This boy.

I knew I was going to love him, but I didn't realize how much.

His sweet little self just makes me want to squeeze him as tightly as I can, and kiss his squishy face off, and spin him around in circles because that always makes him giggle. 

He makes me want to have a million babies, but also makes me wonder if I'll be able to handle two someday. 

He is so perfectly innocent, perfectly perfect. 

He's got me wrapped around his dimpled little fingers. 

Eli Thursday

32 weeks

We've got a bit of a Cheerios junky on our hands. If it gets a little too quiet, I can usually bet on finding him like this with the snack container he sneakily swiped from my diaper bag. It's so funny to watch him eat since he still hasn't quite mastered the art of picking up the food and putting it into his mouth. Most of the Cheerios he tries to eat end up rolling down his chest and back onto the floor, and yet he tries over and over again, totally undaunted, until he finds some other mischief to get into. Silly goose.

On making happiness

Of all the lessons I've learned in life thus far, I think one of the most important ones has been learning how to be happy. Lately I've really begun to understand that happiness is almost always the result of your own actions and choices. It isn't something you should just wait for, hoping it will be delivered to your doorstep wrapped in silver paper. It's something you have to make for yourself.

Being happy has been a bit harder for me sometimes after having Eli. I know I had post-partum depression which made for a lot of very difficult days, and even now – 7.5 months later – I still have moments when it comes back a little bit, but thankfully not very often. I'm pretty sure I don't have depression (meaning MDD), but at times it is easy to fall into a rut that is difficult for me to escape from. On the bright side, I'm figuring out how to avoid that, and I've been doing really well lately. Yippee!

For me personally, here are some things essential to my daily happiness:

• A hot shower. Ideally a long one, but even five minutes is enough to improve my mood.
• Getting out of the house, at least every other day, even if that just means a walk around the block.
• Speaking of walking, I have to get some kind of exercise. Walking, pretending I am a runner (also known as pretty much walking. It's a struggle.), and yoga are my current exercises of choice. I notice a huge difference in my mood when I don't do something active. Even walking around the store helps!
• Eating well. Junk food makes me feel gross and grumpy. The more fresh fruits, veggies, and water I consume, the better I feel.
• But I also believe in balance, and that a few chocolate chips or a spoonful of ice cream can go a loooooong way. Amen. ;)
• Getting sleep. I get what I can, which hasn't been that great lately, but I think it's getting better! I only had to get up once last night! Hopefully I don't jinx it.
• Doing something for someone else. Usually this tends to be focused on Eli and Dallin, but I'm trying to be more aware of people outside my family. Making other people happy always makes me happy.
• Personal scripture study and prayer. Can I be honest for a second? Ever since Eli was born I have been lousy at reading the scriptures on my own. Dallin and I are pretty consistent about reading a chapter together at night, but lately that's all I've been doing. Same story with prayer. When I really take the time to study and ponder and sincerely pray, my day is so much better... every single time. I'm improving in this area, but I still have a long way to go! How do you remember to read? What time usually works best for you? I could use some suggestions in this area!

Well, there you have it. There are a few of the things I do to be happy. It's been working for me... what works for you?

And just because we all know I can't resist posting pictures of my favorite little babe:

Oh that boy. He makes me happy and drive me bonkers all at the same time.

#ldsconf

This weekend is General Conference. Yippee! In other words, I will be spending today and tomorrow snuggling, making/eating delicious food, and watching the leaders of my church speak. It happens twice a year, and it is my favorite. 

There are sessions at 9am and 12pm, AZ time, both today and tomorrow. If you want to hear President Monson speak, tune in tomorrow (Sunday) morning! No matter what your religion is, this is a great opportunity to learn more about Christ and how to be a better person in general. Or just have an excuse to watch TV in your PJs. Whatever floats your boat, peeps. Here's the link: www.lds.org 

Eli Thursday

31 weeks

Eli is usually a pretty happy little dude, but ever since yesterday life has been particularly good because... guess what? He no longer has to wear his brace during the day! We are all so happy! I get to kiss his baby toes whenever I want to, and it's a lot more comfortable for him I'm sure. Today he's just been all smiles, especially when I took him to the park to exercise his new freedom. He will still have to wear it at night for 2-3 years, but that's much more manageable than 23 hours a day. Hallelujah!

Also, he loves blowing raspberries. All day erryday. 

Lovely.

Marriage does not suck

I married at a fairly young age. When I met Dallin, I was only nineteen, and we tied the knot when I was the ripe old age of twenty. 

Once we started dating seriously, I couldn't believe the "advice" that started coming in. There was so much negativity people were spreading about marriage. Once we were engaged, it really started raining down. Total strangers would counsel me to "just wait a while" before I supposedly kissed the good life goodbye and assumed a permanent ball and chain. 

To be honest, it freaked me out a little.

I know I was young and naive, but still I think I had a decent idea of what I was getting into. I had been looking forward to becoming a wife for as long as I could remember. I was lucky blessed enough to find the kind of man I always hoped I would find, someone that loved and respected me, who made me happy and kept me laughing. I'd found him, so why wouldn't I marry him? I'll admit there were times when the negative comments would get to me, and I would second-guess my decision. 

I'm so thankful I stuck to my guns though, because you know what? Marriage is freaking awesome. 

I know it isn't that way for everyone. Unfortunately it isn't always a happy ending. But if you find the right person, marriage can be the beginning of a fantastic life, not the end. I can honestly say, without reservation, that my life is so much happier, better, and more fulfilling than it was when I was single. I mean, I get to be with my bestest buddy every day. I can be myself – my dorky, unfiltered self –around him, and that's a big deal for me. We do almost everything together, from hot dates, to fun trips, to thrilling events like running to Walmart for that gallon of milk I forgot to pick up. Dallin keeps me laughing because he is funny, and I keep him laughing because of my rather blonde, klutzy tendencies. When my back has an itch, he can scratch it. When he needs an errand run, I am there to help. We each have responsibilities that help keep our household running smoothly. It's a perfect system for fulfilling all of our needs and helping us to be the happiest humans we can possibly be. Seriously folks, being married is the bomb diggity. 

I’m not saying it's always easy. It certainly requires work, forgiveness, sacrifice, and patience, but it is all worth it. So worth it. 

Eli Thursday

30 weeks

Daddy's shoulders is one of his favorite places to be. I can't help but wonder if that is mostly because he is a bit of a hair-puller, and dad's noggin is so conveniently situated for that activity.