Loud

And thus we see why I don't use the blender, vacuum, wheat grinder, etc., as often as I would like to.

I've developed many sore muscles trying to hold my terrified little boy while I do some of these things. Now I usually just wait for Sam to get home and take him to another room or outside.

Ked, almost 2

Family of Four

8/7/11 Day 5

I love this picture. I love my men. Ked wanted nothing to do with photo-taking, and it was Sam's job to get him smiling. He's smiling better in some of the other family pictures, but the rest of us don't look so good in them. ;)

Goofy shot. Sam and I keep saying, "I can't believe we're the parents of two kids!" It's definitely been a new challenge, but a great adventure too! We love our boys!

Exercise

While I do my exercise (usually just running around the gym while some of my friends do aerobics), Tyndale does his exercises too. I think this was the first time I saw him get up this much.

10/20/2011, 2 1/2 months old

Grammie

Mom came for a couple of weeks to help out while we adjusted to being parents of two boys. So thankful! Sam had done a fantastic job holding down the fort and taking care of Ked (and me!) for a few days. I was grateful he could get a break and focus more on his research/work again. Plus it was great just getting to spend time with my mom! We live way too far away from most of our families. . .

My mom (Grammie) with her 40th grandchild! Tyndale brought it back to a tie of 20 boys and 20 girls.

Love his skinny little spider legs!

Ked loved getting attention from his Grammie.

We took Mom to the pond on Virginia Tech campus for our FHE activity.

Yes, Tyndale was always trying to suck on something. :) He found his thumb on day 2, but only sucked on it a few times his first month.

William Tyndale

This video came out right after Tyndale was born.

Guapo

I just really like this picture.

Tyndale's first days

Day 6. I loved his round, round, little head and his cute, cute, cute little face.

Day 2, just after arriving home. Ked seems to like his little brother. Ked seemed so big to me even though I had only been gone less than two days!

Tyndale is wearing his father's outfit--what Sam wore when he was a newborn.

Day 3. Awake and alert.

Day 3, reading with "Papi." (For some reason, Ked switched from calling Sam "Papa" to "Papi" while I was at the hospital. I think it was his way of adding more endearment to the term, because Ked adds "-ie" or "-eh" to a lot of his favorite words; "truck-eh," "cup-eh," "moke-ie" [milk], etc.)

I like how the blues and yellows just happened to match up perfectly here.

Tyndale with the great doctor who delivered him. Tyndale's heart rate (during delivery) was looking bad and the doctor thought he'd have to use the vacuum, but then things looked okay. But when his head came out, I wondered why he looked so limp. Turns out the cord was wrapped around his neck, so tight that it couldn't be pulled over, but had to be clamped and cut. Scary! Thankfully our doctor was really fast, and soon enough our beautiful little boy was releasing his first tiny cries of life and then wriggling in my hands. Amazing.

(This photo was taken six weeks later. Since Tyndale came six days early, my mom wasn't in town to take pictures. Or watch Ked. Thanks to a great friend who had earlier offered to be on call if I went in labor in the middle of the night! She got a call at 2:30am and stayed the night and morning, taking great care of Ked.)

Chelsey!

Chelsey is one of those names you can't just say; you have to exclaim. I love this woman. I am grateful for the great blessing she has been to my life. And I love that somehow she ended up all the way across the US in the same stake as me, and that we found each other during Stake Conference as we were off to nurse our babies.

When we last saw each other, she was single and I was newly married. We had spent a good year or so before that as neighbors, wading through the single life and all the challenges and decisions and heartaches and fun and adventure that can accompany that. And now here we are, as wives and mothers! It was really fun to catch up a little and agree that this new challenge of motherhood is just as hard as the previous, but oh, so rewarding!

Love Note

Always nice to fine little messages!

Provo Tabernacle Temple

I always love and look forward to General Conference, when all our Church leaders, true modern-day prophets and apostles, speak to us. I love that we can now watch it from home via the internet, making nursing, nap-time, and general child care much easier!

I loved that this October Ked actually enjoyed it as well! He liked to point out "prophet," "Monson" and "Uchtdorf." The best was when he started conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And he knew instinctively to fold his arms and be ready for the prayer when the song ended (as shown here). But then he'd get confused after an intermediate hymn, when they didn't pray after. :)

As always, I felt comforted, corrected, and directed by so many of the wonderful talks given. I could go on and on about that, but that's what my journal is for. ;)

I do have to mention, though, that I was absolutely exuberant when they announced that the old, recently burned down Provo Tabernacle would be re-built (leaving the outside the same) into a temple!

