My Baby Girl
Jess/Stanley Black Friday Adventure...
We had a surprise visit from Dan Smith, my friend and ex-co-worker from my DFCU days, or as Stanley calls him 'break-room Dan.' We stood in that rain for 2 hours. It was horrible! After 2 rounds of 20 questions and a 5 minute spat of naming off things that were warm we finally made it in to Best Buy at 5 am. It was time to divide and conquer. I was in charge of finding the V-tech phone, the WII games, and then Stanley. He was going after the movies, and the tv series seasons. We found a few extra movies and made it out of Best Buy at 5:45am. We decided to stop by Kohls and look at their dress coats for Men. We didn't find anything but a euphoric delirium as we somehow wobbled our way back to his 'slick' little car. (Slick is the name for his passat...) After going 40mph down Bangerter, and weaving worse than a drunkard on New Years we made it to my house at 6am. Stanley made it up the stairs and resumed 'his side' of my bed and was out within 2 seconds of his head hitting the pillow. I turned my mattress on to high (I have a heated mattress, not an electric blanket... but the mattress itself is wired to heat up. I can't heat it by myself. It's too big.) so that we would heat up faster and slipped in to my silky pants. I refuse to sleep in jeans if I don't have to. It was 6:09am when I finally joined Stanley on the bed. He had rolled up in the blanket I had thrown on him. It was freaking hilarious! I was too tired to take a picture so you'll just have to picture Stanley rolled up like a pig in a blanket... in a light blue ladybug/caterpillar/dragonfly fleece blanket. His mom called a bit later, as well as his aunt Jenni, and then his mom again all within that first hour. We had about 2 1/2 hours of peace until the members of my family started to rise. Emma (6) and Miranda (9) were quiet. However my special needs aunt (twenty-something... 26...?) began to yell "let go of the plane Jessi" at the tv screen. She gets all in to whatever movie she is watching. Emma started yelling "BE QUIET LAURA" and and then all was quiet for maybe 30 minutes. How Stanley slept through this I do not know... Anyway, Emma came upstairs crying so I got up to quiet her. Stanley woke up to my moving, but was asleep again shortly after affirming I was okay. It was about 45 minutes later that my dad came in, shook his head at Stanley crashed on my bed and carried on with asking for my help in finding out what my mom wants for Christmas. He had to pull me out again 5 mintues later to get the computer to work so he could have my grandpa and Johanna preview the commercial I am doing for his store. I went back upstairs and snuggled up in my blankets again for another hour until Christina Dehlin called and recommended Stanley check out JC Penny's before the day ended. He rolled over and asked me if I would be okay with going there at 11:30. We wound up sleeping until 12:30... We got up and headed out to the District. His mom had picked out the perfect brown dress shoes. We found a leather belt that matched perfectly, and we left for target. We got a Starbucks hot chocolate to share and wandered around for a bit. Neither of us felt rested in the least bit, but it was an adventure well worth experiencing! I'd do it again next year, and will most likely wind up doing so. However, if we are going to wait in line at best buy again I am wearing two pairs of socks with hand warmers in my pockets, and a thermos of hot chocolate whether I am in the mood for it or not!!! 'Hello Dolly!' presented by Bingham High School. Performing Arts Department.
Stanley and I went to Bingham High School Production of Hello Dolly. As always, it was phenomenal! Willden can pull out talent like nobody's business! As per usual, Stanley was his smarty pants self when it came to musicals. However, as this is one of his very favorites I just sat back and had to laugh at all his remarks. It was my first time experiencing this musical, and I left it with a love for this musical as well. I can't wait to see it in movie form... Though I may have to watch it twice because with Stanley as my musical companion I won't hear the actual movie, he'll be quoting it for me. Ha! Anyone care for a movie night...?...!
Dolly Levi (Emily Mecham) was beautiful, she could sing, but (and I have to take Stanley's word on this) she couldn't deliver her lines quickly enough. However, the song that 'defined' her worthiness was simply flawless, so she as well got the generous approval!
