Service

So this past weekend has been super busy for my little family and I, but I've learned a interesting lesson. Levi and I were asked to be in charge of the food at our ward Christmas party. We fed just under 500 people. I've got to tell you though that it wasn't easy, and a good eye opener. We had asked 3 wards to volunteer with our Christmas party. All of them turned us down, and now I can understand why. They all felt that the service wouldn't be returned to them and they were right. Out of 500 people, there were minimal volunteers for anything. Even the kitchen for most of the evening it was Levi and I with his parents, and three others from our ward. That was it for volunteers for 500 out of 500. We did all this well taking care of Joclyn as well.

What astonished me most was the response to our service from some of the members. We had one gentleman who was rather rude to everyone but me (I wasn't in the kitchen during this time). The first thing he did was walk up to my father in law after receiving his food and telling him that we needed more people carving roast. My father in law turned to him and said "well then grab a knife and start cutting," we had asked for volunteers to do this yet the day before I was calling the bishopric to beg them to carve. This man wasn't at all pleased with this response but my father in law didn't stay to chat he was to busy. So this man proceeds to the kitchen to demand "his" mashed potatoes because he is lactose intolerant. My hubby is trying to get roast out fast enough and my mother in law was doing gravy and feeding my daughter dinner. So she turns to him and says the potatoes are in the corner you can go look for them. He replies with well get them for me. Both my hubby and mother in law turn to him with  looks on there faces so he says well I'll just go without then and turns to leave. My mother in law looks at him and says really you could not walk two feet lift up the blanket and get yourself some potatoes! He didn't reply back just took his potatoes and left. On his way out my hubby proceeded to give him a name I will not repeat. Meanwhile I was trying to get dessert out. We had gotten enough out (with difficulty!) for the masses and I was proceeding to refill the tables, when one gentleman comes up to me and says why aren't you going any faster! I was doing this alone. So I turned to him and said "I'm doing this alone, if you want it any faster pick some up and get to work!" So to my surprise he did. Not for long he did maybe 10 plates and then picked up two plates and started to walk away. Just before he left he looked at my with this rude grin on his face so I called him a jerk. The Guidi family was on a role that night. Apparently we don't want to make to many friends in our ward.

When I got time to get back in the kitchen Levi was ready to tear someone's head off. We had only had one person come in and ask if we needed help and she was doing dishes. So I went into the gym and found our relief society president. I told her that we hadn't eaten and needed a break. So she found help and proceeded to kick my family out of the kitchen. So we ate, finally. I think the worst part of the whole ordeal was the fact that I had to go ask for help from our ward. I thought that we are taught as members to serve one another. I now understand why the other wards didn't feel like their service would be returned. Our ward won't serve one another why would they serve other wards. I'm not saying everyone in the ward is that way, but to the looks of it a lot of the ward feels they are above serving others. It was very hurtful to find out that we've been taught all our lives to be charitable and to find ways to give service. Even the prophet talked of this last night at the devotional. Yet there are members who feel they don't need to.

I'm grateful to all those who helped and to those who made and brought food. They did what we asked them to do and what we needed. I will forever be grateful for those who helped. As my hubby put it though we will never volunteer our services to those who do not appreciate or care for the services rendered to them. At least we won't be making our ward Christmas diner ever again.

Ten and a half months

So I've been a mom for ten and a half months and I've got to tell you that it's been amazing. There are ups and downs to everything but being a mom is awesome. I do have my down moments with her and there are many things that can frustrate me and tear me down, I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

We have been keeping busy with activities. September was busy for us because we celebrate 3 birthdays. Levi's was spent with his family. Mine was different completely. Levi took Joclyn and I too the calgary tower to eat. I've always wanted to do that! While we ate we got to turn and see all of Calgary. It was cool to be up there and to be able to see the temple from so far away. It was so tiny but we could still find it. The food was great and so was the company. Elia and Jenny joined us for diner!!!





 Our life will never be the same, Joclyn started crawling a couple months ago. I swear my house will never be clean again! She is into absolutely everything! DVD's, toys, the other day she discovered what a drawer is, toilet paper among other things. She follows us around everywhere we go, sometimes it feels like we got a puppy. Once she got the crawling down in a matter of weeks she was pulling herself up to a standing position via the couch. Now she is walking along the couch and pulling herself up everywhere.

The craziest and scary thing that she has started randomly, is stairs. We were at my mothers and didn't think about blocking the stairs. Next thing we know we couldn't hear her or see her. We naturally went looking for her and he had already climbed three steps all by herself! I was afraid she was going to fall but at the same time I was so proud that she had figured it out. Now everywhere we go that has stairs I have to extra vigilant in watching her because thats where she heads first.

