I LOVE YOU ALL! SERIOUSLY!

I know that everyone is expecting a Gabe blog, and trust me, it is coming! I have lots to share about Gabe. But I quickly wanted to share my thoughts on an issue that hits very close to home for me.

Please understand this first and foremost: I am grateful that we love in America where people have the freedom to live their lives as they choose. I embrace that freedom by living my life in the way I choose. My husband has been to Iraq to help other people get the same opportunities to have that freedom. I respect that everyone has the right to feel how they want to feel. And I understand that not everyone who reads this blog is going to agree with me on this issue.

I was raised to believe that God loves everyone. EVERYONE! There are people in this world that I detest with every fiber of my soul and I still have to accept the fact that God loves them. THEM! Really?!?! Yes really. And as much as I think there is no way anyone could really love this person, God does.

I have heard the saying “God doesn’t make mistakes” many times in my life. When I was younger and hated myself, it was said to me on more than one occasion. And I have come to believe that it is, in fact, true. God loves all his creations because he made them. He knew when he made me that I was going to be the size that I am. And God loves me, just as I am. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t want me to be healthy, but he loves me either way.

God loves me even though I don’t attend church on a regular basis. He knows that I believe he is out there and that he listens to me when I need him. I know that he loves my family and friends that do attend church just as much as he loves me. God just wants us to be good people. And truth is, even when we are not, he loves us anyway.

God loves us not matter our gender, religion, skin color, or…sexual preference. I know that God loves people who are gay. God doesn’t care because, well, he made them knowing that was the way they were going to be. It isn’t a choice for them just like I didn’t choose to be heterosexual. Who would choose to fall in love with someone of the same sex knowing that they would not have the same rights? Who would choose to have their relationship judged and deemed unworthy? Would you choose that? I know I wouldn’t. I believe that just as I love who comes naturally to me, so does everyone else.

And yes, there are gay rights activists that are loud, pushy, and obnoxious. But there are anti-gay activists that are just as bad. You will find pushy, rude, hateful people on both sides of any argument. That is just the way it is…I mean, look at the Democrats and Republicans!

I have people that I love and cherish who are gay. And I would never be so bold to assume that I am better than them and deserve more because I am heterosexual. I have friends who are of an ethnic minority and I don’t feel like I am better than them either. I have family and friends who are very religious and I know that they love me even though I don’t believe the same as they do. Hell, I have Atheist friends who might think I am a little weird for believing in a higher power, but they still love me and would do anything for me.

I guess the moral of this blog is, I don’t care how you live your life as long as you don’t care how I live mine. And no matter what, God loves us all. He loves us despite the mean and cruel things we do to each other. And I think He just wants us all to get along and quit judging each other.

I hope that you all take from this the message of: I will love you for you. And for those people out there that I don’t like and wish you would just go away, I may not love you, but God does and that is at least on person on your team-YAY FOR YOU!

Better Than Emeril...BAM!

Tonight we made pizza for dinner. Gabe saw Ryan using the oven mits to get the pizza in and out of the oven and decided that he would look AWESOME in those mits! So he walked around the house clapping his mitten hands together and yelling "Yay!"

Also yesterday morning I was trying to get Gabe to send a voice message to my sister Becca. We have been trying to get Gabe to say Becca's name and he used to say it right but then for some reason he started saying it more like the word "Banshee" which I found entirely appropriate.

Once it was time to go to daycare Gabe looked at me, smiled, and said loudly "Eeew Banshee!" I laughed so hard which of course, encouraged him to keep saying it. It was awesome! Gabe thought Becca was gross and I couldn't stop laughing. It was a great morning.

Much love to you all!

For the Benefit of Mr. Kite

Today I wasn't feeling well because I had another headache. I think it is all changing weather plus the nasty cough I've had for a week but I've been get more headaches than usual. But when I got home the cool wind on my face felt so good that we decided to take Gabe over to the school across the street to try flying a kite.

