Our Oldest Girl Turns 2

Before Church Selfie

"Mom, no more pictures!"

She wasn't pleased to be awoken from her nap in order to attend her party.

Cute Buckabu and Papa

The boys are involved every second of the celebration. They ooow and ahh over her gifts to make her happy and speak in uplifting voices to hopefully spark some enthusiasm into their baby sister.

A smile arises as she hugs her dress from Buckabu and Papa.

Finally when she unwrapped her new baby doll she kind of felt like getting her party on.

A baby doll + stroller+ big brother Moo = best birthday ever!

The Beloved made a fire in the pit for us to roast hot dogs over after presents were opened.

We cuddled around the warmth together sharing campfire stories well into the night. 

Dear Sweetheart,

How did you become a toddler so quickly? As soon as I got pregnant with your little sister you grew up so fast - like you knew you had a different role to play now.  When she was first born it was a little hard for you because we had just moved 3 days prior, you were super sick so you couldn't be around the baby, and I couldn't pick you up to comfort or care for your needs very well because I had just had a C-Section. Your world was rocked upside down in a major way. It made me sad to see your confusion and unhappiness.

Luckily Daddy, Buckabu and Papa were here to coddle you and help you adjust to life as you now know it. In all honesty, having Daddy's full attention is exactly what you desire. He's your best bud and you have him wrapped around your little finger. Little C comes in a close second to Daddy for being a sucker to your demands. You'll sneak a 3rd cookie or steal someone's toys and he doesn't have the heart to take it away. Little C will try and then he'll say, "Mom, I can't. She's too cute." And you are. With your big brown eyes and soft voice- we think you can do no wrong. 

You'll grab our hands and say, "come on" leading us to wherever your mind has determined you need to go. You also say thank you like a champ (it sounds like Thaaannnkkk you - the "you" being exclaimed quickly with an upward inflection)  but the word "please" only surfaces when you're truly desperate. 

You love clothes and say, "Oh cute!"  whenever we get you dressed or you receive new clothing. 

Before you head to bed Daddy takes you around to everyone in the family so you can bestow a goodnight kiss. You say, "kisses" right before you grant us with one. Sometimes this ritual occurs two or three times before you're content and you give Daddy the okay to lay you down. 

You are the twin - resemblance wise, appetite, and personality wise to your brother Ruckus when he was your age. You LOVE you some sugar girl - give the stink eye to EVERYONE outside of your immediate family - and have the prettiest, biggest brown eyes in town.

For Christmas you received a Hello Kitty bus set. It included a bunch of kitties who sit at desks in the bus and various furniture items you can move around. Two days ago I sat down and played Hello Kitty with you for awhile. I had so much fun watching your imagination roll. I had forgotten how great it was to play with girl things and I felt like a little kid all over again. Thanks for being my pal sweetheart.

You LOVE shoes. It's a crazy, passionate, mad love my friend. Right now you are in a boot faze that sometimes needs to be accompanied with a beanie. While I was in the hospital you stumbled upon the BSU beanie Ian Johnson made for all of Papa's grandchildren. You didn't take it off your head for about a week. Even when you were so sick - the beanie had to be adorned. 

You are fearless, thinking you must jump from everything high and do a somersault into every beanie bag.

As I type this you are wearing one high healed princess slipper, standing on the futon in my room, preparing to land a magnificent jump onto the beanie bag below. I like you.

You are a busy human and keep me on my toes more than any of your other siblings. Good thing there are so  many of us around to watch you. You really love to pull out everything from the drawers and draw on any surface available. 

Last week Daddy found you in the bathroom standing near the garbage can you had pulled out and then dumped all the shampoo/conditioner 

bottles in. Also, littered around the floor were Ruckus' clothes you had removed from his drawers. You stood there with baby shampoo gracefully dripping from your head looking at Dad like, "what's the big deal?" 

The biggest question being -What great plans did we interrupt for Ruckus' clothes? I thankfully know not.

Sweet girl, I love you. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

You have now warmed up to your little sister and watch out for her needs just as your older siblings watch out for yours. What great examples you have in your life. Always remember how much we love and adore your perfect self.  

You have softened our hearts in a way we didn't even know we needed. We are so thankful to our Father in Heaven for knowing that the Patton family needed you- specifically you - in our home. You fill our lives with immense joy.

Love,

Mom

She's a Gift

A Girl! Day #1

Before

During

Maybe the coolest head picture alive. 

After -

It's a Girl!!!

Feeling blessed. She's perfect.

Introductions

The Baby with the new Baby :)

Moo

Little C

Ruckus

Lou

The Fun

She won't stop pooping :)

Holding hands with my #3 Baby who gifted me beautiful artwork along with his brothers.

