Thanksgiving in Iowa

We went to Des Moines for Thanksgiving and had a blast at Michael's sister's house. Westin was in heaven with Diana's family, their house is way more exciting than our little apartment! Fun kids and a dog, and Westin was just really entertained all week.

We left after Michael's morning patient to make the 7-hour road trip, and unfortunately it was on Westin's birthday. Luckily he doesn't know any better yet so he wasn't too mad about it. We decided to be really nice parents and let him eat ice cream for dinner that night to celebrate his birthday. You can see from the picture that he basically just wondered why we were giving him something so cold. But I think he still liked it? Happy birthday little guy, sorry about the car seat situation. Who wants to be strapped up to a seat for any amount of time, let alone an entire drive? Poor kids. Luckily we celebrated his birthday sans car seat the next day.

Westin's Grandma and Grandpa Daetwyler were there as well, so he had a lot of family around to sing him happy birthday the next morning! Holidays and birthdays are so much more fun with family. He didn't know what to think about everyone looking at him and singing a song he'd never heard before but he seemed to be amused by it all.

He needed his cousins to show him how to unwrap presents, and Michael helped with blowing out his candle. These are new concepts but he was happy to be in the middle of the action.

He needed no help, however, with his first chocolate cupcake. Westin eats two bran muffins every morning (plus fruit, plus yogurt, plus cheerios... this kid and breakfast, it's love), so when he started going at this cupcake you could just see his mind thinking, "This is the best muffin in the world."

Westin loved having Michael around for a full week. He hasn't seen that much of him all at once in a long time, and he now pushes me away when Michael is around. He can have mom time anytime he wants, so if dad's around, that is the only person he has eyes for now. I knew this was coming or I might be more sad about it. But really it's just so fun to watch those two together so who can feel bad.

Our nieces and nephews are such a good time. Michael and I were cracking up at the hand game songs that Jocelyn learns at school, and Madeline has such a fun personality. Ethan is talking so much more since last time we saw him and his voice is so dang cute. And it was SO fun to meet baby Elle for the first time! She is perfect.

For a while Westin seemed to be overwhelmed by other kids but in the last two months he has really started loving them more and more. So when he was suddenly surrounded by four kids all the time, he was so happy! Between cousins and a dog, I think he was ready to live in Des Moines forever.

Saying goodbye is always so much easier when you know when you'll see each other again -- we can't wait to play with the Findlays again at Christmas time! And if you can't tell from Westin's face, he's going to be pretty excited about that too.

We drove home that next Sunday and Westin somehow slept 5 hours of our 7 hour drive. It made for easy traveling but a super early morning the next day. He was rested and ready to party at 5:30 and honestly we still haven't gotten back on track somehow. I know 6:00 is a normal wake up time for so many people but I stopped loving early mornings the first day I was done with dance team in high school. Why are habits so easy to break? And soon we're headed to Utah for some time with my family, so we'll see how early mornings in Mountain Time go... Yikes!

Thanks for the fun Thanksgiving, Findlays! We loved visiting you!

Interview Season

We are just coming out of a busy couple months full of oral surgery residency interviews for Michael. He traveled to interviews almost every week on top of school lately, and needless to say he is sleeping on the couch while I write this. There are a lot of great programs and we are having a hard time ranking our list together. 

He visited Nashville, TN; Richmond, VA; Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; Boston, MA; Oklahoma City, OK; Cincinnati, OH; Charleston, SC; Fresno, CA; and the program here in Indianapolis. Westin and I joined him on a few of those and we loved that. Except babies hate hotels, and people in hotels hate people with babies. Sigh. But for a lot of the interviews we've had sweet, kind friends that he has stayed with. We rank these programs and the programs rank their applicants, then a computer matches everyone up to their bast case scenario. We'll find out the results on January, 25th. Luckily we have the holidays and family time to help the waiting speed by.

We had quite a few days at home without Michael during it all, and that gets rough. But honestly it was probably a good prep for what residency will be like -- we are not going to see as much of Michael over the next four years as we did during dental school. This picture is Westin with an ear infection at an unexpected trip to the pediatrician. Sick babies are so sad!

Michael has worked so hard and I'm so grateful for him. This interview process has been really draining, and I just admire how much he continues to do his best at everything that he has on his plate. Westin loves him so much, and I love watching those two. We are excited to enjoy next semester together before a busy residency. It feels great to have interview season behind us and strange to start the waiting game. We're excited to spend time in Cedar City and Louisville with family this month. That's the happiest distraction we could have.

