Leighton's Second Year Scrapbook pt 1

I am very proud to say that I have been keeping up with Leighton's scrapbook. I have been having fun with a lot of "new" stuff I downloaded (thanks Erin!). Here is a little preview of what I have been working on:

Please note that the ONE YEAR picture featured on this page was taken by my friend Ginger. She did an amazing job taking Lo's ONE year photos.

National Infertility Awareness Week: My Story

As I was going through some of my favorite blogs, I discovered that this week is National Infertility Week. (who knew, there are "weeks" for everything anymore). However, this touches my heart in a very personal way. There are so many YOUNG couples that struggle with infertility and most days it just doesn't make sense.

I have struggled (and more than likely always will) with infertility. I have thought about sharing my story many times, but then I figured to what point or good would it do, especially since I have my "happy ending". Now that this week is here, I feel like sharing my story will hopefully give hope to at least one couple and let other couples know that once again they are not alone.

My story isn't as difficult and heartbreaking as others, but it is my journey none-the-less.

When you are young you are so full of life and plans. As a little girl, playing with my dollies I always assumed one day when I got married I would be a mother...that is just what happens...right?! However, the older I got my desire to be a mother dwindled. I just didn't really like babies and kids. Not like my sister, who was born to be a mother and a SAHM. What was wrong with me?

I got married young (21) and enjoyed married life, I had no desire to have babies any time soon...I had a career to pursue. But my career dreams fell through. At this point I was closing in on 25 (gasp) and the longings for a baby were growing stronger by the minute (you know that ticking clock syndrome). Chad and I had been married just 3 years at this point and decided it was time to toss the birth control and start trying to have a baby. Easy right, everyone gets pregnant quickly, especially when you are young and healthy...that was March 2007.

Well, the months went by, nothing. Was I being punished because I didn't want children for so long?! I mean I am sure it can take some time, of course 6,8, 10, 12 months later NOTHING. Seriously, what the heck is wrong with me?!!? By this point my friends were announcing their pregnancies. When I asked them about how long it took them, they responded "oh we just started trying last month." Grrrr...that's nice I have been trying for a year! I should have 3 month old by now!

I reached my lowest point when my best friend told me she was pregnant. I completely L-O-S-T it! I was happy for her, but incredibly jealous. Seriously, when was it going to be MY turn!?!? This was June 2008.

Those of you who know me well know that I loathe going to the doctor for anything. Let alone this. I knew what was wrong, I wasn't ovulating consistently or at the right times. I had done my research. I also hate drugs, so I decided before I went to the doctor to get on drugs to correct the problem I would try some "natural" remedies first, I mean I had waited this long what's one more month.

After 15 months of trying I was pregnant! I will never forget that day June 20th, 2008. I have never been happier to see two pink lines in my life. You know the best part? Being knocked up with my best friend (the one I was jealous of :) ) and then sister who was 6/8 weeks behind us! God works in marvelous and mysterious ways.

Anyway, after a few minor complications, 9 months later, on February 15th 2009, I delivered the most beautiful, perfect baby girl I could have ever asked for. I praise God for her every single day. I cherish her, because she may be all I ever get and I am content and at peace with that. My cup runneth over with her smiles and laughter, I can't even consider asking for more.

While this journey ended in happiness for me, it ends in sadness for so many others. While I didn't go into detail on the emotions I experienced they were frustrating, depressing, and hopeless all ebbing and flowing together. Infertility is NOT something I would wish on any one.

I learned so much through this journey and looking back I can see God's mighty hand at work through out. Had anything happened differently I wouldn't have my Lo Lo girl and more than likely would have never completed school and Leighton and Landrey wouldn't be close. God definitely knew what HE was doing.

I have also learned to lean on and trust God more fully with the "plans" of my life. I need to stop leaning on my understanding and start leaning on His (Pr. 3:5-6). God's plan is in control and no amount of tears or angry words is going to make things any different (not to say it isn't ok to be angry for a bit there is a grieving process). Ultimately we have to remember God loves His children and while He may be saying "no" right now it isn't because He "hates" us or doesn't want to bless us, He just sees the big picture, there are things we may not see coming and He is protecting us and for that I am thankful. Because let's face, whenever I am in the driver's seat nothing ever seems to go right. Most of this perspective has come recently thanks to being a parent myself, it gives me a much clearer picture and insight into how God sees His children.

