4 months

Declan is 4 months old today. I have no idea where the time is going! It seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital yesterday but then again it also seems like I've had him forever! I can't imagine my life without him. As a very good little surprise today, my little boy rolled over all the way for the first time! He's been super close to rolling over for a while now, but today, while he was on his tummy, he rolled over onto him back! I kept putting him back on his tummy and he kept rolling over. After about the 5th time, I just let him be and he then rolled back over onto his tummy! He's done that about 4 times today! It was so exciting to see. Marty didn't get to see him roll over til this evening but he did get to see it. I also got some of the ones from earlier on a video on my phone. It is so fun watching all the advacements and new things he does. I always knew that I would like being a mom, but I didn't know really how much I would love it! I didn't know how fulfilling it would be.
I've been reading this book that my sister loaned me (I'm almost finished with it.) Its called I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. For any mothers or soon to be mothers, I DEFINITELY recommend it! It is such a wonderful book and it has really changed my perspective on a lot of things, especially the way the world looks at being a mother (stay-at-home-mom) compared to the way I should look at it. She says that when she was just a new mom, she was in a group setting and the were going around telling what they all do and some of the other moms seems almost ashamed. When they would say it, they would say, "oh I'm just a mom", like it's nothing special. He was baffeled by that. It really talks a lot about being proud and exclaiming, "I AM A MOTHER". That is what I plan on doing from now on. This is by far the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever done and I am proud of that! Just because it doesn't come with a paycheck doesn't mean it isn't the greatest thing in the whole world. So I take back what I said in my last post. My life is exciting! I am a mother and dang proud of it!
This book has really made me think a lot about Heavenly Father, too. I'm barely getting a small glimps of what Heavenly Father went through when he watched his son suffer and die for us. Declan has been sick a couple times since he's been born. Nothing serious. The first time, he was a week and a half old and he caugh a cold. When he was about 2 1/2 months, he had rotavirus, and he is now just getting over a cold and an ear infection, and seeing him not feeling good, and in pain completely tears me up inside. I would give anything to take away his pain, or have it be mine instead. I have really had that though on my mind a lot lately. There is also a quote in the book by President N. Eldon Tanner that says, "A mother has far greater influence on her children that anyone else has, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress, affects the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, the hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live, and contribution he will make to society." I gotta be honest, that hit me hard! I am bound and determined to be a better person for my family. Not just act like a better person, but really, deep down right to my core, be a better person. I'm trying to act better, watch what I say, incuding gossip, and even what I think.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts the past week or so... I'm going to go kiss my baby boy goodnight. :)

My big boy, 4 months old

Family Picture for Declan's blessing