Spreading the word for Jen!

"Some people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts." For me Jen did just this. We met 6 years ago when I started working at a hospital on their trauma unit. She was one of my trainers and took me under her wing.

When I delivered my little lady bug, Jen took time out of her day to stop by and see how we were doing. What she never knew was how much those 5 minutes made a difference to me.

Soon after I learned of their struggle to conceive and finally their choice to adopt. Two years ago they were given the approval to adopt and since they've been waiting patiently to meet their little one.

Check out the adorable nursery they have waiting!! 

If there is any one out there who deserves to be a mom it's Jen!!!  Please take the time to share her info.  Even if you don't know any one looking,  some one you know might. Just head on over and check out there blog Here and if you are looking for parents for your little one check out their letter to the birth parents Here.

Thank you to those who take the time to share and a special thanks to Jen for being a true friend.
                               ~Megan :)

My mommy moment

"No matter how good or bad life is, Wake up each day and be thankful for life. . ." I stumbled across this quote a couple weeks ago and had a major wake up call. I realized that I was losing sight of the important things in life. I was concentrating way to much on the bills that where piling up, the mistakes I was making on a daily basis, and the mess that I had thought my life had become. As I looked back I noticed it wasn't only me I was affecting; but my husband and children. I decided to put a few things into work in my life, to help me turn my attitude around.

1- Look for the small things

I stared here the very next morning. My goal was to find 2 things that each of my kids did that day that made me smile, whether it be something they said, a small act of kindness or that they just listened to what I said. I can even tell you what those four things where.

Lady bug, told me when I picked her up from school that she loved me, and had missed me while she was gone, but, she had fun. Also the big kiss she gave me when I dropped her off.

Tiger, was playing with out a care in the world and suddenly came running up gave me a big hug and kisses and then disappeared again. Later while we were playing together he laughed at something I said.

I can not begin to tell you how much these little things changed that day completely around. It made it easier to get up the next morning know that they loved me even with all of my flaws.

2- Daily prayer, Scripture study and weekly FHE

In preparation for the October General Conference (on October 4-5th), I've been rereading April's. In Linda S. Reeves's talk she says "It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. . .these are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives and add protection to our homes." I loved this. It was a reminder to me that I needed to make these a priority. Some of this I'm already doing but I had began to push them aside for other things. I know many of you reading this have little children and are thinking, like I have, how can I do this and keep there attention. Well do things in small portions. Tonight was our first night of actually reading from the Book of Mormon as a family. All I did was simply read 5 verses out loud to my toddlers. As I went from verse to verse I took a second after to put it into there words. I don't think they really heard what I was saying, since one was reading her own book and the other was playing with his hands but the important thing for now is that they are exposed to it.

3- Remember to listen

I have found this simple step makes a bigger difference then ever imagined. Epically with my 3 year old. Not only does it make it easier to get her to do what I want/need her to do but I've began to understand her better. Sometimes she's even showed me a better way.

4- Say I love you and Listen when they say it back

This statement probably is one of the biggest. When you get into a rut it is hard to hear and believe when others tell you this. It's important to remember that there is nothing more sincere then your little ones say "I love you mommy."

5- look for the service

My husband works long hours and so we often only see each other for a little while. This has been making it hard to see the love or to feel like he cares. I sat back a couple nights ago and thought 'What has my hubby done for me lately?' As I looked back over the last few weeks I began to find little things I had missed; such as, he changed a stinky diaper without me asking, he helped picked my pregnant body off the floor when I had sat there to long, he got up with the kids for an hour one night, and my favorite he's made breakfast for the kids most mornings since he started his new job, letting me try to sleep just a little longer before facing the day. These are things that I don't always think about but show me more then anything that he loves me.

  I have a long way to go to be the perfect mom I someday want to be. But, I'm trying and I live to make each day a little better then the day before. It won't always happen, I'll have days much worse, and I'll make tons of mistakes; but I've promised myself that I'll find the good in those days to because there is always something good. :)

Thanks for stopping by!! Megan :)

A Tiger of a birth!

Hubby and I found out we were pregnant with Tiger around the same time he was informed he would most likely be deploying with in the year. We both kind of chuckled that of course this was our luck after all he wasn't able to be there for Ladybugs birth either. So, we spent the months leading up to the deployment getting everything ready to welcome this baby boy into the world. We lucked out the OB I had in Germany did an ultrasound with every appointment, and even better they were in 3D. We found out we were expecting a boy when I was 16 or 17 weeks along. We picked out his first suit that night. :)

When you know that your other half isn't going to be there for something this big and important you do everything you can to make them a part of it when they are there. We picked out his name, how it would be spelled, the outfit he'd come home in, and every other detail we could before he left. We also made the decision that since no family could come out to Germany that we would fly Ladybug and I home. This was our personal decision and had been made with a lot of prayer. Hubby deployed in June and we flew home in July, I was 7 months pregnant at the time. I've been asked how I handled changing OBs so late into the pregnancy and the honest answer is that it didn't make much of a difference. The OB I had in Germany would most likely not have been the OB that delivered since they only were at the hospital like 1 in 6 or 7 weeks.

