24 Reasons Why I Love This Guy

Aaron and I celebrated our second anniversary on the 28th.  They have been the happiest years of my life and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband.  Here are just 24 of the millions of reasons why I love him.  (One for each month we've been married.)

1.  He has the best laugh.

2.  He is better than me at everything, except making boats out of paper.

3.  He works so hard all of the time so I can stay home with Hannah.

4.  He leaves pictures of himself on my phone that look like this:

5.  He takes time to explain difficult chemical engineering concepts to me without ever talking down or make

     me feel dumb.

6.  He was the best cheerleader and coach when I was in labor - AND he didn't even pass out.

7.  He laughs at all of my lame Harry Potter jokes.

8.  He gives gentle correction.

9.  He is such a hands-on dad.  He changes diapers, gives baths, and everything else.

10.  He picks me up just because he can.

11.  He always does the right thing.

12.  He plans fun and creative dates and takes me on one every week.

13.  He is a crazy good dancer.

14.  He likes to watch youtube videos about things like this:

15.  He is the best listener.

16.  He is rendered completely helpless by tickling.

17.  He helps me laugh at myself.

18.  He is so squeamish.

19.  He is Mr. Fix It and can't stand when something doesn't work.  He even changes the burned out light

       bulbs at my sister's house.

20.  He can do this:

21.  He gives the best hugs.

22.  He wears my slippers around the house.

23.  He is my best friend.

24.  He makes me better.

Picture A Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Hannah Stats: 6 Months

• Your hair is getting so dark and long!
• You have created a fun new game which entails you throwing all of your toys on the ground and seeing how many times we will pick them up.
• You are mobile!  You like to army crawl and can get just about anywhere and to anything you want.  You are so close to real crawling.  You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth.  Time to start baby-proofing!
• With your new found mobility, you seem to get hurt more.  I guess bangs, bumps, and bruises are just becoming a part of life.
• You respond a lot more to being tickled.  You used to just tense up, but now you laugh and giggle.
• You still love your binky, however you only suck on it when you're tired.  The rest of the time you like to chew, lick, or just handle it.
• You sleep in lots of funny positions, probably because you practice crawling in your sleep.  Our favorite is with your head down and your bum straight up in the air.
• We've started giving you diluted juice.  You don't like it very much though.  
• You've pretty much given up on sitting up.  You're pretty good at it, but you never do it.  I guess you just want to move!
• You've gotten so curious and now when Dad or I hide something behind our backs, you look for it and try to get to it.
• When you sleep, you pull your legs into the tummy part of your pajamas and they get stuck that way.
• You love all the Christmas lights and always reach for them.  You nearly took down Grandma and Grandpa's tree a few times.
• You always pull your headbands down over your eye like an eye patch.
• You love sitting up to the table and reaching for everything.  You're pretty fast and sometimes you grab the plates and silverware and drop them on the ground.
• This month you weigh 15 pounds 5 ounces (32%) and are 27 inches long (87%)!

Peaks and Valleys

Valleys (let's get these over with)

• Hannah and I have been sick for almost two weeks now.  I seriously think this is the worst cold I've ever had and I had some bad ones when I was teaching.  Nothing's worse than being sick, except for being sick and having a sick baby too.
• Because of said sickness, I am sleep deprived.  Hannah has been sleeping like a newborn (as in, waking up every two hours), and after I finally get her back to sleep, the congestion settles in and I can't breathe.  Or sleep.
• I had a cavity filled yesterday.  It was tiny and the whole process took less than 20 minutes, but I haven't had a cavity since elementary school and I was kind of a baby about it.  Try having someone's hands and a bunch of tools in your mouth when you can't breathe out of your nose.  Not so fun.
• It’s finals week for Aaron.
• I already wrote this post, but then blogger crashed and I had to start over.

Peaks

• Aaron and I made an awesome gingerbread house for our date night last week.

• It snowed! 
• We had our ward Christmas party and Hannah sat on Santa’s lap without even crying, unlike most of the other kids there.

