandpa Dave. You will whine and whimper the instant you see him until you're settled in his arms. You love your cousins and follow them everywhere; you think you're just as big as they are. You are in the 97% for height and the 1% for weight. Yes... 1%. It's a perfect storm of a busy, active boy and really skinny genes (not skinny jeans... gross). You eat like crazy, though... especially black beans, blueberries, string cheese, and wheat noodles with red sauce. You dance with us by wiggling when you hear music and shaking your head back and forth. It cracks us up, especially when paired with your "Lindsey face," as your dad calls it (when you scrunch up your tiny nose and smile with ALL your teeth). You have six awesome teeth! You love the tub; it's a battle getting you out each night. You are the best. You take three naps a day and sleep through the night! You rode your bike ALL THE WAY around the block! You WOULD NOT turn around and go back, no matter how sneakily we tried to turn you around. We had no choice but to make the full journey! You love to be buried in all the goods from our garden. You got your first haircut which about killed your mom... but we made it through. You love hide-and-seek, the Tupperware drawer, the big magnets on the fridge, and garbage trucks. You love to be outside. On you birthday you climbed on top of our big bed so you could look out the window. That scared the bajeebies out of your mom. What was up with that?

And how does one spell "bajeebies?"

Happy birthday big guy! Thank you for EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND and for helping us feel a love so strong that could only come straight from Heaven.

(Pictures from our trip to the Beach House)

A Line in the Sand

We have too many beautiful pictures from the beach. I'm still going through them! It was a memorable trip for so many reasons. I am so grateful to have added to the list of memories associated with this place this fun family trip. We missed Doug, but we were happy to be the rest of us together. After everything this last year has brought us and everything that challenged us, it means so much more than it ever did to spend this time together. I am so blessed to be here, to have my family, and to have the gift to keep making memories. 

This was my favorite time drawing a line in the sand. 

Janessa Dear

My wonderful friend Janessa was married to Daniel Wilde on Saturday. She is the truest of friends, and I couldn't be more thrilled for the exciting life she's about to start! Her wedding was beautiful, and she had an even bigger smile on her face than normal... which is saying a lot for this girl!

On Tuesday, before her wedding, I threw a bridal shower at my house for cute Janessa. It was so great to catch up, hear all her stories, and see some good friends! 

Max and Peter are our honorary boys at the girl party. Max slept the whole time, and Peter wore his jammies. Party on.

A personal highlight from the night, when Janessa is telling a story and prefaces it with,

"This is a Lindsey story..."

She proceeds to tell her story which included, "So we wore giant sweatshirts and just walked around looking like hobos."

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

A Few Favorites

We have had a fun summer... and a busy one! We took a wonderful trip to our family beach house two weeks ago (pictures to come), spent a night at our cabin, and we've spent a lot of time with our friends and family with weddings, homecomings, and dinners. I am so behind on organizing all our pictures. They are spread out between a few different computers/hard drives/camera cards... so I'm going to have to get organized soon. In the meantime, here are a few from July.. as well as a few favorites of Peter's as of late.

Favorite Foods: Black beans, blueberries, string cheese, and pasta/pizza (anything with red sauce and veggies).

Favorite Game: Pulling things out of bags/boxes/baskets and putting them back in (and sometimes eating what he finds!)

Favorite Friends: His Dad and his Grandpa Dave are his two best buddies right now. He also loves Grandpa George!

Favorite thing to do with Cheerios: Anything but eat them! He loves to stick them to his face and throw them on the ground.

I don't know if hikes are his favorites or ours, but it's been nice to get up in the mountains a bit. 

My Favorite Thing about Peter: His silliness! He is the goofiest, most entertaining little guy! We have so much fun!

Weirdest Favorite Yet: Brushing his (five) teeth! It's his favorite part of the bedtime routine and the quickest way to stop him from crying!

Little Lobster

I think it's official. Peter's a toddler. 

Throughout each of Peter's many changing stages, I have always eagerly anticipated his next big milestone: "I can't wait until he can roll over! I can't wait till he can stand up! He's so close to crawling! He's almost walking!" 

I'm ready for him to stop now. Or at least slow down. I LOVE this stage! 

I love this guy so much I feel like my heart could just burst right out of my chest. Scott and I are having so much fun! 

Life is so good!

