The Fourth Month

This little peanut of mine is growing up more and more each day and it's just going so fast, and no matter how much I try and capture everything, I still feel like I'm failing and missing so much. Does anyone have any tips on how to freeze time?

We had lots of family time this month, which Izzy just loves. She is such a social baby, I can't get over it. She constantly is looking at the world around her, taking everything in and is always just so mesmerized by all she sees. We went to see Uncle Brennan in his Orchestra Concert where he was First Chair Cello!! So proud of him! It was amazing to watch Izzy be cause she was just so entranced by the pretty music she would stand up on aunt Abby's lap and watch the kids up on stage and only napped for about 15 minutes near the beginning. She didn't make one peep, and just watched with her big beautiful eyes, and soaked it all in. I wouldn't be surprised if she takes up some form of musical instrument. We have such talented musicians in our family, it'd be hard not to!

We had a few play dates with some good friends and their sweet babies! We enjoyed the hot AZ weather and went swimming at my parents house and just had a blast. Izzy loved everything about the water!

Proud mommy moment! I was able to get back into a few of my pre pregnancy jeans!! Granted, they are my "fat pants" from before I got pregnant, and I still have a LOOONG way to go before I will be back to "normal" but hey, it's a start. And it's really nice to be wearing pants that have a real button and zipper!

This is the month of the scootcher and the roller! At the beginning of the month, she started to scootch everywhere! I would put her down on her play mat, and within 5 minutes she had spun herself around and was halfway across the room! She always looked so proud of herself! She also has become a tummy time rockstar, and so she quickly figured out how to roll! At first she could only get from her front to her back. But by the end of the month she was rolling both ways and was able to scootch forward on her tummy. Not quite an army crawl, but more like an inch worm. It's pretty cute. I will set her down on a blanket and in no time I will hear her grunting away and I will look and see her with her face buried in the carpet, trying to roll and scootch away.

We have officially started putting Izzy's hair in pigtails and ponytails! I just couldn't resist and longer. When your baby has as much hair as mine does, you gotta start doing their hair as soon as possible. And now since she can sit up in her Bumbo like a champ (another milestone!!) It's way easy for my to do her hair. We were going to a neighborhood fair, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to sport her first pig tails! She was definitely too cute for words!

I was able to score a cute little bouncer for Izzy off of Facebook! She instantly fell in love with it and just has the best time bouncing around and making it play music and light up. She just LOVES standing up. She gets so frustrated to be laying down if she doesn't have to be. I honestly would not be surprised at all if she starts to walk super early, because man, this little lady is just so anxious to explore the world!!

One of the most fun things we did this month was go to the lake with my family! My dad has been waiting for Izzy to be big enough for her life jacket, and to be able to take her out on the water. Of course Izzy loved it, and we had such a fun time holding her in the water and snuggling her and smelling the sunscreen on her soft skin! Oh man, I just couldn't get over her and how sweet she was with her life jacket on and her floppy hat! I love my little mermaid baby, and I so look forward to next summer, when we are able to go to lake as much as possible and to see her love for the water increase so much!

I just can't get over how much she has seems to grow up this month. She has definitely gone from being an infant to being a fun little baby... if that makes any sense. haha. She is just so fun, and brings so much joy to our lives.

• You still love to stand up. You will usually laugh and giggle if we stand you up on or laps. You especially love it if we let you face outward so you can see all that is going on.
• You are so giggly. You are really developed a sense of humor this month. I can make silly noises, or silly faces and you will just crack up. Your little belly is getting ticklish, you have to be in the right mood, but you will let our the cutest grunt laugh when i tickle yuor belly. I love it.
• You are all smiles when we sing. You get to come to choir with me and daddy and you absolutely love sitting on anyones lap and listening to them sing. 
• You still suck your fingers all day. And you still have no favorite. I catch you sucking your thumb one day, then you suck the middle two, or just the pointer finger. And every once in a while, your will literally get your WHOLE FIST in your mouth... then you gag. haha so silly.
• You are the happiest in the morning. I can walk into your room and just say "Good moooorrrnnning!!" and you roll a round and squirm and get to excited. you usually let our a giggle of a big happy gasp and it's the best thing of my whole life. any morning that your daddy is home, he tells me to not get out of bed because he wants to go and get you because it's so fun to see you first thing in the morning.
• You love to blow bubbles. You spit and make farting noises and blow raspberries and it couldn't be more hilarious.
• You are ALWAYS talking. Babbling away. You will 'talk' back to us. We can say "oh hi Iz." and you will coo and babble and then we will say, "oh really? tell me more!" and you will get so happy and just tell us all your baby stories. You talk to yourself in the car while we drive, or in the mornings before I come in to get you I just hear you on the monitor just talking away. 
• You rarely cry. Seriously we are so blessed. You get a bit cranky before you fall asleep, or if it's past your feeding time, but honestly it's more of a whine than a cry. You will just kinda complain until we fix the problem, and then all is right in the world and you are so happy and easy going. I honestly don't know what I did you get to lucky.
• You do the CUTEST thing ever, where you clasp your hands together in front of your face. You have been doing this since you were in my belly, I have ultrasounds to prove it! But now you are doing it with more purpose and it's just so sweet. everyone comments on it, and I love it so much. You do it most often while nursing or when you are so so so happy. 

