Thanksgiving, Blessings, and a Tribute to Diane

We had our first successful vacation over Thanksgiving weekend with our precious Kai. We traveled up north to Salt Lake to be with my family for the holiday feast, his baby blessing, celebrating birthdays and lots of family time. He did so well. He was understandably overwhelmed with all of the commotion and attention from adoring friends and family but held up like a champ. The little guy was an angel and even slept for all 4ish hours of our drive there and back, stopping only once both ways for about 30 min for a quick feeding and a diaper change. He is just precious and is getting so big.

Saturday November 29th McKay blessed Malakai. It was such a wonderful day. We had a family gathering in a church house, with a small program and then his blessing. It was just perfect. It was so intimate and the spirit was so sweet. Thank you to all of our family that came to support us, and we missed all of you that weren't able to make it.

Here is the little chunk getting a bath before his big day. He isn't quite sure if he likes the water or not yet!

He is the sweetest thing in his little tux. What a stud!

Aunt Jamie was able to be with us for Thanksgiving and for the baby blessing. It was so fun. We love you:) And, Jamie, nothing will really make me blog more or faster ha, I honestly just can't get myself to really get into it. I do it for the masses ha. It's a time sucker! I do enjoy everyone else's and, I'll admit, I do get a slight thrill when people leave me comments:) But I'm just not patient enough to do it all the time!

This last picture is of Diane Rich. Another angel in my life. This is the woman I took care of for about a year and a half, until the last month of my pregnancy. She had M.S. When I quit working she was expected to live for about another year. A week before MalaKai was due, at one of her check ups, she found out that she only had one to four weeks left to live. It was shocking and devastating news. To my joy she was still alive when precious Kai came. Three days after MalaKai was born I went to visit her because she was so excited to see him. I had spent pretty much everyday with her since McKay and I were married. Unfortunately by this time she was barely coherent. I was told that she wouldn't be able to open her eyes or speak, but that she could still hear me. When we came in she looked as if she were sleeping. I hugged her and whispering in her ear asked her if she would like me to hold him on her lap, I was not expecting a response. My heart was so happy when she barely whispered a yes. She then, to my surprise, lifted her arms and took him up, opened her eyes and smiled at him. I was even lucky enough to get a picture before she didn't have any more strength to hold him. One week later she passed away.
If any of you have given your love to someone through taking care of their physical and emotional needs each day you know how bonded you become to them. We became the best of friends. She was a remarkable woman who shared the gospel and her love with people in Germany, Australia, Hawaii, New York, and to many who she came in contact with in her daily life. She taught me so many things has forever influenced my life for the best. I am so happy she is able to begin her work on the other side and is no longer in pain. I will miss her everyday and I look with joy to the day that I will be able to see her again. She was truly one of God's earthly angels.

I have enjoyed more than anything discovering all that it takes to be a mom. I cannot express all the joy and light that Kai has brought to our home and to my heart. It is like nothing else, he is my little piece of heaven. Being a mother is such a humbling job and I wouldn't trade it for anything. ....I believe all is up to date!