updates from my phone

Here is a little picture update from my iphone!

 Elder Flint and Elder Beckstead! They were the first people we met when we got here! except that I already knew Elder Flint from home! This was on Elder Becksteads last night, we really loved them both! Elder Beckstead was made a zone leader and Elder Flint is still here training now.We love living in the mission field :)

 This is Margie! She magically became our good friend - she loves Marshall... This Margie on the day of her baptism, she asked Marshall to confirm her. It was a really sweet moment to be a part of.

 just after max was born Jeff hill and his oldest 3 kids came out to Nauvoo to see their grandparents on a mission! they stopped by on their way and got to meet max! it was so fun to have cousins around again. we loved getting to see them! but it made us miss everyone in Utah even more!

 Marsh teaching Max the importance of good exercise right from the beginning

 Stretching!!!

Napping with Mom when I had to go back to the hospital- it was the only way to cuddle with the stupid IV.

 His Darling owl hat our sweet friends Jess and Josh sent us!

 After his bath- he didn't quite know what to think

 Going to the red barn sale- a big craft fair basically- he loved the front pack, but kind of looked like a bunny because I made him wear the hat for the sun.. it was the first one I grabbed!

  Max loves to hold things, my hand, his ear, my shirt or... the cradle :)

 shh don't tell dad I gave him something other than the basketball binkie!

 I can't believe he is 3 weeks old already!

 Marsh practicing the drums to help Max burp :)

 We had a sleep over in the living room last night.. Im on the floor, it just happened, but I loved it!

The closest thing I have to catching his sweet smile and laugh! I'll get a better one soon I promise!

Thats our sweet boy lately- what my iphone catches anyways.. really pictures just don't do him justice.

Happy Things

Maybe there are rose covered glasses that come with having a babe but everything around us seems so happy.
Marshall comes home around 6 each day and helps me with max and together we make ( or go get) dinner.

We go for short walks around the neighborhood at sunset and enjoy the fall air

Missouri is beautiful this time of year, it gets more and more fall like each day, I don't want it to end, I want to enjoy each minute of the perfect weather
Our little boy is beautiful and changes so much each day, each day he changes just a little bit, I don't want this phase to end, I just want to enjoy each minute of his perfect tiny body.
My relationship with Marsh is beautiful, I like that it changes each day, it just gets better and better and closer and closer to eternity.

Im happy staying home with Max, Im happy doing tummy time, sleeping in our chair together, Im happy changing diapers. Im happy when Marsh comes home, and Im so very happy cuddling at night as the 3 of us.

Some days its hard but most of the days its happy.

The other day Marsh and I finally remembered our secret handshake- That was happy too.

One more thing that makes me so happy today are these pictures we got of max.

I hope you have a happy day!

Dear Mr. Harper

I think your name is Harper- the Hy-Vee man with the duster tucked into your belt, but who ever you are today you were my tender mercy. You probably didn't know how nervous I was to take my little babe to the store for the first time by myself. You probably didn't know I only closed my eyes for 2 hours last night. You probably didn't know that we had been doing so well until we got to the line. Max had stared at me the whole time his eyes just said- "i love hanging out with you mom". But then all of a sudden he had had enough. I tried to hurry up frantically throwing food onto the line contemplating throwing the WiC checks that take forever out the window just to be faster, I felt everyone's eyes on me. Partially because it was taking forever to organize everything like you have to and partially because I had wet hair and no make up on and partially because my darling little boy was litterally starting to turn purple as his scream changed from bothered to upset to distressed to a frantic panic and little tear drops popped up in his eyes like they really shouldn't when your just a newborn. And while everyone else watched- you my dear friend Harper came and smiled and politely asked " can  I help you to your car?"
I picked up my little baby- who instantly stopped crying when I held him close, but I started to cry as I watched you pick up my diaper bag and car seat, load all my groceries and push my cart out to my car. Then after you put my cart away, you waved me down just to say you forgot to tell me that you thought max was the most beautiful baby.
My 3 simple tear stained thank you's just don't seem like enough.
I wish there were more harpers in the world, but today I am just grateful there was one.

Overwhelmed - but not how I thought

I knew going into having a baby that being overwhelmed would be a part of my every day. But not in this way, not the way I have felt the last 2 weeks!
I am overwhelmed with love for this little man, his faces, his nose, his strength and spirit! I love him so much it overwhelms my desires for sleep and for food, and I even learned it overwhelms my desire for shopping!

I am overwhelmed with gratitude! To my Heavenly Father for this perfect baby boy that I have been praying for each night for years. I am overwhelmed as I come to understand His love for us and all His children-- even those that aren't as sweet as babies. :)

I am overwhelmed by our friends and family. The gratitude I feel for so many people literally feels paralyzingly; I can't even think of how I am going to show them even half of their love and kindness in return!


