Before Emma was born, I remember people telling me how much my life was going to change. "Nothing will be the same" they said. I didn't understand but decided that was part of having a baby and I could do it.
After I had her, things really didn't change that much. There was less sleep and a little less flexibility with my schedule. I had to plan ahead a little more when I went places, but she fit fairly seamlessly into our lives.
We could still hold her and do about anything. Go out to dinner, go to the movies, work out at home, watch our favorite TV shows, eat whatever we wanted for dinner. She didn't make a mess of our house, it was always very contained to where we were at the time.
As she got older and then we added Madelyn to the family, this began to change.
There is really nothing that remains untouched by a child in our housse. There is always something to clean, toys to pick up off the floor, endless laundry to do. Any household project takes 5X as long with children underfoot. It takes me weeks to catch up on my favorite shows. It is a lot less enjoyable to go as a family to a restaurant. Jared and I get a maximum of 2 hours in the day of just US time after they are in bed. When we do get a chance to talk, I have a hard time switching out of "mom mode" and not talking about potty training, sleep training, pacifier weaning and eating schedules.
Having children has officially CHANGED our lives.
But a friend once told me about the "river of parenthood". My parents once stood where I stand, on the bank of the river, entering into the river as often as we needed them. But at some point, they took a running jump and cannon balled in. They dealt with boulders, currents, little branches, big logs, cold water, etc. But they threw themselves into parenting 100%. And as their daughter, I'm so grateful they did. I would be a different person if they had only parented half-heartedly.
I feel like I am standing on the bank right now. Sometimes I get frustrated by the things I listed earlier, feeling like I'm a little inconvenienced by them sometimes. Like I "deserve" certain things and they interrupt that. But I love my girls, and I want to do what is best for them. So it is time. I need to dive in. I will still have "me" time and Jared and I have come to realize how important a weekly date night is, but I'm all in. I am mother. This is not only what I do, but who I am.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
De-Funking
I know that it is January, and that it is "normal" to have cabin fever or find ourselves in a funk. But I don't like it. It feels like depression. For me, I think it is aggravated by birth control issues, potty training, and cold weather. After feeling sorry for myself for several days, I decided I needed to de-funk my life.
So I started thinking of things I could do. I thought I would share what has helped the most in case any of you find yourselves in a similar situation...
#1: Sunshine/Exercise! I know that it was cold on Friday. It never got over 34 degrees. But that isn't really that cold, we bundled up lots and went for a 3 mile walk/jog. AMAZING what that did for all of us, espcially me.
#2: Organization. It might seem like it would stress you out more, but having a plan and following it, feeling like my house/family is in order, makes me happy. I found a website, Household Management 101, that gave me a lot of great ideas. My favorite were the cleaning schedules. Just doing a couple of things everyday is much less overwhelming than looking at your house as a whole. And it is fun to try to get all my chores for the day done before lunchtime so I can enjoy playing with my kids the rest of the day and not feel guilty. I also love the household notebook idea. Brilliant! You all probably know this stuff but it was all new to me!
#3: Serve. I know we've all heard this many times, but when I start thinking about others more than myself, I feel better. It doesn't even have to be a big thing. On one of my hardest days I got a phone call from someone who just needed to talk, who needed me to say a few things that I didn't know I was going to say. And I got off the phone thinking of this person, feeling so much better, and grateful that they were willing to call me and give me the opportunity to serve.
So I started thinking of things I could do. I thought I would share what has helped the most in case any of you find yourselves in a similar situation...
#1: Sunshine/Exercise! I know that it was cold on Friday. It never got over 34 degrees. But that isn't really that cold, we bundled up lots and went for a 3 mile walk/jog. AMAZING what that did for all of us, espcially me.
#2: Organization. It might seem like it would stress you out more, but having a plan and following it, feeling like my house/family is in order, makes me happy. I found a website, Household Management 101, that gave me a lot of great ideas. My favorite were the cleaning schedules. Just doing a couple of things everyday is much less overwhelming than looking at your house as a whole. And it is fun to try to get all my chores for the day done before lunchtime so I can enjoy playing with my kids the rest of the day and not feel guilty. I also love the household notebook idea. Brilliant! You all probably know this stuff but it was all new to me!
