anniversary!

Today is our third anniversary.  Robert surprised me and took me out to dinner.  While we were waiting for our food Robert asked what my favorite part of these three years has been(outside of Edgar, of course).  How could I just pick one?  But it was sure fun reliving those memories.  So here, so I don't forget those small moments that make life fun: Remember that one time?

Remember that one time we went snorkeling in the Bahamas?  And stubbed our toes and fingers on sea urchins?  And I was full of morning sickness and all I wanted was toast and the only thing to eat on that whole island that I recognized was fried chicken?

Remember the worst Christmas ever? With our little Christmas Bush? When I was still morning sick and all I got you was a PASTRY BLENDER?! And I was so sick with an ear infection that I learned to play Yahtzee with my head on the table?  And then you went home for New Year's without me cause I was too sick?

Remember right after we got married when you told me about those noodles your dad made out of potatoes?  I had no idea what gnocci was at the time, so I just cut some potatoes really skinny and we ate it with spaghetti sauce?  And that was the weirdest dinner ever?

Remember that one time, Monk escaped and we tore apart the whole house trying to catch her?  She was the worst wild mouse ever.

Remember Fanta?  How he was the smartest dog ever?  And how he was racist and hated every Middle-Eastern person that passed our house?  And how he would run away and roll in poop?  And do jumping jacks? And make a nest to sleep in?

Member how Gus is NOT very smart?  But he talks in his sleep and is very brave.  And he got sunburned that one time at Bear Lake?

Remember our Honeymoon to Catalina Island and rented kayaks and wet suits even though it was only like, 60 degrees? How I tried to talk to a fish but it wouldn't listen?  And then I got water in my snorkel and got grated against the coral and almost drowned?

Remember when we went to the zoo and pretty much no one else was there?  Remember how we got to pet the giraffes?

Robert, my love, we have had some fantastic adventures.  I love you SO much!  Thanks for the best three years of my life,

Love, Kim

mmm, paint.

So, Edgar was sitting angelically at the table eating a warm cookie.  I decided to take the opportunity and snag some baby-free facebook time.  After about one minute Edgar started making some smacking noises.  Eating type noises.  That's what he was supposed to be doing so it didn't even register in my mind to look over.  Robert looked though. "Oh! Kim, he's eating paint!"  I jumped up and saw two little sausage fingers dipped in bright blue paint.  He had somehow opened a tiny pot of those lame paints that come with kid's clay. Edgar looked at me with wide eyes, licking his lips as if to say "this stuff tastes horrible!"  I wanted a picture so bad, but about the time I thought of it Edgar started crying to get his tongue washed off.  I couldn't really blame him, so I started washing.  He was starting to calm down so I figured we just about had the paint out of his mouth.  I held him up to the mirror so I could see if I had missed anything.  Bad idea.  Edgar saw himself and screamed bloody murder.  Watering down the paint in his mouth had just spread it around  his  mouth and chin even more.  It was the most frightening thing he had seen since Grandpa Green popped out his dentures at thanksgiving.  He cried and cried and cried, then cried some blue paint on Papi's shirt, then cried some more when he saw THAT blue paint.  What a poor little lamb.  I wish I had a picture.

picture time!

Cutest Smee EVER

oh boy...

A few months ago my mom brought up a bunch of food and stuff for us.  I had put away all the things I THOUGHT Edgar could get into.  I was on the computer and the boy was playing quietly.  That should have been a red flag to me, but I was enjoying that moment of peace and mischief happens so suddenly.   Gus was the one who tipped me off with his sticky smacking.  I looked over and there was Edgar, fist deep in a jar of jam.  He was Pooh-Bearing it up with Gus licking the drips from his elbow.  He figured he was probably going to be in trouble so he abandoned the jar, pushed himself up, and made a run for it.  He slimed the couch and the floor pretty well.  I threw him in the tub and hurried and wiped up the mess.  I didn't know how long he would be happy playing in the tub with no water, so I was hurrying.  I bathed the boy and didn't think anything more of it. 

A couple weeks later I noticed a new spot on the floor.  It was getting blacker every day!  It wasn't until I got down on the floor to clean it that I saw what it was: two perfect jammy spots, in the shape of tiny hands.  I guess next time I will have to be more vigilant in my mess management.

