Holiday magic returns!

My Childhood Magic Returns!!

I dont know if its just me but as I got older and into my late teens I started to feel like the magic of all the Holidays was disappearing. I was the last child so traditions faded and all the excitement for trick or treating, santa clause, leaving milk and cookies out, the easter bunny..it was no longer a part of the Holiday because I had reached the age of, "your too old!" However, what I thought would be gone forever has somehow snuck silently back into my life with the birth of my baby boy! I get to share in the joy of holidays even more now as I start new traditions with my growing family! Now I get to feel a whole new magic as I step into the shoes of santa clause, the easter bunny, and the leader of all the festivities! I am so excited to begin this journey and watch the twinkle in my children's eyes as they feel that warm feeling we all know...that peaceful yet totally exciting tingle...the magic that holidays bring to the souls of all little ones....and their parents!

Kellens first Holiday other than the 24th of July, the day he was born, was Halloween!! Usually My sister in law Nikki makes pumpkin soup a few days before the 31st and we eat and carve amazing pumpkins in st george but this year we couldnt make it down there so I forced Jordan and his family to share in my holiday cheer! I whipped up a delicious bowl of pumpkin soup, got the sweet orange halloween cups and added a few decorations and we had such a fun night full of carving pumpkins, eating and baking pumpkin seeds! It was so much fun and just made me that much more excited to be a little over the top at christmas time as we begin these fun times with Kellen! 

Kellen loved every minute watching us from his bumbo!

His favorite little friend, his cousin cam

Happy First Halloween Mr. Kellen!

By the end of the night he crashed!

Jords sister Nat and little Kate!

Then there were THREE!

Now that my little Dobby (aka Kellen) is 2 and half months I thought i was time to post a long reflection of our last few months as Three! I was watching one of my favorite shows, Private Practice, the other night and beautiful Addison made me cry (which isnt hard these days) when she expressed her feelings of wanting to have a baby. She said something like its amazing to watch as every cell in a womens body is transformed and wether a baby lives or dies that women is no longer just a women, she is a mother. She is transformed in every way and I want that. I am honored to finally hold that noble title that so often we hear in society as "just a mom."
It all began on July 22nd. We were hanging out with some of our best friends London and Sky when my little contractions started to become more consistent and a lot less comfortable. I had had these moments of thinking "its time" and they disappeared so I wasnt getting my hopes up. I was getting a little anxious though seeing as they were getting pretty hard.  Friends left at around mid night and we got ready for bed. Jordan kept timing my contractions and saying, is this it!? By three I was covering my face in a pillow every three minutes and we called our midwife to see if we should come in. She said take a bath and if they continue then come in! Well after a bath I couldn't stand the pain anymore at two minutes a part so we got dressed, packed the bags, and hurried to the hospital. While all the world was sleeping our life was changing forever.
Long story short we called my parents told them to start driving and then got monitored for two hours. I was still only at a 3 and 90% effaced! So, they shot with some morphine and decided to go home and wait it out. All day we walked, breathed, and waited! By six pm I couldnt talk or barely breath through contractions so we headed back to the hospital and at a 6 I was finally admitted and whispered to my overgrown belly, Here we go."
Finally it was time for an epidural! I love that the medicine man says to laboring women, your going to feel a shock through your spine, try not to flinch. However, it went well until about 5 minutes after when they were sticking a tube in to drain my bodily liquids. All I remember is the nurse saying are you feeling dizzy or sick? I responded with both and then Jordan tells it that I was drained of color and then blacked out. He paniced as all of my monitors and the babies started beeping and the nurse ran to the phone for the epidural man to get to me immediately. I turned my head and started throwing up and thats when I came to haha. I guess my blood pressure bottomed out but after a hit of oxygen I was back in business, now harm done! Now it was just a long 12 hours of waiting.
Funny side not stories. I tried to have jordan help me roll over to my other side seeing as I couldn't move one inch of my leg by myself. He moved one leg and while going back for the other he was hit in the head with my totally numb leg. After trying and laughing for about 10 minutes we called in a nurse to help.
At about 5:30 AM I could feel a lot of pressure and quickly told jordan to get the nurse. You would think the husband would rush out but Jordan proceeded to the bathroom where he began fixing his hair and tyring to make himself "presentable". I know laugh about it but at the time I was so bugged haha. Anyways I was finally at a 10 and about 15 minutes later little Kellen slipped out and I heard the most treasured sound I have ever or will ever hear...my sons cry!
I have to admit the beginning was the hardest task I have ever been faced with. I was studying for finals, sleeping an average of about 2 hours, learning to nurse, feeling anxiety every time night time started to aproach.... I was learning to be a mom. It is a completely selfless job that I could have never fully prepared for. One late night while trying to sooth my little newborn and falling short of success I began to sob. It was then that the words of A childs prayer came to mind. "Pray he is there, speak he is listening, you are his child, his love now surrounds you." I was embraced with a heavenly love that I will never fully be able to explain. I was suddenly the child coming to my father asking him to strengthen my fatigued and warn out body. He was there reminding me what a parents love felt like. I looked down at my baby and whispered, "I love you forever Kellen. This world is tough but we will go through it the same way we started it...together."
 I am a mom, I have been transformed inside and out. I change diapers for a living, feed, do laundry, smell like spit up, and get to be the teacher of one of fathers most treasured possessions, his child. There is no greater joy to me than to hear the high pitch noises of my baby talking in his crib and walking in to meet that precious smile as he recognizes me, his mama. It is like watching a scientific breakthrough when Kellen finally understood that fist in his face was connected to him and he could control it. It is magic to hear him giggle, see him smile, snuggle close when we finally reunite after a few hours of being apart. He is Jordan and I's greatest creation, our most difficult and overwhelming task, and the happiest part of our day. Mr Kellen Christopher is stubborn, loving, and full of spunk! We cant wait for what stories he will create in our life's book. I already know he is going to be a great older brother to all his future siblings. We once were a family of two....then there were three...three is better than two!

