OUR STORY

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Jody and I have been married for 6 years now! We live a simple life, but it's a happy life. We've been blessed with our sweet Elsie who we adore each and every day. Here's to a blog of thoughts, memories, and who are we kidding, lots of Elsie!!
"People don't always remember what you say... They remember how you make them feel"

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Jody's Birthday

My handsome man turned 32 this year... 32!!!! That seems so old to me at the moment but I'm not to far off myself. Ever since J turned 30, he's had back problems, sleep problems, the list goes on and on, so I'm a little nervous to get out of my twenties.. Not gonna lie!! But 32 was a good birthday even if those problems are still lingering around :)

We celebrated with friends the weekend before and went to Supercross!! We always have fun with Matt and Jamie. They are some of the sweetest people I know and always willing to help us in any kind of need. Just last week Elsie lost our razor key while her and J were out in the hills, and Matt went to rescue them in his clean truck he had just spent 6 hours cleaning!! No complaints, just happy to help.. THAT's a good friend!! :) 

The next week on his actual birthday, we went to dinner at Samuri 21 (one of my favorite spots.. J too) and had a hibachi dinner! It was nice spending time with just the two of us. I sometimes miss the days we had together to go out and do whatever we want and just be kids together, but it makes these times we get to now so special. I appreciate all j does for our family. He's a great husband and an even better Father. He works hard to provide a good lifestyle for our family, and he is a good man who makes our lives so fun!! Happy Birthday Babe!! Me and the bug think your the best and we're lucky to have you in our lives!! 




Halloween



Halloween was awesome this year. Elsie dressed up as Elmo (surprise) and she loved wearing her costume. Me and Jody were lame parents and didn't dress up, and I decided next year we are going to. Makes it more fun! 

We went to the local carnival the week before and Elsie had fun there. It was pretty weak, but kids love anything and it was fun seeing her have a good time! 

We then went trick or treating at the trunk or treat at the Fair Grounds! That was fun... Cold but fun! She couldn't say "Trick or Treat" so she kept saying "More!" They usually caved to her sweetness. After we headed to Aunt Launas for another round of pumpkin dinner and to end the night with family. We had a blast and Halloween has become a new favorite Holiday now that I have a little person to share it with!!! 






We also had our traditional family pumpkin dinner and Grandma and Grandpa Bowlers! It was a great meal as usual and always fun to be with all my family! 




Three Halloweens down, many more to go! 

Elsie turned 2

My sweet girl turned 2!!!! I can't believe it's been 2 years since I first experienced motherhood. The love I felt was undescribale, any mother out there knows the feeling. And the gratitude I felt that she had finally arrive, safely and healthy, I will feel indebted to my Savior forever. We worked so hard for her and she has been worth every trial. 

With that being said, we've had our rough days. From 18 months to right when she turned 2, the tantrums seemed daily. They weren't always full force, but it seemed we had some kind of break down over the littlest thigs.. Sometimes I'd laugh, and thought how ridiculous, and other times I thought I wanted to lock her in her room until bed time! Luckily we have enjoyed a break from that the past 3 weeks! She has been such a joy and the good is definitely out weighing the bad days at the moment. Hoping she stays this way until her new baby brother arrives. 

Elsie at 2:

Weight: 31.2 pounds
Height: 35 1/2 inches
90% for both height and weight
Her hair is getting long.. To the middle of her back! To bad it's just like mine, stringent and straight! Some curl would be nice :)

Elsie strengths:
-Sharing! She is really good at sharing her toys, snacks, drinks, whatever.. This I'm grateful for.
-Following Directions. She's really good at doing the small tasks I ask her.
-Giving Loves. She the most loveable little girl I know and loves to hand out loves to all. 
-Saying Prayers. She says them almost every night at dinner and always before bed. She never forgets to bless Mom and Dad and Diesel. :)
-Sleeping! Elsie has been a great sleeper since birth really, but I'm grateful she still naps and sleeps through the night. Hoping this continues with the transition of a toddler bed!

