Gratitude.

Historically, I have been known to complain. It is something I'm really good at. Some might call it a tragic flaw. No matter. Just know that I automatically think of the negative (and then want to complain about it). To counter-act this behavior I have found the best thing for me to do is be grateful. I have to consciously think of blessings in my life. Big or small. They all help. So, without further adieu...

I am grateful...
Shawn has a job
Carter smiles a lot
Food to eat
My ability to create something out of nothing
Family and friends willing to watch Carter
Sleep
Independence
My memory
Blog friends who make me feel not so alone
My car

To be continued...

It's all relative.

Today, for my current employer, I had to drive to West Jordan at 8 am. I was right by my old work and one of my favorite places to eat. I thought since I'm here I might as well stop by...Except it totally tanked. The bakery doesn't open til 10 and no one I knew was at my old office when I stopped by because they basically weren't open yet. So I just drove back to Kaysville. I could not figure out how my awesome hey I'm in SLC plan tanked. Til I realized it was only 9 am!! I'd already been working for two hours and didn't even consider the time. I figured everything would be open. Then came another wake up call. I used to work from 10-6. Now I work from 7-1. When I worked at 10 it was all I could do to get there on time. I could not wake up! Now...my shift is half over by 10 and it doesn't even phase me. It's incredible o me that everything is relative. It really is. I feel kind of weird. Like I just realized something huge, but don't understand all of the implications. We can do amazing things. We are capable of so much. You just have to put it into perspective...

2 Months Late

We never got newborn pictures of Carter. I just couldn't get my act together. Then I thought, we'll get pictures of him at 6 months. That will be best. He's at a cute baby stage, more alert and happy. It will be perfect. Well Carter turned 6 months old in January...but I didn't know where to get his pictures taken. Everything seemed so expensive, and I wanted them to be super cute [not just so-so]. I kept putting it off, investigating here and there. Trying to find a good deal with good photos. Well, my friend Melina posted these and I loved them! And I looked at the website, and it seemed like a good deal, and I liked that I got the copyright to the images, and I liked that I could book the time online. Carter turned 8 months on Sunday and I thought, "Crap! I really need to get his picture taken" [1. because he's almost a year (say what??) 2. he won't fit in the cute shirt much longer]

So I booked a session, and we drove down to FotoFly in Draper [seriously the only downside for me] and everything was going according to plan, just as I hoped...except for one thing...

Carter. Would. NOT. Smile.

The kid smiles all the time. I mean, he is a happy smiley kid. All he did was bite his bottom lip. I still LOVE the pictures. I would get prints of every single one and hang them all over my house if we had the money and I didn't think that was obsessive.

So, here are a few of the pictures. The photographer was really great, despite Carter's unwillingness to cooperate.

I think they're so adorable! I love the first one of the post...because he actually kind of smiled! I'm so glad I finally got some baby photos of Carter. Oh how we love him.

Happy Birthday Mr. 26 Year Old--say what??

Monday was Shawn's birthday. What a whirlwind of a day! It turned out alright...considering my absolute failure when it comes to Shawn's birthday...I have a horrible track record. [which is beside the point, but they are so uneventful I can't even remember them. -10 points for me!]

We both had to work, and then my sister asked me to babysit her girls in the afternoon, and then Shawn had to go to school. We had a quick lunch together...Chalupas from Tacobell [no joke] and they were bad. I fed Carter and Shawn opened his first present: a Patagonia giftcard! [I might be the best wife ever] Then we both went our seperate ways.

After babysitting, I went grocery shopping and got Shawn another present: Dots! [he didn't seem so appreciative of this present...I wonder why?] We had classic spaghetti w/french bread and salad for dinner...at 9:30pm. [I cannot wait for graduation in May]

Then Shawn got to open his [basically] second present, wrapped in Christmas paper and under a Christmas Tree [that I drew and hung on the wall] because Shawn wanted Christmas for his birthday, because it's too great to have only once a year. The present read, "Merry Birthday Happy Christmas Dad Shawn, Love Melissa and Carter" He got a Patagonia Backpack! [are you seeing a trend?]

The last present Shawn got was...well...how do I explain this? I bought a Patagonia shirt for myself [so I could get free shipping and they didn't have any on sale in his size] but I felt guilty giving myself a shirt on his birthday. So I gave him the shirt and said "sorry you can have it if you want, but it's really for me" Luckily, he laughed and said I could have it [I can't believe he didn't think it would fit and he didn't want to wear a shirt with a polar bear on the front]

Honestly, the day turned out all right. I'm so grateful Shawn was born. I love my life with him. He is my sunshine.

I've been trying to finish this post for days now, so I'm just going to publish it...without birthday pictures.