Kellen was blessed in his daddy's blessing outfit...so dang cute in his lace!

His cousin Camden loves him already!

As an end note I dont know what I would have done without Jordan driving Kellen around in the middle of the night in his garments praying he didnt get a flat tire and have to walk home haha, holding me while I cried out my hormones, and sharing in the laughter as he, my mom, and I got shot with pee as we all gathered for a middle of the night diaper change. We laughed, cried, and shared in a week of experiences only the three of us will ever fully understand! I love you Jordi Lee and Mama! We make quite a team at taking on a newborn!

Jordan's Extra Credit

* For all reading Lundi and I's blog this post will be totally random and not related to the happenings in our lives. Sad I know as Im sure you all want to be seeing our new little man. Lundi will post something fun soon Im sure! This is just for a school assignment I needed to do this semester.

Traveling from Orem to the west side of the valley might get easier
People have been talking about a bridge across Utah Lake for years but frustrated commuters may have something to look forward to.

The Utah Transportation Commission was just given the role to decide whether to allow a bridge across Utah lake, from Orem To Saratoga Springs.

A private group called Utah Crossing Inc., hopes they will get approval to begin a $600 million dollar project. A venture they hope will turn a profit by making it a toll bridge and charging each vehicle a few dollars to make the trip.

While this project would be private it does need state approval to build a structure on state owned land.

"This bridge would be the first main corridor going east and west in the valley, with the rate of growth in the county it is not a matter of if it is needed but a matter of when." Said Steve Gashon, County Commissioners office.

The six mile bridge would connect on the east side with 800 North in Orem and the west side would connect with Pelican Point in Saratoga Springs.

"I live in Saratoga Springs and have to leave for school forty five minutes early every day to make it to class on time, this bridge would cut my commute down to fifteen," said Jason Grayland, Utah Valley University Student.

The proposed bridge would be raised 35 feet above water and then climb to fifty feet in some areas to accommodate boats with large masts.
Utah Crossing Inc., hired Figg Engineering to design the lake bridge, Figg has designed and built bridges all over the country including the new freeway replacement bridge in Minneapolis after the old one collapsed a few years ago.

