So...I'm Into

Lately I am into...

 

Cards.  Lots of cards.

There's something about a small package of pretty cards that makes me so happy. 

I find myself in the card aisle of every store I walk into that has one and almost always

walk out with a stack.  Or two :)

 

Here are some of my favorites. 

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 Cheap Sunglasses

Old Navy $5                      Charming Charlie $12

Charming Charlie $12                  Forever 21 $5                     Urbanwear $7

 

Yes I have more.  Yes I have a thing for American Flags.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Gold Jewelry

Not pictured, but ever present in my closet.  Lots of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and now a watch (haven't worn a watch in y-e-a-r-s).  But I am a huge fan.  And yes, of course, like my sunglasses all the jewelry is pretty cheap :)  I like buying stuff too much

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Running!  Lots of running! 

           

Once again it is training time for the American Fork Half Marathon - my favorite. 

This time around we have a group of six that run every M/W/F/Sa mornings.

I absolutely love running.  Running is my favorite.

And I can't wait for it to warm up and lighten up around, say, 6am every day.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Summer Mix 2014

Love it.  Listening to it right now.

And Imagine Dragons - really into them, or should I say, him :)

 

I just love music.  Love love love.

But believe it or not, I do not love listening to music while I run.

Hate hate hate.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

 Flat Shoes

Lots and lots of flat shoes.

More American Flags.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Aztec Print

Shoes.  Bag.  Shirt.  Pillow.  Cards.  Rug.

Love it.

Kind of obsessed

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Family History!

By far the coolest thing I have done in a long time is find family names that need temple work done - like hundreds of names! - and go to the temple to do the work.  So very cool. 

And now I'm kind of obsessed. 

 

I love searching familysearch.org for family members and am so excited to get all of their work done.  I am set for the next few years!  And have plans to get my family members to work as well ;)

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Date Night

I love date night.

I love that we have date night.

I love that it is a priority.

I love having it to look forward to every week.

I love how it makes our marriage better.  And stronger.

I just love my husband, and I love spending time with him.

He's my favorite.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

My Family

These guys are my world.

I've never loved being a wife and a mom as much as I do now.

Seriously - I'm not just saying that.

 

There is so much joy that comes from raising a family and committing myself to these people.

I wouldn't trade this life for any other.  I feel so very blessed.

 

I am a strong believer in families.

Families are central to God's plan, and yes, He has a plan for us.

I believe that.  And I believe we are meant to have joy.

And my family brings me joy.
So much joy.

 

 

 

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So...Zoo Date

This month was Second Daughter's turn to go on a date with mom & dad, and she got to go with her best friend too!  It was so much fun to double with our friends and their daughter to the zoo and out to dinner.  Second Daughter was so excited and the night ended up being all she imagined it would be :)  This time with her was so great.  It's important to break away from all the craziness and have a chance to reconnect and remember all the things we love about each other.  Dating (including my kids) is awesome.

Best buddies.

I love these two.

Best monkey buddies - look how their tails are braided together!  So sweet.

 I found this hilarious.  As if a sloth isn't lazy enough, let's give him a hammock.

 

We decided to throw kid dates into the rotation of our date nights and it has been fantastic.  Some friends of ours have been doing this with their kids for years and we always knew we wanted to do something like it too.  We used to use date nights as incentive to encourage our kids to do good things, complete chores, etc., but we decided we didn't want our kids to have to earn time with us.  We want to just give it to them.  We want them to know they are important to us and that dating isn't only an opportunity for mom & dad to get away from the kids.  Dating is a way that we can strengthen our relationships by having fun together and creating great memories. 

 

Since our Sons have come into our lives, we have noticed some of our children needing a little extra attention and reassurance, and we haven't always been able to meet those needs as often and consistently as we want (and need) to.  These dates have been such a great thing for them and a way to fill their "love tanks."

 

Second Daughter still talks about how much fun she had, and has already started making plans for her next date.  Actually, she started planning the next before this one even happened :)  Love that girl.

 

Speaking of date night...

Husband and I get to go out tomorrow night just the two of us.

It seems like it's been a very long time since we've had a date night to ourselves.

We've had a blast going out with friends, family, and our kids, going to the temple (and sitting far away from each other), but we are excited to have some one-on-one time tomorrow night.

 

I really love dating my husband.

I really like him.  :)

 



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So...Magical Moments

I had one today.

One of those magical moments that you want to freeze in time forever / that seem to be in slow motion / when the memories being made are almost tangible / that you never want to forget, down to every little detail.

