Dear Today

I really love you.  I do.  So many sweet and simple and silly things happened.

Like Lucy picking up my phone, and pretending to laugh.  Or taking a tissue and wiping her own nose.

Or when I was on the phone with a sweet (apparently young) customer service rep, who was so surprised when she found out my age.  It was complimentary and offensive, all at the same time.  "What, you are THAT old, but you sound so, so, young."  Yep, I'm 32 and fabulous.

Or when I found out I have been selected to be in PDN Top Knots issue.  That is kinda a big deal for me.

Or when I found out that one of my weddings will be featured in Style Me Pretty.  That is also super cool.

Dear Today, I ate really healthy, and I felt good.  Veggie chili and homemade sourdough bread for lunch, mmmmmm.  Tikka Masala, brown rice, and veggie/barley salad for dinner?  Even better.  It makes me feel good to be in control of my life, eating healthy and delicious food (well, Lucy ate chocolate pudding).

I ran 30 minutes.  For you runners out there, that is small potatoes.  For me, it was like climbing Everest.  3 months ago I couldn't even fathom running a mile.  I feel strong and powerful.  I feel empowered.  I'm so proud of myself.  Today I did 60 minutes of cardio total.  Go me.

and I was sad that I couldn't read, "The Book Thief", because Scott left it at work.  But it is probably just a well because I wanted to read it in the bath, and inevitably I would get water on it, and ruin it for him.

Today, I saw the sun, and there was no inversion and the snow melted.

I spent some time with an old friend, and by old, I mean we have been friends for 13 years, because we are NOT old.

I watched Lucy give herself a chocolate mustache with her pudding, I gloried in her new, darling haircut, and we played peek-a-boo and talked about colors.

Today, I ate dinner with Scott, and sent him off to night class,
while I bathed and read to Lucy (she surprised me with a choo choo when we came to the train; Scott secretly taught her). 

So, Today was a good, good day.  Thanks a whole bunch for being awesome.

-Lindsey

Goals

This year I'm not making resolutions.  But I am working on goals.  A lot of these goals I have already started.  Some of them I haven't.  Most are focused on having a more harmonious and healthy lifestyle.  Something I struggle with, when I'm so busy.  But I thought I would lay it out there, in an attempt to keep me accountable.  I feel good about all of these, and although the list is long, I think it is totally manageable.  I'll divide them in categories, because I'm silly like that.

Healthy Lifestyle
-Go to bed before 11 (this is so, so, so hard for me.  Right now it is 10:49, so I should wrap this up quick!)
-Exercise 5 times a week (I have been doing this since November)
-Drink 64 ounces of water a day
-Cook 4 healthy meals a week (I have been really good at this, but I'm not in busy season yet)
-Cook 1 new meal a week
-Lose 25lbs.  The baby weight wont come off.  No matter what I do.  I'm dedicated to losing it, because I just don't feel comfortable in my skin.  It has been 2 years since I have been able to fit into my old jeans, and it will happen.  The natural, healthy way.
-Run a 5K with Scott and Lucy

Work Goals
-Take on less work
-Raise my prices
-Get featured in some of my favorite wedding blogs
-Shoot more film
-Do more personal projects (because I have more to say than just weddings)

Lucy Goals
-Stay off the computer during the day (except for naps, which is my work time)
-Go on more outings
-Be more in the moment

Spiritual Goals
-Pray more, read my scriptures more
-Be less judgmental.  I'm trying to remember that everyone has their own hard road, and I don't always know what it is.

Big Goals
-IVF (this is really freaking me out, but I want to do it before Lucy turns 2)

Scott Goals
-Don't always talk about work together
-More dates!

Woah, a lot right.  Not really.  Okay, maybe, kind of.  But I want to phase out my hectic, don't ever eat, or sleep, hardly ever see Scott lifestyle and move into something simpler.  I used to pshaw the whole housewife thing, but I see a simplicity and balance, that comes with spending my days with Lucy and making sure my family is healthy and whole. 

