About Gratitude Day 8

I am grateful for my sisters. I just love them! ALL of them. I miss them so much and wish we could all live closer. As it is right now I only have one sister out of all my sisters and sisters-in-law close and we live far enough apart that it's hard to get together often. I know though, even though we are far away I will always have the support I need just by making a phone call.

(I tried to find one of all of us from Becky's wedding but I could not. I think they are on my external hard drive.)

About Gratitude Day 7

I am grateful for my mothers, first the mother who raised me, second the mother who raised the boy into the man that became my loving husband and a wonderful dad, and third those mothers who have been there for me all along the way. There are a few that stand out as particularly amazing in my life and I'm not sure I would be where I am now if it weren't for all of the above. The faith of the mothers in my life has been a shining light ~ a beacon of direction for me. I'm so grateful for them.

And about my mom and mom-in-law I'm grateful for the support they've been to Nate and I and especially to our kids. I couldn't ask for my kids to have better grandparents!

And of course I can't forget my Fathers. The calming wisdom in them has had such a positive influence on me and my family. I can't express how thankful I am to have worthy priesthood leaders to be examples to my boys. And Curtis taught Nate well in teaching him how to treat his wife and respect women and others.

About Gratitude Day 6

I am grateful for the blessing of being Bud's Mom. He brings joy into my life and makes me all together a better person. Less selfish, more compassionate. My life is more beautiful and more sweet. I love hearing him pray, and I love hearing him talk about his family and his friends. I love how excited he is to have a brother and what a good brother he is. He enjoys making Champ laugh and he enjoys talking and playing with him. I love watching his imagination blossom as he plays with his toys. My life changed 3 years ago because of Bud and I wouldn't want it any other way.

About Gratitude Day 5

I'm grateful for Bud's sweet sensitive spirit. He's always been a cuddler and I love that about him. He still wants to give me hugs and kisses and still wants me to hold him and still wants to sit in my lap. I will be sad when this ends. I love how he has to have a kiss AND a smooch before bed every night. His smiles make me happy. I'm so grateful for him.

About Gratitude Day 4

Bud turns 3 on Sunday so in honor of those 3 glorious years this is #1 of 3.

I'm grateful for a smart, beautiful, sensitive, brave little boy who isn't afraid to call his parents to repentance!

About Gratitude Day 3

I'm grateful for Champ. I'm grateful that he is such a smiley happy boy. I'm grateful that he enjoys chattering, and I'm grateful that he can take the hits his big brother throws his way. I love the kisses that he gives me. And I love that it's already him asking for kisses and not just me giving them. I'm in love with the little guy and I'm so grateful for the moments that I just get to hold him and enjoy him as a baby. I feel like he's growing up too fast yet at the same time I get excited with every bit of progress he makes. Soon he will be crawling and sitting up! He's got the sweetest little spirit. I just love him!

About Gratitude Day 2

I'm so very grateful for a sweet husband who lets me sleep longer than I should, who tells me I'm pretty and beautiful and who makes sure I know he loves me. I couldn't ask for a better man to be the father of my kids and to be by my side through eternity.

About Gratitude Day 1

Not that I'm not grateful all year around but November is a great time to put it in writing and remind myself how blessed I am. So for the the month of Nov. this is post 1.

I am grateful for the loving guidance of my Heavenly Father and for the Atonement of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know he lives and loves me, and I know that through him I can be clean and return to live with him and my Heavenly Father.

Gentle Healer by Greg Olsen

About Remembering

This was my facebook status tonight~ Sometimes when I feel like I've accomplished nothing at the end of the day I turn on my sugar cookie scentsy so it SMELLS like I did.

So yeah, my house smells pretty good. And it looks good too, because in truth I have accomplished a lot today. Nate read the status and laughed at me calling me ridiculous, but I really did mean what I wrote. I felt like I hadn't accomplished anything. This was my day:

• 7:15~ Woke up and went for a run (I'm working on the couch to 5k program)
• 8:00~ Took Nate to work
• 8:30~ Get home, take a shower, start tidying the house in my normal routine, make beds, clear clutter, empty dishwasher, feed kids, that sort of stuff
• 10:20~ Walk to pre-school and help out there
• 11:45~ get home, do lunch for the kids and have my first eat of the day, put kids down for nap
• 12:00~ start cleaning bathrooms (because Tuesday is my bathroom day)
• 1:00~ Feed Champ
• 2:30~ Clean
• 3:30~ Clean
• 4:30~ Clean

and so on..... cleaning... ALLLL day! I even made a spot remover for the carpet and USED it. (it worked pretty well to my surprise)

So there you have it. I have accomplished something. But at the end of the day, and though I was exhausted, I felt like I hadn't really accomplished anything at all. (That's when I turned on my scensty. I really did!) It all felt like busy work and a bit worthless. I look around my house and can see that the toys are picked up, the throw pillows are actually on the couch, the dirty dishes aren't seen and my kitchen table is cleared. That's what I CAN see, but what I actually LOOK at is the extra clutter. The reciepts on the desk that I haven't gone through, the winter clothes that Nate pulled out of storage 2 weeks ago that I haven't taken time to find space for, the serger in it's box that I'm not sure where to put because the closets are full, the clothes I just bought Champ that I haven't decided if I should exchange for bigger sizes, the bags of fabric that I bought to finish projects but have not touched in way too long. And why isn't the fabric in my fabric drawer? I simply have to many unfinished projects and my drawers are full. CLUTTER!!! It feels like it's closing in on me some days!

