Happy Halloween!

This year we enjoyed our long standing tradition of Halloween costumes as a family of Super Hero's. It was so exciting to add a mini Crossley into the mix. It was Batgirl's first Halloween! I got in touch with my crafty side and spent the week putting together tutu's and felt logo's. No-sew.... my type of project ;-) 

A group of the dental students got together for pumpkin carving and BBQ. Aaron is truly blessed with having the most fun, sweet classmates. A few of the darling babies dressed up for the party :)

....and there she goes!

Trick-or-Treating to our neighbor's. She was having a ball with admiring all of the holiday decor. I have no idea where she gets it from.

I can't quite tell if Savannah enjoyed herself at the church's trunk-or-treat.

Year #1: Grease's Danny & Sandy

#2: WWII Soldier and his Nurse

#3: Flapper girl and Gangster

#4: Creepy Couple para El Dio de los Muertos

Yours truly, Me

Like Mother, Like Daughter

We love these cute matching maxi's that my momma helped me make! She cut and sewed. We wore them. Hooray for team work!

Our summer has been flying by so fast that I can barely keep up! We've been road-trippin', lots of play dates, and to the pool and back nearly a thousand times. Each time I swear Savannah looks bigger and does things differently. I'm trying to savor each moment the best I can. The way she'll let me hold her as she falls asleep (which in the past few months she has only done like 5 times), the beaming smile she flashes my way as I walk into her room after she's woken up from a nap, and the way she'll let me smother her neck and face in kisses... and she just takes it. Poor baby girl doesn't know any better.

Aaron and I can just sit there and stare at her. She is getting so big, my heart is excited and sad all at the same time. I'm wondering if others must feel this about their growing little ones. I love this not-a-newborn-not-yet-a-toddler stage. Let's get real, I know that I'll love it all. But I assure you, life isn't always a walk in the park. It can get hard. Like, really hard. Whoever says, 'Ohhh, just wait until they get older and then you'll see how hard it is' must have forgotten what it's like to have an infant. We had one of those melt-down moments today. You know, when they're screaming with all of those vocal chords. And it's the cry that tells you they are in dyer pain. Completely heart-breaking to listen to. And it happened while we were at church during sacrament meeting. Where else, of course.

In other news, I am simply trying to make all of her wildest dreams come true with endless peek-a-boo games, baby pool visits, and unlimited toys to eat for a total of 25 seconds each.

My world is my daughter. She's changed my life and made it clear that love truly is unconditional. Her happiness is my happiness. And in all honesty, I now understand why my own mother must love me so much. Something about becoming a parent makes the whole "parent-child relationship thing" work. All of this reminds me to try and be the best person I can be, I don't ever want to forget that she is watching me. The thought of my purpose for her as her hero has softened my immature heart so many times. The way I am will greatly determine the woman she grows up to be.

(her eyes just sparkle in the light...they are so gorg!)

Truly, a daughter is a blessing and could quite possibly grow up to be your best friend. What a wonderful thought!

Yours truly, Me

Half of a Year.

Sweet cheeks is growing up sooooooo fast! Just too fast. We are already celebrating her reaching half a year--it's hard to believe. Each new month brings on additional quirks and tricks that she is exploring and developing. Savannah is becoming FULL of personality and has her daddy and I laughing and smiling all. the. time. We couldn't imagine adoring her anymore than we already do.

6 Month Stats:

weight: 17.3 lbs (60th%)

height: 26.4 inches (60th%)

head: 16 inches (3rd%)