My Little Buddy {Mom Post}

It has been far too long since I put an update about little Westin on here. He is such a happy little boy, and I love having a little companion around all the time! He even makes grocery shopping fun, and if you know anything about how much I don't like grocery shopping, then you know that's a big statement. Let's just kick this off with a shot of his classic straight-lined smile that he frequents:

Westin is 10 months old this week. I don't get it. He's still my baby, you guys, and he knows it. There is no sign of crawling, hardly any scooting -- and to be honest, he just stopped wanting to be swaddled about a month ago, and finally started rolling once in a while at about the same time. He's just a big baby and I love him for it.

Books are his life. I can't even imagine the plane rides we've taken without books to occupy that little guy the whole time. He went on a tour of the Indianapolis Temple before it was dedicated and he was LOUDLY happy, and books were all that could keep him semi-quiet. Photos of animals, double points with Westin.

He has mad love for that binky. He's not particular about how he uses it, he just wants it around. I love when he takes this cigar-like approach above. 

I love my mornings with him. He eats a bran muffin every day and is pretty enthusiastic about it. Then he'll take some fruit or yogurt but the high point for him is definitely that bran muffin. He's still nursing and hasn't had a bottle in months because I lost all patience for pumping. I give him a sippy cup with his meals but he just think I'm being really nice and giving him a toy with his meal. No sipping is happening there. Sometimes Michael squirts the water into his mouth from it, and that amuses him, but the idea still hasn't really clicked.

Westin's whole body goes into hyperactive mode when he sees his dad get out of the car after school. He kicks his legs, bounces, moves his arm, sometimes shakes his head all at the same time and just can't wait to play with his dad. Oh, and he usually has the same reaction when Kitty comes somewhat near him. She usually remembers to keep her distance (for her own peace) but once in a while gives him a little love.

Westin loves car rides, so much. He's so entertained just looking out his window, twirling his binky. He has really started to love food in the last month, especially chicken and guacamole. Chipotle has fed this kid a good portion of his meals, and he doesn't complain about it.

He has the biggest brown eyes, and such a sweet smile to go with them. Usually it's a straight line or a wide open mouth. He loves baths, and loves his crib. I hear him having a good time in that crib for a good little while before and after every nap. It's hard (read: pretty much impossible) to get him to take a nap anywhere else. Sundays are the hard days -- this kid crashes hard after church because he just will not fall asleep on anyone anymore.

This picture is when he turned 9 months. That day blew my mind -- I just kept thinking how much faster the 9 months with him felt compared to the 9 months of pregnancy. There are a lot of reasons that go into that. Life is so much better with Westin here!

Our typical schedule right now is a slow morning starting at 7:30 -- books, breakfast, playing, cleaning. Then Westin takes a nap for about an hour before we head out -- the Zoo, Children's Museum, library, mall, grocery store, one of our usual haunts. Then, it's back home for nap number two. Then we basically just kill time outside waiting for Michael to come home and play with us. It's not a busy life, but it goes by fast and feels really happy. I don't like to pack too much into days because I like following Westin's cues and I am discovering the power of less.

Westin's favorite toy is whatever you're holding. The newspaper, a phone, just anything you have is what he wants. He's no dummy. He's still wearing 9 month clothes but slowly changing to 12 month onesies just because I am accepting that squeezing him into clothes that barely fit him won't keep him little longer. It just makes him look a little chubbier. Also a win, though, I think.

Here's a shot of one of our mornings, usually he catches up on farm tools (upside down) while I catch up on the news before we head down for breakfast.

We bought a bike trailer on Craigslist and finally used it for the first time a couple weeks ago. He loved it! Mostly. It was a new experience, but if I was riding next to him he seemed to really like it. We have missed our bike rides, so it was fun to hit the road as a family of three for the first time!

Westin is just growing up so fast. He's a very content, observant, happy little boy, and I am amazed at how many times I find myself saying a little prayer every single day thanking God that Westin is my baby. I'd do anything for this kid.

Summer Catch Up: The Indianapolis LDS Temple

We feel lucky that our time in Indianapolis overlapped with the opening of the new LDS Temple here. It is an incredibly beautiful building that represents so much to us. We believe that the promises we make in temples will allow us to be with our families forever, because of Jesus Christ.