So there you go.  I don't know what the year will bring, but I hope it finds me happy and healthy.  And it is now past 11.  Shoot!

On the Move

When did she become so big or so good at walking?  Lucy is changing from a baby into a toddler.  I see it every day.  And here she is in her Christmas PJ's.  I didn't take a single photo on Christmas (Lucy was sick and crying the whole time).  You can see though, she is pretty cute in them.  I love these jammies because her big belly sticks out.

Daddy's Girl

Scott Reading the Grinch to Lucy

About 2 weeks ago Lucy decided that Scott is awesome and me not so much.  I tried to not take this personally, but I kind of did.  While I love seeing her love her daddy, it broke my heart that she would push me away and say, "no, no momma."  Only Scott could comfort her, pick her up, change her diaper, play with her.  She only wanted to sit on his lap, give him kisses and hugs.  

The fact that it even happened surprised me.  I guess I had been Lucy's comfort source so long, I didn't realize she was capable of suddenly switching sides.  Apparently this is normal.  Baby Center said so.  I have a tendency to think things will last forever so, I despaired that she would never want me again.  I guess as a parent, it is sometimes hard not be selfish.  I'm learning.  And things are now back to normal, with Lucy loving on both of us.  These last 2 days have been really sweet with Lucy.  She has wanted me to read to her, sit on my lap, and will come over for hugs and kisses.  But I'm sure this isn't the last we have seen of her favorites.  All my online research told me to beware the teenage years where girls love their daddies best.  I guess that means I need to have a boy, right?

Lucy's Words

If you have spent any time around Lucy you know she loves to talk.  As in talk, and talk and talk.  She will be sitting around the table, with all the adults, and jump right in.  You might say she dominates the conversation.  It's one of my favorite things she does right now.  It's so cute.  She is really saying something and she assumes you know what it is.  She knows what she is saying, because she will repeat herself while looking at you.  She will ask questions, raise her voice, make it go higher, look you straight in the eye and talk for 5 minutes straight.  If Scott and I are talking in the car, she will jump right in, just another participant in the conversation.  If we are sitting with family for Sunday dinner, she will talk until we stop and listen to her.  She has lots of jabbery words, mixed in with understandable ones, and there is so much variety.  I can only imagine how much she will be talking when she is two.  As far as real words, she says,

Here you go (she says this when she wants something or is giving us something)
Baby
Hi
Hello (ello)
Bye Bye
Ollie
Momma
Dadda
Ohhhhhh (accompanied by a hug)
Uh oh
Peak a boo (beekaboo)
Boot
Sock
Doggy
Banana (nana)
No (no, no, no)

My favorite right now is ello ollie.  It cracks me up every morning.  I need to get her sweet voice on tape.  It melts my heart over and over again.  Except for the no, no, no part.  Then we wonder whose child she is.

Merry Christmas!

Here is the little card we sent out this year.  You wouldn't know it, but it was a cold, windy, miserable day.  Lucy was unhappy and crying and Scott was sick.  Ha!  But we pulled it together for these few photos, by my wonderful friend Kim.  It just goes to show you, it doesn't matter how sick, tired, grouchy, or uncomfortable you are, family is the bestest ever and I sure love mine.

Merry Christmas!  I hope you spend it warm and cozy with the ones you love.

Pink is my Favorite

I'm obsessed with the hot pink lights at Temple Square.  They are my favorite. 

Thanksgiving Point Christmas

Scott, Lucy and I have been sick for about 2.5 weeks.
It comes and goes and kind of has us feeling blue.

So, on Saturday we decided to drag our sorry selves out of the house and get in the Christmas spirit.  And since it was raining, Thanksgiving Point seemed like the perfect choice.  Sometimes it is just nice driving around to see the lights, versus walking out in the cold.  So, we bundled up, had a nice little dinner in the cafe and saw some lights.