I had one today.

 

It was when I was pushing these two boys on the swings after an hour running through the splash pad - huge smiles and pure joy on their faces.  I realized how much I love these kiddos, at this time, at this age, at this point in my life. 

 

I never want to forget my children like this - running carefree through the splash pad water :: making new friends instantly :: flying across the monkey bars :: hugging each other and laughing together as water sprays in their faces and up their noses :: losing their breath as they run through the freezing cold waterfall :: kissing those squishy cheeks :: giving underdogs over and over again :: involuntary laughing and giggling :: playing so hard until they crash :: soaking in the sun :: sneaking sips of my diet coke when I'm not looking (or so they think) :: thinking sitting on top of the water sprayer is the most hilarious thing in the world :: spending our days together :: being the center of their world :: filling my heart with one smile :: being so happy and not knowing if I'm gonna laugh or cry about it.

 

These moments are the best and are such a gift. 

I know I'm gonna miss this and I'm so trying to soak in every second.

 

 

 

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So...Mama Lion

Lately I have gotten the most satisfaction from just lying on the ground and letting my kids climb and crawl all over me.  Whether on the floor in the playroom, on my bed, or on the grass under a tree, this is my most favorite form of quality time with the kids. 

It doesn't require getting in the car, putting on shoes, a stroller, a diaper bag, or getting somewhere on time. We are not rushing through activities, moving from one thing to the next, making sure kids are acting a certain way, not touching things they aren't supposed to, not climbing on things, not running away, or not bothering other people.  There is no agenda, no expectations, and no limit to this time we spend together.  It is time literally doing nothing, but sometimes nothing really means everything.

This time is full of hugs and kisses, laughing and giggling, tickling, singing, funny faces and funny noises.  It is time when they are everything and there are no distractions.  I feel like a mother lion with her cubs climbing all over her and I absolutely love it.  There is something that feels so good, so natural, and so right about doing nothing but just being together.  It is important time.

These are the moments we can all soak in - time slowed down, spent just being together. 
It is my favorite.

I know it won't last forever, so I'm trying to get as much of this time in as I can.
Everything else can wait, cause I don't want to miss this time with my babies.



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So...Things I'm Learning Through Motherhood::08

08::It's Not About Me, It's About Them
If you read this blog, you definitely know about my battle with not feeling good enough and constantly thinking about things I need to improve on.  This battle of mine definitely applies to motherhood as well.

You see, I live in the most amazing place with the most amazing people.  But the problem sometimes is, I live in the most amazing place with the most amazing people.  I see wonderful, amazing, talented women all around me and think "she's such a good mother, she does such-and-such and such-and-such, and I wish I did that as good as her, and my kids are missing out because I'm not doing this or that, and they deserve to have a mother like that, and I'm just not that good at this whole mother thing...etc...etc..." 

Well, it doesn't go exactly like that, but that's the gist of it and often the conclusion I come to.
(I'm telling you, it's a battle.)

And so then I get focused on the things I need to be better at. 
I get focused on me and me being a better person and me feeling good about me.
I worry that so-and-so thinks this or that about me or my kids and I just need to be better and that will fix it and everyone will think that I'm great. 
I can get so wrapped up in "being a better mom" (whatever that even means) or just "being a better person" (because I'm trying to be who I want them to be, remember?) that sometimes I forget to watch, and listen, and see how my kids even feel about it and what they really need from me.

Is it me that thinks I need to be better, or is it them that actually need me to be better?
Is it me or them that are unhappy with the way things are going or who I am?

Most of the times it's just my own insecurities and self-comparisons that make me feel that I need to be doing things differently and be better at certain things that other people are just better at than me.  Sometimes it's my own pride and my desire to be really great at what I do, which right now is motherhood.  Sometimes I lose focus on what ultimately is important - my relationship with God, my kids, my husband, and what our family needs - and get too focused on me, me, me.

The truth is, the kids usually don't even notice the things that I notice I fall short at.
They think I'm the best mom in the world (they've told me so), and we are a great family, and they are really happy kids.
We are happy and we love each other and we are not perfect, but we are trying our best and we have fun together.

Which brings me to some conclusions I've come to with this whole thing -

It really isn't about me.

It is good to have the desire to be better.
It is good to want to be my best self and to learn what that is.
It is good to want to be my best self for the sake of my family.
It is good to look to other people as examples and inspirations.
It is good to evaluate the way things are going and to be honest with myself about changes that need to happen.

