Headbands for the soul

 I have a confession, I love headbands. I think they are adorable, especially on babies, and can add so much to an outfit. I always see women wearing all these cute headbands and I die a little inside because I have never been able to wear them! I don't know if its the shape of my head, my extremely thin hair or my ears that stick out a little more than I would like. But whatever the reason, I could never get a headband to look good on my head. So when I talked to Sarah, the lovely creator of Enchanted Lilly headbands, I was under the impression I was just getting headbands for my daughter. When the package came I was so excited I ripped it open as fast as I could and then I froze. There they were, two adorable baby headbands, and two mom-sized headbands, just staring at me. I sat there for a minute thinking of what I was going to do. She will never know if I don't wear them... Ill post pictures of Elsie in her's. That will be good enough. The thoughts were swirling through my head. I decided that I might as well try one on for the sake of it! And what do you know!? I LOVE IT! Maybe for some reason I've been trying to wear headbands wrong all my life, but these ones.... they are wonderful! And not to mention totally affordable! You have to check them out for yourself and see all the gorgeous options for baby up to adult! I promise you wont regret it.

Just when I thought I'd do better

I told myself I was going to start blogging more often. I promised and swore I would blog at least three times a week. THEN we closed on our house. So I was crazy busy. PLUS we didn't have internet. Once we finally got the internet installed, I swore again that I would be better about my blogging. Well, we've been in our house 2 weeks now and I'm finally getting around to posting.
Let me just say that so far I am really liking Utah. I had my doubts, but so far it's great! Our house is awesome. I absolutely love it. I feel it's the best of both worlds. We got an older home with charm out the wazoo. But the family we bought it from did a ton of work. They painted everything, updated the entire kitchen, redid the bathrooms... everything! Except the original hardwood floors that are in amazing condition. As cheesy as this sounds, this is my dream first house. Not my dream dream house. But if i could list the things and qualities I wanted in our first home that were actually realistic, this house has it! We have raspberries and a peach tree in our backyard. We just planted 2 cherry trees and are working on paving our driveway to the back garage. Don't get me wrong, owning a house is A TON of work. But I am loving every second. Once I finish decorating I will do a photo tour. Anyways this has turned into a ramble about nothing! So I'm going to go make some hot chocolate (because its already cold here in the evenings) and cuddle up with a blanket. Happy almost friday everyone. xo

Becoming Me

After months of being terrible at updated the old blog, I've decided to join in on Jenni's grand idea for Blogtember! Check it out and see the writing prompts HERE.



Today's prompt asks that you describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

I was born in the sweltering state of Arizona. My entire family has been there for as far back as everyone can remember. Growing up I was taught the importance of family, honesty, and self worth. Through elementary and middle school, I struggled to find myself. I molded into the friends I hung out with. I worried about what people thought of me, and had no self confidence whatsoever. And on top of all that, I didn't have that sensor that tells your brain what is and isn't okay to say to people. From kindergarten to eighth grade, I was with the same group of kids and I struggled to maintain relationships with any of them. My mom would always reassure me that if I was myself people would like me, but I didn't know how to be myself.
The summer before high school my family moved to a different part of town and I was going to attend a different high school that the rest of the kids I had grown up with. I HATED the thought of it. I didn't want to leave the people I had known since before I could even remember! On the first day of ninth grade, I ate lunch in the bathroom. I cried thinking about how the year would go. But before the day was out I ran into a girl I had met before and she invited me to eat with her the next day. We became fast friends. And I realized I got to have a fresh start. Meet new people and be who I wanted to be. It took me a couple years, but by my junior year, I had found myself. I knew who I wanted to be and gained the confidence to be that person no matter what any one else said.
Looking back at those years I feel all sorts of emotions. But I am grateful for all of them. The good and bad have molded me into the person I am today. While I am still progressing and have a lot of learning to do. I feel I have come a long way.

Mom Strength

I had to face one of my biggest fears yesterday.

When Elsie fell, The color left her face and her whole body went limp. Her little cries were almost worse than if she had been screaming. They were slow, quiet and sad. I could almost feel the pain she was in. Something was not right. 

We called 911 but since the hospital was less than 2 minutes away, we just told them we were on our way. I sat in back with Elsie. Her eyes were continually wanting to droop shut, but I just kept singing to her and couldn't let her fall asleep. 

Once in the ER they began assessing her. We didn't know if it was her head, her neck, her back.... 

She was just so sullen, floppy, dazed, sad. Nothing like the energetic baby we knew and loved.

They decided to do a CT scan to check her head and neck. Watching the doctors wheel her away from us was awful. 10 minutes. Thats how long they said she would be gone. It turned into 35 minutes that felt like years.

When they brought her back, they had strapped her to a board and her head and neck were strapped and braced so she couldn't move. My heart was thumping so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. 

They said it was just precautionary and we should have the CT results soon.

While we were waiting, I just sat there next to Elsie and sang all her favorite songs. She would look over at me with her eyes, since she couldn't turn her head, and then start to doze again. 

I was amazed at how calm I stayed. I could only imagine how scared she was feeling. I needed to stay there with her, holding her hand, telling her it was okay.

Chase kept checking the monitors. Her heart and oxygen remained strong.

Results from the scan came back and they believed there was a fracture in her skull just above her neck. They decided to ambulance us to Primary Children's so she could be there with specialists if need be.

Once we arrive at the children's hospital they immediately took her of off the board and checked her neck and back. With the doctors approval I got to hold her. 

She buried her face into my chest and then looked up at me and smiled. The first smile since she fell. My heart melted. She was beginning to resemble the talkative busy body she is. Chase and I were ecstatic.

It was now 1:00 in the morning and we were all exhausted.

The doctor confirmed the fracture in her skull and gave us the good news that there was no further damage, no internal bleeding, and she would make a full recovery. I literally felt the weight lift off my chest. Chase's sigh of relief said he felt it too.

The next part was just a waiting game to be sure she could eat and hold it down. She only threw up once and at 3:00 am they said we could go home.

I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am for modern medicine and for the power of the priesthood. Our little bug is already so much better and continuing to improve. I am also grateful for the strength that I was blessed with through all of this. I was able to remain calm and collected though the entire process. I could talk to her and sing to her and calm her down when she would begin to cry. 

Thank you all for the prayers and kind words. You're seriously the greatest.

Oh this girl has my heart and I am so grateful she is okay.

Being a Mom

10 things I've learned since becoming a mom:

1. The whole posting tons of pictures of your babe everyday...  I get it. I refrain, but I get it.

2. Going to the bathroom alone is a treat. Going in a public place if you don't have the stroller.... forget about it. 

3. Life really does revolve around your kids.

4. You get to do everything all over again. Run through the sprinklers, watch cartoons... you have an excuse now.

5. Me time is not just looked forward to, its essential. For everyone's sanity.

6. The things you find yourself doing, like wiping a snotty nose with your hands and wiping it on your jeans (ew!?), licking baby food off off little fingers so it doesn't get everywhere, and singing songs all through the store just to keep em smiling.

7. The faces and sounds that you make just to get a giggle. And in public no less!?

8. Clothes shopping for baby is wayyy more fun once they get past the baby sizes and into toddler.

9. Every cute toy or stuffed animal I see, I want to buy for her. I now understand how kids get so many flippin toys!

10. No matter where you go or what you have to do, you have a mini shadow best friend. You can go to lunch alone, but not be alone!! boooya.