Eli Thursday

33 weeks

The most pitiful little jailbird, contemplating his unfortunate luck in being born to coldhearted parents that won't let him stay up and play all night. Such a rough life. 

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. 

Eli Thursday

29 weeks

Eli has become a crawling machine this week. It's amazing to see how quickly he can move, even with his brace on! I used to think his clubfoot would keep him from becoming mobile for a while, but that is clearly not the case. 

"Where were you when the world stopped turning?"

On September 11, 2001 I was only ten years old. Too young to really understand what was happening beyond my mom's simplified explanation, but old enough to remember.

We were in California at the time of the attack, which is where my family loved to spend a couple of weeks in the fall camping on the beach. Halfway through our trip, which happened to be the morning of September 11th, we went to the local laundromat to wash the sand and sea out of our clothes. I remember my mom staring at the TV, listening to President Bush speak with her eyes wide with shock as she took in the news, and then seeing it cut to a replay of one of the planes hitting a tower. I thought it was a scene in a movie, not real life, until I saw my mom's face.

I didn't watch for long, though. I had more pressing matters to attend to, like pushing my little brother around in one of the laundry carts.

Rocking the overall shorts and Tevas. I was always a stylish one.

I love this picture. My brother and I were so innocently oblivious to the horrors that were happening at this moment. We weren't a part of the terror and grief that gripped the country, or know of all the many lives lost. All we knew was that this laundry cart made for lots of fun as we made laps around the washers and dryers, occasionally glancing up at the TV that everyone was huddled around in stunned silence. That childish innocence can be a real blessing sometimes. I'm thankful we couldn't understand.

The rest of my memories of that trip are pretty scattered. Lots of half-mast flags. Worried people in the campground. Driving through the night to get home. My mom actually drinking caffeine (unheard of!) to stay awake. Feeling disappointed that we didn't get to the Disneyland part of the trip. The 4-inch bold headline in the newspaper the next morning that read, "TERROR."

I sure am proud to be an American. It is amazing to think about how this country came together as one, despite our differences, after 9-11. Even as a 10-year-old I felt the surge of patriotism and pride, and I think my love of this nation was really sparked then. It has many faults, but oh, how I love this country. Every time I see an American flag, or sing the anthem, or remember the freedoms and privileges I enjoy, I feel so very grateful to call this land my home.

So, where were you when "the world stopped turning"?

Eli Thursday

28 weeks

Eli hasn't taken to solids very quickly, and is rather picky about which ones he will tolerate. Little stinker. Expecting him to turn it down after a taste, I let him suck on my peach and to my surprise he just about had a conniption when I took it back to eat it myself. The next time it got within hands reach he wrapped his chubby fingers around it and sucked/gnawed on it like there was no tomorrow. 

I think he might have liked it. 

Eli Thursday

27 weeks

Eli has been in full-blown teething mode the past couple of days (and nights). This afternoon I took him to the park because being outside always cheers him up, and sure enough the grass, sunshine, and fresh air worked its magic on both of us. He loves crawling around on the blanket and running his fingers through the grass. 

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Also, because I am a terrible mom so I took advantage of a fussy moment to get a good picture of his teeth. Number 1 came in the day we flew into Texas, and number 2 is juuuuust about to break through but is taking its own sweet, miserable time doing so. In the meantime, thank the heavens above for baby tylenol. Amen. 

He is going to look like the cutest little redneck baby when these teeth grow in, especially if his other middle bottom tooth doesn't show up for a while. I love it. :)

Texas

We spent Labor Day weekend in Texas. It was a quick trip, but we did a lot while we were there... and I'm still pooped. I'm so glad we went, though! Here are some of the things we did:

Eli met grandma and grandpa for the first time. They are serving a mission in Fort Worth and got to take a couple days off to spend with us.

3 generations of manly men. Haha ;)

Eli met 5 of his cousins, two uncles, and two aunts as well. (Dallin and I each have a sibling that lives in TX.)

We watched a gator eat some fish in this swamp. This thing gives me the willies!

Dallin helped pin some bugs for my brother's sons. They dry them out and put them in a shadowbox on the wall. Their collection is pretty impressive.

Eli went to a pool for the first time. He loved it!

Oh this boy. I think he is just the cutest.

Of course J has a bug in his hand.

We set off some fireworks. The pyro in me highly approved of this activity.

We ate tons of delicious food, and every BBQ joint we tried was better than the last. 

I'm also very happy to say that we survived the flights without too much suffering, despite the fact that Eli cut his first tooth sometime on the day we flew in and has been working on another one for the past few days. Thank goodness he is such a chill baby, because he was still a good little traveller for us! Hallelujah.

See it? On the bottom right. I bet he loves having his mouth stretched open like this. Sorry, son. ;)

And now it's time to unpack, do laundry, and clean my messy house. After getting spoiled this weekend, all that sounds particularly unappealing.

Eli Thursday

26 weeks

This has been a rough week. Desperate for a few minutes to get some stuff done, I stuck Eli in his booster seat and parked him next to the piano. 

He looked so cute and happy that I ended up spending that precious free time taking pictures of him banging on the keys instead of being productive. I think that was time well spent.

Hello, Tuesday

Things I have done so far today:

-Changed two stinky diapers. It's only 9am.
-Spent far too much time on the phone trying to figure out why NAU is trying to make me pay for a parking ticket I never could have gotten, especially since I never actually attended school there and don't have a student ID (which they need to find out anything about it, and which I would need to pay the fine). SO FRUSTRATING.
-Tried to distract Eli from reaching a level 10 tantrum during said phone call. Annnnd I succeeded, hallelujah! It "only" got to about level 7.5 and I "only" had to ask the nice man to repeat about half of everything he said.
-Changed my clothes once after being drenched in a rare spit-up incident, but hey at least that means I got dressed, right? Dressed TWICE, no less! So fancy.
-Ate chocolate for breakfast, but only because (to my great dismay) we are out of ice cream. (Mental note: must remedy that technicality today.)
-Used the restroom to the tune of Eli crying because I am the meanest mom ever to not be at his side all day erryday. Separation anxiety has arrived, it seems.

And just because no post is complete without a picture, I tried to take one of him smiling with the intended caption of something like, "At least he is still cute," but just before I pushed the button...

And I just had to laugh. 

Plus, he is still cute. Thank goodness.

Eli Thursday

25 weeks

He has lots of deep conversations with himself in the mirror. It makes me laugh when he sees himself because he always gets so excited! Little goofball.

Eli Thursday

24 weeks

This was Eli's first time on a swing, and he loved it! He couldn't stop looking all over the place, trying to figure everything out. The only reason we left was because it started to rain on us.

I love seeing the world through his big, blue eyes. Everything is new and interesting and amazing to him.

Eli Thursday

23 weeks

 The past few weeks he has been figuring out how to sit up on his own. He can't get up there himself yet, and sooner or later he topples over, but I can tell he loves to be able to play like this instead of laying on his stomach.

I just can't handle how much older he looks sitting up like this. Aren't they supposed to stay tiny forever?