Change in Perspective

Bottle feeding is more labor intensive than breastfeeding.   It's been quite a shock to a formula feeding novice like myself how much more work is involved.  With all the cleaning, scrubbing, soaking, and sanitizing I found myself annoyed every time I found another dirty bottle sitting beside the sink (as if it magically appeared there).  That is- until a few days ago when the bottles disappeared off the counter all together. 

Poor little Delia has been suffering from a nasty bug and has subsequently gone on a hunger strike (I believe it might have to do with the fact that she can't breathe through her nose... possibly).  It's scary and heartbreaking to have a sick baby and I couldn't be more ashamed of my attitude BEFORE she caught this illness.

Here's Delia in all her crusty bogies and bed- headed glory.



YES, stay-at-home-motherhood is exhausting and sometimes tedious, but I CHOSE this as my profession, career, and calling in life.  YES, my daily list of chores in never ending and boring, but how many mothers would love to stay at home and spend more time with their children?  I have been blessed with so, so, so many things in my life- it is time to stop wallowing and start celebrating!

Because this is an on-going difficulty for me I decided to do a little research on the subject and came across this amazing, beautiful, and inspired article (written before I was even born, but still written for ME):

Carol B. Olsen, "A Sense of Perspective", Ensign, June 1982, 69

I HIGHLY recommend this article be read through thoroughly, but one of my favorite quotes is:

"There is beauty to be appreciated everywhere, creative experiences to be savored, learning and thinking and growing to be enjoyed. To the degree that we understand the possibilities we gain an eternal perspective."

I'm starting my own "perspective" journal.  I'm going to fill it with articles like this, inspiring scriptures, stories, and other "beauty to be appreciated" so when my prospects seem narrow I can find strength through others' faith.



Poor, sick Hyrum



Ivy's finally feeling better!



I WISH I could say I'm not like so many of the proud, ungrateful examples I read about in the scriptures.  I WISH it didn't take a WORSE situation to realize how comfortable and blessed my life is.  I can only pray I listen to my own advice as I instruct the kids about the uselessness of whining and the peace a grateful point of view brings.



Lets all chant together:  BRING ON THE BOTTLES!!!

Confessions

I give my kids too much dessert knowing they won't finish.  I usually only get a few bites, but they taste all the more delicious because of the scandal.

I pretend I'm a Broadway super star when I do the dishes at night- singing at the top of my voice, imagining the captivated crowd, and dripping dirty water all over the floor during the most intense songs.

My celebrity crush is Chuck Bartowski.  I've never been able to resist a funny, nerdy, and athletic guy :)

When the kids are entertained I love to take Delia to a quiet room in the house, just me and her.  We play peek-a-boo, snuggle, sing songs, and talk about our day.  She's normally either on my hip or sleeping while the rest of us are busily bustling around, almost like she's not even here.  So when I get a chance to stop and give her undivided attention it's so precious.

I fall asleep after reading just a few paragraphs of whatever's in my tired fingers.  Whether it's the scriptures, a parenting book, or the latest must-read novel.  I LOVE to read and have really missed it.  So, to fill my reading void, Bry and I have been watching fun TV series with Netflix.  I like this option so much more than flipping channels because we can control what we watch so much easier and no commercials is always a bonus.  We're currently enjoying Merlin right now (We tend to like what BBC has to offer much more than many American Broadcasting companies).

I obsessively research newly discovered health news. I can't get enough information about what we should be eating, the most effective exercises, and beauty gadgets and creams.  But, I hardly ever implement anything into my own life.  We still eat the same old stuff we have for years, I still exercise the same way, and my beauty regimen hasn't changed in forever.  I guess it's hard for me to change my habits and routines- even if I know it's not the best choice for me and my family's health.

I do a little dance every time Delia and Ivy are asleep at the same time.  It's very rare and I can't help but giggle at the possibilities- I can do anything, ANYTHING I want!  When this rare opportunity presents itself I usually spend the time with my new hobby:



Jewelry Making



I CONSTANTLY hear babies crying- like a weird ring in my ears that never goes away.  I hear it when I'm trying to sleep, taking a shower, and even when I'm holding Delia.  Yep, I'm going crazy.  I think it's my brain's way of dealing with the constant fear that I'm going to forget one of my children.

Mommy Uniform

I'm the maid, nurse, doctor, coach, janitor, chef (if PB&Js count), cosmetologist, personal trainer, laundress, and teacher to my little family.  What do all these professions have in common?  They wear comfy, frumpy, easy to clean clothes and uniforms while at their job.  MY job is 24/7, 52 weeks per year. 

This is my mommy uniform:

(Masterfully taken by Hyrum)

It's not stylish or flattering.
 
Maybe when Ivy can actually put her food in her mouth and when Delia stops spitting up her entire stomach contents I'll consider changing out of my pjs every day... maybe.

Holy Sugar Rush!!!

Whenever I decide to completely ban sugar from my diet another holiday comes along...



Ivy's Valentines



Every time Ivy DIDN'T put a treat in her mouth she'd exclaim, "Look mom!  I'm sharing!"



We celebrated Valentine's Day with lots of fun little activities for the kids.  We started a week early with these "loving" mailboxes.  The kids contributed little notes to each other and I snuck in a few little treats and toys every day.  They were so excited to check their mailbox to see a new surprise.

