How cool is this?

So I know that these things have been here for awhile now, but it didn't really register with me - as I am a new mom - until today.

Today Mary and I went to the mall and at one point we went into the family bathroom to . . . um . . . GO to the bathroom and also to change Mary's diaper. After changing her, I realized the cool seat on the wall for kids to sit in safely secured while parents use the facilities - which is much better than the kid having to go back into the stroller right away.

I think if I was Mary - I would have loved to sit up high on the wall and look about. And how cool is it that they have "family restrooms"? There are so many new things that make raising kids now so much easier and better than what our parents had to deal with . . .

Mary clearing was enjoying herself!
Don't you just love that little tongue sticking out??? So cute!

My Mystery Bag

On Sunday, Jeff, from upstairs asked, "what are all these mystery books doing here?" I answered that a couple weeks ago, the library had closed up mystery bags and that you could pay $2 for one - but you wouldn't know what you were getting. I thought about it, and decided for two dollars it was worth having a surprise. Who knew what could be in that bag? In my mind, I was thinking of parenting magazines and books, maybe a few gift certificates . . . I was slightly disappointed that when I got home and opened my bag that it was 5-6 used mystery books *cue wah wah wah wah music* . . . Not really what I like . . . but who knew . . . maybe I'd read them one day or give them to my MIL who likes mystery books.

So yesterday, Jeff called from work and said he had a "mystery bag" for me!!! OOO! How exciting!!!! I love "prizes" - as Jeff calls them. (This might be one reason I fell in love with him.)

Here it is . . . open it with me and you might discover a little insight into Jeff.


Isn't it pretty? Yesterday it looked liked this except the knot was REALLY tight. Anyone else's husbands tighten bottles and such things so tight you have to go through a work out to open them??? : ) As I'm opening the bag yesterday, I look over at Jeff and he is laughing to himself as I'm trying to open it. Also noteworthy are the clips on the side.

So I open the bag and the first prize is a coupon for special house work!!! LOVE IT!






Next . . . drum roll please. . . POP TARTS! I NEVER buy myself pop tarts because they are so NOT good for you. But I love to eat one every once in awhile.
Next . . . Trail mix!

Next . . . some traveling toothbrushes (I am a bit obsessive about my teeth) and gum . . . then a candle, miniature toy, and dried fruit . . . and lastly . . .

Pretzel M&M's! I didn't even know those existed!!!

How much fun was this?!!
THIS mystery bag definitely did not disappoint! I highly recommend mystery bags to all your loved ones.

Thank you Jeff!!!

Mary is officially sleeping through the night!

So, maybe none of you are interested . . . but this is an important milestone to me to record. Mary is officially sleeping through the night!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!! I don't know that I can take much credit. I have worried a lot about this since she was born. I felt that I really ought to let her cry a bit more at night - but I was just too soft to really ever follow through. And Jeff was no help! So, I guess we both just became okay with her waking up once a night.

But I am glad that early on - I have had her sleep in her own bed and that for her naps I have been able to put her in and let her fuss for a bit before falling asleep. I think that did make a difference.

Last Monday night - she didn't cry - she moaned instead. And so I didn't feel like I needed to go in to her. She did that one other time that night. And since then - with the exception of Saturday night in which she was soaked through - she has slept through. I'm happy about it!

But on the other hand, it reminds me of how big she is getting. She is starting to look long - well she has ALWAYS been long- but long like a toddler. 8 months really has gone by quickly. It has been a wonderful time in my life.

Here are some pics from this past weekend. It was R's birthday!


Looking at the pic with my SIL (sister-in-law) J, it makes me really happy because we are getting to be really great friends.

Vote for Mary!!!

So we did it! Jeff and I submitted Mary for the 850 KOA Cutest Baby Contest! If we win we get a flatscreen tv, $250 in pampering, and a digital video camera . . . and of course the title of Cutest Baby!!!
So please vote! It starts at 5 PM on the 25th.
Cutest baby

Here is the pic we decided on!

What does the Atonement mean to me?

Last Sunday, I was asked to share what the Atonement meant to me. I thought then about sharing it on my blog - but resisted because it is pretty personal. But I've had the thought everyday since and so I will go ahead and share.

