Lots of people criticize New Year Resolutions but they actually are really helpful for me. And I don't care if only do them for one month or two months or the whole year! That I do them at all is awesome I think and I am that much better for it.
So this year I have resolved to blog once a week, mostly for the sake of my family record. I don't wax philosophical here these days. It just isn't in me right now. The daily grind of motherhood sort of squelched what little I had out of me. I love to READ that sort of stuff, I just don't spout it myself :) And generally motherhood isn't a grind. Mostly I think my life is freakin' awesome! But I'm having a lot of anxiety right now about potty training and moving again.
It's been a quiet week. Mark is on a busy rotation so we don't see a lot of him and the little we do see is exhausted and disconnected. I'm thankful he did not choose a specialty that will require so much of his time. He truly wouldn't have been happy with it. But we are HALF WAY DONE! Radiology here we come!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Another Year Gone
Oh man! Where has the time gone! This has been the craziest year. We have done so many things as a family I have hardly had any time to blog. I used to be a pretty faithful blogger but not lately! This poor blog has been all but abandoned! But a new year is here. Perhaps this blog will get a little more loving.
We've done a million things since I last blogged. I don't even know where to begin.
Christmas was awesome. We had it with just us because Mark only had Christmas Eve and Day off (thanks to his awesome co-interns.) We did tons of stuff around Vegas: Bellagio Conservatory, Santa Train in Boulder City, E.M. Cactus Garden Lights, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Lights, Opportunity Village Magic Forest, Las Vegas Philharmonic Christmas Concert.
We went to Death Valley. It was amazing.
We went on an awesome vacation to Arizona in November when Mark had two weeks off. We went to Gardinerville to see Douglas and Carmen. They took us to Lake Tahoe. We went to the Grand Canyon for a second honeymoon. We went to Sunset Crater. We went to the Mogollon Rim. We went to the sinks in Snowflake. We had Thanksgiving with family.
We've been to Red Rock Canyon several times. I completed a triathlon.
I've made some wonderful friends here. I still keep in touch with friends from North Carolina.
We've been busy! So busy! But it has been an amazing busy-ness full of family and love and time spent together creating memories.
I've got lots of ambitions to make my life even better in this new year. Here's hoping 2015 is as awesome as 2014!
We've done a million things since I last blogged. I don't even know where to begin.
Christmas was awesome. We had it with just us because Mark only had Christmas Eve and Day off (thanks to his awesome co-interns.) We did tons of stuff around Vegas: Bellagio Conservatory, Santa Train in Boulder City, E.M. Cactus Garden Lights, Las Vegas Motor Speedway Lights, Opportunity Village Magic Forest, Las Vegas Philharmonic Christmas Concert.
We went to Death Valley. It was amazing.
We went on an awesome vacation to Arizona in November when Mark had two weeks off. We went to Gardinerville to see Douglas and Carmen. They took us to Lake Tahoe. We went to the Grand Canyon for a second honeymoon. We went to Sunset Crater. We went to the Mogollon Rim. We went to the sinks in Snowflake. We had Thanksgiving with family.
We've been to Red Rock Canyon several times. I completed a triathlon.
I've made some wonderful friends here. I still keep in touch with friends from North Carolina.
We've been busy! So busy! But it has been an amazing busy-ness full of family and love and time spent together creating memories.
I've got lots of ambitions to make my life even better in this new year. Here's hoping 2015 is as awesome as 2014!
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Random Post
We've been in Las Vegas for almost three months. The time is going by so quickly! I feel so blessed to have already made some wonderful friends in my new ward. They've really taken me in.
I miss North Carolina more than I can say. I miss the climate. I miss the trees. I miss the neighborhood we lived in. But most of all I miss my friends.
Las Vegas is already meeting our expectations, though. We have had more family visits in our three months in Vegas than we had in our four years in North Carolina. That is the main reason we moved here-- to be closer to our family. And it has been absolutely wonderful. My mom popped over for a few days this week just because she wanted to. It was fantastic to have her here. It was so easy to say goodbye because I'm planning to pop over to Snowflake for a visit next month. I love it! Two of Mark's siblings have visited us here. My brother has visited us. Mom and Dad Bailey have been here and we are going to see them again next week. So much family time!
