More About Mack: 2 Months Old

You would not believe what I've been able to get done today!

Mack has been taking quite the nap (unfortunately because he's not feeling well) but I've been taking advantage of the free time. I washed the dishes, prepped for a yummy dinner, scrubbed the bath, and the floor, tidied up the living room, did 3 loads of laundry, took a shower, and got somewhat ready. I guess you could say it's been a pretty productive day. Mack doesn't usually sleep much during the day and he ALWAYS wants to be held. I've forgotten what it's like to have two free hands.

So, in addition to all this extra time, I thought I'd write a little post to highlight Mack's 2 month mark. Everyone always tells me my poor other kids won't get quite the treatment that Mack is getting, but oh well. At least I'll do it for one, right?

Mack is growing so dang fast! He has his 2 month drs appointment tomorrow and I'm anxious to see how much he weighs now and how tall he is. I'd bet he's at least 12 or 13lbs. This kid is getting heavy! He's starting to laugh so much and smile all the time it just melts me to the core. Last night he was actually screaming/crying and so while Cameron was talking to him I tried to get his attention and he actually started laughing/crying. It was hilarious, I wish I could've gotten it on video. He would somewhat smile while crying and then he'd get this big fat pouty lip. It was the cutest dang thing I'd ever seen. He's also become quite the hand sucker and it's so adorable to me. Mack also loves to be held outward, which is crazy to me! He's still so little that it's hard for me to hold him on my hip just yet, but he won't have it any other way. And he's so stinkin' strong! He keeps trying to do these little crunches when I lay him down, like he's mad that he's not sitting up and can't see. He's just all around strong. The kid has been from day one. Oh, and he also has been taking a binky other than the hospital one. It makes me so happy because now when he's crying for no reason I can usually comfort him with the binky. Things are looking up folks.

I think his acid reflux is improving with the medicine, he's definitely not so whiny, but he has his bad days. I actually think he is developing whats called Torticollis. It's where their head leans to one side, and eventually they can have a misshapen head. Yikes! I noticed it the other day that he'll only hold his head to the left. And when I put him on his tummy he'll only turn to one side. I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that he sleeps in a swing/carseat because that's the only way he won't be miserable with the acid reflux. So, I'm hoping that the dr will give us some stretches and things we can do to get this straightened out (no pun intended) before it's too late and he has to wear a helmet.

That's pretty much all that's been going on around here. I'm just learning how to cook, clean, and ever learning how to get a handle on this mom thing.

And now here's a cute pic I took this morning that wasn't posted on Insta or Facebook-

Love this juicy nubbin!

2 Years Back from My Missouri Independence Mission

I can't even believe that it has been 2 whole years since I returned home from serving my mission in the most beautiful place- Independence, Missouri. I was so blessed to serve with the greatest companions, and to serve around the most wonderful senior couples, members, and investigators.

Serving at the Historic Liberty Jail

I remember when I was interviewing with my stake president prior to entering the MTC and he looked at me and said, "Sister Conrow, not a day goes by that I don't think about my mission, not one single day, and it will be the same for you." To be honest, I didn't quite comprehend what he meant by that- I thought, surely there's a day where you haven't thought about your mission, but since returning home I fully understand what he meant. Because I too, have not gone 1 day without thinking about my mission. I believe it's because the things I learned on my mission have left a lasting impression, and the lessons I learned I am applying to my everyday life.

I am also learning, however, that you can have just as many missionary experiences as a regular ole' member without a name tag as you can as a missionary. I'll admit, I have a lot of work to do in the member missionary department. It's certainly not as easy to be so bold and upfront with people as it was on my mission. It's almost like that name tag makes you feel invincible- you truly are so focused on the Savior, it's a lot easier to not care about what people think. Nevertheless, I have no excuse not to be better. I loved Elder Bednar's talk this last conference about why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints love sharing the gospel. He hit it right on the head! We do not want to annoy or force anyone into this church, we're simply sharing something that is so precious to us and something that has made us so incredibly happy. We just can't contain our desire to share! I need to remember this whenever I feel the world watching.

