Annual Hergert Picnic

Yesterday, we attended the annual Hergert Picnic. The weather was perfect, there was plenty of delicious, home-cooked food, games, and an endless amount of family time. Many there had not met Everett yet and as he got passed around, he had more separation anxiety than I had ever experienced before. He lasted all but a few seconds before he cried such a pitiful cry as if I had given him away. I told Dale it was good for him.

He allowed Grandma to spend some time with him as long as Dale and I were in sight. It was really great to see extended family even though at first, it's a guessing name game. I got called Jessica, Brieanna (my sister), and Whitney (my cousin). But then again, I am probably guilty of calling others by the wrong name too. Even so, it was another great reunion as it is every year and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Sunny Saturday

Today started out with early signs of Fall weather: the air was crisp and cool and you could see your breath when you breathed out. It was the perfect morning to enjoy my first pumpkin spice latte of the year. As the day progressed, the sun came out and warmed everything. We spent a lot of the day with the windows open, enjoying the fresh air.

Everett made a new friend and his name is Elmo. Elmo does a funny chicken dance.

Everett is trying to pull himself up onto everything lately and has become oh so good at standing up all by himself.

Everett started doing this:

Everett likes to stick his thumb into Mommy's nose right when she takes the picture.

Everett loves to be silly.

On Food News, I made Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls for our annual Hergert Reunion/Picnic tomorrow. I'll be up bright and early to make the lasagna for the main dish I'll be taking.

Dale took tomorrow off so he could attend this year's reunion. I can't wait to spend the day with family: parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, 2nd-3rd-4th cousins, and so on. Every year, we just sit around and eat a ton of food, have a ping pong tournament, water balloon toss, swimming, board games and card games, and just good 'ol hang out time and soaking in as much of each others company. I can't wait!

Current Read {it sucked and then i cried by heather b. armstrong}

"Heather Armstrong gave up a lot of things when she and her husband, Jon, decided to have a baby: beer, small boobs, free time — and antidepressants. The eighteen months that followed were filled with anxiety, constipation, nacho cheese Doritos, and an unconditional love that threatened to make her heart explode. Still, as baby Leta grew and her husband, Jon, returned to work, Heather faced lonely days, sleepless nights, and endless screaming that sometimes made her wish she'd never become a mother. Just as she was poised to throw another gallon of milk at her husband's head, she committed herself for a short stay in a mental hospital — the best decision she ever made for her family.

To the dedicated millions who can't get enough of Heather's unforgettably unique style and hilarious stories on her hugely popular blog, there's little she won't share about her daily life as a recovering Mormon, liberal daughter of Republicans, wife of a charming geek, lover of television that exceeds at being really awful, and stay-at-home mom to five-year-old Leta and two willful dogs.

In It Sucked and Then I Cried, Heather tells, with trademark wit, the heartfelt, unrelentingly honest story of her battle with postpartum depression and all the other minor details of pregnancy and motherhood that no one cares to mention. Like how boring it can be to care for someone whose primary means of communication is through her bowels. And how long it can possibly take to reconvene the procedure that got you into this whole parenthood mess in the first place. And how you sometimes think you can't possibly go five more minutes without breathing in that utterly irresistible and totally redeemable fresh baby smell.

It Sucked and Then I Cried is a brave cautionary tale about crossing over that invisible line to the other side (the parenting side), where everything changes and it only gets worse. But most of all, it's a celebration of a love so big it can break your heart into a million pieces."

A New Day Comes New Memories

At times, I have wished for consistency in my days. To know what each day holds so I can plan accordingly and be prepared. I have realized that life wouldn't be the adventure that it is supposed to be if I knew what was going to happen. Today, for me, was different in many ways than yesterday or the day before, or the day before that. On some days, you may have memories that leave you tired and stressed, but those are the days you grow and learn to be a stronger person. I've had a share of those kinds of days recently but today brought change. Today gave me an opportunity to make memories that couldn't be made on any other day but today and I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity.

It was a lazy day for Dale, Everett, and I but a wonderful day indeed. Everett was so cuddly today and loved on us so much while we loved back with everything our hearts had.

