The young and the phoneless

 

Hello again, It's me, the young and the phoneless; just chilling on a Thursday afternoon.  Jake and Bentley are both sleeping. I cannot wait until school starts in the fall so we aren't sleeping all day. It is SO hard to be rested when my child wakes up every four hours and Jake comes home between one and two AM. Oh well, such is life. As you can see, featured here is a picture of Bentley sleeping in his stroller. He fell asleep on our walk home from church and was just too cute to wake up. 

Bentley is able to hold his head up when he lies on his tummy, he can either lift up his bum or lift up his head, but not both at the same time. It's really cute. Every time I put him on his stomach he inevitably cries. That is also cute. Ha ha. And Today when I was pretending to toss him into the air he started laughing for me. YAY! Bwa ha ha ha. I'll try to get some video of it for you guys.

   

I know I shouldn't do this either, but Bentley is tasting things all the time. He watches my food and stares at me when I eat. I know he's too young to eat human food but every now and again I let him lick my otter pop or taste my yogurt. It's cute because he likes it like a little puppy. 

Yesterday I handed him off to my friend Bella and he suddenly started SCREAMING! I let her sit it out for a few minutes but it didn't get better, so I took him back and tried to pump his legs. When he eventually calmed down I handed him back to Bella so I could check on my Banana Bread and he looked at her, gave me a wide eyed look and began screaming again. Haha. Mom Edwards says He is too young to be afraid of strangers but I am beginning to wonder. Here Bentley is testing out his Johnny Jump up. He isn't really a fan of it, he sits in it with his toes just touching the ground and he spins in a s l o w circle and when he gets bored he sits forward and eats the fabric and then he starts crying.

 

And here is yet another picture of Bentley wearing his froggy hat that his Aunt Camille bought for 13 cents at old navy. You heard me. 13 cents. What a bargain.
It's crazy to me that soon he will be four months old. It's almost time for his 4 month shots. :(  My little bug is growing up. I love him. Our most favorite things to do together are: Bath time, singing/playing time and snuggling when he wakes up to eat in the middle of the night. I love my little Bentley. I want to see him grow but I hate to see him get bigger. I guess it has to happen this way :) Wouldn't it be awful to be a baby your whole life? Ha ha ha ha

You guys should see the farm, it's incredible. Grandma Wendie and Grandpa Ted have chickens and baby chicks, goats, sheep, pigs, a dog, a growing corn field and a bunch of trees. Did I mention they have beehives too? It takes ALL day long for them to water the trees. I don't know how they do it. They work all day to take care of the farm and I can't even summon the strength to function on 6 hours of not consecutive sleep.

Well, we miss you guys out in Alabama. Keep safe. :D We are thinking about you. We hope all is well in the ward, the stake, young women, at home, and at work. We love you and hope to see you all very soon.

Courtney, Jake and Bent.

Gooooood Morning!

Hello All, a happy day to you all; it is 4:27 AM. You heard me. I feel like I should be going to the hospital to give birth, It is just way too early. Bentley has been waking up at 344 almost like clockwork! It's hard for me to get frustrated though, because, well, Bentley will only be little once and maybe it's something I am doing! Maybe I should put him to bed later, ha ha. The world will never know.
Today is Memorial day, a day to remember the veterans of the world. It's also a day to spend with family, enjoying our freedom that God gave us. Now, don't call me a party pooper but I'm ready to go back to bed.

Bentley is getting SO BIG. He is starting to sit up, with assistance, he can stand, so long as you steady him and he is sitting in his bumbo no problem. We have the whole 'go to sleep thing' down, except for the rare occasions where Jake picks him up and takes him out of the room (k. it happened once and better not happen again.). Bentley can go to sleep virtually anywhere but he prefers a pacifier and his pack n play. (Speaking of Which I think he just yawned)

Oops!  He's asleep. I thought about staying up to finish this post, but I have 1 hour and 30 minutes until my alarm goes off. :D I am going to get some sleep!

A Day for Mothers, a Day for Celebration

   

        I remember hours spent making my mother laugh. My brother Dane and I were such dorks that we could make my mother laugh so hard she cried. We did the silliest things over and over and over with a more dramatic flair each time and oh she would laugh. We did it because she thought it was funny but mainly because we loved to hear her laugh. I don't have to work so hard to make her laugh anymore.  My charming wit does that now. 

