Pictures

The grandparents demanded that we get official pictures taken... how could we argue after looking at these pictures.

Carson GQ

Carson Charmer

"Hey ladies, what's happening?"

Carson Baller

Carson Innocent

Faces

Carson likes to make faces for the camera.

Ya Ya!

That's right, ya ya. It means outside, and Carson loves ya ya. Hope you enjoy the pictures of Carson in the snow.

I survived January only to get sick in February

I made it. January was tough. Between all the ward conferences and the big stake enrichment meeting, among the usual things, I couldn't really see the light at the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. When I felt like I could finally let my hair down I got a nasty bug. So there, I confess, I don't feel like blogging. So much to do, so little time, and the kicker...I don't want to. I promise to do better...just not today :).

Happy Birthday Dave!!

Today is my sweet husbands 25th birthday. 25 seems (and is) so young. I really look forward to the next 75 :) years with my wonderful companion.

25 reasons why I love Dave, he is:

1 - Kind
2 - Always 100% honest
3 - Funny
4 - A FANTASTIC father
5 - Gentle
6 - Strong
7 - Always setting (and achieving) goals
8 - Smart
9 - A good listener
10 - Optimistic
11 - Never gets intimidated
12 - or nervous
13 - Has a beautiful voice
14 - Loves sports
15 - Makes Carson laugh like I will never be able to
16 - Changes the channel if there is every anything inappropriate on...even commercials
17 - Romantic
18 - Sensitive
19 - Handsome
20 - Thoughtful
21 - Frugal
22 - So VERY VERY patient
23 - Protective of his family
24 - Hard worker
25 - Scratches my back for long periods of time
25a. - Likable
25b. - Genuine
25c. - Loves my family
25d. - Eats things even when he doesn't really want to
25e. - Always puts his clothes away
25f. - Loves to dance...alone is preferred I think...so funny!!
25g. - Treats me like a queen
25h. - Truly the best husband anyone could ever ask for

I LOVE YOU DAVE!!!

Life Lessons

There have been a number of difficult experiences lately that have directly affected me or my family lately. I am not going to sit and tell you my life is hard, nor that I wish these trials would go away. I do want to express how grateful I am for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Here are some of the lessons I have learned and deeply felt over the past couple of months:

1 - Don't take what you already have for granted
2 - Don't take your family for granted
3 - Don't take your child(ren) for granted
4 - You CAN financially afford whatever Heavenly Father thinks you need as well; He will provide
5 - It doesn't matter how alone you feel, the Savior is always in your mind and heart because he has already been there and done that
6 - The church is true despite it's members
7 - The timeline God has planned for you is better than the one you have planned for yourself
8 - God ALWAYS knows better
9 - More people care about you than you realize
10 - There is no room for me to be judgemental anymore; it is keeping me from who I need to be
11 - Don't sweat the small stuff
12 - It's ok to let the house get a little messy if it means spending time with family
13 - The Savior LIVES
14 - It's ok to mourn but it's not ok to be stagnant
15 - You can ALWAYS pray
16 - You sometimes have to do what God wants before He will give you what you want

I make it sound like I have been in the depths of despair, but I want to make it clear that is not the case. Sure, there have been difficult thing, but I and my little family are very happy and very well taken care of. It's just nice to reminded every now and again that God is in control.

Carson is Huge and talks a lot!

This is what we confirmed yesterday at the Doctors office. He is 28 pounds and 33 inches long. He is still on the same growth curve. In the appt, the doctor asked me if Carson said any other words besides mama and dada. I responded "yeah, around 20 other words". He was floored! I knew he was a big talker, but I didn't realize how big. Here are all of the words Carson says, hopefully I can remember them:

Daddy
Bonk
Cracker
Diaper
Juice
Meow
Woof
Ball
Book
Eyes
Teeth
Hi
Bye-Bye
Row (He sings row row row your boat like this...rowrowrowrowrowrowrowrowrowrow)
Boo (Peek-a-boo)
Get it (he says this when he wants us to retrieve something
Ear
Yum
Uh-oh
Thank you (my personal favorite)
Ow
Jesus
Apple (doubles for Up)
Go
Tiger (sounds a lot like Cracker but is still different)
Lights
Bubble

Did any of you notice which work was NOT on the list???? MAMA. I am ok with this because he couldn't have a better example than Dave so I'd be happy if he was a daddy's boy.