It is not OK to be jealous, or envious, or compare my weaknesses to another's strengths.
That is destructive.
It is not OK to be self-centered and so focused on what I need/want/do/am all the time.
That is selfish.

It is not necessary for me to be great at all things right now.
It is OK to be working on one thing at a time and to take time doing it.
In fact, I think that's the way it should be.

But when it comes to being a mother, I am learning and realizing that it is important to keep perspective on the what and why - I am trying to be my best self for them, not for me.

I want to be positive, patient, loving, and slow to anger so they always feel loved and accepted and supported and confident in who they are and the family they come from.

I want to let go of my pride and my need for recognition and do all I can for them so that they learn that leadership is not about control or acclaim, but love and service.

I want to find joy in every aspect of motherhood so my girls look forward to being mothers and my boys learn to honor women and mothers.

I want to smile every day so they know that happiness is a choice and that there always is good to be found in even the hardest days.

I want to keep my house clean and organized so they feel comfortable and peaceful when they're home - and teach them how to clean and organize it too :)

I want to take the time to talk and listen and just be with each one of them so they know that people are important and it's important to give people time.

I want to hug them when they're sad and kiss them when they're hurt so they know that I care about how they're feeling, what they're going through, and assure them that everything will be OK.

I want to be silly and laugh and play so they know how to and they don't take themselves too seriously.

I want to share my testimony freely and speak of Christ often so they know where to turn for peace, forgiveness, and healing.

I want to do things that are hard and sometimes scary so they have courage to do the same.

I want to cherish my relationship with Husband and love him in every way so they know what love looks like and that it can be found.

I want to give compliments freely to them and to others so they know how to see the good in other people.

I want to say please and thank you and sorry and how can I help? so that they know how to say it too.

I want to try to be my best so they have the courage to be their best.

I want to take time to run, and read, and write, and be with my friends, and develop my talents so they know that it's important to take care of yourself. 

I want to go to church, read my scriptures, say my prayers, have family home evening, and go to the temple so they know that true happiness comes from keeping the commandments and following the Lord.

I want to be patient, and kind, and thoughtful, and careful, and diligent, and hard-working, and trustworthy, and confident, and all of the things I hope them to be.

I want to keep secrets so they know that they can tell me anything.

I want them to know that love sometimes looks like hard-work and sacrifice and diligence - not perfection.

I want to be better at all of these things, not so that they and others think that I'm so great, but so that they can be great by learning from me as one of their examples.

Because everything I do, everything I work on, everything I want to be, is ultimately for them.
Because being a mom is not about me, it's all about them.    



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So...Because of Him

Easter Sunday 2014

 

Maybe you get sick of hearing it, but I'm not going to stop saying it -

I am so in love with this family of mine and feel so blessed to be a part of it.

 

They are everything to me.

They are my reason and motivation for everything I do.

They are a rock that keeps me grounded and the source of my daily joy.

I cannot even describe the amount of love and gratitude I have for this little family of mine.

 

I feel privileged to be mother of this family - even though I'm still figuring a lot of that out and working on my attitude/perspective/patience/endurance - deep down I always know that it is an honor and a privilege and my greatest blessing to be mother of this family.

I really do know that.

 

When I think of my family, when I really think of the miracle and blessing of this family, the best way to describe how I feel is "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me." 

 

And because of Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the covenants Husband and I made in the temple and strive to keep every day, we get to be together forever as a family.  How amazing is that?!

 

What an incredible blessing.

Glory be to God!  His name we praise!

 

 

 

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So...Six Months

 

 

This beautiful boy is six months old today.

I can hardly stand how scrumptious and kissable he is.

He is so so cuddly and I absolutely love it.

I am thankful every day for this little boy of my dreams.

How did I get so lucky?

Happy Half Birthday Pooh!

Love love love you!

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So...Right Now...

First Daughter right now...

::is almost 9 years old!
::is entering her pre-teens.  or at least it feels like it!
::is not a girly girl, but loves makeup and nail polish.
::loves her rainbow loom!
::is currently reading Hugo Cabret and really loves it.
::is in third grade.
::participates in an accelerated math and science class. 
::loves math!
::loves her friends.
::has been experimenting with fashion. 
::is such a good example to me of choosing to smile.
::has a magnetic personality.
::loves being a little mama to her baby brothers.
::loves being a boss to her little sisters - or at least tries to :)
::copies a lot of what I do - the good and the bad.  I need to be careful!
::is not afraid to try anything - she is so brave!
::can be dramatic at times, but is really good at working through her emotions.
::loves one-on-one time.
::loves long talks with mom.
::loves listening to music.
::tries hard to do the right thing - even when it's hard.
::really doesn't like consequences (she has told me so)
::loves having late-overs with her friends.
::loves doing makeovers - especially when there is glitter involved.
::loves Just Dance.
::is the best big sister we know.  she amazes me every day!
::is so loved and looked up to by all of us.