An open house was held in the weeks leading up to the opening of the temple, and tours were open to the public. We were able to go once with Michael's parents and his sister Pam's family, and then again with a girl in Michael's dental school class. 

Photo taken from lds.org

Michael's mom was so nice to come up and watch Westin the weekend that the temple was dedicated so that we could attend the service together. President Eyring came, and it was a special experience to see this temple dedicated in this city that we love!

The night before the temple dedication Michael and I were able to go to the cultural celebration and see a great program put on by the youth of the surrounding area. They did such a great job. My favorite parts were probably the choreographed hip hop remix version of Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree, or the choreographed version of the Indy 500 complete with "crashes" and kids being carried off by "medics". It was a fun weekend and a special time for Indianapolis!

Summer Catch Up: Charleston, South Carolina

After our trip to Utah for Ali's wedding, we came home to Indianapolis for one (laundry) day before hitting the road. Michael had an externship set up at the oral surgery program in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent a week shadowing there to get a feel for the program, and Westin and I went down with him to explore the South.

Michael was pretty busy at the hospital during the majority of our trip, but he did spend Sunday and some of the evenings with us. Westin and I took a walking tour around downtown one day; Rainbow Row is pictured above. I loved that city's Caribbean and Southern feel. But those temperatures, guys. Whoa.

When I think of hotel living pre-baby I tend to remember my business trips when I'd live it up for a week at a time in some fun city, ordering room service after late meetings or venturing out into some new city by myself or with coworkers. Going to Wicked by myself and eating a lot of Sprinkles cupcakes. But hotel living post-baby, that is another story...

Hotel living post-baby is this crazy experience of getting a baby to sleep at 7pm on that half of the room while still trying to live life a little bit in the other half of the room, but a very quiet life that doesn't wake up the baby who will inevitably keep waking up anyway. Westin nursed every 90 minutes during those nights, because "cry it out" isn't exactly a hotel-friendly system and maybe that kid just seriously didn't know where he was every hour and a half and needed to make sure I was at least in that unknown place with him. At one point I was driving us around Charleston on one of our adventuring days and I almost pulled over because I felt like I was going crazy in the head. Dizziness, fatigue, exhaustion, you know. Post-baby hotel living. It's a trip.

The nights were hard but the days were fun. Westin and I ate lunch on this pier underneath the iconic bridge that connects to Mt. Pleasant. We met a significant number of friendly people -- those southerners are just the nicest.

On one of the evenings Michael was able to spend with us we passed by the church where the Charleston shooting had recently taken place. A funeral was happening for one of the victims at that moment, and there were crowds all around and Red Cross workers handing out water. It was heart-breaking to see the family members coming out of the church. President Obama and other public figures were in the city that day for a memorial, and Michael said that while the president was there they had a few operating rooms prepped and kept open in the hospital in case of an emergency situation.

Westin and I avoided the city the day of the memorial because the traffic was pretty crazy. I took him to the beach for the first time and to be honest, that was kind of a bust. He moaned the whole time. Not a lot of crying, just, a sad little constant moan. Then he got tired and rubbed his eyes with his sandy hands and everything just went downhill fast. The waves were not his favorite thing, and this kid will only take a nap in his crib even though I tried hard to make him a cozy little set up on a shady towel. Pre-baby beach time has a similar feel to pre-baby hotel living in my mind, you get the idea. But this little guy is so worth it.

Sunday was my favorite day in Charleston. After visiting church there we drove up to Cypress Gardens with Michael, which was so incredibly beautiful. We paddled around this gorgeous swamp for an hour, trying to spot alligators and stay in any shade we could find. Westin seemed to enjoy the ride. It was definitely the most exotic place I've ever nursed the kid, especially considering it took me almost three months to learn to nurse him anywhere but my bedroom.

He doesn't know what's happening here, so it's not sad. But kind of sad, actually. The only alligators we saw were small enough that Westin could have eaten them instead of the other way around.

This little boy. I love that face. If he looks like Ryan Gosling here to you it's because this is indeed where they paddle through swans in The Notebook. But pretty sure they imported those swans.

I visited a plantation one day (Boone Hall) and loved it so much. You could tour the main house (where Ally lived in The Notebook) the slave houses, the gardens, and take a bus tour of the whole plantation to see the areas that are still being used. 

