Gavin's Baptism

What a wonderful experience.

So much has been leading up to this day.  G has been learning how to distinguish right from wrong...not that he always makes the right choices, but he is learning.

We have been learning about the importance of Baptism in our family.  We've been focusing on following the example of our Savior and learning about His teachings.  We've been learning about the covenant of baptism and the responsibility that accompanies a decision like this.  We've been studying our scriptures and trying to be kind to one another...repenting and saying sorry when we make mistakes.  After all of this, he chose to be baptized.  We are so grateful and proud of all G has done to be ready for this.

When G had decided that he was ready to be baptized, he was able to be interviewed by Bishop Mansius.  It was an interesting feeling as a parent, sitting outside the office wondering if the bishop would feel G was ready like we thought he was.  I couldn't help but smile when I saw the smile of both G's face as well as the bishop's.  He was ready.

Grammy HB found a book that she shared with our family about baptism.  The Big Guy Lowe read through it with the two older boys earlier in the day G was to be baptised.

 

 

Because we were having family in town for Christmas, we were able to schedule the baptism to take place on Sunday, December 19th.  To make it even more special, we were able to share that evening with the Martin Family as Grace was prepared to be baptized too.  Many of Grace's extended family are Breitmayers--who happen to be long time friends of G's extended family; the Hornbergers.  Because The Big Guy Lowe is a worthy priesthood holder, G asked his dad to perform the baptism as well as the confirmation.  He then asked me if I would give the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  We were both so grateful.

Here are some photos from the beginning of the evening.  G and his dad.

All the Lowe brothers and dad.

Now a few of the entire family.

What a wonderful evening. 

What a wonderful beginning...

Eight years ago today...

I almost can't believe it!!  How can G be EIGHT YEARS OLD???

Didn't we just finish having birthday number "7"?

Wasn't it just a short time ago when he was a new little baby?

The Big Guy Lowe and I were so excited to have our little baby.  This is what I was looking like back then.

We had been told by doctors that we wouldn't be able to have children.  We had gone through the pain and anguish that keenly tore at our hearts.  In the midst of the doctor visits, research, tears and sadness, I was given a blessing.  The Big Guy Lowe, as a worthy Priesthood holder, took the opportunity to give a blessing of comfort to his heart-sick wife.  In that blessing I was told among other things, that we would be able to have children.  While comforted, I needed my dear husband to remind me of this special blessing in the coming months--during my times of weakness and question, while our doctors continued to say things like "premature ovarian failure, test results over time show things aren't right, need to seek specialists, seek to grow your family by other means..."  It was hard to remember the feeling I had in my heart when I received that special blessing; when I received the words my Savior wanted me to know.  Currently, The Big Guy Lowe and I are reading the Biography of President Thomas S. Monson.  Something he has shared that I love is the true principle that Faith and Fear cannot reside at the same time in our hearts.  I learned that principle during our time of great struggle.  Faith does overcome fear...and it did.

We found a new doctor, a fertility endocrinologist up in SLC.  New tests were run, similar results were found, but we pressed forward.  It was actually a scary feeling, wanting to look at the pregnancy test I had just taken, but being so afraid of the devestation that I had felt so many times before.  I put the test in a drawer and then called for The Big Guy Lowe to come into the bathroom.  Oh, I hadn't told him I was going to take another test.  When I explained what I had done and that the test was in the drawer but I didn't have the courage to look at it, he opened the drawer and excitedly asked "What do two lines mean?"  When we took this good news to our doctor, he was surprised, but instead of asking how decided to persue a healthy pregnancy.  Such gratitude filled our hearts.  Even now, many years later I am touched with a peace and gratitude for that time in our lives.

The pregnancy progressed well, until the very end.  Nothing crazy, but my blood pressure started increasing to the point that my doctor sent us over to the hospital a few weeks early to have our baby.  We were nervous and excited.  My mom was planning on being with us to help, but we weren't supposed to have our baby until the 18th, and my sister, Emily, was getting married on the 10th.  While nervous, I felt like Scott and I would be able to handle things well together.  My in-laws offered to come back out (they had been at our house just a week earlier over Thanksgiving), but we let them know we would be okay.

G was born early in the morning on December 5th, 2002.  We were so happy, and SO tired!

Wow, did I mention that I was SO tired.  Not that pretty, but we had just been working pretty hard for the last 19 hours. 

This little sweetie was worth it! 

Our next week was a bit of a roller-coaster as I'm sure it is with most first-time parents.  Our little G was jaundice, like many newborns, but his bilirubin levels were in the low 20s, which was getting dangerous.  We haven't met anyone else that has had this experience as new parents, but our pediatrician ordered the "bed of lights" to be set up at our home instead of having G brought back to the hospital.