Not to get off track, this post is about remembering. As I was pampering my face after putting the kids to bed I was thinking about how there are days that I absolutely do nothing, and at the end of the day I don't really lament over what I haven't accomplished. I feel a little guilt over my laziness but it passes quickly, there are no lingering feelings of .... hmmm.... I'm not quite sure what, but uselessness, or wishing I were better. So that got me questioning. How is it I can go an entire day of doing nothing w/o really questioning my self worth and yet I can spend an entire day being productive and feel lousy at the end of it? HOW?!

Well let me tell you that Satan guy, he's tricky. Laziness isn't really something to aspire to, nor is it something to be proud of. I think there are days when it's ok to do nothing, but I don't think those days come months at a time. When I get caught on those days I don't think Satan really targets my self esteem, because there is no need. I am doing no one any good and therefore I'm not doing myself any good because I am not progressing. He's already got me. But the days I work hard HE has to work harder. I would say today was spent in the service of my family. So why do I feel crummy at the end of the day? Because I let the devil get in my head and tell me "it isn't enough." That was the only thing he could do because I was anxiously engaged in a good cause, too busy for him.

The spirit whispered these words to me: "Forget not..." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

"...Forget not to be patient with yourself.

I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.

Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.

And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others—usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

It’s wonderful that you have strengths.

And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.

God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths,¹ but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect,² and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.

In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences.

... Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey."

Read the rest of what he said here.

I am grateful for this reminder. I needed that. I decided that instead of allowing Satan to help me to think less of myself by thinking about how much I still need to do I will allow the spirit to sanctify my day and tell me where I can do better tomorrow. I will focus on my goals and what I've accomplished at the end of the day. So in that spirit...

Today was Tuesday which meant I needed to do the small daily things on my chore list, wash the kid's laundry, clean bathrooms and get Bud to pre-school. I did all of that! I accomplished my daily goals! I wanted to work on Bud's Halloween costume (mickey mouse) but because I was still catching up on my daily chores, the cleaning took a little longer. Plus I've decided preschool day probably isn't a good day to expect myself to start or complete extra tasks. It's only an hour and a half out of my day, but it seems to have a butterfly effect on the rest of the day. I didn't start on the costume, but because of how much I got done today my chores should take less time tomorrow and I can work on it then.

These are my overall goals for my family.

1~ Implement my cleaning schedule so it becomes a well oiled machine and routine because a clean home makes for a happy home, and a happy home makes for a happy, more patient mom. This is what my day will look like tomorrow.

2~ Read this book:

And give it a try. I NEED to learn how to get out of the house for the sake of my sanity and for my children. I think it will be good for all of us, and who doesn't love a little fresh air every day?!

3~ Implement a daily activity with my kids so I am spending more time with them teaching them and getting to know them. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to do this but I'm thinking It will be kind of along the same lines as my chore charts. Monday baking, Tuesday reading, Wednesday arts/crafts/science, Thursday serve others, Friday - play with them and their toys... something like that. IF you have any experiences with this kind of thing let me know please! I need ideas. Like REALLY. I'm not very good at bringing out my inner child.

BUT I have to remember to go slowly and take these goals and challenges one at a time.

While I hope this new perspective will help me to have this attitude every day.....

I know there will be days that are harder than others and I need to remember this:

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." ~Anne of Green Gables

I've actually always liked Mondays because it was a fresh week, but I need to remember that every day is fresh, not just every week or every month or every year.

SO ~ Remember!

About Sleep

Well I think we're getting somewhere with Champ. It took us a while to find a groove. With his colic it was near impossible to put him on a schedule, and by the time he got through it I wasn't sure where he should be with eating/sleeping because I hadn't read up on baby stuff as a refresher. Now I know to do that with the next child. I can't believe how easy it is to forget! On the 20th he turned 4 months and we went in for his checkup. Every checkup we get a little news letter (I suppose you might call it) about their age and developmental stage. I used that as a reference to how much he should be eating and how often, and how much he should be sleeping.

No one needed to tell me he should be sleeping through the night by now, my body has been screaming that at me for the last 2 months, but since he hasn't been I realize I can't just expect it now, we have to work our way into it. So I put my foot down. I insisted that he has to go at least 6 hours between feedings in the sleeping hours and if that mean he cried then that meant he cried. I ended up sticking him in the hall because he CRIED. By the time he exhausted himself into sleep he was still sleeping at 7:00 (I fed him at 12:30 the night before and he woke up at 4:00ish). So at 7:00 I woke him up, fed him and laid the groundwork for a schedule. Success!

