Reconnecting

It's kind of late, I'm a little tired and kind of feeling sick. But nonetheless, this post needs to be written.

You know how there are just some people that you meet that you keep running into throughout your life. There are those who you are uncomfortable running into because you are merely acquaintances, and those who you are genuinely excited to run into so you can catch up with them and it's like you haven't missed any time at all together.

Lisa Jo is one of those "genuinely excited to see her" friends. That's not even the name she goes by. It's just the name I call her. Why? I don't know, because it's cute. I think there are few people who can even call her that, and I am one of them. It probably annoys the heck out of her, but she never says.

She was one of the first friends I made when my family moved to Boise when I was 6 almost 7. I remember going to her house a few times to play. She was a little, shy, curly redhead who was very sweet and always a good friend.

We often played together, grew up going to church together and being in the same classes at church for a large majority of time even though she was 6 months younger than me. Her mother even formed a 4-H club with only girls where we learned to sew and cook. It was fun!

If you asked me, I couldn't tell you what happened to make us loyal friends, and yet we are.
When she comes to town, I have lunch with her. Always. We catch up and it's just fun to see each other and hear what's been going on. I cherish the times we spend together.

I wish for all to have a Lisa Jo kind of friend. They make life fulfilling. And fun.I would like to add that just because I didn't write a post for all my friends does not make our friendship less important or significant to me. I truly appreciate all my friends!

The Previous Posting Has Been Cancelled

So for any and all who had a chance to read my last post in the 4 hrs or so since I posted it, it's cancelled. Sorry. I think I'm coming down with something, most likely NOT the swine flu, but who really wants to play around with it since it's running rampant? Stay tuned - I may actually get invites out for my next planned party.

Taking Up Jenn's Challenge

What Makes My Family Special:

We support each other.

We help each other.

We show each other loving kindness,

and that helps all of us to feel more loved and happier.

I can't tell you how many nights Reed got up with Aftyn and continues to get up with Aftyn, even though he has work in the morning. I appreciate this and love him for his efforts in helping me.

An Important Announcement

Incredibly Huge flower bow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . check

Binkie and eye contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . check

Drumroll please

You want a little better look?

I think the shirt says it all.

Leaves are Falling All Around

It certainly looks like autumn outside, but it feels like December! Boy is it brisk. I thought it was about time to balance our many many pictures of Aftyn with what is going on behind the pictures you see here.
Aftyn, of course is first. She is enjoying life, giggling, playing, scooting, rolling over, eating oatmeal, and thankfully started sleeping through the night again starting Sunday night. And it wasn't anything I did, it was her. She's going to be that kind of child. She does things when she wants to, not when I want her to. I can appreciate that.

Reed and I are doing well. Reed is checking some scales for Amalgamated Sugar for the next 2 weeks, and will be working from 5 pm to 12 am because they're using their scales all day and the only time they're not using them right now is at night. Interesting, huh?

I am doing good. I love being at home with Aftyn and with the little girl who gets to come and spend her days with us. We have a lot of fun. We love to dance like little wild women in the kitchen, just for fun. :) Everyone needs to do that every once in a while.

Lately I have been cooking to give myself a good challenge. Thus far, I have made rolls, orange rolls and toffee. Yum! Now, if I can just balance that with some working out, life would be perfect!!

We are working on de-cluttering our house so we can finally finish our house and overall feel better as a family. It's so much harder than one would think! But we will conquer it, I know we will.

Aftyn will be turning 5 months old in just 2 days - can you believe it?!? It seems like just yesterday I was yearning and wishing she would make her appearance! We have been so blessed in the past 5 months since Aftyn came into our family, we wouldn't know how to go back to the way we were.

Seems odd to think, but my parents, had they not extended their mission, would have been coming home next month having served 18 months. Now they will be home next April, and boy will we be glad to have them! Aftyn doesn't know what she's been missing, and neither do grandma and grandpa!

Everyone have a happy halloween and stay away from the swine!

What's Going Down At Our House . .

Aftyn Loves her Exersaucer!

She has loved to stand since she was born, so no big surprise here that her favorite thing to do is sit down, stand up, and bounce! In that order!

Just a cute shot. Love those ears!

We had some nice sunlight, so I was trying to make good use of it.

I'm sure this is what Aftyn's thinking:

What am I?

What am I doing here?

Hey look, there's Mom!

Okay, I'm done.

What Our Weekend Looked Like . .

Scary

but can you guess what infamous couple we are?

Aftyn's Auntie Dalana

aren't they cute?
We need to get a picture of Aftyn with Auntie Kamber.
Aftyn with her pumpkin look-a-like



Looks like she likes it!
Or at least wonders what the heck this round bumpy thing next to her is.