1. You are an official sitter! You're getting better and better each day with suppressing the infant twitch-i-ness that would always cause you to topple right over onto the floor. I love how independent you are becoming.
2. It's not often that you'll stay sitting up now that you are crawling! Emotions in the home are on much happier grounds now that you can go and get whatever your adorable little heart wants! Crawling has been the best thing ever. It is so fun to watch you zip around the rooms to grab a toy or when you spot the shiny tile or marble floors. We can't get over it. We thought you were so funny when you crawled off the carpet and onto the chilly marble floors. You didn't like your knees to touch the cold floors and so you held the plank position the entire time. 
3. You have become the pull-up-to-stand, side-scaling, drawer-opening queen of the house all of while getting your slobbery raspberry-blowing on. Now.... if you can only learn to sit down after realizing you're freaked out from standing up so high. Oh boy.
4. You are very into yourself. Seriously. Mirrors, pictures and video clips (not of everyone... just you.) Quite often will I find you coo-ing and smiling while you're crawling on my bed, only to see that you have found your reflection in the bathroom mirrors 10+ feet away. Perhaps a slice of humility will be coming your way ;-)
5. You're getting awesome with holding your own bottle. You're pretty much a rock star.
6. Your personality has evolved so much this past month. You are so full of love already. You aren't shy to express your likes and dislikes. You have become quite feisty this month! If you like it-you want it. If you don't like it, you let everyone know about it. With all of your new skills and tricks I have to remind myself that you are still a tiny baby! 
7. We took a road trip to visit your Crossley family and you had such a ball. So much love and attention. They couldn't believe what a smiley baby you are. But I think you just get so bored at home that when we go out you're flirting with anyone and everyone interesting. You are very loved baby girl!
8. You've started eating little puffs and yogurt bites. You love them! You've also been inhaling oatmeal and your jars of fruits/veggies. You haven't shown a preference to any flavor quite yet. It all depends on if you're in the mood to focus on eating. 
9. Blasted ear infections! You had one at your 6 month visit and you still are rubbing your ear in an irritating fashion.
10. You're still rocking the sleeping schedule with 11 hours a night. You know how much momma appreciates a good night's sleep. And I love waking up to your songs and growls! You aren't falling asleep for your naps as easily but you eventually give in. Schedules have not been a breeze to establish but you have proved time and time again that it is the best thing (for all of us!) and totally worth it. Your typical schedule has evolved to this:

8:00- milk. play

10:00- nap

11:30- milk. play

1:30- nap

3:00- milk. play

5:30- nap

6:30- milk. play

8:20- milk

8:30- bed.

Oh, I just love this stage! You act like you are excited about life- and it's so fun to be around you! Thank you for being such a good girl, Hunnybuns. I'm so grateful to be your momma. Nearly every time I leave your room after putting you down for a nap, I'll have a mild 'freak out' moment. It's quite humbling to realize that you have utterly stolen my heart. I would feel broken if I ever lost you. You are such a joy in our home! I hope you are always happy, baby girl. Happy doesn't even begin to describe how your daddy and I feel about you. Love you forever and ever.

Yours truly, Me

5 months.

Man oh man! Time is going by so fast and we have seen Savannah transform so much this month. She doesn't seem like a helpless little infant anymore because of how much excitement she contributes to our family. Every few days we catch ourselves saying something like "Wow, she is like another little human hanging out and playing with us!" Her sweet personality is shining through. It never gets old... having our cute baby girl and her luscious, fat cheeks within an arms distance. Cheeks of which I smoother in kisses no less than 1,000 times each day.
 Speaking of those cheeks...