I took this picture from a friend's blog. She (living nearby) took this picture the day after the announcement. If you look closely, you can see I wasn't the only one excited about the announcement. I love this building. I loved the decade or so I was privileged to attend various meetings and functions in it's beautiful, beautiful interior that early pioneers had worked and sacrificed so much to build. Stake conferences, BYU graduations of friends and siblings, singing in a choir, firesides, Christmas programs (including a date with Sam when we were first married and got to pet a camel and other animals outside afterwards), etc. I was pretty heart broken when I heard about the whole interior being burned up. There is no way to regain what was previously there, but what better way to restore it than into a temple?!

Here's a rendering of what it will soon look like. I hope we can go through it someday. I'm always up for a trip back to one of my beloved homes!

Tyndale's Blessing Day, Oct. 9, 2011

Tyndale was given a beautiful blessing by his father in church. It confirmed to me things I'd already felt about his special spirit, as well as giving me new insight into this precious son of mine. He was such a handsome little man in his blessing outfit.

Love the smiley stage! It's been said he looks like he would do well in a horse saddle. :)

Our sad attempt at getting a happy family picture. The little ones were tired and hungry and done with taking pictures! (That's our home in the background--the upstairs portion.)

We were so happy to have Sam's parents come for a visit and be a part of the blessing.

Ked loved having Oma and Opa around. Especially getting extra attention from Oma. She was great about taking him outside and doing other things with him while I was busy with Tyndale.

Oma (Sam's mom) giving Ked an FHE lesson about Abinadi.

Ked absolutely refuses to wear any jacket or sweatshirt other than this "dragon" one my friend Kristel gave him at birth.

Day of Service

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the LDS Church's Welfare Program (which I'm discovering more and more is pretty amazing!) all were asked to participate in a day of service.

I thought it was pretty cool too, that our Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell even proclaimed Sept. 24, 2011 to be our state's Day of Service, announcing, "2011 marks the 75th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' welfare program, an effort which has improved the lives of countless individuals in our Commonwealth, these United States, and throughout the world, and which should be a model to all organizations and faiths as we work together to build a true Commonwealth of Opportunity."

Sam and I debated whether to just have Sam go and really help, or to bring the whole family (both boys) and just kind of help. I'm glad we decided it should be a family event. Ked loved it, and Tyndale slept like a champ a good portion of the time, allowing us to participate a lot anyway.

I have to admit, ever since I first saw those Mormon Helping Hands yellow vests and t-shirts in Spanish and Portuguese (it started years ago in Latin America), I've always wanted a Mormon Helping Hands t-shirt. True, we weren't cleaning up after a major natural disaster or anything, but it was fun to work together and do a little something to improve our community. We did get the t-shirts too. . . just not until after it was over.

Ked loved working with the tools. And everyone was patient with him (and all the other kids) even though he was mostly in the way!

Sam and our friends from church mulching the trail at the nearby park.

Kid corner. Tyndale (in the middle) sleeping like a champ!

Sept. 24, 2011

Chew-Chew

Conversation with Ked, while I'm changing his messy diaper. . .

Me: Ked, you need to chew your food better, Buddy.

Ked: Choo-choo! Tika-tika-tika-tika-tika-tika-tik, choo-choo!

Yes, my boy is obsessed with trains.

One of the many objects Ked has turned into a train.

Where his name came from. . .

Tyndale: William Tyndale has been one of my heroes since I first learned about him in a World History class at BYU. Born around 1490, he became a devoted student of the Bible, and the "pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply." Fluent in eight languages, he undertook the translation of the Bible into English from the original Greek and Hebrew text, hoping that all would be able to read directly from it. Church leadership at the time was very much against what he was doing. In an exchange with one clergyman, he exclaimed, "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!" (1) He performed this work at great personal sacrifice, heavily persecuted and eventually martyred.

It's estimated that the King James Version of the Bible retains roughly 80% of Tyndale's translation, and his work has been the foundation of almost all English forms of the Bible. I am so grateful to him and to many others who understood the importance of everyone being able to read directly from scripture, and who sacrificed so much for it to be so. Not only so that I and my family and friends can do so, but because in the early 1800s, it also allowed a 14 year old farm boy in upstate New York to be able to do so. . .

Coincidentally, this year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and we have been noticing William Tyndale's name being mentioned even more often, even after we'd already decided on it. (He was even in the centerfold of this month's Ensign. (click here for the web version)

We considered spelling our Tyndale's name more like it sounds (rhymes with 'kindle'), but ultimately, we decided to keep the most commonly accepted spelling.

