5 months old

Cousin Madi came to stay for a few days!

Bentley's 5 month pictures

Bentley's Grandpa Sweater <3

I just couldn't help myself. What a cutie.

China Village in Lindon

 Hello Everyone!

All is sunny and bright in my section of the world--and hot! Bentley gets bigger and bigger each day and my heart just keeps growing! I love him so much  from his deep, intelligent eyes down to his teeny tiny toes and all the sweet buzzing energy in between. His little giggles fill the halls of my home and his smile is not for the faint of heart. He will melt it. Your heart, that is. Short of my sweet husband there is nothing that I love more than my sweet son.

We excitedly await Machiel's visit in August and the Family Reunion that is coming up. Jacob's last day at work is in 8 days and School is a month away from today, actually. Jacob is so excited. He has his books, he's signed up for classes and he talks all the time about the change in our gas usage while he drives to and from Provo. Today he informed me that he has 4 more truck nights and then he is done. Ha ha.

This week I was reading in the book of Acts and I was reading about the horrible persecution that the apostles went through in their travels. And at one point they were beaten and threatened never to speak of the doctrine again. When they were set free I was really touched by their actions, I even laughed. They immediately thanked God for delivering them and prayed that he would bless them with boldness concerning with sharing the doctrine. They said they were happy to be persecuted in his name.

I really had to think about this one. I love that they are threatened and then just say  "help us be more bold and share the gospel!" I laughed. It was just so...honest. So fresh and so full of faith. I thought, "wow, why can't I be more like that?" The Lord has said that we shouldn't fear man who can kill the body but afterward can do no more, so why should I fear the opinions and judgments of others? In our day there is little violence against the Lord's saints (up until this point at least) but even if there was violence. The body can be broken but the spirit cannot be touched. They cannot affect my eternal salvation, only I can, and most importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ is wonderful, glorious news and we are meant to share it with others, it is our duty, our obligation, our sacred gift. Anyway, so as you guys go about your day remember that you are children of God and anything you go through will be for your good. Be proud to be a servant of God.

Dare to be a mormon
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm
Dare to make it known.

:D

Well, that's all for today. I uploaded lots of pictures and I hope they will do for now. We miss you guys in Alabama so much! I can't wait until I get to see you all again!


<3
Our beautiful little family

Bath time with Daddy!

Approaching the big 5

 Bentley, Bentley, Bentley. In four days he will be five months old. You heard me. Five. That is one month shy of half a year. He is sitting up all by himself and is full of laughter. He has a lot to say and often speaks paragraphs in his little baby oo's. It's hard to believe he was once that teeny tiny baby I brought home from the hospital.
He is eating all sorts of foods, he hasn't refused a type of food yet. We fed him squash today and soon we will feed him green beans and then Orange Banana.
Aunt Blythe and Cousin Taylia came over the other day and we played for a long time! Bentley has never interacted with another baby before. It was fun to watch him talk to her and try to interact.

 Look at him. I don't know about you guys but in my opinion he looks just like Jacob.

We went to see Grandma Donlu! who was watching Miles and Max! Miles looks like Bentley in a few years! I was so surprised to see someone so similar to Bentley. What a cutie! We loved seeing Donlu and Doug, it was so fun and we can't wait to go back! Bentley was so good during our visit! We discovered by a complete accident that Bentley is ticklish ALL OVER his back and his chest. What a silly little bug.

 Bentley, Mom and Isabel went to the park and played on the swings

 Then we went to a family dinner and played with his cousins and all of his uncles! Bentley didn't get any sleep and was uproariously funny. I will upload a video of Jake showing Bent "little bunny foo foo"

Awww.... my big boy.

 this last one is sideways...sorry!

We love you! have a great week!

Little Baby Bentley, riding through through the stoooreee

What a wonderful Wednesday... 


Time is whipping by so quickly. You do realize that in about a week and a half Bentley will be five months old? Talk about totally unfair. He is such a happy child. Loud, talkative, funny, entertaining, adorable...like his mother. ; ) He is sitting up all by himself now, and lays on his stomach holding himself up with his arms. He can get his knees up under his body--now if only he could figure out how to put the two actions together. Honestly, I don't really expect him to be blanket bound for long. I included a movie of Bentley and Jake at Costco to show off how big my little boy is. As I'm typing this I can hear Bentley talking in his bed.

Speaking of beds, Bentley has been doing a trial run. We go to bed at six, wake up at 10 to eat and then we don't eat again until he wakes up around five or six. He doesn't enjoy going to bed anymore. I can only imagine it's because I let him cry himself back to sleep at three. It makes me so sad. All I can think of is my tiny baby saying "Mom! I am scared! It's dark and I'm hungry and you aren't doing anything about it!" :( talk about heart breaking. It never ceases to amaze me how big his smile is when I finally come get him in the morning. What an angel.

