Aaahhhhh....

The sweetest things come in big and little packages! This is a picture of Desmond (the little one) with his cousin, Kamden (the not so little one). They are about 5 weeks apart in age, and they are just both so sweet. My sister and I bought these pj's together a few months ago, thinking that maybe if we went shopping we could get ourselves excited for the whole 'baby thing'. WHAT WERE WE THINKING??? How could we not be totally ecstatic that we get to be the lucky mommies of these precious little boys!

Just Four Days Old

Introducing....

Desmond Michael Swaner

After the Great Name Debate of 2008, we finally named our sweet little guy Desmond Michael Swaner. Michael is Derrick's little brother. We really had intended on naming him Lincoln, but it just didn't fit. Funny how that works. We've had him at home for 24 hours now, and are just having the greatest time ever. He definitely isn't lacking in love around here. There are many arms that want to hold him, and he is soaking it up. So little Des is officially part of the family...and we can't imagine life without him!

Here At Last!!!

The currently un-named baby boy Swaner is here at last! He was born around 8am on August 18th at Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot. We are so thankful that things went as smoothly as they did. As in most deliveries, we had a few scares, but all in all, it went really really well. We have surely seen many great blessings in our lives.
The 'boy with no name' weighs in at 7 lbs 9 oz, and is 19 1/2 inches long. We aren't sure who he looks like, but perhaps a bit of a cross between Skyler and Tannon??? So far, he's a really good baby, and of course, it took all of a split second to just fall totally in love with our sweet little guy. Myah seems to be completely smitten by her baby brother, and I think the boys are pretty amazed too. Thanks to all of our great friends and family for your love, your support, and your prayers. We really are so thankful! Just a side note...if you notice that he's wearing a pink blanket and hat, it's only because they had so many baby boys here, that they ran out of blue...not because we're in boy denial!

Here's What I Know

I don't really know much about life for sure, but this is what I know...

1). Things happen for a reason. That doesn't always mean things go my way, but in the long run, I will come out a better person. I guess that's where that whole 'trust' part comes into things.

2). Great friends make anything 'doable'. After the past few months, I feel like I could go on for days about the importance of great friends, and yes, Derrick is right at the top of that list. Just recently, some of those really awesome people have done things like bringing yummy dinners (one in particular who just had a new baby...thanks Victoria), brought flowers and well wishes (thanks Shaleece), watched my kids, listened to me complain, cleaned my house, taken me to a really long lunch where I could vent for hours, rubbed my belly and told me I look cute (ya, I actually like it when people touch my tummy...well, most people...and only when I'm preganant!), given me their bed for a good nights rest (thanks mom and dad), and tolerated my huge mood swings (thanks everyone!!!). Not to mention the phone calls (some of which I still need to return...sorry Gabe and Amy), the cheerful emails and encouraging blog comments, the fact that some people are doing WAY more than their share in our Young Women's calling (shout out to Janelle and Michelle), the prayers that have been said (how can I even begin to thank you for that), the treats delivered and the visiting teachers going way above and beyond. Seriously, how can I even begin to repay all of that kindness and service??? Please just know that I really am thankful for every one of you, and when I say my prayers, I thank Heavenly Father for really great friends!

3) Tigger or Eeyore??? I still choose Tigger. I know I've been a bit of Eeyore lately, but it must just be hormonal, right????

4) Delivery day is tomorrow, and there is one thing that I will really miss about this experience. Myah is so fascinated with pregnancy and loves to rub and kiss my belly. It melts my heart. My favorite is when she sings this funny little song she made up. It goes like this (to the tune of the traditional conga line with the emphasis on the end of Bell 'AY'), 'Mama's got a belly, Mama's got a belly...' I think it's so funny when we're in a public restroom and she's singing her little song whilewe're in a stall and people can't see what she's talking about. I think when we come out of the stall, it must explain a lot.

5) Kids really are the victim of our choices. Good or bad, they pay the price for the choices we make. I think our kids mostly have it good, but once in a while I feel like I take advantage of the fact that 'I'm the mom, and I said so'.

6) The gospel brings nothing but happiness into my life. Even when I sometimes get overwhelmed with the responsibilities of living the gospel, I still can't help but notice that everything about it makes me happy! Hard work may be a sacrifice, but the greatest blessings come from sacrifice, and I just love it! I know that it's true and I have a testimony, but the fact that it makes me so happy is probably the real reason we continue to live it and believe so strongly.

7) Fall is the best! I feel a bit of fall in the air, and it makes me so happy! I love the crispnesss in the air, the kids going back to school (because routine is so good for all of us), the smells of warm comfort foods, harvesting the garden, fall clothes.....I could go on and on.