(1) As quoted from Boyd K. Packer in May 2011 Ensign, from David Daniell, introduction to Tyndale's New Testament (1989), viii.

William Tyndale is featured in this window in the Emmanuel College chapel, Cambridge. Photo by Kenneth Mays, Ensign, August 2011.

Conrad: When I was in grade school, I read and loved a book called Konrad. Ever since then, I thought I might name a son that. Then I found out that two of my sisters had the same plan, and that my grandfather's middle name was Conrad! Somehow, my sisters (who had all their kids before I'd started) let me win. I love the name even more knowing it was Grampa's middle name. He was always a man I loved and respected and was comfortable around; one who was kind and who always encouraged me towards worthy endeavors and good works, both by word and example.

And somehow, it turned out that Sam really liked both of these names (and who they honor) too!

Introducing Tyndale Conrad

Tyndale Conrad

(Tyndale rhymes with 'kindle')

Born August 3, 2011

7:38am

6 lbs 12 oz

19 3/4 inches long

We are loving him! This was the same afternoon when Sam brought Ked.

More details/photos to come. . . eventually.

Me and My Boys

Sunday, July 31, 2011; almost 39 weeks

Ward Campout

Before the annual ward campout, a member of the bishopric gave me special instructions to not go into labor until after it was over. Sam was asked to give a talk/fireside at it. He did a great job, and I received a public thank you for not going into labor. (This was July 29-30; I went into labor on Aug. 2nd.) I always love this event and was really glad we could make it.

Sam starting the morning fire with a bunch of the kids. Ked had a great time being outside and getting really dirty. Obviously I failed at my attempt to teach him to not sit on the grill.

We had a great time playing in the creek by our campsite. The little fish were cool, but as usual, Ked mostly liked just throwing rocks in the water.

Feeling Spoiled

Our new home. Cheaper rent than our old 2-BR apartment (well, until you add utilities. . .), but 3 bedrooms, basement storage, much bigger kitchen, a balcony deck, a yard to call our own, parking right next to the door, and best of all, a washer and dryer. Lovin' it!

Sam with Ked playing in the sprinkler. (Another couple lives below us, which is one of the downsides, since the place is old and rickety and I'm sure we drive them crazy with all the noise we make on the hardwood floors. . . but they are nice!)

And yes, the day I have been waiting for!!!! A garden to call my own. Okay, so it's really small and doesn't get quite as many hours of sun as it should, but it's something, and I'm also putting garden containers on the balcony deck--the place even came with some!

36 weeks along

The Opportunistic Cowboy

Sometimes I think Ked purposely spills food so that I get down to clean it up and he can climb on top of me. This morning he even said, "G'yup!" when he got on.

His Enemy, My Love

I originally probably thought it was a little odd when my sister Ginger posted a picture of her "new best friends"--a washer and dryer--on her blog. http://jasondgingerd.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-new-best-friends.html Obviously that was before I had a kid. I LOVE having a washer and dryer.

Only problem is that this one buzzes REALLY loud and long when it's done (with no option to not have it come on, until we open it up and get to the wires. . . ). Ked is already known for being really sensitive to loud noises. He doesn't get as terrified as when we first moved in, and has learned to cover his ears, but it's still a little traumatic. This picture was taken probably half a minute after the buzzer had been off.

Elder Z

While I was home, I found these picture of my "baby brother." He is working hard and loving it as a missionary in New Jersey, Spanish speaking.

Derek left right when Ked was born and will be returning home soon after our #2 is born. Can't wait to see him again, and for him to meet two more of his nephews. He will be a great example for them to look up to.

Back at the Ranch

Ked was maybe a little too comfortable with the horses. . .

He kept offering them rocks. I finally showed him the tangerines and he was much more successful, though I kept fearing the horses would bite his whole hand off. They didn't, but they left plenty of orange slime on his hands.

Playing with Papa on all of Grampa's cool toys.

Hooray for Sam finally being there with us!

Picking berries with Holly and Lindy from bushes I planted years ago. They sure don't grow as easily there as out here in Virginia!

Some of the cousins born within a year of Ked.

Porter, Ked, Claire, and Dane. You can't tell here, but Porter started cracking up laughing so hard--it was awesome. Ked liked holding him.

And sometimes it was all just a little too much. . .

Ked, Lindy, Holly, Kaden, Brady, Dane

May 2011, Ked 19 months