I'm trying to build a life and routine for myself and my family here. Mark's routine is pretty set and he is starting to become friends with his coworkers. I have started training for a triathlon. I take my kids to the library weekly. I try to attend a play group weekly (when family isn't here.) I have started quilting. I have started making my own bread from wheat I grind myself. I get myself and my boys outside everyday while I hang out the laundry. To be honest I feel like I am living this idyllic life. I just love it.
For Mark's birthday I gave him a year of pre-planned dates. One in. One out. We just finished up our August dates and it was amazing! The both took place on Friday nights when we would otherwise have been too tired to plan anything. I can't wait to date my husband for the next 11 months with those plans. It might just be something we have to plan out more often.
Las Vegas is great but I am already anticipating the move we'll be making in 10 months and it makes me feel weary and anxious. But I know that I can't hold myself back from this place. I have to invest myself fully into my friendships and my ward family here if I want to be happy and fulfilled.
P.S. Random hilarious Austin quote of the day-- I am outside pouring wheat into the wheat grinder and Austin is watching me. He very excitedly points to the wheat and says, "Thas cat food, mommy!" I promise it was wheat. :)
Some pictures for your enjoyment:
I miss North Carolina more than I can say. I miss the climate. I miss the trees. I miss the neighborhood we lived in. But most of all I miss my friends.
Las Vegas is already meeting our expectations, though. We have had more family visits in our three months in Vegas than we had in our four years in North Carolina. That is the main reason we moved here-- to be closer to our family. And it has been absolutely wonderful. My mom popped over for a few days this week just because she wanted to. It was fantastic to have her here. It was so easy to say goodbye because I'm planning to pop over to Snowflake for a visit next month. I love it! Two of Mark's siblings have visited us here. My brother has visited us. Mom and Dad Bailey have been here and we are going to see them again next week. So much family time!
I'm trying to build a life and routine for myself and my family here. Mark's routine is pretty set and he is starting to become friends with his coworkers. I have started training for a triathlon. I take my kids to the library weekly. I try to attend a play group weekly (when family isn't here.) I have started quilting. I have started making my own bread from wheat I grind myself. I get myself and my boys outside everyday while I hang out the laundry. To be honest I feel like I am living this idyllic life. I just love it.
For Mark's birthday I gave him a year of pre-planned dates. One in. One out. We just finished up our August dates and it was amazing! The both took place on Friday nights when we would otherwise have been too tired to plan anything. I can't wait to date my husband for the next 11 months with those plans. It might just be something we have to plan out more often.
Las Vegas is great but I am already anticipating the move we'll be making in 10 months and it makes me feel weary and anxious. But I know that I can't hold myself back from this place. I have to invest myself fully into my friendships and my ward family here if I want to be happy and fulfilled.
P.S. Random hilarious Austin quote of the day-- I am outside pouring wheat into the wheat grinder and Austin is watching me. He very excitedly points to the wheat and says, "Thas cat food, mommy!" I promise it was wheat. :)
Some pictures for your enjoyment:
This pose happens at least once a day. Austin loves to cuddle Sean. The following two pictures were taken about a week apart.
We enjoyed our own fireworks on the 4th of July. The boys were entranced.
Sean is a mover. He rolls everywhere and can almost army crawl. I promise I don't stick my kids under the bed. He got there all by himself.
When Mark is rotating at UMC he rides his bike to work. Austin here was putting on his shoes and helmet, walking to the bike and saying, "Bye! I go work! Bye!"
Austin is showing Sean his book with roads in it and demonstrating how to drive a car on a road.
Austin loves "baby monster" (the brown one). The yellow one belongs to Sean. Nana made them. He also loves the "Baby Monster Movie" (Monsters Inc.) and has to be holding the baby monsters while he watches it.
So I often will hold Aus in one arm and Sean in the other and say "My babies! My babies!" while I give them hugs and kisses. The other day I heard Aus in the other room saying "My babies! My babies!" while holding the two monsters the way I hold Sean and him. It was darling. He is a darling boy with a heart of gold.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Viva Las Vegas!