I love everything about this picture - from Aaron and I looking all hunched over and nerdy to Hannah pulling on Santa's beard to Santa eyeing Hannah suspiciously.  Ha ha!  Every time I see it, I can't stop laughing!

This one's a little more normal-ish.

• Aaron’s work took us out to Tucano’s on Saturday.  Thanks to Brooke and Scott for watching Hannah for us.
• Our friend, Carmen, was baptized and confirmed!  We’ve been praying for this for a long time.
• About three months after Hannah was born, my hair started falling out at a shocking rate and I was worried I’d need a wig by Christmas.  But I think the hair loss is starting to slow down.  Kind of.  This may be more of hopeful wishing than actual truth.
• The cute old man who was in front of me in line at the grocery store jokingly tried to buy some bananas with a very real-looking fake $100 bill.  He then told me about all the pranks he’s pulled on waitresses.  He thought he was very funny.  I thought he was pretty funny too.
• I bought milk today with the expiration date of December 25.  It’s almost Christmas!  My milk even says so.

Christmas Wish List

So Aaron keeps heckling me about making him a list of the things I want for Christmas.  (Ok, it's more like asking me nicely.  I'm not sure Aaron knows how to heckle, but I like the word.)  Here it is, my grown up Christmas list.

1.  A beautiful, full eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.  No middle of the night feeding, or binky replacing, or even waking up on my own wondering why Hannah hasn't woken up yet.

2.  Snow.

3.  Some new boots.  Something like these.

4.  Some jeans and maybe a new shirt too.

5.  A cake decorating set.  Nothing too fancy, I just want to be able to make some cool birthday cakes.

6.  A pedicure.

7.  Crafting supplies.

8.  A good book.

9.  Three glorious weeks where Aaron has no homework or school of any kind.  Oh wait, I'm already getting that.  Happy dance!

10.  While I'm wishing here, I would also like a dishwasher.  And a washer and dryer.  And this kitchen.

Sorry to get  a little greedy there.  What are you asking for for Christmas?

Thanksgiving Weekend

With all the craziness of this semester, Aaron desperately needed a break and I desperately needed Aaron to have a break.  This weekend was definitely our fix.  Here’s the weekend in review:

Tuesday
Not exactly the weekend, but it was too fun not to include.  We had a sibling sleepover at my sister Heidi's house.  All of my siblings were there, minus Lisa and Matt.  After putting the little girlies to bed, we played midnight basketball, watched the new Spiderman, and ate Heidi's delicious cookies.  It was so fun just to talk and be with my brothers and sisters.  They're the best!

Thursday 

Thanksgiving!  We have so many things to be thankful for and it was great to celebrate our many blessings!  Ben and Alicia arrived and were able to meet Hannah for the first time.  They moved out to California in April and we haven't seen them since so it was good to be with them!  

Aaron and I are so blessed with such wonderful families and to live so close to them.  Even though it was the Bytheway's year for Thanksgiving, we were able to go visit my family in the morning before heading over to Aaron’s Aunt Renae’s house for Thanksgiving Dinner. Our responsibility was to bring corn and ice cream.  (So glad I don't have to take on the turkey yet.)  Dinner was delicious, the company was excellent, and to top it all off, Grandpa Bytheway auctioned off some items from his closet and Jared knocked a candle and its holder off the wall while stretching.  :)

 Me, Brooke, Jared, Allie and Tanner, Aunt Emily

Aunt Renae, Grandma and Grandpa Bytheway, Ben and Alicia 

 Hannah and I took a little nappy

 Swapping babies for a minute

Jared and the candle holder

Friday

Friday was packed with so many fun things!  We went and took family pictures with the Bytheways at Wheeler Farm in Murray.  Jared took the pictures and did such a great job.  Here’s a little preview….

