Spencer W. Buchanan was born 27 years ago today on February 27th, 1981! Thus it is his star birthday. I know he has a very busy day today working for backcountry.com and 6 hours of class until 9:00 tonight, so here's wishing him at least a moment to celebrate with Kari and Savannah. I know he plans on skiing on Thursday with his 2 girls to celebrate too. Have fun Big Guy.
I remember the night Spencer was born, very well. It was about 6:00 PM and I had made spaghetti for dinner, and was waiting for our neighbor to leave so we could eat. I had a terrible back ache and just wanted to get it over with so I could clean up and sit down! Our neighbor, Mr. Berg was telling us how good our big bright yellow flowered sofa was because it was a Sherrill. He was a salesman for Ikards furniture, and he would know right? And as a side note, I had a hard time getting rid of that couch, even though after 20 years it had red pencil marks all over the cushions and wasn't comfortable anymore, just because of Mr. Berg's comment.
Anyway, we finally had dinner and I was sitting in the recliner holding Bevan and reading him stories and trying to get rid of my horrific backache. It just wasn't getting better! Argh!
After quite awhile I realized that I might just be in labor and it was byetheway, February 26th, his due day, so it was just possible I could be having a baby. I had never had back labor before and didn't know what it felt like or what to expect. So Dad and I got ready and hit the road to the Memorial General Hospital in Las Cruces, New Mexico once again.
I think we got there about 9:00 and Spencer was born just after midnight on the 27th. I couldn't believe it, I actually had a baby on his due date, almost!!! For some reason, we already had his name picked out and I don't remember if we had a girl's name ready or not. Spencer W. Kimball was the prophet then and we all loved him. Bruce and I thought we liked the name of Spencer and hadn't it heard it much yet!! And we added Wahl, which was Nona's maiden name to keep the W. He was the biggest baby I had and weighed in at 10 pounds and 4 oz. He was so cute of course, but the noisiest baby in the nursery. Being that big, he was hungry right from the get go.
Spencer's Dad and siblings loved him so, and I don't remember anyone being disappointed that there was another boy in the house. Spencer didn't sleep much, though and it was hard to leave for any length of time while I did any errands or anything else for that matter. I was in the Relief Society presidency at the time, and had to leave Spencer in other women's hands while I conducted or gave a lesson. Marilyn Haycock said when she first met Spencer that he reminded her of her son Doug, and that she would watch him for me. Then she would leave the room and walk around the church with him for the whole hour. She was exhaused! He never stopped moving unless the one holding him was moving.
The Animas Valley Mall was new in the summer of 1981, and I was so grateful. Since it was so very hot most of the summer in Las Cruces, it wasn't pleasant to use a stroller during the day or even evenings, for that matter. When the mall opened I was first in line with my stroller full of Spencer and my others in tow. Window shopping became a wonderful pastime for me and a rewarding way to keep Spencer happy. I loved that mall.
Spencer, from the start always seem to want to stand. He never cuddled as a baby, and by 8 & 1/2 months started to walk. He had just given up nursing and didn't even want a bottle. Just give me OJ in a cup Momma, I think he must have said. So there he was all independent and not needing me so much. That is unless I left the house. As the years went by, he became very tender and always had to kiss Bruce and I when we left the house for anything!
He seem to always want to accompany me to the grocery store, and I obliged, leaving the others home with the girls in charge. He was also the one who wanted to be right next to his Dad when he was on the roof of the house making any repairs. It's no wonder, that Spencer knew the names of all Dad's tools before his older brother's did. Once a neighbor came to borrow an awl for making holes in leather, and Dad wasn't home. So Ryan, who answered the door said, I'll get Spencer he'll know what and where it is. And he did.
Spencer has a very big heart, and is good to all of his family and a great friend for life. He forgives and forgets, and never gives up on his dreams or on people.
He never gave up when he wanted to be a ski instructor at Park City even though he was only 18 and the odds were against him. He has always loved skiing and has made it an art His Dad says he is a beautiful skier and he loves to watch him come down a mountain. He is a very patient teacher on the slopes. His 2 year old Savannah can testify to that, as well as Kari.
He is also the family computer guru. He does magic helping me and his siblings from afar with computer snafus. How does he do it? I'll never know. I wouldn't be blogging if he hadn't set me up. He gives me so much confidence in what I am able to do.