Some things we need to work on:
-Speech! She is learning new words every day but they aren't as clear as they should be. We'll get there but it's taking us some time. 
-Eating better! I don't know how she is in the 90 percentile when she never eats a thing. She is by far the most pickiest eater I know. I might be to blame since I was hesitant to give her anything that wasn't puréed or mashed up, but I'm paying for it now.. She needs to learn to eat!!!!!! 😤

We had a wonderful time celebrating her 2nd birthday! We went to Pizza Hut and Jumping Jungle to celebrate with Lizzie Beth, Charlotte, and Shellie. We kept it simple but we had a great time! Being a Mom to this sweet girl has taught me a lot of patience, that my way isn't always the best, and has taught me to love a way I never thought possible. She is my world, and I'm grateful she is apart of our family. We love you so so much Elsie!!!!!!! 








We're pregnant!!!!

I'm soo late on blogging but I'm coming back with great news... We're pregnant!!!! I've had a lot of people ask if we were lucky enough to get pregnant naturally but we didn't!! We had to do another round of IVF and I'm so grateful we have found something that's works!!! Even if it costs 20,000$+ dollars.... Can't put a price tag on these babies!!!! 


Pregnancy has been great!! Similar to when I was pregnant with Elsie! No morning sickness, a little tired, ect, but it's been a breeze this far. IVF however was rough this round. I experienced OHSS for the first time and that was horrible. I looked 6 months pregnant before we even knew if I was yet because my abdomen filled up with fluid. The pain was horrible and I threw up and felt so sick for days... But was it all worth it, YES! We found out October 13 that we are having a BOY!!!! I still can't believe it. I feel it's still a girl because I only know a girl... I wanted a boy so badly and glad that I was blessed with one of each!! 

As far as time, I feel like its flying by! Elsie's pregnancy seemed to never end... Maybe because it never did, I don't know. But this one seems to be approaching before I am even close to ready. Hopefully I get there... Even a name would be a nice start but we haven't even been able to get that far. Until then, I'll enjoy all the sour and salty cravings I'm having.. Which was much different then my last. Sweets with Elsie and this one it's all about the sour, salt and spice. 

I'm grateful for my little family. I'm grateful for modern medicine, and I'm grateful we get to have another sweet baby join our family!!! 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend 2013


We had a wonderful weekend.. It started at the new "Discovery Children's Museum" that's in Las Vegas. E had a ball. I have to say, it made me want to be a kid again... It was impressive. I relaxed mostly while J did all the running around, going down slides, and getting wet in the fountains with E. He won Dad of the year that day! Needless to say, we'll be back! Great Day!!

Her facials say it all... Safe to say she enjoyed herself :)



Sunday we went to church and kept it pretty casual. Visited some friends, played outside, the usual Sabbath Day.

Monday we spent time with family and went to the Logandale Cemetery to visit our grandparents. It's nice having both set of grandparents in the same cemetery. Makes it easy to do our annual visit and pay our respects to them.


C and E keeping each other company


Fun at Grandma's


Logandale Cemetery 





We miss these guys!!! My Grandpa- He was an amazing man. Died conquering the world, and loving all who was apart of his life. My Grandma was the definition of supportive!! I can't imagine being the wife of a man who was involved in all he was. The time he was away from home helping others in need, building the community, and sharing the gospel. She is a hero in my eyes. Grandma Thella- Oh how I wish I could have met her, at least once. She was the salt of the earth I always hear. She was a woman of strength. And Grandpa Bill. The stories of Grandpa Bill. I've been married to J for almost 7 years, and it seems theres always a new story to be shared. Jody misses him desperately. DESPERATELY! He being the only Father figure J has ever had, he misses him for so many reasons. He passed while J was on his mission.. Right at Christmas time, his first year. I know he would be proud of J and the man he has become. We can't wait to see them again and are grateful for the examples they all were in our life. 

 Bowler Family 2013 (minus Nate's family and Grant)

 Oh.. and E got a new bike!! We found too good of a deal online to pass up, so we bought it now. Dad is stoked. Moms not happy. Dreading the day she suits up to ride solo. Won't be long.. but she will love it. Dad takes care of her. Thanks Dad!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Making a Promise to Myself

This week I've been a little crazy.. Blaming it on- I'm not feeling well; stupid cold... maybe things not going our way, or always hormones?? it is that time :/ .... Who knows! I've been a little short, a little impatient, and maybe a little selfish.

