One Month Pictures

These are almost a month late, but I took them and edited them and by darn I am posting them. :)

Same outfit she wore home from the hospital (pictured below), it fits much better now.

About Natalie at One Month:

- Eats about every two hours, sometimes will go a three hour stretch at night

- Great nurser

- Very calm demeanor

- Mostly grunts not crys when she wants something

- Loves to snuggle into moms shoulder and fall asleep

- Likes to be held

- Blue eyes and red hair are still present

- Got a real belly button at about three weeks old

-Hates having her arms in the swaddle

- LOVES her bath time. From the time she was four days old to now, Natalie enjoys having water

poured on her, especially her head. I wonder if she will be a swimmer?

- Everyone comments on how beautiful she is

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Weekend

Justin's job requires a fair amount of travel during the week. Friday nights are truly a treasure for me now because it means the return of my husband and I get him for an evening and two full days. I thought it would be easier to have Justin gone once the baby came. Experience brings great insight, it is much harder. I admire single moms and all those women whose husbands travel for work constantly. It is hard, but I do appreciate and value my time with him so much more.

Our weekends are usually never anything fancy, but rather a day to recoup and get errands and laundry done. Sundays are always wonderful because of church and the opportunity to rest.

This weekend we did this:

 Her hat is still a little to big.... but oh so cute.

We went on a walk at a park primarily for those with dogs. We had a baby- the dogs liked that. The weather has been beautiful here the whole week so we really wanted to enjoy it. We are trying to go and do or see something every weekend. There is a lot to see around here and we are not really great at getting out, but we are working on it. Wholesome recreation is what we strive for. What do you do on the weekends?

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

What is in a Name?

 

Natalie Lois Blazzard

Natalie: A name that Justin and I have loved since we were engaged. I first heard it as a teenager and thought it was beautiful. I knew that one day I wanted to name one of my daughters it.

Lois: I was persistent at suggesting this as a middle name and when she was born Justin felt this was the right middle name to use for our sweet daughter. It comes from the lady pictured above. This is my Grandma Corn and she is the kindest lady you may ever meet. She always makes you feel good about yourself, never says an unkind word, smiles a lot, can work with the best of them and loves to read. All traits I hope Natalie has. She is a true gem.

Blazzard: A long heritage of wonderful people trying to live life to its fullest.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

St. Patricks Day

 I should have posted these long ago, but something about having a new baby 

and trying to balance life got in the way. 

I thought for sure our baby girl would be bigger than she was when she was born.

Being 11 days early she was good size, but pretty small.

Justin insisted I go buy her some clothes that actually fit and didn't look like a sack.

The clover outfit was on the clearance rack 

and since St. Patty's was in two days, I couldn't resist.

She got lots of kisses and no pinches. 

Cute clover girl.

 

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Birth Announcement

If I could I would send one of these to everyone.

However, we still need to feed and clothe this child

and one day send her to college,

I am posting it for all to see.

Enjoy

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

My New Favorite Picture

 

"The family is ordained of God. 

Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan.

Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony,

and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded 

upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of

faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and

wholesome recreational activities.

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness

and are responsible to provide the necessities of life

and protection for their families.

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.

In these sacred responsibilities, 

fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners."

From

 The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The world teaches individuals to put off marriage. Once and if you do get married, put off having children, that is if you even feel like having them. I have done the opposite in my life as I have tried to follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I have found the greatest happiness in my life in being married and welcoming our first child to our home. These things have been on my mind a lot lately, especially with the craziness we see on the news every day about marriage and morals. 

I once heard a bishop counsel us youth that if we wondered about a certain principle or commandment of the Gospel to simply test it. Try living it and see if the fruits of it are what you are told they are. I feel like in my short experience so far of living these commandments, I know they are of God and we find our greatest joys in living them. I pray and hope that I can continue to live worthy of this blessing of having a family here on earth that is striving to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard

Road Trip With a Baby

My little sister got married last Saturday, April 27th. This required a six hour drive for us to if we wanted to be present. I was a little worried about how Natalie would do riding in her car seat that far, being held by a ton of different people, and sleeping in a new place. Now that the trip is over, I realize there was no need for worry and she is actually a better traveler than me.

