I'm grateful for...

This month many of my friends on Facebook have posted daily about things they are grateful for. I wanted to do this but by the time I had made the decision I was like 10 days in. So I decided instead that I would wait until Thanksgiving and just post 30 things I'm grateful for here on my blog. :) Today is not Thanksgiving but for whatever reason I feel I should show my gratitude now. Some of these will be in no particular order, I am just thinking of things as I go along. 

1. The gospel. I'm grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father and for my Savior Jesus Christ. I'm thankful to have the spirit to help me be calm when life is so chaotic around me (among many other reasons having the spirit is a blessing).

2. My hubby, Carter. He is the most amazing man I know and I'm blessed to have him as my partner in crime for eternity. I'm glad I'm in it for the long haul with you:)

3. Savannah. The most beautiful, amazing, adorable, aggravating, hair pulling, cranky, sweet, kind, fun loving child I know. :) She really is the best! I love her more than life itself. 

4. My Family. Mom, Dad, Jared, Jamie, Jordan, Jessica, Taylor, Eva, Sean, Jacob, Quin, Becca, Hayleigh, Emma, Grace, Kristoffer. Every single one of you. I love you all.

5. Friends. There are too many to list but you know who you are. I am grateful to have you all in my life. You are the most incredible people I know. 

6. Dr. Pepper, you complete me.

7. Mr. Pibb, seriously it's a close second.

8. Photographs. I love taking pictures. I love to take pictures of my daughter and I can't wait until she's older so that I can share them with her and look back on all of the fun memories Carter and I have of watching her grow up. I'd also like to clarify that I am not a creep, but any mother would be proud of the plethora of naked baby photos I have of Savannah. They'll be great for any future dates. 

9. My hair straightener. I'd be lost without you.

10. Shoes!! Really this should say Flip-flops. I live in them all year round.

11. Make-up. Man am I grateful for make-up.

12. Cheap rent. 

13. The Temple. 

14. Music. Country all the way y'all. I love me some Brad Paisley. 

15. Food. I love Food.

16. Books.

17. Movies. 

18. Sweaters. Warm, oversized, comfy sweaters.

19. South Dakota, more specifically the Black Hills. If we could pick up and move there tomorrow I would. No questions asked. 

20. I'm grateful for my Husband's job. 

21. Our apartment. I love making it a home. :)

22. Apple juice, cheese, gold fish, and graham crackers. Seriously these are all things near and dear to my heart, for they are all life savers when I have a cranky toddler on my hands. 

23. I'm grateful for my middle name. Murl. I have always thought it odd but I've now come to appreciate it's importance. I'm named after one of the greatest women I know, my Great Grandma Anna Murl Christianson. I love her dearly and am proud to have her name. :)

24. The Internet. Seriously I love to shop online. Receiving packages feels like it's Christmas everyday!

25. Facebook and Instagram. I love being able to share all the fun pictures of Savannah! Much to the annoyance of some people I'm sure, but oh well. I'm a proud Mommy. :)

26. Pinterest! Enough said. ;)

27. Bows. I'm thankful for super cute bows to put in my baby girls hair!

28. I'm grateful that everyone takes one day out of the year to really appreciate everything they have. 

And stuffing, I'm really grateful for stuffing. :D

29. I'm thankful to live in a place where Fall is the most beautiful time of year.

30. I've already said this one, but I'm grateful for my family. I love them all more than they know.

Thanks for reading!

Making our apartment a home!

I'm usually not a creative person. I love crafts but I never know where to start, where to buy the supplies and how to make the finished product look cute.

Recently I told Carter that all I want for Christmas this year are some items to make our apartment feel more homey. We've lived here for a year now and I don't even have curtains for pete sake! 

A couple of days ago one of my best friends Brielle posted a blog about all the cute craft items she had been making for their apartment. I was really impressed with them and they were so cute I thought I'd give it a try. So we got together and she showed me how to make some of these adorable DIY coasters. I intend to post photos but first some back story. She told me I need to choose SOME of my favorite photos. Well I went through all of Savannah's photos and there were a lot! Then I went through some family photos, wedding photos, and photos of Carter and I while we dated. Too many to choose from!!! So eventually I ended up with 13. Unfortunately one of the photos I chose was not going to work for the project so I ended up with 12 photos to make coasters with. Then we met at Home Depot to purchase some of the supplies and went to her place to make them. Thanks again Bri for helping me!

