Cowgirl up!

Our little sister, Jade, raises a steer every year for the 4H competition. She sells the steer at the county fair and her trend lately has been to ride the steer as she is showing him around the arena. Her steer this year is still in training but Afton was able to ride him for a couple seconds.
Here is a picture of our baby girl "Cowgirl'd UP"!

She will probably be like her aunt and this will not be the first time she will ride a steer. Needless to say, it is the first and at 6 months she is a rock star!

For those that don't know what a steer is it is a cow. I'm pretty sure someone saw this picture and told my mom they saw her granddaughter on a horse. 

Haha! Well now you all know, it's a cow! (:

Hope you're having a great day!

Who is raising whom?

I have looked through the pictures on my phone and I'm blown away by how fast this little girl is growing. In fact, I will show you.

                                                            Newborn

                                                            1 month

                                                          2 months

                                                          3 months

                                                           4 months                                                         

                                                               5 months

I seriously cannot believe the changes and how blessed we are.

I remember being in the hospital and feeling completely overwhelmed by this little girl. For some reason the idea of my choices altering and impacting this little girls future terrified me. I kept thinking how am I going to do it. I'm going to come back to this thought.

In our Sunday school class the instructor was talking about the blessing of children in our homes. We were discussing when you should have children and how soon after marriage you should wait. We all concluded that it is a couples decision and the Lord will tell you when. In the midst of this discussion a very profound statement was said that is ingrained in my heart. The instructor had said that "adults do not produce children, but children produce adults". I testify to all of you how true that statement is.

This beautiful eyed little girl has taught me and raised me to be a more mature, patient, and loving individual ever since she was born. I also see the impact and the visible love my husband has for her. Including the positive changes he has made in his life for her.

I am no longer afraid of not being a good enough parent. Afton is raising me to be the mom she needs me to be. I am so grateful for life lesson from a cute little stinker. I look forward to the many more she will bring to me.

The bad, the good. The good and the bad.

3 blog post in one month! I am on a roll.

This week we had the good and the bad come our way. Unfortunately Cameron's grandma, Grandma Palmer, broke her good leg and had to get surgery. Ever since I joined the family and from Cameron's recollection,  grandma had been on crutches for years. She had one good standing leg that she'd put all her weight on. With her good leg broken, we just don't know how life will change for her.

This was Grandma's 19th surgery. The good in this is that grandma wasn't alone when she broke her leg, and she had surgery in a hospital close to us. We had the pleasure going to visit her. Talk about a great woman, she had plenty to be angry about and was in pain, but she greeted Afton and I with warmth and was very optimistic. At this point, grandma's leg is more metal than bone, but she was sure happy to see us.

It broke Cam's heart to not be able to go up to visit grandma. Cameron has been been working so hard for our little family, (full-time work and school). He was able to call grandma on the phone and talk to her, grandma sure loves him. She kept talking about how much that phone call meant to her.

I repeat myself, what a great woman! You can see the love she has for every member of her family. It shows in her eyes. Which brings me to conclude that even when one is in pain, had surgery, and life is altered (even if it's for a small moment), that there is so much to be grateful for.

Afton has been going through a "I want my mommy" stage, where she cries if anyone else holds her. So, naturally when Grandma and Grandpa tried it would last at most 10 seconds before she started crying. I was able to get Afton down for a cat nap so Grandma was holding her while she slept.

Grandma kept telling me how much torture it was to hold her. (Meaning she loved every sleeping minute that Afton gave her).

Grandpa had 10 second luck! Just long enough for me to snag a picture.

Afton is part possum. She loves this position and this is the only way she'd left Grandpa hold her longer than 10 seconds.

Grandpa thought she was such a nut. He said, "I'd much rather look at your face, but I guess I'll take any end you'd give me." She is definitely our goofy girl.

The reoccurring message that was given to us this week is, good things happen to good people. Bad things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to bad people. Regardless of what choices you make in life, no one is exempt from feeling pain and hurt. Everyone will receive trials that will alter their lives, but misery is a choice. I'm so grateful for Grandma's example to teach us that in a crummy situation, being stuck in a hospital, having to rely on others to move and make you meals, there are so so so many blessing in this life. There is good in every situation.

So, bring it on. The bad, the good. The good and the bad, the Palmer's are troopers and will keep on keeping on. I pray that you all will as well.

Summing up February!

February is a fun month for me. It's my birthday month! Who does not like their birthday? It was a hard birthday to have, for some reason the whole year before I completely forgot how old I was, realizing that I was going to turn 24 was a shocker. My poor husband had to hear me rant about how I didn't even realize how fast or where time went.

Nonetheless, money was really tight this year with Afton being born not too long ago, so I didn't ask for anything. My hubby insisted that we go out to dinner and that he would take me out on a date. Of course, that was the only thing I really wanted was to spend time with my man. With all the late nights with Afton, Cam working and going to school full-time, I felt like we never really got to see each other and spend time together as a couple.