After pictures we went to Italian Village for pizza benders.  This place can be described in a single word:  yum.  Later that night, we went down to Lowe’s Extreme Airsports in Provo.  It has a bunch of really bouncy trampolines, foam pits, a climbing wall, a trapeze, etc.  I was so sore from crawling out of the foam pits, but it was completely worth it.

Saturday 

We went bowling with Trish, Sid, Ben, and Alicia.  I have a confession.  I'm the worst bowler ever.  As in, I had more gutter balls than not.  I'm not that sad that I didn't get pictures of it.  Anyways, afterward, we came home and watched Home Alone, then went to Lincoln with my family, and then watched the end of Ben Hur with Trish.  I told you we were in serious need of a break.

Sunday 

My mom was teaching Relief Society in her ward so I snuck in and surprised her.  It was also good to see some old friends from the home ward.  After, we went to my cousin Zane's homecoming talk and then zipped over to Allie and Jared's ward for Tanner's blessing.  Whew.  Tanner looked so adorable.  (And I have to admit, Hannah did too.)

Then we said our goodbyes and headed home.  It was such a great week, but it's good to be home.  Time to  put up the Christmas decorations....

Hannah Stats: 5 Months

My baby girl is five months!  How did that even happen?  I can’t believe she’s that big already.  I love watching her grow and progress, but it also makes me kind of sad.  Time is passing too quickly.  I’ve been just holding and rocking her all day because I know she’s not going to let me do that for much longer.  

Anyways, here's Hannah's baby book entry:

• The shirt says it all.  You are such a happy baby.  You smile at everyone - the checker at the grocery store, the family sitting behind us at church, etc.  Everyone comments on what a happy girl you are.
• You have gotten pickier this month.  You won't take a bottle any more and the one time I gave you baby Tylenol this month you spit it right out.
• You still get the hiccups almost every day and still sneeze at least two times in a row (you've gotten up to seven)!  We hope that never goes away.
• You got your first cold this month.  You took it like a champ but you definitely developed animosity towards the blue bulb aspirator.  Whenever you see it, you start to squirm and turn away from it. 
• You LOVE your binky and will do almost anything to get it - even wiggle all the way across your crib.
• We haven't tried giving you solids yet, bu you seem to be getting ready for it.  You are very interested in what we are eating and try to get it too.
• You still love those feet.  You are always sucking on your toes and your socks are always wet.
• You are so close to sitting up by yourself.  You can do it for about 30 seconds, but then you face plant or fall backwards so we always sit with you just in case.
• You want to touch everything and are always reaching to get at anything close. You especially love grabbing faces, hair, and paper (you love the crinkling sound it makes).
• You make lots of fun sounds and constantly experiment with your voice.  You squeal, giggle, whisper and crow!
• You seem to be more aware of yourself.  You love looking in the mirror or watching videos we take of you.  When I play you a recording of your voice, you always talk back to it.
• I don't know how much you weigh or how long you are since we didn't have a doctor's appointment this month, but you have definitely gotten bigger.  Your little legs are starting to get chunky.  
• You love attention and you get a lot of it!  Dad and I, the grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins love playing with you and you love playing with them!

Hannah, you are precious.  We love you so much.

Thoughts on the Election

I know that there has been so much said about the election, the last thing you want to do is read one more thing.  But I feel like I need to get this off my chest so that I can get on with life.

I’m really bummed.  I really wanted Mitt Romney to win.  Not because I’m a Mormon.  Not even because I’m a Republican.  But because I feel that Mitt Romney is a good, hardworking man who really cares about America.  I feel that his experience would have helped our country’s economy turn around.  I feel that what Mitt has to offer was what our country needed.  And I am afraid at where our country is going.

That being said, I have been so disappointed by what I’ve been seeing on facebook today.  I’ve seen people post their opinions only to be attacked by others who disagree, who are then insulted right back.  Do I believe that everyone is entitled to free speech?  Yes.  Absolutely.  Do I believe that we should stand up for what is right?  Again, yes.  Absolutely.  But do I believe that we get anywhere or accomplish anything with nasty, hateful arguments?  No.  Not at all. 