Hubby and I had thought we would record the birth so that he could see it, even if it was at a later date. However, the OB I picked told me it was against hospital policy, however he was willing to set an induce date after 39 weeks where we could hopefully have hubby Skype in. That's what we decided to do, instead of trying to find another OB. So, we set a date and I waited. At 37 weeks I started mildly contracting. I began to panic, what if he decided to come earlier. My husband started sleeping with Skype on when ever possible. That's week appointment I was dilated at a 3. However, that is where I stayed until 39.5 weeks.

On the big day my mom and I walked into Labor and Delivery, bag in one hand, tablet in the other. The nurses all found it cool that even though Hubby wasn't physically there he was still playing his part. I don't remember the times everything was done. I was given an I.V. and the first dose sometime before 9. It was a long day of sitting listening to Tiger's heart rate as things slowly progressed. Hubby and I talked off and on. We had hoped things would move faster and Tiger would come in the am since daddy was more available then but it didn't work out that way. At around 3ish they came and 'broke my water.' Things really began to speed up then. I had to give in and get an epidural at about 4:30 and it wasn't placed until 5ish, which means I only had one dose before baby got there, which was fine since pain meds and I don't really mixed.  At about 6:30  I was finally dilated to a 10 and ready to push. I frantically worked on getting a hold of hubby, who had been given special permission to Skype at work, so not only did I get the hubby but also all of his fellow soldiers. Can we say awkward. :) Worth it though to have him there to.

 

You may ask why I chose to post my second birth story, We happen to be celebrating his birthday this week so I've been reflecting back over the last few years.

 

That's one of my birth stories! :)

 

Megan :)

Yep. . .I'm thinking Christmas!

With this baby due this winter I know I'm not going to have much energy or time to putting Christmas together after. Slowly I've been working on putting many of the diy projects that are on my Christmas bucket list this year. As I've been working on these I came across these pics of one of our last year projects. We found the idea for this one in a magazine my mother in-law got in the mail.

Yep those are hand prints. We found the bulbs at Walmart. We had bigger ones for the adults and small ones for the kids. We started by painting the kid's hands white. Holding the child's hand in your hand have another adult place the bottom of the bulb on the palm of the child's hand. Then if its an older child have them grab the bulb. For my 1 year old we placed his fingers on the bulb since grabbing it turned it more into a glop then a hand print. Hang the bulbs to dry. Once they dry, we painted each finger to look like a snowman. Or snow elephant in my sons case.

The kids prints where so much fun, especially the younger ones who's fingers wiggled while hand printing the bulb. We even got a snow pelican out of one of them, and in the above picture you can see the snowman snow boarding.

I love hand print crafts and these turned out absolutely gorgeous. What hand print/ foot print crafts have you done? I'd love to here all about yours! :)

This year for Christmas we are doing something with hand print and foot prints for Grandparents gifts since I know some of them will read this I'm just going to leave it at that but stay tune after Christmas for a tutorial and pictures!

Thanks for stopping by! :) Megan

Megan's Intro

Hi everyone, I'm Megan! I was born in PA but grew up in UT. I am the oldest of 6 and have a wonderful mom and dad! I am LDS and have a strong testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ. I am now married to a wonderful man and we have 3 beautiful children.

My hubby and I have been married 4 years next week! :) We are super excited about this annivarsry because, drum roll please, we will actually be together for part of the day for the first time in 4 years!

Hubby and I are High School Sweethearts! We met in our Seminary class, my Jr. year. Our first date was a girls choice dance. :) Halfway through his Senior year he asked me to marry him! We set a date for June, and started planning the wedding. Due to a court issue we post poned the marriage 4 times and then got married Civialy. That summer he joined the Army, left for basic in OK, and I gave birth to our Lady bug!

Lady bug met daddy when she was 3 months old. She is a very energitic princess as she calls herself. She loves the outdoors, dressing up, books, and singing. She will be starting headstart this fall and is very excited to go to school. :)

We were sealed, as a family in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in October 2011 and then moved to Germany. We were there six months when he deployed. I was pregnant with our second, Tiger and so came back to Utah to be with family.

Tiger was 9 months old when daddy got to meet him. Tiger loves tools and helping his daddy and grandpa with projects around the house, espically if he can use a screwdriver or hammer. He's very rambunctious and does not sit still often.

We are now pregnant with our third and super excited because he'll get to be with us for the birth and newborn stage. This last year has been a hard one adjusting to life out of the Army again, but even with its ups and downs we have found strength in each other to push forward. That is me and my family. :)