Confidence

Note: Do not read if you are offended easily.  I am not referring to anyone specifically.  I just really want to say thank you.

Something has been on my mind a lot lately and I have been hesitant to actually write it down in words.  I just wanted to sincerely say thank you to everyone who has helped me become the person I am today.  Mostly this is speaking to my mom and dad, but it is also to the men and women in my life who have supported me in every aspect of my life.

Growing up, I never felt like I had a lot of confidence.  I never felt smart enough or pretty enough or skinny enough or funny enough or athletic enough.  I often let people walk over me in an effort to get them to like me.  As I grew and matured, my thinking began to change.

I started to realize that I didn't have to be the prettiest or the smartest or the skinniest or the best at everything.  I just had to be me and that was good enough.  I learned that people liked me for who I was and not for who I wanted to be.  I learned that I could make my own decisions without worrying about what others would think.  I learned that I could stand up for myself and people would still like me.

I am not exactly sure when this change took place, but it did.  I realize it now.  Maybe its because I know that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me.  Maybe its because I know I have divine potential.  Maybe its because I know my parents will support whatever decision I make even if they may not think it is the best one.  Maybe its because I know I have a husband that will stand by me.  Maybe its because I have seen others do the same and live so happily.

I can now say that I have confidence.  Not the kind of confidence I dreamed about having in high school, but confidence in who I am as a person.

On facebook lately, it makes me sad to see so many people struggling with confidence issues.  Not being able to make decisions without others telling them what to do, seeking approval from others, needing acknowledgment of everything they do, getting upset when they see others succeed.  It just brings so much unnecessary stress and sadness.  

I just wish everyone could understand how great life is when you know who you are and have confidence in yourself.  Its not to say that I don't appreciate when someone notices my hard work or tells me I look pretty (who doesn't?) but I am confident in my life even when things go unnoticed. 

Charleston Falls

Travis and I have been feeling a bit of cabin fever lately!  We love to go on "hikes" and bike trails and to street fairs here in Ohio but the weather has not allowed for such things lately!  We have had snow and cold weather for a while now.  We try to get out as much as possible but it isn't always feasible with Adelyn.

This past weekend we just had to get out of the house!  Just up the road from us is a park with a waterfall.  Our friends went a couple weeks ago and told us how awesome it looked.  We walked the trail to see the frozen falls.  It was amazingly cool!  I didn't have the right lens with me so it was hard to get a picture of the whole thing.

This is Travis and Adelyn standing at the bottom of the falls.  It is iced over and then covered in snow.

 Here we are a little further up in front of the falls.

If you know Travis at all, you know that he couldn't resist from going behind the falls.  I was hesitant about him going and his response was, "how many people can say they walked behind a frozen waterfall?"  He walked all the way from one side to the other.  He said it was pretty awesome back there. 

It was a short trip because it was pretty cold and we don't have snow pants for Adelyn, but I am glad we went and got out of the house for a little bit.  It just makes me more excited for summer and the places we can explore!
Here is a shot Travis took with his phone behind the falls.  

Valentine's Day

Travis and I are not very big holiday celebrators.  We are pretty laid back and don't make a huge deal of things.  I have dreams of throwing huge parties and having beautiful holiday decor and doing fun crafts and having the perfect holiday outfits but let's face it...that is just a dream right now.  At least until I have more money and more time. 

This is our fourth Valentine's Day together.  I thought I would take a trip down memory lane.

This was our first Valentine's Day together (2010).  We had only been dating a couple months at the time.  We took a trip out to Colorado to visit Travis' best friend.  We were able to tour the Olympic training center. 

Look how young we look!

The next year was even better! Travis was living in Ohio and I was still in Utah.  He came out to visit for Valentine's Day.  He took me snowboarding for the first time.  He planned on proposing then, but I was not in the best mood after falling pretty much the whole way down the mountain!

 Luckily his backup plan was a candle lit dinner that was waiting back at my apartment.  While I was in the bathroom, he quickly wrote "Will you marry me?" on one of the candy hearts that decorated the table.  Of course I said yes and now he is stuck with me forever!

I can't find a picture from last year, but it was not nearly as exciting as the previous two!  We went out to dinner and then went to a dance at church. 

This year was still low key, but a little more fun.  I woke up and found a cute little mailbox waiting for me.  I have been complaining to Travis lately that he doesn't write me as many love notes as he used to when we were dating.  He got the mailbox to leave out year-round and write notes to each other!  So cute!

 I didn't feel good when I got home from school, so we stayed home for the evening.  Travis made me dinner and I found another surprise in my new mailbox.  Tickets to see Beauty and the Beast.

Like I said, I didn't feel well so there are no pictures of me!  Here is one of Adelyn instead with her Chocolate Kiss!  She is already a chocoholic!! 

