Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Kait and Garen came over on Saturday to carve pumpkins with us. Theirs were a lot more intense than ours. Afterward, we went to our ward's Trunk or Treat. We went late and all of the pizza and donuts were gone. Talk about a crying shame! Regarless, Vince was the cutest little bee you've ever seen. We're going to dress him up again tonight for a party at the Asay's!
 Vince: Bee, Libby: Flower patch, Paul: Honey
 How could you not love that face?!
Paul's had a mustache with those huge clown glasses.
Mine had star eyes.
And the little Vince pumpkin had a baby boy hat on it.

My mom had us stop trick-or-treating when we turned 12.
After that I never much cared for Halloween.
I've enjoyed Halloween more this year than usual.
Perhaps having kids of my own will rekindle my love of this holiday.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Let's count to ten.

My goal was to be back at my pre-pregnancy weight by SIX months. Unfortunately, that is in SEVEN days and I still have NINE pounds to go. I have lost ZERO pounds in the last EIGHT weeks because I have been exhausted with school, clinical and being a mommy. Luckily, I only have TWO more clinicals left. Paul and I decided we are going to exercise FIVE times a week. We will be doing this for TEN weeks aka through the holiday season. Yes. My goal is to lose ONE pound a week during FOUR holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I will post THREE more updates about how we are doing with our goal. Wish us luck!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Finally!!

Vince rolled from his belly to back at 2.5 months.
We have been waiting and waiting for him to roll from his back to his tummy ever since.
He has been rolling up on his side and scootching allllll over,
but he refused to roll.
Tonight, he finally did it!
Thanks fuzzy blue bear for motivating my son.

Note: Paul insists I clarify that he is not the fuzzy blue bear...

Monday, October 22, 2012

Oh Happy Day!

I am so giddy right now. Why? Because I already know that this week is going to be awesome:

1. Yesterday Paul and I set some really good goals for ourselves. I always feel motivated and ready to conquer the world after I set goals.
2. I only have to do ONE 12-hour clinical this week. Hallelujah! It will be so nice not to do multiple clinicals this week.
3. Warren Miller on Wednesday = Cheap ski tickets for Paul (Skiing is horrifying and I currently refuse to do it).
4. A date with the hubs on Thursday! This will no doubt be the highlight of my week. We're doing the Halloween Full-Moon Lift Ride at Sundance. We'll be bundled up, sipping Ghirardelli hot chocolate from a thermos, enjoying the moon, trees, mountains and the time alone (sorry Vince...)!
5. Carving Pumpkins with Kait and Garen on Saturday. Last time we did this I was pregnant. This time Kait's pregnant :)
6. The ward Trunk-or-Treat party on Saturday night. My sister, Ruth, is letting us borrow a bee costume for Vince. It's size 0-3 mo. He'll almost be 6 mo on Halloween. Alas, he's a little boy and the costume fits like a glove. Pictures to come.

Now can you understand why I'm so excited for this week? I bet you're even starting to feel giddy for me!

Oh, and I'll be DONE with clinical in less than 3 weeks. Boo yeah!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Irreplaceable.

Last night for Family Home Evening (FHE) we bought pumpkins, ate ice cream and watched a talk from the October 2012 LDS General Conference. 
Paul picked it and I loved it.
It was entitled "Brethren, We have Work to do"
Watch it below.
You won't regret it.

 

After we watch or read a conference talk we discuss what we learned or felt.
Naturally, it is concerning that we live in a time when men are demeaned and considered unnecessary.
As our discussion ensued, I realized that I had no concerns about Paul falling into this trap.
He has already proven himself to be a hard-working, faithful provider, Priesthood holder and example.

But his work isn't over.
Now he is working to make lasting and meaningful footsteps for his son to follow.
The lessons that Paul teaches through his daily actions are unique and irreplaceable.