Last night I fed him at 11:30 he didn't wake up until right before 6:00. I considered making him wait until 7:00 but realized I have to ease him into longer hours. So he ate and we both went back to bed and I am happy. I see a trend growing, and though two nights doesn't sound like a whole lot to make expectations he seems to catch on quick. I mean, he only cried for 1 night and then slept the next. I'd say that's pretty good. My world seems to be coming together, working for the happiness of my family. YAY! We are going to continue to try to get him to sleep a full 8 hours with no sleep, but we'll work slowly on that. I am happy.

Now if I could only get myself to go to sleep at a decent hour....

We try not to let him suck his thumb, but he is a thumb sucker at heart.
(just like his mom was)

About The Improvement Movement

Forgive me blogger for I have sinned. It has been 1 month since my last post.

So there are a lot of things I need to take responsibility for: My spiritual growth, The state of my home, both spiritual and physical, my body, Champ's eating/sleeping schedule. And those are just a few of the more important ones at the moment. I'm happy to say I'm getting to the point where lazy is just not fun anymore! I don't really know if lazy was ever fun, but we'll call it that for lack of a better adjective. Today I am taking charge of it all! I'm ready to improve myself and my family.



About my Spiritual Growth~ I often feel like a Mormon fraud.... a Sunday Mormon if you will. I still battle with doing the ever so important scripture study and daily prayers and more importantly making sure I'm making Sundays as meaningful as possible (specifically taking the sacrament each week). While I won't go into great detail in my blog about this I do want to say that the important part is I am still trying and I'm getting better. Saturday night I was determined to study the Sunday school lesson BEFORE class and in doing so I learned some pretty amazing stuff. One of my new favorite scriptures is this:

1 Corinthians ch 11 vs 31
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

This is was an important lesson to me about how important self reflection is and that we need to do it OFTEN. It is key in the repentance process. I've learned some new ways to go about this and I'm excited about it.

About my Body~ I'm going to start exercising! And even better I'm going to set goals. I'm happy to say I've only gained about 5 lbs from my last pregnancy (vs. 10 from the one before that) because I was consistent with my exercise the last 2-3 months; but sad to say I still have 5 lbs to lose from my last pregnancy (+ 1o from the one before that). I would like to have our next baby when Champ is about 2 years and 3 months. (I know, specific right?) Right now he is 3 months so that gives me about 15 months before I get pregnant and 45 lbs to lose. I want to maintain my "skinny weight" for about 3 months before I get pregnant, so really 12 months to lose 45 lbs. That means I have to lose approximately 3.75 lbs a month. Sounds doable right? I plan to do this by exercising in the morning before I eat so I'm burning extra fat instead of food calories. Every month I'm going to set a goal to help me eat healthier. Some of the goals I have in mind are: 30 days with no fast food, 30 days with no extra sugars and sweets, 30 days with no eating out, 30 days of no skipping breakfast lunch OR dinner.... stuff like that. I may be repeating each of these a lot. I'm going to drink enough water every day. I'm going to keep track of all of this on calendars. I'm going to follow these rules:

In Addition to all this I'm going to start running. I really REALLY want to do the couch to 5K program and hopefully before I get pregnant again the 5K to 10K program. Ultimately I want to be able to run a half marathon, but baby steps for now. I'm not positive I'll be able to do that BEFORE next baby (with winter coming up and all). Oh and one more thing~ Amy and I decided that if you are exercising and eating right, reading your scriptures can also help us lose weight on account of: filling yourself spiritually leaves less room for food.

About my Home~ I'm making chore charts! A short while ago I found some great lists on pinterest for what I like to call "home engineering" (I like to call myself a home engineer as apposed to a housewife or stay at home mom because it sounds so much more involved and smart~ I know I'm lame). You can find these lists here on the Martha Stewart site. Between these lists and some other lists, I've come up with an ultimate list for how to stay on top of my chores. The different lists include: Daily chores, Weekly Chores, Monthly Chores and Seasonal Chores. I'm currently working on turning them into subway art to hang in my hall (or laundry room when I have a house... someday) so they are there as a constant reminder. I want them to be apart of my decor so they have to look good and having them framed I can still check things off every day with out having to make up new lists every week/month. I'm still figuring the program I'm using out, and I'm still tweaking stuff but here is an idea for what I'm going for:

This is just a rough draft of the daily list ~ Fun right?

About Baby~ Champ is driving me NUTS! Bud was sleeping through the night at about 6 weeks - 2 months. Champ is STILL NOT. It's partially my fault because I haven't had him on a schedule. It's partially that even though he was getting there the good habits he formed were interrupted when family came to town. No matter the fault though it's time to do something about it because this whole waking up at 4:00 every morning is driving me mad. I'm going to put him on a schedule and if he doesn't improve in 2 weeks he's crying it out. That's right, no more loosey goosey mom anymore. He WILL sleep at night.

So that's about it for right now. This is the improvement movement. I'm taking charge. No more lazy, pregnant with a 9 lb-er, or fussy new baby excuses. I will find my skinny. I will have a clean house that invites the spirit. I will draw closer to my Savior. I must. My family depends on me and if I'm not at my best I'm not giving them my best. That's where I'm at.

And now for your viewing pleasure - a glimpse at my little family in current times: