5 Things I Love About…

• Laramie
• Living literally down the street from family
• Camping/hiking/skiing/picnics/fishing and etc. in the nearby mountain ranges
• The University of Wyoming
• Walking in one of the many parks
• Great friends/great ward
• Music
• Singing songs to my little boy
• Jamming out in the car singing at the top of my lungs ‘cause no one else can hear me
• The spirit it brings into my home
• Being able to teach it
• This doesn’t really fit with the “love about” theme but I wanted to list a few of my favorite songs of the moment:
• Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
• Anything Like Me – Brad Paisley
• That’s All – Michael Buble
• Motherhood
• The wonderful responsibility and blessing of being able to take care of some of God’s children while on this earth
• Feeling more worthwhile than ever
• Sacrificing for other people
• Being able to stay at home, keep my house clean, cook dinner, and be the one who is there for my child(ren)
• The fact that I can wear a dirty shirt and no one cares or wonders why
• Brennen
• When he says “mum mum” even though he doesn’t quite know yet what it means
• When he’s really tired and actually cuddles with me
• His laughter and smiles and his ability to make me laugh and smile all day long
• When he flaps his arms and kicks his legs
• His intense curiosity about the world. I love watching him learn new things
• Matt
• His patience
• His desire to know everything about everything
• When he holds me and just listens to me rather than trying to “fix it”
• He’s working hard with his education so that he will be able to provide for our family
• He honors his priesthood

Random thoughts, eight, and 26

So I started writing my blog posts on windows live writer and I really like it a lot! I’m still getting used to it, though, so that’s why the past couple posts have been a little, well, large. I feel like the pictures and the font are just huge. I’m working on it. :)

I can’t remember if I mentioned this before but I made a little schedule for myself, mostly for housecleaning but I also try to squeeze in a little time every day to develop my talents, study the scriptures, and read for pleasure. I’ve also been trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I’m within 2 pounds! So I’ve really been watching what I eat and have been exercising daily. It’s amazing how much better I feel about myself and about life when I keep the house clean and when I feel like I’m trying to be healthy.

One form of exercise has been a new thing for me and that’s cross country skiing. Matt did it in high school so he’s really good at it and I’ve wanted him to teach me since we first got married. He probably put it off because he knows how bad I am at downhill.

Last week Brennen turned 8 months! He scoots and rolls around like a mad man but no crawling yet and that’s ok with me! He suddenly decided he doesn’t like vegetables. Ugh! I try all sorts of things but he always gags and spits and pushes the spoon or the little bite size pieces away. I still try every day, though. He is so smart and so much fun! He’s been cranky lately cause he’s finally getting his first tooth! I expect it to break through any  day now.

And lastly, I turned 26 on the 18th. So I’m officially in my late twenties… or I guess I can still say mid twenties. :) We were in Lyman visiting my family on  my birthday and it was really fun. My little niece Kamaryn made me a birthday card and I got to meet my soon to be brother in law, Ben. He is such a nice guy, he’s so good with April’s kids and perfect for April. Matt got me a new digital camera for my birthday and I love it! It’s a canon that’s a couple upgrades up from my old canon camera.
Brennen in the car on the way back from our Lyman trip.

26 fingers on my birthday.
 

Just Sayin’.

So… ever since I found out I was pregnant with Brennen I have felt ENORMOUS pressure to buy all the “best” baby things in order to be a “good mom.”

I personally feel like a LOT of mothers (and fathers for that matter) give in to this pressure and get all of the best, most expensive stuff even if they really can’t afford it simply because everyone else is doing it and they feel that it will make them better parents.

So I have had my moments of feeling sad and even guilty that I’m not being a “good mom” to Brennen because we couldn’t afford the nicest things. So in case anyone is reading this who feels the same as me, let me tell you something that may ease your mind a little.

It DOESN’T MATTER if you don’t have:

• a “perfect” matching “nursery” with tons of decorations
• an expensive crib with matching changing table and dresser
• everything perfectly color-coded
• crib bumpers and matching bedding
• every…single…toy that is supposed to be “the best”
• the most expensive, top brand car seat and stroller
• 50 million different outfits
• organic baby food that you make yourself
• a “perfect” hour by hour feeding and sleeping schedule for the baby (i understand that it’s nice to feed the baby at regular intervals and to make sure he gets the sleep he needs but if something gets a little “off” in the “perfect” schedule, it’s OK!)
• hand-made blankets, nursing covers, bows, burp rags, bibs, crib bumpers, and etc.
• and a billion other things that the world thinks you NEED

I’ve come to realize that those things DON’T MATTER. All my baby needs is food, clothes, a house to live in, somewhere to sleep, and mostly LOVE from his parents and family. I’m tired of feeling bad about the things that I don’t have or the things that we’re just not able to get for Brennen right now. It’s not that I want those things just to have them, it’s that all the media and things that other parents are doing make me feel like I’m somehow not good enough. I know I probably put most of the pressure on myself but like I said, if anyone else is reading this who feels the same way as me, know that it just doesn’t matter!

Ok, vent over. :) A post wouldn’t be complete without a picture of my cute little guy. This one is a blast from the past. He’s about two months old in this one and he sure is adorable.

Brennen Likes to Spit

His new skill. He does it non stop, especially in church.

And just for fun, a cute picture I took of him today. What a cute little poser. :)