Well we made it. We are now settled into Las Vegas and Mark starts his first shift as a resident tonight.
Dr. Bailey. Wow.
As graduation approached initially I thought I could see a light at the end of the medical training tunnel. But I can't. Must have been a mirage or something. We've still got a long way to go. I think with this last move I have just realized how tired I am of living in a perpetual state of limbo-- not being able to put down roots anywhere. I've readjusted my expectations and I know I'll be okay, but I'm just ready for the moving to stop. It makes me weary to think that exactly one year from now I will be unpacking boxes in Phoenix while Mark starts another new job. Being settled for four years after that sounds pretty sweet. But then there will be another move for fellowship and then another move or two while we look for that perfect job. *sigh* I better stop thinking about it. It makes me teary and weary.
But Las Vegas is great. The ward members here have really taken us in. We've already got a calling. I've already found some truly wonderful women who have taken me under their wings and promised to take care of me this year while my husband is away at work so much.
The weather is fantastic. I know it's hot. 112 is the forecasted high for today. But I love it. I love all the sunshine. I love the mourning doves cooing outside my window. I love the silence of the desert. I love that it is cool in the shade. I love the rocky mountains. I love the cactus and rock. It really feels like home to me here and that brings me great comfort. And for the record-- I would rather have a miserable summer than a miserable winter.
We found a wonderful house with a wonderful landlady. We asked if she could put insulation in the attic because there was none. That is a big request! At least $1000. And she totally hired someone to do it. She landscaped the front yard for us too. It's beautiful. The church is right across the street and Mark is within easy biking distance of work. It's really a great house.
I finally settled on gym (YMCA) and joined. I am going to start training for a sprint triathlon this October. I am finding fun activities online to do with the boys both at home and around town. The public library is amazing and only .7 miles from our house. We walk at least once a week. I really love it here already. We could definitely see ourselves living here in the future if there are any jobs available.
Austin is growing up so quickly. He talks so much these days. He is such a doting and loving older brother to Sean. He is constantly sharing toys and bouncing him and asking to hold him. Sean doesn't always love these things... but I love that Austin does it for him.
Sean is also growing up. He is so grabby and smily and LOUD! I'm not sure how I managed to get two super screechy kids but I managed it. I just love to cuddle him and love on him. He melts my heart.
So things are going well for us here. I haven't taken many pictures lately. Life just seems to go by too quickly... but hopefully I'll manage more pictures in the future before life completely passes me by.
Dr. Bailey. Wow.
As graduation approached initially I thought I could see a light at the end of the medical training tunnel. But I can't. Must have been a mirage or something. We've still got a long way to go. I think with this last move I have just realized how tired I am of living in a perpetual state of limbo-- not being able to put down roots anywhere. I've readjusted my expectations and I know I'll be okay, but I'm just ready for the moving to stop. It makes me weary to think that exactly one year from now I will be unpacking boxes in Phoenix while Mark starts another new job. Being settled for four years after that sounds pretty sweet. But then there will be another move for fellowship and then another move or two while we look for that perfect job. *sigh* I better stop thinking about it. It makes me teary and weary.
But Las Vegas is great. The ward members here have really taken us in. We've already got a calling. I've already found some truly wonderful women who have taken me under their wings and promised to take care of me this year while my husband is away at work so much.
The weather is fantastic. I know it's hot. 112 is the forecasted high for today. But I love it. I love all the sunshine. I love the mourning doves cooing outside my window. I love the silence of the desert. I love that it is cool in the shade. I love the rocky mountains. I love the cactus and rock. It really feels like home to me here and that brings me great comfort. And for the record-- I would rather have a miserable summer than a miserable winter.
We found a wonderful house with a wonderful landlady. We asked if she could put insulation in the attic because there was none. That is a big request! At least $1000. And she totally hired someone to do it. She landscaped the front yard for us too. It's beautiful. The church is right across the street and Mark is within easy biking distance of work. It's really a great house.
