"Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful."

This will be the first Sunday in over a year and half that I will be able to fast. I am glad I will be able to make that sacrifice to fast and pray for a special little girl tomorrow. My family will be fasting for this amazing family and their sweet Gracie. Please, please, visit their blog, and join with so many others tomorrow in fasting and prayer to help them. They have asked we pray specifically for courage, strength, and comfort, for them and for their children. And for the doctors to have clarity on Gracie's health care.

I know with out a shadow of a doubt that pray works. I have seen it's miracle time and time again.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said:

"Fasting in the proper spirit and in the Lord’s way will energize us spiritually, strengthen our self-discipline, fill our homes with peace, lighten our hearts with joy, fortify us against temptation, prepare us for times of adversity, and open the windows of heaven."

"We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful."


In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. On that day, we go without eating or drinking for two consecutive meals, commune with our Heavenly Father, and contribute a fast offering to help the poor. The offering should be at least equal to the value of the food that would have been eaten. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. On that day, members who are physically able are encouraged to fast, pray, bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and pay a generous fast offering. “The law of the fast,” taught Elder Milton R. Hunter, “is probably as old as the human family. … In ancient times, prophet-leaders repeatedly gave to church members the commandment to observe the law of fasting and praying.”

Munchy

Kate had her 9 month check up. She looked so cute (and chubby) sitting in just-her-diaper waiting for Dr. S to come in. He checked her out, and nicely suggested giving her a scoop less of formula. I thought for a second, and asked, "Is it because she is too chubby?"

"Let just say she quite robust. " He said.
And as any true girl would do, Kate, my sweet chubby baby, looked at me and burst into tears.
She will be joining me tomorrow at Weight Watchers, and for a nice walk.
If only she could walk...(or crawl!)

My Kate

This cute girl was feeling under the weather today, and did not want to leave my side. I loved every minute of it.

Just the way the cookie crumbles

I had the most bizare two days last week, I just had to write it down.

Monday To Do List looked like this:
Renew Drivers Licence
Go to the Library
Call-insurance, hospital, Verizon

Well, the day started off wrong with the rain. Then right after I applied my mascara I sneezed. That ALWAYS happens to me. The mascara just gets everywhere. Then, I went through my To Do list, and found out everything was clsoed because it was a holiday! I wasted so much time driving around!

Tuesday:
Renew Drivers Licence
Go to the Library
Get Fabric

Yet again I sneezed. I might be allergic to the mascara! Realized I would need a new license photo, and decided to actually shower. Go to the DMV, wait in 15 minute line, just to get a number. G090. I sit down and after 5 minutes hear, G078. Sweet. Another 10 minutes go by before I hear G079. 15 minutes later Miss G079 passes me on the way out and tells me it took 1 hour and 10 minutes and she was only 7 numbers away when she got there. There is no way I am going to wait another 1 and half with my already restless child. So I leave.

Last week I had gotten all the fabric I needed for a project but they did not have one of the colors I needed. So I went to the next closest store, and it was burned down. WHAT? BURNED DOWN?!

Drive to the next city to a fabric store. IT WAS EMPTY. GONE. NOT EVEN A THREAD LEFT ON THE FLOOR.

Drive two cities down, to the next store. Walk in and it looks different, and come to find out it is now an upholstery store!

Drive another 25 minutes to finally find what I need.

Just wanted to get home to my baby at this point. Then I realized I have been on "Reserve" for awhile. AH! No gas!

Finally get home. I have been meaning to go test out a new spot to shoot at and had planned to do it that day. I grabbed my Dad for my model, and pulled up to the spot just as the sun slipped behind the hill. Honestly, 1 minute earlier and I would have made it.

At that point I decided to just stop trying to be productive.

I got home at 6pm that day with 3 yards of brown fabric. THAT IS ALL.

All in one day. ONE DAY!

This sweet little baby need our prayers. Please take a minute.

what's for dinner?

We had this:
Greek Orzo Stuffed Peppers
Matt: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Ani: 4.5 (Very yummy, I would reduce the amount of onions next time, and only cook peppers for 7 minutes)

And this:
Asparagus with Curry Butter
Matt: 4 Stars
Ani: 3 Stars

And this:
Cashew Salmon
We did not use Yogurt or Cashews and kinda modified this recipe to our likes!

Matt:4
Ani: 4.5 (Very yummy, we didn't have plain yogurt, but I think it would be yummy!)


How did I do?!

It was a long day in the kitchen, but it was fun cuz my cute boyfriend helped me and then did the dishes. Doesn't get much better than that!

Step 1: Save up these babies.

Step 2: Steam or boil fresh organic fruits and veggies
Step 3: Puree (by the way those are not my hairy hands, Matt was manning the food processor)
Finished Product: Healthy food for Kate that is yummy enough for me to sneak in some bites of!All for this little girl who waited patiently for some fresh cinnamon pear/apple "dessert" made by Dad.

Lot of work? Yes.
Worth knowing exactly what is going going in my baby? Yes.
Will I do this every week? Probably not. But at least I feel good about it this week!

As Seen On T.V.!!!

Today while walking at the beach with Nicole, we saw this guy:

I saw him and thought, "Hey, I know that guy..." and then all a sudden I realized it was Lincoln Burrows from Prison Break!
We are obsessed with the show. And no, I did not talk to him. I wussed out. I tired to take a picture but right then he turned around! I almost got caught!

My MANLY man

One of the things I love about Matt is how hard working he is. Here is a list of all his jobs that he has had since he turned 16. Some he did for only a day, some a few weeks, and some for a few years. I think he has really learned what hard work is, and it has helped mold him into the person he is today.

Dishwasher at Back Forty (two months)
Pizza Maker at Papa Murphy's (two months)
Telemarketer for Fortune 800 (three months)
Plumber for Roger James (3 weeks)
Picked up dead people at a Mortuary (One day!)
Janitor for Blue Ribbon Temp Agency (One day!)
Missionary in Chile/Texas (two years)

Landscaper (3 months)
Cleaned truck racks for Blue Ribbon (one day)
Air Conditioning Specialist/Maintenance for BYU-H (two years)
Sales Representative for Alliance Marketing (door to door) (four months)
Skills Trainer for children with Autism, Care Hawaii (one and half years)
Limo Driver for Dave (one day)
Delivery Driver for Dominos (six months)
Substitute Teacher for Kelly Services (one day)
Pogo Stick Assembler for Bruce Spencer (two weeks)
Unloaded trucks full of boxed for Blue Ribbon (two days)
Husband (since Aug. 2006)

Personal Banker for Wells Fargo (one year and a month)

Account Manager (almost 2 years)
Dad (since May 2008)

Favorite job: Skills Trainer, and the one he has now, husband and dad
Least favorite job: all his temp agency jobs! (obviously)

Dr. Laura had an email send in by a lady who said that her husband was a true man. He had been let go, or resigned from a high paying, glamorous job, and while job searching for a couple of months, stocked shelves at a grocery store. She said that he put his pride aside and did what he needed to do to support his family even though he was highly qualified for a much better job. He got his dream job after a few months, but those months he stocked shelves he proved his manliness to his wife.
'Nuff said. I have a real man.

it is coming....!

nine months

(Love this photo because it is such a true "day in the life of" Kate moment. When she plays, she is a leaky faucet, so she usually wears a bib, she has her blocks, and doll, and she is just...happy.)

The Bug, Kate, is 9 months today. What? I have a 9 month old?! Who am I?

She is my best little friend. She makes me smile and laugh all day long. I love teaching her and watching her learn and grow.

She is obsessed with her tongue. She can flip it over in her mouth. So talented!

She is out of her cradle (sniff, sniff), and in a pack-n-play. With all the new found room, she has discovered the amazing-ness that is sleeping on your stomach. (We are buying a crib for her this week!)

She pees out of her diaper every, single, night.

She is a marathon sleeper. Yesterday went like this:

Wakes up at 7:30am

Nap from 9:30-12:00

Nap from 2-4:30

Bed at 7:00 pm

Wakes up this morning at 8am! 13 hours?! How could I not love this girl?

She says: Dada, Mama, Nana, Baba

Loves her blankie

She clucks her tongue

Loves her books

Plays with her doll all the time, she pokes her eyes, and sucks on her hands

Loves her Yogurt Melts, Puffs, and anything else that goes in her mouth

She is no longer nursing, (I am still trying to accept it)

Loves to be out and about, especially at the mall, park, grocery store or beach

No teeth yet!

Love my little Love Bug.

L.O.V.E.

I created a font from my handwriting, typed up all the reasons I love my cute hubs, and left the little notes all over the house, and gave them to Matt through out the day, wherever we happen to be. The last one for the night was tapped to the switch on his lamp. It was definitely a hit. It was fun to see him light up each time he found one and opened it.
We spent the whole day loving on this little girl. It was the best Valentine's Day yet.


Stay tuned for my project I worked on allllllll last week. It should be arriving tomorrow. Think...more of our personalized fonts, pictures, and a good love story. I can't wait for tomorrow to come!

The sugar-high is on it's way down.

Just thinking about how yummy this short bread was...melt in your mouth good.

For the Record...

These are my two Valentines. I never thought my heart could be capable of being this full.

Girly Girl

Kate loves anything that is NOT a toy. She could keep herself busy for a long time playing with my makeup. She usually lifts the top up with one hand, and carefully picks an item out with the other. She inspects the item, tastes it, and then carefully puts it back. This time she figured out she can dump the whole thing out.
I love that she watches me while I get ready. She smiles when I put on my powder, and then wants to play with the brush. You should have seen her face when I was curling my eye lashes. It was classic. Her eyes were huge. No smile. Pure shock. I guess it is kinda a strange thing...

