terrible case of monday, kind of

 

We kind of had a terrible case of Monday yesterday. I went to get Amelia from her nap, and she started jumping up and down in her crib as soon as I walked in, as always. It's the sweetest thing ever, because I'm so excited to see her too. The next series of events happened so quick: one second she was jumping, squealing with joy, the next she had slammed her face into her crib and was screeeeeeeeeaming and bawling. Oh, the moment I heard her face hit felt like it lasted 2 years, I may swore in my head repeatedly. It felt like it took forever for me to get her to stop crying and to get her nose to stop bleeding. We called Dad, because that always makes us feel better and was happy he would be home in an hour.

 

Next thing I know, Amelia had dumped the entire bag of popcorn out. Ah, it's these moments in motherhood when you feel like... well, you know. I asked Amelia to please not eat any popcorn and to help me put the pieces back into the bag. I was actually pleasantly surprised when she listened! I was so proud that I ended up giving her a piece, which she approved of indicated by her "mmmmm!" I'm lucky that I have such a good little helper.

 

 

Jeremy came home and we put up our tree for family home evening. Ah! Amelia was such a good helper at that too! Jeremy would hand Amelia an ornament, and she would hand it to me to hang on our tree, we had a sweet little assembly line going on. Gosh, Christmas makes every just amazing. Our little family couldn't be more excited!

on working, full time

I'm not sure if you know this, but I've been working 36+ hours regularly since October. One week, I clocked in 55 hours. One week, I worked 7 days in a row and only had 2 nights off before my next stretch. That's right, working like a dog, and lots of crying because I missed seeing my husband. You can understand my frustration that I was only "part time" and having to work every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, right? Anyways, long story short, I got full time status this month and I couldn't be more thrilled. And no more Sunday nights, thank goodness!


PS. Don't we look like twins? I can't get over this picture.

being thankful

I certainly do have a lot to be thankful for, and thanksgiving day, nor whole month of November would be long enough to count all my blessings. This is my favorite season, because regardless of how sad I may be about certain things, I always, always have something to be thankful for.

Here's a few items that top my list:
1// My husband, who puts me first and constantly, endlessly supports my dreams and just loves me for my crazy.
2// My baby girl, who is so full of life and happiness and attitude, who grows and teaches me and also just loves me unconditionally.
3// My bishiop, who listens and loves and devotes so much time to all of us.
4// Financial security. There is so much that comes with this... our home, heat, modern conveniences, food, internet/social media, phones, clothing, the ability to buy books and toys for Amelia, etc. etc. etc.
5// My education, and Jeremy's education. I feel so blessed that one of us is able to stay home with Amelia at all times.
6// My primary calling in church. I know, this sounds so ironic since I dreaded being called into primary last year. My kids make my Sundays. I have loved watching them grow and come out of their shells and tell me their dreams and secrets (one boy told me he (his mom) was having a baby). I love when they wave to me and love on Amelia. I just adore every single one of them and love them with all my heart! I tear up every week, knowing it's one less week I get them.
7// My testimony, knowing the church is true, for my Heavenly Father, even though I don't always understand the trials I am facing.
8// My extended family, who always loves and supports endlessly. I always feel so blessed that we have the greatest cheerleaders around.
9// My friends, who might as well be family, because they know me so well. I'm blessed that I have friends that I can call up and cry to about anything and they will love me unconditionally. You know who you are!
10// All my senses intact; there is so much beauty in this world!


We so loved visiting Jeremy's family for lunch and my family for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. So so grateful that we both had Thanksgiving night off from work. So happy for this season and for the blaring Christmas music all around!!

a name and a blessing for bosten

 

Amelia's friend, Bosten was blessed in November. As you can see, he and Amelia are crazy little hooligans when he get together. Bosten was so darling, just as silent as could be during his blessing. Amelia, on the other hand, was jabbering away... Until Bosten looked over and said, "shhhhhhh..." (love those two). Amelia was so good sitting with Jenna, trying to steal all her jewelry!Jenna is one of my best friends, and it has been so nice watching our babies grow up together! Thanks Frys, for letting us be a part of such a special day, we just adore your family!

progress.

love that my fil is smiling for this pic. 

These images are unedited. Our good ole basement project is moving along quite nicely, I must say (not that I'm doing any of the work, mostly just overseeing and harassing the men working). I am so thankful for Jeremy's family, for their knowledge in construction and for their endless willingness to help. Finishing this project means so much to us, and I am so excited for the next step- sheetrock!

seventeen months

I'll just preface this post by saying it's going to be a hot jumbled mess. Because, quite frankly, there are a million things about my Millie babe that make my heart want to explode from happiness.

I wish I could bottle up with way she runs down the hall to me, so full of life and ambition. I wish I could bottle up the moments when she shrieks with happiness and can't catch her breathe. I wish I could just remember all the little things that make me fall in love with motherhood even more. All the times she says, "uh oh" and "woAAAAAAAAHHH!" and "ee eye ee eye o!" and "ho! ho! ho!" or gasps and lights up with excitement. All the times she gives me a hug and kiss when I leave for work. All the times she hands me her boots and coat when she was to take a walk. When she yells, "DADDY!" every time a car passes. When it really is daddy, and she runs towards our little prius to get a ride up the driveway. When she gets her own yogurt out of the fridge, closes the fridge, and puts it on the table for breakfast. When she jabs me in the eye, and says, "AYE-sssssss!"

All the little things, I wish I could freeze and hold on to. Her round cheeks and giant eyes and smile full of teeth. And her gut, her large pregnant gut after each meal. Her brain! I can't believe how smart she is sometimes. Like when I had to slam on my brakes when driving, and she said, "woaaaah!!!" or how she knows so many of her body parts now or how she feeds herself now.

I just love her so much I can hardly contain it. Most of the times, I think she's cute even when she's being ornery, like when she doesn't want to go home and will lay down on the ground in public places... awkward.

 

My heart is full.

halloween '13

We started celebrations for Halloween on the 30th this year. Amelia dressed up for toddler time at the library and had so much fun running around with other babes in their costumes. When Dad came home, we headed into Murray, so Little Red could pay a visit to Grandma Bodtcher before we headed to trunk-or-treat with our ward. Amelia was really nervous with all the commotion in the dark, but we had fun nevertheless. I was scheduled to work this Halloween, and Jeremy and Amelia had planned to come to the party at my facility. Unfortunately, Amelia barfed all over herself and I, and we decided that the little sicky should stay home. Jeremy told me she would run to the back of our house whenever the doorbell would ring. As soon as the kids left, she would run back up and wave goodbye. Hilarious. Jeremy also took Amelia out trick-or-treating at our neighbor, Steve's house, who carves 10+ pumpkins, each taking several hours to perfect. Jeremy sent me pictures of them, and they did not disappoint.

Gosh, don't blink, because it's already November. And soon, it'll be 2014. Lucky for us, we're just rounding the best time of the year, where holiday roll into holiday. I'm grateful for this season of love and this darling family of mine. Grateful for financial security, even though sometimes it means crying over missed holidays. Grateful for my babe, who reminds me how magical childhood is. I'm blessed.