Cherish

I have enjoyed Walter as a newborn more than I ever enjoyed a new baby before. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved the newborn stage, and I adored every one of my babies. But this time is different. 

This time, I'm not a first time mom anxiously navigating the steep newborn learning curve. I'm also not a mom to a newborn and a toddler trying to nurse a baby while also entertaining said toddler or dressing a pre-schooler with one arm. 

This time around, I have older kids who are truly helpful, and I've done this enough times to feel calm and confident in myself. This time around, I know just how short the newborn phase is, so I don't feel the need to rush back in to life.

This time around I'm happy to sit and nurse a baby, to revel in his perfection, to accept more help, to let the dishes sit in the sink, to gather my big kids around and pause as we all just stare at this perfect little miracle. 

This time around, I've learned to truly cherish this time and season, and I feel so thankful for these moments! 

 

Having Walter and cherishing this time with him has served as a great reminder to slow down and cherish all of my kids, exactly as they are. To remember that even though the learning curve may be steep or their phase in life a challenging one, they will never be just like this again. All too soon they'll be moving on to the next stage, and I'm sure in hindsight, I'll miss these moments profoundly. So in no particular order, here are a few things I'm cherishing right now. 

Eliza started Young Women's this year. She was so excited! She was especially excited to attend the temple. The girls had a trip planned, but she was unsure how things went and asked if I could take her first. We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon together in the temple, and she left feeling confident about attending again with the other girls. 

 

She also recently decided to make this giant hoodie. She begged for weeks for me to help her figure out a pattern and execute the harder bits of sewing. It was hard to clear away the distractions and make time for this project, but I cherish the time we spent together working on this and love our final result! 

I cherish these two boys so much. They can be loud, rowdy, and messy. But they can also be incredibly sweet and thoughtful. They clean up pretty well too! 

I have loved watching Orson in his role as big brother. He is so loving and gentle with Walter. Today he shouted from the couch where he was holding Walter, "Mom, do you hear how happy this baby is?" 

I also cherished watching Conrad loose his first tooth. Never have I seen a child so excited about a wiggly tooth for weeks on end. When it finally came out, he made a point to show EVERYONE! 

One afternoon just a few days before Walter was born when the weather was slightly warmer and the snow mostly melted, Michael dragged us all out of the house to go fishing. The younger kids fished while the older girls walked around the pond and chatted. It turned out to be a cherished afternoon with my favorite people! 

I cherish the time I get with these kids as we homeschool! How lucky is it that I get to have them everyday?!? Before Walter was born I tried to squeeze in a few special days since I knew school would take a backseat for a bit. We had a wonderful poetry tea party one afternoon and we all loved it! 

Lenora can be such a goofball, but I adore the fun and laughs she brings to our home. Here she is as the "window washer lady." She only washes windows during important meetings. And if anyone makes eye contact with her, she'll challenge them to rock, paper, scissors. Where does she come up with these things??

The moments I cherish most with Hazel right now are our weekly drives to and from choir at 7:30am on Saturday mornings. I don't love getting out of the house so early on the weekend, but I do love the one-on-one time with this sweet girl. She's such a fabulous teenager! All too soon she'll be driving herself to all of her activities and then when will we chat and catch up?? 

I'm so thankful for these tiny miracles and all these moments! On the long, exhausting days I'm trying to remember to pause and cherish our season of life. 

Welcome Walter!

It's a BOY!! Our new addition arrived March 15, 2023 at 6:52pm. 

Walter Anthony Ballard

3/15/2023

7 lbs, 5 oz

20 inches 

To say we are obsessed and smitten with this sweet little boy is an understatement. He is perfect, and we love him SO much! 

Walter made us wait patiently to meet him. I officially had my longest pregnancy yet at 39 weeks, 2 days. 

Then, the morning of the 15th I woke up about 4:30am with uncomfortable contractions. Since Conrad's labor started much the same way and progressed very quickly, I was surprised when the contractions continued at the same intensity but weren't getting closer together than 15 to 20 minutes. I tried going back to sleep without any luck. Eventually, I got up and got ready for the day, told Michael he should probably work from home, and started walking around trying to get things moving more quickly. My contractions continued much the same all morning - uncomfortable enough that I knew this was real labor but not progressing. I had a doctor's appointment previously scheduled for 11am, so I went ahead with the appointment. I was dilated to 4cm and the doctor agreed I was likely in labor, so he stripped my membranes hoping to move things along. 