I had a few work items to take care of which didn't take too long but Dale and Everett came with me to help so work today was a family event! We tried out a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant, Vi Thai (how original) for lunch and agreed to come back and put it on our restaurant list.

Everett had lots and lots of play time and even practiced crawling for a little bit before bedtime.

Today's memories will be ones that I cherish and will look back on and remember. Here's to tomorrow and what tomorrow will bring!

Challenges

It has been an extremely challenging week of parenting this week for both Dale and I. I feel so unworthy of such a beautiful child when I find myself so frustrated to the point that here I am making time to write about how I emotionally feel like I am at my wit's end. Am I actually complaining about my child and having to meet his needs? I surely do not see it that way but I feel that is the way it may be unfortunately portrayed to others. It's not the case, really.

Before having Everett, I had heard stories of how parenting is one of the toughest responsibilities to take on. I unknowingly brushed off these stories and asked myself how hard could it be? You change, feed, sleep, and play with your children. If you do all these things, they are happy. How ignorant was I? It's far more than that, and unfortunately, you don't get a practice run and you can't plan how you will raise a child. I have realized that you have to take what each day gives you and handle it the best way you can. The next day, it will be completely different.

Not knowing the cause in Everett's demeanor and sleeping pattern is far more frustrating to me than the lack of sleep or dealing with the fits and screams itself. Knowing that you're the one person who can settle him and not being able to succeed at it makes you feel like a failure of parent, even though deep in the dark corner of your mind, you know it's not the truth but you can't help but feel that twinge.

I also never realized that in order to maintain a healthy relationship with your child and with yourself, you need time. Time for yourself. I ask myself, if I want to be a better parent, why would I want to spend time away from my child and take on such a selfish act of partaking in things that I enjoy doing for the sake of keeping my sanity? Because. Because doing so and recognizing that it's relationally healthy makes you a good parent in itself. You know it's good for both you and your child. I have observed many parents, mothers especially, who have started despising their children and understanding in their minds that parenting is something they have to do, rather than something they want to do. I remember growing up when my mom would just leave for the entire day. No one knew she left until we realized we needed something but she was nowhere to be found. She would later come home with relief struck across her face and with more patience than we usually were use to. She never told us why she left and why she needed this moment for herself but as we got older, we understood why. And now that I am a mother, I understood more than ever.

Next week, Dale and I will be visiting
Steppingstone Day School
to check out their facilities and options. We are only considering daycare for only half a day to a full day per week. Dale insisted that if we like it, we will sign Everett up right then and there. I informed that it's harder for me to have it so said and done. I am so emotionally wrapped around this child of mine that my heart already wrenches at the thought of putting him in the care of someone else and it makes me want to curl up into a fetal position and cry a little. But, sometimes, people don't know what's good for them even if it slaps them across the face. Well, I've felt the stinging pain of the slap finally and I know what's good for me.

I won't go into detail of the things that have recently made parenting so challenging. It won't enlighten my feelings any but it has been refreshing to jot my thoughts down.

When I see this face, it melts me every time. This automatic ability, I will never understand but it erases all my frustrations and puts me at a calming ease.

Labor Day

Everett and I spent Labor Day with the wonderful Nielson Family. We had a nice relaxing afternoon over there and went out for Vietnamese Food.

It was refreshing to get out and about today and it was a wonderful way to spend a day! Thanks for having us over, Josh and Tiffany!

Everett is 9 Months!...and Other News...

What a day! Dale and I were so busy today and the day just flew by. I hope this isn't a sign of how September is going to be. The month of August came and went so fast that we barely had time to even enjoy it. September is my favorite month of the entire year and I hope I'll be given the opportunity to enjoy it a little. Work is slowing down though. School has started and the warm, sunny days are coming to an end and people are getting themselves settled into their homes. I'm having fewer rental inquiries and fewer move-ins. All I gotta say is : Praise. The. Lord. For the past month or so, with work being so busy, it has been compromising my one-on-one time with Everett, his nap times, and affecting the time and energy I have to put forth maintaining our home in a clean and orderly state. Today, our place looked like Hurricane Earl made a quick stop and left us with a frantic mess. There were toys EVERYWHERE and you were lucky enough if you didn't trip and break your neck, dishes covering about every inch of the kitchen table and counter tops, clothing hanging on the backs and arms of the couch, piles of dirty laundry upstairs, piles of clean laundry begging to be folded and put away, and so much clutter on the coffee table that trying to find something would be like playing "Where's Waldo." I turned into Super Woman for about 30 minutes and flew around the place cleaning and picking up everything. I've always been a very clean, tidy, and organized individual and I can't sleep if I know that there's things to be picked up or cleaned. At least I know I'll be able to sleep tonight.