There are so many things that I reflect back on when I think about my opportunity to serve. I swear something new comes to my mind every day- I wish I had some unique story to share that's never been shared, but I think the greatest things I gained from my mission were the relationships that were made with others and with my Heavenly Father and Savior, along with a stronger testimony and desire to live the Gospel more fully. I'm so incredibly grateful for those whom I was able to teach and thankful for amazing companions who taught me more than I'll ever be able to thank them for. I love that I gained so many tools in that short 18 month period that have helped me to be a better wife, friend, mother, and member of the church. I was blessed to serve under an inspired mission president, and to serve around so many other great leaders of the church.

At times, since returning home, the adversary has made me feel insecure about my service. There have been moments where I look back and think, "I could have done so much better, I really wasn't that great of a missionary. Why didn't I do this or that, why couldn't have I done this or that... I must not have been a very good companion because of this..." You get the idea. It's been so bad, that sometimes I just plain cry about it because I want nothing more than to be the best I can be. But then, the sweet spirit swoops in and reminds me that although I wasn't perfect, I was trying my best. MY BEST- not my companions best, or my missions presidents best, but my best. And that thought usually accompanies some good day in my mission.

Like just the other day, I was having a hard moment, and in church the lesson was on always being a member missionary... And I started thinking about what I was doing to fulfill my part, and if I endured to the end well as a missionary. I remember the day before I was to come home from my mission, my feelings were all over the place. I had such mixed emotions about leaving the place I had grown to love so much and was searching for any opportunity to teach just one more lesson, or give out one more Book of Mormon with my name tag on.

There's one experience I can recall very clearly- all of us missionaries returning home were eating at Subway before hopping in the van to head to the mission home. Everyone was busy ordering and eating their sandwiches, when I noticed a man, probably in his 30's sitting alone at a table. He had his laptop propped open with a picture of his family in the background (I had glanced at it before heading back to my seat). I knew I needed to talk to him. So, I went back up to get another drink (even though mine was still full) as an excuse to pass by this guy one more time and introduce myself. When I started walking back to my seat I commented on what a beautiful family he had, not knowing how he'd respond. He lit right up and was more than happy to share with me how much he loved his family. I ended up sitting at his table and we had a nice little conversation about his family and what church he had gone to. He said, "Ya know, I'm a Christian, but I haven't really gone to any specific church in a long time, and was just thinking that I need to find a church for my wife and kids." You can bet I didn't hesitate to introduce him to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I gave him a pass along card to order a Book of Mormon, and a pamphlet that shared more about our beliefs. I think I even had him look up the church website on his laptop. He was so interested, and when I asked him where he was from he said he was actually from Texas and just on a business trip here. I tried to get him set up with missionaries in Texas but he wanted to talk to his wife first, so I respected that. I'll never forget his name, it was Case. And to this day I've tried to track him down to see if anything came from our conversation. No, nothing monumental happened that I know of, but I was so grateful Heavenly Father gave me another missionary opportunity like that before leaving a place I now call home.

Coming home from any mission is tough- it's such an adjustment. You go from focusing on the Savior, others, and the Gospel 24/7 to having to make big life decisions that are all about you. I'll never forget walking down those stairs at the Salt Lake airport on November 9, 2012 at 11pm exhausted and just feeling so overwhelmed that my 18 month journey in Missouri was over, it was such a surreal feeling. And then being released at 2 am that morning by my Stake President in his home. But from the moment I stepped off that plane, I have been so immensely blessed by my Heavenly Father- He has helped me, and continues to help me in ways that I know I can't even comprehend nor see. And as I strive to continue to live the Gospel more blessings are poured out upon me and my family. Isn't it so great to know that when we keep the commandments and follow our Savior that we will always be taken care of? It may not be in the way we think, but I always want to have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on my side.

