Of Regrets and Resolutions

With every new year I always do my best to look at what has happened in the last year and think of how next year will be better. I am of the opinion that life is what you make it and there are always improvements that one can make. Is it always easy to look at myself and determine what I need to change. The honest answer is no but I always find something.

This year in Relief Society we had a lesson based on Deiter F Uchtdorf message untitled "Of Regrets and Resolutions." I saw things that need to improve on. I don't have regrets and I would like to keep it that way so actions must be taken.

I belong in the Y generation, the generation of technology. Technology is wonderful, I love it, I use it all the time. Too often at times. I have seen lots of jokes about people and communication. Example: being with friends and everyone is on their phone, people texting those they are right next to, etc. Maybe I will find some and show you what I mean.

This is a problem. I am not the worst at this but I definitely check my phone while having a conversation with a person right beside me. Did my phone beep or buzz, no I was just checking. 2013 I will be leaving my phone in my purse more often. People will still be able to contact me but I will not put my phone on the table when I am out with friends. My priority will be those I am with not recent Facebook updates or other non important updates I have been checking as soon as I receive them.

Busyness. Often I find myself multitasking and working quickly to get things done. Is it wrong to be involved in many different things. I don't think so but I have procrastinated to get things done and pushed other things out of the way. This year I am not going to stop my involvement in various activities but I will be proactive about the things that I need to get done. Being a new mom I must relearn how to manage my time to prepare and accomplish the things I wish to do. I am still planning on using to do lists and my calendars but I am going to plan further ahead.

While I was in a work environment I learned skills that I am going to apply. First off I am going to get up in the morning at a regular time and get some things done before Bee wakes up. Maybe even exercise (not my resolution but a good idea). I have been sleeping until Bee is hungry but as a result my morning becomes rushed and suddenly it is gone almost before I have gotten breakfast.

I attained skills at planning a month in advance. The activities, scheduling multiple events and accomplishing tasks. I am going to do the same with my personal life and responsibilities. Bee does not yet have a schedule and I realize that as a mom he is my priority. I am going to keep it that way. In order for me to be the mom I want to be and the individual I am striving to be I will have to allot more time for various tasks. Being prepared will allow me the opportunity to be more flexible with my time. I will be able to serve those around me without sacrificing my goals. I will keep you updated on how this goes and any tricks I attempt and hopefully get the kinks out of.

Jason and I own our own business and during my maternity leave I will be exploring avenues that I am not made a priority yet. I loved my job but I love my son more. I know that if I trust The Lord and do the necessary work I can build a solid foundation for income and will be able to choose whether to stay home with Bee or return to work. Not many have that option but we can make that happen. I will post regarding what exactly I will be pursuing later on.

I will also use my time in the morning to study my scriptures more. I need to improve my knowledge and understanding so that I will be able to teach Bee better. The world is scary and not improving, I need to be able to prepare him for the trials he will be facing. It is a daunting task but I know I can do it. I wouldn't have been blest with my beautiful son if I was unable to fulfill my responsibility as a mom. Whoa!!! Just a little nervous but I can do anything I put my heart and mind too.

Sorry for the long post.
Here are some New Years pictures as a reward for making it to the end. Lol.

Merry Christmas to All

I love Christmas but mostly because I love my family! I am so grateful for the family that I was born into and the family I married into. They are both wonderful, different and I love it!!

Our families live so close that we split our holidays between them.

Christmas Eve was with my side. We are very traditional so we knew what to expect. We went out extra early so we went to visit my best friend, home for the holidays. Friends are the family that you chose and we are glad to have her. This was the first time meeting her 'nephew'. So excited!!

We worked on a holiday puzzle this year was manger scene whist watching a Christmas movie. After the showing of Polar Express we ventured into town to watch the live nativity performed by a local LDS stake. It was -20 outside so lucky me I stayed in the car with Bee. I would have liked to watch the nativity as I have done so nearly every year of my life but it was so cozy I didn't mind.

Tacos for dinner as we do every year. My grandma normally cooks but unfortunately she was away. It was still good but there was something missing. I think it must have been that there were no squished beans hiding in the beef. She has done that since we were little.

We made my dads special "monkey bread". It's cinnamon bread but with a twist. We made 6 loaves and I got to take one over to my in laws for breakfast. Lucky!!

