My Dad is 50!

50 Reasons Why I Love You

1. You're my dad.
2. You love Mom.
3. You taught me how to tie my shoes
4. I learned from you how to ride a “bucking bull” which prepared me for muttin' bustin' and runaway horses.
5. You took me fishin'.
6. You gave me three sisters.
7. You taught me how to drive.
8. You taught me about tithing.
9. You used to comb my hair after my baths.
10. You taught me how to do a backflip on the trampoline.
11. You were always patient with me when I didn't want to go to bed...and still are.
12. You were patient with me when I made work harder because I was learning.
13. You taught me how to work hard whether it was loading wood into the wood box when we could barely handle to wheelbarrow or moving pipe.
14. And then you taught me how to play hard.
15. You taught me how to manage money.
16. You taught me to treat people with kindness and to respect my elders.
17. You always do your home teaching.
18. You have a testimony and you live it.
19. I like your mustache/gotee.
20. You never yelled (unless the cows were getting away).
21. You enjoy life and choose to be happy. Everything is more fun when you're around. 
22. 
    I still remember the time you taught me about honesty after I had told a lie. I never wanted to lie after that.
23. You took our family on fun vacations.
24. Even though it took a lot of time, you helped/did our 4-H projects with us.
25. You allowed me to make my own decisions even though I'm sure it was hard at times.
26. You came to all my track meets AND you brought your stop watch.
27. You supported me in all my activities.
28. You protected me and provided for me.
29. You make many sacrifices for your family.
30. Even if it isn't the most enjoyable situation, you taught me how to laugh (ex. The time I fell inbetween the loaves of hay and couldn't get out.)
31. You helped me out of those loaves of hay and I was so relieved.
32. I learned how to appreciate the beauty in my surroundings from you. You often mention how beautiful scenery is.
33. You're Doctor Jones. I don't know how many slivers you pulled out of my skin and how much peroxide you poured on scraped skin. There were a few tick removals as well.
34. You encouraged me to do well in school.
35. You taught me the saying, “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.”
36. You taught me how to water ski
37. You encouraged me to be daring by taking me on all the thrilling rides at Lagoon
38. You taught me how to hold on, whether it was a wild tube or sled ride, a runaway horse, or attempting to make it across some form of water on the dirt bike.
39. You took me rockclimbing up bath rock and knew that I could do it.
40. You taught me how to ride a motorcycle and even bought us a few.
41. You told me stories about your life growing up and most of them made me laugh.
42. You taught me how to gargle mouthwash (I decided it was because we had bad breath as I have learned that little kids often do.)
43. I learned about service from you.
44. You showed me how to be forgiving.
45. You taught me to appreciate green grass.
46. You teach by example good parenting.
47. I learned from you what I wanted in my eternal companion.
    
    
    
48. You are a wonderful grandpa.
49. You gave me many priesthood blessings and were always willing and worthy.
50. You love me.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

A Whopping 2 Years!

Dear Coleman,
   You are now two years old and I can hardly believe it. You have grown so much this past year.  You have grown a couple inches and maybe a pound and a half. You're starting to lose your baby fat and looking more like a little boy. You have started speaking in short sentences and say things such as, "What that? Emers crying. I want one. Hi Emers! I wuv trains. I wuv Buzz. Come on. Let's go. Watch out. Please don't. Brush teeth. Ah poo poo." Those are just a few. You love to run, dance, and jump. You have discovered Toy Story and you absolutely love Woody and Buzz. You could watch Toy Story 1,2 and 3 over and over every day and would never get tired of it. You love every type of ball and can name them. You really enjoy books and will sit down to look at them all on your own. Your favorites are Llama Llama Red Pajama, and My Little Train. You even have parts of these books memorized. You can count to 8 and sometimes 10. You know parts of the ABC song. You started going to toddler lab this last fall and you always loved it. When Dad or I dropped you off you wouldn't even look back to say goodbye because you were too excited to start playing with all of your friends. This is the same with nursery. After sacrament meeting before I can get everything gathered up you are running down the aisle, through the hall and into nursery. You often beat the teachers there. You love farm animals, trucks and very recently cars. Your favorite song is "I Love to See the Temple". You recognize the Rexburg temple every time we drive by and shout, "Temple! Temple!" You like to say your prayers...most of the time. You are a very good brother and often watch out for Emerson. You have a great imagination when you play and it's fun to watch or join in. When it comes to eating you are a little picky. You absolutely LOVE Greek "yog" (yogurt) though, and ask for it at every meal. You also love "chup" (ketchup). You eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, scrambled eggs, pancakes, chicken nuggets, sometimes cheese, most fruit and noodles. You usually eat your vegetables as long as its baby food (yuck). Other than that, its hard to get you to eat much more. You are a happy boy and love to laugh. Sometimes you act up a little and will yell. This is when you get to stand in the corner, and you do. You try to get others to laugh so you can laugh with them. You aren't very shy. You often say "hey!" to people you see. You love your aunts, uncles, and grandparents. You also enjoy your cousins when you see them. You love it when I tickle your back or rub your feet and ask me to do so at night. You bring so much joy and light to our family and often make me laugh. You give great hugs and kisses. I'm grateful to be your mom and have you as my little boy. I wish you could stay little forever but I'm excited to see the great person you will become. I love you little Coleman.