1. You have TWO teeth!!! The second tooth just poked through today! Your first tooth erupted on the day you turned 5 months. There we were, wondering what happened to our happy little child. Almost the entire 4th month was rough for you. fussing. drooling. reflux. refusing to nap. catching daddy's cold. excessive need to be chewing. ETC. Poor girl! I wanted to start checking your gums to see if I could feel your tooth coming in and sure enough I felt the razor sharp edges. Eeeek! I screamed for your daddy to come see! I think I freaked you out, actually. I was so happy to finally understand why you've been so crazy. On the other hand, my womb wanted to cry out "STOOOP growing!" I'm going to miss that gummy smile but your daddy keeps telling me we'll love the mini tooth. Buckle up Hunnybuns. We're teeth people. We'll always be all up in your teethy business ;-)
2. You are the best little jumper in your Rainforest Jumperoo! You've learned how to play with all of the attached toys. Sometimes you'll lean your head back onto the headrest while starring up towards the ceiling while jumping high up and down! It's the funniest thing to watch!
3. You are starting to recognize familiar faces. We love that you will return every smile from us. But you definitely don't like unfamiliar faces. It's been so funny to watch you start to cry and look anxiously at me to assure you about a crazy stranger. Don't you worry, that's okay. You're just learning all about stranger danger at an early age.
4. You discovered your voice a few months ago but something clicked in your head that screaming and growling is just so fun and so you do it all. the. time! And yes, you cannot get enough of the growling. I would've guessed that hearing you growl would be adorable and cute. Nope. It sounds incredibly freaky and possessed. And whose your favorite friend to growl with? The man who taught you. You'll be letting loose of high-pitched scream all day long with me but once daddy walks in the door, you'll furrow your cute eyebrows and start growling with daddy. But only after you have released the most excited hyperventilated breaths, of course.
5. You are so entirely fascinated with drinks and straws. Once you've spotted my hospital water jug with it's long, plastic straw it is all games to get you to forget that it once was.
6. It's still fairly difficult to get you focused on drinking. You're incredibly distractible and the smallest noise will have you whip your head around to see what's going on. As long as you're hungry, you'll drink 4oz without needing it re-heated. Embarrassingly enough, I'm excited about the improvement. A few weeks ago, we had a couple day stand-off over the milk's temperature. You won, my Princess. You'll give me a schedule as long as I continue giving you warm milk. 
7. You're working so hard on scooting. You can push yourself backwards a little bit, and so sometimes you'll inch further and further away from the toy you really want. It's so cute to see your perplexing face!
8. We tried solids this last month and you did quite well. We started on oatmeal with bananas, sweet peas, avocados, steamed carrots, and pears with granola. These days, you aren't too interested in the baby food but rather the foods you can hold onto and feed yourself (see Baby Led Weaning.)
9. Last month, we ditched the pacifier and swaddle and you've been a rock star about it! You love to chomp on the hard edges of your pacifier as a teething toy.
10. We decided to tough it out and get you back onto a consistent schedule. Eat. Play. Sleep. You've been having such an awful time with teething and the endless fussiness that I knew a routine would be better for both of us. Unfortunately, we had given in and allowed you to become used to being rocked, shushed, white-noised, and sung to sleep for all of your naps. I was dreading the cry-it-outs that we went through months ago. But anything could be better than the current feeling of having no idea how to help or anticipate what you need. We started the routine 2 weeks ago and during the first nap of the day, you cried for 1.5 hours S.T.R.A.I.G.H.T. It was awful and painful for the both of us. At the start of the 2nd nap, you cried for 15 minutes. And every nap after that you fussed for 3-4 minutes. Over the next two days, you would would fuss for 0-2 minutes. Hallelujah! We figured out the key to you being able to go down easily for a nap was to always wake you up from the previous nap. I've let you sleep in longer on your own terms and it's always bad news for the rest of the day. Lesson learned? Don't ease up on an already established schedule. 

Hunnybun's typical routine:

7:00: milk. play

8:30: nap

10:00: milk. play

12:00: nap

1:00: milk. play

2:30: nap

4:00: milk. play

6:00 nap

7:00: milk. play

8:30: milk. bedtime

Yours truly, Me

Mother's Day.

I realized something a couple days ago. One year ago from today, we saw the unfamiliar plus+ sign on a pregnancy test. And I can't think of a better time to celebrate this Mother's Day weekend, in remembering one of the most blessed feelings that my heart has ever experienced. The day I truly felt the Lord bless me with my very own miracle. With His timing. In His own way.

I know that this weekend can be a sad time for those who feel a painful prick in their heart.
My heart is heavy today for the women who dream of becoming a mother and having a home full of tiny feet running around only to realize their dream won't play out the way they had hoped for. I think of you often. A new humility and sensitivity has entered my spirit when it comes to this subject. The struggle of loss and infertility is one that brings you to your knees while feeling utterly helpless. It provokes a faith and determination, through the pain and heartache, to try to make a dream become a beautiful reality. Which is why I am so comforted with the knowledge that the Lord offers His atonement to everyone. It is calming to my heart. Every part of my soul feels that the Lord is making the parenthood they will surely experience, whether it is in this life or in the next, become even that much sweeter by introducing them to the heartache early. Each of the anxiety and desperate pleas on their behalf instills a more beautiful and pure appreciation for the specialness that children bring into their lives. 

