Tender Mercies vs Harsh Realities

Tender Mercies

So, I do not have time to be blogging. We are right in the middle of moving from our tiny apartment into a house my dad bought but I have had so much on my mind--that I need an outlet {enter blogging}. Tonight we had two incredible tender mercies. Packing, in and of itself, is freaking hard. Packing with a 4 month old, freaking IMPOSSIBLE. My dearest friend Ammie called and said she would be willing to watch Callaway for a few hours so I could get my ~amazing~ packing on. {tender mercy--Ammie} I went crazy being baby-less! So much got done is such a short amount of time. Well, as I'm packing up my closet (and for those of you who know me, know I have TONS of clothes--so HUGE undertaking) my VT and friend Katie calls me and was asking how the moving was going. After getting off the phone with her, I was feeling a little overwhelmed--to say the least. As I'm sitting in my own denial of things I need to get done, Michael yells upstairs "Ash, you have a friend here." {enter 2nd tender mercy--Katie}. Katie is the cleaning/packing/organizing extraordinaire! We got so much done in the few minutes we had. 3 cars loaded and unloaded! Oh yah.

Harsh Reality

I must say, Michael and I have an angel baby....come to find out tonight, that was JUST FOR US!! My tender mercy {aka Ammie} was screamed at and yelled at by our dear baby girl. Yep, I pride myself in the fact that Callaway has my lungs, but not tonight. Poor Ammie. Apparently, the only other person to watch Callaway, tender mercy #2 {aka Katie}, said the same thing! OH no. That redheaded personality is already rearing it's fiery head! EEK.

I could not be more grateful tonight for such incredible friends. I am so indebted, first to my Heavenly Father for hearing my whispered prayers and second, for those amazing people standing in as Heavenly Father's helping hands. My cup is full.

Santa Baby!!

At our work family Christmas party, Santa stopped by. Callaway wasn't sure what to think but just after mom finally snapped a picture--she started giggling and laughing with Santa! Of course, mom missed it with the camera. Callaway has been VERY good this year so she will for sure be getting a visit from Santa!

DIXIE

Of course living in Southern Utah, I wanted our first family pictures to be against the RED ROCKS because we are so in love with St. George! They were taken up on the bluff by the DIXIE rock. The pictures turned out super great and I LOVE them. It's funny--I had all these coordinated outfits, what Callaway would wear, what I would wear to match her, and how Michael was going to tie in the whole ensemble--yep, last minute, this is what we found and I like it a MILLION times better! Thanks Nikki Nelson Photography...AGAIN...for doing such great work!

Quick update: things have been going good with getting our loan approved for our home. We have run into some road bumps but are working diligently to get over them. Everyone told us buying a house was super stressful, it's just like being a new parent, just have to experience it to believe it. We believe! For the meantime (while we wait to close on our house), we are going to be moving into a house my dad bought in Green Valley! It's super cute too--it's in Countryside Estates.

Callaway is growing LIKE A WEED!!!!! It's amazing and sad all at the same time. My baby is growing up. At her 4 month check up she was 17 pounds 5 ounces and 26 inches long. She is in the 98th percentile for height and 99th for weight! What a healthy baby girl!!! She is so dang fun too. She is chatting up a storm now--cooing and gooing. Amazing how she always has something to say--I LOVE THAT! She even said 'bababababa' the other day. Callaway is such a mover--she rolled over super early and now just rolls from her back to her front all time to get where she wants to go. She is definitely a Griffiths baby because she LOVES to sing. It's so fun having a baby girl with such long hair cause we can do pig tails, FRENCH BRAIDS, and put all sorts of bows and clips in her hair. Callaway is also getting her daddy's super blue eyes. She gets more stunning everyday and I love waking up to her little noises and sounds. Being parents has been the most incredible experience! We love the new adventures each day brings! LOVE YOU BABY CALLAWAY!!!

...BIG NEWS...

Callaway, Mike, and I have some good news! We are BUYING A HOUSE!!!! It happened super fast. Super fast.

...now that I think about it, all of our major decisions have been made quite rapid between time thought of and executed...hmmm. Anyways.

My dad has been looking into buying a house down here in the St. George area--either for a winter home or a rental property. My dad and I went into the ERA real estate office just to look around...this was last Saturday. Yep, our offer was accepted on MONDAY. Fast. But it's been an incredible ride that we are everyday so grateful for. Here are the pictures of the house!