Love Mama

Emerson Graham Beynon

Emerson was due June 4 but I was hoping he would come over Memorial weekend. No school or work on Monday for Jesse, my mom was supposed to come up that weekend and I was ready.  As the weekend got closer I got crankier and less convinced that he was going to come then.  I had gone from feeling like I was going to have him any day to this-little-guy-is-going-to-be-in-there-a little-longer type of feeling. Saturday morning Jesse and I went and cleaned the church building. I don't know but maybe that's what got things started. Service=blessings right? I felt pretty good the rest of that day, just tired and antsy. It rained all day and I just wanted to get out and do something before I would be cooped up in the house for awhile. I had no  idea that would come sooner than later.  Jesse and I stayed up late watching a movie. We went to bed around 11:00 pm. I don't think I ever really fell into a deep sleep. I was in between that place of sleep and awake for awhile thinking that my abdomen hurt. At about 12:45 Sunday morning I became fully awake and acknowledge that I had cramps. I told Jesse I thought that I was going into labor.  I wasn't sure if I really believed it. With Coleman my water broke, so there was no question. We decided to start timing my cramping/contractions. They hurt but were definitely bearable. They lasted about 2 minutes with 3 minutes in between. They didn't seem too consistent. I decided to get up and Google contractions since I couldn't remember the timing of labor contractions. By the time I found what I was looking for and made it back to my room they were a little stronger. It was now 1:00 am and I felt like that's when things got rolling. We slowly started getting things ready. I called our friends and had them come over to stay with Coleman. During all this I became quit convinced that I was definitely in labor. We checked into the hospital a little after 2:00 am. After about 30 minutes of questions the nurse checked me and I was dilated between a 6 and 7. The contractions didn't feel too great at this point and I was now getting them in my back. We went to the delivery room and I used the rest room. I noticed I was bleeding some and asked the nurse if that was normal. She said it could be, just depends. I wasn't quit sure what that meant. She decided to check me again and I dilated to a 7 and was bleeding quite a bit with each contraction. This is about the time the Doc arrived. The plan was to skip the IV like I did with Coleman but since I was bleeding heavily the nurse stuck me. I could tell the nurses and doctor were a little concerned but were trying not to show it. They wanted to get things rolling which luckily they did. Pretty soon I was a 10 and the doctor broke my water. I started pushing and I have to say it was harder and much less enjoyable than the first time around. Oh yea, Jesse about passed out unexpectedly from seeing all of the blood (normally he's not bothered by it). Luckily for everyone's sake he didn't. I pushed about 5 or 6 times and we had little Emerson at 3:07 pm. He came just in time. The placenta started detaching a little too early hence all the bleeding. Emerson was 5 lbs 7 oz and 19 in long. He was very healthy, hairy and had all fingers and toes accounted for :). They figured he was probably a little earlier than 8 days, more likely about 3 weeks. Jesse handed me our little guy and as he did, he gripped Jesse's finger tightly. He was so little and precious. I feel very blessed to have good pregnancies, labors and deliveries as well as babies.

He's my little fuzz ball.

Brothers meet.

Coleman came to the hospital Sunday evening. He wasn't too sure what to think. He loved Emerson's onsie that had various balls printed on it. Coleman kept pointing to them and saying "ball". He also loved the buttons on my bed. He gave Emerson a poke or two and giggled. It was pretty cute.

First family picture.

Emerson is a good little baby. He's been gaining weight well despite how often he spits up. Anytime he gets the hiccups he loses about everything he has in his stomach.  I also have to watch what I eat (dairy, spicy, garlic) because that seems to add to him losing his lunch too. He is a loud little guy. He makes a lot of noises; mainly grunts, snorts and something that resembles a goat.

Coleman is acknowledging "Brother" more and more and has agreed to holding him twice within the last couple of days. He loves stealing Emers's binky and at times will try to shove it back in his mouth. Coleman also loves throwing things into the bassinet. Luckily we haven't had too many accidents. Slowly but surely our family is adjusting to a new member in the family. I love my boys and my dear husband who helps me with so much and is a fantastic father. We are blessed to have such a great leader in our home.