Mind Reading

Last night Jonathan and I were eating dinner. Jonathan finished before I did (a common occurrence) and he looked at his plate, grabbed it, then let go. Picked up a bowl with a bit of food in it, and put it down. Then he looked around and then started singing "When I am Baptized".

I couldn't help but laugh, I told him I knew what he was thinking:

"I'm done. Maybe I should clear my plate, no... I should wait for Melissa to finish. Maybe I should finish this off, no, Melissa said she was going to eat it. Well, I should do something productive... *singing* I like to look for rainbows..."

His face got red, and we laughed for a bit. Sometimes I can read minds :)

Mommy Helps

Sometimes I find that doing the same thing day in and day out is hard for me. I sometimes have bad/down days. I know, I know, some of you may be saying/thinking "get over it... it's just begun" and I know it has.

Something that I have found to really help me is the Mormon Channel. Especially the program "Conversations" it's an informal interview with people who have "a unique perspective or interesting story". Often they will interview members of the 70, or Quorum of the 12 and their wives. They talk about the years of raising a family and I am reminded that I can do this. It gets better, and it doesn't last forever (which also reminds me to cherish this time I have).

Another thing that I have found to help me is an AMAZING talk by Jeffrey R. Holland titled "Because She is a Mother" from the April 1997 General Conference. It's amazing!

I just had to share. If any of you moms out there are struggling or having a bad day. Listen to that talk. It's amazing!

Two Months!

This is a tad late, but I wanted to post some pictures and show off my beautiful girl!

She turned two months on April 18. I can't believe it's been two months already!

[caption id="attachment_515" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Newborn Cambria. Just after she was wiped clean.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_516" align="aligncenter" width="640"] One Month[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_517" align="aligncenter" width="640"] One Month[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_518" align="aligncenter" width="640"] 2 months[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_519" align="aligncenter" width="640"] 2 months[/caption]

I am so in love with her!

Some major milestones this month are:
- smiling! This is our favorite milestone! She started smiling in response to us on my birthday. What a good birthday present!
- sucking on her hand - she now has enough control over her arms and hands that she can get her fist to her mouth.
- interest in toys/books. She has started becoming interested in the colors and sounds that toys make. She has a favorite book that has bright colors. It's her favorite to look at
- hitting toys to make them rattle - I think she's making the connection that if she hits a dangling toy, then it will move and make noise. It's so cute to watch her! On the same note, if she kicks her legs while in her bouncer, the toys attached will move! She enjoys that!
- She has started opening and closing her hands, I'm sure she'll start grabbing things within the next month.
- cooing - this is another favorite milestone. It's so fun to hear her feminine voice!

We love our little girl! It's so fun to see her develop! She's such a sweet girl, and she has a way of showing her love already! We are so grateful for her!

 

Benefits of Ward Choir

So Jonathan and I go to ward choir. One of the benefits (besides having an excuse to sing for real once a week) is that you get the songs you are working on stuck in your head. So... I am humming uplifting music more often than not uplifting music.

Cambria's growing up!

Cambria is growing up so fast! She's already 2 months old! How did that happen?!? The other day I found a hat that she was sent home from the hospital with, she hasn't worn it since being in the hospital. I decided to put it on, and oh man! She has grown a lot! The size of her head is so much bigger. So I thought I would take a picture and put them side by side, so all can admire how much she has grown. I also took a binky picture too.

Here they are. Enjoy

[caption id="attachment_509" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The left is obviously when she was in the NICU, under 7 days old. The right is one of her two month pictures.[/caption]



Left: One day old. Right: just shy of two months.

She's so cute.

Lagaan

We have people from India living below us. Sometimes they listen to Indian music, and I'm brought back to my teenage years. My family went through this phase where we liked an Indian movie called Lagaan. I love the music! It's so fun!
I heard them listening something today, so I looked up one of my favorite songs on Youtube... so fun!

The Mormon Channel

Ever since conference I have felt the need to surround myself in uplifting things. I do a lot of things in silence, so I decided to start listening to different programs on the Mormon Channel. I love it! There are so many things that I'm learning and being reminded of. I recommend it to anyone who wants something uplifting to listen to.

Spring has Sprung

As Jonathan and I were driving to church I saw the first signs of spring. ...



These beauties, blossoming trees and green grass! I'm so excited!!!

(I googled this picture... I didn't want to stop and take one of my own)

 

 

I'll love it when I'm older

Every time I tell people my age, or tell them stories of people not thinking I was as old as I was they always say "you'll love it when you're older" I'm sure I will! A lady (sister Allred) in my ward told me of a cute conversation she had with her 10 year old son the other day.

Son: "Mommy, you know that little girl that comes to choir?" (referring to me, and also referring to me being a teenager)

Sister Allred: "What little girl? We don't have a little girl that comes to choir"

Son: "yes you do" Then proceeds to describe me

Sister Allred: "Oh, son, she's not a little girl! She's a mommy"

Son: "She's a MOMMY?!?"

I thought that was cute! At least I have more to say to people who think I'm super young. I'm a mommy now :)

Forging a New Friendship

Elder Scott has inspired me. Let me explain. In the October 2011 general conference he said this "Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change." I remember when he said that, I wanted to start memorizing scriptures, but I never got around to it. I think I tried, but I just didn't get very far. Memorization doesn't come easily for me.