I was just thinking about the heartache I know I will feel in parenting Savannah as she grows up. Sometimes when I want to complain, I make my mind go to the painful hearts of those hurting. The love of a mother is a love that I have never experienced before. You love so much you ache. It awakens a new perspective. It is such a window into how our Heavenly Father loves us.

Unconditional.

Unimaginable.

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

Happy Mother's Day to all our Momma's

A gracious thank you to my two momma's and hubs for the beautiful gifts in celebrating my first Mother's Day. I'm so lucky to now have grandma moon and grammie crossley to spoil and love my baby girl. It's a beautiful cycle.

This comic couldn't be more fitting when I think of my own supermom and the amazing love and perseverance she maintained while raising me. You rock.

Yours truly, Me

4 Months.

4 month stats:

weight: 14.4 lbs (25%)
height: 26 inches (82%)
head: 16 inches (20%)

1. You rolled over for the first time! Sadly, I was out to lunch with my dear friend and got a phone call from your ecstatic daddy... you made him so proud. He had laid you onto the floor and you suddenly surprised him by quickly flipping over to your tummy! For the next few days, every time we laid you on your back you will twist your body towards the right and flip onto your hands and belly. 
2. Your roly-polyness has toned down since you realized that you hate to be on your tummy. If I'm not on the floor, entertaining you with books and colorful toys then you will fuss and fuss until you're off your tummy. 
3. You love to hold everything! Your little fingers will wrap around my hands or the bottle while I'm feeding you. A few nights ago, you were gripping your daddy's finger while we were all cuddling on our bed getting ready to nap together. He said, "This is all I've ever wanted from our baby ... for her to hold my finger!" He was soooo excited about that before you came to us. You'll hold onto your burp cloth while I'm burping you. You grab onto the toys while sleeping in your car seat. You grab onto my hair while I'm holding you (how I am not bald by now with all the chunks of hair you've managed to yank out is beyond me.)
4. Your arm movements have become much more controlled when you want to grab something. You're eyes will focus on something that you see in front of you while your arms stiffen up and move towards it. It is so fun to watch your learn and develop!
5. You really enjoy having me read books to you. Especially the cloth ones that I let you grab and squeeze and stuff into your mouth! And you even let me re-read the same few pages over and over.
6. I'm calling it right now, you are going to be a singer! You love to sing-scream when you're super excited. It's the cutest thing ever! Last Sunday during sacrament, your sweet little heart just couldn't help itself. You'll stomp one foot and let out an excited scream. And you couldn't stop. We took you outside to let your giddiness calm down and you became a little more calm and reverent. When we sat back down in the meetings, you went off again with excited yelling and stomping. Daddy lucked out had to take you out for the rest of the meeting. We are just so in love with you! We think you are so funny when you get into those screaming fits.
7. You love to chew and slobber on anything you can get your hands and mouth on! If it's in your hands, it will go straight to that mouth of yours!.. My shoulder, blankets, your fists and, as of lately, your single index finger. I sure hope those little teeth take their sweet time to bud! I melt every time you flash that gummy smile!
8. You still have a beautiful double chin. Your daddy likes to joke that it looks like a goiter. I'm not gonna lie, it kinda does! The insults really come out when it's bath time and we have to dig deep within your chubby rolls to dig out the the collected lint. Darling... enjoy it while it's still crazy cute!
9. You have become so flexible! During diaper changes, you love to grab your toesies with your hands and scream-hum until I'm finished.
10. You are fighting your schedule, baby girl. And I haven't been consistent with it either. You'll vary from taking 30 minute - 2 hour naps. It hasn't helped that we've all caught the same terrible cold and it's snot-inducing awfulness has lingered up until today. But you are the best night sleeper a momma could ask for! You usually sleep 10 hours a night; you are doing great with that! Thaaaaaank you, Hunnybuns. 