In one word - what the Atonement means to me - is HOPE. On Sunday, for the Sacrament hymn - we sang "Oh God the Eternal Father". The last line says Jesus had to die - "or all was lost". This is the truth. No one on this earth could be saved without His sacrifice. So this gives me hope especially because I am so flawed and so immature spiritually speaking.

There have been times in my life when I have deliberately sinned and there have been times when I've sinned and maybe didn't fully understand that I was sinning. And then there have been times when I've made honest mistakes - where I really didn't mean to do something wrong and I did. Or there have been other times when just because I am human I have neglected something. Mix all those mistakes, shortcomings, and sins together with my personality flaws and you have someone who really would be doomed. Thankfully, Christ's atoning sacrifice covers all of these things.

A few other thoughts . . .

It also makes me feeled loved that He would do this for me.

And lastly (for now at least), it makes me feel like there is someone out there who "gets me" perfectly. There are times when I've felt "no one understands me" or "no one understands what I am going through". HE does. We are told that he bore our griefs and our sorrows. So, when I am feeling alone and misunderstood and judged - I know He knows me and knows what I am capable of and knows what I am going through and this gives me comfort . . .

And JOY!

Someday

I wrote this in the middle of the night last night . . .(In the dark)


Someday (Sung to the tune of Somewhere Over the Rainbow)

Someday when I'm in Heaven,
hopefully,
You will be no longer,
you stupid allergies!

Some night in the future
not too far . . .
You won't keep me awake
and keep my eyes ajar.

I hate you so - you are a bitch.
You make my eyes, ears, and throat itch.
It's crazy!!!

You make me sneeze - it scares Mary
and make my nose run constantly -
I real-ly LOATHE you!

Someday when I'm in Heaven
and somehow . . .

You will be a far mem'ry
Why not? Oh WHY NOT NOW?


In happier news . . . this is how I've caught Mary sleeping a lot lately.

Also just another cute pic from this morning . . .

Father's Day Weekend

We had a nice weekend. On Friday, I posted this on facebook . . .
"Yay for upstanding, hardworking, and honorable men! This Father's Day, I'm so grateful - not only for my own father and father-in-law - but for a good husband who is fiercely loyal to his wife and baby."
I truly am very blessed to have these men in my life.
My husband Jeff with baby Mary


My Dad and me


Charles (my FIL)and Jeff


Anyway, so we had a full weekend. Saturday morning I went to Colorado Star Ball (a ballroom dance competition) to see my friend Annabel compete. She took first in all the dances in her division - PreBronze Newcomer! Doesn't she look stunning?


Then Jeff and Mary and Me drove up to Estes for a visit to Jeff's parents. We had a nice time. Here are some pics!

Mary snugglin' with GrammE





The "Old Folks At Home" (I can say this because as we were leaving, they called themselves "Old Folks" : )

And then we had church on Sunday and then a family get together at my folks' house.
Fun times!
Sassy Hannah (neice)


Emma (neice) lookin' so different since they discovered her thyroid issues.

Now THAT'S Talent!

It's Jeff, making a post. Annie would like to upload videos, and I'm attempting to make it work. Here is a video. I think.

That seems to have worked, but the blogspot uploader compressed the video I'd say. The quality is thus a bit grainier than I'd like.

How do ya like them apples?

So since it has been winter the last few days (I had to resort to turning on the heat last night because Mary kept waking up in the 62 degree house) - I decided to make Mary some warm, comforting applesauce yesterday.
Early this spring my Mother-in-law (MIL), Ellen asked me if I would like a BEABA. It is the greatest thing to make babyfood with. (If you don't have one - you can always use a steamer basket and a blender/food processor.) I of course accepted her generous offer and have been making Mary's baby food since. I had bought some jars of baby food before I had really planned on making it from scratch. And I used them up early on. But since then, I had decided to try to make it myself.
This past week, I hadn't been able to make more yet - even though it is very easy and not that time consuming at all. Still, there is always plenty on my to do list and I just hadn't gotten to it. I thought in the mean time, I would pick up a few jars of baby food until I could make more.
Well, that day, Jeff sent me an article that found that unsafe levels of lead (actually any amount is not considered safe for kids and babies) were recently found in tons of kids foods and baby foods - brands like Gerber, Langers, etc. Mostly, they were found in juices and canned fruits. It made me so angry!
So, that day at the store, even though I knew which ones to avoid, I just couldn't really buy any baby food. And I also looked at the labels - carrots, apples, peas - and knew that I could totally make all these myself. I just needed to do it.
So I have yet to buy baby food (though I am sure I probably will again at some point). But the whole experience just reiterated what I've always been taught - that prepackaged things are never as good for you. And especially when it comes to Mary - I want her to be safe and healthy.
Here is the link to the article:

