Valentine's Day & Joshua's Birthday...

Got bored while waiting for el Jacob to come home so I tried on my wedding dress. One year after having a child and it still fits, Yeah! I wanted to see if it would fit, and after watching "Say Yes to the dress" I really wanted to try it on again because wedding dress shopping is just so fun!





Joshua loves to copy dad and sometimes dad gives me a foot rub and Joshua decided to join in.


Finally Joshua gets to devour a birthday cake. One that is free of milk and eggs! He had a lot of fun but it wasn't quite as exciting as I had hoped for. Oh, well.






Joshua had fun on his birthday that we celebrated about 1 month later. He didn't really like the cake so much but had fun digging around in it. He likes the frosting more than the actual cake.

Joshua lost weight from his last appointment, about 3 lbs but that was due to the sickness. He loves to push the grocery carts around and cries when I make him put it away. Joshua had a great birthday and got some really neat things from both Grandma's and my siblings! Thanks everybody for your gifts!

For Valentine's day we celebrated it on that Friday because our Stake had a Dinner. We took Joshua dressed in his little tux from our family's July wedding and he was a big hit! He loved walking around so everyone could see how cute he was. Matt & I would watch people stare as they watched Joshua walk from one end of the gym to the next. Matt & I didn't do much that weekend but it was exactly what we needed. We had a movie marathon over the weekend and it was great! North & South, Sense & Sensibility, two episodes of Grey's Anatomy. It was great! We really needed a veg day because we are always so busy and trying to keep up with Joshua. Valentine's was great and I'm so lucky I have such a thoughtful, incredibly caring husband!

P.S. We did our taxes and are getting bank! Thank you Uncle Sam!!!!!!! Love that!

Realizing Life

"They are His Children and they are your children, flesh of your flesh, for whom He will hold you responsible. You have rejoiced over them, and in many cases you have sorrowed. They have brought you happiness as no one could. They have brought you pain as none other could."

"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children."

"As long as they are in your home, let them be your primary interest."

"None of us is wise enough to make it on our own."



These quotes come from Presiden Hinckley's address "Your greatest challenge, mother." I wanted to write out how I feel about motherhood. If you have been around me lately you will know that I sometimes hold my chaotic child in contempt ;). He is walking and causing all kinds of trouble now. He was never a child that would sit still in church or anywhere, unless he was asleep. He has never slept well, actually he has for a few months, but then the holidays came/pneumonia and now we are all off. Joshua probably has some separation anxiety, which I don't know how, I'm with him constantly. Matt is working and going to school full-time so my life is very crazy! I often feel overwhelmed and sometimes 'complain' but I don't think people understand this completely. I'm NOT complaining about my child, JUST what my child does.

I LOVE, LOVe being a mother. I love my little boy with all my heart. So, when I talk to you about motherhood, don't take my words literally. Would you rather I put on a fake face and tell you that motherhood is absolute bliss, all the time? It is my trial to raise my child, who is like as my mother puts, "hell on wheels."

But oh, I love the smiles, the giggles, the hugs, the kisses, the games we play together, how he cuddles with me. All of that you don't see and I can't explain that to you. Those moments, those priceless moments are private, intimate, and cannot be understood by those who don't have children. Just like the gospel, you can't explain in words that do it justice. You just have to experience it for yourself and know.

Sure, I would love more "me" time but that would not make me happy. I've never been happier in my life, but I've never worked harder in my life. No sleep, barely anytime to do anything for myself. But I would not change anything. Did you hear that? I would not change anything!!!!

I wrote those quotes down because I feel that they really spoke to me today while I was reading that talk. President Hinckley knows it is a challenge to be a mother, but maybe you are one of the few, who find it absolute bliss and have a perfect baby/life; but I'm not.

And I love that Joshua is challenging and keeps me going. My arms have never been as tone as they are to date because I'm always carrying around 25 lbs. It is great! It is a work-out chasing him down in stores and even more of a work-out to get him ready for the day and ready for bed. But I LOVE IT!

Two Left and Now Only One...

Matt and have been through a lot this year. Together we only have two surviving grandparents. Both are our beloved grandmothers. Now we only have one.

This last year was full of hardships; STarting grad school, trying to decide if we should stay for the MBA and incur more debt, whether I should get a job or stay home with Joshua, losing a nephew, losing a Grandmother, and a Grandfather.

It is a new year and now we starting all the trials again. Joshua has been way sick and on Sunday morning we got word that Matt's Grandma had died. We were so sad. I have only known MAtt's family for about 4 years but in that time I have learned a lot from them.

This is a shout out to Grandma Guernsey!

*Grandma Guernsey you were always so nice to me...
*Grandma Guernsey you made me feel at ease everytime I saw you
*Grandma Guernsey thank you for coming to my endowment and making a special effort to congratulate me on that day... your sweet presence in the celestial room will never be forgotten..
*GRandma Guernsey you immediately accepted me for who I was and constantly gave me compliments...
*Grandma Guernsey you were everything I wanted to be, Independent, educated, resourceful, well traveled...
*Grandma Guernsey your love for learning has really trickled down through the generations
*Grandma Guernsey thank you for helping my husband with his school...
*Grandma Guernsey thank you for telling me I reminded you of a beautiful Native American 'exchange' student you hosted...it really made me feel good..
*Grandma Guernsey you are amazing ...


**Grandma Guernsey... now your free from the body that halted your amazing trip to Africa and so many other places, enjoy the view from up there! Say 'hi' to my Grandpa and Nephew!



THANK YOU GRANDMA GUERNSEY!