All Smiles

I love his smiles!
Michael Dunn's personality has really been coming out lately. He is starting to be so smiley! Who would have thought after those solemn first few months......
He really looks older to me here

Easy Street

I was reading a talk given by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom and I really liked what he said. :

Many of us want the simple way—the process that will not require serious work and sacrifice. Well, I once thought I found it. Driving in the back of a verdant valley above the city of Honolulu, I looked up, and there it was—Easy Street! As I was dreaming of the life-changing benefits of my discovery, I took out my camera to record the blissful moment. As I looked through the viewfinder, however, my focus literally and figuratively became clear. A large yellow sign returned me to reality—Easy Street was a dead end!

Michael is busy!

Michael called tonight. it was sooo nice. We were able to talk for over and hour. Usually our conversations can only last about 30 minutes before he has to get off. Michael had a nice time listening to Michael Dunn cry and complain when he pulled a can from our food storage off the shelf and it landed on his foot. But after Michael Dunn calmed down Michael talked to him and Michael Dunn enjoyed talking gibberish back.

Michael Has been very busy the last couple of days and will continue to be for the next few. he has been learning how to shoot several different types of guns, and he passed off on a gun that shoots 100 grenades a minute. He said he really enjoyed today. He also has been learning Poshtu, the language that is prominent in the place where he will be stationed. He always has said that he wanted to learn another language and I am glad that he is getting the opportunity. He says that his teacher is from the town in Afghanistan where he will be and has had a lot of experience fighting against the Taliban. He said that this man at one time had been in prison for about 2 years when the Taliban took over. Michael really enjoys his class and says that he is very personable and a good man.

I am doing good at home! (I just thought I'd throw a paragraph about me in:) ) It is hard at times-usually when I am tired and Michael Dunn wants me to hold him. But I am getting use to this. It has been such a blessing having Michael call and keep me updated. The Lord has been so kind to our little family. Everything has fallen into place as far as this new little boy coming into our family, and our financial responsibilities. I am learning a lot! I had never paid bills until now, and I am getting much more confidant going places since I hate driving. I also have had a lot of time to work on mine and Michael's own scrapbook, where I have started putting our story in it along with pictures. It keeps me busy and makes me so grateful for a wonderful family.

Pictures!!

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it! I was babysitting the twins, Atticus and Jane and they were in their bumbo seats and Michael wanted in! When he got in however it was hard for him to get out. He really enjoyed it though!
Michael lately has been following me around-even when he is suppose to be eating! He'll just put the top of the bottle in his mouth and happily follow me to where I am going and finish it where I am.
He was in such a good mood! I love his smiles! Lately he has been practicing his fake smile, but I don't think this is one of them.

Michael in tank all week

It had been awhile since I had talked to Michael. I think the last time was Tuesday when he called for 20 seconds to tell me he couldn't talk.
I was however able to talk to him for awhile yesterday night. It was really good. He has been very busy going out to fields on tanks to practice target shooting in the Tank. They have been doing this all week and Michael says there is a lot of down time considering there are 11 Tanks and you only go through once during the day and once at night. He has had a lot of time to catch up on reading his scriptures and talking to people about the church. He has had a lot of missionary experiences as they have been out on the range and it makes me even more aware that this is where he is needed.
We have been so blessed at home. It has been wonderful to be able to talk to Michael when he is able. And some really good news: Michael has a 4 day break where he will be coming home!!! It is in about a month and we are so excited. I booked the tickets on Wednesday and he will be arriving on the 19th of February and leaving the 22nd.

Story

As I was reading this it made me so very grateful for my own husband, who I can see in years to come doing the same for me.

In a recent message of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Music and the Spoken Word, a story was told about an elderly man and woman who had been married for many decades. Because the wife was slowly losing her sight, she could no longer take care of herself the way she had done for so many years. Without being asked, the husband began to paint her fingernails for her.

“He knew that she could see her fingernails when she held them close to her eyes, at just the right angle, and they made her smile. He liked to see her happy, so he kept painting her nails for more than five years before she passed away."
-Told by Elder Joseph B. Worthlin in His October 2007 Conference talk

Michael Dunns first haircut

This is the before picture. He is carrying around an Animal Cracker in his mouth.
Grandma Ross cut his hair and he was furious! I think it made him even madder that I took a picture instead of picking him immediately up.


I love this picture! He looks so handsome, though I am a little sad. I liked him looking like my little boy!


Michael Dunn hated having his hair cut, and it was hard to watch. I am grateful for my Mom being willing to cut it for me.

