March 28, 2010

Motherhood


I wanted to wait to do this post for Mother's Day, but I couldn't wait. My mom gave me this amazing book with a bunch of beautiful quotes and pictures on Motherhood. It really made me realize the sacredness of the work of a mother. I just wanted to dedicate this post to all you mom's who sacrifice and give so much to your children. I have a strong testimony that motherhood is the holiest of callings here on the earth today.

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." - Elizabeth Stone

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling that what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this." - Neal A. Maxwell

"Beyond all lessons, beyond the model she provided, my mother gave me a parents ultimate gift: she made me feel lovable and good. She paid attention; she listened; she remembered what I said. She did not think me perfect, but she accepted me, without qualification." - Fredelle Maynard


"A mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." - Henry Ward Beecher

"Living by basic good-mothering guidelines enables a mom to blend the responsibilities of parenthood with its joys; to know when to stand her ground and when to be flexible; and to absorb the lessons of the parenting gurus while also trusting her inner voice when it reasons that another cookie isn't work fighting over, or that her child won't suffer irreparable trauma if, once in awhile, Mom puts her own needs first." - Sue Woodman



"Don't get so involved in the duties of your life and your children that you forget the pleasure. Remember why you had children." - Lois Wyse

"Motherhood is the greatest potential influence for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world." - David O. McKay

And say to mothers
what a holy charge
Is theirs - with what a
kingly power their love
Might rule the fountain
of the newborn mind

-Lydia Huntley Sigourney

‘Through the thick and the thin of this, and through the occasional tears of it all, I know deep down inside I am doing God’s work. I know that in my motherhood I am in an eternal partnership with Him. I am deeply moved that God finds His ultimate purpose and meaning in being a parent...It is this realization,’ ‘that I try to recall on those inevitably difficult days when all of this can be a bit overwhelming. Maybe it is precisely our inability and anxiousness that urge us to reach out to Him and enhance His ability to reach back to us. Maybe He secretly hopes we will be anxious,’ she said, ‘and will plead for His help. Then, I believe, He can teach these children directly, through us, but with no resistance offered. I like that idea,’ she concludes. ‘It gives me hope. If I can be right before my Father in Heaven, perhaps His guidance to our children can be unimpeded. Maybe then it can be His work and His glory in a very literal sense’ - - Jeffrey R. Holland quoting a letter from a young mom


March 23, 2010

Young at Heart

"Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth" - Mark Twain



One thing I've come to realize that I absolutely love about being a mom is that it gives me license to be a kid again. Lately I've been trying to step out of "mom mode" and just let loose and have fun with Toby. I will admit, it was tough to let go off my mental game plan for the day or ignore my constant need to answer "OK what next?" But once I did, I discovered a much happier and easy going version of myself. And not only am I looking at the clock less to see how long until bedtime, but I actually don't sweat the small stuff nearly as much. For example, the other night I made all kinds of silly faces while we ate dinner. Toby and I laughed so hard and when I was cleaning up dinner, the huge pile of dishes and food all over the floor just rolled right off my back. I didn't care one bit. And one thing that has become our ritual is dancing together in the front room. Sometime after dinner and before bedtime Toby will look up at me and say: "Mukick? (music)" I open up the laptop and we start cuttin' some rug. It's awesome because not only does Toby get all his restless energy out, but I get to let the dancer in me come out again (a side of me only Toby and Toby alone is privy to seeing because I am beyond rusty).

Now if only I could be a "little Debbie" every day and just pretend I don't have bills to pay or errands to run. How wonderful would that be? :)


March 14, 2010

The Toby-meister Turns Two!


Can this kid get any cuter? Nope, not possible.


We celebrated Toby's birthday today - though he turned two on Monday, the 8th. I am sorry there are SO many pictures! I got a bit camera happy. :)

So here is all who showed up to our little shin-dig:


Grandma Rarick and Uncle Terry. Or Terence. Or Ter-Bear when I want to torture him. :)


Grandpa Sibert


Grandpa Rarick and Grandma Sibert


Aunt Mikel (my sister)



My cute niece Azia, Mikel's daughter. She LOVED our new puppy.