I pray daily for those that currently face infertility that one day their journey will end with a baby in their arms. Join me this week in prayer.

Mommy-in-Training

Yes, I am a mommy-in-training. This is my trainer:

bossin' instructing me I am sure.

Isn't she cute!

I guess I am doing a good enough job because she is ready to take on being a "mommy" herself.

going in for a kiss

She is so good she can actually handle TWO babies! She is awesome. (I can't even do that). ;)

I am so glad she is my trainer. Who knows what mess I would be if I had someone who wasn't as skilled as she is...Lucky Me! :)

65 in 365 update 4

RECAP:
Starting Nov. 19th, 2009 through Nov. 18th, 2010 I have the highest aspirations to get this list completed. I need my blog to keep me accountable. Currently, my list is only 27 36 50 54 tasks...I can't come up with 65 but I will add to it as I think of things, but let's face it, I may be hard pressed to get these 27 36 50 54 things done. HA!

1. Finish Leighton's First Year Scrapbook/Photobook by Feb. 15th.
2. Submit RD portfolio (approved!)
3. Do at least 30 continuing Eds. (31/30)--since I got here so quickly I am just going to keep adding to it, maybe I can get to 50 before the end. (31/50)
4. Get grocery budget to ~$150/mo. (complete after 4 months in a row 1/4)
5. Start exercising again...consistently! (complete after 4 months 1/4)
+do the 30 day shred. (6/30)--I am quitting this b/c I am bored of it. But I will still exercise! :)
6. Complete at least 4 personal Bible studies (2/4)
7. Memorize at least 24 verses (5/24)
8. Read at least 12 adult books. (ie not kid's books) (4/12)
9. Finish decorating my basement.
10. Start going on monthly dates w/ the hubs. (5/12)
+do the Great Date Experiment (1/6)
11. Get Meg's HS Grad "project" done (MAY)
12. Get my storage closet under control.
13. Try 1 new recipe a month (5/12)
14. Volunteer at church
15. Research/Start own RD counseling career.
16. Get all loose photos organized in albums
17. Donate excess clothes and stuff (2x/ year).
+donated 2009 stuff
18. Wipe clean my Mac and sell it. Any takers?!?!?
19. Organize/consolidate office area.
20. Create and implement cleaning schedule.
21. Clean fridge 1x every 6mo. (1/2)
22. Keep my photo site up to date every two weeks. (9/24)
23. Host at least 3 family dinners (3/3)
24. Start a vegetable garden--it has been "Started" whether it lives is a whole other issue...
25. Paint the house trim
26. Clean out window wells.
27. Clean and organize garage.
28. Learn how to draw a line through words on my blog :)
29. Get into a routine with Leighton. (after not having one for the last 10.5 months!) (complete after 3 months 3/3)
30. Work with Leighton consistently on sign language.
31. Read to Leighton at least once everyday.--(complete after 3 months 2/3)
32. Get in a play group or host one...basically GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! (at least 2x/mo. 4/24)
33. Make "school" scrapbook for hubby.
34. Be a better friend. Since Lo we have neglected some of these relationships. Go out w/ friends 1x every 6 wks at least. (4/8)
35. Strive to live up to Proverbs 31. (this will always be a work in progress)
36. Take more pictures of everything!(take at least 15 photos/month) (4/12mo)
37. Plan and pull off Leighton's FIRST birthday party.
38. Figure out a playroom/area for all these toys!!
39. Deep clean house 1x.
40. Participate in Money Saving Mom Cooking Freezer day at least 1x.
41. Do an eat from the pantry challenge for 1 week at least 3x (1/3).
42. Create a "in my next house" list ;)
43. Create a "mud room" area for all our jackets/diaper bags/purses.
44. Get a new swimsuit for myself. The last one I got was for my honeymoon 6 years ago!!
45. Plan and go on some kind of a vacation as a family.
46. Have someone watch Lo over night, so Chad and I can have an over night date.
47. Keep Lo's scrapbook and baby book up-to-date.--IP
48. Take family pictures.
49. Take Lo's 1 year and 18 month pics.--(scheduled)
50. Start a couples devotional.
51. Purge and organize file drawer.
52. Organize linen closet.
53. Organize and store Lo's clothes in space-saver bags. (we have been blessed w/ a lot of hand-me-downs!!)
54. Send/give handwritten notes/cards to friends and family through out the year. (1/24)

Key:
IP= In Progress

Starting point
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3

14 Months

Awhile back on Kelly's Korner she was doing a 14 month update on her daughter. She said she promised when Harper was 10 she wouldn't be doing a "125 months old" post. I had to laugh b/c I feel the same way, but they are just so busy and ever changing that I just don't want to forget anything. Let's face it this mommy brain is B-A-D! So once again Lo Lo sister this is what you are up to this month.
note: I am just throwing in a smattering of cute Lo Lo pics, that have absolutely nothing to do with what I am saying.