Guard Duty

Michael has Guard duty tonight. He said that during guard duty they sometimes have simulations where they have people pretend like they are terrorists and they will drive by and shoot at you (They are shooting blanks though) and they are watching to see how you will react. It sounds pretty nerveracking to me, but I do think it is good practice.
Michael was able to meet with two other members of the church today during their hour of church time. He ended up leading the meeting even though he was younger then the others by about 10 years. They sang songs and Michael gave a Spiritual thought and they passed around his scriptures and took turns reading. It reminds me a little of the old soldier stories
I am so grateful to be married to such a strong wonderful man who has such a strong testimony. He is such an example to me.

Michael and Mommy

Michael and Mommy
He loves this swing. I know I can always get a big smile when he is on it.

I thought he was cute all dressed up and playing with his toy from Aunt Jenny!

Correction

Well I got some flack from Michael yesterday about my Blog. He says I make him sound pathetic, sooo I'll try not to do that anymore!
He is finally done with the range Yeah!!!!!!! He has moved onto other classes. Yesterday he was in hand Combat class where they learned to fight each other without weapons. I told Michael there will be a lot to teach our children when he gets home! (Just kidding I am not sure I want them to learn that right now)
He also was in a Convoy class where he learned about different roles of soldiers riding in a tank. Apparently there is a role for everyone. Michael ended up being the driver in this exercise, something he is VERY good at.
They finally got issued their gear so he can at least dress warmer at night. He wants everyone to know that he is doing well and is not having as rough a time as I made it sound!

Thoughts and Quotes

“The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies.”

-E. T. Sullivan , Quoted By President Gordon B. Hinkley in the December 2007 Home teaching Message

"Children are an heritage of the Lord" Psalms 127:3

Psalms has been running through my head for the past couple of days so I thought I would put it on here along with what I read today from the home teaching message for December 2007

Sick baby, Cold Husband

Michael Dunn went in for his 9 month shots yesterday though he wasn't able to take them because when they took his temperature he was 100.6 degrees. Poor boy, I knew something was wrong with him that morning, he was acting sick, but when I took his temperature it said he was fine. He ended up having to go get blood work done though and they took his blood through his arm instead of his heal! It was horrible! He cried and cried! It was a rough day for him. His fever got increasingly worse throughout the day into the night. I woke him up every 4 hours to take some more Tylenol, and at 2:00 in the morning his fever was up at 102.8 degrees. He won't drink anything but juice and won't eat anything at all this morning. It's been a long night for both of us. The Doctor said that this is a virus and should only last three days.

Well Michael Lamar is feeling better! He is getting over his cold right as the temperature drops in North Carolina. He says that it is around 0 degrees at night and they haven't been issued their winter gear yet so he says they are cold! He is still out on the Gun range, which is losing it's appeal, as a matter of fact Michael says he hates it. They are there for about 12 hours a day and they will continue to be there until everyone passes their tests.

I am doing fine. I am a little tired and worried about my boys but I am feeling good. I am allowing myself off days with Michael Dunn being sick (I don't clean as much, there is a load of clothes in the washer that was put in yesterday, and I am eating horribly). I will get back onto my routine when Michael Dunn is back to normal. I have gone through the first Harry Potter book and have started the second. Also I am trying to get some scrap booking done while I have the time. Now that I know I am having another boy, I feel like I need to start recording things for him as well, since I did it with Michael Dunn. Also I am working on a poster for Primary, so actually I am still pretty busy, I am just not busy with the Normal things :)This is him on Sunday. It was the first time I had seen him enjoy this rocking cow!

Doctors Visit

Well I went in for a check up at my obgyn and came out with an Ultrasound. It's a Boy! Another boy to join the ranks. It was a wonderful experience. Michael had called it before he left- he felt very strongly that it was a boy and I have felt like it was a boy as well so I wasn't surprised, but it was nice getting the official word. Michael was able to call and I told him before I told anyone else so he got to be at least the first person who knew. I feel so blessed to be able to be a mother again and Michael is excited for another boy to join our family.

Michael talked to me both yesterday and today. The new timing for him to ship out of Fort Bragg into Afghanistan is set for the end of February. He has been out on the gun range for the past couple of days passing off his shots. I believe he is enjoying this part of it, at least the shooting a gun part- he says they are in classes for three hours before they head out to the range every day. On Sunday he was able to go to an hour long sacrament meeting and take the sacrament which was so nice. Michael thought he wouldn't have a chance to attend until he returned home.

Fun Day with Family!

Here we took a trip to Casa Ole and Gave Michael his first taste of lemons! Poor boy he really didn't like them but he refused to put them down!
Here we went to Ammon's Basketball Game. I had forgotten how much fun it is to watch games family is playing in.
Grandpa, Michael Dunn and Gavin
Michael Dunn never really enjoyed the game but He sure3 loves his Grandpa Ross!

