Remebering Tahoe

SPEEDO ALERT: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EYES UNDER THE AGE OF 18!

Tommy tried to keep his white skin out of the sun...

Dad just insisted on putting him in a diaper...even though mom had cute trunks for him!

So, we've been home for 2 weeks now, but we never posted about our annual trip to Tahoe with the Willardsons....It was wonderful. I did my best to stay out of most pictures, and we all had fun on the beach and boat. The lake was a bit rough this time around for some reason...but we did take Tommy along for a few rides. We hit Trukee river and did some river rafting a few days too, and did some hiking. It was a blast, and just what we needed to have one last fun trip before schoolo/life starts!

I just got back from one of the best days of my life (Next to getting married to Kate and having a child). It was unbelievable. I was in the mix of some 108,000 fans, screaming our heads off. It was something I doubt I'll ever experience again. The immensity of the Big House was overwhelming. I was there with some really good friends. Brett Raddon and his dad were there, Jeff Quigley, Kevin Stoker, Kevin Christensen, and Scott Bower too. I sat with Quigs during the game and texted with Brett during the game. There were so many people crammed into the place that it took about 5 minutes for my text to finally send. The craziest thing to see is how fast the 100,000 UM fans quieted when Utah dominated their team. It was erie. There was the time in the 2nd half where they came back and it was incredibly intimidating to hear the level of sound raining down on the team. But, they hung on and got the W. We also went to a Detroit Tigers game and it rocked. It was a beautiful stadium. To get there, we followed some signs that took us straight down the middle of the ghetto. I swear I saw crack whores, drug dealers, and all the buildings had bars on the windows. A lot of the buildings had the glass broken out of the windows and there were some buildings that had been burned to the ground and they were just left there. It was CRAZY! I think I went about 15 minutes without seeing another white person. The trip was well worth it and I can't wait to go to South Bend in 2012 to watch the Utes stomp Notre Dame!

We've been getting a plethora of motivating calls and comments to update the blog, so here it is. Thomas got to play with his friend from Beaver, Roman, on the 24th of July. It was quite the shin-dig in Beaver this year. Here's a couple more pictures of Tommy. We try to get him to spend a little more time on his tummy because his head is getting flatter than ever. Brett and Jana got us a little Tummy Time Surfboard Mat that he grimaces through a couple times per day. He's not a big fan of holding his giant head off the ground for more than a few seconds...poor little guy. He's going to have a beasty neck one day! Sometimes Thomas cries for no apparent reason, so I just figure he's sad that he doesn't have a neck. Really though, we love this boy sooo much. He's been a cool drink of water during the past few months of stress. Here's a video of Thomas laughing. He'd been laughing for a good 10 minutes before we finally got the video camera out, but he still is hilarious. He loves his little piggy. Kate has started Weight Watchers and has lost her first 5 lbs. She's turning 26 tomorrow...over a quarter century old already! Rob is taking his 3rd and final MCAT on Friday and then we're off to Lake Tahoe for a week before school/work starts for Rob. He's taking his Laptop so he can finish typing up secondary applications to Medical Schools all over the country. He'll be back for the first week of school before heading out to Michigan for the Utah vs. Michigan game at the "Big House." He's so amped about it that sometimes his heart quivers and a tear rolls down his cheek. I don't know why, cause that just sounds crazy! Anyways, it was good to see many of you in Beaver, at the family wedding, or just out and about. Cheers!

Some Update Pictures of Thomas at 13 weeks

We got the "Bumbo" seat which helps them learn how to support their heads...Poor Thomas has a head in the 95% and has a hard time holding it up at all. Don't worry buddy...You will grow into it!

Tommy LOVES bath time! He talks and swims (well what we think is swimming or what he did inside me for 9 months...some of his moves I recognize is what I was feeling in there). he hates to get out...But I love to cuddle him after!

Mr. Blue eye's! He got them from Grandpa Tom and Daddy!

Guy Smiley

Here's a video of Thomas smiling. He's figured out how to do it, so it's a great break from the crying....I think babies should start out smiling, then ease into the crying thing. It would make life so much better. Either way, we sure love our little guy!

New Pictures of Thomas

We got some beautiful pictures of our baby taken from our friend Becca. They turned out great! Here are a few we wanted to share! Ok, I know I am one of those Mom's who said I would know if my kid was ugly and I would be ok with it, knowing they would grow up to be cute. I wouldn't be so naive to think that everyone who is telling ,me my baby is perfect is telling the truth... Well, I SWEAR I KNOW my baby is beautiful...I think...or am I one of those mom's?? Either way, I made him, so I am pretty proud. I mean people make cookies, houses, or machines to save teh world...I made a baby. That is pretty cool. Here he is to show off!

When does this get easier???

Grandpa, or Pop Pop Tom ( We named Thomas after him)

Thomas waking up
Thomas trying to poop (he turns red and grunts)
Thomas resting
Thomas and Great Grandma Wanda, a surprise visit for Mothers day!!!


So...I am alive. I know many think that I ran away with the circus (I have thought about it actually), but I am still here, trying to be a Mom. I feel a bit betrayed by all my close friends who are Moms for not warning me how HARD these first few weeks are...thanks a lot. I figured it out pretty quick though. I knew babies cried...but a baby with terrible colic (according to the pediatrician) is a WHOLE other ball game. HOURS of crying. Poor little guy. I bet he is so confused too! We switched him to soy formula, but that is helping little. So, the pediatrician said that bad colic peaks at 6-7 weeks, and then gets better. We are at week 5...lets hope so.

On one of my breakdowns of tears last week, Rob decided to give me the best Mothers day yet. he packed the car in record time and drove us to California to see my Mom for a week. When in doubt, send her home!!! ha ha! Mom, or what Thomas will call her is mana (what my nephew max calls her and has set the standard) was thrilled to see her grand baby, along with Poppop Tom. They made sure we rested well and saw movies as much as possible. It was a great break for me, and a wonderful mothers day. Although, Rob has been holding down the fort here. he deserves the mother of the year award if you ask me. The pregnancy and delivery did more than a number on my poor body, and it is not wanting to bounce back. he is wonderful with helping with night shifts, diapers, and baths. Could he be any more wonderful???

For the next few weeks, we will be in survival mode. Rob got back his score for the MCAT and feels he wants to retake it and try for a better score. So back to the books for a test on June 13th in Boise Idaho. Yes, it was the only opening for the test near our home! So, he still gets no break. PLEASE keep him in your prayers. We need him to nail this...which he will!!! I finally got back into the Pain clinic at the U here. The Dr who preformed previous surgeries on me is working with me. I'm going on a heavy regiment of Nueropathic drugs to help with pain. I hope my body can take it all right now...Lets hope! I need to be a Mom now!!!!

Thomas is almost 10 lbs now. Its hard to think he is growing...but his newborn clothes are getting smaller each day...so I guess he is! he definitely knows my voice and will follow it when I walk by him. He likes to be in his bouncy seat, only if rob bounces it so hard he almost bounces out. have yelled at him saying he would bounce him out, then I saw that they baby stopped crying and I shut right up! he does smile, I'm not sure if it is pain or gas, but I like to think it is at me. He likes his walks I take him on, and always needs to be held. he is a party animal in that way. We got some pictures of him taken by our friend Becca for his announcement, so i will post those soon, but here are some from our little trip. Please, don't think I am rude if i cant call you back. I'm trying to keep it all together, but I appreciate your message!!