October was filled with the temple open house. Every time we went through the temple with Joclyn was a fun neat experience. Joclyn in the celestial room was interesting. Every time we went in there we were suppose to be quiet and that would be the only time through the whole tour that she would start talking. I don't know to who but she did. It was really cool to watch her!

As Christmas is just around the corner, I'm looking forward to it in a whole new light. Last year we had hopped for Joclyn before Christmas, that didn't happen. So this year with Joclyn will be fun and extremely different to previous years.

Our lives have changed completely since the day she was born, and we are loving every moment with her!!!

 

My little moments!

As I was sitting on the floor in the bathroom watching my daughter play in the bath, she looked up at me and gave me her cutest smile. And so I started thinking about all the cute things she does in my day that makes me so grateful to be a mom. Being a parent isn't easy (and I'm just starting!) it has its ups and its downs. But when those little moments pop up through out the day, it reminds me of the reason why I wanted to be a mother in the first place!!

• I love my daughter with all my heart, and as she gets bigger and as she is learning more she gets even cuter. I love getting up in the morning to go get here as she's been playing in her bed for 10 min, opening the door to her room and when she finally sees me she gives me a smile and is begging me to pick her up. 
• Or as I feed her a breakfast of pears and cheerios, and she is so impatient to eat her food that she starts getting mad at me for not feeding her fast enough.
•  Or the look on her face as I sit her on the floor and bring out her big basket full of toys that she knows she can dig through, make a mess to find her favourite toys at the bottom 
• When I sing to her or if a fun song is playing and i take her and start dancing with her around the house.
• The look of pure joy on her face when her daddy gets home from work, he always gets the biggest smiles from her.
• When she is sitting in the bath playing with her toys and splashing around in the water, she is so happy with life and with water.

Then there are the starting of new things and the discovery of how things work. It started when she first rolled over, she was so proud of herself then. And she waited for daddy to be home to do it!! Then when she was taught to give high fives while camping, after a while she would only do it with great encouragement. She went from that to sitting on her own and the next thing I know she sitting there clapping her hands. I had to take a video for her daddy so he could see. I was so excited!! She loves doing it cause of the sound!! Now as she is starting to "try" and crawl I wonder whats going to happen next, it'll be crazy and messy and wild but so worth it. I love watching her grow up and I love the little moments of smiling and snuggling that make being a mom the best job in the world!!!

Temple

So Levi and I got to go to the temple on the 1st of September!!! It had been way to long since the last time we had gone. It was a nice treat, we have both missed going. We planned to go weeks before and as the time got closer and closer it was all I could think about and talk about with Levi.

We went down the night before and stayed at the motel with the pool. We got Joclyn a little boat to swim in, but she was to tired to do much but let us push her around the pool.

The next morning we got up and ready, while Joclyn still slept. She woke up about twenty to eight so I fed her and we left. We made it to the eight thirty session just in time to! 

As I went through the session I had so many questions, but the lord worked in mysterious ways. He calmed my mind answered my prayers and I left with a peace of mind that I hadn't had in a long time I didn't want to leave. I'm so grateful to parents and family for helping us get there and taking car of our baby at the same time. It was wonderful to go down and be able to be taught by the Lord, and to be reassured that everything is all right. 

I can't wait for the Temple in Calgary to be done. We live a ten minute walk away, and I know there are many who will come babysit for us so that we can go more often then not. I feel so blessed to have a temple so close and that I will be able to go more often. It is hard to get away with a little one, but when we were there I wasn't worried at all about Joclyn. I know when we are doing the right thing the Lord will take car of her and those who are watching her. 

Thanks Mom and Dad Guidi and Leia and Cory!!!

I wanted a picture of us at the temple in Cardston but Joclyn had her nap so this is of us in Hawaii

Food Fun

When Joclyn was getting old enough to eat food, Levi and I started to look into what it would cost to buy her food or make. Both options come with pros and cons. In the end we decided to make her food instead of buying it. Since Joclyn started eating we have made all her food with the exception of once while traveling. I love making her food for a couple of reasons!!

1. It's cheaper then buying it. When we bought it it cost us 87 cents per jar. I bought 4 sweet potatoes for five dollars. I can get 2 meals approximately out of a jar of food. out of 4 sweet potatoes I can probably get twenty to twenty-five meals with it. For that many meals it cost me 25 cents. So much cheaper then buying it!!

2. I know what's going in her mouth!! When we bought the food, I looked closely to what the ingredients were. What I read second the reason to make my own food. It listed the ingredients which was fine, but I don't know how it was processed and who touched it, and how they preserved it in the jars for so long!!