The picture below is from a distance so I could get both Ryan and Gabe in the shot. And since you can't really see the kite I circled it in yellow. I wanted to prove that Ryan and I really can fly kites.


And natrually Gabe was very helpful in the whole process.

What did you say Internet? Is that a Yoda kite you ask? Why yes! Yes it is. Would we have any other type of kite? Honestly Internet...did you even have to ask? This is Ryan's son we are talking about!

So I am going to go find my lung that I think I just coughed up on the living room floor before the dog eats it. Much love *cough hack cough* to you all!

*Imagine the Theme Song From Jaws Here*

When Gabe and I went to Logan last weekend it was brought to my attention that Gabe sort of has a rat-tail/mullet. I know...I should be ashamed. It's just, Gabe was bald for such a long time that getting his haircut has never been high on my list. And now that his hair has grown, he is business in the front and party in the back. He has a baby mullet or as Ryan calls it, a Bullet.

So tonight while giving Bubs a bath we experimented with some different styles that didn't look quite so white trash.

I call this one the "Grandpa Chad Morning Hair." My Dad is infamous for his morning hair. All he has to do is look at a pillow and BAM! His hair goes crazy. This is Gabe's interpretation of Grandpa Chad's hair.

This is what I call Gabe's "Jersey Shore" look. Although similar to Grandpa Chad hair, this is much more intentional and tends to look more like Devil Horns. I didn't let it last long because as soon as Gabe got his hair done like this he expressed a desire to go tanning and skin cancer runs in our family.

This is our final look and probably my favorite. We call this one "Mowhawk Bubs" and it makes him look tough. Just ignore the smiling red crab on the wall and you will see just how tough he really is.

After Gabe's bath it was time to dry off. Gabe's new towel that we bought from Costco is maybe the cutest thing I have ever seen. It makes me want to start singing the theme song from "Jaws." And he is just like that giant Great White with the exception that he has yet to barf up a license plate from Louisiana.

But really he isn't at all like a shark. He is my little Cuddle Bug and I am sure he is going to love that I called him that on the Internet when he reads this later in life.

And once he was all clean and dressed it was time for bed. So after kisses and hugs good night, he got tucked in with his buddy, Phil the Penguin.

Nights like this might seem boring to some people but to Ryan and I they mean so much. It is fun to spend time with Gabe and get to see him grow every day. So Gabe when you read this later in life I want you to forget the Snuggle Bug comment and be grateful for 2 things:

1. Mommy & Daddy love just being around you because you make our life brighter.

2. I was kind and have not posted any pictures of you naked from the waste down while you were in the tub.

You're welcome Gabe! Much love to you all!

Fancy Pants

Yes Sir! We always laugh when he is around!

For those of you who aren't aware, I have an amazing Grandma named Diane. (Her real first name is Clarissa but she hates that name!) My grandma is one of the coolest women I have ever known. She is strong, independant, smart, motivated, caring, humble, funny, and loving. She is always making me laugh, sometimes she does it on purpose!

Oh the stories I could tell about my grandma. But I fear that if I put many of them on the internet where anyone could read them, my grandma might take me out of her will. And seeing as how some day I am the one who she would like to give her eulogy I am on her good side and would like it to stay that way. But Grandma, fair warning, someday people will hear about the duck, the broken microwave, and the sign above the toilet. Oh believe me, the world will know!

Grandma Diane has always been a woman who loves to be involved. She is active in her local LDS Relief Society. She is part of a book club at a local library. And so it should surprise no one that she also likes the Red Hat Society.

The Red Hat Society is for women 50 and older who wear red and purple hats and do...I don't know...lady stuff? Okay that makes it sounds like they sit around and talk about child birth and menstrual cycles. It is more like they eat and laugh. Sometimes the go on vacations. It is really a reason for women to just get together and celebrate being women. And you have to wear red hats.