I finally settled on gym (YMCA) and joined. I am going to start training for a sprint triathlon this October. I am finding fun activities online to do with the boys both at home and around town. The public library is amazing and only .7 miles from our house. We walk at least once a week. I really love it here already. We could definitely see ourselves living here in the future if there are any jobs available.
Austin is growing up so quickly. He talks so much these days. He is such a doting and loving older brother to Sean. He is constantly sharing toys and bouncing him and asking to hold him. Sean doesn't always love these things... but I love that Austin does it for him.
Sean is also growing up. He is so grabby and smily and LOUD! I'm not sure how I managed to get two super screechy kids but I managed it. I just love to cuddle him and love on him. He melts my heart.
So things are going well for us here. I haven't taken many pictures lately. Life just seems to go by too quickly... but hopefully I'll manage more pictures in the future before life completely passes me by.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Friday, May 2, 2014
Saying Goodbye
Whew. Having a new baby is quite an adjustment! I finally feel 100% adjusted to my new life as a mom of two. I have neglected this blog lately because having two is certainly busier than having one! We are also moving back across the country in two and a half weeks and having a yard sale tomorrow. Planning for our future, packing up our belongings, and learning to live with two young children instead of one has sure been time consuming!
Tonight Mark went to bed early and both my boys are sleeping. I am having a few moments of quiet solitude in the quiet comfort of my own home. It feels wonderful.
Since Mark matched in mid-March I have been a mixed bag of emotions. I am so happy and relieved to be moving back to the west. I can't wait to see my family more often. I can't wait to live closer to my mother. I can't wait to get back to the climate I love so well. I am just so excited.
But I am so sad too. I love it here in North Carolina. I more than love it if that is possible. I have been here for four years. Mark and I have spent the majority of our married life here. We brought our children into the world here. I had my first teaching job here. I started my piano studio here. I have made some incredible friends here. I mean, incredible doesn't even touch how awesome my friends are. What will I do without them when I go? I spent all last week super sad and depressed at the thought of leaving my friends. They have truly become my family in some ways.
How do you say goodbye to a place like this? How do you tell all the people who mean so much to you just how much they mean to you? How do you say goodbye to the place where you became the person you wanted to be your whole life? I am more at peace with myself than I have ever been before and I attribute a large part of it to being here in North Carolina.
Oh I love this place. I love my friends. I love my home. I love my ward. I love all the beautiful trees. I love the mountains. I love the Atlantic Ocean. I love the flowers. I love the hospitality of the southern people. I just love it.
North Carolina is truly the best kept secret in the United States. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me this North Carolina experience and all the beautiful places and (more importantly) all the beautiful people in it.
Tonight Mark went to bed early and both my boys are sleeping. I am having a few moments of quiet solitude in the quiet comfort of my own home. It feels wonderful.
Since Mark matched in mid-March I have been a mixed bag of emotions. I am so happy and relieved to be moving back to the west. I can't wait to see my family more often. I can't wait to live closer to my mother. I can't wait to get back to the climate I love so well. I am just so excited.
But I am so sad too. I love it here in North Carolina. I more than love it if that is possible. I have been here for four years. Mark and I have spent the majority of our married life here. We brought our children into the world here. I had my first teaching job here. I started my piano studio here. I have made some incredible friends here. I mean, incredible doesn't even touch how awesome my friends are. What will I do without them when I go? I spent all last week super sad and depressed at the thought of leaving my friends. They have truly become my family in some ways.
How do you say goodbye to a place like this? How do you tell all the people who mean so much to you just how much they mean to you? How do you say goodbye to the place where you became the person you wanted to be your whole life? I am more at peace with myself than I have ever been before and I attribute a large part of it to being here in North Carolina.
Oh I love this place. I love my friends. I love my home. I love my ward. I love all the beautiful trees. I love the mountains. I love the Atlantic Ocean. I love the flowers. I love the hospitality of the southern people. I just love it.
