Reflections

This past week has been a hard one. Not just for me, but for a lot of people. I'm starting to realize that things in this life aren't perfect, but they are what we make of them. It's about how we choose to react to our situations. We are allowed the opportunities to make decisions, but we are not allowed to choose our consequences. Pretty simple concept that I have been "taught" for as long as I can remember. You'd think after 30 years I would have gotten it. You'd think more people would have gotten it. But most of us don't remember it on a daily basis. At least not until we are forced to.

Sometimes consequences (however harsh they may seem at the time) are there for our own growth. I'm choosing to do a lot of growing these days. Not because I HAVE TO, but because I WANT to. I'm WANTING to change my life for the better. I'm WANTING to be happier. I'm WANTING to be a better mother, a better wife, a better worker...I'm WANTING this that and more. But it all takes work. And guess what? I'm in for the long haul to do it. I've got through the whole gamat of emotions about it too, especially knowing how hard it is to change. I've felt everything from pure anger, to sadness, to confusion, and I've finally settled on this...

I'm really lucky to be taking a class right now that I'm thinking is going to help me make some positive changes for myself over the next few months. I signed up for it for "easy credits" for school, because hey, after last semester's C- in Biology, I needed a couple credits to boost my GPA a little. haha. And I'm finding that the more I open up to try and learn, the better I'm feeling. Let's cross our fingers I don't drive that teacher crazy asking so many questions about deep down change.

 Also, I'm reading a book for work called, "The Anatomy of Peace".

I was really annoyed when Bill (my boss) told us (my team) that he wanted us to read it. Why the crap would I read a self help book for work (even though they bought it for me a while ago.. and no it wasn't just ME they bought it for, it was a lot of us.) I seriously looked at him in disbelief knowing how bombarded all of us are with work stuff. My response to him was, "I'll read it, but only if you pay me hours for reading it." He said fine. Well ok.. I'll take a little reading to earn some money. Who wouldn't? And then it came time for me to actually read it. And guess what? The book makes sense. And makes me feel better about some things in life. It shows me how often I treat people as objects (especially at work) rather than people. For example I tend to look at clients as part of a case, not as individuals who are actually needing some help. It's kind of been an eye opener. And I'm grateful that Bill (althought I probably wont tell him this for a good while because I hate it when Bill is right) got me to read it. I'm not even going to bill time spent reading it for work. I highly suggest this book to anyone who might be trying to view their life a little better every day.

Catching Up...

Since I'm LAME and have been MIA for several months now (despite receiving some poking and prodding from a few of you), here's a catch up post.

Little man cut 2 teeth and is currently working on his 3rd, 4th and 5th teeth. Yes, lucky us.

I finished school for Spring semester. (I wish it was forever). BUT... I PASSED Biology enough to never have to take it ever ever again (hey a C- counts for something). And I'm VERY close (2 classes left) to getting my Associates degree. YAY! 13 years of school to get an Associates. I'm amazing. But 1/3 of my Bachelors is completed as well. That darn Biology got me 4 times before. It's amazing how many times you can actually FAIL Biology without them taking pitty on you. Apparently I didn't make it far enough. Oh well. C- BABY! My lowest grade ever and I could care less!

I'm still working. Forever working. With cases that go on a mile long. Seriously, if stupidity weren't a natural thing I'd be out of a job. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Who knows. I haven't decided.

Summer semester started today. I still haven't finished signing up for all of my classes. Ugh. It hurts to think about going to school again.

The little man turns 1 in 3 1/2 weeks. WHAAAAT?!?!? Where did my baby go?! Yes this makes me cry. Out loud. VERY LOUDLY.

Other than that, we are pretty much the same. I'll post a few more updates over the next little while before I go full speed back into school.

Complete Randomness!

All nice and clean.

 Thanks for the toy Granny Annie!

 Helping mommy at work.

 Snuggle time with daddy. This is one of my favorite pictures. :)

 This is what we see EVERY day.

 Little man's first hair cut.

 Likes to look at himself in the mirror.

 

Our new fun activity. Playing with daddy's coins. 

 What do you do with a crying, teething child?

Strip him down & give him a Pedialyte Popsicle to suck on!

 And then you get a happy boy!

 Who then needs a bath. And how does one play in the bath? By throwing their toys over the edge of the tub silly!

The Post of 1000's of Words

Because a picture is worth a 1000 words, here's a bunch of pictures!

FYI they were all downloaded randomly, so there's no specific order to them.

 

Lacking

I have realized how much I am lacking at my blogging lately. Apparently I can't be quite the superwoman I once thought I could. Working full time, playing with the little J nug when I get home & on the weekends, spending time with Derek, going to school 3/4 time, and everything extra that I do (or should do) is just taking all of my time. So where is the blog time going to start coming in at?

I think I will make a goal to blog at LEAST once a week from now on. Let's see how well I can do with it!

There's really nothing "new" to blog about. We took this cute picture this past week with Derek's new iphone.

It's our first family picture where J nug is smiling. :) I can't wait until we can get a real good one this spring when he's a little older.

Hopefully we will be able to move J nug into his own room this weekend (or at the latest by next weekend). After 8 1/2 months of sharing our room, us parents (mainly ME) are ready for him to be by himself. Pictures to follow some time. Let's cross our fingers it's next week that they come. haha

Movie time for J Nug

This is how J Nug (I can't call him Baby J anymore because he doesn't look like a baby!) watches his movies at home.

The world will NEVER be the same again!

HELP!

Holy Moly!

WOW. Can I say I am the biggest slacker at blogging? Seriously. I have a ton of pictures to post too!

Ok here it comes! 

Be prepared!

I really am going to do it!
AAAAANNNNNDDDDD GO!

7 Months

My little monkey turned 7 months old on Dec 30th. I can't believe how BIG he has gotten! He's rolling around (and around and around) and does not sit still anymore! He sooo isn't a baby. He's grown out of all clothes under 12 months, and the last time I had him measured, he measured 29 inches at was at the 97th percentile for his age. I'm really going to have a giant child! 

I think I should start taking donations NOW in order to keep him in clothes that are long enough his whole life...

 He likes to roll his toy up and make his own tent.

 He drools a good gallon a day. And makes funny faces.

 He LOVES playing with his dad!

He is ALWAYS super happy. He smiles soo much. It keeps me smiling when I think about it. :)

He also started talking recently. He says: Dada, baba, and hi. I keep trying to get him to say mama and he usually replies back by saying dada. Stinker.

Love my little monkey!

Christmas

Baby J was lucky enough to have his first Christmas this year. It was so much fun having a child to spoil at Christmas!! And I didn't even have to spend a ton of money to spoil him. WOOT WOOT!

 Trying to figure out what these new things were...

 Gotta have the classic bow on the head picture.

 He liked playing with the wrapping paper the most. Apparently it was fun to eat.

 Double bows..

 He was my most favorite present this year!

 Totally random picture, but he LOVES the present from Aunt Amy & Cousin McKay!

 He couldn't have cared less about his bike/walker.

 Lovely morning pictures.

Really tired after opening all his presents!

 Family snuggle on the couch!

 Our first family picture where Baby J can sit up on his own.

 Front row: Aunt Sara, Grandpa, Baby J, Grandma, Kiki & Aunt Lindsay

Back Row: Uncle Todd, Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Steve & Chase

Grandma & Grandpa with the kids. Aren't they so much fun?

All in all, Christmas was a BLAST! I'm so grateful for the birth of the Savior and the opportunity that I have to celebrate it every year. I hope everyone else had a great day like we did!