Recently the ladies in my family got together for my Aunt Kathy's 50th...err...I mean, 49th part 2 Birthday. (Sorry Aunt Kath!) At the party besides getting told by some weird hairy short little waiter that he would strip for us, we were also informed by my Grandma that she wanted us to form a little Red Hat Society of our own. One where we would all try to get together monthly and all wear hats. Anyone over 50 can wear red and dark purple hats. Anyone under 50 can wear pink or lavander hats. And my Grandma's rule is no baseball hat or beanies. They must be, what she calls, fancy hats.

Now, I am not a southern belle. Nor was I ever cast as a rich lady from that Horse Racing scene in "My Fair Lady." I do not own a plethera of fancy hats, let alone one. So that means that I had to make one. And if I am going to be making a fancy hat, you had better believe it will so fancy, it will blow your fancy pants off!

Yesterday my mom and I made the trek to Logan, Ut. For those of you who haven't been to Logan, congratulations. I am not a fan of that "small town" feel. And although Logan is pretty big, I feel like I have stepped back into time and at any moment expect the town to the covered with horses and women in long dresses who are both humble and silent. (Two things that I am not!) But we went anyway so that we could join my sister Becca and my soon to be Sister-in-Law Holly so that we could make our fancy hats.

But before we got started on that, we decided that we should take Gabe for his first real sledding snow adventure. And I would quickly like to thanks Grandma Linda for Gabe's snow boots and Grandma Linda's neighbors who sent Gabe a snow suit and coat. Without those things Gabe would not have been equipped to partake.

Gabe had a hard time manuvering in his suit because it was still a little too big. But with some help from his Uncle Byron and Aunt Holly (Soon-to-be!) we were able to get over to the snow.

I do not have a snow suit and I was not dressed for snow but Aunt Becca was ready to go so she offered to take Gabe on the sled. He wasn't sure at first but after a minute he seemed to like it a little more. I think he was just having such a hard time moving in that suit that he was just never sure.

And even though I wasn't properly dressed, I went into the snow so that I could be a part of the fun. And even though Gabe's face doesn't really look like it, he was having fun.

After we finished sledding we got to work on our hats. And with a little help from Gabe, we got everything done. And boy! Do we have some FANCY HATS! I will let you be the judge of just how fancy they really are. We had a great weekend in Logan and then dinner with my parents tonight. Ryan had his Guard weekend so we didn't get to see much of him. But it was nice to have dinner with him tonight. It was the perfect end to a great weekend! Much love to you all!

To Shut Everyone Up

I am not going to try and catch up. Period. It is too long and complicated to review everything. Suffice it to say that December was filled with lots of changes and trials. And January was full of new beginnings and hope.

Sera is still in Hawaii (YUCK!) and we hardly get to talk to her (DOUBLE YUCK!) but when we do talk to her, she seems pretty happy. I miss her more than words can even say. I know Ryan shares my feelings. It gets especially hard when Gabe points to her picture and looks at us as if saying, “I would like to see her now please.” I miss my daughter on a daily basis and hope that she will be with us again soon.

Gabe is a toddler and likes to remind me of that daily. He is saying so much now that I am constantly surprised. He knows: Mama, Dada, Puppy, Milk, Juice, Shoes, Please, More, No, Yes, Bird, Hi, Bye, Up, Cheese, Yogurt, Grandma, Grandpa, Becca, Bath, Night Night, and Ew. Ew is my new favorite. The other day he was eating waffles with syrup for breakfast. When I got him out of his chair he ran over and grabbed the dog with his sticky hands. He then held up his hands and loudly proclaimed “EW!” Ryan and I laughed so hard I thought I might cry.

Gabe is running now. Not walking, but running. He goes and goes until he drops. He has really started to play with his toys like you would expect them to be played with. He is especially fond of his trucks which he will take into the kitchen and roll around on the linoleum while making trucks noises.