Someone, Anyone, get me out of here!

So on Sunday we had a special Stake Conference.  The Presiding Bishop came and spoke, which we thought was way cool.  Edgar did pretty well, but by the end of the two hour meeting he was so tired and bored.  We stayed sitting to let the traffic thin out a little, but the people next to us got right up.  Edgar held out his hands, begging to go with them.  He cried when we made him stay with us.  He wanted to go home so bad.

I was enjoying Bishop Burton interacting with everyone; shaking hands, smiling.  After the crowed thinned out he walked right by us and his wife stopped to shake my hand(I must admit, I was hoping it would happen).  He told me how cute Edgar was and scruffled his hair shook my hand.  Well, Edgar looked at me, and looked at Bishop Burton, and looked at me as if to say "well mom, HE is outta here!" and then leaned for him and grabbed him by the coat lapels and yelled "PLEASE take me with you!!!"  Funny boy. 

One year old!

Edgar, you are one year old!  I can't even believe it!  This year has gone so fast for me.  You are so big now.  You have 6 teeth, and you started walking a few days before your birthday.  You had two parties:one at each grandma's house.  At Grandma Pratt's house I made you a dirt cake and put it in a dump truck.  You grabbed the candle instead of blowing it.  Then you tasted the cake with one finger, then two fingers, and then you tried to climb right in the truck!  At Grandma Natalie's house we had yummy pie for your birthday.  You don't really get presents, and sometimes you were more interested in the paper than you were the gift.  But everyone had fun and you were too cute.

You had lots of fun at the family reunion in St. George.  You played in a bucket of water with some measuring cups for half the night, then got sooo tired.  The next day you really wanted to play ball with the older boys, but you couldn't keep up.  Once you decided to crawl cause it was faster and crawled right through some dog poo.  GAH!  You loved the puddle under the snow cone machine and got very dirty. 

You have a funny way of talking.  Sometimes it sounds like you are really saying perfect sentences, but we know you don't really know what they mean.  While we were swimming in Uncle Bob's pool Grandpa Porter said "well, its' time to get out and go home" and you promptly yelled "NO GO HOME!"  Everyone heard it, but you can't talk! 

You DO know some words.  You know Papi's name, but you can't say it.  you know "Gus" and "no, no, no." Today we were sure you said "amen" at the end of prayers, but we think you were just imitating us. You can sign more, all done, water, fish, bird, and bye-bye.  

We sure love you baby boy.  Happy birthday!

Summer time!

Edgar boy, you are loving summer!  This weekend we went camping with some friends up Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  That was the best fun you've ever had.  Crawling around in the grass, being outside.  I was worried that you would be scared when I laid you down alone in the tent, but you were so happy to still be outside that you didn't even make a peep.  You slept all night long.  You were such a good boy that I want to go camping again!

You still love the water.  You have gone swimming several times: with Emma, in the tub, at Miranda's house, in the dog bowl at the family reunion. YOu just love being wet.

You are the happiest boy.  I just love to be around you because your chubby little face and goofy teeth just make me smile every time I see them.  You were so good for me this morning.  I hurt my back and then you woke up at 7:30.  I couldn't hardly get out of bed.  All I could do was drop a bottle and a book into your bed when you woke up.  I felt so bad!  But you just drained your bottle and went back to sleep.  When you woke up again it was late enough that I could call Maryann and Miranda to help me.  I was really sick and couldn't do one thing for you.  All I could do was lay on the bathroom floor, and you sat outside the door and cried until Miranda came.  Then you bounced right back and were happy as a clam for the rest of the day. 

I Love you Edgar-Boy.  You make my heart happy.  This is you and Grandpa on the fourth of July.  You had such a blast eating cracker-jack and wearing his hat.  Almost one year old!

not feeling well...

Since its 4am and I am the only person in this hemisphere that is awake, I'm going to go ahead and complain a bit.

My husband is falling apart at the seams.  He has at least two canker soars in his mouth and i'm pretty sure his Ulnar nerve in both arms is shot.  He came home from work yesterday because he was in too much pain to stay there.  The dr knows nothing and he can't be refferred to someone else until the insurance lady gets back from her 9 year vacation. 

