Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men by Gerald N. Lund
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A friend told me to read this book and I am so glad I did.

The book is a little slow getting started.  It took a few chapters before I really started enjoying it.  There are a lot of characters to get to know at first and is kind of confusing.  It is important to learn the characters because their stories interact by the end of the book.

The story really helps the story of Christ really come to life.  Gerald Lund did a fabulous job making the scriptures come to life in a narrative.  The narrative format makes the characters of the New Testament more real and personable.

Gerald Lund does a great job of keeping the reader clear as to the parts of the story are "true" and what parts of the story are fabricated.

The author does a great job keeping the reader engaged.  I couldn't put the book down.  There were a few nights I stayed up way to late reading this book.  I am glad there are two sequels!


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Granny's Visit

My mom was able to come and help me for a few days! She was such a huge help!  I was able to get caught up on some sleep.  She took care of Grant and he had so much fun!  My mom cooked us dinner every night and cleaned for me.  She even braided my hair one day.  It felt good to be taken care of.  I was sad when she left.  I wish she could have stayed a few more days.

40 Weeks

I know I mentioned it before, but having a scheduled c-section was so wonderful.  Celeste's birth experience was so perfect.  Here we are at 40 weeks!  Celeste is 6 days old and I am 20 pounds lighter!  

Baby Blankets

As we anticipated having Celeste we were flooded by generosity.  I couldn't believe how generous our friends and family were.  I feel so blessed! We have received countless outfits and gifts.  I have loved all the cute little girl clothes, bows, and socks!  I am especially grateful for outfits that are a little bigger. We have some darling dresses and outfits for the winter and next summer.  Celeste's closet is bursting at the seams with clothes!  

In addition to countless outfits we have also received a handful of adorable blankets.  I know how much work quilts and blankets are to make.  I want to say a big THANK YOU to a number of family and friends!  I have posted pictures so I can show off how cute all the blankets are!

This beautiful Afghan was crocheted by my sister.  She even put darling little crocheted flowers on the corner with little beads in the center.  I think I will use this Afghan for Celeste's baby blessing.  It is so elegant!

My friend Noel from work made this darling princess rag quilt.  I love the blue and pink together.  So sweet!  

My cousin Amy made this darling blanket! I love the bright colors!  I couldn't get a good picture of the edge, but Amy crocheted the edges in brown eyelash yarn.  It is adorable!

Aunt Lorna made this cute dragonfly blanket.  She also made matching burp clothes!  I love it!

My mom made this pink and green turtle blanket shortly after I had Grant.  I have loved turtles for a long time and pink and green are my two favorite colors.  I was afraid if she made it for me I would be jinxed and never have a girl.  Luckily, I was wrong!  

The next three blankets Granny also made.  I love flowers, birds, and bright colors!  Having a girl is so much fun!

First Bath

We had been home for a few days when we decided to give Celeste her first bath.  I was expecting screaming and crying because Grant HATED baths at first.  I was surprised when we put her in the tub and she loved it!  Celeste was calm and relaxed in the tub.  It was when we got her out that she screamed.  I hate getting out too!

Grandma's Visit

I was lucky to have my mother-in-law come up to visit. Cindy was able to help us for a few days after I came home from the hospital.  She kept Grant busy and did a few things around the house that I couldn't do. I was grateful for the extra set of hands.

The Hospital

I tried to enjoy the quiet moments in the hospital and get lots of naps.  I don't know how it can be possible but I had more nurses stop by from 8 PM to 8 AM than I did from 8 AM to 8 PM.  My nurse came at 6 AM to take out my catheter.  My doctor always cam around 7 AM.  I would fall asleep at night only to be woken up by stupid rounds.  I never seemed to get any sleep!  Luckily, Kyle came one morning and shooed away the nurses and I finally got a good 2 hour nap.  

Daddy and daughter bonding time.

Brother and Sister love

The two cutest pumpkins!

Good-bye nurses and doctors.  We are going home!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  

I am so proud to be the mother of these two cute kids.  I love them with all my heart!  I am so glad I have the chance to be there mom. 

I am so grateful I have the chance to be a stay at home mom for a while.  These cuties need me and I need them.

I am also so grateful for my own mother.  She is a great example of hard work, dedication, and honesty.   She is also a great example of testimony.  I don't know of anyone else with the faith my mother has.  I am grateful she could come and help me get adjusted to having a new born this last week.  I couldn't have done it with out her.  

I am also so grateful for the many other mother's in my life.  My grandma, mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, and many other friends!  They are all such wonderful examples to me.

May 1, 2013

On May 1, 2013 we welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family.  

Here I am just an hour or so before I deliver.  Yes, my hair is beautiful, toes are manicured, and make up is perfect. No, I am not sweaty, I am not in pain, and I have no drugs.  ...yet...  I had been a little nervous about a having a scheduled c-section.  I knew in my mind that it couldn't be any worse than the  emergency c-section I had with Grant.  However, I really wanted it to be a positive experience.  I wanted to be able to have wonderful memories of the birth of our daughter.  I had a Priesthood blessing a few days before the surgery.  I also had said many prayers to calm my nerves and to bless the doctors so everything would run smoothly.  

At 9:30 AM I received a spinal and went numb from the chest down.  I laid down on the operating table and tried to just relax.  I was a little nervous at this point, but I had a peaceful feeling knowing things would work out.  I had faith in my doctor and knew I was in good hands.  Cheryl, the anesthesiologist nurse, who was sitting by my head also brought many words of comfort to me.  When the spinal took full affect my blood pressure dropped and I was instantly nauseated.  I tried not to throw up, but couldn't help it.  Cheryl was so sweet and took care of me.  She talked me threw the whole procedure and let me know what was going on.  At 9:53 AM Celeste Lucille Maybury entered the world!

I was able to see Celeste just moments after she was born.  The nurses checked her over and made sure she was healthy.

She weighed 7 pounds and 13 ounces.  She was 21 inches long at birth, but 5 days later had "shrunk" to 19.5" at her doctor appointment.  I am pretty sure the first one was less accurate although her birth certificate will say 21 inches.

I was holding my sweet little girl just a few minutes after birth.  As I held her on my chest her little hand reached out and touched my neck.  The sense of joy washed over me and I could hardly hold back the tears.  I felt my Heavenly Father's love for me as I held Celeste in my arms.  She was so perfect and the whole birth experience was so perfect.  I couldn't help but feel God's love for me and my family.

We actually didn't know her name until almost noon.  Kyle and I had a number of different names we liked, but no single name that stood out.  After the delivery, we went back to recovery and were able to toss names around.  

I am so happy with how smoothly everything went.  I am truly blessed!

The Day Before

The day before my scheduled c-section Grant and I spent the whole day together.  We did nothing but play.  I am so glad we had some quality time together.  

One of the things we did together was hang up a 6 foot tall Incredible Hulk in Grant's room.  He LOVES it!  We are going to decorate his room in super heroes.  Grant loves all super heroes!  

37.5

I am not a big fan of pregnancy photos.  I feel like a beached whale.  I didn't ever take a picture of myself when I was pregnant with Grant.  Now I kind of regret not having a picture of myself when I was pregnant with Grant.  I decided this time I would take a picture no matter what.  So, here you go...

this is me at 37.5 weeks pregnant!