One Year and a Moment

Oh how poor little Mother-Heart is aching!  My sweet baby Owen turns ONE tomorrow, and I am smiling and happy....and aching an ache that only a mother knows.  The ache that comes when a child joyfully reaches a milestone and a mother has to let one more piece....go.  So on the eve of my second baby's first birthday, I will allow myself a moment or two of bittersweet reminiscing, and awake tomorrow with fresh excitement and celebration to share.  I rendez-vous-ed with the breast pump one final time tonight, and while it's a sigh of relief, it's another 'last' in the Owen-category. 

I remember last year like it was yesterday!  What a day, and what a beautiful baby we welcomed into the world and our family at the end of it.  Here's our little boy, just moments out of the womb...8 pounds, 5 oz, 21 inches long and perfectly healthy.  A perfect, complication free delivery that I wouldn't change for *anything*.

 New big sister, Marin.  Oh, how she has proven herself as an amazing big sister!

 A very proud grandpa.  I think he *still* likes little Owen!

 7 weeks and sitting in a Bumbo.

 4 months and chub-a-lub!

 6 months and just MR. HAPPY!

 8 months and looking more and more like a little BOY.

 10 months and just as sweet as ever.

 And, a few days shy of one year old...my handsome boy!



Owen is all about fun.  He is absolutely *everywhere* and wherever he goes, he gets there FAST.  In fact, he crawls even faster when he hears you coming and starts to giggle.  I would try to be mad, but by the time I actually pick him up, he's laughing, and it's so darned cute.  He is really a mama's boy at heart.  He *loves* his mama, and it makes me melt.  He does love his daddy, especially when daddy throws him into the air when he gets home from work.  He likes daddy-time when he gets his bottle at bedtime, it's a special thing they can share.  He thinks big sis is about the coolest cat in town, and wants to do whatever she happens to be doing at the time...sometimes, much to her chagrin.  He loves finding the stairs...and the toilet paper, the plunger, the bookshelf in the bedroom, my cookbooks (a favorite), the trash, electronic wires.  Mommy can be seen chasing after Owen ALL day, thus decreasing her household productivity. 

Owen still LOVES to eat and on most days, will out-eat his big sister.  He like his banana and scrambled eggs peppered with spinach for breakfast, and for lunch he likes rice, beans, cheese, PB&J and fruit.  Dinner is whatever we have and most of what he eats will be inhaled in the first 5 minutes...he then likes to smear his hands on his ears and sweep his hand rapidly across his tray, scattering his dinner to the four corners of mommy's kitchen.  He LOVES his little froggy/blanket for naps and bedtime and likes to rub it all over his face and feel its softness, and then he likes to bite it. 

We are so, so happy Owen is with us and he brings so much joy to our family!!  So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our sweet little Owen!  We can't wait to see what the future has in store for you!

Things I Love

Since it's Valentines Day, I want to embrace the spirit of the holiday and think about ALL the wonderful things that I LOVE.  And since you come to my blog, you get to read them, haha!  These are in no particular order!



I Love:

1.  Bright, sunny days.

2.  A summer thunderstorm.

3.  A big, warm plate of fettuccine alfredo.

4.  Sparkly earrings.

5.  New shoes.

6.  DIY crafts for my home.

7.  Learning a new word.

8.  Fuzzy baby heads (you know what I mean!).

9.  Being thin.

10.  Making people dinner.

11.  Anne of Green Gables.

12.  Fresh flowers.

13.  The smell of cut grass.

14.  Smores.

15.  The hot shower-shivers.

16.  The look my husband gives me when I've lost weight.

17.  Birthday cake.

18.  Being sore after I work out.

19.  A tennis/volleyball that goes *just* above the net.

20.  A tree with trimmed grass all around it.

21.  Warm sand on a beach.

22.  The sound of water.

23.  The sound of the ocean.
24.  An ice cold smoothie.
25.  My AMAZING husband!!
26.  My sweet, beautiful children.
27.  Sleeping in (what's that?).
28.  Writing.
29.  Dancing with crazy friends.
30.  Cheesecake.
31.  Surprises.
32.  Cherry Coke.
33.  My loving Saviour.
34.  Traveling to faraway places.
35.  The color RED...and pink, too!
36.  My old stuffed bear; Fred.
37.  Getting all dressed up and going out.
38.  Farmer's markets.
39.  The texture of fresh pasta, yummmmm.
40.  Laughing so hard I can hardly breathe and I have tears streaming down my face.
41.  Watching 'Dodgeball' with my husband.
42.  Frank Sinatra.
42.  Running outside on a perfect spring morning.
43.  Dewey, perfect skin.
44.  Hugs from my kids.
45.  Roller coasters.
46.  Funnel cake.
47.  French toast.
48.  Memories of being a newlywed.
49.  Harvest season when all the produce is in season.
50.  Warm fireplace's.

*I could think of SO many more things that I love, but we'll go with what we have!  I'm so grateful for a wonderful, happy day to celebrate LOVE and all things kind and heart-warming.  It's a feel good-holiday full of smiles and ....LOVE!!  Cards and candy and jewelry are all nice, but you don't need those things to celebrate a feeling.  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Launch Party!

After all that cleaning (or attempted cleaning!), Kristoffer and I were ready to party it up!  Saturday night was a BIG night for Kristoffer's little sister Melodie, it was the official launch party for her album as she takes a brave leap into the music world.  She has been working on her album for about two years and has poured her blood, sweat, and tears into her music and making this a reality.  We are SOOOOO proud of her!! 

So, Saturday at 8pm (isn't that such a romantic time?) we headed to a local gallery for the official launch.  We were able to dress ourselves up a little, which was a treat, in and of itself, and found an absolutely *lovely* setup, it was so pretty! 

 A local designer had some of her jewelry and accessories on display.

 And here she is....the BIG STAR of the evening...Melodie Blume!!!  Is she not the most gorgeous girl?!  And she has some vocals to boot!

 I couldn't help myself, the decor was so pretty!

 Me and the hubs.

 Can I say that I love this picture frame?  Am I allowed to love something so sparkly and over the top?!

 ;)

 I thought it was actually a cool picture.

 A view through the crowd.  There must have been over a hundred people there.

 Melodie performed for us and we got to dance a little...and by "we", I mean mostly the women and not at all my husband.  Ok....I lied, he did dance a little...when he busted out his 'Carlton' moves (Fresh Prince fans, y'all know what I'm talking about!).  He's really a good sport.

 Melodie rocked it last night, she did great!

 !!

We are so proud of and excited for Melodie.  She has worked so hard and so long on this album and we are hoping she shoots to the top!

Semi-Clean Sweep

I designated Saturday as a Cleaning Day...since my dad is coming to town on Tuesday!  I had my hubby home with me and a lots of time to clean the whole house.  I wasn't really looking for a deep clean....or even a 'spring clean', just a relatively thorough clean...you know, the kind of clean most mom's *think* they should be doing every week, but don't get to because they are too busy being waaaay awesomer than playing the part of the cleaning lady.  SO...I hoped to clean the half basement, the kitchen, the bathroom and all the other rooms with general dusting, vacuuming, mopping, etc.  Riiiiight. 

Daddy started the day off with donuts, and Marin was juuuust fine with that!  I seem to remember doing the Saturday-morning-donut thing with MY dad, too.

 Marin chose a heart shaped, pink frosted donut, such a cute girl!

 Whooooo's coming?????

 There's Owen!!

 Hey, mama!!  I'm here to throw the contents of your kitchen drawers all over the floor!  Can't get mad...I'm just so cute!

 There's my blue-eyed boys!

 Still enjoying the donut.

 The hubs, on the job.

I should know, as a mom...I should know that a day with kids is *still* a day with kids, no matter how hard I try to make something more of it, haha!  I reluctantly assigned Kristoffer to dishwasher duty, and by this I mean figure-out-why-it's-not-cleaning-our-dishes kind of duty...so he spent most of the morning pulling it apart and doing his guy thing with tools.  I will say that I was able to clean the half basement and the bathroom...both during very abbreviated Owen-naptimes.  Aaaaand that's about all *I* accomplished as far as cleaning.  I just have to let it go and do as much as I can tomorrow, dad flies in Tuesday night!

PASS!