Since my husband can't help me I tried to re-arrange the boy's room by myself so my Brother-in-law could live with us.  Somehow doing that I crunked my back.  Now I need a chiropracter more than ever, but still can't afford one. 

The humidifier triggered my asthma.  Now I'm all wheezy and can't sleep.  Not to mention shaky and cold from my inhaler.  And I can't go back to my nice warm bed because I'll wake up my poor husband.  Being up at night in the house sucks for one very good reason:

Cockroaches.

Tonight I KILLED at least 13 baby roaches. 

I just want to be asleep

remembering...

So, There are some things I want to remember about Edgar.  This blog is going to be more of his journal than anything else.

He is a stubborn ornery bum, but he is a big softy.  When he hurts someone, he just wilts.  He doesn't mean to, but if he makes gus yelp or makes me say 'ouch' it is the saddest day ever.  He just sobs and cries. 

The other day he was eating something he had found on the floor.  It happens.  So I fished it out only to find he was eating a MILLIPEDE.  Gross Edgar, gross. 

Today he wanted some Goldfish.  I thought the bag was closed, but he got it open and spilled fish everywhere!  I gasped in surprise a little bit and he thought he was in big ol' trouble.  he started scooping scooping them back into the bag.  He knew that's where they were supposed to be, but I didn't know until today that he even knew how to put things BACK where they were supposed to be. 

Edgar loves music. He dances to the credits of movies and TV shows.  He also loves stories.  LOVES.  If he's quiet the first place I go look is the corner by hte rocking chair.  He loves his animal encyclopedia, which Robert would like to remind the world it was his idea to get the encyclopedia.  He can say "moo" and "woof woof woof" but his favorite is "rawr."  Everything says rawr from trees to giraffes.  He really likes to look at the fish. 

Edgar loves water.  In cups, in the humidifier, in gus's bowl.  He hangs over the side of the tub when I shower.  The other day he climbed right in with Robert.  Fell right in, clothes and everything.  And oh man, if he wants in he lets you know it.  We took him to the pool yesterday, and he played and played and played.  Those six inches of water were the best time of his life.  He went ahead and dunked himself a few times, but he wasn't phased.  not one bit. 

He lives for outside.  He points to trees, barks at every dog, and asks to get down into the grass.  Last night we went to eat tinfoil dinners up the canyon.  There was a creek and with him loving water so much and being so fast, I didn't want to take any chances.  I strapped him into his carseat for the whole time, and he was so happy to be outside that he didn't whine one bit.

His favorite place to play is on the couch.  He can climb up and down from it pretty well.  He just goes back and forth: belly flopping, head butting the armrests, and sitting on gus.  He loves cars best of all.  Yesterday he was putting doorknobs into his dump truck.

I really love this boy and I can't believe he will be a year old NEXT MONTH! 

10 Months...

You wouldn't hold still for TWO SECONDS!

 you love to crawl and are so fast! 













 water, water, water






Edgar boy
You are 10 months old!  You are perfectly happy crawling and don't want to try walking at all, although you can stand on your own just fine.  You have 4 teeth, and you look pretty ridiculous.  Two middle bottom teeth, but the top two are NOT the middle.  Your hair does one big swirl all the way around your head and ends up in your left ear. You try to talk, but mostly you just jabber.  Sometimes you get some of the sounds right though.  You CAN say "moo", "guh" (gus) and "woo woo woo"(woof woof).  You are all over the place and SO busy!  Right now you are behind me turning the printer on and off.  You love the playstation buttons and TV buttons.  You love outside and all water.  You started crying if I take gus out and close the door so you can't come, even if it is freezing.  Today, Papi was showering and you were in the bathroom standing by the tub and you leaned over so far to try to touch the water that you fell right into the shower!  We took you to the movie theater for the first time yesterday with Grandma Pratt.  You slept probably half of the time, but you loved the parts you weren't asleep for.  We watched Kung Fu Panda II.  Later this week you will get to see your cousin for the first time!  We are pretty excited to go to his blessing.

too big!