We ventured to the in laws afterwards. My husbands side opens family presents Christmas Eve so we had a couple to open. Of course we stayed up way to late but it's Christmas who needs sleep? It's for the weak..... (I will sleep all Thursday).

Christmas morning Bee woke up at 7! Best present ever. 5 consecutive hours of sleep. Nobody was up either, it was 7!! Who is still sleeping? At my parents house I am 100% sure that my mom would be vibrating with excitement. It was so nice though, gave me some time to feed Bee so I could open presents with everyone else. Jason and I went around the house and told everyone that Bee says its time to open presents.



We got spoiled this year, everyone one of us. The only thing that I really wanted for Christmas was a nativity set that Bee can play with next year without me worrying about him breaking it. Jason did good didn't he.

He also got me a Christmas tree!! We are totally growing our own tree. I wonder how long it will take. Will Bee be taller than the tree in 5 years? Hmmm.... Curious

 

Even among all of the Christmas celebrations Bee and I were able to take a nap. 

Jason's family loves scrabble. Me, I not a word person and I am not a great speller either. I just let them play and I watch. Always amazed with the words they spell and how they connect them. This year they got "upwards scrabble." Most definitely the less intense version. I actually played this time. Jason mom, Dawn, and I had a great time. We started out with real rules them when it got tricky we allowed abbreviations, then names. On the last round to get rid of tiles we just used our imagination. Exactly how I like to play scrabble.

Bee's first Santa visit. He even came right to us.

Tis the season of Egg Nogg, so why not have 3 in one cup.

Right Place at the Right Time

I was watching "How I Met Your Mother" the other day and all of a sudden what they were saying was exactly what I needed to hear. The last couple months has gone by fast and we have made lots of big changes. The last couple days I have felt like I could almost let myself feel overwhelmed. I was at the point where things have been stacking up nicely but at any moment the tower could crumble into a million pieces. Luckily it hasn't.

Here is the clip:
I couldnt find a version that only had the clip that I want and I know its bad quality but just give it a listen. Start at 1:10.

Right Place at the Right Time

I am so thankful for all the choices that I have made in the past. Thy have brought me to where I am today. I married the perfect man for me, he isn't perfect but he is perfect for me. This month we had a son and luckily I get to stay home with him.

Being at home with Bee is exactly where I need to be. We don't do anything glamorous or really exciting but I get to be his Mom. There for all the little things he does, help him grow and learn. I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything in the world. I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world.

My life could have been very very different. Looking back on my life there are some major choices that would have influenced where I would be today. I am sure that my life would be fine but I love where I am and who I am with.

For example I almost married a different man. He was a good man, we had lots of fun, his family was great, there wasn't any problems but I am glad that I made the choices I did. I most definitely married the man that I was supposed to.

A couple years ago I was serious about serving a full time mission for 18 months for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I filled out my application and had everything ready to go but mailing it just didn't feel right. I didn't know then why I wasn't supposed to go but I know now. If I had sent that envelope I would have had an amazing experience, learned a lot and met a lot of new people. However I may have not met Jason. We met when we lived next to each other. If I had gone I would never have lived in those town houses.

I know that there is a plan for me. I don't always know the game plan but I do know that if I listen to my coach and follow my promptings that I will end up where I am meant to be, doing what I am needed to do.

Do I know what lies ahead of me? No, but I know that right now I am where I am needed and that I am doing what I am supposed to do. I am not perfect, as long as I am doing my best I will be blest and protected. When I need to know the next step it will be revealed to me as long as I listen.

For now I am going to focus on the responsibilities that I have been given and try my best to accomplish them.

Quarter century

Jason turned a quarter century on 12-12-2012. What a memorable birthday!

25 is a big birthday. I really wanted to do something fantastic for him but this was the day after we got home from the hospital. To say the least I was exhausted and trying to concentrate on my new role.

I planned on making him breakfast in bed before he had to go to work. He would have to eat around 6ish but I was up with the baby practically all night. Longest he slept was an hour and a bit. When Bee settled down again just after 5 I knew there was no way that I was getting up in half an hour to cook. Nope, no chance. Next year he will get a super duper extra special breakfast.

We did have a birthday party at our place for him and his sister. They are born exactly two years apart? Does that make them some sort of twin?? I wonder...

