These Three...

...are the most rewarding thing I've ever done. Because of them, I have my highest highs and lowest lows (mostly because of Mommy Guilt). Because of them, I am stretched to my limit... and beyond. Because of them, I know what it's like to have my heart in at least four places at once. Because of them, I know what it's like to see the Hand of God in my life.

I am so, so, so very blessed.

And tired. :)

Just a few pics from today... Baby Sophie is a month old! The time flies waaaay too quickly.

Congrats, Dr. Murd!

Last night we attended Adam's Residency Graduation Ceremony. It's amazing to think that, after almost nine years of hard work, this day has finally arrived!
It's a little anti-climatic, since he still has about three months left before he is actually finished (because of Hurricane Katrina and switching programs, he has a few months to "make up"). But it was poignant nonetheless :)
They had a nice dinner and a program, which of course included handing out certificates and also had a cute slideshow, which was made by one of his fellow residents. It was light-hearted and funny. They were asked to submit photos and he put it to music. Adam chose "Chariots of Fire" for his theme song, thinking it would be really funny. I don't know if people thought he was trying to be funny or not, doctors aren't really known for their sense of humor. (haha) My favorite image from the slideshow:

(Have you seen "Zoolander?" This is Blue Steel.... haha)


Oh, how I love my husband. He works so hard for our family, yet finds time to strengthen his relationships with each member of our little family. He is a good husband and a great father. We're lucky to have him.

Well, here are a few images from the evening.

Congrats, Dr. Murd!! We love you and we're proud of you!!!!

Accepting his certificate:

Aidan ran up on stage and provided an "Awww...." moment for the crowd:

This is "Auntie Dana," the residency coordinator. She is a doll. She always sends gifts for the kids on their birthdays and treats them as family. We love her!!



And, a family picture to round it out:

(obviously, once I get the clearance from my Dr, Jillian Michaels and I will have an overdue date. The Shred, here I come!!)

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My dress. It was so cute! I was struggling with finding something to wear that fit. I am sooooo over my maternity clothes, yet am still a size above my regular size. It's frustrating that c-sections make it so you have to wait at least 6 weeks before you can start exercising or doing anything that involves strain on your abdomen. And I wanted to be extra cautious this time around, since our doctor told us that I had a "large uterine window" when he did the c-section, which is to say that my uterus had been stretched so thin that they could literally see through the muscle. If I'd tried a VBAC, I likely would have had a Uterine Rupture. Scary!! So, since we are lightly considering a 4th baby, we need to be sure that my uterus can heal properly. So I'm being extra cautious and doing very little.

OK, that was a long excuse for "Why I Am Still So Fat."

Anyway, the dress. I'd ordered a skirt online to wear to the graduation, but when it came and I tried it on, it was more of a MiniSkirt than a MommySkirt. So, it was a no-go. An hour before we were supposed to leave for the graduation, I flew into Target and pulled a dress off the rack in the size I guessed I needed. I didn't even try it on!! I ran home, fed the baby, and threw on the dress. It fit perfectly! And was adorable, if I do say so myself. But. BUT! As we drove to the Events Center and I warmed up, so did the dress. And the most terrible smell began to come up from the dress. FROM THE DRESS! It was B.O. and smoke. Are you kidding me?!?! On the night of my husband's graduation! Luckily for me, two things were working in my favor : I carry a bottle of perfume in my car. So I drowned myself in that. And, over half of the attendees to the graduation were of foreign descent. I won't go into detail about that, but let's just say that I doubt my B.O. dress was too far out of the ordinary. (I promise I am not racist, however, I am truthist)

It was a great night, even though Sophie screamed the entire time (wish I was joking) and I didn't get to eat. Or sit. But it was so nice to celebrate all of Adam's hard work. :)

