Sammy, Dada and Bumpa

Look at these cute 3 guys!
Sammy was quite excited to get a special visit. He's a pretty happy kid.

Fall is here...

(and just as soon as he closed the door it started snowing.... Utah weather...)

Snowbird 2010

Love You Forever Karla

"Why do we fall sir? So we might learn to pick ourselves up." -Alfred Pennyworth


The blog has been down, as you can see, because I have been down. I fell hard but I am learning to pick myself back up. It's what she would want. She knows how much I love her and I find peace in the fact that I feel a part of her in some small moments in everyday.

Karla Ewell

3/18/1935 ~ 8/14/2010

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Karla Ewell, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 14, 2010. Born March 18, 1935, Levan, Utah to Robert and Anola Williams Stephensen. Married Monte Ewell on October 1, 1955. Later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.

Karla loved reading, sewing and enjoying the flowers in her yard and going on vacations. She had an amazing memory and could quote readings from her youth. She was a wonderful mother of three beautiful daughters and loved her grandchildren.

Survived by husband, Julie (Kim) Walkowski, Jan (Peter) Rhone, Kathy (James) Weiss; 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sister, Donna (Dave) Johnson. Preceded in death by grandson, Nicholas.

One Month Old

Sammy is one month old today.

He'll never know how happy he makes me.


3rd generation magician. He has a grandpa and great
grandpa that are magicians. His middle name is after his
his grandpa, the magician, Kim.





Perfection.




Pictures by my talented cousin Nicholette Dawn Photography Thanks Nichole! Love you!

Birthday Boy!

Well, the day has finally arrived! Our baby boy is here!

Samuel Kim Tingey

was born this morning at 6:01 AM

It was a close one, he almost hit our anniversary yesterday, but he wasn't quite ready just yet.

He is 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 inches long.

We decided at the last minute against Gaylord Winkleman. Samuel is a little more traditional and Kim really is a family name, he's Sam's grandfather.

Here's some snapshots of our little man.

-Matthew

"Ugh! This is too early in the morning for me!"

"Hi Daddy! Nice to meet you."

"What did they just put in my eyes? Yuck!"

"Yawn! Being born is hard work, I could use a nap..."

"What better place to take a nap than in Mama's arms?"

"Zzzzzzz..."

He has a name....

finally.... we've chosen the name:

Gaylord Winkleman Tingey

isn't it a perfect name? Thanks for your votes in helping us decide. 'Winkleman' is a family name, granted not our family name, we saw it in someone's family tree and thought it rocked. We thought about naming him Gaylord Ulysses Tingey but then realized his initals would be G.U.T.

and he'd get made fun of. =( That's the last thing we would want.

Taking after his Daddy already...

Since I've had 12 million ultrasounds I thought I would include a cartoon of one of the experiences we had:


He definately takes after his daddy! In fact, it really just means that he is offically a Tingey. They all watch massive quantities of television. I try to limit Andy already but his Tingey side comes out in him and he likes to watch himself some Yo Gabba Gabba! I can't really speak much though because I do have a few shows that I really have to see during the week. If I can wrench the remote away from my boys. ;) Now I'll have 3 boys trying to be in charge of the remote! Maybe we just need to get 3 television sets... or start a garden, or go to the park (probably a healthier choice.)

Matthew

This is my husband at work. Ok, techincally he works with collections now and doesn't do very many approvals for loans, he only has to approve the difficult loans, but this is the face he gets when he has to do that. Love you, Matthew. ;)

Still going strong.... TAWANDA!!!

Have you ever seen fried green tomatoes? I love the part where Kathy Bates gets empowered and proclaims "TAWANDA!!!"

Well, here I am 36 weeks pregnant today. I told myself that if I could get this baby to at least 35 1/2 weeks gestation (that's how long Andy made it) then I would consider this pregnancy a success. Guess what? My body is still hanging in there. My blood pressure was 110/72 today. Absolutely no signs of preeclampsia. However, my poor little uterus is carrying 3 times the amount of amniotic fluid that it should have to carry. It's like being at full term pregnancy for over a month!!! However, my body is still being a trooper and hasn't decided to go into preterm labor (yet) despite the terrible large burden.

