Watch Me Grow: 11 Weeks

Rory is now eleven weeks.  I can't believe how fast she is growing.  It's like she doubles in size every night.  She is doing pretty good on her training.  She is now learning to fetch and she has caught on really quickly.  She just has a hard time dropping the toy once she brings it back to you.  She usually tries to get you to play tug-o-war instead of dropping the toy.  She has regressed a little on potty training and has had a few accidents this past week.  I've been kind of frustrated about it but I don't think it's that she doesn't know she is supposed to go outside, I think it's more like she's testing us and her boundaries.  We are being stricter and taking her out as much as possible so hopefully she'll learn she can't get away with it.  We still love her though, even though she is frequently testing our patience :)

-Kami

Mother's Day Series: Mom

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. 

-Abraham Lincoln

The final post of my mother's day series is about my very own angel mother, Julie Mecham.  It is completely true that everything I am and hope to be I owe to her.  I don't even know where to begin.  My mother is quiet, kind, selfless, forgiving, and extraordinarily loving.  She is also an incredible listener, as you can imagine, having raised two chatty daughters.    

My mother has three children; my older sister Laci, me, and my younger brother Rhett.  We were all three extremely close in age.  First she had Laci, followed by me sixteen months later, and finally Rhett eighteen months after that.  For many years she consistently had two children in diapers at once.

I know having three children so close in age was not an easy feat.  She did an incredibly difficult job with patience, love, and kindness but that isn't to say we didn't all get our fair share of the wrath of the wooden spoon.

  Some of my favorite memories with my mom are when she would take me shopping.  Laci and Rhett both hated shopping but I always loved to go with her.  I didn't care whether we were shopping for groceries, clothes, or cleaning products I was always elated when I got to go with her.  We had our little tradition of stopping to fill up the car with gas then get a drink and a treat for the road.  Then on the drive and during the whole trip I got valuable one on one time with her.  I learned so much from her on those little shopping trips.  I watched her make weekly menus on a budget, and then shop for the best deals for the needed grocery items.  I watched her prioritize the items that were needed most and always, always put the needs of the rest of her family before her own.  I asked her millions of questions and received her paramount advice on everything.

I have always had an extremely close relationship with my mom.  I've known I could go to her with any problem or issue I ever faced.  She has always been my biggest supporter whether it was in singing taking me to voice lessons every week, in school going to parent teacher conferences and endlessly encouraging my schoolwork, or even in my personal life helping me make the best choices.  

I find it so comforting to know that I'll be able to go to my mom for advice when I have my own children.  I know she will be there for me whenever I need her.  She will be the best grandma and I can't wait for my children to know her.

I love you mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

-Kami

Mother's Day Series: Dorothy

Dorothy Leishman is my incredible mother-in-law.  She is one of the most kind, caring women I have ever met.  Although I have only known her for almost two years since the time Bryce and I started dating, she has made me feel like I have always been a part of her family.  

One thing I have noticed about her is how considerate she is of everyone's feelings. Before Bryce and I were even engaged she invited me to go on their family vacation to San Diego.  I wasn't able to go because of my work schedule, but I was so amazed at her kindness in extending the invitation. 

Dorothy is a mother to six children, five boys and one girl.  If there ever was a mother who could successfully raise five boys without pulling all her hair out, it is Dorothy.  She has so much patience.  I am continually in awe of her especially when I hear stories about all the trouble and chaos her boys caused growing up. 

I love watching Dorothy with her grandchildren.  She is always the first to offer to take a crying child to comfort them and give their mother a small break.  She gets right down on the floor with the grandkids to plays trucks and legos with them.  She is always hugging and holding them letting them know how much they are loved.

I have lucked out in the in-law the department.  Bryce and I were watching a movie just the other day where the mother-in-law was the stereotypical mother-in-law in Hollywood.  She was mean, judgmental, and impossible to get along with.  I looked at Bryce and told him how grateful I was that his mom, my mother-in-law, was so incredibly sweet.  Even if I made the worst tasting dinner in the world she would still rave about it and tell me how excellent it was.

I am so grateful for the wonderful mother Dorothy has been to my husband Bryce.  She has taught him so much about love, respect, hardwork, and selflessness.  He is an incredible husband and I know he owes that in a large part to his wonderful mother.

Happy Mother's Day Dorothy!

-Kami

Mother's Day Series: Grandma Susan

My Grandma Susan Mecham is my dad's mother.  She is my namesake, I am lucky enough to have gotten my middle name Sue from her.  I am so honored to be named after such a hardworking, honorable, and beautiful woman.  

I grew up watching my Grandma Susan work along side my Grandpa Milan on their farm.  I have always been amazed at her incredible work ethic and endless stamina.  She is always right there with my Grandpa whether it's helping him haul hay, build fences, or feed the cows.  I learned from her to appreciate the feeling of going to bed dead tired after a hard day's work.