I don't like to be super lovey-dovey in public but I am so lucky to have married Travis.  He puts up with all my shenanigans, moodiness and imperfections.  He is perfect for me and such a great dad.  I love you babe!

Pretty Princess

One of my favorite things about having a baby girl is that I get to dress her up!  I love pink and frills and lace and all things girly, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to suit Adelyn's personality.  I try to pick clothes that I feel like match her personality, but every now and then I get to put her in a girly hand-me-down like this one!

This was Sunday after church.  I have to say, it is getting harder and harder to take good pictures of her.  She never sits still anymore and she likes to make goofy faces.  It is definitely a challenge and often requires both me and Travis to get a picture to turn out.  At least she is helping me practice my photography skills.  (any tips on getting clear pictures with a moving child?)

Crazy face!  I think she was squealing of laughter!

She loves standing and pointing and "talking" and being the center of attention!

This picture makes me laugh!  She looks so girly holding on to her dress and standing in 4th position. 

 Trying to get a cute Valentine background, but being unsuccessful!  This age is so hard! 

We Have a Tooth!

Adelyn is finally getting in her first tooth!  Yes, she is 10 months old!  She is a little behind.  Her friend Scarlett is only 9 days older than her and has a full mouth!  It's crazy how each child is different!

Here is the proof!  She looks like she is angry, but she is just singing!

 

It is on the bottom left for those of you that can't spot it.  It is still pretty tiny.

Snow Day

Ohio has been a little bit ridiculous lately.  Apparently this is the worst winter in years.  Yes, it is cold.  Yes, there is snow.  Yes, life goes on...kind of...

School is cancelled on a regular basis and I feel like we are going to be going to school year-round from all the days we have to make up!  I don't know the last time we had a full week of school without a delay or cancelation!

I admit that I love staying home with my baby though!  She is getting more and more fun to be around!  Let's just hope we can still pay all the bills!

We had a snow day on Wednesday and I was less than a great mom.  I was trying to get stuff planned for school (when you miss so much, you have to figure out ways to cram it all in!), researching good convertible carseats, finding deals on treadmills, cleaning, organizing, a lot of stuff besides playing with my sweet baby.

When I got the call this morning that it would be another snow day (I am still shocked about it), I made sure that the same thing wouldn't happen!

We started off the morning with Adelyn's first craft project!  Valentine Heart Painting!

 She tried fresh peaches for the first time and loved them!  She had a nice, warm bubble bath!  It was all fun and games until she slipped and went totally underwater.  She wasn't happy about that.  I made her stay in and get over her fear and she was ok after a little bit.

We played in the snow for the first time!

This is my favorite picture.  She was looking at the dogs next door that were growling and barking at us like crazy.  We ended up going in after just a couple minutes because I was scared that they were going to jump over the fence and get us.  One bit Travis this summer so now I am paranoid around them.  

 We moved to the front of the house to get away from the dogs.  Lighting isn't as good, but I actually got one of her smiling!

 This was take two after she had lunch.  Look at how big she is just standing there!

 This was her general feeling towards the snow.  She didn't really like it or know what to do with it.

She just makes me so happy!

 She is down for a nap and we are going to go out with Travis when he gets home from work.  It has been a much more successful day!

Parenting

Parenting has come fairly easily to me for the first part of Adelyn's life.  That doesn't mean that I think I am the world's best mother though!  A lot of it has to do with the fact that I have a super good baby, an amazing husband that does his fair share and I have had lots of experience with babies from babysitting and being a nanny, so there were no surprises.  The past week has shown me that parenting is going to be hard though. 


Now that Adelyn is mobile and her mind is making connections every day, she is starting to get into everything.  I am having a hard time knowing when and where to set boundaries.  Being a teacher, I know that a lot of children learn best through experiences.  I want her to experience and many things as possible but at the same time I don't want her to think she can do whatever she wants!  It is such a fine line!  And at what point does it have to be consistent?  After she has experienced something then can I set the boundaries?  Then does it make sense to her that yesterday it was ok to figure out how to do something, but then today it isn't.  It is all so hard and confusing!

Her newest discovery is learning how to open cabinets, empty the contents and climb in!

I find that I am starting to say "no" a lot.  Today as she was trying to get a glass decoration I told her no and she smiled and wagged her finger no at me.  It was kind of funny that she was mimicking me, but it made me realize that I have said no and shook my finger at her enough times for her to do it back at me.  I know that you are supposed to find positive ways to reinforce things but it is so hard at this age!  I tell her why she can't do different things but it is so hard when I am not sure if she even understands what I am saying.  At least I can be consistent in my phrasing so she can learn what the word means. I wish she could talk! 

I have a feeling that the next couple years will be a bit harder.  I feel a little bad that Adelyn has to be my guinea pig as I try to figure it out!  Like I said though, at least she is a good baby to help break me in!