Celebrating mothers day

It really is true what mothers say. Blink and you miss it.

How on earth did seven months go by so quickly?!  I swear it was just yesterday that I was holding that brand new baby in the hospital overwhelmed by the thought of motherhood and here I am over half a year down the road celebrating mothers day myself!

Becoming a mother is a funny thing.  I thought I was ready because I studied really hard.  That is what I do.  I research the heck out of everything I want to become good at. I read a gazillion books, asked for tons of advice, practiced what I could and prayed like crazy.

But that isn't how it works at all is it? :)

None of my "research" worked at all.  I didn't really learn a thing until I was thrown into it all at once.  The education starts the very first time you hold your child and doesn't stop, ever I think.  Motherhood is building a relationship with your child, and learning what works, and what million things don't work.  Ha! It is a big game of trial and error, and being patient with yourself and the journey.

There were so many things I hadn't planned on.  I didn't know I was going to be handed such a sick baby, and one who required so much around the clock care.  I didn't know that at seven months I have yet to get a full nights sleep.  I didn't know that I would be so exhausted that I would literally fall into bed at night and be asleep before I could lean over and kiss Brian goodnight.  I didn't know that I would spend most my days in pajamas and trying to balance the impossible.

But as time has gone on, we have learned to master a thing or two around here and along the way, I have realized that I have become a mother, and a very happy one at that.  Despite the hiccups and trying times.

My mom always looked at me growing up and said that I would never know how much I was loved until I had one of my own.  What a silly thing to say.  Of course I know how much I am loved because I feel like I love my mom as much as she loves me.  Boy was I wrong.

Everytime that child falls asleep in my arms I have to fight back the tears of love.  Sometimes I don't and wake him with my deep breaths and tiny sobs.  Everytime he falls asleep in his bed I wonder.  Is he cold? Hot?  Comfy?  Happy?  Dreaming sweet dreams? Are his socks too tight? Blankets warm enough? Temperature right?  Am I crazy?  Obsessed?

I care for him more than I ever thought was possible and I have realized my mother is right about yet another thing.  I love him more than life itself and I had no idea it was possible until I had him.  For once in my life I am happy to sacrifice everything I have for someone else.  My sleep, food, body, time, energy, free time, money, and anything else he requires I would gladly give up just to see that smile.

Becoming a mom is the hardest most wonderful thing I have ever experienced and I am so blessed to have this chance, and to raise a child to the best of my ability.  I am so thankful to the incredible mother who raised me and taught me everything I know and who is now the most incredible grandmother ever.

I sure feel blessed to spend my days with this delicious chubby mug.  We are best friends.  You will never know how much you are loved until you have one of your own Brody boy. Stop growing up so fast.  Mom is still trying to keep up :)

Happy Mothers Day friends and fellow mums.  It is the most important job you will ever do, and I am so excited I get to celebrate it this year. xoxo.

{ Playing } some serious catchup

My oh my.

I realized today I haven't blogged Christmas, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, or loads of other important life events.  Blogging used to be so easy, and now it feels like something is always happening I want to remember or keep track of.  I guess as I find time, those posts will start to filter in.  So stay tuned I suppose.

February has been very good to us so far.  Brian traveled to Seattle, and I stayed here wishing I was there to explore that beautiful city.  We had court and ty up for dinner one night, and Nan, court and I spent last Wednesday eating lunch at Nan's favorite place.

Our Saturdays have literally saved us too.  Between all the craziness during the week it is all we can do to drag ourselves out of bed Saturday mornings.  Thank heavens for Saturdays. Seriously.

But among all the chaos, all is well.  We are loving each new day and it's adventures as they appear.  We are happy and content.  Even if right now is one huge game of catch up :)

{ HELLO, HELLO!!! }

I am involved in an exciting new project that I think you will like.  It is a new fashion and beauty website for Utah.  You can see it at WWW.UTAHFASHIONANDBEAUTY.COM

I will like you if you go and see it.

I will love you if you follow it and like it on facebook.

I will be freaking ecstatic if you tell your friends about it too!

Just kidding, I obviously adore you anyways, but I would really like to hear what you think.  

We will be posting spotlights, fashion advice, how to's, giveaways, sales alerts, local deals and steals, featuring shops and lots more!

I am so excited about this possible new chapter in my life and the possibilities! Thanks a million! xoxo.

{ Too much is too much }

It has been unusually wet this year and Bear Lake was no exception.  As we walked through the cabins in our area you could see the effect the water has had on everything.  I think the scariest part was seeing the property sand-bagged and lined for the water!  I am SO thankful that the city did this so that we had an undamaged cabin to come back to this spring.

I am thankful for the moisture we have received because I think Utah really needed it.  However, now that it could start to flood places and people could lose their houses I think it is time for the wet weather to be done. 

