Goals for this year:

Do more
Blog more
Be better in every way

I'm pumped - I can do this!

A Day To Remember

Happy Birthday to my amazing Grandmother! 86 years young! :)

This lovely photo taken recently by my Aunt Susan

I hope I will take after you in beauty and wit and independence when I become a Grandmother! I am typing this with a squirmy baby in my lap who just wants to crawl off and explore the house on her own so I have to be quick, but I just wanted you to know how much I love and appreciate you! Thank you for being so encouraging of my blog, it's helped keep me doing it. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Love you, love you, love you!!!

Popular

I'm so popular people actually cry when I leave the room. I can hardly even take a bathroom break. They can't stand to have me leave their presence even for a moment! These people that is: (Particularly the little one.)

Sometimes the "popularity" gets to me and when I find myself alone in the bathroom or the upstairs bedroom putting things away - and in that moment I just want to stay there and not come back out! Sometimes I feel like all I am doing all day is nursing Sierra, keeping her from climbing into all forms of trouble and danger, or cleaning up after and getting caught up in endless negotiations with Lily. And laundry, and if we're lucky a hot meal, and not getting enough sleep at night. Sometimes I feel that way...exhausted and dragged down. Then I remember a talk given by Lynn Despain in my ward at church, and I remember these are the days! She talked about the stages moms go through (young kids - teenagers - grown kids - &grandma) and how great it is to be the center of the home - to be needed and sought after by everyone in your family, and how that wouldn't always be the case. I remember that I need to enjoy the now. I need to enjoy each stage of life and what's unique about it. To keep a positive attitude. I know that nurturing these two darling children is the most important job I could ever have. Sometimes I feel like I am not doing so hot at it. It seems like other moms around me are doing such a better job, and I'm just keeping afloat marveling that all the things that I once wrote on my to do list must not be that important after all because life is going on and on without getting them done! And why can't I get more done? Is something wrong with me? Sometimes I am too hard on myself. I lose sight of the good things I am doing because I wish I could do so much more. A friend posted a link to this lovely article on her blog which I enjoyed and also want to share (-I swear I know this 'daring' woman from somewhere, college ward probably) Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts and give a shout out to my biggest fans! I love and adore you, and that I hope I live up to all your best expectations of me - and that we can be Best Friends Forever! And this I mean with more sincerity than any celebrity!

Sierra steps up

Sierra is climbing up on everything these days. It's her thing. All she wants to do is find something that will help her stand up and climb up on it. She's totally amazing us with how fast she's learned to sit up, crawl, and now stand up and cruise along the furniture on her own. She's not quite 8 months old! She's a determined little baby. I think she's taking after her Dad - when she wants to learn something she gives it all her attention until she gets it down! Here's some photos of her from the last month or so. Getting around!

Cute crawler

 

Cruisin' the couch

 

Yesterday she got herself up on the bottom step and was holding onto a rail with each hand.
One day I saw her balance on her own for about 3 shaky seconds.
She seems too little to be walking yet, but at the rate she's been going it's not far off!

Also learning how to plop herself back down

Foiled!

Already thinking of new ways around!?

Climbing something else instead

The littlest pianist

Thoughtfully stroking the keys

Not sure how to get herself out of this one...

Oh, these faces :)