Oh, Yeah...That one time Shane turned 4 mos. & 5 mos. old!

This is Hannah writing under the name of Ron. He has most of our pictures saved to his google drive, so I thought I would write under his profile.

There is no particular reason why I didn't write an update on Shane when he turned 4 months old, or for when he turned 5 months old either. There was no pressing need with work, or any special occasion that was consuming my attention. So, there you have it.

By way of information:
He was in the 89th % for his weight,
the 98th% for his height and,
the 55th% for his head circumference at his 4 month checkup.

He can roll from back to front and front to back now. We have let him taste applesauce, but we haven't really started solids (my goals it to get to Thanksgiving, which is about a week before he is 6 mos. old.). He can sit up by himself for about 3 secs before tipping over. He sits in his bumbo a lot. He is getting two cute little teeth in the front. They haven't popped threw the skin yet, but you can see the great big bumps they are creating in his gum line. He talks all the time (more like grunting) and chews on everything. He has great "Slobber Bombs" as Ron calls them and is growing up well.

And without further adieu, here are some pics.

Morning snuggles! 

Before bed time. So cute!

Some Father/Son bonding. (I Love It!)

We spiked his hair after a bath and went to church this way. He looks so impressed in this picture! NOT!

Starting to drool ALL of the time.

We decided to draw on small pumpkins this year instead of carving. Can you tell which one belongs to who?

Ron had left to get something from the room and I was working. This is what he came back to. Not even a cry! Just talking to himself.

Tummy time at Minky's

His Halloween costume. Thank you Aunt Alisa!

His other Halloween costume. (From the same day :) ) Thank you Nanny and Kiley!

Getting ready for the feast!

Playing with Minky's hats!

Here are some videos

I don't know if you will be able to see this, but he LOVES stretching out his legs. He also arches his back often.

                                     

Have We Lost Our Humanity?

This is a question that most people don't even consider. Most of the time, I would say, we go about our daily life and never even think about how distant we are to everyone around us. When we walk down the street and pass by someone, what is our natural instinct? For must people I would say it would be just walk around them without saying a word. Some people may venture far enough to lift their head and node or even say "Hi" as they pass by. But how many people would stop and talk to them? How many would give the other a hug? What about a kiss? Most people who will read this blog may look at these questions and snarl there nose at the idea of getting that close to a total stranger, and to be completely honest, I am right there with you. So I have one more question.

What is wrong with us???

Human beings are social creatures. Despite how solitary you may think you are the simple fact remains that we, as human beings, crave contact with other human beings including physical and emotional interaction. We were meant to be with one another. It is in our DNA. I want you to take a moment and think about "The old days". I'm talking about back when America was still pretty new. Think about the people of that age. We still had much of our culture from England at that time and it was not uncommon to greet someone with a hug or even a small kiss on the cheek. Today, they still greet people with a kiss in Europe, though I suspect that has greatly diminished as well. I once heard of a study that was done on American teenagers compared with teenagers in Europe. They found that coming out of school, American teenagers where all either walking alone barely acknowledging anyone around them, hunched over looking at their cell phones, or if they were in a group, they were not making much contact with the others. The European teenagers, however, were quite the contrast. While they still had some of the same attributes, the researchers noticed that much more people where leaving the school with arms intertwined or holding hands or hugging goodbye. I wish I had a reference for this, but I was only told this by my professor in college. Though I don't have a reference, there are plenty of studies that show the importance of touch. One such being this article from the NY Times.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/health/23mind.html?_r=0

I believe the hesitation we have to be close to another person is primarily instinctive and primal. When we think of the period of the "Hunter Gatherer", or prehistoric time period, it's easy to see why we are hesitant to get close to anything. Back then getting close to another person or any living thing could potentially mean death, and if you think about it, we really haven't evolved much since then. We are still living life watching over out backs and being scared of death. So we trust nothing. And sure, we have good reason with the world we live in.