Our Edgar Boy is getting way too big!  He is 9 months old, 20 pounds, and just broke his first tooth.  He is way too funny.  He makes a lot of sounds and can say "moo" and "gus."  He says "mamamama" and "dadada" but doesn't really associate them with anything.  He crawls all over and gets into everything.  A few weeks ago we had everyone over for dinner(Penmans and all the USU girls).  Of course we don't have chairs for everyone, so some people were sitting on the floor.  Edgar was crawling around getting bites from people and I wasn't paying much attention to him.  All of the sudden, Jenni screamed!  Edgar had crawled over and dumped out her juice...right down the back of her pants.

Once while we were out and about, we saw some people selling puppies and stopped to look just for fun.  We showed Edgar a black min pin and he looked a little confused and said "Guh?"  Like "um that's not MY gus, is it?" 

Last week when Grandma Porter came Edgar wanted her dog to play with him, but she is a scaredy little chihuahua.  So Edgar just grabbed both of her front legs and head butted her for a while.  She was horrified that we would let him do that. 

Edgar L.O.V.E.S to be outside.  He has only recently discovered grass and dirt, and boy howdy.  THAT is a good time.  He also loves baths, big people food, and reading books.  His favorite place to play is on the couch, and he doesn't ever hold still while he is up there.  He does head butts and belly flops and crawls back and forth and back again.  Church is really hard because it is right during naptime and he won't just lay still in my arms and go to sleep.  We try to last through the Sacrament, then I take him to a dark classroom and let him cry and cry himself to sleep. 

Just watching TV with Gus and Papi

Oh hi Mamma!

Here is Edgar in his CUTE Easter suit.

funny pics

I realize it was maybe a little heartless to take a picture before saving him, but this moment had to be saved

Stuck in the toy basket

I LOVE OUTSIDE!!

I do NOT like outside, and it's your fault I'm here!

life is good!

Man, I love this Edgar boy!  He is so cute and so full of personality.  He loves anything we take away from him. Typical, eh?  He loves to chew on paper, remotes, shoes, and dog toys(and food).  He does NOT like his toys for the most part, but loves anything with wheels.  He enjoys spilling my water and bath-time.  He keeps (accidentally I think) unscrewing the lids to things.  He is constantly making messes.  And you better not eat without him!  The boy loves his food.  He is seriously the cutest baby I have ever seen.  How can you not love this CHEESE-BALL?!  He is super excited to see his Grandma and Grandpa this weekend when we go down for Conference.  Can't wait to see you!

Yay!

So, we've been sick.  That's not so yay.  BUT, here's the yay.  We got new phones!  No more lost in space texts.  No more "phone call not allowed" messages.  No more shutting off when you close the phone!  No more T-Mobile!

The other yay is that Seth's brush with the law is all figured out.  Here's the story:

A couple weeks ago someone siphoned gas out of my in-laws car and stole the money that was in Seth's wallet, which was in the car.  They filed a police report, but nothing further was done.  So Micheal turned the alarm on the car and sure enough, a few nights later, it was set off.  On Thursday the parents headed off to a conference in Las Vegas, leaving Seth to get the kids off to school.  When he got back home from work that afternoon he discovered that the house had been broken into.  Mirrors and pictures broken, dressers tipped, books dumped, light fixtures and dishes shattered.  Seth's I-pod, Daxon's life savings(about 23.47$), and 600 dollars(to pay for some advertising) were also stolen.  Seth couldn't get a hold of his parents, so he called William and Natalie, and then Robert, to ask what to do.  Robert told him to figure out if anything was missing, then call the cops.  No laptops or cameras were touched.  The cops(one cop in particular) came, pestered Seth, and then followed him to work.  He was menacing and threatening enough that Seth felt panicked.  He wouldn't let him talk to his parents either.  When Seth was good and worked up the cop asked if he had done it and Seth said 'yes' just to get the policeman to leave him alone.  Admittedly, a poor choice.  The cop charged him with vandalism and falsifying a police report.  The Bishop halted work on his mission papers and took his Temple Recommend.  *crush*

Today was Seth's meeting with the District Attorney.  Nerve wracking, I am sure.  But, the DA believed Seth.  Believed that he wouldn't siphon his own gas, steal his own money, trash his own house, and steal from his own parents.  He DID fine him for lying to a police officer.  But in 90 days his record should be clear, as long as he doesn't get into any more trouble, and he will be able to finish his papers.