"Anything to help ease the traffic on the congested roads and highways in the valley, driving in Utah County today is worse than Salt Lake County, this bridge would finally give people more than one way to get from the east side of the valley to the west," Said Lehi resident Boyd Worthington.

A never ending Fairytale!

May 1, 2010 I stepped into my beautiful white wedding dress, knelt across an alter, changed my name, and began eternity with my best friend! A few weeks ago Jordan and I celebrated one year of a perfect marriage! I know it sounds cheesy but I cant tell you one bad thing about our first year together. Yes, I struggled at the beginning finding my place here in Lehi, leaving my family, driving on freeways with 4 lanes, transferring schools, etc. However, this year has been filled with magic and laughter. We have grown, loved, and learned with every day. Now one year later, I can no longer fit in that once perfectly fitted, size 2 dress. One year later I am feeling the movements of our first baby, setting up cribs, and adding another to our eternal family. This year has been an adventure with Jordan. I have learned so many new things about him I could only learn from being married to him. However, these aren't the traditional leaving dirty underwear on the floor, answers. I have learned that he he will never leave my side. As I threw up through the night from pregnancy he would stumble out of bed, wet a cold rag, fill a glass of water for me, place tooth paste on my tooth bush and then kneel down next me, pull me into him and place the rag on my head. He would whisper thank you for doing this and then hold me until I cooled down. He loves deeply, he is constant and stable in a world that is ever changing, he is my joy and my very best friend! I cant wait to begin this next year of adventures on becoming parents! Our first year was truly magical but I believe being married to Jordan will only lead me to many more years of building a never ending story of a perfect fairytale!

Here are some pictures of our anniversary. We went out to this fancy place  in Salt Lake to eat! It was amazing food and such a cute atmosphere! While there however, I went into the mens bathroom somehow thinking I was in the womens. As I was washing my hands and walking this guy walked in and gave me a very odd look and said am I in the wrong place or are you. I claim pregnancy making me lose my mind! I was so humiliated I just said sorry and ran away haha. Oh well it was a good story for the night. Im always doing something so Jordan just laughs haha. We also went to St. George for a week but I forgot my camera... It was a perfect one year getaway though filled with sunshine, pools, movies, and being together!

This was the place we ate it. You cant see it well but it was super cute!

For those who wanted to see belly pictures this was me at 29 weeks!

Me and my best friend! Happy One year love!

Ramblings of an emotional sappy pregnant women

I sat down at the computer tonight to finally begin the hours I have ahead of me in homework but then small nudges and little feet pushing from within my ever growing belly distracted my thoughts and lead me here...I believe its time for one of those sappy, thoughts and emotions from within the soul of Lundi moments. I warn those of you who only visit this blog to see pictures, stop reading now cause this will just be a long post of words!
I dont know if its general conference drawing out times of reflection and gratitude but lately I have been overwhelmed at the blessings and happiness my life holds. It may sound cheesy but sometimes I stand outside of myself and really look at my home, my husband, my sweet black and white picture of my skeleton baby, and the only word that comes to mind is magic. My belly is growing with every day now and if you stare long enough you will see parts of my belly shift as my baby moves from one side to the other.  A few weeks ago, Jordan was patiently waiting with his hands on my stomach to see if he could finally feel our little guy move. After a few seconds I believe my son did a flip just to make sure his daddy really felt him. Jordan looked up at me with watery eyes and said thats our baby then leaned down and kissed where the baby moved and whispered I love you baby boy. One of those precious moments I tried to capture so that I can hold onto its sacredness until im old and gray
The point of my post wasnt to share this story but I guess you got in anyways haha. My thoughts are really just to express the honor I have felt as I begin this journey into motherhood and the purpose it has brought to my life. I am suddenly more aware of my real mission in this life and the noble calling we as women hold. I cant tell you where Jordan and I will be in ten years or how in the world we are going to pay for diapers, clothes, doctors appts., and all the other expenses that come with having children when we still have about 4 years of school ahead. I dont know what breathing techniques to use when my body is pushing out a human through a hole the size of grape. I dont know how to bath a newborn, teach my son of his divine potential and to be confident in who he is, or how I will be a good mom while trying to finish my goal of graduating. However, I do know my heavenly father has a plan. I know my mission is to be a mother and to simply love this small spirit with all of my being. I am at peace with the unknowns of the road ahead because of my faith in my father in heaven. I have complete confidence in his power and his plan. I have dreamed of this day since I tucked my baby dolls into their blankets and 5 years old. There are no words adequite enough to express the emotions you feel as your baby develops beneath your heart. Soon I will walk into the unknown world of motherhood and I have never felt more responsibility in a task or been more humbled by the task I am being entrusted with. Now those of you who are mothers and rolling your eyes saying, "you feel that way now, but just wait", I know this calling comes with great sacrifices, hard work, exhaustion, and being underpaid for your work but I say to all of you and especially my own mother...Thank you. Thank you for giving me life and being my best friend mom. Thank you for teaching me who I was and preparing me to be a mother to my new little boy.
So now here we are at the end of my ramblings. All in all I love this baby that I havent even met yet and I thank my father in heaven every day for this chance to be his mother. I am honored to hold this calling and am suddenly aware of how sacred motherhood is. My life is bliss and I am grateful for a wonderful husband who finds me sexy even when I will soon weigh more than him...literally haha.  The savior taught that love (charity) never failith and I am coming to understand this priciple in a whole new light. The world is everchanging and unknown but regardless of what we are faced with the love I have for my eternal family will be and is my guiding strength and greatest source of peace.

