Milestone

My little stinker turned over for the first time this afternoon!  We were doing a little tummy-time and he got a little twinkle in his eye that said "Watch THIS."  And then, full of determination and confidence, he swung his head to one side, followed by his arm and flop!...in a split second, he was on his back.  Victory!  I couldn't have been more proud if he had won gold in the Olympics.  I was expecting the move to scare him a bit, but he didn't start screaming until I yelled the news to his dada upstairs.  Mean mama!

Ode to T.J. Maxx

Dear T.J. Maxx, 

Have I ever told you that I love you?  I've thought it so many times, like that time I found that awesome Tahari black jacket with the fur-lined hood for a quarter of the original price.  Or, when I found those sweet gold Diesel flats for $19 down from $60 and Liam's Juicy Couture "Givin' Up the Funk" sweatsuit onesie for $15 down from $70...Those were moments when I wanted to jump up and down in the isle and scream at the top of my lungs, "YES!! Thank you!!"

Or, how about this week when I got these two adorable, framed and linen-matted prints for the nursery for $8 each down from over $50 each.  Eight dollars?  Are you kidding me?  

And I have to tell you...remember that commercial you aired over this past holiday season with the carolers in the department store?  Well, it's been on repeat in my head ever since.  "We wish you a merry Christmas, but at the mall, you're spending too much.  If you knew how much, it'd make you nauseous.  Shop smarter next year!"  Genius.  So genius, in fact, that we bought your stock this year!  

Thank you for everything, and keep it up. 

Love always from your faithful customer, 

Rachael

Token Ski Day

March 20, 2010.  First ski day of the year (and last?) GLORIOUS.  I'm a fair-weather skier, and let me tell you...in the words of Germaine and Bret from Flight of the Concords, the conditions were perfect.  Aside from sun-burning my face off, it was a much-needed break from sweatpants, diapers and spit-up.

From left to right: David Russell, Garrett Rawson, Bret Rawson, (me), Scott Marlowe

That is one happy mama.  Deer Valley had been calling my name!  Thank you, Wes, for hanging with Liam for  6 hours straight.

Bret had not skied since 1991, so he was in for a little instruction...Garrett took a lesson from the Colonel last season and was turning some good-looking S's by the end of the day.

This is me trying to distract Bret from taking him on the grownup lift...

Good times on the bunny hill...(This lift is for midgets!)

Look at that excellent form!  

"Okay, fake smile, I'm having so much fun, I'm going to kill my sister, where is she taking me..."

Father and son on their first green run, appropriately named Success.

Lunch break at Snow Park Lodge.  Try the Wild Mushroom Soup-- it's ridiculously good.

And of course, Penny Rawson came to offer moral support.  We tried to drag her out on the slopes, but she declined.  She reasons that she is not a fan of slipping, so naturally, skiing is not for her...It is just a prolonged and purposeful version of slipping.  

Blessing Day

A little over thirty-five people attended Liam's baby blessing, which was held at our house on February 27th at 7pm (a Saturday).  The purpose of a baby blessing is for giving an infant an official name and a blessing, to get him off to a good start in this world.  It is traditional for LDS babies to be blessed at church on a Sunday in front of the congregation. What can I say?  We're just not the traditional type.  (As is evident by my mother bringing Tiramisu cake made with rum and espresso to a Mormon baby blessing...She swears she didn't know!  I think a few people may have even had a little more fun that night than they had planned.)  

Here is my reasoning.  You have a baby shower when you're pregnant and everyone is SO excited that the baby is coming, but then there is never really an occasion to celebrate the baby actually having arrived.  Many friends and/or relatives never even get to meet the baby until much later.  So, why not make an occasion of something that should be special and intimate anyway?  Baby blessings at church are wonderful for two minutes (assuming the baby is quiet enough for people to actually hear the words of the prayer), but once the speakers begin, everyone forgets about the blessing.  It is often shunted in between ward announcements and Sacrament prayers, kind of haphazard and lacking in much to distinguish it as special.   

Liam had been fussy all day, so I was expecting the worst when it came time for the blessing.  It seemed like he hated his outfit, or at least his shoes which he kept trying to kick off all evening. (I wasn't a huge fan of his outfit either, but it didn't cost a fortune like most blessing clothes. I'm sure he'll forgive me someday.)  When the brethren gathered around him in a circle and began bouncing him, his eyes started to get drowsy.  He was out cold by "Amen."  Sweet boy.  

Wes gave a beautiful prayer (I have the transcript), blessing Liam "intellectually, physically, spiritually and emotionally."  It was the first time since Liam had been born that he had used the power of the priesthood for Liam's benefit, and it was so good for me to see.  In the weeks preceding the blessing day, I repeatedly asked Wes if he was thinking about and preparing for the blessing.  I realize now that he probably had been thinking and preparing for it long before Liam had arrived.   I have a newfound respect for my husband and I was ashamed that I had doubted him.  Silly me.  

Wes blessed baby Liam "with the desire to love your fellow man and to realize that in the gospel, you may find joy."  He also blessed him "with a strong and healthy body...that you will be able to take on obstacles with strength" and "with a curiosity about this world."  He blessed him mentally, "with a sharp and keen mind" and  "with wisdom, that you may be able to discern good from bad--light from dark."  Other than little Isaac's minor disruption in a squeaky rocking chair, you could've heard a pin drop.  

From left to right: Michael Wilton, Daniel Rawson, John Charles, Kevin Charles, Lonnie Hanks, Weston Charles, (Liam Charles), Steven Rawson, Bret Rawson, John Carlson

(Wes would like to insert here that he is hunching so that others might view Lonnie's cheerful face - and that in fact he is taller than virtually every other male in this picture.)

My sweet Liam, 

Your father and I have so many hopes for you, as does your Heavenly Father.  I hope that over the years, you will be able to go back and read the words of your baby blessing so that you might know of our eternal love for you and the love He has for you as well.  There is nothing that we wouldn't do for you.  I hope that throughout your life, you feel that you can come to us for help navigating the tumultuous waters of mortality.  I am starting to see the seeds of your personality sprouting and it thrills me.  I promise to let you become your own person without forcing my opinions and persuasions on you.  I promise to support you in your endeavors and help you become the best person you can be.  One of the greatest founders of this country, John Adams, counseled his children to "do good and be good."  He said, "the longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know...Do justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly.  This is enough."  I agree with him that no effort in favor of virtue is lost.  I hope that you will learn to live by these words, and the words in your blessing.  Know that life is not always easy, but that you can always turn to your Father in Heaven for comfort and answers.  

I love you more than anything in this world, 

Your Mama

St. George, February 12-16

We were terribly worried that our poor baby thinks that this world is a frigid, dark place, so we took him on his first road trip to southern Utah.  It was a beautiful, balmy Valentine's Day weekend well-spent.  Liam got to set his Charging Rhino Thighs (CRTs) free for the first time in the open air, and he couldn't have seemed happier.  Brave new world, here we come!  

The events included but were not limited to: a romantic, 15-minute getaway on the red rocks with my Valentine, a girl's day full of shopping, lunching and pampering, Liam's first afternoon-in-the-park, lots of Olympic watching in a ridiculously posh home-theatre,  In-N-Out!, reading by the pool, waking up at 3am every night because Liam couldn't quite handle the change of scenery, anniversary of Wes's mawidge proposal, anniversary of finding out I was preggo with Liam, Wes and me almost buying each other the exact same V-day card, and singing every Liam-friendly song known to man in the car on the way home.  

Enjoy some of my favorite shots... (The first below being PROBABLY my all-time fav.)