When he leaves for his job each day he teaches the importance of hard work and being a provider.
When he comes home and plays with Vince instead of watching TV he demonstrates that family is first.
When he calls the family together for prayer he exemplifies how to be a patriarch.
When someone is sick and he gives them a blessing he teaches the importance of being worthy and ready to use the power of the priesthood at all times.
When he reads to Vince he ingrains a love of learning and imagination.
 When he fulfills his church calling his actions display the depth of his testimony. 
When he shovels the driveway of an elderly couple he shows that service and love of others is greater than love of self. 
When he loves me he shows Vince that women are to be respected and cherished.

As a mother, I know that I could not teach all of these lessons on my own.
I am grateful that I have been blessed to have a husband who understands his roles and responsibilities as a man. I hope that Vince can learn from his example and make his wife and kids just as happy as Paul makes his.


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

I'm making lemonade.

It's easy to sit, complain and do nothing to solve a problem.
. . . . . . . .
It's better to come up with solutions instead of sulking.

We live in a basement.
No air conditioning.
No heat.
(And no dishwasher... but that's beside the point)

It was too hot down here this Summer.
We constantly had fans going.
Sometimes we tried to steal A/C from Grandma by opening the door to the upstairs.
Fall came around and things started to cool off from hot to warm.
Oh, how I have LOVED it! It has been perfect down here.
That is, until today. I was freezing cold today.
It's colder inside than it is outside because the ground that surrounds the basement is cold. Thus, even though the air is warm, our basement stays frigid.

I started complaining in my head, 
wishing for my own home.
Then, I looked at Buddy and said, let's get out of here!

It's moments like these when I get a much needed reminder:
We are never stuck where we are.
We always have a choice.
We just need to act.

My solution was to stop doing homework, go outside, lay a blanket out under the warm sun and enjoy these last few days of perfect weather. 
I felt like I finally allowed myself to escape.
Not just from the cold basement, but from my computer and the TV.
Laying out on the lawn with my Little Buddy was exactly what I needed.

Isn't it interesting how our trials lead us to actions that make us happier than we were before?
Our Father in Heaven always knows what is best for us.
We may not understand why certain trials are placed before us,
but in the end we turn out better for it.


I am aware that my solution for the cold basement is only temporary.
Once the warm days turn cold, I'll come up with new ones...
Like warm blankets, hot chocolate and snuggling.

Isn't life great?

Saturday, October 6, 2012

5 Months.

I am well aware that 5 months comes after 4 months... but somehow Vince turning 5 months really snuck up on me! My thinking is a little bit weird, but I freaked out when I realized he was 5 months because 5 months is almost 6 months, and 6 months is practically a year! Perhaps I sound ridiculous. Though you have to agree that time will just go faster and faster. I am trying to soak up all of the precious moments that come with having a little one.


 At the beginning of this past month Vince started sticking one leg up in the air. He did it all the time: Laying on the floor, nursing, you name it!


 A week or so after he hit 4 months we started him on rice cereal. He did pretty well with it but he wasn't all that crazy about it either.


His balance is still lacking... but he's working on his sitting skills. He leans forward really far and ends up squished in half. There is no way that he could be comfortable, but he seems to like the new views that come with sitting.


 Although most of his time is still spent on his belly. He loves his tummy time.


 Halfway through the month he started lifting BOTH legs in the air.
If he was on the floor, you could bet that he'd shoot his legs right up.


Next came grabbing his feet. 
And of course, trying to stick them in his mouth.


Vince is predominately a diaper baby. However, with the chilly weather we have been trying to get him dressed so he doesn't get cold. Sometimes the clothes don't make it all the way back off though!


Towards the end of his 4th month he started rolling onto his side. He reaches out and grabs things, inches his way all around and tries to find voices when people talk.


Today, to celebrate his 5 months on earth, we gave him something other than rice cereal-- Sweet Potatoes! He LOVED them (at least compared to rice cereal). When I brought the spoon toward him he would actually take his fingers out of his mouth and open wide. 


We love our little boy.