Moments That Matter Most

I've been reading short and sweet self-help messages from Richard Carlson Ph.D., in his book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family. These little page-long tips are practical, and should be common sense, but they are definitely things to think about.

A few weeks ago I read about "Letting Go of Expectations." I am a planner, and sometimes, I do a little too much thinking about how a certain event or day or encounter should go. It is frustrating and disappointing when things don't go as planned. Sometimes I freak out about little things, like Elsie spilling a drink, or being late for an appointment.

Carlson says letting go of some expectations allows you to open your heart and accept what is. Learning to be calm and roll with punches is a necessary part of life, and will help me be happier. And, just like this little video shows, it will allow me to pay attention to what matters most.

The Lesson of the Wallet

As we walk out the door to run errands, E. squeals with delight at the sight of my wallet. I let her hold it and she proudly clutches it with both hands as we head towards the car. She loves to open and close it, and pull out all of my credit cards. This happens EVERY time she sees the thing.

I've always wondered why babies love things like remotes, keys, phones and wallets, and now I've decided why. These things are important to us; necessary in our daily lives. I would be frantic and lost if I couldn't find my wallet. Elsie sees how important this item is to me, and so it becomes important and interesting to her as well. She is just trying to emulate her mommy.

Just like that orange wallet, I can pass the necessity and importance of other things on to her. Today I'm committing to better show her my dedication to music, reading, being happy, and loving the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fear Conquered

A couple months ago, I thought I had scarred our baby for life. While she was in the tub, I let Elsie slip under the water and take a nice big gulp. She came up screaming, and has had the same reaction to water ever since.

Well... last week we decided to try out our town's premier pool/ fun center. I crossed my fingers and hoped E. would enjoy (or at least tolerate) the water. Tons of kids were splashing in the shallow, toddler area. Elsie's eyes always light up around kids, so this was a good start.

I stuck her into the water, which was about 6" deep, and she instantly freaked. I picked her up, and let her watch all the kids laughing and playing. This example was just what she needed, and her reaction changed from night to day. She loved to run through the water and stick her face into the fountains. Her favorite thing was a small slide, with a waterfall to go through at the end. What an excellent day it turned out to be! And if you're wondering, this positive association has transferred over to the bathtub. She loves it there too.

Officially a Colorado Girl!

Please excuse the absence-- moving out-of-state takes a lot of work!
Well folks, I'm WAY out of my comfort zone, now living out of Utah and all that it entails. I've always liked living close to family and familiarity but hubby decided that Colorado State University was his school of choice, so after prayers and much consideration, we headed to the Centennial State. Ok, ok, we didn't take a complete leap of faith. Hubs found a good job in a small town fairly close to CSU.
I surely picked a winner when it comes to apartments. Our cute little townhome is perfect-- 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a little fenced backyard, and a winding staircase that refuses to allow our queen-size box springs to live in our upstairs bedroom. Instead, the box springs are being used as a barricade to keep little E. confined to the living room, and we... are sleeping with a mattress on the floor. High class for sure.
BUT.... the good news is that thee fanciest thing we own has now gone from my wedding ring to our new washer and dryer! Thanks to my dear mom and dad, Elsie will have fresh-smelling clothes everyday.

Because of you...

Because of you:

* I make sound effects and don't even realize it...

* The laundry is never finished.

* Cheerios are now a staple in my diet.

* All of my jeans have holes in the knees.

* I'm not afraid of boogers, vomit.... need I go on?

* I never take a shower without playing peek-a-boo with the shower curtain at the same time.

* Have more tears and sorrows, but also receive more joy and blessings.

* My heart has grown three sizes, and is filled to capacity with a love I couldn't have imagined.

* My understanding of sacrifice has increase 10X.

* My reflexes have greatly improved, and sometimes, I can even forsee accidents before they happen.

* I laugh at the small things, things that matter to you and fill us both with joy.

* I am proud to be your mother, your example, your best girlfriend.

Happy Birthday my dear Princess E. Life will never be the same, and I'm ok with that. Love and kisses, Mommy