This picture has nothing to do with the title...which I'll be addressing soon, but I needed to post *some* kind of picture, and this is all I have!  I know...I've been horrible lately at snapping pics, but I can't find my battery charger!  And Owen is super cute...eating his PB&J, albeit, very VERY tired.



My reason for this post is to *finally* share some news I've been wanting to share for a little while.  Kristoffer has been doing an internship at Zion's Bank since the end of September.  It was an incredible opportunity for him and we've been really blessed with that chance.  The position was to be temporary...for three months, but it seemed as though his boss took a liking to him and asked him to start studying for his stockbrokers exams.  Which, he started doing.  These two exams are no small piece of meat to chew, my friends!  Since the beginning of October, we've sacrificed MANY a night and day for study opportunities.  Which isn't to say we haven't done this before when Kristoffer was in his masters program...I get it, studying stinks.

After MANY hours of frustration, tears, and head banging on the table....Kristoffer has PASSED both of his series exams and is a licensed stockbroker!!!  I cannot tell you how proud I am of him, he has worked so hard for us and is ridiculously smart and dedicated.  He has been offered a sales position on the capital markets floor (trading floor) of Zion's Bank and is SUPER excited.  I had to ask him exactly what it was he was going to be doing with this new job...and he attempted to explain it to me in banker-jargon, and I responded with my blank-stare and head scratch.  So, he explained in...hot dogs.  The sales people find customers to sell hot dogs to and maintain those clients and customer relations...and the brokers actually do the selling of the hot dogs.  Haha, got it.

I can't tell you how happy I am to have a husband who actually really, really LIKES his job!  He comes home smiling and happy and that makes me a happy wife.  And I am grateful...once again...to have my husband back again.  PASS!!!

Happiness

If you are looking for pictures, I don't have any for you in this post...just so you're not disappointed!  I find, as I'm entering February, that I'm feeling...happy!  Mind you, I'm not generally an unhappy person.  I'm pretty emotionally-level (per my husband, even!), but I am a human being, and I am a silly girl and have my moments from time to time. 

 But, I have some wonderful things to look forward to this month, just some little things, but they make me smile, and I am grateful for the moments that make me smile.  After all, it's the little things that make life worth living!  So, I'm going to start my little "Happy List":

*1:  Valentine's Day!!  This *always* makes me smile.  I am sooo happy there is a holiday to celebrate love and romance.  It seems there is a terrible focus on sarcasm in relationships/marriage these days, and I just don't like that one little bit.  So, I am happy to have another reason to shower my amazing hubby with kisses and silly, goofy little ways to show him I love him....and vica versa ;)

*2:  My dad is coming to visit!!  My dad is a great dad.  I know I haven't told him this enough, but I really love my dad.  He has always been there for me, and I have always known he loves me...and that he loves my mom, and that means the world to me.  He's been through some difficult things lately, and he's missed his grandkids, so I am happy he can come and soak in the moments with Marin and Owen.  And Marin is *beyond* excited that grandpa is coming.

*3:  Owen turns ONE!!  I can scarce believe this to be true!!  It feels like I *just* had him!!  This is honestly kind of a bittersweet moment for me.  I am elated that he is growing and healthy and smart and strong, but ask any mom...it's tough to let that first year go.  There is just so much change and growth in that first year, and when it's done...he's ONE!  And I don't have a 'baby' per se, anymore...I have my little boy, my toddler.  He'll always be MY baby, of course, but he's growing up!

*4:  Owen's Birthday Party!  This is not going to be a super-tastic GIANT celebration, we'll have mostly family and maybe a few friends.  But, I am going to have the cutest cupcakes placed in the shape of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"...it's going to be super cute.  And, I get to watch my son smash into his own little cake...eeek!

*5:  My nursing license.  It's about that time!!  Kristoffer and I talked about me going back to work, and I had already decided that when Owen turns one, I would love to find something per-diem (read: a few days a month) to keep my skills (and license) active, and help me feel a little more balanced.  It's been wonderful to be home with my kids, truly, especially to finish out Owen's first year, but I have a very active brain that needs some alternative stimulation, so a few days a month...if I can find it...will be perfect for me.  I will have to say, endorsing my license here in Utah has been the *easiest* endorsement EVER!  With NV or OR, it was a giant paperwork MESS, and it took me weeks to finish and collaborate.  Not here, evidently!