{ Reactions }

So I have been thinking that I have been rather lazy lately at posting comments on all of your blogs.  It's not that I love you any less, it's just that I am in the habit of reading, smiling, and leaving! 

I will try to be better :) But if you are like me and come here and read posts without commenting I have done something to solve the problem! 

A while ago I added reactions to my blog posts at the bottom near the comments section to see if I liked it or not.  Well I do and it makes it easier for you to say what is on your mind by just clicking once instead of logging in, waiting, and taking more time to comment. 

Don't get me wrong, I adore comments, I just know if all of you are as busy as me, you would rather click once to add your two cents than have to go through the above process :)

So give it a whirl.  I think it is kind of fun. 

Better late than never I say!

Photo by Flutterfly Events

So we have been awful at blogging. . . we know. Sometimes it is just so hard for me to write and scrapbook about life instead of just living it! That is why I created this blog, and I need to remember to keep it up! I also feel like sometimes if something isn't REALLY important then someone won't want to read it. But I need to remember that if it is important to me, I should write about it. Anyways, we have TONS to share with all of you. Just give me a couple weeks and it'll be all yours!

One of my new years resolutions to be better at blogging so I am really really going to try. So when you look at our photos and think, that has already happened! just know it has and that I think it is better late than never! :) HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 !!!

Heartbroken. . .

So, Brian and I have the cutest most loveable dog in the whole world, (we think so anyways).

And I can honestly say that having MY OWN dog has been so much more work and joy than I ever thought it could be!

Bentley is so liked, she gets more visitors than us!

But, since we have had her we knew that day would come where we would have to have something not so good happen in order for her to not get pregnant. (she is too small to have pups)

And so today she went in for surgery, to be spayed :(

You would think that some great tragedy has happened bc of how sad and nervous I have been over the last few days. . .

I even cried when I dropped her off. Seeing her look up at me like that! Seriously, I did. And I got to see all the vet techs at the front desk look at me like I was crazy.

I know they do this ALL the time, but I don't care about all the other dogs. Just mine. . .

I just hate seeing her in pain knowing I can't do anything but hold her. I can't imagine this emotion with children. It is probably the most awful thing ever!

Get some sleep Benny, Cause all of us aren't going to be happy again until you are back to your old playful loveable self. . . :(

Piggie Flu. . .

Hello all,

I don't think that since I have had this blog one month has gone by without a post until now!

It all started when I got the swine flu (gross!) and just gone downhill from there! For those of you that have had it, it pretty much knocks the life out of you for a few weeks. I still am not sure I am 100% recovered yet.

BUT!!!. . .

I have SO much to tell! Lots has gone by that I can't wait to blog about! So STAY TUNED and I hope all of you are having a beautiful fall!

Always, Sometimes, Never. . .

Ok So I got this idea off of my friend Shante's Blog. You write five things for each topic and it is really fun to see all the information from different people!

I tag anyone who wants to do this!

I Always. . .
*Make Brian kiss me goodbye in the morning before he leaves the house.
*Count the number of beads on a necklace or bracelet I am wearing. It's ocd and it is hereditary!
*Turn on music and dance around the kitchen while I am cooking dinner.
*Smell candles or perfume or anything else that could smell, when I am in someones house.
*Write notes to people who inspire me or who have done something amazing for me.

I Sometimes. . .
*Snug and kiss Bentley so much that she tries to bite my nose! Little stinker!
*Wish that I lived in my cabin at bear lake. The simple life huh?
*Have so much I want to accomplish that it overwhelmes me and I have to slow down a little.
*Wish I could redo traumatic events in my past and handle them with the courage I have now.
*Wish ty and courty lived with us so that I could see them more. Growing up sucks sometimes.

I Never. . .
*Respect people who can't control their mouth, who are mean, selfish, and do not respect others.
*Go a day without drinking rediculous amounts of water.
*Take the simple pleasures in my life for granted.
*Expected to fall for someone has hard as I fell for brian. It's Bad!
*Would trade anything in my life no matter how tough it gets. . .

I Believe. . .
*Things happen for a reason and that they will always work out in the end.
*You won't be happy in life until you know who you are and can accept the good and the bad.
*Anything can be healed with a shoulder to cry on and some freshly baked cookies. . .
*That motherhood is the most precious calling on earth. I also believe in home cooked meals!
*In believing! It can really make a difference in one's life to believe in things and to hope :)

I love you all!

Love me!

Someone Special. . .

This delightful smiling face is Heidi, and she is going to hit me for posting about her but it is my blog so I do what I want :) I am a bit of a thief and I stole these off her husbands facebook so you could see her! She is very special to me and you are about to find out why. . .