The cop came back to the house to give Seth the ticket anyway.  They told him the DA had dropped the charges, but he gave it to him anyway.  Even Papi felt threatened by this cop.  Not so much for himself, but threat rays emanating from the cop towards Seth.

I don't hate policemen.  I think their job is necessary and I am grateful for all the good things they do. Sometimes they do need to know how to be aggressive and intimidating.  THIS policeman, however, I'd like to kick in the foot   ankle shin knee FAMILY JEWELS!  Ok, I probably wouldn't do that.  But I'd sure chew him up one side and down the other.  There was never any need to be a jerk.  I think what he did was lazy on his part and he should have done a better job looking for the real scum-ball instead of just the first person he saw. 

But yea for getting everything worked out.  Yea for honesty being the best policy.  Yea for a good DA.  Yea for BYU winning their game!  Yea for drinking enough water today!  and Yea for new phones!

pretty cute little criminal, I think

wow, it's been a while.

I have been so busy that it has been a while since I wrote.  I have been sick.  Edgar has been sick.  Edgar has been teething.  Robert needs to eat.  That takes up just about all my time.   It is hard to get Edgar to eat enough during the day when he is teething, so he is getting up in the night these days.  UGH!  But besides that, we are still alive and happy.

Here's Dustin and Robert getting some air on their home made sled.

Why, oh why, oh why?

Today started out with the best of intentions.  Really, it did!  I was going to NOT work on any projects and NOT make anymore messes.  Instead, I was going to clean up the house.  REALLY clean it.  Bathroom, kitchen, living room, Edgar's room, laundry.  Well, it didn't really turn out that way...

I DID get the bathroom done.  It was a big job cleaning up the grout project and scrubbing mildew.  The cleaner gave me a headache, so I decided to clean something less potent. 

Edgar woke up halfway through my washing of the pots and pans.  And that was pretty much the end of my productive time.  He was cranky today!  I think he must be growing AND teething.  He needed a lot more naps than usual, so I got a few more bits of things done.  But more naps than usual also meant more cranky time than usual, and that drains me. 

So, it kinda feels like one of those days. 

But I know that having the house perfectly clean isn't the most important.  Everyone got fed.  The house is not a health risk to anyone.  And although it isn't finished, it IS better.  I did get a shower and I did wash some laundry, even if it isn't folded.  And I got to watch TV with Robert after the baby went to bed.  Sometimes it is okay that things don't exactly turn out.  This is something I am having to learn.  Dinner can still be good even if it doesn't look quite right or taste like Mom made it.  The clothes are still clean even if they aren't hung up.  Popcorn has to count as a vegetable if I want to get my 5 a day sometimes.  And besides, I'd rather hold hands with my honey watching TV than vacuum any day!

funny boy

Finished filling the tub and turned around to see this! "Just waiting for you to finish mom!

temple night...

It took a tag team of sisters, cousins, and a roommate to watch Edgar, but we GOT TO THE TEMPLE THIS MONTH!  Sweet. We are 100% for our goal so far. 

It was tough because the temple has been closed all month.  We felt kinda discouraged that a wrench got thrown in our goal right off, but we made it.  I guess everyone else in Logan felt the same way, cause I have never seen the temple so busy.  People were having to wait an hour or more!  We were able to barely get in doing some work other than a normal session.  It was a new experience for me, and really rewarding.  I got to help some mothers who had died without the gospel get sealed to their children so they could be together, even though they couldn't do the work themselves.

If any of you don't know, a Mormon Temple is a beautiful place.  One of the biggest goals of the Church is to strengthen families.  We believe that Heavenly Father wants us to be able to be with our families forever, even after we die.  There are certain things you have to do on earth to accomplish this: you have to seal your family in a Temple.  When Mormon couples get married in the temple, they also get sealed to each other(which makes it possible to be together after they die).  That part can't be done anywhere but in the temple. But a LOT of people have died without ever hearing about the Church and getting to be "sealed" to their families.  So Heavenly Father worked it out so that living people could do the work for the dead.  That is what the temples are for.  There is other work that needs to be done for them too, like being baptized.  That is done at the temple as well. 

