Elijah is one

Oh my, this year has flown by and my little Elijah Reed is turning one. And I will say what every other mother before me has said, the time flew by.
Elijah Reed has brought so much joy into our lives. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think we are the luckiest parents in the entire world.
-At one Elijah weighs 28 pounds 6 ounces and is a little over 31 inches tall.
-He has been walking for 6 weeks. Since he started walking he tries to hard to keep up with his cousins.
-There still isn't a food that he hates. He is a very good eater.
-He has completely given up his bottle and only uses a sippy cup.
-His favorite sippy cup is any cup that someone else has. His poor cousins have to guard their cups.
-He is currently obsessed with with a piggy bank toy. He loves putting the fake coins in the slot. He also loves opening and closing the side of the piggy bank and get the money out.-Going along with the above, he loves putting things in other things and opening and closing. He loves doors.
-He is starting to like carrying cars around with him. It's pretty cute.
-He makes sitting through sacrament meeting next to impossible. He wants to walk up to the stand.
-I've read at this age you need to "redirect" his attention. If I try this method he is more hellbent on his original idea. He is a very determined boy.
-He favorite book is The Five Little Pumpkins.
-He won't watch tv. We claim he watches wheel of fortune with us and he kinda does.
-He loves to go with you to the bathroom. He's insistent on helping you. He will stand there with his hand on your leg and stare at you.
-He is becoming a momma's boy. He loves to be held.
-He's learning a little bit about stranger danger and will act shy.
-He is obsessed with phones, IPods, computers, etc. I don't care for this obsession.
-He has 6 teeth!
-He generally sleeps through the night. He wakes up but puts himself back to sleep within minutes so I don't have to get out of bed.
-He goes to bed around 7 and wakes up between 6 or 7.

I can hardly believe how my life has changed in the last year. It's been an amazing experience watching him grow and watching him learn. Not every day is perfect, most days aren't. But they have all been worth it. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a mom and I'm so glad we were lucky enough to get Elijah. He is my baby, my boogie bear, my little man, my boy, the boy and everything else to me.
Here is to celebrating a lifetime of birthdays to the little guy who made this lady a mom.

Anniversary Time

So after 2 years we have pretty much fallen into an everyday routine. Our entire lives revolve around our sweet little man, Elijah Reed and we are anxiously anticipating the arrival of our next task, I mean joy, Madelynn. With that being said, LIFE IS GOOD!
Today we have big plans to make dinner in and watch a movie. Last year we ordered dinner in, we missed our reservation ;), and watched shows. Brent is 100% correct, I am hard to be traditionally romantic for. I'd rather the floor be vacuumed over flowers any day. And Brent does help out so I can't complain to much. He works hard and then comes home and works hard here too. I'm really lucky and I know it.
Brent is pretty ridiculous and does make me laugh everyday. Most of the time he makes me feel like a giddy because of the crazy compliments he gives. I'm lucky he is my eternal companion. Together forever sounds great to me.

For My Beautiful Wife Sandra

In case anyone is actually wondering, yes, it is actually Brent writing this post. Today, November 24, 2012 is Sandra and mine's anniversary. Two years ago today, I made the greatest decision of my life, my eternity, and I married the greatest woman in the world! I could not be any happier than I am now to be married to Sandra. She makes me laugh everyday and I try to do the same for her, cause her smile makes my day brighter. I'm being extra cheesy, I know, but I don't care. I LOVE MY WOMAN! It is because of her I get up everyday to do my best at school/work cause I want to take care of her. It's because of her I want to be a better father and set a good example to Elijah and all of our future children. And it's because of her I want to be the best man that I can so I can spend eternity with her because anything less than that just won't do. I have found my perfect woman in Sandra Adamson!

In case Sandra is reading this now, I know I am not the most romantic person, and, Sandra, you must admit, you are kinda hard to be "traditionally" romantic with, as in flowers and gifts you consider nice, but that just doesn't do it for you. I have been planning to write this post for you for a little bit now and had planned to write it late last night, or early morning but you foiled that plan by wanting to stay up with me and be with me. Gosh! How terrible it is that you want to spend time with me! =-)

I love you, Sandra with all of my heart and soul and will love you for all eternity!

From,
Your loving and truly grateful husband

Thanksgiving

I haven't participated in the daily Thanksgiving fest on Facebook. I saw no point in it. Why share with people I rarely ever talk to anything about my life. I obviously have a love hate relationship with Facebook. I like to be able to see other people's life's but I don't think people should over share, see previous post.