Here is the finished product!

Thanks for reading!

P.s. I have no Idea what I'm going to do with 12 coasters but aren't they cute?:)

On the fence.

Carter and I are often asked when we plan to have a second child. Savannah is almost 18 months old and everyone always points out that we don't want our children too far apart in age. I always respond with some sarcastic answer. I look to Carter and questioningly ask, when does my birth control expire? in 3 1/2 years? Perhaps we will try then. This always makes people uncomfortable and they drop the subject, which is the accomplished goal of my awkward answer. First I want to rant a little. I would like to point out that it is absolutely no one's business as to when and how far apart I want my children to be in age. Thank you for your opinion but I don't recall asking. I've always said I didn't want my children more than 3 years apart at the most. Which means Carter and I would need be trying for our second child around the time Savannah turns 2. Which is in 6 1/2 months. Probably the scariest thought I've had in months I must admit. Recently it seems we are getting that question more and more. When are you going to have another one? My sarcastic answer is becoming less funny and more scary since it realistically isn't our plan. I hate this question people. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. Got it? Okay good. Rant over. Now for the whole reason I felt I should write this blog post. Recently this question came up again. I happened to admit that I would like another one at some point but the Idea of dealing with a newborn and a toddler at the same time has me scared out of my mind. So scared in fact it has me often thinking the selfish thought that I don't want another one because I can't do it. It took me sooo long to figure out how to take care of Savannah and myself. I'm pretty sure I lived in only pjs for Savannah's first year of life. Doing my hair and makeup was out of the question. My skin was awful when I got pregnant and it still is. I loved my daughter but I hated myself. I looked awful all the time. I recently have been doing lots of things to make myself feel better about me. I have purchased an entire new wardrobe of clothes, I dyed my hair and I refuse to leave the house without looking my absolute best even if it takes 2 1/2 hours to do so. Much to the annoyance of my poor husband. So when this question came up yet again I wanted to run. Instead I teasingly turned the tables on my husband asking if he was even ready for another one. His response shocked me. Yes. He said yes. Wait what? I didn't know that. Then I felt uncomfortable since it was clear to everyone in the room that he was ready and I was sitting there in shock that my husband wants another baby and I don't. At least not right now. Am I selfish? Am I a horrible person? I thought a lot about it the next day. I prayed about it, asking if I was wrong to not want a baby yet, or if I am and my fear was just holding me back. I asked for a sign. Carter and I hadn't really had a chance to talk yet so that needed to happen. What about school, and his job? Money? Can we afford another baby? Do we have room for another baby? What about Savannah? Will she love her new sibling? How do I handle two little ones? Savannah is a handful. Most days I can't keep up with her. My house looks like a tiny tornado struck all the time. And that's just with one. What happens when Savannah has a pal to help destroy all of mommies hard work while she napped? Can I take care of two kids and myself? Then I started to think about how Christmas is coming soon. This year it will be just us and Savannah, but next year? How fun is it going to be to watch Savannah help her little brother or sister open their gifts? I got on Pinterest and looked up fun ways to announce baby #2 to my hubby and to everyone else. I looked up fun big sister kits to give Savannah in the hospital. I'm not saying it's going to happen anytime soon, but I was happy to find I was excited about the idea of kiddo #2. I'm warming up to it more so than I have in months whenever I was asked. It's still a hard question to hear especially since now I know Carter is ready to have one whenever and I'm the one holding us back, but at least now I know the idea makes me happy and excited. Scared but happy. I look at other parents with more than one kid and wonder how in the world do they do it? I think I'm going to be okay though. I'll figure it out, I did the first time around didn't I? I've got tons of help from friends and family if I need it. I have an awesome and loving husband who is just the greatest dad in the world. I love watching him with our daughter and it makes me happy to see how excited he is discussing giving her a sibling. I kinda wondered if Carter's excitement was that sign I asked for. It actually makes me want to be ready for another one. I don't know where I will be with this question when Savannah turns 2, but at least now I have the reassurance I'm not alone. I can do it and it's not wrong to ask for help. I have Carter, he is my rock. He seriously is just the greatest guy I know and the worlds greatest dad. Yeah yeah its a cliche, but in Carter's case it is the absolute truth. So when we decide to have another baby I know I have him to support me and our family. And that's all I need:)

Fall is in the air!