So, I'm feeling quite proud of the success and have to say "TAWANDA!!!!!"

Can't wait to meet you little boy... my ribs will be delighted to collapse back into place and my internal organs will slip back to their rightful positions. I still want you to take your time getting here though. Don't rush into this world the way your older brother did.

Here's a picture of my poor little belly. Kind of gross, I know. Can you say B-I-G!!!???

My Little Bookworm

Ever since Andy was just a tiny baby (about 9-12 months) he has been captivated by books. He could look at a book for 20 minutes it seemed. While I was pregnant with him I tried to buy as many as I could get my hands on by going to the D.I. and garage sales. He has over a hundred books. Of course he has a few that are his favorites that we read over and over and over.


"Who is Coming to Our House?" This is a book about all the little animals in the manager waiting for baby Jesus to arrive. Andy likes to name all the animals and tell us what kind of sounds they make. His favorite is the owl. He can sit and hoot looking at that page for 5 minutes.

This book is called "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" but when Andy reads it to us he says "Chia BOOM BOOM!!!" While he's reading it to us he says "X coming, O coming!" because all the letters are going to meet at the top of the coconut tree, so they're all coming. At the end of the book there's too many letters in the coconut tree and they all fall down and Andy squeals "Chia BOOM BOOM!" He's really good at picking out about 12 letters. At the end of the book it shows all the letters and you can ask him where x, o, y, a, e etc. are.

"Ohhhh! This book is getting good!"

Peek a boo my little snuggle puppy!

His favorite part is at the end of this book because Mommy gives you a tickle. He knows it's coming the whole time too because he hides his face while I'm reading that page.

Lately, Andy has been climbing up onto "his" chair (he hates it when anyone else sits on the recliner) and reading himself stories out loud. He does it all by himself, we don't even have to be in the room. He grabs a couple of books and just reads away. For "Goodnight Moon" you can hear his little voice saying "Night moon... Night brush... Night socks... Night hush....." When he gets to the last page he proclaims "all done!" and gets started on the next book he has in the pile next to him.

I'm glad he turned out to be such a bookworm. His daddy is too (although he reads the same few books over and over like Andy.) I've been reading a lot more because of my pregnancy. I've been trying to take it easy lately. So, the Tingey household has been consuming a lot of books lately. It helps Andy with his language and it's actually something he wants to do, I'm so happy for that!

Eviction Notice

I once read this on one of my friends blogs. I really liked it. It would be a whole lot funnier if I weren't such a high risk pregnancy right now (it's a little too accurate) but I have to keep things light hearted right now.


EVICTION NOTICE
Date: May 29, 2010
To: Baby Tingey


To the above tenant in possession of below described premises: I am issuing 30 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 30 days in which you can either gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, you will be physically removed from the property.

You are being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 30 days from this day that you don't comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Love, Mommy

Never Ending Fears

Sometimes I think the fear will end. The all consuming worry I have as a mother will finally vanish and I will have true peace in the health and happiness of my children. I dream I will be fully satsified with the knowledge that everything is right for my children, their health, their happiness, their well being. And then life gives you a blow of reality. But what do you do? Become bitter or better? Trials strengthen us. Trials are tiring none the less. Sometimes I just want them to stop. I found a good quote from Paul Cardall's website that is summing up the good that I can take away from what I am feeling. What am I learning from my heartache as a mother? What can I take from this? What is God trying to tell me?

"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.”

-Winston Churchill

I'm jealous of a rock...

Yesterday, Andy and I were up at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon. He was excited about all the snow and trees and rocks. He LOVES swimming up there. I'll get pictures up later. Anyway, on the way home I asked Andy for a kiss and he said;

"Andy's NOT kissing Mamas! Andy's kissing rocks! MUAH!"

And then he proceeded to pass out several kisses to rocks. I sure felt special. I've been outloved by a rock. Funny little guy. Or as Andy would say "fuddy" little guy.

To see how much I love him read the below post. The feeling has not been reciprocated lately but there are a lot of happy rocks out there.

Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. ~Erich Fromm

First moment I met my baby boy.