It's pretty small. A perfect little starter home for our little family!!! It is located in Ivins Utah just outside of St. George. GORGEOUS views coming into the housing development area. The Snow Canyon Mountains, Historic Santa Clara, and all the amazingness that is Southern Utah surrounds us! Yipee! ...we still have to see if our loan is approved. *wish us luck*

Nothing Like This

I have a confession. I love Rascal Flatts! Throughout any part of my life, they have always had a song that is exactly how I'm feeling at that time in my life. Pretty much they write the soundtrack to super important points in my life. I'm Moving On in high school (one of their very first singles), It's Not Just Me when I started hanging out with Michael in high school, Bless the Broken Road when I got married, These Days and What Hurts The Most for past experiences, Every Day, Here and You for my amazing husband, Feels Like Today when I feel like I can conquer the world, Stand in graduate school, Here Comes Goodbye when my Grandma Jackson passed away last year, and My Wish when I found out I was pregnant. I have always wanted to write a song (it's on my bucket list), but their songs are the words I couldn't eloquently say myself--they say it for me. I love them. I do. I love them. So, every time they come out with a new album, I challenge my favorite people--to see if they will AGAIN blow me away. They did not disappoint in their latest album. I have been trying to describe how I've been feeling since Callaway was born. I feel different, my life is different, I am a completely better and stronger person because she makes me strong and makes me feel that way. I couldn't explain it. Being a mother has been and continues to be the greatest blessing of my life. So, here it is. My song.

Nothing Like This

There's nothing in my life,

I'd say I regret,

But there's something in your eyes

that makes me forget,

The times that I believed

that love was good as love could be,

I had it all,

but I was wrong.

Thought I'd been touched,

Thought I'd been kissed,

Thought I'd been loved,

But it was nothing like this.

You can't describe the sea,

Unless you been there before.

It's just a mystery,

Until your standing on the shore,

And moved by every wave

Taking your breath away

like you do,

To me.

Thought I'd been touched,

Thought I'd been kissed,

Thought I'd been loved,

But it was nothing nothing like this.

It's like another life,

Like I haven't felt a thing,

until you.

Thought I'd been touched,

Thought I'd been kissed,

Thought I'd been loved,

But it was nothing like this.

It was nothing like this

At the beginning of the song it says, "The times that I believed that love was good as love could be, I had it all, but I was wrong." Mike and I have had an incredible life together. We really had it all. We traveled, we've met some incredible people, we've lived in some super fun places--we thought we had it all till....we had more. We had Callaway. Our life and our love is so much deeper, stronger, and greater since she came into our lives. I have been so changed by this incredible little spirit that came into our home. Kisses are sweeter, hugs are tighter, love is deeper, and holding hands with tiny fingers makes my heart race! It's a feeling that can't really be explained until, you-yourself, are experiencing this joy. It's incredible, it's miraculous, and every day is a new adventure!

We love her so much!

Callaway is already an "open mouth" kisser! :)

Blessing Day

On September 26th, Callaway was given a name and a blessing by her amazing Daddy. We were so grateful to be able to have her blessed in my home ward of Thomas 3rd ward. When we (finally) got to the chapel, I was in awe at how many family and friends came to support us in this *extra* special day. Everyone there Michael and I love so much and were so grateful they came to be there for us!!! I even had some of my grad school family there!!! It meant the WORLD to us!

Michael gave her a beautiful blessing!!! (I, of course, cried)

Afterwards, we had one AMAZING party!!! My dad never ceases to amaze me...he loves parties and loves making people feel welcome and loved!! He does that through food and hospitality!!! Yep, over 110 people showed up to eat all the delicious food! My best friend Katy, from high school, made an incredible observation. I had called her a few weeks earlier...crying...asking her some mommy questions and telling her my 'woes' about how I wished I were closer to family to help me with, the sometimes overwhelming responsibility of being a mommy. And asked Katy to answer simple mom questions. She's a pro and I'm a rookie! Well, when she arrived, we hugged and she had tears in her eyes. She said she started to cry when she saw all the cars. She hugged me again and said it was just a testament to how many people ARE really there for us and are supporting us from a distance! It was a beautiful way of making me feel even that much more loved.

2 Months!!!

My baby girl turned 2 months on Sunday! We can't believe it! Time is FLYING by!! Well, today was kinda a sad-she had her 2 month shots! Yah, Mommy cried too! Callaway was such a rockstar-even the nurses said she took it like a pro. :D

It was so sad! :*( Callaway chillin' with mommy at work! :D

I seem to talk lots about our baby girl and forget about Michael and I...typical I guess of being a new mommy. Michael is still working at the Home Depot. They LOVE him there. He has received numerous awards for all his hard work and was even the employee of the month. He's so incredible like that. As for me, I've been LOVING my time with Callaway at home. I'm getting nervous about going back to work on Nov. 8th. Mike and I are blessed because we have worked out a system that he will stay home with Callaway in the mornings, while I do my home visits, and then Mike will work in the afternoons when I finish my paperwork/research from home with the baby!! We still wished we had family close to help but the Lord is always mindful of us and we are SO GRATEFUL!!!

Forever Changed

Wow, time has FLOWN by. Callaway, today, is 8 weeks old. I can't even believe it....really, can't believe it! She has forever changed me and Michael's life for the *ultimate* better. Life is starting to get back to our new "normal". She has brought so much joy into our home. And, I must say--she is a rockstar!! She loves being held, looking around, learning, singing songs (and loves having daddy sing to her!), sleeping with mom, and is such a chatty little girl! Of course, as a speech-language pathologist, I'm so proud of all her little sounds. She is our little angel and wrapped around daddy's (okay, AND mommy's) finger. Her beautiful red hair is always an immediate eye catcher! We are so in love!!