Have I mentioned yet how much I love my doctor?
I talked before about having to switch doctors in the middle of my pregnancy, which was a little difficult. Especially because I was head-over-heels about my first doctor, who had delivered Nathan. He had a very calm, laid-back demeanor that instantly put you at ease. He was soft-spoken and sweet and calming.
My "new" doctor became my doctor at the suggestion of my husband. Adam had worked with Dr. Brodsky and found him to be an extremely good OB/GYN. And he is. Extremely good. But, totally polar opposite from my first doctor. Brodsky is intense, kinda in-your-face (but in a positive way). He incites confidence because he is confident. You can tell he knows his stuff, and that he knows that he knows his stuff. That puts you at ease. And he's genuine. Plus, he used the word "perfect" a lot to describe various things about me and my pregnancy, so I choose to think he's honest too ;)
So anyway, here is a picture of (unhappy) Sophie with the man who made sure she made it here safely.
Also, he's the man that said to us, "If you kids are crazy enough to try for a fourth, I think you'd be okay to have another."
Just as long as Brodsky is the doctor!!
*photo credit goes to Aidan. Thumbs up, Dr B!

When they handed Sophie to me in the hospital, I couldn't get over how much she looked like Aidan when he was teeny tiny. Now that I see them side-by-side, I can see the differences ... but I still think they are very similar. (Must be those pinchable cheeks, haha) They both started a bit chunky (the doctor exclaimed, "Woah! Chunky Monkey!" in his Irish accent when Aidan was born) and then thinned out, then chunked up again.

And actually, as she's grown, I think she is a good mix of her brothers. She makes certain faces that remind me of Aidan, and others that are distinctly like Nate. I have to admit that I love that this little brood looks like they belong together.

She's Home!

Meet our newest member of the family...
Sophia Elisabeth Murdock

Born May 18, 2010 at 12:29 p.m.
8 lb 7oz, 21 inches

We're all in love with this little piece of heaven! She's a sweet little baby and everything is going well. All our enlisted "help" has gone home, so I'm trying to figure out how to be a successful mom of three :) We're all doing great though.

I've got many more images to share with you ... soon.

The Home Stretch

I realize I haven't talked too much about this pregnancy on the ol' blog.

Maybe some of you are wondering if I'm really pregnant. (That would be the group of ya that don't see me regularly. I doubt there's any denying this baby if you see me...)

Well, I am. Really pregnant. And very pregnant. And still pregnant. Which is the way it should be, since I'm just over 38 weeks along now. How is it possible that, at the same time, I feel as though I have been pregnant for-ev-er and yet completely not ready to have this baby? We have less than one week until the scheduled c-section : May 18th. High noon.

I'm feeling all the typical late-pregnancy symptoms : Exhaustion, aches and pains, exhaustion, multiple bathroom breaks an hour, exhaustion, and random potty-mouth. Well, the random potty-mouth goes along with the bipolar-like mood swings that I'm not yet ready to admit I have. Who, me? Prone to mood swings? Surely not. I'm as calm and even-tempered as they come. As evidenced by the number of times I've sworn at my husband over the last week. I'm calm and even-tempered.

Adam would say that is a bold-face lie. Except he knows that insinuating that I am lying would bring on another mood swing, and he recognizes a downward spiral he doesn't want to deal with. So he'll *smartly* keep his mouth quiet. He's no dummy.

A few more lies that fly out of my mouth with abandon:

"How am I feeling? I feel great!" (Truth : I would take a c-section with no pain meds if it meant that this baby would GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE! I am not sleeping, I have insane pain in my hips and down my legs, and I have to pee three times an hour. I'm ready to be done.)

"We are so excited! Can't wait to have baby number three!" (Truth : I'm terrified out of my mind and break down into tears on a daily basis wondering how I'm going to handle three when I can't really handle two. I am grateful to be a mother, truly, but can't help but think of how badly I'm messing these kids up.)

"No, we don't have a name yet. We're waiting to meet her." (Truth : Well, that's true, but the real reason she doesn't have a name yet is that we cannot decide. We're crossing our fingers that once we see her, the decision will be much easier.)


The good news? We'll have lots of help when the baby comes. My sweet mother is coming for the first week and my sweet mother-in-law is coming for the second week.

Adam actually gets the first week off from work, so he'll be here too. Which would be listed as "lots of help" except he keeps calling it a "vacation" and I can count the number of times he has got up in the night with one of our children on ZERO fingers so ... I'm not expecting much ;) Except he actually said that he is going to stay in the hospital with me, to "take care of you (me)." So there is a glimmer of hope after all.