I love my son.  He lights up my life.  I can't imagine dying and never being able to see him again.  I could imagine how grateful those moms were to be able to get their children back, and it felt really awesome to know I had been part of such a great gift.  It reminded me of how much our Heavenly Father loves us, and how much he cares about our happiness. 

Unexpected...

Life is full of things we plan or know are going to happen: the kids will grow and start kindergarten, the dog food will run out, the bills will come.  This post is not about those things.

This post is about picking your baby up in the morning for a good snuggle, only to discover that both of you are now covered in poop.

This post is about watching a cockroach fall into the corn meal while you are making dinner...for company. (NO Maryann, that was NOT last night:)

This post is about the phone call you got that your best buddy(the dog), died just after the call you got that he was found.

This post is about the phone call you got that your sister and cousins had been in a rollover, but come away with just bumps and bruises.

This post is about thinking you are in labor two months early.

This post is about returning to wetting your pants after thinking you had mastered that challenge twenty years ago.

This post is about finding the love of your life just after you had sworn of dating forever.

This post is about when the new-found love of your life totals your car while you are ring shopping.

This post is about sleeping in the kitchen for a month after you discover black mold in your bedroom wall.

This post is about scoring for free what you thought you'd have to pay 40 bucks for.

This post is about the white-trash smoking neighbor who came over last night and asked for a ride to church, and would you mind waiting after while she talked with the bishop?

This post is about being handed a free crib, a highchair, and a bag of baby clothes from the lady whose triplets have grown out of them.

This post is about dinner falling in your lap when the leg falls off your table.

This post is about being given a pickup because your brother bought himself a new car.

This post is about the roller-coaster at work, where you may get fired one week, and maybe promoted the next.

This post is about the boils you somehow passed to your baby, and the strong antibiotics you are taking for the boils that have now wreaked havoc on your system.

This post is about the hall light that exploded when you flipped the switch.

This post is about the worm in the apple, the mold on your sandwich, the hole in your sock, the broken dish, the treasure in the couch cushions...

The unexpected.

That's what this post is about.

Update!

So, we are almost to the end of January, so we have all forgotten our goals, right? Well, I just thought I would let you all know how I am doing as a reminder to keep at it.

Going to the temple: have not done it this month. Our temple has been closed, but I DID get the opportunity to go help clean it. It opens again the 25, so we are still hoping to get there.

Personal Scripture Study(aside from what I do with Robert) Nada. But I'm not too worried, I still have the whole year to get better at it.

Journaling: I am doing a lot better. I took a while picking up a new book, but I have been doing well.

Living after the manner of happiness: Doing great! I fill my days with things I love doing and people I love being with. I do things for my family, and now and then for myself. I also started exercising so I feel better and have more energy to do things I enjoy. I started a blog to share my creations as a way to celebrate being a Mom.

I hope all of you are remembering your goals. I think a lot of times we do great for a couple weeks and then forget. But it is important to acknowledge your progress too, so you don't get discouraged. So, good luck everyone!

SUCCESS!

Last week, on studio 5, I was introduced to my new dream wall decor. Old wood window frames! I was so excited, but unfortunately, they are a trendy item. DI had none. KSL had them, but not close to Logan. If you find them, they will probably be 30$ plus. Just as I was giving up hope for my window frame, a girl at an antique store gave me the tip of a lifetime: try calling a window installation company, they may be willing to salvage one fore you. So, I started calling. And calling. And after a while, I got a call back. Someone had some in their scrap pile I could come pick for FREE!! Holy cow, best day ever. So I went and scooped up all that weren't broken. I found another at another store, four all together for 15 dollars! I was pretty excited, but that is not the best part. Here is the best part: CONSIGNMENT STORE. That's right ladies and gentlemen, I sold the extra windows. Total expense for my dream decor: negative 10 dollars. SCORE. No, I don't have a picture, but they look like this:
_ _ _ _
|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|

heh. Sometimes I try to be funny

How is it done?

So, I want to become part of the "blog mom" world. I want to share my ideas and stories with other moms. But the problem is, HOW? Some ladies with craft blogs have sponsors and people advertising on their blog. I want to do that! I want to sell my ideas and my crafts and creations. I want to make people laugh and have a place where moms can swap funny kid stories and advice. But how? I have 9 followers! Anyone have any ideas?

Selling some stuff...