Irene Malloy (Katelin Brook Smith) was my personal favorite. That girl could sing! She was simply delightful! (Even the Hello Dolly expert himself approved of her!)
Minnie Fay (Kelli Peterson) was perfect! She was up-beat, perky, and the perfect spazz! Her lines were delivered beautifully, and you were simply caught up in her energy!
Ermengarde (Rebecca Bolduc) my goodness that girl could cry on cue. It was fantastic! she was absolutely perfect, but that is just my view. We didn't hear much from her, but what we did hear was hilarious!
Ernestina (Cassie Fletcher) I didn't see her much, but I had to laugh every time I did! She was brilliant!
Horace Vangergelder (Marc Wells) was most entertaining. He was positively horrid! Just the way he was supposed to be! The boy delievered!
Ambrose Kemper (Tyler Okleberry) He was the perfect little artist around! His costume was perfect, as was his delivery in it!
Cornelius Hackl (Alex Jensen) wasn't (from what I hear, I haven't seen the movie yet.) Michael Crawford... but he was comical from what I saw. I was impressed by him.
Barnaby Tucker (Taybor Abplanalp) I loved this kid! He was absolutely, positively, flat out, funny! (and no I did not misspell his name...)
Rudolph (Steven Hermansen) Oh goodness! The accent, the mannerisms, the stage presence! I could see his facial expressions from the back row! It was quite impressive!
Michelle Willden and her team of wonder women/men created a materpiece! The set design, the costumes, the chorus abilities, and of course the choreography. All ring a true testiment to the wonderous abilities that woman has in putting on a show even the most "macho" of men will enjoy! Truly a hit!
LA Temple And The Miracles It Experienced During Prop. 8
My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:
My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional.
She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started.
The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.
On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen:
A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple.
Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".
I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ,
Develop A Passion For Learning. If You Do, You Will Never Cease To Grow. Anthony J. D'Angelo
Guy friend sitting next to me: "That's attractive"
Me: "It's a good thing I'm not trying to attract you then."
Guy friend sitting next to me: "It's a good thing you aren't trying to impress me."
Me: "Do I need to?" my though process...(What the heck!?)
Guy friend sitting next to me: "It would be nice if you did"
Again... What the heck! How does a girl go about trying to 'impress' a guy that doesn't really comment on or compliment anything she does, wears, or says. Also, what is he insinuating by this comment? ...maybe I am over annalyzing...
Where Do You Go When You're Lonely...
Pony- Erin McCarley
Ave Maria - Jewel
Music... my other escape...
Mothers... new, old, expecting, and the hopeful...
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) I know we've all heard about it. However, if you properly research it, you'll find that they are quite mistaken about a few things.
Young parents, especially the fathers, get frustrated when their baby cries in the middle of the night. They aren't hungry, they aren't hurt, but the minute they pick them up the babe instantly falls to sleep again. All they wanted was comfort. Think of it this way. That baby has been with someone constantly for the past 9 -10 months. The sounds of the womb and the mothers breathing as a lullaby. Girls, what is a main reason that we cry? Loneliness... That baby is placed in a cold, hard crib, far away from anyone. Surrounded by frightening objects in the dark... sheesh! I'd cry too! Mothers, sleep with you newborn babies. It is a myth that you will roll over and smother them. If you do your homework, you'll find that those couples they used as a basis for the research were obese or intoxicated. The fact of the matter is, SIDS happens when the babies heart suddenly stops beating. A newborns heart is in sync with the mothers. Their tiny hearts use the mothers to form a rhythm, and a pattern. Placing the baby away from you while they sleep will sometimes startle the heart, and it will stop because it doesn't fully understand what to do yet. The same with breathing. Those systems are so new, and fragile. They are still learning. My daddy used to sleep with me on his chest. (I am the first child) There were moments when my breathing would halt and he'd jerk awake until I started breathing again. My mother has slept with every one of her children in the crook of her arm. That way if the baby started choking, stopped breathing, or woke in the middle of the night hungry she was right there. Though, not one of my mom's kids has ever woken screaming in the middle of the night unless they were sick...