Jason's family brought over all the fixings for pizza and cupcakes for dessert. It was a houseful but we definitely had a great time. Jason is such a romantic whenever he blows out candles he always tries to leave one for me. We got the perfect picture this year. Both Jason and Jessica left one candle each for their sweethearts. I don't think Jessica did this in purpose , the camera just caught the moment perfectly.

The celebrations didn't end on the twelfth. The next day we went out for dinner at Jason's favourite restaurant, Tony Roma's. I was a little nervous to go out to a restaurant with Bee only 5 days old. I pumped half a bottle and bundled him up and away we went. He slept through most of dinner and when he woke up we just rocked the car seat a little. After a while that didn't work too well so we gave him some of the bottle and he was content yet again. First outing done!! Nothing to it. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood.

Sunday night my family made Jason a delicious birthday dinner. Of course he also had to share this birthday dinner as my grandparents are leaving for Christmas holidays before my grandmas birthday. Good thing he doesn't mind sharing.

We decided that this year we weren't getting each other birthday presents. Four days before both of our birthdays we got two of the best things people could ask for. Before my birthday we took possession of our first house. Before Jason's Bee was born. This has been a wonderful year and I can't wait to see what happens in years to come.

We took advantage of having my grandparents over and took some 4 generation pictures.

I am a Mom!!

I am so excited for this new adventure of our lives. I am 100% sure that Bee will be our greatest adventure filled with wonderful times and challenges. It hasn't been long yet but I can already tell that everything will be worth the effort.

Jason was reading some quotes today and this was one of them. "You enter the delivery room as a couple and leave as a family." I really liked that quote even though I believe that we were a family before. Now we just know one more member of our family. He is just perfect!

Getting him here was no walk in the park, I tell you. I was in labor for 48 hours, only 6 hours in the hospital. The first 42 hours were a huge challenge especially since I didn't really know what to expect. The contractions were consistent and at the level that they needed to be at to be checked into the hospital. Once we got to the hospital they would tapper right off. I think Bee got a little nervous and wasn't ready to come to this cold scary world.

We got sent back home from the hospital twice which was so frustrating because I was at my breaking point and both times were at 3 in the morning.... Ugh. Sooo early and the worst part is that you don't sleep all night so you are exhausted and frustrated.

Once we were actually admitted to the hospital things started looking up again. Bee took 6 hours to come in total but luckily I only had to push for 8 minutes. Bee was born at 3:07 am. 3:00 am must be our special time, keeps popping up. Once he was born I felt so relieved that it was over and that I finally had my baby boy.

 

 

 

Jason got to count his fingers and toes to make sure everything was how it is supposed to be. When he came back to tell me he said Bee had 6 fingers.... There is nothing that I could do so I just accepted it. I would love our son no matter how many fingers he had. Bee really had 5 in each hand, my husband is such a rascal but he thinks he's so funny. Generally I agree but right after labor not so much.

What a proud Daddy

Bee was born perfect. He weighed only 5lbs 15 oz but for a little person like me that's the perfect size for a baby, he can grow out here. He was 49cm long. His legs and feet are quite long compared to the rest of him which generally means he will be quite tall. For our family that could be 6 feet.... Time will tell.

 

 

His eyes were so squinting for a couple of days. They were also very very dark blue, you could hardly see his pupils.

Bee struggled to figured out how to breast feed but eventually we figured it out. We stayed in the hospital for a couple extra days. I really wanted to go home but now I am glad that we stayed to get some extra help. We also clipped Bee's tongue tie and that helped him a lot in the long run but he has to learn how to use his tongue again.

 

Now that he is home we are starting to get into our own rhythm. No schedule yet but I am starting to understand what he needs more and more. I am absolutely loving being a mom. 3 in the morning is a really tough time though. I can handle 2 and 4 just fine but 3 just seems to be the trickiest time. Hopefully this phase won"t last long. I NEED sleep....

Speaking of sleep I should go and have a nap

Happy Due Date

It's official! Baby can come any time that he is ready. I can't believe that 9 months is over. It feels like I have been pregnant forever and at the same time it went by pretty quick. I can't wait to finally meet our little honey bee. I have been wondering what he is going to be like. What will his personality be? Which of us is he going to look like? What type of baby will he be? The list continues. There are so many questions that will be answered in a couple days.

