Our Gorgeous Nieces

Special thanks to the lovely Calliwag (below, isn't she gorgeous?) for motivating me to come out of my nearly five-month non-blogging slump! (and special thanks to Kenz for posting pix on FB that I stole)

We've been lucky enough to have these three hotties visit us in Longview twice this year.

Our nieces are awesome and we love that they're willing to grace us with their presence.

Along with these rockin' teens came our (and I say "our" because Ryan always corrects me when I say they're "mine") three oldest sisters, and an additional eight more nieces and nephews. So, if you're doing the math, that's 18 excited people in our home (sorry landlords... hope you never find out). Yes, that's a whole lotta people in one kinda small house, but that's for another post I have swirling around in my head.

Last Sunday we made a grand entrance at church. In true Richmond tradition, which I honor and follow, we were late to church. During the last line of the sacrament song, all eighteen of us come walking up (down?) the aisle in a semi-single file line to squeeze in some rows near the front of the chapel. And in case someone hadn't seen or heard us, there was an awkward pause after the song ended so we could get settled before the Sacrament prayer began. It was slightly embarrassing, but I was delighted and proud to have a big chunk of family here to sample a bit of our life and for the congregation to sample a bit of our familia.

Many ward members commented and asked about our visiting family throughout church and later on in the week. It was fun and still makes me smile to think about it.

I think the three older nieces doubled the size of our entire young women's group. Today at church, I was told the teenage boys in the ward were wishing my nieces weren't just visiting and that they would have loved to have these new cute and fun girls in the ward. I can't blame them, they are absolutely beautiful and super funny and entertaining. But, sorry boys, they're not on the market 'til they're 35. And even then, no boy or man will ever be good enough.

Thanks for coming to see us ladies. I will always remember, smile and giggle over these memories...your "40-year-old party pooper moms", you guys singing Tracy's "is that your breath or did you just fart" song in unison, Tina Tina Shanuz's doorbell commercials, and the Starbucks turned into Burger King into a laughing wet mess! I think I would have been delightfully entertained to hear what went on in the tent. And Livi, I'm thinkin' of you too in all of this crazy silliness.

Please come back soon. Maybe next time you'll see Taco rockin' out in all his Michael Jackson wannabe glory. And maybe we'll make it to the squirrel bridge too. Love you guys!

Little Guy Laughing/Squealing

Per your request, Papa. The best laughs are at the changing table or with big sis, but this will work for now. :)

Blackmail

What You Missed Today

Scene 1 on Thursday afternoon:

While riding in her stroller, through a field of weeds with the sun shining down (en route to the park), Morgan exclaims, "It's beautiful!"

Not really sure I heard her correctly, I ask, "What?"

Her response, "It's beautiful! It's magic."

Yes, it was beautiful and magic. The scenery and the precious two-year-old to point it out.

Scene 2 also on Thursday afternoon:

Background: In an effort to sway Morgan's distaste for pull-ups, I talk about how much I like pull-ups, how Grandpa, Grandma, and other cool people wear pull-ups (hey, you have to "pull up" underwear, right?). None of this changes her opinion. Every time we use the potty or do a diaper change, I ask her if she wants the Dora or the Diego pull-ups (which she chose at the store). She replies, "No, just a diaper" in a pleasant little sing-song voice.

"Why don't you like pull-ups, Mo?"

"No, just a diaper." The way she says it isn't angry or fierce. It's just very matter of fact, it is what it is.

So back to the scene of the day:

Morgan is off playing, happily talking/singing to herself somewhere in the house. I am changing Porter's diaper in the bathroom and start to sing (to the tune of "We are a Happy Family"):

"I love pull-ups, they love me. Porter loves pull-ups, yes-sir-eee!"

Before I can finish my lovely song, Mo chimes in with her own version..."I yuv diapers, dey yuv me!"

She got me. Again.

So happy I get to spend my days and nights with these cuties!