The cons are the amount of time it takes to make it. It's not a lot of time, and really quite easy. The longest part of the process is the steaming or boiling to soften. As she gets bigger less time is needed to soften because she can eat chunkier food. I can also add my own spices to her food, lots of websites say no spices but she loves the added flavour!

At the end of the day when I've finished making her food, I feel so good. Like I've accomplished something in my day. When she eats it and the look on her face when it taste good. Thats why I do it, the look of pure joy on her face makes the time I took to make it all worth it. Making things for Joclyn and my family is so rewarding, all the effort and time put into it is totally worth it!!!

3 Years

 So for our three year anniversary we went camping again. This time we took Adam and Nicole. Well and Joclyn of coarse. We went on friday the 13th and came home on the sunday.

Camping with a 6 month old has its challenges. There is meals to pack, and clothes, sleeping arrangements. I felt like I was a pack mule. But we had lots of fun.

We tried not to do to much and just relax, but its hard with Joclyn. We finally got her to bed after we set up the tent. It took a while. I think she was unsure about the no walls concept.

She didn't let us sleep in, so at 6 in the morning we were trying to find ways to not only keep her warm but entertained so that she wouldn't wake up anyone else. As soon as Adam heard her he was up and about the camp. So we left our warm sleeping bags and started breakfast. We decided to do crapes. It was harder to make them but Levi and they were super good.

After clean up and then feeding Joclyn breakfast we decided to go hiking.nI was a little worried about that with Joclyn and how that would work. We took her carrier as well the wrap I made for naps when we are out.

So we headed out to our hike, Levi and I had done this hike before. We new it was easy and that is why we chose it. We did this hike for our first year anniversary. So Levi took her to start in the carrier.


She did really well, didn't really make a peep at all. We discovered that she loves being outside, there are so many things that she could look at and touch.

 We stopped for a short break to take some pictures. We put Joclyn down to play and took some pictures of her playing. We then noticed she was sleepy so out came the wrap. We were about half way through the hike. I took her for her nap so Levi could have a break. She fell asleep in two seconds and stayed asleep till we were almost back to the car.

We went back to camp and relaxed. I decided to get in the lake and cool off. After the hike and carrying Joclyn I was sweating so much. It felt really good to get in the cool water. I took my time but it felt so good in the end. Then Nicole french braided my hair. I love my hair french braided.

 We didn't do much that night, just hung out and ate smokes!!!!

The next morning we got up, and Joclyn actually slept in! We noticed it was going to start raining so we quickly ate breakfast and started packing up. We had just got the tents packed up when it started pouring rain outside. The only thing left was the tarp. The boys made quick work of it and we were gone.

It was a great weekend and we had so much fun!! Thanks Adam and Nicole for coming and being so helpful and giving us some company!!!!!

Swimming Adventures

So on July 6th I joined Shani and her boys at Riley Park. I wasn't to sure how Joclyn would take to the water but it didn't seem to bother her at all!! She sat in the water and kept trying to get the leaves and things that were floating in front of her. Our trip was cut short though by the rain. One moment it was sunny the next a downpour. Thanks to mom I was saved from getting to wet!!!

 The next trip was on July 9th for Bretton's 12th birthday. He wanted to go swimming so thats what we did. Joclyn liked to just as much as Riley. I defiantly have a little swimmer on my hands. I have a feeling I'll be doing this a lot!!

10 Years

Bretton with Mme. Doyle (Mme. Waddel)

 On June 27 my youngest brother Bretton graduated from Elementary. He went to Mayland Heights which is the same school I went to. It's weird walking through those doors after ten years. How much things have changed since I went there.

I can't believe it's been ten years. How my life has changed since then. It makes me feel old when I watched him cross that stage and shake hands with the same teacher who taught me in grade 6.

His grad has brought on so many memories of the last ten years. I never thought when I was 11 that I would be married to the love of my life and have a beautiful little girl. I'm so grateful for the last ten years. For all the trials I've gone through and all the blessings I've received.

All done crossing the stage!!!

Summer Fun

So Joclyn will be 6 months on saturday which is insane, she is getting so big!! So I decided to put up some photos of the things we've been doing since our Hawaii trip in April. These last 6 months have been a big learning experience watching our daughter learn and grow! We moved into a new place up by the temple the day we got home from vacation, I don't ever want to do that again. Next time I'll take the vacation after the move!!

When Joclyn was about 4 months old she started to show interest in food. So on a saturday when Levi was home we decided to try feeding her some banana. She loved it and was asking for more. I decided to make my own baby food instead of buying it. Less stuff in it that she doesn't need.  We have now started her on some avocado as well as banana, she still prefers the banana over the avocado. Its been fun feeding her food she loves it!!