Spencer can crochet and is very fast. He learned that skill from a nearly blind woman while on his mission in Orlando. He even tried to teach me, and was very patient, though I couldn't seem to do it unless he was by my side. He crocheted me a pair of booties to wear over my big bledsoe boot and surgical shoe. They are really pretty.
So now in the Spring of 2008, Spencer is working to support his family and going to school to get his degree as a photographer at the University of Utah. He already does awesome photos, and knows more than anyone I know about cameras. He listens to podcasts about camera parts while he is driving long distances. How exciting is that?
He is married to a terrific girl, Kari, and they are very supportive to one another.
So Happy B-Day Spencer W. We love you very much!
Mom
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
24 years ago!
Twenty four years ago tonight, on a not-so cold winter night I gave birth to my youngest son in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was due to come on the 7th so he was due to arrive almost any time. However, with my record of having babies at least 2 weeks after the due date, I wasn't even thinking it was time. Even though I was having contractions, they weren't too bad, and Kristi needed a pair of shoes. So I took her to the mall around 6:00 PM or so to help her find some. I was never one who wanted to spend a lot of time in a labor room laboring. We went home and had dinner, which I probably made. ( we didn't eat out much in those days). It seems like we got to the hospital during the during either a great BYU or New Mexico State basketball game with UTEP. I hadn't ever had a TV in a labor room before, and Bruce and I were really enjoying the game.
I was ready to have that baby right after we got there, but had to wait for Dr. Lopez to get there. It seems like he was still putting on his shoes when he came in to the room. Off I went to delivery and the rest is now history.
We didn't even think we would have a fourth boy, so we had a couple of girl names picked out--Brittany, Michaela and Brandy (my mom's neighbor said, "you wouldn't name her after a liquor would you). Anyway, we had no boys' name in mind.
So Bruce left the hospital sometime after 1:00 in the morning and we were both so tired, we said we would discuss it in the morning. He woke up at least the girls just enough to tell them that we had another boy. He said they just rolled over and said, "Oh". Well, I didn't sleep much and the name Adam came to my mind. I loved it, and then thought of my Grandpa Houston's middle name of Cooper ( which was his mother's maiden name). I was so excited that I never gave it another thought, and could hardly wait until morning to tell Bruce. I think he was surprised that he had no real choice in the matter, but then I wouldn't have been me if I had let him have a say. Actually, we had always decided together our children's names. I remember Heather calling me from the Junior high to tell me that she didn't like it, and offered Brett or something like that as an alternative.
So Adam Cooper it was, and he became adored by all of his brothers and sisters. Heather was going to early- morning Seminary then, so she was always up early to get ready. She would give Adam his first bottle of the day and change him and put him back in his crib, so I could get an extra hour of sleep.
Adam was always an alert boy and wanted to be outside investigating, so he wanted to come and go with his brothers. He was always very industrious and had a couple of little money making businesses. It wasn't enough to paint rocks for "pets", but he painted bloody eyeballs on them and sold them to the neighbors for 50 cents to 1.00. We didn't know anything about it until the Dalleys told us they were regularly buying eyeball rocks from Adam.
One stake conference Sunday after church, Bruce and I were taking a nap. Adam was outside with all of his Golden Books laid out on the lawn by the curb. He was stopping people to buy some of his books. We also knew nothing about that until a couple of days later that we saw his picture in the paper which called attention to the fact of what he was doing. It was something like " On Sunday, Adam Buchanan sold books in his front yard". I think Bruce and I were more worried that the bishop would see what we let our son do on the sabbath more than that he could have easily kidnapped!!
After having 3 other sons begging for dogs for a pet, it was Adam that we gave in to. We just knew that it would finally. So we got Andy, a chow from the pound for his birthday. Andy was about 1 1/2 years old and trained. We all gave it a good go at it, but poor Andy wasn't really a family dog. He wouldn't sit when prompted or fetch or run with the boys. He only seemed happy on the carpet in the house, and refused to go in his new doghouse, and chose the cold snowy backyard instead. Bevan was the best to him, taking him for daily walks at night after a day of work. So after a go of it for 6 weeks, Andy went back to the pound. Dad wouldn't take him back so I took Adam and Spencer with me and took Andy back. So I still have the reputation of not letting my children have dogs. I love dogs, but want them to live somewhere else.