Even the little things have overwhelmed me. Thank you:
-For the random text messages
-For the phone calls on your busy day
-For dropping by a snack
-Or bringing my favorites to avoid the hospital's snacks
-For holding my baby
-For oohing and awwing with me
-For letting me just talk about him today
-For bringing us food
-For offering over and over again
-For sometimes just not even asking
-For the sweet note
-For the precious flowers
-For letting us borrow your swing so my arms can rest for the first time
-For telling me I look great.. Make-up-less, sick, and straggled hair
-For stopping by on your walks
-For bringing us peaches in a jar
-For letting me sleep
-For acting like its nothing
-Thank you for listening
-And for talking
-For staying up late and holding my baby
-For thinking Max is as perfect as I think he is
-For doing the dishes
-For helping Marshall with school
-For smiles
-And prayers
-For all your offers
-For your love in a million different ways


You have changed my life and helped me feel the love of the Savior everyday. And that love is purely overwhelming.

Max

Sorry for the late post-- it has been a long 2 weeks. But we are so excited to show introduce Maxwell Marshall Hill.

Tuesday the 28th was a totally normal day. I drove to the Kirksville Regional Airport to pick up my mom who flew in on a lovely 8-seater plane. We spent the day relaxing, and when Marsh got home for the night we all went out to the lake for some dinner! It's so crazy to look back on that night that was so fun and think how just 24 hours later our whole lives were changed. That night I hardly slept (and now I wish I had!).

On Wed the 29th, we woke up early, showered, got ready, and Marsh and I put on our back packs and walked to the Hospital.  (Yes, we walked to the hospital.  This was our idea in hopes it would help speed along the labor process... it ended up not working, but it was really fun!)  We ended up running a little late, so we decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery and construction at the school.  We climbed down a steep pile of dirt to get there on time, and I was grateful nobody said anything about my mud-covered feet when we arrived at the hospital :)

From there they checked us in and started the induction process! I had so many fears, but I couldn't even begin to worry yet because I was so exhausted from walking. But once everything got going, our doctor was so sweet and funny that I hardly noticed anything scary was happening. Here is a summary of the day-
8:00 am - We checked in to the hospital room
1:00 pm - they hung the Pitocin, and I bounced on the labor ball while we played Yatzee
4:00 pm - I decided I was more than ready for my epidural!
5:00pm - took a nap :)
6:20 pm- The Doctor came in to check me casually and then all of a sudden said, ok and PUSH!
6:40 pm- I said I wanted to have him by 7:00 and our doctor said he thought we should shoot for 6:50 "Its good to have goals," he said.
6:49 pm- Maxwell Marshall was Born!

He was 8 lb. 1 oz. and 21.5 inches long! 

It was the sweetest, most magical moment of my life hearing him cry and having him in my arms for the first time. I loved the look in Marshall's eyes-- I will never forget that as long as I live! We are parents! And for the most beautiful baby I could have ever asked for! It's been 2 weeks and I promise every night as I have stayed up to feed or hold little Max that I can't help but just cry. I am so grateful that he is all right and happy and that he is ours--straight from heaven.  I am a serious worrier and every day of all nine months of pregnancy I think I came up with a new worry.  I still worry now at every little noise he makes, but I love him so much all I can do is be grateful to have him!

 Meeting his Dad for the first time! Marshall has been the most amazing dad and husband. He is so sweet to watch with Max. Max already adores him-- he turns to stare at him whenever he hears his voice. These 2 mean the world to me. It's funny how in love with Marsh I am, I thought somehow I would have to divide my feelings between the two, but instead it's like my love for both of them quadrupled over night. They are the best boys in the world, and I feel so lucky to get them both!

 Max after Dad gave him his first bath! He was still trying to figure out what was going on!

                  Our first Family picture! 

Were so grateful to all our wonderful friends that came to visit us, meet Max, and take care of us in so many ways! Sorry there is not a picture of everyone!

Our amazing doctor doing a little OMM on Max-- it was amazing how much he loved it and how much better he was at eating afterwords!

Sorry for so many pictures but I am a little obsessed with this boy. We have had so much fun the last 2 weeks! Here are some more pictures of the little stud. I think he looks like his dad-- maybe that is why I am so in love :) He has been an angel of a baby-- only slightly whimpering when he is hungry, and a little fussy when he fills his diaper of course :)

We are so grateful that Marshall's sister Tiff and her family now live just 2.5 hours away in Des Moines and were able to come down and visit us and hang out-- we loved our night with them. 

 Getting ready to take our baby home from the hospital! and Baby Max all dressed up and ready in his car seat! I can't really believe he even fits in at all!

 Marsh giving Max the tour of his new home-- and laying out the rules :) 

 One final shout out to my amazing mother! Max absolutely loves her! I don't know what I would have done without her! The truth is that I am actually writing this post from the hospital again-- I had to come back for some bad infections (apparently my body didn't know how to react to giving birth so it just had a little freak out!). But I am so grateful for all of her help in cleaning, cooking, keeping me sane when I miss Marshall all day. Also thank you for loving my baby boy, holding him when I am too tired, staying up with him so I can get some sleep, and changing way too many diapers. I am so grateful for the mother she has been and who she is helping me to be for my baby boy! I love you mom!

Marshall and I are so grateful-- so so grateful there just aren't words-- for all the prayers, love and service that so many people have shown to us the last months. There are too many people to possibly name, but we love you more than you will ever know.  We are excited for Max to love you, and we are really just on cloud nine I don't even know what else to say! This is Max, and a little bit of how he has already started to change our lives!