Sunday, November 30, 2014

Look for the Good

I think I have mentioned that Jonathan and I often spend a good portion of the evening after Cambria goes to bed talking about how cute she is. I really feel like it's therapeutic, it reminds me that although she is in a tough stage right now, that she is cute most of the time, and helps me remember that I love her.

I was thinking about how good that is for my mental strength to see the good in her for such a long period of time each day. Then a thought came to mind: what if I did that with other people that are close to me; Jonathan, my siblings etc. When you live with someone it's really easy to see the things that bug you about them, or the nice things they do for you become routine. But, how much better would my relationship be if I actually spent an allotted amount of time just thinking of the good things that Jonathan does for me, or the things that I love about him?

Don't get me wrong, my relationship with him is great, but could it be greater? Always... no relationship is perfect.

AAAANNNDDDD.... How much greater would my relationship be with my Heavenly Father and the Savior if I did the same thing, or if I just took an allotted amount of time to thank them for the blessings I receive daily.

Food for thought.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Being a mom is hard

Being a mom is hard!

It's hard to get your toddler out of the house because she refuses to put on a coat and boots. It's hard to get that same toddler to sit still long enough to click her into her car seat. It's hard because you know that she would have fun at play group... the place you are trying to take her, but she wont listen long enough for you to explain where you are trying to take her. You know that (A)she will  have fun, (B) it will be good for her sanity to get out of the house, and (C) it's NECESSARY for your sanity to go to play group. All the while you have a baby that is screaming in his car seat.

It's hard when you are sitting in the middle of play group and hear about these awesome parenting-help books, but the idea of going to the library to check them out is daunting. It's hard because if you go to the library to get said books you know you are going to spend 99% of the time chasing a curious toddler all the while holding a bulky and kind of heavy baby carrier. Did I mention that you are going to be doing your best to help your toddler understand that she shouldn't be running, and you are trying to chase her down and do this while keeping your voice down because it's the library and you need to be quiet? Don't forget the looks that you will probably try to avoid noticing. Oh ya, and when are you going to read these amazing books that you have checked out of the library?

It's hard when you have a baby won't let you put him down. It's hard when he can't go longer than two hours max before he needs to eat again (although it seems like he needs to eat every 20 minutes). It's hard to want to feed him because you know that it's just going to make him spit up like crazy, cry inconsolably, and need you more than ever. It's hard to go through this even though you are doing what you think is best, and going off of milk in hopes to make his tummy feel better.

It's hard to feel calm and cherish the (supposed to be) sweet moment when you put your toddler down for a nap because you can hear your baby desperately crying. It's hard to help your toddler put her blanket in the exact spot she wants it because she can't communicate with you where that spot is. It's hard to keep calm and give her the time she needs.

It's hard to clean up your baby after he has a blow out, it's just hard. It's hard not to count down the hours till daddy comes home, even though it's not even 10:00 am yet. It's just hard to be a mom.

It's hard to not feel exhausted, and feel like there is still room in your soul to cherish the sweet smiles that your baby gives you. It's hard to stand with your sad baby and bounce him till he stops screaming. And yet, you feel your love grow for him right before your eyes. You have moments of true joy when your toddler genuinely makes you laugh.

And yet I feel like I shouldn't complain! I have an amazingly supportive husband who takes care of both kids the second he walks through the door. Sometimes he takes care of both kids, and makes dinner while I sit on the couch and look at facebook, because that's all I have energy to do. Did I mention he doesn't talk about how messy the house is, or that the cereal that was on the table when he left hasn't moved.

I know people have it a lot harder than I do, I don't have a baby that keeps me awake all night. I have a toddler who has a very happy disposition most of the time. And I have a mom that calls me on the days I really feel like I can't do this anymore.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Cambria, the cute

It just so happens that I'm writing this post on the day Cambria turned 21 months. Happy 21 months Cambee!

She is in such a fun (and trying) stage right now! I have been keeping a running list of some of the cute things she does/says. Sadie (my "twin", (my husband's twin's wife)) wrote a post of the words Arilyn (her 2 year old) says and the translations. I thought it was so cute, that I wanted to copy her :).

She has started replacing words with "uh-uh-uh" (un-opened mouth sound). It's a lot better than screaming, but when she does that when she wants a cracker (something she could say before "mommy") I'm a little... bugged. We have started saying "use your words" but she just responds with "please"... yes, that's a good word, but I don't know what you want, use different words... She'll get there.

Speaking of screaming, she is really good at it. I have been so done with hearing it, and really at a loss of how to help her get over this phase as quickly as possible. One thing that worked for about a week (but what a glorious week it was) was whenever she started to scream, I would ask her "do you want to scream?" to which she would reply "yes". Then I would tell her to go scream in her room, not in a mean, or punishing tone... but just matter-of-factly. She then would walk to her room, and then walk out. It would giver her enough time to forget about whatever it was that she was screaming about. Now when I ask her, she says she doesn't want to scream in her room, so she just continues to scream wherever I am. ... back to the drawing board with that one :)

Cambee has been into saying "wow" lately. It's the cutest thing! She will be exploring something new (for example, a black string she found on the floor) and just say "waaaaa-ooooh" over and over again! Adorable.

She also says "Applegate". We have yet to figure out what this word is, she says it when she is in her high chair and waiting for food, she says it when she is getting wiped down after she is done eating, she says it when she's looking for a certain book to read... I'm at a loss for what it could mean.

Some other fun words:
Cambria's word                                Translation
Ock                                                 on/off
Wees                                               Zip
Ah-gee-ya                                       Come get me
Pay                                                  Play
Bock                                                Box
Bock                                                Blocks
Bah                                                  Ball
Book                                               Book (all of the above 4 words are very hard to distinguish between...)

We love her!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Corbin, 2 Months

Dear Corbin

You are now two months old and we love you more and more with each passing day. You definitely have moved out of the newborn stage and you are totally in the infant stage. You don't look like a newborn, sound like a newborn or act like a newborn.

Developments this month include cooing, noticing lights, and focusing on things. You have started to coo, not so much that you are telling us stories yet, but your little sighs after you sneeze, or coo's of excitement are pretty adorable! You love looking at lights! You have for sure discovered them, and you love looking at them! You are much more able to focus on things. Yesterday at stake conference you were staring at a missionary behind us. Probably because he was wearing black, white, and red (the highest contrasting colors... babies love those colors) but I like to think it was because he was a missionary and you want to be one when you grow up! Or maybe it's because you could tell that he had a sacred mantle and you could feel that. Either way, it was really cute!

We can now put you on the floor and you can stay there happily kicking and cooing for a good few minutes!

With the hussle and bussle of your big sister around, I sometimes feel like I miss a lot of your cuteness. But the things I do catch I cherish!

You are growing quite nicely! You are now over 9 lbs!!! That surprised mommy when she put you on the scale at the doctors office! You are getting close to growing out of newborn size clothes and diapers. Mommy is kind of excited to put you in the next size up for clothes because you have A TON of clothes in 0-3 month size thanks to Aunt Shauna.

You are such a sweet boy. We love holding you, and snuggling you. You love it too. I can't wait to see who you become, so far we love the little glimpses of personality you are showing us.

Love,
Mom and Dad