Milestones:
*You are finally saying "ma-ma," you don't seem to really mean it yet, but it is progress in the right direction! :) Other than that still babbling and whining away.
*You now know your head, feet and belly button. However, when we asked you where your belly button is you feel the need to lift mommy's shirt up to show everyone. Awesome. ;)
*You are starting to sing and hum. It is pretty cute. So ummm, Jendy how young do we start voice lessons?! ;) (Jendy, thinks I am kidding but I am not, if she could sing like Jendy I would be one happy momma!)

*You are starting to run instead of walk.
*You made up your own signs for "sleep" and "brush my teeth." She has been doing this for awhile, but I forgot (shocking, I know!) to record it. I will definitely take any form of communication OVER whining any day!

This is our newest favorite person, daddy!
She just lights up when ever he comes home, it makes him very happy.

*Your two front top teeth popped through mid-March. Not to make you all jealous, but let's face it you all made me jealous w/ your sleeping through the night babies, but Lo is the best teether ever so far. You don't even know she is getting teeth until they pop through. I pray that continues.
Eating:
*You eat, but you are starting to get picky about it. Things you use to oink down, you question. I think for the first time ever you are actually tasting the food instead of inhaling it and swallowing it whole. Perhaps you realize, no one wants your food and you can eat it at a leisurely pace. :)
*You also go to your high chair when you are ready to eat. Mommy use to do this when she was young. Of course, I climbed my high chair, thus one afternoon resulting in a broken leg. :(

We spent a bunch of time at Aunt Misa's house helping them pack...Lo wanted to go too, since she fit perfectly in this box, but I told her I would miss her too much! We will just go visit. :)

Sleeping:
*You sleep awesome. You still take 2 maybe 3 naps a day just depends on how long the naps were.

*You are finally letting daddy and I rock you a little bit before naps or bed. I have only waited for this moment for oh... 13.5 MONTHS!
*You also give me these BIG, sweet, cuddly hugs after your nap. I makes my heart so happy.
Favorite Toy/book(s):
*You are into drums lately. You got a new drum for your birthday and love to bang on that OR daddy's rock band drums.
*You also really love your necklaces you got from grammy for Easter.


Ancedotes/Quirky things you do:
*You absolutely LOVE it outside. After lunch every day you go and get your hat and whine "ask" to go outside. You just play and play on our deck.

*You also are into jewelry and clothes. You go around digging clothes out of the laundry to "put on."

*We also all got our first "flu" of the season, yours was the first time you have ever been sick. The only good thing to come of it was you are now super cuddly.


*The church nursery is finally moving you on up! After 14 months you finally get to join the other toddlers. (not b/c you couldn't, they just didn't want to give you up...they joked they were going to graduate too! :) We just love our church and how much they invest and love on everyone's kids!)

Evidently Lo is a boy magent for my yonger sister Meg. How many numbers did you get off my daughter Meg?! :)

Stats:
Thanks to going to the doc TWICE over this "flu" crap I now know she weighs 16# 9oz! Yea, for 1/2 a pound wt gain in who knows how long. She threw a tantrum refused to lay down and get her ht, so we will find that out next month...I know you are all just on pins and needles about it, but it keeps you coming back. ;)

Finally, one last parting story:
On Monday we took the dogs to the groomers. When the vet lady came out to take T & T back to be groomed Leighton started screaming and crying that the boys were not coming home with us! She was just so upset and distraught. I guess she loves them more than I realized. Lucky for them, because some days I contemplate putting them up for adoption. :)

Well, thanks for enduring yet another monthly update. See ya next month!

The Picture of Spring

Well hopefully winter is behind us and how could it not be with this face?