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So...Right Now...

Right now Second Daughter...

::loves to help mom.  especially with cooking.
::talks a lot.  she really really likes to talk :)
::is so thoughtful and remembers everything.
::is a great friend.
::is starting piano.  she is nervexcited (nervous + excited).
::loves animals.  especially foxes.
::loves treats.  any kind of treats.
::loves being my shopping buddy.
::is so good at reading!
::has started singing with vibrato.  she has a beautiful voice.
::struggles to be patient with her little sister, but she is trying.
::is still our sensitive sweet soul.
::still prays every day for our family to be together forever.
::chats on the phone with her best friend.  they sing songs together on the phone and it is the most adorable thing ever.
::loves skinny jeans.
::loves to play Minecraft with her dad.
::has lost one tooth.  it was a very exciting day!
::is in first grade and loves it.
::is the first to complain, but also the first to obey.
::still loves cuddling with mom.
::loves to hold her baby brother, but is ready to give him back after about 2 minutes :)
::still loves to paint.
::makes up jokes that make no sense at all.
::raises her hand when she wants to talk at the dinner table or during family home evening.
::gets in "why" mode, and it's not my favorite...
::makes lists all the time.  especially when planning play dates with her friends.
::doesn't like anything that has to do with death, surgery, or hospitals.
::loves to read.
::loves one-on-one time.
::is full of so much love and concern for everyone in our family.
::is such an important part of our family - we love her!



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Right now Third Daughter...

::is growing up so fast.  i can't believe she's almost five!
::still makes us laugh constantly.
::loves making up jokes.  most of them don't make any sense, but that's what makes them so funny.
::still takes naps sometimes.  it is wonderful.
::is in her second year of preschool.
::is starting to sound out words - she wants so badly to read like her sisters.
::asks constantly for me to give her violin lessons.  i gave her one and she picked up quickly! 
::loves the music from Frozen.  she reenacts the entire song "Let It Go" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman"
::is a great playmate for Son #1.
::loves to play with mom.
::loves to play with her friends.
::is very strong willed.
::loves hot chocolate.
::has the craziest hair ever.  most days she looks like a homeless child. 
::has the cutest smile.
::still sucks on her fingers when she cuddles with her blankie.
::still is very attached to her blankie.
::makes up elaborate stories about her dreams.
::is learning how to whistle.
::loves honey sandwiches.
::gets giant crocodile tears when she's sad.
::has a fascination with bandaids - she needs them for everything.
::loves to hold Son #2.
::loves vanilla soy milk.
::loves to wear her cupcake outfit.
::loves to wear jammies even more.
::is trying really hard to be a good listener.  she struggles with this, but she's trying!
::has a magnetic personality.
::is super outgoing, but sometimes gets shy.  it's always surprising when this happens.
::loves to swim in our hot tub.
::is so funny and so much fun to have in our family.



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So...Right Now...

Right now Son #1...

 

::doesn't mind wearing pink boots.  that's what happens when you have three older sisters...

::is 23 months old.

::is almost double his brother's weight at a whopping 38 lbs.

::loves loves loves the moon.  he will sit on our front step and wait for it to rise over the mountains.  he also knows the moon comes up when it gets "gark"

::also loves loves loves buses.  he calls them "b's"

::loves watching Winnie the Pooh (actually it's Piglet's Big Movie).  he calls it "Poohs"

::calls French fries "hot dogs." 

::loves both his mom and his dad a lot, but is really good buddies with his dad.  (and his mom)

::is the sweetest boy. 

::will spontaneously give hugs and kisses.  it is the sweetest.

::has just learned all his siblings' names.  he still calls Son #2 "baby"

::seems to learn new words every day, but still definitely has his own language.  i kinda don't want him to ever change.  or grow up.

::loves every kind of ball.  he has a really good arm too!

::will probably be left-handed.  that's our guess.

::has drawn on almost every wall in our house.

::has the cutest high kick happy dance.

::has been known to throw toy cars.  or any toy for that matter.  it's kinda dangerous.

::still drinks milk from a bottle and i totally don't care.  i kinda want him to stay a baby forever.