*6:  Kicking the weight.  This month, Kristoffer and I start the Body For Life 12 week program, and I am ecstatic to kick this baby weight!  I've been easing my way into some of the food/exercise changes, and it has already helped me to lose about 6 pounds in 4 weeks!!  This is incredible for me, seeing as how I had been stuck at the same weight for about 6 months.  Our official start date is the 16th (Owen's birthday), and I can't wait to be skinny again, and Kristoffer can't wait to be muscle-y again...order up...one hot and fit couple!

*7:  The Atonement:  Granted, this isn't February specific, but sometimes, things just...hit you!  Like at the gym this morning.  I was listening to Coldplay's lyrics..."How long must you wait for it....", and I realized, I don't need to wait for ANYTHING!  I'm terribly imperfect, every day, I am!  BUT, I don't need to let that get me down!  I don't need to let my imperfections make me frustrated and sad.  It's true, wise sage Austin reminded me that the Atonement makes up for the rest.  HOWEVER much that may be...a little...a lot...99%...45.2%...88.567739475%...whatever it may be, it's made up for by our loving Saviour.  I noticed, as I looked around at the gym that we are all doing our best here.  And that Joe Schmoe on the elliptical will be atoned for...JUST as I will be.  No matter what we're doing, as long as we keep trying.  The Saviour always makes up for the rest, however much that is.  What a happy thing, indeed!!! 

So, February is a happy month!  A month for love, a month for celebration, a month for warmth and tenderness and all good things.  I can't wait.



Phone Pictures

I'm terrible at uploading the pictures from my phone!  Fortunately, there weren't a ton of them this time around, so it makes it a little easier for me.

These two must have be a few months old, at least!  But, the little guy is just too cute to leave out.

 Before Christmas, Kristoffer and I went on a date to Temple Square.  They decorate the trees and have quite a few different life sized nativity scenes from all over the world there, and brrrrrr, it was freezing!!!

 I can only imagine this *might* be what the Tree of Life would have looked like...minus the bone chilling temperature.

 I sure do love that hubby of mine, and I'm so glad, that after all these years (!!), he still kind of likes me, too.

 I love this picture, the temple shining through the sparkly tree, a beacon to all nations!

 In the morning, I pull this little guy or 'Mr. Happy', out of his crib and into bed with me so I can feed him, and I caught a *super* cute grin from him one morning.  This boy melts my heart like nothing else.  I sent Kristoffer this picture with the caption: "I'm in bed with another man, I hope you don't mind ;)".  I don't think he did.

 Ok, the picture quality with this last one is about the worst I've seen, but I can't NOT post it.  Kristoffer's aunt Mette and her husband Jonathan from Sweden were in town for about a week-ish, and we had a little family party together.  It was so much fun!  My hubby had fun teaching my how to play pool....I may have played it dumb...it's fun having your hubby teach you to play pool, right?  ;)  BUT, we were so glad to see family and have the kids meet more of the *other* side of the family.



And, as a side note...Owen practiced giving mommy kisses today, and it was the sweetest thing ever.  A big, wet, open, slobbery, baby mouth planted firmly on my cheek...again, and again, and again....I just couldn't push him away!  He is such a mama's boy, and I love the way my little boy loves me.  The things I need to write so I'll never forget them!

Attachment Not Included

For Christmas, I bought Kristoffer an i-stubble shaving kit.  It's kind of like regular clippers, but the head stays in place and to adjust it, you press a button and it micro-adjusts for the perfect length of stubble.  I really like Kris with a bit of facial hair, his face is just suited for it.  I tell you this because the box actually came with an attachment that was not included....Marin. 

She loves buttons (what 3 year old doesn't?!) and since this was relatively safe, Kris handed over the reins and away she went!

 Chin up, daddy!



I remember helping to shave my dad's face.  It was something I was sooo interested in as a little girl, for some reason, and my dad let me use the real deal razor, although, Kristoffer has tried to tell me otherwise.   It's always the small and simple things that add up to such fun memories!