If you aren't comfortable with placing your baby in between you and your husband, at least place the baby in a basinet next to your bed. Don't give me the whole, well, we have a baby monitor next to our bed. We'll be fine. By the time you wake up and realize that your baby isn't breathing, and run to their room will be too late. Crib mattresses are flame retardant. It is illegal to make them any other way. The problem with this is, the chemicals used to make it flame resistant are toxic to a baby. This in one reason why they tell you not to place the baby on it's stomach while sleeping. In Europe and Canada they have designed a specially made crib mattress cover. It has dual layers. A plastic layer that will help trap the toxins and keep them encased, and a soft top layer for the baby to sleep on. It is required that you purchase a mattress cover when purchasing a crib in these locations. I don't know why the US hasn't picked up on this yet.
The last issue I will address in this blog/note is breast feeding. Awkward to some, beautiful to others. Either way it is still the most beneficial thing you will do for your baby. Breast feeding is also a special time of bonding for the mother and the baby. The Lord gave us boobs for a reason. No men, it isn't just a pleasing feature. They are a means to raise healthy children. Breast milk is the most baby friendly substance out there. It fortifies and strengthens the baby's immune system. They receive the most nutrition from it, and it keeps the baby's digestive system happy. Formula is hard for a new system to work through. It has to work double time to break down the formula into nutrients, often times constipating the baby. If you have ever felt a formula fed baby's stomach you'll notice that it is hard as rock. This is because the formula hardens in the system and refuses to completely digest. Creating a horrific belly ache and a very unhappy baby. Breast milk is another of God's miracles. It makes for a happy, healthy baby with a soft tummy. Often called the "perfect food" for a human baby's digestive system, breast milk's components - lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat - are easily digested by a newborn's immature system. Not to mention it is FREE! Formula gets expensive over time. As a group, formula-fed infants have more difficulty with digestion than do breastfed infants. Breast milk tends to be more easily digested so that breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation. Breast milk also naturally contains all the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates formula companies to ensure that they provide all the known necessary nutrients in their formulas. Commercial formulas do a pretty good job of trying to duplicate the ingredients in breast milk - and are coming closer - but haven't matched their exact combination and composition. Why? Because some of breast milk's more complex substances are too difficult to manufacture and some have not yet been identified. Again, the Lord knew what he was doing when he created the woman. He made us with the ability to carry and feed the baby. Both in the womb and out. Our bodies keep the milk at the perfect temperature. No need to worry about it being too cold and lumpy, or burning the baby's tongue! Breast milk has been proven to to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Not to mention the higher IQ factor. Recent studies have shown that children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months have IQ's 5-10 points higher than children who were formula fed. Breastfeeding is beneficial for the mom too! It burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so you can return to your pre-pregnancy shape and weight a lot quicker. It also lowers the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, and helps reduce the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. Oh, and did I mention that a breastfed baby's poop doesn't have a scent. So, until you incorporate solid foods into your babies diet you won't be able to perceive a smell. I understand that some women can't breastfeed and other just aren't willing to do it in public, or at all. For those of you embarrassed by breastfeeding, I would suggest you invest in what is called a breast pump. This pumps the milk so that you can freeze and refrigerate the breastmilk. If you refuse to breastfeed, Enfamil is the best you will be able to find. It is the most gentile, and easy to digest. Also, DO NOT get iron fortified until your baby is 9 months or older. They cannot handle the added iron. It is too hard for them to digest. Use sterilized water to mix with the powder or condensed formula until the baby is at least 6 months of age. If the baby doesn't finish a bottle, after 1 hour throw the unused milk out. Don't microwave the bottles. It will cook chemicals from the plastic bottle into the formula which is extremely dangerous to your baby. Run refrigerated bottles under warm water. That goes for both breastmilk and formula bottles.
If there is something you don't feel I covered well enough, or you have questions of any sort... please feel free to ask. I or my mother will be able to answer any questions or worries you may have. My mom is a licensed and registered midwife, and I've just studied this a bit too much... :)
My "Pocket" Friend...
