Seriously

(Photo taken my my phone, hence the poor quality)

Seriously I love this little baby so much.

I know I'm the biased mother but isn't she so darling?

Love

Love my two bunnies.

A master

This Could Be Dangerous...

My cute friend Jen gave me an award on her blog. The master of friendship award.

I'm intimated by this award/tag.

I'm supposed to come up with six things I have mastered, then tag 6 bloggers who are the master of friendship.

I don't feel like I have mastered anything.

But I figure this is a good opportunity to recognize things I am good at, because let's be honest, how many of us actually recognize and APPRECIATE what we are good at?

Here goes nothing...

1. I am a master of achieving things I want to get done.

If I want something bad enough, I do it.

Some examples:

3 marathons

Finishing school

Getting an internship in college

Becoming a teacher

Learning how to sew

2. I'm a master of loving people.

Weird thing to be a master of but I think I have a gift for loving people.

3. I'm a master of laughing.

Ask my sisters, and Mike I laugh at anything they say.

I love to laugh.

4. I'm a master of planning.

I love making lists.

I love organizing.

Some of my planning includes:

weekly meals/grocery list

race training schedule

daily tasks to accomplish

5. I'm a master of saving money.

Don't get me wrong, I like to spend money too.

But I love saving money and just having it sit there.

6. I'm a master of changing diapers.

Some days I feel like this is all I do.

Now I'll pass this award onto:

Sarah

Lindsey

Lacey

Megan

Allison

Stacy

Word post

Another WORD post

Some things to APPRECIATE...

-Bottles

-Grandmas and Grandpas

Both items allowed Mike and I to go out on our first date WITHOUT Charlotte Saturday evening. We missed her, and it was weird to not have her with us, BUT it was really nice to go out just the two of us. Thanks Grandma Kris and Grandpa Kent!

What have you appreciated lately?

This little bunny...

slept from 11:00 p.m. to about 4:15 a.m. (that's a good 5 hour stretch!)

then from 5:15 a.m. until 7:45 a.m.

I'm one happy mama today.

Hope your day is filled with LOVE and HAPPINESS!

Back to square one

I had my first real test of MY WORD today.

I went for my first post-pregnancy, post-delivery run.

I told myself I would be happy if I could go three miles without stopping. (Keep in mind, I haven't just run 3 miles for years, I would at least run 4 when I would go, including pregnancy)

I knew it would be hard. It's been nearly 8 weeks since I have gone running.

I had no idea HOW HARD it would be. I barely made it 1.5 miles before I had to stop and take a break. WHAT?

I was even running slower than I ran during my pregnancy.

I couldn't believe how weak my legs felt.

Needless to say I was very frustrated to during my run at this point.

I really didn't think I would have to start ALL OVER with my running, and be THAT out of shape.

My dreams for races this spring and summer seemed far fetched and impossible.

Then I remembered my WORD.

I tried to refocus my thoughts and enjoy the last 1.8 miles of my run. I didn't end up running faster, in fact the last half of my run was slower and it included some walking. But I thought of my sweet Charlotte and remembered what my body went through not too long ago and I told myself it was ok to go slow. I took a moment to enjoy running in the rain. I took a moment to enjoy the view of the mountains. I tried to APPRECIATE my run for what it was worth.

Don't get me wrong, I still had some negative thoughts and I came home wanting to cry, feeling like I had lost how far I've come in my running. But it's the beginning of a new mind set for me. I've got to appreciate how well I did knowing what my body did 6 weeks ago. My running can only get better from here on out right?

**Hey mom runners out there...how long until you felt like your old running self? Did you ever feel like you got back to where you once were?

MY WORD

Finally.

I know it's almost mid-February but I think I've come up with

MY WORD

for the year.

I really like having a word to focus on rather than setting a list of goals. I figure if I really want to do something, I do it, I don't need to make a list in order for me to get it done. By choosing a WORD to focus on, it changes my perspective and gives me a new way of thinking. So without further ado here's my WORD for the year.