Baby Porter

Baby Porter arrived in somewhat dramatic fashion on his due date, Friday, October 2, 2009 at 2:48 PM, weighing 7 lbs. 12.5 oz. and supposedly measuring 22 inches long. Mom & baby are doing great and get to go home Sunday morning. We are so happy he's here and are loving every new minute with him! We can't believe how fast he's already changing. Here are some quick pictures - hope to post more later.

Porter & his proud (& relieved) parents - 40 minutes old














Catching some Z's or contemplating the universe...4 hours old


















Excited & Delighted Big Sister...5 hours old



















"Give me that binky back!"...1 day old














Welcome, Little Man...We Love You!!!

Welcome to the World!

The Richmond side of our family is undergoing a population boom. Welcome to these new little cuties!

New niece, Kalia Richmond Webb, born September 20, 2008













New niece, Mia Lorraine Marzo, born April 6, 2009














Brand spankin' new nephew, Ethan Jack Marzo, born July 24, 2009


















Soon to be born niece or nephew, Baby (Tenley or Ian?) Haws, born on or before August 7, 2009














Soon to be born son, Porter Noah? Wehmann, hopefully born by October 2, 2009














Soon to be born nephew, Jack Kimball Longson, due mid-October, 2009














Kinda soon to be born niece or nephew, Baby Richmond, due early 2010

Life

This post is long overdue, about things I've been thinking about for a long time. I know we tend to get sarcastic on many of these posts, but this time I'm keepin' it real. This is more of a pour out your soul journal entry.

If you've seen me lately, you know that we are excitedly expecting a baby boy, due October 2nd! We are psyched to be adding a new little one to the family and couldn't be happier, really! I am 30+ weeks along and it definitely shows. I was dropping some things off at the Salvation Army the other day. As soon as the worker, who was taking donations, saw me (my belly and chubbed out face) he exclaimed, "Whoa! Stop right there! Don't you lift a thing, I'll take care of it all!" It made me laugh thinking nothing I was even dropping off weighed more than two pounds. I know he was just saying it to tease because the rest of our interaction he was cracking jokes and just being the funny guy that he is. Little did he know that I still have over two months left of growing to go.

So, my last post about not blogging because I was trying to be a good wife was not completely true. I was just trying to survive life. I am thankfully feeling much better now, but the first four or so months of this pregnancy were absolutely miserable. There were times of uncontrollable vomiting that were so violent and forceful that I literally thought an alien or some other possessed being had invaded my body, leaving me weak, tired, depressed, splotchy-faced from petechial hemorrhaging (tiny blood vessels popping, leaving red dots on my face), and a burning throat. Thank goodness that is over for the most part. Every now and then I have to be humbled and reconnect with the nasty porcelain bowl, but it is rare. I just have to stick to my regimine of regular eating, lots of sleep, low stress, Unisom & Vitamin B6, and Flintstones vitamins instead of regular prenatals.

I'm not going to lie, being sick like that sucked and there were times that I would have rather been dead than feel that way. I can take pain any day, but nausea is not my cup of tea. Knowing, or at least hoping, that there will be a great reward at the end (our baby!) was what kept me going. I have to wonder though, had we not had our many years of infertility and miscarriages, would we have been ready for months of my unusually miserable self? I say "we" because I know how Ryan got the brunt of my whining, definitely had to pick up my slack, and hated my puking sessions.

We were so excited when we were expecting Morgan, but also extremely cautious and nervous - worried that it was too good to be true, and that something bad could easily happen at any minute. When she was born, I remember feeling overjoyed, but also in shock and disbelief that we actually had a live baby. This time around, we are a bit more relaxed, but just as hopeful and prayerful that everything will turn out fine. Unfortunately, we've had some recent tender reminders that everything doesn't always turn out "fine" or the way it should. In early June we had some dear family friends lose their precious boy, Chase Patrick, on his delivery day. My sister, Kim, and her family are expecting a little boy, Jack Kimball, a few weeks after us in October. He has some health problems and the doctors have said that he will most likely not make it. They are trying to make the best of it and are enjoying the time that they do have with him while he is still in utero. Our next door neighbors have an adorable eight-month-old girl, Alex, with SMA (Spinal Musclular Atrophy) that probably won't live past 18 months. My heart aches for these families and I just wish there was something I could do to magically fix these terrible situations. My heart also aches for those that have to struggle with years or even a lifetime of infertility, or those that feel abortion of an unwanted or unplanned life is their best solution. Thank goodness there are good things in this world - like miracles, adoption, and eternal life.