Daddy's in heaven.

Me and my eldest Baby

I love her.

Because who doesn't love a great face mask picture of two adorable munchkins?

Just in case you were wondering- I have an amazing uterus with super power healing strength. 

After 6 babies and 5 c-sections it's still going strong.

I make it sound silly, but I feel really blessed with this body of mine that has been able to continue to be a vessel to these sweet spirits our Heavenly Father has granted to our family.

Plus The Beloved loves a good uterus photo. 

Our Sweet Angel Baby.

Dear Little One,

Do you know how blessed I feel that you were sent to our home? Another little girl? I didn't think it was in the stars. You are precious and perfect and look like your brother Lou. In my competitive heart I am thrilled about his because there are finally two of you that look like my side of the family! Yes! 

We didn't find out whether you were a boy or girl before you arrived and when Daddy announced you were a girl upon delivery I was shocked and over joyed. You see, I have 3 wonderful sisters who are my best friends  and I so wanted your older sister to experience the joy of having a sister. Your brothers are awesome siblings and will protect you both like no nobody's business, but there's something about having a sister when you're a girl that is irreplaceable. 

I'm also excited to get to know you, to show you how much I care, and see the wonderful woman you become. In your baby blessing you received, at only 11 days old, Dad said you would be blessed with extraordinary talents. He said you would be humble about them and use them for good. What wonders await you in this world!

I could stare at you all day and sometimes I do. I love you sweet little girl! Thank you for choosing to come to our home and bless our family. 

Your brothers want to hold you non-stop. Lou gets nervous any time the car seat cover is sheltering you from the cold because he's afraid you can't breathe. He's always asking if you're okay and how much longer we have to cover your face. 

Ruckus always announces that he's washed his hands and it's time to cuddle and Moo may smother you to death in hugs and kisses. Little C holds you like a veteran and adores you so. Seeing his confidence in taking care of a new born is fabulous and I know he will be a wonderful, thoughtful father one day.

Your older sister just looks at you and says, "so cute!" She's a lover of clothes and has tried putting on yours but is constantly disappointed when they don't fit. 

And that dad of yours is smitten. He has two arms to hold his two little girls in and it makes him the happiest man alive. He looks at you and says, "I love her so much" over and over again.

Sweet little baby - I love you. 

I am blessed to be your mother.

Love,

Mom

Halloween 2015

The Baby was a disappointed Elsa. She really just wanted to dress up in cool super hero costumes like her brothers. 

Ruckus was the gold Power Ranger
Moo was a Ninja
Lou was Link from Zelda

Of What Fold are Ye?

"And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?" (Alma 5:39)
Years before Alma the Younger, as High Priest, posed this question to the people in Zarahemla he himself was a sheep of a very different fold. He is described in Mosiah 27 as being wicked and idolatrous, "stealing away the hearts of the people.... giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise power over them." 
So, what changed for Alma the Younger? What pushed him toward repentance and a desire to be numbered among the sheep of the good shepherd? 
We know he, along with the sons of Mosiah, were visited by an angel, but his transformation wasn't as simple as that. 
Firstly, we know that his father never gave up hope that his son would return to the fold. I believe he "spoke plainly" to Alma about the gospel even at the height of his son's wickedness. In Alma 36:17 Years after the angel appeared, Alma the Younger himself explains to his son that he remembered the words of his father, testifying of, "the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." This memory allowed him to cling to the idea of repentance and a hope for a better life. 
Our kids are listening even if we can't tell and sometimes when they don't even know it themselves. Our diligence in teaching the gospel, speaking plainly of God's commandments, won't be for naught. 
Two, Alma the Younger wasn't visited by an angel based upon his own merits. He wasn't granted this rare appointment because he was special. The angel said to Alma that he had come to, "convince thee (him) of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith." (Mosiah 27:14) The angel appeared to Alma and the sons of Mosiah because of the prayers of the righteous on their behalf. The prayers of their parents, brothers, sisters, family and friends. Alma was blessed with this mighty life changing event because of the prayers of the faithful centered around him. He was also granted this gift due to the mercy of the Lord. Alma gave full credit to Him when he said, "the Lord in his mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
Finally, Alma the Younger didn't hold on to this one testimony building moment and then lean back in his recliner to take a breather, giving someone else the opportunity to share the blessings of the gospel. The scriptures say "And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people.... traveling round about through out the land.... preaching the word of God." (Mosiah 27:32)
Alma the Younger continued to LIVE the gospel the remainder of his days. This is what fortified him in sustaining his great transformation for life. This is why He knew how glorious it was to be a sheep, being watched over by the good shepherd.

I hope we all desire to be sheep of the good shepherd because -

"And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye?" (Alma 5:39)