I wrote this letter to Andy 9 months ago. I never intended to put it on the blog, just to give it to him personally when he's grown up. However, I decided for Mother's Day I would post it since it is a reflection of my experience as a mother. It is pretty personal but I plan to get my blog printed into a book for our family so it has to be included. Happy Mother's Day to all!

My Dear Andrew,

Only God knows how much I love you, because I thank him every day for you. I don’t expect you to ever understand how much you mean to me. I suppose one day you may have children of your own and have a better understanding, but it’s not important that you completely understand it, just that you know it; I love you from the core of my heart.

There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for you to keep you safe from harm or to make sure you have a good life. Everything I do now is for you. Yet, in some way all the thanks should be given to you, Andrew. You have brought me blessings beyond counting. You have made my life so rich, so real, so sorrowful, so joyful, so alive.

I have trouble just finding the words to write this letter to you. The love I have for you is hard to define, the way I see you, the person that you are, it’s not something easy to define. I’ve never known a feeling closer to heaven than when I first held you after you were born. I felt myself floating up off of Earth and then quickly coming back down because I wanted to be down here to be your mother.

I need to share something with you my sweet Andrew. Life has it’s trials. We’ve seen a small preview of what life has in store for you. It fills my heart to the breaking point with sorrow. Son, I am so sorry this is something you must endure. I would take it for you in a heartbeat if I had that option. I hope you know that. God sees something very special in you. You are someone very special to him. He knows that you have enough strength to get through this. He chose you to be a heart warrior, to battle this all of your mortal life. He chose this for you not because he wants to see you hurt but because he loves you and he knows that ironically, you will receive immense blessings from this trial in your life. Please never forget that if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.

With the sorrow of our mortal life comes the joy. You are my own personal definition of joy. You are the very personification of joy. You are very dear to me, Andrew. After having you, your father and I realized quickly that we couldn’t fathom an existence without you and you prompted us to be sealed in the temple. There would be no eternity for me without you in it. I need to tell you that even with all the sorrow I’ve experienced with your trials I know with my entire soul that the joy outweighs everything; Life is so worth it. Never give up. Never give up. Nothing can bring about a more brilliant rainbow than a rainstorm. I’ve known from the moment I set eyes on you that every moment of my life is a gift from God, even the hard moments. Every moment I have to spend with you as your mother makes everything else worth it. You will experience this satisfaction too, I believe. God wants to see you experience the joy in life and so do I, your smile is the most beautiful thing in the world to me.

I love you Andrew. I always have, from the moment I realized you were growing inside of me, and I always will, until the moment I take my last breath and even then I have eternity to love you. I will always be here for you. Please come to me when you are happy, sad, heartbroken or scared. Please let me be there for you and help you in any way I know how. Even in times when you chose to not to come to me for help, please know that I love you so deeply and would go to the ends of the earth for you. You are my baby and even when you are an old man you will be my baby. You are my everything and I love you. You are the sunshine in my life. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you to give you the best in life. I love you son, to the moon and back.

Forever yours,

Mom

TWO!!!! 2 years, 22 days, 2 months

Andy using his pointer fingers to show you "two"

Andy is two and will tell anyone patient enough to listen 22 times a day.

Andy likes to point things out in two's. "Mama! TWO buses! Mama, TWO ears!!!"

"Mama! TWO shoes!! I see TWO trucks. TWO doggies!!! Mama, TWO eyes!"

When he watches Toy Story 2 he loves to squeal with excitement as the 2 appears

in the title. He LOVES the number 2! He can identify the actual number and whenever

he sees it at a store he gets hysterically excited. So in honor of little Andy I would like

to celebrate today because

Andy is TWO years, TWO months, and twenty TWO days old!!!

As Andy would scream in excitement "TWO!!!!!!!"

10 Years And We're Just Getting Started

I love Matthew, absolutely love him. If you don't want to read a long, gushing post about how much I love him then stop here. However, I will try not to make it too cheesy or vomit inducing.

But here's your fair warning; I love him a lot.

