their mom

 

Many tragic things happened lately surrounding babies, children, and mommies that I almost feel guilty celebrating Mother's Day.  I mean, I have both of my kids--healthy, happy, and mine. So how do I celebrate this sensitive holiday?  When tragedy happens, it repeatedly influences me and reminds me to treasure what I have.  Each time I hear something heartbreaking it rocks me back to what's important-- I worked hard to get my kids here, I promised my husband and God when we got married that we would try to have children, and I have given up career opportunities to be mom.  This should be celebrated within our little family because promises have been fulfilled, and indeed, we have Myer and Lennon which make me a mother.

I've also made a personal goal as a mom to raise to well behaved, polite, serving, happy, faithful, God-seeking children so that we can all end up together after this life.  This what my life has become.  I am mom.  I am their mom.  I'm not perfect and some nights I rip myself up and down with guilt of how I've handled a 3 year old and a 7 month old.  So why celebrate when I feel like I am nowhere near my goal?  Why celebrate when I am impatient my kids when other women long for kids?  But every day I am working to be better; to make my children better.  And that is something celebrate.  At least that is what I'm telling myself.

I also celebrate my mom who gave up a life she could have had but instead had 6 children.  I celebrate my sister Jamie whose example of patience and special way of caring gives me aide when I'm struggling.  I celebrate myself (vain?) because Myer and Lennon give me purpose to my life.  They remind me of my lifelong goal of an eternal family and that is worth celebrating.  And lastly, I celebrate those mothers who have lost a child, can't bear children, or who have never married as special women whose strength I can never match.  It's not about who has the best mom, who was spoiled the most, or who has the most kids, it's about what's after this life.  Some will raise children, continue to raise their children, or enjoy their posterity in the eternities.  I hope we are all there because we are all mothers.  Happy Mother's Day to you ALL. 

Love,

Jake, Bryton, Myer and Lennon

happy valentines

So....Jake is on his first business trip (yahoo!) which means I'm alone for valentines day.  Which is fine because we went out last weekend.  And it's also REALLY fine because he is so excited about his job.  And this business trip could mean good things for us.  So on today like today, my happiness and love is filled because my better half is happy and where he wants to be right now.  That's all a proud wife could ask for on Valentines.  Love you Jake.  I'm so proud of you.  Happy Valentines day love!

a early v-day date

 Jake will not be here for the big V-day so we went out last weekend for an early celebration.  We drove all the way up SLC to our favorite spot: Cafe Trio.  Jake says it's "chick food" but in bigger portions so naturally we both luuurve it.  We haven't been out just two in a while, so it was nice to eat like normal adults instead of shoving it in before someone wakes up or needs to go potty.  But of course when we go out, all we talk about is that little someone who wakes up so happy and that crazy red head that needs a song in order to go potty.  Such is life.  Thanks for the early celebration Jake.  It will get me through your SIX days away from us.  I can do it!

I love the love

These are my favorite pics of these two kiddos of mine.  And it's not like I posed them, put them there told them to love each other, this is how they are every day.  And I love the love.  Myer is genuinely excited to see Lennon.  He makes sure that if we are headed out the door, she is coming too.  He calls her "my big brover" and brags/yells about that fact when we meet another human being.  I don't have the heart to correct such enthusiasm. 

And Lennon is no different.  She has to see where Myer is at all.times.  He is the one that makes her laugh and puts a smile on her face.  And, get this, she gets excited about his trains.  Yep.  True love right there.

I thought it would take a while for Myer to warm up to Lennon and for Lennon to figure out who Myer is, but to my surprise, it was an instant connection.  Sometimes that connection isn't always happy and joyful, but they know each other.  And that is what I love the most!  They make us four people a family.  I love the love.

meet my niece!

Meet Elodie Fae Taylor.

Born January 24th.

She's so beautiful.  And chubby.

I can't wait to get my hands on her.

Congrats Jamie, Mike, Maddix, and Navy.

We love her so much!

lucky 7

The number 7 sure is lucky for us.