So, I know this post started out happy and then went downhill from there, but these things are dear to my heart and I want to remember them. I'm going to end with a music video I first saw over a year ago. It has touched me many times and makes me bawl like a baby because I am so grateful for the blessings in my life. It's mostly about wanting a child, that I think just about any woman or man can relate to, but is also a great reminder with some powerful messages about the preciousness of life and the miracle of adoption. Please take the time to watch it, I think you'll find it valuable.

Why I haven't blogged in so long...

I'm too busy being a good wife.  If you click on the article below, you'll see what I've been striving to achieve.

Who's Your Daddy?

Morgan loves her daddy, there is no question about that. The real question is, who's her daddy? About six months ago, Mo was looking at a picture of Ali's entire family. When asked, "Where's Daddy?" Morgan pointed to a picture of Pig (our bro-in-law and Ryan's "brother from another mother"). We've had fun joking about this.

Morgan does loves her Piggy, and gave him many loves while we were in Utah, but he is not her daddy.

However, Morgan does have multiple daddies...Alison and Ryan. Month's ago, I didn't believe Ryan when he would say that Morgan called me Daddy. But, while we were in Utah, it became very obvious. We are both Daddy. We correct her all the time, but she still insists that we are both Daddy. Here's a typical dialogue.

Mo: "Daddy!" (as Mo gives me a hug)
Ali: "Mommy" (as I point to myself)
Mo: (smiling) "Daddy" (as she points to me)


Even Grandma and Grandpa were sometimes called Daddy on our Utah trip.

Since it's been the topic of conversation with a few different friends lately, and because I'll want to remember this later on, here's a list what Mo is saying these days. (Sorry, it turned out to be longer than I expected.)

Kaia (our dog)
hi or "Hi, hi, hi" (as a greeting or to show happiness, excitement, or contentment)
Daddy
dat ("that's", as in "that's Kaia" or "that's daddy)
guh ("good", as in "good Kaia")
baby
bee (binky)
gee (drink, almost sounds like "gree")
tee (tree)
sit down (she even says, "sit down baby")
baw (ball)
no
day-doo (thank you, she changes how she says it, but always keeps the same tone/inflection)
shoe
gaw or gawk (sock)
baw-ooh (balloon)
pbeek-ah-pboo
chee (cheese, posing for pictures, not requesting the food)
cuckah (for garbage, or any other nasty things she shouldn't touch)
weeee
bye-bye
gaiee gaiee (cousin Grayden, or other children)
snow (means snow & outside)
eye
nose

Words she used to say: please, bear, E-I-E-I (as in EIEIO)

Morgan still grunts or "uh-uh-uh"'s for food, she still growls at Daddy (Ryan) all the time, and talks in her sleep from time to time about Kaia and babies. She says many other cute things, but it's in the Morgan language that we are still learning at a slow pace. Oh, Parents!


Morgan with her four daddies.

Go Utes!!!

We're on a Sugar Bowl high right now. Our Utes just beat Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl. What a fun night, too bad we couldn't be there in person. Go Utes!

It's been a great year for our sports teams (other than the Broncos)...Real Salt Lake made it to the MLS playoffs for the first time ever, our Phillies won the World Series, and our Utes went 13-0 and once again showed we can compete with the big kids and the BCS is bunk.

Here's a photo log of the game, according to Morgan.

Pregame Excitment

Yummy Snacks


















This is gonna be a good game, Daddy!


















Cheering for the 21 quick points wore us out...


















Okay, let's play again...















Cheering with Grandma


















Snacks with Grandpa















Sweet Victory












How Sweet It Is!