Whistling A Different Tune

So I really regretted my last post and have vowed that I will no longer use this blog as a way to vent! Sorry to all the poor people who read it. I must tell you though that my wonderful husband came through and saved me from my depression! Even though he had to work last night and was just as tired as I was he encouraged me to go take a nap so I could study better. He sacrificed his chance to sleep and took care of a grumpy, sick baby so I could recharge my batteries! What a total stud! Not only did he do that but then he put Gavin to bed before he went to work and then never woke me up so I slept through the night. "What about Gavin being so sick and waking up 30 times in the middle of the night?" you ask...well I win the awful parent award. I don't think there was a miracle and that Gav never woke up, I think I was so tired and out of it that I just never heard him. Poor kid. But I feel much better and more optimistic about life now that I'm a little more rested!

I just have to let the world that Riley is the most amazing husband, father, and person in general! He has been so great about taking care of Gavin and helpng around the house since I started school. And he is such a great friend and is always there for me to talk to. My top 5 favorite things about Riley are:

5-He is such a great son and brother and is always doing things for his family and always calls to chat and check up on them.

4-He is such a fun dad and would do anything for Gavin.
3-He loves the Lord and is always trying to better himself.

2-I love it when something strikes him something as really funny and he laughs until he is sick.

1-I love the way he loves me and shows me everyday. He really is the cream of the crop!

Somebody Stop This Crazy Ride!!

Oh my hecka! Life is crazy! School is nuts and I don't think my teachers understand that I need to do something other than stress out about a last minute quiz, read a gazillion chapters of some boring book, or study for a test I am just going to fail anyway. On top of that Gavin is sick with the croup and I think it has given him some super power of not needing to sleep. Both Riley and I are suffering from severe sleep deprivation and that doesn't make for calm, loving conversations. I can't get him to stop crying. Gavin, that is, not Riley. I need a break! There isn't one in sight though, so for now I am going to keep scarfing down junk food so I don't fall asleep when I'm trying to study, practice singing instead of getting mad at 3 a.m. when I am up with a screaming baby, and keep telling myself its all going to be worth it...right? Sorry for being a whiny loser! I know people have a lot tougher things happening to them. Time to get out the chocolate.

School So Far...

I started the LPN program at Bridgerland on Monday and the first week has had its ups and downs. I knew they would pile it on us and I would probably feel overwhelmed...and I was right. There are a lot of requirements, assignments, and tests but I know I can do it! The only thing that is really stressing me out is trying to balance school and family. Since I have had Gavin I have only been taking a few easy classes here and there so I haven't had too much pressure. Now I feel like I don't have much time to spend with him or Riley but once I get the hang of it things won't be too bad.
On a more fun note: Gavin has another tooth! This makes three! And his top two are almost through! He is so big! And I swear he will be crawling in the next few days. He gets up on his knees and starts lifting them up and down until he gets tired and then he flops back down. It's only a matter of time until he figures it all out!
Oh...and I was wondering if anyone has any cute Valentine's ideas...preferrably cheap or free. Let me know if you do! Happy Valentines to everyone!

One Lucky Girl!

Life has been treating me really good lately. I have this sweet, perfect little boy who just keeps growing and figuring things out. He learned how to clap and he is always jabbering. He is about to crawl any day now and I can't wait to see it! (I know all the mothers with babies who are older are laughing a smug little laugh thinking "Oh, boy! She'll be eating those words when Gavin starts getting into everything and is always chasing her around and crying at her feet.") He has been more fussy lately and always wants to be held but I am told this stage will pass so I'm trying to find the joy in it. He really is such a good baby and he brings me so much happiness. Looking back I have no idea why I was so terrified to start having kids. It really is what life is about: family.

I also have an amazing husband who is always helping around the house or watching Gavin for me. Plus he works nights, which is really hard on him. He is such a genuinely good person. He is always helping neighbors move, or shoveling their walks, or just being a good friend that is willing to bend over backwards to help someone. He loves his family so much and is so good to them. He always is there for me to talk to and always leaves me little love notes. I am a really lucky girl. Both of us are getting sad because he will be leaving for a little over two months to go install security systems, but I will have to wait to go out with him because of school. It's going to be so hard! Luckily my sweet parents are going to come stay with me and watch Gavin. They are saints! And Riley will have his sister and some friends to keep him company. Riley was telling me that Pres. Hinckley had to leave his wife for about three months so he could go work, so that gives me hope and comfort. If they could do it, so can we!

I have also noticed that things just seem to work out for us. We have always been able to pay the bills and have always had a nice place to live. Our families have always been so supportive and helpful. Even just the littlest things seem to work out. For example, I was doing the laundry the other day and I found a little pastic thing in the bottom of the washer. I was about to throw it away when Riley walked by and told me it was supposed to go into the collar of his church shirt to keep it straight. Now this is really stupid and little,but if he hadn't walked by right then I would have just tossed it in the garbage. I don't think it would have been life changing or anything but I just notice dozens of little things like this every day and I don't think any of it is by chance. The Lord is truly blessing us in big ways and in small ways too. We will definately be counting on Him when Riley has to leave!