Douglas

Many of you know who I am talking about and many of you don't. Douglas is the homeless man that attends our ward every Sunday at 8:00 am. I don't know if he actually cares about the church lessons at all or whether he simply likes the refuge from the cold. Either way, Douglas is special. I am drawn to him and I don't know why. I think about him often and have great desires to help. Douglas always smells of b.o. and seems to only own one pair of clothes as well as one coat. I do not want to pass this up. If I don't act on my feelings now, I will forever look back with guilt and wonder. I don't find it hard to offer him a ready smile and warm hello; but am I truly giving of myself? I am by no means asking for handouts for Douglas, but if any of you are touched by Douglas as I am and want to help, let me know and we can figure something out. Something we can all do though is keep him in our prayers.

Crazy Eights

I have been tagged a few times and I am sorry I haven't done this yet, I have wanted to, I have just been lazy :).

8 TV shows I like to watch
Jeopardy
Lingo
Wheel of Fortune
Family Feud
(are any of you sensing a theme yet?)
Rescue 911 (like forever ago)
TLC shows
The Newlywed Gameshow
MATLOCK!!!

8 Restaurants I like to eat at
Olive Garden
Grand Chinese Buffet
Souper Salad
Teriyaki Stix
Subway
Any buffet because then I can eat TONS of salad
PF Changs
Tucanos

8 Things that Happened Today
Spent time with my family
Had a nice long lunch with Dave
Practiced a piano number at the church
Did some relief society stuff
Drove to Salt Lake
Attempted to go to the Lionhouse...grrrrr...didn't happen...grrrrr
Drove home
Went on a date with Handsome Dave

8 Things I am looking forward to
Sunday!!
Christmas break
Washing Machine
Dryer
Dishwasher
Non cinderblock walls
Finding a job (I guess this is Dave's thing, but you can all relate I am sure)
Another baby (no, I am not pregnant... just looking forward to more children)

8 Things on my wishlist
Isn't this pretty much the same thing as above? How about 8 things I would put in my dream home...
Granite Countertops
Lots of big windows
Vaulted Ceilings
A double shower
Lots of bedrooms (they don't have to be large)
A big kitchen sink
A big flat yard to play lots of sports in
A large family room

Rather than tag people, here are 8 things I am grateful for (non church/family things because of course those are at the top of every list)
Hot chocolate
Good music and being able to create good music
Chapstick
Contact lenses...I guess glasses too if it REALLY comes down to it
Fingernail clippers
Razors
Chips and Salsa
A furnace

So much to do, so little time!!

This kid is efficient!

Now for something totally unrelated:

I have been really grateful for this holiday season, particularly Thanksgiving. I always get excited for Christmas and it's always easy for me to get into the spirit of things. However, this year I have done A LOT of thinking about what I am grateful for. I don't know what the difference is, but I like it :). These reflections have led me to realize how blessed and loved I am. Three things I want to mention are the Savior and his Atonement. My husband, and my baby.

The Atonement: is paramount to our happiness and ability to become like our loving Heavenly Father. I am really good at being a carnal, natural woman, and am ready to be good at something else...being good. These changes I desire are all accomplished through my ability to repent. I also need a shoulder to cry on when I get fall for the umpteenth time and get frustrated. Dave is a wonderful physical shoulder, but my soul is comforted when I turn to the true source. I truly never feel all alone.

My husband: what an incredible person. I have never met someone so naturally good and loving. I affectionately refer to him as Mr. Service that name is more appropriate than most of you will ever know. Here is the best part about Mr. Services service; he loves doing it! He never has selfish intentions. Dave is humble. Dave has perfect integrity. He is gentle, smart, hilarious, handsome, kind, athletic, respectful, genuine, easy going, and a hard worker. The list goes on but I will spare him. I often feel bad for Dave I genuinely feel like I married up and he got the short end of the stick.

My baby: Carson is a very sweet little soul. I didn't know what to expect out of motherhood, but I sure didn't expect to be blessed with such a strong, wonderful spirit. Carson has great things in store for him. He is teaching me everything I need to learn. I have been rather teary lately as I think about him and watch him grow; I never realized how tender my feelings could be. I have been kind of baby hungry again lately (no, I am not pregnant), but these feeling help me appreciate Carson all the more. Having him in my life is a bigger blessing that I ever hoped for even with a housefull.