Two weeks

I used to think that if I were given two weeks to live I would spend it rushing around the world seeing everything that I ever wanted to see, doing everything I always wanted to expirience and eating nothing but cakes and cookies (no vegetables). But now things have definitly changed. If I were given two weeks to live, I would spend it doing exactly what I am doing now (minus the working part). I would wake up and cuddle my baby, I would spend the day eating cheerios, climbing the stairs, singing songs, and eating up every last moment I possibly could with my sweet girl.

I know this seems like a random blog post, but it isn't. I have been blessed with good health, but I know there are others who haven't. I know of two distinct people who are going through this right as we speak. My heart aches for them and their families. I hate that there is nothing I can do or nothing I can say that can take the pain away. So instead I pray. It has caused me to take a deep look at my life and how I live each day. It has caused me to look at my loved ones a little differently today. I challenge you to do the same- each and every day. It's times like these I am grateful that I have a testimony of this gospel, that Christ lives and loves us and died so we can all be together again as families. That is the greatest blessing.

To be in the world but not of the world Part 1

What does that mean to you? I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Especially now that I raise a child in a world that is quickly and rapidly changing. I remember what it was like for me as a kid in junior high and high school. Do I really want her to go through that? And isn’t the world just completely unsafe? Should kids be able to explore the world as we did as kids? I remember being able to walk to Taco Bell with my friends a good mile from my house. Am I going to be able to let Sadie do those things?

I have come to terms that I hate the media. They twist and mold and skew our perception of everyday life. Do you know that this country is actually SAFER then it was in the 90’s? That crime is actually down??? That there were only 115 child abductions in 2006? Your kid has a one in a million chance of being abducted by a stranger. (Not trying to talk anyone out of teaching thier kid about safety here- It's very important!)

Did you know that there is a new term called helicopter parenting and it’s coddling our kids and not letting them make decisions and become independent thinkers? What are we doing to this new generations of kids who can’t tie their shoes because they use Velcro, or can’t figure out simple tasks, or decide for themselves if it’s ok to eat gummy bears for dinner. How about the fact that the over-use of antibacterial agents are actually causing us to become sicker because our immune systems have had no practice fighting off bacteria.

Maybe we need to step back, let our kids play and eat some dirt, walk to the park by themselves, and make decisions. We need to have a little faith in our kids. We need to teach them to be in the world but not of the world. We need to teach them how to stand up for their beliefs, how to kick and bite people tring to stash them in their creepy vans, and then teach them how to actually talk to strangers so that if something does happen they can get some help! But most of all we need to give them the opportunities to grow and experience life. Give them the opportunity to express their beliefs. No matter how much we coddle and shelter them, at some point we have to let go. Letting go will be much easier if they have been given the opportunity to be independent and flourish.

What are your thoughts? If you want to read more into this topic of helicopter parenting- I suggest you check out http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/

Her favorites

Friday the 8th was little miss Sadie's 1st birthday. We had celebrated her birthday the weekend before with all of her grandparents, some aunts and uncles and some friends. So this day was just a laid back enjoy Sadie day. The perfect type of day in my opinion. Since it was her day, we focused on doing her favorites all day long.

I spent the day climbing up and down the stairs with her, eating goldfish crackers, singing primary songs and dancing super silly, and there was lots of the very hungry caterpiller readings. That night we had cheese pizza, apple juice, and strawberries for dinner followed up with a chocolate cupcake. I even let her pick out some birthday balloons at the store (she chose the princess one, go figure right?).

I can't believe my little angel is one. I'm pretty sure it's not fair how fast that time goes by. I can say without doubt that this was the best year of my life. I have learned so much about me, Reid, and even the gospel. Love her, love life, and love you!

What morning looks like

This is what our mornings look like. A sleepy eyed but usually happy Sadie...

And some really cute bedhead. I love my little bug.

Ps. I'm really not that great of a person you might think I am (not that you do think I am a great person). Sometimes really stupid and pointless things annoy me. But I promise I am working on that.

a little embarrassed...

That is has been 6 months or so since I last posted. Every time I go to post I'm just so annoyed with myself and don't know how to catch up. So here we go, I'm doing it now!

In the last six months:

Reid went to Peru

We went to Washington DC

We had a family reunion in St. George

We went on an Alaskan Cruise

Sadie got teeth, learned how to crawl, says words (kinda),waves, high-fives, and a bunch more

We went to Japan

Reid is running a marathon with his sisters in Ireland to raise money for cancer (read about it here: http://www.fiveintraining.com)

Reid got a new job!

And much much oh so much more! Life is crazy. Definitly not perfect. But yes so tender! We have enjoyed every little infant moment we've had with Sadie and are preparing ourselves in a few weeks to say good-bye to infant Sadie and hello to Toddler Sadie as she turns one! I have learned so much about myself in the past year, and I can honestly say it has been the best (and hardest) year of my life!

Confessions of a WAHM

WAHM stands for work at home mom. And I have to admit that often times being a WAHM is glamorized as this wonderful mesh of being a stay at home mom and having a career- you know being able to have it all. But you can't. It's hard, wonderful and frustrating all at the same time. I really wouldn't have it any other way- well unless I could be a stay at home mom sans the working.

Here are some of my confessions, as awkward as they may be:

Most days I don't find time to eat till at least one or possibly later.

Yesterday my baby was still in the pjs that she was put in the day before, after her bath.

I'm often distracted from work by the piles of laundry, dirty dishes, dust and of course that gorgeous baby making the cutest sounds.

Some days I am so stressed by work and everything I want to curl in a ball in cry.