Your daddy and I love to watch you progress and learn new things! I can hardly believe that you are mine forever. I'm so blessed. And even though I might roll my eyes when you wake up for the 50th time before 4am when you're having an off night, I still think you're the best reason to wake up for. I wouldn't trade you for anything!

Yours truly, Me

3 Months

Oh, my sweet baby girl. Please tell me you're still a baby, right? With the rate you're growing up I'm afraid I am on my way to your high school graduation after packing up all of your newborn clothes.

1. You are such a smiley girl now! And oh my word you have the cutest grins we have ever seen. Especially the wide, closed mouth smirk. Ya know, the one where you purse your lips together perfectly while hearing plenty of "Aww! You are so cute!" from us. You are going to be breaking lots of hearts little lady. (But we're thinking not until you're at least 35, okay?)
2. You know how to say mama! Okay, not really. But sometimes when you cry it sounds like "maaaaa" and when you repeat that it sounds like you're calling for my name.  I love it so much that I get tempted to just let you cry it out over and over. But I haven't. ...yet ;-)
3. You are "cooing" all of the time when you're in love and you let out the funniest screams and laughs when you are excited. 
4. You are so strong. Especially those long legs of yours. You love to stand on your feet. I think you are so entirely proud of yourself that you can't help but stomp your feet while bouncing your legs.
5. You don't scratch your face anymore! Well, the majority of the time. You've learned to use the backs of your hands to rub your eyes when you're tired to save that pretty face of yours.
6. You have become such a diva in regards to the temperature you require of your milk. And you have no problem with letting us know if it has dropped a few degrees. Oh, Miss Savannah Jane...
7. You love to be swaddled and we know that is why you've been sleeping through the night since you were 2 weeks old. But you can be quite the houdini once you wake up from a nap. It's amazing to see arms and legs finding their way out of a securely velcro-ed swaddle. 
8. You are becoming more and more aware of where I am. I love this in-between stage of a newborn and a baby. You recognize when I am near you but you don't get upset if I need to leave the room. 
9. You are grabbing lots of things now. Slobbered fists and momma's hair are your top favorites! Ouch!
10. You love to get your beauty rest! And momma loves that you love to get your sleep. You get about 10 hours of sleep each night. You have become a great Babywise baby and you love your schedule. Everyone is happy when you are on your 3 hour schedule. We are so spoiled!

My sweet little girl. You are such an angel baby and your daddy and I are so happy to have you in our family.

Yours truly, Me

Day Old Child

The day I arrived home from the hospital, I opened a present from Nannie - amc's grandma. There were a few darling items for Savannah and she had also included a sweet poem. It touched my heart and gave me an understanding of the miraculous reality of this day old baby girl. 

I've had moments of feeling completely overwhelmed and helpless. And I remember a few times when those feelings were coupled with frustration. And just as quickly as I wanted to vent that frustration, I remembered the miraculous reality that Savannah truly is. A few Sundays ago, we gave our baby girl a name and a blessing. Amc did a beautiful job. He told her that she was dearly loved by her parents. It was sweet and promising. Afterwards, amc leaned over to me and had a solemn, sincere tone in his voice as he whispered, "She isn't ours". My chest and throat tightened as I nodded my head to agree. It's so true. 

I am here to love her. Teach her about her Savior's gospel and His beautiful plan for her life. To help remind her of the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. And how much He absolutely adores her. She is His precious baby girl. And we are so lucky to have her. Being her mother has shaped my life and has set me on a path that will keep me feeling forever grateful. Each day, she gives me the chance to love even greater. Strengthen my patience through serving. And beg for help from the Lord to guide my decisions and bless me with understanding. I have realized that I need her in my life to become the type of woman, wife, and friend that I so desperately want to be.

Savannah's first photo in her new home

My day old child lay in my arms

With my lips pressed against her ear

I whispered softly, "Oh, how I wish--

I wish that you could hear

I've a hundred wonderful things to say

(a tiny cough and nod)

Hurry, hurry, hurry, and grow

So I can tell you about God"

My day old baby's mouth was still

And my words only tickled her ear

But a kind of light passed through her eye

and I saw this thought appear --

"How I wish I had a voice and words

I've a hundred things to say

Before I forget --I'd tell you about God

I left HIM yesterday."

