Our 2nd Anniversary

Yesterday was Mark and I's second anniversary.  Can you believe it?!  WOOT WOOT!

Unfortunately, I woke up feeling really crummy.  I have a head cold.  To sum it up in one word - cloggy.  Uggg...I don't even feel like I can think clearly.  Mark went off to school and I pretty much laid on the rug in Jacob's room while he played and was in and out of dozing a little.

Lucky for me, Jacob gave me a great present and took a three hour nap.  I couldn't believe when I woke up and he was still asleep.  What a champ!  I guess we were both pretty tired.

Mark came home just as Jacob was getting up.  He had me stay in Jacob's room until he had set up a little display on our table.  He gave me beautiful flowers, a sweet card (which maybe way my favorite part), and a little present.  What a great guy.  He also took Jacob so that I could just rest up on the couch.

It was a pretty lazy day.  Lots of snuggling.  I kept thinking that I would be feeling better so that we could at least go out to dinner or something, but it just didn't happen.  So we ordered take-out and Mark went and picked it up.  It was pretty much the greatest.  I get a tasty meal WITHOUT having to make a single thing, and eat it in my sweats from the luxury of our home.  WIN-WIN. 

We did our regular night-time routine and put Jacob to bed and then snuggled up and watched our wedding videos.  It was pretty great.

Have I mentioned lately that I am totally in love with that man of mine?  Well, I am.  I am one very lucky girl.  I feel so blessed to be able to spend forever with him.  It has been an incredible two years - and I can't wait for more!

Eight Months

Jacob is eight months old today!  WOOT WOOT!  We love our little boy so much.

Here are some changes that have happened this last month:

First, Jacob is getting his first two bottom teeth.  They are still very slowly creeping their way up.  Pictures still to come once they get all the way in! :)

Jacob isn't crawling yet, well, forward that is.  He can go backward, or pivot around in a circle, but no real forward movement yet.  Fine by me!

Jacob seems to always have his pointer finger in his mouth.  We pretty much think it is the most adorable thing ever.  It gives him a very mischievous but oh so adorable look to him.  And it seems like he knows how cute it is.  Just this morning I was changing a dirty diaper of his (and he thinks it is hilarious to put his hands down in his poop now) and I was telling him "no" and he immediately smiles and puts his finger up to his mouth.  What a turkey - but an adorable turkey.

Jacob is beginning to chat - a lot now.  No real words yet but he is definitely making a lot more noises that sound like he is trying to make words.  Does that make sense?  Anyway, it is pretty cute.  He can just sit there and chat with himself for ten or fifteen minutes nonstop.  Love it.

This last month Jacob has become a lot more shy.  He definitely wants Mom and Dad around.  We have to just laugh because the Jacob we know is so different when we go anywhere.  He pretty much doesn't show any emotion at all - straight face all the time.  Sometimes I genuinely worry that I am creating some really socially backwards child, but I am hoping it will all work itself out in time.  I am sure it will, right?!

Jacob is back to two naps a day again.  The one nap a day thing only lasted about a week and a half.  It just wasn't working.  His naps are pretty short but he needs to have two little nappy times still.  And, of course, every time we go in he is laying horizontal in his crib, with his feet dangling out the front.  He seems pretty proud of that accomplishment - what a goofy little guy.  

We love our little munchkin so much.  He has made the last eight months absolutely wonderful.  We love you little man. 

Teething

After months and months of waiting, Jacob is finally starting to get his first teeth.  I will have to post a picture when they actually pop up all the way because right now they are just little white nubs.  

Monday night he woke up not very happy and the next morning we noticed that he had "cut" his first bottom tooth.  Yesterday, we saw that the other bottom tooth is also coming in as well.  For the most part, Jacob is taking it all well during the day.  Despite having a little more cuddling time (which I am not opposed to at all), it has all gone well.