It's rare when I actually get "dressed"

I don't have work hours so I usually work more then someone who actually goes to work.

I often am talking to clients as I am changing dirty diapers or wiping up spit up.

I love not dealing with the commute or waking up early to do my hair.

I love taking a break from work to roll on the floor with my baby.

Oh it's hard, really hard- but when I think of the alternative I remember how blessed I am. Even though I went back to work a week after Sadie was born, and it's been a whirlwind ever since, I like my job and I'm happy to help support my family.

Just a warning, if you happen to come over to my house unannounced, you will likely find me in stretchy pants an oversized t-shirt and hair stashed in a pony tail. Unfortunately, this is what Reid comes home to everyday.

Last Garbage Bag

Last week we used our last garbage bag. Is that a weird thing to blog about? Perhaps. We bought the box of garbage bags the week we moved into our house. That was two years and one month ago. I guess we are not a big trash family. That's got to make you feel good right?

Anyways, we are still busy. Sadie turns six months this week. She is rolling around, babbling, giggling, eating rice cereal and fruits and veggies. She is so happy. We love her. Last month we went to Las Vegas to visit Grandma and Grandad (my parents), Reid tried to get to Argentina and Peru (took a red-eye to JFK then an early morning flight to Atlanta to meet our brother in law who couldn't make the flight to ATL and then he turned around and came home to SLC) but it didn't work so he will try again this month, had our friends from Minnesotta come visit for a weekend and we took them snowboarding (two awesome days in a row), had Desi and Elliott and Reid's mom over which helped distract me from the crazy tests they were doing on me to determine if I had Crohn's disease (I don't thank goodness).

Now it's Sadie's first Easter and we are celebrating it in Southern Utah with Reid's mom! Sadie didn't really understand her easter basket but she loved playing with the grass! Here are some random pictures to enjoy:

The view from my desk while I work and Sadie plays

Sadie playing in her exersaucer

Sadie get's so excited when daddy comes home from work. Even if she's crying, hungry or tired- the second Reid steps in the door she's giggling and wants NOTHING to do with me anymore ; )

Sadie in Grandpa's (Reid's dad) truck

5 things we have been up to lately

Somedays my life is so busy I forget to eat. Life is busy right now but good. So much fun to be had and work to be done. This is what we have been busy with lately:

1) Traveling and blogging here. Travels have included: Fresno, North Dakota, Las Vegas, Arizona, Hawaii and more- which is just the beginning of this year's travels.

2) Work. I am still working from home as a social media consultant and copywriter. Reid is still working at Skywest as a multimedia developer (programming e-learning training for pilots and flight attendants).

3) Kissing this cute girl. As well as the accompanying copious quantities of dirty diapers. She has started rice (although we do multi grain) cereal and LOVES it. She sings while she eats it.

4) Side projects and businesses. Reid is working hard with TriMutiny and my blog is keeping us busy as well as freelance writing, and Reid's freelance designing and programming.

5) Reid is in scouts, in which he chases around ten year old boys trying to help them earn merit badges.

Although we are busy- we love it, love life and love each other.

Keep on keeping on!

Shameless Plug

I have a travel blog- did you know that? Check it out! Learn it, live it, love it. Visit often. Toodles!

http://www.dottingthemap.com

Post Script

Reid read my Hello Sunshine blog post and said I was creepy. And I had to agree with him a little. Maybe that's what becoming a mom does to you? Makes you a little creepy?

In other news... I have become a crotchety old lady who waves her broom at teenagers. Not really but sort of. The other day me neighbor- who's mother must not have been home, although it wouldn't suprise me if she was- had some little hoodlum friends over and they were climbing all over the roof, yelling and being obnoxious. In all honesty I would have been annoyed normally because I live in condos and we are all so close we need to have mutual respect- but because my baby was sleeping I was even more annoyed. PLUS if one of the little hoodlums would have fallen and cracked open their skull not only would I have to see the blood everyday I go to check the mail- it would be the HOA that would be responsible. So I did the only thing I could think of in which a normal mature adult would do- I opened my door, stood there with my hands on my hips and yelled for them to get off the roof or I would call the cops.

WOW! What on heavens earth has happened to me? I swear it was yesterday it was me that was up to no good. My how times have changed.

Hello there sunshine!

I haven't really posted on this blog much because I started a mommy journal. I figured people would get sick of me gushing about my baby all the time. I do plan on sharing some of my entries on here though. So reader beware it's going to be a gush fest today.

Dear Sadie baby,

Those crystal clear blue eyes and ginger hair are perfect but nothing compared to that smile and those giggles. If I lost my house, my computer, and everything else but was still able to see and hear those giggles I could be happy. Being a mom is really hard and someday you will understand that, but if I’ve had a stressful day and then you giggle it’s all out the window. Someday you will also understand how much I love you, but only when you have a sweet little girl (or boy) like you, will you get it. I know you don’t love me as much as I love you and that’s ok. My life changed the moment they set that warm baby in my arms, changed forever. I could barely even see you through those tears of joy. I felt like a piece of my heart was missing before but was filled when you entered my life.

Tonight I held you while you were sleeping. I tried to put you down but I couldn’t. I wish I could freeze time. I’m afraid if I blink it will be your wedding day. Please know you mean the world to me. Please know you are never alone. Sometimes when nothing else works to get you to sleep I lay you in your crib and you fuss a little but quickly fall asleep. You may not know that I’m sitting in your room, but I am. I know the world is scary and hard but I’ll be there- sitting in your room, even when you don’t know it. I love you, little princess.

Love and kisses,

Mommy