But just because it is instinctive does not mean it is what we need or really what our body wants. We need each other. We need physical touch. I don't know what it is but there is some sort of energy that is passed from one person to another when you are touched. Don't believe me? Watch this video and listen how these total strangers started to care for the others after just a brief moment of awkwardness.



We are social creatures and need to get back to being social..... And this is coming from one of the most anti social people you may know. I have some work to do.

What does the future hold?

Recently, I have been thinking about my job / career. I had a very good talk with Hannah the other day and think I have figured out some things, or at least think I am in the right direction. I'm going to try and duplicate what we talked about so I am going to start from the beginning.

I have pretty much been working my whole life. When I was 15 I got my first job working at a drive through convenience store in the tiny town I lived in. I started to save money the best I could and I believe I learned the value of money and work. In the subsequent years I have worked as a stocker, waiter, window washer, cart pusher, fast food worker, call center representative, customer support, salesman, cashier, field worker, sand blaster, welder assistant, graphic designer, musician, IT technician, and of course 2 years as a missionary. Work is not a foreign concept to me or maybe better to say I have no idea what life is like without working. Even in the few times when I was not working it usually only took a few days before I was board out of my mind. Most, if not all, of these jobs were not taken in the hopes of finding joy in my work, but were, in fact, taken to pay the bills. What I realized in talking to Hannah is that in the years of working at these jobs I completely forgot or perhaps never learned that you could actually WANT to go to work; that it might actually be possible to go to your job and feel accomplished or feel genuinely happy there. For years my job was just a means to stay alive and hold off until the days off, but I have realized that that is just meager living. I need to find something that fulfills me.

There is a slight problem with this. It has been said that you should find something you are passionate about and make a career out of it. Unfortunately, my three passions in life are my family, music, and art. My family being the most important.

I love music and have actually taken much of my time to learn quite a bit about it. As far back as I can remember I have been playing some sort of instrument. In order to make it in the music industry you really have to be willing to give up quite a bit. One of the biggest things that I have discovered is that you have to give up much of your family life and that is just not something I well ever be willing to give up. So that leave out music, and no, I don't want to teach it either! ;)

With art I would not have to sacrifice my family, however, the pay for any type of artist, graphic or otherwise, is not much to support a family on. The only artists that seem to make a decent amount of money are the ones that have been working at it for years and have established their artistry. I originally thought this would be the best field to go into and actually got a degree in graphic design. The problem here is that everyone is a "graphic designer" or at least thinks they are. When you are a small business owner and you need some graphic work done you are looking for the cheapest way possible. Who are you going to pick; the guy down the street that has played with Photoshop for a while and will make you a logo for free or the graphic designer that is going to charge you $20-$30 an hour? Graphic designers are a dime a dozen and they are all trying to make a name for themselves.

I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I can at least see the direction I should go, and that is encouraging. I'm just confused is all. The good news is that I am hopeful!... Don't ask me tomorrow because that might change, but right now I am good! :)

Your thoughts are appreciated.

~ Ron Beck

Faith, Hope, Charity

So this isn't a baby update. That is in a week and a day. But there have been many things on my mind and I wanted to write them out. It's kinda long. Basically, It is a part of my witness (testimony) of truth! Read at your own risk.



I have a boss, K, who came out and did annual inspections with me on Thursday. (Quick update: I am an apartment manager for a 51-unit complex). After a long day (like from 9 to 3 straight) my boss left. I told her we (Ron and I) were going on a date to Lake Oswego. She wished me luck. I didn't tell her that I was going to the Temple with my husband because I didn't feel like explaining what it was all about. While we were doing inspections we came across a good handful of religious people (the decor in their homes were a dead give away). I asked her if she was religious. She answered no. During the endowment session all I could think about was my boss. She is a single 32 year old woman who lives alone and works super hard. I thought about what would happen if she joined the church. I thought about how being a single adult in our church is really hard. Anything outside of the "normal" is hard. With all that being said, the answer I kept getting was "Hope". The Savior brings Hope to all of God's children. As long as we are making and keeping covenants, we have hope, and we are not lost. We are known to the Great Shepherd.