It's almost here! My favorite time of year y'all!

A. U. T. U. M. N.

I thought I would write a small blog post on how much I LOVE this season. The leaves changing color, the chill in the air, my Fall wardrobe! And last but certainly not least BYU football folks! I'm not even sure how to express my excitement to all y'all about how much I really love the Fall. 

Getting out of this 90 degree weather? 

Enough said.

Cozying up in my favorite sweater with hot chocolate and my favorite book?

Enough said.

Living in a college town where every Saturday you feel the entire cities excitement leading up to watching a good game?

Enough said.

I love me some BYU football y'all! 

I can't get enough of it and I am so excited it's finally here!

I love the Fall and I especially love the Fall in Provo, Ut!

Can't wait to take Savannah to her first BYU football game!

Hint Hint Jamie and Jared;)

I know this post seems like two different topics, Football and Fall.

However they go hand in hand folks. 

And I LOVE it!:)

Being a new mom. I'm figuring it out like the rest of y'all.

Yes, that's right. I still consider myself a new mom. Why? I learn something new everyday. All of this is new to me. I'm writing this particular blog post because I've only recently realized I am a good mom and do not need others to tell me how it's done. I'm finding my own way.
I am the oldest of 5 children so when I got pregnant I already knew how to do lots of different things here or there. Sure I knew how to change a diaper, and how to feed my kid, what to feed my kid, and what not to feed my kid. I knew what I liked to dress my kid in. But dealing with the crying all night, or an achy tummy, or more recently temper tantrums AKA disciplining? No way. That was never my responsibility. It is now. And it is certainly new to me. As a new mom I have had a hard time figuring out how to do things MY way. Everyone is different. Everyone has to figure out what is best for them and their children. Since I've become a mom I have had lots of different people tell me the BEST ways to feed, diaper, clothe, discipline, and over all take care of MY child. For a long time I felt I needed to please people and follow their advice. They acted as if their way was the ONLY way. And heaven forbid if I did it differently they would judge and criticize me because again their way was the only way. Well I've got news for y'all. It's not. I believe there is a wrong way to parent, but I also believe there is no right way to parent either. Every single mom out there is going to be different. We all came from different homes, different backgrounds and different cultures. There are different ways to take care of a child. We all have to learn our own way. It's okay to try out someone else's advice, but if you find it doesn't work for you, try another solution. Because guess what? There is always another solution. My parenting might not be to your liking but it doesn't need to be. My child is not your child. You're not mom, I am. My child probably wasn't like your child because no two children are alike. What worked for your children might not work for mine. And when I do things differently don't judge me. You were in my shoes once weren't you? A new mom just trying to figure things out and it felt like everywhere you looked someone was looking down on you? Let's all try not to be that person since we've all had that experience at one point or another. I've only recently figured this out for myself. I let the criticism do my parenting for me. I didn't speak up when I wasn't okay with something. No more of that. I must admit I am pretty easy going as a mom. Most things don't bother me, which that in itself bothers other people as well. I discipline differently than you. Deal with it. Yes my kid gets candy (Happy kiddo=Happy mom). Yeah my kid runs around in a diaper lots of times because well we sit around the house a lot, it's summertime and yes it's hot out. Sure my kid is going to wear bloomers, because I think they are cute. I don't care if you didn't put your kid in them. My kid is freaking adorable and she can pull off anything. Bloomers and diapers included. For those of you who have judged me, stop. When I ask for help, that's when your opinions are wanted. Your parenting wasn't perfect, mine won't be either. We all have to figure it out. For those moms who are struggling with others judging you, It is okay to respectfully decline the advice because honestly you are probably doing a fantastic job as a new mom anyway. Be confident in your parenting. You should be proud you make it day by day because I tell you what, being a mom is the hardest job in the world. I don't care what anyone else has to say, it is. It's so rewarding to watch my kiddo grow up and I have loved every single minute of it. I'll admit some moments less than others but have loved it none the less. Hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but I'm figuring it out. I love my little girl with all my heart and all of my energy is going into raising her to be the best she can be. And you had better believe I intend to do it MY way.