My Grandma Susan shares my love of books.  She has several bookcases full of all kinds of children's books and novels.  Whenever we would go visit her I would search through all of the books, pull out a big stack, and sprawl out in front of the wood burning stove and read for hours. Some of my best memories are reading and discovering new books at my Grandma Susan's.  She always made sure to send me home with a hefty stack of books too.  She was like my personal little library that never had late fees.

My Grandma Susan has overcome many arduous trials throughout her life.  She has lost a child, lost her mother, and fought a difficult battle with cancer.  In overcoming each of these trials she has become a woman of grace and courage.  She always has and always will put her family first no matter what.  I admire her so much and can only hope to one day be half the woman that she is .

Happy Mother's Day Grandma Susan!

-Kami

Mother's Day Series: Grandma Marie

The next mother I'd like to share about is my mom's mother, my Grandma Marie Richins.

  (Mom, me, Grandma Marie)

From ages 5 to 12 I grew up just down the street from my Grandma Marie.  When I was in kindergarten and my mom was working I would go to Grandma Marie's after my half day of school.  I would get to spend alone time with her until Rhett got done with preschool and Laci came home from elementary.  My Grandma Marie would make the best tuna sandwiches and she always made sure there was a generous supply of coloring books and crayons on hand for me.  I remember I would lay on the carpet in front of the T.V. and color to my heart's content while I got to watch whatever cartoon I wanted.  I absolutely loved it.  Then every once in a while she would take me to the local gas station and buy me a treat.  I always felt so special getting to spend time with her.  

My Grandma Marie is the sweetest person I know.  The saying "she doesn't have a mean bone in her body" one hundred percent describes her.  I have never heard her speak ill of anyone.  She is extremely patient and loving.  All of the grandchildren can be running around her house crazily and you can tell all she is thinking about is how much she loves her family.  She has the prettiest smile that lights up her whole face and you can't help but smile back.  Whenever I'm around her I always feel like the best version of myself.  She remembers all of her children and grandchildren's birthdays and calls each of them personally to wish them happy birthday.  She is an incredible mother and grandmother.  I am so lucky to have grown up watching her example.  

Happy Mother's Day Grandma Marie!

-Kami

Mother's Day Series: Laci

In honor of Mother's Day this up coming Sunday I thought I would dedicate a few posts to the most influential mothers in my life. 

My first post will be about the newest mother in family, my best friend and sweet older sister Laci.  She is 23 weeks pregnant and is due with her first baby girl in September.   

Laci and I were born only 16 months apart, so technically she is older but much of time growing up we felt more like twins.  Throughout our whole childhood and even still Laci is one of the happiest most positive people I've ever known.  Her laugh is infectious and she is so much fun to be around.  She can take teasing and has the quality of being able to laugh at herself instead of getting upset in any situation, a quality I'm a little jealous of.

She has been there for me through thick and thin.  I remember a time in elementary when we were riding the bus to school.  I was absorbed in a book, like usual, when a few girls starting teasing and calling me names.  Laci saw what was happening from a few seats behind me.  She hurriedly came to my rescue and sat in my seat with me.  She was a "cool older girl" so the other girls teasing me quickly left me alone.

The summer after my Sophomore year of high school I started taking college classes through Utah State University so I would be able to graduate high school with an associate's degree.  I was also working nights as a waitress so my schedule was extremely busy.  Laci knowing how stressed and busy I was, showed up to one of my classes and brought me a diet coke and goldfish crackers.  She is so good at doing things like that.  

She is always aware of everyone's needs and is the first to step up and help.

She has the biggest heart and those who hold a place in it know how lucky they are.  She is going to be the best mom.  She already is always so concerned and worried about her little growing baby.  Her little girl will be her whole world.  She is already easing so naturally into motherhood.  Being a mother is exactly what she was made to be.

-Kami 

Watch Me Grow

I thought it would be fun do a new weekly post documenting Rory's growth.  Goldendoodles change a ton from puppyhood to adulthood.  The older they get the fluffier and curlier they will get too so it will be especially fun to look back and see how much she has changed once she is fully grown.  I am including the first few weeks we've had her in one post and then I will just do one post a week on her growth.
 

7 weeks. Here she is the first day we got her.  

8 weeks 

9 weeks 

 10 weeks

Rory is a smart puppy, sometimes too smart for her own good!  We've been working a lot on her training.  She has learned to sit and lay down on command.  We are stilling working on getting her to "come".  She is learning to heel and walk on a leash.  She is almost all the way potty trained, and has gone two weeks straight with out any accidents.  We love her so much. We really like being dog people :).

-Kami