Which brings me to my next thought: I want to make it home. And the only way I can do that is by following truth and eternal laws. Today I went to the library and before going in, I was stopped by a couple of people asking if I supported Same-Sex Marriage in the state of Oregon. I had to stop and think about what they were asking because I was rushing. But this is how I responded: "I believe in equal rights, but I also believe in the institution of Marriage." I love that in a simple, non-offensive, but straightforward way, I was able to share my beliefs with others not of my faith. Too often I find it hard to "open my mouth" and share the knowledge that I have gained through personal experience. I know that Marriage is ordained of God and that anything that goes against eternal law (in this case the Law of Chastity) is not what I want.

Which brings me to my last thought: the annual general Relief Society meeting that occurs every last Saturday of September. Tonight they especially focused on making and keeping covenants and how our love for Jesus Christ is indicative of our love for him and Heavenly Father. It has become clearer to me how much God really loves His children and how he has made it possible to return to live with Him. In the endowment session with Ron, I felt the love of Heavenly Father and how important it is to him that all of his children who choose to live with him, come back to him.

Like so many other times, words fail me this evening. I have been greatly edified by the Spirit and its personal teachings to me of what this life is truly about, of how I want to get back to Heavenly Father and how to go about help others who want to return to him, return to him.

These are some of the things I KNOW:
-I am a daughter of God.
-I can return to live with him someday.
-There has been a plan given so I can become like him.
-He loves me more than any words can express. And he loves all of his children that way.
-I love him and I show him this love by making and keeping promises with him to live the way he has commanded me to live.
-The promises I have made are real and binding. They bring me peace and hope and courage to endure to the end.
-I want to live my life in a way that people can tell I love God and that that is what will bring them most happiness in this life.
-I want to shout it from the rooftops that I know God lives and loves us and has given us a way to be truly happy and return to live with him FOREVER.

These are just SOME of the things I know. I believe all things, I hope all things, I have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, I seek after these things.

-Hannah Richins Beck

The Best Description of Depression I Have Ever Come Across

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html

This is a repost of a blog that describes depression in a way I have never been able to explain before. It is from a blog called Hyperbole and a Half. It is full of funny every day life type things, but the writer has depression and explains how it works. For those of you who have depression you should read this post because it will astound you at how accurate it is, and for those of you who don't have depression; you NEED to read this post because if you don't you will never understand how it feels to be depressed. Honestly, you probably won't understand anyway, but at least you will begin to understand. Anyway, you read it. It's really long, but it is WELL worth the time.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html

Shane: 3 Months!

So Shane is now 3 months old as of yesterday. However, he is so "healthy" he looks like anywhere from a 4 to 6 month old.

He has found his hands and loves to gnaw on them. He has rolled over about 20 times total. He goes 2.5 hours between feedings and sleeps 8 to 9 hours straight at night. He is super strong and can hold up his head incredibly well. He sits in his "bumbo" all by himself and is usually on the counter while Mommy makes dinner. He has kicked himself off the couch twice already. He has almost outgrown his baby tub and is now too big for his swing. I don't know how much he weighs because that is at his 4 month checkup, but he was 14.5 lbs and 24.5 inches long at his 3month, 1week checkup. He has about outgrown his size 2 diapers but we are finishing up the package that we got on sale. Highly considering doing cloth diapering after this bag is done. We haven't decided yet, but it is very attractive. We just got called into Primary as team teachers, so he goes to Grandma Mecham during 2nd and 3rd hour. She said he was giggling up a storm today. I am grateful for people who love babies and are trustworthy enough to take care of my little man while I serve other places.

Oh, and my favorite part so far: He talks!


As always: Pictures and videos below.

Shane Update: 2 Months

So a guy I grew up with had a baby boy the same exact day as I did (well his wife did) and she posts his progress every once in a while and I never want to post because of that, but I really appreciate knowing that Shane is pretty on par with his peers.

Anyways, here is what we have been up to the last month.

No matter how much I tried to keep the blanket off his face, he always put it back.