Savannah's first year. (Finally!)

Seriously this post is long overdue. 

I've been meaning to do this post for a while so I decided to give everyone some highlights of Savannah's first year of life!

This is my favorite newborn photo of Savannah while we were still in the hospital :)

 This was taken the week we brought her home:)

 I kinda failed at having newborn photos done, So this was taken when she was a month old:)

 These are photos of our first family trip! We went to California for Uncle Jacob's senior trip. 

She was only 2 months old!

 This was her first Halloween! As you can see I went with the traditional pumpkin costume. 

Though I did it in a much cuter way I think! :) I was one proud mama!

Side note: This is when her love for Minnie Mouse first started as you can see:)

 This is a photo of when she first was learning to crawl.

She crawled at 7 1/2 months.

 This is when Carter and I moved into our own place.

And yes she has her very own room!:)

 This was a family photo we took while at the temple when one of my best friends got married:)

Savannah's first Christmas Eve pjs!

Our first Christmas card! 

I'm not sure how old she is in this photo but I had to have one bath photo in this post right?

It's my favorite one:)

Savannah's first snow day!:)

This fun photo was taken at cousin Kristoffer's first birthday party!

Bow tie and mustache optional.

     These photos were taken during her first superbowl.

Another side note: This is when her love for funyuns was discovered:)

                                

Learning to walk!

Savannah walked at 11 months:)

This was taken at her first birthday party.

These fun ladies are her favorite Aunt Lilly and Britney!

p.s. We miss Aunt Britney lots!

Her first birthday cake:)

   

 I took TONS of photos her first year, but I needed to narrow it down and every one of these photos are some of my very favorite. I absolutely love my little Savannah bug and it's crazy how fast her first year of life went by. I hope you all enjoy looking at her milestones as much as I enjoyed experiencing them!

Thanks for reading!

Giving it another go...

Well folks! I'm horrible at keeping up with my blog but I've recently been inspired to try giving it another go... So we'll see how well I do!

I'm starting small for now.
Oh and the name of my blog, well for anyone who knows me... Enough said. ;)
Seeing as how yesterday was the 4th of July it seems like a good place to start.
We started our holiday with staying out late on the parade route the night before. I love how into Provo, Utah gets into the spirit of our freedom! It's one big party out there on University Ave. And boy do people get into it... :)
The next morning (the 4th) we got ourselves out of bed, put our flag shirts on and headed down to see the parade. I love the parade but man I'll tell ya this year it was really hot out! Dealing with a 1 year old certainly didn't make it anymore enjoyable so we grabbed our little one and headed out a little early back to the air conditioning. Good thing too since we avoided all the traffic the parade creates! :)
We then had a BBQ with the King family and later made our way to my parents home to have yet another BBQ!
Next was Stadium of Fire! Savannah got to stay with her Nana since I do not believe she would have cared to sit in a stadium full of people and not been able to roam free. That could have made for an even longer night so we definitely took advantage of our resources! Thanks again Mom. ;)
Carter had begged me ALL day about how he wanted to take me on his Mom's scooter to the Stadium. I'm not going to lie, I was seriously nervous about it, and was not going to give in. But I love my husband, and even if I had a small panic attack on the way there (hint hint) I gave in. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though :)
We had a blast! And seriously I must add that Fireworks are my absolute favorite part of Independence day. We then ended the evening driving home on the scooter. Oh no wait... It didn't quite make it. Yes that's right, the scooter died right outside the MTC. So we parked the thing in a church parking lot nearby and got a ride with Carter's Aunt who fortunately and unfortunately happened to be very close by. I say unfortunately because we were now stuck in an hour long car ride home. But that's okay we were grateful to have a ride!
The best part of my day though?? Coming home to a letter from my bro who is currently in the MTC.
Couldn't have asked for a better ending :)

Thanks for reading!