party #2 for Rocky’s #1
For Rocky’s second party, we went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA for a night. It was SO much fun and so nice to get away with just our little family. The water park is right inside the hotel, along with tons of other stuff to do. Our room had a little “Kids Kamp” area w/bunk beds for Fischer and Leo to sleep in. We brought a chocolate cake with us and had another party in our hotel room. It was a great way to celebrate our little Rocky.
Here are my thoughts about Rocky’s first year of life… Back in August 2006, Denton and I had gone to the temple to decide whether or not we should move to New Zealand with his employer at that time, PWC. I came out of the temple thinking, “NO, but something was going to change.” And Denton came out of the temple thinking, “NO, but we’re gonna have a baby!” When he told me I said, well yeah we’re gonna have a baby, in a YEAR! Denton had been interviewing at companies through out the east and a week later accepted a job at Circuit City HQ in Richmond. Then a week after that, I took a pregnancy test and it was POSITIVE!!! I was floored and told Denton, “Well congratu-freaking-lations!” Needless to say, I was shocked. Rocky was born in Richmond, VA on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 3:30 pm. Denton was able to deliver him, front and center. While I’ve never regretted having Rocky, for a long time I wondered, “WHY?” Why did Heavenly Father have him come at such a “bad” time, according to MY plans? When Rocky was born, we were not living in our own place, we had just moved and I left my best friends, my father had recently and unexpectedly passed away, and I was geographically as far away from my family as possible. Because we were not living in our own home, I didn’t have my mom come out when Rocky was born. It was hard enough adjusting to a third child while my other two were under four years old, much less with all the other hard things going on. So you can see that I didn’t understand why things happened the way they did. And that’s me… I always have to understand WHY!!!It’s been a year now… I think Heavenly Father sent Rocky to me when he did to help me forget about all the negative things that were going on in my life at the time, and focus on the positive.
Rocky has brought so much love into our home. Leo is like his second mother, and Fischer loves to “baby wrestle” him and play cars and trains with Rocky. He is such a happy baby and is always waving and smiling and “talking.” I have learned so many things since having Rocky here – I have a MUCH greater appreciation for my mother and for my husband, for all they do/have done for me and my children. There are so many other things I have learned, but I’ll save that for another post. But mostly, I’m thankful that Heavenly Father had a plan for my family and that he sent us Rocky when he did.
danae said,
April 13, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
yes, your kids are adorable! marrissa..that was such a nice blog entry..heavenly father looks out for us even when we think he’s not…my grandmother had her last child when she was kind of old already..all other kids were in high school, if not graduated already..and she said her and my grandpa where floored when she found out she was pregnant…a few yrs. after her last child was born..her second to last child was in a horrible car accident and a drunk driver took my uncle’s life..and my grandmother believes that heavenly father sent her last baby to her to help her through those horrible days/months/yrs. after my uncle passed away:)…anyway..i had to laugh about denton getting a job with PWC..out here there’s a company called PWC and it stands for “people who clean”…they’re a maid service..ha!ha!ha!…i know dentin isn’t a maid..but the thought was really funny:) take care!
megan andros williams said,
April 13, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
What a great birthday. It looks like he fits into your family perfectly. Good thing he came to you. Your kids are darling. Do any of them have your curly hair?
Tara said,
April 14, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
Happy Birthday little Rocky…I have a shoe story for you…if you know what I mean…I’ll have to tell you about it sometime…don’t worry, it all worked out in the end.
Laurene "Lips" Ross said,
April 14, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Your kids are beautiful! Leo is going to be breaking hearts all across the world. You are so right about our children. they need us but in reality we need them more. I’m glad youwere able to get away. That place sounds like so much fun. We might have to try it.
HML said,
April 14, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Thanks for the tears Furnadette!:) Gina, you seriously TEACH ME so much every second of my life. I seriously credit YOU (well, I guess Heavenly Father sending me you) for helping me get through my insane time with helping my kids sleep and have some rhythm to their lives…and every other great parenting thing, because you have it together. It’s not OCD…it’s having some freaking control of learning how to be a mother!:) I love that you got to go away to have a fun party for Rocky last weekend…those are cherished times I’m learning…especially when so much is usually going on. I love that Denton is so committed to your family, too, and makes you guys a priority…that’s what I’m so loving about James these days, too. Rocky is really cute…such a sweet face with those eyes…he radiates such a kind spirit through the pictures…maybe that’ll go away when he has to fight Fisch dog, though.:) Gina, you are the greatest! Thanks for always helping me!
PS-Can Den-en make my bday cake for me? Can he FedEx it right now so I can eat it all tomorrow…for an early bday?:)
Jan H said,
April 14, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
Happy B-day Rocky! And of course I LOVE his name!!! (you lookin’ at me? fagetta bout it!)
natalie said,
April 18, 2008 @ 10:39 pm
and im sure you appreciate me more too.
darn right.