I have a deep respect, and adoration for Victoria. She is such an amazing person. She has been through Hell and back on several occasions and rises to the top of her battles. Always. Optimistic, and constantly giggling. She has such a sweet spirit, and a love for the world around her. She knows what she wants, and she isn't afraid to do what it takes to get it. That is something that demands respect. I appreciate her, and the willingness she has to put up with my constant whining about whatever is going on at the moment. Her testimony, and gifts are astonishing. This girl will go far, and I am so happy I get to be a part of it! I couldn't dream up a better "pocket" friend... I didn't know there even was such a thing... hahaha!
Peaches 'n' Cream, with a hint of Lace..
The Twilight series. If I get one more overly 'Utahan Mormon' telling me that series is of the devil, I will laugh in your face. Bella, just like any other normal teenager has a desire to have sex with the guy she loves. However, as this was written by a BYU grad you know that she won't until after they are successfully married. Even then, you don't read a sexual scene. You read the morning after... with the two of them engaged in a "feather fight." Yes, I do mean actual feathers... like from a down feather pillow. And you say I'm sinful...
Coffee, coffee, coffee... yes I will admit it, I love the scent of coffee, and I love the Jamocha flavored ice-cream from Baskin Robbins. Starbucks is a favorite, and I'll tell you what... God doesn't love me any less because of it! I love their frapps, and especially their hot-chocolates. I'll even ask for a coffee flavored drink every now and again. I will say in my defense I typically ask for a cream base, (meaning no actual coffee) with the coffee flavoring. Though yes, I have had a coffee based frapp... I'm not asking you to like what I like. Nor will I ever pressure anyone to try coffee. But here's the thing... Don't place a judgement upon my shoulders because of it. I won't point fingers here (though I'd really take quite a lot of pleasure in doing so...) but who the Hell are you, to point fingers down on me!? It is required of you to love all men, to forgive any wrong done to you (though what I enjoy, and how I am has nothing to do with you) but the Lord will place a judgement, and forgive whom he will... so hike up your skirts ladies, and trudge back through the muck you've been spreading. I spew the occasional word, I enjoy the occasional flavor, and I love cracking a joke. However, I have a testimony of the LDS church and it's laws, I love my Savior, and I am a good person. We all have our flaws, and we all have our little quirks... but do not hold mine against me, because I will not hold myself above calling you out on the floor.
Have a wonderful day...
Fist Full Of Glitter...
This is Temple Square when my very favorite tree is lit. I call it the "Red Tree" it has quite the history... and is only lit every other year. Sadly, this is an off year. I will have to wait until next year to sit under it. :) ... Yes I do actually sit... Standing under it alone is just silly!
How cool is this picture! Snow at it's best! Hit up starbucks for a salted caramel signature hot chocolate! They're amazing!!! Tagged... again...
**Who tagged me? The One, The Only, Amy Rust!
1- I forget to eat... I'm not anorexic, or doing it on purpose, I genuinely forget to eat. I don't really ever get hungry. So, it's not until I start to get dizzy or start shaking that I realize I haven't eaten yet. That's when I make a Wendy's run, or I whip out some random masterpiece.
2- Speaking of which... I love cooking. I don't normally broadcast that, but I do. Baking is included in that. When I have the house to myself for a weekend or a day I fill it with the scent of bread, and some amazing dishes... My family never knows... It's just our little secret. M-kay!
3- I don't turn my phone off... Ever. I just don't. I tried to leave it off for a day once. I made it 2 hours before I got major butterflies in my tummy telling me someone was trying to get my attention. I turned my phone on and I had 6 text messages, and a voice mail...
4- I have to do everything myself. I hate asking for help. I've gotten better at this since I've been friends with Sunnie and, Stanley, but I still wait until I've failed miserably before I'll even admit what I am trying to do. Even if it's painfully obvious... I guess it's just the Aries in me shining through!
5- Procrastination kicks my trash. I wait until the last moment to do just about everything. I think that about covers it... though it contradicts my next quirk.
6- I have to be on-time, or early to everything! I hate being late with a passion!
I tag... Shayla, Jenni, Marisa, Dustin, Preston, and Sunnie.