Four Months!

Ollie Bear is four months old! He's just as smiley as ever and just keeps growing. He weighs 14 lbs 15 oz which is about the 37th percentile. He was measured at 26 inches but the doctor doesn't think that's right because that would mean he grew 3 inches since his last appointment.

This boy will light up a room. There is no shortage of wonderful women at church who want to hold him. And he doesn't mind one bit. He loves the ladies and flirts with all of them. He only cries when I let him get hungry enough. He has only ever nursed which is a big accomplishment for me. In a couple of weeks he will hit the age when George started getting teeth. I'm hoping it takes Ollie a little longer...

George loves baby brother still. He is always worried when Ollie is sad and gives him lots of hugs and kisses. I'm so excited to start giving Ollie rice cereal. I will let George feed him which I'm looking forward to. I started George on rice cereal around this time but I think I will wait until Ollie is six months. That seems so far away but these four months have seriously flown by. I love my boys!!

Utah

We had a great time in Utah! We were able to spend a little bit of time with my Utah family and a little bit with Glen's family. However, I only got to see Glen's sister Marianne for a few minutes on her way to work and I didn't get to see Marie at all. But we will see all of them for Thanksgiving this year! I am blessed with wonderful in-laws! I just wish Glen could say the same.... Just kidding. My family is amazing! I got to meet my newest nephew, Cal Owens Gardner. He's a little baby and takes me back four months to when Ollie was that little... Stop it! No. I can wait for the next one.... right?

Graduation was a lot of fun and I'm glad we took the time and money to get up there for it. I was nice to have people finally realize I had graduated even though I actually graduated in April. I guess you have to have pictures of yourself in a cap and gown for people to acknowledge the accomplishment. I'm very grateful to BYU and the Bachelor of General Studies program which allowed me to complete my degree from Arizona with very flexible schedules. And I'm of course grateful to Glen who made me sign up for the program and finish my degree. He said I had to finish before he started his Masters program. He starts next week!!

Sleepwalking

 Sometimes I wonder if one day I will just wake up and I will find myself still in Argentina and realize the past five years were all a dream. I used to have dreams on the mission about being married to Glen. That is what scared him into not writing me for a few months. I don't mean to say that the past five years have been perfect or that I have not had pain, depression or any kind of unpleasantness. What I would like to convey is that I made a plan for myself when I was in Argentina. I had a companion who asked me what I thought I would be doing five years after the mission. We also talked about ten years, fifteen and so on. With very few exceptions, I am doing exactly what I thought I would. I told her I would be married to Glen and he would either be a teacher or a student. We would have two kids and I would be home with them.

I would never say I have the perfect life or even the best life. But I cannot deny that I have the perfect life for me at this time in my mortality. My husband is caring and smart. He takes care of me. He pursues his dreams and won't take anything less than what he has planned for himself (kinda like me). We are both happy to take a better alternative we had not previously imagined, but never anything less. For example, Glen did not think he would be married in less than two years after the mission, but it was a better plan he was not aware existed. Right, honey?

When Glen and I met in middle school, I never thought I would marry him. Not to mention the day he threw pine cones at me after play practice and I was sure we would never be friends again. I always thought I would only love some blonde surfer guy. Gross. Not for me. Heavenly Father knew what I needed. I needed someone who would counter my obstinance with patience and forgieness. Someone who would never raise his voice to me (I melt into a puddle of tears when people yell at me. Even when there isn't really any yelling, but just "getting after" going on. It's true. Ask my parents. It's pretty sad.)

In conclusion, Glen celebrated his 27th birthday so he will be the same age as me for a few months. That always makes me feel less old. Then I turn 28 and feel old again... I am so grateful for his mother for bringing him into this world. I only wish I could meet her and hug her and tell her so in this life. I am grateful for his sweet father and sisters for helping him become who he is. And I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father for bringing him into my life over 15 years ago. I love you, Honey! Happy Birthday!