Ryan and I consider ourselves very lucky to be where we are at in our lives. We have 2 healthy kids. We are both have full-time jobs. We have a home. We have amazing family! And we have some great friends.

I know I have not been blogging lately. And I apologize to all my family and friends. I know that many of you read this daily and I have heard about my lack of blogging. Just know that I went through some things that really made me think. And I needed the time away to collect myself and focus on what is important. I am not going to get too serious on you. After all, this is me we are talking about. But I promise to try harder for now until I have another emotional breakdown and the doctor has to increase the dose on my “happy pills” again.

For now, I leave you with my “What I Have Learned” 2010 list.

What I Have Learned From 2010

1. Giving someone, who has proven them self to be evil on countless occasions, the benefit of the doubt is a waste of time.
2. People who matter will always come back into your life when you need them most.
3. Kids are the most incredible blessing.
4. Having a husband who loves you enough to tell you that you are not okay is also a blessing and a life-saver.
5. Your family can be your best friends.
6. Skin cancer the size of a seed can leave one hell of a scar.
7. You can survive anything as long as you have hope.
8. Blue frosting can stain your skin.
9. It is possible to fit 6 adults and 8 kids in a bounce house.
10. Honey helps with sore throats, coughs, and catching flies.
11. Some day she will know who we are and that we are good people.
12. Be grateful for what you have.
13. Save more money because that rainy day is sometimes a tsunami.
14. Friends you had in high school can still be some of the coolest people you know.
15. Dogs will eat anything, including 14-month-old peanut oil. (And P.S. It gives them wicked-bad gas!)
16. Crockpots are one of the most AMAZING appliances ever!
17. Learn everything you can from your Grandparents and Parents because, as it turns out, they really know their shit.
18. God loves everyone despite what church they attend.
19. Utah is crazy but not as crazy as Arizona.
20. Be kind to everyone and be open to communication-sometimes people who you once thought of as the opposition can turn out to be allies.
21. Ryan Scott Baker = My Rock, My Heart, and My Very Best Friend
22. Seraphim Dawn Baker = My Hope, My Dream, and My Precious
23.Gabriel Scott Baker = My Sunshine, My Smile, and My Motivation


Love to you all!

Have An "Ice" Day

This weekend was pretty busy for us. We celebrated Grandma Karen's birthday with dinner at Sugarhouse BBQ. If you have not been there, you must go! It is delicious! I have some plate with Beef Brisket and Smoked Turkey and sides of mashed potatoes and baked beans. And it came with a HUGE piece of cornbread with honey butter. It was so much food and it was a good price. I ended up giving some to Ryan, Byron, and Spencer I had so much food left. But it was really good I wish I could have eaten it all.

As you can see from below, Grandpa Great Jim and the Birthday girl Grandma Karen ordered ribs and since they, like me, couldn't finish, Ryan and Gabe got to enjoy their leftovers.

The ONLY things I will say about the place is, don't go if you are looking for a quiet meal-the place is LOUD! And it felt a little cramped to me with lots of tables kind of squished together.

MEAT LOVER!

Today it was chilly but fairly nice outside so Ryan and I took Gabe over to the school. He had a little bit of a tough night, waking up frequently, but we think it was from all the shots he got on Friday at his 15-month check. (SIDE NOTE: After his visit on Friday we found out that he is 27.5 lbs which is 80% for his age and 2 ft 8 in tall which is almost 72% for his height. So he is big but growing at least he is proportionate.)

But as the day went on, he seemed to be doing better. And by this afternoon, we figured we would take a chance on a visit to the park. Gabe was cooped up all day today and so we thought he could use a little time outside.

Having fun at the park!

And finally for your viewing pleasure, I give you Gabe walking. Ryan loves to chase Gabe and as you will see, he likes it too. Gabe has been walking since he was 13 months but ever time I have tried to get video of it, he gets angry or starts crying. So today was perfect because he turned out to be in such a good mood. Much love to you all!