Well, I digress from talking about Adam. He has always loved the outdoors and whether someone went with him or not, nothing stopped him from trying new things and doing the things he enjoyed. He never spent much time trying to impress girls how cool he was or did things to show off for their attention. If he wanted to do that he would have joined the soccer team, or other sports. He pursued camping, backpacking, rock climbing, ice climbing, biking, skiing, snowshoeing. He, like his brothers, is a very good skier, and has a great appreciation for the environment around us.
There is so much more to write about you, including that you are married to a very wonderful and understanding girl, Lisa, and have a darling daughter, Ryan Paige. But I will save that for another day.
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to YOU!!
I was ready to have that baby right after we got there, but had to wait for Dr. Lopez to get there. It seems like he was still putting on his shoes when he came in to the room. Off I went to delivery and the rest is now history.
We didn't even think we would have a fourth boy, so we had a couple of girl names picked out--Brittany, Michaela and Brandy (my mom's neighbor said, "you wouldn't name her after a liquor would you). Anyway, we had no boys' name in mind.
So Bruce left the hospital sometime after 1:00 in the morning and we were both so tired, we said we would discuss it in the morning. He woke up at least the girls just enough to tell them that we had another boy. He said they just rolled over and said, "Oh". Well, I didn't sleep much and the name Adam came to my mind. I loved it, and then thought of my Grandpa Houston's middle name of Cooper ( which was his mother's maiden name). I was so excited that I never gave it another thought, and could hardly wait until morning to tell Bruce. I think he was surprised that he had no real choice in the matter, but then I wouldn't have been me if I had let him have a say. Actually, we had always decided together our children's names. I remember Heather calling me from the Junior high to tell me that she didn't like it, and offered Brett or something like that as an alternative.
So Adam Cooper it was, and he became adored by all of his brothers and sisters. Heather was going to early- morning Seminary then, so she was always up early to get ready. She would give Adam his first bottle of the day and change him and put him back in his crib, so I could get an extra hour of sleep.
Adam was always an alert boy and wanted to be outside investigating, so he wanted to come and go with his brothers. He was always very industrious and had a couple of little money making businesses. It wasn't enough to paint rocks for "pets", but he painted bloody eyeballs on them and sold them to the neighbors for 50 cents to 1.00. We didn't know anything about it until the Dalleys told us they were regularly buying eyeball rocks from Adam.
One stake conference Sunday after church, Bruce and I were taking a nap. Adam was outside with all of his Golden Books laid out on the lawn by the curb. He was stopping people to buy some of his books. We also knew nothing about that until a couple of days later that we saw his picture in the paper which called attention to the fact of what he was doing. It was something like " On Sunday, Adam Buchanan sold books in his front yard". I think Bruce and I were more worried that the bishop would see what we let our son do on the sabbath more than that he could have easily kidnapped!!
After having 3 other sons begging for dogs for a pet, it was Adam that we gave in to. We just knew that it would finally. So we got Andy, a chow from the pound for his birthday. Andy was about 1 1/2 years old and trained. We all gave it a good go at it, but poor Andy wasn't really a family dog. He wouldn't sit when prompted or fetch or run with the boys. He only seemed happy on the carpet in the house, and refused to go in his new doghouse, and chose the cold snowy backyard instead. Bevan was the best to him, taking him for daily walks at night after a day of work. So after a go of it for 6 weeks, Andy went back to the pound. Dad wouldn't take him back so I took Adam and Spencer with me and took Andy back. So I still have the reputation of not letting my children have dogs. I love dogs, but want them to live somewhere else.
Well, I digress from talking about Adam. He has always loved the outdoors and whether someone went with him or not, nothing stopped him from trying new things and doing the things he enjoyed. He never spent much time trying to impress girls how cool he was or did things to show off for their attention. If he wanted to do that he would have joined the soccer team, or other sports. He pursued camping, backpacking, rock climbing, ice climbing, biking, skiing, snowshoeing. He, like his brothers, is a very good skier, and has a great appreciation for the environment around us.
There is so much more to write about you, including that you are married to a very wonderful and understanding girl, Lisa, and have a darling daughter, Ryan Paige. But I will save that for another day.
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to YOU!!
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