We called some friends from the congregation we belonged to in Holladay, and Scott and another priesthood holder gave G his first blessing.  Later that evening, when the little light-bed arrived we needed the strength we knew our faith could provide.  Oh that bed!  This bed is just bigger than our little baby.  For the first night home we were required to keep him in the bed with only a diaper--no swaddling and only two eye pads with some netting to keep the eye pads in place (at the risk of causing eye damage if we didn't keep them covered!).  The Big Guy Lowe and I cried and cried as we laid him down the first time.  We weren't allowed to hold him other than 30 minutes for every three hours.  In the 30 minutes out of the bed we needed to feed him, change his diaper and cuddle as much as possible, but then he had to be placed back for another 3 hours.  I was truly exhausted, and so was The Big Guy Lowe.  We slept in shifts both being awake for our precious 30 minutes.  I'm so grateful for the love and support that The Big Guy Lowe and I provide for each other...then and now.  I don't know how we would have made it through that seemingly never-ending night, but it was one of those amazing experiences that helped knit our little family together.  Oh, did I mention that The Big Guy Lowe had a final the next morning?  Yep, he did, and it went very well.

Wow.  Amazing what we go through and how the memories of those experiences can bring such strong emotions back so intensely.  We made it through that first rough week.  My wonderful mother came out as soon as she was able and we were so grateful for her love and caring support...for all of us. 

Christmas that year was bitter-sweet.  We brought my mom to the airport so she could go back home.  It hit me so hard how dearly I wanted to raise our son near family.  As any new mother would feel, watching my mom walk into the airport brought huge tears to my eyes that lasted for the majority of that day.  I already missed her love, support and gentle reassurement that every new mother needs.  I will be forever grateful for her love, help and example throughout my life.

The Big Guy Lowe and I actually seemed to get the hang of being parents. 

We went on many long walks through the neighborhoods as that seemed to soothe our colicky baby.  We blessed our little son when he was two months old and had many family members there for the special day.

My wonderful mother was able to come back out to help us for almost a month as I had to go back to work to finish some projects I was working on.  That was another hard move, but it only lasted three months.  Next, The Big Guy Lowe graduated.

And we left Utah to persue his career and for me to persue mine.  The Big Guy Lowe works out of the home and I have been blessed to work within mine.

Wonderful to look back on blessings...eight years ago...

The Snakes 2010

We had a pretty fun soccer season this year.  While we had many of the same players from last year, we had some great new additions which made the team, and friends, even better!

G had a lot of fun throughout the season.  These are a few shots taken that day by the photographer.

We love our soccer player!!

G's first day of Second Grade

How is G old enough to be in Second grade already?

He's so excited to start school, while I feel like I am dragging my feet.

I like having all my boys around during the summer.  Hmmmm, maybe it's just because this summer seems to have passed so quickly.  Oh well, the morning has come and G is ready!

Of course it was raining, but that didn't dampen our spirits!

G was happy to see some of his friends from last year!

I'm excited to see how things go with G's new teacher.  She's been teaching for 19 years and knows how to run her classroom.  She is known for keeping her class in order and helping her students achieve great things.

No individual desks, just tables.  Boy do I love G's smile!!

Here's the last shot before I left my wonderful G in the care of his new teacher.  I can't deny that there is still a little tug at my heart...  I love you G!

After school!!!  Time to meet G at the bus stop!!!  D was so excited to have his older brother back that he just about ran the entire distance!

Jennifer is still our wonderful bus driver and there is G after his first day of Second grade!!

Yep, it was a good day at school!

And it's also good to have brothers together again!

Congrats on a great first day of Second Grade G!!  We love you!!

Another missing tooth...with Grandpa's help!

Our oldest son has been losing teeth left and right it seems.  Well, at least his top left and right middle teeth.  This last one he asked Grandpa for some help after I mentioned that Grandpa always helped my teeth come out when I was little and my teeth were really wiggly.  Even though it has been a few years since he had helped me with my teeth, it didn't take long at all for him to get the necessary tools.  Notice the dental floss on the counter and the two expressions...hmmm.

Oooohhh, flashbacks to when I was young.  Did I ever mention how much I truly hate all things dental??  I put on a brave face this day though.  I'm a mom now...that's just what we do.  :)

Grandpa then helped G slip a loop around the loose tooth.  Notice G is still thinking this might be fun...

and then reconsiders a bit!

Grandpa let G be the one to pull on the floss, but then G asked Grandpa if he would do it.  To all our surprise, the floss broke with the tooth still intact!

They didn't let that stop this tooth extraction.  Another length of floss was quickly dispensed from the container and a knot tied.  This time the tooth came out and flew onto the floor.  G was so surprised that his tooth was out that he forgot to look for the missing tooth.  Good thing Grandpa knew where it went.