Thursday night, I had the worst sore throat I think I've ever had. I woke up in tears from the pain to swallow, it was excruciating... It seemed to get better as the day went on. Friday, I was tired.. still feeling weak, but feeling on the mend. E had an eye appointment in St George at 3:30 that afternoon. I debated over and over about canceling... Excuses were; the drive, her eye really isn't that bad, whats another couple months, I don't want to go alone and so on. I called to reschedule and it would push us back to August to have the simple procedure done. I didn't want her to wait that long so I decided we would go.

I had hair that morning, still feeling weak, J was having a day at work that was adding stress to a stressful day, but thankfully E was being a total gem. We've had a couple bad weeks of temper tantrums and whining, but Friday was a good day. Every day since has been a good day.. I am thankful.

We hurried to get out of the door in time.. seems like we never make it.. but we were right on schedule. As we were driving to her appointment, I had my mother in law who was anything but sober... pushing me to my limits, and getting me that much closer to my boiling point. Then J called to vent his stressful day of work on his supportive, ready to scream, wife. I finally got off my phone and looked back to check on E.. She had decided to squirt her bottle of milk, just entertaining herself and playing of course on her new, clean, cute clothes. I grabbed the bottle and snapped!!!!! Yelling... "NO!!!!! WE DON'T DO THAT!!!" With that motherly finger point and a beyond angry stern face, ripping the bottle from her hands... I was driving so my face was back on the road. I threw the basically empty bottle on the passenger seat. I had hit my limit.... After a minute or so, I look back at E.... I still see her face as it was... Sad, Heartbroken, Scared, Red, Water Filled Eyes, with a quivering lip. She didn't cry. She wanted to. I wanted to. I looked back to the road and back at her, still looking at me with THAT look.

As I'm typing this now, my eyes fill up with tears. My heart broke. Here I had taken EVERYTHING that had made MY day absolutely frustrating, out on this sweet girl who simple didn't even know what she was doing was not okay. She had been nothing but good to me and that's how I reacted to literally spilt milk...

Reading this, doesn't do it justice. May seems so silly, may seem like I never yell at E. I do. Plenty. But the moment was real, and I was touched to put things in perspective and learn from it.

I made a promise that day.. I KNOW I will have a day like this again... It happens. It's life. But I pray I will try my best to never take out the stupid everyday events that get the best of me, out on this sweet girl. She doesn't deserve it. No one deserves it. Not a kid, not a spouse, not a mother, no one. As hard as some days may be, not having her would be harder. It's obvious I love her more than anything.. I love J more than anything.. Without them, life would be lonely and boring. They are my world and whether days or good... or days are bad.. they deserve my best!!!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

18 months of Elsie...

Can't believe my baby is almost 20 months!! She is the sweetest thing one second, and a straight fireball the next. It's amazing how really, overnight, she has become a little person and we are kissing the baby phase goodbye. I definitely miss those days, but I look forward to having this little gal grow into something great! 

We went to the doctor's for her 18 month check up a month late, but she's still healthy and right where she should be... always a relief for a first time Mom :)

-33.5 inches tall
-25.5 pounds
-19 inches for her beautiful head :)

New Words
-Hi
-Ball
-Apple
-Balloon
-Eyes
-Doggy
-Please
-Cheese
-Thank You
-Milk

Favorite Things
-Shoes
-Finding Nemo .... STILL.. Grrrrrrr!!!! So over it!!
-Trampoline
-Slides
-Swimming
-Fish
-Horses
-Razor Rides
-Suckers
-Anything with dipping sauce
-DAD
-Grandpa
-Hiding in Mom's shoe closet to go poop!
-Blow Bubbles in the pool or bath
-You Tube Songs

Love this little thang most days... today it was hard too... but grateful for her and her little spit fire attitude!!! :) WE LOVE YOU, Elsie Kate!!!!