We did the same thing last year because we didn't want to take Lucy out in the cold.  Last year was memorable for two reasons.

1-Scott was freaked out because a random kid kept wanting to see Lucy and kept trying to take the blankets off her stroller to peak.

Scott:  The baby is asleep
Kid: No it isn't.  I hear her.
Kid:  I like babies.
Kids:  Can I see the baby?

Scott, super stressed out, keeps moving the stroller farther and farther away, until he finally gives up and takes Lucy out to the car.

2-Lucy cried through the entire thing, and I sat in the back seat nursing her as we drove through.

This year was memorable because Lucy slept through the entire thing.  Try as I might, I couldn't wake her up.  After awhile, it just seemed cruel, so we let her sleep.  She woke up approximately 2 minutes after we finished.  This year was also memorable because she threw a mini tantrum in the store (tantrums are very new) and a huge pile of snow fell on our heads as we walked around the plaza.

We came home refreshed and happy.  It was a quiet, nice night, just the 3 of us.

Merry and Bright

I love this time of year.  I love that I have a stack of Christmas cards to mail out, and that my house is lit with twinkle lights.  I love that Oliver likes to sleep under the Christmas tree, and I have presents hidden throughout the house.  I love the daily chocolate from our advent calendar, and that Lucy is running around wearing Christmas pajama's from Grandma and Grandpa.  I love that we finally got out to see some Christmas lights at Thanksgiving point and Lucy slept through the entire thing.  But she did get to kick some snow.  I love time with family and friends, and that every time the mailman comes I get excited.  I love pizza Christmas movie night with the cousin's, and family parties.  I love my most perfect present for Scott.  I love that it is a time for me to reflect on the birth of my Saviour, which usually reminds me to slow down and refocus priorities.

It is easy for me to be overwhelmed with checklists over Christmas.  But I'm working on enjoying the moment, not being perfect and letting go of neighbor gifts this year (sorry!)  Both my sisters are coming into town this week, and I can't wait to have most of my family together.  I sure miss Kyle though.  We watched the new version of "A Christmas Carol," tonight.  It was actually kind of scary, but good too.  How lovely was the line, "And he kept Christmas well?"  This year, I hope to keep Christmas well for my little family.

More Bathtime

Whew, it was time to get past that other post.  So how about a new post on Lucy?
Exciting, yes?

Here is a little update on our favorite girl,

1-She loves to play Peak a Boo, and says it all the time.  Sometimes she says peak a boo, and sometimes she says beakabo, really, really fast
2-She has a secret smile.  I catch her doing it, when she privately finds things interesting/hilarious.
3-Lucy jabbers all day long.  She looks at us, very seriously, and talks and talks, and talks. 
4-She is now an expert walker and goes all over.  She refuses to hold my hand, unless she is being shy.
5-Lucy has discovered her belly button, and it is only the coolest thing ever.  She could stare at it all day.  Ok, not really, because her attention span is about 5 seconds.  But she can maybe stare at it for 10 seconds.
6-She HATES having her diaper changed or clothes put on, but loves having her socks, shoes and leg warmers put on.  She sticks out her little foot and patiently waits to be accommodated.
7-She HATES the gym daycare and still is pretty shy.  Unless she knows you, and then she is super hyper.
8-She fell asleep on my shoulder the other day.  Which was my favorite.
9-Lucy tries to ride Oliver, feeds Oliver her food, and says, "Hi Ollie".
10-Lucy's favorite past-time is either destroying things, finding the toilet plunger, or pulling stuff out of drawers/cupboards/purses/wallets.  She is neutral on her toys.
11-She will sit on my lap for 30 minutes of Sesame Street in the morning.  Sometimes rubbing my face.
12-Out of nowhere, she will slip her little arm around my neck, lean in her head, and go, "ohhhh."
13-She prefers head bonks, to kisses.

We sure love our little Stinker.