::can climb out of his crib, but we keep him contained with a crib tent.

::can unlock the front door.  including the dead bolt.

::thinks it's funny when I chase him down the sidewalk.  or the street.

::loves to play outside.

::has pretty bad eczema.  this cold, dry weather is hard on his skin :(

::loves water, or "wa-wa."  mostly for dumping out.

::gets really excited when we can understand him.  he gets a huge smile on his face and says, "Ya!"

::gets really sad when we leave him.  whenever someone comes over he gets pretty apprehensive and clings on to me or Husband's leg.  once we leave he's fine though.

::tries to be a good friend and is learning to share.

::can play with cars for hours.  he likes lining them up on the window sill or racing them down our banister.

::loves being a big brother.

::loves airplanes.

::can scream like a girl.  actually, better than any of the girls in this house.  he does it a lot and it always makes me laugh.  (his dad doesn't laugh - he encourages him to scream like a man)

::pulls his sisters' hair when he wants what they have.  we do not encourage it, but I have to admit it's a smart move...

::hits and throws stuff sometimes.  we are working on this :)

::loves to help unload the dishwasher and knows where almost everything goes in our kitchen.

::loves suckers.  like, really loves them.  they are "guckers,"

::might be the cutest little boy in the entire world.  i kinda want him to stay this way forever.  wait, did i already say that?

::makes us all so happy and we all love being around him.

 

 

 

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So...Right Now...

Right now Son #2...

 

::is five months old

::is 20 lbs of pure decliciousness

:;is the most cuddly baby we have ever had.  by far.

::still nurses, but takes a bottle well and loves rice cereal.

::wakes up 1-2 times a night.

::still sleeps in the baby burrito.

::is gaining more control of his hands and can reach and grab things intentionally.  still takes quite a bit of concentration, but he is a focused little man.

::loves his mama.  she loves him too :)

::has brown eyes.

::has a huge smile.

::gets excited with his entire body.

::loves the excer-saucer and the jumping thing that hangs in the doorway.

::loves to put his fists in his mouth.

::is wearing size 12 month clothes and is growing out of size 3 diapers.

::is the biggest five month old we've had.

::shows his love by either grabbing your face, sucking on your nose, spitting up all over you, or D) all of the above.

::is extremely ticklish.  he grunts when you tickle his tummy.

::can't quite sit up but does pretty well with a little support.

::holds a steady crunch position when we lay him down on his back.  he should really take up pilates.

::really loves the geometric stretchy ball thingy he got for Christmas.

::also really loves his Sophie giraffe.  he chews on her nose.

::still takes a binkie.

::likes to watch Winnie the Pooh and Yo Gabba Gabba with his brother.

::likes to hang out with his sisters in their room on Saturday mornings.

::doesn't like Husband's scruffy face.

:drools a lot.

::loves to be held.

::loves grabbing his blankie and holding it to his face.

::giggles when we change his diaper.

::enjoys taking baths.

::likes riding in the car, but does not like it when we aren't moving.

::is a good sport - we haul him around to all the kids activities and he spends a lot of time in his car seat

::loves it when we sing "the Wheels on the Bus" or "If You're Happy and You Know It" with brother.

::has the sweetest coo-ing sound.  i really think he's trying to say "I love you."

::is loved so much by all of his siblings.  they all love to hold him.

::is such a blessing to our family.  he completes us :)

 

 

 

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Monday Memories 069::If You're Happy And You Know It

Third Daughter, 8 months old, November 2009

 

Videos like this make me so happy.  And a little teary.

I am so incredibly thankful to be mama to this sweet little girl.

And so thankful to have moments like this captured on film.

 

 

 

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So...A Day in My 2005 Life

a day in the life for me in 2005 in the first year of First Daughter's life...

I never woke up to alarm clock.  Morning began whenever I heard noises coming from First Daughter's room.  They were almost always happy noises - coos, giggles, babbles.  I would usually lay in bed for a bit, listening to her sweet sounds coming from the next room.  The image in my head of her grabbing her toes, chatting away with herself in her crib mirror, and rubbing her nose into her favorite blankie always started my day with a smile.  It was a quiet, peaceful way to start the morning.  We were never in a rush to get up and get going.

She always greeted me with a giant smile and eyes that seemed to say, "There you are.  I was wondering when you'd come."  I would grab her solid body under her armpits and lift her high enough to nuzzle my nose in her neck, just below her warm, squishy cheek.  Post-sleeping baby cheeks are my absolute favorite.

