Our new little addition

Lewis David Wright
December 11, 2008

5:53 PM

8 lbs

20 1/2 inches

Yes he is over a week old before any pictures are posted of our cute little guy, 3 kids can keep a girl really busy. Lewis was named after my Grandpa Merrill and was actually born on my grandpa's birthday. He has been such a great baby and I love having a newborn around the house. He brings such a special spirit to our home. The girls are now adjusting to having a new little one around. To my surprise Mallory was the one who had the harder time adjusting. She is doing great now and loves, loves, loves to help me with whatever she can when it comes to her little brother. Both of the girls love to hold him. Lily doesn't like to hear him cry so she is really quick to let me know if he needs me.

Jared and Lewis watching the first of many BYU games together, too bad the first one couldn't have been a win.

Tender Mercies

Over the past few day the phrase "Tender Mercies" keeps coming to mind. On Friday Night was the viewing for my Aunt Jenee who passed away after months of suffering from many different things. About halfway through the viewing I got a headache so bad that it was making me feel really sick and decided that I needed to go home. The drive home was very quiet and Jared dropped me off and went to pick up our girls from the Perry's who had taken them trick-or-treating (thanks again Jeff and Kristin). About an hour after I had been home the pain and nausea was so bad that I asked Jared to call my doctor. The doctor said to go to labor and delivery and have my vitals checked, and that I may have high blood pressure. So Scott and Marianne came to stay with the little ladies and we were off to the hospital, again not much was said on the drive. When we got to the hospital they checked my blood pressure and it was fine but I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes. The nurse was a little concerned considering I still have 6 weeks until my due date. She called my doctor and then gave me a shot to slow the contractions, sent me to the ER for something for the headache and nausea and sent me on my way.
The next day was my aunts funeral, I was still having contractions but not as often so I went to the funeral. At the cemetery I tripped in a hole and fell flat on my belly, it's okay to laugh about now I am sure the sight of a large pregnant lady flying through the air would be funny to watch. When I got up I was really disoriented and didn't know whether or not to tell people I was okay. As soon as the dedication of the grave was over I walked over to Jared and told him I needed to leave. On the way home contraction began again every 2-3 minutes, Jared called the hospital and they said I needed to get back there as quickly as I could. They gave me 3 more shots and contractions slowed down a little but didn't stop. They sent me home, told me to drink lots of water, relax, and that I probably would have continuous contractions for the rest of my pregnancy but to come back to the hospital it they became painful.
Sunday came and I was still having contractions pretty regularly but not painful so I tried not to worry about them too much. On Monday the contractions became really painful and really close together, I called the doctor and he said to go back to the hospital and get things checked out. My cute neighbor Ruth came and sat with the girls until my mom could get to my house. I got to the hospital and the contraction were strong and 2-3 minutes apart. 4 days in a row of strong contractions was making me really nervous that this baby was coming way too soon. There were so many questions I had about the baby and what he would have to go through if he didn't make it to 37 weeks. The nurse gave me 3 more shots, got me a prescription for some pills to take every six hours to slow the contractions, checked me to make sure I wasn't dilated, and sent me home to relax.
As I read Elder Bednar's talk again today and there are so many things he talks about as being tender mercies that have happened to me this past weekend. The first thing that made me think tender merc

Girls New Bedroom

We FINALLY finished the girls bedroom. They have been so excited for bunk beds and thier new pink room. Here is the pictures I promised some of you. The lighting is bad so its hard to see all of the hard work Jared put in with the molding, new base boards and shelving he put on the wall. We also refinished the bunk bed, I am really happy with how everything turned out. Now we just need to get the walls decorated. The girls love to show off their new room.

It's my weed!

The other day Mallory came in the house with this. . .

And says to Jared and I "Look it's my weed." I hope that is the only time I have a conversation with Mallory about her "WEED".

Gardner Village Witches

I have decided that fall is my favorite time of the year. I love when the weather starts to cool off. On Monday for FHE we went with my family to Gardner Village to see the witches and the weather was very cold, but we still had a great time. It has been a tradition since Amy and I had kids. Usually just the mom's go with the kids but this year the dad's joined us, it was fun to have them there.

Scotty and Lil feeding the ducks

Lily, Mallory, Logan, and Rylyn (We missed you Tanner, Brynlee, and Kade)

Mallory has been scared to death of this witch every year and at first she was this year and then she warmed right up.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Monday while we were out running errands we drove by a pumpkin patch and from that point on it was all Mallory could talk about. She wanted to go and pick her own pumpkin. So for FHE we went to a great pumpkin patch in So. Jordan. They have a corn maze, small but great for the little kids, tractors for the kids to play on, and tons of pumpkins to choose from. The girls loaded and unloaded our wheelbarrow a number of times before they found their perfect pumpkins. They had so much fun running through the field looking for the best pumpkin they could find.

New Hair Do's

Mallory has been asking me for months to call Carolyn, the girl who does our hair, so she could get her hair cut short. I kept putting it off because her hair was getting so long and I loved it. Well I gave in and made an appointment for today. Lily also had a couple inches cut off her hair. Here they are with short hair just like Mallory wanted. . . .

"The Samarian"

Today Mallory came home from church with the above picture and was so excited to tell us the story about "The Samarian". This is how it went.... This guy laying down came all the way from California to Jesus town, and the the other guy helped him.

"Jesus town" where do they come up with these things. She has such a creative imagination.

BYU Vs. UCLA

The morning of the UCLA game we woke up to this.....