#3: Serve. I know we've all heard this many times, but when I start thinking about others more than myself, I feel better. It doesn't even have to be a big thing. On one of my hardest days I got a phone call from someone who just needed to talk, who needed me to say a few things that I didn't know I was going to say. And I got off the phone thinking of this person, feeling so much better, and grateful that they were willing to call me and give me the opportunity to serve.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Out of the House!!
In the trenches of potty training, I have been right on the verge of losing my sanity more than once this week. This morning we got a package in the mail from my mom. Potty training pants! So we took advantage of the little bit of extra freedom they gave us and went for a walk. I thought it would be exciting for them, and they seemed very happy. Don't they look really excited to you? 
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Resolving to be better
So many things I want to do- run a half marathon, monthly temple attendance, morning prayer, morning scripture study, make it through all 90 days of P90X with no more than 1 day off in a row(this will make my weight loss goal happen), read some more classics, do my visiting teaching EVERY month, potty train Emma, read to the girls every day, follow our budget, have a cleaner house, experiment with new recipes, earn a trip to Hawaii, the list could go on and on.
I've been thinking about this a lot, but rather than just DOING things(just checking these items off my list), I want to BE someone different by the end of the year.
be more fit.
be more organized in my home.
be a better mom.
be debt free.
be a woman of my word.
All of my checklist items help with my primary goals, but keeping the big picture in sight really helps to set my priorities. Sometimes I get lost in doing something GOOD and miss out on achieving something BETTER. So that is what I'm focusing on in 2011. BEing someone better than I was in 2010.
I've been thinking about this a lot, but rather than just DOING things(just checking these items off my list), I want to BE someone different by the end of the year.
be more fit.
be more organized in my home.
be a better mom.
be debt free.
be a woman of my word.
All of my checklist items help with my primary goals, but keeping the big picture in sight really helps to set my priorities. Sometimes I get lost in doing something GOOD and miss out on achieving something BETTER. So that is what I'm focusing on in 2011. BEing someone better than I was in 2010.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Our 2010
Today I have done a lot of thinking about this coming year. All my goals, my plans, dreams. But I couldn't help but look back on 2010 and remember all of the great things that happened. And I'm grateful to have this blog that helps me with that.(144 posts in 2010!!) Brief synopsis...
January: Made goals, did NOT find out the gender of Miss Madelyn(intentionally, of course), Emma's first snow, created the playroom in our house, started daycare in our home a few days a week.
February: Emma turned 1, Jared turned 29, Emma fell in love with swings, I started Mary Kay.
March: Got together with my best friends from high school, went to Salt Lake with Jared and left Emma for the first time, celebrated Emma's birthday with cousins, framed, drywalled, textured and painted in our basement.
April: Emma started walking and we added Madelyn to our family!
May: Survived adjusting to 2 kids, experienced shopping by myself with 2 kids, celebrated our 3 year anniversary, started getting Emma used to nursery, frustrated by the Lost series finale, spent Memorial Weekend with my family in Howe.
June: Blessed Maddie, started having Emma sleep in the toddler bed, ran a 5K with Jared and his family in Twin, Emma played in sprinklers for the first time.
July: Busy and fun 4th of July in Pocatello, went boating, went canoeing, spent lots of time outside, swimming lessons, Sunday afternoon naps with Maddie, Emma's first haircut, Emma's first big fall(down the stairs in front of our house), celebrated my parents' 30th Wedding Anniversary, went to Medicine Lodge, Emma started wearing her cowboy boots.
August: Started the fitness challenge, got a bike/bike trailer, went to the temple grounds a lot, lots of swimming, Emma officially a member of nursery, puppet show at the library, Maddie made all of our baby-sitters cry, my first spinning class, attempt #1 at potty training, walks, Kyle moved to Twin Falls, Eric & family and Kelsi came to visit, impromptu photo shoot.
