7.29.2010

No One Told Me It Would Be Hard

Yesterday, at our Relief Society Activity, my friend Sara who just had a baby, was asking the rest of us if it was supposed to be hard.   

Um, yes.


But no one ever talks about that.  When you're pregnant, everyone is so happy and excited for you, but no one tells you that once the baby comes out, it's going to be the hardest thing you've ever done in your life.  It's hard to want to get up every 2-3 hours with a baby, and then feel like you get no love back.  It's hard to have all those emotions and hormones just going crazy, and not really knowing why you feel like you're a terrible mother.  It's hard to see other moms and think that they've just got such a better grip on things or that they love their babies more than you love yours. 

It's that way with a lot of things, especially new changes.  When I was getting ready to go to BYU, everyone kept telling me how I was going to have the time of my life and I was just going to love it so much and yada yada yada. 

Reality check:  I didn't.

I guess this is just a rant to let you know, that you're not alone.  My biggest comfort was hearing my mom tell me, "Rachelle, you don't have to hold him and interact with him 24/7.  You WANT him to learn to play on his own."  She also told me, "The days DRAG by, it's the years that go by fast."

I think that's the type of advice we should give.  But maybe we don't because we don't want to prejudice or scare anybody.  Just know, that no matter how perfect and collected I may seem or someone else may seem, inside, they feel the same way you do, and they're probably wondering just how you do it. 

Oh, and it does get better, I promise.  It's nice how we only remember the good things when you look back at something.  That's probably why missionaries say that their mission was the best two years. 

By the way, we learned how to make these at our activity.  I'm only slightly proud.


Okay, so we didn't learn how to make these.  For more information, please see



We learned how to make flowers.  This was my only one that did not suffer from some sort of fire damage. 

3 Months

At 3 months (okay, and 12 days, so I'm a little behind) Cade:

  • sleeps through the night.  Bedtime is anywhere between 7:30 and 8:30 and wake up time is anywhere between 7:00 and 8:30
  • takes 3 naps.  One in the morning, a 3 hour one in the afternoon, and another one in the evening
  • finally poops on schedule.  I know when it will happen.  This has caused a great reduction in diaper uses
  • drools, a lot
  • smiles and giggles (and finally smiles for the camera.  I won't tell you how long I've tried)
  • recognizes mom and dad, and likes us da best
  • goes to sleep on his own, I don't have to rock him to sleep.
  • loves to be outside and look around, doesn't really like the feel of grass on his toes though
  • is scared of the blender
  • always sleeps with one foot outside of the blanket.  No matter how many times I cover him up, that foot always finds its way out.
  • takes about 20 minutes max to eat.  He's a fast little sucker (bad pun, I know)
  • sucks on his fists constantly
  • loves his little butterfly toy with the wings that crinkle
  • thinks that Wilbur is a wussy pig (I'm reading Charlotte's Web out-loud to him)

7.08.2010

Just Keep Swimming

I have always LOVED the water.  Take me to the beach, and I'm the last kid to leave. 

Thankfully, Cade does too.

I know you can't really tell in these pictures, but the fact that he stayed in that pool with his two cousins splashing him in the face without crying...I consider that a good thing.

We spent our 5th of July--celebrating the 4th of July--in Kaysville with family.


  This is why I never bring my camera, I have in-laws who will take pictures for me.
Aaron told me we need to invest in a "bro" for Cade (apparently, that's a male bra FYI)

I'm so glad Cade has cousins close to his age.  When I was growing up, my closest relative at family reunions/get-togethers was my sister.