Nighttime he has not been sleeping well though.  Last night for example, I didn't get to bed until four.  Yep, you read that correctly, four o'clock in the morning.   Ugg...I felt so bad for my little man.  He was just whimpering and so sad.  He would be okay if I held him, but if I put him down he was one sad little munchkin. 

This happened another night this week too.  So we are one exhausted little group over here.

However, being able to hold Jacob while sitting in the rocking chair for hours on end in the middle of the night, does give me an opportunity to think about lots of things.  I love that little boy of mine so much.  I feel so blessed.  I swear he just has the sweetest face, he totally has me wrapped around his little finger.

I love thinking about Jacob's future.  Just the simple everyday things.  I love thinking of him

walking

talking

wearing a backpack ready to go to school

playing with his future siblings

saying his prayers

reading stories

helping me bake cookies

I could go on an on (I had a lot of time to think about these things last night).  And as tired as I was, I knew that there were many many other mothers up doing the very same thing I was - taking care of a child.  That's kind of an empowering thought isn't it - to know that you get to be a part of something so special.  I think so.

Thank goodness for baths - his favorite time of the day!

Also, we got a new nephew Thursday night!  We are so excited for Daniel and Teresa and their family of four girls to finally get their boy!  We can't wait to meet you baby Emmett!

Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum

February Family Fun was to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum.  It is down at the Sports Authority Field where the Denver Broncos play.  We had actually planned on taking a tour of the whole stadium but I guess you have to make reservations and they were all full for the time slot so we didn't get to - bummer.

So we walked around the little museum.  And I must be honest, I pretty much didn't recognize a single name in the whole place.  They had a display for Peggy Flemming who I only recognized from the movie Runaway Bride. Does anyone else remember that line, "I'm Peggy Flemming...not the ice skater" well, apparently I saw the real Peggy Flemming's picture today. 

Jacob refuses to smile in public - what a turkey!

We were pretty bummed we didn't get to go on the tour because we didn't really have anything else to do and the museum lasted a whole 5 to 10 minutes to walk around.  So we just walked around the stadium as it was a nice 59 degrees here today. 

It's huge and I honestly don't know if we will ever be able to actually go to a game here just because the tickets are so ridiculously expensive, plus they are almost always on Sundays it seems.  We ended up walking around the Team Store for a little bit.  We were pretty much the only people in there that weren't workers but we had a fun time looking at the jerseys and how expensive they are - seriously, $300 for a jersey?!  Mark says they are the really nice kind...I would sure hope so!

Overall, kind of a let down for family fun but we will have to try it again another month.  We topped it off well though with ice cream cones on the drive back home.  Everything is better with ice cream!  Happy Family Fun! 

Valentines

Our Valentine's Days have never been too elaborate.  Our anniversary is a week and a half  away and I think we put more of our efforts into that - which is okay.  Our day was pretty normal.

HOWEVER, Jacob and I had fun earlier in the week making Valentines to send to our family.  And Jacob had loads of entertainment playing with the package he got the day before Valentines from Grandpa and Grandma Clegg. 

Mark ended up having three quizzes and a big assignment (I know, Happy Valentine's Day from his school! Uggg...!) and so he was pretty preoccupied.  However, he did come home with some limeaide (my favorite!) and some frozen yogurt.

So once I put Jacob down for bed I put in a chick flick and ate some frozen yogurt.  I told Mark it was a little too reminiscent of my single days :)  However, Mark promised that Valentine's Day came in two parts this year - and that we would do more the next day. 

Friday evening, Alicia came over to watch Jacob and I am so grateful for her.  She recently decided that she is going to be moving to Bear Lake for the summer and then probably down to Arizona in the fall.  We are so sad for her to go but happy for all of the adventures she will have.  And we are so grateful that she offered to come watch Jacob. 

Mark wouldn't tell me what we were doing on our date which was fun to be surprised.  We went out to dinner (which we NEVER do) and it was fun to just talk.  Then we went and saw a chick flick which we NEVER do either.  Nothing elaborate but just so so good. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful day of love.  So grateful for my cutie patootie hubby and that he gets to be my valentine.  And even more, I am grateful for all of the people that I love and love me. What a great holiday to focus on how we show our love to one another! 