The other day, I went to my yearly gyno appointment, and let's just say it was less fun than I had imagined. And I guess it is also harder to make a baby then it looks. . . no pun intended. I want a baby sometime in the near future but after hearing how it would be really hard for me to do so I wanted to jump off the imc.

Anyways, I was a sad about stuff and on top of that it had been kind of a hard week with Bentley getting super sick, not getting to see Brian as much, and super busy at work etc. I said a little prayer in the elevator asking to just have a little more help than usual and to be happy regardless.

By the time I had walked to my car, I got a call from Heidi. She said that she was thinking about me and wanted to call and see how I was doing and if she could take me to dinner that night! She doesn't know this, but I cried when I got off the phone with her. It was exactly what I needed and it made all the difference in my week. I still smile when I think about it.

Just another testimony that he does hear your prayers and is aware of you, and even though you are one in a billion, he knows who you are and is aware when you need a little help.

We went to Texas Roadhouse and stuffed ourselves with those addicting warm rolls and cinnamon butter, and caught up on life and I got to vent to her about the mishaps of the day. Heidi is such an amazing person, and I love hanging out with her. She is such a good listener and has such great advice to offer. She is so much fun and makes me laugh with her personality and humor. She is always so happy to see me and gives me the biggest hugs! She is the kind of friend that really makes you feel blessed just to know her.

I got lucky when Brian's bestie Jon married her and we have been such good friends ever since!

Thanks Heidi for being my angel this week. I sure do love you! I am also really thankful that I have so many good friends. You make my life so much sweeter!

You know your sick when. . .

You can identify six different animal shapes in your ceiling right above your head. You know your really sick when you give the animal shapes names. You know your morbidly sick when you think you seriously saw one of them move and call your husband in from the other room to confirm it hasn't!

My body hates me. It has given me nothing but pain for almost an entire year. If I could I would surgically remove my problem organs and all it's friends myself.

My brain loves me though. It has allowed me to pass out a couple times where the pain gets too unbearable.

My nurse is insane. She thinks it is all in my head. I am seriously contemplating the fortune cookie trick in "freaky friday" just to prove her wrong.

My doctor is very smart and nice. He has put me through a series of tests to prove his love for me as a patient. (However, to his credit, I know he is taking every measure to try and find out what is wrong.) DEFINITON: Barium, Noun. "White thick liquid that looks like a milkshake but tastes a blend of dirty shredded socks, dandelion liquid, ground up chalk, and licking the metal bars at the gym. Purpose is used for CT scans and to induce vomiting. Not to be wished on one's worst enemy.

My only joy in this entire experiance is my increased time snuggled in bed with Brian watching movies and the Office which I love. "Our balls are in your court, Bears Beats, Battlestar Gallactica." Priceless. . .

Maybe that explains the hallucinations on the ceiling.

hmm. . .

Tomorrow is my latest test. I really hope they find out what is going on. . .

Cross your fingers and wish me luck!


XOXO

Linds

Update in a Nutshell. . .

First of all,

I have realized that you can't help negative feelings, emotions, and interactions, but you can help how you deal with things and how you respond and act. I love this quote. . .

"As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you. Happiness is your heritage." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf. . . Finding Joy

We celebrate our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in exactly one month from today! Yeah baby! We will be going to California for a much needed VACA!!!

I just LOVE having my blood drawn! I mean, where else can you pass out twice, get free orange juice then throw it up, and almost faint walking to your car? LOVE IT!!!! :)

I am so blessed to have been such a big part of the day my best friend has her baby. It was really spiritual for me to be able to wait for little Avery to come from heaven! Congratulations mel, you are an inspiration to me, and will be an incredible mom!

Girls! I am excited for our Fancy Nancy party this week!

Also :( Brian just applied for a position in Irvine and Orange County, California. . .

Here we go again folks. . . .

My April FOOLS day disaster :)

So I have always loved April fools day as a kid. My mom knew how much I loved it too, so she would always know it was april fools before me, so as to expect what it was I was concocting!

Anyways, being a GROWNUP and all, I decided this year it would be fun to just trick her a little to see what her reaction would be. I guess this is because I was so bored and had nothing better to do.

So I got out my cell phone, and sent a text to her that said. "So Um. . . . I'm prego mommy." I waited like thirty seconds and send a second one that said, "Gotcha, April Fools!" Nothing happens for five minutes. I am waiting by the phone for her and nothing.

All of a sudden my phone lights up and I answer to hear its mom IN TEARS about how excited she is to be a grandma and how I will make the best mom and how I found out and when I knew, and if I think it will look like me or brian. . . etc.

Right about now, I was looking for the nearest cliff to jump off, or the nearest window to jump out. I couldn't believe she BELIEVED ME!!!! Didn't she know what day it was!?!?!?! Here is our little conversation. . .

"Well mom, uh. . . Do you know what day it is?"

