Love!

This guy went and got himself hitched!

His wife is beautiful. Marshall was stunning. It was so much fun!

I've known Marshall for a long time, like since we were 13. So 8 years! Wow. 

And Carol is perfect for Marshall in every way. I love the new Leishman family! Marshall is still and forever will be one of my best friends. 

{We're both very excited to get our 3 other friends back! Ethan is home from the Philippines in October, Adrian is home from South Africa in December, and Viktoria is home from South Korea in February!}

Congratulations to Marshall and Carol! We love you. 

BVJ13

What a cray cray weekend!

None other than BIG VALLEY JAMBOREE!!! Which is my favorite weekend of the whole year. Ever. And that includes July 1 weekend. 

This year we got weekend passes, but decided to drive back and forth between Camrose and Edmonton, a good choice considering how much I love my bed. 

We totes got to see Travis Tritt, Aaron Lines, Gord Bamford, Rosanne Cash, Small Town Pistols (also known as The Wilkinsons, my favorite childhood country band), Terri Clark, Big & Rich, Rodney Atkins, ALAN JACKSON (who is kind of old and boringish, while still being fun to watch), LUKE BRYAN (who is a stinking incredible performer. And hot. Super hot.), and TIM MCGRAW (who is my all time favorite country singer ever of all time and I love him.
Things we learned this year that we will follow through with next year:

• Taking your own food is always a good idea. We spent <$40 (minus my t-shirt cause those suckers are not cheap!) the whole weekend! Sandwiches, water, fruit, licorice, crackers, popcorn, etc. 
• Hats for everyone. Sunnies too.
• Umbrellas are not allowed. Take ponchos. Or steal them from CISN Country. In addition, waterproof stroller covers work fairly well in lieu of an umbrella. 
• Get lawn chairs with foot rests! ugh.
• Charger. Your. Camera.
• Make a portable cell phone charger There is nothing worse than finding out your phone is dead when Tim McGraw is on stage :( 
• The end.

Ready for some photographs? Ok go. 

Carter loved this little "family vehicle"

Country up!

What?

Enjoying the sunshine.

Happy little country loving family!

So there's that.

The smallest cowboy hat we could find. Next year, Jackie boy. Next year.

Happy mornings!

Mmmmhm.

Morning after. Hey there.

Getting all pumped up!

Family photo op!

Why I stopped breastfeeding.

Don't get me wrong. I loved the bond I formed with Jack through the most primal motherly duty. I loved hearing his little whimper and knowing that only I could fix his world. I love knowing that in his earliest stages of life, when he was floating between the other side and this side, that my breast milk was his nectar of everything good. I love that I was able to provide him with that one basic necessity. I'm incredibly proud of myself for maintaining the ability to breastfeed in those first difficult months. I'm proud of him for learning so early. 

When that nurse informed me that Jack wasn't growing and would need to be hospitalized, my heart broke. I begged her to let us try something new and she agreed. 

Formula. I've never been pro-formula. I never thought I would need to be. But watching my baby become more alert while staying the same size as a newborn was harder than giving up the one thing I should be able to do for him. 

On Friday, July 19,Jack weighed 6 lb 13 oz. On Wednesday, July 24, 5 days after starting formula and 3 days after giving up breastfeeding, Jack weighed 7 lb 15 oz. 

There was no contest. Jack is a formula baby.

It was hard to stop nursing. But as long as Jack is happy, healthy, and growing I'm okay. 

Bonuses: I can leave Jack and not feel guilty (or engorged). I can buy a pretty non-nursing bra. I can go back on normal birth control. I can drink as much Diet Coke as my tummy can handle. I can eat spicy food. 

Best of all: my scrawny baby is developing a double chin. 

{4 months}

mister jack has come so far!

he is 16 weeks, 4 days. that puts him 5 weeks past his due date.

he still only weighs 6 lb 14 oz, so he's having a hard time gaining weight. :( hopefully the new formula they gave us will help us boost him. fingers crossed!

jack was sleeping 6-8 (sometimes 11!!) hours at night, but we've hit the 4 month sleep regression, so for the last week he's been waking up 2-3 times a night, and only taking 30-45 minute naps during the day. but he hasn't been very cranky, thank goodness.

he loves cuddling, sleeping on his tummy, showering with dad, the ceiling fans at grandma's house, being outside, being in mama's wrap, and eating.

he very strongly dislikes being naked, being cold or hot, swimming (we're working on it!), sitting in the carseat for extended periods of time, when mama goes to the bathroom, and being weighed.

the biggest change since i last posted?

NO MORE OXYGEN!!!!!!!!

just after the canada day weekend, his RT decided he could be off it during the day. the first night we put him on it.. then kind of just stopped. i gave it to him in the carseat for a couple days after that, but then we kind of just stopped that too. the last time he had oxygen was july 8. :) even on our way back from raymond i didn't give it to him. i put a snuza monitor on him and off we went!

i'm still waiting patiently for a smile, but he can almost hold his head up!

baby steps :)

July Long

This was the weekend we've been waiting for!

Friday night we drove down to Raymond, Saturday was Aunt Susie's surprise party (success!), Saturday night was our baby shower, Sunday was Jack's baby blessing, and Monday was Canada Day!

I don't really have much to write about any of the above, just a butt ton of pictures.

[PS - Thanks a BILLION to everyone who brought us gifts over the weekend. I'm so excited to get him into all the clothes and use all the toys, etc. And to everyone who came to the blessing/BBQ. It was so good to introduce Jack to everyone.]

Dad Day

Today's the day we celebrate these guys.

Dads and grandpas. 

This year, another guy got added into the mix.

It's Carter's first father's day!

I'm so grateful to all these incredible men. 

I especially want to send a shout out to my dad for having the wisdom to give Carter and I blessings before Jack was born. I 100% attribute our calmness during the air ambulance transfer and prepping me for the OR to that blessing. 

Another shout out to Carter for giving Jack a blessing as soon as he was able to. I never had a doubt in my mind that Jack was going to survive, and that is because of the calming effect the Spirit gave me because of the priesthood.

So, to Carter and Dale and Cameron and Max and LaDell and Wayne and Gordon: Happy Father's/Grandfather's/Great-grandfather's Day! 

My baby is the luckiest to have such amazing male role models to look up to.

This sums up mine and Dad's relationship.

I'mma daddy's girl.

Happy high school grad!

Me 'n Grandpa A

University Grad w/ the rentals. 

This is the only picture I could find with Grampa M. in it! And Grandpa A. happens to be in it too haha

Holding Jack for the first time

It's also our dad's first father's day as grandfathers!