I keep dreaming and waking-terror-ing that they present me with another son. First, is that normal? Second, is it wrong to be so worried? Truth be told, I imagine myself handling it just fine, being totally thrilled, and bonding instantly with another man-child. But with the whacked-out hormones involved with birth, I actually can't promise anything. So we'll see. I've got a boy outfit and a girl outfit packed in my bag. Just in case. Also, I'm really just hoping that he or she comes home with a name. Because I am completely blank when it comes to the right name. And Adam has even less ideas. It's going to make things very interesting.

My mom will be here in less than 48 hours, the carpets are being cleaned tomorrow, the car is getting cleaned tonight, and we're having Mexican food the night before the c-section. It appears we are totally ready!!

Oh, Nate....

Two funny things that Nate said to me this afternoon:

"Shake what your momma gave ya, Mom!" (Aidan and I were dancing)

"Does Iron Man 2 come out in theaters May 7? Hey, I know! We can go see it to celebrate Mother's Day!" (Well, isn't that a dream come true!)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my angel Mother's birthday.
My sister Laurel gave a beautiful tribute to her, please be sure to head over to her blog and read it. I echo what Laurel has already said, and just wanted to add some of my favorite pictures of my Mom and add a few thoughts as well.

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." ~Washington Irving

I will always be grateful for a mother who is also one of my best friends.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

It's only been since I became a mother myself that I realize what my mother has sacrificed in order to be the amazing mother that she is. Her first thought is always of someone else. She has been such an amazing example of selfless love.

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."
~ Cardinal Mermillod

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." ~George Washington

When I think of my beautiful mother, I see her smiling face, which is a culmination of all that she is -- loving, kind, sweet, thoughtful, tender-hearted, strong, powerful, and inspirational.

Those things which we call extraordinary, remarkable, or unusual may make history, but they do not make real life. After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all mankind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman. ~Joseph F. Smith

I know that any success of my own (or that of my siblings) is due in large part to the constant efforts of my parents. The above picture is an example of a day owed entirely to the efforts of my parents -- the four adult siblings in the temple together, enjoying the blessings of the temple ordinances. I know that we have all grown to love the Lord because my Mother (and my Father too, of course) loved Him first. She taught by precept as well as example, those things that were most important and we never doubted her dedication to the Gospel.


I love you, Mom. I love you for who you are, who you've helped me to become, and for the great blessings you bring to my life. I'm grateful that I get to have you with me when I bring another baby into the world. After all, anything I do well as a mother, I do well because you were my amazing example.

Happiest of birthdays. Hope you know how much you are loved.

Spring Break -- Las Vegas

{all the kiddos, minus little Seth}
One of the highlights of our Spring Break trip was a quick overnight visit to our dear friends, The Pauls. They moved to Las Vegas last year and we have missed them dearly! Nate and Ethan became fast friends, as though no time had passed. The Pauls were our across-the-street-neighbors when we lived in Dallas for med school, and they've been some of our favorite friends ever since. How lucky we were to be close enough to go visit them!!

Sweet Elenna was celebrating her 6th birthday and we got to celebrate with her!

Ethan and Nate. They share a love of all things Star Wars and Wii. :)

The menfolk. Love Adam's face in this one, what the heck?!
Somehow I don't have any of me and Jennette (whoopsie) so you'll have to imagine our hot selves in a photo ...

Aidan was cracking us up with this style of cupcake-eating. The style of 'Get It All Over Ya.'


Thanks, Pauls, for a fabulous evening, a great nights' sleep, and a FABULOUS breakfast ;) wink, wink. Love you. Hope to see you again soon!

Spring Break -- Saint George

{Sorry for the giant amount of photos!}

For our Spring Break (part one), we met Adam's parents in Saint George at their condo. His brother Paul, his wife Rachael and their two girls joined us for a few days, too! It was a nice trip, even with the two days of driving each way :)

Here are a few pictures of our trip....

The kids at the Kids Table ... waiting on hamburgers from Grandpa's new grill

One of the best parts of the condo is the lush grass that grows just outside the front door. The kiddos loved playing there, throwing the balls as high as they could.