This Year I loved...

Meeting my baby girl
Watching my husband become a "Dada"
Learning how to put someone else completely before myself
Little notes from my husband
My magazine subscriptions
Blog comments
Burt's Bees chapstick
Watching Matt give his first "Father's Blessing"
Working on my photography
Learning to sew
Getting my 3rd nephew
Serving in the Spanish Branch
Getting to spend more time with my mom and dad
Getting emails from my missionary brother-in-law
Discovering Google Reader (it is the reason I am bad commenter, sorry!)
Working on my skillz in kitchen
Going to the beach whenever it is sunny, even in the winter
Shopping for a baby girl
Learning to be a mom
Watching my baby grow and learn
Becoming an even stronger team with Matt
Strengthening my testimony
Clean and Clear Moisturizer
Teaching the gospel
MoJo
Finally fitting into old jeans with out a HUGE muffin top (just a small one)
Sunday naps with my little family
Creative inspiration from design and photography blogs
Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, The Office, and The Bachelor
Twilight
Our first family roadtrip (and last!)
Hearing Kate say Mama and Dada

And most importantly:
Being loved by my sweet, and handsome husband
Being loved by my Munchy

Nothing better than that.

Happy Valentines Day,
-a

Today I love...

Kate's chubby cheeks and dark sparkly eyes.

How yummy Matt smells, fresh out of the shower, kissing me good morning.

Peek-A-Boo Baby

I meant to post this awhile back. This was over New Years when we were in Oceanside. Kate and Matt were playing Peek-A-Boo, and Kate was doing an excellent job hiding.

All over the weekend...

1. Kate said "Mama!" I thought I was going to burst with happiness. It was the sweetest thing I have ever heard! (we also accidentally matched on Sunday!)

2. This is Kate's last night in the cradle. We caught her pulling herself up. Sad.

3. I put Kate's hair in a little pony tail on top of her head with a rubber band. I feel like a real mom now.
(Is there anything more precious than a sleeping baby? She is OUT seconds after we get in the car after church)

4. She moved up a diaper size. My chubby girl now wears size three!

5. I folded and organized and put away all of her clothes that are too small. I have a huge 0-3 month bin full of teeny tiny clothes, burp cloths, and blankets...I might have shed a few tears. But I now realize how you crazy people have more than one baby. You miss having a tiny baby! (no, I am not pregnant, and no we are not planning on being pregnant anytime soon.)

6. Kate is soo over nursing. Saturday she didn't want to at ALL! Today she nursed for like 30 seconds. Why do I even keep trying?

Why is it so hard for me that she is getting bigger???

Kate has a new habit. For the past week she has woken up at six. That is 6:00AM people! Way too early for me. However, after she has been fed, she will go back to sleep until 9:30ish. Which is amazing.
BUT, before this week she was sleeping from 7pm-7:30am/8:00.
What is a girl to do?
Also, she learned how to turn onto her tummy in her tiny cradle she still sleeps in. She hates it and wakes us up screaming.
Oh little Kate bug.
She is currently supposed to be sleeping, but is singing in a teeny tiny voice about her Dada: “Daadaaaa Daaadaaaaa!”

On my mind...

Love "The Bachelor"... Melissa is a Mandy Moore look alike and Naomi looks like Eva Mendes.

Last week I tried a new recipe for every meal. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was really fun! I am doing it again this week.

I am in a hair rut. Want a new look, but I am a chicken.

I like that my laundry loads are now divided into whites, darks, lights, and PINKS. It makes me smile every time I sort laundry. 

I need a new book to read. Suggestions?

I got some new lip gloss at Victoria's Secret. It makes me feel sassy. (But Matt won't kiss me when I have it on!) 

I can't give up nursing. I only nurse her twice a day now, but only for like 3 minutes. She doesn't dislike it, but she doesn't love it either. Why can't I just feel good about stopping?!

I am totally lost with "Lost", what is going on?!!?

Why are diapers so expensive? 

I might go on a shopping spree with my birthday/Christmas money tomorrow. I have been saving it up for a new computer/CS4. But I realllly need some clothes. It would be fun...

Watermelon flavored gum knocks my socks off.

I am missing Matt who is at a Hockey game, and Kate bug who is sound asleep in the room next door. 

Mommy Questions:

At what age did your baby crawl?! I want her to start, but know all the extra work it will require. But still anxious for the next milestone!

Am I paranoid? I still break everything into teeny weeny pieces. 

At what age should I start signing with your babies, (if you did)? What are the most useful words?

Is it possible to love a second, third, fourth, etc...child as much as I love Kate?! I am obsessed with her chubby cheeks and kissy lips.