kids foods may contain lead

Anyway, I have made lots of foods for Mary - winter squash, bananas, apples, pears, peas, blueberries and bought food this week to make carrots, sweet potatoes, and apricots.
Here are some pictures of the Beaba in action!

The apples are steaming in the basket.

After the steaming is done, you put the apples in the bottom part of the Beaba and blend away.





Delicious applesauce with cinnamon and allspice! Oh! And this is Mary's new highchair we got this weekend. We really needed it because she was just in the Bumbo on the counter before this. I love the Bumbo - but I was really getting nervous that she might wiggle out of it soon. Here is what she was in before. . .



My fuzzy cutie bear

Anyone need a REALLY large picture of me?

Ooh ooh! I can answer this one! Nope. No, my friends. No one needs a picture of me this large - I don't even know what I'M going to do with it. And yet, I didn't really like the idea of my headshot in the dumpster of some alley downtown. But the real reason I drove all the way downtown today with kid in tow was for sentimental reasons.

This headshot was placed in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex - a part of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Yes, for two short months I got to perform with The Denver Center Theatre Company and I LOVED every minute. I remember the morning that the new people's headshots were up. It was soooooooooo exciting to think that I was actually performing there. How many Denver actors ever get that chance? Not a lot. We were so excited. We took pictures with our phones of those headshots on the wall.

The powers that be at the Denver Center emailed us and asked us if we wanted our headshots because they are remodeling and the headshots will no longer be up - at least not in the same way (I think they are doing some sort of kiosk?). Anyway, even though I know I don't need this headshot, I decided what the heck? Why not?

As I was driving back, I was thinking about how wonderful it really was working there. I have never seen a costume shop that large. And we had people to help get us dressed and different people to put our wigs on. We had 2 stage managers and 2 assistant stage managers and other crew members too. Everyone was so professional. There wasn't even cattiness. It was like everyone knew that everyone there was talented and deserved to be there. And the most surprising thing of all? Exit interviews! The main man in charge actually sat down with every member of the cast as the show closed and asked us how our experience had been and what we thought! Imagine that . . . people actually asking the actors how they feel. It was pretty stinkin' awesome.

It was a dream that I didn't even really think was possible to work there. *sigh* I don't know if I'll ever again. But maybe. Who knows? I'm happy where I'm at right now though. To everything there is a season . . .

Today I'm tired

Today I'm tired. First off, Mary woke up an hour earlier than usual. Secondly, I went on a fairly good walk and thirdly, my allergies are kickin' my butt! I finally did have to take a Claritin today. In addition, Mary is getting more and more active - which is a good thing. But today I was looking forward to her naps more than usual so I could have a break. Mostly, the allergies made it harder than usual.

One of the paths I take on one of my walk routes. Lots of good hills in H.Ranch.


Mary wearing her new sunglasses from GrammE.


By the end of our walks, she is sleeping peacefully.


Getting more and more active . . . Trying to pull herself out of bouncer! I love her expression here.


"Look how strong I am! And cute to boot!"

Take THAT - you stinkin' allergies!!!

June hit and with it came the familiar itching in the back of my throat and ears (and sneezing too - but that I can usually handle - except of course when I was pregnant last year and had THE worst attack of my life. Seriously! I sneezed for like 8 hours straight.)

I called the pediatrician to see what I could take while I was nursing. I was relieved to find out I can take Claritin instead of the coma inducing Benadryl. I went to the store to buy some - and I have it now. But that night last week, I still really didn't want to have to resort to drugs if I could get rid of it naturally ESPECIALLY since I'm nursing. So I broke out my trusty NETI pot (aka nasal cleansing pot) and used it and I haven't had to break open the Claritin yet!
I highly recommend the Neti pot if you haven't tried it and have a cold or have allergies!