North Carolina is truly the best kept secret in the United States. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving me this North Carolina experience and all the beautiful places and (more importantly) all the beautiful people in it.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Moments I Treasure (Part 2)
Click here for Part 1 :)
I say it at least 3 or 4 times to Mark and about 15 times to myself every day: I LOVE being a mother. I absolutely love it. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those years of waiting were absolutely worth every minute. I was right to yearn for motherhood as much as I did. It suits me! I love being a stay-at-home mom. I know it's not right for everyone but it is right for me. It is SO right for me. My heart is so full of love, gratitude, and joy I am not sure there is even room for more.
Sure I don't love the moments where Austin pushes the boundaries. I don't love the moments when Sean is inconsolably crying. I don't love changing the poopy diapers of two boys. I don't love the way my postpartum belly looks (lots of flab and very unsightly stretch marks).
But I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything. Below are some of the moments I absolutely treasure with my boys and I would pay any price for having them:
Cuddle Time- Both boys will cuddle with me at the same time, usually right after a nursing session. Can you say maternal bliss?!
Feeding Time (especially breakfast)-I love nursing Sean. I treasure the time we spend, just the two of us, bonding together. It melts my heart. What a sweet boy. I love feeding Austin breakfast on the couch while we watch the morning news.
Bath Time-Austin LOVES baths. Whenever I mention it he says "a baff? a BAFF?!" and is just ready to run upstairs and lay down so I can undress him. It's adorable.
Reading Time-Austin often says "read to you?" meaning he wants one of us to read to him. It is so cute.
Movie Time-We allow the boys (mostly Austin...) to watch one movie or part thereof each afternoon after nap time. Austin's current favorite is "Pwanes!" He always asks first thing in the morning too just to see if we'll let him. The answer is always "Nope. We don't watch until after your nap." And he just goes about his business and doesn't usually ask again until after his nap. It never hurts to ask, right :)
Sleeping Time (especially Sean in his bed and Austin in his bed at night)- Every night, almost without exception, since he began sleeping in his own crib I have gone into Austin's room to look over him as he sleeps. It is one of the most tender parts of my day and a great way to end it. Now I do it with Sean too. I just love, LOVE my boys.
Coloring Time- Austin loves coloring. "Colors" and "Cars" sound an awful lot alike right now so sometimes I can't tell when he wants his cars or his colors!
Holding hands on the stairs-Whether we're going up or down Austin always wants a hand to hold on the stairs. I'll be sad when he feels independent and big enough to do it by himself. But it will be a happy thing too. I want him to be strong and independent.
When Austin says "Hi!- Austin ALWAYS says hi. To everyone. All. The. Time. It's darling. He often says it when he's about to get into trouble too.
When Sean smiles. Enough said.
When Austin wants to hold Sean. He will put out his arms and say "Hoht? Hoht?" Meaning he wants to hold his brother. It's adorable.
When Austin says "a-GAIN!" excitedly. If we're reading a book and he likes it a lot he'll say that with the biggest grin on his face until you read it again. How can you not when he looks at you that way?
When Austin makes car noises on the couch with his toy cars. This happens all day. Every day. But I love it. I wonder what is going on in his imagination?
Austin ceremoniously dumping out his cars every morning when he first comes down the stairs. It happens every day. I love it. It just makes me smile.
Daddy time. I LOVE the way Mark is with our sons. Every single time, without fail, when he holds Sean he just says "Aww! He is SO sweet!" He also has a magic touch and can just get Sean to sleep like that! It's amazing. Mark is amazing with Austin too. They are best friends. Every morning after Mark leaves Austin says "Dada?" meaning "Where is dad?" Now he has just started to say "Where Dada?" And when Mark gets home it's like a party every day for Austin! They go on a walk every day together, just the two of them. Mark plays cars with him, reads with him, rough houses with him. It is so awesome. They really are best little friends. It melts my heart.
Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just love it. All of it. Because I have to take the good with the bad. So I just choose to love it all. And in those hard moments I think back to these moments that I treasure and then the hard moments just don't seem so hard.
P.S. While I was getting my hair cut today Sean was screaming in his car carrier. Austin went over to him because I was unable to and started to gently rock the carrier and say "sh, sh, sh!" It was so tender and sweet. He was trying to help his brother. How in the world did I get so lucky?