Missouri Independence Mission- a part of my heart still, and always will, remain with you!

P.S.- I started going through all of my mission pics to post some here, and I was way too overwhelmed. There are too many to choose from! So, I just picked some random ones..

My very first apartment on my mission

Tender mercy board with Sister Loo

Thanksgiving 2011 with Sister Lund, Kavea, and Clark

Christmas Time transfers 2011 with Sisters Graff, Kavea, Clark, Crystal, and Dodd

Just skipping along at Adam-Ondi-Ahman

4th of July with all of the VC sisters

Platte Citttaaayyyy!

This describes Sister Stoker and I's relationship perfectly

Fausto's Baptism- Independence 3rd Ward

The infamous trio- my last transfer

 

Mack's Blessing Day

I really don't think there is anything more special than your first child being blessed by his father. You know, I always wanted a girl first, but now that I have Mack, I can't imagine him not being my first. I know one day he will be a great example to his future siblings and be the best big brother. He reminds me a lot of Cameron- even though he's been fussy a lot, I can already tell that his little spirit is special. He has this patient temperament about him, like he seems so strong to me and deals with pain really well. I don't even think he cried when he was circumcised (TMI?)

Lately, he's been smiling a whole lot and it sure melts my heart. His crying is getting better and he seems like he's feeling somewhat better- which makes me very hopeful that things are looking up. I know my thoughts are kind of all over the place right now, but I am just so grateful to have this sweet baby boy in my life, despite the long hard nights, and I'm so grateful for my family and Cameron's family who came to support us on Mack's blessing day.

Cameron was so nervous about how he should hold him when he gave Mack his blessing, and how to open the prayer, but he did such a beautiful job, and Mack did so great! He fell right asleep just before Cameron got up there and was quiet during the entire blessing. Mack wore the cutest little white romper, courtesy of my dear mission companion Kenzie Ogletree. As I put it on him, I was terrified that he would have a nice little blowout- but he never did, thank goodness! I also couldn't help but think about the future white clothing Mack would wear one day- baptism, temple, wedding... I get emotional just thinking about him growing up. Although I can't wait for him to experience all of life's blessings, I can't help but feel selfish in wanting him to stay my sweet little newborn forever. Isn't it just so neat how Heavenly Father entrusts us with such a tiny human being? Sometimes I wonder if I'm capable, but as the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "God qualifies the weak.." or something to that extent, and boy is that true! I am just so thankful that Heavenly Father has entrusted me and Cameron to be his parents.

I was able to get some pictures of all the family who was able to come and to capture some cute pics of Mack. After the blessing, we headed to the temple for a quick picture moment, and then everyone headed over to Rudy's for tacos, and homemade brownies made by momma. It was really fun, and we all ended up talking for a good four hours in the living room. I just love family get togethers and that's why I'm really trying to be better about this documenting thing. I want my children to be able to look back on these photos and smile, and I hope that what I write will bring me back to all these memories we are making with our family.

And now, here are some pics for the liking-

My cute little baby boy in his blessing outfit

All the Sevier side Grandkids

4th Generation Photo- Grandpa Bechtold, Grandpa Rudy, Cameron, and Baby Mack

 Thanks family for coming out and supporting Mack on his special day!

Halloween with Mack

Last year, Cameron and I dressed up as a lumberjack and I was his tree, and this year I wanted so badly to do something with the 3 of us- something fun and creative, but I never quite got around to it.

 

So, instead I made a last minute run to Walmart on Halloween day and bought this $5 mummy outfit for Mack. Then that night, Cameron and I wrapped toilet paper around his head to capture how hilarious we thought he looked. Even though it wasn't a terribly exciting Halloween and I procrastinated doing anything super spectacular, I'm glad we at least had Mack the Mummy. He is quite the cutie isn't he?

 

 Love my Mack the Mummy!