Carol Lynn Pearson

Yours truly, Me

Growing Pains

Sigh. I can hardly believe it. My itty-bitty newborn is 10 weeks old today. Somehow we have entered into double digit territory. I'm diggin' each new phase she enters but am sad to wave goodbye to the newborn-ness.

Here we are at 10 weeks and she is full of sugar and spice. This girl keeps me on my toes all day long! I don't honestly know what I used to do with my time. These past ten weeks Savannah and I have figured each other out pretty well. She was sleeping 10-11 hours each night and had developed a wonderful 3-4 hour schedule.

Our supportive family and friends came for Savannah's blessing

UM... up until 2 weeks ago.

Savannah decided her mild temperament was getting a bit cliche. Day after day was the same old consistent naptime, feed time, and play time. Getting all the rest she needed to be giggly and simply the most awesome baby around. Yeah, I can see how that would wear on a baby. Say what?!
To say that this past week has been rough would be a gross understatement. Savannah would have long stretches of just being seemingly inconsolable, which has been so out of character for her. I would roll over to my phone and see 1:30/3:30am instead of 7:00am next to the screaming baby monitor. The usual 4oz feedings turned into only 1-2oz that were met by pursed lips, spit-up and a mischievous grin or an upset cry. It was tiring. We're still working through the feeding issues. As of yesterday, the good days far outnumber the bad days as long as I forget that she woke up EVERY hour last night only to finally begin our day by releasing a shrieking scream at 5am.
Her amazing cheeks and sweet personality make it all worth while to lose my beauty sleep and sanity. Good heavens, I love this baby girl.

She loves the attention

With this gorgeous spring weather, I love to take her on errands and I may find myself pushing her stroller for a few hours each sunny day. Our favorite hot spots? Grocery store, strolling through the shops at the outdoor Firewheel Mall, or through our beautiful neighborhood. I can tell already that we make a really great shopping team.

Grant and Savannah on their Blessing Sunday

Most thrilling event this week? Rolling my stroller onto the escalators in Dillards. This wasn't an umbrella stroller, mind you. Things couldn't have felt more wrong once my humongous travel system stroller was moving up onto the escalator. And I'm pretty sure that should not be allowed and that's what the elevators are obviously used for. Of course, that was a thought that ran through my mind after the fact. It was an especially humbling moment -- riding those escalators while looking like the biggest mistake for a mother. DANGit.

She is packing on the pounds and outgrowing her newborn clothes by the minute! She is recognizing faces and voices, and this girl loves her daddy.
All day long I'll make incredibly goofy smiles and squeals while receiving the most awesome toothless grins. Hunnybuns has seen sides of my personality and singing voice that no one will ever meet. I'll find myself feeling very raw and real. I can't believe how blessed I am to share with her my unreserved love, excitement, fears and concerns. I just can't wait until her grins turn into full belly laughs.
I'm working on adjusting to her ever changing schedule, figuring out how to balance everything, and taking it one day at a time.

Lunch date with Grandma and Grammie

Postpartum life at 10 weeks is going great! I slowly started back on the elliptical just shy of 3 weeks. I'm doing a mix of yoga, zumba, and running 3-4x week. I got back to my pre-pregnancy weight fairly quickly (thank goodness!) and I completely owe it to healthy eating, portion control, exercise and NOT 'eating for two' during my pregnancy. Okay, I take that back. I ate more than my fair share of McDoubles. Ironically, I've only had one burger since Hunnybuns birth and it tasted nasty. It was awful. As in, I couldn't even finish it which is a rare act of mine considering my mental psych won't let me leave a plate until its cleared. I'm confident we'll hook back up next pregnancy. Although the weight is off, I still have loose skin and abs. But I definitely feel like "me" again!
In the mean time, I'm just counting my blessings and am feeling so grateful to get to spend every day with this 10-week old love of my life.