We would talk and sing songs while I changed her diaper and got her dressed.  There was another mirror next to her changing table so she could smile at herself some more.  I would talk to her about her toes and her tummy and play peek-a-boo pulling her shirt over her head.  When she was finally dressed I always stood her up on her changing table so she could show me how strong her legs were.  She would show off with little jumps and a proud smile which always results in a reward of a giant hug and kiss from me.  I couldn't help myself.

Sometimes we would stay in her room for a bit and cuddle up on the Big Blue Chair for more songs and snuggles.  But usually we made our way to the couch by the big window with the amazing view of the trees.  I would stand her on my lap and with her hands on my shoulder she would stare at those trees.  Shivers of excitement would wiggle through her body and every so often she would stamp her foot for emphasis.  I would grab her hands with my fingers and lean her body into mine just enough for me to rest my nose on her cheek and my mouth by her chin.  I brushed my face along hers as much as I could.  I loved her smell, her sounds, her touch - everything about her.  I loved watching her as she discovered the world - simple things like trees outside our window.

 

First Daughter loved trees.  A lot.  Sometimes I would position her swing in front of our sliding glass door and she would be happy staring at the trees for about an hour.  No joke.  I could do the same in front of our fish tank - she loved those fish!  I don't remember what I did during that time, but I'm sure I sat and watched her.  At least part of the time.  I did a lot of that back then.  She was my most favorite thing.

Every day we went on a long walk.  If the weather was nice, it was outside on the hospital trail or in the neighborhoods by our apartment.  When the snow came, we were on the indoor track at the Orem Rec Center.  We walked for at least 1 1/2 hours everyday.  I enjoyed showing her the trees, flowers, clouds, animals, everything we passed.  I talked to her about everything we saw and would stop to touch leaves, flower pedals, and grass.  When she slept I enjoyed the quiet time to myself.  No music, no chatting with a friend, just the sounds of the world around me, my thoughts, and my heart full of love for my sweet little girl.  Those walks were my favorite thing about that time.

 

At some point in the day we called Husband.  We didn't have unlimited texting then (I actually didn't text at all) so we weren't in constant contact throughout the day.  I loved that he called me every day to tell me he loved me and to hear my voice.  Sometimes I would call him when First Daughter was especially talkative so he could hear her babbling away.  He worked only a few miles away, but we missed him a lot while he was gone.  I took tons of pictures so he wouldn't miss anything and so I wouldn't ever forget anything.

We had a small box of toys in our living room, a baby swing, a boppy, and one of those toys that hangs over the baby while they lay on the ground.  We would spend our time at home rotating from toys, to swing, to boppy, to toys, to tummy time, to singing more songs, to snuggling.  First Daughter was born with Torticollis so we structured her play around changing her positions often to stretch and strengthen her neck muscles.  We also had some physical therapy stretches and exercises we needed to do every day.  She did not like those, but we did them anyway.

 

She took amazing naps for hours at a time.  Most days I couldn't stand not napping with her.  We would snuggle together on the bed or the couch and sleep until we both were too sweaty to stand it.  If I was careful enough, I could roll out of bed without waking her and she would nap a little longer while I did something like fold laundry.  But like most things, I preferred folding laundry with First Daughter by my side :)  So I'm not really sure what I did while she was napping.

Life was so incredibly simple then.  There was no texting, facebook, instagram, blogger, DVR, Netflix, social life (I only had two very close friends), outside pressures, etc.  All these things existed, they just weren't a part of my life and they weren't a given.  They weren't expected, by me or anyone else.  It was just me and her and I loved it. 

 

It was so easy to find the joy in each day.  She was it.  All my joy wrapped up in one tiny package.

I am so thankful that I had such an amazing experience as a first time mom.  I know that is not the case for every woman - the transition into full-time motherhood can be really difficult (I had my share of difficult transitions with other babies). Thankfully my first experience was pretty close to perfect.  I recognize how much of a blessing that is.  I wouldn't change a thing about it.  There wasn't a day I felt overwhelmed or a moment that I didn't want to spend with her.  Husband and I didn't even go on a date without her until she was 7 months old!  She taught me how to love motherhood and prepared me for her siblings to come.  I will always be so thankful for her and thankful she came first.

 

Motherhood is such a gift and a miracle.  I am so thankful for this opportunity I've been given and for the precious children that call me mama.

 

And I can't help but think how different my daily life is today... :)

 

 

 

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Thanks for stopping by!