I arrived home to a gourmet lunch cooked by Michael. He wanted the kids to get one square meal in for the day since he assumed we wouldn't be home by dinner time. He's such a good dad! 

As the afternoon worn on, labor still refused to quit or progress. My chiropractor had given me a series of exercises called the Miles circuit to help the baby move in to the proper position for labor. I did the whole 90 minute circuit and found my contractions were finally becoming more regular! By 4pm, I felt like things were progressing enough to head to the hospital. Contractions were becoming more painful though they were still around 5-6 minutes or more appart. 

At the hospital everyone seemed to agree that I was in labor but that it would be awhile. We arrived at about 4:45 and didn't get officially admitted until about 6. By this point, I decided I wanted an epidural. The combination of contractions ALL day, the thought that I would possibly be in labor many more hours, plus transition, and worst of all crowning all had me looking forward to that epidural. The nurse had to get my IV started and give me half a bag of saline before they could proceed with the epidural. 

I had an especially strong contraction while waiting for the saline to infuse and told Michael, "I'm going to be so happy with that epidural!" The next contraction, I stood at the side of the bed and my water broke. Immediately I felt the need to push! With two quick pushes Walter was here! The nurse caught him, unwrapped him from his umbilical cord which was around his neck twice, and handed him up to me. He was perfect! 

Waiting for the delivery to find out the gender was SO hard. I hate surprises! But, it was worth the wait for that moment of excitement after he was born. 

Tender Mercies from this Delivery: 

- Labor starting early in the day so that Michael was home from work not rushing back to Payson

- Knowledge from the chiropractor on how to move labor along with the Miles circuit

- A wonderful hospital experience

- The most amazing nurse there to deliver Walter! I feel so blessed with Nurse Courtney who was so skilled and calm. I know they don't deliver babies every day, but you would have thought she did. 

- The fact that he came so quickly in the end. With the cord wrapped around his neck twice it's a blessing he hadn't descended sooner and that he spent so little time in the birth canal. 

- That I never did get my epidural. I enjoy recovery so much more with a natural birth, so I'm grateful the epidural didn't happen

- My SIXTH uneventful, vaginal delivery. It is not lost on me how blessed I've been with smooth deliveries 

As usual, Michael was the best support. I always love watching him meet our babies for the first time! He couldn't wait to hold Walter, but it was a while before I was ready to hand him over. 

We Facetimed the kids shortly after Walter was born before they headed to bed. They too were shocked that he had already arrived! The next morning they came to love on him.  And do they ever love him! He's going to be the most held baby of all time. 

I must say, I LOVED the Payson labor and delivery floor. The staff were so kind and helpful, plus the recovery room felt more like a nice hotel. They provide a fancy dinner to all new parents, so Michael and I enjoyed a short dinner date before heading home. 

Walter, you are already such a joy to our family. We're so glad you're here!!!

 

Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow!

 For the first time since moving back to Utah, we've actually had a snowy winter, and we're loving it! We've had at least some snow on the ground almost constantly since December. 

Of course the kids are in heaven, especially Lenora! 

On a walk we stumbled on a fun tree house that we'd never seen through all the leaves. 

We've sledded and played with friends...

Laid a spider to rest...

And gone on a few hikes up the canyon.

Eliza built a snow chicken, 

And Orson has been keeping us supplied with weather reports each morning. 

Eliza, Orson, and Lenora have been lucky enough to go skiing with Grandpa!!

Orson obviously loved it! 

Even Haley enjoys all the snow, though she won't say no to a warmer seat when she sees one!

One week it was cold enough for skating on the creek. 

And of course, forest school with so much snow is the best! The kids have chopped ice with hatchets, sledded endlessly, built a cool snow fort, and discovered some really neat ice formations. 

If it's going to be winter and cold, there should always be lots of snow to keep things fun.