I have been trying to appreciate all the free time I have because very soon I'm afraid I won't have any. I start the LPN program at Bridgerland in less than two weeks and it's an all day, every day thing. I'm afraid I'm going to have a small come apart for that first while when I'm trying to adjust, but I keep telling myself that the Lord isn't going to forget about us and things will work out just like they always do. I just keep picturing myself going to school unshowered with bloodshot eyes because I had to wait to do all my homework until Gavin went to bed and I only got two hours of sleep. That's probably a little dramatic, but I'm just a little nervous! Well, this has been a long rambling post and I'm sure whoever decided to read this is probably getting bored so that's it for now!

This was taken a couple of months ago, but he is still always flailing around like this on his tummy, trying to move around. He gets up on his knees a lot but then usually just ends up scooting backwards.

Fantastic 2008!!

Riley and I had a wonderful New Year's Eve watching Lost season 4 (whoa, its so nuts!) and toasting with some martinellis. It was so wonderful to spend some alone time together! Well I have been trying to get our back room organized and was looking at some of our pictures from this past year. We have had so many fun times and wonderful things happen this year and I wanted to put some pictures on here to share, so here it goes:

This was on Valentine's Day when Riley spoiled me with roses, chocolates, dinner, and a comedy show. What a stud!

This was at Riley's birthday when his family came over for dinner and games. Here he is with his mammy.

Here we were celebrating our two year anniversary. Our parents were with us because we had moved into a new apartment that day, but we didn't mind they were there because they bought us that outragious dessert!

We celebrated Easter by going out to the sand dunes with Riley's dad and stepmom. We ate lunchables, flew kites, and had some laughs...what else is there?!

We were shopping and Riley talked me into using one of the scooters since I had the excuse of being pregnant. I was so embarrased...especially when Riley hopped on and kept making it beep by backing up. Needless to say I didn't stay on it for long.


This was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I got to hold my baby for the first time and he was absolutley perfect.

This was on my birthday, the day after Gavin was born. What a fantastic birthday present!

This was one of Gavin's first smiles. He could melt anyone's heart with those huge dimples!

The 4th of July parade was a blast and surprsingly none of the loud noises scared Gavin!

Gavin's baby blessing was quite the ordeal but it turned out great and brought the family together!

This was the first time he ever picked up and played with a toy! It was so exciting!

He survived his first camping trip in the freezing desert! We kept him bundled up tight!

We celebrated Halloween with a trip to Gardner Village to join all the other witches in town. Somebody turned Gavin into a horse though.

We finished up the Utah season with a huge win and were ecstatic to be there!

Well, I still don't have any pictures of Christmas yet but it really was a great year with so many fun adventures and big blessings. What a great year!

What A Merry Christmas We Had!

We had a wonderful Christmas!! We headed down on Christmas Eve and spent a few days with Riley’s family and then a few days with mine. It was so much fun watching Gavin open his very first Christmas presents and all the grandparents made sure he got spoiled! Actually they made sure we all got spoiled! My favorite present was a picture of Christ by Greg Olsen that Riley gave me. I would love to put some pictures on here of Gavin opening his presents but I probably won’t go get a CD of pictures made for a while and I didn’t want to wait that long.
We had so much fun spending time with family and friends! I saw so many acts of service and charity that really made the Christmas spirit come to life. Looking back I wish I would have found a few more ways to serve those around me. We have truly been blessed and the Lord has been so mindful of us this year. I am so grateful for my Savior, his perfect and unending love, and the gospel that is so full of light and truth.

Top Five Christmas Holiday Moments:

5-Coming home to at least two feet of snow and then getting stuck as Riley tried to pull into the driveway.
4- Seeing old friends at a mission homecoming and a mission farewell.
3- Going to a surprisingly spiritual and uplifting wedding dinner for our friends Brittany and Buddy.
2- Watching Gavin be so serious and business-like about tearing apart and eating all the wrapping paper in sight.
1-Spending time with the people we love the most!!

Pre-Holiday Slump

So I have discovered that I have absolutely nothing interesting to say on this blog. And I have this sick need to check everyday to see if anyone on my blog list has a new post, and I hope this subsides soon because I have wasted so much time its ridiculous. Hopefully visiting family for Christmas will liven things up a little and I won't have so much time on my hands. Well here are a few things that are going on:

1. I have had to switch Gavin to the "toddler" side of his bathtub since he demands on sitting upright. He somehow splashes more on this side and after his baths the counters, floor, and I are absoutely soaked.
2. Since I have quit nursing Gavin I have a nice donut of pudge forming around my middle since he is not eating up all those calories for me. Curse my sweet tooth.
3. A lady I visit teach is under the impression that I am married to my next door neighbor's husband because he came with me to help her load some boxes into their moving truck and then she saw us together again that night because he had to give me a ride to the church. The best part is that he was carrying Gavin in for me.
4. Riley is doing clinicals required for a CNA class he is taking and he told me about how some old man was trying to talk one of the nurses into snuggling with him in bed to warm him up. What a stud.

Well, as you can clearly see my life is full of nonstop excitement. Part of me can't wait for my nursing program to start because I will have more to do, more friends, and a little more purpose to my life. At the same time I am dreading the fact that I won't be there to be with Gavin all day and I'm afraid of what I will miss. I guess it will all work out, I just get so nervous. Happy Holidays!