In Their Footsteps

Like my mother before me and my grandmother before her and I don't know how many generation before that, I go to my daughters homes after they have their babies, to take care of them, their new little one, and their other children. When I was a first time mother I made the silly assumption that every ones mother or mother-in-law came to stay with them after they had a baby. My grandma Cope had always come to our house when there was a new baby and my mother, even after she was diagnosed with cancer came to help with babies as long as her health would allow. From my grandma Cope and my mom I learn to care for a new born, how to burp, bathe, swaddle, feed, change and put to sleep and I have tried to pass these things on to my daughters.

My grandma Cope was a true expert at babies and I feel very blessed to have had her in my life. Grandma could burp any baby, calm the fussiest and colickiest baby, and get any baby to relax, eat and then to sleep. She was born in 1898 and the story is she started helping deliver babies around the age of 13. She had 7 children of her own and sometime after my dad, her youngest, was off to school, she became a nurse in the neonatal department, working with hard to handle preemies. I remember when my mom was teaching me to bathe and burp babies, the instruction always began with, "this is how grandma Cope does it".

My mother had 6 children and 31 grandchildren; 29 of those grandchildrens were mostly taken care of their first week by her. As I helped Kassey with little Augustus this last week I couldn't help but think of my mom, partly in gratitude and partly in irritation. In gratitude, because my kids were old enough and have fond memories of her coming to our home each time a new baby was born; in irritation, because I am expected to be at their homes when they have new babies to help the same way she did. Don't get me wrong, I love being with my grandbabies and holding and loving on the new little ones, but my mother had the energy of 10 women. After our 3rd baby was born, I had a friend ask if my mother hired out, she could have made a bundle.



When our first grandbaby was born I lucked out because our daughter and her husband were living with us. Still my daughter reminded me of what my mom had done for me and let me know I was expected to do the same. I guess you could say the care of a new born and mother is sort of a tradition in our family. I know that my older sister does the same as my mother did and I am sure my baby sister will also, once she starts to have grandbabies.

My mother-in-law was asked what is was that I did to help with the newborns, my mother-in-law answered, "everything!". This was very sweet of her to say and if it had been said about my mom I would agree, but I don't have the energy of 10 women, like my mom. My mom would arrive the night before I came home from the hospital and stay for about a week. The new babies always slept in the room with her and she would bring them in when they woke to eat, with their diapers changed. After they were fed, she would come and get them, burp them, change them again if needed and stay up with them till they were back to sleep. Along with that, it wasn't uncommon for her to get up with our older kids, feed them a warm breakfast, make sure Kim ate before he left for school or work. She took care of the house cleaning, laundry or whatever needed to be done. I actually did very little the first week of my newborns life; she would tell me my job was to rest. She made sure I followed whatever instructions the doc had sent home. She shared all the things her mother-in-law, my grandma Cope, had shared and taught her. I have tried to teach my daughters these same things, but I fall short when it comes to all the little extras.

I am grateful for the privilege my daughters have given me to help them bring their new little ones into the family. Even more I am grateful for all my mom and grandma's example.

There is a New Champ in Town

Wednesday, the 16th of February, Augustus Champion King made his arrival into the world at 7:28pm. Delivery went well and Kassey is feeling good. Gus weighted in at 7lbs 10oz and he was 19.5 inches long.



I get to be here for a week to help with the girls and nights.A BIG Thank you to Karly for helping with the girls when Kassey and Will went to the hospital. As soon as I got in town I went straight to the hospital, camera in hand; too bad the battery was dead. So, I'm a little limited with the pictures until Kim gets here with my charger. Thankfully Will is a pro, now I just have to get him to post them on their blog.



The first thing Baysil said to Kassey at the hospital was, "where is he, where's my brother?". Winni was not as excited about the arrival of little Gus. She had no interest in seeing or holding him at the hospital. She wasn't upset, just not interested; not until he came home did she take an interest and then only when he is in the arms of Kassey or Will.

Gus has jondus and for a couple of day has to have his blood tested and he is sleeping under a warming lamp.  He is a real Champ about the whole thing. He is a normal new born and has his days and nights mixed up, but other than that he is perfect. To me he looks like a perfect mix of his dad and uncles Kyle and Kody. I see no girl in him at all.

Gus is our 7th grandbaby and our 4 grandson. It took us 14 years to get our 7 children and only 41/2 years to get our 7 wonderful grandbabies. I think the grandbabies might end up costing us as much or more than our kids.  



Congratulation Kassey, Will, Baysil and Winni.!



Unexpected Valentine



For almost a year I have been begging our missionary to send home one of his picture cards. He has emailed pictures off and on, but never sent a card full of pictures. While I love the emails pictures, I desperately wanted a full card of pictures. I have never stopped asking him to send a card, but never really expected to get one. This last week my request was granted and I received a picture card in the mail from Elder Porterfield. Although I'm sure he didn't expect the picture card to be a valentine gift, for me it was.



I cherish every email and letter my missionary sends me, but there is nothing like getting pictures. I'm not sure where all of the pictures were taken or why he took them. I know some are from the beginning of his mission and some are recent. I love them all and so I share some of them with you, enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day!

Back on the Farm

On the way home from Kyle and Megan's blessed day we took a slow ride home visiting with family. Kim and Kloe flew home and missed out on the fun. Kaira Fern, her 3 boys, Karly and I, squeezed ourselves and our stuff into my Acura and did the drive back. Thank goodness for the DVD player and sweet little boys; most of the time they were sweet.



The first stop was to see grandpa Cope, or as Henry kept reminding us, Donald Duck, and Kathy. They live just outside of Saint George. My dad now has a mustang he rescued named Tiny. They also have chickens and a friendly dog; another rescue.

Tiny had been staying across the street so we also got to see the neighbors horses, dog and sheep as well and the boys loved it. 



Wallace was the most excited about tiny. He was so excited about it, 4 days later we made his 1st birthday cake a horse cake. All 3 boys took a ride and Karly held Wallace so he could ride.  





 

 

My dad rode Tiny around so the boys could see her run. Seeing my dad ride brought back great memories of Saturdays renting horses and riding in the Chino hills with him and my brothers and sisters.

The next day we spent in Cedar City and Parowan with Kerin, Cory and Junie. We went out to Cory's family farm so the boys could see all the tractors and the cattle. The night before a calf was born and so that was the first stop when we got there.

As we pulled into the farm, we drove past all the tractor, Henry said they were the biggest tractor in the world.

Cory's little cousin Jake and Uncle Mark showed up right after we got there. Jake and Mack became instant friends.

Jake showed the boys all around and told them all about things. Jake is 4 years old, same as Mack and he has been going to the farm with his dad everyday since he was just a little baby. Uncle Mark gave them a ride on a bail of hay.

Uncle Cory gave them a ride on a tractor and Jake showed them where the best mud puddles were. Wallace and Junie slept through most of it.

 

Our last stop was to see Kassey, Will and the girls. We woke up to nice fresh snow and it snow most of the day, but that didn't stop us from a very important stop, the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point.



The kids loved this place, especially Henry, he loves all things dinno. That evening Karly and I went to visit with our dear friends the Wilkins. We had a short but good visit, sadly I didn't take any pictures. Really the only sad thing was how tired and puffy I was looking by now from eating so much junk food and lack of sleep for more than a week, so really it's a good thing no pictures were taken. 

We got home the next night and just in time to celebrate Wallace's 1st birthday

and pack Karly up and move her to Utah where she has a job. She'll live with Kassey for a few months while she's off school. Me, I am still doing laundry and waiting for grand baby #7 to arrive.