On Valentine's Day we played "Pin the Sticker on the Dinosaur" and of course some V-day Bingo.

I love celebrating holidays.  It really doesn't take much effort to make the kids excited- just adding something special to an ordinary day is the key.   Holidays break up the everyday monotony and establish something to look forward to for the kids (and me). 

AND... Here's a cute little baby girl:

(Nope, nothing to do with Valentine's Day)

E-N-U-N-C-I-A-T-I-O-N

Watch the tongue...

Here's a funny Ivy conversation:

Erin:  "Whew!  Ivy!  Why do you stink so bad?"

Ivy: "Cuz I have so much gas ... as 100 elephants!"

Pros and Cons

With spring just around the corner I've been contemplating why I have such a hard time with the winter season. I've gotta figure out how to be happy in cold temperatures one day, cuz EVENTUALLY we will be moving back to frigid Northern Utah. So here's my attempt to look on the bright side with my winter pros and cons:

Pro:  Because of the need for hats, coats, gloves, and boots, I don't actually have to dress my children or fix their hair.

Con:  We're always late because it takes me twenty minutes to equip everyone for an Arctic exploration every time we leave the house.

Con:  Dry, itchy skin.

Pro:  LONG lavender scented baths with skin-soothing baking soda.

Pro:  Snowmen, snow angels, snow forts, and snow fun.

Con:  Snowsuits, hats, gloves, boots, snow, and mud all over the floor.

Pro:  Long winter naps

Con:  Uhh... no con...

Pro:  Warm comfort food- soups, stews, casseroles, hot cocoa...mmmmm...

Con:  Very depressing blubber pockets throughout my body

(I'm not going to share pictures of my blubber... I know you're disappointed)

 Con:  It's COLD!

Pro:  Lots of family snuggle time.

Have a Little Faith

Ivy and I were outside when I discovered these little surprises in the garden:

I was so elated I started jumping up and down- laughing and clapping.

I exclaimed, "Ivy, do you know what this means?  SPRING IS COMING!"

She responded, "REALLY?  That's so exciting mom!"

Then we proceeded to shamelessly prance around the yard performing our "crocus-bulbs-are-emerging-so-spring-is-on-it's-way" dance.

Here's an Ivy reenactment:

Yep, we're done with winter.

Happy Birthday

Thomas S. Monson said:  "Essential to your success and happiness is the advice 'Choose your friends with caution.' We tend to become like those whom we admire, and they are usually our friends. We should associate with those who, like us, are planning not for temporary convenience, shallow goals, or narrow ambition--but rather with those who value the things that matter most, even eternal objectives.

"Maintain an eternal perspective. . . There is no scene so sweet, no time so sacred as that very special day of your marriage. Then and there you glimpse celestial joy."

"Be Thou an Example," Ensign, May 2005

Making the decision to marry you for time and all eternity was a cinch.  I knew you had everything I wanted and needed and you have always exceeded my expectations.  This marriage journey we've taken together hasn't been effortless.  We've worked so hard to stay true to our covenants and our family goals, but we've fallen short many, many times. We've been married for seven years and life hasn't gotten easier, but the objective is more worth fighting for.  I'm so lucky to walk hand in hand with you, my dear best friend, as we discover our potential- with Christ as our guide.   Happy 29th Birthday Bryan.

Another PG Rating

I know, I know people!  Talking about anything that happens inside a baby's diaper should be off-blog-limits.  But I would HONESTLY feel irresponsible if I didn't share this knowledge...

Poor little Delia was suffering from this crazy bad diarrhea the other week.  It was literally eating through her little bum.  We tried every brand of creams, including Lanolin, we could find. She soaked in a bath with Baking Soda and Epsom Salt every night with no relief, no healing, and no sleep!  It was getting serious.  I was complaining to my HEAVEN SENT friend Ashley and she gave me the perfect product for my poor baby's booty.  After applying the ointment, her little rear was completely healed within two days and protected for the rest of her tummy troubles.  The little miracle cream is called Calmoseptine Ointment.

It's a little expensive, but it works so well I won't waste my money on anything else!  Thanks Ashley!  It truly amazes me how prayers are answered, even prayers about a little baby's bum.

Here's our happy little baby doll:

Childish Etiquette

Occasionally several fun pictures pile up that don't quite fit into any post. I CAN'T just ignore them!  So, the result is a silly post with lots of random pictures...

Embarrassing, funny, and "I can't believe she just did that!" moments are a part of being a Mama with young kids.  But I can't help wondering: how would life be different if we never learned the rules that dominate our social lives?

• We would insist on following each other into the bathroom, cheer each other on as we do our business, and fight over who gets to flush the potty.

• Hitting, kicking, biting, punching, and wrestling would be our way of resolving conflicts and socializing.

• If we want something, we'd fight to the death for it-even if it's just a Cheeto.

• "Personal space" would not be in our vocabulary.

   
• We'd proudly show our big kid underwear to whomever we come across (and they'd proudly show us there's).

   
• We'd KNOW we look good and wouldn't be afraid to flaunt it.

 
• We'd never hide our emotions.

• We'd always live in the moment, share our love with those we care about, and find delight in the  simplest of amusements.