Dave, Jared's brother went to a lot of effort and really confused anyone that Jared doesn't know well. Anyone that knows Jared knows what a huge BYU fan he is and knew that someone had done this to our house. People would drive by our house really slow to read the signs, it was pretty entertaining all morning long. Before the game began all the UCLA yellow and blue had to go. It has been so funny to hear the comments from people at church that don't know about his true obsession in life. They would make comments about how sad Jared must have been at the 59-0 loss to BYU. Thanks Dave for some great entertainment, it made the win just that much sweeter!!!

Thanksgiving Point Gardens

On their way to Washington State to take care of Grandma and Grandpa Dickson Jared's parents made a stop to visit us for a couple of days. We decided to take them to The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Jared took the day off work and the weather was perfect. We really had a great time with them. Grandpa rented a motorized chair and Mallory and Lily had so much fun riding on his lap. Mallory even got to drive, which was a little scary for those in her way. About half way through the Gardens Dave insisted I take a turn and get off my feet. I felt really silly driving around on the chair but was grateful for the break.

We have an Olympian on our Hands!

Saturday was Mallory's first soccer game and I think Jared was more excited for the game than she was. He is thrilled that she is taking a break from dance to play soccer. He has been working with her on the two rules of soccer:
1. No Hands
2. No Crying!!!
They have been practicing dribbling the ball and right before the game he taught her to take people out. She was convinced it was okay until her Nana told her it wasn't very nice. Now every time Jared tries to tell her it's okay in soccer she says, "But my Nana said it wasn't nice." (I think that him having a boy is going to be a really good thing).
In the warm ups before the game every time it was her turn to shoot a goal she would kick it in the net and then look to the sidelines and wait for the applause and praise. She really likes to be in front of people and "perform". Mallory did really good in her game until the end when she fell down and got kicked in the head. Then it was all over. A little boy from her primary class is on her team and after she got hurt he had his mom bring him over so he could make sure she was okay. It was so sweet. She is determined to score a goal, all week she has been talking about the other kids that scored a goal and she is going to do it at her next game.

Mallory and McKenlie after the game enjoying their post game treats.

Mallory Starts Preschool

Her first day of school. Mallory and Lily just before we left for school.
On August 19 Mallory started preschool. (I know I am a little behind on the posts!) She is so excited and asks me everyday if she gets to go to school, she has been asking since last school year when it was her turn to go to school. Her teacher is Mrs. Steiner and she goes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. She has loved every minute of it. She has started bringing home books to read and gets so excited when she gets through a tough word or finishes a page. Lily loves to have Mallory read her stories. We definitely have had our moments of frustration when she can't get a specific word but for the most part she is in heaven. Mallory in her classroom

Mallory in her chair coloring her first school picture.

Look Mom I Can Swim!

For the last 3 weeks the girls have been taking swimming lessons. They are taking lessons at the same private pool I took at when I was little. It is fun to go back to places I went when I was little and remember the fun times. They have absolutely loved every minute of it. When it is not a day we have lessons they beg to go swimming. It is amazing how much they can learn in 3 weeks. Both of them are going off the diving board and can swim short distances without help. I haven't seen Lily swim by herself but her teacher tells me that she can.
Mallory had a hard time staying on the step when it wasn't her turn to swim with her teacher so she spent at least one of her turns sitting on the side of the pool. It took her 2 weeks but she was successful at sitting on the step for her entire lesson. She was so proud of herself when her lessons were over she wanted to call her dad right away and tell him she sat on the step the whole time. She asked Jared "can we go in my room and talk about it but this time leave the door open and Lily could even come in too." Jared and Mal have spent a lot of time in her room talking about how it's important to listen and obey. She also wanted to call her Nana and everyone that she knew to tell them how good she did at swimming lessons. It was so fun to have her so excited about something good she did. I hope she can be that excited after her last lesson today.

The hardest part of swimming lessons for Lily was waiting for 1/2 hour for her lessons to start.



Practicing on the side of the pool

Mallory jumping off the diving board

Lily would always put her arms above her head like she was going to dive and then swing her arms back and jumpThe Big Jump

We're having a .....

On Monday morning we went to have the ultrasound to find out if the baby was a boy or girl. We took the girls and Mallory was so excited to see a picture of her new baby. Everyday she talks to my belly and gives it kisses. It is so fun to see her get so excited to have this new little baby. It seems like it took them forever to check all of the parts to make sure it was okay and then finally we found out that we are having a BOY. Jared and I had both thought that this is what we were going to be having but I couldn't be 100% confident because I was sure Lily was a boy and was dead wrong.
SO the next question we have been asked is do we have a name picked out. The answer is Yes. This may surprise a lot of people since Jared and I haven't been able to agree on any names until this one. It is a very old fashion name but we definitely know this is what his name should be. About a month and a half ago while I was doing my hair this name came into my mind with the thought that this was was our baby should be named. I was sure that Jared was going to shoot it down the second I told him but his reaction was totally opposite. He said "Ya that is what it should be." I was very surprised that he was going for it but it has stuck so our baby will be named Lewis after my Grandpa Merrill. We are still not positive on the middle name but will probably use another grandpa's name. I guess there won't be anymore disagreements about boys names, at least not until next time. It has taken some time but the name has started to grow on me.
We are so excited to be having a boy. There are many reasons that a girl would have been easier but the more we talk about it the more excited we get to have this little boy come to our family. Jared is already talking about the future football games, how we are going to hang a "fathead" on the wall of his nursery. It is so fun to think about having a new baby.

Lily's riding her bike

One day I was sitting out on the front porch with my mom and there goes Lily on Mal's little bike. I didn't even know she could get on by herself let alone peddle and go anywhere on it. I didn't know Jared had been teaching her the day before. Now everytime we go out in the garage she wants to go on a bike ride.