 We've also done some celebrating with the Family, and now that the weather is warmer we've been outside more. We've gone on walks and went on a picnic. Levi and I have also taken her to the park and the Zoo.

She sure has a fun personality, she loves her dad. When he comes home from work it's like a lightbulb turns on. She can be super fuzzy all day and he will get home and she'll get all bubbly and talkative. She started rolling around and it takes her no time to move from where I've left her to somewhere she deems is much more fun. She also loves to sit up and watch people and help us cook!!!

Enjoy the rest of the pictures!

Joclyn's first time in a swing

She thought that her shadow was cool

At the Zoo with the Penguins

Looking at the fish

Eating a box

We went shopping and to entertain we stuck her in an empty box, which she then proceeded to chew on!!

Hawaii

Joclyn asleep on the food tray on the plane!

When Joclyn was only 3 months my Dad and His wife Kim took Levi and I , and my younger brothers (other than Cam) to Hawaii. We went to the Big Island and stayed on the Kona side. It was my first time in Hawaii and Levi's second. Joclyn did great on the plane, when she wasn't sleeping she was being entertained by her grandparents or her crazy uncles. She didn't fuss to much but we got into Kona rather late and she decided to be up early so we didn't get much sleep!

The next day we spent shopping for food and trying to get to know the area. We found the temple in Kona from the highway, but it took us forever to get to it. It's hidden in the communityand hard to get to too. It was Joclyn's reaction to the temple that was the best part of going. It didn't matter that it was closed when she looked at the temple you knew that she knew how special it was. She was super smily the whole time we were there walking around the grounds.
 

Guidi Family at Temple in Kona

Joclyn's first time in the ocean

We spent a lot of time traveling around the Island. We saw many different things around the Island during our week stay. We went to many different beaches, saw lots of turtles and fish. We even went to the active volcano.

Joclyn was never to sure about the water. She didn't mind putting her feet in the water but the rolling of he ocean she didn't like at all. She even got a beautiful tan line right were her diaper sits.

Our Family at a cool waterfall

Joclyn in the ocean and not to sure about it

Update!!

Day Joclyn was Born

So it's been just over a year since I've blogged and it's been a crazy year! Around this time last year Levi and I were processing the fact that we were expecting our first child. We were so excited and I'm not going to lie but a little nervous. I wasn't super sick during the pregnancy but there were days I felt horrible. I stopped working the end of november and I spent my time nesting and packing. (The house we lived in was up for sale, thats a whole other story.)

  

Our birth story is short but intense, we were (according to our due date,) a week and a half over due. So we went in to be induced on the 31st of December. We got the call at about 10:30 in the morning and went to the hospital where they admitted us and we went up to labour and delivery. When they checked to see how dilated I was, I was only 2 cm dilated so they couldn't do much so they stuck a water balloon up there to help me dilate faster and sent us down to anti partum. We spent 5 hours down there walking around waiting for the balloon to finally fall out. When it did they sent us back up to labour and delivery. Checked me I was 3-4 cm so they decided that instead of starting drugs that would break my water and see what would happen from there. In 20 min I went from sporadic contractions to them being every 3 to 3 1/2 min. Full on labour! We had decided to try to an all natural birth, so no drugs unless absolutely needed. So we walked around  a bit to help till I wanted to get in the shower. We were in the shower for 45 min before we got out, the nurse wasn't getting a good read on baby's heart beat so they wanted me in bed to do some more monitoring. Still couldn't get a good read. The doctor came in at that point and decided to check me as well as put a heart monitor on the baby's head to get a better read. I was 5 cm but her heart rate was dropping. NICU was called in and before we new it I was being wheeled to surgery for a c-section. They had to knock me out completely because I didn't have an epidural and they needed to get her out ASAP. Levi went through most of the drama, he wasn't aloud in because I wasn't awake so he was behind a curtain with no idea what was going on. He was worried about me and the baby. But she came out healthy and screaming (according to Levi). When I came to he was holding our daughter and smiling at me. Joclyn Jassie Guidi was born on December 31st at 10:10 pm, healthy and happy!!

Joclyn was 6 pounds 6 ounces when she was born and 21 inches long. We fell in love with her right away and she has brought so much joy to our lives. She is now 4 months old and weighs 13 pound 6 ounces. We've been busy with her and our lives have been completely different. In a good way. I love being a mother and I think my daughter is amazing and beautiful!!!


Enjoy the rest of the pictures, more stories to come!!!

Joclyn at 2 months

First Family Photo by Megan Stoneman

Daddy and Joclyn

Joclyn in her Blessing Dress