APPRECIATE

1. To recognize the quality, significance, or magnitude of: appreciated their freedom.

2. To be fully aware of or sensitive to; realize: I appreciate your problems.

3. To be thankful or show gratitude for: I really appreciate your help.

4. To admire greatly; value.

5. To raise in value or price, especially over time.

v.intr.

To increase in value or price, especially over time.

SYNONYMS: appreciate, value, prize¹, esteem, treasure, cherish

Here's some ways I plan on using my WORD:

Instead of dreading being up in the middle of the night...

(sorry to be honest, but I'm not that mom that loves being up all night. I like my sleep)

However, I'm going to appreciate every moment with my babus because she won't be tiny forever and I know she is going to grow up way too fast.

Instead of focusing on how OUT OF SHAPE I am....

I'm going to appreciate having good health.

I'm going to appreciate the way my body is and the miracle it was to give birth.

I want to appreciate the beautiful place I live by experiencing new things, going on new hikes this summer, maybe even learning to ski next winter.

I want to do a better job of showing my appreciation for Mike by being a good house wife, making good, healthy meals, cleaning the house, and working on not piling things on the counter.

I want to appreciate the things I have, so I don't buy wasteful things that aren't needed.

Overall I hope that by having an attitude of gratitude and appreciating the way things are,

I will lead a happier life and help to make others happy as well.

President Thomas S. Monson of the LDS church said,

"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help.

We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. "

Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, May 1992, 54

That my friends, is my GOAL for the year 2010.

Did you set goals this year?

Did you choose a word?

Do you usually accomplish your goals for the year?

Want to see a cute way to publish and remember your word? Click here.

My Favorite Things

My cute friend Lauren did a post on a few of her favorite things. I liked her idea and since not much is going on these days I decided to copy her and do a post of my own favorite things. And I encourage you, blog reader, to do your own post of favorite things! I would love to see what you're enjoying these days.

Here are my favorites...

1. This guy. Can't get enough of him. He's the best husband/dad ever.

2. This girl. Seriously? Look at those cheeks, and that smile? How can you not love her?
3. Longer days. Have you noticed the sun is setting a little later each day? I love it. It means spring is coming! The sun does my soul good.
4. The BOB. Oh how I love the BOB. We've already had some great walks with this guy. This stroller has helped me stay sane this winter with a new babus.
5. Lady Antebellum, I need you now. I'm not usually a country fan, but I LOVE this song. I play it a few times a day, needless to say Mike is very sick of it.

6. Fiber One Bars. I'll let you figure out why I love these so much.

7. Baby Simply Saline Spray. My poor baby's nose gets stuffy on a regular basis. This stuff has helped us all sleep better!
8. The Help. Have you read this book? I'm almost done, and I'm enjoying it so much. I know it's going to be one of those books where I will be so sad when it's over.
9. Almonds. My new favorite tasty treat.

10. Canon FS20. Our new toy to record our baby. I know you can't wait to see video of our sweet Charlotte.
There you go, my favorite things. Life is good.

Thanks Lauren for the inspiration.

What are your favorites things?

Do we have anything in common?

Forgiven

Remember this post?

It was my birthday and Mike and I were supposed to go to the Dave Matthews Band concert, but alas it was cancelled that day.

I was very disappointed and resentful.

It wasn't the first time Dave cancelled a concert in Utah.

Mike and I hoped he would reschedule the concert soon after my birthday but THAT didn't happen.

The money we paid for the tickets was eventually refunded, and our hope of seeing Dave live was lost.

It wasn't until last week that my faith and love in Dave was renewed. We received an email that Dave and his band are indeed coming to Utah this summer, and since we had previously bought tickets to his cancelled concert, we could buy tickets again before the tickets are released to everyone else AND for only 5 dollars a piece. Did you get that? 5 bucks for a ticket? Did we jump on that deal? YOU BET!

I decided I could forgive him for canceling after all. It's amazing what a cheap ticket will do.

And after seeing him perform on the Grammy's, I'm more excited than ever to see him IN PERSON. LIVE. THIS SUMMER!