It's Been Forever!

Wow it has been a while! Recent happenings......last weekend Hysen, Liam and I went up to New York to visit some of my family. We had a great time, but I always miss my family so much after a visit! It was a lot of firsts for Liam:  first plane ride, first time seeing the ocean, first overnight stay, first time in a different state. I also had the opportunity to go to the Manhattan Temple with my sister Jessica and her husband Brian. It was such a wonderful experience. It was my second time in the Manhattan Temple and I just love the immediate silence and peace you feel as soon as you walk in the doors. What a wonderful feeling compared to the busy streets of New York!

Other events...Liam is now eating solids! He takes a while to warm up to a new food, but he likes bananas, sweet potatoes, and of course he loves rice cereal! He is starting carrots this week. He is now tipping the scales at almost 19 lbs and 25 inches! My big boy is wearing size 9 month and 12 month clothes. It makes me so happy to see him big and healthy.

My beautiful healthy boy!

Hysen is doing fine after suffering with the flu for a week earlier this month. I had a flu shot so I didn't catch it and thank goodness Liam didn't. (But he did catch my cold, poor baby.) He is continuing to photograph various sporting events at the colleges in the area and we're gearing up for wedding season. Our first wedding of the season is later this month. We'll be busy with weddings and photo shoots from now until late fall.

Liam helps Daddy get ready

Invasion of the Time Waster!

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I spend my time. I am a world class time waster. I like to look a photos on facebook, look up funny clips on youtube, watch movies, and worst of all, I read all the time! Now these aren't horrible things to do on their own, but when they start to replace things like folding laundry, writing in my journal, doing my VT, and other things, as they have in my life, it becomes a very bad habit.

I can spend hours playing with Liam and I consider that time extremely well spent, but after he goes to bed, I get really selfish about my time. I SHOULD be cleaning up the house a little, reading my scriptures, preparing FHE...but I usually don't.

I think that part of living righteously is striving to live to our full potential. Heavenly Father gives us gifts and it is wrong not to use them for the benefit of others. When I have spent hours on the internet or reading a novel and I realize it's 11pm and I want to go to bed...the things I should have been doing to better myself and my family often get swept under the rug. I want to be a good mother and to me, that means not only caring and loving and teaching Liam, but it also means I have to be healthy and happy as well.

My little family brings me such great joy and I want to be the best mother and wife I can be for Liam and Hysen. This post has been a little erratic, but I guess I'm writing this as a wake up call for myself. If I put this on the internet, it's out there, and everyone knows. (Yikes!) I can't be a time waster anymore. Of course, there will always be days that I don't get a lot done, but I can't spend my free time on mindless tasks and selfish 'Me Time'. Here's to self improvement.

So it's a new year. 2011. I wonder what people will say in 70 or 80 years about the past decade. Will they laugh at the clothes we wore, marvel at our 'stone age' technology, or will they wonder what everyday life was like 'way back in the old days'?
I've been thinking about the last ten years and what they've held for me. I graduated high school (wow that makes me sound so young!), went to college (have yet to graduate), got married (coming up on 3 years in a couple of weeks), bought a house, and had the most beautiful baby boy in the world! It's hard to believe that 10 years ago today, I was 13 years old! Now that's a scary thought. It seems like time has been kicked up a notch into high gear. Liam is already almost 5 months old and it feels like he should still be a newborn. Next week I'll wake up and he'll be ready to graduate high school!
So tomorrow is my 24th birthday. I guess that's still young enough to not be embarrassed when I share my age with the world (or at least those of you bored enough to read my blog). Nothing special planned...I told Hysen I would absolutely love to just have a night in with him and Liam. Really that's just like every other night, but I just love my Justo boys to pieces! I haven't had a real birthday 'party' in a long time. I get nervous and shy sometimes for no reason at parties, even if I know everyone there. But I did tell Hysen that I want a party next year for the big 25! :) We will see.
Liam rolled over last week for the first time! Now every time we put him on his tummy, he immediately rolls over. It's like he's always been able to do it, but he's just been holding out on us! I'm so happy to see him grow and learn new skills. I love to watch him smile when he realizes he just rolled over on his own. Or when he started playing with his feet for the first time yesterday. (His belly is so big that it has taken him a while to discover he has feet down there!)
We are starting to put Liam in his crib at night (we've been co-sleeping up until now). It's kind of rough at first (for us and him), but he is starting to learn how to self-soothe. Last night he stayed in the crib until 5:30am! I am so proud of my little man. He is growing and changing so quickly!

