Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Our Biggest Girl!

Livy is walking! I should have mentioned this in the last post but she had just started to venture out and try out her legs. She is so so happy to be able to get about and go wherever she wants. It's amazing how content she is now that she's gained that independence. We love it! She's so fun to watch...she just goes from one end of the room to the next as fast as she can smiling and laughing the whole way. What a joy she is in our lives!

Not much else to report. My Grandpa Melnyk (my mom's father) has been pretty sick the last little while. He's 93 and has lived an amazing life. My mom is actually flying to California tomorrow because they don't think he'll make it through the week. Facing this has had me thinking about life and death... this will be the first family death that I'll face. I've been so blessed to have both sets of grandparents for so long in my life. My grandpa is not a member, but I just know that as soon as he gets on the others side of the veil that he'll realize what we've been trying to tell him all these years. He's one of the most honest and generous men I've ever met, and I know the Lord will know how to put him to work.


Here are some things I'm especially going to miss:
*I'm going to miss him pretending his cane is a machine gun and shooting all his relatives down. Haha! He's so great!
*His amazing stories from WWII and his travels from around the world.
*Sitting with him in his office that has stacks of the New York Times and National Geographic magazines.
*His awesome artifacts in his office (swords, other weaponry, and his random Nazi hat)
*How loud he watches television
*How whenever a patriotic song was played he'd pound on the closest surface to the rhythm
*His crazy long white eyebrows, and how'd he trim them with the scissors on his Swiss Army Knife.
*Mostly for the life lessons his taught vocally and through example. His love for this wonderful country.
*My favorit quote from Grandpa Melnyk, "Be gay (happy) and live it up!"

How GREAT is he?! He even hit the bull's eye on the target!

I know I don't tell any of my family enough, but I love them all so much and am so grateful for all they teach me and for putting up with me and my weaknesses. I love you Grandpa!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Father's Day Weekend & Anniversary

So, this past weekend we were able to go to Utah for a much needed weekend away and much needed family time with Peter's side of the family. We went down for Peter's brother, Michael's farewell. He's leaving today for the MTC and will be serving in Florida. He's going to be a GREAT missionary and touch many lives for the better. It was so great to see the Benson clan. Livy has been having a hard time warming up to people, especially if Pete and I are in the same room, so we finally handed her over to Grandma and just walked away. And I don't know how Grandmas do it but Livy fell asleep in her arms. She NEVER does that for us. She even let Grandma kiss her goodbye. =) We also got to stay with our good friends the Andersons! They are seriously some of the greatest people I know. They have a little girl just about a year older than Livy and they got along quite well. Doug and Molly are such a great example to Peter and me about so many things and we love to spend time with them, although it's never enough time for us. Thanks Doug and Molly for letting us crash at your place.

So, it was Peter and my second anniversary on the 13th. I honestly can't believe it's already been two years, but I also feel like we've been together for so much longer than that when it comes to the depth of our relationship and marriage. I am constantly blown away with how much he loves me and how much he does for me. I am so blessed to have him in my life. How I was ever happy before I caught him is beyond me. So I'm going to brag a little about my husband now.

His faith is incredible! A few months ago I hit some hard times, in the span of 2 or 3 months I ended up having a skin disorder (gross sounding I know, sorry) that no doctor could diagnose, I tore my ACL and I'm unable to have surgery due to the fact I'm uninsured, and a few weeks after that I miscarried. I was seriously at the end of my rope of hope and faith. I can't count how many nights I cried and cried on Peter's shoulder. Many of you know that I hate showing weakness to others so of course during the days I shoved everything down deep and smiled, but when poor Peter came home it all came bubbling up and I just couldn't hold it back. He constantly reminded me that Heavenly Father is aware of me and that if I ever needed comfort to turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ, because He knows exactly how I'm feeling all the time. And I really needed that reminder. And so because of my husband's amazing faith and example my testimony has grown by leaps and bounds. His love for me and the gospel pulled me through the toughest time I've faced in my life. Peter is the most understanding man I know. He never judges others and everyone loves him immediately because of his easy and open personality. He's always willing to go out of his way to help those in need and it makes me love him even more. I can't believe how blessed I am.

Throughout my trials, Peter reminded me that I'd be able to gain empathy and strength, and he was right. I've learned to not take things for granted. Like being able to walk up stairs or down the street. The little things were always forgotten until I experienced life without them. I've also learned to a greater degree that Heavenly Father's plan may not always follow or time table. And now that we're expecting a baby again I know that my body is healthier and stronger so that I can sustain the strains of pregnancy and all that goes with it. Much more so then when I miscarried. Sometimes, hardships end up being blessings, even if we don't realize it when it happens.

So, thank you Peter for being my life vest and for loving me; especially, during those few months when I felt like I couldn't love myself. My life is now complete with you in it and I can't wait for the rest of eternity! I love you!





For our celebration we got to go to Red Robin...just the two of us! =) Thank heaven for Nana and Papa (me parents) who love to watch Livy. After dinner we went bowling. Which was our favorite activity while we were dating. I surprised Peter with a new baseball glove. He hasn't gotten one since he was 7 or 8. He was so excited! It was so cute. He was like a little kid on his birthday and Christmas combined.

Also, on Monday we had our doctor's appointment and we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat. Hearing that strong, fast, little heartbeat makes this pregnancy so much more of a reality and it's such a reassurance that everything is going well. Sorry this is such a long entry but I just couldn't stop typing once I started. =) Hope everyone has a wonderful day and rest of the week. Much love!

P.S. We love comments! =)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

I can't decide...

I've been debating whether to keep going with this blog. I don't know if people even read it and I don't know if I'm doing it because I want to or because I wanted to be cool like everyone else =) I guess I'll just wait it out.

Ok now that I've put that out there, just a little update on the Benson family. Peter is approaching midterms and he's feeling the pressure of the 18 credits he's taking this semester. Yet, through it all he always finds time to play with Livy and to spend some time with me snuggling on the love sac. He's such an incredible man, I still can't believe how blessed I am to have him in my life. He's also working two jobs so that I can stay at home. Everytime I mention that I should find work he just says, "You already have a full time job taking care of Livy and me." I just love him, and we've been lucky enough that I haven't had to work yet.

Livy...oh my sweet Livy Lu. She is getting so close to walking! I can't believe how big she is getting. After every nap she loves to just sit and cuddle with me while we watch a movie and I love these special moments because I know they won't last forever. She loves chocolate milk and apple juice and her favorite snack is either cold pees or mandarin oranges. Everytime she smiles it melts my heart and Peter's. She's got her daddy wrapped around her little finger and can get him to do just about anything. She's gotten very good at shaking her head "no" and nodding "yes" and that has been wonderful! It's really opened up the communication for us. I just can't get enough of her.

As for me, I'm loving being a mom and wife, which I may not do well all the time but I know I'm getting better every day. This pregnancy has been great as far as morning sickness goes (haven't had any) but a struggle with back pain, but Peter's always quick to offer a massage, so I'll admit I play it up a little bit. I'm in a place where things have happened that have made me stop to think about who I am and what my interests are and should be. But I know that even if I can't figure that out, I have a wonderful husband who loves me, a daughter who makes my face sticky with kisses, a new little baby on the way, and a Father in Heaven who loves me no matter what. It's a pretty GREAT life!