I was so excited to get out of town and introduce Natalie to my side of the family. No one except for my mom had yet seen her in person. We left in the afternoon on Thursday and stopped twice, once in Boardman and once in LaGrande to feed her. Grandpa and Grandma Corn and Aunt Rachel waited up for us. She slept really well that night and we started the dry, sunshiney day off great.

I hung out at my parents house with her all day to give her a rest and let her adjust. I even got a nap in that afternoon, which is rare. That evening my brother-in-laws parent hosted a pit bbq dinner for the wedding festivities. It was super yummy and all of my family was there. The reception area was all set up for the next day and we got a sneak peek at the beautiful decorations Rachel had chosen. We also got the opportunity to meet Jed, my older sister Mary's boy friend. I had heard a lot about him over the last year, so it was nice to finally meet him. He is an excellent person.

Saturday we hurried around to eat breakfast and get ready to drive to the Boise temple. The ceiling room was beauitful as always and Rachel and Ty looked so happy. I am so proud of them for the decision they made to get married in the temple and staying true to that decision. I felt the Spirit so strong there bearing witness of the importance and sacredness of marriage.

This picture was taken in the morning. I wanted to know why Ty was wearing a hat with his suit. My father and husband informed me that that is what men do. So they all put their hats on to make fun of my question. I had to snap a picture.

The bride and groom with the bridesmaids. I really enjoyed getting to visit with the bridesmaids on our drive over to Boise.

After the ceremony we took several pictures. One of which captured the three babies born in the Corn family this year. David - January 5th, Natalie - March 9th, and Trey April 20th. I love that you can clearly see which sibling family they belong to. When we laid them down together they all looked a little confused at what we were doing.

We ate at Fudruckers for lunch. Yummy food that tasted even better because I was so hungry. It was then straight to the stake center for the reception. The rest of the evening  was spent visiting with people from the community I grew up in and eating oreo balls and chocolate mints. Natalie did amazing through out the day and wasn't too fussy until we got back to my parents that night. We both slept really well.

Sunday everyone was beat, but we made it to church. We also traveled out to my grandfather's grave and placed some left over centerpieces from the wedding on his grave. I specifically dressed Natalie in her John Deere shirt for this trip. This Grandpa is the reason I love John Deere. My niece Cadi and nephew Michael tagged along with us and kept us laughing.  After the cemetary we visited Grandma and Grandpa Lasley and finished off at Cadi and Michael's house.

During the drive Justin was teasing the kids about going to Kalamazoo. Michael promptly told us he hauls his sugar beets to Kalamazoo and knows how to get their. Silly little boy. He also wanted us to drive him to our house in Portland that day. He promised he wouldn't even eat anything there.

 

 Great Grandma and Grandpa Lasley. Yes, she has red hair.

That evening Justin's family who was visiting for Rachel's wedding, my parents and my siblings got together for dinner. We ate leftovers from the pit bbq and the reception. I got to visit with two of my older sisters for some time. It is always nice to swap ideas and insight. A great game of chase was played with all of the nieces and nephews.

The dad's of these two cute babies were watching them while everyone else was eating. 

Monday it was time to leave. We spent the morning packing, cleaning, preparing and nursing. When I first got married it was always so hard to leave my parents house. Over the years that has slowly gotten better and less bitter. When it was time to go home this day I was happy to be returning to my home. I love my parents and family and had a wonderful visit, but feel as though Justin and I have established a good life where we live in Troutdale and we have a beautiful baby girl in our family of three. I enjoy it and feel at home here. Next big family event is only two weeks away with Natalie's baby blessing.

 

Families truly are heaven on earth.

Justin and Ruth Blazzard