"No dear, should I? Is today a special day? Other than the fact that your expecting!?!?!?"

"Well mom, its the first day in April and well. . . . I. . . . . "

Silence

Silence

Silence

"Linds is there something you want to tell me? sniff sniff. . . "

"Uh, did you get my text mom?"

"Yes! I did, I was so excited I called you the minute I got out of my meeting!

"Yeah, about that. . . Did you get both of my texts?"

"I just looked. No, just the one."

"Hmm, well. . . .

sigh

"Well Mom, I am the most horrible person. I told you I was pregant as an april fools joke, and now I feel absolutely awful about it. I really do, I didn't mean to trick you. I swear I promise mom, I feel so bad."

"I see. . . sigh. . . So let me get this straight, You are NOT pregnant?"

"Clears throat. . . Um . . . No. I am not pregnant."

"Well ok then. I guess will talk to you later. . . Its too bad, I was really excited and now I just kind of feel let down :("

How do you top a disaster like that? I don't think you can. I have learned my lesson, I will never pull a prank like that again.

Ty rewarded me later by letting me believe he won Brit tickets on the radio, vip and that he was going to let me and court take them. I was so excited I couldn't believe it.

I guess I deserved it

Happy April. . .

I guess that is why they call it FOOLS day. . .

P.s. Don't rely on technology to deliver any message. Especially when you need it to most!

Blah blah blah. . .

The sole and only purpose of this post is to vent. So if you are ready read on. . .

It takes alot to really anger me. I wake up happy, I go to bed happy, and I am pretty much happy all the time. I am a girl of many simple pleasures and lately, I have tried to be even more happy and thankful than I normally am. . .

So I have been soul searching a bit and making more time for spirituality in my day! It is not so I can be able to say that I can, but because I really feel like I need it and that is really making me a better wife, daughter, friend, sister, aunt, cousin, granddaughter, etc. In my opinion, it is hard enough living in this world trying to bypass all the negative aspects. And to say the least, I have really noticed an added abundance of happy :)

So what is it with all the FREAKING COMPLAINERS!!!! GEEZ PEOPLE!!!!

*I am not talking about people who have been through something awful and need support. I am not talking about those people who are sick, or afflicted, or need a shoulder to cry on.

I am talking about people who have it pretty dang good, and still need to tell all of us how bad their life is all the time, every day, 365 days a year!!!!!

I am not trying to be insensitive but it has really gotten to me! Why should I have to hear all the complaining when I am the one who is trying to be positive?!?!?!

For your reading entertainment here are my favorite negative comments lately from my favorite complainers. . .

My house isn't big enough. I just hate it, I hate where I live and I hate my yard, and I hate my walls, and I hate the size. I hate everything about it. I can't wait til we live in a mansion. . .

I only lost five pounds this week. I am so fat. I just don't know what to do, I loathe myself. It makes me mad so I am going to treat everyone around me like they are the scum of the earth. . .

My phone is so incompetent, it is lame and I want one with ALL the features, but I don't want to pay any more, I just want a nice new free phone. Like an I phone. Yeah one of those. . .but free.

I can't believe I just ate a cookie! I am freaking out! Oh my gosh what have I done!!!!! I will not eat anything that is not organic, 100 percent organic.

What have you done? Let me get this straight. . . Was it a deadly lethal cookie? Poisonous and all? Hold on, I am dialing poison control :)

I am so unhappy, I just hate it.When is my life not going to seem so miserable? All I do is wait for things to come around. Do you know how long I have just waited? FOREVER. . .

Gosh Linds, For the eight time this week, my coffee shop has messed up my favorite triple carmel machiato venti grande coffee delight shaken not stirred extra cream no sprinkles grand world special with lo cal low fat no sugar whipping cream. . . Do you know how horrible this is for me?!?!!

And my classic favorite?

Wait for it,

The ones who not only complain about one thing, but everything. Not only do they think they are fat, ugly, and sad, but they hate their house, their car, their marriage, their children, their job, their life. . . and they blame everyone for everything wrong in their life too. Or they blame god. They don't take any accountability for anything gone awry. It is always someone else s fault and someone else needs to fix it.

Yes, I know I have been laying the sarcasm on pretty thick. I hope you all caught that :) I guess I just don't see the point. After all, I know we all have a long way to go, and things to work on. I just don't see the point of dwelling on it 24-7 and telling everyone within earshot about it!

I can't imagine what life would be like without the little things that bring us joy. I can't imagine what it would be like to be that miserable, that you literally thought nothing in your life was good. To not know happiness even in the frustrating times.

Here is my solution for you. You don't need a new phone, new car, new family, more coffee, less weight, new house, better life, or anyone else to vent to. . .

In my opinion, You just need a good swift kick in the pants!

Wake up people, life is beautiful!