10 years ago this month, I met the man I would marry, unknowing of this fact. I was only 16 so marrying him was the last thing on my mind. In fact, I tried to hide from him the first time we met. We "met" online at ldsfriends.com and after becoming "online friends" decided to meet each other. Except at the last moment I got nervous and ran over to my neighbor's house so he wouldn't find me. My mom told him where I was not knowing I was deliberately not home. Anyway, I will never forget my initial reaction to him as I opened my neighbor's door; "What a nerd!" And about 3 minutes later realizing he was one of the best guys I'd ever met. The rest is history... 5 years of dating, 5 years of marriage 1 and half sons later... the guy still shows up at my doorstep every day. And I love it.

Our First Date at Sugarhouse Park April 4, 2000

There are many things I love about him;

I'm thankful that he is still plowing through school. In 2 weeks he will have his associates. He started off with a Scholarship at UVU (he was a sterling scholar in computers) and then life brought him up to Salt Lake to marry me, work full time, raise a son AND keep going to school at SLCC. He's finally finished and boy, did that boy earn his degree! Now off to the "U"...

I love his ambition. Frankly, he's a "workaholic" (sorry, honey... but you are...) and that has only served our family tremendously. He started as the "window teller" making 7 some odd dollars an hour and clawed his way up the food chain. He works hard and is meticulously efficient. His boss is always giving him random bonuses as a thank you and now he is the Collections Manager of all the branches of American United Family of Credit Unions, and let's just say he's making more than his starting position of "window teller." Our First Prom Together, 2000Matthew has a very stubborn way of doing things in a "all or none" fashion. Sometimes this is not always the best trait (for example if he doesn't think he has the energy to clean the whole house then he doesn't even want to do the laundry.) However, in many ways this trait serves him well. We were in a rut of not being active in church and not even really preparing ourselves well to raise our family in a spiritual home. When we held all 4 pounds of our first born though, everything changed. Andrew was a 4 pound missionary sent from Heaven to help us get our act together. On our son's first birthday we were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Matthew started paying tithing for our family and is faithful with it every week. Like he does with everything else, he takes our religion very seriously and puts his whole heart into it. He was made Elder's Quorum 1st Counselor and has worked very hard in that calling.

He is extremely savvy with finances. I whole-heatedly trust him with our finances. In fact, he pays all the bills and completely takes care of the organization of that in our family. He's cautious and does not frivolously waste our money. I'm thankful he has the wisdom to keep us from going too far in debt or taking on financial responsibilities we can't handle. He was also smart enough to get AFLAC which has helped tremendously with medical bills in our family.

(Look at the rock on my finger. Yes, he purposed while I was still in high school. We were young but smitten with each other.)

Matthew is the ying to my yang. The cookie to my milk. While he is rational, practical and analytical, I am emotional, impulsive and free-spirited. We balance each other on most things and even occasionally have fun in the process.

Our Honeymoon in San Diego. We were headed for a nudist beach called Black Sands. While we were there we kept our clothes on be enjoyed watching all the dolphins. At Sea World on our Honeymoon.
June 26, 2004. Our Wedding. Nearly six years to the day we are expecting our second son.We were fortunate enough to have our wedding at my Grandparent's cabin in Lambs Canyon. There is no more beautiful place in the world to me. It was the perfect place for us. Thank you Muffy and Pops!

I know that in this blog I mostly gush on and on about Andrew and it may appear that he is all that matters to me in life. I know that one day he will grow up and move out and create his own life. I want to have all the memories of raising him to be able to keep forever. However, Matthew is my rock. I know I will always have him standing by my side. He truly is my strength and stability in life. The thing I treasure the most about Matthew is the reservoir of strength that he processes and taps into to carry us through life. It's not easy at all to work half a day, spend 6 hours at Primary Children's and then go to school (an actual day for him once) but if something needs to be done he does it. When I am beaten down with struggles or too worried or upset and emotional, Matthew is the support I need to keep going. He may come across as indifferent at times to me but then I usually realize that he has a quiet, subtle strength that propels both of us through the situation. I know he has a lot of stress in his life and it makes him grumpy or frustrated, but not matter how stressful things get, he never gives up on his responsibilities. He is our stability and I know that Andrew was blessed to have a father that gives his all to provide him a good life. He is an amazing Dad and would give anything for Andrew, as well as myself. I know he loves us with his whole heart.

I'm thankful for the 10 years I've had with him. I look forward to growing older with him. I'm glad we have each other to hold hands while we travel this mortal life together.