I say it at least 3 or 4 times to Mark and about 15 times to myself every day: I LOVE being a mother. I absolutely love it. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those years of waiting were absolutely worth every minute. I was right to yearn for motherhood as much as I did. It suits me! I love being a stay-at-home mom. I know it's not right for everyone but it is right for me. It is SO right for me. My heart is so full of love, gratitude, and joy I am not sure there is even room for more.
Sure I don't love the moments where Austin pushes the boundaries. I don't love the moments when Sean is inconsolably crying. I don't love changing the poopy diapers of two boys. I don't love the way my postpartum belly looks (lots of flab and very unsightly stretch marks).
But I wouldn't trade motherhood for anything. Below are some of the moments I absolutely treasure with my boys and I would pay any price for having them:
Cuddle Time- Both boys will cuddle with me at the same time, usually right after a nursing session. Can you say maternal bliss?!
Feeding Time (especially breakfast)-I love nursing Sean. I treasure the time we spend, just the two of us, bonding together. It melts my heart. What a sweet boy. I love feeding Austin breakfast on the couch while we watch the morning news.
Bath Time-Austin LOVES baths. Whenever I mention it he says "a baff? a BAFF?!" and is just ready to run upstairs and lay down so I can undress him. It's adorable.
Reading Time-Austin often says "read to you?" meaning he wants one of us to read to him. It is so cute.
Movie Time-We allow the boys (mostly Austin...) to watch one movie or part thereof each afternoon after nap time. Austin's current favorite is "Pwanes!" He always asks first thing in the morning too just to see if we'll let him. The answer is always "Nope. We don't watch until after your nap." And he just goes about his business and doesn't usually ask again until after his nap. It never hurts to ask, right :)
Sleeping Time (especially Sean in his bed and Austin in his bed at night)- Every night, almost without exception, since he began sleeping in his own crib I have gone into Austin's room to look over him as he sleeps. It is one of the most tender parts of my day and a great way to end it. Now I do it with Sean too. I just love, LOVE my boys.
Coloring Time- Austin loves coloring. "Colors" and "Cars" sound an awful lot alike right now so sometimes I can't tell when he wants his cars or his colors!
Holding hands on the stairs-Whether we're going up or down Austin always wants a hand to hold on the stairs. I'll be sad when he feels independent and big enough to do it by himself. But it will be a happy thing too. I want him to be strong and independent.
When Austin says "Hi!- Austin ALWAYS says hi. To everyone. All. The. Time. It's darling. He often says it when he's about to get into trouble too.
When Sean smiles. Enough said.
When Austin wants to hold Sean. He will put out his arms and say "Hoht? Hoht?" Meaning he wants to hold his brother. It's adorable.
When Austin says "a-GAIN!" excitedly. If we're reading a book and he likes it a lot he'll say that with the biggest grin on his face until you read it again. How can you not when he looks at you that way?
When Austin makes car noises on the couch with his toy cars. This happens all day. Every day. But I love it. I wonder what is going on in his imagination?
Austin ceremoniously dumping out his cars every morning when he first comes down the stairs. It happens every day. I love it. It just makes me smile.
Daddy time. I LOVE the way Mark is with our sons. Every single time, without fail, when he holds Sean he just says "Aww! He is SO sweet!" He also has a magic touch and can just get Sean to sleep like that! It's amazing. Mark is amazing with Austin too. They are best friends. Every morning after Mark leaves Austin says "Dada?" meaning "Where is dad?" Now he has just started to say "Where Dada?" And when Mark gets home it's like a party every day for Austin! They go on a walk every day together, just the two of them. Mark plays cars with him, reads with him, rough houses with him. It is so awesome. They really are best little friends. It melts my heart.
Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just love it. All of it. Because I have to take the good with the bad. So I just choose to love it all. And in those hard moments I think back to these moments that I treasure and then the hard moments just don't seem so hard.
P.S. While I was getting my hair cut today Sean was screaming in his car carrier. Austin went over to him because I was unable to and started to gently rock the carrier and say "sh, sh, sh!" It was so tender and sweet. He was trying to help his brother. How in the world did I get so lucky?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)