Tonight we were outside. Jeff was pulling weeds and Mary and I sat in the grass. I think it was only a few minutes and that itching came back. It drives me crazy. After putting Mary down for the night - I went straight into my bathroom and used my Neti pot and now I have sweet, sweet relief!

P.S. Here is what Mary wore to church today.

I love the jellies!

A Testimony of the Sacrament

So today, during the Sacrament - I realized after awhile that they hadn't come by to offer me the bread. I usually get it right away because I lead the music and am on the stand. I looked up and realized that the deacons were all lining up which told me that the first portion (the bread) was almost over. I leaned over to Joanne (the organist) and asked her if they had forgotten us. She said, "Oh, he must have forgotten you". She leaned towards the bishopbric and let them know. But at that point all the bread had been turned in.

All of a sudden I had an overwhelming feeling of worry that I wouldn't get to take the bread and a rush of the Spirit. And I realized at that moment how much I wanted to take it and felt the need for that sanctification in my life.

I soon realized that I probably didn't need to worry and that I still might get to after they blessed the water - which is just what happened. As the deacon offered the water to the Bishop - the Bishop let him know that I needed the bread and right after that he went and got a tray of bread and came over to me. I took the bread and the water - one right after the other. The poor deacon probably felt bad and told me he was sorry and of course I told him it was okay.

I guess I was just surprised that it meant that much to me and that I really missed it when I didn't get it and how strongly I feel that I need this ordinance each week.

I kept feeling the Spirit so strongly throughout Sacrament meeting even amidst juggling Mary and felt that I should probably share the experience by bearing my testimony. I resisted because I didn't want to make the deacon feel bad. But I kept feeling that I should and so I did and I did say in my testimony that I was reluctant to share because I didn't want to make anyone feel bad. So I hope I didn't make him feel badly.

Anyway, I was glad to have this experience today and grateful to have the opportunity to renew my covenants and partake of the Sacrament.

Trash Talk

I was thinking today about how much I enjoy recycling. We just switched trash companies and with it, we are starting a trial period of recycling. I love it, but Jeff doesn't love the space it takes up in the garage. So we'll see (we could easily rearrange a few things and/or finally break open that grill that we got as a wedding gift almost 11 years ago).

But anyway, this trash company does recycling right. First off the recycle bin has a lid unlike the other companies. Those others bins just blow over too easily and then trash is spread throughout the neighborhood. Also, in addition to paperboard, cardboard, glass, aluminum, etc. - this company takes plastics 1-7! That is more plastic than our last trash company.

It is like a little treasure hunt! My sister Beckie agrees (we discussed this at my last visit to her house). I love to look at my finished plastic strawberries crate, or lotion bottle, and discover the little triangle below telling me that this too can be recycled.

I like the fact that I am helping out our environment in a small way. Our huge bin is halfway full from one weeks worth full of recyclables. And speaking of that . . .
I have a little pet peeve when it comes to trash. If possible, I think people should put their trash in a can that has a bag. Otherwise, on trash day, when the trash is emptied into the trucks, lightweight string cheese wrappers and potato chip bags don't blow out of the can and spread throughout the neighborhood and eventually to our oceans (anyone see that Oprah where they showed the huge amount of trash as big as the state of Texas in our oceans?).
It is like the talk recently given by one of the general authorities (someone tell me who). The GOOD, BETTER, BEST one. GOOD to throw away your trash. BETTER to throw it into a bagged trash can, BEST to recycle or reuse it if you can!

Full Day

So we had a very full day yesterday. Starting in the morning, I set Mary on the floor next to the door to play with the door stop (she loves it) while I made my bed. Next thing I know . . . well the picture speaks for itself. But that isn't all that big of a deal. Then, later, I discovered her second tooth coming in (no wonder she was such a crank the day before - and let's not even talk about the middle of the night last night). And the biggest part of the day - what I had been getting ready for the whole day - Charles and Ellen came back into town. They spend half of the year in Arkansas and half of the year here. We decided to host a potluck in their honor and invited the entire Sullins clan. I'm sure these two only children grandparents never dreamed they'd get to have so many grandkids. They are thrilled!!!



Isn't this the sweetest?

Grandpa Charles with the newest babies.

New outfit from GrammE!