It was really hot this summer. A lot of the houses/apartments in this area don't have central air because it isn't really super needed. But this is the result: super sweaty infant.

We introduced a bottle at night to make sure he got enough milk and also to give mommy a break from seeing and feeding baby all day. Love this kid, but it can be a little overwhelming at times.

Loves bath time! Ron usually bathes him and I love seeing the interaction.

Still doing a ton of this. The average schedule is sleep 8 hours, wake up, eat for about 20 mins every two hours and take mini naps in between.

Ron liked this picture better.

Shane is starting to "see" more things. He really likes light and really colorful things.

Visiting one of mommy's favorite friends. She is a good photographer!

The photographer!

Love this picture! Becky rocks!

The whole reason for our trip to Utah: A family reunion. Loved seeing Aunt Rosie and Mom.

Just recently has figured out what his hands are and sucking them like crazy.

It was a crazy busy month too. We moved from Vancouver, WA to Aloha, OR (west of Portland). I also started an onsite manager position, which has been going okay so far. Life is good! Hope to post more often, but it is kinda hard with doing everything right now. So you might not see me for a little while.

My Happiness Changes Constantly

My happiness is derived from the things I love. I love those things because I am passionate about them. My passion stems from my beliefs, and what I believe is constantly changing. Thus, my happiness changes constantly...

First, lets get off on the right foot. This idea is not always a bad thing. When I say my happiness changes constantly I do not just mean it goes down. It also goes up from time to time as well. What I would like to do is analyze this realization of mine one sentence at a time and I will explain my thoughts.

My happiness is derived from the things I love.

This is quite simple and is probably the same way most of you receive your happiness. The things I love make me happy, and by happy I mean joy. I am not talking about just laughing at a funny movie or the temporary relief that comes from various substances. I am talking about the joy you feel that stays with you. It is the joy that is always there even if you are in a bad mood or feeling down. It's the happiness that truly never leaves. These joys are hard to find and even harder to recognize. What is true joy and what is just being happy?

In my opinion this can be compared to the way a teenager feels when they meet their first "love" and the way they feel when they truly meet the love of their life. When we are in that first relationship we feel giddy and excited. We often describe this feeling with phrases like "They are all I can think about!" or "I get butterflies in my stomach!". Although these are happy feelings that are wonderful to feel, they do not last. Eventually we think about something else and the butterflies fly away. That's just life.

I love those things because I am passionate about them

For me the lasting joys that I desire come from those things I diligently search for and work hard to keep. These are the things that I am truly passionate about. Examples of these things in my life are my wife, my child, my religion, and things that I have found continual peace with such as playing guitar or being in nature. These things bring me joy, and I know this because I leave them feeling uplifted and lighter. It is not the masked feeling of "Its all I can think of!" It is the real feeling of the burdens being lifted. When you go and do something that just takes your mind of of your burdens it is like putting a bandage on a wound, but when you immerse yourself in those things that you are truly passionate about then that is like going to the doctor and taking the medicine you need to get better.

My passion stems from my beliefs

Not all things that I am passionate about stem from my beliefs, but those that do are the ones of which I speak. They are the ones that bring real joy. Although I find playing video games or buying Magic cards fun and I am actually passionate about them, they are not the things that bring true joy. This may be confusing for some to understand and even more confusing to find the difference in your own life, but try to keep up. :)

I don't know if you are like me, but my core beliefs are deep rooted. No one can change my mind about what i truly believe except myself and one of those beliefs is the importance of family. My family is everything to me. They are literally the reason why I do everything I do. This may sound bad, but I don't really care about myself. If everything were up to me and me alone I would probably be some beach bum somewhere never taking a shower with long raggedy hair, but I'm not and that's because I would be shirking my responsibilities as a husband and father. I have worked all my life to uphold the values that I believe in and those beliefs are what define my actions and therefor my life.