Isabel Paige, you are the light of my life and I can't think of all the right words to explain my love for you. 

xoxo

October Conference 2014

I always learn so much from General Conference, but I usually just try and remember a few of my favorite bits. I almost always forget who said what and sometimes twist the message. So this year I wanted to make a blog post of my favorite parts, so I have something concrete to look back on to see my impressions and how the spirit was talking to me through these sessions.

I love conference so much and I am so glad that we get to hear these words from our dear prophet and his apostles. I am always uplifted and my spirit is giving a boost just when it seems I need it most. There is always something that I needed to hear or be reminded of, and I will always get answers to my prayers. The Lord is aware of me and my needs and I know that I am his child. I never could really comprehend how much He loved me until I had my daughter Isabel. My love for her is almost indescribable and I am so overcome with emotions and love when I think about her. And when i realized that that is how Heavenly Father feels about me, but on a much bigger scale, I can't help but feel so much happiness and joy. I know that He knows me personally and is always there for me. 

Saturday Morning

Thomas S. Monson 

As we listen, may our hearts be touched and our faith increased. 

Boyd K. Packer

We may not live a perfect life, but before we came to earth we agreed to live by His laws and His consequences. No matter what we do, if we use the atonement we will have our guilt erased and we will be forgiven and be purified and welcomed back into heaven. 

The strength of the church isn't determined by the number of members, but rather by the strength and testimony of the individual members. 

Lynn Robbins 

Do not try to please man before pleasing God. 

Remember to always face God. 

Courage is the form of every virtue at the testing point

Cheryl Esplin

When we take the sacrament we covenant to always remember Jesus Christ.

We need to remember Christ always. Not just during a 3 hour block on Sunday. 

Chi Hong

(Love that the speakers are able to give their talks in their first language)

Every calling is important and we need to work together to do the Lords work

We need to dedicate ourselves to serving others and helping those around us.

D. Todd Christofferson

God will not live our lives for us or control us like puppets. Nor will his prophets control us we are accountable for our own decisions and we will be judged based on that. 

God does not save us just as we are. No unclean thing can dwell with God. And God will not make us something that we ourselves do not want to become. 

Because He loves us he does not compel or abandon us. Rather he helps us and guides us. 

Christ died, not to save indiscriminately but to provide a process for repentance. 

Through the atonement, our failures can be erased and we can develop a Christlike lifestyle.

Divine aid can be ours, every hour of every day regardless as to where we are on the path to obedience. 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I know of no sign at the doors of our meeting houses that says "your testimony must be *this high* to enter"

God cares about us. He does hear our prayers. And he will answer them 

If we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, the light grows dim. Not in a day or a week, but gradually. 

Your testimony may not come as quickly as you desire. But if you do your part, I WILL come. And it will be glorious. 

Saturday Afternoon 

Dallin H. Oakes

Simple but difficult commandment "love others as I have loved you" 

Love is the very essence of the gospel and Jesus is our exemplar. 

Live in the world but not of the world. 

If we have a spirit of contention we are not of Christ but is of the devil- he stirs up the hearts of man to have contention one with another. 

Even as we seek to be meek and avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand. 

We should follow the Saviors teaching in loving all people... Thought we disagree, we should not be disagreeable.

The Devil is the father of contention. The savior is the Prince of Peace. 

The commandment to love one another surely includes love and respect across religious lines. This also includes cultural, racial or economic lines. 

Kindness is powerful. Especially in a family setting. 

Press forward with a love of God and for ALL man. 

Neil L. Anderson

May we adjust our own testimony so we are better able to help other with theirs. 

You may question what you hear on the news, but you never have to question the testimony of the Lords prophets 

Tad Callister 

One of the most powerful things we can do as parents is so teach our children about the power of prayer.

God never gives us a responsibility without offering divine aid.

Jörg Klebingat 

What thoughts come to mind if you learned tha you would have a personal conversation with the Savior one minute from now? Would you be nervous, or calm and excited? Would you meet his gaze, or longer by the door?

How to enhance your Spiritual Confidence:

-Take responsibility for your own spiritual well being. 

-Take responsibility for our own physical well being. 

- embrace wholehearted obedience as a way of life. Selective obedience brings selective blessings. 

- accept trials and setbacks as part of your mortal existence. 

Face and acknowledged your weaknesses but don't be immobilized by them. 

Jeffery R. Holland 

Rich or poor we are to do all we can to help those around us. 

We are expected to help ourselves before looking to others. 

Miracles come to those who follow the law of the fast.

I may not be my brothers keeper... But I am my brothers brother.

L. Tom Perry 

How blessed are we as members of the Lord’s church to have the gospel?

We should never let the noise of the world overshadow the still small voice.

The greatest of all the blessings of the Lord is given to righteous families.