September: Jared lost 20 lbs. I lost 5. Pocatello Marathon- Jared ran a half marathon, I ran a 10K. Found out our ward boundaries were being re-done. Got a call that we needed to meet with the Stake President. Jared was made a High Priest and put in the Bishopric. I was changed from Primary Secretary to a counselor.
October: Our FIRST ever family vacation! Island Park/West Yellowstone/General Conference. It was fantastic and just what we needed. Adjusting to life with Jared in the bishopric.
November: So much to be grateful for, jobs, family, our health, our home. Emma's arm was only dislocated. Thanksgiving with my whole family in Howe. Emma, Heidi and Aubree have so much fun together.
December: Set up our beautiful Christmas tree Jared chopped down for us, hit and killed a deer, sharing time all month, sitting under the tree and cuddling with the girls, our secret santa who brought us a new Christmas story for 12 days leading up to Christmas, and a fantastic Christmas. Spent New Year's eating good food and playing games with great friends.
Can't wait for a year of new memories!
January: Made goals, did NOT find out the gender of Miss Madelyn(intentionally, of course), Emma's first snow, created the playroom in our house, started daycare in our home a few days a week.
February: Emma turned 1, Jared turned 29, Emma fell in love with swings, I started Mary Kay.
March: Got together with my best friends from high school, went to Salt Lake with Jared and left Emma for the first time, celebrated Emma's birthday with cousins, framed, drywalled, textured and painted in our basement.
April: Emma started walking and we added Madelyn to our family!
May: Survived adjusting to 2 kids, experienced shopping by myself with 2 kids, celebrated our 3 year anniversary, started getting Emma used to nursery, frustrated by the Lost series finale, spent Memorial Weekend with my family in Howe.
June: Blessed Maddie, started having Emma sleep in the toddler bed, ran a 5K with Jared and his family in Twin, Emma played in sprinklers for the first time.
July: Busy and fun 4th of July in Pocatello, went boating, went canoeing, spent lots of time outside, swimming lessons, Sunday afternoon naps with Maddie, Emma's first haircut, Emma's first big fall(down the stairs in front of our house), celebrated my parents' 30th Wedding Anniversary, went to Medicine Lodge, Emma started wearing her cowboy boots.
August: Started the fitness challenge, got a bike/bike trailer, went to the temple grounds a lot, lots of swimming, Emma officially a member of nursery, puppet show at the library, Maddie made all of our baby-sitters cry, my first spinning class, attempt #1 at potty training, walks, Kyle moved to Twin Falls, Eric & family and Kelsi came to visit, impromptu photo shoot.
September: Jared lost 20 lbs. I lost 5. Pocatello Marathon- Jared ran a half marathon, I ran a 10K. Found out our ward boundaries were being re-done. Got a call that we needed to meet with the Stake President. Jared was made a High Priest and put in the Bishopric. I was changed from Primary Secretary to a counselor.
October: Our FIRST ever family vacation! Island Park/West Yellowstone/General Conference. It was fantastic and just what we needed. Adjusting to life with Jared in the bishopric.
November: So much to be grateful for, jobs, family, our health, our home. Emma's arm was only dislocated. Thanksgiving with my whole family in Howe. Emma, Heidi and Aubree have so much fun together.
December: Set up our beautiful Christmas tree Jared chopped down for us, hit and killed a deer, sharing time all month, sitting under the tree and cuddling with the girls, our secret santa who brought us a new Christmas story for 12 days leading up to Christmas, and a fantastic Christmas. Spent New Year's eating good food and playing games with great friends.
Can't wait for a year of new memories!
Happy New Years!!
2010 was a great year for us! We were blessed in so many ways. I'm looking forward to what is in store for us in 2011. Goals? I have a whole bunch, of course! :) But I'll post them later, except our big one which is to be totally debt free by the end of the year.
Wishing you all the best this year!
Wishing you all the best this year!
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