Today has really been a great day. I thought that it might be like the last few days. Awkward, uncomfortable and tired but I somehow found a burst of energy.

I did some yoga and cardio, which was a lot easier than I had worked it up to be in my mind. The best part if doing yoga other than feeling great was that I could actually reach my toes for brief moments. My nail polish was looking pretty pathetic but I thought there was nothing I could do about it. Wrongo bongo my friends. Pedicure complete!! It was definitely tricky but I managed to pull it off. I even used my new magnetic nail polish. I love it!!

I cleaned my entire kitchen. Dishes, counter, appliances and even the floor. It pretty much sparkles now. I did laundry and double checked my hospital bag.

I think that maybe because I am so close to becoming a Mom I have already been given some of my mom-super powers. Moms really do have powers.... It must be that because other than that today makes absolutely no sense. Hopefully I can keep up my energy and productivity.

We went on a fabulous last kid free date. Dinner and dessert at Coco Pazzo's followed by stocking stuffer shopping!! It was nice to have a wonderful day but I kinda wish that today would not have been so great..... I kinda really want this baby to be here already. Oh well, I suppose I still have to learn some patience.

Christmas is only 24 days away!!

December 1 - official day of Christmas preparation.

A few days ago we went and bought ourselves a nice tree. A decent size tree, nothing huge, just perfect for our home. It is 6 feet, huge compared to our Charlie Brown tree last year of only 4 1/2 feet.

There is something about putting the tree up that makes the holidays seem like they are practically here. We had a blast decorating our house, listening to Christmas music and just being goofy.

I learned something really important today as well. Jason has never seen Christmas Vacation!! I can't believe it. Obviously I will have to remedy this situation pronto!







This year I finally got to set up the gorgeous nativity set my mom hand painted me a few years ago. I have never had enough room to set it up until this year. It looks gorgeous. Eventually I want to find some angel hair to put underneath it. I think it would add just that little extra detail that it needs. Currently the only space we have large enough is our bookcase but hopefully we will eventually have a piano. Then we will be able to display the whole set together.

Week 39

Well we are at 39 weeks and I am ready to be done. Bee can come whenever he is ready because we are ready for him whenever he comes. If there is one thing that I don't understand it is why the majority of people feel the need to tell me horror stories of labor. I totally understand that this is not a pleasant event but women have been giving birth forever..... I am sure that we will not have the one exception. Sure I have never had a child before but it has been done for millenniums why should I be concerned.

The worst part about the last couple weeks is that I have had a cold and it just won't go away. Being 39 week is awkward enough and having this cold just adds to the enjoyment. Only a couple more weeks left. I just hope that I get over this soon. I don't want to still be sick when Bee comes. Mainly because I don't want him to get what I have.

Bee's Room

Finally complete and looking adorable!!

I am so glad that we were able to decorate Bee's room. It turned out so cute, I just love it. I peek into his room all the time, I just cant get enough of it. I'm sure that we will spend a lot of time in his room especially in the next few months so its a good thing that I love it.

Crib with picture from our honeymoon. We went to Disney world and ordered this print.

Dresser

Painting!

With the ceiling finally done we moved onto painting the walls. We wanted Bee's room to be calming, neutral but still fun. I think we choose well.

STRIPES!!!!

To get stripes we first painted the entire wall the light creme color. We did a couple coats to make sure that the wall was well covered. 

Then when it good and dry we taped the stripes onto the wall. First we attempted to use a laser level but it was tricky to get the tape to be exactly straight. It's also not so easy to hold the laser level against the wall while standing on a ladder.

What worked for us was to mark ticks on the opposite ends of the wall. Then we both held onto the end of the tape, pulled tight and pressed it up against the wall. We wanted all of our stripes to be 13 inches wide so we taped above the ticks, below ticks, above, below, etc.

We also put little pieces of tape on the stripes were we didn't want to paint.

To help prevent paint from smudging beneath the tape we painted over the tape with a paint brush. We used a roller afterwards to get the correct texture. 

We painted the beige stripes twice. Once the second coat was one we took all the tape off. Sooo pretty!!

Lastly we painted all the trim white. It looks so much sharper now. The final touch was new outlets. No more half painted sockets!! 

Now we can finally get organized. Only three weeks left so its definitely time.

Can't wait to show you the completed room.