PS dont judge my spelling and major grammar errors. I have in now way edited this and its late so just love me for who I am:) I promise to post pictures very soon of my chubby little self!

Theres a Bun in the Oven!

I guess I need to blog the big announcement that Jordan and I are having a baby!!! I hate calling it an "IT" but it doesnt really look like a human yet anyways, and we still have about a month and half before we can see its gender parts! So for now its my little "IT". All your life you dream of what it will be like the day you see those two pink lines and know you have a baby growing within you. Well let me tell you, it just doesnt seem real and for a minute your heart starts beating and realize all you have to teach this little one. A moment of shear panic takes over but then follows with more joy than you ever have known. Its the beginning the adventure of hormones and mood swings haha. Baby Rushton is  due  July 21st! My motherly feeling is that its a boy but I could be wrong. We would love a girl too. I love feeling my husband put his hands around my belly and whispering I love you both in my ear. I love how quickly a small fast heartbeat of YOUR baby can make you fall inlove and puts your mind in awe at the incredible ability we have to create life. More than ever, I am certain that there is an all knowing father in heaven. I often hold my belly and think, is there really a piece of me and Jord growing?
Things I have learned thus far in my prenancy
1. Always close your eyes when throwing up. then you can actually eat that meal again one day.
2. Never eat oat meal. It does not come back up well and does not settle your stomach no matter what you think.
3. Appologize on a daily basis to your sweet husband for your mood swings that you cant stop.
4. Never claim "youll be the perfect pregnant person". having an expectation ruins everything! Always set yourself up for the worst and then things seem better;)
5. It doesnt matter how sick or crazy you are, seeing your baby  and hearing its heartbeatmakes everything worth it!
I promise to keep you all updated with this exciting time! We are so happy to see what adventures are ahead with our new little family! Im sure so many fun stories are ahead and many lifes lessons! Jord and I are such proud parents of our little "it"!

Tis The Season

Call me a slacker. Its been awhile since an update so here we go! The holidays were wonderful and full of new memories to charish with family! To start off the Christmas season Jord and I got tickets to the Mo-Tab Christmas Concert under my mom and dads address...so Mama and Papa Young came up North and went to the Concert on my moms birthday!! It was the perfect night to kick off the holdidays!

Christmas was wonderful but I never took out my camera to show all the wonderful moments we had...to be honest though the picture wouldnt have captured all the laughter we had spending time with family. We spent the holidays in cedar with all the young Clan. We went sledding with the kids, played games, ate lots of food, and laughed until our cheeks hurts! Christams comes and goes all too fast. But we can hardly wait until next year when the adventure begins of taking on the "santa" role for our own little one! Hope this year brings many blessings and smiles to you all!

A few pictures from our first christmas together!