These oaks are 300 years old, and other trees on the plantation were more than twice that age. Charleston has so much history. If we do end up moving there for residency there will be plenty to see and do for those four years. And, yes, this is a road they drive down in The Notebook but no I did not tour all these places because of that movie. That movie just chose really cool places to film, and incidentally I toured a few of them while having the Charleston experience. Honestly, I've been wanting to watch that movie again since I've been home from this trip, but I just haven't been in the mood to make myself feel super sad and teary yet. I'm sure an opportunity will arise.

On our way out of town we stopped to see the famous Ange Oak Tree, which is 1500+ years old. Isn't that incredible? It's huge, and the branches dip in and out of the ground and spread into a reaching canopy that is just gorgeous. 

Westin is really happy there because he has no idea that he is about to embark on a 10+ hour car ride... poor kid. He really did a great job with the road trip there and back, though. His car skills far exceed his hotel sleeping skills. I shuddered just remembering those nights...

And here we are rolling back into Indianapolis on the Fourth of July, ready to hit a barbecue with friends before skipping the fireworks and sleeping in our own crib and bed, respectively. This is Westin's scrunch face that he sometimes gives to strangers for minutes at a time. It's cute until it's awkward, but mostly just hilarious through it all. A nice man at Costco recently received the stink face for about 45 seconds until he finally said to me, "It's ok, don't worry about it," before I'd even had a chance to apologize for the situation. But I just love that little scrunchy nose, oh so much. 

Summer Catch Up: Ali's Wedding!

We loved visiting Utah in June for my sister's wedding. She was so beautiful! And we are so happy to have Matthias in the family. Their wedding was such a happy celebration, and we were grateful to be there with my family.

They were married in the Payson, Utah temple on June 20, 2015. That temple is incredibly beautiful! It made me so excited for our own Indianapolis temple to be finished soon. I'm grateful for that sweet day this summer when my family could all share Ali's special day, and be reminded about what is truly important in this life. Family! I think about my family members so much. Their happiness means the world to me and I just want to be with them forever. I know that we can be, through Christ.

Congratulations, Alison & Matthias! We love you!

A New Mother's Day

I had a lot of thoughts running through my head during my first Mother's Day as a mom. I knew becoming a mother would bring higher highs and lower lows into my life. Just, more feelings, if you will. It just makes sense. What I didn't anticipate is how unexpectedly those strong feelings would come on, at any random moment. I never knew that during a routine (oh so routine) diaper change my little son could gaze at me so sweetly and smile so big that I'd suddenly just think of heaven and how I want to be with him forever up there, after all this. Or that sometimes I'd tickle this little boy and hear his newly discovered laugh build up, and I'd suddenly just want to cry thinking about all the kids who aren't being tickled enough and who aren't getting enough chances to discover their own laugh. 

So many bigger smiles. So many random tears. Motherhood is a lot of feelings, you guys. 

A baby's trust and innocence is the most tender thing to witness. They can only communicate with you in so many ways; their wants are their needs and their needs are their wants. They deserve them to be met. These precious souls come to us so dependent, yet shifting our entire perspective and routine to fit them in. To fit them in deep.

Sometimes Westin stares at me hard. We laugh and peek-a-boo and smile and babble, but sometimes, he just stares. So intently. I try to not be the first to break those moments, because I don't know what he's needing to gain from that stare but I'm sure not going to take whatever it is away from him. Maybe he's just studying the way my mouth works or the way my eyes seem more familiar each day. But sometimes it feels like more. Like he's slowly learning more all the time that it's a big deal that he's here and that he's a big deal to me. So he stares and he pieces it together and I try to just shoot love through my eyes right back at him, hard. I think he feels it. I feel it fiercely.

Westin has my heart. It's hard to imagine who he's going to become, or think about what his life will be like. I mean, I can barely even picture his smile with teeth instead of that toothless grin that melts my soul, let alone imagine what kind of man he's going to become someday. But oh man I send so many prayers his way, for his now and for his future. Please help me teach him the best way I can. Or at least just not mess him up. 

I didn't anticipate what it would feel like to have love become the driving force of my day job. Genuine, deep-rooted love. It's the motive behind the big things and mundane things that fill my days, and I love that. I love love. I love this motherly love. My grandma used the word "sappy" better than anyone I've ever heard, and maybe that's what she'd call this rambling that I'm doing, but it's all true. Sappy and true.

Happy late Mother's Day, to everyone who loves and shapes others.