A Mother's Day with Two

The Jewels in my life
Jackman and James

I was reading my friend Tiffeny's blog, and I loved the excerpts that she had included from Elder Ballard's talk, "Daughters of God". These are exactly what I need to remember to keep me going, and to help me be a good mommy:

"I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood."

"What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

"Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."

"Pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, 'We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.'"

I love being a mommy. I don't like the titles mom, or mother, yet. I'm still mommy, and I love it. I love that my kisses are magic and can cure owies. I love that I can hug James goodnight, and sometimes he'll want me to "lay down mommy" while he tries to push my head towards his pillow, and sometimes I oblige. I love that Jack-Jack laughs so hard when I tickle him or play peek-a-boo. I love them, they love me. They need me, and I need them.

I love my mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and honorary grandmothers too, whether they are mine by blood or marriage. All the mothering women in my life are amazing.

I am so lucky to have them love and support me.

And so are my boys.

6 years on the 6th

Where it all started :)

May 6th, 2006
Just leaving the Denver Temple

This year was our "golden" anniversary
We hit 6 years on the 6th of May.

May 6th, 2007
First Anniversary

May 6th, 2008
2nd Anniversary

May 6th, 2009
Third Anniversary

May 6th, 2010
Fourth Anniversary



May 6th 2011
Fifth Anniversary

May 6th 2012
Six years on the sixth!

Mom and Dad Manwaring were here from graduation the day before, and since their anniversary is on the 5th, we got a sitter and all went out to eat.
We had wanted to try The Cheesecake Factory at the new CityCenter in Salt Lake, but they had a two and a half hour wait.
Kneaders it was because they had no wait :)
Afterwards we went to the Kura Door Spa and had couples massages, they just happened to have four openings that evening so we booked them earlier for a nice relaxing treat.
I am so lucky to have married such a wonderful man.
He treats me like a queen, is an excellent daddy, and we just compliment each other perfectly.
Here's to this year and the adventures we'll have!

Master of Information Systems

Nathan did it!

On May 4th he graduated from the University of Utah with a Master's of Science in Information Systems. His final project looked at comparing different drugs and EMR data (electronic medical records), and then recreating studies, all using the data. His professor asked if he wanted to do a pHD...we'll see:)

Congratulations Nathan, you worked so hard, and we are so proud of your accomplishment!

Now we get our daddy back!
There were these big red "U's" around all the entrances, I think they light up.


We were excited that Mom and Dad Manwaring came out for the graduation too.
I was thankful for the help during the actual ceremony.
I know they are so proud of Nathan too! Nathan's brother Robert graduated from ASU the morning before, and afterwards they hopped on a plane and came up to Utah to see Nathan graduate too.
We sat up at the top level of the Huntsman Center (basketball arena), and really, the sound system was awful. You couldn't hear much, and anytime anyone clapped, then you couldn't hear the next person's name being called.
There also wasn't a stage, and the graduates were so close to each other, there wasn't an opportunity to trip :(

Our family, we are very happy he's done!


James was a little unsure of Daddy's funny hat


Yeah, he did it!

Afterwards we headed to Texas Roadhouse for a great dinner.
Kirstin got to meet us there after her dog show in Salt Lake that day.
Thank you Nathan for being a great example for all of us!

Jackmans milestones

Some of Jack-Jack's milestones reached: 

Nov 1, 2011- first roll from tummy to back consecutively
Sept 12th, 2011 first smile caught on photo
Sept 23rd, 2011 first car trip to CO
Sept 25th, 2011 first night sleeping 8 hours, doing it consistently first week in October 2011
Oct 29th, 2011 last day breastfeeding, couldn't get to latch after
Nov 10th, 2011 feeling first tooth come in (didn't come in)
Dec 23rd, 2011 roll from back to tummy, at Karissa and Corys
Dec 24th, 2011 roll from back to tummy consistently
Feb 13th, 2012 sitting up on own in the bath, and playing, without falling over immediately
Dec 24th, 2011 first consistent solid food from here on out
March 7th, 2012 Jack has forward motion with crawling!
April 8, 2012 (Easter) found first tooth cut through! On his bottom left
April 9th, 2012 from crawling to sitting position!
April 10th, 2012 second tooth cut through, bottom right
May 13th, 2012 consistently pulling up on things