Liam with his gifts on Christmas

Liam disguised as a present on Christmas

Well anyway, a lot has happened during the past year. So many major life changes...I'm so grateful for the happiness they have brought into my life. I look forward to this new year with it's joys and challenges (as I'm sure there will be many of both). I am eager to see what 2011 holds in store for my family.


Liam and Hysen head to church
(Liam's first time in shoes!)



Holiday Updates

Just some quick updates because it's past midnight.

Liam turned 4 months old earlier this month. 4 months people!! He's now tipping the scales at 15 lbs 9 oz. My big boy! He's been sick this week with a nasty little cold. The nasal aspirator has become his arch-enemy. Hopefully he'll feel better in time for his FIRST Christmas!

Speaking of which...I just want to brag a little. I've been done shopping since last month and the tree/decorations were done on Thanksgiving (it's a tradition). Okay, so I didn't get my Christmas cards in the mail until just a few days ago (and honestly some still haven't gone out), but still I think I've done well this year. We're not going toy crazy with Liam this year and we don't really plan to ever. I grew up playing outside and reading and drawing and making my own fun. So Liam is getting a lot of books, some clothes, and few toys. A variety of books, I might add...Goodnight Moon only lasts for so long, then you want to chuck it out the window. (Actually it seems to be Liam's favorite so far.)

Missing some family this time of year. It's hard sometimes to be the one who lives the farthest away. Missing Noni (grandmother who passed away in February) especially this year.

I'm just going to try to sit back, relax (yeah right), and enjoy the next four days off with Liam and Hysen.

My little love

Hysen and Liam out in the snow last week (wearing shoes!)

Bliss

A tribute to family....I feel so blessed to have the family I do. I have a son who amazes me and fills my heart each and every day. My husband is my best friend and eternal companion. I am such a lucky woman to have these wonderful men in my life.  

Time is speeding up without my permission. I wish it would stop or at least slow down a hair. Liam is approximately 14 lbs and 24 inches (up from 6.5 lbs anf 19 inches at birth). He's 3 months old already people! When the heck did that sneak up on me? It seems like he amazes me everyday with some new skill. He put his hands together for the first time Sunday and now he acts like he's been doing it all along. He rolled onto his side yesterday morning for the first time. Part of me wants to cheer him on and another part of me says, "Wait! Stop and stay little for a while." My Liam is the sweetest little soul in the world to me. I never knew how much I could instantly love someone I had never met before.

Liam reads his favorite book

 We had a pleasant, if uneventful, Thanksgiving vacation. I made a traditional dinner, lumpy mashed taters and all. We put up the Christmas tree and Liam even "helped" a little. I love this time of year...it always makes me reflect on the blessings I have been given...and sometimes it makes me a little sad to be so far away from other family members. But I love to let myself get caught up in the spirit of the season. This year especially, I have so much to be grateful for. For example, right now I'm glad I have two hands because Liam is fast asleep in one arm and I'm using the other to type this one-handed.
I always start the holiday season off by watching Frosty The Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Christmas just doesn't seem complete without them.



Rudolph gets his glow on



Gotta love that abominable snow monster

A Complaint

So here's my complaint of the week:  Health Insurance. I get fairly good insurance from my job, but as of next month there will be yet another premium and maximum out-of-pocket increase. I actually get my insurance for free, but Hysen and Liam are added on also. I have shopped around for different insurance for the two of them, but whenever I find a low premium, the deductible or maximum out-of-pocket is sky high. And whenever I find a low deductible, the premium is outrageous. Or when I find both a low premium and a low deductible, the insurance doesn't carry anyone in the area I live in. What the heck!?

Here's a question:  How is it that I can pay almost $400 a month for insurance with a $10,000 deductible (yes TEN thousand!) when someone I know doesn't have any insurance and has gotten over $100,000 in hospital treatments for FREE? Don't get me wrong, I am glad that I have insurance. It gives me peace of mind that we are protected and can get the help we need. And I'm also glad that there are free programs that can help people who don't have insurance. I once waited 3 days to go the emergency room for a broken finger because I didn't have insurance. I finally went when my finger was twice its normal size. So I know how it feels to be scared because you don't have insurance and you're worried about money. But now I also know how it feels to pay a large premium every month and still have to worry about the doctor's bill.