Children of God

My thoughts as of late have been turned toward one simple statement:

"I am a Child of God"

This statement is one that I have been told over and over throughout my life.  I feel incredibly blessed that when I was a twelve, I received a firm and immovable testimony of this statement.  As humbling as it is, I know that my Father in Heaven knows me.  And I know He loves me.  I know that He wants me to be happy.  I know that He has great expectations for my life and He wants me to become the individual I was meant to be.

Becoming a mom in June to this handsome, sweet little boy has brought increased emotions to this simple statement for me.  It is truly remarkable the amount of love that I immediately had for that little boy.  I would do anything for him and want nothing more than for him to have a happy and healthy life filled with peace and love.  And if as his earthly mother, I have that great amount of love and dreams for his life - I can only imagine what his Heavenly Parents feel for him, and in turn, what they must feel for me.

It is pretty amazing to think what such a simple statement, if everybody knew it, would do to change the world.  If everyone knew that they weren't alone.  If everyone knew that they were loved beyond measure.

My favorite book of all time is Little Women.  I read it every year.  And every time I get something new from it.  I have a page permanently marked though because of this counsel that Marmee gives to her daughter, Jo:

"If I don't seem to need help, it is because I have a better friend, even than father, to comfort and sustain me.  My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one.  The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom.  His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness,and strength.  Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother."

These are the kinds of things I hope to teach my son.

I feel like there are a lot of negative things being said about women in the Church, from members of the Church.  My sphere of influence is incredibly small, and I am okay with that.  But I just felt like I needed to put my two-cents out there into the world.

The greatest blessing in my life is being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I count this as my greatest blessing for many reasons, but one of them being that we believe that every individual is a child of God.  I am grateful for the great responsibilities I have been given as a woman to continue "the work and glory of God" here on earth. 

Joy in the Journey

So this week I have definitely been guilty of NOT finding "joy in the journey."  I have found myself pretty much constantly daydreaming about various things.  Here are a few:

The day when Mark is done with school.  And he can come home from a job and just relax.  And we don't have to plan everything around exams.  And we can see a deposit come into our bank accounts rather than constant withdrawals.  

The day when we finally have a house of our own.  A house I can decorate for every single holiday.  A house with more storage space where I don't have to constantly be figuring our where I can shove something away.  A house where I can have a craft room. 

The day when we have a yard - a BIG yard.  Someplace on beautiful days when I can take Jacob and play and relax.  A yard where I can have my own garden and grow all sorts of yummy treats. 

The day when I will feel like I am not totally "winging" it as a mom.  The day when I have it all together, know exactly what Jacob needs and wants and the best way to help him. 

Just to name a few...

But THEN I thought of how ridiculous some of those things are.  Do I still want them - umm...YES!  However, my life right now though is pretty amazing because of MANY things.  Here are a few:

Every day Mark comes home from school and plays with Jacob despite his constant need to be studying.  Every day he comes home and gives me a kiss and tells me that he loves me.  And every day I can't wait for the next day with Mark. 

Every day I have a really nice place to wake up.  I get to call maintenance if there is ever a problem with our apartment and they fix it.  Cleaning our apartment takes about an hour - the whole thing: vacuuming, dusting, making beds, bathrooms, kitchen, the whole deal. 

Every day I look out my window and see a lake.  Granted it is man-made, but at least it gives us a nice barrier to the busy road.  And there is a trail that goes all around that I can take Jacob on walks.  And I don't have to worry about mowing the lawn every Saturday.

Every day I get the privilege of being a mother.  And I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy who I get to spend hours and hours with every day.  And we get to grow together.

I am a blessed woman.  And despite my wishing and hoping feelings earlier this week, I am definitely ending this week feeling very blessed.  Here's to finding joy in the journey.
 

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, 

and share our love with friends and family."

-President Thomas S. Monson-