What I believe is constantly changing

Every single one of us work from the moment we have cognitive thought to find what it is that we truly belief in. Whether it is about religion, how we act with our friends, what our occupation is, or even what food we eat; we are constantly changing our beliefs. Some beliefs stay deep rooted and never change, others change the moment we have a significant talk with a good friend or after reading a good book. We go throughout our life trying to find what we believe without even realizing that those things we thought we knew are beginning to change. What I want everyone to know is that this is normal. And thank God for that! Can you imagine what your life would be like if you still believed everything you did when you were 5? Santa would still be real, cartoons would still be an accurate representation of everyday life, and farts would still be comedy gold!! (Ok, so maybe that's still true...) We change are beliefs constantly and this is a good thing.

Thus, my happiness changes constantly...

Finally, this brings me to the point of this post. Because of the constantly changing nature of our lives and how we change our own view points; our lives are filled with ups and downs. We all experience ups and downs and may even hate them, but they are the natural order of things. On top of all of that, you must remember that others are going through the same thing you are. Therefore, when someone gives you a snotty look or cuts you off in traffic, maybe something has changed in their life and their viewpoints have changed. Does that make them wrong? If you are thinking "yes" then remember that the next time you give someone a snotty look or cut someone off...because everyone has those days.

A good example of this is the most significant change in my life to date: the birth of my son. This was easily one of the most exciting, stressful, hard, amazing, trying, and important moments of my life. As you might expect, this even has taken me on an emotional roller coaster. Having a baby is hard! It's very taxing both mentally and physically, and yet people go through it again and again. Why do you think that is? It's because it's rewarding. and they reward outweighs the trials.

I guess what I am saying is life is hard, and it's actually meant to be that way. I constantly go through ups and downs both because of my depression and because...well, I am alive. I once heard a great quote from a book series I read and I completely agree. I don't remember it verbatim, but it basically said pain is an essential part of life and living. It is pain that helps remind us we are alive.

Shane: 1 month update

One of my best friends posts when her kids have significant milestones. So I am going to try and follow this format. I really like it and it causes me to have to reflect over the past 4 weeks to see how a little person has grown so much.

Hope you enjoy!

The day he was born.

This is where we started out!

Mama holding him in the operating room.

 

In the recovery room. Our first family portrait.

Still in the recovery room. Look how tuckered he is. He just got yanked out of his mama. I would be tired too.

His second day here! With some of the visitors that came. We were lucky to have just the right amount come and visit. Thanks to all who came and were conscious of the time you stayed. His mama really appreciated not having to kick anyone out for overstaying their welcome. (Love you all!)

Peacefully slumbering in our room.

The real audience catcher. Seriously, how can he looks so cute so early?!

Papa Mark!

and Minky! (Yes, you can call him Tre)

The day we got home. It was our 2nd anniversary so this is Shane and us. Please don't mind the puffy face. Because I had an IV with tons of fluid and salt, it took a couple of days for my puffiness to go down. Nanny and Poppy arrived the next day.

 He was blessed on 6-16-2013. He was 9 days old. The members of his blessing circle were: Ronald D. Beck Jr. (he gave the blessing, this is is Daddy), Kelly Fielding (Bishop), Laron Fisk, Mark Temperini, Ronald D. Beck Sr., Robert J. Richins Jr. It was a simple, sweet blessing. We are very lucky to have this little man in our presence. He has a great work to do.

Daddy getting him ready for the big day.

Everyone in the Family. (Missing Papa and Nana Miller, but they were there in Spirit)

Nanny and Poppy Beck

Sweet expression.

 And the party after the blessing..... More like lunch.

3 generation picture. Maybe we can photoshop Grandpa Larry Beck into the picture.

Minky is holding him.

Minky and Papa. Love it!

Poppy is holding him. 

We didn't really take pictures after Nanny and Poppy left. Mainly because Hannah is a photographer, but doesn't always think about taking the camera out.

So, these are the latest ones.

Love you all! Excited for this next month and all the adventures that are coming.

Afternoon of the 4th of July. We had the sliding glass door open and he slept through all of the noises.

And this is today: July 7th, 2013. Happy 1 month old baby. Sorry for the poor resolution. It was from my camera phone that is old school.