My birthday had to land on a Monday this year, so we celebrated the weekend before. My mom's gift to me was watching Afton while the two of us went out on a date. Of course, I was a paraniod mother and our date lasted a  total of 2 and a half hours, but it was much needed quality time.

The day of Cam had to work, so after school he came home to take me over to my mom's. There was a knock on the door where i received this....

Cam made sure that there was no question in my mind how much he cares for me and how special I am to him.

The night ended with cake with my parents and brother. It was such a good day with cake and flowers. Yum. (:

Well in February, Afton has become more fun and playful! Her squawks are getting louder, and she is more alert and interactive.

Valentines day we had a play date with Brittney, Kooper, and Kristen. We had a valentines dinner and got to play with Kooper! Talk about a cute boy! He is fun. He teaches Afton how to shoot the moose in his room, play with trucks and is really good at sharing his stuffed animals with her.

Here is the Valentine that Kooper made Afton and me. Talk about spoiled us!

But that's not all of February!!!!

We got to see Aunt Teal! She came up for President's Day weekend. We were able to hang out with Teal bug and have her stay with us. We also went to a hockey game at the Peaks Ice Arena. It has been years since I've watched a hockey game in there, but for Cam and Teal it was their first time.

I told you that Cam is impossible to take pictures with... At least it's a good picture of the girls.  Although BYU lost, it was still a fun night.

I guess the letter F in February also means a months of first for Afton. Here are some pictures of a "Tinker".

She took over her own room!

Fell asleep on her first trip to the mall.

Saw ducks for the first time... One got to close and she started to cry.... haha! Oh... if she only knew how much she'll enjoy seeing ducks in her future. ;)

The beginning and end of her first stroller ride.

Although it is her first time doing all these things, I feel like she has been a part of our lives for so much longer. In fact, I feel like I've known her my whole life. Cameron feels the same way and loves being with his girls.

February was a month that really brought us closer as a family. We really had to depend on one another, but most importantly our eyes were open to the Lord and all his love for us. Money was tight, but we never felt like we were going without and that we didn't have enough. As long as we had each other, life was great! I pray that you all have exactly what you need and in moments of adversity, you hold dear to your loved ones.

Afton's Baby blessing

We blessed Afton on January, 27th. Yes, it has been too long and am in need for a blog update. She was 2 months old, and cute as a button. We were able to have Cameron's parents and three sisters attend the blessing, not to mention some of the cousins that live up here and some friend. On my side, my brother drove from Texas to make it to her blessing, my parents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, were all there.

 Getting Afton ready and she was moving and squirming! We were able to wear the dress that Afton's Great Grandma Mabel Palmer made, (Cameron's grandma). Here dresses are amazing, but very special since Grandma Palmer's hand have arthritis in them, and she wont be able to crochet much longer. It truly is a very special gift from a very talented woman.

One of my greater fears when blessing a child is having them scream the entire time the blessing is taking place. Thankfully, she was nothing but calm and happy. Cam gave a great blessing, some of the things that she was blessed with are being blessed with a loving family and resources to flourish, blessed with a healthy, strong body to endure trails and adversity; blessed to have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and faith to follow Him. The ability to learn, grow and understand the principles of the gospel. Apply all that she has learned in the temple with a man she has chosen to take her there.To captivate the beauty of that moment as a whole, you just had to of been there. I thank my cousin Karen for taking such great notes.Not to mention there was a special spirit in the room,  I strongly believe my brother Enrique was all there watching his niece being blessed.

Following the blessing, we were able to have a meal at my parents house with all those that wanted to join. We are so grateful for how special that ways, and felt extremely blessed. There were many friends and family  that were not able to make, but there presence was felt. Our hearts were touched, for it truly was a very special day.

Truth  be told, Cameron is impossible to take pictures with, so as a proud mama I was able to get one with my princess. I never thought I would fall in love with being a mom, but having Afton in my life has truly been a blessing. She makes me want to be an even better person than I was or am for her. With moments like her blessing, I realize how special of a daughter of God she is, and how important it is for her to grow up in a home that will teach her Gospel truths. We are in a married, young couple Sunday school class and our previous bishop phrased it best when he said, "Adults do not produce children, children produce adults." That is how I truly feel, she was sent to our home for Cam and I to grow to become the adults that we need to be, for her and for our own eternal progression. We are forever touch and humbled by this little girl and our world will never be the same again, it will be better!

11/25/12- A day we will always remember...