Motherhood is the most amazing thing. I can't even explain the love I have for my boy. It can't be described in words or wiggles. It's isn't comparable to any other emotion or passion. I know it's a feeling given to me that comes straight from my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for this beautiful plan the Lord has for me. 

Scott left me a little message on my morning to-do list sitting on the counter (blogging was not on the list... whoops!) that said, "You are loved!" I have a note from "Santa" (in my dad's handwriting... suspicious) that lives in my jewelry box that says, "You are loved." My day is filled with daily reminders that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me. Sometimes I feel that love through family and friends. Sometimes I feel it in nature. Sometimes I feel it when things just work out. Sometimes I don't feel it at all and I realize I need to open my eyes and widen my gaze. Peter is napping. He is cranky when he wakes up and wants to be snuggled with a bottle for about ten minutes. Holding my baby -uh, toddler- I know I am loved.

Love These Two!

We are celebrating a wedding very very soon! Here are some of the shots we took of Johnny and Alyssa for their invitations. We love them both and are so so excited for all the fun times to come with these two! In the meantime, we are having fun celebrating with showers and seeing each other all the time! Alyssa lives on our street and lives in our ward! We are so lucky to get this cute girl in our family!

She Grew Here

The ranch has always been my ideal place (the ranch and the Needles section of Canyonlands... but very different concepts). When I close my eyes and picture perfection, I am in the middle of grove of quaking aspens... or perched on top of a jagged teton-range peak... or still, amid the asters, sticky geranium, yarro, and Indian paintbrush. This place is home to my heart. I can't keep away - I haven't kept away - each summer since I was 12.

I was managing the backpacking gear, greeting hikers as they returned from their overnight trips. I was checking in all the gear, organizing, cleaning, and repairing, while Scott and his fellow hike leader Linda downloaded with Dick how the hike went smoothly. My health prevents me from helping like I used to, so I had to be creative in finding ways to help this year. Linda saw me working, Peter in a hip-hamock, and said to Dick, "Look at that girl! Where did you find her?"

I love Dick's response. "Oh, her. She grew here."

I did.

Like a weed that can't be cut back and kept away! I just keep coming back. On another level though, I knew what Dick was saying. In addition to the important values I learned at home regarding testimony, work ethic, gratitude, sacrifice, and being myself, the ranch echoed those values and gave me the opportunity to reinforce them in my life... from the time I was very young. I very literally grew here.

The ranch, Sue and Dick, the nature that surrounds, the relationships I've formed, the realizations about myself, the creations of my hands and my heart, the songs that I sang, and the whisperings of the Spirit in all the quiet moments that witnessed of God and His love for me all gave me the vernacular to apply the gospel to my life. This beautiful experience represents all the best parts of who I am - including family, as I have been blessed to share the ranch with my parents, brothers, sisters, closest friends, husband, and baby boy. Lucky for me, I married a man who loves it just as much as I do (if that's possible). He has his own relationship with the ranch and doesn't simply respect or lean on mine. We haven't missed a summer since our wedding.

Peter was asleep in the car! I was sad we didn't get a picture with him in it. These are two (three!) of my heroes by my side.

Cute Peter on his first boat ride. Nasty side shot of me, however! We took the boat across Jenny Lake and took Peter on a hike to the Hidden Falls! Peter loved the windy boat ride and riding high on daddy's shoulders. But he got a little tired on the ride back. So was I! It was my first hike post-heart failure and respiratory failure. It was a beautiful start, but I have a long way to go!

We walked into one of those awesome, expensive fur stores in Jackson, where we spent one night before heading home on the most gorgeous drive through Star Valley I think we've ever experienced. We were both gushing over the beautiful northern farmlands, mountains, and fields. We started trying on some of the furs and taking pictures (aren't we a delight to have in the store?) when Scott says to me, "Now I can't run for president because somewhere down the line some animal rights activist will hold it against me that I even came in the this store."

I told him he could never run for president anyway because he's Canadian. So with that settled, we proceeded with the mortifying pictures before. When in Jackson...

That would be an entire bison my husband is wearing... naturally.

Rar!

I wanted to get Peter a little cowboy outfit... but after a quick photo shoot, I realized that the pictures will be souvenirs enough.  

He actually loved this hat! He was smiling at himself in the mirror behind some exhausted little eyes.

Peter's first Huckleberry ice cream (and ice cream in general!)