Cutest Picture Ever!

Aftyn has found a love for all things tongue lately.

If you stick your tongue out to her, she'll more than likely, if she's in the mood, stick hers out at

you. And then keep it out for awhile,

just because.

Halloween's A'Comin' !

We are so excited for Halloween, we've already got our pumpkin!

Here's last years version: top one with the "o" mouth

And here's this years model: the tired looking baby with the scary eyebrows

As Requested

The Naming of Aftyn Kay

This story goes back, back to the time when we only just found out we were pregnant. Only a few weeks into being pregnant, I think even before morning nausea set in. I was laying next to Reed one night in bed, and the urge to name this special baby of ours only a few weeks old hit me. Maybe because we had previously had a miscarriage, with an unnamed little one and only the excitement of being a few weeks pregnant. So, for a few nights, at bedtime, we tossed names around. Mostly boy names, because I was sure, as always, that we would be welcoming an active little boy to our family. And the runner-up name, as I saw it, for girls, was Reed's choice. Adeline Kay. I didn't mind, because I was so sure we were having a boy. (I can't share the boys name because we may still use it and that would be spoiling the surprise for those of you not in the know.)

So, for weeks, the names stuck and stayed the same. Until, that is, we had our ultrasound that shattered my little world of having a boy. Because the ultrasound technician assured and reassured me that we were having a girl! I didn't feel the exclamation point at the time.

And then the uncertainty hit. Adeline? What kind of a name was that for the little girl who would be our oldest, who would need to be a strong little spirit, leading all of her brothers and sisters into this world of ours by her example? We even tried Addy, Addison, any name that could have the nickname Addy, which I decided I liked enough to keep. And then I heard someone at church calling for Addy. And I noticed out in blogging land that there sure were a lot of Addy's written about and stories shared of them. And that crushed that name choice, because I didn't want our daughter to have a name that many girls had. She needed a unique name, all her own or pretty close, not unlike her mommy.

Now Reed, from the beginning, back to the first few days of our marriage, had always liked the name Aften. (I know, kind of weird, but we've been talking baby names since the first week of our marriage. We even have a piece of paper where we've recorded all the boy and girl names that we like. They're hard to find, especially ones we BOTH like.) I thought it was too old fashioned. Kinda different and weird. And I still thought so, up until I believe it was March or February, when my Grandma Ferrell died. And I realized just how precious grandmas are. And so I wanted to carry on some part of both of mine.

At my grandma's funeral, in telling how my grandparents met, my grandma had a good friend named Aften. Who went with her to some dancing hall (a respectable one) where she inevitably met my grandfather. And on the drive to the cemetery, I saw a business with the name Afton. I know, sounds corny, but from that point on, I wanted to name our little one Aftyn Kay. For both my grandmas.

I know, I know, I didn't really name her after my Grandma Ferrell. But I feel, in a way, that I did. Luckily, when she was born, and I instantly loved and adored her, our Aftyn definitely became an Aftyn. Because she looked like one. So, in our little Aftyn Kay, will go on the legacy of 2 strong women. BTW, want to know how I got Reed to agree to the spelling of Aftyn? I gave the strong argument that it looked a little Welsh with that kind of spelling - and HE AGREED! Funny stuff, huh? Hey, whatever it takes.

My - Girls Only - Weekend

This is the MAIN reason Aftyn and I went: So Grandma Kay could meet Aftyn Kay. Aren't they cute together?



Three Generations: Dad, if only you had been there. It could have been four.

Sleeping. One of the few times in the whole weekend when she did. Needless to say, I came home ready for some sleep.

Auntie Laura and Aftyn. Aren't they cute?

Auntie Suzette and Aftyn. Aren't they cute too?

All in all, a fun weekend. Very memorable.

It's Just Life!

As I sit here, listening to Aftyn moaning and babbling to herself, trying to wind down enough to go to sleep, I am perplexed by a problem we're having with her. Hopefully all you mothers and future mothers-to-be can help.

Here's Aftyn's problem: She has stranger danger. Meaning, sometimes, not always, when someone holds her, she will begin crying a cry that's rarely heard coming from Aftyn. One of pitiful sadness and heartbreak.

She doesn't even cry like that when she's hungry! Yes, I am aware that she's really young to be having this problem, and I don't really know but it may be associated with when she's tired. I don't know what to do about it.

Specifically in the case of people who offer to watch Aftyn for us so we can go on dates or go to the temple - I don't want to subject Aftyn or the kind people who offer to a night of horribleness because Aftyn is afraid or unhappy. What would you do?