This 7th year of marriage has been our best year yet:

new job

your new jeep

new house

and new baby.

We're so lucky.

And I'm so lucky to have you,

love, me.

I am so spoiled!

 These two lovelies threw me a baby shower on Saturday.  The theme was "Lemon" since that is all that I crave for the past 9 months, so we had lemon bars, lemonade, sunflowers, and lemon scrub as party favors.  It was perfect.  I can't thank them enough.  And to make this party even better, I was surrounded by everyone I love--family, friends from college, old neighborhoods, work friends, and even Baby Emerson (baby girl's future best friend.  She was scoping out the scene).  Each gift was so thoughtful.  I thank each of you for your sentiment.  Baby girl and I are so spoiled! We have amazing and meaningful people in our life.  Thank you Ashley and Charlotte for such a wonderful Saturday. We are so ready for her arrival!

 

date night

--drove in a car and actually listened to the radio instead of "Wheels on the Bus".
--ate a meal that I didn't have to share.  Or rush.
--watched "Shaping Sound" at the Scera Shell Outdoor Theater
--shared a box of redvines and junior mints
--only saw half of the show due to the rain
--returned a very late redbox
--talked about Myer the whole time

I love our date nights.  Even if they are rare and far in between.

blessing baby Emerson

On a happier note, we celebrated Anna and Casey's newest arrival--Emerson.  They blessed her on Sunday and we were privileged enough to be a part of it.  It was interesting coming from a funeral on Saturday to a baby blessing Sunday.  But you know what?  Both had the same message: God loves all His children.  And, life should be celebrated.  Little Emmy was precious and small and perfect with life just beginning.  She has the greatest parents, I might add, to be there each day.  I love this life and moments like these past two days to remind us that life is fragile and more importantly, it's about family.  Families are forever.  And dear Anna and Casey you have a beautiful family.  Congratulations! 

time with family

Oh man, where do I even start?  The last two weeks will be probably be the last time we'll all be together as a family for a while.  As I mentioned before, both of my sisters are moving back east so we made the last 14 days count.  We ate, we swam, we played, we snuggled, and we took lots of pictures.  This family is so important to me.  And I know that each of them mean something to Myer.  It'll be hard having aunts, uncles, and cousins far away but goodness that's what skype is for, right?  And I've always wanted to visit the Mall of America and I've always wanted to play on the Carolina beaches so we'll get out there.  One way or another.  Because these two sisters of mine, the ones closest in age to me, are my best friends and role models.  I hope I can be as strong and beautiful as they both are.  And if baby girl decides to take after these two, she'd be ahead of the game.

I'm so glad we have families.  And I'm so glad this is my family.  People say we have a certain "Thacker look" and it makes me proud.  I love the Thackers!  Good luck Jamie and Jessie with your new adventures.  I know you'll be a force of good over there.  Love you both to pieces.

-B

the mom-to-be's shower

My best friend, Anna, is expecting her first!  A little girl!  So we threw her a baby shower over the weekend to shower this girl and her little one with love.  Not to mention we showed that love with loads of yummy brushetta.  We tried to bring a little Italy flavor into the party.  The friends and family that showed up was truly telling--Anna you have a lot of people in your life who love you and cannot wait to meet this little mermaid.  Including me!

P.S. we are two months apart both with girls.  It's going to be a party.

a mother; always

After sleeping in, getting breakfast in bed, and then of course a little red head asking to "follow me, mama", I had a simple start to a great Mother's Day.  Life has been so crazy, working, picking up Myer from a babysitter every day, fitting in errands without Jake's help, and being pregnant, I wanted a simple day.  Just some extra rest and time together.  I only have 3 more weeks left of this crazy schedule that I lead, and man, this just reaffirms to me that I want to be home next fall.  More than anything.  Especially with a new little girl joining our family, I want to be the one with my kids.  As much as my high school kids pull on the other half of my heart, this is my place in life---a mom.  Some days I'm not great at it, and I may not get the recognition from principals, department colleagues, and students, but my family is the most important thing and what I'll treasure forever.  I will be a mother; always.

gender reveal

PINK is for our new little lady!

mitchell popped the question

Jake's brother, Mitchell, is tying the knot this coming fall!  We just absolutely love Anneli and she makes the perfect match for Mitch.  She is one amazing chica.  Myer already named a toy jeep after her so not sure how much more official we can get.  Welcome to the family Anni! Here's looking at the fall!

the chronicles of myer and daisy

Who doesn't love a little belly rub and some sunshine? 