I am grateful that my job offers health insurance and I know that the rates are actually pretty low compared to other people's. There are many people who have worked hard to ensure that we are offered the lowest possible premiums and such. But isn't there a bigger picture here than just my family? What about the millions of people in the U.S. alone that don't have insurance? Or that have insurance, but still can't afford to pay the bills that aren't covered? I understand that we all try to have financial security, that material things can be a sign of status, and that we all strive for success, but do some professionals in the medical community really need that fourth car? Or that 25,000 sq foot beach house? Or that 50 million trust fund? And what about the insurance companies? Where does all of my money go if not straight to my medical bills? I suppose into someone's pocket.

Okay, I don't want to get into a finger-pointing contest with anyone. There are a lot of great doctors who deserve to be rewarded for their specialties and there are a lot of good people in the insurance industry. But I think that so many people fall through the cracks. We have a system in place in this country, but I don't think it works. Okay, correction:  It works until you get sick.

So, here's my list of things I can do to plan for the future...and to afford stuff:

1. I will never get sick again.
2. Hysen and Liam will never get sick again.
3. I will get a second (or third) job to pay for health insurance (forget about saving for retirement or building a college fund for Liam).
4. I will become a doctor in multiple fields (Pediatrics, Gynecology, Obstetrics, Oncology, etc) so if we do get sick, I can just it treat myself. (Being my own doctor during labor and delivery might get a little tricky, though. Hysen might have to become a doctor, too.)
5. Get a fourth and fifth job to pay for medical school and the counseling I will need due to exhaustion and stress.
6. End up selling our house and possesions to meet our $45,000 deductible (around the year 2025).
7. And finally, move to Canada (or even Cuba) because they have a free health care system. Of course we'll have to walk there (or swim in the case of Cuba) because we sold our car...

This picture doesn't have anything to do with the rest of the post, but Liam is just nice to look at.
Especially when sporting a cute bat outfit.

Unexpected Blessings

Today I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who loves and watches over my family.

Just a few hours ago, I was driving home from the store with Liam. At the best of times, Liam despises his carseat and this was definitely not the best of times. He was tired, a little hungry, and just plain fussy. (Since I went back to work last Monday, Liam has been increasingly fussy during the day and not sleeping very well at night. I think it's separation anxiety.)

Anyway, he was crying and getting pretty frantic with trying to shove his whole fist in his mouth, but missing and kind of bopping himself in the forehead. It would have been funny if he wasn't crying. He doesn't take a pacifier, so I did the next best thing. I reached back and stuck my finger in his mouth. Now, my arms are not very long so it was a pretty uncomfortable position. It worked for about 4 seconds, then Liam realized nothing to eat came out of the finger and started crying again. I'm not the kind of mom who freaks out if my baby cries a little bit, but he was getting hysterical. So I tried the finger again, not wanting to stop and nurse him when I was, by this time, only 5 minutes from home. Again, it worked for a few seconds. So with my arm going numb and hurting quite a bit, I drove for a few more minutes.

Liam had just started crying again so I rested my arm briefly and then stuck my finger back in his mouth. He cried for a few seconds and then all of a sudden, there was silence. Cue me freaking out. He has a baby proof mirror attached to his carseat so I looked in the rearview mirror to see if something had happened...if he somehow stopped breathing or something...a million things ran through my mind in an instant. What did I see? He was asleep. Totally, completely, sound asleep...after just screaming literally a second before.

I took my finger out of his mouth and finally started paying more attention to the road. I was on a curvy part of the road and it was dark. I put on my brights and immediately applied the brakes because there was a huge buck standing in the middle of my lane. I came to a full stop and the deer slowly walked to the other lane and into the woods. As I rolled the car past the place where the deer had been, I felt a sudden chill and all I could think was, "Thank you!" All this happened not 15 seconds after Liam fell asleep. If he had still been awake...if my arm was still reached back to him and I was distracted, I never would have seen that deer. I am so very thankful that Heavenly Father helped me pay close attention when it mattered most. I can't give words to how grateful I am that He is watching over me and kept Liam and I safe tonight.

I am so thankful for my little Liam.