Curious Kaya.


My other sister Vanessa and her adorable daughter Jade. She is the sweetest baby ever. 7 months old and I have never heard her cry!


Just look at how happy she is!


Nick and yours truly.


The cake I made for Toby. RIGHT.
Thank you Costco!


Nick's attempt at making a cake for Toby. Aww.



So I had to post this video of us singing "Happy Birthday" simply because I love Toby's expression in the beginning of it. It's like: "what the heck is going on here?"


"Uh..cake please?"



Toby's preferred method for cake eating. He didn't want any food on his hands. Yeah, he can be a bit OCD.


Books! And a bloated belly full of cake.


I can't wait for him to wear his new Sunday clothes! SO CUTE!


Toby's new obsession: Tools. He LOVES to help Nick fix or put things together. Hence, this was the perfect gift for him.



The T-man's new trike!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my little man, who is not so little anymore!

March 4, 2010

Stupid Mouth

*Just want to put in the disclaimer that the title "Stupid Mouth" is in reference to a John Mayer song about putting your foot in your mouth. I'm not suggesting my husband is stupid. That is all. Carry on.


As most of you know I have a husband who pretty much says what he thinks. If someone is annoying him, he'll let them know. If he thinks your dinner is a bit overdone, he has no problem informing you. And although his mouth has gotten him into some trouble - especially with me - I mostly find Nick's blunt ways amusing. Not only that but they make for great stories. So last night as he zung with me with one of his one liners, instead of getting all offended, I thought my best revenge would be on my blog where I could expose the man with no filter for all to read. And don't worry, he's quite aware of this posting. He's actually very eager to hear everyone's response. So sit back and enjoy!


WORD CHOICE FAIL: Nick and I had been dating maybe a few weeks when we went to a Young Single Adult fireside together. This was the first time Nick had ever seen me in a skirt.

Nick: "Wow, I had no idea you had such big legs."

Me (totally offended and shocked): "WHAT?! Did you actually just say that?"

Nick attempting to dig himself out: "Oh no, I didn't mean they are fat or anything. They are just kind of bulky."

Me, incredulously: "You think my legs are bulky?! Great, thanks." Who is this guy?

Nick, now realizing he has no hope of recovering from this: "No! That's not what I meant either! I was trying to say that I like your legs. They are very muscly and toned."

Me, starting to calm down: "Then why didn't you just say that? 'Big' and 'muscly' are not synonymous you know. Especially to a girl."

FUTURE IN-LAWS FAIL:

Nick and I had been dating right around the time the Indonesian Tsunami hit. My dad had found a picture of a ridiculously large wave about to hit Thailand and wanted to show it to Nick and me.

Me: "Oh my gosh, that is a crazy picture! Look at the size of that wave!

Nick: "It looks fake to me."

Dad, totally taken aback: "It's legit. I got it from this website...."

Nick: "No, its not. I think its been tampered with. See how there is a line right here where it looks like they just copied and pasted the ocean?"

Dad, totally deflated: "Oh. I guess I didn't notice that."

Me, after my poor dad left the room: "Couldn't you have just indulged him a little? He was so excited to show us the picture."

Nick, totally oblivious: "But the ocean wasn't real at all. It was totally obvious."

Let me just add that Nick was able to make amends for his lack of tact in later encounters. And I'm happy to say that now Nick and my dad are very good friends. They watch football games and go to the movies together.
MAKING YOUR WIFE FEEL BEAUTIFUL FAIL:
Last night Nick told me about how had seen a couple that did not match up at all. The wife was stunning and the husband was, well, not attractive.
Nick: “Sometimes I wonder how a guy like that, got a girl like that.”
Me: “It’s because guys are superficial and girls are not. Looks are everything to guys.”
Nick: “Then why did I marry you?”
Ouch. Thanks Nick.
So I have plenty more dirt on Nick, but I think I have gotten my vengeance. For now. hehehe. :)