I remember dancing around the dining room table as we cleaned the house to music and family scriptures at dawn.; Mom used to make oatmeal every morning before school--no one makes oatmeal like my mom. I remember those days when I was too overwhelmed and didn't want to go to school and my mom would keep me home and I remember countless hours stressing or venting or weeping to my mother. Then there are the days that I don't remember. Days and nights worrying about me, fretting over me, taking me to the hospital when I was a baby, kissing my little face, singing to me, rocking me.  millions of seconds, hundreds of thousands of minutes spent teaching me to coo, to laugh, to walk. Teaching me to love. She was my friend and my Mom no matter how mean or selfish I was some times, she always loved me and sometimes she goes unheralded our mother but I love my Mom. I hope she feels like it was worth it. She is the most amazing woman in my life. I owe all that I am to my Angel Mother (as Abraham Lincoln says. I know, the quote is everywhere today but it doesn't change the way I feel about it). I love you, Mom! :D You're the Best!

     I feel a very special gratitude toward the Mother that raised my sweet husband. I am so grateful to be married to a man of such quality, we joke but seriously, I am the one who married up. Jake is too good to me, he is selfless and loving and kind. He makes everything right in my world no matter how wrong it feels like it might be going that day. He is my perfect other half and God knew that if he gave him to you that he would turn out that way. I thank you for that. If not for a righteous Mother who raised him to have a testimony of the Gospel who valued selflessness, charity and love I don't know who I would be married to today and I am overwhelmed with gratitude because...I love your son! :D And I love you. I lived a year in Alabama and I felt like I had never left home. I too have learned from your example and I am a better person for being around you. I am glad to have such a wonderful Mother-in law and such a wonderful Grandmother for my children.

Then there are all of the mothers who are not mine or whom have never had their own children but are still mothers. There are so many names I could put here that helped shape who I am today, women who will forever have my gratitude and love. Sisters, friends, relatives, leaders, teachers... Sometimes I needed a loving touch from a different perspective, sometimes I needed someone to prompt me in the right direction at pivotal moments in my life. Thank you. 

I pray that I can be the kind of Mother that I appreciate in all of you. I hope that I can have the love, patience and understanding that all of you amazing women and mothers have shown me. Happy Mother's Day.

The Newest Beginning

 

At last the exodus from Alabama has been completed; Jake and I are in the home in Cedar Hills where we will stay while Jake goes to school. We have been working non-stop to empty boxes and organize our home. Okay, not nonstop, but that's how the first week was, we've slowed down a little now.
Since we have moved here we have:
1. Achieved adulthood and switched almost all of our bills into our name and most of them to online.
2. Picked a room for our child (and future children)
3. Looked at paints and carpet for the Master Bedroom
4. Visited Great Grandma Dewitt
5. Began a healthy lifestyle and exercise program and see Brittney more often.

Number 1 is self explanatory.
We finally decided to use Jake's old Bedroom as a baby room so I have taken all things out of the room (except our bed) out of that room  and I am trying to organize it with furniture and pick out a fun color for my children that is both gender neutral and engaging (if that makes sense) It has been really fun to talk colors and decorating Ideas with Jake. He gets more excited than I do sometimes. As for the Master Bedroom we haven't really given too much thought but we need to paint it and rip out the carpet so we can put in the new carpet and move our bed downstairs into our real bedroom. AND! Did I mention that the master bathroom has a large jetted tub? :D My dreams have all come true!

Bentley, Jake and I went to go see Great Grandma Dewitt for her 65th Anniversary. She was very happy to see Bentley and gave him a little dog stuffed animal that she loves very much. I'm afraid she will forget she gave it to him and look for it later, but it was very sweet and I will make sure to keep it for Bentley from his Great Grandma.

Last, but not least: Jacob and I have begun a journey together as a married couple. Thanks to my Beautiful sister, Brittney Welch I have a task master to whip my post pregnant-sedentary lifestyle body into shape and man does it work my body. It's all I can do to move my arms and feet in the same motion she is making. Jake and I are eating strictly controlled portions and we are aiming for the good goal. I have: 23 pounds to lose until my target weight. Jake has around the same amount. Today is day 3 of our workout, monday is weights, tues, wed, sat is cardio and Friday is weights. I hate weights. Seriously? It kills my body slowly and painfully...you just have to hate it, but I also love knowing that I am making my body stronger so I will do it. Brittney is a very good personal trainer and I am loving seeing her and little Madi all the time.

Whilst making dinner last night I lay Bentley in a blanket on the counter while I was cooking. He can't roll and I didn't leave his side for a minute, but check out these CUTE photos:

and here is Bentley with his 3 year old Cousin, Madison. :D Too cute.