So there we have it! That's what I know. Perhaps somewhat random and unorganized, but I wanted to write it down, and besides...I'm just passing time. My question for the day though, is what do you know? I would just love to read about it!

Insanity...

So how do we know exactly when we've reached the point of absolute insanity? I'm not exactly sure, but I think I might have reached it last week. The very idea of having another baby is pretty insane for me, but just to really top things off, we went camping for four days, with only about ten days until delivery. But yu know, I'm soooo glad I did it. The only thing that could have made me even more nuts is to sit here all weekend knowing that my whole family was up having a great time without me! It's just one of those events that I look forward to the very most, and it would take something pretty big (even bigger than my belly) to keep me away! I figure that if some family members can drive all the way from California and Colorado to attend, then surely I could deal with a tired body and swollen ankles for a few days!

My sister (Kim) brought marshmallow guns for all of the kids, although some of the adults had their play time with the guns too! The entire camp was covered in mini marshmallows. I don't know if they'll ever come off of our shoes!

Derrick and some of the family even got to take a hike over to Bloomington Lake. I didn't...but I did get to hike up to the beautiful spring (only about a mile). It made my week, really.

And, as always, the food was beyond yummy! Thanks everyone for helping me end this pregnancy feeling great (and very very tired). We all had such a great time, and made even many more great memories!

To my Vegas friends...that white stuff you see in the background...SNOW!!! (in august)

The Bloomington hikers
Zac...doesn't that water look so refreshing?
Derrick and Todd (my brother)
The wild bunch
I like to call these 2 pictures...'And then there was one'. The top picture is my sister (nicky), my sister in law (Yuri) and myself a few months ago. I think it was Mother's day. The picture below was taken this past week, still with Nicky and Yuri and I, but also Luci and Brittney (my 2 nieces). Obviously, they've all had babies recently...except for me! I'm the only one left, and I didn't love having this picture taken at all! It was like pouring salt on a wound! But I'm sure in a couple of weeks, I'll join in the laughter.

Myah and Rylee...gearing up for a ride.
The Bloomington bunch. This rock is a traditional resting spot.
Myah and I.

Tannon got a really nasty mosquito bite near his eye. His whole face swelled up, and still is a bit swollen. Poor kid.
Myah and Rylee practicing their ballroom dance. Too much TV time with mommy I suppose!
Myah, Jarin, and Parker.
Kim and Frank...and Princess.

Karlie, Myah, Tiana, Rylee.

Treading Treading Treading

I'm not a great swimmer, and I'm even worse at treading water. I just don't get it! We went swimming this last week out at Lava Hot Springs, and I learned that pregnant mamas don't float! I got into the deep end, thinking I'd let go of the edge of the pool for just a second, and I sunk like a rock! Just an interesting fact. I'm not sure why this is my fifth pregnancy, and I'm just now learning this law of physics.

Speaking of treading...I feel like for the past couple of weeks, Derrick and I have been treading water just trying to keep our heads above it. We made a list of 'things to do before the baby comes', and we are working our hardest to cross things off the list. The list is getting much much smaller. I can't say I've done much better at this example of treading, than I did in the pool, but thank goodness for husbands! He has had to step up and take on all of his responsibilities, plus most of mine too! And better yet, he never ever complains about it.
One really huge (but not dreaded) item on our list, was preparing for Tannon's baptism yesterday. We knew that we needed to keep it simple, but Tannon is such an awesome kid, and we are so proud of the decision that he made...we just wanted to make sure that he knew exactly what a special day it was for all of us! Skyler even managed to catch a ride home from scout camp a day early to be there for his little bro. It happened to be Tannon's birthday, and since so many extended family members made the effort to come and support him (some travelling really far), he really had a great day. When we all sang happy birthday to him, I was pretty amazed to hear so many people celebrating with us! When you come from families like both of ours, the kids most definitely know that they are loved! Thanks everyone for coming! Congratulations and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNON!!!
David and Gabrielle (Derrick's brother and sister in law)

Johnny
Tyson and Mandi (my brother and sister and law)

Shawn and Yuri (my brother and sister in law)

Myah and KiraEven Myah helped prepare for the big day! I think we're all worn out!
In tribute to my big 8 year old, I have to post this picture of Tannon probably around age 3. I love this picture since it shows my little Tannon before he shot up and got really skinny. What a cute little chunk!

As for us, we'll keep treading our way through the summer...and hoping we don't sink! They are planning on taking the baby on the 18th of August, and then school starts on the 21st. So in more ways than one, we can see the finish line ahead, and I think we're going to make it!