I've been working on my baking skills as well, Bentley watches as I search Pinterest and come up with these beauties:
http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/09/chewy-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars.html?
Seriously, the best cookie bars I have ever eaten. EVER.
Or how about
http://bakerlady.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/reeses-peanut-butter-bars/
I have made Banana Bread, Loft house cookies, Homemade brownies, some Italian grill cheese sandwich etc... And unfortunately my weight loss has stopped. Go figure.

Jake and I just started a budgeting software to help with saving money and keeping track of the flow of our moola. I don't think Jake is the one with the problem, ha ha. Poor guy. At least he can raise me while I raise Bentley. It's really exciting, actually. I love checking the program to see what's going on and how much we've spent and when our bills are due but there are these little red bars to indicate overages or underages and it aggravates me. :D Oh well, I guess it's a small price to pay for the knowledge that I am saving up money for whatever comes our way.

Bent, Jake and I are planning on seeing Donlu soon, we have to visit Bentley's Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Edwards this weekend and next weekend we have the GG Williams to visit. Some how, when I moved back my life became less mine.  Again, small price to pay for seeing the people we love. Bentley and I have the baby shower for Jessica on Saturday and lots of other activities to do each day.

Back to Bentley.

We have been singing songs together. We like to sing 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed and 5 little monkeys swinging in the tree;  B I N G O, Old McDonald Had a farm, little bunny foo foo and a few others. We sing those during the day and we sing church songs at night when he goes to sleep! We like to read "Good Night Moon" each night when we go to bed and he snuggles with a soft blanket against his cheek every night. Stop growing!!!!

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Bentley eating Carrots. I understand you all received a similar photo but too bad. You have to see it anyway.

I'm a Mom. :)

Carpet install is happening today. Woo HOO! They called this morning and just happened to have a slot for today. I am now awaiting their arrival. Bentley is sleeping, he is such a good boy. I have a greater appreciation for everyone in my life that has had children. It makes going somewhere longer, going to bed harder, eating more difficult and deprives you of needed beauty sleep. How did my mother ever do it?

Today's topic is a more personal matter. I have been studying the Eternal Marriage Student Manual for the past few days about marriage and motherhood and children. I feel as though I understand motherhood a little better now. I used to think that I wasn't doing everything in my power to help my husband take care of our family. I am watching Bentley, sure, but the position of the world is that women have to have an occupation and are better suited to work outside the home; I guess I had been a little swayed. I always thought that if I could just get a job and clean the house and take care of Bent, then I would be doing all I could and it would be enough.

"It is well-nigh impossible to be a full-time homemaker and a full-time employee" -President Gordon B Hinckley

I took comfort in this quote and I realized that being a mother IS a full time job. The Eternal Marriage manual is really an amazing manual if anyone is looking for uplifting thoughts or talks to strengthen their testimony or just some good reading that will inspire you to be so in love with your role as a woman (or man, i suppose) read the Eternal Marriage Manual! It will work wonders for you.

"No career approaches in importance that of a wife, homemaker, mother--cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one's precious husband and children"- President Spencer W. Kimball

I love knowing that just being a mom which is so natural and so beautiful is my God-given calling. Just being home and being there for my family I can be a strength and a blessing to them. I also realize that being a 'homemaker' is a lot more than just creating bodies for the spirits who are coming to our family. It requires prayer and study, pondering, temple attendance and self motivation. It requires patience and love as you teach your children to do things. It means doing everything the hard way so your child can understand how to clean. It means helping your children think and grow and learn. It means teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ and how to gain a testimony. What more beautiful role could a woman have? Truly?

"Sisters, guard your children. They live in a world of evil. The forces are all about them. I am proud of so many of your sons and daughters who are living good lives. But I am deeply concerned about many others who are gradually taking on the ways of the world. Nothing is more precious to you as mothers, Absolutely nothing. Your children are the most valuable thing you will have in time or all eternity. You will be fortunate indeed if, as you grow old and look at those you brought into the world, you find in them uprightness of life, virtue in living and integrity in their behavior." President Howard W. Hunter

 Of course there are some mothers who must work outside the home but the position of the Lord is clear that if at all possible we need to be home. It is a full time job! I want to be a mother who knows! I want to be a mother like that of the Stripling Warriors! I want my children to KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that Heavenly Father is their Father, Jesus is their brother and their Lord and Redeemer and that the gospel has been restored upon the earth. I have a testimony of Motherhood and I will strive with all my might to raise Bentley and his future siblings to the best of my ability and then some
.

Bentley and Grandpa are crying over Quarterbacks

 

 So here goes:

This is why we need good mom's in the world.

Bentley at Sunday Family Dinner. Cute little Crab.

Blue Steel