My Due Date

My due date was a little bit sad. Of course, like every expectant mother I had secretly hoped I would be celebrating that day with my little babe in my arms. Instead I found that I had made no noticeable progress from the week before. Luckily our baby boy's heartbeat was strong, and he seemed to be doing great. I spent the day walking up and down stairs at the only mall my mom and I hadn't been walking at yet.

(Mall walking is the only walking-to-induce-labor option when you're due in the middle of icy winter)

I thought a lot that day about divine timing, and how all the blessings in my life have come at times that were perfect, even though I may have liked many of them sooner. Knowing that Heavenly Father has perfect knowledge and timing, I trusted that he would have my baby boy come exactly when it would be best.

Before falling asleep that night I wrote the following as part of a little letter to my boy:

"So tonight and every night, when I head to bed, it will be with a prayer of trust and a hope that tomorrow will bring you. One of these days very soon that hope will be fulfilled."

Little did I know that just seven hours later I'd wake up in labor...

These photos are some of the last taken of my bump-taken the day before my due date. I owe so much to my mama. She was such a great friend and always happy to keep me busy enough to not get discouraged that baby boy hadn't come yet. During the weeks before he came we went shopping, mall walking, to lunch, a movie and spent time hanging out in my nursery and picking out things for my boy. I thought she was the best then, but I knew it for sure after all she did for me when Owen came. Moms are just the best, aren't they?

Celebrating Mom

To the woman I most admire, happy mothers day and happy birthday. May the coming year be filled with the sound of laughter, and many happy new adventures. You're a mother beyond compare-one that has such a deep capacity for love, and shares it with everyone. I'm so glad I'm lucky enough to call you mine!

#itwasmom

May 11, 1993- Mom's 32nd Birthday 

Today, May 11th, is not only Mothers Day but my mom's birthday. I love this woman so very much, for too many reasons to count. She is the happiest, most loving woman I know. She is so selfless, giving, and understanding.Throughout the years between the 25 Mothers Day's we've spent together she has taught me so many things. If I could sum up one thing my mother has taught me though it would be this: she taught me how to love.

Through her words, and mostly her example she has taught me about loving friends, strangers, family, my husband, and most importantly my Heavenly Father. Her capacity for love knows no bounds, and all those who know her are blessed by this great ability she has. I feel so lucky to get to call her mom, and to be so loved by her. Being her daughter truly is a privilege.

So thanks mom-for being the perfect mom for me, and for teaching me about Christ-like love. It has blessed my life in so many ways, and I owe that to you. I love you mom, and hope you have a very happy Mothers Day and Birthday! I'm so very glad you're mine!

Happy Birthday to the...

Woman who manages to spill at every meal

Lady who taught me to love reading

One who always knows how to make me smile

Best puzzle solver around

Person with the most lovely and contagious laugh

Biggest fan of chocolate

Most loving person I’ve met

And really, just the very best woman I know.

I am honored to not only call this woman my mom but also my best friend.

I hope this year brings you happiness beyond measure, plenty of cold Diet Cokes, great friends, good books, and a home full of laughter.

I love you.

NCAA

Bright and early Thursday I found myself at the Sandy Trax station with my mom.

Of course I had to make a quick visit to see Drew first. (the bagel man)

Dad had, once again, secured some tickets to March Madness. For those of you who may be new to the blog, or just not know me very well, I absolutely love March Madness. College boys achieving their dreams! And me attempting to achieve my dream of creating the perfect bracket! It's a perfect combination.

Dad couldn't join us until the night session, but Mom and I decided to go to both sessions, and essentially watch ten hours straight of basketball.

Of course there was plenty of Diet Coke breaks, a quick jaunt to City Creek for an appetizer/cheesecake dinner between games, and some InStyle reading during half time.

It was a fun day! I loved playing hookey for the day in order to spend time with my Mom and Dad. So, thanks for taking me Dad, and for always taking me. It takes a very patient man to bring his daughters to so many sporting events-luckily my dad is just that kind of guy.