Give me pouty...:)

These were taken a few weeks ago when I was trying to warm her up to the idea of being outside in the grass before our big (albeit a little late) ONE year photo shoot with Ginger. Who knew I would never get her back inside again! HA! (however, we got the "flu" the day before the shoot so we are re-scheduling...it is seriously our luck every time!)

Bossin' the dogs...I LOVE this. It means I don't have to play with them! :)

We are also trying so new things with our hair. I always wanted her to have hair, but now that she has it, I don't know what to do with it. It is constantly covering her pretty face and driving me crazy. We bought a bunch of cute clips and now I just pull her bangs back. Surprisingly, she leaves them in! But I am open to suggestions people!


Hope you all are enjoying this beautiful spring!

Easter 2010 (picture overload)

We had a busy Easter weekend. I will just let the pictures tell the story, no energy to think of words to say.

In a nutshell:
*Saturday we had Landrey's FIRST Birthday Party.

This picture just makes me laugh, perfectly demos each kid's personality!

*Then off to my parents for an early Easter celebration with the girls before my sister's family headed back north.

She got a bunch of fun things from her grammy and grandpa, but she just went around "ooohh and aahhhing" over the clothes.

Have you ever heard the saying that you get your siblings to raise?
The proof is here: Landrey is in love with this book (me I love to study and read, Landrey's parents, not on the top of their to-do list). Lo she could care less about the book she is ready to party and play with her clothes (my sister, loves to shop, be stylish and socialize). I just find this amusing.

This is the best I got of the girls, which is a step-up from last year when we forgot to take any at all!

*Sunday morning Lo got her Easter basket from us the Easter bunny.

**Sadly, I completely spaced on taking any pictures of this grand moment, since we didn't even give her a basket last year!! Good job mommy! To note she received Alice and Wonderland on DVD, bathtub crayons, and "Tea for Ruby" book.**

*Sunday AMAZING Easter church service! I heart my church.

In our Sunday Best

I just love how she is looking at me here.

*Then over to my MIL for Easter lunch and more Easter fun.

Waiting on lunch.

Grandma Rachel put all her Easter gifts in this large egg...I thought it was super clever.

Aunt Ellen gave Lo a little Easter gift. When she realized there were animal cookies at the bottom she went crazy trying to get to them! How does she know this stuff?!

*Ended Sunday evening with the Great Stomach "flu" of 2010! Awesome! :)

Hope you all had a Blessed Easter! HE is RISEN!!

Welcome to the land of*...

*the sick. (note: I am barely banging on 1 cylinder, so please excuse me if I ramble, don't make sense or spell all the words right.)
My family, extended included, has been plagued by the Great Stomach "Flu" of 2010. Chad and I haven't been sick in years, Lo in 13.5 months has never been sick, so this struck us hard. I shall spare you the details, but all 3 of us were all sick simultaneously Sun-Mon. As some of you know it is hard to care for a sick baby, but it is even harder when you can barely get up off the floor. If it weren't for my MIL (mother in law) coming over a few times to bring us some essentials we may have never made it!

The "sickies" the "flu" made Lo super super cuddly!!!!!!!!!

However, it is now Friday and we are doing better (not 100%) but better. So I will eventually get around to the obligatory Easter post, because I am sure you are all just dying to see Lo in her Easter dress :). HA!

*Make Believe...
On another happier note I finished Lo's "playroom." It is more of an area residing in our office space. It is so nice to get the majority of the toys out of the family room. Thus far she seems to like it, but it is taking some time to get use to.
It cost me a grand total of $16.98 for the vinyl wall lettering "Welcome to the Land of Make Believe." I love this saying because I spent 98% of my childhood here, ok who am I kidding I still have a permanent residence there, and I hope Lo is as imaginative as I was am.
Anyway, I got my quote from the "Vinyl Lettering" shop on etsy, I used them once before if you remember from THIS post. They are amazing and totally recommend using them for any of your vinyl wall lettering needs. Check them out HERE. They are super affordable and will custom any order your imagination takes you. And I "shopped" my house for the rest of the stuff.

Here are the before and afters!
BEFORE: I am a little ashamed of this, but clearly my "office" area became a catch-all place that I hardly ever did anything with...
AFTER: I imagined it looking more magazinesque (yes, I just made that word up), but I didn't want to spend a lot of money and really the goal was a place to corral the toys and play which was accomplished.