Happy Birthday Shawn!

Hi There... Remember Me?

I remember you.

I started looking at some of my old posts. It reminded me that it isn't that hard to write a post. Maybe I should do it more often.

This was New Year's Eve...before Carter had a huge blow out.

Isn't he adorable?!?

Here's to coming back. To looking forward. To writing more blog posts. And to a super baby!

February. The most dreaded month of the year

I really dislike February. Valentines Day has never been that important to me. I think Presidents Day exists just to give people a break because the month is so horrible. February's only redeeming qualities are that it only has 28 days (usually) and it's the month Shawn and I were engaged. I cannot wait for this month to end. 4 more days. I can make it. Other than my strong distaste for this month we are doing really well.

Here are a few key points of interest:
.Carter is rolling like crazy. He is really starting to move. He might sorta almost scoot, but not quite.
.Shawn started working from home a week ago. It's been a major adjustment (to say the least) but it's nice to have him around more in the evenings. And no commute is, well, superb.
.We are finally finishing our basement doors. Shawn hung them last weekend and they look great! Now we just need to paint.
.Carter eats solids like a champ. He gets so excited to eat it's hard to get the spoon in his mouth.
.I finally let Shawn get "cable". It's weird having so many channels after not really watching tv for a year.
.Carter sleeps on his stomach now. Scares me to death. I think that's why I was awake at 3:30am last night. He will not sleep on his back anymore. If you roll him onto his back he just rolls right back to his stomach.
.Shawn's b-day is coming up and I'm at a loss. I wish I were better at planning things. Is 26 really on the horizon?

Life is pretty good. I can't complain too much ;) Goodnight

Planes Trains and Automobiles

As Shawn pointed out Sunday night, I don't do so well in "planes, trains and automobiles". Thankfully, Carter is a champ. Carter took his first airplane ride on Friday. Shawn and I were astounded by how well he traveled.

About a week and a half ago Shawn found out that his good friend Chad was getting baptized. So what did we do? Chad happens to live in Indiana [insert link to post about when he got married and we went out to visit] So, naturally we booked two plane tickets out there and away we went! We left Friday afternoon, Chad was baptized Saturday, and we flew home Sunday. Wham. Bam. Thankya ma'm. All with a seven month old baby who might be teething and have a cold. It was a whirlwind of a weekend and I'm officially exhausted...but that's not why I'm here. I wanted to blog about two things specifically. Maybe 3.

1. I'll be honest. I don't know Chad very well. In fact I've met him a total of...3 times? over the course of 5 years? It is incredible the powerful change the gospel has brought to his life. Chad's baptism was wonderful. There were so so so so so many people there supporting him. The Holy Ghost was so strong in that meeting. It touched my heart, and uplifted my soul. It truly was a miracle to see such a complete turn around in a person and their lifestyle. We are so excited for Chad! and so proud. The strength he needed to get to this point is beyond my comprehension...and he will need much more in the days ahead. I know he can do it. Thank goodness for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is true.

2. I love my husband. I love that husbands and wives miscommunicate (and that we're not the only ones). I love that when called upon to use the priesthood, my husband is willing, able and worthy. When we walked into the chapel for Chad's baptism, we found out that Shawn was going to be the one baptizing Chad. Shawn had no towel, no change of clothing, and no time to prepare...but he was ready and willing. And I Love that about him. We were honestly just in Indiana to support Chad. Shawn has had so many spiritual discussions with him and said a long time ago, 'If you ever get baptized, I'll be there.' So we were. We had no idea that Chad wanted Shawn to baptize him. Inspite of a few hiccups, everything turned out great. Those hiccups don't matter, because in the end, what matters is that Chad was baptized. It was beautiful.

3. Carter is incredible. No really. He is the best baby. Ever. I feel so lucky. So blessed to have him. I have never known a baby to be as good as he is. Yesterday, during one of our flights home I had the opportunity to hold him as he slept in my arms. I was overwhelmed by the emotions/feelings/thoughts that he is a blessing in our lives. He is a special, oh so special little person. I seriously feel like I won the lotto with this one. In total, we probably travelled for 8-9 hours yesterday. He didn't cry, only fussed, and only for good reason. As soon as those problems were addressed he went back to being an angel baby. Smiling and talking and sleeping and playing. I don't know if I was expecting travel with an infant to be murder, but this was a breeze. I am grateful for Carter and the opportunity I have to be his mother. I really don't know how Shawn and I got so lucky to have such a good kid. He is a champ and I love him.

Oh. And I totally slacked off and only took pictures once. But it's not like I'd post those. Come on--who do you think I am? Here we are tonight rockin' the Photobooth.