Everett is 9 months today! My birthday boy was full of giggles and silliness today (which was a one-eighty from yesterday). He was able to spend a lot of time today with Dad while I was busy with work appointments.

I've recently been into trying out new recipes and tonight, I made Chicken Stuffing Bake. I know it's good when Dale scarfs it down and tells me I need to make it again!

I also signed up for a one year membership at Curves today. It's finally time to get myself into shape. I've missed wearing my skinny jeans and am tired of having all my skinny clothes stare at me everyday.

I'm really looking forward to September and the upcoming Fall and Winter months. I'm ready to cozy up with Everett and Dale on rainy days where we can all cuddle up on the couch and watch movies, sip on hot cocoa and pumpkin spice lattes, and to have cinnamon and vanilla candles flickering amongst our home. Here's to the beginning of Fall and all it's memories that are waiting to be made!

Out on the Farm

Spending time together with family is one way that makes my heart feel fuller, the smile on my face bigger, and the love for my family grow stronger. Dale took a random day off yesterday and when we woke up, we didn't quite know how we were planning on spending the day but we quickly decided on driving out to my parents for the day. When we usually go over there, we spend a few hours, usually for dinner. Yesterday, we spent the entire day there and it was a day full of cherished family time and relaxation. Most of all, for me, I absolutely love seeing my parents interact with Everett. We left Everett in his pajamas so to allow for more easy, comfy snuggling from Grandma and Poppa!

There's always so many things for Everett to see and explore. You can see the new fascination in his eyes and we always leave there tired and over-stuffed from my mom's delicious cooking. Her garden is in full bloom of vegetables right now and we had such a filling and hearty lunch and dinner. We know it's always time to say good-bye and head home when we see the restless daze and tiredness in Everett's eyes.

As always, it was another great time out on the farm!

Growing Up

They say that babies develop more in their first year than they do at any other period in their life. I never disbelieved this fact but see more of the truth in it as I have been able to observe, guide, and share this time with Everett. In the last month, he has hit more milestones than I have seen in the time span of the last 8 months. He received his first 2 teeth, gets up on all fours, gets groovy with his own version of what is "dancing", tries pulling himself up, scoots himself backwards.... just to name a few.

Within the past several days, he's been getting up on his knees to play

He's getting a little curious now with food, but still wants nothing to do with the mesh feeder.

I recently went on a toy-buying binge and needless to say, he's still more into playing with non-toy items. I have noticed though, that the water bottle never fails.

And if you notice, he's got a little more groove to his dance!

Cheers to new milestones! And speaking of new, I tried a new recipe last night out of my Family Circle magazine. Middle Eastern Stuffed Zucchini. It was a mouthful of healthy deliciousness!

I miss my sleep

I love Everett. I love everything about him, but I have to honestly admit that I really miss my sleep. We met Dale's mom for coffee this morning at 6:30am and she took one look at me and said, "you look exhausted." I always feel tired but never thought it showed on my face. I must look like crap. Ha.

Everett has been getting up and starting his day around 4am lately. We've tried everything to try to get him to fall back asleep but feeding him, changing his diaper, or rocking him has led to no such luck. While he has never slept with us, I even tried bringing him to bed but it only got him all excited and playful.

As usual, I just blame it on teething or refer to him just "going through another phase of some sort."

He is starting to pull himself up onto things and getting on all fours. He'll rock himself back and forth with a fierce look on his face that he wants to go somewhere but can't figure out how to move himself.

I know this won't last forever and someday soon, I'll know what it's like to get a good night's sleep.