Myer sure knows how to treat his best friend. 

When it was time for Myer's nap, Daisy went with us.  

M read her a book and then wrapped his arm around me and her 

while we sang our goodnight song.  

He says her name like a guy for the 50's era in the middle of song,

"Daaayyzzeh"

and he'll say it over and over and over again until we find her.

We had a picnic with her last week

and she just curled up next to Myer while he ate his lunch.

M did try to feed her some apples but like a good dog,

she declined.

Best friends.

For eveh.

sent a little love to new mexico

Myer sent his cousins, Maddix and Navy, a homemade valentine

as simple as painted noodles.

We got the idea from my favorite, Alison.

Talk about giving your rambunctious toddler something to do

and then giving a heartfelt gift.

My kind of valentines day.

 I think that's the last of the valentines post...

Maybe.

I just love this holiday.

post v-day

This little man was a little excited about his new towel from valentines.

I now call him my dancing Walrus.

Happy valentines day M!

love,

Mom & Dad

one of us

Jake went on a boys jeeping trip to St. George this past weekend and we sure missed our man.  He is keeping this house together, well, keeping it all together and 3 days without him was a little rough.  Let's just say we watched some movies, stayed in our pj's a little too long, and never ate at the right time.  And the house looks a little sad as well.  Gosh, that Jake sure does a lot for us.  Little Myer kept looking at me like, this is not how dad does it.  I didn't have the morning routine right, I couldn't wrestle right, and apparently Myer is a shower-only man.  So we'll just wait for dad on that one too.

I was there for morning wake-up time.  I was there for oatmeal breakfast with blueberries.  And I was there for morning breath snuggles.  All 3 days just M and I.  I loved the bonding time, but let's be honest, we aren't us without Jake.  We were happy when he came home.  And very aware of what he does in this house.  We love him so.

and 6 years later

I still love this guy like crazy.

I became me when I married Jake.

I pretended to like tomatoes because everyone else did, but once we met and found out he didn't like them either, I wasn't ashamed to ask for no tomatos on everything.

At parties, I was/am the shy one to sit back, but now I have a partner in crime to do it with.

He pushed me to pursue Sign Language as a career and cheered me through my career's ups and downs.

No matter how many times I ask him if he misses my long hair, I always get the same answer.

My schedule that was so important in high school and college is becoming more flexible.  Just a little.

I've never been so funny.  

At 6 AM when my alarm goes off, he squeezes my arm as if to say, "Don't worry, I got this."

He is the piece that makes me my best self.

I love you Jake.  Happiest Wedding Anniversary.  I'm lucky and better to have you.

xoxo

-B

looking out and up

This was a heavy weekend as I'm sure we are all aware.  I hurried home from work on Friday, and hugged and hugged this little person that I was so fortunate to come home to.  He breaths life into my soul and fulfills me as a mother.  I came home fearful that the world is getting scary, scarier each day so how do I let Myer grow up in such a state?  How do I let him go to school?  To a movie theatre?  But fear cannot control us.  We must live.  Live and love and do the best we can so that we will always be together, forever.  There is love in this world as those teachers showed saving lives.  I've always looked to this quote from Gordon B. Hinckley in times of frustration and sadness, and it ever rings true again: 

"Stop looking for the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."

I hope I can teach my children to love always and have the hope to believe in their future.  I am not so good at this as I learned as mother to a newborn... so I hope they can become better than me.  The sunlight is always better than gray skies anyways.