I do feel comfortable sharing my life and what I am thankful for on my blog. And I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I have been truly blessed!

1) I am thankful for my dear sweet kind husband. He is truly an amazing man. I tell him (in person) everyday how grateful I am for him. The past two years have been an amazing adventure. I look forward to eternity with him.
2) I am thankful for Elijah Reed. That kid has brought this momma more joy than she could ever have imagined. Motherhood is hard......a lot harder than I ever expected but he is worth it. I love him and love being his momma. I'm grateful for all his sweet cuddles and kisses. Everyday I wake up (entirely too early because of him) and wonder how did I get so lucky.
3) I am thankful for parents that raised me in the gospel. They taught me the importance of an eternal family and that is the most important thing. Life wasn't always easy, I didn't always appreciate them, but I do know how amazing they are.
4) I am thankful for in laws that taught my husband the same gospel principles and instilled in him the importance of forever families. They are amazing people who have welcomed me into their family with out too much hesitation. I am a little different than they are but they love me and I love them.
5) I am thankful for my brothers and brothers-in-law. I have two of the most amazing brothers ever. They are excellent examples of the priesthood and of fatherhood. I also have brother in laws that I love as my brothers. My sisters have chosen great spouses for them and I love my brother in law Bryant, he's a pretty funny guy and a great uncle.
6) I am thankful for my sisters and my sisters-in-law. I have been blessed with women who I consider my best friends that I get to be sealed to for eternity. I don't see it as me only having 3 sisters, I see it as me having 7 sisters. They are all amazing and so talented. This is one of the things I'm most thankful for.
7) I am thankful that I have had a healthy pregnancy so far. I hate being pregnant and still feel sick but I am grateful I can have children. I'm in no rush for Madelynn to get here but I do look forward to meeting her. I know she will be the perfect addition to my family.
8) I am thankful for modern technology. I have a love hate relationship with most of it. I think the internet is amazing. I love the fact that we can live across the country from our family and still talk to them and see them every week.
9) I am thankful that I get to teach online classes. We don't make a lot doing it but it's just enough to help us out. And the work isn't too hard. I hope to continue to do this for as long as I can. If only I can figure out a way to let Elijah know that I don't need his help while grading papers.
10) I am thankful that Brent is in his last year of school. I am so excited for him to be done and get a paycheck. I know that our living won't change a ton but at least we'll have an income. And hopefully we'll be able to buy a house. I am so looking forward to having our own place!

I have lots to be grateful for. Family obviously being the most important thing to me.

PDA

I'll be honest, I love PDA......especially when I'm involved. But even when I'm not I am fine with it. What I don't like is facebook PDA. Do you not live with the person? Can you not tell them that you love them in person? Are they not next to you every night? Show them, tell them, but do it in person. That is all.

Bliss

There are times when I'm so sleepy during the day all I can think about is crawling in to my bed and staying there forever. And all I can think is, as soon as Brent walks in the door I'm going to bed immediately. Then he gets home and we talk, we both play with the boy, we eat dinner, Brent gives the boy a bath, we put him to bed. At this time, it's only 7pm. I think to myself. I should really go to bed, I'm exhausted. What if the boy has a rough night, what if I can't sleep, I better just go ahead and go. Then 4 hours later, I usually go to bed. The point is, I love after the boy is in bed. I love those few hours I have with Brent and/or just to myself. How we can snuggle on the couch or in bed and watch a show. How we dream big. Some nights we watch videos we have of Elijah and laugh and coo over our little boy.
I try to be completely real about my emotions and about motherhood. I don't believe in saying it's always great and always blissful. There are days I would trade it, there are days that I am determined to call and set Brent up for a vasectomy, days were I swear we aren't having more kids. But in all honesty, I love being a mother to my very own little head strong boy. I love when he smiles at me, when he snuggles in to me, when I know that out of all the people in the world he still prefers me. Me, his imperfect, not always patient, woman who cries with him, sometimes disastrous mom. Because I am just that, his mom. And I love that boy.
I know that life will change again when Madelynn gets here. My world will be rocked for a 3rd time. There will be more days that I feel like I might go crazy. Days where Brent is one step closer to the urologist office but for the most part, I think we will survive. I can wait for her to get here. I'm not in a huge rush. But I look forward to snuggling her too. But for now, when I'm having a bad day, I'll look at that cute boy and be grateful. Then I'll remember after I put him to bed, I get me time.