(Just glad that Nate has a smile on his face)

Nate and Sydney were good little buddies and were so sad when our time together was over!

We went to a restaurant called Pirate Island for dinner one evening. It was a fun theme restaurant, decorated really cute and even had good food! (Sometimes if the restaurant is too fun, the food is no good, you know?!) Here are our little pirates.

Showing off their tokens ... ready to play in the arcade!

We took the kids to a jump house place ... you know the type ... a warehouse full of bouncehouses. This is Rachael and her girls.

I thought it would be fun if I could show you the boys' faces as they went down the slides ... totally opposite reactions, haha!

Aidan had a terrified look on his face every single time he went down the slides, but then would rush to go again. Cracked me up.

On a hike near the condo ... it is so beautiful in Saint George!

The boys with their grandparents (these are Adam's parents)

Isn't it lovely? I love how the view we got from the condo had snow-capped mountains and red rocks ... it's such a unique place.

Of course one of our favorite things to do there is SWIM!

We took advantage of the many things the condo's rec center had to offer ...

...including the mini-golf course!

I included this image (above) even though it's a little blurry ... I thought my family would get a kick out of it ... can you see his tongue sticking out? He sure is his Grandpa Busath's grandson! haha!

BIG thanks to Adam's parents for sharing the condo with us for the week. It was a perfect getaway!

Easter 2010

Please excuse the bed-head hair ... it is just how we roll around here. There was no time to be wasted on vanity, after all, there was CANDY HIDDEN IN EGGS in our backyard! Time was of the essence!
Hope you all had a lovely weekend. We really did. We had a fun and delicious egg hunt, and then had our church missionaries over for a yummy Easter dinner.
Happy Easter, Y'all!

Name This Baby! {Post Edit}

We've added a fun little poll to the left
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Please be sure to vote and help us name this baby! (And yes, we reserve the right to veto the blog vote and choose our own. haha) And be sure to leave a comment to tell me how you feel about those names, even if you have to tell me what my sister Angela told me : "I hate all of them."

POST-EDIT : How come none of you called me out on saying that the poll was to the RIGHT when in fact it was to the LEFT (and I even had the arrow pointing to the left!)? C'mon now people, I expect you to help me when I have my Blonde Moments and correct me! :)

Happy Birthday, Laurel!

Today is my sister Laurel's birthday! I hope that California is especially beautiful for her special day. And that she gets to eat some cake :)
Here are some things about Laurel :

L Loving. Laurel has one of the kindest, most tender hearts of anyone I know. She would do anything to help someone in need.

A Awesomely Talented. She is amazing at digital scrapbooking and design, and is a much better photographer than I. If you need proof, just check out her website : http://laurellakey.com

U Unique. Laurel is unique in a refreshing way, and her perspective is often so helpful to me so that I can see things differently. And as the older sister who often thinks my perspective is the only perspective, I've been grateful for her point of view.

R Reverent. She has a connection to all that is Divine in this world, and is close to the Lord. She reveres that which is sacred and spiritual, and strives to do what is right.

E Extremely great mother. Laurel would do anything for her two boys, and I know they mean the world to her. They will grow up to be so grateful that Heavenly Father placed them in her care, because she takes that trust very seriously and tries to be the best mom she can be.

L Loyal. Laurel is an extremely loyal friend, wife, sister, and mother. She is dedicated and would give every ounce of herself for her loved ones. It's a privilege to be one of those people and I'm still working on deserving it.


Love you, Laur! Have a fabulous birthday celebration!

A Promise To Keep

Wow, Spring Break has come and gone, and Easter is almost here.... who pushed the Fast Forward button on my life?!?!

I have so much to share, so much to tell you, so many pictures to post... Someday it will all magically happen. Until that day, here is a little plug for my Digital Photography class. We call it Mamarazzi Boot Camp and it is SO FUN! We had one in Dallas in March and it was a blast. We are planning two for the fall (so far) and the details are here. One in Salt Lake City and one in Dallas. I would LOVE to see some familiar faces in the class... sign up quick before all the spots are gone! :)