Cold, Gun Range and more

Michael called me this evening. He is doing fine. He has a cold and is very tierd. He said that today he didn't have mandatory classes so he stayed in ned most of the day trying to get better. Tomorrow will be a fun day for him! He is going out on the gun range to practice target shooting. He loves guns so I am glad that he will be able to do something that he will enjoy. He has been in classes all week. The classes start early and usually he is in one class for about 12 hours. They are really trying to cram a lot of information into a short schedule. I think that besides being worried about the family and being away from them, Michael is having an OK time. He really is doing well, just wishes that he were home.

Sweet Day

I haven't heard from Michael in a couple of days.

Today has been a day for sweet moments. The weather was wonderful! Michael and I along with Meg, Kenneth, their kids and their nieces went on a walk and visited. Michael Dunn has been in a great mood all day. He sat and squealed and talked to himself and played with his cousins. At the end of the day I sat down to play the piano and Michael really wanted to join, so I put him into his high chair and pulled him up to the piano. We were playing along when I felt his hand grab onto mine. He pulled my hand off of the piano and started banging around and jabbering. I thought that he had wanted me so I started playing again, and again he grabbed my hand and removed it from the piano. I then realized that I was playing to loud and he wanted to hear himself play!! I was so cute to watch him enjoy himself and has been fun to watch his little personality come out more and more! Again at scripture reading this evening he just giggled and talked to me. I love my sweet boy.

Pictures of Michael Dunn

Michael Dunn lately has really enjoyed playing under the table. On Sunday I left the room and when I came back I couldn't find him I started calling for him and I heard noise coming from under the table and I found Michael Sitting there enjoying himself.
Here I never could get a good shot of what happened last night. He was in such a good mood! we were having family scripture study (He went into the crib because he usually attacks the scriptures) and started crawling around and laughing. Pulling up and talking gibberish just having so much fun!

News from Michael

Michael is in Fort Bragg. Actually he apparently has been there the whole time he was just in the other Fort Pulk (?) when they landed and he called me the first time. They are staying in tents but Michael will be able to call me a couple of times a week and the weather has warmed up there. Michael said that it was in the high 60's lo 70's during the day. He is doing good, but really missing family. Our conversation was cut short however when Michael Dunn pulled a lamp on top of himself (he broke it) and when I picked him up I discovered he had a very dirty diaper! Michael said he would call in a couple of days so I will let ya'll know more when I hear it.

Fort Bragg

Michael and his Unit are now in Fort Bragg. Apparently the conditions there are suppose to be worse then if they were actually in Afghanistan. Michael told me last night that he doughts that he will be able to communicate with me with anything besides letters and he will be living in the worst case senario (In a tent on a cot out in the woods in freezing weather) he will be there for the next two months before he leaves the country. He says that once he gets in Afghanistan that he will probably be able to call as often as he likes, they will probably sleep in trailers and have internet so they can email. He says to tell everyone "Hi"

Clayton and Michael

This was before the bottle incident

North Carolina

Michael is doing fine, We talked the past two nights and while he does miss home, he has been pretty busy. Yesterday they did a lot of his medical work. It was something like chaos because they had to get 4000 soldiers seen. He has to wake up at 4:00 and goes to bed around 10:00 in the evening. The upside is they gave him a computer, and while he doesn't have the Internet he can play games, so yesterday he called to get some codes so he can play, during his down time. He transfers from the place he is now to Fort Bragg next week.

Its been fine at the home front. The first day was hard but it has been easier each day. I am so grateful for a son to take care of and family around. I have felt the spirit and it has made this easier then I thought. Plus Bishop Sanford told me before I left to go to Utah in December that he was going to keep me busy!
I feel so blessed to have Michael Dunn, and I know when the new baby comes I will feel the same way, (though right now I am pretty nervous) He has been so fun to have around and a great way for me to focus on other things.

Michael Dunn News
He has been so observant lately. Yesterday Clayton came over and wanted to drink Michael's bottle and Michael got real possessive, grabbed his bottle then crawled to me. Clayton, who still wanted Michael's bottle started crawling over to me as well. Michael watched and watched, and right when Clayton was right underneath him, he dropped his bottle on Clayton's head. Jenny Thought it was an accident, but I am not so sure. Poor Clayton. The rest of the time they enjoyed playing together though.

Michael Dunn

One thing that I didn't realize was that Michael Dunn would notice that something had changed since his daddy left. We did his daddy videos this morning and he got really excited and tried to grab the screen. He also has been a little cranky and I think he wants his daddy. he lights up when he sees pictures of him. I think this would be a comfort to Michael. He definently misses his daddy.

We love you Michael.

The Cabinets and Piano

I'll need to post pictures of this now that I have filled it up!