At ten weeks old I am starting to enjoy this new mom thing. I am not getting any more sleep yet, but Alden has started to chirp and coo and smile every so often. It is so nice that Alden is becoming responsive. It makes a huge difference for me. I am really enjoying our little staring contests and just can’t give him enough kisses. He is such a beautiful little boy!

It is also nice to start feeling like I can recognize his needs and wants better. I am not tortured with wonder at what the problem is each time he cries. I can usually pinpoint the issue or non-issue pretty effortlessly now.

Alden is a really pleasant baby. He is very easy going so far. He does great on his tummy which has made him really strong already. We are also getting the hang of his sleeping. He is learning how to relax himself to sleep really well. Before naps we swaddle him and give him a pacifier. We have a song and sometimes a story (when Eden is helping). Then we just sit still and quiet together. Lately it doesn’t take long before Alden has decided he is ready to sleep. He turns his head into my chest and nestles himself in with his eyes closed. When I see him do that I put him in his crib and he does the rest. Phew! It is a really sweet time together too.

Mom has had some crazy big bruises (or so she thought) on her abdomen and thighs. She has been getting all sorts of tests to figure out what it is. She was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Morphia, also known as Scleraderma which is an immunodeficiency disease. She had to wait a few weeks to know the severity of her case. Poor thing was having a horrible time with it. We have all been hoping for the best since in it’s worse case it can be deforming, debilitating, and terminal.

We all got wonderful news that it is a mild case. Her skin discoloration will never go away where those large “bruises” are but other than that she should be doing pretty well.

Through the last few weeks, talking with her and a woman in my ward who is undergoing cancer treatment I have learned or been reminded that even the more horrible terrifying trials are a gift and a blessing from Heavenly Father–not a punishment or a test. It is through the hardest things that we can learn the most. It is also when we can feel the love and strength of our family, friends and especially our Father in Heaven.

Though I do not wish these difficult things on anyone, especially myself, I do envy the cherished experiences that come from them. The experiences that these women wouldn’t trade anything for.

Eden and I were having a pleasant time sitting out on the trampoline eating popsicles when I noticed a huge cricket on the net. (It was at least 3 inches long). I started to tell Eden the famous Utah story of when crickets plagued the valley and were eating all the settlers crops. They prayed for help. I then said, “Do you know what happened next?” Eden answered, “Jesus!” I laughed and told her she was right. Jesus had sent seagulls to eat up the crickets, which saved the crops. She must be learning a lot in nursery at church because I know I haven’t taught her that well!