Well, when Elder Scott mentioned how many scriptures we could memorize if we reviewed a scripture as often as we sent text messages, I was hit with the Spirit. I didn't think it would be reasonable for me to review a scripture every time I sent a text (that's a lot) but I check facebook/email/blog a ton during the day! So... I have decided to review one scripture mastery every time I get on facebook/email/blog. I have done this for about 24 hours and I already almost have the first scripture mastery memorized! I'm so excited (I just try not to think about what that is saying about my facebook/email/blog time :) ) If I can really keep at it, I really could have all the scripture masteries memorized again!

There is power in memorized scripture. One time I was able to see it. I had a friend who was going through a really hard time in her life, and she was crying with me and her mom, and talking about how difficult this time in her life was. We were all crying, and talking, and her mom was comforting her. Then she quoted a scripture word for word, and the power of the quoted scripture was amazing! The Spirit came into our conversation so strongly and gave her so much peace. I decided then and there, that I wanted to be able to do that with my children. I really hope that I can use this method, and stick to it.

General Authorities

Ok, I just have to share! I don't know if anyone else caught this small moment at the end of conference, but it was so beautiful! As President Monson was leaving the conference, Elder Perry, and Elder Nelson went on both sides of President Packer and helped him stand as President Monson passed. I don't know why that hit me so strongly, but it really did!

That is such a testimony to me of the love and respect that they have for each other, and also the love and respect they have for the Prophet of the Church. Even though they interact on a daily basis, they still know that President Monson is the Lord's called servant on the earth today.

I could go on all day about this. I really feel like those little moments of watching the General Authorities gives me a window into how the Savior would love, and treat each other. I remember when I went to conference last April, I could literally feel the love they emanated, I wasn't sitting particularly close, but I could see it, and I could feel it. We are so blessed to have such wonderful examples to follow!

Yay General Conference!

Yay! I'm so excited for later today and tomorrow! I love General Conference! I looked on lds.org because I was wondering if they have anything to invite others to conference. They have a whole web page dedicated to inviting others to watch conference. Of course they do. I'm so grateful that the church is aware of social media and make it so easy for everyone to share their beliefs.

I only have a handful of non member facebook friends, but maybe something I post, someday will touch their hearts. I can only hope and pray that happens.

25

So, in a little more than two weeks I will be 25 years old. I remember when my older siblings turned 25... especially Amy, I don't know why, but I remember that birthday, and thinking it was pretty monumental. Actually, her age kind of stopped at 25, it just hit me a couple weeks ago that she'll be 30 this year... because I'll be 25 this year.

I'm not sure how I feel about it actually. Maybe because the last major (or of great numerical importance) birthday I had was 9 years ago... or maybe 4 years ago... either way it's been a while. As I have been thinking about it, I think the reason why this birthday is hitting me so hard is because 25 isn't young. Don't get me wrong, it's not old either, but I can't say I'm in my early 20's anymore... I'm officially heading into my mid 20's. And that's almost 30 ;)

I don't mind getting older, I have a lot to say for my almost 25 years of life. I'm actually exactly where I wanted to be by the time I was 25... married to a wonderful man with children. I have a college degree, and have worked for a while (something that wasn't on my list of dreams, but it really helped me develop my talents and I made some amazing friends). All I have ever wanted to be was a mom, and I'm finally there! I'm living my dream! Even though I am, it's just hitting me that I am getting older. Which is a weird feeling.

I Will Learn

Remember how I said I love the Sunshine? Ya I do, but I don't love going down three flights of stairs to see it. Today a friend from the ward called. I had borrowed a car seat from her for Arilyn to use when she was in town. I hadn't dropped it off yet, but it was sitting in my trunk. She called to see if she could stop by and grab it. Well... since it was sitting in my trunk I met her outside to give it to her. I grabbed Cambria, and a blanket and headed down the stairs.

The second I opened the door to outside I thought "what a beautiful day! Why am I not outside more?" I'm so grateful she called, and that she got me outside, even if it was only for a second.

It is a beautiful day... and what am I doing... sitting on my couch blogging about it. There's something wrong with this situation. I'll learn, I promise!

Taste buds changing

It's amazing how after a little while you start to develop an interest (or disinterest) in different flavors and tastes. Today we went to an Easter party at school, and of course they had candy there. I love candy. I especially love Easter candy, because it's a perfect mix of chocolatey goodness, and fruity goodness (I love fruity candy. so. much.). Well, today after I had my dinner, I got a brownie, and then they whipped out the candy, so I took one snack size Twix, and ate it. After that I was pretty close to sugared out... but they had fruity candy too! So... naturally I had to have some of that too, so about ten minutes later I grabbed a Sweetheart chew (about the size of a snack size Laffy Taffy) and ate it on the drive home. By the time we got home I was really sugared out!

It's amazing to me how after two small candy bars I was done for the evening. A few months/years ago, that would not have been the case.

6 weeks!

Well... Cambria is 6 weeks today! So what do I do? Get out of the house and run errands. I'm all better right? Well, ya, but I'm tired too... It was so great getting out though. I went and visited with a new mom of 3. She had a baby three weeks ago, and holy cow! Cambria looks so big compared to her! This baby has jaundice, so she hasn't gotten back up to her birth weight, so she's 6 lbs 4 oz... so she's a LOT smaller than Cambria (Cambria's about 10 lbs now).
Then right after that I went to drop off the air mattress that we borrowed for James and Sadie and Mom and Dad. That friend has a 2 year old and a 8 month old... Cambria looked so small compared to those girls... It's funny what perspective does to you.
As I was leaving the first house, all I had to do to go outside was go out the front door... to go outside from my house I have to go out the front door and down three flights of stairs... and I would have to do that with a full baby carrier if I wanted to go out during the day. Thus it didn't happen too much within the last 6 weeks. I will be really excited for the the day when all I have to do to go outside is go out my front door.