Both were thrilled with the experience!  It's nice to know Grandpa hasn't lost his touch when it comes to wiggly teeth.

What's not to love about this grin!!  Congrats on a true toothless smile!!

Thanks for sharing your talents once again Grandpa!  We love you so much!! 

(We love you even when all teeth stay put too...just in case you were wondering!!)

Last day of 1st grade

I can't even express how excited I am for school to be out and for Summer to begin!

Today is the last of school and G will officially, or semi-officially, be a 2nd grader (at least that is what he's been telling us for the last few weeks!)

The two younger boys and I were waiting at the school to pick him up!

When they finally came out we were so happy to congratulate G on such a wonderful year!  I was also able to thank his wonderful teacher, Mrs. Rose.  She was perfect for him!

One of Gavin's good friends came over for a picture too!!  Yea Logan!!

And we couldn't leave without G telling his busdriver, Jennifer, thank you for all her work!  She even had some candy for him to have and share with his brothers.  We've been lucky enough to have Jennifer as our busdriver for the past two years.  Hopefully we'll get her again next year!

At the last minute I realized that all the teachers had gathered at the exit of the school to wave good-bye to all the departing students.  I quickly grabbed my camera without causing too much of a traffic delay--hence through the windshield.

As we drove down the road to our home, I couldn't help but get a few tears in my eyes.  What a wonderful year G's 1st grade has been.  He has learned so much and done so well.  I think we have all earned a truly wondeful summer!  YAHOO!!

Toothy grin

How's this for a perfect smile?

We love it too...especially the boy who's wearing it!!

Beautiful bubbles

I don't say this too often, but I'm going to say it now...

Everyone ready?  I'm about to say it.  Yep, here it comes.



Today, I was a cool mom.




There you go.  Sometimes it's just got to be said!

Okay, now that it's been said, I guess I should really explain what happened, and maybe let the cat out of the bag that I really am not that cool of a mom, but I just chose to respond in a good way.  I did say that right, didn't I?  I CHOSE to respond in a good way.  And for that reason, I am going to say that I was a cool mom today.

I'm coming to see, after my vast years of motherhood, that so much of how a day turns out is in the choices a mother makes.  Do we choose to play with our children or just get the house cleaned?  Do we choose to use multiple bandaids on a visually non-existant cut when our little guys come running with an owie and claim that nothing but the Scooby Doo bandaids will help! (is that how owie is spelled??  Yep, I just Googled it.  Who would've known!!)  Do we choose to let our kids run free in the muck and mud of a wonderfully messy pond/creek even if baths will need to follow and other seemingly important items on the never ending To-Do list will need to be sacrificed for another day?  Yes, I believe it is in the choices we make, minute-by-minute, that often dictate the tones of our days.  Now, that being said, I do realize that sometimes the To-Do list really does need to get done and all of that.  And maybe I've even been guilty of stopping my kids from getting out all the Hotwheel paraphernalia after I have finally put it all away.  But today, I was cool.  Did I mention that?  I was a cool mom today.

Bubbles.

We're not talking the little bubbles that disappear into nothing.  Nope, the bubbles that we currently have in our home are some sort of hybridized super-bubbles!  Really.  They don't pop and if you leave them alone they will still be around hours later.  I know this from experience.  This is one of the reasons we generally only use them outside.

I had just finished getting dried off from the shower, dressed and was putting things away in my room when our oldest son came running in with obvious excitement on his face.  He almost pulled me out as he said "Please come mommy!  Come look at this!!"  The two older boys had been playing StarWars earlier so I thought there was a new Lego base that they had made for their guys to blow up, or something like that. 

I was wrong. 

As I came out to the top landing, I was met by hundreds of bubbles!  It really was amazing!  I wish I would have had my camera then!  It was just beautiful!  We all laughed as we looked at all the bubbles!

This is how it started.

Then they moved downstairs.

And back upstairs again.  This next picture is nothing like the mass of bubbles I was greeted with when I came out of my bedroom, but it shows a few lingering in the air.

This is what the floor was filled with!

Beautiful,

perfect,

bubbles.

And this is what the center of it all looked like where the majority of bubbles and drippings had landed.

And then it was irresistable not to try and touch or pop the bubbles with feet...

Remember, these bubbles are almost indestructable.  They don't go away with just a damp cloth.  They take about a half hour's worth of scrubbing.

And I did it with a smile on my face.

See, I'm a cool mom...maybe just for today, but I try.

I love you boys.  I love your exploring, experimenting, curious hearts and minds.  Thank you for sharing with me so I could be excited about bubbles too.