After a long campaign, this is a time when Americans need to come together.

‎"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." – Abraham Lincoln

God bless America!

On the bright side, I clean when I’m upset.  My apartment looks awesome.

Confessions of An Imperfect Perfectionist

Isn’t it frustrating when you’ve been waiting all week for the Sacrament, to feel cleansed and recommitted to doing better, and then before you even sit down in Sunday School, you’ve already blown it with judgmental thoughts and impatient feelings, not to mention day dreaming about what you’re going to eat when you get home instead of listening?  That was me yesterday.

I am a perfectionist. I expect a lot from myself.  Maybe too much.  Maybe not.  But because I'm not perfect, it’s hard not to get down on myself when I mess up over and over and over.  I think it’s something that all of us, especially women, struggle with.

Enter Relief Society.  Yesterday in R.S. we watched one of my favorite devotionals ever given.  It’s a talk by Brad Wilcox, one of my former professors at BYU.  It was exactly what I needed.  I seriously suggest you watch the entire thing.

But, if you’re in a rush, I can share some insights I had while watching it.  

A lot of times I feel like, despite my best efforts, I’ll never be good enough, I’ll never make it.  Jesus commanded us to be perfect right?  Yet, we are imperfect beings.  This is where the grace of Christ covers us.  He makes up for all of our sins and mistakes.  In return, He asks us to keep His commandments.  This isn’t to repay Him, but to show our appreciation and to help us change.   With every attempt we make at becoming better, we are becoming more like Him.  Jesus Christ will also help us.  He is long-suffering and understands that change is a process. 

I’m starting to understand that it’s ok that I’m not perfect, as long as I am sincerely trying and improving.  I am so grateful for the covering, transforming, helping power of the grace of Jesus Christ.  I know that He is our Savior.  He lives and loves me, and each one of us, enough to help us change with His grace.

Halloween Highlights

Dressing Hannah up in her ladybug costume.

Going to Amelia for their Halloween parade.  It was so great to see my former students and some of their parents.

Our trip to the pumpkin patch.

Eating doughnuts.

Our ward Trunk-or-Treat.  Hannah was a ladybug, I was an ant, and Aaron was a bug catcher.  I know, we're dorky.

Happy Halloween!

Health

Today I am grateful for health.  Health is a funny thing.  It's something you never even think about and completely take for granted until you or someone you care about no longer has it.  (Like when you get a cold and all of the sudden you realize how wonderful it was to take a deep breath through an unstuffy nose.)

I've been thinking a lot today about those I care about who aren't doing so well - a friend's husband, who has pancreatic cancer;  another friend who went into pre-term labor (her baby isn't due until January).  Those are scary things.  They make me think about how lucky I am to be able to walk, bend, jump, reach, run, even just breathe.

I am so grateful for the health that I have enjoyed up to this point in my life.  It's something I want relish, instead of just presuming it will always be there.

The Many Faces of Hannah

Today I feel so blessed to get to stay home with my little girly.  To be completely honest, I had a really hard time giving up my job.  Because I really loved it.  And while I was pregnant, I worried that if I stayed home, I would be constantly bored or lonely.  But I have absolutely no regrets.  I LOVE being home, even more than I ever loved my job.  Which was a lot.  Don't get me wrong, there are moments of frustration, boredom and loneliness.  But there are so many moments where I am watching Hannah play or eat or sleep and find myself thinking "I'm so glad I didn't miss this."  I know that not everyone gets to or wants to stay home, but it was definitely right for me and I never want to take it for granted.  So today I bring you.....

The Many Faces of Hannah

These little gems are just a few of the moments I would hate to miss.  Enjoy.

Shocked

 Bashful

Disgusted

Kind of sad

 Sad

Depths of despair

 Drowsy

Pirate

Salivating

 Cannibal

Mmm...That was delicious

 Horrified

 Stink eye

Classic Hannah

I'm kind of obsessed with her.