Yours truly, Me

Savannah Finds Her Voice!

Completely absorbed in delicious babyness. 

The snuggles. The unsure grunts when she's having her diaper changed. High and low-pitched coo's. The incredibly adorable attempts to laugh by spewing out forced coughs. 

And my new favorite - after waking up, she'll see my figure and her eyes will scan up towards my face. After a moment she'll spill a huge grin. It's not fair how often she steals my heart.

So in love.

Yours truly, Me

Hearts that Pitter-Patter

As of lately, I've been contemplating my life and how it has changed with having a pretty pair of eyes and chubby toes join my world. 

My thoughts trace back to waking up to mornings that should have begun with a yummy lunch. Exciting evenings made up of spontaneous movies and delicious foodie cravings. Double dates-without the baby sling and Hooter Hider. Sitting in church. 
Yep, that's it... simply sitting in church.
Or life prior to the baby monitor taking its role as my official alarm clark.  When the nursery was a spare room filled with storage boxes and junk. Before I had killer biceps yet regrettably still unnoticeable.
If I rewind to last year when my mom mentioned to me something I'll never forget and still causes my eyes to gloss over and a lump to take over my throat. It was when I was starting a new fertility med.

"Oh, the things we do just to hear the pitter-patter of little feet."

When I was pregnant with Savannah, many friends and strangers would pass out unsolicited thoughts on becoming a  new mom. "Enjoy your life now while you still have it! Forget the malls and shops. Forget the baths and showers. Being perfectly made-up with hair and make-up on? Forget it! Dinner on the table? In your husbands' dreams. Pretty much say goodbye to everything you are because your life is over!"
Yikes! If that isn't encouraging for an expectant mother to hear, I don't know what is!
Life after Savannah has changed alright. But it was anything but those awful and negative predictions.
Don't get me wrong. It's not ALL smiles. It's not easy. I'm definitely busier now with feedings and entertaining and cooking and cleaning all of which while trying to look pretty cute for my Mister. But it's a choice I'm willing to make. And I think it's just that. A choice to make it how we want to see it. I didn't lose my former life. Neither has my relationship with amc taken an extreme backseat to this new babe in our home. 
Rather, she's added to it. 
Savannah has made life more whole. Filling voids that I didn't know were there. Being her mama has caused me to feel more complete. More confident in my purpose on this earth. More grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and its beautiful principle that families can really be together forever. Not to mention, an awesome repertoire of primary songs. I have a lame soprano voice but she doesn't seem to mind. 
Motherhood just feels good to me.
I absolutely ADORE Valentines Day! Always have. Always will. There's just something to say about spreading the love and affection with the special ones who hold your heart. I've always told amc that I sorta really don't care for flowers. I mean, I was always taken away from the house by school or work. I never had the chance to really enjoy them, ya know? 
Until yesterday. While I was driving to the store to pick up some canvas prints of Savannah's newborn photos(Eek! They look beautiful!) and a few ingredients for our Valentine's dinner and I noticed the car next to me while I was at a red light. Inside the car was HUGE vase of gorgeous red roses. I'm pretty sure I audibly giggled after which was followed by a loud, "Awwww!" Sitting next the red beauties was sheepishly-excited hubby. I was so excited for that special wife of his. Someone was begging for a sessy kiss! 
And then, in that moment, I thought to myself "Ya know? Flowers are nice. I mean, really nice." I kinda-sorta-wish amc was aware of this sudden change in heart that I was having. Oh well! I was looking forward to my only request from him, a much needed massage! After finishing up my errands, I walk in through the door with armful's of groceries (remember my killer biceps?) and I see my Valentine, home early from school. He was dressed up in the sexiest slacks with a gorgeous bouquet of roses and lilies accompanied by our lovely man, Sinatra. 
He was home to help me make our Valentines Dinner.
He's all mine?! What a stud. I'm seriously in love.

Filet Mignon. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Caesar Salad. 

Easiest V-day goodie to whip up!

"Daddy's Sweetheart" 

Her onesie couldn't be more adorably fitting.

Cheers! To my two Valentines...

Yours truly, Me