Early on that Sunday morning, I mean early, at 2a.m. I (Liz) started feeling contractions that were 10 minutes a part and just couldn't sleep. Every time I was close to going back to dream land another one would come and then the cycle started all over again. At about 4:45a.m. the contractions started coming 5 minutes a part, but as a new parent we both weren't sure this was true labor yet. The day before I had been feeling contractions off and on and pretty irregular all day long, so we just weren't sold that it was really time. At about 7a.m. we went into the hospital because the contraction weren't stopping and stayed consistently 3 to 5 minutes a part.

What no one prepares you for while you're in labor is the admitting process at the hospital, I just figured that once you arrived they checked that you were in labor and get you started- which is true, but they don't tell you how long that takes. We arrived and started the check but normally they wait an hour  to see if your labor is progressing  The nurse could see how much pain I was in and decided that she would check in an half an hour instead of the full hour. So the initial check the dilatation was at 3cm, and half an hour later I was at 4cm, so they decided to admit me and I could stay.  The whole time I was thinking that if this wasn't true labor then I don't want to do this anymore, but it was and we were getting the show on the road. Today was the day that we were going to meet that little one that has been in my tummy for so long. 

Also, they don't tell you how long it takes for you to get an epidural either. I was just exhausted from my two hours of sleep the night before and in so much pain, that I was totally all for the drugs by that time. 30  minutes later (after I was told I could stay), I was able to get the surgeon in the room to give me the epidural. Also, I realized that I deal with pain through anger, so I figured that it was in everyone's best interest that I get it as well. 

A couple hours later, I was fully dilated  The nurse that was checking on me was so surprised how fast I had gone, she called my doctor and let him know that I was ready. She had me do a set of pushing and then told me to stop, she could see the babies hair and my doctor hadn't arrived yet. She was getting nervous that he wouldn't make it on time, and the babies heart beat started dropping. She got it up again by rotating her head a little bit, but it started to go down again. My doctor literally ran into the room, had his hand in the air while the nurse dressed him. I did another set of pushes and she was out!!! Afton Leticia Palmer was born Nov. 25th 2012 at 12:54am. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 18in. long. 

Meeting her for the first time was a very surreal but beautiful experience. I remember looking at her and asking Cam, is she really ours? It that our precious little one? 

Cam, was just amazing through the whole experience.  He was with the baby the whole time they bathed her and measured her. He helped both baby and me whenever he could.

Our little Afton is growing like a weed! As you can see, this is a two week photo of her. 

Well all, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! Hope the seasons bring you joy and happiness. Afton is signing off for us till after the holidays!!!!! XOXO

2012 Deer Hunt

We were able to make it to Blanding this year for Cam's hunt. The weekend started off with a night at the ranch and spotting deer for the hunt opener, which was the following day. The family ranch is a very sacred place for all the members of the family. It is a place to ponder, reflect, and find peace. To start off the weekend this way should have been an indicator that we were going to have a phenomenal weekend.

The following day consisted a lot of driving around the mountain and seeing a lot deer. Most of them were doe's (females), which we aren't able to shoot. The bucks (males) were a little more difficult to spot and we weren't able to get a good shot on any of them. Needless to say, the first day we were unsuccessful in our attempts to get a deer.

On our second day we kind of realized that it was a now or never moment. Either we got a deer that night or we just weren't getting one this year, because we were leaving the next day to go back to Springville and we weren't able to make it down again before his season ended. We decided to hunt the ranch that night. We invited Grandpa Palmer, Dad, and our little sister Jade to join us.

When we arrived, deer had already started to come in the field. Cam anticipated setting up else where, so when we saw quite a few deer come out we decided that we were just going to stay in the cabin and Cam would have to hunt from there.

As time passed and the sun was lowering we were getting a little discouraged because there wan't any bucks that were within shooting range for Cam. Just when we were thinking of giving up hope some doe's and bucks hopped the fence right in front of the cabin. One was 20 to 30 yards away from Cam and another was  about additional 30 yards behind that.The mood in the cabin was intense and silent. We were all so excited for Cam and didn't dare make a sound to spook the deer away. When Cam pulled back and released his first arrow and he was high and it went right over the back of the deer. The deer moved to the left and further away. The one that was 62 yards away was staring intensely at Cameron and trying to figure out what happened and what he was. Cam was able to collect his composure, draw back, and released his arrow, all in one very fluid motion. The next thing we know the deer jumps up as he was hit and starting running down the field. He went about 50 yards and dropped. We had got our deer!

This would be the smile of my handsome man right after he shot his deer. Also, you can see how happy Jade was to be apart of it and witness Cam's shot.

                               We found him! Jader is holding the antlers of Cam's two point deer.

 

Grandpa, Dad, and Cam- three generations of hunters and Grandpa and Dad were so happy and proud to be there. What a blessing it was to be able to share that experience with them.

Of course, I'm proud of my husband and will never be apart of such an awesome hunting experience ever again. Our baby girl was there too, but she is in the womb and I don't think she will remember it.(:


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