Oh. And go Duke! (my bracket is a disaster this year)

PS. A girl that once upon a time lived in my ward, and who is a much better blogger than I am posted this for those girls who may not fully love March Madness. Enjoy.

10 Things Making Me Terribly Happy

10 Things Making Me Terribly Happy:
Because despite my lack of sleep lately life really is wonderful
1- Call Me Maybe. (especially this)
2-Staying up until two in the morning. It is almost always worth it.
3-Sisters who drive to Provo to hang out and eat snow cones. Those two girls are pretty great. And so are snow cones.
4-Reading for pleasure. One of the highlights of each summer.
5-Going running. (words I never thought would make me happy...)
6-Eating s'mores
7-That my new roommate is pretty great and loves diet coke too.
8-Getting your hair washed, cut and blown out by someone else.
9-Spending Mothers Day with my Muder. It was lovely-just like her
10- Lately lots of wonderful things have been happening to the people I care about. Big, life changing, wonderful things. So often in life bad things happen to good people, it has been refreshing to see such good things happen to the people who deserve it most. It makes me terribly happy.

And the celebrating continues...

It's not something many people are proud of in Provo. When people hear you're from Utah there is a tendency to roll their eyes and place all of their preconceived assumptions about  those Utah girls right onto your shoulders as well.(Let the record state that I have never once embraced "Utah hair" and I don't want 10 kids.)However, be it perceived as popular or not it does not change the fact that I am a Utah girl, and proud of where I came from. I was born and raised in the shadows of the Wasatch. I was nurtured in the desert, and grew beautiful not in spite of but because of the devastating winters and sweltering summers.
I'm well traveled, well read, and well aware that the world extends outside of my beautiful valley, and yet as much as I love and long for the travel a large piece of my heart always remains here; tucked in a canyon.
So, it's been with great anticipation that I've looked forward to March 22, 2012. It was the day my city would surpass it's potential again. The day everyone would be able to see how truly beautiful this place really is.
And Nordstrom, Tiffany's, BCBGMAXAZARIA, Michael Kors, Coach and Swarovski would be the evidence.

Without further ado I end the cheesy poetics and present:

The Greatest Day: City Creek Opens

a love affair between a Utah girl and things of beauty

I had warned my father for months that I wanted to be there for the ribbon cutting, to see the doors open wide and the world let in. However he must have thought I was joking (not sure why he thought I would joke about such a thing) because when the time came he was all eye-rolls and worry about missing school.

School will be there everyday. Today is a shopping day, said I.

The day started at 6:00am for me. I was in Sandy by 7:45 and Mom, Megan and I were on Trax by 8:20. By 9:15 we were standing inside City Creek. It kind of took my breath away.

Due to my great researching skills (and itinerary I'd made) we were able to check in on Foursquare, complete a few things on the to-do list and be waiting in line for our free grab bags by 9:30 (with diet cokes in hand)

When shopping all day Diet Coke is necessary, even if you're "off" Diet coke.

Due to our preparation at 10:00am we were 3 of the lucky 100 to steal these cute goodie bags. Inside: a bracelet, coupons, stationary, lip gloss, key chains, cosmetic bags and.... a $50 City Creek Gift card.

From there were were off to shop!  Back and forth we went between shops, dressing rooms and sales counters. I managed to find a cute $20 dress within the first hour, however technically it was free.

If you use a gift card-whatever you purchase on it can be considered "free".

The highlight for me was definitely Tiffany's. I feel fast and hard for this delicate bow ring and the man who slipped it on my finger. It was a thing of real beauty.

Although I have to admit, the thing in it's entirety is the real beauty. A small creek, a huge outdoor fireplace, live music, big windows, a gorgeous fountain, a retractable roof. The whole thing radiates class.

When you shop somewhere classy, you by default are classy.

The real highlight of the day was not the sales, the gift cards, watching mom fall hard and fast for Lush, the fountain, or even the kind conversation with the man on TRAX.