The decisions made by women in this generation will have eternal consequences.

Being a father is the most important calling. One in which you are never released.

A successful parent should never be too busy in a child’s life when an important lesson can be taught.

There has never been a time when a child needs a parent more than they need one today.

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It provides the foundation upon which we can find lasting peace and build eternal family units.

Sunday Morning

Henry B Eyering
We need continuing communication from God. One stream of light is not enough.

Revelation from God is continuous. It is the truth of the true church.

The revelation of a parent has its lasting effect in the personal revelation that continues in the child.

Don’t take lightly the feeling you have for the Prophet of God... The love you feel is the love the Lord feels for whoever is His spokesman.

Heavenly Father hears your prayers; He knows you; He knows your name


Russell M. Nelson
Mans way never will be the Lords way.

We honor each man who has been the President of the Church

You and I do not vote on church leaders on any level. We do, though, have the privilege of sustaining them.

The living Lord leads His living church.

We sustain 15 men as prophets of God. They hold all the priesthood keys to lead the church of God.

The Church today has been organized by the Lord himself.

The Restoration of the church shattered the idea that God stopped communicating with His children

We will pray for him {the prophet}, we will defend his name, and we will do our best to follow his instructions.



Carol F. McConkie
God knows and loves all of his children.

When we choose to live according to the words of the prophets, we are on the covenant path that leads to perfection.

Following the prophet may be unpopular.... but following the prophet is ALWAYS right.

The Lord honors and favors those that will heed prophetic direction.

When we heed the words of the prophets, we build our lives upon an eternally firm foundation.

Robert D. Hales 
"As I recognized the beauty of the earth, I knew that my Heavenly Father loved me"

As I exercise faith and obey the commandments, the Holy Ghost testifies what I know to be true.

God and Christ are literally a father and a son; separate and distinct beings.

I testify that when we do what is necessary to know them and to know their love for one another, we will obtain "the greatest gifts of God", even eternal life.

They are one not because they are the same person but because they are united in purpose.

By the power of the Holy Ghost you will know with a surety the truth of all things.

We will not fall, we will not fail; for our homes will be founded on Jesus Christ.

The living Lord leads his living church



James J. Hamula
No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God.

By taking the sacrament we are promising to follow the commandments.

Christ will satisfy the demand of justice for every person

The most important event in time and eternity is the atonement of Jesus Christ

Thomas S. Monson

When we came to this earth we brought a great gift from God; even our agency.

Our decisions determine our destiny.

As we follow in Christ's footsteps, we can return safely to our Heavenly Father.

Walking where Jesus walked is far less important than walking as He walked.

Let us remember that the reward for obedience is liberty and eternal life.

Sunday Afternoon

M. Russell Ballard
Most of experience periods of our life where tranquil waters are appreciated and sometimes waters that are like the rapids.

We need to experience a continuous conversion.

The experienced water guides today can be likened to the Church apostles and prophets and auxiliary leaders.

We are on the old ship Zion and God is at the helm.

The leaders of the church do not live in a bubble. They have lived their lives and have experienced many things and have witnessed many things around the world.

We should focus on learning, living and loving the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If anyone has fallen out of the boat, we shall find you and pull you back onto the old ship Zion where God the Father and Jesus Christ are at the helm.

If we keep our focus on the Lord, we are promised a blessing beyond comparison.


Richard G. Scott
We are blessed with agency which is our ability to make decisions and be accountable for them.

Family prayer should be a non negotiable priority in our lives.

We came to this life to grow from our trials and testings.

Weekly family home evening-Don't make it just an after thought

The gospel should be taught in our homes formally and informally


Carlos A. Godoy
The difference between happiness and misery often comes down to an error of only a few degrees

As we consider various choices, it is not enough that something is good. Some are better and some are best.

We need to consider our options with the end in mind.

Are we willing to pay the price for our decisions?

Just because things in our lives are going well doesn't mean that we shouldn't look for something better.

Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones for a better place?


Larry S. Kacher
There are many currents in this earthly life. Some safe and some not.

On this mortal journey we must never think that our choices affect only us

Do our choices matter? Have we set our course on the eternal current of the gospel?

Make whatever adjustments are needed to ensure eternal blessings.

We must never trifle with sacred things


David A. Bednar
Devoted members of the church will aways be mighty missionaries.

We want to spread the gospel because we know how good His Church makes us feel and we want to share that amazing feeling with everyone we meet.


Closing remarks from President Monson
May we return to our home to resolve to be a little better than we have been in the past. To be a kinder and to reach out to others. Especially to those not of our faith.

As we care for each other we will be blessed.

May we be people of honesty and integrity.

May we all ponder that truths we have heard and become more valiant disciples

May we become the lights to the world

May we be faithful followers of Christ.


AMEN! amen and amen and amen. I seriously couldn't get over how perfect these talks were. They touched my heart and boosted my spirit. I have a renewed desire to do my best, to uplift those around me, to root for the underdog, to seek after the lost sheep, and strengthen my family with study and prayer.

If you are interested in watching or reading any of the full talks, you can go here. :)