Robert spent his Saturday, not sledding like he wanted, but helping me rearrange the furniture. What a guy! He really DOES love me :)

Part of the reason we wanted to rearrange (and by WE I mean I) was so that Edgar had fewer cords to play with. He thinks its about time to crawl. As we all know, it is a headache to try to contain cords. Zip ties and strings only help temporarily, but end up as loopy tangles. Plus, little hands and mouths can still get to them. SO, I invented a new solution(I think I am a genius). Necessity, my mom told me, is the mother of invention. It is simply a wide strip of fabric long enough to reach from, in my case, from the plug to the printer. Then you cram a zipper(or buttons, or ties) and zip the tube of fabric around all those ugly tangled cords and HIDE AWAY YOUR PROBLEMS!! g'won, do it! Or, heck, maybe I'll start selling them! Want one? 6Bucks, since you're my friends. I'll also make ya pacifier straps, burp rags, baby hair bows, reversible headbands, brooches, even personalized pendants to wear on necklaces if ya want em. Once I find my camera, I'll put up pictures. Interested? Let me know. I want to try baby boy ties too...hmm

strive to thrive!

Okay. New Year post.

First, I want to just review my last year. At this time last year I was a newly morning-sick mom. For a while I wondered what I was thinking when I thought I could handle this. Work was so hard. Eating was so hard. Staying healthy was impossible. My goal was to stay alive until my baby was born.

But luckily, that was just the beginning. As the months went on I felt better. Work was fun again(love and miss my kids!). It was so fun to watch and feel my little miracle grow and develop. I learned so much and I gained a certain respect for women and gained a testimony of how much our Heavenly Father respects us. I can't believe he has trusted me to raise this perfect miracle. He was born into our stewardship at the end of July. He is the best baby and having him has truly changed my life.

This past year has been the happiest that I remember. I feel good. I feel more energetic. I have learned new things and I feel better about myself. I don't know if I feel so much better because I am confident that this is what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing, or maybe because I accomplished something amazing that I didn't know if I would make it through. Maybe being pregnant and having a baby balanced my out-of-whack chemicals. I don't know why, and I really don't care. More than once since Edgar has been born I have just cried because I am so grateful to feel alive. To feel Joy in every day. I am closer to my husband and more in tune with my Heavenly Father

But here's the thing. I know how depression is. I know that I still have it. And I am scared out of my mind that I will fall back to where I was. SO, that brings me to my new goals.

1) practice letting worries go. I don't have to be perfect by this time next year, I just want to be better. I am going to calmly(with Robert's help if need be) figure out how important my worries are, whatever they end up being. If it is not something that I will remember in two weeks, I will try to let it go. In this way I will be less concerned with what may happen and be able to live in the moment and notice better the great things that are going on in my life.

2) I will strive to come closer to my husband. This isn't a goal that will end with the year. But I will communicate better. I will tell him when something bothers me or just remind him of something he forgot instead of waiting until he can read my mind. If I am upset I will tell him why instead of pretending nothing is wrong so that I can stop worrying about it. I will ask for his help instead of being angry that he can't see that I need help. I will write him more love notes.

3)I will come closer to my Heavenly Father. Robert and I have a goal to go to the temple on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. We just chose a day so we could write it on the calender and be reminded. We didn't want to do it at the end of the month in case something came up and we had to try another day. I will also be better at reading my scriptures, and saying my personal prayers in the morning. I will say my prayers while I am feeding Edgar first thing in the morning. I won't fall back asleep and there will be few distractions.

4) I will live after the manner of happiness. For me, I am doing great at that right now. But to make sure I stay happy I am going to keep doing things. I will keep learning and creating, since that brings me joy. I will be silly with my husband, my sisters, my son, my dog, or anyone else who will do it with me. I will sing and maybe even skip. I will blog, take pictures, cook, and give gifts. I will serve my family. AND, I will get a new journal. I will start over and get back into the habit. Every day, I will record something that brought me joy that day and will list something I did to keep these goals as a part of my life.

With the old year, I burned my worries. I burned my depression. I burned my sense of laziness and un-accomplishment. These are the things I stuffed my dummy with this year, and my husband helped by pouring on the gasoline. I love my life, and it feels so good.