Nope it was spending the day with these lovely ladies.

Who you're shopping with defines your day-choose wisely.

I joked with my mother that when I'm here buying my granddaughter pearl earrings for her wedding someday I'll be able to turn to her and say "I was here the day this place opened, and (insert a big number) years later it's still the most classy place in Utah" And I'll think back to this day and the fun I had with my sisters and mom. It'll be one of the best memories.

By the end of the day we were weighed down with bags, proud of our finds and completely exhausted. However it was worth it, totally worth it.

If a shopping day leaves you exhausted, you did it right. Treat yourself to more diet coke.

Repeat.

Count Your Blessings

10 Things I'm Terribly Thankful for Today:

10- The ability to walk to school and work. I love being close enough to walk.

9-Michael Bubble's Christmas album.

8-The Childs. I am so lucky to have such an awesome family.

7-A Mom who knows everything. Really though.

6-Friends who meet me half way, literaly, to hang out.

5-My relief society. These girls are so solid. I love going to church with them each week, and learn so much from them.

4-Knowing that no matter what happens I always have someone to call to help me-I have awesome people in my life.

3-Answered prayers. I've had many lately. One of them was answered in the form of an e-mail. I'd been looking for my ID card for awhile, but I hadn't thought to pray about it until today. I knelt and prayed, and only a few hours later I recieved this:

If I care about something, I know he does to.

2-My Roommates. They are the absolute greatest, and have been there for me lately when I've really needed them. I can't thank them enough for being so kind, caring, hilarious, willing to help, fun, and patient. I love these girls.

1-This gem of wisdom from my friend: "I love how God doesn't keep us from suffering. He lets us feel pain. He doesn't take away disappointment. Instead He does something much better. He endures it with us. Holds our hand and loves us through it all. I am so grateful for that."

"Florence"

Indirectly, I always wanted to go to Florence because of my you Mom. Because you grew me up on love, chocolate, laughter, and While You Were Sleeping.

And one day just a few months ago, I boarded a train and watched the Tuscan sun set on the passing towns as I approached that destination we'd only dreamed of... Florence.

I thought a lot about you on that train ride. It was bittersweet for me. I felt a twinge of guilt knowing that I got to go to this adventurous destination before you. But outweighing the guilt was an overpowering sense of gratitude. I knew that there was no way I would be sitting where I was speeding off to a new and exciting city, had it not been for you and Dad.

I wouldn't have had the courage to go, had you not taught me faith through your daily example.

I wouldn't have had the desire, had you not taught me to love others, and adventure, with such passion.

I wouldn't have had the dream, had you not told me from my infancy that I was capable of greatness.

I wouldn't have had the patience, had you not quietly taught me to improve in this area of weakness of mine.

I wouldn't have had the joy, had you not taught me to recognize beauty in all it's forms.

I wouldn't have had that spiritual moment in the Uffizi had you not taught me about the pure love of mothers, and of our Savior Jesus Christ.

I wouldn't have learned and cherished that experience so much, had it not been for you.

You were in my every thought, prayer and laugh. I thought of you as I took in the deep greens of the buildings, how you would marvel in the quaint cobblestone streets, how you would have stopped to ponder in awe and tears with me at the Uffizi and how you would have relished the emptiness of it on that December morning. I thought of you as I sampled cheeses and jams at the Sunday morning market, knowing you would love to try them all with me. I thought of you as I perused the shops along the bridge, and took in that stunning sunset from the park.

I've never told her this before, but you were in Florence that week, for you are in all that I was.

And it wasn't just Florence. You're in all that I do and everywhere I go, for you created me. You not only physically made me, but molded me day in and day out through my youth and into the young woman that I am today. Everything great that I have, that I've seen, that I've been and will be, I owe in part to you.

I just want to say thank you, for all you've given, and all I know you'll continue to give to me. I know that no gift I give could compare to all you've given to me, and I think the best gift I could give in return is to live my life in way that is righteous, in a way that will make you proud.

Well that and this post.